Author Topic: Do You Hold Foreign Stocks...  (Read 4728 times)

Petunia 100

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 139
Do You Hold Foreign Stocks...
« on: September 27, 2016, 03:17:50 PM »
...or do you skip them?

Just nosy, I guess.

mathjak107

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 558
Re: Do You Hold Foreign Stocks...
« Reply #1 on: September 27, 2016, 03:21:31 PM »
i don't hold them in any international funds but  certain funds i own do have as much as 1/3 of their assets over seas .

Retire-Canada

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 8678
Re: Do You Hold Foreign Stocks...
« Reply #2 on: September 27, 2016, 03:21:55 PM »
...or do you skip them?

Just nosy, I guess.

70% of my portfolio are foreign stocks. I like to be diversified.

dividendman

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1899
Re: Do You Hold Foreign Stocks...
« Reply #3 on: September 27, 2016, 03:56:48 PM »
I have 30% in VEU/VXUS.

des999

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 280
Re: Do You Hold Foreign Stocks...
« Reply #4 on: September 27, 2016, 06:44:40 PM »
I do have about 18% in foreign, but I was at 25% a couple years back.  I am thinking around 15% is ideal for me, just for some diversity. 

the.one.who.wonders

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 55
Re: Do You Hold Foreign Stocks...
« Reply #5 on: September 27, 2016, 07:12:16 PM »
About 10-15% EUR+Emerging

Heckler

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1612
Re: Do You Hold Foreign Stocks...
« Reply #6 on: September 27, 2016, 08:02:25 PM »
25% US, 17% EAFE, 3% EM.  The rest is domestic.

PhysicianOnFIRE

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 462
  • Age: 48
  • Location: Up North
    • Physician On FIRE
Re: Do You Hold Foreign Stocks...
« Reply #7 on: September 27, 2016, 08:11:17 PM »
10% in developed markets
10% in emerging markets

Remaining details here: PoF Portfolio

Radagast

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 2541
  • One Does Not Simply Work Into Mordor
Re: Do You Hold Foreign Stocks...
« Reply #8 on: September 27, 2016, 11:10:40 PM »
I actually have more invested internationally than in the US, at least in terms of stocks. That may be a little extreme, but I can't realistically imagine many circumstances where I would want less than a third of my stocks invested abroad.

Mmm_Donuts

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 410
Re: Do You Hold Foreign Stocks...
« Reply #9 on: September 28, 2016, 05:31:02 AM »
40% international - 25%US, 10% developed, 5% emerging.

wapiti

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 36
Re: Do You Hold Foreign Stocks...
« Reply #10 on: October 05, 2016, 03:02:23 AM »
yes, everyone should own foreign stocks/bonds.
One of the big mistake is to own too many domestic stocks compared to the size of the domestic market

Mr FrugalNL

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 174
  • Location: Netherlands
Re: Do You Hold Foreign Stocks...
« Reply #11 on: October 05, 2016, 03:22:05 AM »
Of course I hold foreign stocks! My own country's market capitalisation is about 1% of global market capitalisation and I am under no illusion that my country's stock market is any better than all the others or that I know more about it. Furthermore, the costs (both taxes and fees) I pay to invest abroad are not significantly higher than what I'd pay to invest within the Netherlands. I'd be a fool not to diversify my stock holdings as much as possible.

Vagabond76

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 225
  • Age: 47
  • Location: Destin, FL
Re: Do You Hold Foreign Stocks...
« Reply #12 on: October 05, 2016, 04:13:53 AM »
Two foreign companies: Bank of Montreal and Royal Dutch Shell ADRs.

MrRealEstate

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 82
  • Age: 33
  • Location: Modesto, CA
Re: Do You Hold Foreign Stocks...
« Reply #13 on: October 05, 2016, 04:28:41 AM »
I just recently reallocated to go 20% international. I may sell off some VFIAX and buy up some VEURX as it looks like the worst is behind Europe, hopefully.

Mississippi Mudstache

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 2170
  • Age: 40
  • Location: Danielsville, GA
    • A Riving Home - Ramblings of a Recusant Woodworker
Re: Do You Hold Foreign Stocks...
« Reply #14 on: October 05, 2016, 07:50:09 AM »
25% foreign in my asset allocation.

Petunia 100

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 139
Re: Do You Hold Foreign Stocks...
« Reply #15 on: October 10, 2016, 05:55:04 PM »
Thanks for the replies.  :)   I guess I was just curious if others felt foreign equities were unnecessary or not.

I'm about 1/3 of equities in foreign myself.   


ender

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 7402
Re: Do You Hold Foreign Stocks...
« Reply #16 on: October 10, 2016, 05:59:57 PM »
About 20% international now, roughly.

Be nice to bump that up to 30% though the lack of an IPS (oops, don't shame me off the boards!) makes it harder to be motivated. We're getting past the "not enough to make an IPS worthwhile" level now too..

Jeremy E.

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1946
  • Location: Lewiston, ID
Re: Do You Hold Foreign Stocks...
« Reply #17 on: October 10, 2016, 06:02:46 PM »
I've only got VTSAX, but there is some foreign exposure within it, even though they aren't technically foreign stocks. I would be more diversified if I had some foreign stocks, and in theory less risky, but some experts say that adding foreign stocks can be more risky.

Here are some references
http://jlcollinsnh.com/2012/09/26/stocks-part-xi-international-funds-2/
http://jlcollinsnh.com/2016/09/15/stocks-part-xxx-jlcollinsnh-vs-vanguard/

Watchmaker

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1609
Re: Do You Hold Foreign Stocks...
« Reply #18 on: October 10, 2016, 06:10:56 PM »
Yes, 20% of stocks.

I believe in the power of diversification, but also believe there are additional risks associated with international stocks (currency risk and less regulated markets (non-European)) so I underweight international. 

aboatguy

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 335
Re: Do You Hold Foreign Stocks...
« Reply #19 on: October 12, 2016, 06:48:45 AM »
About 15% of my TSP is in the I fund. 
Mike

Million2000

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 136
Re: Do You Hold Foreign Stocks...
« Reply #20 on: October 12, 2016, 07:24:32 AM »
20% of my portfolio is foreign stocks (VXUS). It amounts to 25% of my total stock allocation. I primarily do that because of diversification and non-correlation with my primarily US Stock allocation. That non-correlation I reckon is getting lower especially when global macroeconomic events are the main factors driving many day's price movements. Before moving to this position I debated quite a bit about the merits of international stocks. Bogle and Buffett prefer US stocks and I know Bogle routinely admonishes people to keep away from international. My thoughts are that while the US is the biggest most dominant nation on the earth right now, with the largest and one of the most free markets, holding a somewhat small position outside the US won't significantly diminish returns while providing additional insurance in case things don't work out as planned in the US. Case in point, US and Western European growth is significantly slower compared to previous years, along with unfavorable demographic developments (including Japan) I think growth will not pick up to pre-crisis levels for some time, possibly for a very long time. Holding some stock outside the US to capture some of the gains of other nations who may grow more than us is worth the risk for me, in fact I find it risky to hold all US stock given those conclusions. 

WerKater

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 351
  • Location: Germany
Re: Do You Hold Foreign Stocks...
« Reply #21 on: October 12, 2016, 08:02:25 AM »
About 97% of my stock allocation is in foreign stocks.

Jack

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4725
  • Location: Atlanta, GA
Re: Do You Hold Foreign Stocks...
« Reply #22 on: October 12, 2016, 08:05:45 AM »
About 17% of my portfolio is VTIAX.

I should probably increase that to at least 30% or so, but I'm pretty lazy about managing my portfolio. I switched all new contributions to my IRA to int'l a long time ago, but since 401k contributions go to an S&P 500 fund (no good int'l fund available there), the overall portfolio allocation has been decreasing. I should probably exchange the rest of the funds in my IRA that are still VTSAX to VTIAX.

Hmm... should I exchange it as a lump sum, or gradually swap it over time?

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!