In this episode we answer emails from Yangon, The Value Stock Geek, and Graham.  We discuss the ins and outs of margin accounts at Interactive Brokers, some annoyances with gold ETFs and 1099s, and BTAL vs. treasury bonds.

And THEN we our go through our weekly and monthly portfolio reviews of the eight sample portfolios you can find at Portfolios | Risk Parity Radio.

Additional Links:

Father McKenna Center Donation Page:  Donate - Father McKenna Center

Tyler On The Security Analysis Podcast:  Tyler (@PortfolioCharts): The Amazing Power of Uncorrelated Assets

Analysis Of BTAL vs. SPY vs. TLT With Correlations:  testfol.io/analysis?s=jAQO2TjzA

Paper Re Stock Market Volatility And Treasury Bonds (C. Moise):  Flights to Safety, Volatility Risk, and Monetary Policy by Claudia E. Moise :: SSRN

Breathless Unedited AI-Bot Summary:

Diving deep into the financial weeds, Frank tackles several practical questions that impact do-it-yourself investors managing their own portfolios. What begins as a detailed exploration of Interactive Brokers' margin loan program reveals valuable insights about using portfolio assets as collateral, the tax deductibility of margin interest, and how to monitor your account to avoid margin calls.

The conversation shifts to an unexpected tax headache many gold ETF investors face: those annoying tiny distributions that clutter 1099 forms while providing minimal value. Frank compares how different brokerages handle these transactions, offering practical advice for simplifying your tax reporting experience. For those weary of manually entering dozens of nickel-and-dime transactions each tax season, this segment provides welcome relief.

Perhaps most valuable is Frank's thoughtful analysis of asset correlations and why treasury bonds remain irreplaceable in risk parity portfolios despite recent correlation changes. "Correlations are not magical and they're not random," Frank explains, dismissing the notion that we've entered a "new paradigm" where traditional diversification no longer works. He articulates why correlation changes are tied to macroeconomic conditions and why treasury bonds still serve as essential recession insurance that alternatives like BTAL cannot replace.

The weekly portfolio review brings welcome news as most sample portfolios show positive performance, with gold continuing its strong 2024 despite recent pullbacks. Small cap value remains the year's underperformer, while the diverse range of portfolio strategies demonstrates how risk parity principles can adapt to different investor needs.

Whether you're considering margin loans, puzzling over gold ETF tax statements, or questioning the role of treasury bonds in today's market environment, this episode delivers practical wisdom for navigating these complex investment waters. Frank's straightforward approach strips away the mystique surrounding these topics, empowering listeners to make more informed decisions with their portfolios.

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