Merri and I have hosted the occasional wedding at our North Carolina farm…just for neighbors…
One couple was married here in front of our covered bridge.
Another was married next to one of waterfalls, where they enjoyed playing as children.
These events were really fun so when I arose one recent morning at our Ecuador beach apartment here…
and saw from my balcony this view, set up for a wedding at Pamazul, I…
started thinking. “How about a wedding in Ecuador?”
I have four daughters so know what a wedding can cost and wondered, “Wouldn’t they be better and less expensive here?”
The setting can’t get much better.
Jessica Haugan, owner of Palmazul, gives special low hotel room rates to wedding parties (how does $40 a night for beach view rooms sound?). Plus Visatzul condos will be ready in January for renting.
You can see from some photos taken at the wedding that the amenities are first class as well…the settings.
The food…
the flowers.
Add this together with the low cost air fares to Ecuador…hmmm. See Cotacachi air fares.
The information above is an excerpt from today’s Ecuador Living Update which included Ecuador wedding contacts and a wedding menu from Palmazul. You can get this update as an Ecuador Living subscriber. Subscribe here.
Here is an excerpt from our other subscription service: www.multicurrencyinvest.com
Tracking the portfolio of the State Street Global Advantage Major Market Fund is one way to track global investing value.
State Street is one of the world’s largest fund managers. Keppler Asset Management, a leader in analyzing market value, selects good value major markets. State Street then selects good value shares in these markets.
The State Street Global Advantage Funds are only available to non US investors, but all of us can gain insights by studying the portfolio breakdown of these funds. Non US investors can invest in the funds.
US investors can recreate the portfolio by buying the shares in equal proportions.
The current breakdown of invested countries (December 2008) of the State Street Global Advantage Major Market Fund is:
Countries Percent of Portfolio
US 9.8%
UK 10.2%
Spain 9.6%
Singapore 10.3%
Norway 8.3%
Italy 9.5%
Germany 9.8%
France 9.8%
Belgium 9.8%
Austria 9.3%
Cash 1.5%
Other 2.6%
By comparing annual performance of the State Global Advantage Major Market Fund (MMHF) to the Morgan Stanley Capital Index Global Stock Index (MSCI) we can see how the good value approach consistently outperforms the global average…plus volatility has been lower.
State Global Advantage Major Market Fund Performance
Year 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 YTD
MMHF 17.38% 16.74% 27.50% 21.56% 2.08% -40.74%
MSCI 10.74% 6.46% 26.17% 7.40% -1.66% -33.81%
We can also note that value investments tend to drop more during bear markets. This makes sense. Value investors will be buying shares of companies where the price has dropped enough to create extra value. No one can predict when markets will turn. Value investors will tend to buy on the way down…thus making short term performance worse than the norm. Value investing is long term investing. Value investing is the most dependable type of investing but not in the short term.
We can see this phenomenon even at Berkshire Hathaway, the legendary value fund.
Berkshire Hathaway Performance
Period Actual(%) vs. S&P 500 (%) Rank In Industry Industry Rank
4 Week – 6.15 0.10 62 39
13 Week -10.04 -3.55 51 47
26 Week -11.17 -3.05 56 83
52 Week 6.03 27.52 92 41
YTD -16.14 -3.32 51 91
Rank is a percentile that ranges from 0 to 99, with 99 and shows that Berkshire Hathaway which has been the best value fund have been among the worst in a sector (value conglomerates) that has been under performing the market as a whole.
This excerpt came from today’s multi currency course update. You can have the full update with investment contacts and list of shares in this portfolio as a multi currecy course subscriber. You can subscribe here.
Until next message, may all your investments and good value be married and be good.
Gary
Learn more about value investing at our courses in North Carolina, Cotacachi or on Ecuador’s coast this winter.
Take a hike with me in the warm Cotacachi winter’s sun.
See how to attend two or three connected courses for great savings.
Stroll the sunny Ecuador beach this winter.
Jan. 16-21 Ecuador Spanish Course
Jan. 22-23 Imbabura Real Estate Tour
Jan. 24-27 Coastal Real Estate Tour
Join us for great fresh Ecuador seafood!
Feb. 9-11 Beyond Logic
Feb. 13-15 International Business & Investing Made EZ
Feb. 16-17 Imbabura Real Estate Tour
See Ecuador’s incredible scenery.
March 8-9 Imbabura Real Estate Tour
March 10-15 Ecuador Export Expedition
March 16-19 Coastal Real Estate Tour
Share some time with Ecuador’s friendly people.
Better still join us all year! See how to attend our 27 courses, tours, mingos and expeditions in 2009 FREE.