Obama Pal Campaigns for Own Firm (money managemnet firm tanking)

Wall Street Journal Personal Finance ^ | 8-14-2010 | M.P. McQueen

[Frantzie]

For a low-key money manager, John W. Rogers Jr. got awfully close to the national political spotlight during the 2008 presidential campaign.

[Frantzie]

One of O's earliest supporters and closest advisors. He sucks as a money manager. One reason I cancelled Forbes magazine because they helped "make" him. A key person in getting O elected. Assets under management have tanked.

"His mutual-fund firm had been bleeding money for years, with assets under management plunging to just $4.75 billion on July 31 from $21.4 billion in 2004."

[LRoggy]

Put the politics aside.

His long term record has been quite good. He is a disciple of Ben Graham (Buffett’s teacher at Columbia) and has never let political correctness influence his stock picking.

I have used his funds in 401K plans I put together for clients and have no problem with doing so in the future. Just because hot money has left him doesn’t change my opinion of his long term effectiveness.

[Frantzie]

Sorry dude - I know value investing and graham/dodd. Rogers is fair to not very good. If you want Graham and Dodd - go with Tweedy Browne or even Brandes.

I once had the chance to talk with Chris Browne who sadly passed away in 2009. He was kind and total gentleman.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703438404574598442025375858.html#articleTabs%3Darticle

I would also take Gabelli over Rogers. Gabelli’s wrote the book on cash flow analysis.

I can think of three money managers who all made money in 2008 and who are much much better than Rogers/Ariel.

[LRoggy]

The flagship Ariel Fund is up 6.55% compounded over the last ten years versus a negative 0.76% for the S&P 500. If that is a poor record you have standards that are unrealistic.

Tweedy Browne's original fund managers Cuniff and Ruane, who were classmates of Buffett’s are no longer managing the fund.

The TB Value Fund, the flagship fund for them, is up 3.56% for the same ten year period.

I'm not very good at math I guess, but I do think 6.55% pretty much annihilates 3.55%, particularly on a compound basis.