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Post by Admin/YBB on Aug 4, 2021 19:07:37 GMT -6
With M* Charts no longer available, and Yahoo Finance providing limited info, here are some ways to handle CREF VAs in portfolios. 1) Use FT for charts. Single chart URL for CREF Stock QCSTX. Replace ticker in the URL for others. Special settings are not preserved on linking, so if showing something, mention settings used so that readers can recreate the chart, or include screenshot. markets.ft.com/data/funds/tearsheet/holdings?s=QCSTIXMulti-charts. Again, not all settings carryover on linking, so mention special settings to recreate chart, or include screenshot. The URLs are long and indecipherable, so only an example of hypertext link is shown. QCSTIX QCEQIX QCSCIXThese FT charts don't account for reinvestments. This is fine for VAs as there are no distributions and everything is incorporated in VA prices. But DO NOT use these to compare VAs with mutual funds (OEFs) or ETFs. 2) Portfolio Visualizer (PV) run template www.portfoliovisualizer.com/backtest-portfolioAs PV does not recognize VA tickers, use indexed ETF alternatives as follows. This is not ideal as all except one CREF VAs are active. But there is either this choice or nothing. Also, use PV Link-tool about 1/3 rd page down for linking. QCBMIX AGG or BND QCEQIX IWV QCGLIX ACWI QCGRIX IWF QCILIX TIP QCSCIX VSMGX (else, may require 3-4 ETFs) QCSTIX 70% IWV, 30% ACWX So, the PV run for 3 VAs charted above is PV QCSTIX QCEQIX QCSCIX
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Post by Admin/YBB on Aug 4, 2021 19:33:07 GMT -6
T-REA/QREARX was not mentioned. Item 1 for charting is applicable but item 2 for PV is not - I don't have any reasonable replacement for it via alternate funds.
In PV, cash is entered as CASHX (T-Bills). Enter Traditional as CASHX.
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Post by Admin/YBB on Aug 5, 2021 7:00:09 GMT -6
While the TICKERS for only CREF VA R3 class are mentioned in the OP, remember that tickers for other CREF VA classes differ only in the 5th place - R1 has "R", R2 has "P", R3 has "I". So, CREF Stock is R1-QCSTRX, R2-QCSTPX, R3-QCSTIX.
For those not familiar with Portfolio Visualizer (PV), it can handle the MIX of mutual funds (OEFs), ETFs, CEFs and stocks properly. The free version doesn't allow storing portfolios anymore, but one can have portfolios saved in EXCEL and upload up to 3 at a time. LIMITATIONS of PV include its use of MONTHLY return data (so it misses finer details within the months; this is similar to M*), the free data goes back to 1985 only, and free PV run periods are limited to that for portfolio holding with the SHORTEST HISTORY (the paid version can substitute something similar for longer runs).
While much of this info is not new, I am trying to collect basic related info for TIAA users on this thread. Others are free to add pointers too.
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