Search found 64 matches

by Slothmeister
Tue Nov 20, 2018 10:22 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: U.S. stocks in free fall
Replies: 36221
Views: 4652264

Re: U.S. stocks in freefall

Hold on Elizabeth, I think this is the BIG ONE!
by Slothmeister
Tue May 01, 2018 1:32 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: U.S. stocks in free fall
Replies: 36221
Views: 4652264

Re: U.S. stocks in freefall

I'm just glad I'm not looking to rebalance at one year. Still have time for it to go up. Hahaha.
by Slothmeister
Wed Apr 25, 2018 6:40 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: U.S. stocks in free fall
Replies: 36221
Views: 4652264

Re: U.S. stocks in freefall

With the stock market doing jumping jacks, the housing market once again appears to be getting hot for sellers and more difficult for buyers.
by Slothmeister
Mon Apr 02, 2018 12:59 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: U.S. stocks in free fall
Replies: 36221
Views: 4652264

Re: U.S. stocks in freefall

The way things are going, it may be too soon to buy.
by Slothmeister
Mon Apr 02, 2018 12:47 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: U.S. stocks in free fall
Replies: 36221
Views: 4652264

Re: U.S. stocks in freefall

I feel like Slim Pickens riding that missile down to unknown depths. There goes my first 6 months as an investor. Time to sit tight.
by Slothmeister
Fri Mar 30, 2018 11:37 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What are you up YTD? [Year To Date]
Replies: 5249
Views: 900060

Re: What are you up YTD? [Year To Date]

-2% plus equities
by Slothmeister
Mon Feb 05, 2018 9:04 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: "Bitcoin is my potential pension"
Replies: 54
Views: 10722

Re: "Bitcoin is my potential pension"

That title should be "Bitcoin is my potential poison."
by Slothmeister
Fri Feb 02, 2018 11:11 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: U.S. stocks in free fall
Replies: 36221
Views: 4652264

Re: U.S. stocks in freefall

I'm glad I'm not playing the buy and sell stock game. Then again. If the S&P goes back to 2250, it might be time to load up on more index funds.
by Slothmeister
Thu Dec 07, 2017 11:10 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: When Bitcoin blows-up
Replies: 55
Views: 7611

Re: When Bitcoin blows-up

This is an instance when a time machine would come in handy.
by Slothmeister
Tue Dec 05, 2017 2:38 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Jack Bogle Says ‘Avoid Bitcoin Like the Plague’
Replies: 324
Views: 48713

Re: Jack Bogle Says ‘Avoid Bitcoin Like the Plague’

Why would you want to invest in something where there is no accountability? Decentralization is great until the SHTF and there's no rope to grab.
by Slothmeister
Tue Nov 28, 2017 10:19 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Inheriting a large sum, slightly intimidated.
Replies: 51
Views: 7846

Re: Inheriting a large sum, slightly intimidated.

After maxing out your Roth IRA and 403(b), I would put 200,000 in high-yield savings. One million in five different 7-year CDs and split the rest in Fidelity Total Stock Market Index Fund and Fidelity 500 Index Fund.
by Slothmeister
Wed Nov 15, 2017 9:45 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: U.S. stocks in free fall
Replies: 36221
Views: 4652264

Re: U.S. stocks in freefall

Dangit! Why did I buy those index funds last week? I knew I should have timed the market!
by Slothmeister
Tue Nov 14, 2017 11:21 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: [Solved] Starting investing in a long-run bull market: advices ?
Replies: 15
Views: 2357

Re: Starting investing in a long-run bull market: advices ?

If you're planning to invest bits at a time, no need to wait. The market is starting to herk and jerk, so who knows what it will do. The harder decision would be if you had a big lump sum. Monthly, or whatever periodic savings is always good.
by Slothmeister
Wed Nov 08, 2017 8:47 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: "I took all my money out of the stock market and it feels amazing"
Replies: 69
Views: 12355

Re: "I took all my money out of the stock market and it feels amazing"

It looks like she may have made a wise decision. I just invested another nice chunk into some FSTVX and now I'm wondering, was that not too smart? Markets are getting a little testy the last couple of days.
by Slothmeister
Tue Nov 07, 2017 8:59 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Lowering taxes on business in the US
Replies: 17
Views: 1927

Re: Lowering taxes on business in the US

TheBogleWay wrote: Tue Nov 07, 2017 1:45 am So, I'm wondering. What do the educated people of Bogleheads think, would a tax cut on businesses in the US cause the US economy to thrive? Or, would it hinder economic growth in the US.
In the short term, yes. Long term, no.
by Slothmeister
Fri Oct 27, 2017 9:26 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: U.S. stocks in free fall
Replies: 36221
Views: 4652264

Re: U.S. stocks in freefall

technovelist wrote: Thu Oct 26, 2017 5:40 pm
Slothmeister wrote: Thu Oct 26, 2017 5:02 pm Nobody is buying. Nobody is selling. Market just keeps chugging up that hill.
If nobody is buying and nobody is selling, how can there be any trading at all? :confused
In the big picture. Just a manner of speaking. The stock market has been pretty tame lately.
by Slothmeister
Fri Oct 27, 2017 9:17 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Investing Inheritance Late in Cycle
Replies: 27
Views: 4140

Re: Investing Inheritance Late in Cycle

I'd put 200K in Total Stock Market and Total Int'l Stock 70/30. Put 150k in CDs and the rest in high yield savings. Wait for the market to crash, put another 200k in Total Stock Market and Total Int'l Stock 70/30. Keep the rest in CDs and high yield savings.
by Slothmeister
Thu Oct 26, 2017 5:02 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: U.S. stocks in free fall
Replies: 36221
Views: 4652264

Re: U.S. stocks in freefall

Nobody is buying. Nobody is selling. Market just keeps chugging up that hill.
by Slothmeister
Wed Oct 25, 2017 9:57 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why A NFL Football Player Drives A 26 Year Old Car
Replies: 10
Views: 2934

Re: Why A NFL Football Player Drives A 26 Year Old Car

I can't believe he's still driving that old thing. I forgot that Mazda overhauled it and made it, more or less, brand new again.
by Slothmeister
Thu Oct 19, 2017 2:52 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: I need help with our Fidelity accounts
Replies: 23
Views: 2716

Re: I need help with our Fidelity accounts

I would stay at Fidelity and consolidate all of your taxed accounts into:

FSITX FIDELITY U.S. BOND INDEX PREMIUM CLASS
FSTVX FIDELITY TOTAL MKT INDEX PREMIUM CLASS

These have super low expense ratios. At your age, I would go 50/50.
by Slothmeister
Thu Oct 19, 2017 11:31 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Dow more than tripled in 8 years
Replies: 6
Views: 1367

Re: Dow more than tripled in 8 years

All of the commentary about how well the stock market has done "since 2009" really should take into account the fact that it had fallen down a well, nearly half of that gain was just climbing out. The great bull market of 1995-2000 was not climbing out of a well. The bull market followed a period of steady growth (at least it looks steady in this super-compressed semilog view!) It was above the trend that had preceded it. And starting from the already-established high, it grew by an additional factor of 3.5X that high . Following 2008, the S&P 500 tanked and it took roughly until 2012 to get back to even, or to get back onto the track established by the past. From the previous high , it has only grown by a factor of 2.3X. Goo...
by Slothmeister
Thu Oct 19, 2017 9:53 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: U.S. stocks in free fall
Replies: 36221
Views: 4652264

Re: U.S. stocks in freefall

It's leveling off. Whew! I was hoping the drop would hold out until at least the middle of next week.
by Slothmeister
Wed Oct 18, 2017 6:51 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 2017 on pace as least volatile year on record
Replies: 5
Views: 1273

Re: 2017 on pace as least volatile year on record

Portfolio7 wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2017 10:20 pm I wonder if this is a result of trading algorithms providing liquidity and valuing the markets in similar fashion.... plus the steady flow of 401K $ into stocks and bonds via autopilot tending towards stability as well. I don't know enough to say yes or no, but it seams like a reasonable supposition to me.
I think automated trading algorithms might be the main reason for the lack of volatility. It removes the human element which would help stabilize trading. What will become of the trading market if volatility disappears? Could automated algorithms cause a new form of crises that no one is aware of?
by Slothmeister
Tue Oct 17, 2017 12:33 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 2017 on pace as least volatile year on record
Replies: 5
Views: 1273

2017 on pace as least volatile year on record

October is the month with the highest share of daily moves of 1 percent or more in either direction, but not this year. At least not yet.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... arket-calm
by Slothmeister
Tue Oct 17, 2017 7:26 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help w/ parents investments
Replies: 22
Views: 1613

Re: Help w/ parents investments

Maybe try to talk him into putting half of the stock investments in CDs? What kind of stocks does he have? If they're conservative stocks that won't disappear in a bear market, what's the worry? It sounds like he's got some revenue stream with real estate and a pension and medical care to boot. Maybe he likes his stocks?
by Slothmeister
Mon Oct 16, 2017 10:26 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: [How to get started buying stocks]
Replies: 11
Views: 1659

Re: How to get started buying stocks

Jugee wrote: Sun Oct 15, 2017 9:29 pm Hi. I'm 52 and have been saving some money in a savings account, I have a 401K at work and I have a Roth IRA. I was interested in buying stocks and wondered if it was possible to start slow to get my feet wet and just buy one or two stocks at a time. If that is possible which site is best to do that?

Thank you
To answer where, I would consider where you house your 401K and Roth IRA at this time. If they're in the same spot, see how that site compare's to others and if it's comparable, then I'd do it there. It's easier to keep everything organized when it's in the same location.
by Slothmeister
Mon Oct 16, 2017 10:18 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 30th Anniversary of October 19, 1987 stock market crash
Replies: 36
Views: 4949

Re: 30th Anniversary of October 19, 1987 stock market crash

nordsteve wrote: Mon Oct 16, 2017 9:44 am Those of us who have been investing for a while can't forget the memorable day of October 19, 1987. It's memorable because the S&P 500 lost over 20% of its value that day. Newer investors should think about how you'd feel if your equity allocation declined that much in a day.

Two good articles looking back at this milestone decline in the market:

The Crash of ’87, From the Wall Street Players Who Lived It

Marking 30 Years since the Stock Market Crash of 1987
Happy Anniversary!!!

Yep, newer investors like me think about this stuff all the time. Bogleheads say, stop trying to time the market! This crash really just ended up being a blip in the grand scheme of things, right?
by Slothmeister
Fri Oct 13, 2017 12:17 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Large lump sum-how to invest
Replies: 5
Views: 1028

Re: Large lump sum-how to invest

Akrachidi wrote: Thu Oct 12, 2017 8:47 pm We just received a large payout on a property sale. We have approximately $220k on hand with a $380k new mortgage. Should we focus on paying down the new mortgage as fast as possible or invest the $220k? And if stocks are a good idea, lump sum or DCA?
It also depends on how long you're willing to hold the investment, your income, and your age. If you can wait 15+ years and make a pretty decent salary and your mortgage rate is around 3.5%, I would invest 80/20 of stocks/bonds, via index funds and let it sit while you pay off the mortgage.

I'm presuming you already have 401k and IRA set up and maxed out? If not, get those set up first.
by Slothmeister
Tue Oct 10, 2017 8:10 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Longterm Investing Renewable ETFs
Replies: 14
Views: 1687

Re: Longterm Investing Renewable ETFs

I only know that renewable energy probably will be a big deal in the future. They already consist of over 20% of global energy share and it's only going to grow. Right now they're treading water with slight returns and with high expense rates and turnover ratio they are not very attractive. FAN and TAN apparently have a kicker that ramps up the expense from .60% and .71% to .95% and .88% at the start and end of the new year. ICLN isn't too bad at .48% but its performance is not good at this time. I think I'm going to hold off on this idea. Thanks for the responses!
by Slothmeister
Tue Oct 10, 2017 3:27 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Longterm Investing Renewable ETFs
Replies: 14
Views: 1687

Re: Longterm Investing Renewable ETFs

Possibly TAN, FAN and/or ICLN

I could include nuclear. I'm not sure.
by Slothmeister
Tue Oct 10, 2017 2:04 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Longterm Investing Renewable ETFs
Replies: 14
Views: 1687

Re: Longterm Investing Renewable ETFs

We will need high-density energy (oil, nat gas) for our lifetimes. Renewables are a tiny percentage of all energy sources. If you must do this, an ETF that really covered the sector would help avoid picking the losers. The problem with sector bets is that you can only put a small percentage in them. You don't want to bet the farm on solar. Then if one solar company is ever a big, consistent winner your profit will be small because you did not bet enough and it is further diluted because you bought an ETF. But if you bet too much you will probably lag the 5% or so that the market will give you if you let it. Go ahead and dream about possibilities but be sure to act on the real probabilities. GL I've got 24% globally from this source: https:...
by Slothmeister
Tue Oct 10, 2017 2:03 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Longterm Investing Renewable ETFs
Replies: 14
Views: 1687

Re: Longterm Investing Renewable ETFs

"In other words you can see the changes coming, and I do, but I don't believe I can pick the winners. And they may not even exist yet."

But isn't that why an ETF is perfect for this type investment since it has several companies within that make up the ETF? I'm not 100% sure of how an ETF works, but doesn't an ETF manager buy up promising start ups and jettison subpar performing companies?
by Slothmeister
Tue Oct 10, 2017 12:25 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Longterm Investing Renewable ETFs
Replies: 14
Views: 1687

Longterm Investing Renewable ETFs

I've invested into Fidelity - Total Stock, Total Int'l and 500, but I'm leery of putting all of my equity in these benchmark index funds for a 10-12 year run. From what I'm hearing, many on here don't think the market will return more than 5% in the next 10 years. Five percent isn't bad but it could be better. Would it be wise to take a shot at some renewable energy ETFs and see how they do in the next 10-12 years? It looks like renewables will grow quite a bit in that period. Especially with the growth of energy storage. The only question is which companies will capitalize in that time-frame. With ETFs, such as TAN, FAN and/or ICLN, isn't the composition subject to change based on performance? So if renewables will gain in the next 10-12 y...
by Slothmeister
Fri Oct 06, 2017 9:12 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Does anyone hold cash?
Replies: 58
Views: 9096

Re: Does anyone hold cash?

20% in cash in a HYSA will give you some flexibility when rates change. Plus, 60% is way too much in bonds. I'd split the muni-bonds and equity in half since they have low correlation.
by Slothmeister
Thu Oct 05, 2017 11:46 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Millionaire Next Door (Thank you Bogleheads)
Replies: 81
Views: 16518

Re: Millionaire Next Door (Thank you Bogleheads)

Cheers to you and your mom!
by Slothmeister
Thu Oct 05, 2017 11:20 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Peter L. Bernstein: Cash BETTER than Bonds
Replies: 64
Views: 10820

Re: Peter L. Bernstein: Cash BETTER than Bonds

In an aging bull market, I like my fixed-income in CDs. It helps establish a strong disparity between it and my equities. Plus, it will deter me from tinkering.
by Slothmeister
Thu Oct 05, 2017 9:18 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Buy on Really Bad Days, Sell on Really Good Days?
Replies: 220
Views: 22992

Re: Buy on Really Bad Days, Sell on Really Good Days?

Isn't the whole Buy on Really Bad Days, Sell on Really Good Days? philosophy at odds with Bogleheads mentality of buy and hold?
by Slothmeister
Thu Oct 05, 2017 9:11 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Shifting 100% Stock → 35% Stock & 65% Bonds / REITs
Replies: 53
Views: 8733

Re: Shifting 100% Stock → 35% Stock & 65% Bonds / REITs

I hope msterr invested in Admiral shares as it sounded like he/she had enough for them.
by Slothmeister
Thu Oct 05, 2017 7:31 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Pay off mortgage instead of bond investment
Replies: 28
Views: 3138

Re: Pay off mortgage instead of bond investment

Pay it off! Then DCA into nice equity index fund(s) after the minimum (Admiral or Premium). Forget the bonds. Do some high-yield CDs instead. Maybe work a part time job. Forty-four is pretty young.
by Slothmeister
Mon Oct 02, 2017 3:09 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: How do you avoid bad market timing for lump sum investments?
Replies: 67
Views: 9409

Re: How do you avoid bad market timing for lump sum investments?

It seems to me that if I do just a single large purchase, at an unlucky moment Well, an unlucky moment was September, 2008, when the last big crash occurred. See this Morningstar chart for the Vanguard Total Stock Market Fund to see how you would have done if you had invested that month. http://quotes.morningstar.com/chart/fund/chart.action?t=VTSAX&region=usa&culture=en-US Presumably, this is intended to ally any fears of unlucky timing? Well, it might work as long as you don't look back. If you had invested $10,000 on 9/12/08, you'd have $19,921 by now . Not Bad! On the other hand, if you had waited one month, and instead invested that same $10,000 on 10/12/08, you'd instead have $27,717 by now . That's almost 40% more. This is my...
by Slothmeister
Tue Sep 19, 2017 8:14 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Invest in CDs rather than bonds
Replies: 9
Views: 1761

Re: Invest in CDs rather than bonds

nisiprius good explanation. KevinM is alot of help in this area. I recently bought my first online cd at Ally bank. The online bank worried me more than the market. Just some money I did not want in the market. But yes I agree it may be difficult to get the money when markets are crashing. So, like for myself I have my AA set that if the market does make a correction, I have no problem moving money from my fixed into the stocks and changing my AA a little more aggressive . But this does not include the cd. Even if you can cash the cd maybe it will take 2 weeks to get to you. And the correction may be over. Just a thought. A CD takes 2 weeks to process? Thanks for the info! Maybe it would be wise to to put some in an ultra liquid high-yield...
by Slothmeister
Tue Sep 19, 2017 8:05 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Invest in CDs rather than bonds
Replies: 9
Views: 1761

Re: Invest in CDs rather than bonds

So I was thinking of investing in an Intermediate Treasury Bond Index Fund because of it's non-correlation and to counter the Total Stock Market Index Fund in times of market loss. It's about a 1.5% forecast return in 5-years. A 5-year CD can be had at 2.4%. If rates rise, I can get out of the bank CD with little loss (maximum a years interest) with no fear in loss of principal and reinvest in higher rates CD. Plus, NO fees. Is it a no-brainer or am I missing something? You're not missing much, but it isn't a no-brainer, either. It's a brainer. I hope KevinM will notice this thread and weigh in. The big thing you're missing is hard to assess. You believe that "If rates rise, I can get out of the bank CD with little loss (maximum a yea...
by Slothmeister
Tue Sep 19, 2017 7:59 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Invest in CDs rather than bonds
Replies: 9
Views: 1761

Re: Invest in CDs rather than bonds

Call_Me_Op wrote: Tue Sep 19, 2017 5:58 am It depends upon what you want from your fixed income allocation. The one advantage of the treasury fund is liquidity in a flight to safety. For example, if stocks tank and there is a flight to safety, the value of the treasury fund will increase and you can sell some of it to buy stocks on sale.
The problem is that one has no idea how much a treasury fund will increase during a market slide and in the mean time, I'd be making very little off of it during good times.
by Slothmeister
Tue Sep 19, 2017 5:13 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Invest in CDs rather than bonds
Replies: 9
Views: 1761

Invest in CDs rather than bonds

So I was thinking of investing in an Intermediate Treasury Bond Index Fund because of it's non-correlation and to counter the Total Stock Market Index Fund in times of market loss. It's about a 1.5% forecast return in 5-years. A 5-year CD can be had at 2.4%. If rates rise, I can get out of the bank CD with little loss (maximum a years interest) with no fear in loss of principal and reinvest in higher rates CD. Plus, NO fees. Is it a no-brainer or am I missing something?
by Slothmeister
Fri Sep 15, 2017 8:50 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Distressing news -> Flight to Safety ?
Replies: 75
Views: 9579

Re: Distressing news -> Flight to Safety ?

Regarding treasury bonds, does anyone own Fidelity Long-Term Treasury Bond Index Fund - Premium Class? Would this be a decent bond fund during an equity drop?
by Slothmeister
Thu Sep 14, 2017 6:46 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Building a new Portfolio
Replies: 6
Views: 1115

Re: Building a new Portfolio

I'm planning to ditch my current Financial Advisor with Wells Fargo and move my Traditional IRA over to Fidelity where I currently have a few other investment accounts. So I'm looking to build a new portfolio of 3-4 funds max. Weeding through all the different funds and assessing their ROI, ER, Risk, LTR, etc is getting a bit overwhelming to be honest. Would really like to get some opinions on the following funds. FOCPX (Fidelity OTC Portfolio) FSTVX (Fidelity Total Market Index Premium Class) FTIPX (Fidelity Total Intl Index Premium) PARWX (Parnassus Endeavor Fund Investor Shares) OR.. any other funds which I should consider. Would really like to see growth for this account over the next 10-15 years. Some background: My Wells Fargo accoun...