How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Discuss all general (i.e. non-personal) investing questions and issues, investing news, and theory.

How many different funds, etfs, stocks, or bonds do you own?

0
0
No votes
1
6
3%
2
2
1%
3
3
2%
4
12
7%
5
9
5%
6
16
9%
7
15
9%
8
18
10%
9
7
4%
10
6
3%
11
3
2%
12
10
6%
13
9
5%
14
4
2%
15
4
2%
16
5
3%
17
3
2%
18
3
2%
19+
38
22%
 
Total votes: 173

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SamGamgee
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How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by SamGamgee »

Just the number. Let's leave out cash or cash equivalents, and also ignore assets like real estate that you own directly, or a personal business. So if you own a house, some shares in the total stock market mutual fund, some of the total bond market etf, 100 shares of APPL, some cash in a moneymarket fund, and some savings and checking accounts, I would count that as 3 different "investments". The ones that count are total stock market, total bond market, and APPL.

I'm sure you'll find some grey areas in that instruction. Just do your best.

EDIT: feel free to also leave out any investments so small that they all add up to 1% of the whole. That might give a more meaningful answer.
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SamGamgee
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by SamGamgee »

My answer is 5. That includes company stock that is given to me in my 401k, which I get rid of every year or so.

For me, my true portfolio is only 4 things: total stock market, total stock international, total bond, and short term bond.
red5
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by red5 »

8. I did not include duplicate investments (same fund but in different accounts) or different classes of same fund (etf and MF version of same fund).
jeff1949
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by jeff1949 »

My answer was five (5) also.

TSM Index
REIT Index
Emer. Mkt Index
SCV Index
Dev. Mkt. Index

All Admiral shares at Vanguard in equal amounts.

Have a bunch of 3.0+ I-Bonds too but you said no cash equivalents. :)
Last edited by jeff1949 on Thu May 02, 2013 9:23 am, edited 1 time in total.
rkhusky
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by rkhusky »

5 in 401K, 3 in my IRA, 4 in spouse IRA, 6 in taxable, 3 529's.
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SamGamgee
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by SamGamgee »

rkhusky wrote:5 in 401K, 3 in my IRA, 4 in spouse IRA, 6 in taxable, 3 529's.
No duplicates?
rkhusky
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by rkhusky »

SamGamgee wrote:
rkhusky wrote:5 in 401K, 3 in my IRA, 4 in spouse IRA, 6 in taxable, 3 529's.
No duplicates?
No.
Johm221122
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by Johm221122 »

Counted EE bonds and I bonds as one each, plus 7 mutual funds.But Two 500 index so 8 total
John
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by Default User BR »

16 total, ignoring EE bonds.


Brian
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zaboomafoozarg
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by zaboomafoozarg »

I voted 12 total, but probably less than 10 in reality because some of them are the same (ie, BND and VBTLX).

Yeah, counted that way it'd be 9.
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mhc
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by mhc »

8 = 3 (401k@Fidelity) + 1 (HSA@Fidelity) + 4 (Taxable,Roth@Vanguard)

I forgot I have 1 more in 529's for a total of 9.
52% TSM, 23% TISM, 24.5% TBM, 0.5% cash
nodenuff2
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by nodenuff2 »

4 not counting a stable value fund .
2014 No. 42 2015 No.342 2016 No. 6 2017 238 2018 no. 175 2019 no. 144 6 year average 157.83. Proves I am just an average investor.What do I know? "Good bless America land that I love..."
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orcycle
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by orcycle »

13 (I think), not including duplicates across different accounts. But I'm working on it. :oops:
MoonOrb
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by MoonOrb »

7, because our 401(k) options don't include total stock market, total bond, or total int'l, so we have to sort of cobble together market coverage from the options we have, and there's a trickle down effect through the rest of our holdings.
Grt2bOutdoors
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by Grt2bOutdoors »

I hold an individual stock - large cap value portfolio in addition to the indexes and 529 plans. Put me in the 19+ category.
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gerrym51
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by gerrym51 »

i'm trying to avoid a headache :mrgreen:
core5
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by core5 »

Five for me

IRA
VTWSX (Don't have enough for admiral shares in VTSAX and VTIAX).
RALCX (classic "pay my manager" fund. Dumping it for VGSIX and VTWSX later this week).

401(k)
SSgA S&P 500 Index Fund
SSgA Global All Cap Equity ex U.S. Index Fund
SSgA Russell Small/Mid Cap Index Fund
feh
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by feh »

Eight:

TSM
TISM
SV
ISV
SP500
TBM (2 funds)
REIT
livesoft
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by livesoft »

Over 30 spread out among 18 accounts.
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assumer
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by assumer »

1 - A target retirement fund.
Tamahome
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by Tamahome »

My number is skewed a little. The number is 17 because of pre-boglehead buy and hold investments like individual stock in BAC, etc. If you count just my post-boglehead investments, it would be simplified down to 9 total. Some of these would be semi-duplicate. That is, if my 401k has a DFA fund that tracks the same segment as a Vanguard fund in a taxable account, I count them as separate under the guidelines provided. (For example, two mid-cap funds)
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bluelight
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by bluelight »

7 - All Index funds...
2 in my old 401K
1 in my current 401K
US Bond index at Fidelity
TSM, TISM, TBM at Vanguard.

I looked back to see the number that I had before finding Bogleheads in 2011. I was all over the place with over 20 stocks and funds.
xram
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by xram »

See below. :happy
VTI, VBR, VTWV, SCHH, VXUS, VEA, VWO, VSS, FM, VNQI, VBTLX, VFITX, SCHP, VWITX, IBONDS, EEBONDS, EF(EverBank), UTAH-529
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kenyan
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by kenyan »

16 spread out among 9 different accounts (2x 529, taxable, 6 retirement accounts). Technically 18, but two share class overlaps.
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Easy Rhino
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by Easy Rhino »

16 but several share class overlaps, and a few cases of "near fits" becuase my 401k has something similar to a vanguard index I like.

and a few random stocks in relatively small holdings. :beer
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22twain
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by 22twain »

Seven:

403(b) with TIAA-CREF:
1. TIAA Traditional
2. CREF Stock.

T. Rowe Price mutual funds:
3. Total Equity Market Index (POMIX)
4. International Equity Index (PIEQX)
5. US Bond Enhanced Index (PBDIX)

T. Rowe Price brokerage:
6. Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI)
7. Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND)
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mcblum
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by mcblum »

not counting the Money Market: six.
Total Stock, Intermediate Bond and TIPS in IRA
S&P 500 and Intermediate Bond in 401K
S&P 500 in Taxable
Marty
20 shares of KO....
Last edited by mcblum on Thu May 02, 2013 4:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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steve r
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by steve r »

6

Roth & taxable(small)
ACWV (All Country Index Min Volatility)

Fidelity 403b
FFNOX Four In One Index

TIAA-CREF 403b
Vanguard Signal U.S. Index
Vanguard Signal International Index
Vanguard Signal Bond Index
Vanguard Signal TIPS

I would drop down to three if TIAA-CREF gave me an Index all in one choice. Love the simplicity.
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dmcmahon
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by dmcmahon »

Counted all FDIC instruments as one.
technovelist
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by technovelist »

1 for me. Or it could be 2 if you count fixed annuities, or 3 if you count glittery-type cash as an investment.
Last edited by technovelist on Thu May 02, 2013 5:25 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Toons
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by Toons »

At last count 35
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Paul78
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by Paul78 »

5

G-fund

Vanguard index funds
Total International Stock
Total Stock Market
Emerging Markets Stock
Small-Cap
gkaplan
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by gkaplan »

Eight, not counting a Vanguard money market fund.

Vanguard Value Index Fund Admiral Shares
Vanguard Small-Cap Value Index Fund Admiral Shares
Vanguard European Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares
Vanguard Pacific Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares
Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap Index Fund
Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares
Vanguard Inflation-Protected Securities Fund Admiral Shares
Thrift Savings Plan "G" Fund
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pennstater2005
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by pennstater2005 »

LIfestrategy Growth Fund. Not sure if you count that as one or three.
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LazyNihilist
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by LazyNihilist »

Total Stock Market
Total International Stock Market
Total Bond Market
TIPS.

I also own Target Retirement 2020 but didn't count it because it is made up of the above 4.
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BigFoot48
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by BigFoot48 »

Very interesting the 19+ number. HEY PEOPLE! Get with the program! :P

(Full disclosure: I use to have 18 myself.)
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bottomfisher
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by bottomfisher »

10 funds total within taxable, Roth IRA, SIMPLE IRA, 457.
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zaboomafoozarg
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by zaboomafoozarg »

Most people at 19+? Dang. Trying to recreate the total market index yourself to save on the expense ratio? :D
scrabbler1
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by scrabbler1 »

Six. Two in my IRA and 4 in taxable accounts (mainly to generate income as I am an early retiree). One stock fund in each account and 4 bond funds (munis, corporate, long-term, intermediate term, investment grade, just below investment grade) scattered across 2 brokerage companies.
investnoob13
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by investnoob13 »

Six.

Vanguard Total stock market
Vanguard Total International Stock market
Vanguard Total bonds market
Vanguard Emerging Market
Vanguard REIT index
Vanguard CA IT tax-exempt muni

Only Total bonds in my Roth IRA.. rest in taxable account. I intended to keep this 6-fund as simple as it is.
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SamGamgee
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by SamGamgee »

Out of almost 100 votes...

2 in 9 are in the 19+ category

another 2 in 9 are in the 12-18 range

5/9 have 10 different investments or fewer.

Thanks to everybody who participated. This has been very interesting.

[edited for accuracy]
TO39
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by TO39 »

I voted 19 +

4 in roth
4 in ira
6 in taxable
7 in 401

for a total of 21

there were 2 duplicates to take me to 19 even

This did not seem like too many to me

the 401 might seem high, but I have small tilt, and foreign and precious metals exposure

Also you could subtract another two if you consider SHY or stable value cash equivalents
assumer
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by assumer »

TO39 wrote:foreign and precious metals exposure
What's your reasoning for having those?
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Bogle101
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by Bogle101 »

Taxable + 401(k) + Roth

All Vanguard Mutual Funds -

Energy
Vanguard Extended Market
FTSE Global ex-US Small Cap
Health Care
Junk Bonds
High Yield Municipal
Vanguard Total Stock Market

PIMCO Total Return
Vangaurd Institutional Index
Vanguard Extended Market
Vanguard Total International


International REIT
US REIT
Vanguard Total Stock Market
40% Extended Market | 40% S&P 500 | 10% REIT | 5% State Muni Bond | 5% Cash
TO39
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by TO39 »

assumer wrote:
TO39 wrote:foreign and precious metals exposure
What's your reasoning for having those?


I like the diversity
jon-nyc
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by jon-nyc »

Over 19 but half of them are individual TIPS issues.
leo383
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by leo383 »

Seven.

Total Stock
Total Intl Stock
Total Bond
Small Value Index
Long Term Tax Exempt
Fidelity S&P 500
PIMCO Total Return
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SamGamgee
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by SamGamgee »

jon-nyc wrote:Over 19 but half of them are individual TIPS issues.
It's probably more meaningful to consider all the TIPS as one investment.
rr2
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by rr2 »

4.

In Tax Advantaged:
-----------------------
CREF Stock
TIAA Traditional
TIAA Real Estate

In Taxable:
--------------
Vanguard Total World Stock Index (VTWSX)
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BostonBoy
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Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Post by BostonBoy »

My answer is 8 all VG.

Total Bond
Total Stock
Total International
Inflation Protected Securities

Extended Market Index
Windsor II

Mid-Cap Index

Short-Term treasury
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