User:Sewall

Who Am I?
I'm sewall on Bogleheads.org. Sewall 03:25, 20 December 2008 (UTC)

Personal Finance Activity Log
Early 1990s: My father started Vanguard Index 500 and Star funds on my behalf. He gave me reading material on mutual funds, indexing, and costs.

Mid 1990s: I started an IRA.

1998: Converted IRA to a Roth.

1999: Started my first job with a 401(k), contributed 15% of salary.

2000: Withdrew $10,000 from Roth for down payment of first house. Refinanced that first house multiple times to get down to a 5.5% 30-year fixed rate mortgage. Every refinance was no points, no closing costs.

2001: Married.

2003: Began working for a Federal agency and become eligible for the Federal TSP. Contributions totaled 15% of salary, including Government match.

2004: Had first child, created first estate plan with wills, living wills, durable power of attorney, medical proxy. Purchased life insurance. Began 529 for first child.

2006: Bought second home, sold first.

2007: Had second child. Increased life insurance. Began 529 for second child.

2007: Increased international holdings to 50% of equities using funds in a Rollover IRA from my first employer's 401(k). Now all holdings are with TSP and Vanguard.

March, 2008: Registered at Bogleheads.org and began reading personal finance books. Soon after bought TIPS for the first time, 50% of bond holdings.

Summer, 2008: Updated estate plan.

November, 2008: Added an REIT fund to my holdings (5%).

Fall/Winter, 2008: Executed TLH-ing several times. I had never done that before.

January, 2009: Refinanced to 30-year fixed @ 4.75% (no points, ~$375 in closing costs)

January, 2009: Optimized holdings over TSP and Vanguard so that TSP holds only the G, C, and S funds and VG holds TSM, Total Int'l, REIT, TIPS, and Prime MM. Below is my non-cash AA.