Markets....who's up and who's down at this point?
- Thread starter NPT
- Start date
About $20K down from just before the Trump Tariff Tornado (TTT) tanked the market. However, I dropped about $100K on paper immediately after TTT Day, so I've gained $80K back after the tariffs pause. Not worried. Absent another TTT Day I'm confident I'll have a full recovery, and the portfolio will continue to grow in the long-term.
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I'm down 2.1% on my 401K since it peaked on Feb 18
But the good news is that since the first of the year I am up 2.5% and better still, over 12 mo. I am up 13.5% (thanks Joe!)
But the good news is that since the first of the year I am up 2.5% and better still, over 12 mo. I am up 13.5% (thanks Joe!)
It's hard for me to figure how much I'm up because I move money around so much and have given a lot to our daughter. At Schwab, it says I'm up 2.63% since the first of the year but I know I've taken money out of some of the accounts.
I'm way past making any contributions.
Who do you use to research or maybe a better question is what is your favorite place?
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Most of the research is just studying rates of return and investment strategies of different mutual funds carried by investment companies for my current and past employees (Fidelity, mostly), on their websites. I also look at fund rankings by 3rd parties.I'm way past making any contributions.
Who do you use to research or maybe a better question is what is your favorite place?
Most every time I take a long look at it, the index funds surprise me. They are better than most, probably given their super-low fees.
I do try to balance index, aggressive growth, growth, a little income, and a little in foreign markets.
I have been underwhelmed by the performance of the "targeted retirement date" funds as they seem to be too risk-averse to my tastes. They assume that once you're 60 you don't want to risk losing a penny. I trust the 90+ year trend of inflation-beating market upside performance over all 10 year market periods
I'm down about 1% from my February high, which with the size of my holdings ain't much.
My guy moved me to index funds a year ago. Said they would perform about the same as what the managed funds had, and of course the fees would be less.
I've read several places that the S&P 500 indexed fund beats 75% of the actively managed funds. A person has to decide whether they think they can pick a fund in the group that beats the index. Most people can't. However, there's a lot more involved that just beating the index. You have to take risks into consideration. If a fund comes close to the index but is less risky then then that might be best for some people. I always try to look and see how a fund manager does in relation to other funds in the category. For example, you can see the manager(s) of this fund is almost always in the top 25%.
Probably but I'm too lazy to figure out how it's done. 🤣 I could probably do it pretty easily using Excel. My finances are kinda complicated to keep track of. I'm over 70.5 so I have to take my RMD every year. Also I make QCD donations and am in the process of converting IRAs to Roths so I have a lot to keep track of.
My move from funds to precious metals has been interesting.
Mid-March '23 through mid-June '23 I bought gold and silver in 12 buys.
My average cost of gold was $1988 toz.
Silver was $25.00 toz, including seller premium at 7.4%.
Monex exchange (Japan), priced gold at $3280. toz, and silver at $32.99.
Gold has appreciated at $1292 per toz
Silver at $7.99 toz.
Gold appreciation about 64%
Silver about half that.
Mid-March '23 through mid-June '23 I bought gold and silver in 12 buys.
My average cost of gold was $1988 toz.
Silver was $25.00 toz, including seller premium at 7.4%.
Monex exchange (Japan), priced gold at $3280. toz, and silver at $32.99.
Gold has appreciated at $1292 per toz
Silver at $7.99 toz.
Gold appreciation about 64%
Silver about half that.
My broker is D. M. Bailey, and he made me over a gazillion dollars last week.
(This is a repeat post. Not sure what happened to the first one from this morning.)
(This is a repeat post. Not sure what happened to the first one from this morning.)
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Can I ask the reasoning behind converting traditional to Roth at this point in your life?Probably but I'm too lazy to figure out how it's done. 🤣 I could probably do it pretty easily using Excel. My finances are kinda complicated to keep track of. I'm over 70.5 so I have to take my RMD every year. Also I make QCD donations and am in the process of converting IRAs to Roths so I have a lot to keep track of.
I'm trying to minimize future taxes. The Secure Act 2.0 really screwed up my plans. Before that I didn't think it was an advantage to do much converting because our daughter could take assets out of our IRAs over her lifetime but the Secure Act 2.0 gives her just 10 years to get all the assets out. Of course I am cynical about the government anyway and I think they'll find an underhanded way to tax Roth IRAs so converting is probably a losing proposition. I should have started converting a long time ago, figuring that the government would screw up my plans.
As I've mentioned previously, running into this with an inherited 401k from my dad. He died right after that change went in effect. Nothing like holding out 24 percent on taxes. Guess it's good my wife is a teacher and doesn’t make squat.
Paying heavy taxes on money i don't need in our peak earning years stinks. My sister and her husband dealing with the same account as their part of the inheritance. I think they are withholding 32 percent.
Had we had time, i wpuld have bypassed myself and had him leave it to my kids.
We're giving our daughter quite a bit of money every year. The 2025 limit is $19,000 so between my wife and I we could give her $38,000 and there's nothing to report. If we went over that we' d have to fille a gift tax return which he did when my MIL died because it all come to my wife an we gave it to our daughter.
I don't think my folks did any planning of this nature. I was able to make three distributions to us kids after I took over the finances, but held a bunch back for their care. Worked out fairly well. There wasn't a lot left when mom died.
My broker is Mas, and I lost a lot of money following his "Buy Nazi paraphernalia" recommendation. Not a good hedge at all. And the clothing draws unwanted stares, though also you get a few nods of approval from the MAGA crowd.
My wife and I are fortunate to both have good LTC policies. I actually bought them younger than typical but the premium reflects that.
I'm not sure how I'll handle the gifting yet. Probably set a baseline of short term savings/checking of 100k. Then take our pensions and yearly 401k withdrawals. Then gift at Christmas any amount I have in short term over that amount. Repeat every year until dead.
My wife and I did a will last year.
First thing to do prior to the will is to designate kids as contingency beneficiaries on all accounts: 401K, brokerage accounts, individual securities, EVERYTHING. Usually an online form. Avoids probate. Many states then also allow a Lady Bird deed (or similar) where kids are listed as the contingency beneficiaries on the house and any other deeded property. Also avoids probate. Then things like power of attorney or living will options. We used a real attorney not software, but we only "met" over the phone.
It's not as complicated as I expected. Do it.
First thing to do prior to the will is to designate kids as contingency beneficiaries on all accounts: 401K, brokerage accounts, individual securities, EVERYTHING. Usually an online form. Avoids probate. Many states then also allow a Lady Bird deed (or similar) where kids are listed as the contingency beneficiaries on the house and any other deeded property. Also avoids probate. Then things like power of attorney or living will options. We used a real attorney not software, but we only "met" over the phone.
It's not as complicated as I expected. Do it.
A person can give away a lot of money with no tax consequences. Both my wife and I could give our daughter $19000 if we wanted to even though I would never give all of that even if I could because we give gifts, etc so I'd never give over $18,000. Then if we wanted to the same rules apply to her husband.
What a lot of people don't realize is that a will does NOT override a beneficiary designation. If you have things set up correctly a lot can be done with just assigning a beneficiary. I don't think (don't know for sure) that you can do anything like that with material possessions like a house or car so you need to do that with a will or trust. I need to look into your Lady Bird deed...thanks.
But "Do it" is GOOD advice.
Yes, the beneficiary designation takes precedence, indeed. Plus it would save the recipients a ton of hassle, rather than wondering how in holy hell they track down all of Dad's investments. As designated beneficiaries they are already in the system at (say) Fidelity or Vanguard, with their legal name, DOB, and SS# associated with the account.
I'm funding a special needs trust with an IRA (and some other investments) and trying to figure it all out right now for the same reason. "I'm from the government and I'm here to help"
You suck at comedy, almost as much as you suck at giving medical advice.
