Flat fee. Meetings usually last approximately 1 hour. I am not really interested in extreme detail. The primary objectives are to make sure change directions are incremental and preservation.
The idea is to "Make Haste Slowly. "
Basically I am a sit on your hands type of investor. I meet with our advisor 2 times a year. At this time he describes what he believes will be the best option/direction to go with our retirement investments. If the plan makes sense to me based on current conditions, I give him permission to execute. If it doesn't, we discuss the options until we come to an agreement and then we go forward. I do not really track how we are doing other than check periodically to confirm the investments generally seem to move in the same direction and magnitude as the general market. Hopefully down less and up approximately the same. The objective is to accumulate so the funds are there if and when we need them. You know, get financially healthy slowly. As to the "Playground" account, Much the same. It consists of stocks I select from a list known as the Champions, Challengers and Contenders. This is a list of stocks that have paid and increased dividends for more than 5 years, 10 years and 25 years in a row. I use my monthly deposit and any dividends received to purchase the selected stock until 100 shares have been purchased. Then look for the next stock. When it is time to purchase a new stock, I rotate through the individual lists in sequence. Sales occur only if a company fails to increase its dividend 2 years in a row. The primary purchase criteria for the next stock is that it is on the current list and near the 52 week low. The only other research I do is a quick search on current news about the stock to see if there is any news indicating potential bad changes for the company. The only real performance parameters I have is that based on current price dividend return in 3.3% and 5.3% based on cost. Of course the longer held stocks are paying higher rates. As to total return, the stocks are approximately up 58%. Annual rate of return? Haven't really attempted to track it and not really interested.
I have a small "Playground" stock brokerage account that receives a monthly payment. I use this account to scratch my investment itch without putting our real retirement funds into jeopardy and to keep me out of our advisor's hair. My rebalancing process is to use these monthly funds and any dividends to purchase into the lowest sector closer to the desired balance level. It doesn't always bring everything into balance, but over time this process keeps the account close to the pivot point. Seems to work out without having to periodically sell and purchase to reestablish the balance point.
In late 1969 I returned from Viet Nam on leave and got myself engaged with a marriage date 6 months in the future. After returning to complete my tour, I learned we needed to complete a marriage application. Not easy as I was a few miles away. My father, same name as I, went to the county office with my future bride and completed and signed the form. She reported that the clerk and all in the office gave them some seriously strange looks as she was 19 and he was in his late fifties. Six months later I returned, and the wedding went off without a hitch. Fifty five years later still together. BUT ARE WE REALLY MARRIED?
Comments
Flat fee. Meetings usually last approximately 1 hour. I am not really interested in extreme detail. The primary objectives are to make sure change directions are incremental and preservation. The idea is to "Make Haste Slowly. "
Post: Rethinking Rebalancing
Link to comment from July 5, 2025
Basically I am a sit on your hands type of investor. I meet with our advisor 2 times a year. At this time he describes what he believes will be the best option/direction to go with our retirement investments. If the plan makes sense to me based on current conditions, I give him permission to execute. If it doesn't, we discuss the options until we come to an agreement and then we go forward. I do not really track how we are doing other than check periodically to confirm the investments generally seem to move in the same direction and magnitude as the general market. Hopefully down less and up approximately the same. The objective is to accumulate so the funds are there if and when we need them. You know, get financially healthy slowly. As to the "Playground" account, Much the same. It consists of stocks I select from a list known as the Champions, Challengers and Contenders. This is a list of stocks that have paid and increased dividends for more than 5 years, 10 years and 25 years in a row. I use my monthly deposit and any dividends received to purchase the selected stock until 100 shares have been purchased. Then look for the next stock. When it is time to purchase a new stock, I rotate through the individual lists in sequence. Sales occur only if a company fails to increase its dividend 2 years in a row. The primary purchase criteria for the next stock is that it is on the current list and near the 52 week low. The only other research I do is a quick search on current news about the stock to see if there is any news indicating potential bad changes for the company. The only real performance parameters I have is that based on current price dividend return in 3.3% and 5.3% based on cost. Of course the longer held stocks are paying higher rates. As to total return, the stocks are approximately up 58%. Annual rate of return? Haven't really attempted to track it and not really interested.
Post: Rethinking Rebalancing
Link to comment from July 4, 2025
I have a small "Playground" stock brokerage account that receives a monthly payment. I use this account to scratch my investment itch without putting our real retirement funds into jeopardy and to keep me out of our advisor's hair. My rebalancing process is to use these monthly funds and any dividends to purchase into the lowest sector closer to the desired balance level. It doesn't always bring everything into balance, but over time this process keeps the account close to the pivot point. Seems to work out without having to periodically sell and purchase to reestablish the balance point.
Post: Rethinking Rebalancing
Link to comment from July 3, 2025
In late 1969 I returned from Viet Nam on leave and got myself engaged with a marriage date 6 months in the future. After returning to complete my tour, I learned we needed to complete a marriage application. Not easy as I was a few miles away. My father, same name as I, went to the county office with my future bride and completed and signed the form. She reported that the clerk and all in the office gave them some seriously strange looks as she was 19 and he was in his late fifties. Six months later I returned, and the wedding went off without a hitch. Fifty five years later still together. BUT ARE WE REALLY MARRIED?
Post: Am I Really Married?
Link to comment from May 7, 2025