Love, Hate and My 401(k)
35 replies
AUTHOR: Michael1 on 12/6/2024
FIRST: baldscreen on 12/6/2024 | RECENT: Dwain Sims on 12/7/2024
How to Not Waste a Low Income Year
18 replies
AUTHOR: Michael1 on 11/10/2024
FIRST: stelea99 on 11/10/2024 | RECENT: Michael1 on 11/18/2024
Hurricane Beryl aftermath
15 replies
AUTHOR: Michael1 on 7/13/2024
FIRST: Jonathan Clements on 7/13/2024 | RECENT: Michael1 on 7/15/2024
Comments:
That may be the most obvious, but certainly not the easiest, and not the least prone to error. That would be buying the total market - and not have to research which sectors are currently unloved, and which are the best companies in those sectors, and then keep watching to see when both those things are changing...
Post: Too Hot to Handle
Link to comment from February 4, 2025
I agree. My portfolio is more complicated because my approach was, but if I got a do-over both would be much simpler.
Post: Simplicity Is a Virtue
Link to comment from February 4, 2025
Maybe it’s not complicated if you start early, stay the course through think and thin, and markets cooperate. I’ll keep SS, thank you.
Post: They’re Right, I’m Wrong, Sort Of
Link to comment from February 3, 2025
Thanks for saying so. I was feeling pretty useless after reading the original post. :-)
Post: Necessary Skills
Link to comment from February 2, 2025
Re the first para on individual bonds over bond funds, here’s another perspective. https://humbledollar.com/money-guide/great-debates-bonds-or-bond-funds/
Post: Bond Index Funds or Something Else?
Link to comment from February 2, 2025
Nice article Dennis. I enjoy your perspective, as usual.
Post: Better Than Ever
Link to comment from January 29, 2025
Greetings from the Emerald Isle. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.
Post: Better Than Ever
Link to comment from January 29, 2025
Great question and I also look forward to other comments. From my perspective, true the last few years have not been great for bonds, but historically they have done better than cash. How do we know when things are really changing? I hear you on the low returns but consider this part of the price of diversification. We use Fidelity Total Bond FTBFX and Fidelity Inflation-Protected Bond FIPDX. Also, consider Fidelity Premium Money Market Fund FZDXX to replace SPAXX for your cash.
Post: Bond Index Funds or Something Else?
Link to comment from January 29, 2025
One of my favorite topics. I was an army paratrooper so no stranger to fitness. I lost the habit and my fitness during my first few years in the corporate world. Then became stronger in my 50s than I ever had been. I say all this to say that it’s never too late. When we became nomadic I toyed with the idea of traveling with one of my 13 kettlebells. (Cue eye roll). There’s one in our car that I’ll be glad to get my hands on in a few weeks, but usually I have nothing, which has been good and bad. Mostly bad but let’s try to be positive :-) The good has been that it’s caused me to explore other training. My muscle mass is down and my strength probably is too, but I’m still pretty strong and my mobility is way better. We may not always be able to everything, or the thing we would like, but let’s always do something.
Post: Keep Moving by Edmund Marsh
Link to comment from January 27, 2025
Two points: I wonder if there was an adequate discussion with the adviser. They appear to be employing a barbell strategy for the large stock portion, which some would say is a path toward higher returns. I realize your organization doesn’t care about higher than market returns, and also agree a broad index or two would likely be a better way achieve market returns. So I wonder how well the committee and the adviser understood what the ask was. And since you do just want market returns, it’s easy to say you could probably do without the adviser in the first place. But, that’s only assuming the committee has discipline when the going gets tough, and which I realize may be a lot harder than picking a few broad index funds, with multiple individual views on risk etc. I wouldn’t pay someone to manage a few index funds for me, but I’m a private individual (couple), not a non-profit. I’d think hard before deciding not to have one in such a situation.
Post: Benchmarks for our non-profit portfolio
Link to comment from January 26, 2025