I don't compare my portfolio against anything. I just make sure it's doing what "I" want it to do. Everyone is different and everyone needs their portfolio to be customized for themselves. So a comparison is pretty meaningless. I want to have capital gains and dividends - I search for the best companies in a sector that fit my needs and I treat each company as an individual contributor. I written in the past that I just make sure each of them is doing the best job they can.

People spend too much time fussing with all this stuff and it's really just not very helpful IMHO. You start comparing your portfolio against some other metric and then you start to be pulled off your game trying to play catch up or whatever.

Think about what happens around here with car builds - a guy starts out to build his perfect car - then gets on Lat G and sees all this other stuff - next thing he's 5 years off plan with a complicated car sitting in the garage all torn to pieces. In way over his head and trying to catch up -- in the 5 years he spent doing metal work - now his engine is passé and the wheels are dated...

Don't get caught up in stocks and bonds this way... trying to be something you're not.

Morning Guys..

For me, benchmarks are weird, but I am a newbie..

I look at them , but don't use them.

I am also following different assets, but the same best of breed, looking at long term strategies.

Things like the S and P was up and down 25% last year and ended at 0, and my assets were up and down 35% , and ended up 12%...

But I still travel the course I am on...Not easy for most..

Man what Greg just said, i am following a totally different drummer boy Portfolio, and that is why , on this thread, I keep some of it private to not cloud the Thread, But I could have gone crazy with my Car/Portfolio, once i got on this thread...

I would have gone and done all kinds of things midstream. Send back the springs, got a 4 link, on and on..And end us with a half finished car. With the Ideas on the table...Maybe the same with my Portfolio..

I still have a yearning to take a chunk of money and do a test of this thread for myself, another Schwab account..I name them, so this would be the Lat G Portfolio, we will see.

So I am doing things that are coming to fruit right now, and on those Great days, i used to get all giddy and full of myself, but I have learned to just take it as another day, because I don't want to get too high, of too low, in what is a momentary swing..:cheers: :lateral:

Erik --

I think that's been my point of this entire thread --- i.e., it really doesn't take that much "research" to find 20 great stocks to own... it takes a matter of a few minutes really -- particularly if you stick to best of breed stocks and then just diversify to cover different sectors. Investing is really really simple. A guy can try to make it complicated and onerous but then he'd be a stock broker!:lol:

The point of exposing my own holdings etc has been to show that if it works for someone with millions to invest - it certainly should work for those with slightly less.

Again what an awesome real life thread. It's inspired me to do a lot of research and learning. I think I'm spending as much time researching stocks and investments (if not more) than cars right now. As mentioned before, this really should be taught in high school and by every parent. What a difference in life it could make.

Any chance the mods can update the sticky PDF on the first page periodically to list all the pages? :D This thing has grown substantially since the last PDF.

Wes

Wes ---

Doing this FIRST --- is what allows you to buy all the car parts your heart desires! :D

Happy to hear someone is getting some "good" from the thread. :cheers:

Please just read the thread
 

Hey guys,

I thought I would post this to avoid problems..

I am Mike and I have started an investment thread elsewhere.

I am just giving people references to use to study, no advise ...I can't.

One was to come to this thread and read it several times and have a note pad with you..

My post today is for the new guys, PLEASE do not PM Greg about what to invest in...

If you are truly PAYING ATTENTION, this thread teaches you some skills to study and apply, not go buy this....

Everyone wants the quick answer and gets upset when we don't give them the Hidden codes to wealth...They are not hidden....But you got to comprehend what you are reading.

I just felt the need to say something ahead of time since I used this thread as what I think is a great tool for learning...I am pointing people to the tools, not the stocks to pick....A man must know his limitations..

So enjoy this thread, and study it, but do not PM Greg for help with your 401K, or what should I do with this or that...That won't go over well and then I am responsible for it..

Please, study and be patient... And these guys are here to help, but read the theme of the thread...To learn to do it yourself, and , or understand why your advisor is doing what he is doing...

Thanks Guys, and gals...I thought a preemptive strike was necessary :cheers: :lateral: ...:cheers:

Well said Mike...

None of us mind "helping" -- but this thread is trying to be the "teach a man to fish..." thread rather than let me catch you a fish.

Investing is a lot like hot rodding. Each guy has different taste - different dreams - different resources... different skills.

Once you know how to tune up a car - the basics can be translated to any car..

It's the same in investing. Some guys are chart happy - some need to see a P/E (Price to earnings ratio) that makes 'em happy - some are more comfortable investing in the sector that they work in and understand the best... but the basics remain the same IF you want to be comfortable owning stocks.

But! Before you can DO any of this -- you've got to save some money each month - or be willing to save that bonus rather than blowing it going to Hawaii.... because saving for 10 years -- and investing -- will then allow you to go because your investments will be growing and compounding.... and that's what this thread is really all about. As Nike says! Just do it! :cheers: :woot:

Thanks Greg...Yes some of the guys are bitten with interest, and some of them are both smarter than me, and they are excited, so a few will study, act and prosper..

We have the few nervous nelly's and of course the condesending sceptic talking before they read, and reading with bias, and then commenting.

I prefaced by saying that I am no pro and just here to help, and I get the comment that I SAID, I was a Guru, and to buy and trade Gold ??? hahahaha... Never in my words but people read what they want. So that is why I posted what I did.For those who start reading the thread with one eye, and listening with one Ear..

But you would be proud...Almost all are sharing why they are doing this, should I pay off this and do that..Thinking about it and getting ready to act..i love it..I recommend NOTHING but this thread, magazine's and resources, NO assets at all...So they can never say, i said to do this....But funny , someone will say it, but there are so many great people, the one or twp that don't read correctly, it is still worth it to see people getting excited about the right things. because i have a soft spot for those who taught me what i know. Killer life skills that no one wants you to know..

Also if they truly read as they should, you won't get bothered. AND IF YOU DO, tell them to finish reading because they flunked the Quiz.:cheers: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :thumbsup:

Just wanted to pop in and say I am one of those "guys from the other forum". LOL

Just have to say, I'm about 1/2 way through reading this thread here, and it has helped tremendously in my understanding and also reiterating what i was reading elsewhere (that i didnt know if i should trust or not). Hearing it come from multiple sources, successful sources, that i trust arent trying to "Sell me something" but rather "help learn something" is key.

So to Greg, Mike, and the others who have participated in both this thread, and the other forum, I say thank you. I can see and feel the motivation for me and a lot of other people just by explaining things in laymen terms.

Again, thanks. :hail: :hail:

Albert

Albert == WELCOME!!

Good to hear that someone is reading! Many times I think it's just Mike and I having our own little discussion... so glad to have you join in.

Now - since I'm in Scottsdale enjoying some sunshine after our rainy Run To The Alamo race event... I'm going to hit the Starbucks and start my day!

Cheers!

Gotta say, it sounds like an old softy, but it warms my heart to see people getting excited about this...Makes me feel good, because I am only trying to help. Makes my day.

Well that and going into the Car dealer the other day to buy my new used toy for cost with a new car warranty, and a pleasurable experience at the car dealers. Wife and i were so prepared and together, that they were blown away.. Second biggest purchase you will ever make, smooth as butter...

Albert....Nice job man and all the best.:cheers:

troublemaker................... :lol:

Hope not to cause problems....That would not be good for me...

I guess time will tell, but I hope I did the right thing.:cheers:

I was kidding. :D NastyZ28 is a great site, and the info in this thread is worth sharing.

Thanks...I thought it was worth sharing to get the few that will use the info, these great tools..one is this GREAT thread...

So thanks..:cheers:

Love Cars, love Money, love Good friends..:lateral: :cheers: :woot:

Wish I could update saying I have purchased my stocks but no such luck. I'm being worked into the ground at present. Hopefully soon I'll have enough of a break to be able to regain my mental fortitude enough to make important decisions.

I went back to when you started this wonderful thread..

It has only been a couple of months..

I was glad to see that..It has not been that long...

If it had been a year or two, i was going to come back and SCREAM..

But you started this thread, and any motiivation we can do to get you going, we will...:cheers: :lateral:

You have the tools from Greg, and other studies. Now you just have to make the leap.

Man, I did it in 2009, and even still, i do it.

I fell you, when I did it, my thoughts were swirling in my head, should I ? Then when I decided to, I still put it off...Because I knew the future if I did nothing.

The rest was unsure.. I still think we will have LARGE tests of a mans fortitude to stay in this game..

As you are buying in , maybe dollar cost averaging, those will be times to buy cheap.

I think 2012 could go any way....It could be as Crazy as 2011, It could start the slow climb up, or we could get wacked big time.

But no matter what, i am glad I did. Get some rest and get er done..:cheers:

Well -- I know we still all thank you for starting this thread! It's been very gratifying.

To those that are still on the fence -- or hear the TV talking heads proclaim "the market is high and now is not the time to buy" --- or --- the predictors of giant market falls. I'll ask you to do this simple mental exercise:

Go back to the charts - 5 year - 10 year - and look at the line from left to right and then (other than the gigantic '08/'09 dip) ask yourself when was the "right time" to have waited to get in?

Obviously anyone that bought in the big dipper.... got a nice reward - but for most all the stocks that we'd pick using the info in this thread -- they're all higher NOW than they were before the big dipper... so if you bought in '07 at the very peak - you'd still be ahead right now. Now to top that off, you'd also have collected 5 years worth of DIVIDENDS...

This is a game that can't be played from the sidelines.

This works great for me:
http://content.schwab.com/mobile/ind...nInvesting_Mag

Sitting in Scottsdale waiting for my wife to finish her walk.... I decided to check on my Schwab account to see if there was any "useful" information I could add to the thread...

This account was started (opened) around January 2011 with "new" money... and yeah -- it was a tidy sum -- but that has not been nor should be the point here... my point is that even with a sizable investment of new cash which all needed to be put to work.. there are ONLY 21 positions all of which are "new" investments.

So I went to the Schwab page that shows "unrealized" gains/loss. There are 21 positions none more than 18 months old... so all bought in this "rising" market.

Of the 21 positions:

4 have a capital "loss" --- the highest "loss" (red number) is $1246.00 on a $200K position. The smallest is $474.00 on a $60K position (1000 shares of Coinstar just picked up a month ago after earnings report).

Now... that leaves the gainers:

A $94,000.00 gain in Phillip Morse (PM)... to the smallest $22.00 gain in Verizon (VZ)

The account is UP $509,000.00 as of Fridays close... and I've been receiving dividends which ARE NOT reinvested. If they were I'd be up much much more.

So if you'd have just put in $10K at the same time - you'd be up at least 6 or 7% and you'd be up MORE if you'd reinvested the dividends.

So this is back to my earlier post -- that you can forget all the TV talking heads telling you this that and something else. Only one out of 21 positions is speculative (the 1000 shares of Coinstar). All the rest are just good names countered with some higher paying dividend payers (Annaly - NLY) and a couple corporate bonds.

So here's another point - which is Investing 102. Even if the market goes DOWN from here... I'm still getting dividends (almost $400K per year off this account) and it would have to go DOWN $500K to get me back to even! And it may very well do that... but it will - over time - go right back up and continue to make that relentless march UP on the chart that these stocks have done for many many years. :cheers:

Yes Sir.

Like I said, the balance can fluctuate up and down, but the INCOME stream is still happening due to.....DIVIDENDS....

Greg is right as usual..

For me, the fluctuations in 2011 were LARGE on those days of 400-500 up and down.

The shaking the tree, I told my Wife... She is in charge of other large assets and she was ready to bail...

I told her look what i have done so far ...trust me....And here we are, most of my car built, and her with a new toy, all Paid by......Yep, Dividends..

AND the account is still UP...

When I say LARGE, I don't mean Greg LARGE, haha, but you get the point..It works with everything.

I still have people on the sidelines from 2008 ?????? WTF....

I can lead them to water...:cheers:

The best line....I get dividends of 400K no matter what....I am still laughing.....My mind is boggled, but i am laughing because that is the way it is done.

You see the wealthy people know that they are entrusted with a great responsibility NOT too blow it all.. By using the money to make money and spending roughly the profits of that money, you secure an entire future...Your's and beyond..

I have said to those that follow, you can continue the legacy by following that simple rule, or blow it and have stuff you need to sell and be broke...I won't be around for those decisions. Only the one's now.. Look at the 3,5, and 10 year returns...Get busy now....

I have some skills, and you can bet, WHATEVER skills I have, I am using them..

For me, if when I do things, I am always trying to do it the best as possible. Such a Dork.
But even when I fall short, It is way farther than those on the sidelines.

Fear can be your Counselor, or your Jailer....Do not let Fear be your Jailer..

Show up .. ahead of 80% of the people.

Show up on time...85% of the people.

Show up on time, with a plan....90% of the people.

Show up, on time, with a plan, and put it into use, being ready to adjust along the Way ??? Ahead of 95% of the people..

I have figures...Sometimes not investment one's, but you get my point...

Greg,

I've been thinking about Coinstar and wondering what you like about them? There's a lot more to them potentially than RedBox (which will be going away eventually) and change counting machines. The question for me is can they capitalize on all this growth in other types of kiosks I seem to be noticing all over the place.

One word -- GROWTH


The founder of Coinstar is a family I know locally and used to do a ton of business with. Smart guys... and smart enough strategically to figure out how to leverage their footprint for expansion. Also the new LLC formed with Verizon to stream video should translate straight to the bottom line.

Just a hunch and worth poking a toe in the water. Just taking a bit of a flyer on this one.

While I preach DIVIDEND DIVIDEND DIVIDEND here... And have stuck to writing this thread for newbs or recently converted "investors". So what I do personally is a bit divergent from here and I hate to get into more complicated strategies and "gambling" discussions here. I can afford to dabble in stuff that has a LOT more risk in it even though I do so in a very minor way as a percentage of investible assets. Which is the way these kinds of things should be done.

So if someone was buying all the "normal" stuff -- and then wants to take a stab at something they just have a gut feeling/good feeling for... keep it REALLY low $$ wise. That way when they go south (which most do) it's a real ho hummer. If things go your way -- then if you care to -- you scale in on the way up. But often new companies - and new strategies can get HAMMERED in one hiccup of a quarter - or a new competitor emerges - or the strategy you thought was golden turns in to a dud. :lol:

The way to go broke - or get very discouraged with investing - is to go swinging for the fences. Everyone wants to be the first guy on the block to have bet big on the Google or Apple of tomorrow... but trust me... that is a real quick way to sink the boat. That's GREEDY... and foolhardy, and you'll deserve what you end up with. It's hard enough to make money and hold on to it without tripping yourself up.

Again -- I'm not writing these statements directly to the post with the question - but I'm writing to all that will read the question and the reply. So "YOU" is not "you" but anyone reading.

Personally I don't think I'd be doing speculative investing (gambling) until the portfolio was in the half a million dollar range -- and then the gambling portion might be limited to a couple $25K names. It's kinda like building a house -- you want a great foundation before you put up the walls.

Reading the business page and stumbled on this -- which is absolutely amazing!

Apple sells more per square foot of retail floor space than anyone by almost DOUBLE....

1. Apple Sales per square foot: $5,647

No. 5 on the RetailSails top 25 growth list
Revenue/net income (millions): $127,841 /$32,982

Gross margin: 42.4 percent

2011 stock price change: 25.6 percent

Apple is a relative newcomer to the retail scene, with its first store opening in 2001. The stores, which feature genius bars for providing advice and repairs, have become a mecca for its fans. It is not uncommon to see die-hard fans lining up outside the stores, sometimes for days, before a new product launch. In the latest quarter alone, Apple sold 37 million iPhones through all its sales channels. Broader signs of Apple’s success are that its global revenue rose 73 percent to $46.3 billion, and its $477 billion market capitalization, which is the highest of any public company in the world.


Maybe the guy that posted how bad the economy was and how the Internet and competitors were responsible for his crappy business should take a page out of this - what do ya think?? :lol: :wow:

For those of you that really want to dig into researching a company rather than just the basic Google or Yahoo finance websites....

Try doing a stock search using this:

http://www.nasdaq.com/


Doesn't have to be a NASDAQ stock... and there's a HUGE bunch of info for you guys that want to really do your digging.... Too much as far as I'm concerned but many like this part of picking stocks -- so have at it! :D

2012 - The "I financially get off my Butt" Year
 

OMG ......... I hang out these sites and soak up the car knowledge and the humor and always enjoy the camaraderie......until now. I never thought that I'd actually get something out of it that could actually benefit the entire family and our future!!!

When Trey first posted this thread, I looked at it, watched it, read it, read some more ...... and then it started to grow into the mega-thread that it is today and couldn't stay away from it. Up to this point I just kept saying to myself "This is the Year I'm finally going to do something. You know what? IT IS!!!!! :unibrow:

I've had money sitting in savings (cash) doing next to NOTHING right through the ugliness '07, '08, '09, '10.... now I need to put this cash to work.

I've also sat back for the last 5 years at my job and GAVE MONEY away, by not getting into the company 401K that gets MATCHED by the company. Through the bulk of the housing crunch I saw so many friends and coworkers getting their collective 401K azzes kicked, losing tons of cash, so I thought why jump into that alligator pit? What in idiot, right? sheeesh

Greg ...... what a friggin inspiration you are... because of your success!!! It's one thing to have someone run their mouth spewing investment advice and not know whether they had any real life success, but you have tons of facts to back it up. The others that have chimed in on a regular basis blend nicely so that it never became the "GregWeld" thread hehehe :thumbsup:

I feel like this thread has really awaken some of the lurkers on Lat-G, even though there haven't been a ton of different people responding to this thread, if you look, the thread ...... at over 22,000 views, is the most viewed thread ever in the Off Topic Forums section. That speaks volumes to the interest that it has created.

SO, I digress ....... First, for the life of me since I started doing research on several stocks, I cannot find Total Return on any stock's Info Page. Div/Yield is the closest thing to it.

I've been looking at:

ATT (T)
Coke (KO)
Chevron (CVX)
Harris Corp (HRS)
McDonalds (MCD)
Rock Tenn (RKT)
Westar Energy (WR)

and I have a meeting tomorrow to finally get into our company's 401K - not sure which direction to go on this one, It's Fidelity I believe.

Congrats Scott! Here are the 1/3/5 year total returns that I pulled from Schwab.

ATT (T)- 11.5%/55%/5.3%
Coke (KO)- 11%/76%/69%
Chevron (CVX)- 10%/85%/81%
Harris Corp (HRS)- <4%>/24%/<1%>
McDonalds (MCD)- 36%/98%/156%
Rock Tenn (RKT)- <5%>/155%/109%
Westar Energy (WR) 12%/82%/31%

There ya go SCOTT! See -- we're more capable than just what size carburetor you need!!

:rofl:


So when looking at these companies --- remember BALANCE --- and to COMPARE the names that you've listed with their competitors! Remember to try -- key word there "TRY" to find the best of breed in the sector that you're looking at. It always amazes me when I THINK (another key word huh!) I know who's doing what and who's best -- and then stumble into who's really kicking azz in a sector. It's not always who you think it is.

You're post is EXACTLY why I continue to try to just talk stuff out on here... even exposing things that most guys never really discuss... using myself as an example which is not to be self serving but I can really only first hand knowledge my own situation. I hate it when guys post up on a "how do I do "X" thread about something they read about once.... It's like "DUDE!" I don't want that kind of info -- I want someone that's actually done the install or used the part.

I'm so happy that we can spur each other on - collective skills... used to the benefit of all. :cheers:

Just one more caveat --- don't pull out all your savings and then just go on a big azz stock buying spree....

Tip toe in -- watch and learn - scale in your buying. Get a feel for it (the market and also how YOU feel when seeing your stocks go DOWN as well as up). Learn to buy on the scary days! Not the big up feel good days... set your names -- and work into it.

Ya didn't build your first car all in one day. Don't try to build a screaming perfect stock portfolio all in one day either.

Depending on your AGE --- you may want to take more "risk" with the 401K since it will be in for a longer period of time -- and the company should be a contributor to it as well. People tend to be too conservative with their 401's.

If you have 15 or 20 years til retirement - and plan to live for another 20 after that -- that's a 40 year horizon!

ProTouring73..

If One person gets off their butt this year and does something, the thread is a Success..

And Greg's last post is critical. This is no get rich quick thread..Far from it.

But good to see more than the "Core" group talking and acting...

:cheers:

When I started to COMPARE, it was an eye opener, and you can find a better performer that you may not have even expected. That was the cool part!!

On the 401K I'm looking at this one: Spartan Extended Market Index Fund - Fidelity Advantage Class (FSEVX)

I believe Jose had that Spartan account. It sucked, lol. Kind of like my current mutual fund account does. I know the thread is many pages long but it would be good to read through most of it, at least skim it anyway. Lots of good advice and examples. As well as examples to further prove why Greg hates mutual funds :)

SEE!!! this is why this thread kicks butt!!! Previous experience!!

Any help, suggestions, opinions on a Fidelity 401K fund would be WELCOMED :cheers:

and yea Greg ....... the wife won't let me pull all of the cash out of savings!!!

You should be able to buy individual stocks in your Fidelity 401k by opening a brokerage link account. Trades only cost $7.95 and you get access to some good research tools.

Don

That's what I have done with my Roth through Vanguard, and eventually, when I can find the time, I'll call Fidelity and do the same with them as they have my 401k.

No sh*t........I had no idea you could do that.

I know Greg doesn't mean to say its the end all be all in getting dividends, but a couple responses to his point made me want to just highlight; Just remember, you are the equity owner, the last in line to get paid, and the first to miss out! So companies do cut dividends. In 2010 these big boys all cut dividends by some amount.

– Bank of America Corporation (BAC)
– General Electric Co. (GE)
- The Home Depot, Inc. (HD)
- Johnson Controls Inc. (JCI)
- Pfizer Inc. (PFE)
- US Bancorp (USB)

With the point about liking dividends, remember the point about balance!! Bonds the coupon is coming no matter what, stocks its not - but growth can! Its all about the right balance for your age and your goals, and understanding the risks in each area you invest. If you want true gauranteed income streams, its fixed income and annuities. If you want fairly stable income with some risk, but some upside potential..dividend stocks. [Taxes exluded because its account dependant]


Tim

So just checking on the list above -- not one of those stocks would have made the cut for "investing 102" because every one of them has a lousy 5 year chart and not one of them is "best of breed".

This is where a little bit of work has to come into your choices...

I said over and over in this thread that you need to have EVERYTHING going your way or keep looking for another choice. Good/Great chart... Best of Breed... and to diversify.

The only one on this list that I'd consider to be perhaps best of breed is Home Depot (HD).

Personally I use the long term chart to also look for stocks that have INCREASING dividend payouts. Which I have mentioned before... because of the inflation protection this gives you.

NOW -- On to BONDS:

The only way to make capital gains in BONDS is to be a trader. Bonds carry a very undeniable link of price to coupon rate. Yes you can get capital appreciation in bonds but then you're selling your higher interest paying bonds and instead of getting the higher interest for the term of the bond - you've traded that for capital gains. Short term or long term depends on the holding period but you're for certain trading your tax free (in the case of muni bonds) income for a TAXABLE event by trading them.

Bonds are by no means - these days - any less risky than stocks... and one of the oldest sayings in investing is "when interest rates rise - stocks will die - when interest rates die stocks will fly".

Here's the reason for that. Why would you buy stocks if you could get an 8 or 9 or 10% tax free muni bond? That's a fantastic tax free return. So money moves out of stocks and into the relative safe tax haven of bonds (munis). But the reverse is true in a low interest rate environment such as we're in right now. Nobody really wants to make a lousy 3% on their bonds when they can get nearly double that on a dividend stock such as AT&T... so the money moves from the bond market into the stock market.

Here's the catch.... WE are never going to get the timing of these moves right. WE will most likely always be behind the curve. In stocks in a rising interest rate market and the reverse. This is why BALANCE is so critical. I own muni bonds -- about 30% of my investable assets... it's "safe" money - and I don't add to my taxable income. BUT most smaller investors are falling behind big time trying to work this strategy and you'll lose money trying to be in the right place at the right time.

SO let's examine the dividend vs bond income stream argument in a most basic way.

The dividends - should you be invested in the kinds of companies we've said we should be in - should not only be safe - but they can and do rise over time regardless of the daily stock price. Just look at your stocks and go to the 5 and 10 year chart and see what the dividend was "back then" and see if in fact it hasn't doubled or at the very least gone up over time. If we're doing this RIGHT - the dividend should be steady as a rock and rising - and the chart should be climbing as a price per share. If the dividend is outsized (as a percentage) then some of the charts won't be climbing but they'll be our steady eddies (remember that balance and there's usually trade offs).

I actually worry much more about the DECLINE in capital in my BOND portfolio than I do about my stock portfolio. If we are truly in a real recovery -- and the Fed decides to pop the rate -- you'll see a big haircut in capital value. The good news (and the reason to own 'em) is that if you hold to the maturity date of the bond - you get 100% of your capital back. The bad news is - you aren't growing your capital.

I hope this isn't confusing.... it's just that all this stuff is interrelated... and it's really good to understand it -- but it can be detrimental to try to "figure it all out". If you have big dough invested -- you should have more "interest" in trying to stay abreast of this -- but if you're under half a million or so... I'd just pick a course and stick to it. Don't try to be micro managing == but do keep an eye on the MACRO (large) picture.

Since I'm flying - I'm going to post this without a proof read so hope it makes sense.

:cheers:

BTW -- Not all bonds are "safe" -- a couple of major California cities have filed for bankruptcy... one just recently! Guess what - as a bond holder - that's pretty much a wipeout. :(

Scott, these were/are the 3 funds I was holding.

Fidelity Freedom Fund 2045 (FFFGX) 10YR--8.63%
Spartan Total Market Index Investor Class (FSTMX) 10YR-+23.73%
Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund (VGTSX) 10YR-42.13%

I dumped the FFFGX & VGTSX funds due to lack of performance. I held onto the FSTMX fund because its held steady and is up 33.59% since purchasing in 8/23/2010. I also looked at the top 10 holdings in the fund and realized if I had purchased these outside of the fund I'd be well ahead. However, I didn't want to get ahead of myself and sell everything in my portfolio just to start fresh so I eliminated the under performers and added some stocks that have helped my portfolio continue a steady climb. The more I read this thread the more confidence I gain and the more I feel comfortable with my investment choices.

I would just like to THANK everyone that has contributed to this thread.:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: