First Quarter, 2007 Investment Returns

[JustCurious]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmpi I can understand that if you hold some international that can supercharge your return, but if you hold any bonds or fixed income that's going to knock it way down.

Not true. Modern Portfolio Theory states that a diversified mix of non-correlated assets actually has a HIGHER risk adjusted return than a single class of assets. Likewise, studies have shown that an 80/20 mix of equities/bonds returns almost the same as 100% equities. (I think the difference in return over time is less than .5 percent, with a dramatic decrease in volatility)

As an example, Vanguard's total stock market index fund (VTSMX) returned 15.5% in 2006, while the lifestrategy growth fund (VASGX, approx 84/16 equities/fixed income) had a HIGHER return of 16.13%.

[FinanceDude]

3.11%................... :P

[dgalbraith100]

As of 4/1 I'm up 2.1%

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmpi I'm amazed (and confused) that year after year the majority of the posters manage to beat the S&P 500 by a sizeable margin. Even professional money managers have a tough time doing that. Just what is the deal here? Do you guys really do that good? I'm not calling anybody here a cheater... But if it's true, I just want to get in on the action!

Your seeing a "self reporting" problem. Those who do better, tell you to brag, those who do worse say nothing . Of course thats not 100% true, but close.

Laters,
-d.

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

Quote:

...What is going on? Maybe I should move 50% of my portfolio into other global markets.

That is where I am. Of course that means I am not on John Greaney's Christmas card list.

By the way, 2007 has been up and down for my portfolio and until about 1 April I think it was at about +1.6% (had been up ~4+ % earlier). Lesson: All the gains are in a few days, so stay invested or you will miss them.

This mix has been good to us so far. No complaints. We rode out 1987 and 2000-2003 fully invested and we are doubling the pot about every 5 years. Will this continue? Will I live to enjoy retirement? Will we have to live in a piano crate under a bridge? Beats me. Gummy won't let me borrow his crystal ball.

[SecondCor521]

Quicken says 2.89%, but it puts an asterisk on that by pointing out that one of my kids' 529 accounts doesn't have a 1/1/07 valuation, so it is guessing for me. Take that data point out and I'm tracking the S&P/TSM pretty much.

2Cor521

[Finance Dave]

Up 3.2% for my 401k, my wife is up 4.1%

90% of our savings is in 401ks.

[teejayevans]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dgalbraith100 Your seeing a "self reporting" problem. Those who do better, tell you to brag, those who do worse say nothing . Of course thats not 100% true, but close.

Say it ain't so!!
Next you will tell me that people on the internet aren't always truthful
TJ

[rw86347]

Good thing I keep records. I thought I was doing much better.

I was up 3.8%

Over the past 6 months I am up 15%.

I have almost 50% international stocks.

[ScaredtoQuit]

My 401K is up 2.0% (not counting additional capital contributions as I suspect some people are!!) : : :

[rickier55]

Well, not so good here. 1.3 %. But that works for me.

Rick

[mishtone]

+88% as of today

USD 450k all equity portfolio, in an Eastern European country. No leverage, no derivatives, only straight common stocks.

[Texas Proud]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmpi I'm amazed (and confused) that year after year the majority of the posters manage to beat the S&P 500 by a sizeable margin. Even professional money managers have a tough time doing that. Just what is the deal here? Do you guys really do that good? I'm not calling anybody here a cheater... But if it's true, I just want to get in on the action!

I don't beat the S&P year after year.. but my international has been doing great the last few... and I have about 10% of my portfolio in the company I work for which also has done well...

[unclemick]

3.21% - It's whatever the 65/35ish Target Retirement 2015 does. I don't check/rebalance my putz stocks since I'm going to putter with them anyway. Plus I often get 'offers I can't refuse':

KSE(the old Long Island Light), Bandag, New Plan Excel, and possibly Dow Chemical may get bought out - that's happened a lot with my dividend stocks the last 15 years - mergers/buyouts seem to hit in spurts.

heh heh heh - .

[Alan]

2.55%
40% stocks, 55% bonds 5% cash at start of year when I re-balanced. VG portfolio analyzer now shows 41.5%, 54.2%, 4.3%

[Alex]

I'm not being flippant, but I don't know and I really don't care.

[redduck]

My Keogh report says I'm up 2.07%. That's OK with me.

[Milkman]

+2.5% with a 70/30 mix

Milkman

[bright eyed]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScaredtoQuit My 401K is up 2.0% (not counting additional capital contributions as I suspect some people are!!) : : :

i'm at about 3% as of friday 4/13 - not including capitol contributions...then it would be waaay! higher

[Nords]

2.4% annualized last quarter. Quite the little air pocket.

However the portfolio's up 2.6% (not annualized) in the last two weeks alone, and 3.2% YTD.

95% equities, 5% cash.