How bad a hit did you take this week ?

[East Texas]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo Plus you get gloating rights on days like today, eh?

Makes up for all the sleepless nights I had... the 1,000 point drop last year (trader error?) was the final straw.

[traineeinvestor]

Losses on equities this year now exceed net rental income and FX gains by a big enough margin to put plans to FIRE in early 2012 in doubt

Of course, my contract also runs out at the end of this year, so it's not a given that I will still have a job then anyway.....

[Lisa99]

Have gone from a YTD +5.94% as of last Friday to a -1.24% today.

[Spanky]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisa99 Have gone from a YTD +5.94% as of last Friday to a -1.24% today.

It happens to many of us.

[LOL!]

For the first time in my life, I lost a 6-figure amount in just one day. I'm feeling proud of that accomplishment.

[Lisa99]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOL! For the first time in my life, I lost a 6-figure amount in just one day. I'm feeling proud of that accomplishment.

To have enough to be able to lose 6-figures in one day is quite the accomplishment...but the actual losing of it I'd be sick to my stomach!

It reminds me of the story that Annie Dukes (a pro poker player) tells about the first time she lost > $1,000,000 of her own money in a single poker session. She said she was sick for days...but now it's just one of those things that happens on occasion.

[KingB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOL! For the first time in my life, I lost a am down 6-figure amount in just one day. I'm feeling proud of that accomplishment.

I will join the "down 100k day" club if you start one.

[East Texas]

I took the six figure dive in 2008. I didn't like it then and I'm confident I wouldn't like it now. I'm just glad not to be a player in today's market.

[dtbach]

Quote:

Originally Posted by East Texas I took the six figure dive in 2008. I didn't like it then and I'm confident I wouldn't like it now. I'm just glad not to be a player in today's market.

If you don't play, you can't win! Hope inflation doesn't eat you alive in 10 years.

[DallasGuy]

I sold 60% of my stock mutual funds 2 weeks ago when S&P was around 1300....and then the rest of it last Friday. At the end of today my gut feeling to get out of the market has saved me about $26,000 in additional losses. Feels good. I've been on both sides of this type of market having ridden the market down in 2008 and back up again and I definitely prefer being out of the market now.

[East Texas]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtbach If you don't play, you can't win! Hope inflation doesn't eat you alive in 10 years.

Now, let's think about that statement. We're guaranteed 4% a year on the IRAs, which has been the target earnings rate in my planning scenarios. Because we are debt-free and able to live below our means, we can live on pensions OR IRA/SPIA income OR social security. Pensions and social security have an inflation factor.

We both have retiree health insurance and LTC. I can't say all the bases are covered; however, multiple versions of the financial plan tell me we're OK. I've even figured in a surviving spouse in the scenarios.

I'm not bragging at all... I took a hard hit in 2008 and it took patience and time to stabilize that part of our plan. I'll never go through that again.

The difference now is I can sleep at night....and that, my friend, IS priceless.

[JBmadera]

Quote:

Originally Posted by East Texas Now, let's think about that statement. We're guaranteed 4% a year on the IRAs, which has been the target earnings rate in my planning scenarios. Because we are debt-free and able to live below our means, we can live on pensions OR IRA/SPIA income OR social security. Pensions and social security have an inflation factor. We both have retiree health insurance and LTC. I can't say all the bases are covered; however, multiple versions of the financial plan tell me we're OK. I've even figured in a surviving spouse in the scenarios. I'm not bragging at all... I took a hard hit in 2008 and it took patience and time to stabilize that part of our plan. I'll never go through that again. The difference now is I can sleep at night....and that, my friend, IS priceless.

Perhaps I missed it somewhere but how is it that you've got a 4% guaranteed return and a 2% bonus (so 6% return total)? Sounds outstanding

[Moscyn]

I have a conservative portfolio and the portion invested in stocks and equity funds are for very long term, so am not too bothered to accurately count the losses now. On an estimate, I think it is around 3% loss of total portfolio.

[East Texas]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBmadera Perhaps I missed it somewhere but how is it that you've got a 4% guaranteed return and a 2% bonus (so 6% return total)? Sounds outstanding

At the time we moved our 401k funds over to a USAA Flexible Savings Annuity IRA we got a 2% bonus on the rollover amount and have a guaranteed 4% annual earnings compounded daily. We missed the 3% bonus and the higher interest rates by a few months (darn it!); but, are glad not to have to worry about it any more. (ETA: The first year was even better that 6% (2% bonus and 4% annual earnings) since the bonus was applied up front and got the full annual benefit of the compounded interest.)

That being said, the bonus and the annual rate have fallen since then. Bummer. (ETA: did not impact us - only new folks).

[chinaco]

I have not calculated it. The last time I looked at the exact amount was in May.

All of the "go away in May" talk.... got me a little worried (since I was getting ready to FIRE I was a little sensitive to such talk) so I took the opportunity to rebalance at that time to capture some of my gains! Glad I did now... But back then... when the market marched up... I felt a little regret not letting it ride a bit longer.

But I roughly estimate that we are down... ooooooh, maybe about 2% to 2.5% for the year.

[teejayevans]

I'm back to where I was about a year ago, minus contributions,

Ni modo, así es la vida.
TJ

[Independent]

My biggest holding is a TIPS fund. It's been doing just fine in spite of the downgrade.
OTOH, for the first time in my life I think there is a non-zero chance that the US could actually default on those bonds.

[haha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Independent My biggest holding is a TIPS fund. It's been doing just fine in spite of the downgrade. OTOH, for the first time in my life I think there is a non-zero chance that the US could actually default on those bonds.

Don't even consider it. It will not happen. There will be no default by any nation with a printing press.

I have no idea where th estock market is going, or what interest rates will be, but no default is a mortal lock.

Ha

[eytonxav]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Independent My biggest holding is a TIPS fund. It's been doing just fine in spite of the downgrade. OTOH, for the first time in my life I think there is a non-zero chance that the US could actually default on those bonds.

My tip etf has done reasonably well also, however, if interest rates rise due to the downgrade and with potential for additional downgrades, tips could get wacked.

[HFWR]

I took a big hit! Oh, wait, you were talking about the market, not a bong...