Join Early Retirement Today
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
VWINX and Real-Life Retiree Investment Returns
Old 03-09-2013, 06:22 AM   #1
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Ed_The_Gypsy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: the City of Subdued Excitement
Posts: 5,588
VWINX and Real-Life Retiree Investment Returns

I have always been a big fan of John Greaney's work. He got me started.

In 2011 Update: Real-Life Retiree Investment Returns he compares several investment strategies using the classic 4% of original pot withdrawal, adjusted annually for inflation from end-of-year 1994 (when John FIREd) and end-of-year 2011.

Out of curiosity, I compared Wellesley on the same basis using his data. VWINX did very well, with less volatility as well (makes it easier to sleep at night). I also calculated taking a straight 4% of the VWINX portfolio very year. The payouts were higher (+25% to +56%) as the growth exceeds 4% + inflation and the final balance in 2011 was a little less (~ $223,000 vs. ~ $284,000), as you would expect. I tried this because it would be easier than figuring out what inflation was every year.

It outperformed all but three "concentrated portfolios" (Warren Buffett, Harry Brown and Harry Dent--see link for details). Greaney considers these risky.

Continuing to fiddle, a straight 2.58% resulted in the same end amount in the pot in Dec 2011 as the 4% + inflation. The annual withdrawal size ranged from -35% to + 20% of the steady 4% + inflation withdrawal.

Note that John Greaney and Warren Buffett both made their big money on good stock picks but both recommend only index funds for us unwashed masses.

Bottom line: I am comfortable with my instructions to DW to sell everything and buy VWINX after I croak. She can take 4% per year. Now if I can only do as well as VWINX in the accumulation phase.

Attached Images
File Type: jpg Real-Life Retiree Investment Returns 2011.jpg (75.6 KB, 98 views)
__________________
I have outlived most of the people I don't like and I am working on the rest.
Ed_The_Gypsy is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 03-09-2013, 06:59 AM   #2
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Ed_The_Gypsy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: the City of Subdued Excitement
Posts: 5,588
With my new-found Win 7 skills (thanks to REWahoo), here is the data:
Attached Images
File Type: png VWINX vs etc spreadsheet.PNG (70.2 KB, 122 views)
__________________
I have outlived most of the people I don't like and I am working on the rest.
Ed_The_Gypsy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-09-2013, 07:07 AM   #3
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Ed_The_Gypsy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: the City of Subdued Excitement
Posts: 5,588
You may notice that VWINX 'lost' 10% from 2007 to 2008. That is, the paper value (NAV) went down 10%.

remember, you don't lose until you sell, so DON'T SELL!

Note also that it more than recovered by 2009.
__________________
I have outlived most of the people I don't like and I am working on the rest.
Ed_The_Gypsy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-09-2013, 07:17 AM   #4
Administrator
MichaelB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 40,586
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ed_The_Gypsy View Post

remember, you don't lose until you sell, so DON'T SELL!
Easier to do in the accumulation phase. In the withdrawal phase you have to sell - unless distributions provide for 100% of budget.
MichaelB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-09-2013, 07:51 AM   #5
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Ed_The_Gypsy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: the City of Subdued Excitement
Posts: 5,588
Of course you are right. I didn't think of that since both obgyn and I are still in accumulation phase.

Even so, VWINX has a pretty steady NAV. See attached graph (again using my new skills ) comparing its NAV to that of the S&P 500.

The difference is in the dividends.
Attached Images
File Type: png VWINX vs S&P 500 since 1987.PNG (37.0 KB, 72 views)
__________________
I have outlived most of the people I don't like and I am working on the rest.
Ed_The_Gypsy is offline   Reply With Quote
Thanks for the Confirmation
Old 03-10-2013, 04:47 AM   #6
Full time employment: Posting here.
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Ohio Suburb and WV Farm
Posts: 519
Thanks for the Confirmation

Ed, this confirms my experience with Wellesley so far, since following some recs from Dan Wiener. It's only ~15% of my IRA, but balanced with ~15% Wellington. The two together have performed better than the funds I'd sold to buy W and W (STAR Con. and Mod. Growth, Target Dates 2010 and 2015). Right now I'm waiting for prices to drop to buy some more W and W.
__________________
"Everything becomes more itself." --C.S. Lewis
LitGal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2013, 05:11 AM   #7
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
obgyn65's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: midwestern city
Posts: 4,061
Thank you for sharing, Ed. What do you mean by "the difference is in the dividends" ?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ed_The_Gypsy View Post
Of course you are right. I didn't think of that since both obgyn and I are still in accumulation phase.

Even so, VWINX has a pretty steady NAV. See attached graph (again using my new skills ) comparing its NAV to that of the S&P 500.

The difference is in the dividends.
__________________
Very conservative with investments. Not ER'd yet, 48 years old. Please do not take anything I write or imply as legal, financial or medical advice directed to you. Contact your own financial advisor, healthcare provider, or attorney for financial, medical and legal advice.
obgyn65 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2013, 06:26 AM   #8
Recycles dryer sheets
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 73
I do have a concern with Wellesley moving forward. While it has performed well in the past, due to good bond returns, how will it hold up if bonds take a dive?

I've actually been thinking about exchanging my Wellesley into Wellington on the next dip/correction.
marc515 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2013, 07:17 AM   #9
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 17,205
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ed_The_Gypsy View Post

remember, you don't lose until you sell, so DON'T SELL!

Note also that it more than recovered by 2009.

Another falsehood that so many people think is correct.... and is sometimes the worst advice ever.... especially if you have individual stocks.....
Texas Proud is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2013, 07:55 AM   #10
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Ed_The_Gypsy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: the City of Subdued Excitement
Posts: 5,588
Quote:
Originally Posted by obgyn65 View Post
Thank you for sharing, Ed. What do you mean by "the difference is in the dividends" ?
A good question. It took me a long time to get smart enough to ask it myself.

The chart in Post #5 are the net asset values (NAV's) of the S&P 500 and Wellelsey. These are the prices you find in the paper. They do not tell you anything about the dividends. The NAVs only tell you about the potential capital gains or losses you would have if you sold your position today. A true growth stock does not pay dividends so what you see is what you get. With a stock, you don't harvest capital gains until you sell it. Mutual funds harvest capital gains when they sell stocks in their portfolios, so your annual tax documents include dividends and capital gains in different boxes. They are taxed differently. When you sell a stock, you may have short-term capital gains or long-term capital gains, depending on how long you held it, but you don't have them until you actually sell. They are also taxed differently.

The chart in Post #1 is different. The historical data from Yahoo Finance includes a last entry in the table, "Adjusted Close". This value includes the effect of all the dividends payed out over time. This is the real measure of investment returns. The chart in Post #5 shows that the NAV of VWINX doesn't change much over time compared to the S&P, but when you take the dividend distributions into account, the total return is much closer to the S&P (see Post #1). You could have a growth stock with no dividends and a dividend stock with a flat NAV with the same total return, but one is capital gains and the other is in dividends. Capital gains are taxed more advantageously, but you are gambling that the company will invest their income to the benefit of stockholders, which studies show is not something you can depend on. Bonds have dividends but you can have capital gains with them as well; you can sell them for more than you bought them for if interest rates are dropping. Wellesley has a lot of bonds.

Buying equities for the capital gains is close to gambling, IMHO. There is something called "the Greater Fool Theory". The seller is hoping for a "greater fool" than he was who will pay him more for his stock than he did. This gets into stock valuation which is something that is beyond me. IPOs are like that. (For example, Twitter.) Any stock that does not pay a dividend is like that.

For someone like me who has all of his equities in a tax-protected account, there is no difference tax-wise. When I take money out, it will all be taxed as ordinary income; I get no benefits from the lower capital gains tax rates. So, in principle, growth or dividends should make no difference to me, but from what I have read, dividend payers can be more reliable investments than growth stocks. The dividends usually keep coming even in downturns and the NAVs are steadier as well (as you can see).

I hope that explains it a little. I can try again if the explanation still isn't clear.

Cheers,

Ed
__________________
I have outlived most of the people I don't like and I am working on the rest.
Ed_The_Gypsy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2013, 08:17 AM   #11
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Ed_The_Gypsy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: the City of Subdued Excitement
Posts: 5,588
Quote:
Originally Posted by Texas Proud View Post
Another falsehood that so many people think is correct.... and is sometimes the worst advice ever.... especially if you have individual stocks.....
Which is the bad advice, "Don't sell"? or not knowing that it recovered so quickly?

There is always a time to sell, but not just because the market dropped. Individual stocks can go bad, going to worthless, as I know first-hand. Buying individual stocks is gambling as far as I am concerned.

Actively managed mutual funds can implode as well. Does anyone remember 44 Wall? Index funds protect us from total loss because they buy everything and it is unlikely that all 6,000 or so US companies listed on the stock exchanges will go bankrupt all at once. They buy the best-managed companies as well as the poorest managed and the outright crooks, but it averages out. In principle, actively managed funds should be able to cull the bad ones, but research shows that actively managed funds do not outperform the indexes over time. Crazy, eh?

I do have small positions in some individual stocks in the Oil & Gas business (I work there) that I believe I have bought at good prices and have decent prospects, but I am gambling on several of them, I admit. I have to keep my eye on BP, for example. But even if the worst happens, I will not lose everything.
__________________
I have outlived most of the people I don't like and I am working on the rest.
Ed_The_Gypsy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2013, 08:30 AM   #12
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Ed_The_Gypsy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: the City of Subdued Excitement
Posts: 5,588
Quote:
Originally Posted by marc515 View Post
I do have a concern with Wellesley moving forward. While it has performed well in the past, due to good bond returns, how will it hold up if bonds take a dive?

I've actually been thinking about exchanging my Wellesley into Wellington on the next dip/correction.
I have a similar concern. VWINX is 60% bonds, but their average maturity is 8.8 years. They may take a short hit for a year or two, but they have to replace the bonds that they sell or mature and they can buy higher-yielding ones in that case. I would also see it as a buying opportunity for VWINX, but in obgyn's case, it represents diversification away from a 100% fixed income position, so I expect that it will take less of a hit than his FI portfolio.

I would for sure wait to buy an annuity (should I become so inclined later in life) until interest rates increase.

I have a tiny Roth which is 100% VWINX today. DW's Roth will be in VWINX soon. I seeded DD's Roth with VWINX last year and will seed DS's when he has income from his first job as well and I will beat them senseless if they do not do regular contributions.
__________________
I have outlived most of the people I don't like and I am working on the rest.
Ed_The_Gypsy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2013, 08:35 AM   #13
Administrator
Alan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: N. Yorkshire
Posts: 34,056
Quote:
Originally Posted by marc515 View Post
I do have a concern with Wellesley moving forward. While it has performed well in the past, due to good bond returns, how will it hold up if bonds take a dive?

I've actually been thinking about exchanging my Wellesley into Wellington on the next dip/correction.
That is a market timing question, and if you want to change your AA because you think stocks are going to outperform bonds going forward then Wellington would be a decent choice.

I have both Wellington and Wellesley but do not plan on changing my AA. (50% bonds).
__________________
Retired in Jan, 2010 at 55, moved to England in May 2016
Enough private pension and SS income to cover all needs
Alan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2013, 08:36 AM   #14
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Ed_The_Gypsy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: the City of Subdued Excitement
Posts: 5,588
Quote:
Originally Posted by LitGal View Post
Ed, this confirms my experience with Wellesley so far, since following some recs from Dan Wiener. It's only ~15% of my IRA, but balanced with ~15% Wellington. The two together have performed better than the funds I'd sold to buy W and W (STAR Con. and Mod. Growth, Target Dates 2010 and 2015). Right now I'm waiting for prices to drop to buy some more W and W.
LitGal, I like your thinking. Are you coasting now? (I have not made a contribution for years, just rebalancing and shifting things around with dividends as they come. I am paying off all my debt first for a guaranteed return.) If not, you should go ahead and dollar-cost-average some contributions into your IRA.

I will post a comparison between W, W and VFINX in a bit so we can all see how they compare.
__________________
I have outlived most of the people I don't like and I am working on the rest.
Ed_The_Gypsy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2013, 09:22 AM   #15
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Ed_The_Gypsy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: the City of Subdued Excitement
Posts: 5,588
OK, here are those comparisons:
'Close' means the NAV of the fund at the end of the trading day.
'Adj Close' means the adjusted return relative to 1987 when they all started.
(The 'N' means normalized. In order to put them all on the same basis, the data I plotted was normalized to the value on Aug 19, 1987.)
  1. While the Close or NAV (remember, the figure quoted in the paper every day) of VFINX (Vanguard's S&P 500 index fund) just explodes, the adjusted return is actually LESS than VWINX or VWELX since 1987!
  2. The adjusted return of VFINX is much more volatile than wither VWINX or VWELX.
  3. VWINX adjusted return (total return) is less volatile than that of VWELX although their adjusted returns over time are pretty much the same.
Now you know why Uncle Mick says, "Psst! Wellesley!"
Attached Images
File Type: png VFINX VWELX VWINX Close.PNG (21.1 KB, 19 views)
File Type: png VFINX VWELX VWINX Adj Close.PNG (16.9 KB, 21 views)
__________________
I have outlived most of the people I don't like and I am working on the rest.
Ed_The_Gypsy is offline   Reply With Quote
for Marc515
Old 03-10-2013, 09:37 AM   #16
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Ed_The_Gypsy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: the City of Subdued Excitement
Posts: 5,588
for Marc515

OK, just for grins, here is the US 10-year Treasury Bond yield from way back. (Remember, VWINX has an average maturity of 8.8 years at the moment.)

Note Black Monday in 1987 is the first red dot. Intermediate-term interest rates HAVE been in decline overall ever since. Note that the charts for the funds only go back to 1987 so we do not know how it things will turn out in a really increasing interest rate environment.

Maybe VWINX's returns will be impacted when interest rates go up permanently again.

Is there an economist in the house? An expert in market history? Where is Marty Zweig when we need him? Oh, yeah. He's dead.
Attached Images
File Type: png 10-year treasury rate.PNG (37.7 KB, 20 views)
__________________
I have outlived most of the people I don't like and I am working on the rest.
Ed_The_Gypsy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2013, 10:00 AM   #17
Moderator Emeritus
W2R's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,474
Wellesley is a great fund for retirees like me. My 30% Wellesley allocation provides reasonably steady dividends for living expenses. It is not quite so well suited for accumulation phase, IMO, though it is still OK and I did have some during that phase.

The only times when I have sold any Wellesley was when required for rebalancing.

It's best to keep Wellesley in retirement accounts, for tax purposes, but in my case my retirement accounts are already completely full with bond funds. So, my Wellesley is a taxable investment by default. I still like having it, though.
__________________
Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harbourless immensities. - - H. Melville, 1851.

Happily retired since 2009, at age 61. Best years of my life by far!
W2R is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2013, 10:05 AM   #18
Full time employment: Posting here.
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 807
Love Greaney and love Wellesley, but reading the tables makes a pretty strong argument in favor of Harry Browne's Permanent Portfolio (unless you don't like a smoother ride and an ending balance of 406K vs. 290K).

Getting back to Wellesley, I have a lot of faith in Vanguard's integrity and doubt they'd monkeywith the fund's investment approach, but as Bob Clyatt (in "Work Less, Live More") and others have pointed out, you could easily duplicate the Wellesely approach with an intermediate-term bond ETF and one for the stocks and elminate the manager risk wile having even lower expenses. Swedroe's 70%/30% is one iteration of this.
kevink is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2013, 10:15 AM   #19
Moderator Emeritus
W2R's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,474
Quote:
Originally Posted by kevink View Post
you could easily duplicate the Wellesely approach with an intermediate-term bond ETF and one for the stocks and elminate the manager risk wile having even lower expenses.
The "oh boy, I can duplicate Wellesley and save money" approach is nothing new - - it is one of the first things I read about before I ever got my first share of Wellesley. It does have tax implications, though, and relies on totally objective judgment. Where are those who did that for over a decade and are thrilled with the results?
__________________
Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harbourless immensities. - - H. Melville, 1851.

Happily retired since 2009, at age 61. Best years of my life by far!
W2R is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2013, 10:15 AM   #20
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
target2019's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: On a hill in the Pine Barrens
Posts: 9,686
It is possible to get the chart that makes one feel worse, or feel better. The main problem I see with performance charts is that they are not synced with your own savings, contributions and allocation.

I pay most attention to total dollars, and asset allocation.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Clipboard01.jpg (74.6 KB, 41 views)
target2019 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Quick Links

 
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:13 AM.
 
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.