What does a lazy guy do?

setab · 12-21-2005, 03:40 PM

I suppose I could read all the financial stuff posted here. I could balance my meager investments, rebalance, counterbalance, hedge and otherwise stick and jab. I have one major problem...don't want to. Finances have never interested me. I rank investing somewhere right below eating brocoli. I could, but I'd rather not. I guess I'm just lazy, or maybe just interested in other things. So, what do I do to enjoy the retired life?

setab

brewer12345 · 12-21-2005, 03:47 PM

Buy a good, low cost balanced fund. VWELX, FBALX, and SWBGX all come to mind. Contribute on a regular basis and forget about it for 10 years.

BUM · 12-21-2005, 03:48 PM

Hi setab,

Pick a Vanguard Lifestyle Fund or Wellington Fund (or similar) and ignore it. You'll probably do better than most!

BigMoneyJim · 12-21-2005, 03:53 PM

Yup, Wellington, LifeStrategy or Target Retirement as the set-it-and-forget-it investment vehicle.

For "whadda ya do all day" concerns check out the Lifestyles in Retirement section.

yakers · 12-21-2005, 04:14 PM

One more answer: TSP "L" Fund. I am transfering old IRA money into the TSP and all my new contributions go into the "lifestyle" fund. Its a balanced fund made up of other index funds.

setab · 12-21-2005, 04:16 PM

yakers,

Which L fund are you going to? I was thinking about that myself. Thanks.

setab

lazyday · 12-21-2005, 04:21 PM

It might still make sense to read a book or two about investing, to make a good decision about asset allocation.
Spend several hours thinking about it, planning, and discussing with people here.

Then, execute it, and now that you're done the hard part,
-if it's something like a balanced fund or retirement fund, forget about it for several years until your situation changes enough to change your plan,
-if it's some simple version of Boglehead or slice and dice, spend one hour every two years rebalancing.

The second one above need not be complicated. It could consist of just three Vanguard funds: TIPS, Total US market, and International. Which international you pick might depend on tax situation and if fund is in taxable account.

If you invest in a way you don't have a good understanding of, you might choose something inappropriate for you, or worse, sell low if things go badly.
If you aren't willing to do learn about investing, it might make sense to find a good fee-only finanacial planner, and set something up where you don't need to keep going back, if possible. But finding a good one might be more work than just learning about investing, if you believe people's posts about financial planners.

brewer12345 · 12-21-2005, 04:26 PM

Some balanced funds have international, small cap, mid cap, etc. exposure. SWBGX does, no doubt there are others.

lazyday · 12-21-2005, 04:28 PM

I'm not saying just buying a low fee balanced fund and forgetting about is a bad idea. It's probably good for the lazy.

But, if you do it because some stranger on an internet board said to, and the fund goes down, you panic, and sell, then you wouldn't be helped much by the advice.

I think it is important to understand what you are buying, and some background of investing, because I keep reading that most people tend to buy high and sell low. I think it's important to avoid that, and it supposedly is what comes naturally.

yakers · 12-21-2005, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by setab

yakers,

Which L fund are you going to? I was thinking about that myself. Thanks.

setab

I am in the 2020 fund. I am 55 and I expect to retire in the next couple years but I figured I would be withdrawing funds about then. Its a bit more "aggressive" than some Vanguard funds but the CSRS pension is a very conservative balance, sort of like holding bonds.

riskadverse · 12-21-2005, 07:40 PM

Get a financial advisor, or stick it in some fund and forget about it for 10 years. Oh yea - pick up a new skill while you're retired too, you'll need it when you come out of retirement.

Despite the easy advice given, I don't think there is an easy (safe) way. If it was easy, I doubt if we would be reading "FIRE and Money" posts.

Spanky · 12-23-2005, 07:59 AM

Select a balanced fund such as Vangaurd STAR Fund (VGSTX) or Target Retirement fund that holds global equities and U.S. bonds.

For example, the STAR fund holds the following funds:
Vanguard Windsor II Fund 16.3%
Vanguard GNMA Fund 12.5%
Vanguard Long-Term Investment-Grade Fund 12.5%
Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund 12.3%
Vanguard Windsor Fund 8.9%
Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund 6.9%
Vanguard PRIMECAP Fund 6.9%
Vanguard Morgan Growth Fund 6.9%
Vanguard International Value Fund 6.3%
Vanguard International Growth Fund 6.2%
Vanguard Explorer Fund 4.3%

uncledrz · 12-23-2005, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by setab

I could, but I'd rather not.* I guess I'm just lazy, or maybe just interested in other things.* So, what do I do to enjoy the retired life?

setab

We have some heavy hitters on this Board, the above advice is right on point. As to enjoying your retired life, keep connected with family and friends and spend your now free time on those "other things" that interest you.
Good question.

cute fuzzy bunny · 12-24-2005, 09:39 AM

Send me your money and i'll take care of it for you. :|

I promise to invest it wisely.

12-21-2005, 03:40 PM	#1
setab Recycles dryer sheets Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 388	What does a lazy guy do? I suppose I could read all the financial stuff posted here. I could balance my meager investments, rebalance, counterbalance, hedge and otherwise stick and jab. I have one major problem...don't want to. Finances have never interested me. I rank investing somewhere right below eating brocoli. I could, but I'd rather not. I guess I'm just lazy, or maybe just interested in other things. So, what do I do to enjoy the retired life? setab __________________ I told you I'd taunt you a second time.

12-21-2005, 03:47 PM	#2
brewer12345 Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ... Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 9,363	Re: What does a lazy guy do? Buy a good, low cost balanced fund. VWELX, FBALX, and SWBGX all come to mind. Contribute on a regular basis and forget about it for 10 years. __________________ “When you realize that you are one of the rare few who observe moral principles in their relationships with others, there is a temptation to sink into amorality, not out of conviction or pleasure but simply to avoid further pain, because there is no greater suffering than being an angel in hell, whereas a devil feels at home wherever he goes.” – Martin Page, How I Became Stupid

12-21-2005, 03:48 PM	#3
BUM Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 1,556	Re: What does a lazy guy do? Hi setab, Pick a Vanguard Lifestyle Fund or Wellington Fund (or similar) and ignore it. You'll probably do better than most! __________________ In a panamax down by the river.

12-21-2005, 03:53 PM	#4
BigMoneyJim Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 2,392	Re: What does a lazy guy do? Yup, Wellington, LifeStrategy or Target Retirement as the set-it-and-forget-it investment vehicle. For "whadda ya do all day" concerns check out the Lifestyles in Retirement section.

12-21-2005, 04:14 PM	#5
yakers Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,621	Re: What does a lazy guy do? One more answer: TSP "L" Fund. I am transfering old IRA money into the TSP and all my new contributions go into the "lifestyle" fund. Its a balanced fund made up of other index funds. __________________ A slave is someone who waits for someone else to free them

12-21-2005, 04:16 PM	#6
setab Recycles dryer sheets Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 388	Re: What does a lazy guy do? yakers, Which L fund are you going to? I was thinking about that myself. Thanks. setab __________________ I told you I'd taunt you a second time.

12-21-2005, 04:21 PM	#7
lazyday Recycles dryer sheets Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 457	Re: What does a lazy guy do? It might still make sense to read a book or two about investing, to make a good decision about asset allocation. Spend several hours thinking about it, planning, and discussing with people here. Then, execute it, and now that you're done the hard part, -if it's something like a balanced fund or retirement fund, forget about it for several years until your situation changes enough to change your plan, -if it's some simple version of Boglehead or slice and dice, spend one hour every two years rebalancing. The second one above need not be complicated. It could consist of just three Vanguard funds: TIPS, Total US market, and International. Which international you pick might depend on tax situation and if fund is in taxable account. If you invest in a way you don't have a good understanding of, you might choose something inappropriate for you, or worse, sell low if things go badly. If you aren't willing to do learn about investing, it might make sense to find a good fee-only finanacial planner, and set something up where you don't need to keep going back, if possible. But finding a good one might be more work than just learning about investing, if you believe people's posts about financial planners.

12-21-2005, 04:26 PM	#8
brewer12345 Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ... Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 9,363	Re: What does a lazy guy do? Some balanced funds have international, small cap, mid cap, etc. exposure. SWBGX does, no doubt there are others. __________________ “When you realize that you are one of the rare few who observe moral principles in their relationships with others, there is a temptation to sink into amorality, not out of conviction or pleasure but simply to avoid further pain, because there is no greater suffering than being an angel in hell, whereas a devil feels at home wherever he goes.” – Martin Page, How I Became Stupid

12-21-2005, 04:28 PM	#9
lazyday Recycles dryer sheets Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 457	Re: What does a lazy guy do? I'm not saying just buying a low fee balanced fund and forgetting about is a bad idea. It's probably good for the lazy. But, if you do it because some stranger on an internet board said to, and the fund goes down, you panic, and sell, then you wouldn't be helped much by the advice. I think it is important to understand what you are buying, and some background of investing, because I keep reading that most people tend to buy high and sell low. I think it's important to avoid that, and it supposedly is what comes naturally.

12-21-2005, 07:40 PM	#11
riskadverse Full time employment: Posting here. Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 671	Re: What does a lazy guy do? Get a financial advisor, or stick it in some fund and forget about it for 10 years. Oh yea - pick up a new skill while you're retired too, you'll need it when you come out of retirement. Despite the easy advice given, I don't think there is an easy (safe) way. If it was easy, I doubt if we would be reading "FIRE and Money" posts. __________________ Random Reinforcement is Highly Addictive.

12-23-2005, 07:59 AM	#12
Spanky Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 2,800	Re: What does a lazy guy do? Select a balanced fund such as Vangaurd STAR Fund (VGSTX) or Target Retirement fund that holds global equities and U.S. bonds. For example, the STAR fund holds the following funds: Vanguard Windsor II Fund 16.3% Vanguard GNMA Fund 12.5% Vanguard Long-Term Investment-Grade Fund 12.5% Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund 12.3% Vanguard Windsor Fund 8.9% Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund 6.9% Vanguard PRIMECAP Fund 6.9% Vanguard Morgan Growth Fund 6.9% Vanguard International Value Fund 6.3% Vanguard International Growth Fund 6.2% Vanguard Explorer Fund 4.3% __________________ May we live in peace and harmony and be free from all human sufferings.

12-24-2005, 09:39 AM	#14
cute fuzzy bunny Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ... Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Losing my whump Posts: 22,527	Re: What does a lazy guy do? Send me your money and i'll take care of it for you. :\| I promise to invest it wisely. __________________ Many an optimist has become rich by buying out a pessimist

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

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Hello from Financial Jungle Guy	Financial Jungle Guy	Hi, I am...	1	04-17-2007 11:14 PM
Is the FIRE personality lazy	rw86347	FIRE and Money	47	04-12-2007 09:14 AM
My kind of guy . . .	Toejam	Other topics	0	01-18-2007 12:13 AM
Lazy or just bad business	Arif	Other topics	12	08-31-2006 02:00 PM
Here's a guy that won't be ERing	bosco	Other topics	15	06-18-2006 08:18 PM