All time high

[W2R]

Now, tonight, after I saw that the markets did in fact do very well, and I am at a "high," I am considering letting my "frugal hair down" tomorrows, and letting my "freak flag fly." If you know what I mean.

I hesitate to guess!!

 

[audreyh1]

Wow - didn't take long for the animal spirits to come out of the closet around here!

Where is that wood knocking emoticon again?

Audrey

 

[dex]

Now, tonight, after I saw that the markets did in fact do very well, and I am at a "high," I am considering letting my "frugal hair down" tomorrows, and letting my "freak flag fly." If you know what I mean.

This is outside the Bollinger Bands also.

The top must be in.

 

[Birdie Num Nums]

You're going to throw out the apple?

Too funny!

 

[FinanceDude]

I thought dex was 100% in cash..either he is unhappy, or the best market timer on Earth..........

 

[Nords]

That reminded me I got about 2% of my stocks on covered calls, and "sadly" they are getting deeper in the money and will be called from me any day now, as they are Nov calls. That will drive my stock AA lower.

We call that "rebalancing". It neatly removes most of the angst and drama from the decision.

Last time I commented on my portfolio, I was basically told I should keep my mouth shut. So..............no comment.

... and have another med?

You're going to throw out the apple?

I think she's going to compost it.

 

[RonBoyd]

I believe that if one put all into Wellesley, it would do that, if one reinvested all dividends. I have been watching, and have said this before: Uncle Mick is onto something.

Anyway, I just wonder, without "subtraction", what do you live on?

Actually, our Portfolio is spread out among 20 ETFs/MFs and I simply ignored all the noise from/on Wall Street.

Well, I had removed what I estimated to be two years "living expenses" in April 2007. We spent less and, to be honest, are getting extremely close to needing to replenish. (On the other hand, we have way too much stuff and perhaps now is the time to sell off some of the clutter.) Social Security has helped, of course.

Nevertheless, my point was that using a Warren Buffet-style "Holding Period" strategy got us through a rough period with no bruising. Of course, the key (I'm guessing) was in putting a lot of thought into the intitial choice of investments.

 

[WhoDaresWins]

I am still off my late '07-early '08 high. I am thinking of shifting some accounts around, though, due to the recent rally and moving them over to Vanguard for the Admiral shares.

 

[chinaco]

We are close to it.

 

[LOL!]

This is outside the Bollinger Bands also.

The top must be in.

The top will be in when you start a thread "I'm going 100% stocks."

 

[donheff]

Man, I was afraid of this.

We're still far out of 2007 bubble territory, but our portfolio has crossed a tad above its "take some off the table" line and we've continued to hold on for the ride. When you guys get like this I should probably sell something just from reflex.

Guess I'll try to sell some more covered-call options tomorrow. We haven't been exercised yet, although our small-cap value ETF is above the February strike. Our Berskhire shares are still firmly in out-of-the-money territory.

+1 I was just looking at my taxable accounts and wondering if I should sell off my 2011 withdrawal now. Or at least sell half of it. Dex still has me worrying - what goes up comes down

 

[MichaelB]

How do people know what their all time high was - and how often do folks update their portfolio value? I only know my past YE numbers.

Our portfolio + cash is now marginally above YE 07 after three years of hefty withdrawals. Since we're had deflation since then, I guess that makes us even better off. Sure doesn't feel like it.

More importantly, looking forward I can't say that our portfolio has better odds of sustaining us. Animal spirits as indeed alive again - so it's best to make sure one is not eaten by a predator.

 

[audreyh1]

I have the historical data in Quicken.

But I also have the number saved in my portfolio rebalancing spreadsheet. That's something I did in 2007 when things kept going up and up. That should have been a clear sign to me that we were approaching the top.

That and all W2R's "wheeeeees".

Audrey

 

[yakers]

Now exceeded YE07 high. Just keep annual figures except for current year. Have been withdrawing a small amount from IRAs since retiring in March 08, mostly live off pension. My annual rebalancing is scheduled for Jan, maybe I should move that up to now? My fixed assets are now 37.5% and their target level is 40%, not that big a difference, but I guess if I don't rebalance then buy & hold indexing willn't be effective as a system.

 

[HFWR]

The top will be in when you start a thread "I'm going 100% stocks."

Just a couple of months ago, we were waiting for "the death of equities" headlines...

 

[Moemg]

I retired Jan 2007 and I'm still a little down from my all time high but the good news is my weight is hitting a fifteen year low !

 

[rescueme]

The S&P is still down some 20% of its previous high (2000).

What does that tell you ...

FWIW, my opinion is that there is much money on the sidelines (along with itchy fingers, on the personal investors side) to keep this rally going a bit longer.

Also, you have the normal EOY gains that happen (along with distributions, which some reinvest in other "opportunites" as I do.)

Just my opinion; not worth $.02 ...

BTW, I will be "restocking" my retirement cash buckets over the next few weeks (yes, I'm happily retired). That will take care of my "imbalance" in equity funds and return me to my "old man" 50/50 split (equity/bond-cash)....

 

[W2R]

How do people know what their all time high was - and how often do folks update their portfolio value? I only know my past YE numbers.

Our portfolio + cash is now marginally above YE 07 after three years of hefty withdrawals. Since we're had deflation since then, I guess that makes us even better off. Sure doesn't feel like it.

More importantly, looking forward I can't say that our portfolio has better odds of sustaining us. Animal spirits as indeed alive again - so it's best to make sure one is not eaten by a predator.

Every week day I enter share prices for my 7 mutual funds into Excel, and I also update my TSP balance and bank account balance. This is my idea of fun. Excel then computes my porfolio value. Early in each month I record the value of my taxable investments, Roth, TSP, bank accounts, and total portfolio. Plus, I just plain remember what my highest portfolio value has ever been because it interests me.

I have read that it is better to retire into a thriving, growing market than into a declining market or crash. So in that sense, I think my portfolio is in better shape than I thought. On the other hand, I know that the market goes down and up. That attribute of the market is what kept me from selling in 2008-2009, and it also means that I will just hang on and watch (gleefully, this time) in 2010. Of course it will eventually go down, but meanwhile I am getting a lot of fun out of watching these high numbers, just as I get a lot of fun out of watching a pretty sunset.

The only change I am thinking of in my investment or withdrawal plans, is that I may possibly move from the "SWR to be increased by the CPI each year" to the "SWR of my balance each year" withdrawal scheme. Since I have only been retired a year, I could go either way. Basing my withdrawal on my balance seems a lot easier and I have learned that I tend not to spend it all anyway if my SWR is more than my dividends (especially in a down market).

 

[Andre1969]

congrats 73SS...now go out and celebrate by opening up the 4-bbl on that 454 and burn some rubber! I ran the numbers and as of October 26 2010, I'd say I'm finally officially "back"...that number being my October 2007 high, plus everything additional I've invested since then.

And, not to jinx it, but yesterday was another all-time high, plus breaking a new milestone, the $600K barrier.

 

[FinanceDude]

Rebalance, rebalance, rebalance...........

 

[NW-Bound]

How do people know what their all time high was - and how often do folks update their portfolio value?

Unless I am in the boondocks where there is no Internet access, at least once a day after market close, plus a couple of hours to allow MFs to report their NAVs.

When I am home, several times a day, to know how my stocks are doing, by using MS Money and now Quicken.

Of my 76% AA in equities, 1/3 of that is in MF while 2/3 is in individual stocks. As often said before, I like to fancy being my own MF manager, so hold many stocks. The stocks I hold, about 1/2 are high-beta stocks, and need lots of watching. Even while the market is going up, there's always a chance of one or two blowing up due to individual risks.

If a retired guy does not spend time to watch his stocks, what else does he watch? Oprah?

 

[MichaelB]

Rebalance, rebalance, rebalance...........

+1 +1 +1

I have read that it is better to retire into a thriving, growing market than into a declining market or crash. So in that sense, I think my portfolio is in better shape than I thought. On the other hand, I know that the market goes down and up. That attribute of the market is what kept me from selling in 2008-2009, and it also means that I will just hang on and watch (gleefully, this time) in 2010. Of course it will eventually go down, but meanwhile I am getting a lot of fun out of watching these high numbers, just as I get a lot of fun out of watching a pretty sunset.

I’m thinking it’s better to retire right after a crash, when equity values are at a low point and have greater upside than down. Me – I retired a couple of months before the ’00 crash, but then again, my timing has always been like that. It’s amazing how we adapt and persevere.

If a retired guy does not spend time to watch his stocks, what else does he watch? Oprah?

I’m getting in lots of time with family before we head back south for the winter. Much like Audrey has posted elsewhere, I find I am much better off when I tune out the media, although I prefer Mexican football over telenovelas
Gotta stay focused on the important stuff - life is just too short. Ya'll have a nice day.

 

[Alan]

How do people know what their all time high was - and how often do folks update their portfolio value? I only know my past YE numbers.

I have a spreadsheet that I update once a quarter.

 

[Keim]

I use Quicken.

 

[FUEGO]

Up 69% from my pre-crash quarterly high (from June 30, 2008).
Up 130% from my crash quarterly low (March 31, 2009).

I track portfolio totals on a quarterly basis.

Still working and accumulating assets.

I rebalanced by selling something and buying something else for the first time ever a couple weeks ago. Sold a slug of emerging markets index fund and bought some pacific index fund. Previous rebalancing has been accomplished by changing where I direct new investment contributions.