How often do you...

[Bram]

... check how your retirement accounts are doing? Does the frequency change relative to which direction the market is going?

 

[Goonie]

Maybe every 6 to 8 weeks...sometimes less. It's there for the longhaul, and I'd rather not see the day-to-day fluctuations. 8)

 

[Texas Proud]

Usually I check the Vanguard part a few times a week....

No, but it does if the point move is bigger....

 

[Khan]

Every day.

But I rarely change anything.

 

[retire@40]

I look at and record progress in all my accounts, including retirement accounts, once a month.

In the accumulation phase, I want to make sure things are progressing as planned or better.

So far so good, but if spot a trend I don't like over a series of months, I do something to correct it.

 

[Peaceful_Warrior]

I have Fidelity Full View I check the balances on most of my assets (sans private LLC investments) and liabilities (sans mortgage) daily with one fell swoop. One reason for this is to keep an eye out for any potential identity theft -- so I can see all new transactions each day.

I don't freak out if I see significant dips in my accounts since I am comfortable taking on more risk, I also accept with that comes more volatility. However, considering my YTD rate of return is 23% on my 401k, I'm not terribly concerned.

I also don't make significant changes to my asset allocation very often. Even though I watch regularly, I'm much more of a wait-and-see kind of investor. Generally speaking, I figure if I took the time to research my investments to start with, then I should have some faith and let it ride.

 

[macdaddy]

Almost every day for me since most of them are stocks. I should try to cut back to once a week, since I don't trade very often, but it's always just one click away.

 

[rs0460a]

Every day. I use the facility of Fidelity Full View to gather all my/DW's retirement investment accounts from four different firms (nine accounts). This, in turn, is used to load the Fidelity Retirement Income Planner tool automatically and provide me with a 32-page "retirement plan" (no - it's viewed on line!)

I'm a bit "anal" on this at this time of life. In my "many years away from retirement" phase, I'd be satisified for the quarterly statements (no such thing as "on line" availability back in those days!)

With my retirement financial plan becoming effective next Wednesday (but I'm not leaving w*ork till the spring - May 1st) and doing some last minute "adjustments" (related to a variable annuity purchase and post tax distributions in May) I want to keep a "closer watch".

Anyway, with only four months to go at w*ork, I find this much more interesting ...

I very much doubt if I will follow this "pattern" after mid-'07. By that time, my long-term plan will be "in action" and I will not be "shuffling the deck" in preperation for retirement, as I am doing now.

- Ron

 

[Coach]

Probably a couple of times a month on average. More often when things are going well; I hate to check when things are not going well.

Coach

 

[Dawg52]

I know some people say you should not look at it very often to keep you from making a hasty sell decision. But I review it everyday just to make there has not been a security breach that has emptied my account. I know Fidelity and others have good security but I think it is wise to keep an eye on it.

 

[audreyh1]

I download prices daily into Quicken because it's just so easy to do!

But I only evaluate my portfolio once a quarter - mainly to look at my allocation and whether rebalancing is needed. I take action only once a year or less.

Audrey

 

[WilliamG]

Ditto Dog52. I check Vanguard and bank every day. Although I'm aware of portfolio changes I try hard to stick to my ISP on making changes no more than twice a year. Having had my debit card used fraudulently, I like to be on the look out for any spurious activity.

 

[mathjak107]

same here i look every day. i have caught bank atm errors and credit card fraud early on looking daily

 

[justin]

At least once per day. I track all accounts through Yahoo and update manually when needed. During the 2000-2002 bear market, I rarely checked my portfolio totals, however I was also in school and not buying more investments at the time either. It is more fun to watch a general up trend than to check on down days/trends.

 

[kcowan]

Trading acount every couple of days
Total position once a month
Investment decisions once or twice a year - November & April

(I thought from the title it was going to be a different question in which case the answer is in frequently )

 

[saluki9]

Once a month maybe. Usually I take whatever is left over in my checking account at the end of the month and dump it into one of my funds. I use that as a time to check my positions.

I'm not a short term investor so why should I care about the daily fluctuations?

 

[justin]

I'm not a short term investor so why should I care about the daily fluctuations?

Some folks check out yesterday's scores on basketball, football, etc. Some read the daily hollywood gossip rag. I happen to like checking the stats on my portfolio. Not that it will change much of what I am doing...

 

[saluki9]

Some folks check out yesterday's scores on basketball, football, etc. Some read the daily hollywood gossip rag. I happen to like checking the stats on my portfolio. Not that it will change much of what I am doing...

I'm not saying that others shouldn't. It's just that it is human nature to want to change things based on short term emotions. I know that if I look at it every day, eventually I might be tempted to make changes based on emotion instead of fact.

 

[Delawaredave]

I check nearly every day.

Often I record my portfolio's change for the day and also the change for the day in the major US indices (Dow, SP500, etc).

I am trying to gather data on my total portfolio's correlation with major US market indices.

Last pile of years I've been broadly diversifying across capitalization size, currencies, countries, and asset classes.

So when I hear "Dow up 75" - my overall portfolio doesn't move in "lockstep" in direction and magnitude like it used to (which is my intention, and good, I think.....).

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year ! (I think I can say "Happy New Year" and be politically correct. Just in case - I hope I didn't offend anyone who doesn't recognize the new year....)

 

[rs0460a]

(which is my intention, and good, I think.....).

By George, I think he's got it!!!

 

[mickeyd]

Very rarely, or rather randomly, do I check my accounts @ Vanguard. I'm not planning on redoing my AA; not planning on taking a distribution at any time in the immediate future. I pretty much know that my AA is not going to allow any large change in the value of my accounts at any one time. A boring, index laden Vanguard account does not beckon me to view it on a regular basis.


I am bit surprised at all of the responses that indicate regular repeated checking of these accounts. I guess we all have different perspectives on this issue. I find that very interesting.

A Q for you guys that often check your accounts: What are you looking for or do you just like to see your assets increase or occasionally decrease? Isn't this like watching someone sleep? Breathe in, breathe out...

 

[retire@40]

...I am trying to gather data on my total portfolio's correlation with major US market indices...

Why not just calculate your own WAB (weighted average beta)?

 

[Arc]

Check daily using Money software. It's easy and I get a good feeling no matter what. If the market's high, portfolio value feels good; if the market is down I figure I'm buying on sale. Oh yeah and I'm a little bit compulsive about money!

 

[Texas Proud]

A Q for you guys that often check your accounts: What are you looking for or do you just like to see your assets increase or occasionally decrease? Isn't this like watching someone sleep? Breathe in, breathe out...

Just bored and it only takes a few minutes..... sometimes I am surprised what it has done since the last time...

Also, why do you check anything you do not plan on doing something with IE, how often do you check the air pressure in your tires? It rarely goes down, but it is recommended once a week...

 

[mickeyd]

, how often do you check the air pressure in your tires?

Wow, that really drives home the point Texas Proud. I must admit, I probably check my tires less often than I do my accounts. Thanks for reminding me, I'll check my tires later on today.