Im +1/2% YTD but what I really love is that my bonds are up 3.2% YTD. They were also up last year even though we've had multiple threads the last few years and "experts" have been saying for years that they will get crushed.
2016 may have turned positive ...but in real terms after inflation, the market is STILL DOWN about 6% from last highs. We've been in reverse since late 2014/ early 2015.
YTD (12/31/15-3/18/16), the return of Vanguard S&P Index MF is 0.8%, that of Vanguard Total Bond VBTLX is 2.42%, while that of Wellesley is 3.2%. Looks like either Wellesley manager been busy trading er rebalancing, or his stodgy stock picks are doing well.
Anyway, if we look back 12 months, then Vanguard S&P loses -0.4%, VBTLX gains 1.3%, and Wellesley wins again at 3.2%.
Back 3 years, then S&P wins at a whopping 40%, Wellesley at 19.6%, and bond VBTLX trails at 6.9%.
So, that's what happens when the bull market tops out. Hard to see stocks keep moving up like they had been doing in the 2009-2014 period. Bonds will not do that well either, unless the Fed goes negative on the rate like the EU bank.
Time to tighten my belt, and try to live on less.
....Maybe have just been lucky....
We need you to participate in the LOL!' sMarket Timing Newsletter! Please post orders as you submit them.Have traded in and out of these positions about 3 times this year already.
Some YTD comparison (benchmark) returns as of March 17, 2016:
60/40 funds:
1.00% VSMGX Vg LifeStrategy Moderate Growth
1.07% VTWNX Vg Target Retirement 2020
0.94% VBIAX Vg Balanced fund
1.32% DGSIX DFA 60/40
1.24% VWENX Vg Wellington (65/35)
0.83% VTTVX Vg TR 2025 (66/34)
Im +1/2% YTD but what I really love is that my bonds are up 3.2% YTD. They were also up last year even though we've had multiple threads the last few years and "experts" have been saying for years that they will get crushed.