What to do?

[bolobar]

Hello all
I'm a newbie and not a troll.
Self managed portfolio (started mid-90's) below:

Assets
Cash and Bank Accounts
Alliant S60 110,895.09
Alliant S62 4,936.35
Alliant S63 31,763.75
Alliant Savings #1 6.31
Alliant Savings #2 16.26
Fidelity Cash Reserves 744.35
Fidelity Core-Cash 11,197.71
WFB - Checking 3,068.98
Alliant S accts are CD's

Total Cash and Bank Accounts 162,628.80

Investment
Brandywine 120,235.36
Fidelity Equity Funds 529,948.97
Franklin CA ITF Muni Fund 302,287.36
IRA-American-Me 1,217,962.18
IRA-American-Wife 75,960.39
IRA-Fidelity-Wife 109,460.41
Masters Select Int'l Fund 191,619.69
Rancon Realty 28,804.00
Stocks 240,188.00
TRPrice Emerging Markets 69,636.79
TRPrice New Era Fund 81,197.68
Vanguard CA ITF Admiral Fund 357,289.25

Total Investments 3,324,590.0


Total Assets 3,487,218.88



Liabilities 0.00

My wife and I are in our mid 70's and in good health. We live modestly and have all the 'things' we want or need. We do have heirs who are in good financial shape.

Suggestions and comments welcome.

bolobar

 

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

Bolobar, welcome to the board. It may be helpful to know just what it is you are wondering about. Obviously you are content and wealthy by any standard.

Is there something in particular you are focusing your concerns on?

Wanna trade assets, perhaps?

 

[REWahoo]

Suggestions and comments welcome.

bolobar

1. Round up to the nearest dollar.

2. Stop living quite so modestly and enjoy yourself while you still can.

 

[OAG]

Go on a World-Wide Tour while you can. That said it can be hard to "break the mold" after saving all that money. It can be done but. like everything worthwhile in life it takes effort, as I think you are well aware. Since your heirs have no need of money (and IMHO inherited money is "found money" and in many, but not all cases, wasted). Maybe there are some, in your opinion, worthwhile causes you may want to donate to? Grandkids, Grand Nephew or Nieces you could set up educational endowments for, other well thought out legacies for family members?

By the way welcome to the forum (there are a few of us "older than dirt" types here).

 

[Spanky]

Bolobar,

I am not sure what kind of advice are you seeking. You have a large portfolio - almost entirely in equity. Your cash accounts are pretty light relative to equity. As long as you feel comfortable with the volatility of equity, you are doing fine.

 

[bolobar]

Thanks for the welcome.
I regret the post as it sounds 'elitist.' Like someone in the news, I too am not an elitist.
It took disciplined investing on our part to acquire what we have.
I realize this is the wrong forum but, at my age, I can do pretty much what I want.
Thanks for your patience and I will now become a lurker.

bolobar

 

[REWahoo]

... at my age, I can do pretty much what I want.

Yes you can! Isn't it wonderful! Enjoy!

Thanks for your patience and I will now become a lurker.

Don't run off so quickly. Stay and join the fun...

 

[Spanky]

It took disciplined investing on our part to acquire what we have.
I realize this is the wrong forum but, at my age, I can do pretty much what I want.
bolobar

I agree with you - you can do whatever your heart desires. What do you enjoy most? What do you like to do? What are you planning to do with your assets? Are you thinking about leave them to your kids?

This forum is fine -- just visit or post in the "life after ER" section.

P.S. You appears to be a good investor.

 

[SteveR]

Welcome to the forum Bolobar.

Like the others have said. You appear to be very well off and your heirs seem to have no need for your money so enjoy it while you still can. Take some world-wide cruises. Kick up your heels. What are you saving it for?

Also, you might want to combine some of your similar assets into one account...one money market or one Total Market fund and fewer institutions for instance. Too many accounts becomes too much w*rk to manage. I am still sliming mine down from 30+ to under 20 so far.

 

[megacorp-firee]

My wife and I are in our mid 70's and in good health. We live modestly and have all the 'things' we want or need. We do have heirs who are in good financial shape.

Suggestions and comments welcome.

bolobar

Yes, live long and prosper.
Stick around this forum and give us the benefit of some of your experience and wisdom.
Start doing one NEW fun thing a year (at least) that you and your wife have always wanted to do.

Welcome to the board.

 

[Brat]

In my neck of the woods there are a number of people who have done quite well in high tech. Over one Thirst Thursday gathering I hear that they discussed wanting to make a difference but also wanted results from their charitable contributions. They actually created a charitable giving advisory group for that purpose.

Thinking about how you might make a difference with what you have once you don't need it any more could be a wonderful exercise.

Also, I strongly recommend you put a lock-box on your estate. If one of you becomes easily influenced in your last years someone could take advantage.

 

[bolobar]

I would like to thank you all for the warm welcome. I've experienced other forums where some members thought it was their private club and would be pushed out of shape when they saw a new poster.

A thought for you younguns: Never go to bed angry. Whether with your wife or whomever. Also set aside some quiet time with a martini or whatever and enjoy each others company. The rest will take care of itself if you don't get too greedy. A fault too prevalent in today's world.

I look forward to being a contributor to Life After Fire.

bolobar

;

 

[Ronstar]

Welcome & thanks for the "thought". Its great to hear thoughts/ ideas from those with more life experience.

 

[Dude]

Hello all
I'm a newbie and not a troll.
Self managed portfolio (started mid-90's) below:

Assets
Cash and Bank Accounts
Alliant S60 110,895.09
Alliant S62 4,936.35
Alliant S63 31,763.75
Alliant Savings #1 6.31
Alliant Savings #2 16.26
Fidelity Cash Reserves 744.35
Fidelity Core-Cash 11,197.71
WFB - Checking 3,068.98
Alliant S accts are CD's

Total Cash and Bank Accounts 162,628.80

Investment
Brandywine 120,235.36
Fidelity Equity Funds 529,948.97
Franklin CA ITF Muni Fund 302,287.36
IRA-American-Me 1,217,962.18
IRA-American-Wife 75,960.39
IRA-Fidelity-Wife 109,460.41
Masters Select Int'l Fund 191,619.69
Rancon Realty 28,804.00
Stocks 240,188.00
TRPrice Emerging Markets 69,636.79
TRPrice New Era Fund 81,197.68
Vanguard CA ITF Admiral Fund 357,289.25

Total Investments 3,324,590.0


Total Assets 3,487,218.88



Liabilities 0.00

My wife and I are in our mid 70's and in good health. We live modestly and have all the 'things' we want or need. We do have heirs who are in good financial shape.

Suggestions and comments welcome.

bolobar

So for your investments, do you know what your basic ratio of stocks to bonds is? If I was in my mid 70's with $3.3 mil I wouldn't want to be too heavily in stocks.....just a thought.

 

[megacorp-firee]

So for your investments, do you know what your basic ratio of stocks to bonds is? If I was in my mid 70's with $3.3 mil I wouldn't want to be too heavily in stocks.....just a thought.

I'm starting to think that this (old people = less stocks and more bonds) strategy may not be correct. With medical advances, I am convinced that there will be 'replacement parts' for most organs, IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT. Given that, you are both in good health, and if you have financed the quality of life you want with current allocations, then you should leave your AA alone.

 

[cashbalancetrouble]

Perhaps there is some area of required distributions on IRA to look at or tax avoidance issues you are interested in. Possibly a charitable trust to work with and have a chance to see your effect on society.

I am new here to and these are areas I have been studying as of late.

 

[Westernskies]

Welcome!

From your balance sheet it appears many of those posting here should be asking you for advice, not the other way around.

FWIW, it sounds like you need to stop saving and start spending. NOW. Travel. Socialize. Live. Spend your kid's inheritance. Order dessert first. Don't wait until attending funerals becomes your social life.

If you do live modestly, you should oulive your assets without any problem. The finacial acumen that got you here, should serve you well in retirement.