Anyone investing heavily this year??

How much money did you lose/gain this past week?

  • I have been looking at the payout on my wife's life insurance policy...do I still need her?

    Votes: 2 6.7%

  • I guess I will postpone paying off the mortgage for a few more years

    Votes: 19 63.3%

  • I knew this day would come and was shorting the hell outta the market

    Votes: 9 30.0%
  • Total voters
    30
  • Poll closed .
Madrox said:
Right on. I was really late to the game (currently in my early 40s) so even I won't go over more than 10% bonds right now. Everyone's situation is a little bit different. Not to mention their goals.

..also @DC_Dude, if you're looking at funds (mutual, Index, etfs) the expense fees are VERY important. They seem minuscule, but they really, really add up. Look for as low as possible. It's hard to do within a 401k that you get through the job because there may be a limited amount of funds made available to you. But within an IRA you have almost unlimited choices. That's why most folks go Vanguard index funds or ETFs.
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Yeah thanks! Would just about to do that on M1 Finance. Just open up a Vanguard ETF and put money in that way....
 
Madrox said:
For fun/knowledge, I'll try to remember to update my journey on a monthly basis. It's been about a month since I started investing with M1, here's what it looks like so far:

(Since May 8th)

*Dividend Account - 26% Return

$PEP - up 1%
$COF - up 31%
$BA - up 69%
$NVDA - up 15%
$CVS - up 12%
$IBM - up 11%
$SPYG (added mid Month) - up 3%
$WMT (added a few weeks ago, manual transfer from eTrade) - down 1%
$XOM (added a few weeks ago, manual transfer from eTrade) - up 12%

IRA - 13% Return

$VOO (S&P500) - up 12% / Portfolio Allocation 30 %
$VXUS (International) - up 13% / Portfolio Allocation 20 %
$VYM (High Yield Dividend) - up 14% / Portfolio Allocation 30 %
$VNQ (Real Estate) - up 15% / Portfolio Allocation 20 %

...I try to get my boys to see this as a way of growing your savings, even if you intend it to be shorter term, vs having all of your money sitting in a savings account. There is risk obviously, but I feel like if folks did a little bit of research on stocks - esp the companies they actually USE - and ETFs they would get over that fear given the potential returns. Not to mention the flexibility.

At worst, I view these as super high yield savings accounts that I actually have control over. Is my thinking flawed?
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End of the Month Update

Taxable Account (Dividend / Growth Blend) - 2% Return

$PEP - down 0.03%
$COF - down 0.30%
$BA - up 38.25%
$NVDA - up 21.37%
$CVS - up 2.69%
$IBM - down 2.26%
$SPYG - up 2.41%
$WMT - down 2.82%
$XOM - down 5.37%

Added yesterday:

$VXGS (Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF)
$AB (AllianceBernstein)
$VZ (Verizon)
$ED (ConEd)
$AFL (Aflac)
$KDP (Kuerig Dr. Pepper)
$QSR (Tim Horton's / BK / Popeyes)
$DNKN (Dunkin)
$UPS (UPS)

NOTES: I took a beating the last couple of weeks :beat: ... placed my "July 1st Orders" a few days early to try to take advantage of the lows. Next planned deposit Aug 1.


**IRA - 6% Return

$VOO (S&P500) - up 5.19% / Portfolio Allocation 30 %
$VXUS (International) - up 8.96% / Portfolio Allocation 20 %
$VYM (High Yield Dividend) - up 2.27% / Portfolio Allocation 30 %
$VNQ (Real Estate) - up 6.93% / Portfolio Allocation 20 %

NOTES: Lower returns with the market madness but I still like what I'm seeing. Especially surprised by the returns with the Intern'l ETF. Also received my first dividend payment from VYM,right after I started to doubt it a little by comparing its return vs VXUS. That made me feel better about it though. Planning to make my next deposit on the 15th and add $BNDW (Vanguard Total World Bond), with the allocations changed accordingly:

VOO (S&P500) - Allocation 30 %
VXUS (International) - Allocation 20 %
VYM (High Yield Dividend) - Allocation 25 %
VNQ (Real Estate) - Allocation 20 %
BNDW (Total World Bond) - Allocation 5% (for now)
 
ZGNX showing a brother love. Got in under $26 after it plummeted off of positive FDA approval news. Scooped it up and it is on fire right now.

My other FDA move off of a rejection is HRTX. Seems like FDA played them but it may get Canadian approval. A lot of room there and still low RSI
 
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Thoughts on MARK? Earnings is Monday AH and it might run up through then but my whole being is telling me to get out and maybe buy back in lower. My setup is for it to trigger at 2.50 and get out with a trailing loss during run up or sell off if it stalls. Know a few MARK holders here. What say you? Seems like holding over holiday would be a mistake.
 
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Today will be a good day to buy a near in the money option contracts on Facebook and Microsoft and ride the wave until it peaks today. Sell as soon as it starts to decline.

Some money is better than no money.
 
I told ya MSFT and FB would be sure bets today. $2500.00 profit before 11am. I am done for the day.

On another note, @xfactor and I have been pretty much begging ya to get on board with Tesla. They are about to hit $1200.00. Wait for the dip and jump in. If you got the money, grab a slightly out of the money call option contract with an end date about a month from now. You will thank me later.
 
Tito_Jackson said:
Today will be a good day to buy a near in the money option contracts on Facebook and Microsoft and ride the wave until it peaks today. Sell as soon as it starts to decline.

Some money is better than no money.
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Tito_Jackson said:
I told ya MSFT and FB would be sure bets today. $2500.00 profit before 11am. I am done for the day.

On another note, @xfactor and I have been pretty much begging ya to get on board with Tesla. They are about to hit $1200.00. Wait for the dip and jump in. If you got the money, grab a slightly out of the money call option contract with an end date about a month from now. You will thank me later.
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...still can't quite wrap my mind around options trading. But it also took me forever to understand the point spread in betting, just to give you a window into how my mind works or lack thereof when the #'s get complicated..

Gonna put myself through a mini crash course this weekend. Saved some YouTube vids and got this book.

(fingers crossed)
 
Madrox said:
...still can't quite wrap my mind around options trading. But it also took me forever to understand the point spread in betting, just to give you a window into how my mind works or lack thereof when the #'s get complicated..

Gonna put myself through a mini crash course this weekend. Saved some YouTube vids and got this book.

(fingers crossed)
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Why this book?
The reviews look terrible and they say it’s a pamphlet not a book
 
moufasa said:
Why this book?
The reviews look terrible and they say it’s a pamphlet not a book
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No specific reason other than I saw it recommended here. Seems like a handful of the bad reviews say that it's too basic, but I need to start somewhere so I don't mind that too much..

If you're getting into trading options, generating some solid returns right away might be one of your biggest motivators. "Options Trading Crash Course" breaks down everything you need to know on trading options and making an income from your investments in a simple step-by-step guide.
This book is specifically written with beginners in mind but by the time you're done reading it, you might feel like an expert. At just 82 pages, it's a pretty quick read but as the title suggests, the goal is to get you from Point A to Point B quickly so you can become an options trader. Think of it as the Cliff Notes guide to options, hitting all the key highlights that can help fuel your success.
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Madrox said:
No specific reason other than I saw it recommended here. Seems like a handful of the bad reviews say that it's too basic, but I need to start somewhere so I don't mind that too much..
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For those looking to get into options, the best advice I can give you is download and sign up for Thinkorswim. You can trade with "paper money." Its good to get real world practice and not get so bombarded with theory.

For those who are new at options, here is the first rule you must internalize. Learn to mitigate your losses and profits. If you are up, take the profit and reset. As soon as the profit starts to decline get out asap!! You can always buy another option contract. Do not say oh, I will wait until it goes back up. No, sell, wait for it to keep going down, as soon as it bottoms out, buy another contract.

You will make enough to pay your mortgage every month taking your time and being smart.
 
Tito_Jackson said:
For those looking to get into options, the best advice I can give you is download and sign up for Thinkorswim. You can trade with "paper money." Its good to get real world practice and not get so bombarded with theory.

For those who are new at options, here is the first rule you must internalize. Learn to mitigate your losses and profits. If you are up, take the profit and reset. As soon as the profit starts to decline get out asap!! You can always buy another option contract. Do not say oh, I will wait until it goes back up. No, sell, wait for it to keep going down, as soon as it bottoms out, buy another contract.

You will make enough to pay your mortgage every month taking your time and being smart.
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Thanks for the feedback. Think or swim is part of TD Ameritrade, right? Are the accounts one in the same or do you pay an additional cost?
 
Madrox said:
Thanks for the feedback. Think or swim is part of TD Ameritrade, right? Are the accounts one in the same or do you pay an additional cost?
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I just signed up for TD Ameritrade just to access the Think or Swim platform scanner. Its free with the account. I didnt even deposit any cash.
 
sickwidit said:
I just signed up for TD Ameritrade just to access the Think or Swim platform scanner. Its free with the account. I didnt even deposit any cash.
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Yep. Get comfortable using the paper money. You can also set up weekly deposits so while you are learning, you can be getting your available cash to invest ready, instead of making one large deposit in the future.
Madrox said:
Thanks for the feedback. Think or swim is part of TD Ameritrade, right? Are the accounts one in the same or do you pay an additional cost?
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What he said. Once you get familiar with Thinkorswim, your will rarely go to the TD Ameritrade site or app.
 
Tito_Jackson said:
Yep. Get comfortable using the paper money. You can also set up weekly deposits so while you are learning, you can be getting your available cash to invest ready, instead of making one large deposit in the future.

What he said. Once you get familiar with Thinkorswim, your will rarely go to the TD Ameritrade site or app.
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Good idea. Appreciate the info..
 
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