What do you consider a good rate of return?

[TxQuiltGirl]

Looking at my 401k this morning and I have averaged a personal rate of return of about 16% over the last three and a half years ... It's better than I thought I would do - I was figuring 8% (and thought that might be a little high).

[Athena53]

These have been extraordinary years- if you were in mostly stocks, 16% per year average is pretty respectable. I'm running about 11% per year during that period but I have a lot of bonds and bond funds because I'm closer to retirement.

 

In my long-term projections I use 6% but I know I'm being conservative. 8% is probably reasonable if you're mostly invested in stocks and stock funds.

 

Just try to keep an eye on the averages if the market goes down! I know I'll have a VERY hard time doing that and not panicking, but my financial advisor will keep me from doing anything stupid.

Edited February 6, 2007 by Athena53

[TxQuiltGirl]

I'm heavy on stocks because I'm still young enough (38) to be aggressive. I will probably stay that way till I'm at least 50. I plan to retire when I have 30 years with the company, which will be when I am 61. Oh boy, only 23 years more! This is why I want to get my house paid off early too - because in retirement I don't want the house payment.

 

But my estimates have my returns around 8% and shows that I'll have about $750k in my 401k plan. If I have returns around 11% for much of that time, I'd have something like $1.2MM. This is all based on a rather modest investment of 6% of my income. I like to be conservative when I'm planning for the future.

[jimmybank]

Last year my 401k returned just over 26%. If I could keep that up, I could retire in no time! I think an average of 10% would be amazing, though. 8% is probably a reasonable and conservative basis for making your plans.

 

Of course, I'm 27 and just getting started for the most part, so I still have a long way to go.

[squirrelgirl]

I think 16% is pretty darn good... I'm at about 12%, although I'm in some conservative funds considering I'm not even 30 yet.

[TxQuiltGirl]

Last year my 401k returned just over 26%. If I could keep that up, I could retire in no time! I think an average of 10% would be amazing, though. 8% is probably a reasonable and conservative basis for making your plans.

 

Of course, I'm 27 and just getting started for the most part, so I still have a long way to go.

 

 

Yeah, I had a return for LAST year of about 28% ... I am very aggressive in my investments. Over all the return has averaged 16% ... I made a couple of really bad investments the first year.

[hegemony]

16% is good. does this factor in fees?

 

the best we've ever done was a fund my spouse has in her traditional IRA: >30% in 2006.

[54regcab]

On ALL of our invested money we averaged 23%, of course some funds were higher and some were lower.

[TxQuiltGirl]

16% is good. does this factor in fees?

 

the best we've ever done was a fund my spouse has in her traditional IRA: >30% in 2006.

 

 

The fees are very low and yes, it does factor in the fees. Vanguard now offers to have someone "manage" your portfolio for you, but honestly, I just don't feel comfortable letting someone else manage my money. Been burned before, even though it was by someone who had no clue.

 

Last year I think my 401k performed at like ... 28% was it? Something like that. I wish I could get a couple of years like that!

[swiwia]

The trick is not to get caught up in the euphoria of these returns. The historical average is around 10%. This year may be good, but we are due for a downturn in the market. It WILL happen. When? No idea. Ideally, it won't be until after I am retired, but with 30+ years to go, thats a pipedream.

 

WHEN the market does turn, don't get scared and run for the hills, stay the course and keep investing. That way, when it comes back to favor, you will have MUCH more invested at lower prices to get some amazing returns on AKA dollar cost averaging.

[Marty716]

On my small cap fund I'm getting aroud 22% on my balanced fund I'm getting aroud 12% (for the last 12 months)...I'l gladly take 16% any day.

[54regcab]

16% is good. does this factor in fees?

 

the best we've ever done was a fund my spouse has in her traditional IRA: >30% in 2006.

 

 

The fees are very low and yes, it does factor in the fees. Vanguard now offers to have someone "manage" your portfolio for you, but honestly, I just don't feel comfortable letting someone else manage my money. Been burned before, even though it was by someone who had no clue.

 

Last year I think my 401k performed at like ... 28% was it? Something like that. I wish I could get a couple of years like that!

28%!! WOW what are you invested in?

[TxQuiltGirl]

16% is good. does this factor in fees?

 

the best we've ever done was a fund my spouse has in her traditional IRA: >30% in 2006.

 

 

The fees are very low and yes, it does factor in the fees. Vanguard now offers to have someone "manage" your portfolio for you, but honestly, I just don't feel comfortable letting someone else manage my money. Been burned before, even though it was by someone who had no clue.

 

Last year I think my 401k performed at like ... 28% was it? Something like that. I wish I could get a couple of years like that!

28%!! WOW what are you invested in?

 

 

Well, I have about 30% of my investment in CVX stock, which has shown a GREAT return this year. The rest is in high risk, overseas investments.

 

I play large.

[54regcab]

16% is good. does this factor in fees?

 

the best we've ever done was a fund my spouse has in her traditional IRA: >30% in 2006.

 

 

The fees are very low and yes, it does factor in the fees. Vanguard now offers to have someone "manage" your portfolio for you, but honestly, I just don't feel comfortable letting someone else manage my money. Been burned before, even though it was by someone who had no clue.

 

Last year I think my 401k performed at like ... 28% was it? Something like that. I wish I could get a couple of years like that!

28%!! WOW what are you invested in?

 

 

Well, I have about 30% of my investment in CVX stock, which has shown a GREAT return this year. The rest is in high risk, overseas investments.

 

I play large.

 

You must work for them if they offer that as a 401k choice.

[TxQuiltGirl]

16% is good. does this factor in fees?

 

the best we've ever done was a fund my spouse has in her traditional IRA: >30% in 2006.

 

 

The fees are very low and yes, it does factor in the fees. Vanguard now offers to have someone "manage" your portfolio for you, but honestly, I just don't feel comfortable letting someone else manage my money. Been burned before, even though it was by someone who had no clue.

 

Last year I think my 401k performed at like ... 28% was it? Something like that. I wish I could get a couple of years like that!

28%!! WOW what are you invested in?

 

 

Well, I have about 30% of my investment in CVX stock, which has shown a GREAT return this year. The rest is in high risk, overseas investments.

 

I play large.

 

You must work for them if they offer that as a 401k choice.

 

 

It's no secret.

[Sebulba]

Hi all,

 

I have been getting a respectable double digit return per month, not per year. I have enjoyed working my portfolios up significantly

[Sebulba]

Hi all,

 

I have been getting a respectable double digit return per month, not per year. I have enjoyed working my portfolios up significantly, and have taught my whole family how to do the same.

[hegemony]

Hi all,

 

I have been getting a respectable double digit return per month, not per year. I have enjoyed working my portfolios up significantly, and have taught my whole family how to do the same.

hahaha

[rachel3511]

I guess the haha refers to not believing sebulbas claim, but it really isn't tough.

 

Not all sectors of my investments return double digits per month, but my forex and futures portions are frequently up 15-40 percent per month or more on a good month.

 

Not tough at all.

 

My swing term sector is about the only thing that doesn't do doublt digits every month, though it does sometimes as well.

[hegemony]

I guess the haha refers to not believing sebulbas claim, but it really isn't tough.

 

Not all sectors of my investments return double digits per month, but my forex and futures portions are frequently up 15-40 percent per month or more on a good month.

 

Not tough at all.

 

My swing term sector is about the only thing that doesn't do doublt digits every month, though it does sometimes as well.

day trading. no thanks. forex? no thanks.

Edited February 24, 2007 by hegemony

[rachel3511]

Think we've been around with this before, and I definitely respect your opinion.

 

So likewise: Wasting your life away working for someone else? No thanks. Boring investments that take 20-30 years or more if ever to make one wealthy, no thanks.

 

Investing in something over the long haul when you don't even know what will happen tomorrow? NO THANKS. Way too risky for me.

 

I kinda like to know in advance the maximum I can lose at any one time, not gamble my money in the hands of others who are amateurs.

[hegemony]

Think we've been around with this before, and I definitely respect your opinion.

 

So likewise: Wasting your life away working for someone else? No thanks. Boring investments that take 20-30 years or more if ever to make one wealthy, no thanks.

 

Investing in something over the long haul when you don't even know what will happen tomorrow? NO THANKS. Way too risky for me.

 

I kinda like to know in advance the maximum I can lose at any one time, not gamble my money in the hands of others who are amateurs.

 

all I said was no thanks. not for me. who are the amateurs?

[rachel3511]

I know, didn't mean it badly, just expressing opposite opinions of yours.

 

The amateurs I am referring to are the brokers who are barely out of high school and work based on sales commission, not performance commission.

 

I hate scumbag brokers that tout the next high flying stock that loses peoples hard earned money they've saved across the years.

[hegemony]

I know, didn't mean it badly, just expressing opposite opinions of yours.

 

The amateurs I am referring to are the brokers who are barely out of high school and work based on sales commission, not performance commission.

 

I hate scumbag brokers that tout the next high flying stock that loses peoples hard earned money they've saved across the years.

we had one tell us recently that it would cost 1% of our portfolio balance just for them to manage our investments. let's say I burnt rubber out of there LOL.

[sercfm]

rachel3511 Today, 12:15 AM Post #21

 

 

 

 

 

Group: Members

Posts: 105

Joined: 20-August 04

Member No.: 7,915

 

 

 

Think we've been around with this before, and I definitely respect your opinion.

 

So likewise: Wasting your life away working for someone else? No thanks. Boring investments that take 20-30 years or more if ever to make one wealthy, no thanks.

 

Investing in something over the long haul when you don't even know what will happen tomorrow? NO THANKS. Way too risky for me.

 

I kinda like to know in advance the maximum I can lose at any one time, not gamble my money in the hands of others who are amateurs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Could I ask what you do for a living that allows you both the luxery of plying your trade and being able to do due diligence on 4 or 5 thousang companies in order to not be stuck with boring investments that take 3o years to grow? How did Enron, WorldComm, Tyco and the resst work out for you. Can we agree that Warren Buffett did okay with his boring little stuff? By the way I am unaaware of any brokerage, financial planning, or wirehouse that hires amatures out of high school to manage money or advise? And if your looking for a good quick way to invest your money with a defined downside sinceyour really not sure if tomorrow will ever come, have you thought about roulette? You can get a thirty six hundred percent return in under a minute>