How did your investments do in 2019?

[CHenry]

A lot of folks are 100% invested in their company stocks through a 401K. Sometimes that can work out, but it goes against all conventional wisdom about investing in the market.

A buddy of mine inherited about 1 million from his moms 401k in AT&T. He built a $400k house and by the time it was complete, his stocks had dropped in half. Rather than roll it to a ROTH IRA, and get the full mil, he left in there in that single stock that tanked back in 2003 or so.

 

[JD8]

I just don't see how you (or me) could lose unless you ashed out during a slump?
I follow the SP 500 and its averaged a +12% over 100 years. So...
Were you doing single stocks that lost? That is more risky for sure.

The S&P 500 hasn't been in existence for over 100 years. The S&P was started in the late 20s and then the S&P 500 know as it is now, the late 50s. It did not perform very well for the first 30 years, until they consolidated and doubled the index.

Given the historical data, it's easy to see how people could loose money in certain decades. It all depends on their entry point.

https://www.macrotrends.net/2324/sp-500-historical-chart-data

 

[JD8]

No, not one has mentioned gambling except for me, to me it's a gamble. I've lost money in mutual funds before and other investments so to me it is a gamble. I never meant to offend anyone and if I did my apologies.

No offense here. For some it is a gamble, for others, calculated risk. I get where you are coming from, nobody teaches this stuff in school.

 

[CHenry]

The S&P 500 hasn't been in existence for over 100 years. The S&P was started in the late 20s and then the S&P 500 know as it is now, the late 50s. It did not perform very well for the first 30 years, until they consolidated and doubled the index.

Given the historical data, it's easy to see how people could loose money in certain decades. It all depends on their entry point.

https://www.macrotrends.net/2324/sp-500-historical-chart-data

actually the sp500 has been around since Jan. 1, 1957, accordint to what I read.I use sarcasm a lot. Its been around a lot longer than most of us.
The first 30 years was beginning the industrial revolution IIRC. but its done a steady uphill line (average) of 12%
But then there are charts like this that go back to the early 30s?

S&P 500 Index - 90 Year Historical Chart
Interactive chart of the S&P 500 stock market index since 1927. Historical data is inflation-adjusted using the headline CPI and each data point represents the month-end closing value. The current month is updated on an hourly basis with today's latest value. The current price of the S&P 500 as of January 06, 2020 is 3,246.28.

• Historical Chart
• 10 Year Daily Chart
• By Year
• By President
• By Fed Chair
• By Recession

S&P 500 Index - Historical Annual Data
Year Average
Closing Price Year Open Year High Year Low Year Close Annual
% Change
2020 3,246.33 3,257.85 3,257.85 3,234.85 3,246.28 0.48%
2019 2,913.36 2,510.03 3,240.02 2,447.89 3,230.78 28.88%
2018 2,746.21 2,695.81 2,930.75 2,351.10 2,506.85 -6.24%
2017 2,449.08 2,257.83 2,690.16 2,257.83 2,673.61 19.42%
2016 2,094.65 2,012.66 2,271.72 1,829.08 2,238.83 9.54%
2015 2,061.07 2,058.20 2,130.82 1,867.61 2,043.94 -0.73%
2014 1,931.38 1,831.98 2,090.57 1,741.89 2,058.90 11.39%
2013 1,643.80 1,462.42 1,848.36 1,457.15 1,848.36 29.60%
2012 1,379.61 1,277.06 1,465.77 1,277.06 1,426.19 13.41%
2011 1,267.64 1,271.87 1,363.61 1,099.23 1,257.60 0.00%

 

[nofearfactor]

One of my favorite stocks I have the most invested in and that Ive had since the mid 90s is still kicking *** and always has, everything else is meh...

 

[xring33]

As a retiree I only have divided paying stocks...mostly ETF and mutual funds. The few individual stocks also pay a dividend. Both growth and dividends were solid.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[dennishoddy]

I agree. If I had a company 401K, I'd still have my seperate vanguard account and invest and contribute the min. to the 401k I believe.

Most companies offer a portfolio of investment opportunities along with the employers company stock. One of the companies I worked for had company stock as well as Vanguard. The company covered all transaction fees for trades, and sales. This was back in the day trading days.
Went out on a limb many times sometimes trading every day or two as the company stock rose and fell like a saw blade. One just had to time it right, and if the timing was off, wait a bit and get back in. Vanguard had an investment that basically did nothing. It rarely gained, and never lost kind of like a bank savings account. It was a good place to put some money when the stock was high. Then when it dipped, jump in for a few days and sell again on the high.
Did that for many years along with other employees. We made tons of money. Wife was right there as well.
Eventually the Corporate folks found out what we were doing, and shut down the free trades.....except for corporate folks and officers. HEHE, my wife was a corporate officer. Life went on.

 

[CHenry]

Vanguard must be different now or more choices are available. There are many funds doing very well among their choices.

 

[dennishoddy]

Vanguard must be different now or more choices are available. There are many funds doing very well among their choices.

That was back in the 90's. I'm sure Vanguard has evolved like everything. They had funds you could get into that were hi risk, some moderate risk and some that were very low risk as well as some managed funds.

 

[inactive]

My company 401k is through Vanguard. Vanguard will allow you access to whichever funds etc that your company permits.

I stick mostly to index with some additional in growth. Though I’ll be moving those over as/we see the market slow or turn.