Quote:
Originally Posted by l2ridehd
40% in Vanguard Total stock market fund
20% in Vanguard Total International fund
40% in Vanguard Total Bond Market fund
Re-balance back to those percentages about every 6 months. Forces you to sell high and buy low.
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I am new to posting on this site . Retired senior exec in banking and investments . I built and was president the largest bank owned brokerage and insurance firm at the time . However I let my licenses expire .
Your suggestions are very solid . No one needs a Harvard MBA to learn how to manage their own money . The information is readily available and the " tools " you will find on the website of a good investment firm will pave a good map for you to follow .
The writer cites Vanguard and I could not agree more with his suggestion for this firm . There was a time when I was working so many hours and traveling all week that I paid someone else to manage my investments even though I was president and responsible for a brokerage firm .
I also found the comment someone made about owning / sponsoring polo ponies to be spot on . Never be impressed by fancy offices , paneled conference rooms and expensive art on the walls . It`s coming out of someone`s pocket . Many someones .
You all worked very hard for your savings and investments . Do not be intimidated .
I was sitting in the board room of a large bank a few years ago listening to a Wall Street guy wax on and on about something called derivatives and interest rate swaps et al . All he was seeking was to place 41 Billion of the bank`s assets into these fancy so called investments .
I watched our top 3 execs very closely and came to a conclusion . When the session ended I asked one of the smartest associates I knew who was sitting with me in the room ' could you follow what he`s proposing ? Do you understand how this stuff works " . He sheepishly said " no do you ". I said " not a word . But I don`t really think that guy understands what he is selling either . I think all of our guys were too embarrassed to ask any questions ".
Yup turns out about 5 years later I was right . When it all hit the fan turned out no one could explain or understand what they had invested the house money in and that led to the huge melt down .
Always use your common sense and never be impressed or intimidated .
Trust your common sense and good judgement .