Been there, done that.
Honestly, it's a distraction that puts unnecessary pressure on some folks imo. I don't use it to judge anyone else's success or lack thereof either. We all have our ups and downs.
No, I just want to read what others are doing in their accounts and what they see going on in the markets.
Oh, and also to provide my own perspective of course.
Coolhand,
Yep -once again I agree with your comments and that’s why I stop by often. Also, how can anyone ever be sure that members are actually moving money? The real proof is in the end of year statement from TSP in the lower left corner. My goal every year is 7% to 10% -even in Bear Markets. Last year my YTD return on that statement was 12.09%. Not a great return, but it meets my goals based on my - age - risk tolerance - and diversification.
Some of the paid services I get even call the return they display a fictitious account. I do use the tracker to see how the folks at TSP are feeling based on moves and sentiment. Mark Young uses Sentiment from this board also.
I remember last year’s Top Dogs – not at the top now – I remember the Leaders from early this year - now down double digits. I ran my own fictitious accounts during the old days to see how I stacked up against other folks on the tracker. I had one aggressive and one conservative. The goal of the aggressive was to win the other was what an investor might due at my age and risk tolerance. Folks on the board moving 50k around might do things differently if they were moving 500k.
Anyway, I agree Coolhand and thanks for posting advice on investing and Market Timing. I was very disappointed in the board members when I stopped by 12% account talk the other day. If folks don’t like his thread then they should stay the heck out of it. He is a Bullish cheerleader as is Birchtree. Yep – nothing wrong with that. We also have The TSP Bad News Bear Cheerleaders. Hey – that’s also ok with me. However – don’t take offense or attack when they disagree with someone’s position. If I was Bichtree I wouldn’t even post here anymore, but he’s a little thicker skinned then I I’m. I have learned much from the members on this board over the years.
You can make money in a Bear Market, but by scaring the crap out of folks is not how to do it - or cheerleading when the trend is clearly down. Yep - things suck out there! Now, how do we catch the next 15% Bear market rally - thats what I'm trying to figure out.
Anyway, looking to hit my goal again this year – but this has been a tough market. Some folks are happier than a pig in shiit to average 7% over the long haul - that’s better than the stock market has performed the last ten years. My fictitious account this year in much higher than my real accounts, but I’m moving around over 500k and it's different with real money. I’m sure many folks actually do move money around as displayed by the tracker and that to me is even more troubling.
I’m an aggressive trader with my brokerage account and do things quite a bit different in my TSP account. I have talked with folks at work that have followed some folks on the tracker blindly and the results were not good. However, they were following the old leaders and they are now down double digits like many folks are now. Including many of my paid services!!!! Poolman is doing very nicely and controls his risk's.
Take Care and keep up the good posts…
All the above is my personal opinion and is not meant to inflame or tick folks off.
You are Coolhand with a very Coolhead...
It is still my opinion that we are in the bottom process and are due a rally back up to 1000 and higher in the S&P... I remain long for now..... and think the short-term is up and yes the economy sucks and things look very bad. However, since I'm not a buy and hold or long-term investor I don't move money based on either. I'm trying to catch a ride on the back of the crooks and manipulators controlling the market and catch the next Bear Market Rally!
Good trading and investing to all...
