EricDeLee's account talk

[EricDeLee]

I don't believe my wife's plan has the option to select the SPX index. I've got her away from the gov bonds that were tanking (she had lost nearly 4% ytd sitting there) and she is now in DHLAX and a few others. Waiting to see how that works out. The account offers the ability to do the brokerage route (or at least a percentage of it). I new to read up on that. Last I saw there was a flat $75 fee to make a transaction (selling was free). And it looked to be an additional $7.95 to trade stocks and stuff. I assume the $75 fee was to transfer the money from the defined cont plan to the brokerage. Not sure though. I'm researching the field for a few solid dividends and a few others worth possibly gambling on as well

 

[EricDeLee]

I've been crunching numbers left and right (I have a feeling this will never change in the future... we will always be crunching numbers I suppose). I am taking the advice of many on here, to some extenet, and some of it will be a bit of a hybrid plan (so-to-speak).

Originally I had not included in my plans about adding a Roth IRA. At least not officially until I paid off my mortgage.
But, like many said here, why wait? I know I can't just dive in and start a portfolio that pays out dividends every single day of the week like some people, but I also realize that starting it up... slapping down a few grand and maxing the contribution each year is important to the overall numbers. I also see where a ROTH IRA can be extremely beneficial. Especially if you do your research and capture dividends correctly. I think I get the gist of it. Invest in the aristocrats that are not sitting on over-valued stocks, and gamble from time to time with a few of the younger crowd to grab a few high yields.

So I am going to re-map my next 8-9 years I have left in Active Duty (which will give me 26 years total service time). I'm still planning to pay he house off early... but not nearly as early as I had originally planned. Unless the wife plans on pitching in more, but that's up to her. I'm doing this all entirely on my budget for the first 5 years or so.

But I have shifted gears quite a bit.
I will be working towards maxing my TSP. I won't be able to this year, but will next year.
And I will be starting a ROTH IRA. That's a top goal. My understanding is that I can contribute the $5k all the way until 15th of April (2014) to count for 2013. And then toss another $5K at it on 16th of April. I may do that right off the bat, unless I start tossing money in now. I am going to talk to my bank first to see if they have any deals through them where I can get free trades per month. I have my home loan through them, and I know they offer where you can get a Roth IRA through them. I'm just curious as to what they offer. If they have a good deal, I may go through them for myself, and I suppose opening one up for my wife as well.

That's where I sit right now. Still plan to pay things off (the mortgage will be at a slower rate, the car loan and small CC debt will be first, and finished in less than a year). An upcoming promotion should also help with these goals as well, so I'm looking forward to this.

Time to just update my Excel sheet that I made up. LOL

 

[Birchtree]

One monthly dividend payer I own is Baytex Energy (BTE) paying 6.23% around the $40 mark. If the price drops some the yield goes up. I just buy regardless of price - it's all automatic. Once you start compounding in the Roth the gains will really add up - I personally have never owned a Roth IRA - I bought a portfolio instead. I do have dividends coming in each day which helps keep my life from getting boring - it just worked out that way.

 

[EricDeLee]

I personally have never owned a Roth IRA - I bought a portfolio instead.

I'll look into the BTE. I was already looking into a few of the 'aristocrats' for a few safe bets. But I'll check to see what else is out there! Never hurts. I noticed that pays out monthly. No DRIP option? Don't you normally roll yours back into investments? Or do you take the cash on some of these?


Bought a portfolio, eh? Something else I need to read up on. I just always assumed that you start a Roth or something like that, and it became your portfolio. I didn't know you could just buy one pre-built and ready to go.

 

[jpcavin]

I didn't know you could just buy one pre-built and ready to go.

That's Jim Walter :laugh:

 

[EricDeLee]

joke is lost on me. LOL

 

[jpcavin]

Jim Walter sold prefabricated/modular homes.

 

[DreamboatAnnie]

One monthly dividend payer I own is Baytex Energy (BTE) paying 6.23% around the $40 mark. If the price drops some the yield goes up. I just buy regardless of price - it's all automatic. Once you start compounding in the Roth the gains will really add up - I personally have never owned a Roth IRA - I bought a portfolio instead. I do have dividends coming in each day which helps keep my life from getting boring - it just worked out that way.

i had never heard of this either... So you can buy a portfolio?

 

[jpcavin]

i had never heard of this either... So you can buy a portfolio?

I believe BT is playing with words...something he enjoys doing immensely

BT makes too much money to qualify for a ROTH IRA so he "created" an account (or 2 or three..LOL ) and "bought" himself a collection of investments to self manage...so he "bought" himself a portfolio....:laugh:

If I am wrong, the laugh is on me. :embarrest: I can live with that. :laugh:

 

[Birchtree]

Judy you are smarter than Evinrude. Hint - a Disney character and one of my favorites.

 

[jpcavin]

My personality is not well developed but I am helpful and courageous. And let's not forget, I have the fastest boat in Devil's Bayou....That ought to come in handy at some point. :laugh::laugh:

 

[EricDeLee]

today's an odd day... and I hope someone can explain to me so I can learn from it.
Obviously I have not been watching the markets long, but in the time I have watched it and actually paid attention, I haven't seen all major charts below (that generally track our TSP Funds) excel like today (most up .25%)... yet the W4500 is lacking. What gives in a situation like this. Why would the S fund stay down, yet everything else appears to be going up?

 

[Birchtree]

"You can't always get what cha want" - somedays they just don't like small caps and the S fund will piddle and I should move up the tracker a few slots. I would welcome two more days exactly like today providing golden pricing for the accumulator.

 

[EricDeLee]

"You can't always get what cha want" - somedays they just don't like small caps and the S fund will piddle and I should move up the tracker a few slots. I would welcome two more days exactly like today providing golden pricing for the accumulator.

I don't mind... Just didnt understand what the deal was. I'm sure ill gain a few more percentage point between now and the end of the year. Staying the course

 

[EricDeLee]

I seem to be posting elsewhere rather than on my account talk. That just goes to show I've been doing a lot of reading.
Yesterday was a great day for anticipation. I kind of figured everything was going to skyrocket. I just wishe I had mad melt changes a day sooner.

I'm not too concerned... As I was 100% S Fund. But I was making a change to diverse a bit to the I Fund to capture those gains. It would have been great to grab a piece of the 2.56% that the I fund gained... But that's ok. I'll grab some of those today! I am glad I went against my initial concerns of pulling out due to September seasonality. I'm enjoying 5%+ gains right now, and hope I capture a bit more!

Now I'm looking forward and I'm a bit curious as to what October may hold for us! I think it is another gaining month (not quite this good...but at least 2% gains. Then bring on the Holiday season (which equates to practically printing money in this market!!)

 

[EricDeLee]

Usually see updates on tsp.gov site by now.
I did an IFT yesterday to get back in action a bit more since I believe the shutdown will be resolved soon.
It doesn't look as though they have updated anything. Hope my IFT goes through

 

[OBXTrader]

I did a one day in and out and nearly 2.5% for this month on two IFTs and will sit in G Fund and draw interest until November 1st. My new G Fund allocation is visible under recent transactions but not my account. So, you may want to check there.

Usually see updates on tsp.gov site by now.
I did an IFT yesterday to get back in action a bit more since I believe the shutdown will be resolved soon.
It doesn't look as though they have updated anything. Hope my IFT goes through

 

[DreamboatAnnie]

I did a one day in and out and nearly 2.5% for this month on two IFTs and will sit in G Fund and draw interest until November 1st. My new G Fund allocation is visible under recent transactions but not my account. So, you may want to check there.

Yeah...I saw that..excellent play on timing that you made. I waited thinking it would drop more and lost out! Dang it...but looks like it could go low again Monday on that bad news of no agreement...so I have another chance to move my remaining funds into S or C funds. Just wondering if I should go further into week which should bring lower prices if they continue to not play nice....then again would risk losing out again. I have both IFTs .

 

[DreamboatAnnie]

Usually see updates on tsp.gov site by now.
I did an IFT yesterday to get back in action a bit more since I believe the shutdown will be resolved soon.
It doesn't look as though they have updated anything. Hope my IFT goes through

Do you mean this site didn't show in tracker, or that TSP didn't process it it timely( due to furloughs)?? I thought our IFTs would be unaffected.

 

[OBXTrader]

The transactions on TSP.gov weren't posted to our account summaries from the day previous until late in the next day. You could see it though by mid-day under "recent transactions".

Do you mean this site didn't show in tracker, or that TSP didn't process it it timely( due to furloughs)?? I thought our IFTs would be unaffected.