2004 kicked my ass.
I didn't run away crying.
True, I had a mental breakdown, but I did
NOT run away or cry.
I learned much and will continue to learn and refine my process, to become wise, and to keep turning profits in any climate, and finally, to worry less about setbacks and to have fun and to enjoy personal accomplishments.
True, I beat the C Fund/S&P 500 in 2004, but that is not my standard; I haven't been trading the C Fund. The S Fund's 18% and I Fund's 20% gain are my benchmark. I fell short. Way short. Oops!
I must find a better way. I must take the emotion out of trading and I must be more objective. Yes, objectivity. Systems. Tools measuring probablities.
As I sit here, reading posts from the TSPtalk community and looking at my
Best-Charts plots of
^DWCP,
^SPX, and
EFA, trying to decide if I should make an allocation change, I remember,
"Ah! I have one! I have a tool that is completely objective! It's been staring at me in the face all this time!"
The Magic 8-Ball. I've mentioned it, but I've never used it. Time to change! Objectivity!
As I have contemplated changing my allocation from
3C/48S/49I to
65I/35S, I ask the 8-ball and it speaks:
Should I increase my I Fund position? Most likely.
Should I buy some G? Try this one later.
Wow! The I Fund will continue its uptrend after a little correction and I should go to G soon for the Market consolidation! How insightful!
One thing I have learned in my ass-kicking is that, most of the time,the more I monkey with things, the more I watered down my returns. Therefore, I am holding off on this for a few days to see what the market does to look for confirmation.
However, Inow have my benchmark: not the S&P 500, but the Magic 8-ball! So, I will be standing pat for now and the
Magic 8-ball account will put in an IFT for COB tomorrow:
65I/35S.