Prior to this AM I had a mixed bag of Funds. I now am investing in only the Stable Value Fund; it is an ultra-conservative move but I prefer not to lose any money. As the markets change (improve) I will make necessary changes.
I'm now on plan D, as my 401k does not allow for a 1% contribution. At 2% I will be contributing $31.20 which will be matched by my employer (up to 3% if I remember correctly). I will have to change my plans for my Sharebuilders account accordingly.
A note of interest: I am addicted to Clark Howard!! I would like to incorporate some of his ideas in to my investment/retirement planning. More on him in a later post!
Previous:
"top 5 individual holdings should not be in the same industry." They suggest investing in the following way--local company-oil stock--a brand name blue chip--financial--and a speculative stock.I am in the process of making these possible changes--starting another account/portfolio or taking current portfolio up to the next level (from $12/6 trades to $20/20 trades):
All told, depending on how this plays out I will be investing $62.40/mth or 4%. I also need to look at my allocations within my 401k and make changes if needed.
Hopefully this post isn't too disjointed as my mind was racing with ideas as I wrote it. I will be updating it soon as I make my decisions and finish my research.
Mini update 2/15/09: I started doing some basic research into Roth's and MMMF's. I definitely need to do more. SO Until I am comfortable with my decision, I am going to go with plan C: decrease 401k to 1% increase Sharebuilders to 3% and add new holdings once determined. If and when I build up enough funds in my Sharebuilders I will then take those funds to do a Roth ($1000-$3000 initial minimum investment); MMMF undetermined at this point. Changes will most likely take place in March.
I do have an investment portfolio but it's quite small, under $200. My decision making process for choosing my investments is unorthodox and quirky. I consider myself to be a gut player. I do research my picks to a degree, but not like what the pros would recommend. I look more at the overall picture trying to find the next, for lack of a better example, WalMart. But I am also looking for stability and longevity--for example we will always need to deal with garbage, health care, education, and energy. But I digress. I started watching the financial show to learn and on of them mentioned this: "top 5 individual holdings should not be in the same industry." They suggest investing in the following way--local company-oil stock--a brand name blue chip--financial--and a speculative stock. So over the next few months this will be something that I will look into. With our economy as it is and with the results of the current election I feel there are some industries that will grow more in the near future; would be nice to be in a position to maybe capitalize on it even with my small amount. Currently I have money invested in the following:
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**You may be asking what my browsing notebook may be. Basically it's just a notebook I keep with me to write down anything that piques my interest. I may be riding in the car and a commercial piques my interest, I write down any web info mentioned. May be a news clip about something that interest me or something in a junk mail, or e-mail. There is no rhyme nor reason to my notebook just bits and pieces to help unclutter my mind.
| INVESTMENT SOURCE SUMMARY as of 04/13/2007 | |||||||||||||||||
| Investment/source | Share price | Share balance | Market value | Vested market value | |||||||||||||
| PUTNAM ASSET ALLOCATION CNSERV | $9.86 | $11.89 | $117.27 | $117.27 | |||||||||||||
| EMPLOYEE PRE-TAX | $11.89 | $117.27 | $117.27 | ||||||||||||||
| PUTNAM ASSET ALLOCATION GROWTH | $14.72 | $5.03 | $74.10 | $74.10 | |||||||||||||
| EMPLOYEE PRE-TAX | $5.03 | $74.10 | $74.10 | ||||||||||||||
| PUTNAM ASSET ALLOCATION BALNCD | $12.67 | $5.57 | $70.55 | $70.55 | |||||||||||||
| EMPLOYEE PRE-TAX | $5.57 | $70.55 | $70.55 | ||||||||||||||
| NEW PERSPECTIVE FUND CLASS R-3 | $32.95 | .586 | $19.31 | $19.31 | |||||||||||||
| EMPLOYEE PRE-TAX | .586 | $19.31 | $19.31 | ||||||||||||||
| INVESTMENT COMPANY OF AMERICA | $34.31 | .525 | $18.01 | $18.01 | |||||||||||||
| EMPLOYEE PRE-TAX | .525 | $18.01 | $18.01 | ||||||||||||||
| GROWTH FUND OF AMERICA | $33.76 | .533 | $17.99 | $17.99 | |||||||||||||
| EMPLOYEE PRE-TAX | .533 | $17.99 | $17.99 | ||||||||||||||
| JPMORGAN CORE BOND FUND A | $10.60 | $1.52 | $16.11 | $16.11 | |||||||||||||
| EMPLOYEE PRE-TAX | $1.52 | $16.11 | $16.11 | ||||||||||||||
| PUTNAM STABLE VALUE FUND | $1.00 | $15.91 | $15.91 | $15.91 | |||||||||||||
| EMPLOYEE PRE-TAX | $15.91 | $15.91 | $15.91 | ||||||||||||||
| Total Plan Balance | $349.25 | $349.25 | |||||||||||||||
Symbol/Name/Quote*/Change/Quantity/Market Value
AW/ALLIED WASTE INDS INC $12.67 $0.08 0.7594 $9.62
MON/MONSANTO CO $54.93 $0.65 0.2085 $11.45
RTK/RENTECH INC $3.19 $0.06 0.5054 $1.61
Stock and ETF Market Value $22.68
Money Market Cash Balance $0.00
Total Account Value $22.68
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