I sold all my stocks and bonds today.

[ripcord]

I get all my financial home-spun wisdom from BITOG.

There are a lot of investment "professionals" with worse records I would hazard to guess... and BITOG has better fees.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

One question is WHERE is it going in the meantime and what are the limits?

Just had some of that conversation with a friend. He got some money from inheritance. He opened I think 5 different high yield savings accounts at like 4.5% so he was in FDIC limits.

Some of the investment places offer that option I think if you leave it there and will be ready to re-invest quickly.

 

[Dave Hess]

I get all my financial home-spun wisdom from BITOG.

There actually a few heavy hitters on BITOG with substantial portfolios.
I’ve followed up on some of their personal advice / trades / tips / suggestions / etc… and they gave lots of quality info.

I still believe there might be a rug pull within the next year. We will see.

Again, older folks really don’t need another 10% gain if they already enough to live financially worry free.

 

[JeffKeryk]

There are a lot of investment "professionals" with worse records I would hazard to guess... and BITOG has better fees.

The one thing that I still seeth about is the advisor who had me sell some stock (and pay taxes) and buy an annuity. I'm sure he got a big fat commission and the annuity was not a "bad" one, but let's just say I am not a good candidate for an annuity.

I won't tell you how bad over time, in comparison, this turned out to be.

 

[Jim Rogers]

The answer is up. And you can do very well over the long run. That's my experience.

Agree, and have been 100% invested since the fall of 1987 (immediately after the big crash!). And trust me, the success of that strategy has resulted in a savings nest egg that completely belies my historical income.

It's the main reason I was able to retire at 60!

However, the fact that he is even asking question implies that he is making "investment decisions" (which appears to mean "short-term trades" in the context provided) that are not based on that long-term premise.

Getting in and staying in will make one very rich (as we both have shown).

What I said was that if anyone could to what he's trying to do-- short-term trade based on knowing at any given moment if the market was more likely to go up or down 10%-- they would be very, very rich.

Emphasis on the second "very!"

The one thing that I still seeth about is the advisor who had me sell some stock (and pay taxes) and buy an annuity. I'm sure he got a big fat commission and the annuity was not a "bad" one, but let's just say I am not a good candidate for an annuity.

I won't tell you how bad over time, in comparison, this turned out to be.

Ouch! Yeah-- I'll bet that stung. Sucks.

That's one reason I have never used any broker/adviser. With the commission structures they usually work under, wouldn't trust 'em as far as I could throw 'em.

No one ever has a say in my finances. I will always be 100% responsible for them.

 

[Slick3914]

Anyone who thinks they can time the market is a fool.

 

[ripcord]

Anyone who thinks they can time the market is a fool.

Yep, but it sounds like the OP is timing things based on his own phase of life more than he is timing the market.

 

[tbm5690]

Agree, and have been 100% invested since the fall of 1987 (immediately after the big crash!). And trust me, the success of that strategy has resulted in a savings nest egg that completely belies my historical income.

That's my plan...I wasn't alive in '87 but I'm 100% in stocks when it comes to retirement accounts and I plan to stay that way riding the ups and downs until at least age 55. I think some people get too conservative too early. In the OPs case of course his strategy should be different as he's already living off the proceeds.

 

[JTK]

There are a lot of investment "professionals" with worse records I would hazard to guess... and BITOG has better fees.

I wasn't fully kidding with my comment. There are many members who's advice I would trust.

 

[Jerrysends]

I'm of an opposite perspective. The stock market exposure will be necessary to protect from the upcoming inflation crisis caused by increasing tariffs & a shrinking labor force.

Corporate stock holders will always get thier take. I want my share of the greed.

 

[JohnnyG]

I think you made a mistake, but if you're happy, that's your decision. You need to look at the time of the year and the reason for the sell off.
In this case, year end sell offs are pretty common, and it's done for "tax purposes". So if you can show a loss for the year, you're golden.
I'm talking about those with multiple millions to dispense of, not those of us that just manage a couple mil.

And to Jeffery, there are times when annuities can be a great thing. Like when you first retire, and aren't sure of your future stock performance meeting your income needs. But the most important thing is to know the details of that annuity contract.
Yes, you give them your money, and you get a check every month, WITHOUT FAIL.
One thing I just did is sell an annuity for a little less money than I paid for it in 2009. All the while collecting about $900.00 a month, for 15 years.
So, it cost me $300,000, sold it for $295,000, but was paid $162,000 in the meantime, without fail.
If you can do that, you win.

 

[Jerrysends]

There are a lot of investment "professionals" with worse records I would hazard to guess... and BITOG has better fees.

Some truth to this.... but honestly, how many "professionals" can beat the S&P 500 long term?

 

[rijndael]

Some truth to this.... but honestly, how many "professionals" can beat the S&P 500 long term?

The stats I've seen put it under 10%.

 

[alarmguy]

I am retired, was self employed most of my career, and depend on my IRA for a good chunk of my retirement income. My IRA is self managed.

I have been investing for over 50 years, and have been through multiple market booms and busts. Nothing as frustrating as seeing all your gains go down the drain in a market bust. I believe in buying low and selling high. Most amateur retail investors do the opposite. They want to jump on the bandwagon of stocks flying upward, then they panic and sell low after the market crashes. And then they are so scared that they don't reinvest when prices are low.

The question i always ask myself in making investment decisions is, 'What is more likely, the market going up 10% from where it now is, or going down 10% from where it now is?

I was lucky to make some nice gains in 2024, but right now the market to me looks like Wiley Coyote discovering he is off the end of the cliff. I don't want to give all my gains back as the market slides. As it appears to be doing.

So I sold all my stocks and bonds today. Looking to be a vulture when the market drops early next year. As I think it will.

Good for you, I thought about it for the past week thinking at the least, this rally will take a break in a little bit of a pull back , never did anything about it. I hope I don’t regret it.
I think you’re thinking is spot on but then again here I am running on a hope and prayer now.

There is certainly nothing wrong with taking unrealized gains and turning them into real gains

 

[walterjay]

The bulk of my IRA is in treasuries. When the market tanks I will buy in.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Some truth to this.... but honestly, how many "professionals" can beat the S&P 500 long term?

Before fees many actually do - in the hedge fund world - or they wouldn’t stay in business. Of course there for the top 1% and have access to investments we don’t.

After fees is often different.

Berkshire has beat the market for decades and is publicly traded.

 

[ripcord]

The stats I've seen put it under 10%.

...and most of those just got lucky.

 

[ripcord]

The stats I've seen put it under 10%.

Your handle sure is a cipher. I can't decode it's meaning...

 

[rijndael]

...and most of those just got lucky.

Probably so. I think the real value in these "money managers" comes in when it's time to make decisions, guiding people to make smart choices. Limiting tax exposure and not doing less than ideal things like paying off their 2.5% mortgage, simply because they don't like mortgages.

 

[wwillson]

Getting in and staying in will make one very rich (as we both have shown).

A very wise investor once told me that I didn't need a financial wizard to manage my investments. I already had my own crystal ball that told me everything I needed to know to self direct all of my own investments.

1. Be in the market and under no circumstances sell because the market is having a bad day. Only think long term.
2. Buy no load market index funds.
3. Save cash and when the market has a bad run, buy those index funds. Don't try to guess when the market will be at the lowest, instead dollar cost average on the way down.
4. Take advantage of every tax sheltered retirement account you legally can.
5. When I child is born, start a 529 and regularly contribute to it.
6. Be very careful investing in individual stocks. Only do this with Las Vegas money.
7. If you are < 50 and someone wants you to buy an annuity, fire them immediately. I'm serious, for example if the person you buy insurance from tries to sell you a variable annuity, you should immediately take your business elsewhere. They do not have your best financial interest in mind.

If you can do these things, you do not need an investment advisor. They will skim 1-2% off/yr and you're pot of gold at retirement will be considerably smaller than if you self directed your investment portfolio.

Most investment advisors will tell you that you CAN'T get as good of returns without them managing your money for you. That's completely hogwash.

If you want to talk to someone about your investments and strategy, then hire a reputable Certified Financial Planner that gets paid to have a conversation with you for a flat fee. That flat fee can be pretty expensive and it's worth every penny in my experience.