Net Worth Update October 2018
I was certain October would be the first time I posted a drop in my overall net worth but then just like that, the market rallied the last couple of days of the month and I eked out a small net worth increase. Overall, my net worth retreated to September levels but I’m not complaining because there was a silver lining to all the market madness. During the downturn in the market, I got to see how my portfolio would hold up under a significant market drop and I managed to purchase additional shares of stocks that I own at a nice discount.
If you read this blog you know I track my net worth with Personal Capital. The site has a lot of wonderful analysis that you can run on your portfolio that allows an investor to fine tune their investment strategy. Two of my favorite: The Fee analysis and the Allocation analysis. Whenever I run the allocation analysis, the report tells me that too much of portfolio is held in cash and bonds. However, because I know my investing personality is conservative, I knew I wouldn’t sleep well with 90 percent of my portfolio in equities. So, I stayed the course that I was on and, as a result, I wasn’t an emotional wreck when the market dropped 600 points.
Not one to totally ignore the professional investment advice I received from Personal Capital, I decided that while I don’t have a fully funded emergency fund yet, I am pleased with the rate at which it’s growing and will not increase the amount of money that is automatically going into my cash and bonds for the new year. But I will continue to raise the automatic deposits for all remaining investment accounts annually and bi-annually when possible.
This should fix the high cash and bond ratio in my portfolio over the next couple of years and simultaneously allowing me to keep my peace of mind.
Okay, time for the net worth update:
October 2018 Net Worth Update
Assets
Checking $ 500.00
SEP IRA: $ 7,878.64 (-$670)
IRA: $ 13,335.73 (-$980)
CASH: $ 3,860.00
MM/E Fund: $ 8,312.72
Stocks (taxable) $ 6,885.00 (-$247)
I-bonds: $ 12,241.86
Investing fund $ 206.45
Vanguard $ 192.31 (-$11.00)
Business $ 3,725
$57,137.71
Liabilities:
Credit Card: $1,500.00 @ 0% interest
- SEP IRA: This account fell the entire month and it didn’t help that I decided to only put $100 this month. But I needed to tackle the last of my 0% credit card debt, which ends in December.
- Traditional IRA: This account received the usual $455 a month but the market handed out big losses.
- Cash: Is up $210.
- The E/Fund: Is headed in the right direction and I’m officially earning double figures in interest.
- Stocks (taxable): Purchased a few more shares of PG (Proctor & Gamble) and BOA (Bank of America).
- Bonds: Are up and I’m looking forward to seeing what the new I-bond rates will be.
- Ally Investment money: This account remains lower and I’m determined to build this back up so that I can really take advantage of the next downturn in the market.
- Business account: I pulled money from this account and applied it to my credit card debt so it should go back up next month.
- Credit card debt: Is down $850. I continue to use money designated for saving, investing and fun toward this debt. I only need to pay $750 in November and December to pay this card off in full, but will probably make my last payment in November.
It is a fight to build wealth no matter where you are in the process. Everything around us conspires to take money out of our hands. But you must fight the good fight. Continue to save, invest and grow your net worth even when it seems impossible. Save your pennies (copper) until they become dollars (cotton).
