This is purely a rhetorical question. I know very
well how I am doing, and I am doing pretty good.
For something to compare against, Vanguards Index
500 mutual fund - VFINX is a pretty good proxy for
the S&P 500. Jan 6, this year, it was $135 a share.
Last Saturday, it was $162 a share. I'd call that
up about 22% - year to date. Not shabby.
My 401K, same time period, is worth some 18% more than
it was at the start. Of course, a small part of that
gain is my contributions . . . and my 401K is also
close to 30% bonds. (And 2% in cash if you must know.)
For my non-401K investments, I have an imaginary
mutual fund. Every week I re-compute my total worth
and my current NAV. For purchases, I divide the
dollars in by the NAV, and add shares. Dividend
checks get divided by the NAV, and subtract shares.
The end result is I have a running 'score'.
My NAV at the start of the year was $14.34. Last
Saturday it was $17.04. Looks to me like I'm up
19%. (By the way, the total value of my non-401K
assets is up by 25% - but some of that is from
purchases.) Considering that some 12 percent is
in bond mutual funds, and I have healthy amounts in
power companies I am not at all displeased.
And, NO, I am not selling shares to 'outsiders'.
Zim.
Mad Poet Strikes Again.
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