Week 108 update

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

Active Account: $7,874.13
Total Return: -2.79%
Est Monthly Income: $17.93

Trading: $3,351.53
Total Return: -11.80%
Stock
SPY Puts: -3.36%
Cash: $3,213.53

Investing: $4,522.6
Total Return: 5.18%
Stock
     AFL: +8.61%
     HAS: +19.81%
     SPLS: +35.56%
     STX: +43.53%
BDC
     PSEC: -6.72%
     TCPC: +1.39%
Energy
     NDRO: To be purchased
     WHZ: -20.49%
REITs
     ARCP: +4.59%
     OHI: +22.70%
Gold
     GLDI: Waiting for better view on dividend rate
Bonds
     BLV: -5.39%
     JNK: -2.33%
     PCY: -8.01%
Cash: $1,231.80

ETF Account: $8018.51
Total Return: -1.01%
Est Monthly Income: $14.15
US Stock
     SPY: +10.00%
     XLV: +15.08%
     VNQ: +3.07%
International Stock
     EWZ: -10.50%
     PXR: -12.40%
Gold
     GLDI: Waiting for better view on dividend rate
Bonds
     BLV: -4.61%
     JNK: -1.81%
     PCY: -7.31%
Hedge
     SDS: +0.13%
Cash
     Cash: $2,835.00

Permanent Portfolio: $7,972.82
Total Return: -1.57%
Est Monthly Withdraw Rate (4% rule): $24.19
Listed by weighting
     SPY: 24.56%
     GLD: 20.23%
     TLT: 22.84%
     Cash: 32.37%

Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Week 107 update

Active Account: $7,793.08
Total Return: -3.19%
Est Monthly Income: $18.17

Trading: $3,269.71
Total Return: -11.40%
Stock
SWY: -5.93%
Cash: $2,906.53

Investing: $4,398.00
Total Return: 4.77%
Stock
     AFL: +5.17%
     HAS: +20.87%
     SPLS: +24.98%
     STX: +41.43%
BDC
     PSEC: -6.90%
     TCPC: +1.27%
Energy
     WHZ: -21.40%
REITs
     ARCP: +7.56%
     OHI: +23.42%
Gold
     GLDI: Waiting for better view on dividend rate
Bonds
     BLV: -4.68%
     JNK: -1.46%
     PCY: -7.43%
Cash: $1,128.29

ETF Account: $7,958.63
Total Return: -0.52%
Est Monthly Income: $14.15
US Stock
     SPY: +10.05%
     XLV: +14.13%
     VNQ: +3.91%
International Stock
     EWZ: -10.50%
     PXR: -12.40%
Gold
     GLDI: Waiting for better view on dividend rate
Bonds
     BLV: -4.61%
     JNK: -1.81%
     PCY: -7.31%
Cash
     Cash: $3,599.84

Permanent Portfolio: $7,865.07
Total Return: -1.69%
Est Monthly Withdraw Rate (4% rule): $23.86
Listed by weighting
     SPY: 24.91%
     GLD: 20.43%
     TLT: 23.29%
     Cash: 31.37%

Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

I'm out of SWY

Selling SWY. Might be because of the general market pullback. Might be because there is a problem with Safeway. In the end.... does it really matter why its dropping? I'm out @ $22.49 and I'll wait to see where things settle.

Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Hedging without options

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

Edit: So I posted this before the markets opened. I see right now SPY is -0.55% while SDS is +1.18%.
Working as intended.

Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

SPY JUL 160 Mini Put options

I went ahead and got 6 SPY JUL 160 Mini Put options for the active trading account. That will give me less then 2% of the Active account so if these have to expire worthless it won't hurt that much. Yet it will still give me some protection to the downside.

Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Week 106 update, Hedging

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

Active Account: $7,764.73
Total Return: -2.94%
Est Monthly Income: $18.57

Trading: $3,269.71
Total Return: -11.40%
Stock
SWY: -5.93%
Cash: $2,906.53

Investing: $4,398.00
Total Return: 4.77%
Stock
     AFL: +5.17%
     HAS: +20.87%
     SPLS: +24.98%
     STX: +41.43%
BDC
     PSEC: -6.90%
     TCPC: +1.27%
Energy
     WHZ: -21.40%
REITs
     ARCP: +7.56%
     OHI: +23.42%
Gold
     GLDI: Waiting for better view on dividend rate
Bonds
     BLV: -4.68%
     JNK: -1.46%
     PCY: -7.43%
Cash: $1,128.29

ETF Account: $7,958.63
Total Return: -0.52%
Est Monthly Income: $14.15
US Stock
     SPY: +10.05%
     XLV: +14.13%
     VNQ: +3.91%
International Stock
     EWZ: -10.50%
     PXR: -12.40%
Gold
     GLDI: Waiting for better view on dividend rate
Bonds
     BLV: -4.61%
     JNK: -1.81%
     PCY: -7.31%
Cash
     Cash: $3,599.84

Permanent Portfolio: $7,865.07
Total Return: -1.69%
Est Monthly Withdraw Rate (4% rule): $23.86
Listed by weighting
     SPY: 24.91%
     GLD: 20.43%
     TLT: 23.29%
     Cash: 31.37%

Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Stock Screening Part 4

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

Happy to see Blogger fixed and that I can post videos directly again.
Also happy to see that there was a lot of different types of companies looked at in Fastgraphs to show you guys all the different ways I use it.


Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Week 105 update

No video this week but I do have some thoughts....

Hedging has been on my mind recently. Quite heavily actually. I will need to work not only on my sizing but the timing. I hedged once already and lost a good deal of money. That alone tells me the sizing was wrong either for the position or for the account.  But if you go too far out of the money with your options and you get a reasonable move... you aren't going to be making the money needed to cover some of the losses with your account unless its a massive move. How often do those happen? I could easily loss lots of little hedges and have the same net result as one big failed hedge.

Hedging is my focus right now for my own personal education. Sooner or later a pullback will occur and I better be ready for it. I'll still be continuing my dividend screening process with a couple more videos. Hopefully some of you are finding utility in that.


Active Account: $7,837.25
Total Return: -1.42%
Est Monthly Income: $18.57

Trading: $3,370.13
Total Return: -11.31%
Cash: $2,906.53

Investing: $4,467.12
Total Return: 7.64%
Stock
     AFL: +3.78%
     HAS: +28.15%
     SPLS: +24.4%
     STX: +40.68%
BDC
     PSEC: -3.14%
     TCPC: +1.08%
Energy
     WHZ: -20.74%
REITs
     ARCP: +16.81%
     OHI: +29.63%
Gold
     GLDI: Waiting for better view on dividend rate
Bonds
     BLV: -2.57%
     JNK: 0.17%
     PCY: -4.45%
Cash: $1,118.00

ETF Account: $8,043.89
Total Return: 1.18%
Est Monthly Income: $14.15
US Stock
     SPY: +11.46%
     XLV: +16.45%
     VNQ: +9.60%
International Stock
     EWZ: -3.98%
     PXR: -10.18%
Gold
     GLDI: Waiting for better view on dividend rate
Bonds
     BLV: -2.50%
     JNK: 0.19%
     PCY: -4.33%
Cash
     Cash: $3,549.84

Permanent Portfolio: $7,825.19
Total Return: -1.57%
Est Monthly Withdraw Rate (4% rule): $23.74
Listed by weighting
     SPY: 25.35%
     GLD: 20.51%
     TLT: 23.88%
     Cash: 30.25%


Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Stock Screening Part 3

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

Now we are getting down to some narrowing in on stock selection.




Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Screening for Dividend stocks part 2

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

How many of you are having audio problems with this? I know my voice is softer then most but turning up the volume should fix that. Some are commenting that they cannot hear.

Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Week 104, possibly the most important video I have made.

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

Active Account: $7,874.57
Total Return: -0.32%
Est Monthly Income: $18.57

Trading: $3,409.53
Total Return: -10.28%
Cash: $2,906.53

Investing: $4,465.04
Total Return: 8.90%
Stock
     AFL: +4.32%
     HAS: +30.19%
     SPLS: +20.82%
     STX: +36.15%
BDC
     PSEC: -1.70%
     TCPC: -0.44%
Energy
     WHZ: -19.17%
REITs
     ARCP: +25.78%
     OHI: +40.56%
Gold
     GLDI: Waiting for better view on dividend rate
Bonds
     BLV: -1.83%
     JNK: 0.92%
     PCY: -2.6%
Cash: $1,065.58

ETF Account: $8,061.71
Total Return: 2.05%
Est Monthly Income: $14.15
US Stock
     SPY: +12.57%
     XLV: +16.41%
     VNQ: +13.86%
International Stock
     EWZ: -4.19%
     PXR: -8.03%
Gold
     GLDI: Waiting for better view on dividend rate
Bonds
     BLV: -1.76%
     JNK: 0.56%
     PCY: -2.47%
Cash
     Cash: $3,499.84

Permanent Portfolio: $7,766.75
Total Return: -1.69%
Est Monthly Withdraw Rate (4% rule): $23.57
Listed by weighting
     SPY: 25.80%
     GLD: 20.25%
     TLT: 24.12%
     Cash: 28.34%



Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Screening for possible dividend companies

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

Let's hit the ground running with those videos I mentioned yesterday.

With tens of thousands of U.S. publicly traded companies, we need a way to weed out the losers and focus our time in on the winners. Not only do I have limited time, I have limited money and can't be wasting it on garbage companies.


Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Week 103 and a trade!

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

Active Account: $7,768.48
Total Return: -1.04%
Est Monthly Income: $18.57

Trading: $3,399.53
Total Return: -10.54%
Stock
     SWY: +0.78%
Cash: $2,906.53

Investing: $4,368.95
Total Return: 7.88%
Stock
     AFL: 1.68%
     HAS: +28.97%
     SPLS: +18.07%
     STX: +32.21%
BDC
     PSEC: -2.78%
     TCPC: -1.01%
Energy
     WHZ: -13.68%
REITs
     ARCP: +23.87%
     OHI: +33.82%
Gold
     GLDI: Waiting for better view on dividend rate
Bonds
     BLV: -1.71%
     JNK: 0.83%
     PCY: -1.70%
Cash: $1,006.83

ETF Account: $7,992.45
Total Return: 1.81%
Est Monthly Income: $14.15
US Stock
     SPY: +10.25%
     XLV: +15.17%
     VNQ: +12.29%
International Stock
     EWZ: -3.71%
     PXR: -6.58%
Gold
     GLDI: Waiting for better view on dividend rate
Bonds
     BLV: -1.64%
     JNK: 0.46%
     PCY: -1.57%
Cash
     Cash: $3,449.84

Permanent Portfolio: $7,768.07
Total Return: -1.04%
Est Monthly Withdraw Rate (4% rule): $23.57
Listed by weighting
     SPY: 25.26%
     GLD: 21.38%
     TLT: 24.27%
     Cash: 29.08%


Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Week 102 update

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

Active Account: $7,700.95
Total Return: -1.27%
Est Monthly Income: $18.57

Trading: $3,395.73
Total Return: -10.64%
Cash: $3,395.73

Investing: $4,305.22
Total Return: 7.63%
Stock
     AFL: 4.55%
     HAS: +28.32%
     SPLS: +12.57%
     STX: +35.36%
BDC
     PSEC: -0.99%
     TCPC: -1.39%
Energy
     WHZ: -15.13%
REITs
     ARCP: +18.36%
     OHI: +30.73%
Gold
     GLDI: Waiting for better view on dividend rate
Bonds
     BLV: 0.46%
     JNK: 1.36%
     PCY: -0.26%
Cash: $954.65

ETF Account: $7,935.08
Total Return: 1.73%
Est Monthly Income: $14.15
US Stock
     SPY: +8.76%
     XLV: +13.02%
     VNQ: +10.84%
International Stock
     EWZ: -3.57%
     PXR: -7.06%
Gold
     GLDI: Waiting for better view on dividend rate
Bonds
     BLV: 0.54%
     JNK: 0.99%
     PCY: -1.13%
Cash
     Cash: $3,394.53

Permanent Portfolio: $7,780.24
Total Return: -0.25%
Est Monthly Withdraw Rate (4% rule): $23.61
Listed by weighting
     SPY: 24.88%
     GLD: 21.92%
     TLT: 24.86%
     Cash: 28.34%


Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Week 101

No video for this week's update. Things have been pretty hectic and fast pace. Spring is setting in and I have lots of people moving and doing spring cleaning needing my help.  It does make me pause and think of how great it will be when I do go professional with my investing and trading. I'll have a lot more time to balance between different areas of life.

For now though I must focus on my portfolio.  The Active Account is making its way out of the hole I dug it with the SPY hedge and NOK trade. HAS and OHI are going nuts.

GLDI continues to mirror GLD. The only time I think it will not do so is when gold is rising sharply. Where the covered call options get called away and the profit isn't enough to buy the shares back. Its yielding 7% which is good for most investments right now, great for gold itself. I'll wait at least one more month to see what it yields.



Active Account: $7,550.65
Total Return: -2.57%
Est Monthly Income: $18.57

Trading: $3,395.73
Total Return: -10.64%
Cash: $3,395.73

Investing: $4,154.92
Total Return: 5.19%
Stock
     AFL: -0.47%
     HAS: +28.45%
     SPLS: +6.74%
     STX: +19.5%
BDC
     PSEC: -2.78%
     TCPC: -0.89%
Energy
     WHZ: -16.34%
REITs
     ARCP: +15.68%
     OHI: +22.39%
Gold
     GLDI: Waiting for better view on dividend rate
Bonds
     BLV: 1.61%
     JNK: 0.83%
     PCY: -1.35%
Cash: $903.83

ETF Account: $7,832.75
Total Return: 1.07%
Est Monthly Income: $14.15
US Stock
     SPY: +6.69
     XLV: +12.64%
     VNQ: +8.36$
International Stock
     EWZ: -5.51%
     PXR: -8.5%
Gold
     GLDI: Waiting for better view on dividend rate
Bonds
     BLV: 1.68%
     JNK: 0.46%
     PCY: -1.22%
Cash
     Cash: $3,342.48

Permanent Portfolio: $7,719.84
Total Return: -0.39%
Est Monthly Withdraw Rate (4% rule): $23.43
Listed by weighting
     SPY: 24.6%
     GLD: 21.9%
     TLT: 25.58%
     Cash: 27.92%



Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Week 100 update. Wow

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

Active Account: $7,442.05
Total Return: -3.35%
Est Monthly Income: $18.57

Trading: $3,395.73
Total Return: -10.64%
Cash: $3,395.73

Investing: $4,046.32
Total Return: 3.75%
Stock
     AFL: -6.72%
     HAS: +22.34%
     SPLS: +7.74%
     STX: +13.07%
     PSEC: -4.48%
     TCPC: -2.53%
Energy
     WHZ: -19.71%
REITs
     ARCP: +17.44%
     OHI: +24.98%
Gold
     IAU: Sold. Looking to not get blown up
     GLDI: Waiting for better view on dividend rate
Bonds
     BLV: 1.11%
     JNK: -0.17%
     PCY: -1.89%
Cash: $798.89

ETF Account: $7,750.31
Total Return: 0.65%
Est Monthly Income: $14.15
US Stock
     SPY: +4.82%
     XLV: +12.85%
     VNQ: +8.39%
International Stock
     EWZ: -6.40%
     PXR: -9.34%
Gold
     IAU: Sold. Looking to not get blown up
     GLDI: Waiting for better view on dividend rate
Bonds
     BLV: 1.19%
     JNK: -0.53%
     PCY: -1.76%
Cash
     Cash: $3,292.48

Permanent Portfolio: $7,560.96
Total Return: -1.81%
Est Monthly Withdraw Rate (4% rule): $22.95
Listed by weighting
     SPY: 24.68%
     GLD: 21.5%
     TLT: 25.98%
     Cash: 27.84%


Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Week 99 update. Gold and Silver

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

That drop in gold makes NOK and WHZ look a little better.

Active Account: $7,379.00
Total Return: -3.54%
Est Monthly Income: $18.57

Trading: $3,411.59
Total Return: -10.22%
Stock
     NOK: -19.57%
Cash: $3,208.46

Investing: $3,967.41
Total Return: 3.04%
Stock
     AFL: -7.52%
     HAS: +19.02%
     SPLS: +10.07%
     STX: +14.25%
     PSEC: -4.57%
     TCPC: -3.86%
Energy
     WHZ: -17.90%
REITs
     ARCP: +14.05%
     OHI: +19.57%
Gold
     IAU: Sold. Looking to not get blown up
Bonds
     BLV: 1.06%
     JNK: -0.44%
     PCY: -1.63%
Cash: $798.89

ETF Account: $7,671.92
Total Return: 0.29%
Est Monthly Income: $14.15
US Stock
     SPY: +4.61%
     XLV: +11.57%
     VNQ: +6.29%
International Stock
     EWZ: -6.91%
     PXR: -10.88%
Gold
     IAU: Sold. Looking to not get blown up
Bonds
     BLV: 1.14%
     JNK: -0.80%
     PCY: -1.51%
Cash
     Cash: $3,242.48

Permanent Portfolio: $7,651.77
Total Return: 0.68%
Est Monthly Withdraw Rate (4% rule): $23.22
Listed by weighting
     SPY: 24.50%
     GLD: 23.86%
     TLT: 25.49%
     Cash: 26.15%


Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Still want nothing gold has to offer

Back in February I sold off the gold positions I had in the Active account and the ETF account. At that time I said I wanted nothing gold has to offer. It looked to me like institutional selling.

Since then we have had lower lows and lower highs. At best it goes sideways. The "buy gold at any price" theme was based on the Fed's QE. "Print print print we are going to hyperinflation".
Ok so where is it? If high debt is the only factor of hyper inflation then where is Japan's hyperinflation? That should have set in a decade ago.

I was busy all weekend but will get a weekly review video up tonight or tomorrow morning.
If today isn't enough evidence for a balanced portfolio approach and to ignore the "Buy X asset at any cost it will always go up" then I don't know what is.

Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Enjoy your winners

A portfolio of multiple investments will have some winners and some losers. The ones that do poorly like, ERF and WHZ, we have to deal with and manage. Evaluate if any changes are to be made and if we decide to sell we sell and take our lumps.

The other side though is our winners. Our investments that do well and will make enough profit to make up for our losses. Right now for me that is OHI, HAS, and ARCP. If you look at their charts..... beautiful. I'm enjoying their rise but just like having to manage our losers we have to manage our winners. Make sure we don't give up their gains and they turn into losers. For capital gains investing I would look to lighten up on take some profits. Since these are dividend investments where the goal is income I'll keep them. If they continue to climb... well there is a point where I'd sell and move on to the next dividend play.



Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Week 98 and research

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

Active Account: $7,326.5
Total Return: -3.60%
Est Monthly Income: $18.57

Trading: $3,409.15
Total Return: -10.29%
Stock
     NOK: -20.53%
Cash: $3,208.46

Investing: $3,917.35
Total Return: 3.09%
Stock
     AFL: -6.33%
     HAS: +17.53%
     SPLS: +11.24%
     STX: +18.12%
     PSEC: -2.42%
     TCPC: -2.59%
Energy
     WHZ: -18.63%
REITs
     ARCP: +6.21%
     OHI: +21.9%
Gold
     IAU: Sold. Looking into GLDI as replacement
Bonds
     BLV: 0.46%
     JNK: -0.61%
     PCY: -1.57%
Cash: $746.29

ETF Account: $7,636.21
Total Return: 0.48%
Est Monthly Income: $14.15
US Stock
     SPY: +5.31%
     XLV: +10.05%
     VNQ: +6.96%
International Stock
     EWZ: -4.87%
     PXR: -8.78%
Gold
     IAU: Sold. Looking into GLDI as replacement
Bonds
     BLV: 0.54%
     JNK: -0.97%
     PCY: -1.44%
Cash
     Cash: $3,189.36

Permanent Portfolio: $7,651.77
Total Return: 0.68%
Est Monthly Withdraw Rate (4% rule): $23.22
Listed by weighting
     SPY: 24.50%
     GLD: 23.86%
     TLT: 25.49%
     Cash: 26.15%


Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Week 97 and Rebalancing

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

The numbers below are from Sunday so they will be off from what the spreadsheets show today.


Active Account: $7,283.43
Total Return: -3.53%
Est Monthly Income: $16.35

Trading: $3,408.54
Total Return: -10.30%
Stock
     NOK: -20.77%
Cash: $3,208.46

Investing: $3,874.89
Total Return: 3.31%
Stock
     AFL: -1.76%
     HAS: +19.40%
     SPLS: +11.74%
     STX: +20.03%
     PSEC: -2.24%
Energy
     WHZ: -12.48%
REITs
     ARCP: +3.6%
     OHI: +15.61%
Gold
     IAU: Sold. Looking into GLDI as replacement
Bonds
     BLV: -1.85%
     JNK: -0.17%
     PCY: -4.58%
Cash: $946.7

ETF Account: $7,534.85
Total Return: -0.20%
Est Monthly Income: $14.15
US Stock
     SPY: +5.54%
     XLV: +8.94%
     VNQ: +3.58%
International Stock
     EWZ: -4.15%
     PXR: -6.83%
Gold
     IAU: Sold. Looking into GLDI as replacement
Bonds
     BLV: -1.78%
     JNK: -0.53%
     PCY: -4.46%
Cash
     Cash: $3,135.85

Permanent Portfolio: $7,567.41
Total Return: 0.23%
Est Monthly Withdraw Rate (4% rule): $22.97
Listed by weighting
     SPY: 24.82%
     GLD: 24.49%
     TLT: 24.9%
     Cash: 25.78%


Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Is Warren Buffett wrong about dividends?

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Week 96 and Predicting

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

Active Account: $7,208.35
Total Return: -3.89%
Est Monthly Income: $16.35

Trading: $3,411.59
Total Return: -10.22%
Stock
     NOK: -19.57%
Cash: $3,208.46

Investing: $3,796.76
Total Return: 2.62%
Stock
     AFL: -2.08%
     HAS: +19.13%
     SPLS: +12.66%
     STX: +13.99%
     PSEC: +0.09%
Energy
     WHZ: -12.66%
REITs
     ARCP: +2.40%
     OHI: +10.47%
Gold
     IAU: Sold. Looking into GLDI as replacement
Bonds
     BLV: -2.30%
     JNK: -0.34%
     PCY: -4.71%
Cash: $896.7

ETF Account: $7,446.96
Total Return: -0.71%
Est Monthly Income: $14.15
US Stock
     SPY: +4.90%
     XLV: +6.50%
     VNQ: +2.14%
International Stock
     EWZ: -5.52%
     PXR: -6.90%
Gold
     IAU: Sold. Looking into GLDI as replacement
Bonds
     BLV: -2.23%
     JNK: -0.70%
     PCY: -4.59%
Cash
     Cash: $3,080.20

Permanent Portfolio: $7,511.66
Total Return: 0.16%
Est Monthly Withdraw Rate (4% rule): $22.79
Listed by weighting
     SPY: 24.86%
     GLD: 22.78%
     TLT: 23.43%
     Cash: 28.93%


Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

...but I'm a good income investor

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

I hardly see anyone on Youtube talking about income investing or the importance of it to a portfolio. In the blogosphere on the other hand there are a several. Most of them though only talk about their stock picking and how their portfolio is doing, which is fine, but I think they come up short in the utility they can share with others about process. Its fine that you picked company X but WHY did you pick them and why did you buy them NOW. Some people just want to talk their book, their portfolio, and that's fine but then I don't get the emotional payoff in my time being spent with them.

When it comes down to it, I don't want to be part of the problem, I want to be part of the solution.

Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

I suck at trading

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

On top of everything else I mentioned, I'm coming down with a cold.


Active Account: $7,153.64
Total Return: -3.98%
Est Monthly Income: $16.35

Trading: $3,417.69
Total Return: -10.06%
Stock
     NOK: -17.15%
Cash: $3,208.46

Investing: $3,634.7
Total Return: 2.35%
Stock
     AFL: -3.53%
     HAS: +15.16%
     SPLS: +11.57%
     STX: +16.05%
     PSEC: +1.25%
Energy
     WHZ: -9.22%
REITs
     ARCP: -0.49%
     OHI: +9.56%
Gold
     IAU: Sold. Waiting for price action to level off.
Bonds
     BLV: -3.07%
     JNK: -0.19%
     PCY: -4.26%
Cash: $846.7

ETF Account: $7,425.81
Total Return: -0.32%
Est Monthly Income: $14.15
US Stock
     SPY: +5.09%
     XLV: +6.05%
     VNQ: +3.45%
International Stock
     EWZ: -1.97%
     PXR: -5.2%
Gold
     IAU: Sold. Waiting for price action to level off.
Bonds
     BLV: -3.00%
     JNK: -0.56%
     PCY: -4.14%
Cash
     Cash: $3,03.20

Permanent Portfolio: $7,423.79
Total Return: -0.35%
Est Monthly Withdraw Rate (4% rule): $22.53
Listed by weighting
     SPY: 25.20%
     GLD: 22.81%
     TLT: 23.39%
     Cash: 28.60%


Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Company evaluation spreadsheet.

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

As I mention in the video, I have been playing around with a scoring system for quite awhile.

There is one common way to evaluate the strength of a company that I left out, debt. Lots of different ways to do it but I have it rolled under payout ratio. Some companies can have lots of dead and provide an enormous amount of free cash flow to let them pay a dividend and manage their debt payments, they will have a low to mid ranged payout ratios. Other companies and sectors can afford very little debt as the do not provide much margin on their products and any dividend would cut into their profits quickly. This would give a high payout ratio.

I prefer to color code it with reds and greens and have it automatically change with conditional formatting. Lots of numbers going on in this page and each column has a different meaning of what is good or bad for it. Very quickly your eyes jump to the clusters of green and what we should be focusing in on.

I like complex but automated while you may like something quick and easy. You should do what you'll stick with and what works for you. It won't do any good if you try something you hate and give up on it.

I'll add this spreadsheet to the Active account page.
Here is a copy of the spreadsheet.


Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Week 94 - When you are wrong move on and deal with it

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

Active Account: $7,067.64
Total Return: -4.49%
Est Monthly Income: $16.31

Trading: $3,432.94
Total Return: -9.66%
Stock
     NOK: -11.11%
Cash: $3,158.46

Investing: $3,634.7
Total Return: 0.96%
Stock
     AFL: -5.31%
     HAS: +13.23%
     SPLS: +7.91%
     STX: +6.70%
     PSEC: +0%
Energy
     WHZ: -11.51%
REITs
     ARCP: +1.48
     OHI: +7.31%
Gold
     IAU: Sold. Waiting for price action to level off.
Bonds
     BLV: -3.33%
     JNK: -0.70%
     PCY: -3.43%
Cash: $796.7

ETF Account: $7,394.62
Total Return: -0.07%
Est Monthly Income: $14.15
US Stock
     SPY: +4.79%
     XLV: +5.6%
     VNQ: +2.76%
International Stock
     EWZ: 1.43%
     PXR: -1.4%
Gold
     IAU: Sold. Waiting for price action to level off.
Bonds
     BLV: -3.26%
     JNK: -1.06%
     PCY: -3.30%
Cash
     Cash: $2,980.20

Permanent Portfolio: $7,339.80
Total Return: -0.81%
Est Monthly Withdraw Rate (4% rule): $22.28
Listed by weighting
     SPY: 25.41%
     GLD: 22.89%
     TLT: 23.45%
     Cash: 28.25%


Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Book Review: The Snowball

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Selling my TCAP today

Just a quick update on a former investment. I am selling TCAP today. Its had a great run with it getting a 60% gain for the old Model Portfolio. But earnings is this week and I don't know if they will meet expectations. That's a lot of money on the table....

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Week 93 hedging with puts

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

Active Account: $7,124.51
Total Return: -3.07%
Est Monthly Income: $12.41

Trading: $3,502.45
Total Return: -6.60%
Stock
     NOK: -13.29%
Options
     SPY 152 May PUT: -29.17%
Cash: $2,884.46

Investing: $3,622.06
Total Return: -3.07%
Stock
     AFL: -5.21%
     HAS: +8.99%
     SPLS: +8.16%
     STX: +6.11%
     PSEC: To be purchased soon
Energy
     WHZ: -11.27%
Gold
     IAU: Sold. Waiting for price action to level off.
Bonds
     BLV: -1.09%
     JNK: -0.85%
     PCY: -3.2%
Cash: $1,294.95

ETF Account: $7,303.64
Total Return: -0.63%
Est Monthly Income: $14.15
US Stock
     SPY: +2.55%
     XLV: +3.79%
     VNQ: +1.81%
International Stock
     EWZ: -2.89%
     PXR: -2.92%
Gold
     IAU: Sold. Waiting for price action to level off.
Bonds
     BLV: -1.02%
     JNK: -1.21%
     PCY: -3.08%
Cash
     Cash: $2,924.96

Permanent Portfolio: $7,305.51
Total Return: -0.61%
Est Monthly Withdraw Rate (4% rule): $22.17
Listed by weighting
     SPY: 24.99%
     GLD: 22.95%
     TLT: 24.41%
     Cash: 27.65%

Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Problems with 100% gold investment

Some of you here on the blog may not delve into the Youtube universe. Its as I describe though... nasty at times and emotional. Its why I put a big focus on controlling emotion and psychology.

Gold is an asset class. It has strengths and weaknesses, reasons to own and reasons not to own. I have held it for the Effort Portfolio and will do so again in the future. But its not a magical end-all be-all for your economic woes.

Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Week 92 update. Gold and PSEC

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

Ok I admit in this video I am talking too softly.

PSEC is going to make a big impact on the Active Accounts monthly income. The question is WHEN do I buy it. I might be able to wait and get a 10% better price looking at the 2012 low. I also have that SPY Put and my thought is we are getting a market pullback.

However, when a company is undervalued is the market going to pull it down? PSEC is already paying a 12% yield, one of if not the highest currently for BDCs. Oh and then there is the fact that their 2012 NII is +50% more then 2011 yet share price has risen only 20%.

The question comes down to... is PSEC something I want to nitpick and risk 10% gain in shareprice and possibly miss out on?



Investing and Trading Account: $7,080.41
Total Return: -3.01%
Est Monthly Income: $12.41

Trading: $3,419.85
Total Return: -6.27%
Stock
     NOK: -8.7%
Options
     SPY 152 May PUT: -30.37%
Cash: $2,834.46

Investing: $3,622.64
Total Return: 0.34%
Stock
     AFL: -5.44%
     HAS: +11.77%
     SPLS: +10.49%
     STX: +4.53%
     PSEC: To be purchased this week
Energy
     WHZ: -11.75%
Gold
     IAU: Sold. Waiting for price action to level off.
Bonds
     BLV: -2.08%
     JNK: -0.85%
     PCY: -3.40%
Cash: $1,282.52

ETF Account: $7,238.15
Total Return: -0.85%
Est Monthly Income: $14.15
US Stock
     SPY: +2.40%
     XLV: +2.87%
     VNQ: +2.09%
International Stock
     EWZ: -3.55%
     PXR: -4.00%
Gold
     IAU: Sold. Waiting for price action to level off.
Bonds
     BLV: -2.00%
     JNK: -1.21%
     PCY: -3.27%
Cash
     Cash: $2,874.96

Permanent Portfolio: $7230.45
Total Return: -0.95%
Est Monthly Withdraw Rate (4% rule): $21.95
Listed by weighting
     SPY: 25.21%
     GLD: 23.27%
     TLT: 24.28%
     Cash: 27.24%



Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Sold rest of IAU

I want no part of what gold has to offer right now. That is a lot of volume today. That tells me its institutional / hedge fund money getting out of gold. I'll wait for the dust to settle before determine if and when I get back in.

Sold the rest @ $15.35.


Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Week 91 update

So I made my weekly update video yesterday, posted it, perhaps some of you even received an email that it was put up. Then I removed it after I did some fact checking. Too many things in there were wrong but I wanted to get the numbers up anyways.

Some of you keep an eye on the spreadsheets and might have noticed my gold position were sold off or halved yesterday.  Its my view that the gold story is just about over and for a number of reasons...

1: Every year for about 10-11 years it has made a new yearly high, except for 2012.

2: GLD has grown immensely in market share. Only so many people can come into a financial vehicle for so long before everyone who will be in it are in and the first people in want to start taking profit. This profit taking probably has gone on since 2011 while the last money, "dumb money" comes in. By dumb money I mean the people buying in with 100% of their portfolio trying for it all. Those taking small positions, re-balancing, or using gold for a strategy may have other reasons.

3: Technical analysis: Looking at a multiyear timeframe gold has been rising in a nice channel. That has now broken to the downside. Also, price has followed its 200 day SMA (simple moving average). That is until the past couple weeks until its broken to the downside.

I had wanted to see if Tuesday would bring a slight rise to make up for last Friday but it never came so I lightened my positions...
For Permanent Portfolio: No change. It self corrects price drops through rebalancing. That's the beauty of PP.
For the ETF account: I am selling half the position going from 10% down to 5%.
For the Active account: I sold all of the gold position. With only $350 I cannot be selling in steps. Commissions will kill the account. I'm content with exiting it all because the number 1 thing we have to do, protect our money so we survive to trade another day.

Investing and Trading Account: $7,041.22
Total Return: -2.86%
Est Monthly Income: $12.41 / month

Trading: $3,419.85
Total Return: -6.31%
Stock
     NOK: -3.62%
Options
     SPY 152 May PUT: -30.37%
Cash: $2,784.46

Investing: $3,622.64
Total Return: 0.63%
Stock
     AFL: -6.82%
     HAS: +10.14%
     SPLS: +7.83%
     STX: +13.07%
Energy
     WHZ: -9.34%
Gold
     IAU: Sold
Bonds
     BLV: -2.57%
     JNK: -1.26%
     PCY: -2.98%
Cash: $1,282.52

ETF Account: $7,210.28
Total Return: -0.61%
Est Monthly Income: $14.15
US Stock
     SPY:  +2.59%
     XLV: +2.92%
     VNQ: +1.69%
International Stock
     EWZ: -1.18%
     PXR: -1.06%
Gold
     IAU: -4.51%
Bonds
     BLV: -2.50%
     JNK: -1.62%
     PCY: -2.86%
Cash
     Cash: $2,471.91

Permanent Portfolio: $7,206.10
Total Return: -0.61%
Est Monthly Withdraw Rate (4% rule): $21.88
Listed by weighting
     SPY: 25.34%
     GLD: 23.78%
     TLT: 24.24%
     Cash: 26.64%


Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

The importance of consistent deposits

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Week 90 update

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

Investing and Trading Account: $7,390.46
Total Return: 2.65%
Est Monthly Income: $12.41 / month

Trading: $3,479.00
Total Return: -3.36%
Stock
     NOK: 0.0%
Options
     SPY 152 May PUT: -21.49%
Cash: $2,788.73

Investing: $3,911.46
Total Return: 8.65%
Stock
     AFL: -4.91%
     HAS: +8.26%
     SPLS: +8.08%
     STX: +16.48%
Energy
     WHZ: -2.05%
Gold
     IAU: -0.25%
Bonds
     BLV: -2.33%
     JNK: -1.77%
     PCY: -1.95%
Cash: $1,183.90

ETF Account: $7,183.94
Total Return: -0.22%
Est Monthly Income: $14.15
US Stock
     SPY:  +2.34%
     XLV: +2.87%
     VNQ: +1.22%
International Stock
     EWZ: -1.58%
     PXR: -2.19%
Gold
     IAU: -1.04%
Bonds
     BLV: -2.26%
     JNK: -2.13%
     PCY: -1.83%
Cash
     Cash: $2,065.61

Permanent Portfolio: $7,221.42
Total Return: 0.30%
Est Monthly Withdraw Rate (4% rule): $21.92
Listed by weighting
     SPY: 25.22%
     GLD: 24.61%
     TLT: 24.33%
     Cash: 25.84%

Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

4% Retirement Rule

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Why I bought Staples (SPLS)

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Week 89 update

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

Investing and Trading Account: $7,136.19

Total Return: -0.19%

Est Monthly Income: $11.48 / month

Trading: $3,472.00

Total Return: -2.2%

1 SPY 152 May PUT: -13.85%

Cash: $2,987

Investing: $3,664.19

Total Return: 1.78%

Stock

     AFL: +0.21%

     HAS: +2.31%

     SPLS: +12.49%

     STX: +10.54%

Energy

     WHZ: +4.4%

Gold

     IAU: -0.25%

Bonds

     BLV: -3.08%

     JNK: -1.12%

     PCY: -2.5%

Cash: $1,190.15

ETF Account: $7,155.49

Total Return: -0.17%

Est Monthly Income: $14.15

US Stock

     SPY:  +1.99%

     XLV: +2.54%

     VNQ: +0.82%

International Stock

     EWZ: 0.42%%

     PXR: 0.34%

Gold

     IAU: -1.04%

Bonds

     BLV: -3.01%

     JNK: -1.48%

     PCY: -2.37%

Cash

     Cash: $2,013.44

Permanent Portfolio: $7,140.16

Total Return: -0.14%

Est Monthly Withdraw Rate (4% rule): $21.68

Listed by weighting

     SPY: 25.42%

     GLD: 24.87%

     TLT: 24.27%

     Cash: 25.43%

Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

The case against DRIPing your dividends

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

With everything I talk about investing and trading wise I want to offer both sides. The more options, ideas, and strategies that you have for your own portfolio the better you will become as an investor.

The choice to DRIP or not to DRIP is a good decision to have. What to do with free money coming at you. Neither choice is a bad one that will ruin your account. Its more a question of which will provide more benefit then the other for you.


Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

First trade of the trading account...

Looking at the markets and talking with some fellow investors and traders has brought up concerns that the stock market is going to go lower. We've had a good run up since November with a pullback in December.

So I initiated the first trade today for the Trading Account. I bought 1, 152 SPY May PUT @ 5.63.
I chose SPY because its the ETF that covers the S&P500 and thusly the market as a whole. I went with a May time frame because I don't want to get bad theta decay and start losing a lot of time value if I had gone with a February or March contract. Lastly I went with 152 because its a few dollars into the money which will give better return then going for cheap options out of the money, like say 145 or 140. You have to get bigger moves with out of the money options before you start to see good gains. With the price being 5.63 I am paying $563 for this.

I had the money to buy more options in the account but just like with my weighting of my investments, I do not want to go too heavy into one trade.

I'll be keeping a close eye on this one and talk about it during the weekly update in video form. I did want to get it out there as I bought it though.



Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Week 88 update

Just as when the Model Portfolio started off, the Effort Portfolio weekly numbers are a work in progress. I have my spreadsheets which will show the current numbers but what about historical records? Those are important and has utility as it  helps us to measure where we were at various stages. I still go back at the old weekly updates and check on what was happening at a point in time.

It can be interesting how each account or portfolio will have its own characteristics and nuances. The Model Portfolio was about DRIP and income so that was the data that needed to be kept track of. The Effort Portfolio as a whole is more total return so the income will be less important.

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

Investing and Trading Account: $7,179.95
Total Return: 1.13%
Est Monthly Income: $11.48 / month
Trading: $3,500
Cash: $3,500

Investing: $3,679.95
Stock
     AFL: +0.08%
     HAS: +0.60%
     SPLS: +11.32%
     STX: +22.82%
Energy
     WHZ: +1.87%
Gold
     IAU: -1.05%
Bonds
     BLV: -1.31%
     JNK: +0.46%
     PCY: -1.03%
Cash: $1,182.03

ETF Account: $7,155.49
Total Return: 0.78%
Est Monthly Income: $14.15
US Stock
     SPY:  +1.17%
     XLV: +1.23%
     VNQ: +1.53%
International Stock
     EWZ: -0.40%
     PXR: -1.74%
Gold
     IAU: -1.83%
Bonds
     BLV: -1.23%
     JNK: +0.1%
     PCY: -0.90%
Cash
     Cash: $2,011.10

Permanent Portfolio: $7,106.35
Total Return: +0.09%
Est Monthly Withdraw Rate (4% rule): $23.68
Listed by weighting
     SPY: 25.37%
     GLD: 24.87%
     TLT: 24.91%
     Cash: 24.85%


Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Portfolio Management with selling Enerplus

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

I see a lot of talk in the Investing community about all the riches and money you can make and how great a pick such and such stock is. Then when a loss comes up, and it always does everyone has them, its only talk about the next stock and hopefully everyone forgets about the loss.

The losses though gives us more to learn then our wins. Keeping logs and records of not only your numbers but what you were thinking are a big part of the success at investing and trading.


Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Have a double data entry process for your demo account

When running a paper account or demo account have your actions and totals listed together so they can double check each other...

I was looking at the ETF Account this morning and noticed my Brazil position EWZ was down -13%. However looking at its chart since I bought shares, it has been flat. If this were a normal account I could just check my broker activity and compare to my numbers to see where I am wrong. Or to see where they are wrong and call them to fix it! Upon closer scrutiny of the ETF account, I noticed I was short 1 share that I had purchased. I had listed the purchase separately below the totals and they didn't match. My totals at the tops showed an average purchase price for EWZ at $66. It hasn't been above $60 since May of last year.
If only the totals were recorded it would have been harder to find especially down the road after I buy in a couple more positions into the total.


Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Week 87 update

Lets get back on track...

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

Here is the link to the Google Finance formulas for their spreadsheets.

Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

ETF account positions

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

The Effort Portfolio is now up to date and the reboot is complete. I have to say I am happy to have this done as we can now get back to discussion of actively managing the accounts.


Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor  accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Why I sold AGNC

Here is my response to a comment "troubled investor" made...

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

One of the biggest mistakes I see being made is not selling a bad position when it looks like it could be worse just so you won't take a paper loss. Holding on in the hopes it turns around.

But wait a minute. Isn't that what I did with Enerplus? Glad you asked because there is a difference. With Enerplus I felt it was a losing position but in company that was still good, just undervalued. American Capital was a losing position and I feel its not able to turn around without more substantial loses. I am willing to take on some small short term paper loses if I feel the share price will bounce back. With AGNC I don't see that.

Additionally there is another risk I didn't mention in the video. When interest rates rise the net interest spread will disappear very quickly. This will speed up the dividend cuts and probably share price drop. Eventually though the new mortgages coming in to AGNC will carry a higher yield but that will take time.

Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Investing account positions

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

So I have quite a few changes for investment choices then what the Model Portfolio had. As I mention in the video, for a demo account to work it has to be as close to real life as possible. If we go and make choices of what MIGHT have happened then it skews the numbers. Even if minor now, when we add in compounding false numbers will compound into bigger false numbers. At that point in time then what would be the point of a demo account if it isnt giving you an accurate as possible experience in the markets and testing your strategy?

Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Account 3 and the Effort Portfolio as a whole

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

The 3rd and final account will be essentially what I was doing with the previous Model Portfolio minus the savings account. It will have the most updates and discussions on my channel and blog because it will have the most maintenance.

To say I am excited about the new direction of the portfolio is an understatement. For awhile now I felt I was  only connecting with a select few of you because it was so focused on dividend investing. I won't be giving that up and for those of you out there that also dividend invest you won't be missing out.

However as I have mentioned in the past three updates, a large portion of you guys have been left out. The ones just starting out. The ones not ready to dive into earning reports and a pile of numbers. The markets are big enough for everyone to make money in their own way.


Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Account 2: ETFs and Themes

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

So for the Effort Portfolio, Account #2 is going to pretty much be investing in ETFs and other minimally intensive trading. It will be a good bridge between the laziness of Permanent Portfolio to the sometimes hectic and busy work of the last account.

Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

Permanent Portfolio

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

I'll talk more about how the three accounts will work together in the 3rd account video tying everything together.

Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

2012 Year in Review.

EDIT: At the time this blog entry was posted I had a Youtube video here. That has been removed but I want the rest of my content to be remain. Nothing hidden no past mistakes ignored. All out in the open.

I want to talk more about the education and experience side of running a portfolio in the early years. I listed some of the mistakes and things I would learn from in this video that occurred in 2012. These happened when the portfolio had low dollar amounts. As the deposits would continue to come in and add in the portfolio grows by $5,200 each year. That means the investing and trading choices that we take later on in our portfolio's lifetime will have more weight then the early ones. Your wiser and smarter decisions will make more money then your earlier mistakes and you come out net positive.
Just one more reason for us to not wait too long before we start.


Disclaimer: The investments and trades in my videos and blog entries are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.