DJI and NASDAQ increase more than 2.5% today. Good news.
Looks like an almost 4% increase in the DJ.
So glad to see our 401k recover some (still down a little from Friday close, but made up the losses from Manic Monday and Tuesday). -1.53% for the year, and -6.48% for the month. Still predict 3rd qtr numbers are going to suck, but hope for some gain for the year or at least go back to where we were - climbing up a little from now would be satisfactory to us.
Friday markets tend to move up and down, but yesterday my 401k was actually up a little from the first of the year, so that was nice to see.
Now to move on with the day and other planning for the future.
SOS, I haven’t looked at my regular account, the non 401k ones.
DrG, financial advisor has been so busy with this market shake up, that the info systems haven’t consolidated all our information. Did log on once, but the variable money in those accounts are small compared to our 401k, and are being managed as a group - somewhat like a mutual fund. We have some in FA accounts that are annuities with insurance contract, and those are stable.
The key thing is to build up enough of a nest egg; to not panic, but to consider best ways to be diversified and have a decent return on investments so to not run out of money; have decent cash flow in retirement; stay healthy enough to enjoy retirement years.
If one has too low of a perception of what is needed in retirement can be in trouble - then will be in a panic when they have to make dramatic lifestyle changes with low available funds. I think some on these retirement threads are concerned about building up a larger nest egg than is needed to the point of perhaps not enjoying the time leading up to retirement.
The years up to retirement are nervous years I would venture to say for most people. The ones on these retirement threads are probably better prepared than most, and are that way because they are thinking and planning.
SS avg payments are $13K/yr ($1100/mo). 1 in 3 have no retirement savings or pensions.
Key things are to have focus on retirement monies, sacrifice, intentional on budgeting and building up some retirement, even if ‘late’. Better having some money than no money.
Don’t look don’t look and don’t look. I’ll tell my secretary to buy in slowly.
Still looking at LT. Our 401k portfolio was down 5.18%. Gain for first 6 mo of year was 4.11%. Still a roller coaster…
Just got Oct Kiplinger’s - some great articles. One that interested me was a two page “Renting the RV Life”. Some good investing articles. Next time I see our financial advisor I am going to ask him about dividend growth funds. Two page article about making LTC affordable (I think the insurance companies have the upper hand on this product - YIKES on a quoted Genworth policy for a healthy 55 year old man for a 5% compounding $200/day for 5 years product). I think most people will be forced to ‘self insure’ for LTC if they don’t hold a policy already.
As the date for retirement in 5 months gets closer I suddenly feel less need to take vacation. Will be cancelling leave at the first of the year. I find this interesting. Instead I will be saving leave for a lump sum. Excited none the less.
I’m discouraged to take too many leave. Just a few more months then I have my freedom.
I’m excited planning trips. The fun is definitely in the planning.
Less than 4 months to go! I have only a few more trips left on my bucket list. We made sure that the expensive vacations were finished before retirement.
I tried that but it didn’t happen. Luckily I have a separate bucket of money for traveling. I hope I won’t be penny pinching when I retire.
I just got encouraging update from Yahoo Finance on my phone: all my 10 funds are green now. The ones having highest increase are RPMGX, FCNKX, and VWUAX.
Effective today I have less than 3 months. My husband just filed the application for SS. He has an appointment to SS office to give all the real paper proof such as birth certificate, naturalization paper, and marriage certificate. I don’t know why the marriage certificate is needed but he suggested to bring all 3. Somehow passport is not good enough, I wonder why?
I’m both excited and also nervous. A new chapter in our life. We now face each other 100% of the time except trips to the bathroom as my acupuncture’s husband often jokes.
SS wants to see the marriage certificate to see whether you two are really married. As his spouse, you are entitled to a portion of his SS benefit (unless you choose to claim your own SS benefit).
Marriage certificate? You did not file joint income tax returns since you were married?
^^^Good point.
I’ve always filed joint income tax. I’m not the one that is getting spousal benefit. He is getting benefit based on his earnings. So that’s why it don’t understand. The form also asks information about me.