my Growing Wealth

Behold the newborn dragon

2011-04-19T22:35:00.002-04:00

GAZ

My Investment Portfolio Return for 2010

2011-01-03T20:38:00.003-05:00

My portfolio was up 8.9% in 2010. It is disappointing given that the S&P500 was up 12.8% (15.1% including dividends).The reason for the lackluster number: not following my stops. On at least 5 occasions I did not have a hard stop in place and I decided to hold on to the trade after it went against me, for much larger losses. I should really put a hard stop in place every single time.It is now 2

Health Care FSA Eligible Expenses for 2011

2010-12-16T22:06:00.003-05:00

<!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt

2011 Retirement Plan Contribution Limits

2010-12-05T22:33:00.003-05:00

The IRS has announced the retirement plan limitations for 2011.2011 Contribution Limits 401k - $16,500Roth IRA - $5,000 if Modified Adjusted Gross Income below $107,000 ($169,000 if married filing jointly)2010 Contribution Limits401K - $16,500Roth IRA - $5,000 if Modified Adjusted Gross Income below $105,000 ($167,000 if married filing jointly)

Stock Market Snapshot as of Sep 14, 2010

2010-09-14T20:38:00.003-04:00

SPY is sitting just below resistance after a big move the last 2 weeks.A move above resistance may send the shorts for cover.In the meantime, TLT has bounced off resistance and seems to be heading higher, which is not a good sign for stocks.Trade idea for tomorrow:If SPY moves above today's high and TLT shows some weakness, go long SPY with a stop below today's low.Inversely if SPY trades below

Fidelity Commission-Free ETFs

2010-05-17T21:47:00.003-04:00

iShares ETFs with free online trading in a Fidelity account:US Equity Index Funds:IWFIWBIWDIWOIWMIWNIWVIVWIVVIVEIJKIJHIJHIJJIJTIJRIJSInternational Equity Index Funds:ACWIEFASCZEEMFixed Income Funds:AGGTIPLQDEMBMUB

My Experian PLUS Score Update

2010-02-12T22:52:00.005-05:00

Via American Express, I am eligible to receive an annual complimentary credit score from Experian. It is Experian's PLUS score which has a scale from 330 to 830. It is not the more widely used FICO score which ranges from 300 to 850.This score is now 801 which is a nice increase from last year's 790.

Who is Bill Maher to Give Me Relationship Advice?

2010-01-15T21:30:00.002-05:00

Here is some good advice for anyone in an abusive relationship:I wonder how many people would need to follow this to actually make an impact?

My Net Worth Update for 2009 and Goals for 2010

2010-01-09T21:37:00.013-05:00

Back in 2005 I calculated that my net worth would reach $1 million by the end of 2012 if I could manage a steady 20% yearly increase. I have been tracking my progress ever since. In 2009 which was year 4, my net worth increased by 32.9% or $116,800. That is unfortunately not enough to make up for the major setback that was 2008. Target Actual

My Investment Portfolio Return for 2009

2010-01-02T22:08:00.004-05:00

My portfolio was up 20.8% in 2009. In comparison, the S&P500 was up 26.5% including dividends (23.5% before dividends).In the accounts I actively trade, I started the year mostly in cash. I have been tiptoeing back into the market, but not aggressively enough, which explains my lackluster year compared to the S&P500.I have been diversified across 3 different strategies:-Buy-and-hold currently

Pay Period Leap Year

2009-12-18T21:17:00.003-05:00

2009 is a pay period leap year at my company. We will have 27 pay periods instead of 26. The company did not adjust the bi-weekly pay, which means that we will effectively receive a pay increase this year. So far HR has not communicated anything to the employees or taken any credit for it. I had calculated my salary deferral to have my 401k contributions maxed out on the 26th pay period. I will

2010 Retirement Plan Contribution Limits

2009-10-20T20:58:00.003-04:00

The IRS has announced the retirement plan limitations for 2010. The limitations of interest to me remain unchanged for 2010.2010 Contribution Limits401K - $16,500Roth IRA - $5,000 if Modified Adjusted Gross Income below $105,000 ($167,000 if married filing jointly)2009 Contribution Limits 401k - $16,500Roth IRA - $5,000 if Modified Adjusted Gross Income below $105,000 ($166,000 if married filing

Stock Market Snapshot as of May 21, 2009

2009-05-21T21:56:00.003-04:00

All major indices have just made a lower high and are now sitting very close to the previous lows.If they are able to print a lower low, this might be a good opportunity to try a trade on the short side. I am watching the following levels:S&P 500 - 878Russell 2000 - 470Nasdaq 100 - 1339Any break below those levels could be a good entry point.I would place a stop above the previous higher high and

S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index Update

2009-03-31T20:55:00.007-04:00

The latest data for the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index were published today and they were not pretty. Home prices were down 19% in the 12 months ending in January 09.When I first looked at these data back in December 07, I was upbeat about the Atlanta market which did not seem to have experienced a real estate bubble. Since then, the Atlanta home prices have fallen hard and are now below their

My Experian PLUS Score

2009-02-09T21:30:00.003-05:00

Via a credit card I have with American Express I was given access to a complimentary credit score and report. The credit score shown below is the Experian PLUS score which has a different scale (330-830) than the more widely used FICO score (300-850).I typically check my credit report 3 times a year via AnnualCreditReport.com. I rotate through the 3 credit reporting companies as only one free

My Net Worth Update for 2008 and Goals for 2009

2009-01-03T10:46:00.011-05:00

My net worth shrank in 2008 by -5.7%. My steady income and savings efforts were not enough to offset major losses in my investment accounts.On the plus side I was able to sell my condo in August for a break even financial operation. Given the state of the real estate market, I am considering myself lucky.I am now standing way off my goal of reaching $1M net worth by age 40. Target

My Investment Portfolio Return for 2008

2009-01-01T20:39:00.004-05:00

My portfolio suffered some major losses in 2008, down -18.8% to be exact.The biggest losses came in the buy-and-hold accounts (401k, Janus and the 529 plan).These accounts are long-term investments (15 to 20-year time horizon), so I am not concerned by what the market is doing in the short-term. I was able to max out my 401k contributions which should pay off in the long run.In the actively

2009 Retirement Plan Contribution Limits

2008-10-21T18:48:00.003-04:00

The IRS has announced the retirement plan limitations for 2009.2009 Contribution Limits401k - $16,500Roth IRA - $5,000 if Modified Adjusted Gross Income below $105,000 ($166,000 if married filing jointly)2008 Contribution Limits401K - $15,500Roth IRA - $5,000 if Modified Adjusted Gross Income below $101,000 ($159,000 if married filing jointly)

Stock Market Snapshot as of Oct 10, 2008

2008-10-11T21:48:00.004-04:00

"Markets in free fall" was a common headline this past week.The S&P 500 is now down about 40% since October 2007.It is difficult to stay on the sideline and not go bottom fishing.Once the panic selling will be over, once everyone who must capitulate will have done so, then the short sellers will start covering, the buyers will start buying, and the bottom will be in. Until then I will try to wait

My Equifax FICO Score

2008-10-05T15:02:00.006-04:00

Earlier this week I read this post at My Money Blog and took the opportunity to check my Fico score for free. Ever since I learned about FICO a few years back, I have been doing the following:-I do not close my credit cards (especially the oldest ones)-I do not open any new credit cards (I currently have 4 which is plenty)-I use my credit cards on a regular basis (especially the ones with rewards

How Much House Can I Afford (Revisited)

2008-09-13T16:47:00.006-04:00

Having sold my condominium, I am revisiting a calculator to find out how much house I now can afford (previous amount was $281,000). My new inputs are:And the results are:I am now limited by the front end ratio of 28%. The total mortgage amount comes at $242,000 at 5.5%, and the total house value at $322,000.

New Limitations on a Popular Tax Benefit

2008-09-12T22:33:00.003-04:00

The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 was passed to help homeowners on the brink of foreclosure keep their home. But there is a lot more in the bill than just that. To help offset its cost, the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 has put some new limitations on the exclusion of gain from sale of principal residence. The 2 out of 5 years rule is still in place (so are the $250K/

Market Sectors of Interest

2008-06-28T12:56:00.006-04:00

Below is a list of market sector indexes of interest with a link to their chart and components:XOI Chart Components Amex Oil IndexOSX Chart Components Philadelphia Oil Services IndexXNG Chart Components Amex Natural Gas IndexSTQ Chart Components SIG Steel Producer IndexXAU Chart Components Philadelphia Gold and Silver IndexHUI Chart Components Amex Gold BUGS Index

Yahoo!Finance: Coupons are Hot Again

2008-06-14T22:14:00.004-04:00

A sign of tough times in America: Yahoo!Finance headlines an article on coupon clipping. At least the shopper on the picture hasn't lost her smile, yet.

Stock Market Snapshot as of Jun 08, 2008

2008-06-07T21:56:00.004-04:00

Of the 3 markets that I trade, the S&P 500 is the first one to get a new trendline as it makes a lower low. The 200-ema has been acting somewhat as resistance. This chart looks very bearish to me.The Nasdaq 100 just broke its trendline. But this chart is still fairly bullish, with the 50-ema just above the 200-ema.The trendline is still intact for the Russell 2000. But for how long?We could be at