04-18-2019, 04:44 AM
(04-06-2019, 02:27 PM)rayray Wrote: Good read guys!rayray
Being in the market is a tough one, then again, not being in the market is a devastating one.
Being in the market is the only way I can accomplish what my goals are since I don't make an extremely high salary, I wouldn't even classify it as a high salary! I've had friends tell me the market has been overpriced since 2013--those same friends are still telling me the same thing--one day they're going to be right. I build up cash reserves then buy what I think is a good buy at the moment--usually something I already own. For the mutual funds in my portfolio I usually buy some shares after they distribute dividends and or short/long term gains--been doing it for years and seems to work out a-ok. I don't plan on selling or prepping for any downturn or recession--my biggest buys were this past fall and as fenders has said sometimes it's luck and buying in December then a big 2019 run-up was just damn pure luck on my part. I invest as I just mentioned a few sentences before and keep going, nothing changes, then when there is 10% downturn I put 5% cash to work, 20% I put 10% cash to work ect etc etc at 40% I'm almost cashless.
I don't have any fancy degrees, no crazy salary, a mortgage that is higher then I'd like but makes my wife extremely happy and no car payments even though I really need a pickup lol. On paper I'm a millionaire, factor in our what I consider a high mortgage we're still paper millionaires, just count what we have in the market and you can take a guess, it's still seven figures. During the next market down turn and or recession we won't be in that sphere, I'm sure, but I'll buy and reinvest and the good times will come back--if they don't? Then we have bigger problems to worry about then money.
And yes...I am probably the cheapest person you can ever meet--my biggest luxury is a straight-edged razor shave.
When it comes to investing I'm a tortoise, if you see me walking slowly in a direction don't make me go in another direction! lol...it'll mess up my future egg nest!
We may debate a lot, but we don't disagree so much in reality. I lived my investment life about the same as you did, It sounds like we are in a very similar financial situation minus the house. Getting debt free by age 50 was key to my plan. I accomplished that. I was 95-100% investment through the tech crash and the financial crisis. That's not going to happen to me again. It's a wonder I kept the faith in the stock market after the tech bubble. And I agree with Thomas, this thing could run for years, but not at this pace. I don't even think we are in a bubble at the moment, but the good stocks are over-valued almost without exception. I don't think I will ever stop preaching that one must always have some cash, and adjust it for where we appear to be in the cycle. Whether it is $10,000 or $200,000 laying around, you'll be VERY happy when you can invest it in some stocks that are 50% off. Going completely in or out of the market, that is where you will come up WAY short over time.