• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

I added the first two pages to my investment portfolio today....

vi edit

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Finally got off of my butt and set up an IRA and mutual fund account.

Have $$ being automatically withdrawn from my saving account each month now to be dropped into the two of them.

Both are through MFS mutal funds and stocks.

I feel pretty good starting this at the age of 22 🙂
 
Hey thats when I started! I turned 23 yesterday, but given that I have no job my portfolio is sitting where it was in November - I was doing really well for a few months too until I was laid off 🙂 Dammit, I was on the track too - once I get a job I'll be a rich old bastard and so will you.
 
i just turned 22 last month and now i am thinking of starting something as well.
But due to a personal commitment i will not be starting my real career till i am 25...
Do u guys think i shd be starting something like this as well?
I am not from the US but i know what an IRA is, and i was actually kind of thinking of starting something.

btw, your mutual fund account, is it a high risk or low rish type? 🙂
 
Late comer 😀. Gee I started investing in my teens. Still trying to figure out why I'm in my thirties and still working 🙁.
 
Good for you. 🙂

I went right from college to grad school (5 yrs for PhD) and then did a four your post-doc so I really didn't start until I was 30. Now 32 and I have maxed out, saving 10,500/year in the 403b. I also get 5% of my salary as a "pension" benefit contributed every year.

My wife skipped post-doc (hotter field so more corporate opportunities) and also her company matching was excellent so we concentrated on her fund the past five years at the max 10,500/yr.

So all in all we are on track for a good retirement. Hopefully we can maintain these levels. I think we can. 🙂
 
I started buying my own stocks with a discount brokerage over 2 years ago, but I never got into mutual funds. I should have - lost about 2500 in stocks! Right now I have a stock purchase plan through work - they match me 33%. I put 10% of every paycheque into that. I figure it's guaranteed growth - unless my company's stock plummets down to $10 or something.
 
For many of you just starting out, if you are looking at IRAs, take a close look at Roth IRAs. Although contributions are not deductable when made, withdrawals may escape taxes forever. That can be more valuable than the initial deduction, especially for younger people.
 
I went with a Roth. I don't have any retirement plan available to me at work, and I like the idea of it being all mine when I retire.

As far as risk - I took the middle ground. I split it between two funds. Both are growth funds, one is a fund centering around utilities (No, Edison isn't in there 😉) and the other one is a research fund consisiting of some technology and some healthcare.
 
vi_edit:

If you don't have a plan at work you can still open a deductible IRA in addition to your Roth IRA. The deductible IRA helps lower taxes plus you get tax-deferred growth. THe limit is $2000/yr. I would do it in addition to your Roth if you can.

Compound interest over 30-40 years works wonders!!!!!!
 
Mutual funds are great. The way I see it is the younger you are the higher risk you can probabaly afford. Generally the higher risk ones (if your mutual fund options are strong ones) give you better long term returns; say perhaps 14% likely versus maybe 10-11%. I've seen too many people lose money in stocks - professionals included - to make individual stocks a reasonable investment for me. Fun if you have the spare cash though...

And yes the earlier you start the better. Compound interest totally kicks ass. Do the math and almost anybody can retire a millionaire if they stick in 10% of their income into a reasonable mutual fund. If you're making a lot of money 10% of that will make you rich even faster 🙂
 
It feels nice to already have an investment portfolio when your 16, even if it is just a few thousand dollars in a money market fund. 🙂
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top