First time jitters

[White.Beard.Doc]

Adjusting asset allocation to a bond heavy portfolio doesn't sound all that great.  Could we be potentially be facing many years of slowly rising interest rates that will continuously drive down the value of bonds?  Who knows, but that certainly seems like one potentially likely scenario at this moment in time.

Given that possibility, I would not feel very comfortable going into a 10% stock and 90% bond portfolio at this juncture.

[Donnie]

I would dollar cost average into stocks by investing an amount you are comfortable with each month over a year or so. I wouldn’t do a heavy bond allocation. The good news is that you will presumably be saving more money over the next year. Your cash position will continue to rise if you don’t take action now and start investing at least an amount equal to your monthly average savings from your paycheck. The larger the cash position becomes, the harder it will be to put it to work.

[Adrian]

1. Pulled the trigger last nigth and started with $10,000 in Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTSAX) just to put my toes in the water. I had to learn about difference between mutual funds and ETFs at 10PM, since I could not find the VTI fund when I placed my order...

2. Unrelated question... What is so special about TIAA REITs? I have an old 403b with them and thinking of rolling it into my current one, but seems like the keymaster

likes that particular fund. I probably have about 10% of my portfolio in that plan, so I could definetely make part of it that my REITs location.

[Donnie]

Adrian wrote:

1. Pulled the trigger last nigth and started with $10,000 in Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTSAX) just to put my toes in the water.  I had to learn about difference between mutual funds and ETFs at 10PM, since I could not find the VTI fund when I placed my order…

2. Unrelated question… What is so special about TIAA REITs? I have an old 403b with them and thinking of rolling it into my current one, but seems like the keymaster

likes that particular fund. I probably have about 10% of my portfolio in that plan, so I could definetely make part of it that my REITs location.

Click to expand...

Great job starting to get your cash position invested.  The REIT question is easy - no REITs in taxable.

[q-school]

Adrian wrote:

1. Pulled the trigger last nigth and started with $10,000 in Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTSAX) just to put my toes in the water. I had to learn about difference between mutual funds and ETFs at 10PM, since I could not find the VTI fund when I placed my order…

2. Unrelated question… What is so special about TIAA REITs? I have an old 403b with them and thinking of rolling it into my current one, but seems like the keymaster

likes that particular fund. I probably have about 10% of my portfolio in that plan, so I could definetely make part of it that my REITs location.

Click to expand...

awesome!  don't question it.  just leave it and let it grow.

 

 

[Adrian]

OK, going on a 10 days vacation overseas tomorrow with no internet. Question is, put the rest of about 100k in the VTSAX tonight or wait to come back?

I know, I know, I am trying to time the market

[Hatton]

Do it now!

[Craigy]

Just roll it in in $10k or $20k increments over a period of months, if it makes you feel better.

[jhwkr542]

Adrian wrote:

2. Unrelated question… What is so special about TIAA REITs? I have an old 403b with them and thinking of rolling it into my current one, but seems like the keymaster

likes that particular fund. I probably have about 10% of my portfolio in that plan, so I could definetely make part of it that my REITs location.

Click to expand...

Rolling the 403b over into your current 403b?  Just trying to clarify the situation.  I like TIAA real estate as part of a real estate portion of a portfolio, but if you want to consolidate accounts and this sacrifices TIAA real estate for Vanguard REIT, the simplicity might be worth it.

[Adrian]

Thank you for replying to my question. I will keep some money in TIAA anyway since I have some annuities there which would take 10 years to transfer (started that account as a resident knowing nothing so I have no idea how I got stuck with them...they are part of their "traditional" funds). Is less then 10k, so really not worth the headache of doing this over 10 years.