Investment Performance October 2008(-13.46%)

This is an ongoing monthly update on how our equity investments are performing. Please see this background on the investment tool I developed and how I am using it to track our performance against a benchmark to measure our progress or lack thereof.

Its still a work in progress, any feedback is appreciated and may be incorporated into future monthly reports. The only equity investments not covered are:
1) my 401k which is invested in institutional index funds through my employer that I haven't found a tracking symbol for.
2) investments roughly worth less than $500, simply because I don't have the time and energy to keep up with them. I am thinking I will sell these off at some point and add the proceeds to my current investment portfolio because they are too much work to track.

October Highlights:

October was a rough month - perhaps the worst the markets have ever had since I have been investing. However the good news if any is our investments beat our current benchmark by over 4%.
We took as much opportunity this month as we could to buy stocks. Writing this up I am kicking myself that we didn't buy more.

We picked up 150 additional shares of the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index (VTI) in 50 share increments as the markets slid.
We also added to investments in USG, GE, PFE, COP, and our IRAs.
I also switch my 401(k) contributions to Roth 401(k) contributions to take advantage of the down market.
While not shown in this report, according to my 401k website, my 401k is down 35.2% YTD at the end of October.

October 2008 Investment Report:

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Comments (4)

You've done better than some ppl I know whose 401K's have dropped over 85%!!

Right now is an excellent time for people to transfer out of stable funds and misc. mutual funds and put thier cash in stocks or stock options. Unless they are 45+ years old of course because of the risk.

www.TheLuckyMoneyCat.com

Posted by Larry | November 6, 2008 5:57 PM

I too have had a rough year when it comes to the 401K, but not as rough as many. 40% of my portfolio was in bonds and REIT's, so I haven't suffered as much. If the market is still down come Jan. 1, I'm going to max out my 401K immediately. Savings reserves up now!

Posted by GE Miller | November 10, 2008 8:00 AM

Going to complete the pain and post the october net worth update?

Posted by John | November 10, 2008 3:49 PM

Wow...
over 85%?????
That is sick...
I thought mine 35% was a lot.

Posted by Slava | November 10, 2008 7:31 PM