Investment Performance November 2012 (-0.20%)

This is our monthly investment portfolio report. At this point I view our ability to invest with above average rates of return as the most important factor in reaching our financial freedom as soon as possible. This investment report covers our taxable portfolio and IRE retirement accounts. My 401k (which is roughly 1/2 our portfolio) is not included as the index funds it includes are not publicly traded and difficult to incorporate in this report.

November Highlights:

Our portfolio did not beat our benchmark this month after two months of . We saw a 0.20% loss in our portfolio compared to our VTI benchmark gain of 0.77%.
In November we made an additional investment in HewettPackard after a significant drop on a fresh wave of bad news. Being a competitor of one of our larger holdings IBM (and employer) I thought it might be wise to hedge a bit given this opportunity.
We also purchased 25 shares of a Bank of America debt (CFC-PB) below par that pays 7%. While BoA could call this at anytime, Im comfortable collecting the interest until they do or it matures.
We made our regular monthly investments in our Roth IRAs, Conocco Philips DRIP, and had some dividends and dividend reinvestments.
Our recent monthly returns were: Jan 09 -4.98%, Feb -9.94%, Mar +8.45%, Apr +10.88%, May +4.65%, Jun +0.89%, Jul +9.94%, Aug +4.36%, Sept 3.15%, Oct -2.34%, Nov +5.83%, Dec +1.85%, Jan '10 -2.34%, Feb +2.25%, Mar +5.88%, Apr +2.54%, May -8.13%, June -5.64%, July 6.17%. Aug -4.87%, Sept +8.48%, Oct 2.47%, Nov -0.96%, Dec +8.01%, Jan 2011 +2.06%, Feb 2.57%, Mar +0.15%, Apr +3.04%, May -1.56%, June -1.63%, July -2.71%, Aug -5.42%, Sept -7.06%, Oct +9.88%, Nov -0.39%, Dec +2.10%, Jan '12 +4.03%, Feb +4.68%, Mar +2.35%, Apr -1.74%, Sept +3.47%, Oct 0.10%, Nov -0.20% .....

November 2012 Investment Report:

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Comments (1)

I'm in a similar situation where the rate of return is clearly the biggest variable which could accelerate my net worth/progress. As much as I'd like to, I've resisted trying to out-perform the market average return as a specific goal for fear that I'd be taking additional risk.

Does it concern you that you view your ability to beat-the-market as "as the most important factor in reaching our financial freedom as soon as possible" considering that your 4-year analysis showed your portfolio performed worse than the VTI?

Posted by Anonymous | December 11, 2012 2:57 PM