My Financial Journey

Well another close to another year and more nestegg growth – though not quite as spectacular as 2013. Overall my investment performance trailed the SP500 slightly this year, but after last year’s insane outperformance I can’t be too sad.

One thing I am proud of is that I contributed the most I ever have to my retirement accounts in a single year by a significant margin. It’s sort of funny how writing out a check for $131,000 for some land would give me the financial freedom to start concentrating on my retirement accounts again. This year I contributed $43,456 to my nestegg, which is nearly $17k better than last year and $13k better than my previous best year (2008).

Going into 2015 I will be building a house, but my goal is to try to contribute $50k to my nestegg.

Taxable Account – $9,707.70 (+50.55%)
Traditional Rollover IRA – $35,207.88 (+0.00%)
My Roth IRA – $117,783.54 (-1.84%)
Wife Roth IRA – $69,985.38 (-1.47%)
Traditional 401k – $212,783.94 (+2.34%)

Roth/Traditional % = 43.39% (tax free)

Total Retirement Nest Egg $445,468.44 (+1.10% 1 month +21.43% 1 year)
Retirement Salary (4%) – $17,818.73

Monthly Contributions $3,499.05 (401k) $3,250.00 (Taxable)
SPY Performance -0.42%
My Monthly Investment Performance -0.43% (-0.01% vs SP500)
My Monthly Individual Stocks Performance -1.40% (-1.02% vs SP500)

My contributions for 2014 $43,456.85
401k $10,122.60
401k matching $11,084.26
My Roth IRA $5,501
Wife Roth IRA $5,500
My Traditional IRA $5,499
Taxable Account $5,750

SP500 Performance for 2014 +11.54%
Investment Performance for 2014 +8.91% (-2.63% vs SP500)
Individual Stock Performance for 2014 +7.91% (-3.63% vs SP500)
Total Investment Return 2014 +$35,169.05

Another all time high for my retirement nestegg and my investments outperformed the SP500 index this month. In addition I have finally bumped up my 401k contribution starting this month to due a little catchup before the end of the year. I have been horribly lacking in this category only contributing 5% of my salary the last 4-5 years as we turbocharged our house/land purchasing funds. I look forward to maxing out my 401k in 2015 for the first time in what seems forever.

In addition I will be adding child #5 in 2015. It was kind of unexpected surprise and I’m convinced my wife just never wants to have to get a job so keeps spitting out kids every time it looks like we might finally go to two incomes.

Taxable Account – $6,448.08 (+7.53%)
Traditional Rollover IRA – $35,209.52 (+8.31%)
My Roth IRA – $119,994.16 (+4.11%)
Wife Roth IRA – $71,031.80 (+4.82%)
Traditional 401k – $207,920.90 (+2.65%)

Roth/Traditional % = 43.39% (tax free)

Total Retirement Nest Egg $440,604.46 (+3.89%)
Retirement Salary (4%) – $17,624.18

Monthly Contributions $1,601.98 (401k)
SPY Performance 2.45%
My Monthly Investment Performance +3.52% (+1.07% vs SP500)
My Monthly Individual Stocks Performance +5.03% (+2.58% vs SP500)

Our nestegg grew this month slightly but our investments trailed the SP500 significantly for the 2nd straight month. Well I have now maxed out both my wife and my Roth IRAs for 2014. We will now focus on building up our our taxable investment accounts as well as finding ways to save in the cost of constructing our new house. I’m trying to convince my wife that despite me having zero woodworking experience that I can build use kitchen cabinets, tables, and other things for our house. So far I have not been so convincing.

Taxable Account – $5,996.60 (-3.23%)
Traditional Rollover IRA – $32,506.79 (-0.97%)
My Roth IRA – $115,261.35 (-1.05%)
Wife Roth IRA – $67,767.15 (+4.71%)
Traditional 401k – $202,558.56 (+2.27%)

Roth/Traditional % = 43.39% (tax free)

Total Retirement Nest Egg $424,090.45 (+1.54%)

Monthly Contributions $758.84 (401k) $2500 Wife Roth IRA
SPY Performance 2.36%
My Monthly Investment Performance +0.76% (-1.60)% vs SP500)
My Monthly Individual Stocks Performance -0.25% (-2.61% vs SP500)

Well this month my nestegg shrunk and my investments under performed the SP500 index. I have a few more contributions to make to max out my wife’s Roth IRA and then I am going to start working on increasing my taxable account. I have not maxed out my 401k in a number of years and just put the bare minimum in to get my employers matching money.

While my individual stocks that I invest in my IRAs and taxable accounts are much more volatile it has been impressive how much they have outperformed my 401k which is primarily invested in index funds. On top of having more control I do at some point want to access my retirement nestegg to say retire and that will hopefully be long before age 59.5 so growing up a sizable taxable account will give them ability to make that jump when the time comes.

Anyway here is the report.

Taxable Account – $6,196.92(+4.08%)
Traditional Rollover IRA – $32,194.30 (-5.42%)
My Roth IRA – $116,482.53 (-2.76%)
Wife Roth IRA – $64,717.58 (-3.72%)
Traditional 401k – $198,055.40 (-2.19%)

Roth/Traditional % = 43.39% (tax free)

Total Retirement Nest Egg $417,646.73 (-2.76%)

Monthly Contributions $758.84 (401k) $1000 Wife Roth IRA
SPY Performance -1.55%
My Monthly Investment Performance -3.17% (-1.62% vs SP500)
My Monthly Individual Stocks Performance -3.70% (-2.15% vs SP500)

Well another new all time high for my retirement nestegg and good performance by my portfolio. It’s amazing the growth of my nestegg the last few years and this has been an amazing time to have a good chunk of money invested in the stock market. I really wish I had more invested 🙂

Taxable Account – $5,953.96(+2.16%)
Traditional Rollover IRA – $ 34,038.64 (5.66%)
My Roth IRA – $119,793.68 (+8.54%)
Wife Roth IRA – $$67,215.02 (+8.24%)
Traditional 401k – $202,494.53 (+4.22%)

Roth/Traditional % = 42.60% (tax free)

Total Retirement Nest Egg $429,495.83 (+6.10%)

Monthly Contributions $1,138.26 (401k) $2500 Roth IRA
SPY Performance 3.77%
My Monthly Investment Performance +5.20% (+1.43% vs SP500)
My Monthly Individual Stocks Performance +6.65% (+2.88% vs SP500)

Taxable Account – $5,828.28(+6.15%)
Traditional Rollover IRA – $32,215.25 (-7.11%)
My Roth IRA – $110,364.18 (-1.51%)
Wife Roth IRA – $62,098.14 (-0.23%)
Traditional 401k – $194,298.56 (-1.90%)

Roth/Traditional % = 42.60% (tax free)

Total Retirement Nest Egg $404,804.41 (-1.87%)

Monthly Contributions $758.84 (401k)
SPY Performance -1.51%
My Monthly Investment Performance -2.05% (-0.54% vs SP500)
My Monthly Individual Stocks Performance -1.85% (-0.34% vs SP500)