WIR Net Worth Board

[Ava]

Sept 28, 2024 19:00:06 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Sept 28, 2024 17:03:12 GMT -5 Ava said:

The guy on the phone said current investment has a cost of 0.7 and it will be about $3,000 a year in fees. But they can recommend other funds that will cost $400 a year

What fund are you in? I'm guessing one of the Fidelity Freedom funds?  A 0.7% expense ratio would not be 3K/year in expenses on a 292K investment, but it would be once it was closer to 500K.

Fidelity doesn't really have any low-priced Target date funds, but if you want to manage the asset allocation yourself, they have a ton of low-priced and even 0 cost ones. This is FZROX which is the total stock market, no expense ratio.

fundresearch.fidelity.com/mutual-funds/summary/31635T708

It will be 345k because I already have some money in the IRA.
No expense ratio sounds great but I do not want to manage asset allocation myself. I would have zero idea of what I'm doing.
I also don't want them managing my accounts.
I love target date funds. But maybe I can find one with a lower expense ratio than the one I have.
I'll go to the website and look around to see what else they have.

[Ava]

I think it's time for me to get some information about Target Date Funds.
For the last half hour I've been looking at them in the Fidelity Website and I have zero idea of what's what. 
I cannot choose a good one if I don't know what's important.
So I'll look for some information before making a decision.
At least talking to Fidelity made me realize I need to be an informed decision maker when it comes to my investments.

[azucena]

I think more knowledgeable investment folks here would help you learn and choose funds if you feel like outlining more info.

[minnesotapaintlady]

For the most part you won't be able to get any other Target date funds outside of their own offerings in Fidelity without paying a fee to buy, but if you are in a Fidelity Freedom fund there ARE index versions of all the funds.  The Freedom funds are actively managed, but the index ones are not.  They're not as cheap as Vanguard funds, but .12 instead of .7

They do not make them easy to find and really push the managed ones (for obvious reasons), but if you type say "Fidelity Freedom 2035" in the search box on their site, it will give both the managed and index ticker symbols in the drop down.

Of course, the $100 fee to buy a Vanguard Target date fund (expense ratio .08%) through Fidelity might be worth it to you for a lump sum buy if you really want to go with them. The fee is one time and if you're not making additional contributions you won't be charged again. There is no charge to sell Vanguard funds through Fidelity.  I personally would just do the Freedom index fund if I was at Fidelity and wanted a Target date fund.

[Ava]

I'm in Fidelity Freedom 2050 Fund FFFHX

I want to move to something less expensive.

I have no idea how to pick a fund.

Any help appreciated.

Maybe I should have moved my money to Vanguard instead of Fidelity

[Ava]

I cancelled the appointment with the advisor. 
It's better for me to learn and do my own investment.

[minnesotapaintlady]

Sept 29, 2024 19:51:18 GMT -5 Ava said:

I'm in Fidelity Freedom 2050 Fund FFFHX

I want to move to something less expensive.

I have no idea how to pick a fund.

Any help appreciated.

Maybe I should have moved my money to Vanguard instead of Fidelity

I actually prefer Fidelity.  I've been with both Fidelity and Vanguard for many years but am thinking of consolidating everything to Fidelity. Vanguard does have cheaper Target funds, but really not by much. If you are happy with the 2050 fund you're in now, switch to the Index version. FIPFX   It's expense ratio is only .12 compared to the .75 you're paying now, which is pretty significant ($1.20/$1000 instead of $7.50)  No manager moving a bunch of different funds around, it's basically just total stock and total bond index funds that adjust the asset allocation the closer you get to your retirement year.  Currently it looks to be 90% stock, 10% bonds.

fundresearch.fidelity.com/mutual-funds/summary/315793869

[Ava]

Sept 29, 2024 20:34:20 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Sept 29, 2024 19:51:18 GMT -5 Ava said:

I'm in Fidelity Freedom 2050 Fund FFFHX

I want to move to something less expensive.

I have no idea how to pick a fund.

Any help appreciated.

Maybe I should have moved my money to Vanguard instead of Fidelity

I actually prefer Fidelity.  I've been with both Fidelity and Vanguard for many years but am thinking of consolidating everything to Fidelity. Vanguard does have cheaper Target funds, but really not by much. If you are happy with the 2050 fund you're in now, switch to the Index version. FIPFX   It's expense ratio is only .12 compared to the .75 you're paying now, which is pretty significant ($1.20/$1000 instead of $7.50)  No manager moving a bunch of different funds around, it's basically just total stock and total bond index funds that adjust the asset allocation the closer you get to your retirement year.  Currently it looks to be 90% stock, 10% bonds.

fundresearch.fidelity.com/mutual-funds/summary/315793869

Thank you so much for your help! You have no idea how much I appreciate this.
I will switch. The difference in expense ratio is HUGE.

I will also look at my Roth IRA, even though the amount I have there is not as big as the Trad. IRA is going to be.
Then I'll make sure the HSA I'm transferring to Fidelity soon is properly invested.  

It's reassuring that you think Fidelity is better than Vanguard. I got Fidelity at the old job, before we were bought, and I was very happy with it.
Then the big company that bought us made us go to TRowePrice. Now that I'm no longer employed there, I'm transferring the old 401k to the Fidelity Trad. IRA.

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Update.....

	08.31.2023	05.01.2024	06.01.2024	06.29.2024	07.03.2024	07.31.2024	08.30.2024	09.30.2024
401k and rollovers	1,528,917	1,494,750	1,605,348	1,718,654	1,833,645	1,775,686	1,790,160	1,908,091
Roth	152,845	107,175	105,829	116,578	139,509	135,634	124,731	158,612
I-bonds & notes,bills	41,254	40,308	40,417	43,517	43,517	43,417	44,244	43,849
Other: EF, ESOP, HSA	7,445	-22,902	-12,985	-6,849	1,380	1,318	-1,827	7,942
Total	1,730,961	1,619,331	1,738,608	1,871,899	2,018,051	1,956,271	1,957,307	2,118,494

First "official" update beginning with a 2 since 2021 (July 3rd was just cheating to say it, lol!).

Been flitting above and below this milestone for a few months....hope it is here to stay.....

But it does make it a bit difficult to deal with the daily grind.....as in why face this zoom meeting right now?   

Hope everyone is seeing good numbers at the close of september!!

[aricia]

10/1/2024

Assets:

House: $450,000

Cash: $385,000

I bonds: $305,000

Brokerage: $340,000

401k/IRAs: $1,865,000

HSA: $50,000

529s: $95,000

Cars (5): $85,000


Net worth: $3,575,000

Completed our car buying and selling. One new, one almost new, one sold. The other three are probably not depreciating much at this point. The oldest one is a 60 year old collector car. Since the car numbers are fluctuating anyways, I decided to update our home value in the first time since 2013.

I use a fire sale price for the cars and then just keep depreciating them a set amount instead of trying to figure their actual values constantly.

[ners]

Net worth

Assets

Cash                   26,935.32
Retirement        220,761.10
House                 80,000.00
Car                      1,000.00
Stock                   8,966.24
HSA                   $7,165.64
Total Assets       344,828.30


Liabilities
Mortgage            46,728.80
Helco
Car
Total Liabilities     46,728.80



Net Worth        $298,099.50

Still moving in the correct direction.

[Ava]

I'm looking at this one FXAIX.
It's a S&P 500 for Fidelity.
Low cost, good returns.

Until now, I've been so afraid of investing that a Target Date Fund made me feel somewhat more secure.

Actually I already traded to the index Minnesota recommended.

But I think once the money from the old job 401k lands in Fidelity, I'm going to invest on FXAIX.
The money SHOULD arrive today.

Eventually I'll move everything to this fund I think. But I just traded.
And the difference in expenses is amazing. It's 1.20 versus 7.50.
Thank you again Minnesota for recommending this.

[lurkyloo]

Oct 4, 2024 6:03:48 GMT -5 Ava said:

I'm looking at this one FXAIX.
It's a S&P 500 for Fidelity.
Low cost, good returns.

Until now, I've been so afraid of investing that a Target Date Fund made me feel somewhat more secure.

Actually I already traded to the index Minnesota recommended.

But I think once the money from the old job 401k lands in Fidelity, I'm going to invest on FXAIX.
The money SHOULD arrive today.

Eventually I'll move everything to this fund I think. But I just traded.
And the difference in expenses is amazing. It's 1.20 versus 7.50.
Thank you again Minnesota for recommending this.

Dirty little secret:  target date funds, at least at vanguard, are typically pretty simple.  They contain a broad index fund like FXAIX, a bond fund, and an international stocks index fund.  International stocks are optional to many folks’ thinking.  The key question is how much do you want in stocks vs bonds.  And the thing that target date funds do for you is gradually increase the bonds (“safe/stable value” but much less growth) as you get closer to retirement.

Literally the only important questions that bogleheads folks will always always ask are, what is your desired asset allocation (ratio of stocks to bonds) and what is the desired % of international within stocks.  

Nothing wrong with a target date fund as long as the expenses are low and it’s in a tax advantaged account, but there is also nothing wrong with moving investments to FKAIX.  I would just suggest that you also put enough in a bond fund (I use BND) to honor your asset allocation.  You can look at your target date fund and it should tell you what % of its investments are in bonds.

HTH!

[minnesotapaintlady]

My entire 401K is in FXAIX. 

[tcu2003]

September 2024 update:

ASSETS:

Checking/Savings: $245,830
House: $675,000
Retirement: $2,606,623
Brokerage: $119,936
529s: $147,636
ESOP: $22,136

DEBTS:

$0


Total NW: $3,817,161

As usual, the list above excludes our cars, which are worth around $28k combined, but I leave them out because we're unlikely to sell, and need them to get to/from work, kids schools, etc. in the land of suburbia.

We are up about 2% over last month.

[dannylion]

Sept 27, 2024 19:44:13 GMT -5 Ava said:

Update for September 27, 2024

Assets

Cash $3,500
Car $15,648 per Kelley Blue Book
Condo $130,600 per Zillow
Roth IRA $46,300
Traditional IRA $53,871
401K $292,701- being rolled over to Trad. IRA in the next few days
HSA $43,613

Total Assets $586,233


Liabilities

Credit Card $1,400- This is a Fidelity Visa card that I use for everything and it gives 2% back.
Car Loan- $4,268
Mortgage- $47,320
Student Loan- $77,788

Total Liabilities- $130,776


Total Net Worth $455,457

Prior Net Worth $394,837- April 2024

It makes me very happy to see my net worth increased by 60k in the last five months.

Things have improved for me since April. I got a new job that pays 15% more than prior one.
Even more important, I don't work in a toxic environment anymore and I don't get bullied on a regular basis. That is PRICELESS.

I was able to pay off the 0% credit card. It doesn't have a balance anymore. The only reason I'm keeping it open for now is because I rented an AirBnb through that credit card. In case of a cancellation or any type of refund, they use the same method of payment. But once I come back from the vacation, Im closing that card.

Now Im saving to pay off the car loan. Of the $3,500 I have in cash, $2,900 are in a savings account earmarked to pay that car loan. I think I can pay it off before year end. After that, I'm maxing retirement accounts again.

I think my financial picture looks good, overall. Everything I have has been through work, savings and investments. Nothing has been given to me and I'm very proud of making progress.

I'll keep plugging along and updating every now and then.

Well done, Ava!  Your progress is impressive, and it's good to hear you have a new job in with a better environment.  

[Ava]

Oct 4, 2024 15:21:46 GMT -5 dannylion said:

Sept 27, 2024 19:44:13 GMT -5 Ava said:

Update for September 27, 2024

Assets

Cash $3,500
Car $15,648 per Kelley Blue Book
Condo $130,600 per Zillow
Roth IRA $46,300
Traditional IRA $53,871
401K $292,701- being rolled over to Trad. IRA in the next few days
HSA $43,613

Total Assets $586,233


Liabilities

Credit Card $1,400- This is a Fidelity Visa card that I use for everything and it gives 2% back.
Car Loan- $4,268
Mortgage- $47,320
Student Loan- $77,788

Total Liabilities- $130,776


Total Net Worth $455,457

Prior Net Worth $394,837- April 2024

It makes me very happy to see my net worth increased by 60k in the last five months.

Things have improved for me since April. I got a new job that pays 15% more than prior one.
Even more important, I don't work in a toxic environment anymore and I don't get bullied on a regular basis. That is PRICELESS.

I was able to pay off the 0% credit card. It doesn't have a balance anymore. The only reason I'm keeping it open for now is because I rented an AirBnb through that credit card. In case of a cancellation or any type of refund, they use the same method of payment. But once I come back from the vacation, Im closing that card.

Now Im saving to pay off the car loan. Of the $3,500 I have in cash, $2,900 are in a savings account earmarked to pay that car loan. I think I can pay it off before year end. After that, I'm maxing retirement accounts again.

I think my financial picture looks good, overall. Everything I have has been through work, savings and investments. Nothing has been given to me and I'm very proud of making progress.

I'll keep plugging along and updating every now and then.

Well done, Ava!  Your progress is impressive, and it's good to hear you have a new job in with a better environment.  

Thank you!
I'm very happy with the new job. It has literally changed my life for the better.

As for the progress, I determined a few years ago to max out everything, pre-tax, and live off the rest. I don't budget, but I have to be able to pay everything with what's left in the checking account. If at some point I can't, I sit down and look at what I'm spending on. The usual suspects are grocery and take out. Those are relatively easy to control.

Of course, I'm making a good salary that allows me to max out accounts.

I also live in a condo I bought in 2008, and my PITI has remained stable since then. Having a low housing cost allows me to save and invest quite a bit.
For reference, I was paying $750 a month for total housing cost in 2008, and now I pay $800 as taxes have increased a little. I'm sure HOA fees are going to go up soon, too.
Trade-off is I live basically in the ghetto, except that's quiet and safe here. I had a couple of packages disappear from my door recently, but other than that it's good.
When I bought the condo, the Realtor kept saying this is your starter home. No, it's not. I don't plan to move unless the area becomes unsafe. I don't want to pay more for housing.

Even if I'm unable to max out in the future, I feel that I have enough built up that will allow me to have a good nest egg. Of course I would continue to contribute, even if at some point I can't max out anymore.

[Ava]

Oct 4, 2024 8:13:06 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

My entire 401K is in FXAIX. 

Mmmmh, I'm really tempted on trading my stock for FXAIX. It's funny because I traded yesterday for the lower cost target date fund, lol.

I also see lurky's point. But I like to set it and forget it when it comes to investing. I don't want to be tweaking things.

Well, I don't have to make a decision today. I'll take the weekend to think it over.
Either leave the money on the target date fund, or move it to FXAIX.
I'm leaning towards FXAIX, but I'll let it simmer for the weekend.

I'm a little worried that the money from my old 401K at TRowe doesn't show yet in my Fidelity account.
I did the transfer last Friday and the Fidelity rep. said it should be here by next Friday, meaning today.

The TRowe account shows a $0 balance.

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Oct 4, 2024 18:18:31 GMT -5 Ava said:

Oct 4, 2024 8:13:06 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

My entire 401K is in FXAIX. 

Mmmmh, I'm really tempted on trading my stock for FXAIX. It's funny because I traded yesterday for the lower cost target date fund, lol.

I also see lurky's point. But I like to set it and forget it when it comes to investing. I don't want to be tweaking things.

Well, I don't have to make a decision today. I'll take the weekend to think it over.
Either leave the money on the target date fund, or move it to FXAIX.
I'm leaning towards FXAIX, but I'll let it simmer for the weekend.

I'm a little worried that the money from my old 401K at TRowe doesn't show yet in my Fidelity account.
I did the transfer last Friday and the Fidelity rep. said it should be here by next Friday, meaning today.

The TRowe account shows a $0 balance.

sometimes there is a few days gap, but keep an eye on it.

[MN-Investor]

Broad based index funds typically have lower expense ratios than target funds. You just have to decide on the applicable asset allocation and manage that which is really fairly easy. Basically rebalance once a year.

Most of my investments are at Fidelity or at Schwab (originally Scottrade, acquired by TD Ameritrade, acquired by Schwab). My IRA at Fidelity holds FSKAX, Fidelity's Total Market Index Fund with an expense ratio of .015%. When my husband retired, he rolled his 401(k) over to an IRA at Scottrade (now Schwab) and put the majority into BND, Vanguard's Total Bond Market Index Fund ETF with an expense ratio of .03%.

My husband and I were very aggressive in our accumulation years, but it worked well for us. You just have to decide on an asset allocation you feel comfortable with.

[Ombud]

Aug 30, 2024 15:15:09 GMT -5 Ombud said:

Schwab Accts:	%
July 30th:	1,155,201
Stocks	1,039,319	87%
Fixed Income	152,868	13%
Current	1,192,187
Difference	+36,986

College:
125 SCHB
200 PWZ
$1350 which is what she was short after scholarships + 1 loan hit. So she'll be short that in Spring as well


I want to be 15% cash / cds / bonds so I'm out of whack.

just doing broad categories bc I'm on Sun Princess stuck at sea outside Florida. Prayers to those living through this .... just watching it unfold while safely skirted away:

Schwab Accts:	%
Sept 30th:	1,192,187
Current	1,206,679
Difference	+14,430

Plus an extra $1300 in the college account. Slow going

[Ombud]

Schwab Accts:	%
Oct 9th:	1,206,679
Stocks	1,049,282	87.6
Fixed Income	147,791	12.4
Current	1,197,073
Difference	-9624

But I did put a liitle more into that college account. Now:
201 PWZ
400 SCHB
10k CD
Still 1300 cash, paying that on her dorm fees in January

[ners]

Net Worth

Assest 
Cash                       27,093.97
Retirement            220,572.11
House                     80,000.00
Car                           1,000.00
Stock                        9,183.94
HSA                          7,365.64
Total Assets            345,215.66

Liabilities
Mortgage                 46,305.34


Total Liabilities         46,305.34



Net Worth              298,910.32 

Very small movement in the proper direction.  I will take it.

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Update.....

	06.29.2024	07.03.2024	07.31.2024	08.30.2024		09.30.2024	11.01.2024
401k and rollovers	1,718,654	1,833,645	1,775,686	1,790,160		1,908,091	1,931,310
Roth	116,578	139,509	135,634	124,731		158,612	151,575
I-bonds & notes,bills	43,517	43,517	43,417	44,244		43,849	43,567
Other: EF, ESOP, HSA	-6,849	1,380	1,318	-1,827		7,942	6,096
Total	1,871,899	2,018,051	1,956,271	1,957,307		2,118,494	2,132,548

things are getting bad at work. not sure how long I can hold.

think I'm going to start liquidating things to pay off debts to try to make numbers work a bit better if I have to make a dramatic exit. still not sure = about hanging on to job or liquidating stuff.....

but i think i have too much money to be this miserable all the time.

[tcu2003]

October 2024 update:

ASSETS:
Checking/Savings: $255,815
House: $675,000
Retirement: $2,587,641
Brokerage: $118,964
529s: $147,027
ESOP: $22,136

DEBTS:
$0

Total NW: $3,806,583

As usual, the list above excludes our cars, which are worth around $28k combined, but I leave them out because we're unlikely to sell, and need them to get to/from work, kids schools, etc. in the land of suburbia.

We are down about .28% over last month.

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Not sure what thread this would make the most sense in, but I alluded to it in my update this month just a few days ago, so putting here.

I've started to redeem some ibonds to start getting more aggressive with paying down debt. I don't like the tax rate I'm going to have to pay on the interest, but given the high spend I need to support I'm not sure that it will ever be much lower - so does it really matter? Not sure if it is really just semantics, but want to get my monthly bills lower than they are right now as I plan for retirement at some point. I did reach the great state of 60 yo so, hey, times awasting!

OTH, thinking about quitting and living in my spreadsheets a lot lately and been reading over at bogleheads, and in a total panic with people arguing about 3.5 being a high WR. Are they crazy? Or am I crazy?

As it is I'm convinced that the minute I retire the second great depression will commence. I feel crazy to keep on working right now given how sucky work is and that I have goodly amount of assets. And I feel crazy to quit right now or in the near term and feel like all my assets will quickly melt away. A serious downturn, a lot of debt obligations, significant tax increases, etc.

Am I just crazy? I think that must be it....

[minnesotapaintlady]

Nov 4, 2024 15:00:34 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

Not sure what thread this would make the most sense in, but I alluded to it in my update this month just a few days ago, so putting here.

I've started to redeem some ibonds to start getting more aggressive with paying down debt. I don't like the tax rate I'm going to have to pay on the interest, but given the high spend I need to support I'm not sure that it will ever be much lower - so does it really matter? Not sure if it is really just semantics, but want to get my monthly bills lower than they are right now as I plan for retirement at some point. I did reach the great state of 60 yo so, hey, times awasting!

OTH, thinking about quitting and living in my spreadsheets a lot lately and been reading over at bogleheads, and in a total panic with people arguing about 3.5 being a high WR. Are they crazy? Or am I crazy?

As it is I'm convinced that the minute I retire the second great depression will commence. I feel crazy to keep on working right now given how sucky work is and that I have goodly amount of assets. And I feel crazy to quit right now or in the near term and feel like all my assets will quickly melt away. A serious downturn, a lot of debt obligations, significant tax increases, etc.

Am I just crazy? I think that must be it....

Does it have to be one or another?  Could you quit THAT job?  Maybe find something less stressful and/or PT.  Maybe just having enough coming in to take the edge off what you need to withdraw is all you need to be comfortable? 

But, I think only the uber conservative think something less than 4% is a high withdrawal rate.  Maybe if you're retiring in your 40's, but 60?  Meh. I think you'll be perfectly fine with a 4% rate.

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Nov 4, 2024 16:05:38 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Nov 4, 2024 15:00:34 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

Not sure what thread this would make the most sense in, but I alluded to it in my update this month just a few days ago, so putting here.

I've started to redeem some ibonds to start getting more aggressive with paying down debt. I don't like the tax rate I'm going to have to pay on the interest, but given the high spend I need to support I'm not sure that it will ever be much lower - so does it really matter? Not sure if it is really just semantics, but want to get my monthly bills lower than they are right now as I plan for retirement at some point. I did reach the great state of 60 yo so, hey, times awasting!

OTH, thinking about quitting and living in my spreadsheets a lot lately and been reading over at bogleheads, and in a total panic with people arguing about 3.5 being a high WR. Are they crazy? Or am I crazy?

As it is I'm convinced that the minute I retire the second great depression will commence. I feel crazy to keep on working right now given how sucky work is and that I have goodly amount of assets. And I feel crazy to quit right now or in the near term and feel like all my assets will quickly melt away. A serious downturn, a lot of debt obligations, significant tax increases, etc.

Am I just crazy? I think that must be it....

Does it have to be one or another?  Could you quit THAT job?  Maybe find something less stressful and/or PT.  Maybe just having enough coming in to take the edge off what you need to withdraw is all you need to be comfortable? 

But, I think only the uber conservative think something less than 4% is a high withdrawal rate.  Maybe if you're retiring in your 40's, but 60?  Meh. I think you'll be perfectly fine with a 4% rate.

Thanks. yeah, the boglebrains are crazy, not me! 

Work-wise, I'm just trying to hang in there right now and get through a work trip in a few weeks and then take time off over the holidays. Have two RI projects to finish the year up too.

I'll maybe rethink this in 2025. Maybe I could get laid off?  I feel like I'm getting close to retirement, maybe some severance could take me over the edge?

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Hey networthers - hope you are all hanging in there. Tough times for a lot/most of us.

Making some big changes in my holding. I've been selling off the majority of my tesla shares and so far have moved 200k in short term treasuries, and 100k into a 2 year CD. Still have a lot in cash at the moment but each move is scaring me, and everything I do, tesla is up and I lost a boatload of money, lol! Even so, it is the right thing to do for multiple reasons and so I am cautiously continuing with my selling and reallocations.

So - I guess short term treasuries count as bonds? and CD as cash, so I moving forward with my derisk efforts to be in a position to retire.


But I do freak myself out. Was tesla my only chance to be rich? If I step down my growth potential with a more conservative AA - am I really accomplishing anything? If I'm down to just 50% stocks - if the market drops 50% - would I still retire? So what value does it have anyway?

I'm trying to be 'sensible', but not sure if I'm really just reacting emotionally or not? Tesla got to be about 40-50% of my net worth, and I know that is nothing to retire on, and very risky! But maybe I will end up working until 65 for medicare anyway cause the ACA is trashed? or at least 63.5 for cobra?

Anyhoo, I'm all in knots about a lot of stuff, and dealing with numbers usually helps. But it is adding some turmoil too!

[seriousthistime]

Rukh O'Rorke, I've been retired for almost four years now.  My latest AA is 52% cash/bonds and 48% stocks.  At this point I'm staying well ahead of inflation.  

I test my comfort level with the same 50% market drop supposition you mention.  Would it be devastating to me if it dropped 50% and I was left with 75% of my current net worth in cash and stock? It would not be psychologically pleasant but I could live with it.  

It would scare me at this point to have 40-50% of my net worth in any one stock.  

The only thing I can suggest to you going forward is to possibly break up that $100k CD into smaller CDs (unless the interest rate you're getting requires a $100K minimum deposit).  I'd rather have a bunch of smaller CDs so IF I need to access some of those funds, I can break a smaller CD and eat a smaller interest penalty.