Financial Thread

brianhos

Moderator
Staff member
Bookie
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Jun 1, 2006
56,859
30,349
113
Trenchtown
Dave Ramsey preaches "good growth stock mutual funds" and to expect 10-12%. He makes sure to clarify that your Roth IRA should be maxed out and left alone for long-term investments.

Expect 10-12%? That is great in la la land... never will happen in the real world.
 

ArgentCy

Well-Known Member
Jan 13, 2010
20,405
11,148
113
Heck I try trading options in my Roth IRA (ya probably not a good idea). 10-12% annualized average return is doing well but that's close to the long term stock market average. I'm with the other poster in that I think this adviser is probably looking to screw the poster with some high fee "investment".

Money chimp shows me a 1932-2014 Annualized CAGR in the S&P 500 of just over 11%. 8% is more conservative usually due to mixing in bonds, which is an especially bad idea right now.
 

jj-cyclones

Well-Known Member
Dec 26, 2007
2,234
51
48
Ames
Good info from everyone, thank you. I probably didn't word that correctly. My financial guy said I should expect a 8% return on a long term Roth and I realize it is a "wrapper" for investments. It sounds like 8% growth isn't out of line and possibly on the conservative side.
 

AuH2O

Well-Known Member
Sep 7, 2013
12,999
20,962
113
Good info from everyone, thank you. I probably didn't word that correctly. My financial guy said I should expect a 8% return on a long term Roth and I realize it is a "wrapper" for investments. It sounds like 8% growth isn't out of line and possibly on the conservative side.
8% for long term stock market performance is pretty conservative actually. The Trinity study showed that 4% real return (accounting for inflation) is pretty reliable to count on and is quite conservative. People that like to wet the bed about things like privatizing SS and make statements about the Wall Street casino are wrong. If you derisk your portfolio over time as you get closer to retirement you will do well. If you like to buy it and forget it you can do those retirement date funds, which will shift for you.
 

Mtowncyclone13

Well-Known Member
Oct 10, 2012
20,023
9,769
113
grundy center
Good info from everyone, thank you. I probably didn't word that correctly. My financial guy said I should expect a 8% return on a long term Roth and I realize it is a "wrapper" for investments. It sounds like 8% growth isn't out of line and possibly on the conservative side.

I'll come out and say I talk about this stuff all the time and try to learn as much as possible. 8% is great per year and the people saying 10-12% are probably referring to the growth over the past 5 years with has been the 2nd best bull market of the last 100 years. A guy I know we trying to get me to dump everything into biotechnology stocks claiming 26% growth per year. This great but everything reverts to the mean eventually.

8% is just fine. Don't prepare your portfolio to do better than that over 40 years.
 

CyCy

Well-Known Member
Nov 7, 2006
1,667
28
48
The largest index fund is Vanguard Total Stock Market, the 2 largest loaded funds are American Growth Fund and American EuroPacific Growth.

Their returns over the past 10 years are 7.39, 7.40 and 5.81%.
 

SCNCY

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Sep 11, 2009
10,691
8,503
113
37
La Fox, IL
Agreed with what some others have said. Those claiming you can get a double digit return are probably referring to the last 5 years, when the dow was trading in the 7,000-8,000 point range and rode a great bull market. The historical average is somewhere between 7%-9% range, and that is if you invest in the one of the indexes (DJIA, S&P, etc). You can try and beat the market by investing in certain companies as opposed to an index or mutual fund, but you may not beat the market that way.

The way the market looks now, the bull run may be cooling off and could get back to a more historical normal. We could end the year on a lower note, the first time in over 5 years.
 

NATEizKING

Well-Known Member
Feb 18, 2011
19,691
12,155
113
Hilton
Since this is revived, getting life insurance next week, just married no kids. Heard 10x salary + mortgage for 20 year term. Sound accurate?
 

Mtowncyclone13

Well-Known Member
Oct 10, 2012
20,023
9,769
113
grundy center
Since this is revived, getting life insurance next week, just married no kids. Heard 10x salary + mortgage for 20 year term. Sound accurate?

Depends on if your work has life insurance. But your amount is very good but kind of high. Now use what your term premiums would be but I got mine in the same situation as you and its not as cheap as I was expecting for that much.
 

NATEizKING

Well-Known Member
Feb 18, 2011
19,691
12,155
113
Hilton
Depends on if your work has life insurance. But your amount is very good but kind of high. Now use what your term premiums would be but I got mine in the same situation as you and its not as cheap as I was expecting for that much.

Can't remember work but I think it's 1 or 2x salary. 10x salary + mortgage was $29-43 a month when I got online quotes.
 

Cyclonin

Well-Known Member
Feb 18, 2012
2,586
55
48
Dallas, TX
You can buy just about anything in a Roth IRA. 8% return is pretty close to the long term return for bonds. You should be able to get closer to 11-12% with good stock mutual funds. Or so the past records indicate. Just make sure you understand what you start investing in.

8% for bonds would be very high.
 

Mtowncyclone13

Well-Known Member
Oct 10, 2012
20,023
9,769
113
grundy center
Can't remember work but I think it's 1 or 2x salary. 10x salary + mortgage was $29-43 a month when I got online quotes.

I have no idea why mine is so high then. I think I have 250k return of premium for 60/month and my wife has similar for 50/month. Relative is agent so I can't really argue too much
 

ianoconnor

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Nov 11, 2007
13,906
8,201
113
Johnston
I have no idea why mine is so high then. I think I have 250k return of premium for 60/month and my wife has similar for 50/month. Relative is agent so I can't really argue too much
Return of premium is why your monthly payment is higher.
 

mkadl

Well-Known Member
Mar 17, 2006
2,133
928
113
Cornfield
When we started tracking I was shocked at how much money I wasted at Casey's, etc.

DING DING DING !!! Easiest way to save money. Pay at the pump and leave. No fast food. Take the time to make big meals and eat left overs, you will find favorites. And left overs are much more filling than fast food. A person might lose weight too!!
 

heyguy85

Well-Known Member
Nov 9, 2007
1,059
139
48
Iowa
I have no idea why mine is so high then. I think I have 250k return of premium for 60/month and my wife has similar for 50/month. Relative is agent so I can't really argue too much

My wife and I each have 250k policies. 20 year term. It costs me about $13/month and her about $14/mo.
 

NATEizKING

Well-Known Member
Feb 18, 2011
19,691
12,155
113
Hilton
Made my last student loan payment, time for the next move.

I have a traditional retirement match through work with Vanguard, looking to open a Roth and contribute more. Is it worth researching, or should I just open with Vanguard? Seems like they are pretty well regarded, just wasn't sure if anyone had advice on best returns and fees, or where I could find such information without having to dig too much myself. TIA.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DurangoCy

ianoconnor

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Nov 11, 2007
13,906
8,201
113
Johnston
Made my last student loan payment, time for the next move.

I have a traditional retirement match through work with Vanguard, looking to open a Roth and contribute more. Is it worth researching, or should I just open with Vanguard? Seems like they are pretty well regarded, just wasn't sure if anyone had advice on best returns and fees, or where I could find such information without having to dig too much myself. TIA.
As far as low fees, you're probably not going to beat Vanguard index funds. I use Vanguard for my Roth & have been pleased. Depends on what your return requirements are but you can't really go wrong with the tried & true S&P 500 Index Fund.
 
  • Informative
Reactions: NATEizKING