Millionaire Mommy Next Door » How To Guide

Fire Your Broker: 9 Keys to Investing Successfully On Your Own

Millionaire Mommy Next Door — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 02:56:37 +0000

I’m sure there are investment brokers worth their high commissions and fees, but I haven’t experienced one. I burned through five brokers before realizing that no one cares as much about my money and my future as I do. Brokers are salespeople. Naturally, they care more about their bottom line than mine.

Most people I coach don’t realize that they’ve been paying a 5-6% sales commission every time they buy new mutual fund shares because the commission is built into the price, making it difficult for the investor to “see” it. And paying a sales commission has nothing to do with the performance of a fund; you aren’t buying a better fund simply by virtue of paying more for it.

Each year, I’d compare my broker-managed portfolio’s performance with the stock market indexes (Wilshire 5000, S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, NASDAQ, MSCI EAFE, etc.). I found that despite paying a decent sum to brokers for their expertise, my portfolio usually under-performed the standard index benchmarks. In 1999, I decide that it was worth my time and energy to learn how to manage my own investment portfolio. My efforts have paid off very handsomely. Here’s a down-n-dirty summary of what I’ve learned:

1. Start Today

Start as early as possible to take advantage of the astounding power of compounding growth. By reinvesting the gains you receive from the money you invest, you can double your money in less than eight years assuming a 10% average annual return. Take a look at the following example, then try this calculator to see how much postponing your savings plan could cost you.

Start Now:
Save $10,000 per year for 30 years
@ 10% annual rate of return
= $1,809,434 ending balance

Start Later
Postpone saving for 10 years, then save $10,000 per year for 20 years
@ 10% annual rate of return
= $630,025 ending balance

Cost of waiting = $1,179,409

2. Put Your Investment Contributions on Auto-Pilot

Instruct your bank to automatically transfer at least 10-20% of your gross income to your investment account each month. If you don’t think you can afford to do this then you can’t afford your lifestyle! Get creative, cut expenses elsewhere, and start paying yourself first.

3. Maximize Retirement Account Contributions

How taxes are applied to an investment can make a big difference in the long run. There are tax advantages to retirement accounts which is why (in most cases) you should maximize your contributions to these accounts first, then add to your taxable accounts. Additionally, some employers match your contributions — which equals free money. This calculator compares a normal taxable investment to two common tax advantaged situations: 1) an investment where taxes are deferred until withdrawals are made, and 2) an investment where taxes are paid on money that goes into the account but all withdrawals are tax free.

4. Be Mindful of Fees and Do It Yourself

Invest $10,000 each year and use a broker to place your order and you might pay $575 per year in sales commissions. Alternatively, learn to place investment orders yourself and your commission savings, compounding 10% annually, would be an extra $104,042 in your pocket in 30 years. Invest in a low-cost equity portfolio using no-load mutual funds, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and index funds. Even a small difference in the fees you pay on your investments add up over time. Use this calculator to see how different fees can impact your investment returns.

5. Diversify and Build a Balanced Portfolio

Speculative investments are like eggs: when they fall, they make a mess. Don’t place your bet on a single stock or sector. Spread your risk into a variety of market caps and styles as well as domestic, foreign and emerging markets. Proper diversification helps your portfolio weather any ups and downs the market can take. Asset allocation accounts for 94% of the variation in portfolio returns, while market timing and stock picks account for only 6% (Gary Brinson, Randolph Hood and Gilbert Beebower). Review and rebalance your portfolio annually to maintain your desired allocation percentages. The Asset Allocator calculator is designed to help you create a balanced portfolio of investments. Your age, ability to tolerate risk, and several other factors are used to calculate a desirable mix of stocks, bonds and cash.

6. Don’t Invest Money You Can’t Afford To Lose

Rises and falls in the stock market are normal and frequent. Don’t invest your emergency fund into the stock market because you don’t know when you’ll need to use it. Money you may need within the next few years doesn’t belong in the stock market either. Investing for portfolio growth is your long-term goal.

7. Cover Your Ass

Protect your growing wealth with adequate insurance. The number one cause of bankruptcy is major medical expenses. In addition to medical insurance, consider coverage for disability, life (consider a term policy rather than whole life), auto, homeowner/renter, business, and personal liability. Buy policies with the highest deductible you could afford to cover from your emergency fund — and invest what you save from the reduced rates.

8. Understand Your Assets and Liabilities

Most people consider the home they live in as an asset but the truth is, it’s a liability. And if you are counting on future home appreciation, it’s speculation. Stop thinking of your home as a savings account. Don’t believe the sales-pressure hype that homeownership is your best investment: you’re spending money on a property that isn’t producing income. If you insist on owning real estate as a part of your investment portfolio, buy an investment property that produces a positive monthly cash flow.

If you’re finding it difficult to squeeze your budget for investment contributions, downsize to a smaller home. Invest any remaining home equity, plus your new-found monthly savings, into your long-term-growth portfolio.

9. Don’t Invest Until You Understand

Question every piece of advice you are given through the filter of “what’s in it for them?” Unfortunately, there is no shortage of people who are skilled at separating you from your hard-earned money. It pays to be suspicious. If you aren’t committed to learning how to self-manage your investments, consider hiring a FEE-ONLY financial adviser (rather than a commissioned-sales broker) to assist you.

What I’ve offered today is a summary. I’ve shared my opinions and experiences. But don’t just take my word; ask questions and read investing books and web sites. Learn about different investing strategies and styles, assess your own personal risk tolerance, make a plan, then stick to it. Use your head — not your emotions — to guide your decisions. Practice investing first, using virtual online applications (not real money), as you wean off of your high-commission broker.

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Don't miss anything: Subscribe to receive free email or RSS notifications every time I publish a new blog post. (No spam, no risk, and it is easy to unsubscribe should you ever change your mind.) Follow me on Twitter (@MillionMommyND) where I share interesting articles, opinions, quotes, tips and other bite-sized tidbits relevant to success, happiness and financial freedom almost daily.

New Year’s Task List

Millionaire Mommy Next Door — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:06:41 +0000

Yesterday I encouraged you to use the New Year to reflect and proactively plan ahead. Today I’m presenting a list of specific tasks that I refer to this time of year. I keep track of these tasks (and all others throughout the year as well) with a neat online application called Remember The Milk. This application is flexible, customizable, easy to use, and it’s free! Make sure you take advantage of the repeating event feature and the reminders.

Below, I’ve included the items I find relevant for the New Year:

Finances:

Schedule reoccurring family finance meetings and put them on the calendar
Reconcile year-end account statements (bank, credit cards, investments)
List debt liabilities with current balances, interest rates, minimum repayments, terms, credit limits
Check your credit profile and report. Important! AnnualCreditReport.com is the ONLY website you want to use to order your free annual report! Dispute any errors online through each credit bureau.
Ask for an interest rate reduction on your credit cards. Be sure to mention if you received a credit card offer in the mail with a lower rate, and threaten to transfer if they won’t negotiate.
Compare 2009 actual expenditures with 2009 spending plan
Reevaluate your priorities and modify your spending plan accordingly for 2010
Update net worth statement: list all assets and all liabilities, subtract liabilities from assets = net worth
Fund retirement accounts and HSA (health savings) accounts
Rebalance investment allocations
Set up automatic bank transfers and automatic bill payments
Pursue outstanding credits promised
Purge file cabinet: set aside 2009 tax papers, box up 2009 files (label box)
Prepare for annual tax return and schedule an appointment with accountant
Evaluate and price-compare insurance policies: auto, home, medical, personal liability, disability, term life. (If you have a suitable emergency fund, raise deductibles to save money on premiums.)
Evaluate and price-compare services (phone, cable/satellite, banks, credit cards, etc.)
Update Will and Medical Directives
Take computer data back-ups to off-site safety deposit box
Change all passwords (online and off)

Maintenance:

Install fresh batteries in smoke and CO2 detectors
Change furnace filter
Clean carpets and furniture coverings
Touch up wall paint

Organization:

Purge each room of things you didn’t use in 2009. Sell (I use Craigslist), consign, or donate these items.
Sort and label 2009 photos
Recycle magazines, newspapers, catalogs and other paper clutter

Calendar:

Update 2010 calendar: add birthdays, anniversaries, due dates and reminders. (I use google.com/calendar and set up the reminder feature for each event.)
Schedule routine annual exams: wellness, dentist, optometrist

Relationships:

Update contact list
If you didn’t send a holiday letter, connect with your family and friends by phone, or send an email newsletter and a few photos.
Schedule reoccurring date nights with your sweetie and/or kids

Readers. if you notice something I’ve missed — or have an additional suggestion — please include it in the comments section below. I will update this list accordingly. Thanks!

Putting 2009 To Bed and Making New Plans

Millionaire Mommy Next Door — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:34:26 +0000

I love this time of year when the calendar provides a fresh clean slate. Snow falls softly outside my window, the house is quiet, and I am in a reflective mood. I take a look backward at the previous year and evaluate how I spent my time, focus and energy. Then I “archive” it. After putting the past year to bed, I imagine forward into the new year and make note of sparkling new intentions and plans.

You may have noted that I haven’t mentioned the word “resolutions”. For me, that word feels too absolute, confining and final. I like flexibility. I relish the freedom to change my mind about things, and I do change my mind, often. This said, I do like brainstorming, analyzing my options, and setting a course. Without a roadmap, I feel wishy-washy and ineffective. But I need the freedom to detour because I know that if I DON’T WANT to do something, I will procrastinate endlessly, it won’t get done, and I’ll feel crappy about it. On the flip side, when I DO want to do something, I jump in with both feet and get ‘er done. I’ve learned to set my course with intention, then go with the flow.

Here are some questions I like to address this time of year:

What were the highlights of 2009? Create a collage to celebrate and remember. These are the memories you want to carry forward into the new year. Use them as momentum for more.

Lowlights? If this list feels like a dark cloud or is full of disappointments, ceremoniously burn the list after it’s done. You are encouraged to start the new year without this baggage!

Did I accomplish what I intended? If no, why not? Be wary of excuses that hide the truth. For me, excuses usually mean I changed my mind, or didn’t want to do it bad enough. Sometimes it’s because I feared I wouldn’t do it good enough.

What would make me happier? Be concrete and start small: “I want to save money” isn’t nearly as effective as “I will set up an automatic bank transfer from my checking to savings account, every payday, for $100.”

What established habits do I want to keep? Stop?

What do I want to do each and every day for the next 30 days? This time period allows me the opportunity to establish a new habit without feeling confined by it. If I still value this new habit after 30 days, I renew my commitment.

What items do I want to cross off my task list this year?

What would my ideal day look like? Imagine anything is possible. Address every moment: from waking through bedtime, the environment, your relationships, the activities, your emotions.

What news do I want to share in next year’s holiday letter? This is where I address the specific accomplishments I hope to achieve by year’s end. Be specific, and write the letter in present tense, as if it were already true.

Readers, do you make New Year’s Resolutions? Why or why not?

Note: One of my new “each and every day for the next 30 days I will…” commitments is to write for my blog or book every day for at least 20 minutes. Please help me with this endeavor by letting me know (via the comments section or private email) what you’d like me to address. I welcome specific questions.