Retired Investor: Getting Through Difficult Markets

I've been retired from my career for over 17 years, but I still have a full-time job managing my portfolio. It has done well over those years, but it was managed by the one person most affected by the outcome, me.

posted about 1 year ago by Samuel from South Dakota

The challenge in retirement for me this past year has been maintaing one's net worth ( if that is your goal) and generating enough returns to supplement and maintain your desired lifestyle. This looks like it will continue to be a real challenge over the next 5 to 10 years. With current interest rates and dividend returns,the squeeze is on. Whoever thought, that it would be this difficult for a retiree to maintain a 3 to 4% return on their overall portfolio.

posted about 1 year ago by Douglas from California

It has been a challenge. I have always used Financial Engines planning tool for asset allocation. (I used to pay for this service, but Vanguard offers it for free to its investors). I have a large portfolio of individual bonds (mostly munis) which generate income. And when one matures I get a nice chunk of change to either reinvest or use for expenses. I am about even in value with where I was 3-years ago, so feel lucky & think that proper asset allocation has contributed to this.

posted about 1 year ago by T from Florida

Yes, a system is absolutely essential.....including setting appropriate stop losses on every single security owned.

I never ride a bear down.

Reading Bill O'Neil's books a few times helped me rid myself of damaging emotions.

I've been retired since 1995.

posted about 1 year ago by Jay from Delaware

Invested in relatively long CDs when the interest rates were 5%+ and now they are maturing. The problem now is how to maintain the portfolio without increasing the risk. Tough decisions . A laddered purchase of immediate annuities has helped balance since they are 8%+ I can tolerate lower CD rates in about 1/2 of the funds coming out of the CDs. The stock and bond portion of the
Portfolio is holding up relatively well but as others have said - watch it! Still well ahead in net worth overall over the last 4 years

posted about 1 year ago by Donald from California

My hobby is to manage my portfolio successfully so I can withdraw 4% and increase the principal to at least cover inflation. Who else has as much interest in the results of my investments besides myself? I enjoy reading financial articles on the internet, the WSJ and magazines. I keep a certain amount set aside for fun investing and keep about 40% in bonds, 20% in money market and 30-40% in mutual funds and individual stocks I am 70 years old and tend to lean more and more towards dividend paying funds and stocks although I currently own CLF, RIO,
SLV and HME for risk assets.

posted about 1 year ago by Frank from New York

I would like AAII to focus on and
do more to help us retired folks who
manage their own accounts.

Income: being the objective with various returns and risks.

I'd like to see some income producing portfolios,
with low, medium, and reasonable higher risks.
That includes a mix of Stocks, Mutual funds, Bonds & alternative investments.

I have saved,invested, and managed my own accounts
for over thirty years.
Education has not come cheap.
AAII lifetime member.

posted about 1 year ago by Peter from Oklahoma

The past 12 years or so have not been for the faint of heart, for sure. The latest debacle of '07-'09 has again proven to us that we should not succumb to the emotion of fear, although there were times that tested the soul, not to mention one's basic investing fortitude.

The other lesson that was learned was to stay the course. Those that did have been in turn rewarded for their patience -- in my case, a 12%-14% return since 2009 with a lineup consisting of only mutual funds.

Respectfully submitted.

posted about 1 year ago by Joseph from California

My modus operandi for investing over the yrs (30+): save like there's no tomorrow, keep track of your monthly consumption (I have records going back to 1983), keep educating myself on financial, socio-political affairs, demographics etc (AAII member since 1987), diversification. Also not jumping into the latest "fad du jour" and not selling out at the bottom also help. I'm up 25% over where I was just before the 08-09 crash.
One last piece of advice: KISS = Keep It Simple, Stupid!

posted about 1 year ago by Joseph from Louisiana

Thanks AAII,
Life member since 80, retired since 85...still solvent and kicking...my first computer was an Apple2e and the Dow Jones software program...Baud rate 300.
Enough said.

posted 10 months ago by Jean from California

Agree that AAII should set up an income portfolio with various returns and risks. Income portfolios with low, medium, and higher risks would be helpful for those of us managing our accounts. Bonds, bond funds and dividend paying stocks are of most interest.

posted 9 months ago by Thomas from Ohio

Nice to hear comments re do your own investing. I am in the middle of that struggle. I always did my own investing, but when I retired, I figured it might be smart to let a pro handle it so I wouldn't run out of money. I gave him 80% of my money, and did the other 20% myself. After 5 years, the pro had only half the return as me (4% vs 8%, and he thought the 4% was terrific). So I figured maybe I picked the wrong pro. So I moved 50% of my money to a different very successful pro. After 6 months, I am ahead of him also. What is the story here? These guys must lie on how good they do, or I am a jinx on them. I am going to take over 100% of my money soon. I thought I was being smart by not handling all my own investing.

posted about 1 month ago by Tony Mack from Massachusetts

I would like to see an article that addresses retirement distributions advantages and disadvantages from taxable vs tax deferred accounts.

posted about 1 month ago by Harry Sargent from Virginia

Giving money to "Professional Managers" erodes your capital by the asset based fees charged (1.25% to 1.5% annually, payable quarterly).
Their returns quoted are not net of fees. A 4% return may only be 2.5% or 2.75% net of fees.

posted 6 days ago by Robert Galloway from West Virginia