The Investment Thread (help with savings, stocks, retirement funds, etc.)

[rconverse]

Originally Posted by jkrue22

Yeaaaa I don't wanna talk about it. I bought BAS and CHK last year when I thought oil/energy had bottomed out... they're down 75% and 87% respectively since then. May as well just hang on to them at this point right?

The past year has really sucked for my portfolio, wiped out all the gains from the previous couple years. But time's still on our side I guess.

Ouch. I don't think I'm that bad but my 401(k) is def in the shitter.

[AJF_41]

Originally Posted by mr.MikeD

I'm in Texas-north (alberta). I have no real insight, but the sense I get is that companies here are preparing for this to be long, at least thru 2016 if not beyond. Reduced demand in China, a big supply glut from the Saudi's trying to squash the expensive operators (or working with the US to hurt Russia?) sanctions lifted on Iran adding their oil to the market. Crazy times. Who knows, with some random world event it could jump tomorrow.

Originally Posted by Lee3691

AJ, any prediction on when oil is over $50 a barrel again?

who knows, i do think it happens - maybe 18-24 months?

i agree with was mike d said

us shale rig count is falling, but production has barely fell (yet)

for the last year, iraq and saudi have produced more (OPEC no longer swing producer), agree with the thesis they are trying to squeeze US, russia, etc

now iran sanctions get lifted, so they have crude hitting the market

increased supply and falling demand from china (and other emerging markets) is bad recipe

all of that said, i didn't think sub 40 was possible, much less 28

marginal cost of production is much higher - and that over time will drive price - there's just a lag (taking longer than i would have thought)

sounds dumb, but feels like oil has 10-15% downside and 50-100% upside
seems like a decent risk/reward to me

i bought a few MLP's, still own a few E&P's - - all have been awful so far

i'm sure pockets of texas (and north dakota for sure) are just getting crushed (oil driven economies). texas and colorado are obviously diversified - - north dakota less so

[Nick@Night]

Does the dow get below 15,000 at any point before this is all over? My 401(k) is now about where it was when I bought my house in November of 2014.

[cazzie34]

I say yes. But what do I know? I'm just a guy commenting on the internet.

[Tiduwho]

Long term rates sure have dropped again. If you had been thinking about refinancing and thought you missed the boat, now is the time to look into it.

[DMBFan8888]

Little off topic here, but a buddy of mine just sent me an invite for a new app call Qapital. It's kind of like that Acorns app, but instead of investing your money it just puts it into a savings. I just started one, and it will round up the difference of every purchase you make to the nearest dollar and put that remainder into that savings account with Qapital. I'm skeptical as hell about it but I'm gonna give it a shot. Has anyone else heard about this?

[Nick@Night]

Originally Posted by Tiduwho

Long term rates sure have dropped again. If you had been thinking about refinancing and thought you missed the boat, now is the time to look into it.

I've been kicking around the idea of looking in to 15-year refinance with rates going backwards. Currently in a 30-year at 4.25%.

[AJF_41]

30 year fixed is really down near 3.6%?


that's unreal

[smokew11]

my 30 yr is 3.875

[dpresti]

anyone have any pros or cons about the service https://www.robinhood.com/

my 401k is down about 7+% since inception and i've recently heard good things about robinhood.

[unccrombie]

Originally Posted by dpresti

anyone have any pros or cons about the service https://www.robinhood.com/

my 401k is down about 7+% since inception and i've recently heard good things about robinhood.

I mean, the market is gonna market.
so unless you know how and where your funds are managed, you'll have the same losses

[Benny003]

Originally Posted by AJF_41

30 year fixed is really down near 3.6%?


that's unreal

Yeah, that's nuts. I signed a 30-year 3.875% in December. With the Fed moving on interest rates there is no way I thought the rates would drop even further from last fall. What are origination fees doing though? With the market tanking I would suspect that origination fees are going up.

[Tiduwho]

Originally Posted by dpresti

anyone have any pros or cons about the service https://www.robinhood.com/

my 401k is down about 7+% since inception and i've recently heard good things about robinhood.

Looks more like a service for a day trader than for 401k management.


"In the stock market, a fraction of a second can mean the difference between a profit and a loss. Our team has built low-latency trading systems used by some of the world's largest financial institutions, and we're bringing that expertise to Robinhood. As a Robinhood customer, your self-directed orders will receive the best possible trade execution."

[rconverse]

Originally Posted by Tiduwho

Looks more like a service for a day trader than for 401k management.


"In the stock market, a fraction of a second can mean the difference between a profit and a loss. Our team has built low-latency trading systems used by some of the world's largest financial institutions, and we're bringing that expertise to Robinhood. As a Robinhood customer, your self-directed orders will receive the best possible trade execution."

Yeah, that's not how a 401(k) works. 401(k) purchases are all blocks and, generally speaking, the transactions are sent overnight.

[scrock25]

Is one still a child if one has a Credit Card?

[socopithy]

I'd dare say most with credit cards are children.
At least in the way that counts.

#FinancePUNdit

[RiotAct]

Originally Posted by scrock25

Is one still a child if one has a Credit Card?

Yes, obviously. CASH FOR EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !

[Cscottrun]

Not sure if this is the most appropriate thread but don't feel like making a new one.

Anyone bank with Schwab? I've been using citi, but I have heard great thigns about Schwab and I opened an account today. From what I understand NO atm fees, at all. Any fees charged (even by another bank) are reimbursed by Schwab at the end of each month. This is a big deal for me as there are certain areas in NY (City and Long Island) that have ATM fees upwards of $5.00. Also, $10,000 DAILY mobile deposit limit. No monthly fees and no minimum deposit or minimum balance. For my purposes, this blows Citi away. I had to open a brokerage account with it, but I was told I could let it sit for now (I'm sure i'll use it later on).

[YouNeverKnow25]

I mean...all the checking account analysis is essentially useless without details of the brokerage account requirements and fees

[Cscottrun]

Originally Posted by YouNeverKnow25

I mean...all the checking account analysis is essentially useless without details of the brokerage account requirements and fees

Lol, thats why I prefaced with not sure if this is the right thread, as I have no interest (at least right now) in the brokerage account. All I know is I can let the brokerage account sit at $0 and face no fees and not have to worry about it.

[YouNeverKnow25]

for how long though? there has to be some requirement of usage or deposit at some point or they wouldn't have required you to open it

[Cscottrun]

Originally Posted by YouNeverKnow25

for how long though? there has to be some requirement of usage or deposit at some point or they wouldn't have required you to open it

Well they obviously require you to open it as an attempt to get you to use it...but my understanding is that you can leave it sitting without any penalty for as long as you want.

[dpresti]

How many different funds do you guys have in your roth ira?

[NextMovement41]

Any recs on solid ETFs?

[AJF_41]

Originally Posted by NextMovement41

Any recs on solid ETFs?

what exposure are you trying to replicate?

there are ETF's for just about every asset class and sector and sub-sector now

in terms of diversified options, here's a couple

S&P 500 (US large cap) = SPY (or IVV)

Russell 2000 (US small cap) = IWM

MSCI ACWI IMI (global equity) = ACIM

Vanguard Total Bond (US bonds) = VBMFX

[Route_2]

Originally Posted by AJF_41

Vanguard Total Bond (US bonds) = VBMFX

This one is a mutual fund. The ETF equivalent is BND.

[AJF_41]

Originally Posted by Route_2

This one is a mutual fund. The ETF equivalent is BND.

good catch
the two in this case have basically identical performance

guess you have to decide if you care about subtle liquidity and trading differences between the two funds

at the margin i like fund over etf in this case

[rconverse]

Originally Posted by AJF_41

i like fund over etf in this case

Of course that is your contention...You're a first year grad student. You just got finished reading some Marxian Historian, Pete Garrison probably. You're gonna' be convinced of that until next month when you get to James Lemon, then you're gonna' be talking about how the economies of Virginia and Pennsylvania were entrepreneurial and capitalist way back in 1740. That's gonna' last until next year, you're gonna' be in here regurgitating Gordon Wood, talking about ya know, the Pre-Revolutionary utopia and the capital forming effects of military mobilization.

[AJF_41]

(one of the best scenes in any movie, ever)

"Wood drastically underestimates the impact of social distinctions predicated upon wealth, especially inherited wealth..." You got that from "Work in Essex County," Page 421, right?

[NextMovement41]

Originally Posted by AJF_41

what exposure are you trying to replicate?

there are ETF's for just about every asset class and sector and sub-sector now

in terms of diversified options, here's a couple

S&P 500 (US large cap) = SPY (or IVV)

Russell 2000 (US small cap) = IWM

MSCI ACWI IMI (global equity) = ACIM

Vanguard Total Bond (US bonds) = VBMFX

Thanks! I'm going to start following these. Car needs a few hundred in repairs so the extra chunk I set aside for this is going to have to wait a little bit. I've sought the advice of a few family members who have given me a little guidance. I'm a young guy (25) and I figure it's time to set a little more aside in a separate place besides my savings and 401k. would love any advice you can offer to a n00b.