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Author: micknavy45 One star, 50 posts Add to my Favorite Fools Ignore this person (you won't see their posts anymore) Number: of 290  
Subject: Am I on the right path? Date: 8/18/2009 1:45 PM
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So I know I could pay a financial analyst a couple hundred dollars to tell me if I'm on the right path.
I figured I would ask you instead, here is my info:

I'm 27 years old.

In a secure job(knock on wood) and gross about $110,000/yr

I contribute the max to my traditional 401k and my company matches 100% up to 4% contribution. I have been here 2 years and have $29000 in the 401K. It is 80$ domestic equities, 15% international equities. The rest a mix.

I have a Roth IRA worth $18,500 that I also max out every year. It has 2 mutual funds Vanguard 2045 target fund(VTIVX)-$13,500 and USAA precious metals fund(USAGX)-$5,000

I have a Flexible Retirement Annuity worth $9300 that I contribute $100 to every 2 weeks. Current Interest Rate 3.500% Effective Annual Rate 4.305% Guaranteed Minimum Rate 2.75%

I have an Emergency Fund worth $8100 that I contribute $100 every 2 weeks too. I think I need to keep growing this.

I have no credit card debt, no truck payment.

I have a mortgage of $304,000 as of this month, my monthly payment is $2500. I am refinancing right now to a 5.250% rate which will save me approx $230/month and I don't plan on moving any time soon, so I will pay off the closing costs.

I don't have a lot of monthly expenses, probably about $700(utilities, TV, food, beer, etc)

Any ideas on how I can improve? Or am I on the right path?

Thanks everyone.
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Author: mheusser One star, 50 posts Add to my Favorite Fools Ignore this person (you won't see their posts anymore) Number: 228 of 290
Subject: Re: Am I on the right path? Date: 8/25/2009 3:36 PM
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Unless you are in San Francisco or New York City, I'd say you are doing better than 90% of your peer group.

So at this point, I'd be 'worried' about discontinuous change, mostly:

Something happens to make your vocation un-sustainable and/or
Something happens to make your paper investments diluted

The two specific things would be working in an non-sustainable industry (steel after tariffs, Enron, Mortgage-Backed Securities in 2007, GM today, etc.) If you company makes real money selling something people actually want, you're in decent shape.

As for paper investments, well, you are diversified into precious metals, and that's good. With a mortgage of 304K, I'd want more than 8K saved up in cash, but that's just me.

I might shift a few more $$ over to pay the house off in advance and take a hard look at what those funds are invested. (What happened to them in fall 2008?)

Otherwise, I'd say you're doing well. If you want a book to look at disruptive change, I'd suggest "The Black Swan." By Talib.

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Author: ITAWealth Add to my Favorite Fools Ignore this person (you won't see their posts anymore) Number: 244 of 290
Subject: Re: Am I on the right path? Date: 2/27/2010 7:54 PM
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"Any ideas on how I can improve? Or am I on the right path?"

I would say you are in great shape. If I were to make any suggestions, it would be to lay out a Portfolio Policy for a taxable account using a combination of index funds or ETFs.

If you want further discussion of what I am talking about, let me know.

ITAWealth

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