Stock Market Performance

2013 so far has been a most excellent year for stocks.  A simple, low cost, fully invested portfolio with 70% in total US and 30% in international index funds is up between 25% and 26.9% YTD after the first 11 months of 2013.

Simple, 100% invested in Vanguard Stock Index Funds Portfolio	Total US Stock Market Index	Total International Stock Index
Ticker	VTSMX	VGTSX
Allocation	70.0%	30.0%
YTD Gain/ (loss) as of 11/30/13	29.93%	13.63%
Weighed Return	20.95%	4.09%
Combined Return	25.0%

Fidelity has done better than Vanguard due to different international composition.... 

Simple, 100% invested in Fidelity Stock Index Funds Portfolio	Spartan Total Market Index	Spartan International Index
Ticker	FSTMX	FSIIX
Allocation	70.0%	30.0%
YTD Gain/ (loss) as of 11/30/13	29.95%	19.66%
Weighed Return	20.97%	5.90%
Combined Return	26.9%

Obviously, more diverse portfolios with things like bonds, emerging market stocks, REITS, TIPS, gold, cash, CDs, iBonds won't be up as much as those asset classes have greatly under performed the US stock market this year.  Of course, that is what you want so you can take profits in what is up and buy more of what is down or up less to get smoother returns over the long haul.

Read "Kirk's Two Investment Letters - Best Retirement Portfolio For You" to decide which newsletter I offer is best for you.

Kirk Lindstrom's Investment Letter

==>   My returns by year  &  New Record Highs <==

 This table shows my newsletter "Core and Explore Portfolios" from 1998 through the end of Q3

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New Series I Bond & EE Bonds Interest Rates

On November 1, 2013, the Bureau of the Public Debt today announced earnings rates for Series I Savings Bonds and Series EE Savings Bonds, issued from November 1, 2013 through April 30, 2014.

Series i-Bonds: New Series I Bond Rate: 

• Now yielding a 100% safe 1.38% with a 0.20% base rate

• This means you get inflation plus 0.20% for the next 30 years. For more, see Series I Bonds Explained 

• I think Series I-Bonds are very attractive for cash in taxable accounts.  You can buy up to $10,000 per Social Security number.  

• This is the first time the base rate has been above zero since October 2010.

• See Series I Bond Rate History

• Note:  I own a lot of Series I Bonds, some with base rates as high as 3.00%! 

• See Earning Rates for Older I-Bonds

EE Savings Bonds:  Current EE Savings Bond rates

• Now they yield only 0.1% 
• You can do much better in an FDIC insured savings account paying about 1%. 

• See Best Savings Account Rates

• Historical EE Bond Rates

Best CD and Savings Rates:   Best CD Rate Survey

Bob Brinker recommends CDs on his show for those who don't want to take any interest rate risk with GNMAs or any other bonds.  That is bonds will lose net asset value if interest rates go up. 

• I'd keep the term to 2 years or less.  Perhaps make a CD ladder with

Social Security COLA for 2014

"Kirk Lindstrom's Investment Letter"

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