I reached 100k$ invested on 2024-03-15 which was one of the milestones for 2024 (the new one is now 150k$).
Also March was very good to me with dividend payouts exceeding 600$ for the month, which made me revise my initial goal of 400$/month (avg.) by the end of 2024 up to >500$/month. 💲💲💲
Since this account is very new (Dec. 2023), I am very happy with sticking to the plan (so far) in hopes for #fire (Financial Independence Retire Early).🔥🔥🔥
Key take-aways so far are as follows:
1. Select your ETFs and stick with them
- Core:
$SPLG (alternatives are $SPY (+1.17%) and $VOO (+1.16%) ), chosen because of slightly lower expense ratio and lower prices (hope for more inflow), trading volume is not a concern as this was bought for looooong
- Dividend 💸:
$SCHD (alternatives are $VIG (+1.42%) and $VYM (+1.3%) ), chosen because seemed undervalued at the time of purchase, great dividend
- Growth 📈:
Not yet chosen, open to suggestions
Will probably be $QQQM (alternatives are $VGT (+0.71%) , $SCHG , $SPGP , $DGRW , $VUG (+1.06%) )
- REITs 🏠:
Not yet chosen, open to suggestions
Will probably be $SCHH (alternatives are $XLRE and $VNQ (+2.3%) )
- Misc 🗠:
$O (+2.65%) The Monthly Dividend Stock
$JEPI / $JEPQ for monthly dividends in the covered call space
$VICI (+1.98%) / $MAIN (+0.69%) for additional monthly dividends in the REIT space
2. Learn 🎓
Educate yourself and don't simply "trust" Youtubers. Read investment books, listen to many different voices in the investment arena. Be curious, but cautious... If it says: "100% win rate guaranteed!", it's probably best to stay away from it.
3. Don't try to time the market
As one youtuber says: "Time in the market beats timing the market." I am sure we are all guilty of trying to buy at the best price on a particular day/week... If you are in for the long haul, it doesn't matter.
4. ETF over stock picking
Of course you can have huge winners if you pick individual stocks and if you have some insights that allow you to buy before the hype, great, I am very happy for you. But that doesn't happen very often. If you invest in solid ETFs covering a wide array of markets, you will do just fine.
5. Tailored investing
We are all different and our your time horizon, risk appetite, age, income and other factors most likely vary massively. My life, 47yo, being single without kids, being in a somewhat safe and well-paid job, having paid off properties that generate a decent income stream, wanting to retire in 3-5 years and not needing much is very different to someone who just starts their investment career and/or have a family or are already retired or or or.
Make a plan of what you want the investment to do for you and work towards it. In my case, I want to achieve #fire (Financial Independence Retire Early) as soon as possible, being able to live off dividends entirely. I recon I will need about 50k/ year (lots of safety built in). So building a strong dividend portfolio is my main goal. Sprinkle in some growth opportunities and we have a party. 🥳
Let me know what your goals are and how you plan to achieve those. Also if you have some input on which other ETFs and/or stocks to pick, I am all ears.