August gave us another real midsummer and showed its best side on some days. For me, it was the perfect opportunity to pursue one of my hobbies: Swimming, swimming and swimming again. I enjoyed every minute in the now cooler water. There was no hiking this month, but the swimming made up for it completely. I'm slowly looking forward to cooler temperatures again, because the cold adaptation for ice swimming is already calling! But before we head into fall, it's time for a look back.

Overall performance

After the brief consolidation caused by the new Trump tariffs, my portfolio recovered quickly and showed a stable, slightly positive performance in August. The prospect of interest rate cuts by the Fed provided a small boost, but there were no major movements. Typical summer slump. But, as expected, what had to come arrived on time: the distributions. My key performance indicators for my overall portfolio at a glance:

• TTWROR (month of August): +1.01 % (previous month: +3.82 %)
• TTWROR (since inception): +73,69 %
• IZF (month of August): +12.50 % (previous month: +46.14 %)
• IZF (since inception): +10,79 %
• Delta: +794.74 €
• Absolute change: +1,850.61 €

Performance & volume

My class leader continues to expand its dominance. If this continues, it will soon become a decisive factor in overall performance. The $BOA rises into the top 5 by volume, $SAP (+4,01%) falls back. Rising in terms of performance$MAIN (+0,51%) and there, too, the$SAP (+4,01%) falls back. I also notice something about the winners of the red lantern in terms of performance:$NOVO B (+6,8%) has reached the bottom basement, once one of my very strongest stocks. So the tide is turning. Opportunity to buy more? Instead$CPB (+2,47%) has risen from the cellar. But this share still has a long way to go.

Size of individual share positions by volume in the overall portfolio:

Share (%) of total portfolio and associated portfolio:

• $AVGO (-0,28%) : 3.30 % (main share portfolio)
• $NFLX (-0,99%) 1.98 % (main share portfolio)
• $WMT (-0,61%) 1.72 % (main share portfolio)
• $FAST (+0,45%) s: 1.69 % (main share portfolio)
• $BOA 1.45 % (main share portfolio)

Smallest individual share positions by volume in the overall portfolio:

Share proportion (%) of the total portfolio and associated securities account:

• $SHEL (+0,31%) : 0.42 % (crypto follow-on portfolio)
• $NOVO B (+6,8%) 0.49 % (main share portfolio)
• $HSBA (+0,85%) 0.54 % (crypto follow-on portfolio)
• $TGT (+0,66%) 0.57 % (main share portfolio)
• $GIS (+1,91%) 0.61 % (main share portfolio)

Top-performing individual stocks

Shares with performance since initial purchase (%) and the respective portfolio:

• $AVGO (-0,28%) : +328 % (main share portfolio)
• $NFLX (-0,99%) : +176 % (main share portfolio)
• $FAST (+0,45%) +83 % (main share portfolio)
• $MAIN (+0,51%) : +79 % (main share portfolio)
• $SAP (+4,01%) +74 % (main share portfolio)

Flop performer individual stocks

Shares with performance since initial purchase (%) and the respective portfolio:

• $TGT (+0,66%) : -36 % (main share portfolio)
• $GIS (+1,91%) -31 % (main share portfolio)
• $UPS (+3,23%) -26 % (main share portfolio)
• $NKE (-0,26%) -25 % (main share portfolio)
• $NOVO B (+6,8%) -21 % (main share portfolio)

Asset allocation

My asset allocation is as follows:

• ETFs: 38.3 %
• Equities: 59.0 %
• Crypto: 2.60%
• P2P: less than 0.01%

Investments and subsequent purchases

Here is a small overview of what I have invested via savings plans according to my fixed planning.

• Planned savings plan amount from the fixed net salary: €1,030
• Planned savings plan amount from the fixed net salary, incl. reinvested dividends: €1,140
• Savings ratio of the savings plans to the fixed net salary: 49.75

In addition, there were the following additional investments from returns, refunds, cashback, etc. as one-off savings plans/repurchases:

• Subsequent purchases/one-off savings plans as cashback annuities from refunds: € 79.00
• Subsequent purchases/one-off savings plans as a cashback annuity from bonuses/incentives from the KK: € 20.00
• Subsequent purchases from other surpluses: € 30.00
• Automatically reinvested dividends by the broker: € 3.01 (this function is only activated for an old custody account, as I otherwise prefer to manage the reinvestment myself)

Additional purchases were made:

• Number of additional purchases: 3
• 55.00 € for $JEGP (-0,01%)
• 
  44.00 € for $GGRP (+0,5%)
• 
  30.00 € for $FGEQ (+0,68%)
• 
  295.08 € for $DXSA (-0,12%) (funds from the sale of a $ETH (+1,9%) tranche)

If you want to know how my cashback pension tops up my share and ETF pension, please write it in the comments.

Passive income from dividends

My income from dividends amounted to €128.42 (€92.61 in the same month last year). This corresponds to an increase of +38,67 % compared to the same month last year. The following is further key data on the distributions:

• Number of dividend payments: 22
• Number of payment days: 12 days
• Average dividend per payment: € 5.83
• average dividend per payment day: € 10.70

The top three payers are:

• $IWDP (+0,12%)
• 
  $ISPA (+0,21%)
• 
  $ZPRG (+0,38%)

My passive income from dividends (and some interest) mathematically covered 14.94% of my expenses in the month under review.

Crypto performance

My crypto portfolio was characterized by the partial sale of a $ETH (+1,9%) tranche as part of my "crypto succession strategy". Around € 298 in Etherium was taken off the table.

Here are some key figures:

• Monthly performance portfolio: +0.29 %
• Performance since inception: +134.35 %
• Share of holdings for which the tax holding period has expired: 98.55 %.
• Crypto share of the total portfolio: 2.20 %

The sale of the tranche explains the decline in the crypto share from 2.6% to 2.2%

As a "follower" of the crypto cycle, I am increasingly accepting the idea that the cycle is still in tact, but is expanding. The reason for this should be the ETF purchases and the activities of the crypto treasury companies. Retail still seems to be asleep. The playing field is very exciting, if only from a macroeconomic perspective. I can only advise looking into the cycle and issues such as money creation and the correlation between the M2 money supply and $BTC. Although I am not a fan of cryptocurrencies, I think they are a sensible component of a balanced portfolio.

Performance comparison: portfolio vs. benchmarks

A comparison of my portfolio with two important ETFs shows

• TTWROR (current month): +1,01 %
• $VWRL (+0,33%) : -0,33 %
• $VUSA (+0,7%) : -1,13 %

Outlook and a private bonus

My Carousel posts of the portfolio review and budget review always start on the hook slide with a background image from my month. These are usually places I've visited or moments that have moved me. This time it's the same, although a CT scan would almost be more appropriate.

A chest CT confirmed what I had been wondering about for some time: my ascending aorta is dilated. This is a consequence of my congenital heart valve defect. Fortunately, it was discovered early before it could develop into an aneurysm, dissection or even rupture. A classic chance discovery, a stroke of luck. I was able to keep the heart valve "in check" for a long time, and fortunately there are currently no worse findings for it. But the diagnosis of the ascending aorta now brings certainty: an operation will certainly be necessary at some point.

Why am I sharing this here? Because it has taught me humility once again. The diagnosis isn't nice, but it's not a surprise either. Perhaps my v. A. more active lifestyle since corona has contributed to the fact that it is stable today and still allows me to do a lot: sporting activity, which I have fought my way back over the years. The restrictions that already apply to avoid pressure peaks on the aorta are minimal. My quality of life is still very high.

My conclusion: Keep fit, go for check-ups and take your body seriously. Invest in your health and fitness. Our deposits are only worth as much as our health allows us to enjoy them.

So I will be able to visit the cardiologist and radiologist even more regularly in future, an honor! (irony off). Everything will be fine!

👉 You want my review as an Instagram post?

Then follow me on Instagram:

📲 In addition to the portfolio and extra budget review, you'll also find regular posts there: @frugalfreisein

Please pay close attention to the spelling, unfortunately there are too many fake and phishing accounts on social media. I have already been "copied" several times.

👉 How was your August at the depot? Do you have any tops and flops to report?

Leave your thoughts in the comments!

$VUSA (+0,7%)

$CSPX (+0,86%)

Since 1927, the S&P 500 has fallen by -1.62% on average 58% of the time in September, the first year of the US presidential cycle.

Investors today face a striking dilemma. The S&P500, once the epitome of broad diversification, is now dominated by a small number of AI tech giants. Their share prices have risen so much that the index has almost become a mirror image of a handful of expensive companies. The risk of that is clear: if one of those giants stumbles, the whole market feels the blow. In contrast is the largest cryptocurrency.

Despite fluctuations, it offers momentum that is less dependent on a single cluster of companies.

Whereas the S&P500 floats on overconcentrated and pricey expectations, crypto actually seems to promise more room for new capital flows and growth. For those looking ahead, that's a compelling argument.

$VOO (+0,04%)
$VUSA (+0,7%)
$BTC (+2,01%)
$XRP (+2,42%)
$ETH (+1,9%)
$SOL (+4,8%)
$MSTR (+6,63%)
$BMNR (+6,55%)
$MARA (+7,72%)
$IBIT
$IB1T (+2,36%)
$ETHA

🔄 Depot update

Today I sold my Realty Income shares (102 shares at ~€5,102). 📉

Reason: At my young age, I want to focus more on growth - and Realty just hasn't been convincing lately.

💡 Instead, I put the entire proceeds directly into the Vanguard S&P 500 (VUSA) (48 shares at ~€5,025). 🚀

Currently the better choice for me: broadly diversified, solid companies, more growth potential.

I'm curious to see what effect the reallocation will have in the long term - compound interest continues to work diligently. 💪📈

👉 Question to the community: Would you prefer growth (e.g. S&P 500) in your younger years or would you continue to focus on dividend stocks like Realty?

$CSPX (+0,86%)

$VUSA (+0,7%)

Customs revenue in the USA is rising rapidly and reached a new monthly record of 28 billion US dollars in July - almost four times as much as in January.

Cathie Wood's ARK ETFs once again saw significant transactions on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, with a focus on technology and biotech stocks. The largest transaction of the day was the purchase of 738,367 shares of The Trade Desk Inc ( $TTD (-2,76%) ) with a total value of $39,266,357. This move underscores ARK's continued confidence in the digital advertising platform, where the fund had already significantly increased its positions in recent days.

Another notable transaction involved Block Inc ( $SQ (+2,46%) ), formerly known as Square. Here ARK sold 215,543 shares, representing a sizable value of $15,741,105. This sale represents one of the larger divestitures of the day and could indicate a strategic realignment of ARK's position towards the financial services and digital payments company.

ARK also made a significant purchase of 643,406 shares of Pinterest Inc ( $PINS ) worth $21,998,051. The social media company has repeatedly been in ARK's focus in the past, as evidenced by the continuous purchases over the past week. This trend points to a bullish assessment of Pinterest's growth prospects on the part of ARK.

In the biotech sector, ARK's ARK ETF purchased 128,896 shares of CRISPR Therapeutics AG ( $CRSP (+6,68%) ) for a total value of $714,567, continuing its investment in the gene-editing company. On the flip side, various ARK ETFs divested shares of DraftKings Inc ( $DKNG (+1,86%) ), Guardant Health Inc ( $GH (+3,85%) ), Robinhood Markets Inc ($HOOD (+2,45%) ), Palantir Technologies Inc ($PLTR (+5,48%) ), Roblox Corp ( $RBLX ) and Shopify Inc ($SHOP (+3,12%) ). The largest sell-off was DraftKings, with 221,203 shares worth $9,452,004 sold.

Other notable buys included Exact Sciences Corp ( $EXAS (+2,53%) ) and Personalis Inc ( $PSNL (+1,65%) ). ARK bought 93,753 and 134,035 shares worth $3,835,435 and $603,157 respectively. The continued purchases in these stocks could indicate a focused strategy targeting innovative healthcare companies.

Smaller transactions were also part of the day's activity. ARK bought shares in Compass Pathways PLC ( $CMPS (+0,94%) ) and 10X Genomics Inc ( $TXG (+2,94%) ). Despite the smaller dollar amounts, these purchases could be part of a long-term strategy that focuses on up-and-coming companies in the respective sectors.

Some of dear Cathie's transactions don't need to be understood but well, the young lady's returns speak for themselves.

$ARKK (+3,02%) and $ARKF (+2,97%) over 70% return since 365 days, I can only shine with +27% with my portfolio.

I will remain invested in $TTD (-2,76%) My current portfolio has a lot of risk, as I have generated some cash.

At the moment I'm considering whether I should possibly $HMWO (+0,72%) and $EQQQ (+1,24%) or just the $VUSA (+0,7%) into the portfolio.

Temporarily sold $AMD (-0,69%) +35%, $HIMS (+11,1%) +15%, $DOCN (+2,22%) +9%.

I would re-enter Hims and AMD at certain prices and possibly add other companies to the portfolio if they fit my selection.

My positions:

$SOFI (+3,44%)

$ZETA (+1,85%)

$TTD (-2,76%)

On the watchlist

$DDOG (+2,53%)

$LNTH (+1,93%)

$LMND (+3,03%)

$TOST (+2,07%)

$DASH (+3,63%)

$BROS

$APLD (+0,6%)

$SCI (+1,24%)

$CSPX (+0,86%)

$VUSA (+0,7%)

The S&P 500 closed at another all-time high, the 16th this year. This follows 57 all-time highs in 2024, the fifth best result of all time.

Momentum is positive: strong earnings season and high probability of interest rate cuts at the next Fed meeting in September.

What do you think? Will there be more to come by the end of the year or is that it for now with new all-time highs?

$CSPX (+0,86%)

$VUSA (+0,7%)

Good omens or what do you think?