I would like to reduce the size of my portfolio and thought I would take a look at my ETFs. $SUSW (+0,32%)
$SPYD (+0,25%)
$WQDS (-0,85%)
$OG70 (+0,1%) and invest in $VWRL (+0,1%) or $IWDA (+0,16%) and reallocate. Is this the right move in the long term?

$GS (+0,15%)
$CSPX (+0,21%)
$VUSA (+0,2%)
$VUAG (+0,21%)
$SPYL (+0,19%)
$SPYD (+0,25%)
$ISP6 (+0,06%)
$SPXS (+0,21%)

Goldman Sachs forecasts that the rally in the S& P 500 is likely to continue over the next few weeks before losing momentum in August. Historically, July is the strongest month for the S& P with an average gain of 1.67% since 1928, and the first two weeks are usually the best.

It remains exciting ✌️🚀

My own milestone (tl:dr)

The starting point and the burning dream of the million

It wasn't just a number on a screen; it was a promise. The promise of freedom, of decisions that were not dictated by a paycheck, of the possibility of realizing dreams that went beyond everyday life. My goal? The 1 million euros in my deposit. A sum that seemed almost unattainable when I first immersed myself in the fascinating world of investing. But I couldn't let go of the thought. What if it was actually possible? What if, with discipline and the right strategy, I could achieve this seemingly utopian goal?

The fascination began to creep in. I heard about breathtaking returns and stories about people who became rich overnight by making smart decisions. The stock market, a place full of secrets and opportunities. My starting position was solid, an initial foundation stone had been laid, but I lacked a clear roadmap. I was at the beginning of a journey that would take me through highs and lows, from initial euphoria to sobering setbacks - and finally to a strategy that allows me to look to the future with confidence today.

The single stock era - lessons from the "wild west" of the stock market

Like so many, I started out with a desire for quick profits and a fascination for the possibility of getting rich quickly through individual shares. Why invest in the broad market when individual shares promised so much more? I plunged headlong into the world of individual shares. It was names that were in the news, sectors that were booming or personal convictions that guided me. Every share was a little adventure, every price movement an adrenaline rush.

But the reality was often different from the glossy prospectuses or the euphoric forum posts. The euphoria quickly gave way to disillusionment. I remember the year 2022. Like so many others, I experienced a market that suddenly no longer knew only one direction: up. In my personal heat map of monthly returns, deep red fields emerged that year and even before. Months with -1.3%, -1.7%, -2.0%, -2.4%, -2.8%, -3.0%, even -3.4% were not uncommon. That was painful. Every look at the portfolio was a sting.

However, the problem was not just the bear market itself, but also the way my portfolio was structured. Without broader diversification, my risk was unnecessarily high. If one share fell, a large part of my portfolio fell and @DonkeyInvestor said: I told you so :-) .

The turning point came gradually, but inexorably. Frustration at the lack of stability, the realization that my individual "strategic" decisions were often just a gut feeling, and the desire for a more calculable path to a million led me to a far-reaching decision. It was in November 2024 when I pulled the ripcord. The individual share "experiment" was over. It was time to realign my portfolio.

The realignment - from single stock turbulence to ETF stability

The decision was clear: a restructuring of my portfolio was necessary in order to invest stably and efficiently in the long term. The new anchor of my strategy was to be ETFs.

Why ETFs?

The answer was simple: diversification, lower costs and risk spreading. With ETFs, you can invest in hundreds or thousands of companies at the same time with a single investment. This means I am no longer dependent on the fate of a single company, but benefit from the growth of entire markets and the global economy.

The major restructuring started in November 2024 and was a phase of intensive analysis and consistent implementation. Individual shares were sold and the freed-up capital was immediately reinvested in broadly diversified ETFs. It was a liberating move, a departure from the emotional rollercoaster ride and a step towards a rational, long-term investment strategy.

Today, in May 2025, my portfolio has a market value of €210,000 and reflects this transformation. It is a carefully curated mix that aims to achieve my million-euro goal efficiently and with calculable risk:

• The Global Anchor - HSBC MSCI WORLD UCITS ETF ($HMWO (+0,15%)
  ):

This ETF forms the core of my portfolio. It invests in around 1,600 companies from 23 industrialized countries and is my most important building block for long-term global growth.

• The US giant - S&P 500 USD (Dist) ($VUSA (+0,2%)
  ): - My targeted bet on the innovative strength of the 500 largest US companies.
• The income powerhouses - JPM Global Equity Premium Income Active UCITS ETF ($JEGP (-0,65%)
  ) and JPM Nasdaq Equity Premium Income Active UCITS ETF ($JEPQ (-1,14%)
  ): My "cash cows" that provide me with continuous capital.
• The dividend champion - VanEck Mstr.Dm Dividend.UC.ETF ($TDIV (-0,48%)
  ): - another pillar of my dividend strategy.
• Quality and dividends - Fidelity Gl.Quality Income ETF ($FGEQ (+0,22%)
  ) and WisdomTree Gl.Qual.Div.Gr.U.E. Registered Sha ($GGRP (-0,02%)
  ): ETFs that invest in high quality companies with sustainable dividends.
• US Dividend Aristocrats - SPDR S&P US Divid.Aristocr.ETF D ($SPYD (+0,25%)
  ): Companies that have consistently increased their dividends for at least 25 years.
• The European focus - iSh.STOXX Europe 600 U.ETF ($EXSA (+0,1%) ): a newer position that strengthens my diversification in the European region.

This structure forms the foundation of my current strategy: a clear core of broad market ETFs (MSCI World, S&P 500, STOXX Europe 600) is complemented by targeted satellites for high dividends and specific quality characteristics.

The strategy, or rather my roadmap for the future - discipline, cash flow and steady reinvestment

My path to a million is not a sprint, but a marathon that depends on discipline and a clear strategy. A significant amount flows into my portfolio every month - a total of € 1,610. This amount is made up of my active deposit of € 1,500 and € 110 from the reinvested dividends of the ETFs eligible for savings plans.

The distribution of my monthly savings plans is deliberately chosen to continuously strengthen my growth core:

• HSBC MSCI WORLD UCITS ETF (HMWO): 1,000 €/month
• VANGUARD S&P 500U.ETF DLD: 350 €/month
• ISH.STOXX Europe 600 U.ETF: 300 €/month
• WISDOMTREE.HMS.Z12/UN.XAU: 60 €/month (small proportion of gold for diversification and inflation protection)

The dividends are much more than just a nice bonus - they are a key driver for the growth of my portfolio through the compound interest effect. I'm already expecting an impressive €6,900 in gross dividends for 2025.

The challenge of dividend reinvestment

One problem that many investors also face is the challenge of dividend reinvestment at my bank, ING: automatic reinvestment only works if the net distribution of an individual ETF is at least €75.

If I haven't miscalculated and the dividends remain stable, this hurdle should be overcome for the ETFs in question.

Otherwise, I accumulate on my clearing account and then make a manual one-off investment in the VUSA or EuroStoxx600 as soon as a larger sum (between €500 and €1,000) has been accumulated, or I increase the savings plans to the two mentioned in the following month. This allows me to make the most of the compound interest effect and reduce the costs of transaction fees at the same time.

This approach has helped me to focus not on short-term gains, but on long-term growth and a steady income through dividends. It is a path that has proven its worth over the years and has continuously brought me closer to the goal of

1 million euros closer.

Looking to the future - The million within reach and the passive dream

My goal is clear: €1,000,000 in my portfolio. This milestone is not just a number, but the foundation for future financial freedom and the realization of my dreams.

Based on my current portfolio value of € 210000 (May 2025), my monthly investment and reinvested dividends and a realistic assumption of an average annual return of 8.0% p.a. (which is achievable for broadly diversified equity ETFs in the long term), I have a clear timetable in mind:

I will reach my goal of 1 million euros in the portfolio probably in April 2040. That is still about 14 years and 11 months of disciplined investing. The reinvestment of all dividends is the absolute key here. Without it, the road to a million would take almost a decade longer! This awareness motivates me anew every day.

Let's see if that works and whether I'll find this post on Getquin to repost again.

I had to strike again

The first quarter of 2025 is over. In March, real assets recorded declines, both in equities and ETFs and especially in cryptocurrencies. The markets have become increasingly volatile. While many are panicking, I have been enjoying the first signs of spring, hiking and continuing to winter bathe diligently.

For the past month of March 2025, I present the following points:

➡️ SHARES

➡️ ETFS

➡️ DISTRIBUTIONS

➡️ CASHBACK

➡️ AFTER-PURCHASES

➡️ P2P CREDITS

➡️ CRYPTO

➡️ AND OTHER?

➡️ OUTLOOK

➡️ Shares

There was a considerable setback in March, and not just in equities. The reason for this is the customs issue, on which I have already formulated my thesis, which many believe to be correct. To summarize briefly: Markets are being depressed to get investors into bonds, which lowers bond yields and allows US debt to be refinanced at a lower interest rate. After the refinancing of short-term US government bonds, the tariffs are put into perspective and the next upswing follows, which Trump can boast about. Whether this assumption is correct remains to be seen. However, it would make sense in the long term to slash US spending. Even if the D.O.G.E. does a good job, you can't cut everything without incurring the displeasure of the population.

A look at the depot shows the front-runner $AVGO (+0,48%) and its companion $NFLX (+0,41%) both currently only 150% up, despite a significant setback. I am unimpressed by this development, as the capital market is always facing worse times, which will be followed by better ones. According to André Kostolany, it is now the "shaky hands" that are significantly triggering the sell-off. Yes, change your perspective: the red sign in your portfolio is irrelevant, now is the time to buy more. Enormous overvaluations in tech stocks have been reduced and they may now be available at a fairer price. There are also attractive defensive value stocks on offer, ideal for a dividend portfolio.

Second and fourth place in my individual share portfolio are still occupied by $WMT (+0,27%) and $SAP (+0,27%) . Walmart can now prove that it acts as a stable anchor in the portfolio even in bad times. In sixth place is a stock that I did not expect to be in the top 10. Like me, many of you have shares in $WM (+0,31%) but the stock I am looking for is its competitor: $RSG (-0,77%) . I have been watching the rise of this stock even before the pressure from Trump and I am happy about it. This is an example of a defensive stock. Garbage collection is necessary and Republic Services, like Waste Management, will literally turn garbage into gold for shareholders 50 years from now. Anyone complaining about their portfolio being down 50% probably has too much tech and too little defensive. My overall portfolio currently stands at around -12%. That's OK in the current macro environment.

Which brings us to the subject of performance: $NKE0 and $DHR (+1,4%) returned around -39% at the end of March.

➡️ ETFs

They are also recording significant losses. It is important to remain calm and continue investing. Such phases are part of the game. I will not repeat further details.

➡️ Distributions

In March, I received 31 distributions on 15 payout days. I am grateful for this additional income stream. Everyone should build up such additional income.

This time, the distributions from my three large ETFs were not made on March 31, but in the first few days of April. This means that there should theoretically be 34 distributions. Numerous corrections and cancellations of dividends from REITs were not taken into account. With $O (+0%) , $OHI (+0,19%) , $LTC (-0,16%) and $STAG (-0,2%) there were therefore some cancellations and new dividend distributions. Although this was a major bureaucratic effort, it was usually a cause for celebration. This is because the REITs initially distribute dividends from current net income. If there are then corrections in the following year, it is determined that a distribution is also made from the already taxed retained earnings. This subsequently reduces the company's tax burden and I have noticed that I pay less capital gains tax and solidarity surcharge. So more cash in my pocket for reinvestment.

➡️ Cashback

In March, I received a small amount of income from an expense report, which I invested directly in my custody account. More on this under subsequent purchases.

➡️ Subsequent purchases

The additional purchases were financed from the expense report and, above all, from the bonus paid out by my employer. I am grateful for this, as my employer is not doing well at the moment.

I made numerous additional purchases in several ETFs that are in my small old portfolios. I invested smaller sums $GGRP (-0,02%) , $JEGP (-0,65%) , $SPYW (+0,21%) , $FGEQ (+0,22%) and $SPYD (+0,25%) and bought a larger sum in shares of the $IWDP. On the last Friday in March, I checked my portfolio and realized that, despite careful use of the surplus, there was more cash left than I had expected. I therefore made a small additional purchase in the $VNA (+3,54%) . For me, Vonovia (like the REITs) is a kind of hedge against my own rising rent.

➡️ P2P loans

With my last P2P platform, Mintos, there were no interest or redemption payments. I still intend to withdraw all funds where released. I would even accept a full write-off to get out of the platform. The remaining amount is no longer relevant to me.

➡️ Crypto

Crypto investors continued to experience significant volatility in March. The double top predicted by some does not seem to be materializing and the indicators do not currently point to a steep rise. I am studying the charting and the macro environment for crypto, although I still have a lot to learn here. Patience and calm are still required. I am sticking to my cycle strategy, the macro situation confirms me, so there is no need for me to take any action.

➡️ And what else?

I'm currently deepening my knowledge of AI. The posts on my Instagram channel that I published in March (and others that will follow in April) were created with the help of AI. I explained my approaches, beliefs about finance and the frugal lifestyle, and my goals to AI. The AI then created suggestions for Instagram posts, including prompts and allowing for a week break at the end of the month.

There is still a lot for me to learn. I am using AI more and more intensively and deeply in my professional and private life. While colleagues are happy that an AI can write emails for them, I use it much more extensively, for example to have technical content and its effects on departments and companies explained to me at work or to have economic relationships explained to me in my private life. In addition to ChatGPT, I particularly like Grok by X, as this AI always asks questions and thus enables a fluid conversation. The AI doesn't just reproduce facts, but also evaluates my ideas and classifies them, for example whether I should already use part of my nest egg to buy more quality stocks at favorable prices. Her suggestion was perhaps to wait until after the refinancing of short-term US government debt, when there might be less downward volatility in the market. This recommendation is based on my thesis mentioned above.

March was also a month of fasting for me, not for religious reasons, but because I want to and always intend to. I like to use the time after fasting to change my habits, adjust my diet and vary my sports units and routines. For me, this is particularly easy after fasting - the time afterwards generally feels like a new beginning.

➡️ Outlook

In April we will continue to see negative signs in the portfolio. I have now placed a limit order, which I hope will be triggered. The annual electricity bill is also due. I'm curious to see how much will be returned, the refund will certainly go into the custody account. It will also become clear whether I will increase my discount due to higher electricity costs. Until then!

Links:

Social media links can be found in my profile, you can also take a look at the Instagram version of my review.

Automatic reinvestment of dividends with Ing.

From €75 for ETFs and free of charge.

I like it

Last year, there was a distinct lack of snow in December. Instead, the portfolio did really well and I made progress with my crypto sell-off strategy. A small cold in the fall, despite taking good precautions, set me back in terms of ice bathing and hiking, but fortunately I was healthy again by Christmas. Unfortunately, that wasn't all... Time for a look back.

I present the following points for the past month of December 2024:

➡️ SHARES

➡️ ETFS

➡️ DISTRIBUTIONS

➡️ CASHBACK

➡️ AFTER-PURCHASES

➡️ P2P CREDITS

➡️ CRYPTO

➡️ WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT

➡️ OUTLOOK

➡️ Shares

$AVGO (+0,48%) is back on the tube. Wow, at +276%, the stock is now up for me. After the share cooled down a little, it went to the moon again in December.

$NFLX (+0,41%) and $SAP (+0,27%) are on a par with the previous month in terms of performance and are still in 3rd and 4th place in terms of volume. $WMT (+0,27%) . The retail chain will soon become a doubler for me.

The red lanterns will once again go to the usual suspects $NKE (+0,17%) , $DHR (+1,4%) and $CPB (+0,36%) . In terms of performance, all three stocks are down between -30% and -20%. They are the smallest positions in my main share portfolio with the $DHL (-0,82%) However, across all portfolios, the smallest positions are the new additions $SHEL (-0,94%) and $HSBA (+0,18%) .

➡️ ETFs

The ETFs are doing their thing as usual. This month, I immediately invested a refund from the previous year's utility bill in the $GGRP (-0,02%) and $JEGP (-0,65%) invested. I'm always expanding this asset class in particular with cash inflows. I don't care about timing. The money should go into the assets so that the stream of distributions keeps growing. I buy income and want cash flow.

➡️ Distributions

I received 34 distributions on 14 payout days in December. I am grateful for this additional income stream. My minimum target has been met anyway in this high-distribution month. The snowball rolling down the slope is getting bigger and bigger.

I already donated part of the dividend at the beginning of the month. This is based on the conviction that you can (and should) give something back, no matter how small, if you have the opportunity to do so.

➡️ Cashback

In November, I received €6 from redeemed Payback points, the equivalent of which I transferred from my grocery account to my settlement account. As already mentioned, there was also a credit from the utility bill. REWE and Penny have now separated from Payback, while Edeka, Netto Markendiscount and Marktkauf have joined. All three new stores are not in my immediate vicinity, which is why I will earn fewer Payback points in future. I will most likely collect the points mainly at DM. REWE and Penny now have their own bonus programs. REWE's will be exciting, as I can also save up credit with my purchases. I will deduct this discount from my grocery account and invest it in the same way as before. I'll see over the year whether it pays off more than Payback did back then.

➡️ Subsequent purchases

As already mentioned, there were additional purchases at $JEGP (-0,65%) , $GGRP (-0,02%) and $SPYD (+0,25%) . I always invest every little return or leftover money to further increase my portfolio. This buys me freedom.

➡️ P2P loans

I was finally able to get rid of Peerberry. Now only Mintos is hanging on my leg like a log. A mid-double-digit amount, which has long since defaulted, is still waiting to be refunded or written off.

This asset class will soon be history for me.

➡️ Crypto

All in all, December was another exciting month for crypto investors. Limit orders were triggered again for me. The last tranches $LINK (-1,99%) have left me, as has a first tranche $UNI (-4,5%) and a first tranche $BTC (-0,37%) . I have invested the proceeds in $HSBA (+0,18%) and $SHEL (-0,94%) invested in the separate portfolio. I have already explained my underlying strategy in detail, which you can read about in my articles. Recently, the crypto market has been in a sideways phase again. I'm hoping for another breakout in January to trigger further limit orders, as I still need to buy a security so that the separate portfolio pays me a return each month. So far, only two out of three quarterly months are covered. The two new stocks have even performed well in this short period of time, gaining around +3.6% within a month. The last purchase will perhaps be an ETF. You will see more about this in the coming reviews. I am already looking forward to collecting again in the coming bear market and will then certainly write an extra post with the levels at which I will gradually enter again.

➡️ What is really important

I remember December as a good month in financial terms, but unfortunately Christmas was overshadowed by tragic events this time.

After recovering from my cold at the beginning of the month a few days before Christmas Eve and getting back to my daily routine (consisting of work, running, ice swimming, hiking and my love of finance), I received the terrible news from Magdeburg. I am simply stunned and ask myself "why?". I am not affected, I am not one of the bereaved and I don't know any of the victims, the wounded or the bereaved personally, yet this event brought me down on the evenings around the Christmas holidays. Loyal readers know that I am working on a closer relationship with my ex's kids. Even though my blood doesn't run through their veins, questions ran through my mind about what if they were affected by the horrific act, or me? It could have happened anywhere. At least in the event of my untimely demise, I also made appropriate arrangements in the last few days of the year to ensure that what I leave behind ends up where I want it to be. I spent the turn of the year with the kids and the time I spent with them was the best end to the year imaginable. It's nice when connections continue to exist and you remain part of the life of the Kampfzwerge and can continue to accompany them through life.

➡️ Outlook

New year, new luck. I'll be surprised what the new year will bring. There will be a separate post for the evaluation of 2024 as a whole. I'm particularly happy because I exceeded an important goal despite a few expenses.

Links:

Social media links can be found in my profile, you can also check out the Instagram version of my review.