TLDR: Becoming increasingly antifragile thanks to the March storm and a focus on turnaround candidates. 😊
March has shown me once again that consistency isn’t just a fair-weather project. While I was traveling along the Baltic Sea coast amid sleet showers and sunshine, a storm of its own was raging on the markets. Geopolitical tensions sent the markets into the red, resulting in a 4.6% loss in my portfolio. For many, this was cause for concern, but for me, it was an important test run for my system, which becomes a little more antifragile with each of these setbacks.
Standing on the pier in Graal-Müritz, I realized that the road to freedom is long and that sometimes the wind whips right in your face. But those who stay focused and don’t let short-term fluctuations in the TTWROR or IZF throw them off course will reach their destination. This month, heavyweights like Alphabet and FedEx fell out of the top 5, while Exxon moved up as a defensive anchor, and my Target position is increasingly proving itself to be a turnaround machine.
Are you ready to dive deep into the numbers and see how my portfolio is gaining strength in the storm? Then grab a warm cup of tea and join me on the pier. Because no matter how fierce the storm rages, my head is clear and the course is set! Time for a look back.
DISCLAIMER/RISK NOTICE
Please remember that this post is for entertainment purposes only. It is in no way a recommendation to buy or sell, nor is it professional legal, tax, or investment advice. Don’t just copy whatever I do. I’m simply describing what’s happening in my investment portfolios, but I make no guarantee whatsoever as to the timeliness, accuracy, or completeness of this information.
Investing in the capital markets always involves risks such as loss of principal, price fluctuations, liquidation risks, or market risks. In accordance with the current guidelines of ESMA and BaFin, I expressly point out that this review serves solely to document my personal investment strategy and does not constitute investment advice within the meaning of the WpIG. The securities I present are expressly not to be construed as investment advicebut are merely components of my personal portfolio as of the reporting date. Please also keep in mind that a conflict of interest exists, as I naturally hold these securities myself.
If necessary, seek professional advice and conduct your own research.
Overall Performance
Let the others panic. If you’re broadly diversified, your portfolios will prove to be a rock in the storm.
My key performance metrics for my overall portfolio at a glance:
- TTWROR (reporting month): -4.60% (previous month: +3.47%)
- TTWROR (since inception): +79.83%
- IZF (reporting month): -42.46% (previous month: +55.90%)
- IZF (since inception): +9.91%
- Delta: -4,407.47 €
- Absolute change: +2,428.28 €
Data labeled “since inception” is effective as of May 31, 2020.
Performance & Volume
My top performer $AVGO (+3,18%) is taking a breather after the rally, while a slight correction is noticeable across the tech sector as a whole. This is making room for defensive stocks. For the first time ever, it has $XOM made it into my top 5 by volume. In the current market environment, the energy giant serves as an important anchor of stability and offsets the volatility of growth stocks.
Also $FAST (+0,26%) is steadily climbing back into the top 5, underscoring my strategy of focusing on solid industrial stocks when market conditions become more turbulent. Meanwhile, $GOOG (+0,27%) and $FDX (-0,16%) are exiting the ranks of the top-volume positions for now.
The performance of $ is particularly encouraging$TGT (+0,35%) . My patience with this turnaround candidate seems to be paying off. The loss has been reduced from 35% to just 13%. This proves that consistently buying more during periods of weakness pays off in the long run. The problem children at the bottom of the list, such as $NOVO B (-1%) , $GIS (+1,46%) and $CPB (-1,85%) are currently facing significant headwinds, but as long as cash flows remain stable, I can sleep soundly, despite a 40% loss.
Largest individual stock positions by volume relative to the total portfolio:
Percentage of total portfolio (%) (and corresponding portfolio):
$AVGO (+3,18%) : 2.61% (main stock portfolio)
$WMT (-0,1%) : 1.92% (main stock portfolio)
$FAST (+0,26%) : 1.51% (main stock portfolio)
$NFLX (+0,24%) : 1.40% (main stock portfolio)
$XOM : 1.37% (main stock portfolio)
Smallest individual stock positions by volume relative to the total portfolio:
Share of total portfolio (%) (and corresponding portfolio):
$NOVO B (-1%) : 0.36% (main stock portfolio)
$GIS (+1,46%) : 0.45% (main stock portfolio)
$CEU (+0,56%) : 0.49% (main stock portfolio)
$NKE (+0,08%) : 0.56% (main stock account)
$HTGC (+1,65%) : 0.58% (main stock portfolio)
Top-Performing Individual Stocks
Stocks with performance since initial purchase (%) (and the respective portfolio):
$AVGO (+3,18%) : +264% (main stock portfolio)
$WMT (-0,1%) : +110% (main stock portfolio)
$NFLX (+0,24%) : +103% (main stock portfolio)
$GOOGL (+0,21%) : +92% (main stock portfolio)
$FAST (+0,26%) : +75% (main stock portfolio)
Poor-Performing Individual Stocks
Stocks with performance since initial purchase (%) (and the respective portfolio):
$DHR (+0,42%) : -23% (main stock portfolio)
$CPB (-1,85%) : -40% (main stock portfolio)
$NKE (+0,08%) : -42% (main stock portfolio)
$NOVO B (-1%) : -42% (main stock portfolio)
$GIS (+1,46%) : -44% (main stock portfolio)
Sector Allocation of My Individual Stocks
My top 6 sectors are:
Consumer Goods: 17.62%
Miscellaneous: 16.60%
Technology: 12.07% [excluding information technology]
Financial sector: 11.39%
Transportation: 9.13%
Retail: 7.50%
Asset Allocation
Currently, stocks and ETFs make up my asset allocation.
ETFs: 42.3%
Stocks: 57.7%
Investments and Additional Purchases
I have invested the following amounts through savings plans:
Planned savings plan contribution from fixed net salary: €1,070
Savings rate of the savings plans as a percentage of my fixed net salary: 50.20%
Planned savings plan amount from my fixed net salary, including reinvested dividends based on plan size: 1,190 €
In addition, the following additional investments were made as one-time savings plans or additional purchases from refunds, reimbursements, cashback, etc.:
Additional purchases/one-time savings plans as cashback from refunds: 0.00 €
Additional purchases/one-time savings plans as cashback from bonuses: 160.00 €
Additional purchases from other surpluses: 29.99 €
Dividends automatically reinvested by the broker: 7.09 € (This feature is only enabled for an existing portfolio, as I otherwise prefer to manage reinvestments myself)
Number of unscheduled additional purchases: 2
Passive income from dividends and ETF distributions
Passive income for the reporting month
I received €173.27 in distributions during the reporting month (€116.96 in the same month of the previous year). This represents a change of +48.14% compared to the same month of the previous year. This growth can be attributed in small part to the new positions in the Krypton successor portfolio; the majority stems from consistent investing through savings plans, dividend reinvestment, and additional surplus funds.
Number of dividend payments and ETF distributions: 34
Number of payment days: 16 days
Average dividend per payment: €5.10
Average dividend per payment day: €10.38
Passive Income YTD
Year-to-date (YTD), I have received distributions totaling €450.34. When compared to my annual dividend target of €2,100, this represents 21.44% of the target (target: 25.00%). This puts me slightly below target, but that will turn around in the coming months, which are typically high on dividends.
Based on the three calculation methods, the following dividend yields result:
Dividend yields YTD: 0.50%
Dividend yields since inception: 4.96%
Dividend yields YoY: 2.27%
Consequently, my total portfolio has already returned about 5% of my initial investment—half a percent this year and just under 2.5% over the past year. This reflects the relatively short duration of my investment.
The dividend yield grew by 2.32% year-over-year, while the relative volatility stood at 20.86%. This reflects the sharp increase in dividends compared to March ’25.
My Top Payers
The top 5 performers in the reporting month were:
FIRE Number & Runway
Even though I don’t plan to sell any shares later on, I also calculate my FIRE number for comparability with investors who follow a purely reinvestment strategy.
My FIRE number, based on my 12-month expenses (TTM) of €12,220.48, was €305,512.00. This is the minimum portfolio value my portfolio would need to reach to theoretically cover my expenses through a 4% withdrawal rate.
Of course, this figure fluctuates every month. However, it is not the only metric for determining how long my assets could sustain me in an emergency (excluding taxes).
The rolling expense coverage (runway) also indicates how long I could live off my assets. On an annual basis, this currently amounts to 7.41 years or, converted, approximately 88.86 months. Compared to the previous month, it has decreased by 0.08 years . So I’ve effectively aged by about one month less “free” time, due to current global political events.
Compared to the same month last year, there’s an increase of 2.12 years . I am still 17.59 years away. So there’s still a long way to go to financial freedom, assuming everything continues as it has so far.
The runway stability of 97.08% indicates that my system remains solid despite market turbulence. While price fluctuations have minimally reduced my theoretical runway by 0.08 years, the high stability ratio proves that the core of my strategy remains unaffected.
Performance Comparison: Portfolio vs. Benchmarks
To see where I really stand, I regularly compare my portfolio with the major market ETFs. This allows me to immediately see how well my performance (TTWROR) has fared in the current month and since the start compared to the overall market.
My portfolio: -4.60% (since I started: +88.49%)
$VWRL (+0,94%) : -5.55% (since I started: 62.19%)
$VUSA (+0,3%) : -4.05% (since I started: 53.23%)
$IMEU (+0,68%) : -6.87% (since I started: 74.05%)
Data labeled “since I started” refers to the period beginning May 31, 2020.
Risk Metrics
Here are my risk metrics for the reporting month:
Maximum drawdown:
Since inception: 17.17%
Reporting month: 5.79%
Maximum drawdown duration:
Since inception: 702 days
Reporting month: 29+ days
Volatility:
Since inception: 28.54%
Reporting month: 3.10%
Sharpe Ratio:
Since inception: 0.36
Reporting month: -14.14
Semivolatility:
Since inception: 21.20%
Reporting month: 2.25%
The maximum drawdown of 5.79% in March shows that market conditions were significantly rougher this month. With a drawdown duration of over 29+ days—spanning the entire month of March—my portfolio is in the midst of a genuine correction phase. But this is precisely where the wheat is separated from the chaff. While others grow nervous, I see my system becoming a little more antifragile with each of these stress tests.
The negative Sharpe ratio of -14.14 for the reporting month is a purely statistical result of the price setbacks. It’s much more important to look at the big picture. Since the beginning, the Sharpe ratio has stood at a solid 0.36. This means that, over time, I continue to consistently generate returns above the risk-free rate while calmly weathering the fluctuations.
The volatility of 3.10% in March is interesting. Although it’s higher than the previous month, it’s still well below the historical average of over 28%. The semi-volatility of 2.25% also confirms to me that the actual downside risks remain absolutely under control despite the turbulent market conditions.
My conclusion for this month? The strategy is on track. A decline in share price coupled with 48% cash flow growth is no cause for concern for me—rather, it’s a sign that the engine room is running at full speed. While share prices experience brief fluctuations, I continue to build my foundation for the future.
Outlook
After enjoying the rough seas in Graal-Müritz in March, April will be a month of action. My system is ready. The reserves and the hefty AG bonus are at the starting line and will flow directly into the market to capitalize on current sales. If you want to know which individual stocks I’m focusing on in particular, be sure to stay tuned! 😊
On a personal note, March was marked above all by my vacation in Mecklenburg. Consciously unwinding by the Baltic Sea and spending time in my mother’s hometown—where I revel in so many childhood memories—has fully recharged my energy.
And when it comes to sports and exercise, it’s become clear once again just how valuable consistent routines are. Even on days when my motivation was at an all-time low, discipline ensured that I stuck to my workout schedule—whether it was full-body workouts with dumbbells at home or running outdoors. Consistency in the small things lays the foundation for big successes.
When it comes to AI, I naturally stay on the cutting edge. The combination of Gemini and NotebookLM has become an indispensable part of my workflow. Listening to my monthly financial summary as an audio deep dive or visualizing complex metrics in clickable dashboards not only saves me time but also gives me entirely new insights into my data. This drive to move forward motivates me to get the most out of technology so I can further automate my freedom.
I conclude this review with a sense of deep satisfaction. The combination of frugal serenity and a growing cash flow gives me the freedom to look calmly toward the horizon—no matter how stormy the stock markets may be. Those who know their course won’t let the wind blow them off track.
Thank you for reading. And now, here’s to a profitable April! ☀️
👉 My related Instagram carousel posts for this review will be published as follows.
April 7, 2026: Portfolio Review (performance metrics, stock performance, allocation, sectors, additional purchases, and performance comparisons)
April 8, 2026: Budget Review (income, expenses, cash flow, ratios, budget adherence, and basic income check)
April 9, 2026: Cash Flow Review (overview, YTD, and actual vs. target comparison for passive income, my top dividend payers, FIRE number, and capital reach)
📲 There are currently three posts a week there as well: @frugalfreisein. Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts are currently posted irregularly on the channels of the same name; the same applies to videos.
Please pay close attention to the spelling of my alias. Unfortunately, there are too many fake and phishing accounts on social media. I’ve already been “copied” several times.
👉 How do you personally feel about the start of the stock market year? (This is not investment advice!)
