Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2004 01:25:48 CST
From: msgrinnell@charter.net (Michael Grinnell)
Newsgroups: misc.invest.financial-plan
Subject: Re: Idea short/medium term portfolio
Message-ID: <237a8ae7.0401162325.6f79426b@posting.google.com>
References: <237a8ae7.0401131922.66f118c6@posting.google.com> <20040115233229.21232.00003558@mb-m13.aol.com>
iQBVAwUAQAjjfPl/I4+O31e5AQGvdAIAyQirg7svHe86MfHqkqLW5l8s/lsJl+cN
GgdksY2zm1Wi+izyTaBlmfeH7HmRyC7qcTqivwK/DJkj2rDEKnJu6g==
=E2EY
>
> - The "3 to 5 years" doesn't sound so definite. What is the soonest range you
> would need that money?
I am not too terribly eager to use the money. I don't have anything I
have to use it for anytime soon and I have emergency funds for that
anyway. I have not really wanted to put it into my retirement since it
will then be inaccessible when I do eventually need it. I would also
like to begin putting a part of it away for a retirement home in
Thailand when the time comes (in at least 20 years, I suppose). Or,
should I put that part into my 403b/IRA and pay for it out of that??
Perhaps wiser from a tax standpoint since I would not theoretically be
using it until retirement anyway.
> - Do you have the whole amount right now or will you be adding to it?
Have the whole amount now, but would like to add a little bit
periodically to help fund other eventual projects I don't want to
borrow for.
> - How much flexability on withdrawals do you need?
In considering this more, I think if I can diversify it nicely I can
stagger any needs across what I want to use if for. For example, a
car would be needed in 3-5 years; new roof and siding in 15 or so, and
a retirement home in Thailand in 20-25? Is this totally unwise for
some reason?
>
> - How much risk are you willing to take?
For the longer-term stuff (10 years +), a fair amount of risk.
> Nothing says that all of one's money has to be in the same insturment(s).
I am trying for a good mixture. What would the list think of the
following mix:
Money market 25%
Blue Chip Fund 10%
Intermediate Bond Fund 20%
Inflation-protected bond fund: 20%
Loan Participation fund, CD, or some other better idea for the rest??
> - Do you have a better use of the money?
Only have my mortgage and some student loans at around 2% right now.
>
> - Do you have strong preferences?
Not particularly. I have no aversion to any particular asset class
except maybe precious metals. I don't know that much about them, but
have read they have been over-rated recently.
>
> These links might be of use (other than bankrate and Savings Bonds links, I
> haven't tried some of these for some time):
>
> bank ratings, etc: http://www.bankrate.com
> CD and MMA: http://www.banxquote.com
> CDs: http://www.money-rates.com/cdrates.htm
> CDs: http://www.amazingrates.com/
> MMAs: http://www.money-rates.com/mmarket.htm
> MMFs: http://www.ibcdata.com/index.html
> Treasuries: http://www.treasurydirect.gov/
> Savings Bonds: http://www.savingsbonds.gov/
> http://www.treasurydirect.gov
> I-Bond vs EE-Bond: http://www.publicdebt.treas.gov/sav/sbieevsi.htm
>
Thanks a ton for all the resources.
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