Risk Analysis

I came across this site while browsing Cnnfn. The site is called Riskgrader where you can analyze your investment risk. As you know all the investments have risk.

Disclaimer: i am not endorsing this site, this information is for educational purpose only

401k Returns

As i moved to a new company i lost all my returns data ( too bad not using money or quicken ). So i am going to post only my wife's 401k data and returns. She is 30 working in a fortune 500 company.

20% AF EUROPAC GRTH R5
20% COLUMBIA ACORN Z
20% FID MID CAP STOCK
15% VANGUARD INST INDEX
13% Company Stock -- Rebalancing this year end to reduce to 7%
12% PIMCO TOT RETRN INST

Personal Rate of Return from 01/01/2005 to 12/23/2005 is 11.3%

I followed some simple steps
1. Diversify - Large, Mid, small, International , Company stock and Bonds
2. Bond's 12 to 17%
3, Low cost
4. Re-balance the Assets twice a year
5. Re-balance the Funds once a year

Question: How do you guys maintain 401k transactions, returns etc..?

Selling my dear wife's house

When we got married i had a house in knightdale outside of my capital city ( NC - Raleigh). I bought the house speculating the highway (I-540) will increase my house price, then i can sell and move inside city. Hope it will get completed by next year.

My wife also had a house same place but not near any major roadways. The price didn't change for a long time. So we are planning to sell her house.
Pros:
1. We don't need to maintain the house
2. Extra money to invest in other properties.
3. Consolidate our finance
Cons:
1. Loose a real estate
2. Fixing the house will cost 3000$

So we finally decided to rent the house for 6 months save the money, fix and sell the house.

Any comments

Finance - Indian guy and Investing

I am trying to teach some of my indian friends about investing. Most of my friends do not invest in 401k or any other retirement plan. Why? no answer from them.

So i am thinking of giving some small lesson
discalimer : I am not a financial analyst, just a guy who read some book, talk with people. Dont make any major decision. Talk with your Advisor. The idea is to reduce some risk. Meaning if you go to sleep you might get some nightmare but you wont loose your sleep.

Saving or investing

1. Save some money for rainy day and if you dont have house save some for donw payment - 6 months of your expense
2. Pay your credit card ( high, low, smal or large )
3. Invest in 401k untill your company matches
ex: If you have 90$ split equally between 3
4. Get some CD make a ladder ( i will explain how to make CD ladder )
5. Invest in I-bonds
6. Invest in Roth -IRA
I will say if you have enough 5000 in each go to next step untill you have 15000 dont think about indivitual funds invest in life statergy or freedom funds
7. Donate some money in each step....
8. Invest to max on 401K
9. Invest for kids education
10. Any second mortage pay some
11. Any first mortage pay some
12. Then play with you money.....

Fence - Part I

I tried to help a friend to put up a fence and learned how difficult it is , so i decided to hire someone to install fence.
Notes:
HOA - Does not allow to connect with next door neighbor.
Lowes - Charges 30$ for an estimate which they will reduce if complete the contract.
Home Depot - Free estimate.
Private guys - Free estimate but i need to pay the money when the work is finished

If lowes or home depot charges only 200$ more than the Private guys i am going with some lowes or homedepot after 10% off coupon

About me

30 , Male , married, IT , Home owner, live in NC USA, Born in Chennai, India

This blog will cover mainly My life, IT, Finance and all other stuff..