My main goal* was to build an investment and cash portfolio of $1,120,000* ($1,000,000 to retire on and $120,000 to pay off the house) in 1500 days**, starting from 1/1/2013 and ending in February of 2017. I made my goal in 2016, my 1500 Days are over, and I’ve left my job. In the interest of openness, I’ll continue to share my numbers.
Today I give you a quick and dirty post. Its purpose is to share numbers for December. Usually I tell you what’s going on over here in Longmont or regale you with an investing lesson. Not today. All I have for you is a nice picture of a metal dinosaur next to a cactus:
I’ll have much more to say next week when I publish a review of 2020. Here’s a sneak preview:
I kid, I kid! 2020 wasn’t the best year, but there was still much to be thankful for.
December Performance
Yippee, another month of growth. Our net worth started the month at $3,363,173 and ended at $3,519,746 for a gain of $156,573
I’m beginning to sound like a broken record, but once again, the main driver of the appreciation was Tesla:
No stock goes bonkers forever, but it’s been a fun ride. Not as fun as riding in an actual Tesla, but I’ll get there someday.
2020 (as of 12/31/2020)
- Days elapsed: All 365 miserable-ass days! Good-riddance 2020!
- Investment portfolio gains: $1,345,246 (Our gains are outsized because we took equity out of our home in order to increase our investable assets. The next number, net worth, which includes home equity, is more accurate.).
- Net worth gains: $1,119,706
Since the Start (1/1/2013)
- Days elapsed: 2921
- Investment portfolio gains: $2,793,703
I have a lot more to say about 2020. but I’ll save that for next week. In the meantime, happy new year! I hope 2021 is your best ever!
*My goal wasn’t to have $1,120,000 at the end of 1500 days, but at any time before the day count was up. Why? It all goes back to the 4% Rule. Remember that our little friend, Mr. 4%, is nothing more than the most conservative safe withdrawal rate. Since my investment portfolio now sits at $1,550,000, I can spend about $62,000 in my first year of retirement.
**My original goal was $1,000,000 and no debt, I later raised the goal by $120,000 to $1,120,000 because I will have debt in the form of a mortgage and I firmly believe in not paying it off (LOOK at the MONEY I’m MAKING!). My compromise was to have enough money put away to cover the mortgage at the time of retirement.
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****My 401(k) contributions include my own, Mrs. 1500’s, and the contributions from my corporation. Self-employment with a solo 401(k) is a very powerful savings tool. I should have done this years ago.
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You forgot that 2020 was so bad, they had to add an extra day 🙂
Haha!
we didn’t make the absolute dollar returns you did but still had another great money year. i know it’s anathema in the personal finance sphere but stocks for the win!
freddy smidlap recently posted…Final 2020 Stock Scorecard: Smidlap +92.3%, QQQ +46.0%, VTSAX +17.6%
This year was bonkers. Congratulations!
“i know it’s anathema in the personal finance sphere but stocks for the win!”
My next big investment ($250,000) may be a private investment in SpaceX. If folks thing individual stocks are bad, wait until they hear about this…
Hi long term reader but commenting for the first time (and TSLA bull 🙂 ). Coincidently I cam across Twitter thread about this with account Alternate Jones just yesterday. Are you referring to the same or something else? I am very interested. Thanks.
I’m not familiar with that Twitter thread, but the investment is through an SPV that’s being set up by Ben Holland, a financial advisor out of Chicago. I can email you the juicy details if you’re interested.
yes, interested. Can you please email me at the email address with which I am commenting?
Thx a lot
BTW, I am a long term reader, engineer (Silicon design) but I am quite introvert and rarely comment in blogs. Interestingly, following you, I created my own 1500 days list (just put days in spreadsheet) and scratched 1 day everyday for fun. I passed 1500 days in mid 2020. My NW is also tracking roughly similar as you currently. However, I still haven’t pulled the plug yet. Going to office and working in corporate culture everyday was stressful (especially introverted person like me who wants to get work done but not interested in all other corporate BS) but so far for a last year Working from Home has been a respite.
We had a good year financially as well. And, as an appreciative main driver of a Tesla I’m glad my purchase helped out your portfolio! Happy New Year!
Whaoh, which Tesla did you get? How did you like it? I’m thinking about buying one myself. Shoot me your referral code!
I have followed you for some time and really have enjoyed this journey. But your updates this year have been really confusing as to gains/net worth/etc. Maybe it’s all the asterisks, or how you talk about your two houses, but please try to spell out a bit better your balance sheet with assets/liabilities which will give us your net worth. Thank you!!!!!!!
Oh man, I’m confused myself. Three events complicated the matter:
1) We did a cash-out refi and invested the money. So, our net worth didn’t change, but our portfolio got a lot bigger.
2) When we executed the above, our home appraised for 75K more than we bought it for. So, our net-worth grew by 75K, but our investment portfolio didn’t.
3) I forgot what the 3rd one was. See, I’m totally confused!
If you have ideas for how I could improve, I’d love to hear them. Maybe I’ll drop the investments part and just focus on net-worth?
I love these posts, there are some bloggers that choose to slow or stop posting after they leave the work force. It is nice to see the projects, the activity, the spending and to see there is still growth in the portfolio.
I say – “Thank you for doing this!”
Thank you for the kind comment and Happy New Year!
Oh TSLA. One day it’ll make sense (for better or worse!). Happy 2021! Looking forward to the 2020 roundup.
Chris@TTL recently posted…Our 3 Greatest Financial Mistakes to Avoid for a Wealthy 2021
Ha, Tesla is misunderstood, but yeah, the stock has loads of future growth priced in. It will be fun to watch.
Miserable 365 days, indeed. While my net worth climbed up well for the year, it was so miserable being cooped up in my apartment for 365 days straight with no signs of slowing down. I wonder if the new strain of virus will run rampant in 2021 as well..
David, I’m a natural-born pessimist, but I do think 2021 is going to be a better year. 2020 sure sucked from a “interacting with other humans” standpoint. Some of our friends faded away and I’m unsure the spark will ever be relit. Life goes on.
I am hoping that you are right, Carl!
Congratulations on such a great run for 2020!
I think 2020 was a year of growth for me – it was the year where I started my personal finance blog, and I haven’t looked back since. To stay strong during such a tough year like you did is incredible – Kudos – and keep up the great work!
Cheers,
Fiona
Thanks for the kind words and I hope your 2021 is the best year yet!
2020 was a good year with money, but sucked in many other ways. However, life is still pretty great.
Funny how your gain in 2020 was almost exactly what your goal was after 1500 days. Amazing what a difference a few years makes.
Life is good. Very unexpected too.
Great, wish you even better this year!
Amazing what a difference a few years makes.
Hey man,
It’s been a few years since I’ve commented and since we last met up in San Diego.
I’m still trying to chase your net worth – I’m trying to get close enough to just drift off of you.
Happy to see you doing so well.
Dominic! How the hell are you?
Chasing my net worth! I have a feeling you’ll sail past me sometime this decade. It’s all good!
Maybe we’ll see you in SoCal sometime this year? I need some beach action in my life.