Daily General Discussion and Advice Thread for October 26, 2024

Got a question? Want to talk about today’s market moves? Or maybe you have a random fact you’d like to share?

Post here for general advice, tips, or just to chat!

If you’re asking for specific investment advice like “What should I do with $10,000?” it helps to include some background info, like:

  • Your age and location.
  • Your income and job situation.
  • What you want to do with the money (like buy a house or save for retirement).
  • How long you plan to keep it invested.
  • Your risk tolerance (how much you’re willing to risk to potentially grow your money).
  • What other investments you already have (like stocks, funds, or property).
  • Any major debts (and interest rates) or big expenses.

Check our FAQ for general info and a reading list on investing basics.

Reminder: Answers here are just opinions from other forum members. Please consider seeking advice from a registered investment advisor for personal financial decisions!

Adding crypto to my portfolio — which one?

Hi all! I’m restructuring my portfolio, cutting down on individual stocks and adding more ETFs. I’m not totally convinced about crypto, but the performance is interesting enough that I’m considering putting 5% of my portfolio into it.

So, any ideas on which one I should look into? Should I stick with the big name (Bitcoin), or maybe go for a basket of smaller ones? I’m a total beginner in crypto, so I’d appreciate any suggestions!

Thanks!

Hey everyone! I’m 36 and live in the U.S. Got two questions:

  1. Could someone explain the whole GameStop thing from a few years back? I heard some folks used it to pay off debts and all that. How did that happen?

  2. Is it possible to get a steady paycheck just from investing?

Think it’s a good time to go for long-term treasury bonds now that rates are around 4.5%?

Hi! I’m new to investing and could use some guidance:

  1. What’s a good high-yield savings account (HYSA) option? I’ve never had one, but I’m looking to get more control over my money.

  2. 401k advice — best way to get started?

  3. What about IRAs or Roth IRAs — should I get into these too? Which one is right for me?

  4. Any solid stocks, bonds, or REITs to consider?

Thanks in advance for any tips!

Hey all, I know these types of posts get asked a lot, but I could use some advice on my taxable brokerage account. I’m 35, earn a good income, and just had a baby, so I’m trying to make sure my choices are solid. This money is for the long-term, and I’m not planning to touch it for a while.

Here’s what I’m invested in:

  • VTI: 70%
  • VXUS: 12%
  • AVUV: 12%
  • BND: 6%

Do these choices and the percentages make sense? There are so many opinions online that it’s hard to know what to follow!

I’m 30, based in Canada, and I earn around $85k/year with a pensionable job. My savings are about $50k (including RRSP and TFSA). After my monthly expenses and investing about $280 in ETFs, I have around $700 left over each month.

I’d like to invest another $400-500 monthly for the long term. Any suggestions on where to put it?

@Kai
Do you have a Roth IRA?

Oli said:
@Kai
Do you have a Roth IRA?

Is that available in Canada too?

Kai said:

Oli said:
@Kai
Do you have a Roth IRA?

Is that available in Canada too?

Oh, sorry! Guess it’s not a thing in Canada. I’m learning too, so I’m not the best source of advice here. Hope some Canadian folks can help out!

I’m 18, live in Australia, and am studying at uni while working casually for some extra cash. I understand the basics of investing, but a friend told me that putting money in an ETF like Vanguard Australian shares (VAS) has almost no risk if you leave it for a long time (10+ years) and don’t sell when the market is down.

Is it true there’s such little risk with an ETF if you hold long-term? It sounds a bit too good to be true. Any insights?

@Blue
Even stock indices sometimes go lower over ten-year periods. A couple have gone to ‘zero’ during revolutions, but Australia’s been a strong market. Since 1980, every 10-year period has shown a positive return (according to Dimensional’s study, though not adjusted for inflation).

Thoughts on CPRI:

What if an activist like Elliott steps in, buys a chunk (say 11%), shakes up the board, and then sells the parts off? Could be a cash grab from an activist. Just a thought.

Hey, I’m 41, live in the U.S., and life has been pretty unpredictable lately. I earn around $70k per year, but my health is declining, and I may not be able to work for much longer. Currently, I’m staying with my dad, so I’m able to save most of my income.

Assets:

  • Cash: $77,855.62 (36.8%)
  • Metals: $107,292.52 (49.7%)
  • Mutual funds & ETFs: $30,608.28 (14.2%)

Total Net Worth: $215,756.42

I don’t want to add to my cash anymore, but I’m already heavy in metals, mostly gold, and I don’t want to buy more international value funds because of high fees. I’m considering moving $50k into a managed brokerage account that focuses on alternative investments, international diversification, value stocks, and metals.

I’d have to pull about $25k in cash, $10k in metals, and $15k in securities to fund it, which would leave me with a smaller cash cushion ($52,855.62). My main worry is cash — I’ll need around $15-20k for a medical procedure in the next 1-2 years, so having less cash is a bit stressful.

What do you all think — should I go for the managed account, or stick to adding more diverse commodities in my self-directed brokerage?

How do you all do your research on investments?

I often see people say ‘do your research’ about stocks and companies. Are there any specific sites or resources that would be helpful for someone new to this?

@Chen
I start by looking at official filings like the SEC website https://www.sec.gov/search-filings. Start with their annual report (10-K) and quarterly reports (10-Q). A lot of financial websites just summarize these, so it’s good to go straight to the source.

Comment removed.

I just got my first full-time job and would like some advice on diversifying my investments.

I’m 23, make $140k/year before tax, and am saving for a house and retirement. I don’t need to touch this money right now, but I prefer safer investments.

Here’s what I do with each paycheck:

  1. Max out 401k with employer match.
  2. 50% goes to savings (earning 2%, thinking about a HYSA).
  3. 15% to checking.
  4. 15% to Fidelity for investing in FBGRX, FXAIX, and some other stocks.

I also have about $30k in a bank account that I’m not sure how to invest. Any advice?

@Ash
That all sounds pretty solid.

Depending on when you need cash, you could look at short-term bond funds instead of a HYSA for potentially higher returns. Here’s a good intro on bonds: https://www.pimco.com/en-us/resources/education/everything-you-need-to-know-about-bonds

Should I wait to invest my Roth IRA until after the election? I’m 25 and have $5k to contribute. Would it make sense to wait for potential market drops or just invest now?