What are YOU investing in?

[Moby Dick]

when the economy tanks even further and takes an utter shit this coming year...

what're your investments? besides the obvious metals etc...

[matteric]

McDonalds, KFC, and Roto-Rooter.


There's a shitload of FAT people in flyover country.

[Wolfman]

I still have stock in GE, Bank of America, and Revlon. My biggest equity lies in my home, and that has turned the corner as the market here is hot.

[Mikey]

when the economy tanks even further and takes an utter shit this coming year...

what're your investments? besides the obvious metals etc...

Poptart troll?
:?

[Left Seater]

Real estate is one thing the wife and I have. We own multiple lots in a few lake front developments that we purchased for pennies on the dollar a few years ago. One has already sold and was a winner. We also own our home and my inlaws home. I also continue to purchase "shares" of the family trust each year as does my brother. This will help transfer my mom's estate to us without much in the way of inheritance taxes.

We both contribute to 401Ks up to the employer match, she contributes to two and I contribute to three.

As for other investments, I really have no clue what we are invested in. We have a contract with an individual who manages our investment portfolio. His only income is a percentage of our portfolio's growth each year, as determined in mid march. This works out great for us and him as well. He isn't making trades just to churn commission and fees, instead is looking to increase our portfolio year over year, not just once, which will earn him more money.

[Left Seater]

Plus my main residence has a just a few $10k left on mortgage, so that is sitting pretty nice. Now if the taxes don't kill me in old age . . .

Freaking taxes. The wife and I have almost no deductions since we don't have kids and have paid off her MBA student loans. The mortgage intrest and donations are about all that are left.

Add to that I really don't know what my income is going to be from year to year and then making estimated payments on unknown is horrible. I have almost all of my "salary" withheld in case I have a large ownership bonus late in the year. It is great when I do as the taxes are mostly paid. If I don't then I get to play the chance game of IRS competence. Some years it isn't an issue and others it is.

[molly]

I may buy a house. But may wait for 2016.

Otherwise, I need to know what to do so I guess I'm off to see a financial advisor.

[Moving Sale]

I also continue to purchase "shares" of the family trust each year as does my brother. This will help transfer my mom's estate to us without much in the way of inheritance tax.

Two words. Totten trust.

[Left Seater]

I also continue to purchase "shares" of the family trust each year as does my brother. This will help transfer my mom's estate to us without much in the way of inheritance tax.

Two words. Totten trust.

It is my understanding that a Totten trust can not contain real property. Something our family trust contains.

[Moving Sale]

Yes and no. If you are already buying "shares" of the trust you could easily "buy shares" of a different trust.

[BSmack]

Shocking that a lawyer would be the one to propose turning a family estate into a shell game.

[Left Seater]

Yes and no. If you are already buying "shares" of the trust you could easily "buy shares" of a different trust.

I don't follow. Either it can contain real estate or it can't.

My mom is gifting shares to my brother and I each year at an amount slightly less than the max allowed by the IRS. I am buying shares only for a specific reason. The trust has a dollar figure that helps support two of the properties. The dollars I "purchase" shares with replace the money my mom initially put in to fund the maintenance. This allows her to have use of that cash now that she is retired and also allows me more ownership in the trust than she could gift me per IRS rules.

[Dan Vogel]

Index funds. Real estate.

I have a miserable life and wish I were dead!

[Felix]

I have one (pretty big) IRA in an old certificate of deposit (with a bank) at 5.3% per year.

yumpin yimminy, what bank did you get to pay you 5.3%?
give me their name because I'd like to start making large deposits with them.....

[Moving Sale]

LS,
I read your post as saying the estate was over the death tax limit and the estate value needed to be lowered. If the trust is already giving you just under the tax free amount it is allowed per year a Totten trust will not help. But if you did need to "Totten" real property there are ways to achive that goal.

[molly]

I have one (pretty big) IRA in an old certificate of deposit (with a bank) at 5.3% per year.

yumpin yimminy, what bank did you get to pay you 5.3%?
give me their name because I'd like to start making large deposits with them.....

Hell yeah. Me too. Nothing over 1.1% so far.

[Dan Vogel]

Dan, it is the holiday season, enjoy it and be grateful for all of your many blessings.

Sure you can look around and see others who seemingly have it better than you. But realize that there are many who would dream of having your life, and you would not want to trade places with them.

That concept applies to many things, money, health, whatever. The glass is either half empty or half full; you can be pissed that it is half empty, or you can be grateful that it is half full.

I've had to deal with some fairly significant health issues. Yet all it takes is a look around the ER or physician waiting room to again realize that whatever I'm dealing with is minor compared to what some others have going on. And so I'm exceptionally grateful for all of my incredible fortune, even as I'm facing two or three more surgeries in the not too distant future.

One of the least happy men I've ever met in my life was one of the wealthiest; back in the late 70s I met Mr. (Abraham?) Pritzker a few times, he was an old man then and incredibly wealthy. But he always seemed to be worrying or upset about something, he just didn't seem to enjoy life, despite all of his success. My step father was friends with him then, and he told me that he was just like that, always always worrying. I don't notice Bill Gates and Warren Buffet like that. Anyway, on the other hand I know some other people who are in absolute poverty, in large part surviving on what they can catch in the bayou. And they love life, always laughing and smiling, joking around and carrying on. They may not have money, but they certainly don't think of themselves as poor. They do, in fact, enjoy rich lives.

It is a matter of perspective, Dan. The glass is half full, and you should be grateful for it.

Thanks for the good words Jsc810. You are one of the good men here. But I did not type that I hate my life. My account has been hacked. Some people are very slow to learn a lesson. Because of the past reported threats against me and my family on this message board the FBI monitored this board. They monitored other things and I won't reveal. Some of you would be shocked though. What is known about you personally. The file is not closed. All it will take is one phone all from me and they can look at the inside of this message board again. Trust me they can tell me in two minutes who hacked my account. So do you want to play games with me? Think it over hacker.

Happy Holidays!

[Go Coogs']

Mrs. Rumps and I are buying investment property in a trending area right now just outside of downtown Houston. Mainly multi-family duplexes and triplexes. I also have an investment on an RV park that is fully occupied 'til the end of 2016.

I'm in the usual healthcare mutual funds, some stocks, and cash in my IRA account. We also have a checking account with a local credit union that offers 2.5% interest annually as long as the balance stays above $10k. We don't look at it or even touch it.

I contribute 12% to my 401k and get 6% matching throughout the year and a lump sum 8% profit sharing match every March. I also have a pension that is in it's early stages. Mrs. Rumps has a 12 year old pension and a 403b that gets no matching. She puts about 6% in the account.

The market has its peaks and valleys and right now it's on a downward trend, but a lot of analysts are thinking a rebound will most likely happen early next year. Not sure whats going to happen in the energy sector, but I'm sure you'll have some production lowered and some layoffs here and there, but it'll come back. OPEC threw a curve ball at all the oil producers...most likely to send Putin a stern message. There is collateral damage for it, but maybe he'll stop being such an asshole and get in line. I know, it's a weak theory.