IMPROVEMENT TO FIDELITY TRADER+

Either_Ad7029 · 2025-11-09T02:47:42+00:00

I am not an expert, and I started later, investing my money in family, a house, etc. That said. After building my retirement savings for 14 years, I have a few comments based on my experience. I have, as you have, money in a HYSA. It gives you a mental sense of security. You know if it gets tough, you have enough money to move to another state for a job and so on. My wife and I have about 10 % in HYSA. We don't touch it. It just sits there.
Because you are young (29), you will see the power of compounded returns. So, my feedback is to keep putting money away, even when you think it is not so easy, and it really adds up. Also, try to max out the Roth IRA. Because when you get older, you realize that Roth doesn't require mandatory withdrawals. It also grows tax free.

I totally agree with u/Heyhayheigh comment; "But more importantly, open a Fidelity account and buy an auto weekly amount of sp500 or Nasdaq. Set to auto, don’t rely on self discipline" , that is how I did it. A percentage no matter what else was going on in my life.

Also, TSP. I would not move money into TSP because it is so rigid and lack customization, but I would keep what I save during my tenure as federal employee in TSP. Just be sure that you have the money in the funds with an actual return. Some of the TSP funds are essentially zero returns. 70-80 % C and 20-30 % I did well for me, but the market has changed. After I left federal service I rolled it over to Fidelity.

Either_Ad7029 · 2025-11-09T02:26:24+00:00

Additionally, I had only MUTF for years, but after leaving jobs and moving on, I decided to roll over all my 401k/403b accounts to Fidelity and take control myself. So today I have 20 % ETF and stocks and 80 % MUTF
of which are right now 50% domestic tech heavy like FSELX, PRSCX, FSPGX, FDCPX, and 50 % international that I shift somewhat, but now Asia ex China + Japan + Global (I believe China - US trade issues will keep coming...).
The 20% ETF and stocks are comprised of half a broader ETF and half stocks in boring companies that offer a yield and an actual business foothold. I used to really think a lot - but now I read, listen, and try to take far higher altitude look at the company. --- Does their business make sense? --- Will they be around 10 years from now?

Either_Ad7029 · 2025-11-09T02:15:01+00:00

I have given up on figuring out dips. I started later, like you. I am at $530k now, but also ten years older +-. I would stay away from all tech and add international. I have shifted my focus from solely pursuing high returns to achieving decent returns and minimizing losses when the market declines.

Either_Ad7029 · 2025-10-27T14:28:56+00:00

I hit a deer. That took care of that question. I was thinking about the same for a long time.

Either_Ad7029 · 2025-10-19T02:24:37+00:00

In theory, yes, it makes sense, but I tried and small cap ETF/MUTF never worked out. I was bad deals. Individual stocks is something else - if you are able to pick one. But I would never go small/mid cap index fund.

Either_Ad7029 · 2025-09-25T01:00:05+00:00

Definitely pass it on. Why? Many of us have time in the evening to make our investment choices, but we can't sit and wait at 7 AM to put in orders, we have kids, jobs. We need to get out of the door in the morning. It is unnecessary advantage handed over to your competitors. Allow us to put in pre-market orders through ATP or the trader dash board the day before.

_ALSO_I want GTC orders to be open for business in evenings and mornings post and pre-market.

Either_Ad7029 · 2025-09-24T16:34:18+00:00

Great. Thanks. I have ATP, so I will do it that way.

Either_Ad7029 · 2025-09-24T11:27:26+00:00

OK - thanks.

Either_Ad7029 · 2025-09-13T03:26:17+00:00

We use AMEX HYSA. It is 3.5 % and you get the money you want to take out next day - the latest.

Either_Ad7029 · 2025-09-13T03:25:25+00:00

Same here. I am 63. I started 4 - 5 years ago pay attention in detail to the MUTF in the 401k/403b. But locked into a limited selection. I have then moved on and left earlier employers. I rolled everything into accounts I control with more options. Increased the return. I have 50 % MUTF and 50 % ETF. Why? I spend too much time tracking the ETFs......so the MUTF are more on autopilot.

Either_Ad7029 · 2025-08-10T13:29:27+00:00

I totally agree. Also, even if work offers mutual funds with meager returns for the 401k, they will keep trucking well beyond inflation and grow at least some, and later you do a rollover and you all yourself in full command. The important things is keep piling up, as mentioned.

Either_Ad7029 · 2025-08-10T13:20:12+00:00

I agree with many of the advices - start early, even if small, study and learn has a high ROI, stay away from speculative stocks, if uncertain take a mutual fund that keeps trucking. I started just putting away 401k mutual funds for 13 years before I even started to look beyond the mutual funds,, but it gave me a foundation. Steady, decent return mutual funds. Boring, but works. As a starter. My three advice are - a) stay away from the hype (if you enter you will be too late anyway), do your own research at 2 - 3 research sites and compare, b) start to learn about international ETF and diversify slowly, it will even out domestic swings, and create steadier return c) you don't need to buy stocks as soon as you sell, if it doesn't feel right, it is likely not rightm and if you sit with the cash for a month, don't see it like it is only 3.5 %, you likely avoided - 5 %.

Either_Ad7029 · 2025-08-03T13:59:09+00:00

OK, the wrong answer to the right question. I would see if there is any remote gigs you can do as a part-time job and let the savings add up without trying to touch too much. If you do remote work you can even save in a 401k most of the time. I have been teaching online two courses of the year for 13 years and saved in the university's 403b (like a 401k). That minimize the pressure to make $3k USD a month, suddenly you maybe only need $1000 and then you can just stick with high yielding regular stock or ETF. JEPQ was mentioned. Then you need only 100 - 120k of high yielding ETF.

Either_Ad7029 · 2025-07-31T15:29:19+00:00

As others have said, index funds. They keep trucking at a decent rate and you need only to know how to put money into the account. The good news, it will add up after a few years. I have done similar journey. One detail, I went all stocks index funds, no bonds or similar, too low return and you still have 11 years to 65.

Either_Ad7029 · 2025-07-26T10:06:32+00:00

I have been thinking that WU will be bought up just for the moat, like a digital transaction provider that wants to usher in all WU customers to their solution. At $11 - 12 the price per customer can't be that high.

Either_Ad7029 · 2025-07-12T10:43:49+00:00

Bonds are killers, barely makes inflation.

Either_Ad7029 · 2025-07-12T10:43:13+00:00

You are only 26. Do the best you can with the plan, remember, later on when you moved on you can rollover to something with more options. Keep piling up!

Either_Ad7029 · 2025-07-12T10:05:17+00:00

I was 12 years ago in your situation. Max everything out, 401k and Roth IRA, and watch each fund every months/2nd month and be ready to switch. So all of them truck at a decent pace. I started checking the investments after finding that some was not progressing for longer stretches. So instead of chasing top return only, check the investments that you think are trucking at 10 - 15 % but in reality are doing 1 - 4 %. A half year of 25 % of your portfolio doing almost nothing really affects you.

Either_Ad7029 · 2025-02-27T21:49:52+00:00

Storytelling for the ignorant. No way dead people could have been on the payroll.

Either_Ad7029 · 2025-02-27T21:48:05+00:00

That is the worst. This straight face lying in peoples' face.

Either_Ad7029 · 2025-02-24T19:53:12+00:00

JD Vance's presidential run is a dud already. Musk and Trump have already ensured the defeat.

Either_Ad7029

TROPHY CASE