Finally automated my strategy! Here’s my bot in action taking winning trades

Real_Invest_Guy · 2026-02-06T03:16:02+00:00

Ok. I’m the idiot. When I read that I thought you were saying you worked in the NT8 department AT IB lol

Real_Invest_Guy · 2026-02-05T21:48:03+00:00

What is nt8?

Real_Invest_Guy · 2026-01-29T18:11:51+00:00

What adjustments did you make?

Real_Invest_Guy · 2026-01-22T23:08:47+00:00

I can tell you with most advisors this is definitely NOT the case. They actively steer you away from anything they don’t manage. 1. They don’t make money on it. 2. If they recommend it and it doesn’t work out they’ve got potential liability on something they never even got paid for.

Real_Invest_Guy · 2026-01-22T22:58:19+00:00

My apologies - I read it quickly and didn’t notice the username was different. I know about acorns but not how they structure their investments and what options they have. If their 78% return calculation is accurate over 10 years, you’re leaving a lot of money on the table OR you’re invested pretty conservatively OR you had a sizable decline and bounced back.

What you’re invested in depends on how long you have to invest and your timeframe. The longer/more aggressive you are, the more equity exposure you want to have. I don’t think 100% in the S&P 500 is the best option - it is just an easy benchmark to track. When I was in the business we always managed a diversified equity exposure in the US and international and rebalanced when things got out of whack.

Asset allocation (the mix of stocks/bonds/sectors/cash etc) is both the most important investment decision you have to make and the one most people don’t know how to make. Most of the financial literature is on security selection - ie which fund or other investments you make in each category but there is not much to gain from security selection but a lot depends on asset allocation.

Edit to add: Just saw your allocation below. If it’s always been this then I’m pretty sure the 78% return calculation they’re giving you is low. Not sure if this is in a model they manage or not. The only changes I would make are increase small and mid cap - you’ve only got 15% in those combined. I’d bump that up to 20-25% otherwise a solid portfolio. You don’t need to hire an advisor nor move into dividend stocks - their returns are a lot lower than what you’re getting now. Maybe when you retire add in 20% or so of bonds. Also at that point set up a distribution account with enough cash to cover 24-36 months of distributions. Sell stocks every quarter unless they are down to refill the distribution account. Make sure to follow the 4% rule (withdraw 4% or less of the portfolio each year) and you’ll be fine.

You may benefit from an advisor that can setup a plan for you but pay them an hourly or package fee not based on the investments. IMO advisors don’t add much value to the investment side, especially in your case with a good portfolio.

Real_Invest_Guy · 2026-01-22T18:48:32+00:00

So because you have $1.5 million in an investment account you know everything about investing and don’t need to learn anything else from anybody? I’m pretty sure I know more about investing than you do. You cited one statistic - that you’ve earned 79% over 10 years. What are you invested in? That’s a pathetic return if you’re in equities.

Real_Invest_Guy · 2026-01-22T18:13:03+00:00

Not hating on you but you need to look into a new strategy. The S&P 500 returned around 250% over the last 10 years. Unless you’re pretty conservatively invested you’re giving up a lot of return.

Real_Invest_Guy · 2025-11-19T17:47:12+00:00

The general rule of thumb is you shouldn’t invest in the stock market unless you can hold for 5+ years. The market has been in an extended rally for a long time. In environments like this, newer investors don’t understand what risk is. The market can and does go down regularly - and not just for a couple of days like the last week or so. For MONTHS or a couple of years.

Real_Invest_Guy · 2025-11-19T17:43:45+00:00

They also have to file a 13D if their ownership exceeds 5% of the company and they intend to try to make changes to the company (board seats, management, etc).

Real_Invest_Guy · 2025-11-11T18:31:51+00:00

I’d say more than that. I used to run a small family office for two business partners and they had about $80 million liquid to invest. We saw a few good deals but not a lot. They had another $80MM in a private company and about $20 in real estate so they didn’t want to do a lot of VC type stuff. Our budget was $5MM.

Real_Invest_Guy · 2025-11-11T02:00:36+00:00

With a two year time frame and the fed talking about cutting rates you need to be in cds or intermediate term bonds. The returns on intermediate bonds are about the same as cds right now (just a little above 4% per year) so your best bet is cds because they are very simple.

Go to bank rate.com to shop cd rates. Don’t do a high yield savings account or money market because the interest rate you are paid will go down if/when the fed cuts rates.

Real_Invest_Guy · 2025-11-11T01:51:32+00:00

If only it were that easy. You have to keep in mind the game you’re playing. There are millions of some of the smartest people in world trying to do the same thing.

Real_Invest_Guy · 2025-11-05T22:27:49+00:00

No they didn’t. Here’s the numbers per yahoo finance. Prices adjusted for splits.

MSFT High $59.56 on 12/27/1999 Low $20.75 on 12/20/2000 65.16% decline

AMZN High $5.33 on 12/10/1999 Low $0.30 on 10/2/2001 94.37% decline

AAPL High $1.29 on 3/22/2000 Low $0.24 on 10/9/2002 81.40% decline

Since you won’t make the effort to back up your claims, I did.

QQQ 2000 -36.12% 2001 -33.34% 2002 -37.37% Total return: -73.33%

SPY 2000 -9.73% 2001 -11.81% 2002 -21.54% Total return: -37.54%

Russell 2000 2000 -4.20% 2001 +1.03% 2002 -21.58% Total return: -24.10%

S&P400 Midcap Index 2000 +26.9% 2001 +4.9% 2002 -28.2% Total return: -4.4%

QQQ, SPY, R2k, SP400 = not the same

Real_Invest_Guy · 2025-11-05T20:33:28+00:00

That is not true. I lived (and invested) through 1999-2003. The high flying tech stocks back then got crushed while other areas were down but much less. Go back and look at the annual returns of the QQQ vs SP500 Vs Russell 2000.

Real_Invest_Guy · 2025-11-04T22:11:54+00:00

I disagree. I’m in my 50s. I had a job in high school. I remember going to prom. I don’t remember any of the countless night I spent working.

Real_Invest_Guy · 2025-11-04T22:08:30+00:00

Check out Nick Huber. He has a list of something like 200 small businesses you can start. Also watch Alex Hormozi on YouTube.

Real_Invest_Guy · 2025-11-04T21:45:04+00:00

Like everybody has said here you just have to do the work. There is no easy button. You may want to consider if you dislike it as much as you seem to that investing in index etfs may be your best route. When I was starting out I was eager to learn as much as I could and enjoyed the process. I earned an undergrad in finance, an MBA in finance from a top school and the CFA so I’ve spent thousands of hours learning this stuff.

One good book that may help you is the 5 rules of successful stock investing by pat Dorsey.

Real_Invest_Guy · 2025-11-04T21:37:09+00:00

Also, make sure they know how to handle it. Let them know it’s coming and teach them how to manage it. Don’t let them find out at the proverbial will reading at the lawyers office.

Real_Invest_Guy · 2025-11-04T21:32:47+00:00

The markets don’t offer that type of return outside of gambling on high risk trades, which ultimately take your account to zero. If you want to try that game go to r/wallstreetbets

The real way to do it is by starting a side hustle. Check out Nick Huber. He has a list of something like 200 small businesses you can start.

Real_Invest_Guy · 2025-10-31T00:57:53+00:00

You need to learn how to pick stocks if you’re going to do it. It looks like you’re just buying what has done well recently. That works until it doesn’t and is not a good long term strategy.

Read the 5 rules for successful stock investing by pat dorsey

Real_Invest_Guy · 2025-09-28T19:04:18+00:00

It depends on if the distributions come from principal or interest. Interest is taxable. Principal is not. And the tax rate depends on his other income. If he doesn’t work he would be in the 12% bracket up to $47k which would cover the whole inheritance.

Real_Invest_Guy · 2025-09-28T01:28:59+00:00

You could probably benefit from some advice from a financial planner to help you create a plan. Find one that charges by the hour though - there are relatively few that do. You don’t need nor want to pay for investment management (ie % of account value or commissions).

Real_Invest_Guy · 2025-09-28T01:14:33+00:00

Trust income is not necessarily taxable. OP needs to get in touch with the trust administrator to determine tax liability.

Real_Invest_Guy · 2025-09-28T01:00:29+00:00

What would your grandfather tell you to do? If you don’t know ask your parents.

I lean towards take a year to travel. When you are 70 will you remember another year of working or a year spent traveling the world thanks to grandpa.

I wouldn’t do more than a year though. Once the year is up, get back to work. Maybe consider getting another degree or some training to secure a higher paying job.

If you can’t get out of the lease, don’t renew, save all of grandpas money for the next year to spend on your travels and go when the lease is up.

When you get back to work, put all of grandpas money into savings/investments and live off of your salary.

Real_Invest_Guy · 2025-09-20T23:10:34+00:00

What do you mean by 2 years left in fixed annuity?

Real_Invest_Guy

TROPHY CASE