April’s Armchair Investing Update
It’s been a very long while since I have written an update about my stocks and shares ‘experiment’, so I thought it was time I wrote up a quick post as to how I’m getting on.
My trading platform of choice (iii) had a free trading day on Friday, so I took advantage of that to re-allocate, re-balance (a bit), and generally have some fun without the commission on top.
Prepare yourself for some weekend laughter, probably directed squarely at my direction! It’s ok. I can take it.
Disclaimer
I’m an oblivious, amateur, very-long-term-outlook investor. I am not a financial advisor, and none of the advice found on this website should be construed as financial advice. It isn’t. This is what I am doing. If you choose to follow me, you can cry in your own beer instead of mine.
Deal?
My Current Allocation
Click for larger view
Slightly over three-quarters of my asset allocation currently sits within the UK banking sector. This is one of my longer term positions, as the majority of the assets within that sector are priced significantly below what they have historically run at between recessions.
The remainder is split between:
- ~3% iShares FTSE EPRA/NAREIT UK Pty (IUKP)
- ~10% iShares FTSE 100 (ISF)
- ~10% HSBC Japan Index Ret Acc
My Stock/Fund Purchase Method
I purchase my stocks and funds via iii.co.uk, which has one of the easiest to use trading platforms I’ve seen. I use their Regular Investment system to automatically purchase a pre-allocated sum of money against a pre-set purchase list of my choosing. They then conduct this trade at a time to suit them (within that month), keeping costs low.
This automated method is suitable for me as I’m taking the Pound Cost Averaging route over the longer-term view, so hitting spikes or not taking advantage of unusual lows is of a lower priority for me than most day-traders would even consider.
With the exception of last Friday, where they had a zero-commission/no-fee day for ISA stock purchases, so I have thrown an extra £100 into the pot more than usual and had fund hand-picking my targets.
My Stock/Fund Storage Method
All my trading is conducted within an ISA to shelter me from (most) tax liability. If you are doing stock trading for yourself, under £11,280 per annum, you really should be doing the same. For more information on ISA’s check out my ‘A Guide To: Individual Savings Accounts‘.
Profit / Loss Report
Ah. We have come to the sick part. But it is fine! This is not a short-term operation, and I am mildly optimistic that at some point things will rebound.
Currently across all sectors, I am -26.91% in terms of purchase-cost v. current actual. That smarts a little bit, but I’m going to smile anyway because in 2, 5, 10, 20, or 500 years time, it’ll swing the other way.
Right?? 
Tags: ISA, Stock market, stock trading
Category Investing, Stocks & Shares
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“Currently across all sectors, I am -26.91% in terms of purchase-cost v. current actual. That smarts a little bit, but I’m going to smile anyway because in 2, 5, 10, 20, or 500 years time, it’ll swing the other way.”
Been there done that… my worst was horrific -50% down after a poor run of choices. Still trying to exit that scenario and have a smaller -10% after I thought I’d found something special and went for it big time. To be fair to me I probably had, but there were also reasons not to invest (such as cash flow) and I’ll probably only see it out with a small profit that was not worth the risks of going for it big time. At the time it was spectacularly overdone so I borrowed money to average down, put on some sunglasses to shield my eyes from the numbers and rode it out. Not enjoyable at all and its changed the whole way I plan to invest significantly.
As far as I can tell there is only one way to succeed at investing: to forever keep trying to improve upon what you know, to be able to take and learn from losses and to apply what you learn. I think of an investor as a woodlouse that will head off in any direction, but ultimately move towards the warmest area as they track up and down. Right now I’m probably still heading towards the freezer.
Wise words, Rob, as always. Which amusingly apply equally well to just about every scenario and not just investing: keep learning, and keep improving.
Good to see I’m not the only one who has made some interesting decisions
Investment Portfolio, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference!
lol Drew. All very true!!