A Good Year For Retirees

2016 was a good year for DIY investor retirees in the investment markets. For a basic asset allocation using low cost ETFs the results were approximately as follows:

Large Cap 35% = +11.80% SPY
Small Cap 10% = +19.89% SCHA
International 15% = +4.66% IXUS
Bonds 35% = +2.56% AGG
cash 5% = +0.1%

The total portfolio return approximated +7.77%.

The important point is that it exceeded 4% (the benchmark 4% drawdown rate for retirement) plus the rate of inflation (approximately 2%).

The bottom line is that the DIY investor retiree took his or her drawdown and had more than they started the year with and they are one year closer to the grim reaper. What more could one ask for?

There are some assumptions in here of course. If you invested with an investment advisor who charged 1 percent or more and who invested you in active Funds that follow the
"hokey-poket style" of jumping in and jumping out you likely did considerably less than the above results.

In fact, the above portfolio could have easily been set up on 1/1 and the DIY investor retiree set about enjoying his or her retirement to the fullest. Let the hair pulling over the UK leaving the EU and the Trump election with the barrage of analysis over the stream of tweets to others.

And, oh yes, the grim reaper part is no big deal either. Everyone is one year closer, retiree or not. It is just that many retirees know it and appreciate their time a bit more because of the fact.

Have a great and prosperous New Year and enjoy the ongoing 3 ring circus. As long as they don't get us into a nuclear war it should be pretty entertaining!