Investing?

[Erlingiii]

What are the thoughts regarding bold investments in the rv industry? Is there going to be a boom of consumers swelling this option for vacation and leisure tourism? Baby boomers are retiring, and lake shore property is still expensive and in one place. Just trying to stir the pot.

[wildtoad]

I wouldn't. Many baby boomers are going to find they are ill prepared for retirement having spent their money early. I do think there is going to be more consolidation in the industry so that might be a play. I think a better play is in golf carts. Seems they are the must have toy to annoy your neighbors and fellow campers.

[MAU MAU]

Investing in a singular/special interest market is not a wise choice.

You must be well diversified, both domestically and internationally, so that when one market tanks, your remaining portfolio, if well balanced, should be on the rise.

In 2011 I received a return of 11.3%, and my wife received 18.5%

[Erlingiii]

What about updating? Is there much " buyers remorse" when improving amenities such as, entertainment, decor, window treatments, sectional couch, that sort of thing? I'm just thinking that there may be a flipping market for rv's, more so Dp's. There are a lot of great mh's out there, 100 g fairly late model, with multiple slides! What separates them from 08's for nearly 200? My thinking is that 10 to 20 would bring 150

[Erlingiii]

Originally Posted by MAU MAU

Investing in a singular/special interest market is not a wise choice.

You must be well diversified, both domestically and internationally, so that when one market tanks, your remaining portfolio, if well balanced, should be on the rise.

In 2011 I received a return of 11.3%, and my wife received 18.5%

I do agree with you, I was questioning this a just part of a portfolio.

[MAU MAU]

If you want to have a small allotment of RV type shares for entertainment purposes, them by all means, order away.

It is your money after all.

[Jack1234]

Originally Posted by MAU MAU

Investing in a singular/special interest market is not a wise choice.

You must be well diversified, both domestically and internationally, so that when one market tanks, your remaining portfolio, if well balanced, should be on the rise.

In 2011 I received a return of 11.3%, and my wife received 18.5%

I'm sorry, but this reminds me of the guy who goes to Vegas and "always" wins! In 2011 (one of the most volatile years of this generation) the Dow finished the year at +5%, the Nasdaq at-1.8%, and the S&P was flat. Germany was -15%, France was -17%, Canada was -11% and China was -21.7%. With all due respect, I don't think a diversified portfolio got you an 18.5% return?

Regardless, if Mau Mau's wife can pull +18.5% I'd do whatever she suggests.

[Jack1234]

Originally Posted by MAU MAU

Investing in a singular/special interest market is not a wise choice.

You must be well diversified, both domestically and internationally, so that when one market tanks, your remaining portfolio, if well balanced, should be on the rise.

In 2011 I received a return of 11.3%, and my wife received 18.5%

I'm doing whatever your wife tells me to do! +18.5%!!!! One thing for sure though .....It is not diversified equities investing.

In 2011 the DOW was up 5% (8%) total return if you include dividends.....the Nasdaq was off -1.8%......the S&P was flat. The average "diversified" actively managed US stock mutual fund was off -2%. In fact, 2011 was one of the most volatile markets in recent US history.....but wait...the rest of the world was even better.

The MSCI index for Europe and Asia was off -12%....... The index for emerging markets (Brazil, Russia, India, China) was off -18%.

Sorry, looks to me like all markets "tanked" in 2011. Please help me out.....what market did your wife find in 2011 that returned over + 30% to off-set her diversified exposure in the US, Europe, Asia & Emerging markets?

[MAU MAU]

Hello Jack -

My wife (Harvard MBA) is smart enough to have a qualified individual manage her money and she has been doing fairly well the past few years. She would like me to use her man as well but I do not feel comfortable having all of our money with one small firm.

I have not seen her portfolio, only the end results (18.5%) when we did our 2011 taxes so I do not know what she was invested in. As a matter of fact, I do not even know how much she has in her bank accounts.

My portfolio has not done as well as hers and mine is divided between two firms, one in Orlando and the other in Michigan.

As you mentioned, it is a volatile time and past performance is no guarantee of future gains. I think the good days when even Treasury Bills were giving you 6% are gone.

[grafxman]

Originally Posted by MAU MAU

Hello Jack -

My wife (Harvard MBA) is smart enough to have a qualified individual manage her money and she has been doing fairly well the past few years. She would like me to use her man as well but I do not feel comfortable having all of our money with one small firm.

I have not seen her portfolio, only the end results (18.5%) when we did our 2011 taxes so I do not know what she was invested in. As a matter of fact, I do not even know how much she has in her bank accounts.

My portfolio has not done as well as hers and mine is divided between two firms, one in Orlando and the other in Michigan.

As you mentioned, it is a volatile time and past performance is no guarantee of future gains. I think the good days when even Treasury Bills were giving you 6% are gone.

Hmm...18.5%....her man isn't named Madoff is he? Seriously, that is a terrific return. I have a few mutual funds so I know little bit about investments and 18.5% is really excellent.

[mick]

Hmm...18.5%....her man isn't named Madoff is he?

Or is he based in Columbia and deals in white powder?

Me too, Id like some of that 18.5%!!!!

[HohoDad]

Turns out there are a lot of little Madoff's showing up around the country. We had two turn up here in Seattle. one the losses were just over $200,000.000. A few years ago he was the "smart money" goto... A balanced portfolio is not very balanced if your goto is a small investment broker .... Just thinkin'

[clyon51]

Originally Posted by Erlingiii

What are the thoughts regarding bold investments in the rv industry? Is there going to be a boom of consumers swelling this option for vacation and leisure tourism? Baby boomers are retiring, and lake shore property is still expensive and in one place. Just trying to stir the pot.

You're stirring the pot for sure. The RV industry is the last place I would put my money. Years ago I got tired of someone else handling my money, so I went on a quest to learn the stock market and have done very well in my retirement investing in individual stocks. Annally Capital Management (NLY) pays a 14% dividend, so that's a no-brainer if you have little risk tolerance.

I've made most of my money in Apple (AAPL) over the years. YTD It made me 136%, 1 Year return is 65% and 3 year avg return is 70%. Of course my portfolio only did 79, 21, 31% over the same time. So, 18% is good last year, but it's been better than the previous 3 years, so although good, its far from the best and still decent for mutuals. You want to avoid Madoffs, do it yerself

[JimM68]

I dunno what could be worse.... I bought 10k in facebook last friday, it's only down $1500 in 2 days....

I think i like my deskdrawer best. 30k a monthg ago, 30k today, no losses.