MFW Diary - Take 1!

edinburgher

So being a forty three year old codger I want more in bonds less in equities?

Can't one just invest in a plain index tracker?

Depends when you want to retire Al m'dear and how likely you think it is that your current provisions will come close to meeting your lifetime purchasing requirements

But yes, you would typically expect to have less in equities as time moves on. One rule of thumb is your age in bonds, but I would worry that this is too conservative in the current environment.

Plain index trackers (i.e. FTSE 100) are available, but funds such as Lifestrategy are far more broadly diversified, which helps to cushion your portfolio against falls from any one index. That said, there are times when everything goes down, so it's not a magic bullet solution to be diversified.

I'm not sure what the minimum is, sorry.

I've not seen less than £50/mth, but I'd argue that investing less than £50/mth is a waste of time anyway.

Alchemilla

I find it really hard to judge what I will spend in retirement because of the kids. Basically I should hope for it to be when or soon after the mortgage ends though since mortgage plus childcare is pretty much my whole salary.

I should say between us we put about £550 into pensions and AVCs so we are not totally headinthesand.

eta one of our moving possibilities would drop our mortgage by 80k. The other could potentially provide 500 quid a month in extra income...

Calfuray

I wish I knew more about this pension stuff. Currently on page 58/85 on Marine_life's thread on the Pensions board, but 90% of it goes over my head.

I know the difference between DB (defined benefit) and DC (defined contributions) now. I know of capped and flexible drawdown, and that you can have SIPPs or ISAs or *other* products. Feel like I can't see the wood for the trees, and struggling to find jargon-free explanations. Numbers are flying about everywhere too, and I cannot see where they are coming from! Bah.

__________

Just updated my calendar with my uni classes. Really not looking forward to it _pale_
I've never been one to not look forward to uni or school etc.

Hate caring, it's mathematically impossible for me to graduate without a 1st. So why can't I sleep? :rotfl:

Hope work isn't too painful for everyone.

Cal x

Calfuray

It's so cold and snowy and brrr.

But it is Taco Tuesday :dance:

Got 83% on my interim report for my dissertation, ecstatic! Off to make dinner, then eat dinner and read diaries

x

edinburgher

I know of capped and flexible drawdown

Capped drawdown won't be a thing in a few months though, was an interesting TV program with that nice chap from 999 on last night.

Calfuray

edinburgher wrote: »

Capped drawdown won't be a thing in a few months though, was an interesting TV program with that nice chap from 999 on last night.

Told you I know nothing!

In all seriousness, do you have any good links or books to get for finding out about this stuff?

edinburgher

Read Tim Hale's Smarter Investing, keep investing the way you already do, eat crisps

And Monevator, Monevator's good.

Calfuray

edinburgher wrote: »

Read Tim Hale's Smarter Investing, keep investing the way you already do, eat crisps

And Monevator, Monevator's good.

Crisps? Don't tempt me man :rotfl:

Thank you, will check them out

gallygirl

Calfuray wrote: »

In all seriousness, do you have any good links or books to get for finding out about this stuff?

Ed. Ed's good :rotfl:.

Calfuray

Haven't really posted, not been much to post!

Doubt I'll be on much from now on, getting to crunch time for dissertation.

On job front - got weird email last week asking me to come in to discuss "opportunities". It was one of the companies that was originally on my top 3 list but they never advertised their jobs. And, it's about 15 minute drive from my house! So, yeah, I kinda want to work there.
But, I don't know what it is, if it's an interview, an informal talk, an offer or a talk to see if they want me to apply to something? I spoke to the head of the department twice at uni things and he asked me to send him my CV, it's him I'm meeting this week, and he is terrifying

So, yeah, I guess I'll update you if anything exciting happens?

Cal