Investing, the early years (2002-2011)



On the last day of 2011 my total ROIC since 2002 was 48%, or a little over five percent per year, for nine years. 

The S&P 500 returned over 70% for the same period.

In the fall of 2002 I began investing by opening a ROTH IRA retirement account with approximately sixteen dollars. The funds were allocated to a diversified portfolio of funds managed by a financial planner. I contributed small amounts each year through about 2009. 

In 2004 I opened a traditional retirement account through the federal government Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) to invest some of the tax-free combat pay I would collect while deployed to Iraq. I contributed approximately three dollars for the year. 

In 2005 I contributed about another three dollars of combat pay to the TSP and a nominal amount to the ROTH IRA. I also bought a house for no money down using the VA Loan.

From 2006 to 2011 I paid little attention to the retirement accounts and collected some rental income from the house. I estimate that I invested a total of twenty nine dollars from 2002 to 2011.

Also, in 2009 I got rid of the financial planner and took control of my investing portfolio. 





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