A decade on Bogleheads!

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berg
Posts: 465
Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2013 8:43 pm

A decade on Bogleheads!

Post by berg »

Tomorrow marks the ten year anniversary of my first post on Bogleheads! I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to everyone on this forum who has taken the time to help me secure a better future for my family. I made so many better decisions, with much more confidence thanks to all of you! My wife calls you my money friends on the internet. I can't thank you all enough!

And to those of you newer to the community, I remember seeing these massive numbers from people older than me ten years ago and thinking, how will we ever get there? I'm here to say with time and work you can! Nothing is guaranteed and I have been lucky to have career progress with stock do well as part of my compensation. But the core of our portfolio is Boglehgeads and has risen slow and steady by staying the course.

Our net worth has gone from about $290k in my first post to now north of $3 million! We've bought a new home, had job changes and have had two kids and you have helped me navigate it all!

My first post was about navigating the backdoor Roth for the first time, now our Roths have $155k and $100k in them.

And while you have helped me with many issues from taxes, mortgages, stock sales and much more. My favorite post of all time (and I think the one that got the most replies with 170!) still is from four years ago when I asked if we should buy the minivan my wife wanted despite her having an older CR-V with only 79k miles on it and you all told me to stop being so cheap and make my wife happy! It was a great decision, besides my wife's happiness, we love our van!

:sharebeer Cheers to all of you and this wonderful community. As I approach my 40th birthday, hope to spend many more decades with all of you!
Normchad
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Re: A decade on Bogleheads!

Post by Normchad »

Congratulations on your anniversary and all your success!

I agree that this is the best online community there is. Many thanks to all the posters and the moderators that keep it that way.
steadyosmosis
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Re: A decade on Bogleheads!

Post by steadyosmosis »

berg wrote: Sat Mar 18, 2023 8:23 am Tomorrow marks the ten year anniversary of my first post on Bogleheads! I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to everyone on this forum who has taken the time to help me secure a better future for my family. I made so many better decisions, with much more confidence thanks to all of you! My wife calls you my money friends on the internet. I can't thank you all enough!
...
I was just lurking back in 2013, reading so many of the historical postings.
Truly amazing the amount of knowledge available on this forum!
'Thank you' to all contributors and moderators.
Age<59.5. Early-retired. AA ~55/45. Taxable account, Roth IRA, HSA...all are 100% equities. 100% of fixed income is in tIRA. I spend from taxable and re-balance in tIRA.
Kendall
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Re: A decade on Bogleheads!

Post by Kendall »

I moved berg's thread to the Bogleheads Community subforum, as there is no actionable question, just an expression of gratitude.

Congratulations, berg, and so glad you are part of the community!
Moderator Kendall
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Stinky
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Re: A decade on Bogleheads!

Post by Stinky »

berg wrote: Sat Mar 18, 2023 8:23 am Tomorrow marks the ten year anniversary of my first post on Bogleheads! I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to everyone on this forum who has taken the time to help me secure a better future for my family. I made so many better decisions, with much more confidence thanks to all of you! My wife calls you my money friends on the internet. I can't thank you all enough!

And to those of you newer to the community, I remember seeing these massive numbers from people older than me ten years ago and thinking, how will we ever get there? I'm here to say with time and work you can! Nothing is guaranteed and I have been lucky to have career progress with stock do well as part of my compensation. But the core of our portfolio is Boglehgeads and has risen slow and steady by staying the course.

Our net worth has gone from about $290k in my first post to now north of $3 million! We've bought a new home, had job changes and have had two kids and you have helped me navigate it all!

My first post was about navigating the backdoor Roth for the first time, now our Roths have $155k and $100k in them.

And while you have helped me with many issues from taxes, mortgages, stock sales and much more. My favorite post of all time (and I think the one that got the most replies with 170!) still is from four years ago when I asked if we should buy the minivan my wife wanted despite her having an older CR-V with only 79k miles on it and you all told me to stop being so cheap and make my wife happy! It was a great decision, besides my wife's happiness, we love our van!

:sharebeer Cheers to all of you and this wonderful community. As I approach my 40th birthday, hope to spend many more decades with all of you!
Going from $290k to $3 million of net worth in 10 years - that's just awesome. Congratulations!

Hope that you keep reading and contributing to the Forum for many years to come.
Retired life insurance company financial executive who sincerely believes that ”It’s a GREAT day to be alive!”
Pinotage
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Location: Springfield

Re: A decade on Bogleheads!

Post by Pinotage »

Congratulations and awesome work!

Love these time capsule posts :sharebeer
SchruteB&B
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Re: A decade on Bogleheads!

Post by SchruteB&B »

Congrats! That’s a nice NW to have at 40.
bog007
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Re: A decade on Bogleheads!

Post by bog007 »

Winning.
Don’t let anyone else ruin your portfolio. It’s your portfolio. Ruin it yourself!!!
Wannaretireearly
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Re: A decade on Bogleheads!

Post by Wannaretireearly »

Well done. I just wish more of my best friends could chart this path. Leading a horse to water…
“At some point you are trading time you will never get back for money you will never spend.“ | “How do you want to spend the best remaining year of your life?“
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blimp
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Re: A decade on Bogleheads!

Post by blimp »

berg wrote: Sat Mar 18, 2023 8:23 amOur net worth has gone from about $290k in my first post to now north of $3 million!
Very impressive.

I did some calculations. The S&P 500 returned 9.718% in the last 10 years (nominal), so even if you had the entire $290K invested, you would still have to invest north of $10,000 monthly to get to 3 Million in 10 years. Obviously your net worth may have appreciated in other ways (home value growth, business, etc), but it shows how difficult it is to get to $3 million in 10 years.

An absolutely incredible achievement.
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Sandtrap
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Re: A decade on Bogleheads!

Post by Sandtrap »

:sharebeer
j :D
Wiki Bogleheads Wiki: Everything You Need to Know
student
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Re: A decade on Bogleheads!

Post by student »

Congratulations......
j9j
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Joined: Sat Oct 24, 2015 1:46 pm

Re: A decade on Bogleheads!

Post by j9j »

That’s awesome. What minivan did you wind up with? Maybe a follow-up posts how you achieved 3 million in ten years ;)
dan7800
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Re: A decade on Bogleheads!

Post by dan7800 »

About 2 years for me. It has taken a while, but my tax bill alone has gone down about 8-10k/yr. Being a BH works!
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Taylor Larimore
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Re: A decade on Bogleheads!

Post by Taylor Larimore »

Berg:

Every Boglehead appreciates a post of "gratitude."

"We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude." -- Cynthia Ozick

Thank you and best wishes.
Taylor
Jack Bogle's Words of Wisdom: In his book "John Bogle on Investing," Mr. Bogle wrote: "Dedicated to all of the human beings who have meant so much to me -- and especially those "Bogleheads" of the internet, that dedicated and loyal cadre of Vanguard Diehards who give me strength to carry on my mission."
"Simplicity is the master key to financial success." -- Jack Bogle
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nedsaid
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Re: A decade on Bogleheads!

Post by nedsaid »

It is good to hear success stories from people who found that the principles taught us by John Bogle really do work.
A fool and his money are good for business.
dokeeffe
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Joined: Fri Feb 23, 2007 3:15 pm

Re: A decade on Bogleheads!

Post by dokeeffe »

I joined the Vanguard Diehards forum at Morningstar back in 1998 a few months after it started. This is still the best place for investment and personal finance information on the Internet.
260chrisb
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Re: A decade on Bogleheads!

Post by 260chrisb »

Stinky wrote: Sat Mar 18, 2023 10:58 am
berg wrote: Sat Mar 18, 2023 8:23 am Tomorrow marks the ten year anniversary of my first post on Bogleheads! I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to everyone on this forum who has taken the time to help me secure a better future for my family. I made so many better decisions, with much more confidence thanks to all of you! My wife calls you my money friends on the internet. I can't thank you all enough!

And to those of you newer to the community, I remember seeing these massive numbers from people older than me ten years ago and thinking, how will we ever get there? I'm here to say with time and work you can! Nothing is guaranteed and I have been lucky to have career progress with stock do well as part of my compensation. But the core of our portfolio is Boglehgeads and has risen slow and steady by staying the course.

Our net worth has gone from about $290k in my first post to now north of $3 million! We've bought a new home, had job changes and have had two kids and you have helped me navigate it all!

My first post was about navigating the backdoor Roth for the first time, now our Roths have $155k and $100k in them.

And while you have helped me with many issues from taxes, mortgages, stock sales and much more. My favorite post of all time (and I think the one that got the most replies with 170!) still is from four years ago when I asked if we should buy the minivan my wife wanted despite her having an older CR-V with only 79k miles on it and you all told me to stop being so cheap and make my wife happy! It was a great decision, besides my wife's happiness, we love our van!

:sharebeer Cheers to all of you and this wonderful community. As I approach my 40th birthday, hope to spend many more decades with all of you!
Going from $290k to $3 million of net worth in 10 years - that's just awesome. Congratulations!

Hope that you keep reading and contributing to the Forum for many years to come.
I was thinking the same thing!! Congrats and well done. Going from 290K to 3m in just ten years is extraordinary. Ever considered starting an investment forum??? :D :D
Topic Author
berg
Posts: 465
Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2013 8:43 pm

Re: A decade on Bogleheads!

Post by berg »

j9j wrote: Sun Mar 19, 2023 8:29 am That’s awesome. What minivan did you wind up with? Maybe a follow-up posts how you achieved 3 million in ten years ;)
We ended up with the Honda Odyssey, although now that we have taken up skiing in earnest as a family, we are eyeing the Siena with its AWD when we replace it!

No magic formula for getting to $3M, but I do love the phrase luck is preparedness meets opportunity. We have:
  • max our retirement accounts
  • invested in career growth that has led to income growth (our on target earnings then were about $211k, now we are about $380k
  • lucked out with our home purchases (2011 and 2017), which helped us grow equity (~around $700k and wishing I had a larger loan these days with our low interest mortage at 2.5%, through LenderFi, which I discovered on Bogleheads)
  • Fortunate with two jobs back-to-back that had large stock payouts and Boglehead encouragement to diversify (though I could have listened better here!)
260chrisb wrote: Sun Mar 19, 2023 10:37 am
I was thinking the same thing!! Congrats and well done. Going from 290K to 3m in just ten years is extraordinary. Ever considered starting an investment forum??? :D :D
Haha, nothing but a three fund portfolio (and company stock I diversify into the three fund!)


Couldn't have done it without all of you! Thank you!!
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celia
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Re: A decade on Bogleheads!

Post by celia »

Stinky wrote: Sat Mar 18, 2023 10:58 am
berg wrote: Sat Mar 18, 2023 8:23 am My first post was about navigating the backdoor Roth for the first time, now our Roths have $155k and $100k in them.
Going from $290k to $3 million of net worth in 10 years - that's just awesome. Congratulations!
In all fairness, you appeared to have a high income 10 years ago when you started such that you had to do a Backdoor Roth. Not everyone can grow the rest of their portfolio so fast since they don’t have the “extra” income that you have.
A dollar in Roth is worth more than a dollar in a taxable account. A dollar in taxable is worth more than a dollar in a tax-deferred account.
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tennisplyr
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Re: A decade on Bogleheads!

Post by tennisplyr »

Congrats! I joined the forum almost 10 years ago and am grateful to all those who have shared their knowledge, experiences and opinions. I try to contribute to those topics where I think I can help.
“Those who move forward with a happy spirit will find that things always work out.” -Retired 13 years 😀
6bquick
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Re: A decade on Bogleheads!

Post by 6bquick »

celia wrote: Sun Mar 19, 2023 7:46 pm
Stinky wrote: Sat Mar 18, 2023 10:58 am
berg wrote: Sat Mar 18, 2023 8:23 am My first post was about navigating the backdoor Roth for the first time, now our Roths have $155k and $100k in them.
Going from $290k to $3 million of net worth in 10 years - that's just awesome. Congratulations!
In all fairness, you appeared to have a high income 10 years ago when you started such that you had to do a Backdoor Roth. Not everyone can grow the rest of their portfolio so fast since they don’t have the “extra” income that you have.
did this really need to be said? sheesh.


Congrats, OP. Heckuva good accomplishment.
If your outgo exceeds your income, your upkeep will be your downfall
homebuyer6426
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Re: A decade on Bogleheads!

Post by homebuyer6426 »

I share your sentiments and am also glad of what I've learned here. It is definitely a great resource toward improving one's life. Cheers.
45% Total Stock Market | 52% Consumer Staples | 3% Short Term Reserves
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