Realcent.org

Hey all:

Long time, no posts. I promise to change that going forward.

I am curious to see that other people/investors have experienced with their stock/bond portfolios.

What is the highest percentage return that you have ever made in a year?

I'm talkin bout for the WHOLE portfolio. Also not for very, very small portfolios, or those with only one or two positions.

Maybe $10k or more with at least 5 different positions.

Anybody ever have a 100% return in a year?

Don't have to be exact or specific, just curious.

THANKS

168% up in 2010... gave it back and more in 2011

70% in 2009 but we all know how 2008 went.

73% in 2003. Still remember it...

Of course there was that 35% drawdown in 2000...

Keep stacking!

I had a pretty good economics instructor in college. 8 of us entered a $5000 buy in real money futures trading contest that lasted 10 months. I guess I got lucky but I was "competing" and could have easily lost my whole bank roll but I didn't! Ended up getting first out of 43 contestants with a 118% ROI (turned $5000 into $10,902) which got me the $5000 first prize! All I did was write straddles on mainly agriculture commodity options (grains, livestock, softs, etc.) I would write them for 2-3 months out and capture the time value and occasionally re-position as needed if the market drifted to far. Kind of got the fever to trade but after a couple more years I realized that I didn't have the bank roll or the stomach to make a decent living at it. 30% return on 25k wasn't going to be enough to live off of. You know the old saying "It takes money to make money" and I wasn't going to be in charge of other peoples money.

I don't think they still do the contest anymore but I'm not sure. It was brokered through Futech Commodity Services in North Dakota.

Did your econ professor not teach you the power of compound interest?

30% per year starting at 25k pays your bills nicely in only a few years.

But yeah the stomach part would probably get to you before the returns would be sufficient

345% in 1999, but gave a good percentage of it back in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Fortunately, I took some profits out in early 2000 and paid off my MBA student loans and my car. I still remember how i considered taking everything out at that time because it was so bubbly. i remember even thinking about gold (I was far far from a hard assets guy back then), but after having so much success in the market it was just too hard to take everything out. I had a losing streak before in 1997, but nothing like what was coming in 2000-02. I'm very grateful for the opportunity to make that money and paying off debts and even grateful for the experience of losing because I have a greater appreciation for money now. I got a lucky break to have such a great start early in my working life,it's a shame and unfair that kids today have it so hard coming out of school.

barrytrot wrote:Did your econ professor not teach you the power of compound interest?

They always seem to teach the upside of compound interest while ignoring the downside. After taxes, the first couple years of a mortgage hurt you more than the last couple years of a 30 year investment help you.