2025 Performance

[srblanco7]

Happy new year. Now that it is 1/1 I've got final numbers.

Our portfolio ended the year up $442,339. That represents an increase of 11.55%. I think that's quite good considering a relatively conservative asset allocation that stood at about 55% stock, 20% bond, 25% cash at year-end.

Hey DS -

Are those returns net of withdrawals?

[disneysteve]

Hey DS -

Are those returns net of withdrawals?

These numbers are after all spending is accounted for. It's how much we had in our portfolio on 12/31/25 compared to 12/31/24.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

i doubled our investments this year. It's been a good year.

[srblanco7]

These numbers are after all spending is accounted for. It's how much we had in our portfolio on 12/31/25 compared to 12/31/24.

Impressive net results. Congratulations.

[james.hendrickson]

As we approach the end of the year, felt like we needed a spot to gather an annual update on the how everyone's investments performed.

Changes for us this year included pulling some more "winnings" of the table and moved to a 65/35 AA down from 80/20 two years ago and 70/30 at the start of 2025. We also onboarded with a "flat-fee" financial advisor and are set to "officially" retire on Jan 2, 2026 (unofficially I've already retired as we're just using PTO to bridge to the official retirement date).

YTD performance for our investments is +14.7%. Total investment portfolio is hovering just under $8M with about $1M of that being returns from this year. We're incredibly fortunate.

Excited to see what 2026 brings. Happy holidays to all.

Sr Blanco, this is amazing, and great work.

For the benefit of all the lurkers here on the forums, would you be open to explaining this success? Like what do you do to get the millions?

[srblanco7]

Sr Blanco, this is amazing, and great work.

For the benefit of all the lurkers here on the forums, would you be open to explaining this success? Like what do you do to get the millions?

Hey James -

Obviously, we are & have been incredibly fortunate. I've tried to summarize our journey here on another thread "Millionaires - How long did it take you to get there?" Screen shot below.

[kork13]

Hey James -

Obviously, we are & have been incredibly fortunate. I've tried to summarize our journey here on another thread "Millionaires - How long did it take you to get there?" Screen shot below.

Yeah, consistent investment with a strong portion of your income can't not make you an easy multi-millionaire. Even if you only make $50k/yr (+inflation-matching raises over time), investing 25% of income ($12.5k/yr) over 35 years is going to get you up to $1.5M pretty easily. If you invest a higher percentage or earn a higher income, that growth only happens even faster.

[srblanco7]

Yeah, consistent investment with a strong portion of your income can't not make you an easy multi-millionaire. Even if you only make $50k/yr (+inflation-matching raises over time), investing 25% of income ($12.5k/yr) over 35 years is going to get you up to $1.5M pretty easily. If you invest a higher percentage or earn a higher income, that growth only happens even faster.

I've been gently coaching DD on her savings & investments. She's 24, saving $16k/year (roughly 25% of gross income) to Roth IRA & Roth 401k w/ a current savings balance of $50k. A simple projection using an assumed 8% rate of return indicates she'd be a Roth millionaire in about 21 years (age 45). And that ignores her generous company match (10%) which will only accelerate things.

[disneysteve]

I've been gently coaching DD on her savings & investments. She's 24, saving $16k/year (roughly 25% of gross income) to Roth IRA & Roth 401k w/ a current savings balance of $50k. A simple projection using an assumed 8% rate of return indicates she'd be a Roth millionaire in about 21 years (age 45). And that ignores her generous company match (10%) which will only accelerate things.

Same here. Our DD is 30 and if she doesn't save another penny, she'll be a millionaire by 60. Of course if she continues saving, she'll hit $1M well before that. Nothing beats an early start.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

saving early and consistently that really makes a huge difference.

I pointed out a long time ago since 2010 i've done voo $2k/year into ESA college savings account. Right now in 2026 DK $90k after saving $32k and DK2 since 2012 and $26k is $72k. I think for a 1 ETF VOO investment account, putting in $2k in january every year that is a pretty big return. Their 529s have grown on the similar scale.

It just seems bigger to think wow if other parents just maxed out the $2k/year ESA you could potentially have $100k for college in 18 years. I would think that might make a serious dent into college funding. For saving $2k/year which I feel could maybe be earned with a side hustle, extra job, or reselling, or maybe even dog walking or baby sitting or something.

[srblanco7]

saving early and consistently that really makes a huge difference.

I pointed out a long time ago since 2010 i've done voo $2k/year into ESA college savings account. Right now in 2026 DK $90k after saving $32k and DK2 since 2012 and $26k is $72k. I think for a 1 ETF VOO investment account, putting in $2k in january every year that is a pretty big return. Their 529s have grown on the similar scale.

It just seems bigger to think wow if other parents just maxed out the $2k/year ESA you could potentially have $100k for college in 18 years. I would think that might make a serious dent into college funding. For saving $2k/year which I feel could maybe be earned with a side hustle, extra job, or reselling, or maybe even dog walking or baby sitting or something.

Those are impressive returns. As I recollect we were a little better than 2x our contributions when we started to use our DKs 529 accounts.

Likely we'll have excess funds available when DK2 finishes college. Debating between using these funds to assist DKs with funding their Roth IRAs and leaving the excess to fund future (or generational) educational needs. Maybe some of both.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Those are impressive returns. As I recollect we were a little better than 2x our contributions when we started to use our DKs 529 accounts.

Likely we'll have excess funds available when DK2 finishes college. Debating between using these funds to assist DKs with funding their Roth IRAs and leaving the excess to fund future (or generational) educational needs. Maybe some of both.

2010-2026 and 7/2012 - 2026. So those are the time frames for VOO. Nothing special for ESA. The 529 we funded later since we didn't have money until 2017 to really fund it more than $2k/year. So it's grown a lot in NV 529 vanguard VOO. Also in 2018 we did a UGMA and did VOO and QQQ and that's grown a lot. We only put in $25k i think since 2018 and it's $80k now.

Also DH left his job in 2021 and his 401k was $701k. Invested in VTI 80% and VXUS 20% equivalents. Couldn't add to it. in 2026 it is worth $1.229m

[Atretes1]

My 457 did 20.29% last year. I can't get Vanguard performance to tell me the performance for the year but its over 20%. I have over 700k invested and 1.87M net worth.