August 2008 Net Worth Update: -2.4%

Our portfolio decreased -2.4% in August, bringing us to 919% total increase since the beginning of our dollar plan.

In addition, our year-to-date total decrease is -11.9%.

Reflections on my portfolio this month

August was a critical point for our portfolio. In the future, it will be the month that I draw an arrow to noting that I took out the first of many retirement withdrawals to fund my new lifestyle. Along with a down market, you’ll notice our portfolio heading the wrong direction lately!

I was going to calculate how much of the decrease is due to making withdrawals, and how much is due to market return, but I decided it didn’t actually matter at this point. At the end of the year, I’ll do that to compare my return to the benchmarks, but it’s not something I want to get caught up in each month.

August Performance Highlights

Individual Stocks

• Best: Aqua America
• Worst: Exxon Mobil

Mutual Funds

• Best: Vanguard Small Cap Value Index
• Worst: Vanguard Emerging Markets Index

Previous 2008 Net Worth Updates

• June 2008
• May 2008
• April 2008
• March 2008
• February 2008
• January 2008

Check out how others did in August

• 2008 Financial Status / Net Worth Update at My Money Blog
• August 2008 Site and Net Worth Review (+1.72%) at Moolanomy
• Personal Balance Sheet, August 2008: Net Worth +0.43% at One Caveman’s Financial Journey
• August 2008 Net Worth Update (+1.27%) at Million Dollar Journey
• August net worth report at Consumerism Commentary
• Net Worth: August 2008 at Mapgirl’s Fiscal Challenge
• First of month net worth update at Step 3
• Net Worth Update: August 2008 at No Debt Plan

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