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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 [1].

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 [2] to fund my new lifestyle [3]. 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

Check out how others did in August