Easier Than You May Think

​Managing your own investments pays off for many

When something needs to get done do you tend to do it yourself or pay a professional to do it for you?  House needs a new roof?  I'm calling a roofer.  A room needs painting?  I'm off to research local painters.  And although changing the oil in my car is not very difficult, I take it to the local shop.  Other things, however, I refuse to hire out.  I enjoy cutting the grass.  And last summer I replaced the (regular sized) door that goes from our garage to the back yard.

What about your investments? Do you manage your investments  yourself or do you have someone do it for you? Many people we know hire someone to manage their long term investments.  It doesn't sound all that expensive.  Management and trading fees generally run about 1.65% of total assets being managed.  That sure doesn't sound like very much ... until you do the math to calculate the costs.  Wouldn't it be nice if you could eliminate that annual expense?  You probably can.  

Managing your own investments is easier than many people think. Yes, it requires some "startup" time. Yes, some basic knowledge needs to be acquired. You may even have investments spread across multiple institutions which may be easier to manage from a single institution.  (Consolidating at one financial institution can provide benefits not available when assets are in different places.) Getting things set up also doesn't always mean doing everything by yourself. Talking to a fee-based investment advisor can be very helpful. In this scenario you're paying a professional for advice based on your goals but implementation is done by you. (It's like hiring an architect for design but construction is done by the homeowner.) Investing companies such as Fidelity offer services like this as well. Once some foundational concepts are understood and established, ongoing management takes surprisingly little effort.  

Where can you get started?

• Vanguard
• Fidelity
• Charles Schwab
• TD Ameritrade
• bogleheads.org

Managing your own investments isn't for everyone ... just like painting a room isn't for everyone and changing the oil isn't for everyone.  However, if you are currently paying someone to manage your money, I encourage you to be sure you know exactly what it is costing you.  You might discover you just uncovered a simple part-time job that pays really well.

​-- Jim