The Old Farts on the Forum

Have you ever joined an online forum?

A forum is a website where cyberfolks discuss/debate a common interest like sports, travel, video games, music, etc.

I'm a member of three different financial forums and I've learned a lot in the past four years, although I take everything I read with a grain of salt.

The members of my fave forum are mostly older men (mid 40's to mid 60's) and have a lot of financial experience as accountants, bankers, analysts, financial reporters, tax experts, etc.  In my head, I think of them as The Old Farts (said with a smile :)  

The money topics they discuss are interesting but I don't feel like I ever have much to add to the conversation.  I prefer to lurk and learn, reading what others say. 

But I have to share this interesting little tidbit. 

One of the regular Old Farts asked everyone how they did in the markets during the first half of 2009.  He posted his 2009 returns from Jan 1 to June 30, and suggested the other Farts do the same.  There is a lot of testosterone in this particular forum so the potential pi$$ing contest didn't surprise me.

To give you a benchmark, the TSX is up 15.43% on the year.  The majority of fund managers in Canada did NOT beat the TSX.

Most of The Old Farts on the forum posted year-to-date returns ranging from -12% to +10%.  A couple of them had 11% to 15% gains, and one guy claimed a +31% return, but he was ribbed about it cause he wouldn't share more info.  It's very possible he made those gains, because I came close myself. 

BRAG ALERT:  I beat almost every one of The Old Farts. 

From January 1 to June 30th:

• Non-reg account is up +8.6%

• TFSA gained +11.3%

• LIRA is +20.4%

• RRSP is up +23%

My average return is 15.83%, and total return for the first half of '09 is 63.3%.  There are some great companies in my portfolio, but my real success came from loading up on Canadian equities during the March lows when everyone else was freaking out and selling.  As Warren Buffett says, "Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful".

Despite bragging here on the blog, I didn't post my returns on the financial forum for The Old Farts to see.  I still believe they have tons of knowledge about investing, taxes, retirement planning, etc. 

And I'll definitely keep reading, lurking and learning.  But I'll be quietly smiling to myself every time I log on, knowing that I BEAT THEM :)  

I'm a competitive gal.

Comments

[John Calypso]

Those are some fantastic numbers Radio Girl - I wish I had the nerves but I have suffered too many setbacks in the markets - I was totally out for this current go round of a disaster - to come out a winner during times like these are impressive moves indeed.

[kelsi]

Can't blame you for sitting it out. It's easy to take on risk when you're still employed and you know the money is still coming in to invest, but it's silly to take those same risks in retirement. I'm sure a lot of retired folks who stayed invested in equities during this latest downturn lost a big chunk of retirement income.