Goals update – January 2016

I like to review the progress at least once a month to determine where I am with respect to meeting/achieving my goals.

These are the goals for 2016:

• Invest at least $25,000
  • New investments in January amounted to $1,200.00. I also made FRIP purchases through Scottrade that totalled $554.40. Total purchases ended up at $1,754.40.
  • But I also sold BAX and BXLT that removed $1,927.73 from my portfolio.
  • Total investments in 2016 so far equals negative $173.33. That’s a great start 🙂 Hopefully, I catch up in February with investments.  
• Receive at least $3,675 in dividends
  • I received $308.43 in dividends in January. This represents 8.39% of my annual goal.
• Achieve at least $4,000 in projected annual dividends
  • At the end of January, my projected annual dividends stood at $3,318.98.
• DO NOT have a portfolio of more than 45 stocks/ETFs
  • Currently hold 44 stocks/ETFs

The goals page will be updated to reflect the progress.

Goals for 2016

It is that time of the year where I need to come up with the goals for this year. The goals are really a key factor to make sure that I am making consistent progress. As I mentioned in my December 2015 goals update, even though I didn’t achieve one of my several goals, I am happy that I have made considerable progress compared to where I was at the end of 2014.

Recap of Goals for 2015

• Invest at least $35,000
  • Invested $26,969.30 in 2015
  • Failed
• Receive at least $2,500 in dividends
  • I have received $2,822.72 in 2015
  • Achieved
• Achieve at least $3,200 in projected annual dividends
  • Currently have projected annual dividends of $3,275.85 at end of December
  • Achieved
• DO NOT have a portfolio of more than 45 stocks/ETFs
  • Currently hold 44 stocks/ETFs through end of December
  • Achieved

Based on the 2015 results and projecting what I can do for this year, these are my goals for 2016.

Goals update – December 2015

With 2015 coming to a close, I would like to review the status of my goals I set out for the year.

These are the goals for 2015:

• Invest at least $35,000
  • New investments in December amounted to $1,500.00. I did not make any purchases other than the weekly purchases.
  • Total investments in 2015 so far equals $26,969.30 which amounts to about 77.05% of my goal.
  • Verdict: Failed
  • Analysis: In hindsight, I think that I set out a lofty goal to begin with for the year. In 2014, I set out a goal of $20K, but ended up bumping the goal twice during the year and by the end, I had invested over $33,000 in 2014. I thought I could maintain that pace during 2015 as well, but I was probably wrong. A main reason for investments in 2014 to be very high was because of the backlog in cash from prior years. I will keep this in mind when setting the goals for 2016.
• Receive at least $2,500 in dividends
  • I received $351.88 in dividends in December. So far I have received $2,822.72 in dividends this year. This represents 112.90% of my annual goal.
  • Verdict: Achieved
  • Analysis: This was a good year for dividends. I received over $1,200 more compared to 2014 and that represents an increase of over 77% YoY. I am really happy of this progress and I am hoping to continue this success in 2016 as well.
• Achieve at least $3,200 in projected annual dividends
  • At the end of December, my projected annual dividends stood at $3,275.85. This includes the dividend cut announced by KMI.
  • Verdict: Achieved
  • Analysis: I achieved this goal, though only barely. I wanted to build a cushion in case more stocks announced dividend cuts in the last couple of months. Like I expected, KMI cut its dividend by 75% and I barely managed to stay above my goal. Another dividend cut or two and I would have failed in this goal. There are several stocks that are on the brink of dividend cuts in 2016 and I would have to keep that in mind when setting up my 2016 goal.
• DO NOT have a portfolio of more than 45 stocks/ETFs
  • Currently hold 44 stocks/ETFs. This is one more than November due to my new position in EMR.
  • Verdict: Achieved
  • This is just an ancillary goal to ensure that my portfolio doesn’t get too messy. I still would like to drop the count of stocks/ETFs from the current levels, but not sure which ones to get rid off.

The goals page will be updated to reflect the progress.

Goals update – November 2015

I like to review the progress at least once a month to determine where I am with respect to meeting/achieving my goals. This post is long overdue as it is almost the end of November.

These are the goals for 2015:

• Invest at least $35,000
  • New investments in November amounted to $1,200.00. I did not make any purchases other than the weekly purchases.
  • Total investments in 2015 so far equals $25,469.3 which amounts to about 72.76% of my goal. I am probably not going to be able to meet this goal. 
• Receive at least $2,500 in dividends
  • I received $138.29 in dividends in November. So far I have received $2,470.84 in dividends this year. This represents 98.83% of my annual goal.
  • I will be able to achieve this goal by the end of the year based on projections.
• Achieve at least $3,200 in projected annual dividends
  • At the end of November , my projected annual dividends stood at $3,304.47. But of course, since then KMI has announced a dividend cut and the total has dropped. But still above $3,200 for right now.
• DO NOT have a portfolio of more than 45 stocks/ETFs
  • Currently hold 43 stocks/ETFs. This is one more than October due to HPQ’s split into two companies.

The goals page will be updated to reflect the progress.

Goals update – October 2015

I like to review the progress at least once a month to determine where I am with respect to meeting/achieving my goals. This post is long overdue as it is almost the end of November.

These are the goals for 2015:

• Invest at least $35,000
  • New investments in October amounted to $1,869.37. In addition to the weekly purchases of $1,200, I had FRIP purchases for $669.37. did not make any purchases other than the weekly purchases.
  • Total investments in 2015 so far equals $24,269.30 which amounts to about 69.34% of my goal. I am still behind in this goal by a huge margin. I am probably not going to be able to meet this goal. 
• Receive at least $2,500 in dividends
  • I received $289.10 in dividends in October. So far I have received $2,332.55 in dividends this year. This represents 93.30% of my annual goal.
  • I will be able to achieve this goal by the end of the year based on projections.
• Achieve at least $3,200 in projected annual dividends
  • At the end of October, my projected annual dividends stand at $3,258.82.
  • I have already met my goal, but I am just not sure if there will be any dividend cuts between now and the end of the year. So just building a cushion in case some cuts happen.
• DO NOT have a portfolio of more than 45 stocks/ETFs
  • Currently hold 42 stocks/ETFs. I did not initiate any new positions in October.

The goals page will be updated to reflect the progress.

Goals update – September 2015

I like to review the progress at least once a month to determine where I am with respect to meeting/achieving my goals.

These are the goals for 2015:

• Invest at least $35,000
  • New investments in September amounted to $1,500.00. I did not make any purchases other than the weekly purchases.
  • Total investments in 2015 so far equals $22,399.93 which amounts to about 63.99% of my goal. I am still behind in this goal by a huge margin. Need to invest over $4,200/month for the next three months to meet this goal. Probably not going to happen. 
• Receive at least $2,500 in dividends
  • I received $354.89 in dividends in September. So far I have received $2,043.45 in dividends this year. This represents 81.73% of my annual goal.
  • I will be able to achieve this goal based on this pace with increased investments and dividend increases.
• Achieve at least $3,200 in projected annual dividends
  • At the end of September, my projected annual dividends stand at $3,179.99.
  • With continued weekly investments, I should be able to achieve this goal. I will definitely shoot past the goal, but I am just not sure if there will be any dividend cuts between now and the end of the year. So just building a cushion in case some cuts happen.
• DO NOT have a portfolio of more than 45 stocks/ETFs
  • Currently hold 42 stocks/ETFs. I did not initiate any new positions in September.

The goals page will be updated to reflect the progress.

Goals update – August 2015

I like to review the progress at least once a month to determine where I am with respect to meeting/achieving my goals.

These are the goals for 2015:

• Invest at least $35,000
  • New investments in August amounted to $4,341.70. August was better compared to the last few months. Used the volatility in August to add some extra capital.
  • I made 2 big purchases in August (WFC and UN) in addition to my regular weekly purchases.
  • Total investments in 2015 so far equals $20,899.93 which amounts to about 59.71% of my goal. I am still behind in this goal by a huge margin. Need to invest over $3,500/month for the next four months to meet this goal. It is going to be difficult. 
• Receive at least $2,500 in dividends
  • I received $177.35 in dividends in July. So far I have received $1,688.56 in dividends this year. This represents 67.54% of my annual goal.
  • I will be able to achieve this goal based on this pace with increased investments and dividend increases.
• Achieve at least $3,200 in projected annual dividends
  • At the end of August, my projected annual dividends stand at $3,115.47. This is a huge bump compared to my July’s $2,908.21.
  • The new investments definitely helped. But that is not the ony reason. Few stocks announced dividend increases in the last few months that I did not capture earlier.
  • Also, VER (formerly ARCP) reinstated the dividend after eliminating it at the end of 2014. This increased the projected annual dividends by over $65.00.
  • With continued weekly investments, I should be able to achieve this goal.
• DO NOT have a portfolio of more than 45 stocks/ETFs
  • Currently hold 42 stocks/ETFs. I initiated a new position in Wells Fargo (WFC) in August.

The goals page will be updated to reflect the progress.

Goals update – July 2015

I like to review the progress at least once a month to determine where I am with respect to meeting/achieving my goals.

These are the goals for 2015:

• Invest at least $35,000
  • New investments in July amounted to $1,863.28. 
  • Total investments in 2015 so far equals $16,558.23 which amounts to about 47.30% of my goal. I am still behind in this goal by a huge margin. I need to invest aggressively to catch up.
• Receive at least $2,500 in dividends
  • I received $280.17 in dividends in July. So far I have received $1,511.21 in dividends this year. This represents 60.44% of my annual goal.
  • I will be able to achieve this goal based on this pace with increased investments and dividend increases.
• Achieve at least $3,200 in projected annual dividends
  • My projected annual dividends stand at $2,908.21 at the end of July. I will need increase the investments to keep pace to achieve this goal.
• DO NOT have a portfolio of more than 45 stocks/ETFs
  • Currently hold 41 stocks/ETFs. I did not initiate any new positions in July.

The goals page will be updated to reflect the progress.

Goals update – June 2015

I like to review the progress at least once a month to determine where I am with respect to meeting/achieving my goals.

These are the goals for 2015:

• Invest at least $35,000
  • New investments in June amounted to $1,500.00. 
  • Total investments in 2015 so far equals $14,694.95 which amounts to about 41.98% of my goal. I am still behind in this goal. With half the year gone by, I need to invest aggressively to catch up.
• Receive at least $2,500 in dividends
  • I received $252.61 in dividends in June. So far I have received $1,231.04 in dividends this year. This represents 49.24% of my annual goal.
  • I will be able to achieve this goal based on this pace with increased investments and dividend increases.
• Achieve at least $3,200 in projected annual dividends
  • My projected annual dividends stand at $2,831.90 at the end of June. I will need increase the investments to keep pace to achieve this goal.
• DO NOT have a portfolio of more than 45 stocks/ETFs
  • Currently hold 41 stocks/ETFs. I did not initiate any new positions in June.

The goals page will be updated to reflect the progress.

Goals update – May 2015

I like to review the progress at least once a month to determine where I am with respect to meeting/achieving my goals.

These are the goals for 2015:

• Invest at least $35,000
  • New investments in May amounted to $3,700.00. 
    • Weekly sharebuilder purchases amounted to $1,200
    • Initiated a position in Exxon-Mobil (XOM)
  • Total investments in 2015 so far equals $13,194.95 which amounts to about 37.69% of my goal. I am still behind in this goal. With almost half the year gone by, I need to invest aggressively to catch up.
• Receive at least $2,500 in dividends
  • I received $126.51 in dividends in May. So far I have received $978.43 in dividends this year. This represents 39.13% of my annual goal.
  • I will be able to achieve this goal based on this pace. Will review the goal in a month or so and revise as needed.
• Achieve at least $3,200 in projected annual dividends
  • My projected annual dividends stand at $2,793.22 at the end of May. I will need increase the investments to keep pace to achieve this goal.
• DO NOT have a portfolio of more than 45 stocks/ETFs
  • Currently hold 41 stocks/ETFs. I initiated one new position (XOM) in April.

The goals page will be updated to reflect the progress.