December 2017 Financial Asset Roundup

Here are my current financial assets as of the market close on December 11th, 2017:

Asset	Nov 2017	Dec 2017	Change
Checking	810	862	52
Money Market	65,141	64,358	-783
Savings Bonds	137,283	137,560	277
Treasury Bills	0	0	0
CDs	41,788	41,901	113
Brokerage	156,473	160,799	4,326
401k	163,693	164,119	426
Roth IRA	141,324	144,239	2,915
SEP IRA	691,824	715,362	23,538
529 Savings	167,918	170,066	2,148
Total Assets	$1,566,254	$1,599,266	$33,012
			2.11%

As is the recent norm, the S&P 500 continues to hit all time highs since the last update, rising 2.92% during that time:

(chart courtesy of google.com)

On the jobs front, the unemployment rate for November remained at 4.1%, with a strong 220,000 jobs created. Oil prices are up slightly to the $58 level (up from $57), while local gas prices continue to be pretty stable ($2.39 at my last fillup). One thing that I find interesting about stock market performance in 2017: it's global. While the S&P 500 index is up 18.81% YTD, the bulk of my international equity exposure (recently moved to Vanguard Institutional Total International Stock Market Index Trust courtesy of a former employer's 401k) is up 24.6% YTD. My international equities have seemed somewhat stagnant as compared to US equities over the past few years, so IMO it is a good sign that the rest of the world seems to be joining the party.

On the financial front, my asset levels have reached an all-time high for the THIRTEENTH month in a row, breaking the previous high from November 2017. I did make an additional 2017 SEP IRA contribution since the last update and I will likely take a final distribution from my S Corp now that my 2017 revenue numbers are pretty much finalized. And if anyone hasn't done so already, this month would be a great time to max out a 2017 I Bond purchase. :)

As for the non-financial, my eldest child has already received a college acceptance (hopefully the first of many)! It's hard to believe that little baby I could hold in one hand almost eighteen years ago is on the cusp of becoming an adult and starting college. I can't believe how quickly that time seemed to pass. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!