Picking up Nickels

Friday, February 11, 2011

February 2011 Financial Asset Roundup

Here are my current financial assets as of the market close on February 10th, 2011:

Asset Jan 2011 Feb 2011 Change
Checking 1,334 650 -684
Money Market 54,711 42,319 -12,392
Savings Bonds 36,679 36,743 64
Treasury Bills 0 0 0
CDs 84,035 96,936 12,901
Brokerage 101,175 106,659 5,484
401k 98,947 102,674 3,727
Roth IRA 50,196 51,453 1,257
SEP IRA 244,425 250,363 5,938
529 Savings 51,271 52,653 1,382
Total Assets $722,773 $740,450 $17,677
      (2.45%)



More upward movement from the S&P 500 has produced a 4.10% gain since the last update:

(chart courtesy of msn.com)

The unemployment rate for January unexpectedly fell to 9%, coupled with a 2.5 year low in jobless claims. Hopefully this isn't a onetime event and the job market will steadily improve throughout 2011. Oil prices are down somewhat, hovering around $87 per barrel despite the recent turmoil in Egypt.

On the financial front, my asset levels have yet again surpassed my all time high from January 2011. We're probably due for a pullback in the stock market, but I've enjoyed the ride as my assets have climbed toward the $800k mark after getting creamed so badly during the recession/financial market meltdown. Elsewhere, my 5% APY CD reservation at Penfed went down last month without a hitch, and I need to focus on my S Corp and personal tax returns for 2010 along with a corresponding 2010 SEP IRA contribution.

I've made good progress on my latest home improvement moulding install project, having installed crown moulding in most of the first floor of our house as well as on our second floor hallway. I need to find some time to take some pictures and post an update on that soon, because it probably won't be long before Mrs. Frugalson has me installing some sort of moulding elsewhere around here. :)