The 12-Minute Fellow Blog: Recent Buys

All Portfolio Updates

Portfolio Update February 2020

Portfolio Update May 2020

Portfolio Update August 2020

Portfolio Update November 2020

Portfolio Update February 2021

Despite the ever going pandemic and some palpable tensions, both on the international and domestic fronts, looks like we can all breathe a little easier now that Mr. Uncertainty is out of the Office.

By definition, stock markets will remain uncertain, and we never know which direction they will take. But we at least can have some good reasons to be optimistic. We can’t predict where stock markets will go but after those too long dark times, we finally can hope mankind can get going again. It may still remain hard for a while, but we can have a sense we can all work together and at least try to make things better.

In recent months, like the markets, our DIY Portfolio has done quite well.

Almost nothing special to report as things are cruising along and we only did one transaction in that quarter.

Once more, I’ll remind you that I am not an investment or tax professional of any kind. The intent of this blog is not to give specific investing advice. Before investing yourself, we suggest you do all necessary research and consult a licensed financial professional if need be.

On Cruise Control

For a while now, our DIY Portfolio remains somewhat on cruise control. We always like to look for robust companies and especially when markets are a bull run like the actual one.

With experience, we realized that all in all, details may not always be that important as long as you have a solid broad plan.

February 12, 2021

Portfolio Update February 2021

Another 3 months have gone by, so it’s time to report on our DIY Portfolio progress. As usual, expect our next update in about 12 weeks.

You can have a look at previous portfolio updates here:

All Portfolio Updates
Portfolio Update August 2018
Portfolio Update November 2018
Portfolio Update February 2019
Portfolio Update May 2019
Portfolio Update August 2019
Portfolio Update November 2019
Portfolio Update February 2020
Portfolio Update May 2020
Portfolio Update August 2020
Portfolio Update November 2020

On the human scope of things, those last few months have been rocky to say the least. Yet we all were lucky because events could have been even harsher, disasters were and are still just at our corner. Let’s hope for all our sake that things will get better now that the wolf is out of the sheepfold.

The air already feels fresher as common sense, cooperation and decency are getting back to the forefronts. Let’s hope most conservative Americans can wake up and really see the benefits of being kind to each other and sticking together.

Investing-wise, it has been smooth sailing, at least for us. We’ll briefly report on it next. Our main topic today will be to talk about our adventures withdrawing from our big banks RESPs. We’ll conclude with another quick review of our latest DIY Portfolio transactions.

Once more, I’ll remind you that I am not an investment or tax professional of any kind. The intent of this blog is not to give specific investing advice. Before investing yourself, we suggest you do all necessary research and consult a licensed financial professional if need be.

Still Going Strong

As always, we manage to stay patient thru all this. Markets and our morale were up and down (or maybe down and up) all last year. Our DIY Portfolio finally did quite well in 2020 with an overall return just under 15%, so our long-term average climbed a little to about 13%.

November 12, 2020

Portfolio Update November 2020

Again, it’s DIY Portfolio report time! As usual, you can expect our next update in about 12 weeks.

You can have a look at previous portfolio updates here:

Portfolio Update February 2020

Portfolio Update May 2020

Portfolio Update August2020

Note that the last words of this report have been written on November 1^st, before the US presidential election.

Despite all unprecedented events, our DIY Portfolio is still in the positive this year, which is surprising. Year-to-date capital return is around zero and are modest return essentially comes from dividends. Not that bad waiting for better days.

It would be doing even better if it were not for the last week of October where it abruptly went down by a little more than 4%. We can sense markets are getting nervous about the upcoming US election. Contested results would probably cause the most turbulence. That’s why today, we’ll try to reason not giving into fear, essential for any successful investor.

After that, we’ll discuss our own portfolio management for the upcoming months and years. For now, let’s just say things are not getting simpler. We’ll conclude with our usual roundup of portfolio transactions. You’ll see we have been doing a little bit more lately.

Resist Giving into Fear

With all that is happening in the world, you may be tempted to give into your fear and cash in all your investments. We have to confess that even us, as committed investors, are sometimes afraid and have our moments of doubt.

We still believe you have to resist and remain patient as efficient investing always has to be approached with a long-term perspective.

August 12, 2020

Portfolio Update August 2020

Time flies as we again report on our DIY Portfolio progress. In a similar fashion, you can expect our next update in about 12 weeks.

You can have a look at previous portfolio updates here:

All Portfolio Updates

Portfolio Update May 2018

Portfolio Update February 2020

Portfolio Update May 2020

We are kind of glad to take a break from this unusually hot and humid summer. Luckily, our air-conditioned home can keep us cool. It may not be the case for everyone, and some would even prefer to get back to their more comfortable office. This unexpected crisis really forced many of us to experience the pros and cons of working from home.

Lots of companies have to reform their entire business model in these changing times. Some still thrive and even found unforeseen ways to reduce their costs. Others, not so much. Maintaining some level of sales or surviving till things get back to the new normal may be the key for most.

Despite all uncertainties, a lot of positives may be coming out of this year’s turmoil. For one thing, we were kind of obliged to adopt environment friendly solutions like telecommuting. A sense of solidarity also greatly developed in several communities. Even more important for humanity’s sake, you know who will probably get kicked out.

The next big question for many worried investors is how will the markets react to all of this?

Still Going Strong

Our answer is still somewhat the same: we don’t really know but don’t care that much.

What is important is that we remain confident our DIY Portfolio will fare well in the long haul, no matter all these short-term interrogations.

May 12, 2020

Portfolio Update May 2020

Another quarter has gone by and it’s already time for a brand new DIY Portfolio report. For quite a while now, we’ve been doing these about every 12 weeks.

You can access earlier portfolio updates here:

All Portfolio Updates

Portfolio Update May 2018

Portfolio Update February 2020

We tried to avoid as much as possible talking about the main thing in all our lives right now. We hear or read too much about it every day. Despite our strong intentions, you’ll see that it won’t be possible to ignore it. At this point, let’s just say that luckily, all our family is doing ok, and we hope yours can also remain safe and well.

So today, after sone comments about the current state of this unparalleled situation, we’ll talk about how our DIY Portfolio fared in these trying circumstances and how we’ve managed it so far during that wild ride. Surprisingly, our portfolio is only down about 3% year to date but the worst of it may still be coming.

You’ll see that despite being well prepared, we probably could have done better buying wise. We’ll also report on our new and recent experience with bonds.

An Unprecedented Test to Our Resolve

So far, the last few months have been a great test to our resolve. This is a tragic crisis and despite too many losses, Humanity’s resolve is still holding on so far. We are seeing numerous real-life examples of people that have the courage to fight not only for themselves but more importantly, for others. Let’s remain strong and continue combating because we may not see the end of it for another year or more.

August 12, 2019

Portfolio Update August 2019

Despite being on overly relax mode for a while, we are still glad to bring you our latest DIY Portfolio developments. As it has been the case for the last few years, you can expert our next update in about 12 weeks, in early November 2019.

You can also access our earlier portfolio updates here:

All Portfolio Updates

Portfolio Update May 2018

Granting things have been somewhat quiet on the markets since our last report, we’ve still experienced the usual ups and downs. In fact, it was more down followed by up this time around, as after a rough patch around May, most stocks resumed their climb up on a slightly slower yet steady pace.

As we eluded to on our last report, we are in a cleanup mode and high market values were a good fit, at least sell wise. Buying replacements was more difficult to accomplish as interesting opportunities rarely materialized. As some of you may have predicted, we adopted a decisive yet patient approach in that context. To sum it up in a few words: decisive to sell and patient to buy.

August 12, 2018

Portfolio Update August 2018

After a hot streak on the markets followed by a torrid start to the summer weather-wise, we are glad to present you our latest DIY Portfolio update. As usual, you can expect our next update in about 12 weeks, in November 2018.

You can also access our earlier portfolio updates here:

Portfolio Update August 2015

Portfolio Update November 2015

Portfolio Update February 2016

Portfolio Update May 2016

Portfolio Update August 2016

Portfolio Update November 2016

Portfolio Update February 2017

Portfolio Update May 2017

Portfolio Update August 2017

Portfolio Update November 2017

Portfolio Update February 2018

Portfolio Update May 2018

Last time, we talked about many possible opportunities looming. Well, some of them materialized but kind of quickly went away after the markets significantly surged in June. In those circumstances, the end result is often that you will grab some but miss others. We’ll elaborate on a particular one we failed to detect in advance.

May 12, 2018

Portfolio Update May 2018

With this year’s late blooming spring first warm sunny days comes another update of our DIY Portfolio. As usual, you can expect our following update in about 12 weeks, in August 2018.

You can also access our previous portfolio updates here:

Portfolio Update August 2015

Portfolio Update November 2015

Portfolio Update February 2016

Portfolio Update May 2016

Portfolio Update August 2016

Portfolio Update November 2016

Portfolio Update February 2017

Portfolio Update May 2017

Portfolio Update August 2017

After several quarters of what we have called Trump’s rally, markets finally noticeably stumbled. It may be in part due to somewhat artificial and what can look like improvised measures. Markets sure don’t like trade wars or even talks about them. They also worry when you are always picking a fight, especially with the likes of Russia and Iran. Will it all transform into Trump’s bubble? No one can tell.

To be fair, stock markets cannot go up forever. It’s in their nature and healthy for them to take a pause or even meaningfully correct once in a while as it wouldn’t be sustainable for them to only go up for long periods.

You know we have been expecting a market decline as we have been talking about it for some time. It’s normal and the long-term trend should still continue on its usual way up. In the end, markets going bad is good news. After all that patient waiting, we will, at last, be buying some more stocks as very interesting deals are coming!

In fact, at this point, we have been a little more active than usual and started doing some buying…after some selling.

February 12, 2018

Portfolio Update February 2018

Today, we are glad to provide you the latest update of our DIY Portfolio. As usual, our next update can be expected in about 12 weeks, in May 2018.

Meanwhile, you can have a look at previous portfolio updates here:

Portfolio Update August 2015

Portfolio Update November 2015

Portfolio Update February 2016

Portfolio Update May 2016

Portfolio Update August 2016

Portfolio Update November 2016

Portfolio Update February 2017

Portfolio Update May 2017

Portfolio Update August 2017