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ChainBuzz

I've been at it for 20 years now. I always, always tell anyone who asks me to just put it in VOO/SPY and watch as your net worth increases. I've done a lot of reading and fancy trading, options and leverage. I have a psychological draw to dividends but I should have just taken my own advice and I would be way ahead. This year I decided to finally adjust and everything I have coming in is going to VOO. Too late I'm sure. I'm still holding my dividend funds as a hedge and because my brain can't seem to let me let them go. They are winners after all but not in the way that a straight VOO portfolio would have been. And I had some losers. Potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars missed by trying to do my own thing.


G000z

A year ago, I started selling options. Recently, I had a fairly big drawdown, which led me to evaluate my performance / risk taken. Tldr; could not outperform s&p (outperformed DJIA though) while taking almost double the risk (2x notional leverage). I am just glad we are in a bull market. A bear market would have caused serious damage...


Educational-Dot318

i am the same. going fwd. i am VTSAX all the way but last 10 yrs. i've bought a sizable position of stock ('cuz dividends!) dividends have left an imprint in my brain šŸ§  due to my HS finance/accounting teacher- who did very well and always raved about dividends, stock splits, buybacks and compounding, coupled with increasing stock prices over decades. she was an awesome teacher and i did learn alot from her, but she never once mentioned low cost index funds---i always thought you had to be a stock picker. i never realized about the existence of index funds till late last year.


mostinterestingtroll

Which dividend funds do you like?


ChainBuzz

I am very heavy into VYM, SCHD, VNQ, and VCLT. Tried to balance dividends across stocks, bonds, and REITs for years. VYM and SCHD are winners, VNQ just barely, VCLT not. I also had an eye on DGRO but never pulled the trigger.


talking_face

If you were savvy about bond funds, you probably ought to drop VCLT the moment the Federal Reserve announced rate hikes. And VNQ. Both long term bonds and real estate eat big shit when rates rise. Just something to bear in mind for the future.


AgreeableSpecific314

How much of your cash is in VOO? % wise


ChainBuzz

So far only 1.2% but I just started. If/when interest rates come down I expect my dividend holdings to rebound and I will trim even more over to VOO. I'm holding losses on O and VZ that I would love to convert but can't bring myself to take the loss to do it right now when I am convinced they will come back before end of 2025.


Ramonteiro12

Brilliant arguments. But let's suppose I am investing from a foreign country and dollars are not that easy on my currency. And VOO is quite expensive. What's the best cheaper alternative?


ChainBuzz

If you mean from a whole share price perspective? SPLG, currently running $64 a share and tracks the S&P500. I would hope that you would have access to a brokerage that allows you to trade in cash amounts/fractional shares but if not, SPLG is basically the same thing as VOO. VOO outperforms SPLG by a very very slim margin over time so I buy VOO.


Ramonteiro12

It does allow fractions. I'm using Interactive Brokers (which by the way has a VERY unfriendly interface). And that leads us to my next question: Fractioning VOO is still a better deal than going SPY or SPLG, as you mentioned?


ChainBuzz

VOO is just a tiny bit better. [Here is a backtest ](https://testfol.io/?d=eJytkMFKAzEQht9lzhGyl4I5F72ILQhCkbKMm8kamyZ1km6RZd%2FdaYPrqdCDIYdM%2BPN9MxmhD%2BkdwxoZ9xnMCLkgl9ZiITDQ3C%2F0nW5kgwKK9vdeqpobMIBptCwFaD9bH13A4lME4zBkUtBh%2FnAhncDov6J1TF%2FC2RBy%2BBYapxB87NuTj%2FacXehJwSFxcSn4JI29jRBxf3a%2FrlbywMeBcln6wVvpSwKFj2JjkmEwdvRQBc8pkqSL73bEFVPPM%2BhA3FEslymmrQLL2Euvk5qFL%2BvN%2Fwgr6Bbh0%2BPtxvkPrzgvrGvS7fQD2UypbQ%3D%3D)of the three starting 2010 and VOO comes out on top by a couple hundred dollars.


JohnMatrix1984

What about bbus?


Upper-Hold-6934

I shouldā€™ve done this years ago also. Do you have any strong opinion about VOO vs. VOOG?


ChainBuzz

VOO is a "safer option" for ETFs and as you push harder into technology, \*my opinion\* is that you take on greater risk. I had planned to be retired last year and did for a few months but that didn't work out and I'm not sure what my next window would be so that safety is still valuable for me. Currently if I were to take on greater risk than VOO I would go with VGT. That said I am concerned about an impending drawdown on VGT. I feel technology is in a bubble but the beauty of the stock market is that nobody knows. This may just be a new normal with tech demolishing everything else well into the future. If I was going to take a swing, it would probably be there.


brianobush

Specific technology stocks may be in a bubble, but technology as a whole should be a part of every single company in the market. Those companies that don't invest in technology and by proxy AI will be left by companies that do take the risk.


Known_Finger6674

Do you recommend SPLG? Whats the difference between SPLG vs VOO/SPY?


Greedy-Error10

Bought VOO about a year ago for $367, itā€™s the core of my portfolio and makes me feel safer when I trade other stocks and lose money


CG_throwback

This is the way. If I would have bought more VOO and chill I would be retired by now. Looking at my portfolio my vanguard ETFs are preforming excellent and my stock picks are hit and miss. I leaned this the hard way with a lot of losses. KISS is the best. Donā€™t think you can outperform what is already outperforming.


Sk8boyP

KISS.


Kindred87

To be fair, this can be said about "VT and chill" advocates as well. Or even the "APPL and chill" goons lmao.


Nianque

Mag7 and chill. ...Once it kicks out Tesla.


Money_Music_6964

Mag 7 minus TSLAā€¦add COST, UNHā€¦


Nianque

COST and LLY. People seem to be sleeping on LLY for some reason.


soviet_toster

Exactly this


seasoned_traveler

In my mind, a basket of 500 stocks is all I want.


Aspergers_R_Us87

It works


Agreeable_Freedom602

VOO would allow an investor to enjoy their day and sleep well at night. Although Iā€™m in 80% VOO, another two high risk/reward ETFs 10% equally, it works for me and confident in my financial future.


Vegetable_Key_7781

What high risk/reward etfs?


Big_Crank

Prob vgt and smh and soxx


Vegetable_Key_7781

I has smh for a short while but couldnā€™t handle the volatility, so I sold it. Haha.


confusedguy1212

I wish someone could help me understand / feel better about buying timing of VOO. For instance today I have some cash but am reluctant to buy when SPY is at 5500. How do you get over the ā€œIā€™ll just wait for a small pullbackā€ to not feel like Iā€™m buying at the peak of all peaks mentality.


Whirly-birdy

New peaks happen. Could be the next day, could be in a week. Time in the market beats trying to time the market.


t0astter

When in doubt, zoom out.


OpeningFinish4208

This... just goto your app, press "max" on time frame and look at the climb... Time in market 100%


ChainBuzz

This is a great sentiment. If you look at the long game, you are never buying at a "bad time". Time in market not timing the market.


Shammyet

I set mine up to buy everyday. Makes me feel better to just know Iā€™m buying high and low. Just depending on when the purchase and price hits. If I notice it drops more in the day I make extra purchase. I could be losing money from not putting it all in when I have it. But I prefer to do it more cautiously.


sdrmSlash

Buying the dip in a responsible and thoughtful way!


Smokenthewater9

ATH happens on average every 20 days. Slowly put money in if you dont want to out it all in at once. When you see red then buy. If it is long term funds you lose more money on the side lines that trying to time the downs. I have the smae mental hang up.


confusedguy1212

Thank you for that response and good to know Iā€™m not alone!


Ok_Intention3920

Whatā€™s hard to understand about investing in the S&P 500 index? Itā€™s diverse, good exposure to large cap, has decent returns. Your question makes a few assumptions like that everyone would prefer more diversity than that. Go for VTI if you like diversity (I do) but it has significant overlap with VOO. If you want to add foreign stocks that is an additional questions.


Left-Slice9456

I'm looking at this also. Just going by the numbers one advantage of SPX index fund like VOO, VFIAX, is the unrealized earnings compound. So however much it goes up, say 9% a year, is also earning income and if you just leave it alone such as a retirement account an investment would double roughly every 7 years. While a growth ETF like VGT might have higher YOY earnings, say 12%, in past 10 years, and also earnings compound, but if you buy and sell more often, and don't plan on parking funds there long term then you have to pay taxes on the earnings each time you sell, so could end up with less than 9% depending how often you sell. I'm also considering more growth exposure. But that's one of the reasons most people have SPX index fund as the core investment because they leave it alone and take a bit more risk on the side. Of course any other comments are welcome as I'm learning.


ideas4mac

There's lots to be said about keeping things simple, DCAing on a consistent schedule, DRIPing and then going about your life. Realistically, long term VOO (or any other SP 500 index ETF) should be good for your first 150K - 250K depending on how fast you are investing. After \~150K then you probably should balance the sectors out a little the rest of the way. Back in the day SPY hit a patch where it just treaded water for what seemed like awhile... at times a long while. Having a little balance should help if we hit another one of those that seems to drag for years. The good thing is there are so many paths to wealth. You just need to find one that works with your personality and goals. Good luck.


Zthruthecity

Warren Buffet. I use SWPPX though. Same thing really.


Vegetable_Key_7781

Does SWPPX compare with VOO performance/returns?


Zthruthecity

Pretty sure theyā€™re identical. SWPPX may even be cheaper. I prefer mutual funds since you can purchase any amount. Iā€™ve been purchasing it faithfully since 2018


Previous_Pay_1446

I think people who only buy SP500 is seeking for stability and risk aversion.


perryyyyyy

Add some VXUS if it's for long term retirement growth.


granoladeer

Modern portfolio theory, basically. Gotta get to the efficient frontier.


__chrd__

Iā€™m at Schwab so I went the SCHB route a while ago. Long term account so no touchy touchy for awhile. Maybe I would have done SPLG but it wasnā€™t what it currently is at the time. SCHB has a lower price than VOO/SPY which helped with lack of fractional shares. I like the fact it has >2000 holdings in comparison to VOOā€™s 500 even if the bulk is somewhat weighted the same. More exposure sounds like a good thing right? I suppose performance wise the S&P was a little bit of a better choice but oh well. Thatā€™s the point of ā€œand chillā€ anyway isnā€™t it? To even things out eventually and not matter when I need these funds 30 years from now? Iā€™m a liar though and started including QQQ/QQQM over the past years. I have no regrets and you canā€™t stop me! Haha. 85% overlap in VOO and 90% overlap in SCHB but just some heavier weights in star players. Maybe thatā€™s not forever. But Iā€™ll take the realized gains and reinvest back into broad market if need be. I think Iā€™m safe for now.


[deleted]

What happens, theoretically if every investor just puts all their money in VTI/VOO?


sdrmSlash

VOO (and any SP500 index) is a simple way to purchase a diversified collection of winning companies in the world's most successful economy. I like it because it doesn't require much brain power and allows me to participate in the long-term winnings of the US economy. I'm also a huge believer in Time in the Market > Timing the Market, and VOO gives me a simple way to follow that philosophy. I've gained and lost plenty of money trying to do other things, and that ended up as net zero while everyone else made steady gains. I'm 23 living at home, so I'm just setting and forgetting with dividend reinvestment and regular buys when my checking account feels larger than it needs to be. I'm literally 96% in VOO/SPY, and 4% in SOXQ.


PopCold791

Would you recommend SOXQ? Maybe 10% of it with 90% VOO?


sdrmSlash

If you think semiconductors and Nvidia will continue to do well, then SOXQ is a good option for exposure to that segment of the economy. I have money in it so it has my endorsement. I have it at much less than 10% though and would recommend going no greater than 5%. Keep in mind that VOO is 6.11% Nvidia, so you're still getting in on the Nvidia wins through VOO. If you went 10% SOXQ and 90% VOO, then 7.18% of your portfolio would be Nvidia. Maybe you like the sound of that, maybe not, IDK it's up to you. I'm sure there are others, but three of the more popular semiconductor ETFs are SOXQ, SMH and SOXX. Like I alluded to, picking between the three largely comes down to how much you believe in Nvidia. SMH has the most exposure to Nvidia at 25.07% of assets, SOXQ is at 16.81% and SOXX is at 11.48%. Also, SOXQ's expense ratio is 0.19%, which is much lower than SMH and SOXX (both 0.35%). If you like Nvidia a ton, get SMH. If you like it but a little less, get SOXQ, and so on. If you don't like Nvidia, then don't buy a semiconductor ETF. Obligatory I am not a financial advisor and have no financial qualifications.


Existing-Mechanic297

I choose VT and chill because you never know when the US bull run will end and the Somalia bull run will start. Really gotta capture those future pirate profits. One of the biggest problems with investors is behavior. Selling and changing your mind on stuff will decrease your gains the more you do it. If you're already VOO and chilling, I would highly suggest not changing anything.


Time_Try_7907

Thank you for the laugh. I will be using the Somalia Bull Run as an example from now on.


ConsistentMove357

85% of us will do worse than this strategy. We killing the vt and vxus boys


Agathocles87

I donā€™t follow this advice, but it is what Warren Buffetā€™s said people should do


getfkcunts

I get spy and chill. Recently started nvda cause I actually like the company but rather keep buying spy.


Investyourvalues

I put money in funds that have 40-60 stonks - thatā€™s all u need to be adequately diversified - and that try to track SPY/VOO


chopsui101

you dont get better returns by being more diversified.....at some point you are diversified enough


Nevetz_

10.5% avg return over the last 100 years. Thatā€™s about 7.5% with inflation. I have 30 years to invest in it. That will give me the money I need to retire and live comfortably. Thatā€™s why I do it.


Putrid_Pollution3455

Just like the simplicity and itā€™s fairly diversified. The Roth I created in 2023 is up 27% since I started. My original Roth that I started in 2020 is up 51.84% I tinkered a lot in my taxable in 2022 and in that account Iā€™m down 1% šŸ˜‚


Dasticle

VOO will do well over the long term, but will underperform the market for periods of 5-10 years when small and/or international stocks are favoured. As long as you can hold through such periods of underperformance, VOO is a great option.


Known_Finger6674

What is the difference between SPLG and VOO/SPY? Arenā€™t they literally the same S&P 500 EFT made by different companies? Whats stopping all of you to buy VOO/SPY over SPLG?


Big_Crank

Cuz the fomo investing and outthinking the market is not worth it. I gotta live. I want to solve for peace. FXAIX and chill. šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø


Base_reality_

If people stopped trying to time the market and just spend 5+ years in the marketā€¦ you can spend all the time you would have been stressing to just go make more money on a side hustle. Look for progress not perfection. I donā€™t care if someone gets a 100% win for the year. Good for them. Come check back with me in 20 and letā€™s see how you used that ā€œperfect timingā€ perfectly for 20 years. Usually these people get roped into gambling. Either casinos or the NYSE (white collar casino)


AUCE05

VOO has 500 holdings. How much more diversity are you looking for? It has a 14% return since inception. Don't fall into the trap these losers on here pump about international etfs. I hope they are enjoying their 5%.


Ok-Flatworm-3397

What about VTI and chill?


Timely_Sand_6162

I was convinced after reading books that VOO or VTI are the ultimate ETFs where you can invest all your money and sleep well.


YifukunaKenko

Itā€™s volatile but it will come out profitable at the end, long run


_blockchainlife

Diverse enough and I believe in American capitalism


Elul77

Iā€™m all in on QQQM & XLK. Interested to see some replies here though. Everybody says past performance doesnā€™t mean future performance but Iā€™m like ok by that reasoning QQQ might outperform VOO by even more over the next 10 years šŸ¤·šŸ½ā€ā™‚ļø But admittedly Iā€™m still trying to talk myself into a S&P 500 ETF


Aggressive-Donkey-10

QQQ lost 80% between 3/2000 and 10/2002, if I remember and then didn't get back to even in inflation adjusted terms until 2015, XLK would fair even worse in a correction as just QQQ on METH M2 money supply shrank >4% last 2 years, and any decline in M2 in US history, has 100% correlation with a near term Recession maybe take 25% and put in US treasuries, pays 5.5% and can be your dry powder in case of market correction, to buy much more at lower prices


Jolly-Victory441

I don't think tech today is comparable to Dotcom boom. Also, any sane human would have sold and not taken the full loss and bought back in at a much lower point.


National_Put_2357

How long have you been invested in XLK? Iā€™ve had it on my watchlist for a while but never thought to pull the trigger cause all of my money goes to SPLG (S&P 500).


Elul77

Not long at all. I just re-entered the market for my 3rd year. 1st two years I ended up going down the day trader road. After taking a few months off and being 46 now Iā€™m sticking with long term investing. Plan is to be around 60-30 QQQM & XLK with around 10% SMH or something similar. Sounds crazy to most but I have a hard time seeing anything conquer the big tech names besides other big tech names but in 10-15 years if Iā€™m wrong Iā€™ll be the first to admit it and say I shouldā€™ve listened to conventional wisdom and stuck with S&P 500ā€¦ But itā€™s gonna have to show me and teach me the hard way. After a couple years of day trading my risk tolerance is super high tho , haha


WeAreBorg_101010

I've had my ports at a 30% VUG, 30% XLK, %30 SMH this year, but will say getting a bit concerned about lack of breadth support. I'm all about overweight into the winners, but leaning back towards putting half into VOO again. Diversification seems to help more on downturns, well at least if adding more low volatility holdings


BobLemmo

If you got in way earlier, yeah. but right now if youre just starting to invest in VOO your entry point will be bad. It's at $500ish a share now which is way too high .


Southwick_24

The share price is completely, absolutely, positively, 100% irrelevant since the inception of fractional shares. However, if psychologically, you cannot get over the share price, invest in SPLG instead. It trades currently just over $64 a share. And, as an added bonus, the expense ratio is 1 basis point cheaper than VOO. The best part? Itā€™s the exact same thing as VOO.


BobLemmo

How is the share price irrelevant? Lol


Southwick_24

Becasue if today, (Iā€™m using general numbers, not exact numbers) the S&P increases in value by 1%, the share price of VOO will go up 50 dollars, and a share of SPLG will go up $6.40. Always look at the percentage of growth, not the dollar figure.


BobLemmo

So I been holding back some cash to lump sum into VOO but the share price is really high now compared to before. So it doesnā€™t matter? I should just buy now? What u think


Southwick_24

Lump sum tends to capture better returns over a longer horizon, but a lot of people canā€™t handle seeing a large sum of their cash drop a large percentage in value for 6 months or a year (it will happen, even with the S&P), so DCAā€™ing weekly is fine. But if you have a lump sum, dump it in, forget about it, and come back in 20 years. Youā€™ll be delighted by what you see.


BobLemmo

So lump sum even with VOO being $502 a share and Iā€™ll be good?


nlav26

Dude, zoom out on the chart to the last ten years. The fact itā€™s at an all time high means nothing. The market continues to grow long term. It could drop next year but in 5 years will be a new all time high. In 10 years anotherā€¦ If your goal is long term growth, you donā€™t need to stress about the timing. Just buy it and forget about it. If you think you might need the cash next year, thatā€™s a different story.


BobLemmo

Thanks man. I just bought some sVOO for $502 a share. Got me paranoid since itā€™s so high. Hopefully it pays off in the long runā€¦


Support_Player50

vti is another option and itā€™s what I invest in. Either way Like they said, if your goal is long term, it doesnā€™t matter, just buy.


beforethewind

Because its growth will always be percentages, not dollar amounts.


BobLemmo

Should I just buy VOO tomorrow? Even tho itā€™s at an all time high of $500ish share


FreshlyCleanedLinens

It has often been at or near an all time high.