Look out below!
Pretty sure I don't need to mention what happened to investments over December; you've got to be living under a rock if you're unaware. At any rate, the carnage has somewhat spared me since I was super lazy and never allocated my SEP IRA to equities, and continues to sit in a Money Market fund. HSA is also cash although the balance is still small. Roth IRA balance is a little angry, but hey I'm happy not being "all in" with total investments.
Speaking of the Roth, I've decided to move away from Primerica after 19 years and transfer those funds to Fidelity. I will most likely choose the same mutual fund (SHAPX) but with an added benefit of waiving the 4.5% front-load fee. With maximum contributions being raised starting in January, I can put away more than ever.
In the career department I was fortunate to acquire a 5% raise in annual salary (starting Jan 2019). With a modest Christmas bonus, this places 2017 income in the $112k range. Mind you this includes primary job, side hustles (music and web development), along with interest. Anxious to see how those tax deductions are put to use!
Along with the investment and salary changes, other adjustments are coming. I've tacked on an extra $100/month in principal payments on the primary mortgage, adding up to almost an extra payment every year. Estimated tax payments have also been increased, and as far as incidental spending cash, I've increased to $200/month max.
Finally I went ahead and paid off the full balance of all my credit cards early. I like to start the new year fresh with a clean slate.
Overall it's been a fruitful year. I only hope it continues, as predictions for 2019 aren't quite as rosy. I've fortified enough to keep things stable just in case. |