2011 Financial Goals

[Rickson]

1. 4 more oz of gold, 100 more oz of silver
2. All cars paid off with new tires and brakes
3. Pay off 20% of home loan.
4. Acquire $5,000 in Jr. Mining stocks

What else is everyone up to?

[Practicing]

1) SAVE
2) 10% return on retirement accounts
3) Engagement Ring
4) ....
5) Profit!

[ditkaworshipper]

My stock picks are up 17.7% for me since March. Just wish I had more $$$ to throw in at that point. I'm looking for my next buy window, but not sure whether the 11,000+ DOW is the time to do it.Throwing in (hopefully) 20% of paychecks this year, but will be happy with anything over 10%. Trying to find 3-4 more stocks to add to my current portfolio, but will be happy with even 2.

"Losing" 75% of my 401K since I'm switching jobs and not fully vested, but account's up 8% on aggregate. Only did the maximum company match for 6 months, so I'm not losing much here. I may actually contribute 0 to 401K funds this year since my new job doesn't match.

I'm probably doing most of my contributions via Roth IRA next year. I think my next stock picks are coming in the hospitality sector if they stay deflated a little longer, possibly some precious metals. I need to do some research.

Basically, I'm working on the mid-term goal (~7-8 years) to get my nest egg high enough to feel comfortable getting into small cap and venture capital funds, where the minimum investments are $50,000+.

I love how simple finances are at 23!

[Klaymen]

401k Contributions on auto pilot at $16,500/yr and about 40% of that is Roth.

Decided for the most part to stop picking stocks and ETFs. I don't have the time to bother researching for the most part, so I'm just guessing really.

No car loan, only loan is 4.625% mortage whose monthly payments eat away about 14% of my gross income.

Thinking about upping my support to a missionary in China who was a college roomate of mine from 0.8% to 1.0% of my gross income.

Stash half any bonus next year into Roth IRAs, save some for a family trip to DC.

Finances aren't so bad at 39 either.

[JMO Fan]

pay off and cut up 12 more credit cards

[ElDucky]

Another 1,000 oz of silver should do. Maybe 10 oz of gold too. Need to pay for a wedding so can't go all out on the silver.

[crumbs in the butter]

Complete ACAS requirements.

Contribute $37k to combination of my/wife's retirement.

Increase net worth by 15%.

Make 10% return on stock picks.

Keep spending within budget.

[Minnesotah]

http://blogs.wsj.com/marketbeat/2010...ocks-go-in-11/

Some extremely bullish 2011 projections coming out of Wall Street...

Spoiler:

By Matt Phillips
It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

That’s right, early December is the season for equity strategists to offer fresh guesstimates at what kind of year 2011 will be for stocks.

This week we’ve received shiny new S&P 500 targets from equity strategy shops at Goldman Sachs, Bank of America Merrill Lynch and UBS, to name a few.

And the analysts are — wait for it, cynical Wall Street observers — bullish!

Goldman Sachs slapped a 2011 year-end price target of 1450 on the S&P 500, that’s up some 19% from the broad index’s close of 1221.53 on Thursday. Surveying the 2011 financial and economic landscape — or at least the terrain they think they see — Goldman analysts describe a “superb backdrop” for U.S. stocks in 2011, with real GDP growth forecasted at 2.7% and inflation staying low.

Goldman’s view on stocks is a bit more optimistic than Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where analysts see the S&P 500 ending next year at 1400, or up 15% from Thursday’s close. (Before the new target, published Thursday, BofA previously had a 12-month target of 1350 on the S&P.) That rise would come despite Bank of America’s expectation that unemployment will barely budge, ending 2011 at 9.5%. “In 2010, despite little improvement in the unemployment rate from 2009 end, S&P 500 sales and [earnings per share] climbed strongly back up to pre-recession highs as business conditions improved aided by strong global growth, lower credit costs and even a rebound in consumer spending as those with jobs reopened their wallets,” wrote BofA analysts, by way of explanation.

Meanwhile, over at UBS, analysts pegged their year-end 2011 target for the S&P at 1325, or 8.5% higher than Thursday’s close. UBS didn’t previously have a published S&P target for the end of 2011. “Our forecast assumes solid revenue growth on the back of 2½-3% U.S. real GDP, strong cost controls, and a pickup in buybacks,” wrote UBS stock watchers, in a note out Wednesday.

Of course, as any self-respecting professional prognosticator knows, it’s imperative to leave yourself plenty of wiggle room. And so far analysts have done just that, suggesting any number of reasons their calls might be off the mark.

Goldman analysts opine about the potential for euro-credit “contagion,” as well as freakouts tied to the parlous state of U.S. finances. Likewise, UBS analysts are expecting problems — should they arise — to erupt from the bond markets. “We believe that credit disruptions — whether they emanate from the banking system, the mortgage market, U.S. municipalities, or from abroad — will be the likely culprit should the stock market behave poorly in 2011,” they wrote.

[snoo]

1. Sell house
2. Pay off debt (including: what I owe in the divorce, credit card)
3. Build up savings
4. Max out 401(k) & Roth
5. Max out the HSA

Maybe buy a new car, maybe. Definitely go on a vacation where I can lay on the beach in my swimsuit and feel the warmth of the sun upon me.

[gomer_tree]

Stay the course...

Keep paying off the mortgage (on pace to be done by the time first kid goes to college)...
Stay out of all other debt (there now)...
Increase gold/silver holdings...
Continue trading gold on Forex...
Continue to divest stock holdings in my 401k and move into conservative holdings (while "trading" the market - will buy in on large dips and get out on a rebound - but limited ability to do that in a 401k)...


If I have money left over, I can use that on bags of nickels, ammo, and canned goods.