I think this is a BIG STORY. Not because of any immediate impact. After all this service is not even running yet. BUT...it reflects the future of...."X". I have no doubt that ELON is going to use this company as a vehicle for many of his future moves and plans. Some time down the road.......probably years.....his plan for Twitter will be obvious in hindsight. ALL the many nay-sayers......will look plain stupid with how he grows this company into a technology giant. He is going to build out the...."X"....platform step by step, bit by bit. He is a once in a generation leader and thinker. He is playing an extremely long game. In addition his Starlink platform is also in the simple early stages. What he is creating is basically a world wide DIGITAL CONTENT platform. AND....it is outside all the current media delivery systems....cable, fiber, radio, TV,etc, etc. I have no doubt that he has a long term plan to add every kind of digital content to Starlink....news, internet, social media, etc, etc, etc. it will be very interesting to see how he integrates ALL of his businesses....SpaceX, Starlink, "X", and AI.....over the next 5-10 years. 'X Money' payment system to launch in 2025: X CEO 'Buckle up. Happy New Year,' Yaccarino wrote https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/x-money-payment-system-launch-2025-x-ceo
WELL....I started the new year with a nice medium size gain. NVDA carried me today with a nice move up.....since it still dominates my portfolio. I also got in my first beat of the SP500 for the new year......by 0.53%. A good start in a generally down day with flat markets. Twenty Twenty Five.....is off and running. Day one in the can.
For any that want to compare their 2024 results to one of the GREATS......Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRK-B)....up about +26.5% for 2024.
Register Starlink Beta now with T Mobile service https://www.t-mobile.com/business/s...icid=MGPO_TMO_U_NETWORK_F9F56EBA73E7F9E241966
Amazing....these guys are being celebrated in the media for their investing and Hedge Fund returns. BUT....I bet that the typical poster on here beat most of them. Look at what they are getting for these funds holding billions of dollars. Consider what these guys are being paid. And than....consider....that bunch of rag-tag investors on here are kicking their ass. Hedge Funds Deliver Double-Digit Returns in 2024 https://www.newsmax.com/finance/streettalk/hedge-funds-returns-2024/2025/01/02/id/1193637/ MY COMMENT Not to mention....but I will anyway....that the majority of returns in the article above are BELOW what the SP500 did this year.
I have started the year with a move in the markets! This is only my second stock trade in 5 years of investing. The first was to sell Tesla a week before it went on a +90% run LOL For a while, I've wanted to add another individual stock to my portfolio, but I haven't had the cash to do so. However, last night I cut some profit from my Apple and Amazon investments to buy some Palantir. I now own 4 individual stocks and 2 ETFs. My current portfolio: Amazon Apple Nvidia Palantir S&P 500 NASDAQ-100 This is clearly tech-heavy and high-risk. Hopefully, the fact that my S&P investment accounts for just over 60% of my portfolio mitigates that risk somewhat. Anyway, Happy New Year to you all. Some great posts over the last week or so. I'm looking forward to the year ahead!
@WXYZ Who are you calling Rag-Tag!!!! This is a finely coordinated group with consistent leadership and and clear long term guidance! I like to joke around but I will say the fundamentals shared in this thread most likely give you the greatest chance of building wealth over the long term. In true group fashion we will go into 2025 under promising and over delivering! Looks like a solid play Lori. I have owned every stock on your list at one time or another. Your nasdaq 100 is pretty much my VGT. As you already know with such a tech heavy portfolio get ready for some volatility and nasty pull backs. You have to have faith in your selections and hold for the long term. I think the only stock I owned that hasn't sprung back is Boeing which had some pretty obvious issues going on. The CEO should be in prison. The stock on my radar right now is PLTR. I have a minor position, about the same as what W is holding onto. I see the long term potential but still can't fully put on the rose colored glasses. I am thinking 2025 will be a pivotal year for the company as far as seeing it's ability to beat expectations quarter after quarter and show some long term potential in dominating it's field. They appear to have a pretty good moat started.
Not a bad move Lori. With the Nasdaq 100 and the SP500 plus your four stocks....you are developing a very nice portfolio. You just have to continue to have FAITH and trust in the promise of holding the greatest 100 and 500 companies in the world in your ETF's......along with the extra boost from owning your four stocks on top of the broad indexes. If it was me.......and of course I am not "you" and dont give investment advice.....I would strongly try to add one or two non-tech companies......of course my BIAS is obvious when you look at what I own....so the two that I would try to add would be HD and COST. Actually you already own these two in your ETF's. Of these two...... my primary and first add would be COST. COST is am amazing company....and over time even the large tech companies have a hard time keeping up with the gains that COST has produced. In my primary portfolio COST is my second largest holding in value. The only stock that beats it is NVDA. Held for years COST is a MONSTER.......and...it has no problem beating my other holdings. How did you end the year in terms of return?
Well that did not take long. I sold some NVDA on Thursday this week at the open to fund another 400 shares of PLTR. I wanted more PLTR and I wanted to get it up to a higher percentage of my account. And my primary thinking was that NVDA was just too dominant in my account....my daily result was being totally controlled by NVDA. BUT.....at this moment....here I am with NVDA now right back to the same percentage of my account.....if not higher....due to the gains yesterday and today. BUT...the good news...I got a good price on PLTR yesterday and it is up BIG today. It is a long term holding so two days dont matter in the slightest.....but I am human....and do like to see a gain when I buy something. I am still well below a full position in PLTR....but at least what I now hold is large enough to be a legitimate position. It is no longer a mini-position for me. My other "training-wheel" position CMG.....is still a mini-position.
The short term question for today is....can we hold onto the green till the close. We could not do it yesterday. Although....the open today seems stronger today than yesterday. it would be nice to close the first week of the new year with a YTD gain.
LOL....TireSmoke. We ARE......a RAG-TAG bunch of investors. We are the "little people".....the disrespected little retail investors. We do our long term thing while all the traders, speculators, and professionals with their sophisticated systems....probably.....think we are stupid. We are "rag-tag" in the same way the "resistance" or the "good guys" in every Sci-Fi or Western or Adventure or Fantasy movie is always........"rag-tag". It is a badge of.....HONOR.....LOL. I remember back in the 1990's when I was posting the same stuff that I post now....back on the old MSN Money boards....I was routinely derided as being....."buy and hold". Of course the returns that I was putting up back than were beating most on the board. "Buy and Hold" was a very negative and derisive term back than.
Did you buy your.....KING CAKE....yet? We buy them once in a while at Mardi Gras time when they are available. Here in Texas...... Houston and Galveston have a long history of Mardi Gras celebrations......actually as long as New Orleans. Recently I have seen the King Cakes spread to many other parts of the country. Not my favorite cake....but a nice historic tradition. Even though they are not my taste favorite.....when I see them I am still motivated to buy one.....based on how they look and the historic tradition. I usually resist.
This nice little article is a pretty good resource regarding taxes in 2025. Your Tax Fact Sheet and Calendar Bookmark this guide to stay abreast of the tax-related dates and data that should be on your radar in 2025. https://www.morningstar.com/personal-finance/your-tax-fact-sheet-calendar (BOLD is my opinion OR what I consider important content) "When it comes to taxes, 2025 won’t bring any huge changes: Most of the tax changes going into effect as the new year dawns amount to adjustments to income or contribution limits, reflective of the effects of inflation in various provisions within the tax code. But watch this space: The tax cuts ushered in as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017—related to income tax and the estate tax—are set to expire at the end of this year, barring congressional action. Here are key tax-related dates and data points to have on your radar for the year ahead. 2025 Important Tax Facts for All Taxpayers All taxpayers should be aware of the new income tax brackets, deduction amounts and exemption amounts for 2025. 2025 Federal Income Tax Brackets: Single Taxpayers Seven tax brackets remain for income earned by single taxpayers in 2025, but the specific parameters have changed, as follows: 10% $0 to $11,925 12% $11,926 to $48,475 22% $48,476 to $103,350 24% $103,351 to $197,300 32% $197,301 to $250,525 35% $250,526 to $626,350 37% $626,351 and above 2025 Federal Income Tax Brackets: Married Couples Filing Jointly Seven tax brackets remain for income earned by married couples filing jointly in 2025, but the specific parameters have changed, as follows: 10% $0 to $23,850 12% $23,851 to $96,950 22% $96,951 to $206,700 24% $206,701 to $394,600 32% $394,601 to $501,050 35% $501,051 to $751,600 37% $751,600 and above Standard Deduction Standard deduction amounts are increasing in 2025, to $15,000 for single filers and $30,000 for married couples filing jointly. People who are over 65 or blind can claim an additional $1,600 per person for their standard deduction ($2,000 for unmarried people over age 65). For heads of households, the 2025 standard deduction increases to $22,500 for 2025. AMT-Exempt Amounts The exemption amounts for the alternative minimum tax are increasing slightly in 2025, to $88,100 for single filers and $137,000 for married couples filing jointly. The exemption amounts phase out for single filers with alternative minimum taxable incomes of more than $626,350, and $1,252,700 for married couples filing jointly. Estate/Gift Tax Exemption This amount is increasing in 2025, to $13.99 million per individual. The annual gift-tax exclusion is increasing to $19,000, up from $18,000 in 2024. (Note that annual gifts in excess of this amount do not automatically trigger any sort of gift tax. Most people won’t owe estate or gift taxes in their lifetimes under current tax laws.) 2025 Important Tax Facts for Investors Qualified Dividend and Long-Term Capital Gains Rates Three rates are still in place for dividends and long-term capital gains—0%, 15%, and 20%. Here are the parameters for each of the rates. 0%: Single taxpayers with incomes between $0 and $48,350; married couples filing jointly with incomes between $0 and $96,700. 15%: Single taxpayers with incomes between $48,351 and $533,400; married couples filing jointly with incomes between $96,701 and $600,050. 20%: Single taxpayers with incomes over $533,400; married couples filing jointly with incomes over $600,050. Medicare Surtax As in years past, an additional 3.8% Medicare surtax will apply to the lesser of net investment income or the excess of modified adjusted gross income over $200,000 for single taxpayers and $250,000 for married couples filing jointly. Individual Retirement Account Rules IRA Contribution Limits (Roth or Traditional): Unchanged: $7,000 under age 50/$8,000 age 50 and over. Income Limits for Roth IRA Contribution, single filers: Modified adjusted gross income under $150,000—full Roth contribution; between $150,000 and $165,000—partial Roth contribution; more than $165,000—no Roth contribution. Income Limits for Roth IRA Contribution, married couples filing jointly: Modified adjusted gross income under $236,000—full Roth contribution; between $236,000 and $246,000—partial Roth contribution; more than $246,000—no Roth contribution. Income Limits for Deductible IRA Contribution, single filers covered by a retirement plan at work: Modified adjusted gross income under $79,000—fully deductible contribution; between $79,000 and $89,000—partially deductible contribution; more than $89,000—contribution not deductible. Income Limits for Deductible IRA Contribution, single filers who are not covered by a retirement plan at work or married couples if neither spouse is covered by a retirement plan at work: None. Income Limits for Deductible IRA Contribution, married couples filing jointly, if contributor is covered by a retirement plan at work: Modified adjusted gross income under $126,000—fully deductible contribution; between $126,000 and $146,000—partially deductible contribution; more than $146,000—contribution not deductible. Income Limits for Deductible IRA Contributions, married couples filing jointly, if contributor is not covered by a retirement plan at work but spouse is: Modified adjusted gross income under $236,000—fully deductible contribution; between $236,000 and $246,000—partially deductible contribution; more than $246,000—contribution not deductible. Income Limits for Nondeductible IRA Contributions: None. Income Limits for IRA Conversions: None. Employer-Sponsored Retirement Account Rules Contribution Limits for 401(k), 403(b), 457 plan, or Self-Employed 401(k) (Roth or Traditional): $23,500 under age 50; $31,000 for age 50 and older. People between 60 and 63 can make “super catch-up” contributions; Starting in 2025, they can invest $34,750, assuming their plans offer the option. Total 401(k) Contribution Limits, including employer (pretax, Roth, aftertax) and employee contributions and forfeitures: $70,000 if under age 50; $77,500 if 50-plus. Income Limits for 401(k), 403(b), 457 Plan: None, though annual compensation limits can come into play in certain situations. SEP IRA Contribution Limit: The lesser of 25% of compensation or $70,000. Saver’s Tax Credit, income limit, single filers: $39,500. Saver’s Tax Credit, income limit, married couples filing jointly: $79,000. Health Savings Account Rules Health Savings Account Contribution Limit, single coverage: $4,300 (contributor under age 55); $5,300 (contributor 55-plus). Health Savings Account Contribution Limit, family coverage: $8,550 (contributor under age 55); $9,550 (contributor 55-plus). High-Deductible Health Plan Minimum Deductible, self-only coverage: $1,650. High-Deductible Health Plan Minimum Deductible, family coverage: $3,300. High-Deductible Health Plan Out-of-Pocket Maximum, self-only coverage: $8,300. High-Deductible Health Plan Out-of-Pocket Maximum, family coverage: $16,600. 2025: Important Tax Dates to Remember Jan. 1:New IRA, retirement plan, and HSA contribution and income limits go into effect for the 2025 tax year, as listed above. Jan. 15: Estimated tax payments due for the fourth quarter of 2024. April 15: Individual tax returns (or extension request forms) are due for the 2024 tax year. Last day to contribute to an IRA for the 2024 tax year (2024 contribution limits: $7,000 under age 50; $8,000 for age 50 and above). Last day to contribute to an HSA for the 2024 tax year (2023 contribution limits: $4,150 for single coverage, contributor under age 55; $5,150 for single coverage, contributor age 55 and above; $8,300 for family coverage, contributor under age 55; $9,300 for family coverage, contributor age 55 and above). June 17: Estimated tax payments due for the second quarter of 2025. Sept. 16:Estimated tax payments due for the third quarter of 2025. Oct. 15:Individual tax returns due for taxpayers who received a six-month extension on their 2024 returns. Dec. 31: Retirees age 73 and older must take required minimum distributions from traditional IRAs and 401(k)s; those RMDs are based on their balances at the end of 2024. Last date to make contributions to company retirement plans (401(k), 403(b), 457) for the 2025 tax year." MY COMMENT It is amazing what we have to deal with in terms of taxes and tax related planing every year. The above is a pretty good list to keep handy for review and planing. I will be making my quarterly Income Tax payment this month on the 15th. it is the only one that I pay in each year. i simply take the small penalty each year on my taxes. it is minimal.....so I choose to not pay the first, second or third quarterly estimated tax payments. i just made my first Property Tax payment yesterday. As a Senior I am able to pay it in four installments with ZERO interest. This allows me to smooth out and stretch out my CASH FLOW by not having to pay it all in one month. I have found that planing....CASH FLOW....is one of the BIG issues when you are retired and paying your own way from your personal assets and income sources.
HERE is the economic news of the day....if you care....I dont. US manufacturing PMI rises to nine-month high in December https://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-m...sANImuuk0Aj66YME-qRy0485ApUvZI6kSskJZ2QeVAUif
Pretty good trick....LOWER your production goals......meet those LOWER goals......and BOOM, a 10% stock gain. Rivian meets its 2024 vehicle production target after lowering projections https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/03/rivian-meets-2024-vehicle-production-target.html "Key Points Rivian Automotive’s 2024 vehicle production and deliveries were in line with the company’s previously announced expectations. Rivian in October lowered its 2024 production target to a range of 47,000 to 49,000 vehicles. Shares of Rivian declined 43% last year as the company burned through cash and missed its production targets." MY COMMENT I dont do auto companies. They are just all boom and bust. I dont like boom and bust industries like banks, drug companies, auto companies, etc, etc. I have ZERO interest in this stock. I just thought it was interesting to see this big jump in the stock.....for meeting LOWER expectations. NOW....if this would apply to all the BIG CAP companies that BEAT earnings every quarter.....that have NOT been lowered....it would be great. The markets are so.....DUMB.
The markets are still looking strong today...."the FORCE is strong with this one"......today. Here is the markets today: Stocks rise on Friday as S&P 500 looks to snap five-day losing streak https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/02/stock-market-today-live-updates.html (BOLD is my opinion OR what I consider important content) "U.S. stocks moved higher on Friday as Wall Street tried to shake off a volatile start to the new year. The S&P 500 rose 0.8%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 224 points, or 0.5%. The Nasdaq Composite advanced about 1%. Tech stocks were a bright spot for the market on Friday. Chip giant Nvidia climbed more than 3%, while cyber defense name CrowdStrike added 2.6%. Homebuilder PulteGroup also rose more than 2% to lead the consumer discretionary group. Friday’s move came off a choppy trading session on Thursday that saw stocks close lower after a morning rally. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite have fallen for five straight trading sessions, their longest losing streak since April of last year. The recent weakness for equities means that “Santa Claus” rally, in which stocks gain in the final five trading days of one year and the first two of the next, has failed to materialize. However, many Wall Street strategists and portfolio managers are still optimistic about the market in 2025. “The secular growth drivers that have been driving earnings growth and market gains over the last two years, I think they’re still on strong footing and will continue to drive those earnings gains,” Jeremiah Buckley, portfolio manager at Janus Henderson Investors, said on CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street.” Stocks are on pace to close out the week with losses even with Friday’s gains. The 30-stock Dow and the S&P 500 are lower by 0.9% each. The Nasdaq Composite slid more than 1%. News out of Washington, D.C., was spurring some individual stock moves on Friday. Shares of U.S. Steel fell 5% after President Joe Biden said he would block the proposed acquisition by Nippon Steel. Booze and beer stocks declined after the U.S. surgeon general issued an advisory on cancer risk related to alcohol consumption." MY COMMENT Today is a good day...so far. If it keeps up I might have a shot at closing the week with a gain. I will certainly have a good gain for 2025....YTD....if this keeps up till the close.
Gains for 2024 401k——21%———-mostly SP500 Brokerage account—46%—66% ETFs 33% stocks. Good portion of those gains came from a decent size holding of 3x leveraged SP500 fund that I got out of near the high as it was LTCG
I am seeing BIG gains so far today. NVDA booming. PLTR...booming. My purchase of PLTR on Thursday is now UP by over 5%......pushing toward 6%. I do have three stocks down so far today....HD, CMG and AAPL. BUT....it is all about the....entire portfolio.