Profit From Being A Patient Investor
Kiplinger's Personal Finance|August 2017

Call him Ishmael. On New Year’s Eve, 1948, he is born at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. Ishmael’s parents scrape together a “pre–nest egg” of $3,000 out of savings and gifts from relatives. They invest the money in a mutual fund called Lexington Corporate Leaders, which has a portfolio assembled to reflect America’s industrial economy. When Ishmael is 12 years old, his parents tell him about the account but make him promise not to touch the proceeds until the last day of 2008, when he’s 60.

James K.Glassman
Profit From Being A Patient Investor

As it turns out, a severe bear market makes it a lousy time to crack open a nest egg; the market plunges 37% that year. Still, our New Year’s Eve baby does awfully well. Despite the turmoil, Ishmael’s stake grows to a bit more than $1.3 million. Today, thanks to the bull market that began in March 2009, the original $3,000 investment is worth more than $3.7 million. And those figures reflect the impact of a stiff frontend sales charge.

Ishmael is fictional, but his investing results are well within the realm of possibility. Professor Jeremy Siegel, of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, wrote an important book in 1994 titled Stocks for the Long Run. It made the case for long-term stock investing by showing that over lengthy periods, diversified stock portfolios consistently earned substantial profits. That’s still true. Between 1926 and 2016, there have been 72 periods of 20 calendar years (that is, December 31, 1925 to December 31, 1945; December 31, 1926 to December 31, 1946, and so on). Never has Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index or its large-capitalization predecessor recorded a loss over any of those 20-year stretches, and in more than half of them the average annual gain was in double-digit percentages.

Reclusive star. Right about the time Siegel’s book came out, a woman named Anne Scheiber became a legend. Scheiber was a reclusive government lawyer who lived in a studio apartment and subsisted on a salary that never exceeded $3,150 a year. In 1944, at age 50, she pulled together $5,000 and invested it in stocks. She reinvested the dividends but added nothing more, and when she died in 1995, her portfolio was worth $22 million.

Bu hikaye Kiplinger's Personal Finance dergisinin August 2017 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye Kiplinger's Personal Finance dergisinin August 2017 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

KIPLINGER'S PERSONAL FINANCE DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF DISABLED VETERANS
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF DISABLED VETERANS

He suffered grave injuries in the line of duty. Now he helps other veterans who have disabilities.

time-read
2 dak  |
November 2024
DO YOU NEED UMBRELLA INSURANCE?
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

DO YOU NEED UMBRELLA INSURANCE?

A policy can protect you from financially devastating events.

time-read
2 dak  |
November 2024
Navigating Finances as a Blended Family
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

Navigating Finances as a Blended Family

Money matters can get complicated when two families unite. Planning is key.

time-read
4 dak  |
November 2024
BREAKING UP WITH YOUR BROKER
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

BREAKING UP WITH YOUR BROKER

Be aware of these challenges when you move your money to a new home.

time-read
5 dak  |
November 2024
CHOOSE A MEDICARE PLAN THAT'S RIGHT FOR YOU
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

CHOOSE A MEDICARE PLAN THAT'S RIGHT FOR YOU

Consider your health care needs over the long term as you weigh costs and coverage.

time-read
9 dak  |
November 2024
Keep Faith in These Stocks
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

Keep Faith in These Stocks

IN 1997, I coined the phrase “faith-based investing.” It has nothing to do with religion or with picking stocks at random.

time-read
5 dak  |
November 2024
OUR ESG PICKS ARE THRIVING
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

OUR ESG PICKS ARE THRIVING

Despite an ongoing backlash, our favorite stocks and funds focused on environmental, social and corporate governance issues had a good year overall.

time-read
9 dak  |
November 2024
MONEY MANNERS FOR THE MODERN AGE
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

MONEY MANNERS FOR THE MODERN AGE

The customs for splitting a restaurant check, purchasing a wedding gift, tipping and more have evolved. These guidelines can help.

time-read
8 dak  |
November 2024
ELECTION 2024: POLITICS AND YOUR PORTFOLIO
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

ELECTION 2024: POLITICS AND YOUR PORTFOLIO

Who wins the White House matters—but only at the margins when it comes to your investments.

time-read
2 dak  |
November 2024
YOUR GUIDE TO OPEN ENROLLMENT
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

YOUR GUIDE TO OPEN ENROLLMENT

With health care costs on the rise, it’s critical to select a plan that fits your needs at the right price.

time-read
7 dak  |
November 2024