Challenge your spouse;

[sv2007]

Recently, I developed an interest in economics and that naturally lead to personal finance (since that's the part of economics that touches you oh so personally).

It may be due to the fact that I found out that my Roth IRA had more money than my wife's. We both put in the same amount of money at the same times so it's a fair comparison.

My wife is in control of all financial matters, and frankly, she thinks my take on world economy and finance is crazy or nuts, can't quite put that condescending with a little bit of disgust attitude into words.

Needless to say, the accidental discovery that my Roth was higher (her value was $40k and mine was $44k at time of discovery 3 months ago; now she's got $41k and I'm at $47k) gave me a lot of bragging rights, street cred you might say (since I've got no formal econ/finance education). I'm the buy-and-hold type while she trades more often (more of a gambler); the reason my Roth increased so much was because I haven't looked at it for years (like 10+ years) and I had 30% cash in the account.

We liked comparing our Roths.

So, I challenged her to a investment race, we allocate an equal amount of funds and invest only in stocks to see who does better after each year.

While we play with real money, I think it might be fun for any married couple. You can even play with fake money.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Uh, no thanks. We are both the set it and forget it types for the most part, but also very conservative.

[sv2007]

Uh, no thanks. We are both the set it and forget it types for the most part, but also very conservative.

Most set-it-and-forgot-it types require paying somebody else to monitor their portfolios; otherwise, it seems pretty dangerous.

I'm the buy-and-hold type and frugal. So I like to keep as much as of my return as possible; therefore, I have to look at them every once a while and (esp retirement accounts) rebalance them when they go out of whack.

[sv2007]

This reminds me of a Simpsons episode when Mr. Burns lost his power plant and had to use his other investments. It seems he's also the set-it-and-foret-it type, just remember that he held a bunchof non-PC investments like slavery or something from years past, and they are all at $0.

[bjl584]

What's the reason your ROTH is higher? Apparently, you are invested in different funds. Either slightly different or drastically. I'd guess with enough time and a few market sector cycles things will come back into line and both your accounts will find a median.

I'd caution against getting a false sense of genius with investing. You are looking at a microcosm. Wait 30 years, invest in similar assets, and your accounts will probably be pretty close in value to each other.

[Like2Plan]

It may be due to the fact that I found out that my Roth IRA had more money than my wife's. We both put in the same amount of money at the same times so it's a fair comparison.

It's funny you use this example. I manage all the investments in our household (so I would be competing against myself ). My goal has been to keep our net worth 50-50. But, in recent years we haven't been so balanced. One reason is DH's retirement accounts are more weighted in equities and mine are more weighted in bonds. (I do this because the expenses for the underlying funds are more favorable this way. )

The last time I checked DH had a 10% higher net worth. DH thought it was funny.

[sv2007]

What's the reason your ROTH is higher? Apparently, you are invested in different funds. Either slightly different or drastically. I'd guess with enough time and a few market sector cycles things will come back into line and both your accounts will find a median.

I'd caution against getting a false sense of genius with investing. You are looking at a microcosm. Wait 30 years, invest in similar assets, and your accounts will probably be pretty close in value to each other.

The thread to get people to be more aware of their investments and have fun at the same time. I think just by dealing with your investments on a regular basis can help your retirement planning because you'll get more insight into the type of investor you are and the amount of help you want/need.

I don't know why my Roth'ss higher because I have no idea what wife is doing in her Roth IRA. All I know if that she does mess with her Roth every now and then. These Roths started when Roth first become available, they are 20 years old.

For this Roth, I had 3 stocks in it and basically never logged in for the past 12 years (lost my password) until recently when I decided to reset my password.

I added one more stock to it with the cash and rebalanced it a bit. That helped it gain the $3k in the last few months. I.e. if I hadn't done that, it would be about the same value.

[sv2007]

It's funny you use this example. I manage all the investments in our household (so I would be competing against myself ). My goal has been to keep our net worth 50-50. But, in recent years we haven't been so balanced. One reason is DH's retirement accounts are more weighted in equities and mine are more weighted in bonds. (I do this because the expenses for the underlying funds are more favorable this way. )

The last time I checked DH had a 10% higher net worth. DH thought it was funny.

Just wait for a market crash and then compare : )
Although your bonds will crash but I bet the stocks will fare slightly worse.

Most of our taxable accounts are managed by wife; I generally don't bother with finances since I don't really understand it anyway. Some times investing is like gambling where the gambler only remembers his winnings, so wife and I don't compare our investment techniques much.

The Roth is different. It just so happens that we've put in the same amount of money and reflects 20 years of difference in investment strategies. So, it is a fair comparison. (If I had managed mine a little bit more, I think it would have been even better.)

We've decided to allocate some $ into 2 new taxable accounts for our game. We've not yet set the game rules, but being taxable account, we have to be more careful. but being taxable, it also means more flexibility...

[snafu]

sv 2007, good you're more interested in your personal economics. While you initially mentioned you've been investing since 1995, I was concerned you haven't 'looked' at your ROTH in 10 years with 30% cash.'

I presume you care about your money and therefore suggest that you prepare a Net Worth statement at least each quarter, perhaps starting March 30, 2016.

There are some quick reads mentioned repeatedly by participants at SA. 'The Millionaire Next Door, The Automatic Millionaire for example. You might search posts from jIM_Ohio for succinct evaluation.

...just unedited thoughts

[kork13]

This wouldn't go over very well at all in my household... Lol

My wife already dislikes how competitive I can be, and I'm also the one that manages all/most of our money, whereas she has very little interest in it. I also started investing about 7 years earlier than she did, so I'm at a significant advantage already...

But hey, if it's something that you & your wife can have fun with, go for it!

[sv2007]

sv 2007, good you're more interested in your personal economics. While you initially mentioned you've been investing since 1995, I was concerned you haven't 'looked' at your ROTH in 10 years with 30% cash.'

I presume you care about your money and therefore suggest that you prepare a Net Worth statement at least each quarter, perhaps starting March 30, 2016.

There are some quick reads mentioned repeatedly by participants at SA. 'The Millionaire Next Door, The Automatic Millionaire for example. You might search posts from jIM_Ohio for succinct evaluation.

...just unedited thoughts

NP. If I had put more effort into this Roth, it probably would have done better (esp I missed the 2010-now recovery). I don't forget my accounts, but sometimes I also don't bother optimizing the small stuff because I'm pretty lazy.

This Roth is small enough to not have any effect on my Net worth, but you are right, it is still money.

[sv2007]

This wouldn't go over very well at all in my household... Lol

My wife already dislikes how competitive I can be, and I'm also the one that manages all/most of our money, whereas she has very little interest in it. I also started investing about 7 years earlier than she did, so I'm at a significant advantage already...

But hey, if it's something that you & your wife can have fun with, go for it!

Yeah, I don't think that'll go too well in your situation.

I'm like the underdog challenging my wife (the financial boss) so it's like to reverse of your situation.