May 2025 update ($1,079,660 +$59,737 or +5.9%)

↑ Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund is up by $6,461 or +4.3%

↑ Eurozone Stock Index Fund is up by $11,651 or +6.0%

↑ US 500 Stock Index Fund is up by $26,196 or +6.2%

↑ Global Small Cap is up by $9,393 or +5.8%

↑ Growth fund is up by $3,535 or +4.2%

↑ Additional investment savings $2,500

Total gains: $59,737

 

Observations:

 It’s good to see return to solid $1 million territory.   The kids’ college funds are also doing well, perhaps one of the better performing investments I made. 

 An interesting dilemma - how to manage emergency cash reserve.  Most of the tax free (you pay no taxes on interest or capital gains) accounts in the UK have variable interest rate. Over last 5 years inflation has exceeded the average variable ISA rate most of the time.  Investing in UK government bonds (aka treasury deposits) is also a tricky business, as the government doesn’t offer the money directly to people.  Bank of England interest rate is 4.25% but the treasury deposits are always lower than the official rate.   After paying taxes on savings allowance, one would always loose to inflation.

 Trump administration is trying to make American goods more attractive by lowering USD to other currencies (7% drop to EUR and 5% to GBP) along with the tariff re-balancing, however both areas economies are struggling, so not a big consumers market.   EU mainly purchase military equipment, freedom gas and chemical from the USA.