February 2026 update ($1,353,669 +$25,338 or +1.9%)

↑ Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund is up by $12,959 or +6.2%
↑ Eurozone Stock Index Fund is up by $8,408 or +3.5% 
↑ Global Small Cap is up by $8,217 or +3.9%
↑ Growth fund is up by $2,345 or +2.2%
↑ Additional investment savings $2,500
Total gains: $34,429

↓ Standard and Poor’s 500 Index Fund is down by $3,818 or -0.7% 
↓ EUR is down to USD by 0.8% or $3,977 for my portfolio
↓ GBP is down to USD by 0.7% or $1,600 for my portfolio
Total loses: $9,395

Observations:

I wouldn’t write about ongoing devastating war in Middle East and long-lasting impact it will have on people lives and inflation.  
Personally, I was focusing on cash-flow continuity post upcoming redundancy.  I have some job offers; there could be few months gap and reduction in salary. However, with my redundancy package I should be able to cover school and uni expenses.  The focus is now on the next 10-15 years to get ready for retirement. I can work beyond that time but need to prepare and understand early exit situation. 

The next 5 years is heavy lifting:

• Pay off mortgage.  Current interest rate of 1.5% will be changed to 5.0%+.  This means that interest payments. For 150,000 loan the interest payments will change from 190 a month (2,250 a year) to 625 a month (7,500 a year).  This is 5,250 a year hike in payments, mainly due to two ongoing wars and increasing taxation on individuals in the western europe.
• Private school and preparation for the university.  Given recent sleepless nights and worries about stability for the kids next five years are last at school. I also want to complete basic preparations for the university (university fees, accommodation rent and maintenance). I have started doing it in 2020 and need to contributed additional  $156K over the next 5 years.  This includes graduation presents (bachelor and masters) of $40K combined. 
• Current car is reliable but will be 11-years old this year.  If everything goes well, I want to replace it with new one next year. I want to catch one with diesel engine (Mazda CX-60/90 with 3.3L 6 cylinder at 254 Hp). It currently costs $80K  as base option in europe (in the USA the prices start at $45K USD for CX-90 with a gasoline engine).

Figure 1. Minimum cumulative cash flow over next five year no investments.

Among the job offers I have new company which offers to double my retirement contributions (up to $13K). The combined contributions are $40K. I also would like to continue $2,500 a month or $30,000 a year for the private nest egg.  
 

Figure.2 Financial independence nest egg forecast over next 8 years.

In eight years, I could generate about $5K a month ($60K a year) at 3% return and the house will be paid off. 

Fun fact:  About 85% of all stock trading in the U.S. is now automated. High-frequency trading algorithms now dominate the market, reacting to data and signals within milliseconds.