April 2026 update ($1,376,128 +$121,364 or +9.7%)

↑ Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund is up by $23,606 or +12.2%
↑ Eurozone Stock Index Fund is up by $14,248 or +6.3%
↑ Standard and Poor’s 500 Index Fund is up by $53,368 or +10.8%
↑ Global Small Cap is up by $18,930 or +9.3%
↑ Growth fund is up $6,286 or +6.3%
↑ GBP is up to USD by 2.3% or $2,486 for my portfolio
↑ Additional investment savings $2,500
Total gains: $121,364

Observations:

 I continued to invest in tax efficient account towards college degree.  In the UK you are allowed to add 12,000 USD (9,000 GBP) a year per child. You can switch between investments and cash but no withdrawals are allowed until the child is 18 years old.  Advantage is the account is tax free – no capital gains or dividend taxes apply.  You can continue to keep the money when are older, as an adult.

With my provider it looks like an efficient account – no annual fees, no commission and the fund itself has only 0.06% ongoing charge.  The magic disappears when you invest or sell.  If the market goes up they are buying at highest price of the day (if you are selling at the lowest) and vice versa. 

 With the most recent purchase, they bought it at 5.47 a unit, while it never went above 5.39. In practical terms in means loss of 133 on 9,000 or 1.5% commission. This is very charitable assumption.   The client only wins in long term.  Current unit price is 5.72 so I am already 4% up on my purchase.

 I have also had some stock options from the previous company and when sold them at different institution – always at the lowest price of the day. The client just couldn’t catch break with them. I call them trading pirates.

 On personal side I have been fortunate to land a new job. Its paid less but at least there is no interruption in the cash flow. I have also negotiated an enhanced severance package which will allow me to pay the mortgage off this year and have enough money to cover the kids’ education both in school and at universities.

 I should also have some money left to invest. My plan is to start balancing portfolio towards 60% in stocks and 40% in bonds with the new investments. Unless there is a significant market correction which might present a investment opportunity.

 Should I manage to meet my annual investment goals and delay withdrawals by 8-10 years I expect that I will be able to achieve first stage of financial independence where my basic needs could be covered from the next egg (~ 2.6 million USD). This will be lean financial independence (basic needs, which are currently running at $50K a year, after taxes).  For a full financial independence, I need to work and save for at least 15 years. This will get me to $3.5 million USD or $100K USD in income.

 Fun fact:  The $ symbol is derived from the Spanish dollar sign. In 1782, the US considered choosing the Spanish peso as the country’s currency. The abbreviation for the Spanish peso (PS) later transformed into a $.