April 2017 update ($390,514 +$10,514 or +3%)

↑ Gazprom shares are up 5% or $5,778

            ↑ iShares core DAX is up 1% or $257
            ↑ iShares Emerging markets Sovereign debt ETF (IEMB ) is up by 1% or $200
            ↑ iShares Emerging markets Corporate debt ETF (EMCR) is up by 1% or $280
            ↑ EUR is up to USD by 2% or $4,961
            ↑ GBP is up to USD by 2% or $715
             Grand total additions:  $12,191
            
            ↓ Company shares are down by 2% or $500
            ↓ Vanguard S&P500 ETF is down by 1% or $803
            ↓ Rosneft shares are down by 4% or $449
             Grand total losses:  $1,752

March 2017 update ($384,408 -$5,531 or +1%)

↑ Vanguard Emerging markets ETF is up by 1% or $161

↑  Company shares are up by 1% or $201

↑ Rosneft shares are up by 2% or $225

↑ iShares core DAX wen up 4% or $920

↑ GBP is up to USD by 1%, for my portfolio it is $358

↑ Precious metals are up by 1% or  $531

Grand total additions:  $2,396

↓ Vanguard S&P500 ETF is dow by 1% or $642

↓ Gazprom shares are down 6% or $7,223

↓iShares Emerging markets sovereign debt ETF (IEMB ) down by $60

Grand total losses:  $7,925

February 2017 update ($389,939 +$3,228 or +1%)

↑ Vanguard Emerging markets ETF is up by 4% or $567

↑ Vanguard S&P500 ETF is up by 4% or $2,993

↑ iShares core DAX wen up 1% or $273

↑ iShares Emerging markets sovereign debt ETF (IEMB )  is up by 2% or $399

↑ iShares Emerging markets  Corporate bonds ETF (EMCR) is up by 1% or $546

↑ Precious metals are up by 3% or $296

↑ Dividends Vanguard Emerging markets  (VFEM) for Q4 2016 - $35

↑ Dividends  Vanguard S&P 500 (VUSA) Q4 2016 - $270

↑ Dividends  iShares EM MRK SOUV BD  - $209

↑ Dividends  iShares EM MRK CORP BD  second quarter benefits - $924

↑ EUR is up to USD by 2%, for my portfolio it is $5,081

↑ GBP is up to USD by 1%, for my portfolio it is $358

Grand total additions:  $11,887

↓ Rosneft shares are down by 19% or $2,205 for my portfolio.

↓ Gazprom shares are down 5% or $5,670

↓ Company shares are down by 3% or $784

Grand total losses:  $8,659

January 2017 update ($386,711 -$1,120 or -0.3%)

↑ Vanguard Emerging markets ETF is up by 6% or $882

↑ Rosneft shares went up by 2% or $221 for my portfolio.

↑ iShares core DAX wen up 2% or $378

↑ iShares Emerging markets sovereign debt ETF (IEMB )  is up by 1% or $300

↑ iShares Emerging markets  Corporate bonds ETF (EMCR) is up by 2% or $880

↑ Precious metals are up by 7% or $686

Grand total additions:  $3,347

 

↓ Vanguard S&P500 ETF is down 1% or $945

↓ Gazprom shares are down 2% or $2,835

↓ Company shares are down by 3% or $687

Grand total losses:  $ 4,467

2017 Financial Independence Goals

This year it took me a little bit longer to come up with financial independence goals. The journey continues but at a slower pace. I am with the same company but on a half of the salary, doing more hours than ever before.

Focus in the coming year will be on sharpening and developing new skills and knowledge to move on.

Than you think about it  - over 25% of our income goes towards mortgage, house bills and property tax, I need to adjust now.

Financial goals.

- Accumulate $10 K a year, with $4k of them towards long term house maintenance.

- Portfolio – go 0% cash for savings as of end 2016.  Generate $10K in dividends. Portfolio to be $430 K by end of the year.

- Develop additional income source in full, potential reward about $2,000 a year.

Blog:

- Regular monthly updates.

- To cover 6 themes on financial independence. Two of them : mortgage, 30 year forecast scenario.

- Publish easy tracker for the long-term portfolio performance.

 

Educational:

- Create list of books to read - 12 books is minimum.

- Read the books.

- Publish the books reviews.

Family Budget:

- Stay under 110%  of 2016 budget. Increase is due to additional cost of commuting.

Be happy.  Run 1,000 miles during the year. Keep BMI below, target 26.5 (current 27.7).

2016 Financial Independence Goals ($387,831 +$92,295 or +31%)

Financial goals.

- Accumulate at least $24K a year. Stretched target - $50K.  – Partially complete. Accumulated approximately $ 38K.

- Portfolio should be able to generate $8,000 a year after taxes in the money of the day.  – Complete.  Without seeing end of the year result from some of the companies received $8 K after taxes.

- Develop additional income source in full, potential reward about $2,000 a year – Not achieved, although some measurable progress made.

- Less than 5% of portfolio in cash by end of the year and $350 K overall net worth in the money of the day – Partially achieved, portfolio $387 K but approximately 11% in cash.

 Blog:

- Regular monthly updates – Not achieved. (Missed September update).

- To cover 6 themes on financial independence -  Portfolio performance, Assets Allocation,  Energy stocks screening and Family budget. Missing one more theme.

- Publish easy tracker for the long-term portfolio performance – Not achieved.

 

Educational:

- Create list of books to read - 12 books are minimum. Not achieved. Read only two, not achieved.

- Read the books.

- Publish the books reviews – Not achieved.

 

Family Budget:

- Stay under $100,000 with the family expenses – Achieved. Spent $84K.

- Accumulate $7,000 towards durable goods replacement over 10 years – Achieved.

Be happy.  Run 1,000 miles during the year. Keep BMI below, target 26.6 (current 27.5)- Partially complete. Ran 1,022 miles but BMI is 27.4.

December 2016 update ($387,831 +$12,471 or +3%)

↑Vanguard S&P500 ETF went up by 4% or $2,226 for my portfolio.

↑ Gazprom shares went up by 7% or $8,586 for my portfolio.

↑ Company shares went up by 10% or $2,277.

↑ Rosneft shares went up by 22% or $2,449 for my portfolio.

↑ iShares core DAX wen up 7% or $1,442.

↑ iShares Emerging markets sovereign debt ETF (IEMB )  is marginally up by $80

↑ Dividends Emerging markets sovereign bond (IEMB ) – $86 or 5% annually.

Grand total additions:  $16,986

 ↓ Vanguard Emerging markets ETF is slightly down by 1% or $127.

↓ Emerging markets corporate bond ETF (EMCR) lost 1 or $440

↓ Precious metals are down by 8% or $792

↓ EUR lost to USD 1%,  for my portfolio it is $2,441

↓GBP lost to USD  2%, for my portfolio it is $715.

Grand total losses:  $ 4,515