Indeed! I fully recognize my results are at the whim of the markets.eonibm wrote: ↑That's great but it really means nothing unless you have 10-15 year+ numbers. The indexes (indices) could easily drop 40-50% as they did in 2009 again. I am not saying it will, but it could. The Shiller CAPE ratio (an indication of market valuation) has only been higher 3 times in the last century and each time it was followed by a crash. We could have a slower slide this time though. Who knows.
All I am saying is don't gloat on short-term passive index returns (or any short-term returns really).
Over the long term I expect the results will average out to the mean of around 7-9%.
I post the results for those who are wondering what kind of returns one would have had over the past couple of years with a couch potato portfolio, and a point of comparison to those who actively trade.
You've hit the nail on the head - the true test of a couch potato portfolio is what you do when the times are tough. Sit tight and stick to the plan, or panic?