I feel like some macroeconomics today 
Do you believe quantitative tightening (or less QE) by central banks worldwide will cause the stock market to sink considerably? Central banks have been pumping liquidity into the markets since 2009, and even more so during the pandemic, most of which seems to have benefited the stock markets. Just look at the incredible (unnatural?) price jump of VT during Covid - this wasnât due to so much higher future earnings, was it?
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We partly touched on the same topic in this thread already
I guess the question is: whatâs the purpose of your question? Are you asking because you think the stock markets are overvalued and you want to know if itâs a good time to delay your investment? 
From my point of view itâs clear that the quick and fast recovery of the (US and worldwide) stock markets is due to QE. The FED was pumping money into the market at a rate never seen before. What would have been the alternative? To let the markets tank and risk an even bigger worldwide recession? I think a lot of the people in the central banks are much smarter than us wanna-be macroeconomic geniuses here in a forum.
Do I think itâs good and sustainable? Hell no! But I also donât know what the alternative would have been in March 2020. I guess the central bankers learned their lesson from history (take 1929-1932 as an example where they didnât interfere).
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Donât get me wrong - I donât think itâs right or wrong what central banks have been doing. I simply do not know. I also do not know whether or not the market is over- or undervalued (or if these terms even apply - from an efficient market theory standpoint).
I was just wondering - from an individual stock holder perspective - what impact you think QE/QT might have on a global stock portfolio (eg VT) in the future. I was quite frankly perplexed and a little terrified by the tremendous effect QE seems to have had on global market valuations during Covid. Anyone feel the same way?
And honestly, Iâm a little concerned by the fact that some QT-decision by central banks might bring valuations all the way down again in the future, even if thatâs in the best interest of society as whole. Iâm putting on my investors glasses here, no political judgement intended. And yes, I guess you got me there, FIREstarter, a little market timing advice for me would be greatly appreciated (just joking of course 
), since I am indeed thinking about investing a considerable amount. But of course, market timing is completely vain.
Yes, I feel you on this one. I also didnât imagine such a quick and fast recovery.
I can definitely also feel you on this one, because I think in a similar way.
The questions you (and I) should ask yourself:
- how long is my investment horizon?
- which percentage allocation of stocks am I ok with?
I donât know what âconsiderable amountâ means to you, but if you sleep better you can split up your investments in 4, 6 or 12 tranches. And then invest every quarter, every 2nd month or every month. From a long-term return point of view, lump sum is the best. But one thing is the theory, and the other one is actually doing it in real life.
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Thanks, you summed it up perfectly, thereâs no way to tell the future, and I should get used to the idea that central banks policies ARE in fact a great part of the market valuation (just like so many other societal factors). Itâs simply not all about the P/E ratioâŠ
Regarding timing: Yes, itâs more of a psychological problem. Investing a large lump sum just to see the Fed decide nowâs the time to step on the brake can be so frustrating. Splitting it up can make it easier to stomach (although this might not be the better investment decision).
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To add some more insights to the topic: Iâm far from implementing all the things I told you. I fucked up a lot of times.
e.g. until February 2020, I was doing a 100% stock allocation (VTI+VEA+VWO) - 100% for the stock/bond part of my portfolio (I didnât count cash, pillar 2, 3a - which yes, I should also include overall)
Beginning of February, I started to get uncomfortable with the valuations. Until then, I had invested the amount I could afford every month and bought new shares (only started to invest in stocks in 2019 unfortunately). So I went from 100% stocks (again, the âstock/bondâ part) to 60% stocks / 40% cash.
When stock markets tanked in March 2020, it looked like the right decision. I was looking at the numbers of VTI/VEA/VWO on my phone during March in disbelief. Everything massively in red. I started to buy again slowly. I was scared and thought it will go down further. Turns out - I was too hesitant. I didnât get back to 100% - until today. Additionally, I had just went all-in with VIAC 3a in February. Even though the total amount of 3a was tiny, it still didnât feel good to see the numbers.
Fast forward to September 2020, when markets had recovered (or even gained a little bit). I changed my VIAC 3a allocation and sold some stocks. Bought 10% gold, and rest in cash (would have to check the percentages - I think it was 40% stocks left). My VIAC portfolio hasnât fully recovered until today, because Iâm still not fully invested again.
End of 2020 I sold some VTI shares, because they had gained the most - and again I wasnât trusting it. That decision was not smart in hindsight. But we are always more clever in hindsight.
One of the things which is still bugging me the most is the part of investment horizon. Yes, I know all too well that after 20+ years being invested the probability is pretty high that I have more than what I invested. Still, those 20 years are a really long time. I would like to reach FIRE earlier. The problem is that the stock market is more of a marathon than a sprint unfortunately.
So donât worry - you are not alone with your thoughts. And Iâm sure other people here in this forum could give you some more stories how much they have fucked up during their investment career. Thatâs the part where I admire people like @Cortana. Heâs just investing his money all-in, and will most probably have better results in 10/15/20+ years than people like us
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Wow, thanks for sharing your experience! If itâs any consolation at all, think of all the guys who have lost their entire lifeâs savings to some Ponzi scheme or a crypto-scam (I just watched the documentary âtrust no oneâ yesterday about Canadaâs former largest crypto exchange - one huge scam).
You actually helped me a lot in staying on the right path: invest globally diversified and NEVER touch it again. We are our own worst risk to our investments, not central banks, recessions etc.
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Sorry if I sound arrogant, but I donât get it why people try to time the markets even though they know that in theory and for most outcomes - you win by doing plan, simple and borring investing over longer periods. Sure you may squeeze out a couple of percent - even a multiple at the end of your timeframe, but all of that is just a huge casino.
So to be provocative here: No I donât really understand why I would care about the current markets and what that would change. I didnât care in 2020, 2021, 2022 etc⊠And I wonât care in 2030.
Thatâs like the other post where people question their investment in EM, just because Russia went crazy⊠If you decided for an asset allocation you should stick to it. Changing my investment strategy is something I do once a decade or even less.
If Iâd want higher returns, I would do some work on the weekends and get more cash to invest - thatâs the most effective and risk free way of getting more return.
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Amen! Please wish us strength
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One of the guys just pulled off another scam - just google âTIME Wonderlandâ and âSifuâ. Crypto in big parts is the Wild West.
I agree with you on this one. Deciding for an investment strategy and staying the course is super-important.
Your point is valid. Just a question back: how old are you, and how long have you been invested? I know how the great financial crisis felt back in 2007-09, and I can tell you that it didnât feel good. Sure, I wasnât invested in the stock market yet, but if your employer (one of the largest IT companies in the world) asks you to voluntarily reduce your salary to keep jobs - thatâs not a good feeling.
So itâs easy to say now you wonât care in 2030. Letâs talk again in 8 years, if you followed through will all your plans PS: my comment is also not meant to be provocative
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I mean sure one can petty my statements because of my age and experience and I guess if you value that, then this is a valid point. However: My personality is a âplannerâ type. I had the idea of investing for quite a while and started in late 2020, with the majority of my equity invested this year - and I already see 15% drops and with my leverage that makes more like 18-20% so Iâd say I am somewhat prepared for 50+% crashes.
Since I am pretty young I donât really care about unemployment. I canât imagine someone not getting a job in Switzerland if one wants to work - second hand experience there from family and relatives.
If I wouldnât believe in the markets and buy and hold there would be no point in investing altogether and I could just play poker or black jack in the casino - thatâs at least fast paced and fun 
My point is not to devalue your statements. I just know from my own experience that itâs easier said than done to stick to your plans you made 10 or 15 years ago.
Iâm also a planner type. Always have been, and I guess it will stick with me until I die one day. The very positive thing I see about you is that you are not only the planner type, but also the person who implements stuff. Which is very good! I usually try to plan everything to the very last detail.
If you started in 2020, you might think you have seen a lot of things already. Please still keep in mind that this is 1,5 years of investing only. If you look at S&P 500 from a longer investment perspective, we are still very high:
Even more if you go back 30+ years:
You said that you are prepared for 50+% crashed. Believe me, itâs different to see with your own eyes and feel your own emotions than to just talk about it. Again, this is not about me being the smart one here. I know how it felt in March 2020, when everything went south. Plus my own experience in 2007-09.
Personally, Iâd be very cautious with investments on margin, but again thatâs your own decision. It might work out for you, taking a higher risk.
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Those graphs are misleading as they suggest that we are in a bubble. You have to look at it with logarithmic scales.
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You are right that logarithmic scales are a better way to look at S&P500. Still, I wouldnât go back as far as 1872. The S&P 500 we know today was only introduced in 1957. The original index was created in 1926, with 90 stocks back then.
I couldnât find a better graph. But even if you look at 1957-today it looks linear.
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Reasonable margin (<1.3) is actually a scientifically proven return booster, provided you get good interest rates. With low interest rates and moderate risk and enough equity, I think biting in the apple will give me great returns long term. In fact⊠People leveraging using a mortgage are imho doing the worse thing (less diversified + more leverage).
I think that also the $$ involved and at which point you are in your FIRE path plays a major role.
Itâs clearly easier to digest 10k turning to 5k if you are at the beginning of your career, much more difficult to see 1â000k turn to 500k if you are planning to FIRE in 2-3 yearsâŠ
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Agreed on the mortgage part (the leverage should apply to the whole assets, since youâd have to sell stocks (or any other asset, not necessarily the house) to come up with the required funds if you suddenly had to amortize some of it).
For margin: are we talking scientifically proven better pure returns or also risk adjusted ones? I would have no difficulty seeing the higher riks/higher returns relationship in this situation but canât help but think that the risk profile of a 100% and 130% stocks portfolio arenât the same. Any good article on that?
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The risk adjusted return is obviously going to be worse, because a credit has fixed interest payments, while stocks underlie sequence of returns risk. There is an article talking about that though. There are also study papers (donât know where I found them though) talking about the benefits of leverage in the accumulation phase.
Returns is a more tricky part. But as long as interest is like <3%, you are basically taking free money and investing it into a more profitable asset. You also save on wealth and income tax by using debt. Thatâs why I decided to go with a 1.25 leverage on VT and CHSPI. At first I used Reg T margin, but now I use portfolio margin, which allows for higher leverages with diversified assets, which in return means higher cushion before getting margin called.
I would be very interested to learn about tax implications of this setup.