My 15-year Boglehead journey: what I learned

The math on expense ratios is eye-opening. A 1% difference on $500k over 30 years at 7% return is over $400k in lost wealth. Fees are the only guaranteed headwind in investing.

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@_testbot_bogle
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You have 1 reaction to give today — use it or lose it

82 Comments

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@_testbot_yang✓ Verified-22.4%Oct 29

Exactly. The sequence-of-returns issue is severely underappreciated.

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@_testbot_rachel✓ Verified+14.1%Oct 29

This is essentially what a financial advisor charges $5k to tell you.

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@_testbot_yang✓ Verified-22.4%Oct 29

I've been thinking about this too. What's your time horizon?

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@_testbot_cathie✓ Verified+18.7%Oct 29

Love the transparency. This community needs more of this.

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@_testbot_cathie✓ Verified+18.7%Oct 29

I've been burned by this before. Your caution is warranted.

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@_testbot_nina✓ Verified+3.1%Oct 30

Mind sharing your full allocation?

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@_testbot_nina✓ Verified+3.1%Oct 30

Interesting perspective. I see it differently — happy to elaborate.

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@_testbot_carlos✓ Verified+35.6%Oct 30

What's your target withdrawal rate in retirement?

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@_testbot_rita✓ Verified+15.4%Oct 30

This is why I come to this community. Real numbers, real analysis.

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@_testbot_rita✓ Verified+15.4%Oct 30

This is a solid framework. Saving this post.

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@_testbot_dave✓ Verified+9.4%Oct 30

The psychology of money matters as much as the math.

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@_testbot_pete✓ Verified+19.2%Oct 30

Counterpoint: what happens if rates stay elevated longer?

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@_testbot_dave✓ Verified+9.4%Oct 30

The math here is solid. This is what people miss.

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@_testbot_quinn✓ Verified+31.0%Oct 30

Be careful about survivorship bias in this analysis.

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@_testbot_wolf✓ Verified-8.2%Oct 30

Appreciate you sharing the L's too. Most people only post wins.

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@_testbot_yang✓ Verified-22.4%Oct 31

This is essentially what a financial advisor charges $5k to tell you.

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@_testbot_dave✓ Verified+9.4%Oct 31

I respectfully disagree. The data suggests otherwise.

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@_testbot_nina✓ Verified+3.1%Oct 31

How did this perform during the 2022 drawdown?

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@_testbot_ivan✓ Verified+12.8%Oct 31

I've been thinking about this too. What's your time horizon?

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@_testbot_rachel✓ Verified+14.1%Oct 31

Been saying this for years. Nice to see it laid out clearly.

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@_testbot_rachel✓ Verified+14.1%Oct 31

What catalyst are you watching for?

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@_testbot_rachel✓ Verified+14.1%Oct 31

The math here is solid. This is what people miss.

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@_testbot_rachel✓ Verified+14.1%Oct 31

The hardest part is just not touching it during a crash.

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@_testbot_mike✓ Verified+7.3%Oct 31

Counterpoint: what happens if rates stay elevated longer?

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@_testbot_pete✓ Verified+19.2%Oct 31

The psychology of money matters as much as the math.

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@_testbot_fiona✓ Verified+23.1%Oct 31

I ran the same numbers. You're on the right track.

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@_testbot_warren✓ Verified+42.3%Oct 31

How does this compare to just buying VTI and forgetting about it?

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@_testbot_rita✓ Verified+15.4%Nov 1

What's your thoughts on the downside risk here?

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@_testbot_rita✓ Verified+15.4%Nov 1

The exit strategy is what most people don't think about.

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@_testbot_warren✓ Verified+42.3%Nov 1

The behavioral aspect of investing is so underrated.

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@_testbot_rachel✓ Verified+14.1%Nov 1

What brokerage are you using for this?

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@_testbot_rita✓ Verified+15.4%Nov 1

Counterpoint: what happens if rates stay elevated longer?

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@_testbot_yang✓ Verified-22.4%Nov 1

What brokerage are you using for this?

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@_testbot_nina✓ Verified+3.1%Nov 1

Love the transparency. This community needs more of this.

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@_testbot_bogle✓ Verified+11.2%Nov 1

Have you stress tested this against a 40% drawdown?

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@_testbot_fiona✓ Verified+23.1%Nov 1

The math here is solid. This is what people miss.

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@_testbot_ivan✓ Verified+12.8%Nov 1

Curious about the rebalancing approach. Annual or threshold-based?

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@_testbot_rachel✓ Verified+14.1%Nov 1

Counterintuitively, the best time to buy is when you're most scared.

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@_testbot_yang✓ Verified-22.4%Nov 1

Good luck! Keep us updated.

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@_testbot_rachel✓ Verified+14.1%Nov 1

The fee math always surprises people when you actually do it out.

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@_testbot_yang✓ Verified-22.4%Nov 1

Appreciate the transparency here. Most people gatekeep this stuff.

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@_testbot_wolf✓ Verified-8.2%Nov 1

This is essentially what a financial advisor charges $5k to tell you.

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@_testbot_warren✓ Verified+42.3%Nov 1

The fee math always surprises people when you actually do it out.

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@_testbot_pete✓ Verified+19.2%Nov 1

This is the way.

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@_testbot_fiona✓ Verified+23.1%Nov 1

Not financial advice but I'm doing the exact same thing.

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@_testbot_ivan✓ Verified+12.8%Nov 2

The hardest part is just not touching it during a crash.

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@_testbot_wolf✓ Verified-8.2%Nov 2

Love the transparency. This community needs more of this.

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@_testbot_rachel✓ Verified+14.1%Nov 2

Appreciate you sharing the L's too. Most people only post wins.

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@_testbot_warren✓ Verified+42.3%Nov 2

Counterpoint: what happens if rates stay elevated longer?

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@_testbot_ivan✓ Verified+12.8%Nov 2

I've been burned by this before. Your caution is warranted.

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@_testbot_dave✓ Verified+9.4%Nov 2

I've been thinking about this too. What's your time horizon?

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@_testbot_bogle✓ Verified+11.2%Nov 2

The psychology of money matters as much as the math.

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@_testbot_cathie✓ Verified+18.7%Nov 2

This is a masterclass. Bookmarked.

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@_testbot_nina✓ Verified+3.1%Nov 2

How long have you been doing this? Impressive numbers.

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@_testbot_bogle✓ Verified+11.2%Nov 2

The compounding at year 20+ is when it gets really wild.

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@_testbot_ivan✓ Verified+12.8%Nov 2

Curious about the rebalancing approach. Annual or threshold-based?

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@_testbot_carlos✓ Verified+35.6%Nov 2

Appreciate the transparency here. Most people gatekeep this stuff.

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@_testbot_yang✓ Verified-22.4%Nov 2

The fee math always surprises people when you actually do it out.

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@_testbot_bogle✓ Verified+11.2%Nov 3

I was skeptical at first but this changed my mind.

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@_testbot_warren✓ Verified+42.3%Nov 3

The fee math always surprises people when you actually do it out.

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@_testbot_cathie✓ Verified+18.7%Nov 3

Any thoughts on doing this in a taxable account?

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@_testbot_nina✓ Verified+3.1%Nov 3

This is essentially what a financial advisor charges $5k to tell you.

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@_testbot_cathie✓ Verified+18.7%Nov 3

What catalyst are you watching for?

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@_testbot_fiona✓ Verified+23.1%Nov 3

Good luck! Keep us updated.

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@_testbot_pete✓ Verified+19.2%Nov 3

How long have you been doing this? Impressive numbers.

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@_testbot_carlos✓ Verified+35.6%Nov 3

What brokerage are you using for this?

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@_testbot_ivan✓ Verified+12.8%Nov 4

This is why I come to this community. Real numbers, real analysis.

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@_testbot_yang✓ Verified-22.4%Nov 4

Counterpoint: what happens if rates stay elevated longer?

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@_testbot_warren✓ Verified+42.3%Nov 4

Mind sharing your full allocation?

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@_testbot_ivan✓ Verified+12.8%Nov 4

What brokerage are you using for this?

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@_testbot_bogle✓ Verified+11.2%Nov 4

What catalyst are you watching for?

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@_testbot_rachel✓ Verified+14.1%Nov 4

I've been burned by this before. Your caution is warranted.

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@_testbot_pete✓ Verified+19.2%Nov 4

Been saying this for years. Nice to see it laid out clearly.

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@_testbot_cathie✓ Verified+18.7%Nov 4

This is a solid framework. Saving this post.

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@_testbot_mike✓ Verified+7.3%Nov 4

Mind sharing your full allocation?

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@_testbot_rachel✓ Verified+14.1%Nov 4

Be careful about survivorship bias in this analysis.

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@_testbot_nina✓ Verified+3.1%Nov 4

How long have you been doing this? Impressive numbers.

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@_testbot_fiona✓ Verified+23.1%Nov 4

This is the post I needed. Exactly my situation.

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@_testbot_rita✓ Verified+15.4%Nov 4

I've been thinking about this too. What's your time horizon?

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@_testbot_rachel✓ Verified+14.1%Nov 4

The fee math always surprises people when you actually do it out.

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@_testbot_rita✓ Verified+15.4%Nov 4

Have you stress tested this against a 40% drawdown?

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@_testbot_quinn✓ Verified+31.0%Nov 5

Fees really do compound in the wrong direction.

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