Monthly vs. Yearly IRA Contribution Experiment – June 2012 Update

The Monthly vs. Yearly IRA contribution timing experiment June 2012 update.

Yearly Contribution Roth IRA

Fund
Shares
Price
Cost Basis
Market Value
Gain/Loss
Gain/Loss %
VTSMX
103.23
33.90
3,280.56
3,499.48
218.92
6.67
VGTSX
93.07
13.53
1,250.00
1,259.31
9.31
0.74
VBMFX
46.20
11.10
507.33
512.83
5.49
1.08
Totals:
5,037.89
5,271.62
233.72
4.64

Account Summary :

  • 06/22/2012 – Reinvested $16.23 dividend for Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund
  • 06/29/2012 – Reinvested $1.11 dividend for Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund

Monthly Contribution Roth IRA

Fund
Shares
Price
Cost Basis
Market Value
Gain/Loss
Gain/Loss %
VTSMX
48.73
33.90
1,636.08
1652.08
16.00
0.98
VGTSX
44.78
13.53
624.98
605.86
-19.12
-3.06
VBMFX
22.84
11.10
252.09
253.53
1.44
0.57
Totals:
2,513.15
2,511.47
-1.68
-0.07

Account Summary :

  • 06/01/2012 – Contributed $416.66
  • 06/01/2012 – Purchased mutual funds
  • 06/22/2012 – Reinvested $7.66 dividend for Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund
  • 06/29/2012 – Reinvested $0.55 dividend for Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund

Monthly vs. Yearly IRA Account Comparison

Account
Gain/Loss %
% Change From Prior Month
Yearly
4.64
+4.00
Monthly
-0.07
+4.39

Analysis :

  • The market gave up the year’s gains at the beginning of the month, only to rebound by the end of the month.
  • News broke that banks in Spain will be bailed out. They are set to receive up to 100 billion euros over the course of the next 18 months.
  • Manufacturing reports revealed that domestic production slowed, translating to fears that demand is decreasing. Combined with another disappointing jobs report, investors feared the economy was on the decline again.
  • Market lows at the beginning of June helped the Monthly IRA acquire shares at a lower price. This boosted performance to bring the account back to cost basis.