Monthly vs. Yearly IRA Contribution Experiment – May 2012 Update

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

Yearly Contribution Roth IRA

Fund
Shares
Price
Cost Basis
Market Value
Gain/Loss
Gain/Loss %
VTSMX
102.74
32.78
3,264.33
3,367.82
103.49
3.17
VGTSX
93.07
12.77
1,250.00
1,188.57
-61.43
-4.91
VBMFX
46.10
11.12
506.22
512.64
6.42
1.27
Totals:
5,020.55
5,069.03
48.48
0.97

Account Summary :

  • 05/31/2012 – Reinvested $1.13 dividend for Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund

Monthly Contribution Roth IRA

Fund
Shares
Price
Cost Basis
Market Value
Gain/Loss
Gain/Loss %
VTSMX
40.02
32.78
1,357.59
1,311.89
-45.70
-3.37
VGTSX
36.44
12.77
520.82
465.33
-55.49
-10.65
VBMFX
19.06
11.12
209.87
211.92
2.05
0.98
Totals:
2,088.28
1,989.14
-99.14
-4.75

Account Summary :

  • 05/01/2012 – Contributed $416.66
  • 05/01/2012 – Purchased mutual funds
  • 05/31/2012 – Reinvested $0.47 dividend for Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund

Monthly vs. Yearly IRA Account Comparison

Account
Gain/Loss %
% Change From Prior Month
Yearly
0.97
-6.75
Monthly
-4.75
-6.78

Analysis :

  • There was a huge market sell-off in May. “Sell in May and go away” really sounds like good advice when looking back at last month’s performance.
  • Fears of Greece possibly exiting the euro zone and news of Spain bailing out a major bank drove markets around the world lower.
  • The jobs report for May was disappointing for investors on the last trading day of the month. Confidence of a recovering economy faltered when the unemployment rate increased to 8.2%.