T. Rowe Price Equity Index 500 Fund (PREIX)

 ***Please make sure to do your research and consult a professional. I am not a professional and content is intended to be used and must be used for informational purposes only.****

PREIX is my go to when I am looking to invest more to my portfolio. It is my largest single holding. It is an Index fund the is based of the S&P 500. I am a believer that the everyday person is likely best off investing in a solid index fund for a big portion (or all) of their self managed portfolio. This is especially true for those that don't have time do the research for individual stocks but want the exposure to the stock market. The indexes historically have a much higher return than any other investment type and is easier than actively managing your portfolio. Index Funds are a great option for retirement accounts (more about that later). 

You can also choose different indexes that focus on different segments. Alternatively you can also look at mutual funds or ETFs.  Mutual funds are like index funds but tend to have higher expenses. EFTs have lower fees than Mutual Funds as it isn't actively managed. 

The reason I choose PREIX over other available funds is because I  personally tend to follow the S&P 500 over many other indexes. It also tracks well-known American based businesses representing a wide range of industries (safer & diversified). Other top indexes are Russel, Dow, NYSE, Nasdaq. There are international index funds as well.

Another reason I have chosen PREIX is because it doesn't have a minimum buy in and a low expense ratio. Expense Ratios represent the main cost of owning the fund and is subtracted from each fund shareholders returns as a percentage of the investment. In general index funds have lower expense ratios since it is managed to reflect the index it is based off but they can vary from fund to fund. Some index funds require a minimum investment. Ones with higher investment requirements tend to have a lower expense ratio. Over a long period (compounding factor) this could impact your overall return. If you have the money to invest into an index fund with a lower ratio you should but this is a good fund to start with.

PREIX does have a minimum hold time before being allowed to sell without penalty. Since I plan to hold long term this isn't an issue for me but should be considered when buying.

Summary:

-PREIX is an Index fund based on the S&P 500

- Doesn't have a min investment requirement

- Expense ratio (.19%) isn't the lowest but isn't the highest

-Index funds are great low cost options to not have to actively manage your account, don't have the time to do the regular research for stocks, and provides exposure to stocks

-9.57% standardized return since inception and 13% in last 10 year (just under the actual s&p 500)

HBD big Bro

It doesn't get any easier each day. You learn to live with it. Each year my mom likes to release balloons in the air in memory of my brother. I am not sure what it does but having a tradition allows us to have a time to reflect on the life of my brother. I like to use this day to reflect on my life. I use it as a reminder of how blessed I am, how precious our time is, to remember to love those around us.

This is a video I made a last year. A lot of people have seen it but it stands true on my feelings.

Thank you everyone for your kind words & support.

Manchester: another day of walking

After we finally got on our way after the bus delay, the ride went smooth. It was about 1 1/2 hours. The delay worked in our favor because things didn't start opening until 9a-10a. We ended up getting in a little after 8:30. We had originally planned on visiting Manchester the day before but decided on an extra day in Liverpool. Once we talked about it, Manchester was just to close not to go. Even if it was just a day trip or stop on our way to Oxford. After finding out the tickets from Liverpool to Manchester was only 4£ ( about $6) for the both of us it was a no brainer.

We had been hoping the bus stop had lockers for us to store our bags while we wondered Manchester. No such luck. We headed over to Arndale shopping centre across the road. We sat at the food court and had our breakfast while figuring out what places to go.

Mark had to deal with a bs situation with the local bank before anything could be done. As he was getting off the phone we walked out of the centre. Right in front of us was the Manchester Cathedral. We figured it was a good time to visit and take a moment to relax and reflect.

I am always amazed by the detail work in detailed work in these older buildings especially the cathedrals. After talking a few minutes and touring the cathedral we headed to our first destination on our agenda, an old library.

It is an old library that stored, ready for this, old books. The library is owned by a local university and has a study areas on one of the floors. Again this building had so much detailed moldings throughout.

Once we left the library with luggage in hand, we walked by the courthouse. Soon to be the home of Mark's finest work. We headed a few blocks to the People's History Museum.

The museum was about the UK history of workers and unions. We only spent about 20 minutes at that museum. We didn't like it much, clearly.

Next we walked to the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry. Luckily this place had lockers for us to store our luggage. This museum was really unique. It was composed of 5 historic buildings hosting different parts of the museum. Some of the museums themes were power, computers, textiles, trains, recycling, cameras, planes and bikes. Kodak had a display which is neat because Kodak is out of Rochester. I liked the train and airplane displays. I also really enjoyed the model of the first computer they had on display.This museum also had a few groups of students visiting at the same time.

Right when we decided to go, it started to pour down rain. Mark had just said how he was surprised we hadn't really seen any rain. Go figure.

We ran back over to building one. Once we walked in they said everyone had to leave because of a fire alarm going on. We both looked at each other and said o'well. We ran through the rain and found a place to eat some lunch, hoping we will be able to get our stuff once we finish.

We ended up at a pub called The White Lion Manchester. We ordered a beer to start. For lunch I ordered Ox tail and Mark decided to be English and get Fish w/chips (fries). The food took a while to come but was well worth it.

After collecting our stuff from the museum we headed back to the bus stop. On our walk back we saw a road was blocked with a car at the end of the road. It looked funny because they had little evidence tags on the road. Kind of like you would expect from bullet casings (thank you first 48 for that visual). We had to walk by the car and it was a mess. I felt a moment of sadness over what I was looking at. No bullet holes but just a bad crash. I will leave it at that.

Our bus was running late due to traffic partially caused by that same accident. At this point Mark and I were about ready to pass out from lack of sleep. We also had walked an average of about 4 miles a day (my estimates). Our next bus ride was a long one to Oxford. Of course this was the bus ride that was the worst. It was bumpy, loud, and uncomfortable. The guys in front of us decided to drink on the bus. One got sick (bumpy ride) and threw up in the toilet. I fell asleep and woke up I don't even know how many times. Not to mention I am sure I was that annoying guy snoring. I was so tired I didn't even care......Next stop Oxford.

Most of my pictures for Manchester are on my other phone. Here is what I got for know.

Liverpool

I was going to do a video post for this but I am riding on a bus to London right now. I am sure no one wants to hear me.

Liverpool was just as fun. I rented an apartment in the city center for this part of the trip. We caught the bus to Liverpool from the place we stayed in Birmingham. The trip was a little over a 2 hour ride. The bus stop was in sketchy area. We found a map and started walking to the hotel and got a little lost thanks to my great. Aviation skills. After asking a nice lady how the hell we get to this road we continued our walk to the hotel. The area was deserted. Mark and I talked how disappointing what we had been seeing was.

We finally found our hotel. We went to check in and the lady was like you are at the wrong location (jaw dropped). She gave us a nice map (not the little bs I got a the bus stop). It was another 5 minute walk away. She also gave a good idea of all the good locations for entertainment in the city. which happened to be closer tithe place we where staying not the place we showed up. We also found out that a soccer match was on (explanation to deserted streets).

We got to the hotel and the journey was well worth it because the place was really nice and literally across the street from everything. We settled in and made out our plans: eat dinner, go to a bar, wake up and go sightseeing ( Sunday and everything had already closed).

We drank bottle of wine and talked a while before getting out the door. We walked around a few block area and decided an Italian place for diner. It was like a family restaurant. We just chatted mostly about Fantasy football . It was about 8pm uk making it 3 Us. About the time the early games are entering the 4th quarter.

We headed two blocks over to the bar club area and settled on a restaurant bar called Lloyd's for our destination. We got a couple bottles of wine and went up stairs. It was a sunday night and didn't expect much. Drank and people watched. The people were drunk and dancing accordingly. It was just a chill evening. We decided to call it an early night at around 1am.

As we walked out the bar we ran into a few girls and started to talk to them. We all ended up heading to a club across the square. We talked and had a few drinks and enjoyed some decent music. After that we headed to grab some food. While waiting for someone food we ended up at another club for a few dances. We finally made it back to the hotel around 5 am w/ plans of getting up a 8a. We had plans to check out go sightseeing and head to Manchester.

As you can guess that didn't happen. We got up at 10. About 1 hour before check out. After a few minutes I decided we should stay another day. I went to Tesco (grocery store) and picked up some food. I made some breakfast, got dressed and headed out.

Our first stop was the Walker art Gallery. Along the way we stop at a memorial park and ran into Occupy Liverpool. The art galley was amazing. I loved the gallery with of the work from recipients of the Walker Gallery award. Mark & I went off on our own (as we did in all the museums/galleries).

We headed over to the Museum of Liverpool. It was a four story museum. I enjoyed the Egyptian and cultures of the work exhibits. I missed out on the Jungle and Dinosaur that Mark said was nice.

We walked through the shopping centre to the Echo wheel area. Took pictures of some of the buildings before taking a ride on the echo wheel. It had a nice view of the city lights. It was getting real cold do we headed back to the hotel.

After relaxing and goofing off for a little while. I cooked up some pizza and chicken. We ate dinner like true bosses. After eating dinner we decide we couldn't leave Manchester out of our plans and had to go.

Next on the agenda was another night out. We ended up at this place called camel club. It had a nice vibe. A good crowd. All the people seemed to be coupled up. So we just chilled out and had a drink. The DJ played some nice tunes but they just don't know how to mix songs or transition out here. We ended up talking to a few girls but they had come with someone. We called it an early night at 1. We had to get up at 530a for our next stop to Manchester. Mark went to sleep around 2a. I Stayed up booked our travel tickets, packed and looked at things to do in Manchester.

I made breakfast to go while Mark packed. After saying goodbye to our lovely apartment we headed to the bus stop. We found it a lot easier then anticipated. after we boarded it turned out our bus driver got played and his relief never showed up at his last stop so he had to take a break. After sitting around for 40 minutes we took off to Manchester.

Liverpool was another great destination. Deciding to stay an extra day was well worth the good time. Sorry for any errors I don't have time to edit this :)

UK Stories & Pictures

This is my last UK post... For now at least. Here are all the pictures I have from my trip (all the way at the bottom). Also some random items from the trip.


I was been burned a few times in the UK. Here are a few UK stories.

- A guy asked me if I spoke English and said yes. He asked me a question and I said what. He walked off with an attitude. My friend was like you should have said no you speak American (burned).

- I was asked if I would like my food for here. Me: Can I have it to go. The guy at the counter: 'what'. Me: to go. He looked at me confused and asked me if I would like it 'Take way'... umm yeah.

- I asked a bartender at a club where the restroom was. Bartender: What. Me: Bathroom Bartender: What. Me: Toilet. Bartender: oh, upstairs on the left.

- Mark: I wonder what they do in there. Me: I am sure they have offices in there. Mark: I wonder what they do. Me: IDK How em i suppose to know. whatever it is they do in a fucking palace....? Both: lmao

-toilet/bathroom are separate rooms

- don't use preservatives. Bread taste great

- No added crap to foods. Crisps (chips) ingredient list: potatoes, sunflower oil, salt.

Reading words and thinking they are spelled wrong or weird: use the toilet, mind the gap ( instead of watch your step) Colour, TK Max, Chips (fries), Crisps (chips), Baguette (Sub), fussy, cheers, yeah, naughty, centre

I am sure I missed a lot of things but I am sure you all get the point. I had a blast and the UK was fun.

Random UK Videos
Squirrel

Oxford Singers

3D Glass Image

Occupy Liverpool

Liverpool Apartment 

UK Pictures. Mark has most of the good ones but here is what I have.

London I


Birmingham


Liverpool


Manchester


Oxford


London II

Trip To London.

So, I am going to London for A week. I am sitting in the DC airport with a 6 hours layover waiting for my  departure flight Heathrow. I feel like I should be more excited about it. Maybe it is because I am not looking forward to the 7 hours flight. Maybe it is because I don't allow myself to get to excited about somethings. Maybe it is just because I now feel that is isn't about the places you go but rather the people you meet the people you spend time with that matters. This coming from a person that wants to travel the world. I know I will have fun especially because I will be seeing good people who I haven't seen in a while. Once I start to experience my journey I will be excited I just need to get through this layover and looonnggg flight.

I decided I am going to use my blog to keep a journal of my trip. I am going to try and post as often as I can while I am on vacation. Check back and see how my exciting journey progresses. Hopefully I have lots of fun stories and great pictures.

Acts of kindness

One of my favorite things to do is give to or help others. Sometimes random people and usually those close to me. As the years go on and I build more resources I'm able to do this more and more. It is one of the best feelings ever. I often end up going on little sprees of these "Acts Of Kindness". The most common things I do is send random gifts to people when I see something that reminds me of them, pay a bill, or make something happen for someone (track down tickets to events, link them with an internship, find information on a goal etc.). I know friends do some of these things on the regular but I mean still do these things even when not asked, when you seem not to have time, are mad at each other or aren't even friends.  Over the years I have volunteered for YMCA, Soup kitchens, big brothers big sisters, donate blood, donate clothes......  I fell like these acts throughout the year are more meaningful then doing things on set days (for birthdays, Christmas...). You should show people they are important and cared about (including random people) throughout the year not just on designated days.

My favorite is to do things for those I know anonymously. I don't want them to feel like they owe me anything in return and it allows for me to do it with no strings attached. I usually do this with bigger items people might fight me on. It is often something that is important to them but they may not be able to do without a little help. Some of the more extreme anonymous "Acts of Kindness" I have done are paid tuition, paid a sports fee for an athlete, paid a phone bill,  and landed someone a job (I hope none of these people realize I am talking about them). I only hope they one day will all be able to pay it forward in some way and help someone else in need.

If you are reading this I challenge you to try to selflessly participate in Acts of Kindness. The only hard part is that sometimes the opportunity doesn't always come at the best time and requires a little sacrifice of something for yourself. Like giving up a favor you may need later, not buying that new cell phone or dipping into your savings.