Should i put 300k into an S&P 500 ETF?

[engineering]

So what do i do?
Put my 300k in short term government bonds to fight inflation and slowly invest it (monthly) over lets say 30 years?

You haven't covered your tax situation which is critical. You want to move at least a significant portion to a tax advantaged account so it can grow tax free. You'll only be able to move so much every year.

The remaining portion I would buy into stocks or bonds according to whatever plan I chose, but I would be sure to max out those contributions to tax advantaged accounts ever year.

There are additional things to think about if you have other things going on, like a kid who's going to apply for student aid.

 

[murray t turtle]

Thanks for all the feedback, i really appreciate it.



Thanks for posting this chart as i was not aware of this and of course this is something i want to avoid.



The problem with putting little amounts in every month (vs. 300k at one time) is that i would loose out on a lot of compound interest.
On the other hand, if i put 300k in all at once, if i do it at the wrong time (like in the example above)
i would not make much or even any money at all.

So what do i do?
Put my 300k in short term government bonds to fight inflation and slowly invest it (monthly) over lets say 30 years?
Or maybe wait 1-2 years if something 2008 like is coming and if so put it in all at once?
Or maybe a combination of the two? Start investing monthly and if there is an opportunity just put it in all at once?



Are there more details available as to how this would be executed?
Would the 90% be invested all at the same time or slowly over time?
I guess with this amount it's almost irrelevant even if you put it in at the worst time possible?
I mean you would still have more than enough to survive in this case, right?



Well warren buffett seems to think that 90% into the S&P 500 and 10% in government bonds is sufficient.
I personally like this approach because it's simpler than dealing with a bunch of different mutual funds and also cheaper.
But is Dave ramseys method significantly safer?

%%
SURE is safer/Dave Ramsey 4 funds ;
easier + cheaper is seldom a good combo.
Concrete example SPY= much cheaper, easy @$155, 2000 top\ easy, cheap price did not do much to 2008 $ $157.
Wonder how your guts would work , seeing $300drawdown to $150,000?? Most panic sell @ worst time LOL
BUT even if you put into every year @ SPY or VOO top/ most likely do well over 30-40 years.
Much more movement than REAL estate ;
Dave[Realtor, radio] ramsey did well in RE, business , 4 funds, 30 years.
Frankly ''losing out on a lot of compound interest'' assumes SEPT 14 is bottom this quarter\not likely.
Congrats on RE sale......

 

[murray t turtle]

%%
SURE is safer/Dave Ramsey 4 funds ;
easier + cheaper is seldom a good combo.

Wonder how your guts would work , seeing $300drawdown to $150,000?? Most panic sell @ worst time LOL
BUT even if you put into every year @ SPY or VOO top/ most likely do well over 30-40 years.
Much more movement than REAL estate ;
Dave[Realtor, radio] ramsey did well in RE, business , 4 funds, 30 years.
Frankly ''losing out on a lot of compound interest'' assumes SEPT 14 is bottom this quarter\not likely.
Congrats on RE sale......

%%
DID we ''know'' SEPT was not the VOO-SPY bottom. NO, we did not ''know'' but SEPT is historically worst month of all 12.
One of several reasons we suggested not putting it all in @ once
Good old IBD article, put all the money in @ 30 or 40 yearly tops LOL in SPY or VOO, still did well over 30-40 years. SPY /VOO/QQQ had some good weeks also/up since SEPT 8.
Another fun read study\ the few bear funds + how seldom they last or do well.
BUT some inverse ETFs did well SEPT, tax free Roth account........