August 2006 Net Worth Update (+$18,689)

What a month! Investments faired well, I vested in my pension, and I made the most frivolous purchase of my lifetime as a sign of commitment to my fiancee. In the end I added $18,689 to my net worth ($1,261 excluding my vested pension adjustment).

Assets	Jul-06	Aug-06	Change	%
Cash & Savings	$ 27,067.54	$ 23,023.25	$ (4,044.29)	-14.9%
Taxable Brokerage Accts	$ 45,085	$ 49,046	$ 3,961.20	8.79%
Roth IRA	$ 25,492.22	$ 25,971.75	$ 479.53	1.88%
Pre-tax Retirement Accts	$ 84,665.71	$ 103,113.80	$ 18,448.09	21.79%
Stock Option		$ -	$ -
ESPP	$ 34,032.20	$ 37,579.40	$ 3,547.20	10.42%
House #1 - Rental	$ 160,000.00	$ 160,000.00	$ -
House #2 - Primary	$ 128,225.00	$ 128,225.00	$ -
Receivable (Payable)	$ 300.00	$ 300.00	$ -
Other Assets		$ -	$ -
Total Assets	$ 504,867.18	$ 527,258.91	$ 22,391.73	4.44%
Liabilities			$ -
Credit Card Balances	$ (27,954.08)	$ (31,656.46)	$ (3,702.38)	13.24%
House #1 Mortgages	$ (117,848.88)	$ (117,848.88)	$ -	0.00%
House #2 Mortgages	$ (103,900.21)	$ (103,900.21)	$ -	0.00%
Rental Deposits	$ (600.00)	$ (600.00)	$ -	0.00%
Additional Tax Liability		$ -	$ -
Other Liabilities			$ -
Total Liabilities	$ (250,303.17)	$ (254,005.55)	$ (3,702.38)	1.48%
Net Worth	$ 254,564.01	$ 273,253.36	$ 18,689.35	7.34%

Highlights for August

• All credit card debt (except current month's purchases) is in the form of 0% APR balance transfers earning interest in my savings accounts.


• I have modified the "401k" asset line item on my net worth statement to "Pre-tax Retirement Accounts" to include both my 401(k) and cash balance pension value.


• I bought an engagement ring (part 1, part 2) which took a serious hit to my net worth, but was negated by my pension vesting.


• I vested in my pension adding $17,406 to my pre-tax retirement accounts.


• I experienced another strong month in my taxable brokerage accounts, mostly from a rise in my Pfizer and Merck investments.


• I bought the last of the airline tickets for my temporary assignment; I hope for the rest of the year my monthly expenses will be more inline with the 1st half of the year.


• I am now officially cash poor. I have purchased a new property and an engagement ring in the past couple of months and my focus for the rest of the year will be to retain as much cash as possible.


• I have challenged myself by spending so much cash this year; if I can get through the next year (read wedding expenses) and build some cash to replace my emergency fund I will be very happy. I recognize that building my cash position for future opportunities will be a gigantic challenge. I plan to discuss this more in future posts.

Additional Stock Investments for August (Outside of 401k & ESPP):
$50 in Pfizer DRIP