2015 and hello 2016

Where we're at:

Dow: 16466
s&p: 1940
10 yr: 1.93%
VIX: 19.20
CAPE s&p P/E: 24.56

1yr: 0.0%

mix:
equity: 36
bond: 54
cash: 10

It's been awhile, so I thought I would recap the year and what I've done so far in 2016.  2015 for us was 'flat', the EOY cap gains and dividends in our tax deferred investments brought us to even, so I beat my benchmark for a 3rd year (ivy portfolio + commodities).  When commodities come back, I'll probably be behind again.  Not much worked last year, US, Int'l, bonds, REITs.  I think the only thing that worked somewhat were muni bonds.  Love them.  The fed being wishy-washy on interest rates didn't help.  I have begun researching values in dividend stocks now that a bit of froth is gone, still with a P/E above 20, there is still quite a bit of it.

In an effort to keep some 'dry powder' and move the needle on our cash, I began opening a lot of CDs, mostly brokered ones to avoid the hassle of running around the web yield shopping.  That should give us a bit more cash flow.  I have sold all of our int'ls in my IRA and repurchased them in our taxable to take advantage of the foreign tax credit and lower my cost basis.  I do plan on adding to our US large caps, mostly dividend achievers throughout the year.

Expenses: new AC?, vacation in the fall to east coast, new bed?

Happy dance...paid off home in December.