Across My Desk: Return Reality

With all the hoopla about the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) going hog-wild this year and closing over 13,000 for the first time ever last month, not all investments are profitable.

"What am I talking about?" you ask. Well, I'm still waiting for my Vanguard S&P 500 Index fund investment to get back to even. Meaning, I bought shares almost 8 years ago close to their per share---and the index--- high.

Just to refresh: The S&P 500 highest close was 1,527.46 and achieved 7 years ago on March 24, 2000.

On March 25, 2007, when the DJIA closed at its record high of 13,089.89 (it's gone beyond that at the writing of this), the S&P500 closed at 1495.42. Or, 2.1 percent below its 2000 high.

Bottom line: Rising tides may move ships but don't lift all equally. Remember that if you're a market-watch junkie. And keep in mind that the only prices that matter are those that impact your personal investments.