The Practical Investing Portfolio
Columnist Kathy Kristof put her real money into the market so she could help you be a better investor.

Kiplinger’s columnist and author of Investing 101 Kathy Kristof took approximately $200,000 of her own money and divided it into two pieces — $10,000 going into Vanguard Total Stock Market Index ETF (symbol VTI), and the rest going into individual stocks that she selected.
Kristof has ended her active management of the portfolio. In the table below, you can review the portfolio’s performance over its 7.5 year run.
Name | Ticker | PurchaseValue | SharesHeld | CurrentPrice | CurrentValue | TotalReturn |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ares Capital | ARCC | $10,037.68 | 1290.392 | $17.16 | $22,143.13 | 120.6% |
Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance | ARI | 10,018.75 | 1261.090 | 17.90 | 22,573.51 | 125.3% |
Apple Inc. | AAPL | 16,076.73 | 364.134 | 170.42 | 62,055.72 | 286.0% |
Boeing | BA | 26,682.23 | 82.387 | 417.97 | 34,435.29 | 29.1% |
Corning Inc. | GLW | 10,003.92 | 856.012 | 34.51 | 29,540.97 | 195.3% |
Costco | COST | 10,953.60 | 60.634 | 216.47 | 13,125.44 | 19.8% |
General Motors | GM | 15,719.00 | 625.391 | 39.09 | 24,446.53 | 55.5% |
Gilead Sciences Inc. | GILD | 13,621.50 | 162.988 | 67.59 | 11,016.36 | -19.1% |
Intel Corp. | INTC | 9,996.30 | 545.679 | 51.66 | 28,189.78 | 182.0% |
Invitation Homes | SFR | 3,114.72 | 190.000 | 23.52 | 4,468.80 | 43.5% |
KKR Financial Holdings | KKR | 9,997.63 | 962.430 | 23.53 | 22,645.98 | 126.5% |
Knowles Corp.* | KN | 1,698.00 | 83.000 | 16.15 | 1,340.45 | -21.1% |
Lazard Ltd. A | LAZ | 10,174.03 | 243.325 | 36.73 | 8,937.33 | -12.2% |
Seagate Technology Plc. | STX | 16,304.81 | 757.557 | 45.71 | 34,627.93 | 112.4% |
Spirit Airlines | SAVE | 1,158.68 | 83.000 | 61.67 | 5,118.61 | 341.8% |
Starwood Property Trust | STWD | 6,887.43 | 837.987 | 21.82 | 18,284.88 | 165.5% |
Target Corp. | TGT | 10,021.39 | 243.142 | 72.84 | 17,710.46 | 76.7% |
Taylor Morrison Home Corp | TMHC | 11,903.00 | 1223.000 | 18.11 | 22,148.53 | 86.1% |
Cash | Row 18 - Cell 1 | Row 18 - Cell 2 | Row 18 - Cell 3 | Row 18 - Cell 4 | 9,799.93 | Row 18 - Cell 6 |
Portfolio Total | Row 19 - Cell 1 | $189,998.00 | 9872.148 | Row 19 - Cell 4 | $392,609.63 | 106.6% |
Vanguard Total U.S. Market ETF | VTI | $10,863.00 | 187.741 | 142.74 | $26,798.15 | 146.7% |
Stock prices are as of February 15, 2019. *Received through a spinoff.

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Get Kiplinger Today newsletter — free
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.
-
Ten Cheapest Places To Live in Florida
Property Tax Make your Florida vacation spot daily living — these counties have the lowest property tax bills in the state.
By Kate Schubel
-
I'm 50 and my home is worth $5 million. Can I retire now?
It may be oh-so tempting to cash out your upscale home and leave work for good. But should you? We ask the experts.
By Maurie Backman
-
I Have $20,000 to Invest. What Should I Do?
We asked a financial expert to weigh in on where to invest $20,000.
By Charles Lewis Sizemore, CFA
-
Intel Earnings Do Little to Excite Investors: What to Know
Intel stock is struggling for direction Friday after the chipmaker reported a fourth-quarter beat but gave weak guidance. Here's what Wall Street has to say.
By Joey Solitro
-
Is Intel Stock a Buy, Hold or Sell After Earnings?
Intel stock is moving higher Friday after the embattled chipmaker gave upbeat Q4 guidance, but Wall Street is staying on the sidelines for now. Here's what you need to know.
By Joey Solitro
-
Intel Braces for an Even Tougher Road Ahead
The Kiplinger Letter Amid a long, costly turnaround, Intel resets expectations again. Its new woes raise questions about U.S. industrial policy and global chip competition.
By John Miley
-
Why Your Electric Bill Will Keep Climbing
The Kiplinger Letter There's no end in sight for energy rate hikes, so look for ways to curb your power use.
By Jim Patterson
-
How to Master Index Investing
Index investing allows market participants the ability to build their ideal portfolios using baskets of stocks and bonds. Here's how it works.
By Nellie S. Huang
-
16 Low-Cost ETFs to Buy
Expense ratios for index funds have declined in recent years, making them a cheap investing strategy to consider. Here are 16 low-cost ETFs to consider.
By Kyle Woodley
-
Best Banks for High-Net-Worth Clients
wealth management These banks welcome customers who keep high balances in deposit and investment accounts, showering them with fee breaks and access to financial-planning services.
By Lisa Gerstner