Welcome to the “What is my Net Worth?” Substack
Introduction:
I’m Vincent Kurtis, host of the “What Is My Net Worth?” podcast (LINK). Over the past few months, I’ve shared insights into personal finance and investing through audio content. However, I’ve often found myself wanting to provide visuals, tables, and documentation to enhance the experience. That’s where this Substack comes in—it’s your one-stop hub for supplemental resources to accompany the podcast.
Here, you’ll find helpful links, detailed tables, and illustrations you won’t get from the podcast. But don’t worry if you prefer one format over the other—they’re complimentary, not duplicative. Whether you consume just the podcast or just the Substack, you’ll still gain valuable insights.
Net Worth Update: As of today, my net worth stands at $686,512, thanks to recent earnings from my regular job.
Disclaimer: I'm not a financial expert. If I were, this podcast would be about how I successfully raised my net worth beyond what I need. Follow the strategies outlined here at your own risk.
Stargate Project:
On January 21, the Trump administration announced an ambitious initiative, the Stargate Project, aimed at investing up to $500 billion in Artificial Intelligence (AI) infrastructure. The funding combines private sector investments, tax incentives, and public-private partnerships.
This announcement immediately triggered gains in the stock market, with notable gains on Tuesday, 1/21 and Wednesday, 1/22:
S&P 500: +1.5%
Dow Jones: +1.5%
NASDAQ: +1.9%
This news has me asking: Are AI stocks on the rise?
A Tale of Two ETFs:
I decided to run a comparison so I found one ETF - XTRACKERS ARTIFICIAL INT AND B D or symbol (XAIX) and I compared it against one of my favorite investments, Schwab Total Stock Market Index Fund (SWTSX)
XTRACKERS Artificial Intelligence and Big Data ETF (XAIX)
Expense Ratio: 0.35% (low fees are always a plus).
Performance: Opened at $29.05 (8/5/2024) → Closed at $35.09 (1/24/2025), a +20.8% increase.
SWTSX (Schwab Total Stock Market Index Fund)
Performance: Valued at $87.69 on 8/5/2024 → Closed at $103.37 (1/24/2025), a +17.9% increase.
Looks pretty good, right?
Is Investing in AI Just Another “Investment Fad”?
The buzz around Artificial Intelligence (AI) feels reminiscent of past investment trends like the dot-com boom and the cryptocurrency craze. But could these so-called “investment fads” actually boost a portfolio’s performance over time?
Let’s check the price histories of a Crypto ETF to find out.
Lessons from the Crypto Boom
For this analysis, I used the Purpose Bitcoin CAD ETF (BTCC.B) and comparing it against the Schwab Total Stock Market Index Fund (SWTSX):
BTCC.B Performance: Opened at $9.30 (Feb 2021) → $18.94 (1/24/2025), +~100%.
SWTSX Performance: Valued at $67.38 (Feb 2021 → $103.37 (1/24/2025) +53.4%
Once again, so far so good! But what about volatility? Will I experience sudden shifts in investment value with an investment like this? Let’s compare stock volatility between February 2021 and now between these two funds:
BTCC.B Low: At its low in November 2022, it fell to $3.03 (-67%).
SWTSX Low: At its low in October 2022, this fund fell to $63.13 (-6%)
While Bitcoin investment looks good, consider volatility. The low for BTCC.B was $3.03 in November 2022 (-67%), while SWTSX's low was $63.13 in October 2022 (-6%). Doubling money with BTCC.B would have meant losing two-thirds at one point..
So am I going to invest in AI (XAIX)?:
Yes, I’m investing in XAIX—but cautiously. I plan to allocate 10% of my equity portfolio to this ETF. Diversification remains key, and I’ll report back on how this investment performs in the coming months.
Thank you for reading “What Is My Net Worth?” Substack! Don’t forget to subscribe to stay updated on my financial journey, investment experiments, and insights. Let’s grow smarter—and wealthier—together!