Demoostify Your Portfolio (IGNORE: NOT YET EDITED)
A Step-by-Step Guide to Applying Decision Moose Signals
Demoostifying means taking the Decision Moose model signals and putting them to work in your real investment account. This guide walks you through the complete process — from opening the right account to executing your first rotation.
Open the Right Account
The Global Index Model uses seven ETFs that are available at any major brokerage. You will need a brokerage account that allows commission-free ETF trading. Good options include Fidelity, Schwab, Vanguard, and TD Ameritrade. If you are a federal employee, your TSP account works directly — see the TSP Model page for fund equivalents. For tax efficiency, consider holding the model in a tax-advantaged account (IRA, Roth IRA, or 401(k) with a self-directed brokerage window).
Fund Your Account
Deposit the amount you intend to allocate to the Decision Moose strategy. The model works with any account size — there is no minimum. However, keep in mind that frequent rotations in a taxable account will generate short-term capital gains. Tax-advantaged accounts avoid this issue entirely.
Read Your First MooseCall
Every Thursday evening, the MooseCall is published on this site and emailed to subscribers. The Global Index Rankings table shows all seven assets ranked by CI%. The top-ranked asset (Rank 1) is the model's current recommended holding. Note the ETF ticker for that asset.
Place Your Initial Trade
Buy the top-ranked ETF with the full amount you have allocated to the strategy. Use a market order or a limit order near the current price. You are now fully invested in the model's top-ranked asset.
Check Each Week's MooseCall
Every Thursday evening, check the new MooseCall. Compare the current top-ranked asset to your existing holding. If the top-ranked asset has changed, sell your current holding and buy the new top-ranked ETF. If the top-ranked asset is unchanged, do nothing — hold your position.
Use the Moose Horn for Timely Alerts
Subscribe to the Moose Horn alert service to receive an immediate notification whenever a rotation signal occurs. This is especially useful if you cannot check the MooseCall every Thursday evening.
Worked Example
Suppose the MooseCall on Thursday shows US Large-caps (SPY) ranked #1 with a CI% of 89%. You buy SPY with your full allocation. The following week, SPY is still ranked #1 — no action required. Two weeks later, the MooseCall shows Emerging Markets (EEM) has moved to #1 with a CI% of 92%, displacing SPY. You sell SPY and buy EEM. That is the complete rotation process.
Practical Tips
- ✓Set a calendar reminder for every Friday morning to check the MooseCall.
- ✓Keep a simple log of your trades — entry date, ETF, price, and exit date. This makes tax reporting straightforward.
- ✓Do not second-guess the model. The discipline of following the signal consistently is what produces results over time.
- ✓In a taxable account, consider waiting until a position has been held for more than one year before selling, if the model signal is borderline. Long-term capital gains rates are significantly lower than short-term rates.
- ✓If you miss a rotation by a few days, do not panic. Execute the trade as soon as you can. A small timing difference rarely has a material impact on long-term results.