The broad market correction was wielding its powerful force on my portfolio last month, causing a 3.7% hair-cut of our net worth in a month, the highest percentage decline ever in our history of meticulously bookkeeping in the last five years.

Although I don't feel for the increased volatility in the market this year, I'm getting used to the rollercoaster ride now. To take it positively, we are only giving back some of the enormous gain we recorded in the prior month. In the last two months combined, we still grew our wealth by more than $43,000. And we are still already ahead of our annual growth goal by a five-figure margin, one month earlier.

BALANCE SHEET

NOTES

- Massive stock option account value reduction, caused by me exercising about a third of my vested options in early November (luckily at the market high), and the declining value of the remaining options in the month.

- The total balance on zero-APR credit card arbitrage continued its fall, due to a payoff of $12,000 balance in the Citi Professional Card I opened last year, partially offset by a new 6-month 0% APR balance transfer done in the new Miles by Discover card I received this month.

- Tax liability shrinks due to pay tax on the stock option exercise in cash (the brokerage firm withheld the tax) and evaporation of some of the unrealized earnings during the month. A small part of the tax liability decline is also caused by me instructing our payroll department to withhold more federal income tax before the end of the year.

WHAT'S AHEAD

- I received two more Citi cards with 12-month 0% APR introductory offers so likely I can build up a higher balance to continue my mini-carry trade exercise.

- I need to perform a year-end portfolio checkup to optimize the tax position.

- The annual financial planning exercise is on the agenda. We are eager to plan the new year ahead and prepare for the new challenges we will be facing.

- And then there is Maldives at the end of the year!