My husband and I enjoy researching and buying our own stocks through Vanguard. We are retired and have nothing better to do and it is fun. For instance, we just bought more MDCO today after it going up over $20+ to $70 in the last two days alone! Better jump in.....analysts say its going much higher!
Our return for the year is 33%+ so far on all our stocks!
My return so far this year is about the same as yours. That increase is about 6X my highest salary when I retired about 18 months ago.
Congratulations! I have a broker/investor who is not doing as well.