Bogleheads.org

-Living below our means and budgeting -Reassessing bills every few weeks to determine if they can be lower -Automatically saving/investing by payroll deduction -Marrying a man who doesn't care about money, so allows me to handle it -Buying preowned vehicles -Keeping daily expenses in line -Prioritiz...

Why to use banks? Credit unions are much better. Victoria +1 Compass bank did something similar to me, so I closed all accounts and started using my credit union as much as possible. I haven't had a "banking" headache since. I sometimes wonder, "Who switches back?" Yup! We had 2...

One can serve a corporation or LLC by serving the registered agent. New York is unusual in that it doesn't require a registered agent, though New York has a similar procedure. In New York, you can serve a corporation or LLC by serving the Secretary of State. The corporation or LLC has to give the S...

I plan on showing the properties myself, and signing the lease myself, but I plan on wearing 2 hats. I would be property manager and then also LLC owner. There are a lot of rentals in our area where the owners use property managers.

The LLC would be in my state, but I prefer to limit the access that tenants would have to my personal information.

PS: I am forming the LLC in order to purchase real estate in order to rent out. Are you planning to finance the rental property? Getting a mortgage for an LLC is usually not nearly as easy as getting financing to purchase in one's own name. Having the LLC still offers some protection personally, bu...

I absolutely understand that someone can find me. It's preferable to have a bunch of hoops that they have to jump through though. I would imagine that it would deter a curious renter from tracking down where I live, which they really don't need to know.

PS: I am forming the LLC in order to purchase real estate in order to rent out.

I am looking into forming an LLC and read that I need a registered agent. I was just going to get a UPS box, but I don't have anyone that I could use in my state for the registered agent service. I prefer to not use my personal address and info as it's a matter of public record. I was going to go wi...

I'd like to know who is offering this too!

That's an awesome tip Roger! I will check Craigslist and start calling rentals in my area. What a perfect way to get an unbiased opinion about what the going rents are.

The OP appears to have left the conversation. I think this too-good-to-be-true question was ruse. :annoyed It most certainly was not a ruse and here I am! I have just been ignoring any posts that were counterproductive. I asked an honest question to get advice and suggestions, not deal with bs. I a...

Where I live a $75k house is either a) in a less than desirable neighborhood or b) out in the sticks. This would not be in a neighborhood that is up-and-coming, or near downtown or a large university, unless it is a tear-down. I live in a rural-urban type town with a major university, population al...

Our credit union has great rates!

Looks pretty close. Although, don't think of it as investment/return... think of it as a business with expenses and income. You pay taxes on anything you actually clear as income. You also get to deduct a bunch of stuff for taxes. So, that all depends on the yearly numbers. Also, think seriously ab...

Wow! $12000 rent on a $75K property? If you don't want it I'll take it. Assume a 55% of 12000 net operating income, that's a cap rate of 8.8%. The ones I've been looking at around here are at 5.2%. Cap rate is NOI/value. Leveraged cash on cash return depends on your financing. If the mortgage is $2...

If you can get $1,000 per month on a $75K rental property, I would buy more of them. Cha ching! :moneybag That is exactly what I thought after doing the math. I'm just wondering if I missed something, which is why I would greatly appreciate your advice. Here is a Zillow article about how areas of t...

It would be beneficial if you provide some of the info below: Does the 75k include closing cost? What are the terms of the mortgage or loan? What is the interest rate and how long is the loan? What is the portion of the property value that is depreciable? Are you going to pay utilities for the tena...

I have been researching buying a property to rent. I had thought that the returns that I was projecting were higher than they should be, but I read a Bogleheads real estate thread that referenced a Zillow article about different areas of the country being better to buy or rent, and found that the Mi...

How did both of you feel when staying home with the children for the short period after they were born? That could indicate how staying at home would be for either of you. I'd talk to your company first about the possibility of flexible schedules while researching consulting options with other compa...

I second the recommendation for midwest refineries. I have sent them metal twice and they paid me more than I thought they would. I had previously weighted the gold & silver and knew approximately what I would get. I have recommended them to many friends.

Alaskar-Your posts were very eye opening! It's great that you called your company on their "problem". Our deposit was made as of 3/18/13, breaking the law by being 3 days later than the outermost limits of when they were supposed to deposit our contribution. I have noticed the contribution...

As of 3/18/13, still no deposit. We called Fidelity and they say that no deposit has been made this month. Where is a few thousand of our money? My husband emailed payroll and benefits to ask. This is way over the limit.

I handle the finances, and the employer has bungled some things in the past so I have to stay on top of them. Also, since they buy our shares when the market is UP, we are paying more for the shares. Who would like to do that? The fact is that the law reads that they need to make the deposits as soo...

From your considerate and thoughtful tone, you must be a therapist. :? Our contributions go in quickly when the market is low, and are delayed when the market us up. I have no idea why. It's just always been like that. It's frustrating for an employer to have thousands of your money in limbo for wee...

My husband's employer regularly deposits our retirement contributions into our accounts later than I would like. He gets paid on the last day of the month, and today is the 15th (14th transactions showing on Fidelity's webpage). Our withdraws from his paycheck from February 28 still has not posted t...

I'd recommend suggesting to hubby that he give his sister the number to consumer credit counseling service and some financial books (buy them used of course). If his sister can/will learn to swim on her own then it would take the pressure off of you both. It's possible that she's a person who never ...

I am a Bogelhead and hubby is not, but he allows me to handle the finances as he'd rather focus on other things. We met at work when I was doing an internship. Work, hobbies, etc are great places to meet people with similar values.

Anyone ever notice that the appraisers on Antiques Roadshow just name a number--they don't actually hand anyone a wad of cash? I'd love to have someone do a follow-up and trace the experiences of Antiques Roadshow contestants who subsequently decide to sell their pieces. I'd love to know the ratio ...

We now pay $30 per month for Comcast performance plus internet (we purchased our own modem), $8 per month for Hulu plus (through our Roku player and streamed to our tv), $30 per month for one cell with 750 minutes, and $7 per month for our other cell that used to be our home phone (we prepay $100 an...

Well, after careful consideration, I decided to sign it and send it back.

Ok. I just read the Truth in Lending document that does have the correct charge of 5%. Also, we signed an errors and omissions document that states that we would assist in correcting any clerical errors. I guess that this is a clerical error.

We refinanced our mortgage in March and things have been great since then. Today I received a letter stating: "We identified an error on documentation from your mortgage closing dated March 27, 2012. The error identified is in the Note Section 6 Paragraph (A), last sentence (see attached copy)....

PS: I'd definitely increase the liquid emergency fund. Tapping the Roth will hurt since you can't put the contributions back in again.

Your plan seems awesome! Your aa is age appropriate, your funds have awesome expenses, you are paying off high interest (financially and emotionally) debt, and you are utilizing all of your tax advantaged space. I wouldn't change a thing! Just do a projection to find out how early you will be able t...

I looked up OJFF and OJFE to see what they were and what the expense ratios are, and neither of them showed up as being funds.

I agree with Janet that I would be prioritizing tax advantaged (403b) over the Roth, unless you are maxing out your tax advantaged. Any HSA (health savings account) options for either of you? You didn't mention the interest rate on your debt- CAR LOAN & CREDIT CARDS. Depending on the interest ra...

I posted this exact question on Bogelheads before. Our payroll department is sad. Here's the thread: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=90366

You have gotten some good advice so far. I also feel that 10% is a rather bold return to shoot for. If you want something safe, like a good bond fund, then 3-5% is realistic. I'd also follow the advice to do NOTHING for at least 6 months with the money. Let the initial shock of that much money comin...

chicagobear wrote:You should have some kids.

+1!
It's amazing how much of the thought that you put into yourself and your job will be put into perspective when you see your baby for the first time.

I am insured by a large public university plan under my husband's policy. I have emailed the benefits department yesterday inquiring about this rebate but have not heard anything back as of yet. What should my husband and I expect from this rebate, if anything?

I keep a monthly bills checklist, a monthly finance checklist, and a financial overview. Monthly bills are the house and personal bills that are checked off as they are paid. That way if a bill is not received then I know it. Monthly finance tracks deposits (I have had banks deposit checks into wron...

1) Are there any good books or blogs specific to financial preparation for having a baby? I'd search the net for some. I can't recommend any. 2) My wife is a federal employee (works for VA). I have heard that in California federal employees are not eligible for disability from EDD while being out on...

The credit card companies have a system. They try to get you to charge lots of money on your card and then not pay it off monthly, therefore owing them interest. Don't you just laugh out load when they include 3 or 4 "checks" with the monthly statement enticing you to just write a check t...

Regarding the op, I have a friend who is still, after 2 months, trying to get her bank to fix the fraudulent debits that came out of her checking account. $500 is a lot of money for someone else to have when it's yours. I make it a point to ALWAYS use a credit card, and only use my debit card at my ...

Not sure I understand. Why would you have to do anything until your credit card bill comes due? Unless your goal each month is have a zero-balance statement? Confused, why do you have to go to transfer funds when you pay $5 for a pizza with a credit card? Credit cards, at least in my neck of the wo...

Do you know what the accountants used for expected returns? If they used 10% for equities, it would not surprise me that they could show that investing was better financially. The problem is you are not guaranteed 10%. Paying off the loans is a guaranteed 6.8%. A guaranteed 6.8% trumps an equity ri...

The "good news" is that the normal 10 percent federal tax penalty on non-qualified withdrawals is waived when withdrawals are attributable to a scholarship. I'd check this out: http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/529/20050306a1.asp And as I mentioned before, the benefit of tax deferred growth...

529's can be very beneficial depending on what state you are in. Check on tax benefits for contributions in your state. If by limited you are referring to withdraw options, then you will be taxed on earnings ONLY (not what you deposited) and also given a 10% penalty. If you have the money in the acc...