Search found 32 matches

by Callalily
Fri Dec 22, 2017 8:40 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Selling rental property and tax ramifications
Replies: 4
Views: 1109

Selling rental property and tax ramifications

We've rented out our home since 2011 and intend to sell it in 2018. I tried reading about the tax ramifications of this decision and don't understand it much, and I probably don't need to since we'll have our tax preparer deal with it.

My question is: Will maxing out my 403b pretax and 457 pretax help mitigate the tax hit?
by Callalily
Tue Dec 03, 2013 8:42 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 529 and tax deduction for education expenses
Replies: 1
Views: 417

529 and tax deduction for education expenses

My husband is going back to school in February 2014. As a result, I'm trying to learn as much as I can about 529s and tax deductions for educational expenses.

We live in PA, so 529 contributions are tax deductible at the state level, but since we won't be earning much in the 529s, is the tax deductible contributions worth it? My understanding is that if I use 529 monies to pay for education, I won't be able to claim the Tuition and Fees Deduction or the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit at the federal level. Am I right? I anticipate educational expenses to run about $10,000/year.

Any replies much appreciated.
by Callalily
Tue Feb 05, 2013 3:48 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: EverBank
Replies: 6
Views: 1354

EverBank

We just opened a checking account with EverBank and want to be sure that this bank is legit. Does anyone here use EverBank?
by Callalily
Tue Jan 08, 2013 2:52 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Thoughts about high yield bond ETFs?
Replies: 9
Views: 1840

Thoughts about high yield bond ETFs?

I'm considering these High Yield Bond ETFs with my mad money in my taxable account (I'm in the 15% tax bracket):

Peritus High Yield ETF HYLD
iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bd HYG
SPDR Barclays High Yield Bond JNK
Market Vectors High-Yield Muni ETF HYD

What are your thoughts with regard to the risk-reward combination? Since this is my mad money, I'm tempted to go for the highest yield ...
by Callalily
Fri Dec 28, 2012 9:11 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: TLH Question
Replies: 3
Views: 373

Re: TLH Question

Ah ... So 30 days before and 31 days after? Sigh ... I thought I'd found the free lunch!
by Callalily
Fri Dec 28, 2012 9:07 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: TLH Question
Replies: 3
Views: 373

TLH Question

My understanding is that the 31-day requirement begins after you sell the depreciated share. Won't purchasing the beaten down stock, then sell the depreciated share of the same stock circumvent the 31-day rule?
by Callalily
Fri Dec 21, 2012 11:04 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Learning about tax loss harvesting
Replies: 6
Views: 972

Re: Learning about tax loss harvesting

Fortunately, not tax exempt. I'm not ready for yet more rules.

As for the 1 year rule, something about qualified dividends?
by Callalily
Fri Dec 21, 2012 10:39 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Learning about tax loss harvesting
Replies: 6
Views: 972

Learning about tax loss harvesting

I've read the wiki about tax loss harvesting and want to clarify my thinking:

My understanding is that TLH can be used for both stock and bond funds, and for both mutual funds and ETFs. I bought some bond fund ETFs. Should the price go down a predetermined percentage, I would be able to sell the bond fund ETFs and purchase a similar bond fund ETF while ensuring that the wash sale is not activated. Is there a holding period? I read somewhere about a 1 year rule. Does that only apply to stock funds that have capital gains (which means it wouldn't be tax LOSS harvesting)?
by Callalily
Thu Dec 06, 2012 7:23 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Considering going for PhD
Replies: 39
Views: 5442

Re: Considering going for PhD

I'm in an entirely different field but definitely echo what the others have said. Only pursue a PhD if the institution will pay for it via an assistantship (check to make sure that all tuition and health insurance will be included). I do know a friend who pursued a PhD in Physics and his wife and children lived on his stipend, but they lived very frugally.

I'm not sure how appropriate it is to share a link to another website here, but the Chronicle of Higher Education forum http://chronicle.com/forums/ might be useful to you. The people there are very helpful and might be able to give you a more nuanced reply specific to your field and circumstances.
by Callalily
Sat Nov 17, 2012 9:31 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Comcast, Ooma, and buying a modem
Replies: 23
Views: 7907

Re: Comcast, Ooma, and buying a modem

No. So I should get a wireless router in addition? Will the router enable multiple laptop ethernet connections?
by Callalily
Sat Nov 17, 2012 9:21 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Comcast, Ooma, and buying a modem
Replies: 23
Views: 7907

Comcast, Ooma, and buying a modem

I'm hoping to pick the brains of those more tech-savvy than I am. We currently use Comcast for internet and landline phone and rent their modem. I'd like to buy an Ooma device and get rid of the landline and just pay for Comcast internet. However, I know that I need to get a modem, and this is where I get a little confused. We have 2 laptops we'd like connected via the ethernet and 2 iPads. So I assume we need wireless connectivity and more than one ethernet connection on the modem.

I looked at Comcast's modem suggestions but am unsure which fit my purpose. Suggestions please?
by Callalily
Sun May 20, 2012 8:51 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: ETFs or Mutual Funds: A Review and Analysis
Replies: 35
Views: 4246

Re: ETFs or Mutual Funds: A Review and Analysis

I just use market order rather than the other types of orders because up till now, I have been buying very few shares every time. My thought is that with market gyrations day by day, tomorrow's share prices may be lower than today's limit order I could place. Am I wrong in my thinking?

Having said that, I have just implemented a direct rollover from my previous employer's 401k to Vanguard and intend to buy ETFs rather than mutual funds because I don't have enough to buy Admiral shares for all the different funds I want to purchase. Should I be purchasing limit orders in this case then?
by Callalily
Sat Jan 21, 2012 4:21 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Mutual Fund or ETF in taxable?
Replies: 5
Views: 846

Re: Mutual Fund or ETF in taxable?

Thanks! I didn't know that.
by Callalily
Sat Jan 21, 2012 4:19 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Trying to understand SEC yield
Replies: 5
Views: 2456

Trying to understand SEC yield

I'm trying to understand why the yield for the Vanguard Intermediate-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares (VWITX) is 2.02% on the Vanguard website https://personal.vanguard.com/us/funds/ ... IntExt=INT but 3.51% on the Morningstar website http://quote.morningstar.com/fund/f.aspx?t=VWITX. Which one should I be looking at?
by Callalily
Fri Jan 20, 2012 8:52 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Mutual Fund or ETF in taxable?
Replies: 5
Views: 846

Mutual Fund or ETF in taxable?

I intend to purchase either the admiral share mutual fund or the ETF of:
- Vanguard 500 index
- Vanguard Extended Market

Is one share class better than the other?
by Callalily
Wed Jan 18, 2012 8:03 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Tax rate on interest in savings accounts and CDs overseas
Replies: 1
Views: 360

Tax rate on interest in savings accounts and CDs overseas

I have some money in a savings account and CDs overseas. I was wondering whether the interest is taxed at the same rate that it would be taxed here (interest in a savings account and CDs here). Could someone shed some light?
by Callalily
Sat Jan 07, 2012 6:02 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Roth Conversions and Taxes
Replies: 13
Views: 1278

Roth Conversions and Taxes

I suspect that I might be in the 15% tax rate in 2012. I'm wondering if it would be a good idea to convert my 401K at my previous employer to a Rollover IRA and then to a Roth IRA.

On a different note, does the tax consequences wipe each other out if I max out my 401K and convert a Rollover IRA to a Roth IRA in the same year?
by Callalily
Sat Jan 07, 2012 5:56 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Paying off rental?
Replies: 8
Views: 1290

Re: Paying off rental?

My effective after-tax mortgage rate for 2011 is probably 3.46% but it could be 3.93% for 2012.
by Callalily
Mon Jan 02, 2012 1:15 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Paying off rental?
Replies: 8
Views: 1290

Paying off rental?

My husband and I bought our house in 2008 and then moved to another state for my job. We're currently renting out our home and renting an apartment in our new state. I've recently come into an inheritance that pays off our house if we so desire. We don't intend to purchase a home in our new state for 5 years at least. I understand that we would be trading cash for an illiquid investment, but tax-wise, there's really no difference between paying mortgage interest or giving to charity or funding our 401K, right? In other words, all 3 scenarios are tax-deductible? I go back and forth between keeping the cash and having higher ROI vs. paying off the rental (and then using the income to beef up our retirement ... we also really hate debt but may...
by Callalily
Fri Oct 14, 2011 8:41 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Replies: 4
Views: 775

It's an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. I don't know if there's a holding period. I'll find out.

I guess I'm just wondering what Bogleheads think about this.
by Callalily
Fri Oct 14, 2011 8:14 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Replies: 4
Views: 775

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

My husband just started working part time for Pier 1. He has the opportunity to purchase stock options for up to 20% of his pay and Pier 1 will match 25% of that. So for every 4 shares, Pier 1 contributes 1.

What are your thoughts about this? Purchase to get the 25% and then sell immediately?
by Callalily
Mon Oct 10, 2011 9:40 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: The True Cost of Commuting
Replies: 32
Views: 5672

Very interesting topic.

Sometimes, a commute is a feature of a two-income family. I've just moved from MN to PA. In MN, both my husband and I had a 45-75 minute commute in opposite directions. Fortunately, mine was an academic position, so I went in 3-4x a week and not during vacations.

Now, in PA, I live 20-minute WALK from campus, and I LOVE it! Hubby is still unemployed though, so that may change once he finds a permanent job.
by Callalily
Sat Aug 20, 2011 8:13 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Pension or 403B?
Replies: 8
Views: 3463

Thanks much for your replies.

I am 40 and don't know how long I'll be here. At this point, I don't see it as being a short term job/have no plans to leave but I'm not adverse to leaving if something better came along.

If I left before vesting, I will take my own contributions plus 4% interest. I would assume that it could be rolled into an IRA. The formula is:
2% x Years of Service x final average salary x Early Retirement Factor (if applicable).
I have no idea what this means.

How do I check the liability status of the pension. Unfortunately, the 403b choices are high cost, ranging from .43 to .82 (although fortunately, without load). I get 9.29% from my employer in addition to my own contribution for my 403b.
by Callalily
Sat Aug 20, 2011 4:57 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Pension or 403B?
Replies: 8
Views: 3463

Pension or 403B?

I've just been hired in a PA state system university and have to choose between SERS/PSERS (basically, pension) and ARP (basically, 403B).

Besides the fact that vesting takes 10 years in SERS/PSERS and immediately in ARP, I'm wondering whether I'd be more likely to do better financially in the pension-type or 403B-type retirement plan.

Any advice/experience would be much appreciated.
by Callalily
Wed May 11, 2011 8:15 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Tax consequences of overseas inheritance?
Replies: 1
Views: 930

Tax consequences of overseas inheritance?

I've been given to understand that an inheritance from outside the United States is not a taxable event. Am I correct?

I am a US permanent resident and I inherited a property (which I will sell) and a sum of money from my father. My father was Malaysian and the property and money is in Malaysia. I'm thinking of transferring the money to the US for investment purposes.
by Callalily
Thu Mar 17, 2011 6:21 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Mutual Fund (VFSVX) vs. ETF (VSS) question
Replies: 2
Views: 1124

Mutual Fund (VFSVX) vs. ETF (VSS) question

I'm just now beginning to consider purchasing ETFs rather than mutual funds and so am on a learning spree. Why would Vanguard FTSE All-Wld ex-US SmCp Idx VFSVX show a YTD return of -5.78% while VSS's is -6.30%? (I obtained the figures from Morningstar). It seems as if you're paying a "fee" either way, whether it's via a purchasing fee for mutual funds or ETF premium.

Am I on the right track?
by Callalily
Sun Jun 06, 2010 8:33 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: NAESX vs. VSISX
Replies: 0
Views: 777

NAESX vs. VSISX

My understanding is that Vanguard Small Cap Index (NAESX) and Vanguard Small Cap Index Signal (VSISX) are actually the same index for different groups of investors. Why is NAESX (YTD 7.51%) doing so much better than VSISX (YTD 2.44%)?

Edit: Never mind. Just realized that Morningstar hadn't updated NAESX's data (YTD 2.38%).
by Callalily
Fri May 07, 2010 8:11 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: I think I'll stick with mutual funds!
Replies: 6
Views: 1949

I think I'll stick with mutual funds!

After yesterday's event, I realized that I don't know enough about ETFs to be fooling with it. And I only have around 10K in my Vanguard accounts anyway. I think I'll stick with mutual funds.
by Callalily
Tue May 04, 2010 9:59 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Mutual fund or ETF?
Replies: 36
Views: 4654

Mutual fund or ETF?

With Vanguard now offering commission-free ETFs, would it be a good idea to buy ETFs rather than mutual funds if it's in a Roth IRA?
by Callalily
Thu Jan 21, 2010 10:47 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why do financial advisors constantly use American Funds
Replies: 15
Views: 5987

My husband and I started off by investing in American Funds. I very quickly learned a great deal and stopped investing in American Funds and started using Vanguard instead. My husband, however, refuses to stop using American Funds because he likes having access to our financial advisor to ask questions. So that's the status quo. It's better than him not investing at all.
by Callalily
Thu Jan 14, 2010 7:41 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Considering Transfer of TIAA-CREF Funds to Vanguard
Replies: 8
Views: 8837

I just did a Roth IRA rollover from TIAA-CREF to Vanguard. I started with Vanguard, but TIAA-CREF wanted me to fill out paperwork from them rather than from Vanguard. So I had to refill out the paperwork. It did take a while. Took 40 days from start to finish. But it might be faster if I had filled out the TIAA-CREF paperwork from the beginning.
by Callalily
Sat Dec 19, 2009 9:56 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Bonds in taxable account, etc.
Replies: 2
Views: 1419

Bonds in taxable account, etc.

I'm sure this has been asked before, but I wasn't able to find a relevant thread. I'm wondering (i) How would one decide whether it is better to buy a taxable bond fund or a tax-exempt bond fund to be placed in a taxable account? (ii) What would be a good Vanguard tax-exempt bond fund? Another question that has nothing to do with bonds: I was told by Vanguard that although there's a $3000 minimum to open a fund, it's actually possible to transfer from one fund to another and just keep a minimum of $1000 in the original fund. In other words, suppose I have $4000 in Total Stock Market Index, I could transfer $3000 of that into Total International Stock Index, leaving only $1000 in Total Stock Market Index. Are there any tax consequences to th...