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Re: Best way to legally pay a baby sitter

I would not do this. Your MIL will have to pay income taxes, you will have to file forms. But the big thing is it just seems to chintzy and petty to save a few bucks and actually pay a family member for babysitting. If you are going to do this and get a receipt form her for services rendered, submit...
by Calm Man
Wed Jun 19, 2013 9:51 pm
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Best way to legally pay a baby sitter
Replies: 13
Views: 680

Re: What the blank is going on with bonds?

Elbowman, I actually haven't been following too closely. I just was jogging today and turned on bloomberg radio and they discussed it so I looked tonight and saw the recent significant decline in NAV> For example, my NJ long term bund fund has gone from about 12.40 or so to 11,90 which I guess is 2,...
by Calm Man
Wed Jun 19, 2013 9:28 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: What the blank is going on with bonds?
Replies: 14
Views: 1046

What the blank is going on with bonds?

I use the Intermediate term investment grade for IRAs and the NJ long term for taxable. These both have durations of about 5-6 years. I did anticipate as everybody did that rates would slowly rise eventually. When they started about a month ago, I figured it was all priced in. But we now have a weir...
by Calm Man
Wed Jun 19, 2013 8:53 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: What the blank is going on with bonds?
Replies: 14
Views: 1046

Re: Two pensions - Getting rid of bonds?

OP, you are young. I think you need to start reading the newspapers about public pensions. None will be like they are now. A guarantee is not worth anything anymore. At any day your plan may be terminated and converted to a 401K plan. Or possibly go the way of Detroit and some California and Rhode I...
by Calm Man
Tue Jun 18, 2013 4:26 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Two pensions - Getting rid of bonds?
Replies: 25
Views: 1704

Re: Will insurance cover this flooded car?

OP, this is an unbelievable story. I had no idea cars were designed this way as I thought the trunks were basically just there and not covering such important items. It is also very generous of you to describe your mother in law as a simple person.
by Calm Man
Sat Jun 15, 2013 10:01 am
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Will insurance cover this flooded car?
Replies: 16
Views: 885

Re: Social Security Benefits Withholding

You are asking why a government bureaucracy got something wrong? Let's just get the first payment and then we'll worry about the withholding starting properly the following month.
by Calm Man
Fri Jun 14, 2013 7:56 pm
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Social Security Benefits Withholding
Replies: 13
Views: 844

Re: Wilkes-barre / Scranton, PA: any nice areas to live?

OP, if you are single and want a social life (and I do not mean that wrong -- some people don't care), I would avoid that area. When I started practice I went to a blue collar area in Massachusetts. I was single. It was a social disaster -- the people were nice and wonderful but as you described mos...
by Calm Man
Fri Jun 14, 2013 9:12 am
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Wilkes-barre / Scranton, PA: any nice areas to live?
Replies: 16
Views: 901

Re: New York City Local Chapter established

Wow. It sounds like it was great. I can't imagine another group having 16 at the first meeting. I suspect this group will get too big to handle soon (I say that in a positive way) and will require some type of sub-division as Manhattan is good for people who live in the city, work in the city and wh...
by Calm Man
Fri Jun 14, 2013 9:05 am
 
Forum: Local Chapters and Bogleheads Community
Topic: New York City Local Chapter established
Replies: 89
Views: 4656

Re: Tax Managed International (TMI) vs TISM

The following relates to taxable accounts only. We all know that TISM is FAR more diversified than Tax Managed International. The latter lacks emerging markets and small caps. Let's assume, though, that with TMI, one gets about 70-80% of the diversification. I have done an analysis of the all-in co...
by Calm Man
Wed Jun 12, 2013 8:51 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Tax Managed International (TMI) vs TISM
Replies: 8
Views: 590

Re: Leave Expensive Variable Annuity

OP, I face the same dilemma although it is in a Vanguard VA. I have a large gain and want it out as all the capital gains become ordinary income. I anticipate being in the 33% federal bracket plus NJ state while taking it out but iwll do so over the next 3 or 4 years (I am 60) and suck it up but kee...
by Calm Man
Wed Jun 12, 2013 11:45 am
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Leave Expensive Variable Annuity
Replies: 11
Views: 657

Re: Any insight into muni bond funds apparent underformance?

Thank you all. You are all quite right and YTD indeed shows OVERperformance by muni funds YTD. But indeed the IPS should be adhered too. I am not hoping to avoid market timing on the first Friday of July. That is when I do my quarterly DCA into stocks and bonds and have been wondering whether to dea...
by Calm Man
Wed Jun 12, 2013 10:48 am
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Any insight into muni bond funds apparent underformance?
Replies: 6
Views: 785

Re: New York City Local Chapter established

Hm, looks like there will be severe thunderstorms Thursday night. Maybe the meetup should be pushed back? Yes, that would be good IMO. I am coming in by public transportation from New Jersey requiring NJ Transit plus the subway (or walking) from Penn Station. With that type of storm projected, I mu...
by Calm Man
Wed Jun 12, 2013 10:35 am
 
Forum: Local Chapters and Bogleheads Community
Topic: New York City Local Chapter established
Replies: 89
Views: 4656

Tax Managed International (TMI) vs TISM

Collegaues: We have have had numerous discussions about teh relative merits of these 2 funds and also the value of international diversification. I, for one, havec been a big proponent of 100% US stocks. However, given the recent significant overperformance of US vs international, I concede that the...
by Calm Man
Wed Jun 12, 2013 10:32 am
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Tax Managed International (TMI) vs TISM
Replies: 8
Views: 590

Re: Stay at home dads?

I will give the same advice I offer to women who ask the same question. You become literally a financial prisoner of the working spouse when you go the stay at home route. You become one death or divorce away from potential disaster. (I know you will never get divorced but it does happen; I know fir...
by Calm Man
Tue Jun 11, 2013 7:43 pm
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Stay at home dads?
Replies: 65
Views: 3424

Any insight into muni bond funds apparent underformance?

I have prepared for years for a decline in NAV of bond funds so am having no difficulties with the current period of rising yields and declining prices. I have noticed that as of late the muni funds seem to be declining a lot more than either the investment grade bonds or treasuries. Today for examp...
by Calm Man
Tue Jun 11, 2013 7:27 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Any insight into muni bond funds apparent underformance?
Replies: 6
Views: 785

Re: Business Travel to Tijuana/Tecate/Ensenada

Not a chance in the world. I was in the country once and was happy to get out unscathed.
by Calm Man
Tue Jun 11, 2013 4:40 pm
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Business Travel to Tijuana/Tecate/Ensenada
Replies: 32
Views: 1369

Re: Investing in a duplex

Thanks for your replies. bkslainte: Yes, there are such regulations but I am not worried about this. The property meets all criteria. Meg77: This is a normal bank loan. I will of course need to put up some of my assets as collateral. I agree, my biggest concern is the budget for rebuilding but I am...
by Calm Man
Tue Jun 11, 2013 1:12 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Investing in a duplex
Replies: 6
Views: 701

Re: Investing in a duplex

Where can you find a fool to give you a mortgage with nothing down on an investment property?
by Calm Man
Mon Jun 10, 2013 7:11 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Investing in a duplex
Replies: 6
Views: 701

Re: If only the ER for Vanguard funds was a bit higher.

Best solution is to move all your assets to Vanguard. I have found the staff on the Flagship / Voyager lines to be a cut above the general line. Just like the airlines and hotels give better service to their best customers. I have found the Flagship reps to be remarkably competent and willing to go...
by Calm Man
Mon Jun 10, 2013 6:09 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: If only the ER for Vanguard funds was a bit higher.
Replies: 32
Views: 2982

Re: Circling vultures...advisors looking for access to resid

Neurosphere, While I fully agree with your evaluation, I think you need to consider that you are inserting your own biases (again I agree with) on appropriate investing strategies. Your residents will in many cases in my experience indeed end up with paid advisers. It is possible that seeing such a ...
by Calm Man
Mon Jun 10, 2013 6:08 pm
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Circling vultures...advisors looking for access to residents
Replies: 88
Views: 5094

Re: Civil Servant Employment Issues

BFG, without misinterpreting what I am saying, it makes me sad to hear this. You are a solid person and other posts are filled with good wisdom and insight.. Is it that culture where you now work that before one is even in the job a decent length of time he/she is looking at the time to retirement ...
by Calm Man
Sat Jun 08, 2013 8:23 pm
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Civil Servant Employment Issues
Replies: 33
Views: 2168

Re: Civil Servant Employment Issues

BFG, without misinterpreting what I am saying, it makes me sad to hear this. You are a solid person and other posts are filled with good wisdom and insight.. Is it that culture where you now work that before one is even in the job a decent length of time he/she is looking at the time to retirement a...
by Calm Man
Thu Jun 06, 2013 9:52 pm
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Civil Servant Employment Issues
Replies: 33
Views: 2168

Re: Possible to Get a Positive Return on a Fixer-Upper?

It is not clear to me that you need to buy this house or one like it at all at this time. I would hold off until you have an appropriate down payment for a house that you can afford is does not need a lot of work.
by Calm Man
Fri May 31, 2013 8:54 pm
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Possible to Get a Positive Return on a Fixer-Upper?
Replies: 18
Views: 1012

Re: Training for a 5K

yep this fatlittlepig knows BS when I see it. haha 14 minutes is the world record time for a woman. Um I'm kind of skeptical you ran a 14min 5k, I think that would have placed you in the top 0.5% not top 5% I agree with your skepticism. I just finished a 5k race with 8,387 participants. Not one per...
by Calm Man
Fri May 31, 2013 4:15 pm
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Training for a 5K
Replies: 67
Views: 2756

Re: Training for a 5K

I wouldn't say 5k is nothing, it's an accomplishment and my first 5k was probably my favorite race. think about it this way how many average typical Americans can run 1 mile much less 3.1 OP, I don't know if your goal is to complete it or get a certain time. Certainly if you enter the race and have...
by Calm Man
Fri May 31, 2013 4:12 pm
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Training for a 5K
Replies: 67
Views: 2756

Re: Denied for bankruptcy that isn't on my credit report

It has always amazed me that a bankruptcy or foreclosure actually comes off the record after 7 or 10 years. I would not want any business I was involved in lending money to somebody like that. I am not making value judgements as there are usually circumstances behind it. However, I would (without sc...
by Calm Man
Fri May 31, 2013 3:54 pm
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Denied for bankruptcy that isn't on my credit report
Replies: 17
Views: 1731

Re: New "Flagship Select" level at Vanguard

I am not sure this is anything really new. They had a category called Flagship Plus for quite awhile now and it provided the CFP and trust telephone calls. The 500 free trades is new but who cares. The research as somebody else pointed out is open to any with an internet connection. The "region...
by Calm Man
Fri May 31, 2013 1:31 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: New "Flagship Select" level at Vanguard
Replies: 12
Views: 2052

Re: Training for a 5K

OP, I don't know if your goal is to complete it or get a certain time. Certainly if you enter the race and have already run 5 miles there is no question that you will finish. Once you have run for awhile as you see from other posters, 5K is NOTHING. Every runner I know does more than 5K every single...
by Calm Man
Fri May 31, 2013 1:05 pm
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Training for a 5K
Replies: 67
Views: 2756

Re: Adult "child" moved back home - avoiding failure to laun

Bungo, I was an early commenter but I hadn't realized it was a stepdaughter. There are different varieties of stepchildren. Some you might have come into their lives at a very young age so you are almost like a father. But if you came in when she was older and/or she has a father, I really advise y...
by Calm Man
Fri May 31, 2013 12:36 pm
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Adult "child" moved back home - avoiding failure to launch
Replies: 189
Views: 9373

Re: Adult "child" moved back home - avoiding failure to laun

I might think about encouraging her to move six hours away and live on her own for a while with no help from you. This might sound sexist, but I would not encourage my 19 year old daughter or stepdaughter to try to make it on her own six hours away from home. There are a lot of people out there who...
by Calm Man
Fri May 31, 2013 12:31 pm
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Adult "child" moved back home - avoiding failure to launch
Replies: 189
Views: 9373

Re: Time to Sell TIPS and Schwab Total Bond Fund?

I am quite glad to see this post. All of us have ridden the bond fund NAVs up with no problem. Now there is a short period of modest declines and some are thinking of bailing. The thought struck me this morning. I then revisited my IPS (not written) which said that prices go up and down and that for...
by Calm Man
Fri May 31, 2013 12:01 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Time to Sell TIPS and Schwab Total Bond Fund?
Replies: 25
Views: 1792

Re: Downpayment Money from In-Laws

Just wanted to add - I asked this very question, sort of in a retrograde way last year when my parents gave my wife and myself a sizeable gift for downpayment on our first house a few years ago, and I just wanted advice on where to park the money I was repaying them with (even though it was a flat ...
by Calm Man
Fri May 31, 2013 11:55 am
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Downpayment Money from In-Laws
Replies: 51
Views: 3221

Re: Downpayment Money from In-Laws

Just wanted to add - I asked this very question, sort of in a retrograde way last year when my parents gave my wife and myself a sizeable gift for downpayment on our first house a few years ago, The difference between your situation and OP's is the word " gave ". Your parents gave you the...
by Calm Man
Fri May 31, 2013 11:51 am
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Downpayment Money from In-Laws
Replies: 51
Views: 3221

Re: tax-loss harvesting question

I don't get it. If you buy stock today and it crashes and you sell it tomorrow, it looks like that isn't a wash sale because it was only bought once, right> But if you already owned the stock and then bought yesterday and sold today at a loss, is that a wash sale? Or is it only if you still hold som...
by Calm Man
Fri May 31, 2013 11:45 am
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: tax-loss harvesting question
Replies: 24
Views: 1268

Re: Goodbye to Edelman Finacial

I listen to his radio show on Sunday mornings while jogging. It is hilarious how he points out that they save their customers a few tenths of a percent by using ETFs compared to managed funds (or maybe even more) and how he blasts all commissioned salespeople but NEVER mentions that his charge excee...
by Calm Man
Fri May 31, 2013 11:42 am
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Goodbye to Edelman Finacial
Replies: 17
Views: 2480

Re: "As is" clause in real estate

I think this makes sense now. The way I understand it from above posts is: As is does NOT mean you have to take it with all its faults. As is means that the price is the price. You can inspect to your heart's desire. And if you don't want to repair whatever you and your inspector thinks needs repair...
by Calm Man
Fri May 31, 2013 11:39 am
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: "As is" clause in real estate
Replies: 41
Views: 1715

Re: Military physician moonlighting...LLC?

Who's paying for the malpractice?
by Calm Man
Thu May 30, 2013 10:19 pm
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Military physician moonlighting...LLC?
Replies: 15
Views: 1128

Re: Help with Windfall

Do not, I repeat, do not commingle the money. Do not use it for the mortgage. Figure out the right way to tell your wife that you can't commingle it. Since there is no possibility that you will get divorced (I had no possibility twice and lost) you might die. Your inherited money will then possibly ...
by Calm Man
Thu May 30, 2013 10:17 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Help with Windfall
Replies: 28
Views: 1852

Re: Downpayment Money from In-Laws

I don't know what you are going to do eventually. I can tell you one thing. If I offered my daughter and her husband (if she was married) a loan and the husband asked me to make it a gift, he'd never see a nickel from me ever and maybe not even see me.
by Calm Man
Thu May 30, 2013 10:10 pm
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Downpayment Money from In-Laws
Replies: 51
Views: 3221

Re: Adult "child" moved back home - avoiding failure to laun

Bungo, I was an early commenter but I hadn't realized it was a stepdaughter. There are different varieties of stepchildren. Some you might have come into their lives at a very young age so you are almost like a father. But if you came in when she was older and/or she has a father, I really advise yo...
by Calm Man
Thu May 30, 2013 10:06 pm
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Adult "child" moved back home - avoiding failure to launch
Replies: 189
Views: 9373

Re: "As is" clause in real estate

Make sure you read the disclosure for the unit. Some states do not require a disclosure. In one state where I lived (I moved a lot so I don't recall which state), the typical sales agreement has a disclaimer by the seller. It is up to the buyer to discover defects. A friend of mine bought a house o...
by Calm Man
Thu May 30, 2013 6:08 pm
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: "As is" clause in real estate
Replies: 41
Views: 1715

Re: Advice on what to do with a sum of cash

OP, I think your age is irrelevent. We have many members of this forum who have plans for legacy. I don't know why you mean by "growing" but if you buy a short term bond fund and a TIPS fund you will make well under 1%.
by Calm Man
Thu May 30, 2013 6:04 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Advice on what to do with a sum of cash
Replies: 7
Views: 457

Re: Advisor wants to separate me from my money

Why are you taking up his time?
by Calm Man
Thu May 30, 2013 5:55 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Advisor wants to separate me from my money
Replies: 24
Views: 2661

Re: Adult "child" moved back home - avoiding failure to laun

First, it is not my business to comment on what people do with their children. However you are asking. If I seem overly critical of you, I am sorry, but the message conveyed a cold, attitude. Hopefully that is temporary anger and not how your daughter will experience things. Ia m going to assume tha...
by Calm Man
Thu May 30, 2013 5:50 pm
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Adult "child" moved back home - avoiding failure to launch
Replies: 189
Views: 9373

Re: Hedgefund investing for the masses

Institutional money is getting smart. Not completely smart but they are reducing the percentage in hedge funds. Well the hedge fund managers still need their Hamptons house and cars and condos in NYC. So they need to suck in the next bunch of suckers. What they don't realize is that the retail sucke...
by Calm Man
Wed May 29, 2013 9:50 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Hedgefund investing for the masses
Replies: 6
Views: 706

Re: Help! Can 529 account owner be changed?

OP, I would say no more into the plan and so you forego some tax free growth for more control over the money. And hopefully this is a lesson for everybody that you should never transfer control of something to anybody else unless you want to run the risk of losing it or are gifting it away. You are...
by Calm Man
Wed May 29, 2013 9:47 pm
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Help! Can 529 account owner be changed?
Replies: 14
Views: 893

Re: Co-mortgage with non earner

OP, I have a different idea. Maybe a sibling who sounds like, well I guess we all get the feeling, doesn't need to live in an owned condo and a rental might work better for all involved.
by Calm Man
Wed May 29, 2013 9:41 pm
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Co-mortgage with non earner
Replies: 28
Views: 1433

Re: Financial Power Of Attorney

Good grief. OP isn't looking to go onto Medicaid. Many people do not want to and wouldn't go on Medicaid. OP, I don't think you need one at all. Frankly when it comes down to it, I have seen in "test drives" for my father for whom I am POA that banks won't take it as they want their own an...
by Calm Man
Wed May 29, 2013 9:33 pm
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Financial Power Of Attorney
Replies: 13
Views: 705

Re: Pension consultation

We are planning on taking full no survivor benefit pension and supplementing it with term life insurance to essentially maximize the pension. Good strategy? It really depends on the difference in benefits if a survivor benefit is elected and his present age and health. Some plans are more favorable...
by Calm Man
Wed May 29, 2013 9:22 pm
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Pension consultation
Replies: 24
Views: 1052

Re: Pension consultation

duplicate
by Calm Man
Wed May 29, 2013 9:21 pm
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Pension consultation
Replies: 24
Views: 1052
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