Bogleheads.org

Thanks Keith,
I knew that if I stood on the corner looking confused, a nice boyscout would help me cross the street.

LarryG

This is a video on the Morningstar website. I wish that I could enter the link, but having reached the 80s, I forgot how to do it. LarryG How to Spot Con Men Before They Spot You Doug Shadel of the AARP provides a detailed outline of common scams and tactics con men use, reasons investors fall for t...

Even though I had a simple 4 (Vanguard) fund portfolio, I simplified it further after "discussing" it with a few of my favorite Bogleheads. I transferred all of my IRA funds to Vanguard Target Retirement Income Fund. My non-Ira account is a joint account with my wife in which Limited Term ...

Thanks to all for their responses. TT will be easier for me next year and hopefully for those who read this thread before they use TT
LarryG

Turbotax required the name, address, date and amount of each cash charitable contribution this year. Entering this took more time than the entire remainder of turbotax. This information did not appear on my tax form and the total was on schedule A. I decided that next year I would enter all contribu...

Thank you for your replies. I will look at my state return to see if there is a difference.
LarryG

Vanguard will make my charitable contributions by decreasing the RMD by that amount. This results in the contribution made before tax.
Is there any advantage to this method compared to deducting the amount of the contribution on schedule A?
Thank you
Larry Gottlieb

1572.29

Lucky is finding Taylor and Mel as friends.
Brilliant is taking their advice and sticking to it.

LarryG

At the age of 81, earlier this year, I consolidated all of my IRA (95%+ of portfolio) into Vanguard Target Retirement Income Fund for ease of handling by my wife and daughter when I die. This was done after watching a friend try to handle her husband's multiple complicated investments after his deat...

If the pharmacies were required to show the country of manufacture, the consumer might exert the pressure to make a change.

LarryG

http://www.historicalnovels.info/index.html
Try this site for 5000 historical novels.
LarryG

It is your choice.
I make withdrawals quarterly and have my federal withholding for the year taken from my last withdrawal which is usually in December.

LarryG

We established trusts for our grandchildren. This was before 529 plans were available. A few years ago our attorney suggested that it would be better to liquidate the trusts and place the money in 529 plans. The advantage was the 529 was not taxed each year. He said that some people are using 529 pl...

About 15 years ago I spoke with my advisor (salesman) ,at a major brokerage firm, and said that I wanted a portfolio that would match the 500 Index Fund. He assured me that it would be no problem and he would get back to me in about 4 days. After 2 weeks I called him and he said that he had been ver...

As with many things, an investor's personal situation might make a difference. The Vanguard Target Retirement Income Fund (recommended for older investors) holds about 10% (most recently 8.5%) in international funds. I questioned Christine Benz about whether the fact that many large companies have s...

Recently my wife and I were discussing a friend whose husband had multiple funds and individual stocks. He "enjoyed the game" She has no interest in investing. When it became evident that his prostate carcinoma was going to kill him, he didn't make any changes. She was left with what seeme...

I am investing for a couple in their 80s-My wife and me. We recently transferred our portfolio to Vanguard Target Retirement Income Fund. This simplifies management and inheritance problems. The fund is in my IRA and you should look at the tax consequences of your parent's holdings. Good luck LarryG

Our total for all "grocery" bills for retired couple is $900/ month. We eat well and rather than buy cheaper, tougher, cuts of beef, my wife uses beef tenderloin for beef stew, stir fry and similar dishes.
My weight shows it.

LarryG

Withholding can be done in a lump sum on December 31 and the IRS accepts this without penalty. This has been discussed on this forum and several of us have had our entire withholding deducted from our RMD distribution in December. If the amount meets the safe harbor requirement there is no penalty. ...

I am more impressed with CNBC since they started to carry the Stanley Cup playoffs.

LarryG

Pat,
My best wishes for a rapid and full recovery.
Larry Gottlieb

I did exactly what I do when the market is up. Rebalancing is done when I withdraw funds for living expenses. This is usually 3 times a year. The amount is dictated by the RMD. I have not found any reason for any other actions. I use the JTM method of managing my investments. (JTM is Jack, Taylor, a...

Buy luxuries like food, gas, and utility bills.

LarryG

Years ago I had a nice stamp collection. None of my children were interested in collecting. I sold it through a reputable auction house. Of course, the proceeds were not near to what the catalog indicated. You can find some of the dealers or auction houses in Linn's or The American Philatelist. Good...

For several years, I have taken 3 or 4 distributions from my IRA (RMD) and have had my entire federal tax withheld from my distribution in December.

I first learned of this on this forum and then heard a talk by a CPA who advised this.

LarryG

I have used a simple calculation that closely approximates more complicated methods. Pe-.5C ______ -1 =% return Pi +.5C Pe=portfolio at end of period Pi=portfolio at start of period C=contributions to portfolio (-C =withdrawals) This isn't perfect, but it does give a close estimate of annual returns...

A number of years ago John Bogle stated that international exposure could be achieved by the multinational nature of companies held in Total Stock Market Index Fund. Since then he has taken the position that a small amount of a portfolio could be in international funds. I was satisfied with his form...

Use the Federal Tax Estimator offered by Vanguard. Go to the Tax section and the link to the estimator is on the right side.

LarryG

We purchased a Sears (Kenmore) a few years ago. As my wife said "It will skin a pig" This has been our most satisfactory appliance.
LarryG

A helluva way to rebalance!

LarryG.

I rebalance as I withdraw my RMD from approriate funds. My withdrawals are 3-4 times each year and the proceeds are transferred to my taxable MM funds.

LarryG

Having to endure the pain when I bite my tongue as my friends talk about their wonderful brokers who really "take good care of them" and periodically invite them to lunch.

LarryG

The Bond Book
Annette Thau

LarryG

Oh for the good old days. In the 70's the surgeon's lounge was filled with salesmen selling tax shelters. The success that they achieved was based on the preference of the doctors of losing money to those salesman rather than paying income tax. I recall one pitch for a television station in Dallas. ...

We have a revocable living trust and there are no problems with the transactions that you listed.

LarryG

A stockbroker urged me to buy a stock that would triple its value every year. I told him "At my age I don't even buy green bananas"
Claude D Pepper (Representative and Senator from Florida).

LarryG

We have been married 56 years and have loved every minute of it. (Well, almost every minute)

LarryG

I had split the pills for sometime. I then read that the action of lipitor was more than 1 day. With my physician's approval I began to take 80 mg every other day instead of 40 mg. each day. The effect on my cholesterol and triglyceride remained the same.

LarryG

Total Bond Market Short Term Investment Grade TIPS fund I am more concerned about future inflation than about maximizing yield. That is the reason that I hold Short Term Investment Grade in addition to TIPs. I also have the remnants of a 5 year Treasury ladder. I have not continued to maintain the l...

I use the formula: (Pe-.5c/Pi+.5C)-1X100=percentage change during period Pe is portfolio at end of period Pi is portfolio at beginning of period c is net contributions during period This is an estimate and treats contributions as though they were contributed half way through the period. LarryG

BobK You are correct. I do receive social security and it is a reasonable part of our monthly income. I do not have a pension. My pension plan was rolled into an IRA. Taylor, Correct. The information that I received from you and Mel at the Boglehead meetings is responsible for my present position. I...

Our monthly withdrawals for living expenses, plus tax, plus gifts to children are about 4% of our portfolio. This is not a targeted amount. We have found that our expenses have remained fairly constant since I retired. All of our income is from my IRA. At the present time I am getting more taxable i...

Why not invest in funds that provide the best returns and donating some of your profits to the socially responsible causes?

LarryG

I have purchased Treasuries at auction in my IRA through Vanguard Brokerage Service.
The treasury direct does not appear to offer any advantage.

LarryG

Hi Doctor, Your portfolio took me back to my situation before I retired. I am also a physician, age 80, and retired at age 68. I had about 20 mutual funds as well as a number of individual stocks and bonds. I found the boglehead forum and after considerable reading as well as help from my friends Ta...

At age 80, my RMD is 5.3%. I need part of this for living expenses. Gifts to children will take part of the balance. Whatever is left will probably go into one of Vanguard's tax-exempt bond funds.

Unlike Taylor, I plan to pre-pay the undertaker

LarryG

With the approval of my Dr. I am taking one 80 mg Lipitor every other day rather than one 40 mg tablet every day.
This will only work with a medication that has a relatively long duration of action.

LarryG

Leif. The IRS considers withholding as paid throughout the year. This means if you have your entire tax liability withheld from your IRA on December 31, there is no penalty. Estimated tax payments are different and must be paid quarterly.If there is an inadequate amount, you will recive a penalty. L...

Vanguard 100%
As I read Taylor's reasons for using one institution, I realize that I have just taken for granted all of the advantages.

LarryG