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Re: Vanguard E-Mail

As you recommend I never use a link in an e-mail to get my accounts. I would not have logged in or given any personal information if this one had requested it. As I said it was just a link to information. It came from an E-mail that has been mentioned previously on this board as being Vanguard and ...
by Tom_T
Tue May 14, 2013 11:00 am
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: I think I'm getting phished
Replies: 21
Views: 1579

Re: Vanguard E-Mail

. I think in this case it is from Vanguard even though it has a live (clickable) link, because the link is simply to a page on Vanguard that is available to the public - i.e. it does not require one to log on or provide any personal information to read. It is simply a link to updated information on...
by Tom_T
Tue May 14, 2013 9:09 am
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: I think I'm getting phished
Replies: 21
Views: 1579

Re: Aftershock

I've read that book. According to the author, our entire economy is going to collapse, and hyperinflation is on the way. Sell all your assets. Sell your house (!), and rent instead. And buy gold. And subscribe to our service...
by Tom_T
Thu May 09, 2013 10:55 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Aftershock
Replies: 20
Views: 1638

Re: How Much Did You Spend on Your Engagement Ring??

The pressure to spend money on anything wedding-related is pure marketing genius. Most people would be quite happy with the looks of a cubic zirconium ring -- but the social stigma would be unbearable. :)

Diamonds are horrible investments. Forget about that aspect of it.
by Tom_T
Tue May 07, 2013 2:04 pm
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How Much Did You Spend on Your Engagement Ring??
Replies: 252
Views: 9499

Re: Recommendations on New Washer and Dryer

We just bought a new washer/dryer from Sears not long ago. For the washer, we wanted a basic top-load, without any fancy electronics. We settled on a GE 3.7 cu. ft. washer and a GE 7.0 cu. ft. dryer. Very pleased with both thus far (granted, they are new, but I haven't really had many problems with ...
by Tom_T
Tue May 07, 2013 10:41 am
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Recommendations on New Washer and Dryer
Replies: 6
Views: 494

Re: Buying appliances - home maintenance plan?

I've always gone with the initial free warranty with products and footed any repair bills after that. There is a good local repair company. Me, too. I figure that most problems are going to appear within the first year, if the item is defective. After that, anything is going to get wear-and-tear, a...
by Tom_T
Mon May 06, 2013 1:45 pm
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Buying appliances - home maintenance plan?
Replies: 22
Views: 1103

Re: Payoff Car loan 0.9%?

I did a search found a simular topic a while ago and want to see if people still think it still is a good idea. I have a loan with subaru with a balance of $17k @ 0.9% financing for 5 years. Just finished paying off student loans and are thinking of putting the extra money ($500 a month) to the car...
by Tom_T
Thu May 02, 2013 9:00 am
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Payoff Car loan 0.9%?
Replies: 34
Views: 1907

Re: Question regarding Will, house, beneficiary and gardian

They can't just live in the house and continue to pay the single parent's mortgage. They'll have to pay off the mortgage, either with money from the estate or with a new mortgage in the new owner's name. In this case, the new owner would likely be a trust of some sort. If possible, the single paren...
by Tom_T
Mon Apr 29, 2013 4:18 pm
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Question regarding Will, house, beneficiary and gardian
Replies: 6
Views: 307

Re: Did any one see this article [about Target Funds]?

The yield on the 10-year Treasury... is near its lowest level ever, prompting some to question whether it can fall much further.

Is there a keyboard macro that financial writers use to automatically insert this phrase in what seems like every other article over the past three years?
by Tom_T
Wed Apr 24, 2013 11:55 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Did any one see this article [about Target Funds]?
Replies: 19
Views: 2026

Re: Any Regrets on The Triple Play [TV, internet, phone]

Switched to FiOS bundle two years ago, and have no regrets. Not a single issue with phone service. (My Web research shows what seems to be a lot more complains regarding Comcast phone service.) P.S. FiOS blows Comcast cable service out of the water. The Comcast on-screen menus, DVR, etc. look absolu...
by Tom_T
Mon Apr 22, 2013 11:43 am
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Any Regrets on The Triple Play [TV, internet, phone]
Replies: 44
Views: 4572

Re: Best place to buy and best brand of lawn mower?

I've been thinking about a new mower, and was looking at the Toro Super Recycler, but I'm a little concerned by some of the very negative reviews on Amazon. Granted, there's selection bias in the reviews, but if you look at the most recent reviews, there are a lot of comments that you don't expect t...
by Tom_T
Mon Apr 22, 2013 10:23 am
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best place to buy and best brand of lawn mower?
Replies: 23
Views: 1810

Re: A nice talk about gold in ones portfolio

Wasn't it just a couple of months ago that Bill Gross advised people to buy gold?

What I want to know is: just how much money does he have to cost his followers before they stop following him?
by Tom_T
Mon Apr 15, 2013 1:37 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: A nice talk about gold in ones portfolio
Replies: 103
Views: 5823

Re: window tinting/films

If you don't want to deal with window film, you could just put up insulated curtains, the kind that filter light (vs. the room-darkening ones.) Keep them closed in the summer, open in the winter.

P.S. Or window shades. The honeycomb kind do a good job of insulating.
by Tom_T
Mon Apr 15, 2013 1:16 pm
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: window tinting/films
Replies: 12
Views: 719

Re: NY State 529 deductability for non-resident taxpayer

I live in NJ and work in NY. My contributions to the NY 529 plan have always been deductible. The amount appears on line 29 of IT-203, as a subtraction in the Federal column. It's a little misleading, but if you look at how the taxes are calculated, as Grt2bOutdoors outlined, then it makes sense. Ta...
by Tom_T
Fri Apr 12, 2013 12:01 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: NY State 529 deductability for non-resident taxpayer
Replies: 14
Views: 696

Re: NJ State Estate Tax

livesoft wrote:Look around you. How many Florida license plates do you see?

LOL. I live in New Jersey, and looking at the license plates I see every day, either there are a whole lot of people from out of town, here visiting the relatives, or something else is going on.
by Tom_T
Thu Apr 11, 2013 8:14 am
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: NJ State Estate Tax
Replies: 11
Views: 473

Re: Market Pull Back

Is anyone else happy that the market is pulling back ever so slightly? Psychologically, I feel better with this slight pull back. I'm less apprehensive about buying now, even though I know the substantive effect is minimal. How 'bout you? 100 points or so really doesn't register in my mind as much ...
by Tom_T
Mon Apr 08, 2013 1:59 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Market Pull Back
Replies: 19
Views: 1537

Re: Bought Bonds Today

It is a good example of tuning out the noise and not trying to predict rates. A few weeks ago, when the 10-year rate went over 2 percent (again), most people were convinced (again) that the "bond bubble" had finally burst, and look out below! Right now I'm watching as the rate drops under ...
by Tom_T
Fri Apr 05, 2013 11:07 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Bought Bonds Today
Replies: 31
Views: 3764

Re: Virus: Win32.Downloader.gen

CountryBoy wrote:Turns out Spybot produced a false positive with that result.

Please do not use Spybot. That program stopped being effective years ago. There are plenty of other free programs you can use (AVG, Microsoft Security Essentials to name a couple.)
by Tom_T
Wed Mar 06, 2013 2:54 pm
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Virus: Win32.Downloader.gen
Replies: 27
Views: 2290

Re: Market Timing and the Bond Market Bubble

I would suggest that over time it does. And when the NAV goes down, you can soak up cheaper shares. Okay. Is there evidence for this balancing out? I asked because I never understood the idea of a bubble in terms of NAV which didn't take into account the fixed-income part of bonds. It's like consid...
by Tom_T
Wed Mar 06, 2013 9:30 am
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Market Timing and the Bond Market Bubble
Replies: 18
Views: 1190

Re: Fun Education- KhanAcademy

My teenager has used this site to get some algebra tutorials. Very useful.
by Tom_T
Thu Feb 28, 2013 4:55 pm
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Fun Education- KhanAcademy
Replies: 20
Views: 1577

Re: So what will people do? [if bond bubble bursts]

From the article "Empirical studies suggest that an increase in the Treasury yields does not necessarily lead to weaker equity performance. When yields on the 10-year note remain below 4%, the correlation between S&P 500 monthly returns and changes in 10-year yields are positive, which imp...
by Tom_T
Mon Feb 25, 2013 1:21 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: So what will people do? [if bond bubble bursts]
Replies: 66
Views: 4943

Re: So what will people do? [if bond bubble bursts]

It's interesting that the people fearful of bonds don't talk about what might happen to equity prices if interest rates soar. They are only thinking about bonds.
by Tom_T
Sat Feb 23, 2013 3:21 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: So what will people do? [if bond bubble bursts]
Replies: 66
Views: 4943

Re: Putting cash in an Ally CD, via Vanguard IRA

Ally Bank is a different institution. You can't buy an Ally CD for your Vanguard IRA. As for a "safe" 1% return at Vanguard, there isn't any such thing. Maybe your best bet is to transfer some of your Vanguard IRA money to an Ally IRA. That way, you can easily have CDs as part of your IRA....
by Tom_T
Sun Feb 17, 2013 8:46 am
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Putting cash in an Ally CD, via Vanguard IRA
Replies: 9
Views: 898

Re: When is a bank CD safer than a bond fund?

The main problem with EE bonds is the purchase limitation. That aside, the "doubling" effect at 20 years (not to mention the tax-deferral and freedom from state and local tax) makes the EE bond very tasty. The effective rate at 20 years is certainly more than one would currently receive o...
by Tom_T
Fri Feb 15, 2013 1:07 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: When is a bank CD safer than a bond fund?
Replies: 50
Views: 3694

Re: When is a bank CD safer than a bond fund?

For long term savings, like retirement, I recommend a mix of I and EE Bonds. I-Bonds keep your money from eroding due to inflation and EE-Bonds have the guarantee doubling in 20 years, or 3.53% return. If interest rates remain low for the next 3 years (1.5% average, hypothetically saying), then int...
by Tom_T
Fri Feb 15, 2013 11:51 am
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: When is a bank CD safer than a bond fund?
Replies: 50
Views: 3694

Re: Alex Frakt spam, has PW file been compromised?

Some people really do need professional counseling.
by Tom_T
Thu Feb 14, 2013 2:44 pm
 
Forum: Forum Issues and Administration
Topic: Re: Alex Frakt spam, has PW file been compromised?
Replies: 7
Views: 1533

Re: 3-fund portfolio: replace bonds with CDs?

Or stated another way, I am putting together a 3-fund portfolio, but thinking about having CDs there instead of VBMFX / BND. You may be interested in these two great articles by a presumed Boglehead: Optimizing Fixed Income Portfolio and Optimizing Investment Portfolio With Municipal Bonds Is the a...
by Tom_T
Thu Feb 14, 2013 9:22 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 3-fund portfolio: replace bonds with CDs?
Replies: 58
Views: 6129

Re: Norton update phish?

Did the instructions to update come in an e-mail, and was there a link in the e-mail? It is trivial to include a link where the displayed URL says one thing, but the actual destination if you click on it is something else. Often, you can see this by hovering your mouse over the link. The actual cont...
by Tom_T
Wed Feb 13, 2013 2:38 pm
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Norton update phish?
Replies: 14
Views: 729

Re: What the best value in anti-virus software

Don't forget about anti-spyware programs such as Spybot S&D as well as the free version of Malwarebytes, both of which I have used to save my friend's PC several times. I would not go near Spybot. It was a good choice a dozen years ago. Now, it is probably at or near the bottom of the list. Mal...
by Tom_T
Sun Feb 10, 2013 6:42 pm
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What the best value in anti-virus software
Replies: 55
Views: 3245

Re: Legos

We used to buy Lego sets for my son. Star Wars, Batman, etc. He has outgrown them. We now have a box of Lego parts. Must be 2,000, easily. Maybe I need to fire up the eBay account. Interesting fact I learned from a story on Legos... Every part is stamped with tiny numbers inside. Not only does this ...
by Tom_T
Sun Feb 10, 2013 5:39 pm
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Legos
Replies: 41
Views: 2865

Re: What the best value in anti-virus software

I use Avast, it is free, and it is ranked higher than Microsoft Security Essentials on any list I've seen. But MSE is good, too. I'd take either one over McAfee, that's for sure.
by Tom_T
Sat Feb 09, 2013 7:57 pm
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What the best value in anti-virus software
Replies: 55
Views: 3245

Re: Severe Collapse In Bonds--Bank of America

The 10-year yield stood at 3.75 just 2 years ago in February 2011. Did you notice "a game changer" by the 1.73 drop to 2.02? I'm not convinced that a 1.73 increase back to 3.75 will mean anything such as "severe collapse in Bonds" as in the subject of this thread (or similar). Y...
by Tom_T
Wed Feb 06, 2013 12:26 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Severe Collapse In Bonds--Bank of America
Replies: 23
Views: 2793

Re: Fundraising ideas for coworker with cancer

You could set up a website (maybe on Facebook), that has a donation link (maybe via PayPal). There are sites for this kind of fundraising. One is called GiveForward (you can Google it, it comes out on top.) One of my co-workers used it for a relative; the company mentioned it in the weekly newslett...
by Tom_T
Mon Feb 04, 2013 3:30 pm
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Fundraising ideas for coworker with cancer
Replies: 10
Views: 1059

Re: Total Bond fund tanks

How do you explain that both bonds and stocks have done well over the past three+ years? Haven't we had an equity rally since 2009? It didn't start last month... It would be interesting to see what those return would be if the yield in those years you mentioned was as low as they are now? My point ...
by Tom_T
Sun Feb 03, 2013 2:15 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Total Bond fund tanks
Replies: 63
Views: 8936

Re: Total Bond fund tanks

How do you explain that both bonds and stocks have done well over the past three+ years? Haven't we had an equity rally since 2009? It didn't start last month... It would be interesting to see what those return would be if the yield in those years you mentioned was as low as they are now? My point ...
by Tom_T
Sat Feb 02, 2013 11:54 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Total Bond fund tanks
Replies: 63
Views: 8936

Re: Total Bond fund tanks

Since bonds have an inverse relationship with stocks, is it possible that if this equity rally continues, the bond market will take a hit, even if interest rates and inflation remains low. How do you explain that both bonds and stocks have done well over the past three+ years? Haven't we had an equ...
by Tom_T
Sat Feb 02, 2013 9:16 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Total Bond fund tanks
Replies: 63
Views: 8936

Re: Microsoft Sec Essentials = Bad ??

dad2000 wrote:The level of protection that it offers is average at best, but no single solution is perfect. I'd recommend pairing it up with something like a nightly scan by Malwarebytes. That will significantly close the gap without affecting performance.

Agreed.
by Tom_T
Fri Feb 01, 2013 10:41 am
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Microsoft Sec Essentials = Bad ??
Replies: 21
Views: 1970

Re: Sell in May strategy

You can expect a flood of "sell in May" articles in mid-spring. Of course, if everyone used this strategy, that would result in a lot of selling in May, so you'd really have to sell in April. :)
by Tom_T
Wed Jan 30, 2013 9:57 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Sell in May strategy
Replies: 19
Views: 1706

Re: Do you REBALANCE?

I didn't claim I could tell you. I just said that "forces you to sell high and buy low" is too simplistic. Sometimes rebalancing takes the form of "sell low but buy lower" and sometimes the form of "buy high but sell higher." Neither of these is "sell high buy low...
by Tom_T
Tue Jan 29, 2013 2:34 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Do you Rebalance ?
Replies: 81
Views: 3472

Re: Does this mark the top for bond prices?

There were several occasions in 2012 when interest rates were higher -- not lower, higher -- than they are today.
by Tom_T
Tue Jan 29, 2013 10:37 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Does this mark the top for bond prices?
Replies: 7
Views: 1469

Re: How to reduce cable bill

mptfan wrote:I cut cable tv completely a few months ago. I do miss some channels, like the history channel and the science channel, but overall, I am happy with the decision.

FYI, the History Channel, A&E, and Lifetime now have free iPad apps to watch their shows. You don't need a cable subscription.
by Tom_T
Mon Jan 28, 2013 4:11 pm
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How to reduce cable bill
Replies: 36
Views: 3607

Re: $1k minimum to open Vanguard Roth if already have Trad I

The lowest minimum Vanguard offers for an IRA is the STAR fund ($1000). It doesn't matter if you have other accounts or not.
by Tom_T
Mon Jan 28, 2013 1:48 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: $1k minimum to open Vanguard Roth if already have Trad IRA?
Replies: 12
Views: 715

Re: Do you REBALANCE?

I didn't claim I could tell you. I just said that "forces you to sell high and buy low" is too simplistic. Sometimes rebalancing takes the form of "sell low but buy lower" and sometimes the form of "buy high but sell higher." Neither of these is "sell high buy low...
by Tom_T
Mon Jan 28, 2013 11:57 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Do you Rebalance ?
Replies: 81
Views: 3472

Re: To lock or not?

Based on how the bond market has performed Friday and thus far today, you might already be looking at a higher rate.
by Tom_T
Mon Jan 28, 2013 11:02 am
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: To lock or not?
Replies: 5
Views: 1040

Re: Market "melt up" and the Airplane Game

Some people are getting excited/nervous over the fact that the Dow is approaching the all-time high it reached six years ago?
by Tom_T
Mon Jan 28, 2013 10:04 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Market "melt up" and the Airplane Game
Replies: 65
Views: 5108

Re: How much do you expect your kids to pay for college?

None. I fully believe kids need to be taught financial responsibility at a young age, and should work and save while in their high school years and during summer breaks as well as paying your way thru college with part-time work. Studies show kids that pay their own way through school take their ed...
by Tom_T
Sat Jan 26, 2013 3:53 pm
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How much do you expect your kids to pay for college?
Replies: 237
Views: 10898

Re: What do you think of this Comcast deal?

I was a Comcast customer for years, until switching to Verizon a year ago. My experience with Comcast is that you are better off calling them. Tell them you're interested in lowering your bill, and are there any promotions available for your current level of service? If you get the right person on t...
by Tom_T
Sat Jan 26, 2013 2:15 pm
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What do you think of this Comcast deal?
Replies: 8
Views: 1084

Re: Private health insurance for young, healthy family

Timely post. I just open my computer and was going to post a similar question. I just left corporate america and am starting my own business. I looked at health care options, and I'm actually having trouble even justifying buying coverage at all. I too am in my 30's, married with kids. Everyone is ...
by Tom_T
Fri Jan 25, 2013 2:29 pm
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Private health insurance for young, healthy family
Replies: 27
Views: 1564

Re: A question on Target Date Funds

There have been a few threads on this topic over the years. The consensus answer is that the fund manager rebalances whenever he sees fit. There's no schedule. I think I prefer that to, say, the Vanguard 529 age-based portfolio for college savings, where I believe everything gets switched at once as...
by Tom_T
Fri Jan 25, 2013 1:20 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: A question on Target Date Funds
Replies: 11
Views: 1201
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