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Great looking simple portfolio!! And, the numbers look good to me.

It will depend on your rebalance bands and how the assets are doing, as to how often you will need to rebalance. The good thing is you have a great set up for easy rebalancing, so looks good.

Twins Fan wrote: Now if you could find a time machine and go back to "front load" at 25 years old, absolutely.... :D Man don't I wish. Me too!! I was a late starter myself and hadn't even started at 35 years old, so I think you're doing fine. :D Seriously though, I'd say you are doing goo...

Well, also looking along the lines of "small bonus" and "little difference", the 529 contributions are not likely going to turn into a "large bonus" in 2-3 years either, right? Even at 100% stock with a couple good years the $10K is not going to turn into a huge amount ...

Hope to be in a similar situation someday. :D I have a primary home with a 3.875% mortgage, a rental home with a 3.75% mortgage, and I also just recently (finally) got the rental home refi'd from a 6.375% mortgage.... Whew!! Now that the rental home is refinanced that situation is much more comforta...

You say you're 35, no debt, and a decent income... Do you have $5000 in savings you can throw in there? I think your comment about not liking debt and not wanting to rent money answers your question right there. Also, the compounding difference between putting $5000 in now, or slower over the next 9...

I am in the learning stage with investments and if someone would make a reasoned convincing argument laying out the superiority of bond funds for investments made this week I would be willing to consider them, but the kinds of arguments made here don't convince anyone not desperate to convince them...

damjam wrote:I don't know where it's debated but the IRS is pretty clear on the subject.

Where... in bogleheads.org.

Here's what I'm thinking... Which depending on who you ask, may or may not mean much. :D Ok, let's stop thinking "emergency fund" since, sure, you don't need much of one at the moment. Let's think "savings" instead. Start building that up as much as possible for when you move out...

Well, I will ask. :D ... OP, what expenses have you taken on that will chew up most of the income you used to save and will only be around for a few years?! If you have taken on car payments, or something(s) like that, with $350K sitting in savings....... Give us the full story here, so we can help ...

Yuck, on the 401k choices! Those are some high fees on some of those. I agree that the bond fund and S&P 500 funds look like the way to go there. You can get the international part in the Roth or taxable account. I would say that now IS the time to build your emergency fund. When you don't have ...

I went a little backwards and read a couple books before reading Boglheads' Guide to Investing (which I'm actually reading now). I picked up "The Investors Manifesto" by William Bersntein and "The Elements of Investing" by Malkiel & Ellis. Those were both fairly short and eas...

First, I'm no expert here. :happy But, being a rental property owner I have read up on some of this stuff. I'm not sure what you're asking about the taxes/interst nil part? Any capital gains/losses will be based on the difference of what you sell it for compared to the determined value when you turn...

Doesn't make sense here... You are above the Roth income limit, stressed out about maxing your 401k, and then still want to fill the Roth space... All the while, you have saved up tons of cash? I would think you should be able to max the 401k, fill the Roth(backdoor Roth), and do some taxable invest...

"Want" in one hand... "you know what" in the other, and tell us which fills up faster. :D I kid... But, you're stressing about things you have no control over, OP. Over years and years, there should be more "forth" than "back". That's how and why people stay w...

The TR 2040 fund is a 3 fund profile. And, total world is basically total stock and total international, or "the market", right? I'm actually not too familiar with that one, that's why I ask. So, you pretty much have a 3 fund portfolio going now. I believe it is not recommended to hold the...

Is this the time to buy more shares? What if it goes down more tomorrow? There's no way to know if this is "the time to buy" is what we're saying. Side note - my Roth IRA transfer went through yesterday, so I got to buy a bunch of TR 2025 shares on a "down day". Small victory fo...

I would also say, it's good to have goals, but don't set them too lofty. You're young, living with the folks, not married, no kids, and all that. Will none of this change before you're 40 years old? Life happens... and it usually costs some money. :D I will say you are doing great for being young an...

This has been an unusually critical thread for some reason. At least, it sure is coming across that way. I can't help but think you really feel attacked in this one? Typically it's not like that at all around here, so do stick around. As a single person, I don't necessarily expect you to understand...

My guess, and that's all it is :happy , is that this "strategy" is for the house flippers out there. They pay cash for a house, then take out a HEL or mortgage, get the cash back, buy another, do the same, and then hopefully sell each house for a profit within a short time. That's what it ...

sounds like your question was already answered, but just add another tidbit of data: my .gov employer has a defined benefit pension + 457b. There is no match available for me on the 457b. So considering that I would say that it could be worse for you (OP), at least there is some "free money&qu...

How much do you plan on contributing to the 401k yearly? Is there a match? The idea of only contributing to the mid and small cap indexes would work also. If you are going to max the contributions out there, you may end up heavily tilted though. The 0.63 ER is not ideal, no, but it's not terrible ei...

If he were to pass first, I'm guessing the mother-in-law would be more than willing to accept help and advice in order to get the finances straightened out. I don't that situation is much to worry about. I think coming to the realization that there's just not much you can do here is the best step fo...

So essentially, I will have to rebalance the holdings in roth/traditional or her 401k and treat it as one portfolio. Now, if you were to pick only three funds from this, what would those be and how would I rebalance TISM, TSM and TBM? Yes, and think of it as one portfolio... because it is. All of y...

Has he come to his daughters for help before? Is he likely to come to them in the future? If the daughters are giving him everything in the trust, maybe say that's it and enough is enough. They need to say no more and if dad realizes he is in financial trouble they are there to help him get things s...

Not terrible. Those fees are more reasonable than many out there. Is this in a 401k, or some type of plan like that? Without knowing the whole situation, here's a guess of how things could go for you... Some sort of combo between the American funds balanced, mid cap index, and small cap index to try...

Well, the solution is obvious then... "off" him ASAP and sell the expensive house, so the mother-in-law can live comfortably for her remaining years... I'm kidding!! :D I think you're really expecting a lot here. The guy is 80 some years old, set in his ways, and not real likely to change....

Very true... I wouldn't know what to do with all those different accounts anyway. :D I will be happy to be able to fill my deferred comp and Roth next year. That will be new ground for me in the savings area! In a way, the way my 457b plan works it makes it easier for me to reach the max since the e...

I don't think I have any other 401a, 403b, or anything available to me. Are those types of accounts always available?

As far as I know, the 457b deferred comp plan is the only option I have through my work.

Welcome to the forum, lolabean!

This has been an unusually critical thread for some reason. At least, it sure is coming across that way. I can't help but think you really feel attacked in this one? Typically it's not like that at all around here, so do stick around.

Are they asking for help or advice? The way you describe the father-in-law, I don't think he is going to be real receptive to any unwanted advice, something used as leverage, or anything "held over his head". Of course I only know what I read in a post, so... I would suggest to advise your...

Ooo ya, dontcha know. :D I grew up in MN, but now live in the Seattle area. I unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, lost the MN accent years ago. Thanks again, Bruce. I did see something about the three year rule and then the regular over 50 catch up provisions, so I think t...

Doesn't have to be an either/or, I was just going to make a decision this week and go ahead and knock one of these out. Seems to me the Roth will have a better return over six years assuming about 5-7% return, but at least with the loan it's guaranteed to save me the money. Think of the guaranteed ...

Thanks, Bruce. So, catch up provisions are different as well in a 457b?! Oh my gosh!

I'm 40 now, so the catch up provision time is a ways off.

My job does offer a pension (state pension system) that I contribute to as well. I do not pay into social security.

I just got the email reply from the plan administrator for my 457b. They said $17,500 combined is the max amount that can go into my account (2013 example)... So, $17,500 - 3.5% annual match = the total amount I can contribute.

Ok, now if we can get back on track here... :D The OP did not ask if it's best to combine their money or keep it separate. They asked if it's best to pay off the debt or invest. Let's keep the advice to the question asked for the situation given and not try to tell someone how they should live their...

I was just going to say that. :D I agree with NorCalDad... Decide if this is just a starter home, or you're looking for a home to live in long term. What is it they say in the real estate world... Most folks live in their first home for 5 years or there abouts? It sounds like you want to be homeowne...

Those 2% CDs are pretty dang good right now. Not much going on for risk free storage spots for the short term. If that money is set aside for a down payment in a couple years, I'd say CDs and savings accounts are good places to keep it. As mentioned, look at maybe putting more into the wife's 403b a...

Thanks all.

Interesting... and good to know. I was thinking differently on that deal.

That will make it easier to max it out next year I guess.

I have a government 457b deferred comp plan through work. The city gives us a 3.5% of annual top step pay match. They just came out with a spiffy new deferred comp website for us to look at and I came across something that raised a question or two for me. The part that raise a question said that eve...

The student loan interest rates are close to the mortgage interest rate (even taking into account taxes). I was opting to pay the mortgage because I can access the funds with a LOC whereas a similar option is not available if I pay down the student loans. Could you pay off the student loans with th...

Buried in the post OP also states there are student loans. What is the interest rate on them? Might be better to pay those off unless government repayment or something like that is in the cards. I thought the same thing. After tax considerations, most student loans are more expensive than a 3.625% ...

Maybe I just need to accept it and find some new hobbies. That's the point of simple and boring investing. Now you have plenty of time for other things rather than watching the market, or listening to the noise. I'd say you have learned well and are doing great! But, that's coming from me, who hold...

You have some nice low cost Spartan funds available to you there. Again, I'm not comfortable recommending anything, but I definitely don't think you would be wrong to go with the choice you're leaning towards. :wink: It sounds like the self managed plan fits your wants, needs, and concerns better th...

Don't beat yourself up. No need to be ashamed or call yourself names. You are 24 years old and have started to save for retirement. That's pretty dang good. And, if you can get the mistakes out of the way early... better than much later or not at all, right? I didn't start saving for retirement unti...

No kidding!!

I normally find ARMs pretty scary, but that one looks like a sure thing. Especially if the plan is to pay it off in 15 years. Even if it bumps up to max CAP at year 5 and 10, it's still right around the 15 year jumbo and below the 30 year at 4%. I'd say jump on that 5/5 ARM.

It's really a personal preference deal and you will get more than a few opinions and options. Here's my take on the given situation... First, there is nothing jumping out with any urgency, so that is good. You have a decent stash in that rollover account already, so well done there. I'm a debt avers...

It looks like a typical advisor picked 401k plan. They seem to go with the put a little in each fund in hopes of catching the "hot" fund per year, throw a little index in there just to safe (??, if they chase the hot fund), and who gives a rip about the ER. Normally, I would say fitting si...

When you have enough in the account to break off and go to admiral shares all around, you can lower the ER even more that way. Of course, the .16 to .18 range the target date funds are in is pretty low already. How much is the convenience of having the rebalace done for you worth? Amost a personal p...

The TSP is a very good plan to be in, so be grateful there. For the Roth, transfer it over to Vanguard ASAP. Consider the load fee and high ER you've paid so far "spilt milk" and improve that situation. Being young, I'm guessing you don't have all that much in there, so that shouldn't hurt...

And yes, I know that is ironic considering that I didn't save a penny towards retirement in my 20s. Neither did I... Actually, I didn't even save a penny in my 30's either. :D or is that :oops: It starts to add up pretty quickly though when you can really dedicate to a savings plan. At 6.8%, I'm al...