Search found 617 matches

by abyan
Sat Apr 24, 2021 10:01 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Warning: Solo K and 5500 EZ
Replies: 131
Views: 14581

Re: Warning: Solo K and 5500 EZ

tigerdoc93 wrote: Fri Jan 24, 2020 7:10 am This is just another reason I like my SEP-IRA.
The form is easy. Takes like a minute to fill out. And you sock away tens of thousands of dollars more than you can in a SEP. If you work for yourself, and have no employees, there is no good reason to do a sep. I learned late.
by abyan
Tue Mar 30, 2021 10:39 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to prove PPP Loan used for payroll? Sole Proprietor
Replies: 29
Views: 3149

Re: How to prove PPP Loan used for payroll? Sole Proprietor

While I don't think the above responses are wrong I would suggest the following is the optimum procedure: 1. Have the money deposited in a business checking account in the name of your wife's business (her name if that is what the business uses). 2. Your wife should write a check on the business account to herself weekly or monthly for, at most, a pro rata amount on the loan (e.g., if monthly, 2/5th of the loan). Write "owner compensation" on the check. 3. Keep a copy of the checks and the relevant bank statements. Is the above necessary? Probably not, but forgiveness is going to be a moving target until such time as forgiveness is granted. Plus there may be a very large difference between what is required by statute and what an ...
by abyan
Sat Mar 27, 2021 7:18 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 500k portfolio needing 3k/month income.
Replies: 40
Views: 6126

Re: 500k portfolio needing 3k/month income.

There’s a school of thought that some on this forum have that you should never get involved in your family‘s business. That’s not my definition of family. If you see a family member in danger, you get involved to help them. There is nothing wrong with you talking to your brother and presenting him ideas and options and letting him choose. But the idea of just staying away and not even trying to help him runs counter to my definition of family. I think it’s a wonderful thing that you’re concerned and trying to help.
by abyan
Mon Mar 22, 2021 8:55 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How to make strong coffee equivalent to Starbucks for cheaper?
Replies: 149
Views: 20344

Re: How to make strong coffee equivalent to Starbucks for cheaper?

Orangutan wrote: Fri Mar 05, 2021 7:00 am I own a single serve drip machine but I find myself walking to the corner Starbucks and paying $2.65 or so for a grande Pike Place roast. The Starbucks coffee has 330mg of caffeine and gives me a nice productivity boost/buzz. I use Folgers at home but it’s not the same and I can’t seem to replicate the Starbucks caffeine strength. Solutions for a strong coffee at home?
You need to buy better coffee. I love Peet’s, and buy it in bulk at my grocery store when it’s on sale. Then use an Italian stovetop coffee maker, like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001J1L59E/r ... NMH6XPQ2PR

I find the 6-cup size coffee maker is perfect for making two strong cups of coffee. (It means 6 espresso sized cups).
by abyan
Thu Mar 18, 2021 10:47 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How does Turbo Tax know about 1/4 tax payments?
Replies: 11
Views: 1513

Re: How does Turbo Tax know about 1/4 tax payments?

PaunchyPirate wrote: Thu Mar 18, 2021 8:02 pm If you set up an account using the IRS EFTPS website, you will be able to see a history of your payments to the IRS. You can print the information if you want for your records. It is linked to your Social Security number.

When you file with TurboTax, the interview process will ask if you made payments and will guide you thru entering the amounts and dates of your payments.
Another vote for EFTPS. I use it to set up the quarterly withdrawals from my bank account, and at text time I check it out for a record of all my payments.
by abyan
Fri Mar 05, 2021 11:23 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: TIME SENSITIVE - Taxes: Do medical deductions increase my net operating loss?
Replies: 0
Views: 207

TIME SENSITIVE - Taxes: Do medical deductions increase my net operating loss?

UPDATE: Tax accountant uncle says you can't add medical expenses for purposes of calculating a NOL, so question answered -- assuming he's right. Gonna leave this up, in case folks google the issue in the future. ------ Hey gang, for the first year ever, I seem to have a net operating loss. I'm trying to figure out whether to include my medical deductions (totalling $5k), in order to increase my net operating loss, so I can carry it backwards to 2019 when I had a really good income. Or, whether medical deductions aren't counted when calculating a net operating loss, and thus there's no reason to include them. More on me. I'm self-employed, have a pass-through LLC for legal protection, file taxes as an individual, 1040 with a schedule C. Than...
by abyan
Sun Feb 21, 2021 9:04 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: HSA best practices-tracking expenses for future reimbursement
Replies: 31
Views: 2522

Re: HSA best practices-tracking expenses for future reimbursement

Just FYI, but in a previous thread a while back somebody had mentioned keeping copies of old receipts, and after a few decades The papers turned white. Might not be a bad idea to scan them and keep computer copies.
by abyan
Mon Jan 25, 2021 10:39 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Ugh Vanguard! May have to leave. They made a huge error.
Replies: 223
Views: 30201

Re: Ugh Vanguard! May have to leave. They made a huge error.

1. Did you keep a copy of the form?
2. If not, and you’re positive you didn’t make a mistake, and they’re insisting you did, tell them to send you a copy of the form you sent them, since they clearly must have it if they’re accusing you of writing it down wrong. If they don’t have a copy, then it’s just conjecture on their part.
3. I totally get where you’re upset. I’d be livid. And freaked out. Ignore anyone who suggests your reaction is somehow other than normal. :-)
by abyan
Mon Jan 04, 2021 1:43 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Ally Bank Removed Online Early Withdrawal From No-Penalty CDs
Replies: 148
Views: 18554

Re: Ally Bank Removed Online Early Withdrawal From No-Penalty CDs

I'm on a 20 minute hold at this moment because of this ridiculous new policy. If Ally doesn't want us using no-penalty CDs, then don't offer them. But this is ridiculous, and seriously making me consider moving all my banking to Marcus or someone else. I am literally on a 20-minute hold -- the recording told me it's 20 minutes! -- because I simply want to move money from my no-penalty CD to my checking account. This is more than a mild inconvenience. Awful way to treat your customers.
by abyan
Sat Jan 02, 2021 10:08 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: IBONDS beneficiaries
Replies: 10
Views: 1014

Re: IBONDS beneficiaries

I agree about the site being unnecessarily complicated. I bought some for my parents, now need to change ownership and POD, and it’s ridiculously confusing.
by abyan
Fri Dec 11, 2020 9:42 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: PPP forgiveness: apply now or wait?
Replies: 36
Views: 3020

Re: PPP forgiveness: apply now or wait?

saagar_is_cool wrote: Tue Dec 08, 2020 8:05 pm
abyan wrote: Tue Dec 08, 2020 8:02 pm I just applied for forgiveness via the bank and it was the easiest thing on the planet. Also under $50k. Sole proprietor. Took like 2 minutes to fill out the form, they only wanted my 2019 Schedule C, that was it for documentation. Bank reviewed it for a day and sent the application for forgiveness to SBA. So I’d check what info your bank wants. But I don’t think I even needed to say what category the funds were applied to (income vs mortgage etc).
Which bank was this - a local bank? We are at 24 werks of PPP and our loan is through Paypal. I am not sure on how to proceed with forgiveness.
US Bank.
by abyan
Tue Dec 08, 2020 8:02 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: PPP forgiveness: apply now or wait?
Replies: 36
Views: 3020

Re: PPP forgiveness: apply now or wait?

I just applied for forgiveness via the bank and it was the easiest thing on the planet. Also under $50k. Sole proprietor. Took like 2 minutes to fill out the form, they only wanted my 2019 Schedule C, that was it for documentation. Bank reviewed it for a day and sent the application for forgiveness to SBA. So I’d check what info your bank wants. But I don’t think I even needed to say what category the funds were applied to (income vs mortgage etc).
by abyan
Sat Nov 28, 2020 9:29 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Setting up a SEP IRA
Replies: 12
Views: 1003

Re: Setting up a SEP IRA

And perhaps the more knowledgeable members can weigh in as to whether you can set up an i401k instead of a SEP. I’m a sole proprietor, and had a SEP for years because my accountant never mentioned that a solo 401k was an option. I could have put a lot more money away with the i401k limits as compared to the SEP. Again, see what other say in terms of whether you can even do one. But if you can, consider whether you can put more money annually into an i401k as compared to a SEP.
by abyan
Sat Nov 28, 2020 9:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Smart thermostat for a small 2 bdr apt?
Replies: 12
Views: 1327

Re: Smart thermostat for a small 2 bdr apt?

I love my Nest in a 1 bedroom condo. As someone else said, it’s great to be able to control the temp from your phone or ipad, and I also have it hooked up to Google Home as well (work on Alexa too), so i can raise the temp a degree, or lower it a degree, by voice, while watching TV. Or in bed in the middle of the night. I also use a remote sensor, since the sun tends to skew the temps in my living room where the main thermostat is. For that price, I’d get it. Only issue is that yes, you have to get the wiring right, and know that your system can even take the new thermostats. But otherwise, I love this thing.
by abyan
Sun Oct 18, 2020 11:11 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Yoga mat recommendation?
Replies: 16
Views: 1664

Re: Yoga mat recommendation?

I’ve been very happy with the Lululemon mat.
by abyan
Mon Sep 28, 2020 7:56 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: iPhone 11 - Anyone get a dud camera?
Replies: 17
Views: 6719

Re: iPhone 11 - Anyone get a dud camera?

Wow, that is way better. You were right!
by abyan
Fri Sep 25, 2020 8:31 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: My LenderFi refinance is going well
Replies: 1849
Views: 213958

Re: My LenderFi refinance is going well

I was in the same boat. For whatever reason couldn't get out of it during my first refi earlier this year. But my second refi with them, I suppose since the appraisal was so recent, went fine without one.
by abyan
Fri Sep 25, 2020 7:24 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: My LenderFi refinance is going well
Replies: 1849
Views: 213958

Re: My LenderFi refinance is going well

My first loan payment is due October 1, and I tried what others here had suggested and it worked. Go this link, enter your info — the loan ID is the loan account number. Mine didn’t work at first, I contacted Diego by email, he got back within a day and said to wait until today, Today it worked. So try that first. https://myloanweb.com/lenderfi/AccountVerification.aspx

And mind showed a zero escrow balance as well. At this point I’m assuming it’s a glitch. But yes, it would be good to get a definitive answer on that.
by abyan
Mon Sep 07, 2020 4:35 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What online sources do you recommend for investing & market news?
Replies: 12
Views: 1133

Re: What online sources do you recommend for investing & market news?

I don't know if you would call them investing or market news, but I really enjoy these podcasts and I think I learn something from them: a) "Planet Money" (economics topics, but they are always doing things like actually buy a toxic asset, or a junk bond, or a barrel of oil.... b) "The Indicator from Planet Money" c) "Spectacular Failures" (mostly businesses; this year, so far, Forever 21, Napster, Dean Foods) Thanks. And that's why I'm asking. I called it clickbait, but financial porn is the same thing. They're sensational articles that tend to be really facile. But I find Oblivious Investor an interesting read. I've found Mr Money Mustache to be quite helpful for a number of things. And I'll check out the po...
by abyan
Mon Sep 07, 2020 4:09 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What online sources do you recommend for investing & market news?
Replies: 12
Views: 1133

Re: What online sources do you recommend for investing & market news?

Thanks, though this thread isn't about a defense of the Bogleheads philosophy :) It's about specific sources of trusted reading about the economy, the market, investing etc. Not 'whether' I should or need to read such things. For example, I know there was a writer a while back at the WSJ that people really liked. That's the kind of feedback I'm looking for. Thanks.
by abyan
Mon Sep 07, 2020 10:32 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What online sources do you recommend for investing & market news?
Replies: 12
Views: 1133

What online sources do you recommend for investing & market news?

I'm just curious what news sources, or online sources generally (blogs, etc.), you recommend for staying up to date on investment and market news. Obviously I follow this site, but I've found that a lot of the news sites are very clickbate-y, Motley Fool is a perfect example. Do you just stick with the big papers: NYT, Wash Post, WSJ (if you can afford it). Do you subscribe to Bloomberg? (Seems rather expensive.) Just curious what folks recommend for someone who'd like to read more in-depth on what's going on. Thanks.
by abyan
Sun Sep 06, 2020 8:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Strange iMac issue
Replies: 17
Views: 2068

Re: Strange iMac issue

If it’s only happening once a week, that doesn’t sound like Time Machine, which should be backing up every hour. It almost sounds like a routine weekly maintenance. In facts, I just checked my iMac, and there are in fact weekly maintenance scripts that run. They seem to run them overnight, often on Sundays, but not always. I can’t help beyond this, but happening once a week sure sounds like a routine that’s running. Have you tried apple’s phone help? I haven’t tried them during the plague, but otherwise have found they can be very helpful.
by abyan
Sat Sep 05, 2020 12:55 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: El-Erian on CNBC homepage when market drops?
Replies: 41
Views: 4305

Re: El-Erian on CNBC homepage when market drops?

So this raises an interesting question. What are the good online sources for financial & market information, that you don’t have to subscribe to like Bloomberg?
by abyan
Thu Aug 20, 2020 9:59 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: My LenderFi refinance is going well
Replies: 1849
Views: 213958

Re: My LenderFi refinance is going well

So my closing is scheduled for this Friday and I'm a bit confused about payment of the closing costs. I tried Amrock's ACH portal and it lists a $9,000 amount which I can't change. This is over $5,000 more than the "cash to close" amount listed on the closing disclosure. Also, I know that ACH transfers take time to clear, and I'm not sure if it has to clear before closing. I might just go to the bank and get a cashier's check tomorrow instead. For those that have done this before, do you typically get the check made out for the exact amount shown on the closing disclosure, or a greater amount in case there are minor changes? I did my ACH after the closing, it was fine. So you have time, I would call Amrock to tell them the issue....
by abyan
Wed Aug 12, 2020 2:16 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: My LenderFi refinance is going well
Replies: 1849
Views: 213958

Re: My LenderFi refinance is going well

Cobra Commander wrote: Wed Aug 12, 2020 12:11 pm I am scheduled to close this afternoon. The closing process wasn't great as I did not receive my closing docs for review until this morning after multiple requests. That said, I'm getting a good rate so I can deal with it.

Did anyone have any luck using the Amrock ACH feature? I am paying down about $25k to get my loan below $510K and the ACH feature on Amrock's site will process my request but there is nothing to indicate that the payment went through. Alternatively, should I just eat the fees and do a wire transfer?
Yes, I used it this morning, I'm assuming it went fine. I guess I'll know later today, or tomorrow, when the money leaves my account.
by abyan
Wed Aug 12, 2020 9:35 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: My LenderFi refinance is going well
Replies: 1849
Views: 213958

Re: My LenderFi refinance is going well

And my closing is done. She arrived on time this morning, we got through it in a record 15 minutes. And yes, for me at least, Ryan reached out to me around the 6 month mark and asked if I wanted to lower my rate from 3.5% to 2.875% for free. I said yes :) I think they try to reach out if they can. But it also doesn't hurt to keep an eye on the rates, and reach back out to them six months after you close.
by abyan
Tue Aug 11, 2020 5:35 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: My LenderFi refinance is going well
Replies: 1849
Views: 213958

Re: My LenderFi refinance is going well

What do you mean by hustle? I have heard that they put people through a lot of rigmarole paperwork that LENDERFi does not.
by abyan
Tue Aug 11, 2020 5:29 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: My LenderFi refinance is going well
Replies: 1849
Views: 213958

Re: My LenderFi refinance is going well

You often can do better online than off. A lot of people go with Better. I know other places have been mentioned in this thread as well, you might want to scroll back and see which other places people have mentioned they go to online.
by abyan
Tue Aug 11, 2020 1:40 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: My LenderFi refinance is going well
Replies: 1849
Views: 213958

Re: My LenderFi refinance is going well

Just got an update on my refi, am scheduled to close tomorrow morning, knock on wood.
by abyan
Sat Aug 08, 2020 5:59 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: AMZN & AAPL - time to bail?
Replies: 196
Views: 23889

Re: AMZN & AAPL - time to bail?

adave wrote: Sat Aug 08, 2020 5:31 pm I’m an index investor for the long-term, however I also own 100 shares of AMZN and 500 shares of AAPL in an IRA that I purchased a while back mainly because I noticed we used the products of these companies a ton in our family. Recent run up in values make me sort of nervous - time to bail and buy VT or VTI ? I’m a long term investor and IRA so no tax implications.
This is probably the wrong form to ask any of that of course! But if you need the money In the next few years, I might sell some of it. If you don’t need the money for a decade or two, then I might hang onto it.
by abyan
Sat Aug 08, 2020 11:27 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: My LenderFi refinance is going well
Replies: 1849
Views: 213958

Re: My LenderFi refinance is going well

I don't particularly understand the rate-drop promise. It sounds like they're offering a no-cost refi of an already no-cost refi. Having said that, they reached out to me about my current Refi, to let me know how much rates had dropped since my earlier Refi with them in January, and asking if I wanted to Refi again, no cost, at the new very good rate, which I thought was very cool of them, as I didn't realize rates had dropped that much.
by abyan
Fri Aug 07, 2020 6:47 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: My LenderFi refinance is going well
Replies: 1849
Views: 213958

Re: My LenderFi refinance is going well

For no fees, I’d drop by 0.6% in a heartbeat. (assuming there’s no better offer anywhere else.) in fact, that’s how much I am dropping! Why not accept the offer? Unless you think rates are going down in the next few months and you wanna wait.
by abyan
Fri Aug 07, 2020 6:03 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: My LenderFi refinance is going well
Replies: 1849
Views: 213958

Re: My LenderFi refinance is going well

That’s funny, you’re in exactly the same boat as me. I refinanced to 3.5 in January, and now I’m refinancing it 2.875.
by abyan
Fri Aug 07, 2020 5:14 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: My LenderFi refinance is going well
Replies: 1849
Views: 213958

Re: My LenderFi refinance is going well

I admit I was kind of bummed to learn that others were getting 2.75% 30 year no cost or lower when I was “only” getting 2.875%. Then again, I was at 4.125% this past December. The Refi game seems to always move the goal post as soon as you lock in. Doing the math, however, there’s really not that much of a difference between my rate and the next one lower. So we’ve still won the lottery with 2.875%. (I remember when I first got my mortgage 10 years ago, 4.875% was really really low!)
by abyan
Fri Aug 07, 2020 12:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: My LenderFi refinance is going well
Replies: 1849
Views: 213958

Re: My LenderFi refinance is going well

Sure, but you'll never refi with LenderFi ever again. And considering they seem to very often be the lowest rates out there, that's not a bridge that I personally am willing to burn.
by abyan
Thu Aug 06, 2020 11:16 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Asymmetric risk in the Roth vs Traditional question
Replies: 323
Views: 25163

Re: Asymmetric risk in the Roth vs Traditional question

JustinR wrote: Fri Jun 26, 2020 8:45 pm Who pays more taxes in retirement than during their working years?

That doesn't even make sense.

Traditional is better for this reason and a bunch of other reasons. Always prefer Traditional over Roth.
Possibly single people who work for themselves and can no longer take schedule C deductions in retirement. And married people who end up single or widowed in retirement. Oh, and people who live long enough for the tax laws to change and thus their taxes go up in retirement!
by abyan
Thu Aug 06, 2020 5:12 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: My LenderFi refinance is going well
Replies: 1849
Views: 213958

Re: My LenderFi refinance is going well

Better was unable to beat the offer LENDERFi gave me.
by abyan
Wed Aug 05, 2020 5:32 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: My LenderFi refinance is going well
Replies: 1849
Views: 213958

Re: My LenderFi refinance is going well

Just got my pre-closing docs, and signed them. Next step is closing. No word on that yet. But the process continues. No glitches, just slower than it was in January.
by abyan
Mon Aug 03, 2020 4:40 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: My LenderFi refinance is going well
Replies: 1849
Views: 213958

Re: My LenderFi refinance is going well

I signed it back in January after talking to a friend wiser than I who said it wasn’t unreasonable for them to
Ask that. Otherwise It’s hard for them to sell the loans and make an actual profit if lenders think they’re going to just let people refi again within a month or two, so they bought the loan for nothing. And in fact I’m Refi’g now for the same rate you got, which is a lot lower than what I had in January, which was 3.5%. So no harm no foul. Don’t get me wrong, I’d rather not sign it. But it’s a good quote, so I’m fine with it in the end.
by abyan
Mon Aug 03, 2020 3:53 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: My LenderFi refinance is going well
Replies: 1849
Views: 213958

Re: My LenderFi refinance is going well

I am trying to enroll for account access in loanweb portal. It is showing error - invalid account number attempt. I entered loan number found in Lenderfi. Is anyone able to enroll ? How to go about getting this fixed ? I'm in the same boat--closed 7/13 but still getting the invalid account number on the portal. I called the LenderFi servicing department and they have no records relating to my loan (even though my closing documents list LenderFi as the servicer). My first payment is due Sept. 1, so I have a bit of time and figure they are backed up. Based on the post-closing timeline someone listed above, I think I have about a week or two longer before the online portal will work for me, so I guess I'll have to keep checking. I think you g...
by abyan
Mon Aug 03, 2020 3:50 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: My LenderFi refinance is going well
Replies: 1849
Views: 213958

Re: My LenderFi refinance is going well

Update on my Refi: We had a little hiccup with the underwriter who wasn't thrilled that I was self-employed. But apparently my current income sufficed, and they approved me. So now on to pre-closing. It's taking a while, with intermittent silence, but it's still proceeding.
by abyan
Wed Jul 29, 2020 8:33 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Anyone get their 5498 for tax year 2019
Replies: 22
Views: 2507

Re: Anyone get their 5498 for tax year 2019

For tax year 2019, in May I got a 5498 for my HSA at Fidelity. No 5498 yet for my Roth IRA at Vanguard. I made my IRA contribution early in 2019. https://thelink.ascensus.com/articles/2020/5/20/irs-form-5498-box-by-box indicates the IRS pushed the deadline for sending out 5498 until July (related to IRA contribution being pushed out, so it makes sense). Obviously no real problem here with not having the 5498 yet. Just wondering if anyone got a 5498 for their Roth or Trad IRA showing a 2019 contribution. Funny you should ask. Mine from Vanguard, for 2019, came in LAST NIGHT. It was mom’s actually, for a Roth conversion done last December. My uncle who was doing her taxes thought I was nuts when I told him that they never issued the form.
by abyan
Wed Jul 29, 2020 5:30 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Poor service at Vanguard making me re-think my decision
Replies: 310
Views: 39233

Re: Poor service at Vanguard making me re-think my decision

I’ve had a lot of misses with Vanguard customer service over the last 6 years. Not sure if it’s getting worse, but it’s not great to start with. It’s super hit or miss depending who you get. And that’s not acceptable when we’re talking about my money.
by abyan
Wed Jul 29, 2020 5:28 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What is your overall portfolio weighted expense ratio
Replies: 333
Views: 43571

Re: What is your overall portfolio weighted expense ratio

0.08% — it would be lower but I splurged on a pricey gold ETF. And I don’t have a workplace 401(k), but I do have an i401(k) and there are no expenses at all. My funds cost the same ER as they do in my IRA and Roth IRA.
by abyan
Tue Jul 28, 2020 9:15 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: "Beware the Hype on Gold"
Replies: 170
Views: 16422

Re: "Beware the Hype on Gold"

As I suspect most here know, As this battle over gold has been fought here before, Bernstein talks about owning a very small percentage of gold mining equities, say 1% to 5%, expecting a LONG period of underperformance, so that you can get the rebalancing benefit when it soars (and at the same time, if it underperforms you keep buying it when it’s low). Anyone who isn’t comfortable with buying something really cheap that stays really cheap for years and years, and then selling/rebalancing when it gets high, shouldn’t buy in. I’ve got 2% in a gold mining ETF (GDX) as I get kind of excited when I rebalance into something cheap. :-)
by abyan
Sun Jul 26, 2020 9:38 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Looking for good HSA provider to transfer to
Replies: 14
Views: 1152

Re: Looking for good HSA provider to transfer to

I’m using Fidelity too! There are literally no fees for the HSA itself, and I’m using their zero fee funds so I’m not paying any expense ratio either.
by abyan
Sun Jul 26, 2020 7:17 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Have 30-year mortgage rates fallen in last month? Advice for requesting re-lock
Replies: 33
Views: 3411

Re: Have 30-year mortgage rates fallen in last month? Advice for requesting re-lock

The way rates are falling the OP might do better off just closing and then doing a refi in a little bit. Be careful with trying to instantly refinance your mortgage. I did my refi with LENDERFi, and at least as part of the refi process you can’t refinance for another six months, that’s part of the deal you sign. I have no idea how it works with an initial mortgage, but you might want to make sure. Also, I get the feeling that this is part of the process, that you lock in and then rates drop further. It’s happened to me in almost every mortgage and refi I’ve done! That doesn’t mean you should look around, but at the same time I kind of feel like it’s almost a guarantee that the rates are going to drop further, and at some point I’m just hap...
by abyan
Fri Jul 24, 2020 9:20 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Possibly losing health insurance. Experiences with ACA
Replies: 57
Views: 5101

Re: Possibly loosing health insurance. Experiences with ACA

2. I would love to hear from folks using the exchange and are happy with it. Please tell me your experience. Thank you all in advance. I so appreciate this forum. I'm self-employed and have been very happy with my ACA plan, as it was MUCH better than my pre-ACA plan, at the same cost. The price will vary by state -- in some states it's not bad, in others it's crazy expensive. And the price doesn't necessarily correlate with it being a better plan. Some states just have worse plans and higher prices. Also, one thing I only realized last fall, the platinum (top) plans are not always better than the second best (gold) plans. I had platinum forever, then did the math, and by this end of this year I will spent less on my gold plan (which is HSA...
by abyan
Thu Jul 23, 2020 6:42 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Refinancing 15 year fixed mortgage at 2.25%/2.375@
Replies: 8
Views: 1646

Re: Refinancing 15 year fixed mortgage at 2.25%/2.375@

Yes, LenderFi. I started a somewhat popular thread about my experience using them for a refi in January. Unfortunately, they’re so overwhelmed with applications right now, that they’re not taking new ones. But they promised me a low rate with no cost, or an even lower one for $900 (which I took), and they came through. Going thru them again right now for Refi, waiting for the underwriter to verify my income. So, they do exist. I think folks here have liked Better as well. I will say, I’ve never been bait-and-switched on my mortgage or my earlier refi, with Bank of America, either.
by abyan
Thu Jul 23, 2020 5:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Mortgage broker won't lock the rate
Replies: 22
Views: 2139

Re: Mortgage broker won't lock the rate

Ani wrote: Thu Jul 23, 2020 5:11 pm
surfstar wrote: Thu Jul 23, 2020 4:53 pm We/you/broker/anyone can't predict the future. If I could, I wouldn't have locked a refi rate on 6/15. Probably could have done a bit better if I waited until this week. Crystal ball was cloudy. Now I'll try again in 6 months.

If you like the 2.75 - find someone that will match and lock it. Or if you trust the broker, go with them. I wouldn't stay at WF - much better rates out there currently. Great time to buy - congrats!


Thank you.

The problem is this is the broker that my real estate agent recommended. I'm generally skeptical of anything that a realtor recommends.
I think it's really weird that they're not willing to lock a rate. VERY weird. I wouldn't like or trust that.