Bogleheads.org

Are you vested with only 6 years? Or is this a job you are currently in and will add years, or are you currently working in a reciprocal system? So if you are vested, you can probably look into the cost of a SPIA that is fixed to determine if you should take the pension or try to invest the $65K. 3%...

Thanks, I also realized that I needed to look over everything and not assume anything. It takes a lot of time and sometimes one does not even know what questions to ask. Luckily, even though there were hiccups, the care in general was very good.

I recently helped a relative leave a rehabilitation facility after a successful surgery. The relative is on a handful of medications: all generic. But I just found out at the meeting before discharge that all the medication was changed from the generic to brand name. Neither the patient or I were no...

Yes this has happened to me, where one person of the team was out of network, in my case the pathologist. It turned out that the insurance co. paid as if the person was in-network, so the deduct., etc. were not higher. It took a bit with calling the insurance co, but there was a practice, where if t...

I have to prepare a tax return for a relative. She sold some foreign stock last year in a recently discovered forgotten account. I was recently able to establish a basis in Euros by emailing the company. My question is: -should I use the exchange rate for the basis on the day the stock was acquired,...

Perhaps there should be a comparison of claiming your sister as a dependent and not claiming her as a dependent done. Note the following taken from the IRS site: Relationship — the taxpayer’s child or stepchild (whether by blood or adoption), foster child, sibling or stepsibling, or a descendant of ...

Isn't POD for bank accounts and TOD for securities?

This article, Luxury Drivers Beware, from the Wall Street Journal is an interesting view on BMWs and the issue of "sportiness" for rear-wheel drive.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... 54608.html

Sheesh Khanmots, indeed you are describing the 1% situation when a rear-wheel drive is better behaved than a front wheel drive. But the other 99% of the time and also with snow and ice front-wheel drive is safer. But you have obviously taken the car much too close to its limit of control, driving t...

The reason many sports type cars have rear wheel drive is that it is more fun to drive. The problem with inexperienced drivers is that when one is losing control, one hits the brakes or slows down as a reflex. A front wheel drive car will regain control, but a rear wheel drive needs the opposite to...

Safety is our number one concern and even though some of the smaller smart cars seem to be extremely economical I do have some concerns with their ability to withstand a hit. BMW's do have a very good reputation for safety and the vehicle we are looking at does have traction control, anti lock brak...

I think I would work out each option on a spreadsheet before making a decision. It is also important to determine your expenses, as it sounds like with two partial pensions and SS there will be enough for a good retirement. I'm not clear what the pension cap means. Does that mean you will still have...

Isn't this a rear-wheel drive car? I leased a 535 about the same time and my recollection was that it tended to hydroplane pretty easily. I swore I'd never drive RWD again. RWD shouldn't have anything to do with hydroplaning. That's more a function of tires than anything else. What it will have to ...

Teens have a lot of accidents, even the responsible ones. http://www.dmv.ca.gov/teenweb/more_btn6/traffic I would try to get the safest car possible if one is buying new. BMW is a nice car, but crash ratings are not five stars in all categories. The 325i is a rear-wheel drive (less safe than a fron-...

If it's running OK now then I would keep driving it and start saving $250 per month in an account for a future vehicle. Make small repairs as needed but as soon as you have saved maybe $3000 I would sell it for what you can and buy something newer. Another option is, if you still like driving it, t...

Good rates on CDs and highly recommend car buying service. If you are a haggler you will pay about the same by using the Penfed car buying service and save time and your sanity.

Sell the condo, rent a house close to GF's school. Advice on this was not asked, but GF should make sure she has a good advisor or someone who will help her in her career, so she is not just doing the lab work for a big name professor.

I've set aside a LTC fund and will be taking my chances. So roughly, you'd need $1,300,000 TODAY at 60 and count on 8% compounded growth for the next 20 years and if you die at 79............? Meanwhile, I'll have spent maybe $70,000 (and spent my earnings on my $1,300,000 of $104,000 each and ever...

Here is a table by kawill from the fairmark.com site: some critical punctuation so imagine a semi-colon after every yes or no. Also note the ordering rules: withdrawals are contributions first, then taxable portions of conversions, etc just as they are listed in table, with earnings last. Roth IRA ...

Donall, we're on the same page, separated only by semantics :D Good for you to be an advocate for a relative. It is, however, sad that it's necessary, and even worse, for some (because of their particular circumstances),it's not even an option. If you don't mind sharing, what resources are availabl...

Honobob, not sure why I need 1.3 million today to fund possible LTC. $80K X 2.5 years = $200K in today's dollars Invest $200K and keep separate for future LTC or if not used, have some happy relatives. :D Where did you get "2.5 years" from? You're not making the mistake of thinking you do...

I've set aside a LTC fund and will be taking my chances. Why would you have an LTC fund? I don't have one, any more than I have a groceries fund, or an automobile fund. My retirement income can be given to a care provider, or can be spent on groceries or cars. The wonderful thing about money is tha...

I've set aside a LTC fund and will be taking my chances. So roughly, you'd need $1,300,000 TODAY at 60 and count on 8% compounded growth for the next 20 years and if you die at 79............? Meanwhile, I'll have spent maybe $70,000 (and spent my earnings on my $1,300,000 of $104,000 each and ever...

I had the misfortune to participate in a 401k plan administered by Transamerica. My experience indicates that their plans are very good for Transamerica; for their participants, not so much. Jeff I echo Jeff's response. Transamerica contracts are complex and you may not be aware of all the details....

Yes, this article and similar stories are what always stops me from going out and buying LTC insurance. I'd love to buy LTC insurance but am leery of having to work with the LTC insurance to pay valid claims. I've set aside a LTC fund and will be taking my chances. So this brings me to today, where ...

I'm planning a partial transfer of securities from a TDameritrade Roth IRA to a Wellstrade Roth IRA. When reading the Wellstrade Account Transfer form I came upon this clause in the Client Instructions to Delivering Firm: "I understand that fractional shares may not transfer in kind and may (b...

Since simplification is your objective, your Roth IRAs can also be combined into a single Roth. Very easy to do if they are all held by the same custodian. You are right earlyout, but unfortunately I seem to have a gene that leads me to as many banks, mutual funds, etc, as possible. I am trying to ...

I am interested in keeping the number of accounts down and keeping things simple. If I have existing Roth IRAs that were converted three years ago from traditional IRAs, can I add additional funds to the converted Roths or do I need to open a new Roth for funds I would like to add this year? I thin...

Yes, this happened to my mother. The bank investment advisor sold her a variable annuity that was not in her best interest. If they need an immediate annuity, it is best to shop around.

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Buy the watch. You can always sell it if you don't like it, perhaps to a boglehead.

Renter, yea the forensics on something like this are hard to follow. It's good you are proactive. We are most vulnerable to phishing when we are expecting a response or contact.

Thanks Alan, that makes sense

This insurance is insuring income from your pension, not much different than the normal situation where you are using life insurance when one is working.

Your wife sounds like a wise woman.

I seem to remember that Schwab has some awesome hours to call.

It may pure luck on the scammer's part, but if you have an account at Vanguard, I would try to determine how someone could match you with the firm that holds your account.

I am interested in keeping the number of accounts down and keeping things simple. If I have existing Roth IRAs that were converted three years ago from traditional IRAs, can I add additional funds to the converted Roths or do I need to open a new Roth for funds I would like to add this year?

Bought TurboTax last week and found I could not use it because my computer's system needed to be updated. I wasn't happy since I think TurboTax is very sloppy with state returns and has endless updates. So yeah, I did what needed to be done, but of course things on the computer are not as simple as ...

Try to renegotiate (or remove in areas such as cable) as much as possible: - higher salary - lower insurance, cable, phone - lower mortgage rate - etc. Spend less, if you cannot determine where to spend less, then take 25% off all discretionary areas (entertainment, etc.). $2000/mo. doesn't sound un...

Yes .... love is blind in the beginning. I do think life is better if we do not always make logical decisions. And who knows about the future, perhaps the date becomes a fiance becomes a spouse who inherits a sizable inheritance.

There are fraternal organizations that have insurance products which are open ended contracts and not backed by the state insurance guaranty program. What in essence happens is the members either need to pay more or receive less if things dont work out as expected. It typically has a lower "co...

Not sure I would accept even a cashier's check nowadays.

Are you positive the fact that one child already attends the school doesn't make the chances for the younger one better? Around here, if the eldest child wins the "lottery," younger siblings will be allowed to go to the same school so long as they begin attending while the other child is ...

BTW, I ran the SS Retirement Estimator and plugged in 55 for retirement age; the revised age 62 benefits would be 1593 for me and 1230 for my wife. Thanks again for pointing this out. One more thing to verify..... your wife does teach in a social security state doesn't she? SS tax is taken out of h...

Condolences on your loss. I think the advice given is good, so do nothing for a few months and study your options. Just reading this site you will learn a great deal. In addition to the recommended books from this site, read your IMRF (my assumption with your description) Benefits book for Tier I. N...

Our insurance co. paid for a wooden fence portion (6 feet high) that fell over due to a windstorm. It costs a lot more than one would think.

Not sure ins. co would pay for repair/replacement of a 50 year old fence.... may be best to work with neighbor, or time to plant shrubs.

TT is a family affair in our house, so switching would mean quite a bit of disruption. Not impressed with TT and difficulty in seeking answers for questions. TT has done a poor job with Wisconsin state forms for out of state residents.

kramer wrote:Hello Jerilynn,

You keep using "dental tx" in your posts. Sorry, but what is tx?

tx = treatment

I would also consider F plan, just for the convenience, i.e Medicare and the supplemental insurance pay for everything; so far after 20 years. When one is over 80 it may become difficult to monitor health bills without help. I wish the drug plans would be as simple, but they were not part of origina...