Bogleheads.org

I am doing: other. I decided on a "stair step" approach. I am going for a fixed 60:40 for, ooh, 20 years or so (let's say ages 35-55), then 50:50 for another 20 or so (55-75), then 40:60 until I shuffle off this mortal coil, which hopefully will be another 20 years or so (75-95+). Also mix...

Default User BR wrote:Probably many here are like me, and there is no choice. I can't deduct a Traditional, so a Roth is the only sensible choice. I don't need to do any analysis.

This.

Why not have the 2055 Target Retirement fund in the Roth too? [Edit - I see mnvalue said the same thing. Sorry, it didn't jump out at me so I didn't notice someone had already said it!] Keep life simple. Also, the TR funds (like the STAR fund) have $1000 minimums, so you wouldn't necessarily have to...

To reduce costs, consider this solution: If the bond portion of your portfolio is $20,000 or more, use 50% Admiral TIPS, & 50% Admiral Total Bond Market. If under $20,000, stick with diversified Total Bond Market Index Fund. Just a quick follow up to this: the Admiral fund for "Intermediat...

If you have a hard time thinking about 80:20 even, but you feel you "should" be at 70:30, then why not try out 80:20 first? Changing AA does not have to be an instant thing. And you don't have to actually move the money - you could direct all new contributions to bonds for a while to bump ...

I have been pondering the same thing - whether to ditch TIPs and just go with Total Bond. I am sure with me a large part of my pondering is due to recency bias - TIPs have not been a stellar performer lately. But I look back at the wild swings in annual return, and wonder how that is stabilizing my ...

Thanks for all the work you do, Larry and Alex, keeping the site up. It's times like these that make the rest of us really appreciate you.

I think I'd take the annuity. I think I could have a pretty nice lifestyle with a few mil coming in every year, and I'd invest enough to ensure that once the annuity ran out there'd be plenty to live on for the rest of my life. And then change my name. 8-) But I won't be playing it, so alas, it is i...

So far it's me and kevqno. Which is cool and all, but a couple more people might be fun.

Maybe we should just pick a date and see if that allows people to decide about coming or not. What works for you, k? PM or email me if you like.

I guess if you found a company willing to pay for you to relocate to Europe AND handle all the visa bureaucracy so you could have the experience, the only negotiation I would be doing is saying "thank you, yes, I'll take the job." But I am a terrible negotiator, so take that for what it's ...

FYI - I removed a link to an article containing offensive language ( Not Safe for Workplace or the younger crowd). (see this post ) I suggest an article search which expresses a similar sentiment: engagement rings are dumb - Google Search I think removing the link is a bit unfair. I didn't notice o...

Ouch! Those are annoyingly bad choices. I'd probably go with something like 75% Vanguard Small Cap Value + 25% American Century Inflation Adjusted Bonds. The reason I changed the stock:bond ratio from your desired choice is that I think Small Cap Value is riskier than a total stock market type of mi...

bertilak wrote:

Stan Dup, you do realize that most of us are just regular Joes (and Janes), right? You are asking us to figure out how to take screen shots of small areas of the screen, possibly blacking out sensitive information such as names and dollar amounts, AND also basically DO a rebalancing operation just s...

I'm coming back to this to harp on a bit more about the 401k. It is not a "no match, and no free money at all, ever" plan. It is a profit sharing plan. That means there is free money on the table - most people seem to be seeing "no match" and glossing over the "profit sharin...

My grandparents bought their dream house when they retired in their 60's. It was a bungalow, and they figured they would be able to age gracefully in place. By the time that they were in their 80's, it was far too much for them (it had a large garden that they had previously loved to potter about in...

lots of quotes There's nothing inherently wrong with either choice. All that really matters is two things: 1) that he/they can actually afford the ring chosen, and 2) the values of the man and woman align. Spending money you don't have = bad. Woman insists on big flashy ring from frugal or broke ma...

I think you need some more information about that 401k plan. My employer's plan is also a profit sharing plan with no match. They do not match the payroll contributions but make 1-2 contributions a year, which is a percentage of salary (typically totaling 2-4%), and as far as I know the eligibility ...

Shameless bump for attention.

You can get the train from FLL to Miami - it's not that far. Great info, thank you! I only saw some outrageous fare to taxi between the two airports. I found the train schedule (which looked reasonable, in terms of frequency and travel time), but I couldn't figure out how to calculate the fare. Do ...

Yes, my reasons are not strictly economic or for energy efficiency. In the real world, these things rarely are, I think. And yet, we always get involved in discussions of strict economic "pay back time". And - aluminium is obviously the logical and correct way to spell it. But I am becomin...

The weekend is the most expensive time to fly. And flight prices generally seem to be high these days. Given that you want to be there for Friday, I would look into flying late on Thursday night and/or leaving early on Monday morning. This does mean an extra night or two in a hotel, of course, so th...

"My next installation will probably be solar hot water heating. But only after I replace the windows. I replaced the a/c unit, and bumped up the attic insulation, but I only have single pane windows, so a lot of electricity is wasted through the windows. IF I got a plug-in car, then I think I'...

Thank you, LadyGeek!

Yes. I have a 2kW system, with battery backup. It does not power the a/c, oven, water heater, or dryer (basically, anything on the heavy-duty circuit). But it can run the whole house in March/April when I don't have a/c or heating on. It also provides power in the event of a power cut, and keeps the...

You don't have to have each fund in each account. For instance, you could do this: 401K: VBMFX Roth: VTSMX Taxable: VGTSX <-- note, I don't know what this is, but am too lazy to look it up. I'm assuming Total International? or this: 401K: VBMFX, VGTSX Roth: VTSMX Taxable: VTSMX or any combination, r...

I'm starting to figure out the next meeting, and am looking for input. Does anyone have a meeting location preference? And any suggestions of WHERE to meet? We have done one meeting in Miami, and one in Boca. This next one should presumably be south again, as we discussed alternating north and south...

Is this chapter still active? Yes. And no. We had two meetings last year - one in July and one in December, and should have had a meeting organized this year, but it just hasn't happened yet. I think it's because we've all been busy doing other things, and time slips by so fast. Maybe it'll end up ...

I think we as humans have a great tendency to look on the bright side of things. Which is a wonderful trait, and probably led us to do some amazing things that we otherwise wouldn't have risked. The downside is that when we are younger we only focus on the success stories, and not so much the people...

Now I live in Western Palm Beach county,...When Tropical Storm Isaac rolled through last year in August (nobody remembers that one I bet).... So, I guess it all depends on where you live. Even if you're not in a flood zone, the surrounding geography may dictate that it's a good idea. I assume you'r...

Oh dear. This is poor.

I think I'd do:

20% Dreyfus Bond Market Index Inv [DBMIX] (0.41)
80% Vanguard PRIMECAP Core Inv [VPCCX] (0.5)

Then he could pick up international and extended market index in an IRA, once he has some more money available.

I don't understand what is going on with your money. You list a Coverdell and a 529 - why both? And who is this for? You didn't list any kids - is this for you or your wife, or for kids? There is some nebulous mention of a 10-year expense, and then also some money to live on while you're young. And ...

jeff1949 wrote:14 out of 15......missed the one on "short selling".

Dang it. Me too.

Yes, I do.

Should I? Is the real question. I don't know the answer to that question.

I dropped company health insurance last year. At 44 and in what I thought was excellent health, it was a surprisingly long and agonizing process to even get covered. I found that the online estimators for premiums were accurate, and I found a reasonably priced HDHP plan ($182 a month) from BCBS but ...

Where does she live/work now? Is she still living and working in the US now, and so still building up SS credits, or not? And how long does she think she can/want to continue working? Eligibility for SS generally involves working for at least 10 years, which they both presumably have (although I wou...

Another option is to use the online calculator and input her full earnings record: http://www.ssa.gov/retire2/AnypiaApplet.html

It's the same as the downloadable calculator already mentioned but doesn't require downloading.

Well, technically, there IS a way to open a traditional IRA for 2013 with less than $3k if you already have a Roth IRA. Contribute to the Roth IRA. Call Vanguard, and ask them to recharacterize your contribution as being for a Traditional IRA instead. You'll have to report to the IRS that you made a...

Englishgirl likes Costco's Kirkland Signature Environmentally Friendly Laundry Detergent.

Try to remember what grape varieties or styles of wine you like best. To me, this is a bigger deal than the actual brand, at least with red wine. I find white wine varies more by brand, even for the same grape variety - at least to my taste. Lately, I've found that Malbec (generally from Argentina) ...

I appear to be getting more reasonable with age. How civilized of me! My AA has remained static for a few years, so I've moved out of the "more conservative" area, and it looks like I'm right on the line between conservative and reasonable. By my next birthday, I should be totally reasonab...

Welcome, and congratulations for getting where you are today!! Those cars worry me, especially with a young child. And the student loan interest rate is not so bad. Also, if you open a Roth IRA, you can withdraw contributions at any time without penalty. So, that can form the container for all or pa...

If I were to do 5 activities, here's what I would do: 1. Take the Tube to Embankment. Walk across the river on the pedestrian bridge to the south bank. Walk up the river bank to Westminster, past the London Eye. Maybe go on the London Eye and/or across the bridge at Westminster if I was with someone...

You have nice parents. I'd want a 23 year old with a good job to be contributing to the household, personally. I would be tempted to pay the loan off. But I think I'd say to them first "look, I've been saving money to set myself up and start becoming financially independent, but it seems to me ...

SobeCane - can you just use your credit cards more each month? Are there things you are spending money on that you don't put on your credit cards that you could easily move? For example, I always used to feel squicky about putting my grocery spending on my cc, and used to always use my debit card, b...

I have been thinking about this lately. [Good problem to have, really! :) ] I think at the time of moving in together, keeping separate accounts is easier. But if you are going to marry, then that seems time for a prenup. I'd want to specify that retirement accounts are separate, and will remain sep...

You have identified that there is a push/pull going on with your feelings in relation to the stock market. When the market is down, you want to run and hide - this means the market is scary. When the market is up, you want to jump in - this means you don't want to lose out on potential investing ret...

The best way to get hold of me is to text or message. For a good percentage of the day, I am in private appointments with people. I will not answer or even look at my phone during those appointments. Texting is quicker for me than to have to play a voicemail when I am available, and then call someon...

I wash almost everything, with the exception of some jackets and coats that are dry cleaned very irregularly. But I have also ruined a fair few clothing items in my time - I view it as an additional learning expense - eventually, you learn what fabrics you can and can't wash, even if the label says ...

Move back into the home. You're renting it at a $400 per month loss, and then you're talking of renting somewhere else for $1500 a month on top. So the choice is paying $1650 for your own house vs. $1900 to live elsewhere, which is a $250 a month difference. Plus, you have the opportunity to fix it ...