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German pension

My wife (American, worked in Germany for 6 years) will soon turn 65 and will claim the German equivalent of Social Security (Deutsche Rentenversicherung, formerly BfA, "Berliner" Rente) and supplemental pension from VBL (for public employees). Has anyone applied for either of these pension...
by jefmafnl
Sun May 19, 2013 8:58 am
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: German pension
Replies: 1
Views: 200

Tax on Dec. Soc. Sec. payment

If one is a "cash basis" taxpayer, is the Social Security payment for December, received in January, taxable in the new year? Or is there some special exception for Social Security, requiring it to be included in taxable income for the old year?

Thanks.

J
by jefmafnl
Sun Apr 28, 2013 2:16 pm
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tax on Dec. Soc. Sec. payment
Replies: 1
Views: 241

How to calculate YTM in Excel?

For those of us who used to be good at math but are rusty from not using those mental muscles... What's the Excel formula to calculate the YTM of one's EE bond(s), if S was the starting value, C is the current value, and M is the number of months (or Y the number of years) remaining until one has he...
by jefmafnl
Sat Apr 20, 2013 7:45 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Article: EE Bonds are the best Long Term bond
Replies: 77
Views: 4968

Double-check: date of ETF transaction?

For tax purposes, is the date of an ETF sale or purchase the transaction date or the settlement date?

Thanks.

J
by jefmafnl
Mon Apr 01, 2013 11:23 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Double-check: date of ETF transaction?
Replies: 2
Views: 198

How can I amend IRS Form 8938 (2011) easily?

My wife and I are US citizens living in Europe. Although our financial situation is fairly simple, our US tax return is very complicated, due to the complexities involved with the foreign earned income exclusion and the foreign tax credit. (Tax rates in the European country of residence are much hig...
by jefmafnl
Sun Mar 24, 2013 7:47 am
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How can I amend IRS Form 8938 (2011) easily?
Replies: 0
Views: 112

Is fee to adviser (% of AUM) deductible as investment exp?

My Mom (87) is considering an adviser who charges a fee, calculated as a fixed % of assets under management.

My Mom asked me if this is deductible, and (having never been in that situation) I have no idea.

Is it?

Thanks!

J
by jefmafnl
Thu Mar 21, 2013 3:17 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is fee to adviser (% of AUM) deductible as investment exp?
Replies: 7
Views: 588

Re: FBAR and back tax returns for expat

Thanks to all who replied.

She probably wouldn't owe any taxes, after taking the foreign earned income exemption and the foreign tax credit for the appropriate portion of the small amount above the exemption.

J
by jefmafnl
Wed Feb 27, 2013 4:46 pm
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: FBAR and back tax returns for expat
Replies: 5
Views: 569

FBAR and back tax returns for expat

My step-daughter, a US citizen who has worked for several years in a foreign country and paid (substantial) foreign taxes, but has not filed US tax returns, is thinking of filing 6 years' worth of FBAR (Foreign Bank Account) forms to take advantage of temporary leniency. These forms are filed with t...
by jefmafnl
Mon Feb 25, 2013 3:42 pm
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: FBAR and back tax returns for expat
Replies: 5
Views: 569

Unit investment trusts for Mom (87)?

My Mom (87) wants help from a professional with her investment decisions. Today we interviewed a 2-person team from a firm of financial advisers. Most of their answers were good...they look at the big picture "holistically", are paid by fee only (percent of assets under management), and le...
by jefmafnl
Thu Feb 21, 2013 2:41 am
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Unit investment trusts for Mom (87)?
Replies: 2
Views: 214

Reverse mortage and Medicaid

Several years ago my wife and I helped my mother-in-law (now 89, and still living in her house) get a reverse mortgage, since her financial resources had become extremely limited. She's also receiving benefits from Medicaid. Now she's received a letter asking her to come to a hearing regarding her e...
by jefmafnl
Mon Jan 14, 2013 8:27 am
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Reverse mortage and Medicaid
Replies: 2
Views: 266

Reverse mortgage and Medicaid eligibility

Several years ago my wife and I helped my mother-in-law (now 89, and still living in her house) get a reverse mortgage, since her financial resources had become extremely limited. She's also receiving benefits from Medicaid. Now she's received a letter asking her to come to a hearing regarding her e...
by jefmafnl
Sat Jan 12, 2013 2:35 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Reverse mortgage and Medicaid eligibility
Replies: 1
Views: 270

Married filing separately

Wife (not working) will begin receiving retirement benefits this year. We've always filed jointly, but would like to estimate what our tax would be if we filed separately. If we file separately, how do we deal with interest, dividends, and cap gains? Does everything need to be split 50 50, or is it ...
by jefmafnl
Mon Jan 07, 2013 11:44 am
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Married filing separately
Replies: 7
Views: 728

Does Vanguard still accept fund exchanges via snail mail?

In case one occasionally wants to exchange into a fund less than 60 days after exchanging out:
Has anyone recently tried to exchange funds by sending Vanguard a letter by snail mail?
Did it work?

Thanks.

J
by jefmafnl
Thu Jan 03, 2013 2:57 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Does Vanguard still accept fund exchanges via snail mail?
Replies: 3
Views: 262

Re: Fund placement for US expat

(Bump) Any suggestions?

J
by jefmafnl
Sun Dec 30, 2012 8:26 am
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Fund placement for US expat
Replies: 2
Views: 388

Re: Still need confirmation for pre-2012 cost basis?

1 Website says: for fund for which I hadn't (since the advent of the new regulations) changed my account profile to Specific Share ID, transaction will be processed as FIFO, but I should call before end of following business day to specify shares. However, since these shares were purchased pre-2012,...
by jefmafnl
Sat Dec 29, 2012 8:52 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Still need confirmation for pre-2012 cost basis?
Replies: 3
Views: 388

Fund placement for US expat

Due to my tax situation, the challenge of fund placement can't automatically be met with the normal Boglehead recommendations. I am a US citizen. I have worked in the Netherlands since 1999, and probably will continue to do so until my retirement around the end of 2020. (My wife retired early.) Duri...
by jefmafnl
Fri Dec 28, 2012 2:27 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Fund placement for US expat
Replies: 2
Views: 388

Still need confirmation for pre-2012 cost basis?

Just went to exchange funds in a taxable account and discovered that the purchase dates for shares acquired pre-2012 will be listed as "various" on the Vanguard confirmation. For specific share ID, is it still necessary to send Vanguard a secure e-mail with the purchase info, so that they ...
by jefmafnl
Fri Dec 28, 2012 1:02 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Still need confirmation for pre-2012 cost basis?
Replies: 3
Views: 388

Effect of CalPERS suit on Calif. munis?

The new Economist has an article on the CalPERS suit against San Bernardino: http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21567954-bankrupt-city-takes-public-pensions-behemoth-breaking-californian-taboo My Mom (89) has bought individual municipal bonds in the past and would like to do so again. (No c...
by jefmafnl
Sun Dec 09, 2012 4:32 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Effect of CalPERS suit on Calif. munis?
Replies: 2
Views: 384

Re: "Classic look" in Windows 7 and 8?

Thanks for all the replies. She learned on her present Dell, about 7 years ago. She still has her mental faculties, but she never had great computer instincts...just uses it via AOL (!) for email. We're about 4,000 miles away, so we're looking for a simple solution. Will try to keep her present syst...
by jefmafnl
Wed Oct 24, 2012 1:10 pm
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: "Classic look" in Windows 7 and 8?
Replies: 37
Views: 2216

"Classic look" in Windows 7 and 8?

My mother-in-law, 89, may need a new computer soon. I think she's using Windows XP, and I'm concerned that she might find it very difficult to adapt to a different "desktop". Since we switched to Macs at home, I haven't kept up on the PC world. At my place of employment, when we got Vista,...
by jefmafnl
Sun Oct 21, 2012 1:59 pm
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: "Classic look" in Windows 7 and 8?
Replies: 37
Views: 2216

Cost basis for Admiral shares

After a conversion from Investor to Admiral shares in a taxable account, does the cost basis on the Vanguard statement simply reflect the Admiral share price at conversion, rather than the original (Investor) purchase price, correctly adjusted? If so, when one sells the shares using specific share I...
by jefmafnl
Sun Oct 07, 2012 7:12 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Cost basis for Admiral shares
Replies: 3
Views: 539

Thanks, Larry!

Larry,
belated thanks for your answer regarding appropriate maturities for muni bonds.

J
by jefmafnl
Mon Oct 01, 2012 1:45 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Investing with rates low
Replies: 34
Views: 3638

Delaying Medicare enrollment

My wife will turn 65 next year. I will still be working for many years (in a foreign country) and she is covered on my group medical insurance. (We are both US citizens.) Does anyone have experience with delaying enrollment ("Special enrollment period for people covered under an employer group ...
by jefmafnl
Sun Sep 30, 2012 7:43 am
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Delaying Medicare enrollment
Replies: 5
Views: 528

Muni bonds

Larry,
just to double-check: for taxable bonds, you recommend increasing maturity if the yield increases by 0.2% per additional year.

For municipal bonds, do you use the same rule of thumb? If not, how do you adjust it?

Thanks!

J
by jefmafnl
Sun Sep 30, 2012 3:03 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Investing with rates low
Replies: 34
Views: 3638

Purchase date for shares conv. to Admiral

Thanks to a previous thread here, I understand how to calculate a cost basis for Investor Shares in a Vanguard mutual fund that are later converted to Admiral Shares. Just to double-check: for purposes of calculating capital gains or losses in a taxable account, is the purchase date the date of the ...
by jefmafnl
Sun Sep 16, 2012 3:48 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Purchase date for shares conv. to Admiral
Replies: 2
Views: 222

Re: Adviser for Mom (87)

She's someone who always likes to consider all options very thoroughly before making a decision. She's not ruling out a fee-based planner, but is skeptical based on past experience. Since she's still buying and selling individual securities, she feels that she needs "advice on demand" rath...
by jefmafnl
Sat Sep 08, 2012 11:41 am
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Adviser for Mom (87)
Replies: 8
Views: 730

Re: Adviser for Mom (87)

Paul,
that's exactly right...she wants advice from an "expert."

J
by jefmafnl
Sat Sep 08, 2012 6:54 am
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Adviser for Mom (87)
Replies: 8
Views: 730

IRA rollover to beneficiary

I travel a lot on business, without my wife, so I'm trying to leave information and a few instructions for her in case I predecease her. (I handle all of the finances and investments.) We are American citizens living in a high-tax foreign country. If I died suddenly, she'd probably relocate to the U...
by jefmafnl
Fri Sep 07, 2012 1:08 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: IRA rollover to beneficiary
Replies: 4
Views: 348

Adviser for Mom (87)

My Mom (87) was never involved with investment details until my father passed away 10 years ago. Since then she's done a very good job of managing the portfolio, although not according to Boglehead principles, and not simplifying the portfolio as I would have. She has very good math skills, but, alt...
by jefmafnl
Fri Sep 07, 2012 12:51 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Adviser for Mom (87)
Replies: 8
Views: 730

Mix maturities and types of nominal bonds?

We have a 70/30 stock/bond allocation. For the last few years the bond allocation has been split equally between VIPSX (TIPS) and VFISX (Short Term Treasury). We chose short term out of fear of an imminent spike in interest rates. Reading posts here has convinced me that a somewhat longer maturity f...
by jefmafnl
Wed Aug 01, 2012 7:14 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Mix maturities and types of nominal bonds?
Replies: 5
Views: 1089

52 wk trading range in large print for Mom?

My Mom, almost 87, has managed a basically conservative portfolio with success since my father's death almost 10 years ago. She does (unfortunately) buy individual preferred stocks and individual corporate bonds, and (occasionally) an individual common stock. She firmly believes in this, and after m...
by jefmafnl
Mon May 28, 2012 7:13 am
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: 52 wk trading range in large print for Mom?
Replies: 2
Views: 289

Re: New Vanguard prospectuses?

Thanks!
by jefmafnl
Mon May 21, 2012 1:29 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: New Vanguard prospectuses?
Replies: 2
Views: 308

New Vanguard prospectuses?

Received an E-mail about new prospectuses: Vanguard Inflation-Protected Securities Fund Investor Shares prospectus Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares prospectus Vanguard Small-Cap Value Index Fund prospectus Vanguard Large-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares prospectus Vanguard Small-Ca...
by jefmafnl
Mon May 21, 2012 12:56 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: New Vanguard prospectuses?
Replies: 2
Views: 308

Adding checking account to Treasury Direct

I need to link a new checking account to my Treasury Direct account. If anyone has done this within the past 6 months, I'd appreciate any helpful tips or warnings. Thanks.

J
by jefmafnl
Sun May 06, 2012 3:22 am
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Adding checking account to Treasury Direct
Replies: 2
Views: 415

Re: How do I download Vanguard tax forms on Mac?

In case anyone else is having a similar problem ... turned out to be a Firefox/Adobe problem. Found solution on Firefox help:

Go to FF Tools menu, click on "Add-ons", select "Plug-ins", and for Adobe Acrobat NPAPI Plug-in, Version 10.1.3 click "Disable".

J
by jefmafnl
Sun Apr 29, 2012 3:22 am
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: How do I download Vanguard tax forms on Mac?
Replies: 21
Views: 1108

Re: tax efficient fund placement question

Doesn't having SOME stock index funds in tax-free or tax-deferred accounts make sense to aid in rebalancing? Especially in retirement, when there's no "new money" with which to rebalance. Otherwise a major imbalance would require the investor to sell stock funds from his or her taxable acc...
by jefmafnl
Wed Mar 28, 2012 6:38 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: tax efficient fund placement question
Replies: 8
Views: 672

Re: Should being a renter vs owner change your AA?

Not wishing to muddy the waters, but not sure if these questions merit a new thread... --Does Vanguard Brokerage Services (VBS) even offer margin accounts? What's the current interest rate? (Just curious...please don't drum me out of the Bogleheads for asking!) --For longterm renters: does having so...
by jefmafnl
Sat Mar 10, 2012 11:04 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Should being a renter vs owner change your AA?
Replies: 37
Views: 1791

Re: How do I download Vanguard tax forms on Mac?

Preview was able to read the other 3 tax documents (pdf) with no problem. Nonetheless, I downloaded Adobe Reader. Preferences seem to be set properly. But Vanguard still serves up a "servlet" rather than pdf file for the VBS tax statement. I've sent them a message asking what to do.

J
by jefmafnl
Tue Feb 28, 2012 6:48 am
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: How do I download Vanguard tax forms on Mac?
Replies: 21
Views: 1108

Re: How do I download Vanguard tax forms on Mac?

Yes, I've tried Firefox (on the Mac), but I can't get to a normal dialog box with "Save As" , and the print menu, under PDF,
only let's me save as a Postscript file (Save as pdf is grayed out).

Any other suggestions?

J
by jefmafnl
Mon Feb 27, 2012 5:42 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: How do I download Vanguard tax forms on Mac?
Replies: 21
Views: 1108

Re: How do I download Vanguard tax forms on Mac?

The Vanguard (mutual fund) forms (1099 B, 1099 DIV, and cost basis) are no problem. However, with the Vanguard Brokerage Services (VBS) Consolidated form: First I see "Your tax form is loading" on a yellow field near the top. If I click on either saving the file or opening it in preview, I...
by jefmafnl
Mon Feb 27, 2012 2:04 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: How do I download Vanguard tax forms on Mac?
Replies: 21
Views: 1108

How do I download Vanguard tax forms on Mac?

Recently switched to Mac, and having some difficulty downloading and saving Vanguard tax forms (as pdf files) so that I can upload them to my accountant. Downloading (in Safari) seems to produce not a pdf file, but a "DisplayVbsTaxFormsServlet" that I can't save or duplicate (need password...
by jefmafnl
Mon Feb 27, 2012 12:54 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: How do I download Vanguard tax forms on Mac?
Replies: 21
Views: 1108

Re: Dec 29 cap gains taxable in old or new year?

Oops...livesoft is right, it's included in box 1a.

Thanks.

J
by jefmafnl
Sat Feb 25, 2012 12:32 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Dec 29 cap gains taxable in old or new year?
Replies: 12
Views: 445

Re: Dec 29 cap gains taxable in old or new year?

The short-term cap gain was distributed by the fund...it's not the result of our selling shares. It's listed as a transaction on the Vanguard website, but it doesn't show up in Box 2a ("Total capital gain distr.") of Form 1099-DIV. Does this mean that it's taxable in 2012 instead of 2011? ...
by jefmafnl
Sat Feb 25, 2012 12:27 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Dec 29 cap gains taxable in old or new year?
Replies: 12
Views: 445

Dec 29 cap gains taxable in old or new year?

On the Vanguard website, "My recent transactions" for a fund in our taxable account shows a short-term capital of gain of ca. $44 on Dec. 29, 2011. However, the 2011 Form 1099-DIV (hard copy received by snail mail; corresponds with tax form on the website) shows zero capital gain distribut...
by jefmafnl
Sat Feb 25, 2012 11:15 am
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: Dec 29 cap gains taxable in old or new year?
Replies: 12
Views: 445

Re: PC to Mac with I Bonds: export or re-enter manually?

I was hoping to avoid using a Windows emulator and just enjoy the relative simplicity of the Mac ...

J
by jefmafnl
Sun Feb 05, 2012 4:12 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: PC to Mac with I Bonds: export or re-enter manually?
Replies: 3
Views: 295

PC to Mac with I Bonds: export or re-enter manually?

Recently switched from a PC to a Mac. I was in the habit of keeping the Savings Bond Wizard on my PC updated (every 6 months) and printing out current values and interest YTD every month. Apparently there's no Mac version, so I need to start using the online calculator. Is there a simple way to expo...
by jefmafnl
Sun Feb 05, 2012 2:29 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: PC to Mac with I Bonds: export or re-enter manually?
Replies: 3
Views: 295

Re: Tax GAIN Harvesting

No problem. Successful investing should be like watching paint dry. Making jokes about minimum post length at least gives us something to laugh at while we watch...

J.
by jefmafnl
Thu Dec 29, 2011 11:54 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Tax GAIN Harvesting
Replies: 13
Views: 711
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