Bogleheads.org

My employer's hsa custodian has significantly increased our fees to the point we are moving custodian's very soon. Unfortunately our new custodian lost its mutual fund/brokerage option at the 11th hour and now has no option. I would like some help in finding the lowest cost place I can move my balan...

Thanks. I was misinformed. I don't want to short this area. If all my international exposure is vanguard total intl index am I getting the appropriate intl small and mid cap allocation?

Of all my investments, I thought only my vanguard extended market and vanguard total index had any small/mid exposure. Based on the fact that I have 22% according to the x ray, my two American Funds 401K options (growth fund of Am and wash mutual) must have some exposure. This true? Concerning the X...

For the first time I input all our funds and balances in the X-Ray and got the below results. Our AA target is 75 stocks/ 25 bonds. We also want 30% of the equity exposure to be international. We also want 15% of the equity exposure to be small/mid cap. Any help with reviewing the x-ray and how we a...

So if we made less money and had less in savings it would make more sense to do?

Not sure where I would find that information. The homes zip code is 46062.

My wife and I are wrestling with the above decision. We currently live in a 2200 sq ft house in the best suburban area around Indianapolis. We are purchasing a new our home in the next 6-8 months. Our budget for this home is all in at $350,000. Current house Estimated value- $150,000 15 yr mortgage-...

Thank you. I noticed that too.

Yes, that is very helpful. In addition to the PIMCO fund you reference, the below fund is also available in HIS 401K. Should I consider it at all? It does have a .1 higher ER than the PIMCO fund.

American Funds Cap World Bond (RCWCX) (1.21)

Can the board please help regarding my small/mid cap allocation referenced above?

Thank you.

Thanks for the help. When I move the money from the S fund to G fund in her TSP, I lose 1/3rd of my small/medium cap exposure. Should that be fixed by purchasing more VEXAX in taxable or is there a more efficient way of getting this done?

Thanks! In our situation are I-Bonds a no-brainer? Should muni bonds enter the discussion? CD's? Concerning our AA, I just had thoughts the bond AA is going to get more and more difficult to keep if PIMCO isnt used in his 401K. Also, should a combination of F and G Fund be used when we are forced to...

I'm slightly puzzled by the lack of responses, but I will hold out hope....

One other item we are struggling with is how to keep the bond percentages in line for our AA with the good returns of the market. Would hate to have to use bond fund in my 401k as the ER is ridiculous.

Combined income is $300,000 Emergency Funds- 6 months Additional House Downpayment Fund- $140,000 Debt: Only debt is 15 yr mortgage (15 years remaining) 2.875% fixed, $113K balance Tax Filing Status: Married Tax Rate: 33% Federal 3.4% State, IN Age: 31 years old, Wife is 27 Current Asset Allocation:...

I like the mobile banking of some of the larger banks which arent Credit Unions. That is the only drawback I can find at this point.

My wife is a Dept of Defense employee and we have access to the above Credit Union. In my research, their high yield savings accounts are at 1.6% with balances of $100,000. Does anyone have experience with this CU and is there any reason we shouldnt jump in with both feet?

Thanks! What will I use the attorney for? Draft a contract offer?

My wife and I are beginning to look for a new home. We have no urgency to buy, but have begun to look. We are only looking in an area of 2 or 3 miles due to a number of reasons, schools, work commute, family etc. We have being looking at homes that come up in the last couple weeks and have a couple ...

The LTC policy is with Northwest Mutual and has a max benefit of $200/ day.

My mother in law has no debt of any kind and no kids that have any dependency on her for financial help. She currently has 2 $50k whole life policies and 1 $100k term policy. She also has purchased a LTC policy. She is spending $4,500 a year for all this insurance. I cannot think of any reason for h...

Currently all of our taxable investments are in my name at Vanguard. Is there any reason to change this? She is listed as my beneficiary, but havent done much of the clerical of combining all accounts at Vanguard into 1 since marriage.

Any issues with this?

Thanks livesoft. Do you know if this is an automatic prompt by Turbo Tax?

Thanks for the reply. It was funded with after tax money. Hopefully someone with turbo tax or similar experience will have some insight.

Concerning a backdoor Roth for someone who has never had an IRA, it was my understanding there would only be a tax liability owed on any earnings that occurred between the IRA deposit and when the Roth conversion is performed. Is this accurate? In January I put $5,000 in an IRA for 2011 and another ...

Thank you. Turbo Tax asks for an IRA Explanation Statement. Is this required by the IRS?

I didnt have an IRA before this. My contributions $5,000 for 2011 (made in 2012, before 4/15) and $5,000 for 2012 were the first contributions I have ever made to an IRA. I then did the backdoor move into a Roth.

No problem. What details are needed?

I contributed to an IRA in 2011 and 2012 and then did a backdoor conversion. I received my 2012 Form 1099R from Vanguard today and I am thoroughly confused. I use Turbo Tax and need help digesting all this and instructions on how to properly report this information on my Income taxes.

Thanks

Fontana Ltd.

Long- FAST, NAV

Short- RUSHA, TRV

A unique situation occurred at our company regarding our 401K. We made a switch beginning 1/1/2011 from a Safe Harbor plan to a different type employee match with a different vesting schedule. The change resulted in a better vesting schedule for the employees. However, the switch didnt occurr and al...

Thanks for all the help. I am going to exchange the International in the Roth to the small/mid cap recommended. Is there any reason not to do this asap? Also, how much of my 50% Domestic AA is recommended to be in Small/Mid Cap? Any tax consequences I need to know or any advantage to waiting til aft...

I don't think you should do anything just yet. Why don't you post enough for people to work with and get a suggestion here first? I know you posted some info, but it is not the full deal. And please don't use just tickers. :( See below: Combined income is $305,000 Emergency Funds- 6 months House Fu...

I am in the 35% Federal Tax bracket, so the reason for our meeting was to review many areas of investing and their impact on higher tax bracket investors. There isn't much to say here. If you use index funds, you will minimize taxable distributions, and you may want to consider using muni bonds inst...

Thanks for all the feedback. For those who asked, I have listed my portfolio below. My understanding concerning the qualified dividends is they are taxed as ordinary income in mutual funds and capital gains in individual stocks. Is this not accurate? G Fund TSP- 20.56% RWMCX 401K- 15.59% RGACX 401K-...

I have paid $0. This person is a personal friend and has met with me for 90 minutes total in two sessions.

He does have an investment business, but I am not a paying client.

It is my understanding that items 2 and 3 are extremely important the higher tax bracket the investor is in. Is this not correct?

The title says it all. Many items were brought up specific to my situation, however, I think they are very comparable to many on this board and I would like to hear some feedback. I am in the 35% Federal Tax bracket, so the reason for our meeting was to review many areas of investing and their impac...

The G Fund has been applauded on this site for its "free lunch" but lately, due to the returns being very small due to current interest rates, I don't feel the board believes it is so great. I am in the same position as you with both Vanguard and TSP options. From my experiences, I believe...

My wife and I are in a position where we dont have to take much risk to be in great shape for retirement do to income and the amounts we can save.

This was the thought behind following the "age in bonds" rule of thumb.

Thanks for the information. Sounds like a combination of the two will make the most sense.

Should it be done at 50- 50?

That info is posted.

My understanding is the G fund will rise more when interest rates are increasing and are high. The F fund will do the opposite. So in current times, F fund is providing better returns.

Yes, I specifically want to know if our existing bond allocation of predominantly G fund and a little Vanguard Total Bond Index is appropriate. I believe we are doing a good job of keeping both of the above in tax advantaged accounts, but want to know if we should consider a little more "risk&q...

Currently our 26.4% bond allocation is made up of: TSP G Fund- 21.2% Roth-VBTLX- 5.2% My wife and I are 26 and 30, so we have a 30 year time horizon. Are we being too cautious with the vast majority of the Bonds being in the G Fund? Should we consider the F fund? Below is other info if needed to dev...

Old, weak and fragile in your 50s?? That is absolutely not the norm in America.

Old, weak and fragile in your 70s and 80s, maybe.

I don't know if its salt or chlorine. Pool was put installed in 1999.

We would do the chemicals ourselves and leave the open and close for the professionals.

What does the open and close normally cost?

My wife and I are looking at purchasing a new home which has an in ground gunite custom pool and in ground 8 foot spa. We are located in the midwest and anticipate the pool being open from Mid May- late September and the spa year round. I would like some help to determine the estimated annual mainte...

Based on this feedback, it sounds like paying down a mortgage should always be considered before purchasing I Bongs. Is this acccurate?

In my case, I am in the 33% federal tax bracket and have a 2.875 15 mortgage.

I guess I should add TIPS as an option in #1.

Have I reached a point where there aren't additional preferred tax options?

Well, my wife and I are married and have combined all assets and would like a check-up. Combined income is $285,000 Emergency Funds- 6 months House Fund- $45,000 Debt: Only debt is 15 yr mortgage (15 years remaining) 2.875% fixed, $119K balance Tax Filing Status: Married Tax Rate: 33% Federal 3.4% S...