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Re: Vanguard - Increasing International Equity %

Meanwhile, I hope the go to market weights and leave it there - at least then they would have a fixed reason to keep it the same, and investors might have a reasonable expectation they would, in fact, do so. Until then, I will continue to advocate that people, where possible, roll their own. +1 If ...
by leo383
Sun Jun 16, 2013 7:40 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard - Increasing International Equity %
Replies: 54
Views: 4532

Re: Garter Snake Repellant

jdb wrote:Put up a screech owl house. You can buy online or make from kit. We have cute screech owl family raising brood in backyard nest now, have not seen any gator snakes recently. Also keeps rodent population down.


He'll then need a panther to get rid of the owls.
by leo383
Thu Jun 13, 2013 9:07 am
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Garter Snake Repellant
Replies: 21
Views: 1387

Re: Is the DOW gunna Tank?

I work with a guy who is convinced investing in equities in any capacity is a pointless, doomed venture. No evidence will sway him. His brilliant idea is that someone should make an app that would be just a button that would sell everything. Maybe it's already available? I find the current high lev...
by leo383
Thu Jun 13, 2013 6:47 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is the DOW gunna Tank?
Replies: 37
Views: 2638

Re: Premium Products That Are Worth It To You

Ketchup
Peanut Butter
by leo383
Thu Jun 06, 2013 12:56 pm
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Premium Products That Are Worth It To You
Replies: 230
Views: 13545

Re: Japanese financial crisis

Every time somebody makes a move, do the others have to respond to continue to try and hit their targets in a cyclical fashion? Is inflation relative? Absent government spending, are you left at the mercy of the private sector, waiting for animal spirits (how many goofy terms are there?). This is w...
by leo383
Wed Jun 05, 2013 2:23 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Japanese financial crisis
Replies: 48
Views: 4673

Re: All Stocks Anyone?

We were all equities up until about two years ago. I was drinking the Siegel Kool-Aid for sure. Funny, I didn't find it hard to hang in there during the 08-09 crash. I just "knew" it would eventually recover and go on to new highs. We are now 80/20. I'm 44 and my wife is 38. I think we wil...
by leo383
Sun Jun 02, 2013 10:27 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: All Stocks Anyone?
Replies: 47
Views: 3444

Re: CNBC ratings prove investors still just don't care.

Lots of people still on the sidelines, waiting to jump in the markets until right before the big correction.

Those ratings will tick up, I bet, when that happens.
by leo383
Thu May 30, 2013 12:10 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: CNBC ratings prove investors still just don't care.
Replies: 14
Views: 1142

Re: Method of Selecting: What Book are you reading now?

I get a lot of book ideas here, and have read several books simply because Value Thinker mentioned them. I also try to fill in gaps in my reading that school didn't cover. I am currently working my way through my 9yo son's Battle of the Books list: http://www.ncslma.org/uploads/8/4/7/0/8470189/eleme...
by leo383
Wed May 15, 2013 11:49 am
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Method of Selecting: What Book are you reading now?
Replies: 21
Views: 1242

Re: NYT article on why Cooper Union ended free tuition

Amazing that they haven't cultivated a loyal and generous alumni network.

Unique and FREE college in NYC with lots and lots of accomplished engineering, arts and architecture grads doesn't have generous alums? Unfathomable.
by leo383
Mon May 13, 2013 10:18 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: NYT article on why Cooper Union ended free tuition
Replies: 21
Views: 2153

Re: Does this bother you also?

I would say learning the difficulty and randomness of stock picking, with a paper portfolio, is a great lesson, one that might make an otherwise day trader consider the benefits of indexing, before there is too much at stake. It's a three month contest, not enough time to get those points across. T...
by leo383
Sun May 12, 2013 10:18 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Does this bother you also? [Stock picking contest]
Replies: 29
Views: 1913

Re: general (financial) advice about musical instruments/les

I highly suggest buying a used or new electronic keyboard. For $500-1500, you can get a weighted key keyboard that is very very convincing in sound and feel to a regular piano, doesn't need tuning, and can be turned down or used with headphones. We bought a weighted key Casio, about $600 and have no...
by leo383
Mon May 06, 2013 10:50 pm
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: general (financial) advice about musical instruments/lessons
Replies: 43
Views: 1873

Re: Jason Zweig on Financial Literacy Education

The sheer number of people who don't know that they don't know is what keeps me from thinking that financial lit (other than basic checkbook balancing, etc.) is a good idea in our schools. I worked in trust banking for several years. We were 9-5 professionals in the industry, and I would bet not one...
by leo383
Sun May 05, 2013 8:51 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Jason Zweig on Financial Literacy Education
Replies: 31
Views: 2243

Re: Jason Zweig on Financial Literacy Education

"Mommy, today a man from Merrill Lynch came to our math class and taught us how he could help us beat the market!"
by leo383
Sun May 05, 2013 6:49 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Jason Zweig on Financial Literacy Education
Replies: 31
Views: 2243

Re: Only after a 150% stock market rally in 4 years...

Didn't realize there was such a strong rally... no wonder I'm sitting on a load of cash right now (using VA strategy and 7%/4% assumption for stock/bond returns)... How can the stock market have risen so quickly? Employment situation still sucks out there, am I missing something? It's the old "...
by leo383
Sat May 04, 2013 9:33 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Only after a 150% stock market rally in 4 years...
Replies: 115
Views: 12384

Re: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)

Seven.

Total Stock
Total Intl Stock
Total Bond
Small Value Index
Long Term Tax Exempt
Fidelity S&P 500
PIMCO Total Return
by leo383
Fri May 03, 2013 3:01 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: How many investments do you own? (clarification below)
Replies: 64
Views: 2791

Re: Sno-balls [Any experience with sno-ball business?]

Here in Durham we have a New Orleans style sno ball place called Pelican's. They now have 9 locations, and are growing like a weed.

http://www.pelicanssnoballs.com/

Every time I'm there I marvel at what a gold mine it must be. $3 for a cup of ice and a little flavoring.
by leo383
Sat Apr 06, 2013 9:15 pm
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Sno-balls [Any experience with sno-ball business?]
Replies: 5
Views: 651

Re: Bill Gross and the Man in the Mirror

Ironic that this comes from one of the very few managers who can probably look in that mirror and conclude, "talent".
by leo383
Fri Apr 05, 2013 2:20 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Bill Gross and the Man in the Mirror
Replies: 4
Views: 785

Re: Is It O.K. To Wash Wool "Dry Clean Only" Dress Pants?

I have washed my 7yo daughter's wool pea coat a couple times in our HE washing machine.

Delicate cycle all by itself, tiny bit of detergent, air dry.

It has turned out great, although I wouldn't do this many times.
by leo383
Fri Apr 05, 2013 7:14 am
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is It O.K. To Wash Wool "Dry Clean Only" Dress Pants?
Replies: 19
Views: 1701

Re: How do big banks attract depositors

Convenience, inertia, ignorance of other better options, that's the bank my family/friends/boss uses, etc.

The Bogleheads are a savvy and unique group in that they are up on the banking options. The average person isn't.
by leo383
Wed Apr 03, 2013 3:58 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: How do big banks attract depositors
Replies: 42
Views: 3083

Re: Why do investors chase dividend paying strategies

I don't buy dividend stocks (we are 100% Vanguard Index Funds), but there is something inherently comforting (to me at least) about buying a stock, then having it pay you cold hard cash for as long as you own it. That cash is yours, you are free to spend it as you wish. :) I think a lot of dividend ...
by leo383
Fri Mar 29, 2013 11:48 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why do investors chase dividend paying strategies
Replies: 426
Views: 23673

Re: Midlife Crisis

The whole concept of planning a mid life crisis is a hoot. A true mid life crisis needs to be a spontaneous burst of energy directed in all the wrong directions. Its a knee jerk reaction to the realization that you are not going to play for the Chicago Bulls, pilot a F-15, or play lead guitar for t...
by leo383
Tue Mar 26, 2013 12:50 pm
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Midlife Crisis
Replies: 109
Views: 10795

Re: How do I build wealth?

I guess it all depends on what you mean by "real wealth".

If you want to end up with $2 million you should do very different things than if you want to end up with $50 million.
by leo383
Thu Mar 21, 2013 12:52 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: How do I build wealth?
Replies: 87
Views: 7103

Best Way to do Withholding

I generally have had an amount withheld from pay so that we owe very little to the Feds and state.

I have come to understand that this is sub-optimal, and the best thing to do is have very little withheld so that the money that will be owed can be invested.

What do you do?
by leo383
Sat Mar 09, 2013 4:55 pm
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Best Way to do Withholding
Replies: 3
Views: 337

Re: "Market Highs" Don't Pertain To You

Pfft. You guys missed out on the party back on Feb. 1 when the price of VTSMX set an all time high of $37.97/share. This came three days after tieing the previous all time high of $37.80 first set on 10/9/2007. Bogleheads around the world celebrated by eating a balanced meal covering every major fo...
by leo383
Thu Mar 07, 2013 8:02 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: "Market Highs" Don't Pertain To You
Replies: 9
Views: 1332

Re: Could you cut it as a Financial Advisor?

I think I could do it if I could invest all of my time into learning about taxes and everything else that would be required. I would not want to do it only as an investment adviser, but I think I would love being a "financial councilor," someone to help people with the full spectrum - set...
by leo383
Sat Feb 23, 2013 7:53 pm
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Could you cut it as a Financial Advisor?
Replies: 73
Views: 6341

Re: Proposed tax exemption for North Carolina retirees

Thanks Southport for bringing this up. It would be great for us pensioners who vested after 1989, like me. However, it seems totally counter to everything the new legislature is doing. They are bent on cutting taxes and reducing expenses and seem to look unkindly at govt employees and retirees. I a...
by leo383
Sat Feb 16, 2013 12:12 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Proposed tax exemption for North Carolina retirees
Replies: 10
Views: 798

Re: Motif Investing

there's a Harry Browne Permanent Portfolio Motif: https://www.motifinvesting.com/motifs/permanent-strategy?utm_source=pr_web&utm_medium=press_release&utm_campaign=investing-classics#/overview The equity portion is broken down into about 15 funds. Why on earth would they do that? Just buy the...
by leo383
Sat Feb 16, 2013 12:04 pm
 
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Motif Investing
Replies: 7
Views: 710

Re: Berskshire Hathaway and 3G buying Heinz

Can someone explain to me in normal human-speak how Buffett uses his insurance company as a form of leverage? I keep hearing that he does this to get an advantage the rest of us don't have, but I don't understand it.
by leo383
Fri Feb 15, 2013 1:58 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Berskshire Hathaway and 3G buying Heinz
Replies: 49
Views: 2538

Re: Pre-K better returns than equities?

No doubt pre-K has value. The study's huge returns on investment for pre-K however came from a very at risk population, and the later ACF study failed to replicate those results. Also, the return for pre-K in a broader middle class or upper class population may be substantially less because of bett...
by leo383
Fri Feb 15, 2013 9:09 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Pre-K better returns than equities?
Replies: 10
Views: 953

Re: Garage Door Opener Installation Question

Followup: I ended up buying a Sommer garage door opener based on soaring's recommendation and lots of positive reviews online. Plus, the opener is right under the kids' bedrooms and I needed a very quiet one. I bought the unit online from Lowes. It came to the house in two days. Yesterday, a Lowes i...
by leo383
Tue Feb 12, 2013 8:54 am
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Garage Door Opener Installation Question
Replies: 27
Views: 1610

Re: TV Antenna Hookup Question

[Oops, I crossed with the last two posts so there's some redundancy here, but what the heck...] (But what are the blue cables?) [added] If your antenna signal strength is borderline, you may find that splitting the signal drops you below the "digital cliff" and causes the picture to break...
by leo383
Mon Feb 11, 2013 3:38 pm
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: TV Antenna Hookup Question
Replies: 12
Views: 900

Re: Boglehead Concert Goers?

A few times a year I go hear classical music, usually solo piano, at Duke or UNC's halls. They both have pretty good concert series. $15-75 per show. I play bass in an originals rock band here in Durham, so I hear local rock bands at the various venues here in town. I consider that more work than fu...
by leo383
Mon Feb 11, 2013 3:34 pm
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Boglehead Concert Goers?
Replies: 48
Views: 2023

Re: Primer or Paint with Primer?

I sold paint part time for a number of years for Sears. There are only a handful of paint makers in the US who make all of the major brand name paints.

I suggest roughing up the surface, priming with an oil or latex primer, and painting using paint that is specifically for floors.
by leo383
Mon Feb 11, 2013 2:30 pm
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Primer or Paint with Primer?
Replies: 24
Views: 1447

Re: Bathroom Light Fixture Question

cheese_breath wrote:How old is it? I had a house many years ago where the ring unscrewed from the rest of the fixture. All you had to do was apply upward pressrure to the ring while unscrewing it.


The house is five years old.
by leo383
Mon Feb 11, 2013 12:01 pm
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bathroom Light Fixture Question
Replies: 11
Views: 751

Re: TV Antenna Hookup Question

Check and see if the chrome device is a splitter( should be Labeled), if it is hook the wire from the antenna to the input terminal then hook the remaining cables to the output terminals and you should have a signal to all areas wired..if it is not a splitter, buy one (pretty cheap) and hook up the...
by leo383
Mon Feb 11, 2013 12:00 pm
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: TV Antenna Hookup Question
Replies: 12
Views: 900

Re: TV Antenna Hookup Question

sscritic wrote:Yes. Change the connections until the upstairs tv works and the downstairs tv doesn't.


Exactly what I'm afraid of. :D
by leo383
Mon Feb 11, 2013 11:32 am
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: TV Antenna Hookup Question
Replies: 12
Views: 900

Bathroom Light Fixture Question

How would you get to the light bulb in this bathroom light fixture? http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh49/jasper383/tuners/fixture_zpsbeb6fda1.jpg If it is in fact a light fixture at all? And if it's not a light fixture, what is it? There doesn't seem to be a way to get in there. The glass cover i...
by leo383
Mon Feb 11, 2013 11:30 am
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bathroom Light Fixture Question
Replies: 11
Views: 751

TV Antenna Hookup Question

We recently canceled cable TV and had a man come out and put an antenna on our roof. It works fine on our downstairs TV, but is not hooked up to our upstairs TV. While he was here, he said that we could get the antenna signal hooked up to the upstairs TV by using the existing cable TV infrastructure...
by leo383
Mon Feb 11, 2013 11:25 am
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: TV Antenna Hookup Question
Replies: 12
Views: 900

Re: Buy long term treasuries in 1981?

30 years from now, there will be investors looking at us and asking why we didn't see the obvious.
by leo383
Sun Feb 10, 2013 8:46 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Buy long term treasuries in 1981?
Replies: 50
Views: 2444

Re: What the best value in anti-virus software

stan1 wrote:Microsoft Security Essentials -- free, non-invasive, and generally "good enough" for most home users.



+1

Unless you have some unusual security requirements, MSSE is the way to go.
by leo383
Sat Feb 09, 2013 3:40 pm
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What the best value in anti-virus software
Replies: 63
Views: 4375

Re: What % of your income are you saving for retirement?

I knew Bogleheads were savings outliers, but I had no idea. :eek:

We save about 20%
by leo383
Thu Feb 07, 2013 3:54 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What % of your income are you saving for retirement?
Replies: 228
Views: 18537

Re: Charlie Ellis & Burton Malkiel say 0% bonds OK under 50

Here's Ellis recommending 100% stocks for those under 40:

http://www.kiplinger.com/article/invest ... folio.html

40-50 10% bonds, up to a max of 50% bonds.
by leo383
Thu Feb 07, 2013 6:57 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Charlie Ellis & Burton Malkiel say 0% bonds OK under 50
Replies: 155
Views: 11282

Re: Finally arrived: The Vanguard Total International Bond F

WHL wrote:so, should our 3-fund portfolios now be changed to a 4-fund portfolio? :mrgreen:


Or, one step closer to a Total World Bond Fund, added to the Total World Stock Fund, for the ultimate Bogleheads Two-Fund Portfolio!
by leo383
Wed Feb 06, 2013 3:48 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Finally arrived: The Vanguard Total International Bond Fund
Replies: 187
Views: 17404

Re: Garage Door Opener Installation Question

I have no intention of installing the opener myself. :happy

Installation is about $100 well spent, imo.
by leo383
Mon Feb 04, 2013 1:59 pm
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Garage Door Opener Installation Question
Replies: 27
Views: 1610

Garage Door Opener Installation Question

We are looking at having in a garage door opener installed. I get a quote for basically the same opener from Home Depot for about $330, and from a dedicated garage door company nearby for $385. Any reason to pick the garage door company over Home Depot? I am more leery of the contractors that Home D...
by leo383
Mon Feb 04, 2013 10:31 am
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Garage Door Opener Installation Question
Replies: 27
Views: 1610

Re: How Can I Tell If My Dentist is Good One?

dm200 wrote:Seinfeld had several "Dentist" bits in his show over the years. :happy :happy


Louis CK has a dentist episode on his show, too. Extremely uncomfortable. :shock:
by leo383
Thu Jan 31, 2013 3:17 pm
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How Can I Tell If My Dentist is Good One?
Replies: 133
Views: 6711

Re: cpi inflation adjusted sp500 chart

- there may be something about investor expectations, that as long as current income covers them against inflation, they are prepared to hold on to this long term investment that has truly volatile prices I have thought this many times over the last 10+ years; hanging in there with my stock allocat...
by leo383
Thu Jan 31, 2013 3:13 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: cpi inflation adjusted sp500 chart
Replies: 16
Views: 1664

A Shares or T Shares Inside 401(k)?

My wife's 401(k) just changed some 401(k) funds, and have added Fidelity Freedom Target Funds. I am thinking we will move to one of these, as most of the other options are unacceptable. There is a choice between A shares and T shares of these funds. I understand A shares have an upfront load (don't ...
by leo383
Wed Jan 30, 2013 5:23 pm
 
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
Topic: A Shares or T Shares Inside 401(k)?
Replies: 2
Views: 153

Re: Is the market nearing a new high?

z3r0c00l wrote:It is extremely depressing when people around you sell low and buy high. It is just painful to see, and wonder what they are thinking.


They aren't thinking, they are feeling and confusing it with thinking.

The biggest problem with humans, imo. :happy
by leo383
Wed Jan 30, 2013 8:45 am
 
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is the market nearing a new high?
Replies: 56
Views: 5482

Re: How Can I Tell If My Dentist is Good One?

My problem with referrals is that most people have only gone to 2 or 3 dentists. Saying that your dentist is the best of the 2 or 3 you visited does not carry a whole of weight with me. This is part of my question; everybody has a good dentist or a bad dentist story and is full of recommendations, ...
by leo383
Tue Jan 29, 2013 3:04 pm
 
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How Can I Tell If My Dentist is Good One?
Replies: 133
Views: 6711
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