Search found 569 matches

by new2bogle2
Thu Jan 25, 2024 11:40 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Advice caring for new black car?
Replies: 76
Views: 9503

Re: Advice caring for new black car?

As an FYI, nobody needs to use a pressure washer to wash a car, it's really just for fun My car was thankfully waxed in late December so it’s holding up quite well. I notice the rain beading off it, especially on the hood. But there has been snow in my area and a lot of salt on the roads but temperatures are quite low. Overall I’m not worried about water spots (so I don’t mind using water from a hose) but I was hoping their might be a quick way to effectively remove the salt off the car without taking the time to stand outside and wash it all with a cloth. Would a pressure washer, from a safe distance, be a quick but effective way to remove the salt, throughout the winter months until I’d have time (and temperature) to offer a better overa...
by new2bogle2
Fri Jan 05, 2024 11:32 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Advice caring for new black car?
Replies: 76
Views: 9503

Re: Advice caring for new black car?

grussgott wrote: Fri Jan 05, 2024 1:55 am

As for protecting, no ceramic needed (tho I do use Car Pro DLux on my wheels), and something as cheap as Turtle Wax Seal-n-Shine will outperform just about anything on the market for $12 including their own products. Assuming you apply, say, Seal-n-Shine every 3-6 months it's functionally equivalent to a $5000 ceramic ... but don't expect anyone with a $5k ceramic to tell you that! :happy

Am I correctly understanding, that you would recommend the seal N shine even over a DIY ceramic coating (as that obviously cost much less than $5k in the shop)?
by new2bogle2
Fri Jan 05, 2024 11:27 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Advice caring for new black car?
Replies: 76
Views: 9503

Re: Advice caring for new black car?

grussgott wrote: Fri Jan 05, 2024 1:55 am but I get on a roll with some podcasts
I’m always interested in podcast recommendations if you’re willing to share. I’m interested in just about all topics, controversial or entertaining or anything. And feel free to DM them to me if you’d rather.

Thanks
by new2bogle2
Fri Jan 05, 2024 10:41 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Advice caring for new black car?
Replies: 76
Views: 9503

Re: Advice caring for new black car?

Depending on your level of OCD/perfectionism, I'd recommend not having any paint correction done to a new vehicle. Thank you for this message. I’m glad you said something. Because I’m not necessarily interested in a showroom shine, but I am interested in the card. Generally looking nice, with hopefully some benefits involving future ease of cleaning the vehicle and decreased likelihood of swirl marks and scratching the black paint. I am by no means what people would consider a “car guy” and I have never applied a ceramic coating. Is it a difficult process? How likely is it a beginner can mess up this process or cause damage to the vehicle? of course I’ll be making sure the process step-by-step directions. Any advice you can offer would be ...
by new2bogle2
Fri Jan 05, 2024 9:03 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Advice caring for new black car?
Replies: 76
Views: 9503

Re: Advice caring for new black car?

The challenge is doing the paint prep before it's ready to be coated, that's where all the work and specialized tools come in. My car is new but was on the dealership lot for many months and I’m sure received many test drives on back roads and highways by previous potential buyers. However to my untrained eye, I’m unable to notice any blemishes. And if I found a small blemish it wouldn’t bother me. So, if I were to consider applying this coating myself, could I just have the exterior professionally detailed, to be sure it was perfectly cleaned, and then apply the coating myself? Or is it an absolute must to first paint prep? I know the detail places I spoke with told me the paint prep is necessary and part of the process and cost. But for ...
by new2bogle2
Thu Jan 04, 2024 6:51 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Advice caring for new black car?
Replies: 76
Views: 9503

Re: Advice caring for new black car?

grussgott wrote: Thu Jan 04, 2024 4:11 pm
Personally I use Superior Product's Road Warrior which you can order from any O'Reilly's since it's super cheap & readily available but any mild all purpose cleaner (ideally for car / boats) will work.
Am I correctly understanding that you use this in addition to either McKees N914 or P&S Absolute for your rinseless wash?
by new2bogle2
Thu Jan 04, 2024 6:48 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Advice caring for new black car?
Replies: 76
Views: 9503

Re: Advice caring for new black car?

grussgott wrote: Thu Jan 04, 2024 4:05 am
* Buy a decent set of "rinseless wash" tools
I already own an adjustable pressure washer, and I can buy an attachment for washing cars that says it can spray “foam” for a touchless wash.

Are there any foam products you can recommend that would work with what I already have or don’t those foam options work as well? Or maybe could I just use this product you mentioned above in the container that attaches to my pressure washer?
by new2bogle2
Thu Jan 04, 2024 2:18 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Advice caring for new black car?
Replies: 76
Views: 9503

Re: Advice caring for new black car?

Goof wrote: Wed Jan 03, 2024 8:40 pm
(no car washes, not even touchless)
I just noticed this advice, which is in contrast to some other advice I received.
Why not use touchless car washes?
by new2bogle2
Thu Jan 04, 2024 2:09 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Advice caring for new black car?
Replies: 76
Views: 9503

Re: Advice caring for new black car?

One of the best things you can do is find those "touchless" car washes if you can't hand wash it. Problem is, they're hard to find, fortunately I have one nearby. It just has water jets and then air drys. The automatic brushes rubbing on the paint really ages it, I can totally tell when a black car has been run through those too many times. I'd probably pass on the ceramic coating from a dealer. I'm sort of on the fence on them in general, but I had something similar that was added on as a package to my car from a dealership and my read of it was a guy in the back threw a quick coat of wax on it. Turtle Wax literally has a ceramic wax line, so its become sort of meaningless. I'd find a place that specialized in doing ceramic trea...
by new2bogle2
Thu Jan 04, 2024 12:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Advice caring for new black car?
Replies: 76
Views: 9503

Re: Advice caring for new black car?

TomatoTomahto wrote: Thu Jan 04, 2024 12:02 pm My wife always gets black cars and she has someone detail it where she works. I always buy silver cars and don’t do anything with them, not even a wash other than whatever driving in the rain does.

Her car looks great after a detailing. Mine looks okay year round. That’s what makes horse races.
How often does she need to have it detailed?
Is her car hand washed between detailing treatments?
by new2bogle2
Thu Jan 04, 2024 11:54 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Advice caring for new black car?
Replies: 76
Views: 9503

Re: Advice caring for new black car?

grussgott wrote: Thu Jan 04, 2024 4:05 am DO NOT CLAY THIS CAR!!!! <-- super key point & I had to get that out.

I’ll be posting a bit later with more questions.

And thank you for such an impressively detailed answer.

But why no clay? And does that mean I shouldn’t use clay personally or even at a detailer’s shop I should make sure they don’t use clay either?
by new2bogle2
Wed Jan 03, 2024 8:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Advice caring for new black car?
Replies: 76
Views: 9503

Re: Advice caring for new black car?

bob60014 wrote: Wed Jan 03, 2024 8:23 pm Make and model of the new black car may help determine the suggestions and how much $$$ may be involved.
Acura integra. A-spec with technology.
by new2bogle2
Wed Jan 03, 2024 8:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Advice caring for new black car?
Replies: 76
Views: 9503

Re: Advice caring for new black car?

Car guy and former exotic/collector car salesman here. Ceramic coatings are basically more of an "easy cleaning" product. Basically, it makes it harder for dirt to stick, and easier to remote it. It is temporary and needs to be reapplied. It is not a permanent solution. "Clear bra" as runner3081 mentioned is more normally known as, "paint protection film" in the industry. This is a thick, clear film (about 0.2mm) that is applied to the paint, and serves as a sacrificial layer. It can take some serious impacts (like gravel at race track speeds) and the paint underneath will be fine. The higher end products are self-healing under heat, which can be from just a lot of sunlight to just a basic hairdryer or heatgun...
by new2bogle2
Wed Jan 03, 2024 6:56 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Advice caring for new black car?
Replies: 76
Views: 9503

Advice caring for new black car?

After a new car purchase the dealership the salesman suggested many additional add-ons, including a ceramic coating. I declined them all, but then began researching ceramic coating, and it sounds as though it might be beneficial for a black vehicle. The dealership was charging $875 which might have been reasonable since many local places are charging $900-$1150 in my area. Of course this doesn’t account for the type of ceramic coding, and how professionally it will be applied. Though, that is in the past. And now I’m wondering how much benefit is gained from having a ceramic coating on a black vehicle, rather than caring for it in other ways. It sounds, as though a ceramic coating helps avoid noticeable swirl marks on the hood of a vehicle ...
by new2bogle2
Wed Dec 20, 2023 8:57 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: New Car: pay cash or finance?
Replies: 31
Views: 4000

Re: New Car: pay cash or finance?

I think I would prefer something gentler on taxes, higher yielding, and with a more certain outcome because I wouldn't want to check on it or do anything. That sounds good. Can you provide any fund examples? Are you able to scrounge up another $10,000? If so, Capital One has an offer going on for a bonus of $300 on $20k deposit, $750 on $50k deposit, $1500 on $100k deposit. If the money dips below the threshold you will get the lower tier's bonus. That comes out to be 6% annualized, and the money also earns 4.35% rate for a cumulative rate of return of 10.35%. https://www.capitalone.com/bank/fall23/ Deadline is January 09, 2024. Thanks for the info. Yes I have the extra 10k but I don’t understand the math. 750/50k = 1.5% not 6%. What am I ...
by new2bogle2
Wed Dec 20, 2023 9:14 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: New Car: pay cash or finance?
Replies: 31
Views: 4000

Re: New Car: pay cash or finance?

I'd just pay cash and be done with it. Trying to arbitrage on the 3.9% isn't worth the hassle of filling out a loan application, having to make payments, and investing the money. VMFXX is currently yielding 5.3%. Assuming you're in the 22% tax bracket you'd earn about 4.1%, which nets you 0.2% after deducting the 3.9% and would amount to less than $240 over 3 years on a $40,000 loan. All of this assumes that the yield doesn't drop, which may well happen if the Fed drops rates 3 times next year as expected. In which case you likely come out a loser. +1 I am a big believer in putting my time and effort towards earning more money rather than trying to save small amounts of money here and there, especially things like car loans that require a ...
by new2bogle2
Wed Dec 20, 2023 8:23 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: New Car: pay cash or finance?
Replies: 31
Views: 4000

Re: New Car: pay cash or finance?

whodidntante wrote: Tue Dec 19, 2023 10:20 pm

I think I would prefer something gentler on taxes, higher yielding, and with a more certain outcome because I wouldn't want to check on it or do anything.
That sounds good. Can you provide any fund examples?
by new2bogle2
Wed Dec 20, 2023 6:54 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: New Car: pay cash or finance?
Replies: 31
Views: 4000

Re: New Car: pay cash or finance?

Valuethinker wrote: Wed Dec 20, 2023 3:41 am
This is good analysis. Interest rates are very likely to drop in 2024 so current returns on cash are not likely going forward.

Caveat that we don't know that the original poster:

- doesn't have another loan at a higher than 3.9% rate of interest (not likely)
- is making full use of retirement accounts (likely)

So those are 2 caveats.
No other loans outside a mortgage.
And yes fully funding retirements.
by new2bogle2
Tue Dec 19, 2023 9:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: New Car: pay cash or finance?
Replies: 31
Views: 4000

Re: New Car: pay cash or finance?

whodidntante wrote: Tue Dec 19, 2023 9:40 pm Take 3.9% for 36 months, depending on what will become of the 40 grand.
My thought was to put the $40k into my VG Money Market account (settlement fund) which is currently around 5.3%. But please suggest differently if you’d out the money elsewhere.
by new2bogle2
Tue Dec 19, 2023 8:32 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: New Car: pay cash or finance?
Replies: 31
Views: 4000

New Car: pay cash or finance?

Money has been set aside to purchase a new car and as the year is ending we ended up getting an extra few thousand dollar discount. The total purchase price is about $40,000 and they will accept cash or allow us to finance at either 3.9% for 24-36 months or 4.9% for 37-60 months.

Which one makes the most economical sense ?
by new2bogle2
Sun Dec 17, 2023 4:26 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Buying a new car….pay cash?!
Replies: 57
Views: 10733

Re: Buying a new car….pay cash?!

Medium or large. Premium or entry level luxury These would be my first few choices if you're going gas-powered: BMW 330i +1. OP, you first need to decide if you want a sedan of small SUV. Once you do, since you are looking at entry level luxury models, you can't go wrong with a BMW 3 series or X3, especially CPO. These are two of the most frequently leased vehicles so dealers tend to have a lot of inventory that just came off lease. The cars are usually in great shape, have low mileage, and were dealer maintained. The BMW CPO warranty is pretty good and since someone else took the depreciation hit, you can get a great deal on them. Lexus could be an option if you like their look (I hate it), but it's much harder to get a deal on them. When...
by new2bogle2
Wed Dec 13, 2023 10:04 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Buying a new car….pay cash?!
Replies: 57
Views: 10733

Re: Buying a new car….pay cash?!

lazydavid wrote: Wed Dec 13, 2023 9:30 am
new2bogle2 wrote: Wed Dec 13, 2023 9:21 am Thank you. I guess I’ll go back to the drawing board as my focus can now shift to sedans. Any suggestions to help me get started?
What do you want? Small/medium/large, basic/premium/luxury?
Medium or large.
Premium or entry level luxury
by new2bogle2
Wed Dec 13, 2023 9:21 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Buying a new car….pay cash?!
Replies: 57
Views: 10733

Re: Buying a new car….pay cash?!

lazydavid wrote: Tue Dec 12, 2023 2:21 pm
new2bogle2 wrote: Tue Dec 12, 2023 2:11 pm Thanks for the advice.
I’d be open to a sedan that could manage in some snow. I’m not driving through blizzards. Would a full size sedan be a good choice as I’d likely has a bit more weight to it? Any specific suggestions you’d share would be great

If you only drive in occasional light to moderate snow, get some CrossClimate2s and call it a day.
Thank you. I guess I’ll go back to the drawing board as my focus can now shift to sedans. Any suggestions to help me get started?
by new2bogle2
Tue Dec 12, 2023 2:11 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Buying a new car….pay cash?!
Replies: 57
Views: 10733

Re: Buying a new car….pay cash?!

Keep this in mind in regards to safety. People tend to equate sitting high, such as SUV's and trucks, as being safe. A very large percentage of auto accidents are single vehicle. People tend to not be great drivers in emergency situations, they swerve, and roll the vehicle due to sitting so high and being top heavy. Fatalities and injuries are much higher in rollovers. Sedans are much less likely to roll. They tend to be smaller, cheaper, more efficient and therefore better for the planet, and safer for others, especially pedestrians. If you get an EV SUV such as Tesla Model Y, it has a low rollover likelihood. But Model 3 is cheaper and has longer range, with even lower rollover likelihood. If you are zeroed in on SUV, test drive a MY. Th...
by new2bogle2
Tue Dec 12, 2023 7:36 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Buying a new car….pay cash?!
Replies: 57
Views: 10733

Buying a new car….pay cash?!

I’m in the market to buy a new (Or used) vehicle in the coming months. Primarily the focus is on a small SUV, as we occasionally have snowy winters where I live, but I’d be open to a slightly smaller car that can handle well in the snow, too (I have a job that requires I drive to work, even when snow closes schools and our businesses). Am I correct that end of December is a great time to buy vehicles because of sales quotes that might need to be met at the end of a month, quarter and year? I also read that memorial day weekend is a great time to purchase a vehicle. This is not an urgent need, however, I’ve had this vehicle for a decade, and it’s time to buy one with a few less headaches. I’m open to a new or used vehicle. and I’ve saved eno...
by new2bogle2
Wed May 10, 2023 6:45 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Advice for my first taxable account
Replies: 22
Views: 2737

Re: Advice for my first taxable account

backpacker61 wrote: Wed May 10, 2023 6:39 am The sweep account at the brokerage is a great place to start; VFMXX.

You can add VTSAX or VTI (Total Stock Market Index mutual fund or ETF) at your convenience. And/or VTIAX (or VXUS) for some international stock exposure, if you like.
With a focus on taxes, is one better than the other?
by new2bogle2
Wed May 10, 2023 5:27 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Advice for my first taxable account
Replies: 22
Views: 2737

Re: Advice for my first taxable account

I would invest in broad based low cost index stocks funds for a long term investment. I would invest in medium or short term Treasury funds/CDs/MM depending upon your time horizon but I would try to keep that in tax protected accounts. Money is fungible. You can sell stocks from your taxable account and immediately purchase stocks in your stock protected accounts by selling those short term bonds. I would avoid short term capital gains taxes though by just haveing cash if the need might be less than a year. Look up the capital gains taxes on short vs long term gains. In the vanguard money market account (paying about 4%-5%) right now, is all of that monthly interest taxed at my current rate or as a capital gains tax? Does it matter if the ...
by new2bogle2
Wed May 10, 2023 5:25 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Advice for my first taxable account
Replies: 22
Views: 2737

Re: Advice for my first taxable account

Since this particular purpose is to augment annua l (keyword being annual here) income for family expenses, trips, home-improvements and whathaveyous for an extended duration, I would say a long-term perpetual bond ladder such as a bond fund fits the mix. Short-term MMs look good now, but if rates do go back to zero again, that $100K produces a monthly income of eighty cents. Some questions I have: • Are the dividends to be paid in cash, or reinvested? • No state tax rate is listed, is there one? • How long until you want draw the income? I took several funds with a beginning balance of $100K and calculated the amount of pre-tax income based upon compounding the monthly distributions for 2022. Here is what we have: VMRXX Cash reserves MMF-...
by new2bogle2
Wed May 10, 2023 5:22 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Advice for my first taxable account
Replies: 22
Views: 2737

Re: Advice for my first taxable account

Monster99 wrote: Tue May 09, 2023 7:28 am ETF funds that thow off very little dividend income would be my suggestion.
would you share a few specific examples?
by new2bogle2
Wed May 10, 2023 5:21 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Advice for my first taxable account
Replies: 22
Views: 2737

Re: Advice for my first taxable account

tashnewbie wrote: Mon May 08, 2023 12:46 pm I agree that your time horizon should guide how you invest the money.

On the one hand you say this account will be used for surplus and drops in value aren't an issue but then you also say you will use it for things like family vacations which suggests the need to use it in the short term.

I would take whatever you plan to use in the short term (next year?) and put it in something like a money market fund at whatever brokerage you want to use.

For longer term plans, you could invest in a mix of stocks and bonds, depending on your specific plans for the money.
I should have said this would be for possible extra vacations or other short term use. Current bills, vacations, etc are all taken care of with annual income.
by new2bogle2
Wed May 10, 2023 5:19 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Advice for my first taxable account
Replies: 22
Views: 2737

Re: Advice for my first taxable account

I would explore buying I-bonds for $10k each. Unlike VTI, I-bonds preserve your principal, you are guaranteed to always get back the money you put in. You will have to put up with 1-year lock up period though (actually 13th month from the date of purchase, as Treasury Direct where you will buy I-bonds keeps its calendar in months, not dates). The flip side is also that you will not get the stock market like gains. You can just hold the I-bonds if you don't have immediate need for the money, so until you cash them out there are no tax consequences. They keep on accumulating for 30 years, which sounds like is also your retirement horizon. They do not NEED to be retirement money, but can be. Until then, tax-deferred growth. Fixed income is al...
by new2bogle2
Mon May 08, 2023 8:45 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Advice for my first taxable account
Replies: 22
Views: 2737

Advice for my first taxable account

What are some quality investment options that should be considered for a tax for account? This money has no specific designation, but will very likely be utilized to augment annual income for family expenses, trips, home-improvement, etc. Any remaining balance would be saved into retirement (30 years from now) as this isn’t necessarily a surplus, that Hass to go to zero, but retirement is not to go with this money. Current household tax bracket is 22%, with annual income and low six figures, and this taxable account will likely have $100,000 invested in it by the end of the year, thanks in part to the recent sale of a local small business of which we owned a very small portion. Though each year not nearly that much, if any, would be added t...
by new2bogle2
Sun Mar 26, 2023 7:00 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 3-fund portfolio without the Intl fund?
Replies: 28
Views: 3253

Re: 3-fund portfolio without the Intl fund?

LadyGeek wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 7:03 pm [The last paragraph is flat-out wrong. The fund is based on companies domiciled outside the US. That's what "ex-US" means (excluding the US).
Thank you for pointing this out and catching this error.
I was confused when I read it but thought the confusion was my lack of understanding.
by new2bogle2
Sat Mar 25, 2023 5:16 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 3-fund portfolio without the Intl fund?
Replies: 28
Views: 3253

3-fund portfolio without the Intl fund?

I currently hold a traditional BH 3-fund portfolio with US total market, US bonds and international fund.

But with many large US based companies gaining a large revenue share internationally (such as Amazon, GE, Apple, IMB, Walmart, etc), can there be a substitute for the widely used international fund?

Can the 3rd fund be one with US based companies that gain much of their revenue from countries that don’t utilize the dollar? If so, can anyone please point me in the direction of some funds that might fit this criteria so I can research them a bit more closely?

And if this idea has flaws or anyone wishes to talk me out of going down this rabbit hole, please do so also.
by new2bogle2
Sat Mar 25, 2023 6:01 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can I transfer HSA without closing the account?
Replies: 19
Views: 1964

Re: Can I transfer HSA without closing the account?

I have payflex and Fidelity HSA. I do a pull from Fidelity (account transfer), leaving some money (I leave $500) in the payflex account so that it doesn't close. Doing it this way there are no fees. It can take about 3 weeks or so for the transfer. This is very helpful as I’m also interested in avoiding fees. Is there a limit to how many times I can do this in a year and still avoid fees? I’m expecting I’d do this about 3 to 4 times per year if it’s free. I don’t mind the three week delay, I’ll just time when the market is about to drop before I initiate the transfer :mrgreen: How do you pull from fidelity, must I call them or is there a way to do this online? I am seeing several Payflex plan documents indicating $25.00 fee for custodian-t...
by new2bogle2
Wed Mar 22, 2023 1:58 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can I transfer HSA without closing the account?
Replies: 19
Views: 1964

Re: Can I transfer HSA without closing the account?

Nate79 wrote: Wed Mar 22, 2023 12:26 pm I have payflex and Fidelity HSA. I do a pull from Fidelity (account transfer), leaving some money (I leave $500) in the payflex account so that it doesn't close. Doing it this way there are no fees. It can take about 3 weeks or so for the transfer.
This is very helpful as I’m also interested in avoiding fees.

Is there a limit to how many times I can do this in a year and still avoid fees? I’m expecting I’d do this about 3 to 4 times per year if it’s free. I don’t mind the three week delay, I’ll just time when the market is about to drop before I initiate the transfer :mrgreen:

How do you pull from fidelity, must I call them or is there a way to do this online?
by new2bogle2
Wed Mar 22, 2023 9:23 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can I transfer HSA without closing the account?
Replies: 19
Views: 1964

Can I transfer HSA without closing the account?

A few years ago I had a high deductible, health insurance policy, which allowed me to open an HSA account. The account was initially opened through pay flex, and then I closed and transfer the entire balance to Fidelity, as I was no longer utilizing a high deductible plan which would qualify me for the HSA.

This year, I have a high deductible policy again, and started funding my pay flex account through my employer (for the tax benefit), and I was wondering if I can periodically move some of the money from pay flex into Fidelity, leaving both accounts open, or if I must keep all the money and pay flex throughout the entire calendar year. Can anyone advise?
by new2bogle2
Fri Jan 13, 2023 8:57 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: If you started investing today, would you tilt?
Replies: 318
Views: 22856

If you started investing today, would you tilt?

I know tilting can be a highly debated topic on here, but what if you were staring today . . . Would you tilt? Originally I assumed I’d only be asking this question to people who currently tilt, knowing some might hand had success but wouldn’t recommend it to someone starting out early in investing. And others might have not had success with their tilt but don’t plan to change as they made a decision to buy and hold, and may or may not suggest a new investor tilt. But I’m sure there are some with a 3 fund portfolio who may want to make a comment and I want to welcome those points of view too. I’d like to assume someone who has maybe already put some money aside after a few years of working and not just an 18 year old fresh out of school. So...
by new2bogle2
Thu Jan 12, 2023 9:48 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How should I invest my HSA?
Replies: 25
Views: 4284

Re: How should I invest my HSA?

I personally treat it as an extension of my Roth IRA so whatever securities I would place there, I would have no problems placing the same in my HSA. Do you use the 3 funds inside your Roth? I tilt with my portfolio, so I keep part of my equities in my HSA. Much like grabiner said above, I would treat it the exact same way as a Roth IRA and place the highest potential growth securities there that are the most tax-inefficient (if applicable). With a three funder though, either fund is fine. If you have a target date fund in your other account accounts, it would be easy to do the same in your HSA for simplicity. If you are fine with having three separate funds, I would personally house the bonds in my 401k, and the other two funds in my IRA,...
by new2bogle2
Thu Jan 12, 2023 8:50 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How should I invest my HSA?
Replies: 25
Views: 4284

Re: How should I invest my HSA?

The HSA has an extra tax advantage over the Roth IRA, but you got that advantage when you made the contribution. Once the contribution is made, the two accounts are almost equivalent. (You should prefer to spend from the HSA because of the one non-equivalent situation: if you die, the HSA becomes taxable, while the Roth IRA can be inherited tax-free.) I always appreciate your comments and I always thought of the HSA as extra special. So while it is special at first, you’re right, it’s basically a Roth IRA after that initial tax advantage. Thanks for the perspective. As for your later comment. If I die, would my spouse have to pay tax on the HSA if it’s a family high deductible health insurance policy that allows us to have the HSA? Would i...
by new2bogle2
Thu Jan 12, 2023 8:04 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How should I invest my HSA?
Replies: 25
Views: 4284

Re: How should I invest my HSA?

wetgear wrote: Wed Jan 11, 2023 8:57 pm
new2bogle2 wrote: Wed Jan 11, 2023 4:01 pm
aum wrote: Wed Jan 11, 2023 2:12 pm I have my total balance(60K) invested into Fidelity HSA in FFNOX mutual fund. I am 58 and same as you that its an additional retirement account. I will change my allocation once I am eligible for medicare.
Do you use this as a tilt portion of your 3-fund portfolio?
It’s not really a tilt as it’s comprised of mostly the same stuff as a 3 fund portfolio with an AA of 85/15 (~33% international).
Thank you for explaining. I clearly wasn’t familiar with this fund.
by new2bogle2
Wed Jan 11, 2023 6:55 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How should I invest my HSA?
Replies: 25
Views: 4284

Re: How should I invest my HSA?

Chrono Triggered wrote: Wed Jan 11, 2023 4:33 pm I personally treat it as an extension of my Roth IRA so whatever securities I would place there, I would have no problems placing the same in my HSA.
Do you use the 3 funds inside your Roth?
by new2bogle2
Wed Jan 11, 2023 4:01 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How should I invest my HSA?
Replies: 25
Views: 4284

Re: How should I invest my HSA?

aum wrote: Wed Jan 11, 2023 2:12 pm I have my total balance(60K) invested into Fidelity HSA in FFNOX mutual fund. I am 58 and same as you that its an additional retirement account. I will change my allocation once I am eligible for medicare.
Do you use this as a tilt portion of your 3-fund portfolio?
by new2bogle2
Wed Jan 11, 2023 2:02 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How should I invest my HSA?
Replies: 25
Views: 4284

Re: How should I invest my HSA?

runner3081 wrote: Wed Jan 11, 2023 8:46 am I use the zero fee mutual funds at Fidelity for our HSA.
That’s where I currently have most of my HSA
by new2bogle2
Wed Jan 11, 2023 8:32 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How should I invest my HSA?
Replies: 25
Views: 4284

How should I invest my HSA?

My HSA is being used as a retirement account not a health care fund. The money won’t be removed from this account for at least 25 more years until I’m beyond the age of 65 and likely the account still won’t be touched for awhile after that.

Since it’s a super-tax-advantaged account, is there any specific fund(s) that should be held here?

My HSA is with Payflex but gets moved to Fidelity each year.

I currently hold a 3-fund portfolio across all accounts, so I’d assume US or Intl equity funds should be here over bonds. But I’d be open to a small portfolio tilt if a different fund should be considered in this account (my HSA is a small percentage of the overall retirement accounts).
by new2bogle2
Sun Jan 08, 2023 5:39 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: AA factoring savings rate?
Replies: 4
Views: 572

AA factoring savings rate?

I think it’s very common to think about a more aggressive (ie more equities) or less aggressive (ie less equity %) 3-fund portfolio based on age. The age is used as a short hand way of assuming how many more years of working income a person or family has. But is there consideration made to the percentage saved each year? Let’s assume a single person who makes $100k gross and would be recommended to save at least 15% of income. Let’s assume a 30 year old who’s 70/30 equity to bonds. I think this is a rather standard BH recommendation. But if this particular person is saving twice as much ($30k) each year, would they also be afforded the ability to invest more aggressively (again, with fewer bonds) without adding much risk? And if so, roughly...
by new2bogle2
Sat Jan 07, 2023 12:24 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: One or multiple i401k’s?
Replies: 5
Views: 398

Re: One or multiple i401k’s?

I edited my OP to indicate business types
by new2bogle2
Sat Jan 07, 2023 9:40 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: One or multiple i401k’s?
Replies: 5
Views: 398

Re: One or multiple i401k’s?

lstone19 wrote: Sat Jan 07, 2023 9:36 am How are the businesses structured? Sole-proprietorships, LLCs, S-Corps, something else?
One is LLC.

the other is not structured and it’s independent contractor work.
by new2bogle2
Sat Jan 07, 2023 8:33 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: One or multiple i401k’s?
Replies: 5
Views: 398

One or multiple i401k’s?

I get income from from independent sources (one as an LLC small business owner and one as an independent contractor) for which I’m the only employee (and employees).

Would each company have its own i401k account or do both companies/incomes need to be joined when opening an i401k?
by new2bogle2
Thu Jan 05, 2023 3:00 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: LLC address advice
Replies: 22
Views: 2227

Re: LLC address advice

phxjcc wrote: Thu Jan 05, 2023 1:22 pm Use legal zoom as a registered agent.

And by the way….I am registered in NV where the business licensing is less than CA.

This was a very interesting comment.

Since my business will be entirely online. Can i register my business in any state?

Will it matter to my local bank (or anyone) if I’m registered in a different state?

And……..what’s the best state for registering an LLC?