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One last thing. For the vast majority of people filing joint is going to be cheaper for you. If you want to know for sure just run the numbers for both scenarios. You can use taxcaster to do this (turbotax.intuit.com/taxcaster).

Can you elaborate on the 401k? Would you suggest just continue putting into the fixed while the rate is good and then reallocate it into equities depending on market performance? For example, accumulate XX,XXX into fixed fund until a 2008 type situation occurs to load up on equities? That would be ...

Vanguard says the sweet spot is around 30% https://personal.vanguard.com/pdf/icriecr.pdf There is no statement about a sweet spot at 30% in the cited white paper. And I read it as implying that the sweet spot is more like 40%. The rationale of a lower allocation because of "being influenced by...

See Bogle's "TellTale Chart" speech https://personal.vanguard.com/bogle_site/sp20020626.html. Perhaps if you have enough assets and enough time...

Vanguard says the sweet spot is around 30% https://personal.vanguard.com/pdf/icriecr.pdf

I don't know of any strategy that will help if your worst case scenario should occur. In that case I think your best plan is to attempt to maximize your wealth and protect yourself against longevity, just like we all are trying to do. To that end, delaying SS until 70 seems the correct strategy.

One of the reasons I did my IPS was because my wife just wasn't interested in spending time on investing. I started simple with something like our AA is age in bonds and to stick with Vanguard. Then I decided it might be a good idea to make sure she knew my feelings about buying variable annuities a...

There is a current thread "Help With Fixed Income Investments" which mentions Bogle's recommendation of corporate bonds: http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=115866 . Valuethinker made some good points as to why this may not be a good idea. It might be useful to follow t...

I really didn't understand TLH so I asked for a dumbed down explanation; this may be helpful as I got some good responses about what it is and how it can be used by many investors: http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=110917

The telltale chart by Bogle is worth a read http://www.vanguard.com/bogle_site/sp20020626.html. Disclosure, I am not a slicer/dicer but my impression is you better be talking about a sizeable amount of money over a very long time.

Nobody, but nobody has consistently beat their benchmarks or the market. This is a sales technique to get fees from you, it is not truth. Peter Lynch took the Magellan fund on average up 22.9% from 1977 to 1990 - that's 13 years. Sounds good until you look at the fund now. Sounds good until you unde...

Why, then do you ask the question ? Because I am nervous, insecure and emotional. Unlike Mr. Spock on the old Star Trek I am not a totally rational being. Understand completely - some people like to yank the bandaid off and others pull slowly. Sounds like between DCA'ing in and perhaps a little sof...

I don't think anyone noticed this but in previous posts you mentioned you had inherited $350k and had a child to put through college in 5 years. This doesn't change the recommendation to invest it now or dollar cost average or that you might want to consider a less risky AA for now. Since the colleg...

Thank you for all the help and responses. After reading all the links, and looking at my notes, I think he was talking about a single payment annuity. He did say the annuity take 1.65% and he gets paid from that. He also said there was a 8.75% surrender charge. I know there's a death benefit, but n...

I'd like to add something here. If this savings is ultimately intended for retirement or close to it, you are not currently maximizing tax-advantaged space, and the tax-advantaged space you have available does not have ridiculously high fees - consider increasing your contributions to "max out...

I wouldn't do anything to my AA due to the market state even if I was about to retire (which I am). I did soften up and will stay 40/60 for the first three years due to fears of poor sequence of returns in early retirement. I probably won't change it much after the 3 years - still undecided but curr...

If you don't plan to leave anything a SPIA would work but I'd keep some money for unexpected expenses and I'd buy a series of them over time - you will get more because of mortality credits and you would mitigate the corrosive effects of inflation.

It doesn't. But you better figure out what day you plan to die before you proceed with your plan cause you might end up broke but not quite dead!

Your wife needs some convincing. Start by educating yourself (see reading list), not that hard, and show her what you are learning. Hopefully she will want to learn too and if not i bet she will decide that you know enough and trust you to manage the investments. Here is a good example: "Honey,...

However, when one is within a year or two of some retirement date, our minds turn to worry-mode. That's where a plan helps.

I am 5 weeks out and can confirm the worry mode. I have a written plan, it says 40/60 s/b for first three years of retirement. I'm going to stick to this plan.

I asked a similar question several weeks ago. Our situation was different because she is several years younger, non-COLA, good savings and both will get similar SS. Because they can live off of the lower payment I think the safest decision is to take the 100%. It may not end up being optimal but the...

Welcome to the forum!

The only reasons I can think of to do what you did is you think you can predict the future or you are taking way more risk than you can deal with (too much in stocks) or both. If you answer these two questions honestly there is help.

Please don't consider the 2% advisor or variable annuities - you will be dealing with salesmen - I hope you get what that means. Your stock/bond ratio is way too high in stocks - you don't need to take that much risk at your age with the assets you have. Instead of trying to live off of interest onl...

If you have a little extra and want to move it from taxable to Roth that's a good idea- not a tax problem. Looks like you have a pretty good 401k so I don't think anyone would say you were wrong to max it first. It's a fine line for you. It looks like you've already read the wiki subject about this ...

I think you have a good plan. To reiterate previous posts, you should be looking for a no cost refinance and 80/20 is well within the ballpark. Just try to decide if you can hold on no matter how bad it gets - it's hard to know until you have to do it! Really, will you be able to rebalance into stoc...

So, retirement has been suckie for many and is getting a little less sucker? This article didn't make me feel much better. What I focus on is how well this generation of middle class who work hard, invest a lot, manage their money reasonably well will do. With the sharp decrease in pensions and the ...

I think your plan is ok as long as you can attract buyers. It is some work but you should look for any way available to advertise it. I once lowered the price by half the cost of an agent and sold within 10 days. We priced it reasonably, held on open house, got everything fixed up and clean and adve...

What I am trying to find out is how much flood insurance rates will increase due to the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012. Yes, I bought in a 100 year flood zone about 20 years ago. I was lead to believe from the previous owners that our city was correcting the problem but that work ...

I hope you take a look around and think about a DIY approach. I say this for two reasons: - It's really not that hard and there are some very knowledgable people here that give their expert advice freely. - Many advisors have their interests in mind, not yours. The fees you will likely be charged wi...

I realize you have your hands full with the portfolio - but sometime in the future... I will be thinking a lot (and seriously) about this! I have a pension with a lump sum option and I expect I will take the LS rather than annuitizing. A good topic for a new thread. Not a slam dunk decision. I have...

Now, some obvious flags are: 1) $80K worth of individual stocks You will need to determine the basis of each investment and from that the tax consequences. It may be best to wait to sell some if there are substantial gains until they retire when hopefully taxes will be lower. The ML cash should be t...

I assume your MAGI prevents you from making direct Roth contributions?

+ to the allocation above and dissing the sector tilt. The market already knows about all of us aging baby boomers needing more healthcare and has priced that in already. Someone correct me if this is wrong - your traditional IRA contributions are non-deductable so you should be putting the $5500 in...

You had me sold when you said EJ. The two variable annuities was just icing on the cake! For starters you might let her play around with an investment fee calculator so she sees what his "advice" will cost them in 20-30 years http://www.buyupside.com/calculators/feesdec07.htm . Good luck!

Still missing a lot of the information needed like marginal tax rate, contributions, plans available, fund names, funds available, expense ratios of funds, fund names, percent of total for each holding. No way to say if you cold do better if we don't know your situation and what you're options are. ...

I know you have been given a lot to digest so far - take some time to figure it all out - it is the right thing to do at this point. I just wanted to emphasize, as YDALL did, that you need to completely understand when each of you take SS - it is a huge decision! The great thing about SS is not only...

His 401k is the greatest obstacle to OP's wealth! Lets see what happens to 100,000 in just 20 years assuming a 6% growth rate with that 1.37% fee of CHRRX... http://www.buyupside.com/calculators/feesdec07.htm A 24% haircut! Should get 320,714 gets 243,387 and that's with the best option available. O...

Right now you ain't gonna safely keep up with inflation if you need it in 6-18 months. We feel your pain. Mitigate as best you can.

+ to above comments. You are partially right, the diversification from adding international to balanced/all-in-one funds is worth the loss of the FTC in balanced/target funds. It wouldn't really matter if they are held in taxable space or not because only all-international funds are eligible for the...

Perhaps your future tax bracket? Also, there is your marginal income tax bracket and your effective tax rate and your effective marginal income tax rate. We are in the 25% marginal income tax bracket if one looks at the IRS tables, but actually pay taxes with a 45%+ effective marginal income tax ra...

You have three different investment goals and each should have it's own AA. Emergency fund - cash like, short term 529 - Allocated as appropriate for it's investment horizon Retirement - Allocated as appropriate for it's investment horizon Yes, some do use a mix of investments for the emergency fund...

Expect away but don't forget the sequence of returns you'll get during that period you are 100%! That's where the crystal ball is needed. Is the expected reward worth the extra risk?

While looking for a post warning another new doc to take investing advice from the old docs with a grain of salt (and to avoid unique investment opportunities, fast cars and risky companions) I came across this article by Rick Ferri http://www.rickferri.com/blog/strategy/investing-tips-for-doctors/ ...

A better question might be are there ways you can shelter some of your investments from taxes. Assume no 401k or similar?

Welcome to the forum!

Another site you might also find useful, oriented to the medical profession http://whitecoatinvestor.com/.

Build up an emergency fund that will cover at least six months of expenses. While you're building up your emergency fund start the learning process. The basics of investing the Boglehead way are not that difficult but you need to have a good foundation to begin. The wiki has many topics covered. It ...

Can you confirm that your 401/403 plans allow IRA's to be rolled in? The IRS allows it but not all plans do.

Any chance either plan allows you to make after-tax contributions and allows in-service rollovers?

Many specific questions are answered on the forum - I've found that google searches with "bogleheads" in front of what I want to find out works better than the forum search. If you use the search in the upper right, it's a Google search with site:bogleheads.org added. Brian Doggoneit! Tha...

Some general thoughts: Do some research - buy a book or two from the reading list - this will help you get a good grasp of what you want to do http://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Books:_Recommendations_and_Reviews . The Bogleheads books and anything by John Bogle would be a good place to start. Spend som...

IF you stick with this company until retirement AND they keep the DB as it is currently described , I agree that the DB is the way to go. However, there are several significant caveats: I was firmly in the DB camp until this post. 1) If you leave the company in advance of retirement, your benefit g...