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Thanks for the explaination. The yahoo chart is screwed up. If you do the comparisonchart from one month later it works: http://finance.yahoo.com/echarts?s=VFWAX+Interactive#symbol=vfwax;range=20111128,20130523;compare=vtiax;indicator=volume;charttype=area;crosshair=on;ohlcvalues=0;logscale=off;sour...

I just did a comparison chart on yahoo and there is very different performance between Vanguard FTSE All-Wld ex-US Idx Admiral (VFWAX) and Vanguard Total Intl Stock Index Admiral (VTIAX). I thought these two funds were almost the same. Why the big performance difference? http://finance.yahoo.com/ech...

Jingo, what kind of work are you doing now, and what kind of part time work do you want to do after you retire?

Now we are receiving bills of $400 from the FP doctor who "observed" her until the OB came and saw her! and Rhetorical question: Why are you so angry? I understand the anger. There are people who have to work a whole week at really hard, really unpleasant jobs to make $400. I also underst...

Vanguard is a not-for-profit organization

In a way that is true, but the people at the top get paid a lot, and just how much they are paid is kept private.

I once wrote a nice polite letter to a doctor I was angry with. I explained why I didn't think it was fair for him to charge me. I said if he would cut the bill in half I would mail him a check right away. He cut the bill in half and I mailed him a check. I never said I would not pay him. I just sai...

Thanks. I see it now.

I don't see the message center on the Vanguard page. I can send a message from the link at the top that says "Questions? Contact Voyager Select Services", but I don't see how to get to the place where you read the messages. Has it moved, or has my memory gotten even worse?

I don't care about credit scores. I paid cash for my last house. I have a bunch of credit cards. I don't plan to ever borrow money again.

How much of an effect does it actually have on insurance rates? Would there be any difference in insurance rates between a credit score of 750 and 850?

Interesting. That surprises me, but I trust your efforts.

Feel free to double check me. I could have made a mistake.

It looks like using an anonymous trust works in states where you could not normally remain anonymous. Apparently the trust laws also vary from state to state. http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Trust-keeps-24-million-jackpot-winner-anonymous-3848371.php Some states have open document la...

REIT's performance characteristics add diversification for me within the equity space. I just did a comparison chart on Yahoo It looks like Energy and Precious Metal & Mining are less correlated with the S&P 500 than REITS. It looks like Health Care is more correlated. So if you want divers...

I found the answer All but five states (DE, KS, MD, ND, OH) have laws that require the lottery to release the name and city of residence to anyone who asks. Other states may offer to assist you in some way, including such things as the creation of trusts. But generally, you will want to hire an atto...

You know the standard advice if you do win - Tell no one!!!

Is it possible to remain anonymous? Has anyone actually done that? Does using a trust really work?

Many people here recommend an allocation to the REIT fund because it behaves differently than the total stock market. One fund may go up when the other goes down and there may be a rebalancing bonus. Why are REITs better for this than the other sector funds such as Energy, Health Care, Precious Meta...

Be aware that you have to leave the money there for 9 months or they take back the bonus.

Its over 90% international companies, so if you buy it count it as part of your international allocation.

Does that mean you should have it in taxable account because of the foreign tax credit?

It's down 50% in the last 2 years, while total stock mkt is up 20%. We tell people to buy the REIT fund because it behaves differently than the total market, and there is a rebalancing bonus. Why is precious metals and mining different than REIT for this purpose?

Today I closed my house sale, went the the Fidelity office and deposited the cashiers check in my cash management account. An advisor came out and introduced himself and asked me what I planned to do with the money. I told him I would probably dollar cost average it into index funds, but I wouldn't ...

I was able to cancel the preferred card. It had a $75 fee even the first year, but you have right to cancel withing 24 hours of application. I'll study this a little more.

I didn't see that when I switched. I guess I'll cancel after the first year.

Might as well use Blue Cash Preferred and buy gift cards at the grocery store. 6%. Well one positive thing came out of this thread, which is that I learned about the Blue Cash Preferred AmEx card. I didn't know you could get 3% cash back on gas. I just upgraded my old 1% AmEx. I hope I didn't overl...

Here is a round about way to get 5% back on credit card purchases. It might be more trouble than it is worth

http://creditcardforum.com/rewards/1116 ... ipoff.html

Fidelity has been my ONLY bank for about 10 years now.

The only problem that I can think of is if you ever need to get a signature guarantee.

One problem with Fidelity is that the debit card is through Melon bank, and you have to use the Melon bank customer service.

The point is recency. In 2008 an all bond portfolio would have done better over the last few years, and people were enthusiastic about it. Today an all stock portfolio would have done better over the last few years.

I thought it might be interesting to look back at this discussion from 2008. This might provide some balance to the current thread on the all stock portfolio.

For more interesting reading, do a google on "all bond portfolio"

I might invest in the ETF if the bid/ask spread is not too great, but I would not pay the .75% purchase fee on the fund. I read a recent Economist article on emerging market govt debt. They said it might not be as risky as most people think, and might be a good investment.

I am a late adapter with new technology. I got an iPad over 2 years ago and just last month added the Fido ap that lets me take a picture of a check and deposit it that way. It works just fine. That means no more trips to an ATM, eccept to get cash, and the Fido debit card refunds all fees charged b...

True that I also hardly ever have to use customer service. I am about to go to closing of a house sale, and in asking different institutions near the closing office how long they would put a hold on a large cashiers check, Fidelity was noticibly superior. When I wanted to learn to take a picture of ...

I have accounts at Vanguard, Fidelity, Schwab and several banks. Fidelity has the best customer service I know of. They quickly pick up the phone and the person I talk to is helpful and knowledgeable. They respond to email more quickly, and their responses are clear. Has that been your expeience? Mo...

Thank you all. This have been very helpful.

I would like to know when you plan to die.

On my 83rd birthday. Watch "Harold and Maude" on netflix.

I read lots about intermediate investment grade fund in this forum, but not much talk about GNMA fund. Why?

So there is no guessing involved in the decision to stay out of bonds or shorten duration. It's a matter of weighing risk vs reward and deciding that the reward--1.45% return going forward for anywhere from 5-15 years (Vanguard's numbers, not mine)--isn't worth taking. Especially when you can inves...

I'm glad you posted that link. Here is the key paragraph: The risk of Ally Bank refusing an early closure went up last year when it updated its CD disclosure. Due to this disclosure change, Ally joined other banks that have language in their disclosures which gives the bank the right to refuse an ea...

If you're not comfortable doing that for emotional reasons, maybe your AA needs adjusting. Good point. Maybe so. Alternatively, you could resolve to put it in quarterly over a couple of years. I think that is the solution. I think my emotions are around investing large amounts all at one time. I th...

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.

OK, there is no rush to do anything - especially at our age (I'm a couple of years younger). You had 80% saved one way - may include Real Estate in the form of personal residence - and 20% in Real Estate that you sold. Why would you think that this 20% should be invested in either Stocks or Bonds ?...

maybe tilting a bit more towards bonds/CDs since this is extra liquidity.

That doesn't really work. My plan is 45% stocks, 55% fixed income (bonds, cash, CDs). I had already calculated the money from the house as part of my long term investment for retirement.

Why not stick to your stock/bond asset allocation but put the part aimed for bonds in CD's? CD's are "bonds" from the point of view of asset allocation. Most of my bond allocation is in a Vanguard IRA. Vanguard does not have any good CD offerings. I still have some stock funds in that IRA...

Look at some other financial considerations. 6-9 months of emergency funds?

I already have more than that in cash, sitting for the last 6 months from a smaller land sale.

Long term care insurance?

Decided against it several years ago

Rule of life?

What is rule of life?

I am 63 and retired. I just sold a house and close May 15. The house is paid for the the value represents about 20% of my net worth. I am confused about what to do with the money. I know that in theory I should stick with my plan and just forget about it, but this is effecting me emotionally. It see...

At the moment, I believe a 5-year, cancelable CD is a better gamble than any type of 5-year bond that can decrease in value. I agree. In my taxable account that is what I am doing. In my IRA with Vanguard there are no good 5-year cancelable CDs, and it is too much trouble to open a new account at a...

For a CD Account with a term greater than 24 months, we will charge you 180 days simple interest on the amount withdrawn subject to penalty.

Thanks for that info. For my purposes, the Ally CD with the 60 day penalty would be better.

I looked at bankrate.com as suggested. The highest rate on a 5 year cd is 1.6 and Ally is 1.54, so it is not worth opening a new account. Vanguard short term corporate bond fund is only yielding 1.16%, so I guess the 5 year CD with the 60 day interest penalty for early withdrawel is the obvious thin...

You can purchase multiple SPIAs as you get older

What is the minimum you would put into one SPIA at a time?

I just looked at dealers in our area, and the cost to install solar hot water heating is $8K-$10K. Even if the system is totally trouble free it would take a very long time to pay for itself. Our total gas bill is only about $1500/year. Hot water is only some fraction of that.

I am 63 and retired. I will start looking at annuity's in a few years for maybe 25-50% of my money. Several people here have said that SPIA rates are now exceptionally low and should go higher when interst rates rise. I don't know if this is true or not.

The 6.8% SPIA rate for a 65 year old male is not inflation adjusted, but the 4% safe withdrawel rate usually refers to an inflation adjusted withdrawel. The 6.8% SPIA still could yield less than 4% inflation adjusted over 30 years.