Search found 26 matches

by viking112347
Mon Mar 27, 2023 4:07 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Banking woes
Replies: 10
Views: 2110

Re: Banking woes

Went with my dad to BoA today (spent about 2 hours there) and he was able to finally submit a formal ACH dispute for the missing $. The employee was super patient and helpful as he had to spent lots of times dialing internal departments, waiting, going through voice prompts, etc to eventually get to the right department. We got back to his house and he logged in and there was already a pending credit for the missing $. Assume a provisional credit for now but definitely looks promising. Also Ally sent him an email about an hour later that his account was unrestricted. He had called them earlier and they mentioned one of the reasons they restricted the account was because the account was brand new, my dad had no previous history with them, an...
by viking112347
Sat Mar 25, 2023 2:42 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Banking woes
Replies: 10
Views: 2110

Re: Banking woes

So the transfer was initiated at Ally (requesting they pull from BoA). Reading elsewhere it seems that since BoA is the one sending the $ (and they showed the debit) that they would be considered the originating financial depository (OFDI) and Ally would be the receiver. Regardless I am sure this will get worked out in the end but frustrating along the way. Will definitely take the lesson of going slowly with any account.
by viking112347
Sat Mar 25, 2023 1:27 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Banking woes
Replies: 10
Views: 2110

Re: Banking woes

No it is Ally and the other is BoA. On Reddit I found similar horror stories with missing transfers between banks and Ally. Based on what I gleaned we will dispute with BoA and with the 15 digit ACH trace ID (they should have) hoping they can pull the $ money back to BoA. Another person did this with Chase to Ally transfer and $ was back in 2 days. Also lots of stories of Ally locking/restricting accounts with no explanation.

Hoping to get this resolved soon and will update this post along the way!
by viking112347
Fri Mar 24, 2023 6:10 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Banking woes
Replies: 10
Views: 2110

Re: Banking woes

Thanks. Yes, the online banking reps for Bank A don't want to provide much information since it is restricted. Definitely hoping Bank B can help run the transfer to ground. If after meeting with them on Monday can't get anywhere then will definitely help him file a complaint with CFPB. I feel really bad because I am the one that recommended he transfer some of his savings to an online bank!
by viking112347
Fri Mar 24, 2023 4:56 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Banking woes
Replies: 10
Views: 2110

Banking woes

I helped my 79 year old father setup an online acct at Bank A to take advantage of better interest rate than his existing account at Bank B (.01%). After Bank A was setup added Bank B as an external account and setup a transfer to take $ from Bank B to fund new acct at Bank A. 2 days later the $ shows as being sent from Bank B but he can't access Bank A because his account was locked/restricted (according to an email said was for suspicious activity). He/I call and they can only say the account is under investigation. A week later and today he gets an email stating his initial deposit has yet to be received for his new acct and if not received by 4/13 it will be closed. Call and they say the acct is under investigation but said the transfer...
by viking112347
Tue Feb 06, 2018 8:50 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Inverse VIX ETN down 80% after hours
Replies: 42
Views: 7299

Re: Inverse VIX ETN down 80% after hours

Good example of not totally understanding what you are investing in.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/xiv-t ... 2018-02-06
by viking112347
Sat Jan 27, 2018 8:47 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Universal Studios FL - Express Pass?
Replies: 15
Views: 1441

Re: Universal Studios FL - Express Pass?

The express passes will allow you to easily do all the attractions in both parks on a single day with lots of walking of course. Might not help in your situation but one tip is that if you stay at one of 3 on-site Universal Hotels (Hard Rock, Portofino, or Royal Pacific) for 1 night you get express passes for your family (up to 5) for both the day you check in and the day you check out - so 2 days of express passes for a 1 night stay which can make staying there more than worth it for that perk alone. You are also allowed to enter the parks an hour before official opening which helps you do attractions before the rush.
by viking112347
Mon Oct 30, 2017 12:36 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Storage Recommendations for pictures
Replies: 22
Views: 2063

Re: Storage Recommendations for pictures

Definitely in favor of Google Photos. Free, unlimited storage of photos up to 16MB resolution and videos up to 1080P. They organize the photos/videos, allow you to easily search photos, lots of sharing options.
by viking112347
Thu Oct 12, 2017 7:01 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Buying 2017 Honda CR-V
Replies: 36
Views: 6404

Re: Buying 2017 Honda CR-V

I have been waiting for my 2004 Honda CRV to die so I can buy a modern car/SUV! It has 351,000 miles and keeps chugging away so I feel guilty putting it out to pasture.
by viking112347
Mon Sep 18, 2017 7:26 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: LastPass Issue
Replies: 10
Views: 2162

Re: LastPass Issue

Last week I was having major issues with Lastpass on my Chromebook. I submitted a trouble ticket and the next day they emailed me and said there was an issue with the Chrome extension. I removed the Lastpass extension and then downloaded the most recent and has been stable since.
by viking112347
Wed Apr 12, 2017 6:57 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Keep old yet reliable used car or buy new
Replies: 28
Views: 3010

Re: Keep old yet reliable used car or buy new

I had similar thoughts with my 2004 Honda CRV which had similar mileage when the A/C compressor blew up. I am still driving it with 340,000 miles and has been relatively trouble free since!
by viking112347
Mon Oct 13, 2014 6:21 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best solution for clouded auto headlight lens?
Replies: 31
Views: 10196

Re: Best solution for clouded auto headlight lens?

Our Costco tire center performs headlight restoration for $25 for both lights. I had a 2004 Honda CRV that failed inspection due to how cloudy they were. After Costco finished with them they looked brand new. They even scraped off the film from the kit I tried myself but didn't work.
by viking112347
Tue Sep 30, 2014 3:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Oatmeal suggestions
Replies: 167
Views: 33836

Re: Oatmeal suggestions

Nature's Path Organic variety pack from Costco. Has 32 packets with 4 different favors - Apple Cinnamon, Flax Plus, Optimum Blueberry, and Maple Nut.
by viking112347
Mon Mar 31, 2014 7:36 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Defined Benefit vs. Defined Contribution
Replies: 10
Views: 1462

Re: Defined Benefit vs. Defined Contribution

Also realize that Illinois teachers don't participate in Social Security.

http://trs.illinois.gov/press/reform/ss_why.htm
by viking112347
Tue Feb 19, 2013 6:17 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Is [this] a stupid idea? - Extreme mortgage payoff
Replies: 40
Views: 5896

Re: Is [this] a stupid idea? - Extreme mortgage payoff

After giving it some thought I have decided to continue to max out all tax-deferred space (401K,ROTH). However, still wanting to accelerate the payoff of my mortgage which of the options below would be preferred: 1) Kickstart mortgage payoff with initial 40,000 principal payment (leaving ~50,000 for emergency fund) and then just systematically pay extra principal payments every month. I think I could realistically pay an additional 2500-3000 per month. This would payoff the mortgage end of 2019 (assuming extra 2750/month) 2) Fund a Vanguard Total Stock Market fund with the 40,000 kickstart and then systematically invest the 2500-3000 each month until at some point in the future the account balance >= mortgage balance. This approach would en...
by viking112347
Mon Feb 04, 2013 10:30 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Is [this] a stupid idea? - Extreme mortgage payoff
Replies: 40
Views: 5896

Re: Is [this] a stupid idea? - Extreme mortgage payoff

Thanks for the comments. To clarify I have 80000 outside of an emergency fund. I wasn't planning on using my EF towards mortgage!

I am going to take a much less radical approach in paying down mortgage with goal of having it gone before 2020.
by viking112347
Mon Feb 04, 2013 3:08 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Is [this] a stupid idea? - Extreme mortgage payoff
Replies: 40
Views: 5896

Is [this] a stupid idea? - Extreme mortgage payoff

I am one year into a 30 year 3.625% mortgage which has a balance of 365,000 (house valued around 520,000). I work in the defense/intel industry which is somewhat under attack with sequestration and other budget pressures. I am working under a contract that is guaranteed thru end of 2014 but who knows what will happen after that! I currently make ~150,000. My wife also works and makes ~50,000 and is in a very stable job with little risk of future layoff. We both will have defined benefit pension plans, social security, 401Ks, etc at retirement. I am 42 and could retire at 60 if I stay at current company otherwise 65. My wife can retire at 55 and she is currently 34. We are both maxing out 401K, Roth IRA, contributing to 529, etc. Current ret...
by viking112347
Sat Sep 08, 2012 9:03 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Which mortgage paydown method would you recommend?
Replies: 11
Views: 2116

Which mortgage paydown method would you recommend?

I have a mortgage balance of 370,000, 3.625% fixed for 30 years. I have no other debts, fully fund 401K and Roth IRA, and have 12 months worth of cash/savings bonds which act as my emergency fund. I have approx 1500-2000 extra each month that I was considering throwing at the mortgage. Not sure if I should actually send this money to the mortgage company or instead I was considering throwing it all in Vanguard Total Stock and at some point in the future the balance in this account will be enough to pay-off the mortgage. This would also give me some additional liquidity in the event of a job-loss or catastrophic emergency.

Any recommendations?
by viking112347
Mon May 28, 2012 11:55 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Pay off mortgage because it FEELS good?
Replies: 125
Views: 12847

Re: Pay off mortgage because it FEELS good?

Given the state of our economy I think it is a very safe bet that interest rates will push much higher within the next decade. It is extremely likely that even FDIC insured accounts (CDs) will be paying at a higher interest rate (and possibly much higher) than the sub-4 mortgage rates that are available.
by viking112347
Thu May 24, 2012 6:20 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Mortgage Recasting
Replies: 4
Views: 3939

Mortgage Recasting

I refinanced a couple months ago to a 30 year fixed at 3.625% for 370,000. My loan was sold to US Bank and I noticed that they give the option to recast your mortgage whevener you make a principal payment of at least 10% of balance. I was thinking about occasionally (maybe every 2-3 years) plopping down 10% to reduce the principal and at the same time have them re-cast (reamortize based on the term left and principal balance). This would reduce my payment every couple years (which would help in the case of any unforseen job loss, etc) and at the same time allow me to pay my house off faster. It does cost $250 to recast.

Any thoughts?
by viking112347
Tue May 22, 2012 7:12 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: NWFCU 5% Certificate - Northern Va
Replies: 0
Views: 393

NWFCU 5% Certificate - Northern Va

FYI - For those living in Northern Virginia. Through May 31st new members opening accounts at the Gainesville, Va branch can open a 5% certificate for a 5 month term for up to $100,000.
by viking112347
Tue May 01, 2012 10:01 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Payoff 401K loan early?
Replies: 35
Views: 65448

Re: Payoff 401K loan early?

Great...thanks for the replies!...I will continue re-paying on the slow schedule.
by viking112347
Tue May 01, 2012 9:06 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Payoff 401K loan early?
Replies: 35
Views: 65448

Re: Payoff 401K loan early?

Even though I am paying the interest rate to myself?
by viking112347
Tue May 01, 2012 8:58 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Payoff 401K loan early?
Replies: 35
Views: 65448

Payoff 401K loan early?

I owe $12,000 on a 401K loan I made several years ago while purchasing my first home. I am re-paying the loan to my account with 5.75% interest. The repayment amount is $250 per month and the loan will be retired in 2017 if I continue to make scheduled payments.

Would it be recommended to payoff this loan now to get the money back into tax advantaged space and also free up $250 monthly or to just continue re-paying the loan (dollar cost averaging for the next 5 years)?
by viking112347
Fri Apr 27, 2012 8:43 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Classic debt repayment vs invest scenario
Replies: 4
Views: 813

Classic debt repayment vs invest scenario

Non-Mortgage Debt:

Wife student loan: 12,900 left at 3% fixed
2011 CR-V: 16,000 left at .9%

Mortgage: 372000 (30 year fixed 3.625%)

Emergency Fund: 46,000 cash (earning .5% at bank) + 25,000 I-Bonds
Taxable investments at Vanguard: 20,000
Roth IRA: 22,000
401K: 250,000
529: 14,000

Household income: 195,000/year

Plan: Payoff student loan this week which would reduce cash to 33,000. Apply payment I was making to student loan to car loan to accelerate payoff. After car paid off begin acceleration of mortgage payoff.

Will continue to max ROTH and 401K and invest in taxable as much as possible.

Sound like a good plan or would you all recommend a different approach?