RE: the lump sum v. dollar cost averaging- I would encourage you to do what you are most comfortable with. There is the math argument re: going all in at once and then there is the psychological reality of how a big change would affect you, would you be tempted to pull out again, etc. If you decide...
This table makes it crystal clear what would be good investments in a long term falling rate environment. Save it for your kids to use in another 20 or 30 years when rates are back over 10%. For now, it's like looking at a chart of stock performance from the early 1980s when P/Es were well under 10...
Mobile? why would an asset allocation issue be so urgent that it needs to be done via cell? Mobile prob includes iPad as well. I do everything in my iPad. I hate when I gotta open up the big old clunky laptop for anything. Don't even own a desktop anymore. And will probably never buy a desktop agai...
Paying $6000 the first year, and a similar amount every year thereafter, for a CFP is, pardon me for being blunt, stupid. You framed the issues clearly, and that means you have the intellect required to manage this money. I'm not flattering you, one could probably train a clever 10 year old to do i...
Hang around here for a few more days and you'll figure out you can do it yourself without paying them a management fee on top of the underlying ETF expense ratios. Info on their asset allocation is here: https://www.betterment.com/about/investments/ +1 short video introduction to boglehead philosop...
Ameriprise employs more CFP's than any other company. Their own website says so. http://www.ameriprise.com/financial-planning/ameriprise-financial-advisors/?link=nav Meh, you think that makes any of us want to choose Ameriprise? Put it in Vanguard. Qualify for Vanguard Select ($500k+). Get a compli...
The Wizard wrote:Would be amusing to compare the VG total bond fund return for each of the last 10 years as well. Not sure if that can easily be done at M*...
I think it tracks the BAGG that is included in the list.
Most of those pretty colored boxes have positive return numbers because rates have been falling over that time period. How will you feel about the pretty little boxes when all of the return numbers have minus signs in front of them? I wish I had the pretty colored boxes with the return numbers for ...
$10,000 invested before 2002 and left to ride through 2013 YTD would have grown to the following for each category: (ill double-check the numbers tomorrow, too tired tonight) EM - $33,003.39 <---------EMB (I think) HIGH-Yield - $24,777.50 <--------- PHIYX (I think) Long Treasuries - $23,823.15 US TI...
PIMCO'S BOND RETURN TABLE http://i39.tinypic.com/vy8hhe.jpg http://i44.tinypic.com/345zbb7.jpg I know the following question is being asked NOT based upon academic research or arguments but rather on a "gut feeling" while looking at the "periodic table of bond returns" above. Loo...
It's funny to see how automatically new, as well as some of the more experienced posters, simply assume that they will easily stay the course for 40+ years. I'd like to see some kind of study showing how often people really make changes to their portfolio. I'm definitely in favor of nisiprius' sugg...
Eligibility Requirements for Mountain America credit unIon https://www.macu.com/aboutus/join/eligibility/ ELIGIBILITY To be eligible for Mountain America Credit Union membership, you must be one of the following: Resident of: Salt Lake County (UT) Duchesne County (UT) Wasatch County (UT) census trac...
Im told by a state farm rep that One's credit report can only be "dinged" one time within a six week period when shopping around for homeowners insurance?
OK, with your income and asssets, and her desire not to go into coaching softball or girls sports for a career, there is absolutely no point in trying to go the athletic scholarship route. No point whatsoever. There is no point in going for a need-based scholarship as well. That leaves merit-based ...
What program of study might she be interested in? A lot of non-prestigious schools have individual programs that are truly spectacular and lucrative (meteorology at the University of Oklahoma for example). She is not 100% sure but (as of right now) wants to eventually go to medical school. I told h...
Our daughter had virtually identical experience and credentials except not being anywhere close to need based aid. She got about 25% off from a few private schools that were a step down from ivy league. Full ride offers to a few schools that she didn't apply to because of being a national merit sch...
Thanks for all the replies. Very helpful. We are very much OK with our kids going to reasonable "good" state schools. That's what I did and I am doing "very well" in my career and financially as well. ---- I started at a community college. Ended up graduating "Summa CUm Laud...
Bobby Bell puts $25,000 into two 529 plan. Plan One grows to $60,000 and Plan 2 grows to $40,000. His grandniece has $35,000 of QHEE. He removes $30,000 from Plan One. It will be tax free. (He is not using the money to help her pay for education. He is only following the rules.) I am curious to kno...
My oldest daughter is about to turn 16. Very high grades. Lots of honors. Will need academic not need-based scholarships. Just starting the process to find academic scholarships. Plays softball. Might win state this year..... Preparing for ACT/SAT. Any advice? Good books? Any Insights? thanks, xram....
The article makes the following assumptions regarding the taxable account. Doesn't seem correct to me. http://i39.tinypic.com/35kvl2g.png Here is the table of results. When the ratio (529/taxable) becomes greater than one, the 529 "wins" at that number of years. http://i42.tinypic.com/2wbu...
If I'm not mistaken, they saw the possibility of abuse, but didn't do anything about it. Aren't those simply proposals that didn't take place? They've already taken care of using the plan for retirement purposes by imposing the 10% penalty. For some odd reasons the final regulations take a long tim...
We are buying a house right now. 2.5% rate. Unlike other docs I see around me, we are buying a very reasonable house. The mortgage payment will eat up 4.6% of our monthly take home pay. I will sleep very well. 31% seems too high for me. Dont know about you but I wouldn't be able to do it. I wish you...
Hello. Trying to figure out if makes sense to use a 529 plan as a retirement account and just pay the penalty. Assume highest tax bracket Assume all othe tax advantaged space already used up. http://www2.stetson.edu/fsr/abstracts/vol_12_num4_p309.pdf Reading this study right now. If anybody has figu...
Our state's 529 does not have very good investment options and, in general, 529 plans offer very limited tax advantages but expose you to higher tuition risks. Now, given the fact that we are in the highest tax bracket, the latter is not a big concern, as we're unlikely to qualify for any breaks an...
IMO, yes, the advisor is just trying to keep your business. I don't blame him; this is how he makes his money. Either you believe in low cost indexing, or you don't. If you want actively manage funds, you could do much worse than American Funds. But I (and nearly all Bogleheads) believe that low-co...
Xram, Thanks for the advice... I am looking into options for the refinance of my mortgage, but as we took out a doctor's loan (maybe not the best decision), we have little equity in the property yet. It's looking like I'd have to come up with 10% of the loan value in order to refinance, which may n...
For people who don't use their respective 457(b)'s, do you max out all your other retirement options and, if it wasn't for this employer insolvency concern associated with 457(b)'s, would you invest in them as well? What I am getting at is that if you don't have the money to fully max out all your ...
I'm a new doc as well. Finished residency 1.5 years ago. Consider paying off car loan and mortgage before any additional taxable investing. I'm not an expert on mortgages (I'm getting my first one right now) but yours seems kinda high. We locked in 2.5%. Can you refinance? http://whitecoatinvestor.c...
Within a thread, does the site's software permit highlighting the thread starter's original post and any subsequent posts by him or her? I've seen this feature in use on other boards, and it makes it a lot easier to keep track of any replies by the original poster (OP), if there are any. It also pr...
about 1400 for wife ..... her's was a very lo-key ring. old fashioned looking. no big stone. exactly what she wanted and not too much money spent on peice of glass.....
We should consider not referring to Eric (aka "EDN") anymore as I understand he is no longer a member of the forum. Why would that be? Is he a pariah because he got involved in some heated debates here? He made some excellent contributions (imho) whether one agreed with his point of view ...