Search found 956 matches

by Gort
Sat Mar 16, 2024 8:34 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Please check my thinking about changing my Roth account from VTIAX to VTSAX
Replies: 42
Views: 3773

Re: Please check my thinking about changing my Roth account from VTIAX to VTSAX

WhitePuma wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 9:57 pm Another vote for all US in Roth. Vanguard has lead many astray with its international recommendations.
If you agree that the amount of international equities in target date funds represents their international recommendation, then Vanguard is not alone. Both Vanguard and Fidelity have a 60/40 asset allocation between US/International in their index target date funds.
by Gort
Fri Mar 15, 2024 8:54 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tricare Retired Reserve: wow it sucks wth?
Replies: 25
Views: 2471

Re: Tricare Retired Reserve: wow it sucks wth?

OP, how old are you? Are you sure that you are enrolled in Tricare for Life? Tricare for Life starts at age 65 and is the secondary insurance to Medicare. (You have to be age 65 or older and be enrolled in Medicare to have Tricare for Life). As a retired reservist myself, I have Tricare for Life and my Medicare part B monthly premium is $174.50. There are no out of pocket expenses. I looked up the premiums for "Tricare Retired Reserves" (which is insurance for those retired reservists not yet age 65 and not on Medicare) and the monthly premium is $585.24. This sounds like the plan that you are currently enrolled in.
by Gort
Mon Mar 11, 2024 10:37 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: International (Non-US) versus US Equities (The "Arguments")
Replies: 5351
Views: 906929

Re: International (Non-US) versus US Equities (The "Arguments")

Going to continue a conversation about Vanguard's aggressiveness with international allocations in their Target Date / LifeStrategy funds here. I was (wrongly) under the impression that Vanguards TDF / LifeStrategy funds were designed to hold something approximating a global index on the equity allocation side, but Vanguard's investment strategy is actually set to 60/40 - not to a global index. For example the Vanguard Lifestrategy Growth fund has an 80% equity allocation with 48% of that being US stocks and 32% being international stocks (60/40 or 1.5:1). Or Vanguard Target Retirement 2070 has a 90% equity allocation with 54% of that being US stocks and 36% of that being international stocks (also 60/40 or 1.5:1). With the recent US marke...
by Gort
Fri Mar 08, 2024 8:42 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why is Vanguard so bullish on international exposure in their all-in-one funds?
Replies: 77
Views: 6915

Re: Why is Vanguard so bullish on international exposure in their all-in-one funds?

Moe Sanders wrote: Fri Mar 08, 2024 7:27 pm Because they are trying to upsell. They aren't a nonprofit.
Upsell what?
by Gort
Wed Mar 06, 2024 2:36 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Moving to San Diego from Sleepy Low Cost Area
Replies: 77
Views: 8203

Re: Moving to San Diego from Sleepy Low Cost Area

OP has left the building. Perhaps they are on the road to San Diego!
by Gort
Wed Mar 06, 2024 10:46 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard Customer Service Mega-thread
Replies: 1514
Views: 169537

Re: Vanguard Flagship calls

Metsfan91 wrote: Tue Mar 05, 2024 8:12 pm
WhitePuma wrote: Tue Mar 05, 2024 6:28 pm Is there an actionable question here?
Yes, don't be afraid of calling vanguard :-P
:happy
by Gort
Mon Mar 04, 2024 4:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Moving to San Diego from Sleepy Low Cost Area
Replies: 77
Views: 8203

Re: Moving to San Diego from Sleepy Low Cost Area

Would be nice to know where OP currently lives in order to compare and contrast to San Diego.
by Gort
Mon Mar 04, 2024 9:49 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Moving to San Diego from Sleepy Low Cost Area
Replies: 77
Views: 8203

Re: Moving to San Diego from Sleepy Low Cost Area

JustGotScammed wrote: Sun Mar 03, 2024 8:02 pm I've gotten less enthused with where I live and am thinking about moving to San Diego. It looks like a fun, healthier lifestyle. Is this affordable at all? Any idea for how to navigate costs, and what annual income would be necessary to live a "middle class" lifestyle, would be appreciated. I am thinking of the Little italy area, assuming it can all work out.
Where are you currently living?
by Gort
Sat Mar 02, 2024 10:13 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard Announces CEO Retirement and Appointment of President
Replies: 372
Views: 36471

Re: Vanguard Announces CEO Retirement and Appointment of President

Hola wrote: Sat Mar 02, 2024 9:16 am I could see White Coat Investor take on a new role as CEO of Vanguard.
He's better off where he is so he can hopefully start to fix problems before they become bigger problems.
by Gort
Thu Feb 29, 2024 12:11 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Going all in on VYM/SCHD?
Replies: 57
Views: 7695

Re: Going all in on VYM/SCHD?

IMHO OP would be better off with a financial advisor at this stage. Perhaps start with Vanguard Personal Advisor and stay with them until you are confident in managing your own investments.
by Gort
Wed Feb 28, 2024 7:47 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard Customer Service Mega-thread
Replies: 1514
Views: 169537

Re: Does Vanguard offshore its CS?

thatbrian wrote: Wed Feb 28, 2024 7:23 pm
sailaway wrote: Wed Feb 28, 2024 7:16 pm CS tends to follow the same scripts wherever they happen to be located, so I care about whether or not those scripts lead to me getting the help I need, not the accent reading the script.
CS should be in the country the company is incorporated in, and its reps should speak English, in this case.

In its efforts to save money, Vanguard is costing itself much.
Why do you think that?
by Gort
Tue Feb 27, 2024 12:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: BMW named top pick in CR overall brand rankings
Replies: 55
Views: 5707

Re: BMW named top pick in CR overall brand rankings

#1 BMW

#2 Subaru

#3 Porsche
by Gort
Sun Feb 25, 2024 10:53 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Vehicle damaged and liable party has low coverage limits
Replies: 45
Views: 4125

Re: Vehicle damaged and liable party has low coverage limits

Jack FFR1846 wrote: Fri Feb 23, 2024 6:29 pm Work ONLY with your insurance company.

If you were not at fault at all, your premiums will not go up.

If the other person's insurance does not cover your entire loss, your company will. Worst case, you pay deductible.

If you have chosen a body shop, ask the insurance company if you should have your car towed there or if they can arrange it.

Why people deal with the other person's insurance company is beyond me. If the other driver only has $5k in liability coverage, and your damage is $10k, the other company is only going to give you $5k. If you have a $500 deductible and you go through your insurance, you'll at worst be out $500.
^^^THIS^^^
by Gort
Tue Feb 20, 2024 9:13 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do you use a second refrigerator/freezer?
Replies: 74
Views: 4802

Re: Do you use a second refrigerator/freezer?

SmileyFace wrote: Tue Feb 20, 2024 8:07 am
alpenglow wrote: Tue Feb 20, 2024 7:51 am
livesoft wrote: Tue Feb 20, 2024 7:22 am
Random Musings wrote: Tue Feb 20, 2024 7:14 am Also have a chess freezer in the basement. With a family, the freezer upstairs does not have enough space and can also buy items when on sale.

RM
The freezer model is the Grandmaster, right?
My chess freezer is from Eastern Europe - the brand is Czechmates.
Was it purchased at a pawn shop? Maybe a place in Queens?
Czechmates is the king of refrigerators.
by Gort
Thu Feb 15, 2024 1:27 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The One-Fund Portfolio as a default suggestion
Replies: 904
Views: 242090

Re: The One-Fund Portfolio as a default suggestion

Tom_T wrote: Sun Jan 28, 2024 8:40 am It's a little work to find low-cost one-fund choices outside of Vanguard. The Fidelity Freedom target date funds have expenses around 0.6; Fidelity Balanced is 0.5. Vanguard Balanced Index, in comparison, is 0.17. There is no Vanguard Balanced ETF (except, oddly, in Canada.)

BlackRock has a set of low-cost "balanced" iShares ETFs that are worth considering, and have probably been mentioned in the Forum.
https://www.blackrock.com/us/financial- ... s#LOW-COST
Vanguard Balanced Index fund Admiral shares ER is 0.07%.
by Gort
Tue Feb 13, 2024 7:13 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: A 50/50 all-in-one fund that's not VTMFX??
Replies: 17
Views: 2022

Re: A 50/50 all-in-one fund that's not VTMFX??

racy wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2024 7:06 am I have a 50/50 portfolio comprised of Wellesley and LifeStrategy Moderate Growth. This gives me exposure to total stock market, large value companies (Wellesley), total international stock, total bond market, corporate bonds (Wellesley) and total international bonds. Both are managed funds.
LifeStrategy Moderate Growth is not an actively managed fund. It's a fund-of-funds with the underlying funds all index.
by Gort
Tue Feb 06, 2024 9:39 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What's your allocation for International Stocks?
Replies: 101
Views: 7543

Re: What's your allocation for International Stocks?

25% of equity. That makes a ratio of 3:1 US:International. Why? I'm not really sure but it makes for clean looking pie charts. :sharebeer
by Gort
Mon Feb 05, 2024 8:16 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Very concerned about security!
Replies: 34
Views: 5848

Re: Very concerned about security!

HawkeyePierce wrote: Mon Feb 05, 2024 7:39 pm I seriously doubt that came from Vanguard's side. Much much much much much more likely your own computer is compromised.
Much agree!
by Gort
Sat Feb 03, 2024 10:15 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Vanguard website succumbs to "Fisher-Price" UI design
Replies: 847
Views: 116505

Re: Vanguard website succumbs to "Fisher-Price" UI design

destin wrote: Sat Feb 03, 2024 9:55 pm Is anyone having issue with logging into Vanguard?

Got an email to check this months statement. Attempt to login at login.vanguard.com and got a blank page. There's nothing there. Using Firefox if that helps. Also tried with their iphone and blank. There's no way to log in. Everything was working fine last month. Can't check this months statement.
No problem on my end.
by Gort
Sat Feb 03, 2024 10:14 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Vanguard website succumbs to "Fisher-Price" UI design
Replies: 847
Views: 116505

Re: Vanguard website succumbs to "Fisher-Price" UI design

Vanguard login: anyone know why Vanguard login is not simpler? VG used to store my username and I could type my password and go. Now, I have to get to investor or login.vanguard.com, mouse over and click Log in, type my username, tab to password, type password, and enter to go. Other sites, Fidelity, Schwab, BoA, Citi, Discover, etc. allow saving the username, and when you go to the site, the cursor starts in the password box ready to type. I personally think it's ridiculous Vanguard requires so much mousing around and typing for no good reason. Security is not a good reason, as we type the password and can require 2FA if desired. If there's a better shortcut please clue me in. I don't think it's Vanguard's fault. What browser are you usin...
by Gort
Sat Jan 27, 2024 4:13 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Balance fund instead of a Financial Advisor
Replies: 24
Views: 2992

Re: Balance fund instead of a Financial Advisor

gavinsiu wrote: Sat Jan 27, 2024 3:43 pm A number of Bogleheads are in PAS because their spouse is not investment oriented. What do you feel about just using a balanced fund like Life Strategy Income or Life Strategy conservative growth or Wesley and just withdraw as needed (assuming a relatively low withdraw rate) pair with RMD? Obviously, this would be less appealing if you are high income, but if you sit at 12% tax rate?
Not so obvious to me. Why?
by Gort
Wed Jan 24, 2024 10:12 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Does Vanguard Have a Money Market Account Debit Card
Replies: 9
Views: 1679

Re: Does Vanguard Have a Money Market Account Debit Card

lmldm wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2024 9:46 am
Silk McCue wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2024 9:38 am They do not. Debit cards work on bank accounts. Your taxable brokerage account is not one.

Cheers
Thank you! Appreciate it.
Also, separate question. Obviously VMFXX is a higher interest rate than ally. About 1 percent, which is not significant. Do you think it makes sense to transfer about 1/2 of the money from ally to vanguard in order to get the better yield? Is there a penalty for withdrawing money from the VMFXX? I don't believe there is any penalty with Ally because it is a bank. Wasn't sure about Vanguard money market.
Depends on how much money you are talking about.
by Gort
Tue Jan 23, 2024 10:51 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Feb. 7 Update -- Brand new Subaru needs new transmission
Replies: 173
Views: 16509

Re: Brand new Subaru needs new transmission

I purchased a new BMW 325xi in 2003. The transmission failed 2 months after the warranty expired. BMW was no help and I had to pay for the repair ($4,000). OP, be glad your failure happened under warranty. Vehicles start to fall apart the moment you start them up for the first time.
by Gort
Sun Jan 21, 2024 10:21 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Feb. 7 Update -- Brand new Subaru needs new transmission
Replies: 173
Views: 16509

Re: Brand new Subaru needs new transmission

Northern Flicker wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2024 10:15 pm
Gort wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2024 9:31 pm I'm on my third Subaru. Great vehicles. Wouldn't own anything else!
Our 2nd Subaru is on its 2nd set of head gaskets, whose replacements cost was 2.5x what it would cost on most other cars, not including the cost of addressing some issues that I believe (but could not prove unequivocally to the Subaru dealer who did the work) were caused by pulling the engine for that repair.
What model year is your 2nd Subaru?
by Gort
Sun Jan 21, 2024 9:31 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Feb. 7 Update -- Brand new Subaru needs new transmission
Replies: 173
Views: 16509

Re: Brand new Subaru needs new transmission

I'm on my third Subaru. Great vehicles. Wouldn't own anything else! :sharebeer
by Gort
Sun Jan 21, 2024 3:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Recommendation for 100% cotton men's undershirt?
Replies: 32
Views: 3164

Re: Recommendation for 100% cotton men's undershirt?

MishkaWorries wrote: Sat Jan 20, 2024 8:23 pm I prefer the tank T-shirt since they fit closer to the body, so my wife buys me Degree ultra clear black and white deodorant. She says it stops the staining under arms.
I never understood the reason for wearing tank tops.
by Gort
Sun Jan 21, 2024 3:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Recommendation for 100% cotton men's undershirt?
Replies: 32
Views: 3164

Re: Recommendation for 100% cotton men's undershirt?

MishkaWorries wrote: Sat Jan 20, 2024 8:23 pm I prefer the tank T-shirt since they fit closer to the body, so my wife buys me Degree ultra clear black and white deodorant. She says it stops the staining under arms.
I never understood the reason for wearing tank tops.
by Gort
Sat Jan 20, 2024 8:48 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Adios, Vanguard
Replies: 465
Views: 96204

Re: Adios, Vanguard

spookyfudge wrote: Sat Jan 20, 2024 7:29 pm Congrats on your move, I too am fed up with Vanguard, have been in it for over 35 years with Jack. Their service is a disgrace even though I have a higher tiered account. They have lost their way and if you were on the 2024 web video you can see the CEO is not of the same caliber as previous CEO its sad, they have gotten too large and the folks they brought on board are not of the quality in the original days.
What were your service related problems with Vanguard?
by Gort
Fri Jan 19, 2024 12:05 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Adios, Vanguard
Replies: 465
Views: 96204

Re: Adios, Vanguard

selfinvestor wrote: Thu Jan 18, 2024 8:08 pm I was doing an internal transfer at Vanguard. What I cannot comprehend is it is faster to do an external transfer with another firm moving money from Vanguard than an internal transfer within Vanguard. Wasting my time even trying to initiate an internal transfer within Vanguard was not worth it.
So, if you are leaving Vanguard, where are you going?
by Gort
Thu Jan 18, 2024 12:02 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Adios, Vanguard
Replies: 465
Views: 96204

Re: Adios, Vanguard

PFM wrote: Thu Jan 18, 2024 8:07 am I'm currently in the process of moving three Fidelity accounts to Vanguard and I have to say that so far it's been a disappointment. Hate to say it but their website sucks and so does their support. What a mess. Wishing I would have read more here on BH's prior to initiating the transfer.
Why are you moving and what specific problems are you having?
by Gort
Mon Jan 15, 2024 7:58 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Where does the loyalty to Vanguard come from?
Replies: 72
Views: 6653

Re: Where does the loyalty to Vanguard come from?

sunspotzsz wrote: Mon Jan 15, 2024 7:09 pm
the_wiki wrote: Mon Jan 15, 2024 6:47 pm The site was named after the founder of Vanguard, so it fits.
Late John Bogle is a rational person tho and even he would choose Fidelity over Vanguard given choice.

Using Vanguard is irrational based on higher fees and poor customer service & technology.
How do you know this?
by Gort
Sat Jan 13, 2024 8:32 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Adios, Vanguard
Replies: 465
Views: 96204

Re: Adios, Vanguard

FelixTheCat wrote: Thu Jan 11, 2024 3:53 pm I love these rants. I hate Vanguard,,,,but I’ll still use their products in ETF form.
Strong wording. Why do you HATE Vanguard?
by Gort
Fri Jan 12, 2024 11:37 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Morningstar Basic Login
Replies: 5
Views: 828

Re: Morningstar Basic Login

hotajax wrote: Fri Jan 12, 2024 10:20 am Yes it is. Thanks a lot. Still trying to figure if the premium version is worth it. I don't do a whole lot of trading, I tend to keep the big proven funds a long time. But Vanguard is losing a respected fund manager at VDIGX, for me it's time to go. At 71 I'm tired of hearing that the new guy won't change "much". Especially when it is Vanguard doing the talking.
What are your concerns with "Vanguard doing the talking"?
by Gort
Thu Jan 11, 2024 9:57 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Family of 4 debating 3 row SUV
Replies: 71
Views: 8131

Re: Family of 4 debating 3 row SUV

So get a minivan.
by Gort
Mon Jan 08, 2024 9:09 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Two Fund Portfolio Asset Allocation
Replies: 11
Views: 2484

Re: Two Fund Portfolio Asset Allocation

Well, first to respond. Thanks for all your hard work but I don't understand any of this. I'm glad that there must be people out there that do. I'll just stay with Vanguard's Life Strategy Moderate Growth (VSMGX) and call it good. :sharebeer
by Gort
Fri Jan 05, 2024 12:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Vanguard website succumbs to "Fisher-Price" UI design
Replies: 847
Views: 116505

Re: Vanguard website succumbs to "Fisher-Price" UI design

Finridge wrote: Fri Jan 05, 2024 12:29 pm Taking an RMD, I was forced to have the money to an outside institution. Moving it to my Vanguard non-retirement account was not an option. So the funds are now at Fidelity.
Why?
by Gort
Thu Jan 04, 2024 6:11 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Where do you bank and why? 2024 Edition
Replies: 113
Views: 15431

Re: Where do you bank and why? 2024 Edition

Chase bank for checking. Well designed and easy to use online bill pay service. Free checking with no minimum balance requirements for active duty military, retired military and veterans.
by Gort
Thu Dec 21, 2023 9:58 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: International (Non-US) versus US Equities (The "Arguments")
Replies: 5351
Views: 906929

Re: International (Non-US) versus US Equities (The "Arguments")

Anxiously waiting for the executive summary of the previous 75 pages of posts. Well, maybe not. I don't think there is anything new to learn here. Just he same ol' "my asset allocation is better than yours" type arguments.
by Gort
Wed Dec 20, 2023 1:15 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Need help with replacing noisy AC unit in new house.
Replies: 35
Views: 3644

Re: Need help with replacing noisy AC unit in new house.

Fixed! HVAC tech ran new pipes on the exterior wall then insulated and covered with a metal cover running the entire vertical length of the wall. Looks good AND it's quiet inside! Thanks to all who contributed their ideas.
Gort
by Gort
Fri Dec 08, 2023 9:41 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Need help with replacing noisy AC unit in new house.
Replies: 35
Views: 3644

Re: Need help with replacing noisy AC unit in new house.

Latest update... As a test, we covered the outside unit with quite a few sound deadening blankets and ran the AC for 60 seconds to isolate the sound. On the outside, the sound was significantly reduced (as I expected) BUT inside the house the loud sound was still there. The tech isolated the problem to the copper pipes vibrating inside the wall. I can confirm this as I placed my ear against the wall and the sound is indeed in this location. (Before we covered the outside unit with the sound blankets I couldn't tell where the sound was coming from). So options to reduce the inside noise are: 1) open up the inside wall, reposition as best as possible the pipes to avoid vibration and add sound reducing insulation, or 2) abandon the inside copp...
by Gort
Mon Nov 06, 2023 12:20 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Amazon return policy for electronics
Replies: 12
Views: 2585

Re: Amazon return policy for electronics

stocknoob4111 wrote: Sun Nov 05, 2023 10:54 pm
Ostentatious wrote: Sun Nov 05, 2023 10:51 pm I would just return it. I always get full refunds for even third party sellers electronics.
perfect, thanks for the vote of confidence. I will go ahead then, was just looking for some sort of confirmation since the policy page was confusing. This is my first return to Amazon so wasn't too sure.
Did you actually request the return on the Amazon website? If you got through this and weren't denied all is good for your return.
by Gort
Fri Nov 03, 2023 6:40 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Citi cuts off some paper bill recipients
Replies: 46
Views: 5448

Re: Citi cuts off some paper bill recipients

nps wrote: Fri Nov 03, 2023 6:33 pm First Vanguard, now Citi! Consequences for receiving paper statements
Some Citigroup credit-card customers are getting a stark warning from the bank: Go paperless or lose access to your online account.
The full story (paywall) cites Citi's claim that it is a "beta program" rolled out to a small number of its customers receiving paper statements. But the writing may be on the wall.
Good idea.
by Gort
Tue Oct 24, 2023 8:09 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Rx sunglasses?
Replies: 52
Views: 5722

Re: Rx sunglasses?

For the online buyers, how do you get the glasses properly measured? I like to try on my glasses in store to see if they look good, and part of the “fitting” is the technician measuring your pupil distance (or something like that). I have an astigmatism and had bad luck with Warby Parker so I stick to the local, reputable optometrists. But I often feel like I’m being upsold on coatings or high index, etc. I'm surprised to hear a negative Warby Parker review. I've had nothing but excellent optics from them. Y ou can get your RX (including PD) from anyone including your preferred local optimetist. But they are not making your RX. They're being done up in a lab somewhere and, as mentioned, WP has always been first rate quality and build in my...
by Gort
Fri Oct 20, 2023 4:44 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Need help with replacing noisy AC unit in new house.
Replies: 35
Views: 3644

Re: Need help with replacing noisy AC unit in new house.

Update: I put sound blankets on the compressor - didn't make a difference in the noise level. Other units identical to mine in the neighborhood seem to be as noisy. Some of them are close to a bedroom window (like mine) while others are not. Other units different than mine (upgrades I assume) in the neighborhood are much quieter. I'll be calling the HVAC installer again early next week to discuss replacement options with a quieter outdoor unit. I wonder if the noise is coming from the motor that spins the fan? I can't tell.
by Gort
Wed Oct 18, 2023 9:16 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Article: "Why "VT and Chill" Is Probably the Best ETF Investing Strategy Out There"
Replies: 69
Views: 19193

Re: Article: "Why "VT and Chill" Is Probably the Best ETF Investing Strategy Out There"

This article is a very simply written piece. In my mind, the target audience is people without a lot of background and experience in investing and finance. The message, which is a good one, would fall flat with this audience if the punch line ended up being a 6% return. So yes, the timeframe was slightly cherry-picked. At least it wasn't cherry-picked in a way that compared this to other alternatives that happened to do less well during the chosen timeframe. I'm sure the good folks at Vanguard feel that they are fighting the good fight with articles like this intended for the less well initiated. I don't think it's a Vanguard article. Perhaps the author, or his editor, added a Vanguard banner as a disingenuous attempt to add some integrity...
by Gort
Sat Sep 30, 2023 8:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Need help with replacing noisy AC unit in new house.
Replies: 35
Views: 3644

Re: Need help with replacing noisy AC unit in new house.

The unit is sitting on a small concrete slab. It all checked out as normal per the tech. Young grandchildren will be staying over so need a quiet room.
by Gort
Sat Sep 30, 2023 8:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Need help with replacing noisy AC unit in new house.
Replies: 35
Views: 3644

Need help with replacing noisy AC unit in new house.

Friends, I recently purchased a new home which I like very much. Problem is that the outdoor Carrier AC unit is very loud when starting and running. It is located outside my guest bedroom window. I do not hear it as much from other parts of the house. Private house inspection said everything was operating normally (I wasn't present during his inspection). I didn't notice the sound during my pre-closing walk through, maybe I wasn't paying enough attention - lesson learned). Before my master bedroom furniture arrived, I slept in the guest room and the equipment noise was terrible. There is no way guests and visiting family members would want to stay in that room. This is in north Texas so I'll be using the AC quite a bit. I contacted the buil...
by Gort
Wed Aug 23, 2023 12:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Keeping in touch from Europe
Replies: 59
Views: 4253

Re: Keeping in touch from Europe

neilpilot wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2023 1:59 pm So she will be on a Viking cruise, which according to another post has free Wi-Fi. To keep it simple, she simply keeps her phone in Airplane mode, connected to ship's Wi-Fi with wifi calling active. She can make and receive calls and texts just like she was home, at no charge. No need for a EU Sim, WhatsApp or any other app or special service. I've made 2 trips this year, for a total of 6 weeks in Europe. Called home and received calls and texts just like when I'm home, all with no extra charge.
^^^^^This^^^^^^
by Gort
Wed Jul 05, 2023 1:17 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Anyone still favor Vanguard?
Replies: 359
Views: 48985

Re: Anyone still favor Vanguard?

DesertGator wrote: Wed Jul 05, 2023 12:44 pm I no longer favor Vanguard, and when asked, I recommend alternatives. I like a number of their popular index funds & ETF's, but would only hold them elsewhere.

I am in the process of moving 7 figures from Vanguard to mostly Fidelity. It has been painful & challenging, and I've had to file a FINRA complaint and engage an attorney.
Curious, what did you find painful and challenging?