Search found 708 matches

by plnelson
Mon Oct 30, 2023 8:00 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Senior Couple buying a house together
Replies: 41
Views: 5168

Re: Senior Couple buying a house together

I think it’s common advice for non-spouses to refrain from jointly owning primary real estate.

I don't think it is common advice these days. My late wife and I bought our first house together before we were married back in the 80's and neither the lawyer we went to to draw up the legal agreement, the mortgage company, nor our families batted an eyelash. Likewise when my father died in the 1970's my mom took up with the widower down the street and they sold their houses in Wellesley, (Ma) moved to Sarasota and bought a house together there. This is all very routine these days and there are several perfectly common ways to formalize it to protect everyone's interests.
by plnelson
Mon Oct 30, 2023 7:49 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Senior Couple buying a house together
Replies: 41
Views: 5168

Re: Senior Couple buying a house together

What is your plan-- not the legal part--if one have you has physical problems during this transition? Obviously it depends on what kind of a problem, and when in the process. But that's the gist of my question: what kind of a professional can we sit down with to have a discussion to make sure all the possibilities are covered? We're both smart people - I owned my own company and she was a senior executive at a company you've all heard of. But recognizing the legal and financial complexities and corner cases of this we want to sit down with the right kinds of professionals to make sure we've covered everything that can be covered. We can't be the only seniors who both own homes and are planning to move in together and want to move into a pl...
by plnelson
Mon Oct 30, 2023 7:17 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Senior Couple buying a house together
Replies: 41
Views: 5168

Re: Senior Couple buying a house together

if you and your lady friend remain unmarried - that you could each get a 3-bedroom place in the same CCRC. That way you have all the services if someone is incapacitated -and- you each have your own unique set-up if you split up or if one of you dies.

As I explained, we were both happily married to our late partners for decades and we enjoyed living in the same house under the same roof with another person. So that's what we want. Would you tell a married couple to buy separate houses? Then why suggest that to us?

As I also explained, we realize that finding a one floor house is unlikely so our plan is based on buying a house and taking 6-9 months to install an elevator and ADA-complaint bathrooms.
by plnelson
Mon Oct 30, 2023 12:55 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Senior Couple buying a house together
Replies: 41
Views: 5168

Re: Senior Couple buying a house together

Do either of you expect to be in assisted living soon? Do you have LTCi?

She has LTCi; I don't because I've had preexisting conditions for a long time that disqualified me from buying it. Amazingly I'm still alive but odds are I'll die before she does.
by plnelson
Mon Oct 30, 2023 12:50 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Senior Couple buying a house together
Replies: 41
Views: 5168

Re: Senior Couple buying a house together

Have ya'll spent much time living under the same roof yet?

Yes, we seem to be happiest that way; being apart has created more tension between us.

Both of us came from long (27 years for me, 40 years for her) very happy marriages, where we both had a strong teamwork ethos with our late spouses.
by plnelson
Mon Oct 30, 2023 12:46 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Senior Couple buying a house together
Replies: 41
Views: 5168

Re: Senior Couple buying a house together

As a practical matter, there are things that can be done so a spouse isn't left destitute in LTC situations. Did those estate lawyers have any suggestions besides just not getting married? Both lawyers said that there are things that can be done (specialized trusts, etc) but they are complicated, expensive and some of them require a 5-year waiting period. So they said that just not getting married is what they recommend. The house can be put under its own agreement. Neither of us have personal property the other is interested in "inheriting"; I have no kids; she has one who's a successful middle-aged corporate executive. We're each others legal health-care proxies and representative and we've already used that on both sides with ...
by plnelson
Mon Oct 30, 2023 12:15 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Senior Couple buying a house together
Replies: 41
Views: 5168

Re: Senior Couple buying a house together

It sounds like you're around Metro Boston. Have you looked at the top-level CCRCs? Yes, Merrimack Valley area. We spent the weekend looking at several including models that are still under construction. Toll Brothers has one going up the next town over. We were astounded that none of them were designed for single-floor living because that's de rigeur in other parts of the country for senior housing (not that we want to live in those places - we both grew up around here and our friends and families are in this area). Also most of them were small and lacked spare rooms. I do music production and I'm an artist so I have rooms for that; I also have a cat with their own room to keep litter smell and dander out of common areas for guests. My GF ...
by plnelson
Mon Oct 30, 2023 9:12 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Senior Couple buying a house together
Replies: 41
Views: 5168

Re: Senior Couple buying a house together

As you transition from go go years to slow go years in the next decade this dream house might be quite the large place and more than you care to have - but if money is not a factor I’d go for it. That is what life is about. At our age we both already have orthopedic problems that are likely to get worse so living in a house with lots of stairs and tiny bathrooms that are not ADA compliant is a bad idea. A couple of months ago we visited a friend in Pennsylvania who's 86. She's sharp as a tack and still works as a writer but she gets around with a walker. So years ago her daughter built her an all-on-one-floor house. That's what convinced us. Both of our houses are three floors and tiny bathrooms. I have surgery coming up in February and I'...
by plnelson
Mon Oct 30, 2023 8:53 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Senior Couple buying a house together
Replies: 41
Views: 5168

Re: Senior Couple buying a house together

Why not take the next year to spend the days at one house and the nights at the other, or something like that - while you explore local CCRCs with an eye to moving to one of them and really making your life easier. We've been doing that for two years. We miss each other during the day . Also two houses is twice the maintenance - twice as many plumbers, electricians, HVAC technicians, roofers, house-cleaners, landscapers, snow-removers, etc. Not to mention twice the real-estate tax - my real estate tax is literally the biggest thing on my budget - $12K - and hers is about the same. We expect the new place to be about $15K. As to not getting married, that does provide all sorts of benefits in the case of the death of a spouse. Would you shar...
by plnelson
Mon Oct 30, 2023 8:37 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Senior Couple buying a house together
Replies: 41
Views: 5168

Re: Senior Couple buying a house together

-how long are you expecting this transaction to take? Highly unlikely one of you will "become incompetent" during that time. Either one of us could have a stroke or something tomorrow. But we think 6-9 months . Each of our current houses is worth a net of approx $700K. We know we're not going to find the perfect house right off the bat. Around here, for example, it's hard to find single-floor living because land is expensive so builders subdivide into small lots and build upward. But also we'll want to redo bathrooms, etc, to be ADA-compliant, etc. We're also avid cooks and will want a super-kitchen. So our plan is to find a house for $1-1.1 million, sell one of our houses for capital to make a down-payment on the new place and f...
by plnelson
Sun Oct 29, 2023 7:14 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Senior Couple buying a house together
Replies: 41
Views: 5168

Re: Senior Couple buying a house together

Independent of age a legal agreement setting out shares of ownership, maintenance, and a decision process about improvements is absolutely necessary. AND a breakup clause. No matter how detailed the agreement you can expect things to get muddled as time goes on.

Totally agree, but we're unsure what the right kind of lawyer for that.
by plnelson
Sun Oct 29, 2023 7:11 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Senior Couple buying a house together
Replies: 41
Views: 5168

Re: Senior Couple buying a house together

How about opening a joint mm account account and both of you depositing the same amount of money in it to build the house / life you want. Jointly own and fund the new house

That's our plan anyway, but I think you're discounting the complications of the something going wrong in mid-transcation. I don't know how old you are but at our age the prospect of one of us dying or becoming incompetent the middle of a complicated deal that might stretch over many months is something you're aware of all the time. LTC was one factor, income tax and medicare rules was another in the lawyers' advice WRT marriage.
by plnelson
Sun Oct 29, 2023 5:54 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Senior Couple buying a house together
Replies: 41
Views: 5168

Senior Couple buying a house together

I'm 70 and my GF is 69. We each live in our own houses about 2 miles apart in Massachusetts. My house is mortgage-free and my GF's house has only a nominal mortgage. We're both busy on various projects so we end up spending all day at our own houses and we'd like to be under the same roof. We both had successful corporate careers so we're financially comfortable. We'd like to sell our existing houses and buy one house with the proceeds. The new house may be a bit bigger to accommodate my art studio and music production studio, her piano and woodworking shop. Both of our houses already have gyms - the new one should also. Both of us are avid cooks and we already have spacious kitchens; the new one should also. Most of al,l the new house shou...
by plnelson
Wed Jul 31, 2019 1:51 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Where can I see my Social Security witholding?
Replies: 8
Views: 845

Re: Where can I see my Social Security witholding?

So the bottom line is that there is no way to find out either from the SSA or IRS how much money is being withheld in 2019 until 2020? Utterly bizarre.

So can I file another W-4V to stop the witholding, and just do 1040ES's? I was trying to avoid that because that's more work than having it withheld automatically. I need to pay some taxes for 2019, but I want to do it with minimal effort on my part but without giving up records of my payments.

Thanks everyone for your comments.
by plnelson
Wed Jul 31, 2019 11:26 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Where can I see my Social Security witholding?
Replies: 8
Views: 845

Re: Where can I see my Social Security witholding?

Thanks for your response! Take your net benefit after Medicare (what you saw in previous months), multiply by the requested percent withholding, and then round to the nearest dime, That's what I did; that's why I said I could SURMISE that they're withholding properly, but I want to see it spelled out. You won’t see it in your social security account. Since it's Social Security doing the withholding, and they DO show the withholding for Medicare, I don't understand why there's no way to get the tax withheld from Social Security. Aren't they going to have to fess up sooner or later, like for the end of the year tax records? How is this any different from a paycheck from an employer that withholds insurance and taxes and lists it all on the st...
by plnelson
Wed Jul 31, 2019 9:45 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Where can I see my Social Security witholding?
Replies: 8
Views: 845

Where can I see my Social Security witholding?

I receive survivors benefits from Social Security and I recently submitted a W4V to have some taxes withheld. As of the latest payment it looks like they're witholding the correct amount but I can't find anyplace on the My Social Security web page where they actually SHOW it. I can only SURMISE it by the drop in my monthly payment.

The "Benefit and Payment Details" page shows each monthly payment, and it shows all the Medicare withholding, but it doesn't seem to show the tax withholding, even though the Monthly Benefit Amount minus the Medicare and minus the (supposed, surmised, expected) tax all add up properly to the amount disbursed to me. Where do they actually document the tax withholding?

Thanks in advance.
by plnelson
Fri Jun 08, 2018 4:44 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Source of objective assessment of Medicare B,C,D
Replies: 33
Views: 2950

Re: Source of objective assessment of Medicare B,C,D

hopefully you've spent some time reading the MANY earlier threads so that you can ask more specific questions here and not simply rehash what's already out there. As you say, there are MANY threads but they are all separate conversations. Also most of them are along the lines of "what plan should I get and should I get MA versus B+D, and what do you think of this company versus that one, and what about plan G or H or N?" etc. I don't want to ask those kinds of questions here because I'll just get one person's personal opinion. But that's not what I'm asking. I'm just looking for objective, systematic resources. Ideally if Consumer Reports had something recent (they don't appear to) then that would be good. But there might be othe...
by plnelson
Fri Jun 08, 2018 3:39 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Source of objective assessment of Medicare B,C,D
Replies: 33
Views: 2950

Re: Source of objective assessment of Medicare B,C,D

jebmke wrote: Thu Jun 07, 2018 3:02 pm I found the SHIP representative to be quite knowledgeable. I think most states have them at various locations. Might even be a requirement. Check Medicare dot gov and look for SHIP.

https://www.medicare.gov/contacts/#sear ... %20Program
It's called SHINE where I live. I contacted the senior center in my town but they lost their SHINE counselor and they won't have another one until the end of the summer and that's too long to wait.
by plnelson
Fri Jun 08, 2018 1:47 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Source of objective assessment of Medicare B,C,D
Replies: 33
Views: 2950

Re: Source of objective assessment of Medicare B,C,D

Please clarify what you are interested in, and understand that there are dozens of threads here that would probably already give you useful information. When you say that you want an "objective assessment comparing different supplemental providers", do you really mean "supplement", as in a supplement to Medicare Part B? DM200 is discussing Medicare Advantage (MA), which some call Medicare Part C and is not a supplement, but a replacement for Medicare B (and also often D). So are you considering a Supplement or MA, or need to decide which? Both. I don't know which would be best for me. I'm trying to find objective advice about that, and then about who's product is best for me. The problem I'm having is that most of the i...
by plnelson
Thu Jun 07, 2018 2:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Source of objective assessment of Medicare B,C,D
Replies: 33
Views: 2950

Re: Source of objective assessment of Medicare B,C,D

In addiiton to reading the documents for MA plans, try to talk to folks on them as well. Talk to what folks? I don't know anyone else on Medicare. I'm the oldest member of my immediate family and all my friends are either too young for Medicare or they're still working and covered by private insurance. Are there active online discussion forums for stuff like this? Some MA plans are terrible and some are fantastic. You must have done some research to come to this conclusion - what do you suggest as research resources? Medicare Advantage (and the similar Cost) plans vary a great deal by locality I'm sure the price can vary but many of the companies offering B,C,D plans seem to be national - Kaiser, UHC, Blue-Cross, etc, so I assume service w...
by plnelson
Thu Jun 07, 2018 1:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Source of objective assessment of Medicare B,C,D
Replies: 33
Views: 2950

Source of objective assessment of Medicare B,C,D

I'm switching over to Medicare soon and there's tons of advice and discussion on the web, but I'm looking for an objective assessment comparing different supplemental providers. As far as I can tell it's been about 5 years since Consumer Reports looked at this and a lot might have changed since then. And people's individual experiences are too anecdotal to be useful - it's easy to find people on the web who LOVED or HATED UHC or Harvard-Pilgrim or whatever. Where can I get a reasonably objective, broad assessments of different company's B.C,D plans and service?

Thanks in advance!
by plnelson
Fri Jan 19, 2018 6:51 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: HSA contribution when turning 65
Replies: 3
Views: 517

Re: HSA contribution when turning 65

What does "the month of January" mean? Ever since I've had this HSA I've made all my contributions in single lump sums for the whole year. (I have my own LLC so this is not an employer plan)
by plnelson
Fri Jan 19, 2018 2:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: HSA contribution when turning 65
Replies: 3
Views: 517

HSA contribution when turning 65

I turn 65 in February and I'll be covered under Medicare after that. It's my understanding that once I do I cannot make HSA contributions. But can I still make a full-year HSA contribution in the waning days of January?

Thanks in advance.
by plnelson
Tue Oct 31, 2017 12:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Uncashed unemployment check
Replies: 2
Views: 672

Uncashed unemployment check

I was unemployed back in 2009 and collecting unemployment benefits from the state of Massachusetts. The other day I was going through a pile of old stuff and found an uncashed check from that period for $75. It also says "void 90 days from date of check". Since it's a legitimate payment and I was eligible when they issued it, do they still owe it to me? can I have them re-issue it?

NB - I tried calling them but they said that they were experiencing extremely heavy call volume and could take any more calls so I should try back on another day. (good lord - if they can't handle the call volume in a booming economy and an unemployment rate of 4.2% what will they do in a recession?)

Thanks in advance for advice.
by plnelson
Fri Oct 27, 2017 11:38 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Income for Social Security eligibility
Replies: 4
Views: 1122

Re: Income for Social Security eligibility

The income limit is per year, not per month. If you are concerned about having too much income for the year, and you use cash accounting, no reason why you can't bill late in year 1 so that your income is received in the following year 2. Nope, read the link from Social Security I provided in the OP. " Some people who retire in mid-year have already earned more than their yearly earnings limit. That is why we have a special rule that applies to earnings for one year, usually the first year of retirement. " ... " be under full retirement age for all of 2017, you are considered retired in any month that your earnings are $1,410 or less and you did not perform substantial services in self employment. " I'm covered under th...
by plnelson
Fri Oct 27, 2017 2:30 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Social Security Discussion Forum?
Replies: 31
Views: 5793

Re: Social Security Discussion Forum?

Electron wrote: Fri Oct 27, 2017 1:28 pm As mentioned earlier, this forum would be an excellent place to post your questions. If you search on Social Security related topics, you will see that there is a great deal of expertise available right here in this forum.

I would suggest starting with a single thread. Spend a little time on the wording for the new Topic. Perhaps all you need is something like "Social Security - Questions in Several Areas".
I posted a very specific question this morning on this forum - viewtopic.php?f=2&t=230840 . it's exactly the sort of question I would expect to ask on a dedicated Social Security forum. It's about how income is calculated for SS benefits eligibility < age 66.
by plnelson
Fri Oct 27, 2017 11:43 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Social Security Discussion Forum?
Replies: 31
Views: 5793

Re: Social Security Discussion Forum?

Since posting my question I've been extensively searching the web and have come up with nothing . AARP has an online discussion forum that covers this but traffic is extremely light. There are lots of forums with discussions related to Social Security benefits run by groups with specific disabilities, but not about retirement. I'm always baffled by what topics interest people enough to have active online communities. My wife died in 2012 and I started online dating in 2014 and I've been amazed that there seem to be no active online communities for online dating. The two biggest services, eHarmony and Match.com, each claim a million couples have gotten married by meeting on their sites, and there are zillions of other services and lots of da...
by plnelson
Fri Oct 27, 2017 11:06 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Income for Social Security eligibility
Replies: 4
Views: 1122

Income for Social Security eligibility

I'm 64 and winding down into retirement. My wife died in 2012 and I'm eligible for income under her benefits. I won't be taking SS income under my own Social Security benefits until 70. I have a consultancy (an LLC) and October is my last full month of work. In November or December I promised to make myself available to one client to do odd jobs such as interviewing new candidates or fixing small software bugs. The Social Security representative I spoke with said I could earn up to $1410 a month for a mid-year retirement like this. This is echoed in this SS document: https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/rule.html My question is what, exactly , counts as income? If I do work in November and invoice the client in November do I have to receive ...
by plnelson
Thu Oct 26, 2017 3:04 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Social Security Discussion Forum?
Replies: 31
Views: 5793

Re: Social Security Discussion Forum?

:happy I like 'fKBA' - I'm going to start promoting that.
by plnelson
Thu Oct 26, 2017 2:50 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Social Security Discussion Forum?
Replies: 31
Views: 5793

Re: Social Security Discussion Forum?

I use the free Keepass, an open source password manager & it has made my life much easier. It will generate encrypted, random generated passwords that complies with each website formats. I only have to remember 1 password to open keepass. Thanks, but I'm unsure how that relates to our discussion. I asked about good places to get information about utilizing Social Security. I asked if there was a crowd-sourced website similar to Flyertalk, but about Social Security. And we seem to have evolved a side-discussion because Social Security apparently flunked me on my answers to their dKBA questions, and I didn't know that wasn't a recognised term so I explained what it meant. No password manager can do dKBA questions because they're not pass...
by plnelson
Thu Oct 26, 2017 11:35 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Social Security Discussion Forum?
Replies: 31
Views: 5793

Re: Social Security Discussion Forum?

GerryL wrote: Wed Oct 25, 2017 9:54 pm Sometimes when I log into my credit union account I am asked to identify my favorite candy bar. I doubt that is public knowledge. I don't remember answering that question when I opened my account, but I guess I must have. Just glad I can still remember that my favorite candy bar is #########.
That's static KBA - you supply the answers upfront. Dynamic KBA gets information from public records. I'm so afraid of forgetting what I answered for the sKBA questions that starting some years ago I switched to a new answer formula where I make up a nonsense string based on the question. So as long as they don't change the wording of the question I'll reliably give the same answer every time.
by plnelson
Thu Oct 26, 2017 11:27 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Social Security Discussion Forum?
Replies: 31
Views: 5793

Re: Social Security Discussion Forum?

Ive been struggling with SS for about 9 months & its left me in terror of having to go through the gov bureaucracy for my life support care. (...deletia for space ...) . He set up a phone appt for me Nov 17. Looks like its time to make a draw from VGFVPAS (Vanguard if you dont know) :mrgreen: YES! In my so far VERY brief relationship with SS all of the things you said except the drill sergeant (our guard was friendly) were spot-on. I'm only 64 and the thought of dealing with this for the rest of my life is horrific. And what's Medicare like?!! But this is exactly why I'm looking for a dedicated Social Security discussion forum. I'm an active member of a website called FlyerTalk.com for frequent flyers. It has been super valuable for fi...
by plnelson
Thu Oct 26, 2017 11:12 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Accessing a Social Security Office
Replies: 20
Views: 2012

Re: Accessing a Social Security Office

I went 2-3 times when I was still back East, walk-in. I got there before the door opened. Even so there was a wait of an hour or so. Bring a book. I suspect the wait time depends on where you are. Despite being in a lower-income part of a big city, the wait was not too bad. Expect to rub shoulders with some of our less-well-off citizens. And don't bring your gun. Why would I bring my gun? You said the wait was not too bad. But you also said it was "an hour or so". Those two statements seem to contradict each other. I'm new to this retirement stuff - I'm not fully retired until next month - but do retired people have a different sense of time? I know some retired people who sleep in late, hang out in the park, sit around Dunkin Do...
by plnelson
Thu Oct 26, 2017 10:57 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Accessing a Social Security Office
Replies: 20
Views: 2012

Re: Accessing a Social Security Office

That number was not accepting any calls or messages. I seem to recall finally getting through (either nationally or locally) and being told they were totally booked for the foreseeable future and were not scheduling any appointments at that time. That prompted another walk-in visit. When I apply for SS benefits next year, I intend to use the online application. Save the visits for things that are out of ordinary. Unfortunately, there seem to be more and more things they can't do online. Recently I had a problem creating an online account and the message on their website directed me to the "Help Desk" but when I called that number it dumped me into the national call center and after a 54 minute wait on hold the rep told me they've...
by plnelson
Thu Oct 26, 2017 10:39 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Accessing a Social Security Office
Replies: 20
Views: 2012

Re: Accessing a Social Security Office

Broken Man 1999 wrote: Wed Oct 25, 2017 3:57 pm
I would suggest setting up an appointment if you can't accomplish what you need online of via a telephone call versus just showing up. But, as the year gets closer to the end I would expect the appointments offered interval will increase substantially, kinda like the DMV lines at the end of the month.

Broken Man 1999
As I explained in the OP, I did use an appointment but it was FIVE weeks out.
by plnelson
Wed Oct 25, 2017 2:28 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Accessing a Social Security Office
Replies: 20
Views: 2012

Re: Accessing a Social Security Office

When we had to go to our SS office (don't ask :annoyed ), we made appointments. However, we noticed that they did allow walk-ins, but the sign stated that the wait would be "longer" without an appointment. (The wait wasn't particularly short *with* an appointment.) But you might want to bring a good book, or some work, and give that a try... The good news is that much to our surprise, the SS rep we spoke with there was both very pleasant and *very* helpful (and knowledgeable). Good luck. RM When I was there I asked about walk-ins and they said the wait is hours with no guarantee they would get to you. I'm new at this retirement stuff but it's shaping up to be busier than my working life so sitting on a bench for hours in a Social...
by plnelson
Wed Oct 25, 2017 2:01 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Social Security Discussion Forum?
Replies: 31
Views: 5793

Re: Social Security Discussion Forum?

TravelGeek wrote: Wed Oct 25, 2017 1:18 pm
Anyway, I think this is a good place for SocSec questions, even if they may not always be financial in nature. Perhaps the Personal Consumer Issues forum.

Also, thanks for the reminder to get the SSA accounts set up. Been procrastinating on that for a while now.
OK, so I've posted a question to the Personal Consumer forum to try this out. I think it's typical of the sorts of questions I'll have. Thanks!
by plnelson
Wed Oct 25, 2017 1:59 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Accessing a Social Security Office
Replies: 20
Views: 2012

Accessing a Social Security Office

I'm new to Social Security but already I've been directed twice to my local office for things SSA couldn't do online or via the national call center. My local SS Office needs appointments set up super-far in advance. For my last one the earliest they could do was FIVE weeks in advance. And with one appointment the phone lines both at that office and the national call center were so jammed - they just said to call back and you couldn't even leave a message - that when I needed to cancel it because of a sudden trip I had to call my Congresswoman's office to have them do it! This seemed crazy to me. My Questions: 1. Is this typical or common or is my local office (Lowell MA) some kind of crazy outlier, or I just hit them at a bad time? 2. Can ...
by plnelson
Wed Oct 25, 2017 1:31 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How to tell if your identity is compromised?
Replies: 5
Views: 1113

How to tell if your identity is compromised?

A few days ago when applying for Social Security I got some some odd dKBA questions. Since this term confused some people in another Bogleheads thread let's define it - dKBA is dynamic Knowledge Based Authentication. These are questions taken from public and credit records where they ask about old addresses you might have lived at or some car you owned in 2003 or car loan you had, or mortgage, in order to verify that you really are who you say you are. They're widely used when opening accounts with financial institutions. "sKBA" is static KBA - questions where YOU supply the answer, like the name of your first pet, your favorite move, etc. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knowledge-based_authentication Anyway, I've had to answer dKBA...
by plnelson
Wed Oct 25, 2017 1:07 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Social Security Discussion Forum?
Replies: 31
Views: 5793

Re: Social Security Discussion Forum?

climber2020 wrote: Wed Oct 25, 2017 12:55 pm
plnelson wrote: Wed Oct 25, 2017 12:45 pm What do YOU call that form of authentication?
I just call it authentication. I'm not in tech and have never seen or heard of KBA until I read this.
There are many kinds of authentication - what do people call that particular kind, say in a discussion on Bogleheads or if you're calling tech support at your investment company, if not dKBA? Or how do you distinguish sKBA from dKBA in a casual conversation - you can't just say "those security questions you have to answer". Is there some other term people use here?
by plnelson
Wed Oct 25, 2017 12:59 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Social Security Discussion Forum?
Replies: 31
Views: 5793

Re: Social Security Discussion Forum?

This forum is probably the best place to get what you're looking for. Welcome... I dunno - I love Bogleheads and have been on it for years (and one question I asked in 2014 even got the WSJ to do a two-page-article about me!) but I really think of Bogleheads for financial advice. The questions I'll be asking on a Social Security discussion forum won't be financial in nature. They'll be more along the lines of when the best times (and days!) to call to minimize hold times, how to cut through the bureaucracy to talk to right person about specific topics; what documentation to bring to meetings on specific topics and what has to be notarized, and other mechanical stuff. Also to tell "war stories" to help others. For example earlier ...
by plnelson
Wed Oct 25, 2017 12:45 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Social Security Discussion Forum?
Replies: 31
Views: 5793

Re: Social Security Discussion Forum?

I don't know what DKBA stands for so I googled it, which provided links to what looks like a terrorist organization. Please identify the acronym you are using. I don't know of a site that primarily discusses SS issues. dynamic Knowledge Based Authentication . These are those questions taken from public and credit records where they ask about some old address you might have lived at or some car you owned in 2003 or car loan you had, or mortgage, in order to verify that you really are who you say you are. They are all the rage these days when opening accounts with financial institutions and credit cards. "sKBA" is static KBA - questions where YOU supply the answer, like the name of your first pet, your favorite move, etc. https://e...
by plnelson
Wed Oct 25, 2017 11:49 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Social Security Discussion Forum?
Replies: 31
Views: 5793

Social Security Discussion Forum?

I recently attempted to set up my Social Security online account at https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/ and was rejected, apparently because of my answers to the dKBA questions. Several days later a subsequent attempt where I got the same dKBA questions and used the same answers (which I know because I made screenshots) worked. But in between there were many L O N G on-hold waits to talk to a human and some incorrect information on the SS website (e.g., about calling their online Help Desk, which is discontinued but still promoted on their website), which wasted a lot of my time . Not only that, but I've had to answer dKBA questions before for credit card applications and other financial stuff and I've NEVER seen so many that were "none of ...
by plnelson
Sun Oct 09, 2016 4:41 pm
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: Most reliable/safe/bulletproof way to get cash overseas
Replies: 30
Views: 4892

Re: Most reliable/safe/bulletproof way to get cash overseas

Any and all of the standard credit cards can be used in most of the world. The issue in picking among them is finding lowest costs. It is ALWAYS a rule to have at least two and preferably three cards in case one becomes compromised or may not work. One should keep/carry cards in separated locations, such as not all three in the wallet that gets pick-pocketed. Most credit cards have 24/7 support but that does not necessarily mean the card will be fixed by remote means rather than by shipping you a new card. Traveler's checks are pretty much obsolete. Debit cards are not recommended. This question is about getting CASH . Am I overlooking another solution to my question? How do I use my credit card in a foreign country to get cash? And wouldn...
by plnelson
Sat Oct 08, 2016 8:21 pm
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: Most reliable/safe/bulletproof way to get cash overseas
Replies: 30
Views: 4892

Re: Most reliable/safe/bulletproof way to get cash overseas

sc9182 wrote:Charles Schwab may impact credit-score -- apparently they do "hard-hit" credit-check when you "open" checking account. Also fine-print indicates -- you have to reside over 6+ months in US in a year to continue avail the benefit.

Used USAA across couple of countries and continents -- not a problem -- even their "Exchange-rate/conversion" was Top-notch ! Very happy.
I'm sorry but I don't know what USAA is. I did a Google search for USAA and all I could find was an insurance company based in Texas for veterans. I'm not a veteran.
by plnelson
Sat Oct 08, 2016 8:15 pm
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: Most reliable/safe/bulletproof way to get cash overseas
Replies: 30
Views: 4892

Re: Most reliable/safe/bulletproof way to get cash overseas

SecretAsianMan wrote:Schwab checking account. Reimbursement of ATM fees anywhere in the world and 24/7 customer service. Have used it on 6 continents without a problem (still waiting till I can get to the ATM in Antarctica!)

SAM
I don't have a Schwab account but I have accounts with Fidelity and Vanguard - do they have anything like that?

PS - I'll be in Antarctica this coming February on an AAAS trip, so I can check out the customer service then.
by plnelson
Sat Oct 08, 2016 6:56 pm
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: Most reliable/safe/bulletproof way to get cash overseas
Replies: 30
Views: 4892

Most reliable/safe/bulletproof way to get cash overseas

I used to have an account with Bank of America but because of their high fee structure I switched to a local back here in Massachusetts (Eastern Bank). While I generally like them, I've run into a problem with them illustrating a limitation of low cost banks that don't have 24/7 customer support. When I travel internationally, which I do fairly often, and usually solo, I try not to carry lots of cash because I expect I can use debit cards when I need cash. But today in London I found that my Eastern Bank ATM card, which I confirmed with the bank had a $750 daily limit overseas, and where I informed them I was going to be in the UK over these dates, would get me no money at a Barclay's ATM and only £100 at an HSBC ATM. This on a Saturday eve...
by plnelson
Wed Sep 28, 2016 10:22 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Retail business model question
Replies: 6
Views: 1005

Re: Retail business model question

They send them to you because you respond to promotions. The coupons are frequently underwritten by the manufacturers or the competitors of the products you buy. The store sells the data from your loyalty card to the manufacturers and marketers, so they can examine consumer buying behavior. They also assume that getting you into the store leads to other purchases even if it hasn't worked yet. No that doesn't add up because all I ever buy is the store brand. And why would a competitor underwrite a coupon for a competing product? And regarding, " They also assume that getting you into the store leads " that's why I mentioned that they know every detail of what I (or any card-carrying customer) buys. This is 2016 - retailers don't n...
by plnelson
Tue Sep 27, 2016 4:27 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Retail business model question
Replies: 6
Views: 1005

Retail business model question

Note to Mods: This might seem it belongs in "personal consumer" but it doesn't because I'm not asking it from that perspective and the answer won't alter my consumer behavior. Instead, I'm trying to understand the business model of a major industry sector that I sometimes invest in. I frequently shop at CVS (NYSE: CVS) and I buy a very predictable, consistent range of products from them and my purchases are many hundreds of dollars a year. I have a store-issued keychain "card" and they frequently send coupons to it that are typically in the form of "$10 off of a purchase of $40", and I've become skilled and disciplined at only buying with the coupons, barely exceeding the minimum purchase required, and only bu...
by plnelson
Thu Sep 22, 2016 11:02 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Threshold for pre-notifying credit card companies?
Replies: 40
Views: 10262

Re: Threshold for pre-notifying credit card companies?

If this gets worse, the solution may be to have three general purpose CCs and alternate between them to the extent possible... That's what I do already, but if a card is rejected don't I still have to call the bank to tell them it was legit so the card doesn't get shut off as "stolen"? I'm trying to minimize my inconvenience. Also it's personally embarrassing to have a card rejected; the clerk and the other people in line don't know that I'm proud of my sky-high credit-rating and always pay off my cards 100% every month. Plus having to rerun the transaction inconveniences the other people behind me in line. I've gotten looks when these things happen. Also, just to reiterate an earlier question - do the same rules apply to debit c...