Search found 264 matches

by Polar_Ice
Thu Mar 14, 2024 6:32 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Excel Forumula Help -cumulative percentage growth
Replies: 13
Views: 1237

Re: Excel Forumula Help -cumulative percentage growth

FactualFran wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2024 10:07 pm If Numbers does not have the PRODUCT function suggested by JeanneForever, use an additional column to calculate the product using simple cell formulas (in Excel notation):

Code: Select all

Year  Return  CumulReturn           1
2012  16.38%  =b2                   2
2013  33.52%  =(c2+1)*(b3+1)-1      3
2014  12.56%  =(c3+1)*(b4+1)-1      4
2015   0.39%  =(c4+1)*(b5+1)-1      5
  A      B          C            col\row
For each additional year, add a row, enter the Year and Return, and copy the paste the formula from the previous row for CumulReturn.
Perfect, that is the simplest solution so far and can drag down.
by Polar_Ice
Thu Mar 14, 2024 6:19 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Excel Forumula Help -cumulative percentage growth
Replies: 13
Views: 1237

Re: Excel Forumula Help -cumulative percentage growth

JeanneForever wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2024 8:40 pm There's probably a better way, but assuming B1 = 16.38% if you make cell C1 = 1+B1 and so on down the column, then you can make D1 =PRODUCT($C$1:C1)-1. Copy that formula down so D2 is =PRODUCT($C$1:C2)-1, etc. This is for Excel; I have never used Numbers.
Numbers has all the same functions as Excel and works the same. That works well and am able to drag and fill down to calculate easily. Thanks
by Polar_Ice
Thu Mar 14, 2024 6:18 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Excel Forumula Help -cumulative percentage growth
Replies: 13
Views: 1237

Re: Excel Forumula Help -cumulative percentage growth

user9532 wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2024 8:45 pm Assume the beginning dollar value of your investments in 2012 is in cell B1, and
the ending dollar value in 2015 is in B2, then

=(B2-B1)/B1 (format the result for percentage).
I understand but there are no dollar values. I am strictly coping the quarterly percentage return off of Vanguard's website so I can get an equal comparison to my investments.
by Polar_Ice
Wed Mar 13, 2024 7:56 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Excel Forumula Help -cumulative percentage growth
Replies: 13
Views: 1237

Re: Excel Forumula Help -cumulative percentage growth

Here is example for VTSAX

2012: 16.38%
2013: 33.52%
2014: 12.56%
2015: 0.39%

Calculate the cumulative return from these four years. Here is the formula I use in excel.

=((1+16.38%)×(1+33.52%)×(1+12.56%)×(1+0.39%))−1

Wondering if there is a way to simply or use a formula in Excel instead of typing out all 12 cells or years instead of the 4 shown.
by Polar_Ice
Wed Mar 13, 2024 6:48 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Excel Forumula Help -cumulative percentage growth
Replies: 13
Views: 1237

Excel Forumula Help -cumulative percentage growth

I am making some improvements to my retirement investment tracker in Numbers (Switched from Excel a few years ago).

I track many individual funds I invest in and also some I use as a benchmark like VTSAX. Once a year I add the yearly percentage change for some funds on a page. I want to calculate the cumulative percentage growth for last 12 years that I have been tracking my accounts.

The formula looks like this for the first 4 years.

=(1+H29)×(1+I29)×(1+J29)×(1+K29)−1

Any ideas on a more simple formula that will automatically update when I put in the next year? :confused
by Polar_Ice
Sat Dec 09, 2023 2:36 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: I owe a foreign rental car company money
Replies: 21
Views: 3401

Re: I owe a foreign rental car company money

Did you google this? It sounds like this is a common thing. I would just ignore them. It doesn't sounds like they can so anything legally anyhow.

https://legalbeagles.info/forums/forum/ ... ency/page2
by Polar_Ice
Sun Oct 22, 2023 3:02 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Frankfurt: 18+ hr overnight layover
Replies: 83
Views: 7699

Re: Frankfurt: 18+ hr overnight layover

02nz wrote: Sun Oct 22, 2023 2:46 pm
Polar_Ice wrote: Sun Oct 22, 2023 2:45 pm I would walk around the city near Römerberg and walk across the bridge and along the water if it is a nice evening or the next morning.
Have you been to Germany in late November?
Yes, All times of the year, unless it pouring rain I walk around the cities I am visiting for hours each night no matter how cold.I walked 30 minutes each way to dinner last visit to Frankfurt as I usually stay on the east side down from the East Station like at the Moxy.
by Polar_Ice
Sun Oct 22, 2023 2:45 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Frankfurt: 18+ hr overnight layover
Replies: 83
Views: 7699

Re: Frankfurt: 18+ hr overnight layover

I would recommend taking the opportunity to see Germany and have a memorable short visit.

One option is just take an Uber to this Hotel spa near the hotel and relax.

https://www.vital-hotel-frankfurt.de/en ... l-spa.html

I would walk around the city near Römerberg and walk across the bridge and along the water if it is a nice evening or the next morning.

I would recommend this place for dinner and some traditional food. You could take the train easily to town for the even if you stayed at the airport. Just download the DB Navigator App to check times and tickets.

https://www.apfelwein-dax.de/English
https://maps.app.goo.gl/rEZb8z3ASu2wwQYs5
by Polar_Ice
Fri Aug 25, 2023 7:14 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Calling all Boglehead car mechanics
Replies: 37
Views: 3594

Re: Calling all Boglehead car mechanics

Find a good forum like here and get some advice from other owners?

https://my350z.com/forum/

To me it sounds like a bad electrical connection with wiring or bad grounding issues when it runs fine sometimes and then others times it doesn't. It can be very hard to find these type of intermittent issues. Do you live in a salty area or rust prone place?

I would check all the vacuum lines and if they are old and cracking or leaking, then replace all of them. Once it warms up some of the lines might start to leak. Cheap to get some similar vacuum line and replace them.

Can pull the battery negative off an hour and completely reset the computer so you are starting over with fresh codes if you have any.
by Polar_Ice
Sat Jun 10, 2023 1:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Zurich hotel location recommendations
Replies: 32
Views: 2380

Re: Zurich hotel location recommendations

I have stayed at many of the Marriott properties in Zurich. The Zurich Marriott downtown is always very expensive and a lot of points but it is a good location but depending on how far you want to walk it is not so central in the city and about 10-15 minutes from the Zurich Hbf main station. I prefer to stay at the Courtyard Marriott North as it is just a very quick train ride from Zurich Oerlikon station to the main station. It is a short walk (5min) to the hotel from the Oerlikon station and has a big Coop grocery store across the street between the hotel and station. I was just there the other week and they opened up a big outdoor restaurant by the station right near the hotel. The hotel is very quiet, ask for an inside courtyard room. h...
by Polar_Ice
Sun Jan 22, 2023 12:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Travel from Copenhagen in March
Replies: 24
Views: 1576

Re: Travel from Copenhagen in March

For a short trip after Copenhagen, you could head to Hamburg or Berlin if you haven't seen Germany. If you like nature and want to see something different, I would recommend checking a flight on Icelandair and stop in Iceland for a few days. Can rent a car and see a lot of beautiful places not far from Reykjavik.

I would book a tour to a few places nearby and visit a hot springs or two to swim and just relax. :) Drive along the coast and discover some nice walks and watch a nice sunset. :happy

https://guidetoiceland.is/best-of-icela ... in-iceland
by Polar_Ice
Sun Jan 22, 2023 11:05 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: apple airtags - recommended?
Replies: 75
Views: 7628

Re: apple airtags - recommended?

It works great for luggage. I usually check and see if my luggage makes the flight on a connection. Most ios user leave bluetooth on so usually someone in the plane above your luggage can register it on a flight. I have even seen mine tracking in real time on a flight when there was WIFI on the plane.

It is worth the price after a few trips to keep track of my luggage since I travel often.
by Polar_Ice
Sun Jan 22, 2023 10:48 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Which inexpensive laser printer?
Replies: 45
Views: 4435

Re: Which inexpensive laser printer?

Another vote for Brothers, I had a few Canon printers before and cartridges were expensive and would dry up when not using it.

I have had this Brother one 6-7 years now and the cartridges are reasonable and can find aftermarket ones that work well too. I don't print much, sometimes on a few times a year and never have issues with cartridges as I forgot the last time I changed it. If you only need B&W, then look at this or maybe a new model.

Brother HL-L2300D Monochrome Laser Printer with Duplex Printing

Probably go for at-least this one now with wireless connectivity.

Brother HLL2305W Compact Mono Laser Single Function Printer with Wireless and Mobile Device Printing
by Polar_Ice
Tue Aug 23, 2022 1:22 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Capital one, Not notified of balance - hit to credit
Replies: 13
Views: 1541

Capital one, Not notified of balance - hit to credit

I have had a Capital One credit card for like about 15 years. I normally don’t use the card but my wife charged something on it and didn’t realize until it was too late they had stopped sending me monthly emails with current balance. I didn’t get notified by them in anyway so didn’t make the minimum payment for 2 months. I didn’t know until I got an email from a credit monitor service I have that it had hit my credit. My credit went from 825 to 707. I logged in and realized I had a balance and paid it off immediately and called them and they removed the late fees. I have never had a late payment before. The representative admitted that they had issues with customers getting notified recently. I went in and turned on all the notifications I ...
by Polar_Ice
Mon Nov 08, 2021 4:29 pm
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: Norway: Financial discussion forums
Replies: 17
Views: 8689

Re: Norway: Financial discussion forums

Thanks,

What kind of account do you use to save for retirement? It looks like KLP is the preferred place for low cost index funds to open an account?

Is there an individual account option I can open that my employer can contribute to also?
by Polar_Ice
Mon Aug 30, 2021 2:19 pm
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: Norway: Financial discussion forums
Replies: 17
Views: 8689

Re: Norway: Financial discussion forums

Where do you search the available mutual funds available in Norway and research them?

Anyone have a list of index funds in Norway?
by Polar_Ice
Wed Aug 25, 2021 6:18 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Whole milk vs 2%?
Replies: 36
Views: 2974

Re: Whole milk vs 2%?

I came to the conclusion that it just doesn't make sense to drink milk. Plenty of healthier plant based mylks now to choose from.

If you are going drink milk then I would recommend to drink nonfat. :happy
by Polar_Ice
Tue Jun 08, 2021 2:02 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Credit Card Car Rental Insurance. Has anyone ever had to file an international claim?
Replies: 17
Views: 1456

Re: Credit Card Car Rental Insurance. Has anyone ever had to file an international claim?

As a frequent international traveler, I would recommend paying the extra insurance. Hopefully you will not ever need it but when you do it will make a big difference as dealing with a company overseas can be a huge headache.

Some of the countries I visit it is required to include CDW insurance with the car by law so you can take a little more to lower the deductible but you are basically always protected from a huge loss.

If you get the insurance through them and something happens, they handle it all and after you return the car there will likely be little or no work after that.
by Polar_Ice
Tue Jun 08, 2021 7:57 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Shower Water Filter
Replies: 24
Views: 2536

Re: Shower Water Filter

lthenderson wrote: Mon Jun 07, 2021 3:20 pm
Voltaire2.0 wrote: Sat Jun 05, 2021 3:59 pm DW complains that our shower water makes her hair "frizzy." I'm dubious but...
I live in a household with four other females who fight frizzy hair by wrapping their hair in microfiber towels immediately after exiting the shower. I don't understand the how it works but they all swear by it.
I think it has to do with how they wick the water from the hair quicker then cotton. Just search on amazon for these towels. Microfiber hair towel
by Polar_Ice
Tue Jun 08, 2021 7:50 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: IPhone Battery Replacement?
Replies: 91
Views: 8121

Re: IPhone Battery Replacement?

How much do you use your iphone? If you use it a lot, I would look at the iphone 12 mini or something more than the new SE.

The camera and everything is so much better. I went from a iphone 6s to 12 pro and it is so worth the money. The photos are great and I travel a lot and use it a lot for work so it makes a lot of sense for me.

I have changed a lot of battery is the older iphones. There are a lot of videos. You just want to take your time and be careful not to break the cables when pulling the screen away. You can change the 6s battery without even disconnecting the screen.
by Polar_Ice
Mon Jun 07, 2021 9:58 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Shower Water Filter
Replies: 24
Views: 2536

Re: Shower Water Filter

It doesn't get much better than some high quality H20. :)

I had a shower water filter for years as the local water seem high on Chlorine.It was basically an active charcoal filter. It noticed it reduced the smell of Chlorine while taking a shower and helped. It didn't cost much and if you are handy can install it in 5 minutes with a wrench and teflon tape.

Something like this looks good:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MUBU0YC/re ... 6TW47A9GAA
by Polar_Ice
Wed Jun 02, 2021 2:14 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Potential Relocation to Austin - Should We Do It?
Replies: 122
Views: 12042

Re: Potential Relocation to Austin - Should We Do It?

Have you lived anywhere else but the Bay Area? Austin is a nice city and growing but there is a lot of fundamental differences between the 2 places.

Have you visited the area recently? I would suggest going for a long weekend and looking around.

I am very happy I left the Bay Area and starting a family you can find some nice places north of Austin with great schools. I really like west of Austin in the hills. I know a great real estate agent in Austin I would recommend if you need someone you can count on. PM me if you like.
by Polar_Ice
Thu May 27, 2021 1:53 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Question for non-Tesla EV owners
Replies: 45
Views: 10381

Re: Question for non-Tesla EV owners

Do you plan to be doing long road trips or charging often away from home? There is no doubt a lot of friends have gone with Tesla due to their charging network over other brands. Other companies are improving access but just haven't seen any near how Tesla will map out our stops to charge. You could drive coast to coast with no worries.
by Polar_Ice
Thu May 27, 2021 1:48 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: starting a quiet lawn care company
Replies: 78
Views: 5707

Re: starting a quiet lawn care company

I never knew how good of an investment my noise canceling headphone are for working at home or traveling. I am looking to upgrade my pair soon for a higher noise reduction. You don't even have to play music, just turn on the noise canceling part while you are studying/working. Also they are shown to help with hearing loss since you can keep the volume lower when listening to music or audio.
by Polar_Ice
Thu May 27, 2021 1:42 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: looking for good laptop for my 8 year old
Replies: 20
Views: 2249

Re: looking for good laptop for my 8 year old

I just bought a Acer Swift 3 laptop for my son. It seems like a good value and has everything you need as he wanted a PC with windows 10. I went with 16GB RAM and as I found a good deal on it.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086KKKT15/re ... 9QXK3NFA4S

Chromebook is not an option if you want to give them room to grow and do anything as they are just to locked down and limited.
by Polar_Ice
Thu May 27, 2021 7:15 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Saving wear & tear on car (brakes vs transmission)
Replies: 80
Views: 9438

Re: Saving wear & tear on car (brakes vs transmission)

You want to use your brakes but there is a point on a long or steep hill where the brakes get too hot and it is best to use transmission also. It takes some experience but if you use the brakes too much and they get too hot then you will glaze the rotors and reduce the effectiveness of the brakes. On a long hill or steep one you should use the transmission to keep the brakes from getting too hot. Roll down the window at the bottom of the hill and if you smell brakes they are getting too hot. Generally speaking I agree, you want to use the brakes instead of the engine. With an automatic transmission the torque converter help some but I would be less worried about the transmission and more about the engine since the engine is doing the majori...
by Polar_Ice
Tue May 25, 2021 2:44 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What is the BEST thing you spent money on?
Replies: 461
Views: 69269

Re: What is the BEST thing you spent money on?

The best investment you can make is a really good bed. Check out a natural latex mattress. A good night sleep will change your life. Most people just don't realize they sleep on garbage until they try something great.
by Polar_Ice
Tue May 25, 2021 2:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: California East Bay, Place to live and commute to Oakland, CA
Replies: 107
Views: 10476

Re: California East Bay, Place to live and commute to Oakland, CA

I would recommend Windemere in San Ramon. It is away from the major highways in a valley northeast of the 580/680 interchange. Access from San Ramon from 680 or 580 from Dublin. You can get to a lot nearby but feels like you are away from the busy areas if you like the suburbs. A lot of nice parks and walking paths through the hills.
by Polar_Ice
Mon Dec 28, 2020 6:06 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Stimulus Check - Living Abroad
Replies: 2
Views: 338

Re: Stimulus Check - Living Abroad

Ok, yes, I am ahead of myself as I just read the news and the Senate would have to pass the new amount $2000 for adults and 600 for a child. The House has passed it.
by Polar_Ice
Mon Dec 28, 2020 5:52 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Stimulus Check - Living Abroad
Replies: 2
Views: 338

Stimulus Check - Living Abroad

I received $1200 for me and $500 x2 for my two kids so = $2200 on the first stimulus check this year. I live abroad and it was mailed to me.

My 2019 return my AGI was 0 since the 2555 subtracts all my foreign income. How is this going to work as it looks like now the second round of checks are coming 2000+600+600= $3200? It seems like even if I did make over 75K in 2019 my AGI showed 0 on my return. :confused

On my 2020 return the 2555 will take off all my foreign earned income again. Anyone else living abroad and got the check and wondering how it is going to play into the 2020 or 2021 taxes? :sharebeer
by Polar_Ice
Sun May 01, 2016 1:00 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: No Income - Convert some Traditional IRA money to Roth IRA?
Replies: 21
Views: 3189

Re: No Income - Convert some Traditional IRA money to Roth IRA?

This is turning into being more complex reading about it with IRS and trying to figure it out. I need to clarify some things.

I am living overseas and my wife is considered a non resident alien so she does not have to file a U.S. return.

Sounds like from what I have read you have until the end of the year to do a conversion so my chance for 2015 is gone. :oops:

So need to figure out the options and at the end of 2016 based on my income be ready to transfer if it makes sense.
by Polar_Ice
Sat Apr 30, 2016 5:56 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: No Income - Convert some Traditional IRA money to Roth IRA?
Replies: 21
Views: 3189

Re: No Income - Convert some Traditional IRA money to Roth IRA?

DSInvestor wrote:Taxcaster is great for quick estimates but you may want to use tax software for more detailed tax scenarios. If you're receiving an ACA medical insurance premium subsidy, the Roth conversion income may affect the subsidy amount. Tax software would help with these calculations.
I am receiving no income other than simple interest from a few taxable accounts. Might have to download turbotax and run the numbers and then transfer the money at the end of the year based on my income and such.
by Polar_Ice
Sat Apr 30, 2016 5:54 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: No Income - Convert some Traditional IRA money to Roth IRA?
Replies: 21
Views: 3189

Re: No Income - Convert some Traditional IRA money to Roth IRA?

Here it is adding the two children and married/separately. Transferring 34,700 without and taxes sounds too good to be true. Must be missing something.

Total Income $34,699
Total Deductions $6,300
Total Exemptions $12,000

Taxable Income $16,399

Regular Taxes $1,995
Alt. Minimum Tax $0
Additional Taxes $0
Tax Credits $2,000
Tax Payments $0

Your Refund $5

Marginal Tax Rate 15%
by Polar_Ice
Sat Apr 30, 2016 5:31 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: No Income - Convert some Traditional IRA money to Roth IRA?
Replies: 21
Views: 3189

Re: No Income - Convert some Traditional IRA money to Roth IRA?

Showing on TaxCaster for 2015:

Total Income $10,300
Total Deductions $6,300
Total Exemptions $4,000
Taxable Income $0

2016 number should be close so guess I could transfer around 10K and not pay any taxes.
by Polar_Ice
Sat Apr 30, 2016 5:21 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: No Income - Convert some Traditional IRA money to Roth IRA?
Replies: 21
Views: 3189

Re: No Income - Convert some Traditional IRA money to Roth IRA?

retiredjg wrote:I think this could be a good time to convert tIRA to Roth IRA if you have the money in savings to pay the tax. You probably do not want to use money from the IRA to pay tax because there would be a 10% penalty on that part.

Are you familiar with TaxCaster? It could help you figure out how much to convert.

If you don't have income, you might be on unemployment or disability. I think that is taxable income? But I'm not sure. Be sure you find out.
I will check out TaxCaster. I don't have any income from unemployment or disability. I have money in savings to pay the tax but would keep it under the amount I would have to pay any taxes. Thanks.
by Polar_Ice
Sat Apr 30, 2016 4:49 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: No Income - Convert some Traditional IRA money to Roth IRA?
Replies: 21
Views: 3189

No Income - Convert some Traditional IRA money to Roth IRA?

Last year I was not able to make a Roth IRA contribution since I had no income for the first time since I started saving for retirement. Depending on if I work this year my income might be the same too this year. I currently have both my traditional and Roth IRAs at Vanguard which includes all my retirement savings. I transfer a couple of 401k's over the years into my traditional IRA. I have about 80% in the traditional and 20% in the Roth of my total retirement savings. Would be nice to tip this so I have less in the traditional and more in the Roth. I am debating if it makes sense to transfer some money from my traditional IRA to the Roth. From what I understand I would just pay the tax on the money. If I stay under a certain amount, my i...
by Polar_Ice
Sat Feb 07, 2015 1:01 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Checking/Money Market Account - Online International wires
Replies: 1
Views: 399

Checking/Money Market Account - Online International wires

I currently have to call my bank to do an international wire transfer which cost $45. They are able to send the wire in dollars or a foreign currency and have a daily rate which is about 1.5% lower than the market rate. I don't do international wire transfers that often (4-5 a year) but am looking for a good money market or checking account which I could do international wire transfers online with favorable rates.

Does anyone have any recommendations for an account that has online international wire transfers?

I really liked Schwab Bank High Yield Investor Checking Account with a no foreign transaction fee debit card but they don't do international wires.
by Polar_Ice
Mon Jan 19, 2015 12:34 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Vanguard and Turbo Tax
Replies: 38
Views: 7694

Re: Vanguard and Turbo Tax

I was looking to download turbotax and saw all the reviews for turboxtax deluxe. Be careful as it sounds like turbotax pulled a lot of the schedule forms that have come with the deluxe version for ages. People are all downloading the deluxe to find out they need to upgrade for a steep price. :oops: It might be time to switch to another software this year.

http://www.amazon.com/TurboTax-Deluxe-S ... Descending

More info here:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphilli ... -a-change/
by Polar_Ice
Thu Dec 11, 2014 1:48 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 'Ignore John Bogle and dump your S&P 500 index fund" Article
Replies: 16
Views: 4257

'Ignore John Bogle and dump your S&P 500 index fund" Article

Ignore John Bogle and dump your S&P 500 index fund
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/ignore ... 2014-12-10

"As simple as this strategy is, a recent study has confirmed that it has outperformed the traditional market-cap-weighted indexes by 2.10% a year between 1967 and 2010 — though so far this year it's outperformed the broader S&P 500 by a more modest 0.66%."

I have not heard of this fund. What is the opinion on an equal weighted index?
by Polar_Ice
Thu Oct 23, 2014 11:21 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Identity Fraud Help
Replies: 1
Views: 485

Identity Fraud Help

So I got a call from a major retailer's credit card division asking me if submitted an application for a new credit card. I didn't believe who they said they were so called back with the number on their website. The call was valid and they told me someone in another state had used my SSN and address on the application. She confirmed all my information was on the application. :oops: I told her it was fraud. I immediately went online and pulled my credit report and had 6-7 hard inquires all on the same date earlier this week from various stores. I then put a 90 day fraud alert on my credit. I am wondering what would of happened if I didn't receive this call to alert me to it. :annoyed http://www.equifax.com/answers/set-fraud-alerts/en_cp I ha...
by Polar_Ice
Mon Dec 16, 2013 1:55 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: International Move / Insurance ?
Replies: 0
Views: 287

International Move / Insurance ?

Anyone moved internationally and purchased insurance separately (not through the movers) to insure all your belongs? Any advice on a company that provides insurance or a international moving company would be appreciated.
by Polar_Ice
Fri Oct 25, 2013 12:08 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Want to have kids, scared of the financial consequences
Replies: 95
Views: 9540

Re: Want to have kids, scared of the financial consequences

Have you thought about hiring a live in au pair? http://culturalcareaupair.com/what-is-au-pair-childcare/about-our-program/ For us it was a great option but my wife choose to stay home and leave a management job at a S&P 500 company. After you have a kid your perspective changes, and this can change your priorities. She has not regretted it and we have got by on our savings after a 60% cut to income. She decided that she wanted to be with them the first few years and was willing to sacrifice other things for it. There will always be work to do but this is one of the times in your life I believe one should stop and smell the roses cause the memories will be with you long after any job. I would look into multiple options and then after yo...
by Polar_Ice
Tue Oct 22, 2013 10:40 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Short Sell with HELOC trouble
Replies: 7
Views: 1002

Re: Short Sell with HELOC trouble

Just curious if he had a change in employment status. If not, why didn't he continue paying the mortgage? If the payments were too high, then he couldn't afford it to begin with. It amazes me how the banks get blamed when so often the consumer was in over his head from the get go. In any event, sounds like he now needs an attorney. No change in employment. He stopped paying the first mortgage because the bank would not work with him and and his rate was slowly rising to the point he wouldn't be able to afford the payments. He expected to refinance after some builder got him into a bad ARM loan but then the value crashed. I have heard this story a lot with the housing market crashed with friend and coworkers living in the central valley. I ...
by Polar_Ice
Tue Oct 22, 2013 10:28 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Short Sell with HELOC trouble
Replies: 7
Views: 1002

Re: Short Sell with HELOC trouble

sscritic wrote:Did he have minimum payments? Did the short sale agreement require him to continue making payments until the closing? Did he breach his agreement?
He ... stopped paying it.
Have you read the agreement?
They stopping billing him after the short sell and never contacted him for over two years to collect anything. I am sure he breached some agreement, since they are able to take it to court. I am sure he read the agreement but it is obvious now he made some bad decisions.
by Polar_Ice
Mon Oct 21, 2013 5:23 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Short Sell with HELOC trouble
Replies: 7
Views: 1002

Re: Short Sell with HELOC trouble

Watty wrote:
Now they have turned it over to their legal team and want to collect the ~50k.
Debt collectors that buy junk debt often claim to be lawyers so he should be sure to know who he is really dealing with.

Gogin to a lawer for something this size is a good choice.
He got some summoned to court. It is a legal firm in LA that BOA hired to collect.
by Polar_Ice
Mon Oct 21, 2013 5:07 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Short Sell with HELOC trouble
Replies: 7
Views: 1002

Short Sell with HELOC trouble

A friend of mine did a short sell on his house in April of 2011. He is in California and purchased the house with a the 80/10/10 with a HELOC. He refinanced the HELOC early on and took out additional money to do some landscaping but that was the only money used in the HELOC. The value dropped significantly (>50%) and he was locked into an ARM 1st mortgage and could not refinance with the rate slowly rising. It was just a matter of time until he would not be able to pay and the bank refused to work with him so he did a short sell. Both banks agreed to release the liens so he could short sell. He got a letter from the HELCO bank approving the short sell and stopped paying it. The short sell went through and the HELOC stayed on his credit. The...
by Polar_Ice
Thu Oct 10, 2013 2:27 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Real Estate Agent Commission /SF Bay Area / Going Rate
Replies: 5
Views: 1509

Real Estate Agent Commission /SF Bay Area / Going Rate

I am looking to put my place on the market and without calling a lot of agents was wondering what the going rate is in the area. I know the supply is really low now and have heard 2.5% buyer and 1.5% seller is about the going rate but would like to hear from others in the area.
by Polar_Ice
Wed Oct 09, 2013 12:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Son's first car
Replies: 50
Views: 6243

Re: Son's first car

Steelersfan wrote:
Polar_Ice wrote:Volvo 240DL wagon

safe
built like a tank
reliable
inexpensive
That just might qualify as one of the least sexy automobiles ever. :annoyed

Well done! :happy
Good point. This could be positive for the dating life. :oops:

Just go with the 240 DL sedan and call it good

Image.