Search found 243 matches

by skibbi9
Thu Mar 30, 2017 1:07 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What index fund would you recommend putting my money towards that pays annually?
Replies: 26
Views: 2817

Re: What index fund would you recommend putting my money towards that pays annually?

Thinking too short term. You're 24, just starting out, your income growth is really what's going to spike. Throw it in VTI, save some of your money in ROTH and company 401k if it's an option and work at increasing your income that way. trying to throw off cash from 40k in 'seed' money isn't setting you up for the future.
by skibbi9
Thu Mar 30, 2017 12:28 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: New member, behind the curve and need help!
Replies: 7
Views: 1901

Re: New member, behind the curve and need help!

They hit the big points,

little thing: perspective, you might feel bad that you're late to the game, but:

1. you're starting at 42 is way better than 50 or 60
2. You make good money, you have virtually no debt and you don't have big pending liabilities (like kids and tuition, etc)... this is all solvable
3. Go slow and think longterm, don't feel like you're behind the eightball and start gambling on things you don't understand.
by skibbi9
Thu Mar 30, 2017 11:02 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: MSPGX (expense .79%) vs. Stable Value @ 3% return ??
Replies: 26
Views: 2581

Re: MSPGX (expense .79%) vs. Stable Value @ 3% return ??

I've got a bunch of my 401k bond money in stable value, I kept one 401k simply because the svf/annuity is sooo good (down to minimum 3% but yielding 4.5 currently) I can't even hope to get close to that in current environment. I don't expect rates to significantly decrease and it'd take some decent hits before we get to a point where that would be competitive.
by skibbi9
Tue Mar 28, 2017 10:35 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Inlaw Suddenly Wants Financial Security in 60's..
Replies: 31
Views: 6953

Re: Inlaw Suddenly Wants Financial Security in 60's..

I figured the 9% was just something like setting up a SPIA and have it include the draw down... except in checking the market 5-6% is what a 65 y.o. would likely get... so I don't know whats juicing the other 50%
by skibbi9
Tue Mar 28, 2017 9:58 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Long Term Care Insurance (LTCI): Too Expensive or Worth the Cost?
Replies: 35
Views: 6590

Re: Long Term Care Insurance (LTCI): Too Expensive or Worth the Cost?

So it seems at this point that LTC that doesn't start way before you need it is going to be prohibitively expensive. One thing my in-laws have gotten is a policy like northwestern's Life w/ Accelerated care benefit or New York Life's Asset Preserver. Basically it's a single premium Life policy with a LTC wrapper. Using the LTC draws down on the life benefit and gets you past that 5-6 hurdle that I understand is important for some governmental considerations.

Problem with these is it's a lot of cash up front for either LTC or a death benefit.
by skibbi9
Fri Feb 15, 2013 11:57 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Considering IRA rollover - some questions
Replies: 8
Views: 899

Re: Considering IRA rollover - some questions

Yes, Vanguard or any other institution will take rollovers to the same rollover account.

I'm not very familiar with in service rollovers... but what's the expense ratio on his 401k funds?
by skibbi9
Thu Feb 14, 2013 8:54 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Investing Help
Replies: 8
Views: 914

Re: Investing Help for a 30 year old...

any reason why you're not taking advantage of your 401k more for tax advantaged space (vs. your large taxable positions? down payment or just haven't thought about it or limited as a HCE [doubtful though]
by skibbi9
Thu Feb 14, 2013 8:43 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Starting a New Chapter! Moving to VG....
Replies: 5
Views: 1044

Re: Starting a New Chapter! Moving to VG....

Didn't realize how terrible some of ameriprise can be.

Good work so far, but yes, post the breakdown and get your ER%s down.
by skibbi9
Tue Feb 12, 2013 2:58 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Mulling Over Whether I Should Retire
Replies: 15
Views: 2327

Re: Mulling Over Whether I Should Retire

When does your pension kick in?

Its tough to make any real suggestions without knowing your expenses, how much you want to contribute to your kids schooling (sounds like nothing stashed away specifically for that yet)? value of property? is your wife working? does she have additional savings?

It sounds possible, but i'm not sure that i'd be comfortable. I'd also want to still be generating more cash til soc security kicks in
by skibbi9
Tue Feb 12, 2013 2:43 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 401K with "No Out of Pocket Expenses"
Replies: 6
Views: 3577

Re: 401K with "No Out of Pocket Expenses"

Could trick the layman, but they aren't charging the company an amount or loads to the employees.

That's not terrible overall, but a little review seems to like http://www.employeefiduciary.com/
by skibbi9
Tue Feb 12, 2013 11:01 am
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: What identifies a Boglehead?
Replies: 36
Views: 2570

Re: What identifies a Boglehead?

I'd go with "Fiscally Prepared"

Highlights of the philosophy seem to be driven by prodigious Accumulation of Wealth (millionaire next door) via High savings rate and Non-speculative investments or optimization of Risk-Reward


I think these 5 possibly best summarize.
by skibbi9
Tue Feb 12, 2013 7:53 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Non-governmental 457b Question
Replies: 5
Views: 838

Re: Non-governmental 457b Question

Doc,

Another thing to consider is maxing your Ibonds with treasury direct
You can both contribute 10k tax deferred each year.

Mel recently talks about it here
http://blogs.forbes.com/thebogleheadsview/
by skibbi9
Tue Feb 12, 2013 7:47 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: *fired my advisor* need help with investments
Replies: 27
Views: 5182

Re: *fired my advisor* need help with investments

noob, reading the bogleheads guides are a great first step and won't require too much time/money

http://www.amazon.com/The-Bogleheads-Gu ... 772&sr=8-1
by skibbi9
Mon Feb 11, 2013 4:32 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: *fired my advisor* need help with investments
Replies: 27
Views: 5182

Re: *fired my advisor* need help with investments

Is that a typo or do you really have a $725k mortgage? Are you comfortable with that much debt? What is your plan for paying that down/off? Why do you have a $100k emergency fund? How much is necessary? It looks like your uninvested cash and non-retirement account cash add up to $725k. If it was me, I would consider taking all of that and wiping out the mortgage. I'm guessing that you are pretty cautious, but $100k in cash is still a pretty sizeable emergency fund to have left after paying off the mortgage. For any questions about the funds in your accounts, read this: http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=6212 How much can you invest going forward? Are you maxing out both of your 401(k)s? You should be in the 35% tax bra...
by skibbi9
Mon Feb 11, 2013 3:40 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: I'm playing an investment game. How do i make $50k from $1 m
Replies: 49
Views: 6025

Re: I'm playing an investment game. How do i make $50k from

There are probably enough Arb event opportunities but may not settle in time. (plus the game probably can't execute exchange tenders).

Can you do options?

If i'm just picking I'd load up on GKK and BRK.A/BRK.B


I was hoping this was a lose 95% in the next 6 months... that would be fun (triple leverage, bad options, etc)
by skibbi9
Sun Feb 10, 2013 3:01 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: ETF more tax friendly than mutual funds?
Replies: 5
Views: 1576

Re: ETF more tax friendly than mutual funds?

I thought the ETF vehicle is able to shelter more of the dividends.. but can't remember the details/
by skibbi9
Sun Feb 10, 2013 2:08 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 'Won the Game' but is this portfolio too conservative?
Replies: 30
Views: 5986

Re: 'Won the Game' but is this portfolio too conservative?

too much in Int'l (and developing intl) seems like you're using the guise of protecting against USD fx instead of what seems as a chasing yield play. If you were worried about USD:CAD longterm rates wouldn't you look into a specific CAD:USD type fund, Oil/Energy (to play on canada's petro link currency) or into some canadian funds instead?
by skibbi9
Sun Feb 10, 2013 1:35 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Advice on moving ETFs out of TradeKing
Replies: 8
Views: 1527

Re: Advice on moving ETFs out of TradeKing

money wrote:Vanguard could be one option, however, I would probably get hit with a $50 account closing fee by TradeKing... I am wondering if there is another option.
schwab is 'refunding' relocation fees with $$ and free trades for the next few months... its a option.
by skibbi9
Thu Feb 07, 2013 12:37 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Super Bowl pools
Replies: 17
Views: 3917

Re: Super Bowl pools

Beantown85 wrote:
crowd79 wrote:Very poor investment option. Risk $5 and likely lose it all with a 1% chance of winning
In terms of gambling options, it's actually great. Total payout is 100%, the house takes nothing. Can't get that in Vegas.
yes, before the numbers are picked your expected return is 1 for every dollar you put in (save for some customary tipping to the pool operator for organizing and facilitating). its not gambling in the sense that one side has an edge
by skibbi9
Wed Feb 06, 2013 2:44 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Ibonds as Emergency Fund and Bond allocation
Replies: 29
Views: 4282

Re: Ibonds as Emergency Fund AND Bond allocation

Hi all, So my fiance and I have already maxed out our ROTHs for the year, and are working on maxing out 401k space with match. I've been toying around with what to do with additional savings, and the idea of buying Ibonds seems appealing, even though we are only 25/26. I see several strong advantages to Ibonds: ------------ - Ibonds can serve as an emergency fund after one year, and I can hold less in my checking account at 0%. If I were to normally hold 20k in checking, I could have $10k set aside in Ibonds and only $10k at 0% in checking. -Inflation protection. - Whatever amount I have in Ibonds, I can decrease my bond allocation in retirement funds. (My current bond allocation is only 10%, so it's feasible that i could go all US/Int'l s...
by skibbi9
Tue Feb 05, 2013 12:22 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: argument against indexing on morningstar...
Replies: 44
Views: 5279

Re: argument against indexing on morning star...

don't feel like digging up my login... feel like quoting the article?
by skibbi9
Tue Feb 05, 2013 11:19 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Our cable bill is over $200 !!!
Replies: 89
Views: 14461

Re: Our cable bill is over $200 !!! WT*

Is $2500 a year for cable/phone/internet crazy? Let's see: If you bought a $50 antenna and canceled the cable & phone, you could buy a big new flat screen 60" HDTV this year with the savings. Then next year you could buy another TV that will be bigger and nicer. Then the year after that you could ..... Then the next year... :moneybag :greedy :moneybag If you cancel your phone service, what do you do for phone service? If you cancel cable, what are you going to watch on that big, bigger, bigger TV? Youtube :D We don't currently have a land line, just two cell phones. We didn't have cable for about 18months, unless you're a sports fan (i am, so we got cable again) we sufficed on Antenna HD & netflix (via roku, some new tvs have ...
by skibbi9
Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Ambit Energy
Replies: 8
Views: 1255

Re: Ambit Energy

Sounds like a terrible iea
by skibbi9
Mon Feb 04, 2013 1:41 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 30 years old - Should I invest my Roth401k Option?
Replies: 17
Views: 1791

Re: 30 years old - Should I invest my Roth401k Option?

I don't know that there is a cut and dry answer, but you're contemplating the right questions.

I'm personally very similar and only do about 6% of my 17k in contributions as Roth, as I'd like to have a bit more roth space but can't contribute to Roth IRA
by skibbi9
Mon Feb 04, 2013 1:29 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is the market nearing a new high?
Replies: 58
Views: 7851

Re: Is the market nearing a new high?

no reason to think we are doomed to a correction now.
based on the fundamentals (Lets go with Schiller PE), we're only a little about historical average. Could easily have a lot more upside (+50%?) before a big correction. But that's the beauty of a passive portfolio, not needing to sweat (and fail at) market timing.

http://www.multpl.com/shiller-pe/
http://www.multpl.com/
by skibbi9
Thu Jan 31, 2013 11:48 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 2 Years Out of College, MBA Plan
Replies: 23
Views: 4803

Re: 2 Years Out of College, MBA Plan

holyvatican wrote:
tryintosave wrote:
skibbi9 wrote: (if you're a white US male with a traditional backround you're going to need a 680+ for top5 program).
at least you are not an asian US male with a traditional background which will require 750+ :(
I understand your point but once you're over ~720 its all approximately the same. becomes more fit for you, school, the class.
by skibbi9
Thu Jan 31, 2013 8:45 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Need Bourbon Advice
Replies: 45
Views: 8392

Re: Need Bourbon Advice

I love this article from a couple years ago:
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/666 ... van-winkle


What I'm drinking:
Eagle Rare (I enjoy this a lot)
Bulleit Rye (pretty good drink)
Buffalo Trace (same distillery, but nothing like pappy)
Hudson Bourbon (made in NY, so not really bourbon, its ok... way overpriced, neat bottle)

I also enjoy Maker's, Turkey (use this for mixers), and several others.
by skibbi9
Thu Jan 31, 2013 8:35 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 2 Years Out of College, MBA Plan
Replies: 23
Views: 4803

Re: 2 Years Out of College, MBA Plan

Waiting to hear back on my MBA applications (top 12 schools) You'd be on the young end of MBAs at the upper schools. Do you have a good undergrad? Are you community involved? Have you taken the GMAT yet (if you're a white US male with a traditional backround you're going to need a 680+ for top5 program) 180 seems on the upper end for the 22month budgets but I guess that means you'll be doing every elective trip. We're currently budgeting for about 150k total cost. Will be seeking as much loans as possible, quite a few places after school have interest free loans or loan foregiveness. Should be cheaper to defer the payment in this case. fit and feel are a big part of the process, you wont get into any of these schools without an interview an...
by skibbi9
Thu Jan 26, 2012 10:28 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Term life vs. whole life (universal) new twist?
Replies: 67
Views: 5327

Re: Term life vs. whole life (universal) new twist?

TRC wrote:Insurance is insurance. Investments are investments. Don't commingle the 2.
There are times where it makes sense to combine the two, but usually not for the regular person.

1 SPIAs are constantly touted here as good longetivity protection

2 There are plenty of option/hedges that you can get for cheaper through certain VAs

3 ISL insurance can have some value after you've maxed tax advantaged space.

again need is the biggest reason to get insurance but there are some value. I wouldn't lock into whole life or deferred annuities especially with rates where they are.
by skibbi9
Tue Jan 17, 2012 12:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Good walking hiking shoes?
Replies: 27
Views: 4673

Re: Good walking hiking shoes?

Have Keen boots and love them

http://www.keenfootwear.com/
by skibbi9
Mon Jan 16, 2012 8:59 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: One leg shorter than the other?
Replies: 13
Views: 3987

Re: One leg shorter than the other?

Its also a common way that chiropractors get you to keep coming back when they really don't have a fix for it.

$$$

i think its one of the more common 'ailments"
by skibbi9
Wed Jan 11, 2012 4:01 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: terrible family finance---need advice
Replies: 12
Views: 2300

Re: terrible family finance---need advice

Well done on working to make yourself financially secure. I don't see any reason why you can't contribute to a Roth. The limit is $5,000 per year (if you can't contribute new money this year, consider moving some from your other account). Only if you are making a lot of money will the ability to contribute phase out, but it sounds like your income is well within that range. http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/06/07/how-to-start-a-roth-ira-and-where-to-do-it/ The OP is right -- MFS has a painfully low MAGI limit for Roth contributions. I'd step back and ask what your reasons are for filing separately? It's rarely beneficial for reasons like this. Without trying to dive too deep the facts in this are: 1) Chinese Username: Zhou Na 2) Her e...
by skibbi9
Sun May 15, 2011 11:27 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Yahoo email hacked
Replies: 36
Views: 8233

Generally people aren't getting their email 'hacked' , they're getting a worm with keylogger on their system, and that system uses the email login to send emails.

Malwarebytes and such should be a good start.

Did you log in other computers with that email? it might not be the first computer
by skibbi9
Sat May 14, 2011 4:08 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Saving for a vacation in 10 years -- where to put the money?
Replies: 20
Views: 2526

BigMike wrote:
mamster wrote:Anyway, where are you planning to go?
Right now, thinking of either the Galapagos Islands or an African safari. It would pretty much be the trip of a lifetime, hence the need to save up! :D
recently back from 2 weeks in South Africa, did few days of safaris, probably ran ~4000 per person
by skibbi9
Fri May 13, 2011 3:09 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Very Slow Computer
Replies: 33
Views: 4359

Re: Very Slow Computer

Igglesman wrote:Without more info, run Ad-Aware or Malwarebytes or Spybot. This may clean it up so the machine is fast again.
Mostly agree, Run MalwareBytes first then maybe spybot. i dont like adaware
by skibbi9
Wed May 11, 2011 1:17 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to deal with bank wanting to "help" me with my
Replies: 42
Views: 7698

Mel Lindauer wrote:Two good rules I live by:
1. Don't mix banking and investing.
2. Dont' mix insurance and investing.

Follow those two rules and you'll do fine.
you're missing a few:

3 Don't mix beer and then liquor
4 Don't mix oil and water (they don't mix)
5 Don't pick a fight with anyone with califlower ear
6 AAA - Always Add the Acid
by skibbi9
Wed May 11, 2011 10:55 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Emergency cash when traveling to underdeveloped locations
Replies: 17
Views: 2294

usually travel with a couple hundred bucks per person in US (good for taxis and other messes when you get back anyway.)

Never needed to get paranoid in western europe, don't know which crazy western european country GRT2Boutdoors went to.
by skibbi9
Wed May 11, 2011 10:10 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Looking For A Good Blender
Replies: 28
Views: 5156

how much do you want to spend? there is generally a:

-So cheap the motor is underpowered and break
- Little more expensive, first of the ones that are ok
- The good ones (but expensive)


if you're just looking for a protein shaker:
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/activ ... haker.html

is the best, it mixes the best of all shakers and doesn't leak and is easy to clean.


I bought this blender last year as it was suggested as the best of the ones with some actual power that aren't super likely to break:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AS6YKQ
by skibbi9
Mon May 09, 2011 4:17 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How to allocate inheritance
Replies: 2
Views: 862

Few things I'm questioning: Can you give a rough portfolio size? (usually people suggest something like : low/mid/upper 6's)

Is there a Pension? You mention working but I don't see any 401k/403b/SEP, do they have some pension or non work retirement aid.

You also might want to move more of your investments into the tax managed space and move low yielding cash (negative real rate of return) to Non-advantaged/Beef up your emergency fund.

EDIT: How are you handling RMDs from those Inherited IRAs?
by skibbi9
Mon May 09, 2011 3:59 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Great Salary with $8k in Student Loans and $12K in savings.
Replies: 28
Views: 3991

Will the 8% max out both IRA accounts? the 8% is not for the IRA , its for 401k, and Total contributions for both cannot exceed 16,500 (for his part, company can contribute more). Given that he's just out of school it's unlikely that 8% pretax and 8% posttax of his salary = 16,500 unless he's got a top end job. While people always suggest maxing the 401k, its still 401k til match, max Roth, then max 401k. [EDIT: portion of his pretax] EDIT: Your company will only match 4% of your salary, it doesn't matter how you split it up, and at 87k gross, its probably better to just put more cash into Pre-tax than Roth) Save what you can now, build up an emergency fund, there are tons of first job expenses (clothing, apartments, transportation, furnit...
by skibbi9
Mon May 09, 2011 11:15 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Retake on my 50-50 AA
Replies: 5
Views: 1150

Highly doubt you'll hit 8.4% long term.

Geometric Average Stocks , 3mo T.Bills , 10yr T.Bonds
1928-2010 9.32% 3.66% 5.01%
1961-2010 9.67% 5.23% 6.58%
2001-2010 1.38% 2.16% 5.49%


if you use 50/25/25 of 1928-2010 avgs i'm getting 6.83%, could be wrong but i wouldn't bet on above avg returns going forward. i like to make conservative return assumptions.
by skibbi9
Fri May 06, 2011 6:15 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Right Hand Turns At Red Lights
Replies: 58
Views: 6025

1) dont worry
2) no right on red in nyc (never)
3) ive seen a few left on reds!
by skibbi9
Fri May 06, 2011 12:40 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Market Watch says TIPS are stupid!
Replies: 1
Views: 1003

by skibbi9
Thu May 05, 2011 3:33 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Investment % for speculation investment
Replies: 48
Views: 6035

just to update this thread: since ACQ was posted in the original post, it's down 81 dollars, or -31% in just under 1 month
by skibbi9
Thu May 05, 2011 2:05 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: "Is a Single Target Retirement Fund Really OK?"
Replies: 25
Views: 5425

Thank you for sharing the article, Taylor! :) But considering we have VINIX for .05%, PTTRX for .47%, Blackrock Mid and Small cap indices for .10/.12%, The JPMorgan Smartretirement funds are non-competitive Indeed. Sorry if I gave the impression (with the statement that Taylor quoted) that I was suggesting one should automatically use target funds in an employer plan. Rather, what I had meant was that there's little reason to even consider non-Vanguard target date funds outside of an employer plan. Mike, To clear it up, I wasn't thinking that one should use a TR. I just meant that in my own 401k a TR doesn't make sense. If you can find a TR with an ER under 0.5% it might be worth looking for, or if you can't put together a good diversified...
by skibbi9
Thu May 05, 2011 12:51 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Diamond ring setting: 4 or 6 prong?
Replies: 20
Views: 6030

good luck on it :D

i went with 4 prong on her engagement ring.
by skibbi9
Thu May 05, 2011 10:59 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: "Is a Single Target Retirement Fund Really OK?"
Replies: 25
Views: 5425

I generally think my companies 401k is pretty good (menu should be larger)

But considering we have VINIX for .05%, PTTRX for .47%, Blackrock Mid and Small cap indices for .10/.12%,

The JPMorgan Smartretirement funds are non-competitive, especially how they grade

Smartretire
2010 0.86%
2015 0.93%
2020 0.97%
2030 1.06%
2040 1.12%

and this is after they dropped the expenses (i think they dropped like 20-30bps across the board this past year)
by skibbi9
Thu May 05, 2011 8:34 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: More from Bill Gross
Replies: 50
Views: 7931

IMHO Bill Gross has a very unsophisticated view of the bond markets, .... I've never seen that written before. Well, in spite of that he's done very well for himself (and his bond funds). :) That's how he did well for himself. He is the Kramer (and coin flipper) of bonds. Studies show that anything past the safest and shortest of fixed income generally is not a good diversifier of equity. It doesn't matter that he outperformed total bond because total bond is not that great of a fixed income to begin with. It's not bad, but you can do far better. The point is this: your investments should be selected based on how the interact and correlate. Studies show that anything but the safest of fixed income carries with it a certain equity risk, so ...
by skibbi9
Wed May 04, 2011 8:44 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Financial Advisor Solicitation
Replies: 7
Views: 1430

would be a fun meeting