Search found 26 matches

by ocdokie
Fri Oct 30, 2015 6:17 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Changes to Social Security
Replies: 477
Views: 79075

Re: Changes to Social Security

Because you will not yet have "attained age 62" by the end of 2015, you will be subject to the new deemed filing rules.
Rats! I'll re-read this thread from the beginning, because I still don't understand "deeming." I greatly appreciate you responding to my question.
by ocdokie
Fri Oct 30, 2015 6:08 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Changes to Social Security
Replies: 477
Views: 79075

Re: Changes to Social Security

Wow, my head is spinning. Thanks for the explanations, Mike.

Most of the examples in this thread seem to be of spouses who are fairly close in age. My DH (64) and I (57) are 7 years apart in age. We've always planned for him, as the higher earner, to take SS at age 70. Assuming he files at 70, can I file for spousal benefits at age 63, or do I have to wait until FRA (66 years and 8 months)? I had planned to switch to my own benefit (if it will be larger than the spousal benefit, which I don't know) at age 70. Is this doable under the changes you're discussing?
by ocdokie
Mon Oct 20, 2014 11:29 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How do you wash your car?
Replies: 143
Views: 26385

Re: How do you wash your car?

I chose "full service car wash" but I only do it about 3 times per year. (We have so little rain for months on end that the car rarely looks dirty.) In the community in which I live in SoCal, we're discouraged from washing our cars in our driveways because: (1) we're in a severe drought and it's considered wasteful -- in fact, the HOA is implementing fines for those who wash their cars, patios, sidewalks, etc.; and (2) the waste water goes directly into the ocean, without any environmental control or clean-up. So, I go to one of the many local car washes, which use a combination of automated washing and hand washing/drying. The waste water in these places goes into special tanks and is treated before being released into the ocean....
by ocdokie
Mon Jun 23, 2014 10:12 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: A day in Dachau?
Replies: 38
Views: 4159

Re: A day in Dachau?

I remember my parents talking about their visit to Dachau in the late 1950s. Dad was U.S. military and had duty stations is both France and Germany during this time. He, Mom, and older sibs decided to visit Dachau one weekend. Although Dad had a vague idea where it was, there were no signs. More than once, they stopped to ask the locals how to get there. The locals vehemently denied the existence of the place. Despite the stonewalling, my family eventually found the camp and toured it. My sibs still have vivid memories of the experience, more than 50 years later.

Have a good visit.
by ocdokie
Mon Feb 10, 2014 5:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bogleheads and Fast Food
Replies: 77
Views: 7201

Re: Bogleheads and Fast Food

In-N-Out. I get a hamburger and DH gets Animal Fries. I'm always amazed at how cheerful and friendly the staff are; where on Earth do they find those kids? They're real, aren't they, not animatronic?
by ocdokie
Sat Feb 08, 2014 6:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: I'm feeling old today
Replies: 97
Views: 10722

Re: I'm feeling old today

Nah you are not old unless you can remember Johnnny Carsons' first show or Jack Paars' last show or maybe watching the Beatles on Ed Sullivan
So according to you, I'm old? :shock: That Beatles' performance was 50 years ago tomorrow. I was 6 years old and remember it vividly -- I refused to believe that boys could have hair that long, and insisted they must be girls.
by ocdokie
Wed Jul 10, 2013 5:43 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Retiree poll: What are you doing with your interest/dividend
Replies: 24
Views: 2548

Re: Retiree poll: What are you doing with your interest/divi

Retread wrote:
CABob wrote:I am reinvesting dividends within my IRA and am taking dividends from my taxable account into a money market/savings account. This is perhaps not suitable for all, but, seems to be the generally recommended consensus from this board.
Me too.
Bruce
+1
by ocdokie
Thu Mar 28, 2013 2:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: can i buy my sportscar?
Replies: 129
Views: 15251

Re: can i buy my sportscar?

I understand you wanting that car. In my mid-40's mid-life crisis, I bought a 2-year-old Porsche Boxster (Guard Red convertible with red brake calipers, thank you very much). I intended to keep the car for at least 10 years, which is usual for me. Unlike you, though, DH and I had no debt and no kids. Neither of us had ever had a convertible, and we loved that and the car's excellent handling. It was a sheer pleasure to drive, and just listening to the growl of the engine made me smile. We kept it pristine inside and out. Everything was great until the winter weather hit (we bought it the previous March, so we'd had a good nine months of clear roads). It turned out that I could not drive the Porsche on snowy/icy roads -- I was terrified that...
by ocdokie
Mon Mar 11, 2013 9:42 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Treasury Direct - A Cautionary Tale
Replies: 15
Views: 6005

Re: Treasury Direct - A Cautionary Tale

I haven't been able to login to my Treasury Direct account in years, so I am not even sure if it still exists. I lost the account number, too. Do my account assets escheat to some state agency if I don't have any contact with Treasury Direct in 5 years? They've never e-mailed me nor sent me any notices in all those years either. TD hasn't sent us statements for years, either. I think they stopped doing it for everyone. If your account is old, it may be what's called a "legacy" Treasury Direct account. Legacy TD accounts are being phased out, but can still be accessed. Since you don't know your account number, you could try calling 800-722-2678. Customer reps are available M - F, 8a.m. to 8 p.m. EDT. Or you can try e-mailing TD at...
by ocdokie
Sun Mar 10, 2013 8:07 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Treasury Direct - A Cautionary Tale
Replies: 15
Views: 6005

Treasury Direct - A Cautionary Tale

For those of you who deal with Treasury Direct ("TD"), you'll be relieved to know that they're on the ball when it comes to online account security. I'm just passing my story along so y'all won't make the same mistake I did. The interest paid on the Treasury securities is automatically deposited into one of our bank accounts; ditto the face amount when a security matures. We decided to change banks and filled out the proper forms (with medallion signatures) to ask TD to change our "primary" bank information and asked that future deposits be made to the new bank account. After several weeks, we checked TD online and saw that it now showed the new bank as our primary bank. I should have known it couldn't be that easy. Know...
by ocdokie
Sun Feb 10, 2013 1:37 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Retire earlier or wealthier?
Replies: 25
Views: 5227

Re: Retire earlier or wealthier?

I voted for spend and give more, though not beacuse it would be my preference. I liked "both." However, a poll like this can bypass a sober truth: a nice 50% pop in net worth may not be the sole variable in finding oneself able and ready to retire. For me, making it to age 60 at work means that, once I retire, I can continue to participate in the group BC/BS program and pay the group rates I currently pay. That eclipses a calculation of my "number" or whether I have reached the promised land of "enough." Now, if my employer lowered the qualification age to 55 for continuing in the group health plan, I would be joining the majority vote in this poll. It seems that under "the affordable care act" every...
by ocdokie
Fri Sep 14, 2012 5:31 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Am I better off without a budget?
Replies: 38
Views: 4244

Re: Am I better off without a budget?

ddunca1944 wrote: Being retired, I want to know where every dollar goes. I also want to know that when we spend money on discretionary things like travel, that we can really afford it.

If we did not have a budget, we'd both be afraid to spend a dime and would be needlessly penurious.
+1
by ocdokie
Fri Sep 14, 2012 9:51 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Decided on AA - but how to implement it?
Replies: 15
Views: 1622

Re: Decided on AA - but how to implement it?

Pingo, thanks so much for the link. It looks as if it will indeed be helpful. Just the kind of feedback I need on TIAA-CREF's options.
by ocdokie
Thu Sep 13, 2012 8:45 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Decided on AA - but how to implement it?
Replies: 15
Views: 1622

Re: Decided on AA - but how to implement it?

Synergy, thanks for sharing your experience in moving your assets from TIAA to Vanguard! It's a relief to know that it went smoothly for you and your wife. I think you were wise to take your time. Once I decide on something, I tend to want things done NOW. Fortunately, my DH provides a balance to my impetuosity. :happy
by ocdokie
Wed Sep 12, 2012 9:52 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Decided on AA - but how to implement it?
Replies: 15
Views: 1622

Re: Decided on AA - but how to implement it?

You make a good point, letsgobobby -- why take the additional risk that comes with equities, when we may already have "enough" to get us through the rest of our lives? Here's my thinking, based on a long-held, gut-wrenching fear of ending up a bag lady. We don't have children or other legatees. As DH and I both retired early (he at 59 and I at 52), to be safe enough to satisfy me, we need our money to last at least 40 years, and preferably longer -- just in case one or both of us lives a very long time. In 10, 15, or 20 years (and almost certainly by 30 years), I fear that my pension's value, which now pays for the majority of our expenses, will dwindle to being a mere pittance. I think the prospect of inflation eroding the value ...
by ocdokie
Wed Sep 12, 2012 5:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How do you set up your budget?
Replies: 23
Views: 2368

Re: How do you set up your budget?

Is there a reason you prefer paying your expenses with checks, rather than credit cards? I use mint.com too, but like ThatGuy I pay for everything with a credit card (whose balance is paid off every month, so no finance charges, ever. That's important to me). Mint does a good job of sorting and categorizing the credit card transactions, making it easy to track exactly where the money is going. And, it's pretty much up-to-the-minute; I mean, I go to the grocery store and pay with my credit card, and when I get home -- in about 10 minutes -- to my amazement, mint already shows that charge as a pending transaction. (Kind of scary, now that I think about it.) :shock:
by ocdokie
Wed Sep 12, 2012 4:52 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Decided on AA - but how to implement it?
Replies: 15
Views: 1622

Re: Decided on AA - but how to implement it?

Thanks for your input, Peter! The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of rolling most of the TIAA-CREF money over into Vanguard, and keeping only the unique options that TIAA has (the "direct" real estate option and the "guaranteed" quasi-stable value option). Ducky, you asked where the Treasury notes and bonds are held. They're in Treasury Direct (oh, the horror!). Although you mentioned what to do if we sell the Treasuries, so far we've just been collecting the interest payments and letting them mature. We're using that cash to pay the $15K of our annual expenses that our pension doesn't cover. The securities are maturing at the rate of 1 to 3 each year, and will continue in that pattern until 2027 if we ho...
by ocdokie
Wed Sep 12, 2012 1:53 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Decided on AA - but how to implement it?
Replies: 15
Views: 1622

Re: Decided on AA - but how to implement it?

Thanks for your suggestions, Steve! Rolling all our tax-deferred accounts over to Vanguard is something we've thought about. How nice, for simplicity's sake, it would be to have almost everything under one "roof." I do hope some Bogleheads who're familiar with TIAA-CREF will chime in on whether they think rollovers would be a good idea. There are a couple of things I really like about TIAA's offerings: their "guaranteed" fund (sort of like a stable value fund), and their real estate options ("direct" real estate and REITs).
by ocdokie
Wed Sep 12, 2012 1:48 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Decided on AA - but how to implement it?
Replies: 15
Views: 1622

Re: Decided on AA - but how to implement it?

Thanks for your reply, pkcrafter! I've answered your questions in red below. Questions 1. To help achieve our desired asset allocation, we’d like to put a big chunk of our current cash into equity funds (about $385K). How should we implement our desired allocation? Can we do this in a tax-efficient way? We’ve thought about opening an account at Vanguard and putting the money into two equity index funds; perhaps one for US stocks, and one for international. If we did this, would you make the account into an IRA? (I know nothing about IRAs -- please forgive my ignorance if this is a stupid question.) Using some of that cash in taxable would seem to be the best choice, but you can't put it into a an IRA, it would be a taxable account. Is the 2...
by ocdokie
Wed Sep 12, 2012 9:18 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Decided on AA - but how to implement it?
Replies: 15
Views: 1622

Decided on AA - but how to implement it?

Almost a year ago, I made my first post on this forum, seeking advice on one piece of our portfolio (my 457b plan’s investment options). (If you’re interested, here’s a link to that post: http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=84873 .) I got some great input from Mike Piper and Peter Foley, but I’m ashamed to say that I didn’t follow up with their recommendations to re-format the information I submitted, so you folks could more easily advise me. My lame excuse is that I’m a math idiot (as well as an investing idiot), and felt unable to analyze our portfolio and provide the needed info. The impetus for this post is our recent meeting with an advisor from TIAA-CREF (where my DH’s 403b investments are). Our current asset alloc...
by ocdokie
Fri Jun 15, 2012 10:48 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Foreign film night recommendations.
Replies: 124
Views: 10791

Re: Foreign film night recommendations.

The Vanishing

Dutch film, French language. Horror/thriller, no blood or gore, just the smiling face of psychopathology.

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbc ... 50302/1023
by ocdokie
Mon Apr 23, 2012 1:21 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How much do you spend on groceries?
Replies: 134
Views: 18493

Re: How much do you spend on groceries?

I had no idea either until I've started using Mint.com couple on months ago.
+1.
by ocdokie
Mon Apr 23, 2012 1:11 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How much do you spend on groceries?
Replies: 134
Views: 18493

Re: How much do you spend on groceries?

$300 per month, groceries only. Household of 2 retired adults who are indifferent eaters and 1 rabbit who demands the best fruits, vegetables, and salads.
by ocdokie
Fri Jan 20, 2012 5:25 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: POLL: At what net-worth does an individual become wealthy?
Replies: 78
Views: 9755

Re: POLL: At what net-worth does an individual become wealth

ZZ wrote:You are wealthy when more money won't change where you live, what you eat, what you wear, what you drive or who you sleep with.
Unknown
Am I semi-wealthy if I can say that four out of these five are true for me?
by ocdokie
Fri Oct 28, 2011 12:45 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Seeking advice on 457b options
Replies: 5
Views: 501

Re: Seeking advice on 457b options

Thanks for your replies, Oblivious and Peter! Your observations that DH, with his 403b plan, and I, with my 457b plan, should have a single overarching asset allocation between us makes good sense, but for some reason, trying to figure out TIAA-CREF's investment options is hard for me. For what it's worth, though, here's what my DH's account is currently invested in, according to the most recent statement: 20% equities, comprised of CREF Stock, CREF Global Equities, Mid-Cap Value Fund, and Small-Cap Equity Fund; 10% real estate (REITs); 20% guaranteed (TIAA Traditional -- I have no idea what this is); 50% fixed income, comprised of CREF Bond Market and CREF Inflation-Linked Bond. Trying to merge the options available in the 457b and 403b pl...
by ocdokie
Thu Oct 27, 2011 4:34 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Seeking advice on 457b options
Replies: 5
Views: 501

Seeking advice on 457b options

I’m brand new to this site and am soliciting your opinions for how to simplify my 457b plan account holdings. Although I’ve read a few basic investing books (along the lines of “A Random Walk Down Wall Street”), I freely confess my lack of investing knowledge. The little reading I’ve done has convinced me, however, that actively managed funds are not worth the expenses, and that index funds are a good way to both diversify and simplify my holdings. A little about me: I retired last year at age 52, after 35 years with state government. I have a defined-benefit pension income of $45,000 per year. I have $350,000 in my 457b plan. I can no longer make contributions, but I can keep the money in the plan (with its limited investment choices) if I...