Search found 104 matches
- Wed Jan 02, 2019 7:03 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: REGISTRATION FOR 2019 BOGLEHEAD CONTEST [Entry deadline has passed]
- Replies: 701
- Views: 35022
- Fri Dec 28, 2018 10:03 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Wow, I suck at TLH!
- Replies: 17
- Views: 2155
Re: Wow, I suck at TLH!
You and me both. Just noticed that I TLH'd some lots that I bought on 30 Oct, making the dividends unqualified. Should have waited till 31 Dec. Ugh.
- Wed Mar 22, 2017 3:34 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Anybody using the TERMINAL over the GUI in ubuntu?
- Replies: 45
- Views: 4901
Re: Anybody using the TERMINAL over the GUI in ubuntu?
I use linux all day long at work. Command line all day long. Very rarely use windows manager built-ins.
At home I use Debian and Raspbian (for raspberry pi stuff). Nearly all command line there too.
At home I use Debian and Raspbian (for raspberry pi stuff). Nearly all command line there too.
- Sat Aug 27, 2016 5:47 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Savings bonds co-owners and purchase limits
- Replies: 15
- Views: 3373
Re: Savings bonds co-owners and purchase limits
Got it. Thanks. Also noticed this: I'm buying bonds for myself and my children through my TreasuryDirect account. How does the limit apply to these purchases? You can buy up to $10,000 each year of electronic Series EE and I bonds in TreasuryDirect on which you are the primary owner, plus up to the limit of each series in the name of each child for whom you've established a linked account in the child's name as primary owner. Minor linked accounts are sub-accounts of your own master account, but do not provide you with ownership rights to securities held in the linked sub-accounts. View more information on linked accounts. So looks like could purchase $35k within the family, just not with the parents as the primary owners of everything. [ed...
- Sat Aug 27, 2016 3:22 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Savings bonds co-owners and purchase limits
- Replies: 15
- Views: 3373
Savings bonds co-owners and purchase limits
How does the purchase limits come into play when buying Series I or EE savings bonds as co-owners?
Suppose a husband, wife, and one kid. Would the following still fit within the purchase limits?
$10k I bonds husband owner + wife co-owner
$10k I bonds wife owner + husband co-owner
$10k I bonds husband owner + kid co-owner
$10k I bonds wife owner + kid co-owner
$5k paper I bonds from tax return
Total=$45k I bonds in the year
Suppose a husband, wife, and one kid. Would the following still fit within the purchase limits?
$10k I bonds husband owner + wife co-owner
$10k I bonds wife owner + husband co-owner
$10k I bonds husband owner + kid co-owner
$10k I bonds wife owner + kid co-owner
$5k paper I bonds from tax return
Total=$45k I bonds in the year
- Thu Jan 14, 2016 1:41 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Do you wait until there is a loss to switch back to original fund after TLH?
- Replies: 23
- Views: 1705
Re: Do you wait until there is a loss to switch back to original fund after TLH?
Posted the above before I saw EmergDoc's post.
I ran into this situation in 2015, but I see that it is different from what Fairmark is describing where all shares were bought and then sold. Specifically I already owned shares of fund Y before the additional purchase on day 0, and still had some after the sale on day 10. Fidelity considered it a wash sale. Soon later after a further dip I sold the remaining shares of the fund Y which harvested all the losses.
Thanks for clarifying.
I ran into this situation in 2015, but I see that it is different from what Fairmark is describing where all shares were bought and then sold. Specifically I already owned shares of fund Y before the additional purchase on day 0, and still had some after the sale on day 10. Fidelity considered it a wash sale. Soon later after a further dip I sold the remaining shares of the fund Y which harvested all the losses.
Thanks for clarifying.
- Thu Jan 14, 2016 1:24 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Do you wait until there is a loss to switch back to original fund after TLH?
- Replies: 23
- Views: 1705
Re: Do you wait until there is a loss to switch back to original fund after TLH?
From IRS pub 550:
A wash sale occurs when you sell or trade stock or securities at a loss and within 30 days before or after the sale you:
1) Buy substantially identical stock or securities,
2) Acquire substantially identical stock or securities in a fully taxable trade,
3) Acquire a contract or option to buy substantially identical stock or securities, or
4) Acquire substantially identical stock for your individual retirement account (IRA) or Roth IRA.
So fund Y was sold on day 10, but was bought on day 0, 10 days before the sale. Is that not a wash sale?
A wash sale occurs when you sell or trade stock or securities at a loss and within 30 days before or after the sale you:
1) Buy substantially identical stock or securities,
2) Acquire substantially identical stock or securities in a fully taxable trade,
3) Acquire a contract or option to buy substantially identical stock or securities, or
4) Acquire substantially identical stock for your individual retirement account (IRA) or Roth IRA.
So fund Y was sold on day 10, but was bought on day 0, 10 days before the sale. Is that not a wash sale?
- Thu Jan 14, 2016 1:13 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Do you wait until there is a loss to switch back to original fund after TLH?
- Replies: 23
- Views: 1705
Re: Do you wait until there is a loss to switch back to original fund after TLH?
packet wrote:I Can't tell if livesoft has 2 or 3 hands...livesoft wrote:...OTOH...OTOH...
I'm missing something here. Can you help me? Here is an example of what I think you are saying could be done with three funds:EmergDoc wrote: The problem with only two options is you may tax loss harvest a 4% drop, then get an 8% drop that disappears before 30 days have passed.
Day 0 - Sell fund X at 4% loss and buy fund Y
Day 10 - Fund Y is now 4% down from cost basis set on day 0. Sell fund Y at 4% loss and buy fund Z. Doesn't this create a wash sale on fund Y?
- Wed Nov 18, 2015 4:41 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What was your eureka! Boglehead moment?
- Replies: 86
- Views: 10980
Re: What was your eureka! Boglehead moment?
When I lost oodles and oodles of money in real estate. Everything and then some. Though I've always saved and invested as much as possible, in the beginning of my working life I was putting nearly everything towards real estate, my own residence and rental properties, leveraged 5-6x. At the time it seemed like a sure win, based on how well it had worked for my parents (who themselves evangelized real estate investing), and also based on how well it worked over the time frame of my life, and thinking this was going to be a life-long growing position. Had no understanding of the concentrated risks I was taking. If someone told me I was taking a very large amount of risk, I would have stared at them blankly and thought "poor fellow... mis...
- Fri Nov 13, 2015 6:35 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Costco Travel....anyone used them?
- Replies: 18
- Views: 5695
Re: Costco Travel....anyone used them?
I've used it for rental cars when I found it to have better rates at the same locations that the alternative online bookers.
- Fri Nov 13, 2015 6:34 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: "Play the Odds When Investing"
- Replies: 23
- Views: 4970
Re: "Play the Odds When Investing"
Thanks for the post.
The 1% will look like genius, when the excess return is most likely attributable to taking on additional risk together with getting lucky. 1% is terrible odds, but that will be the manager/fund that becomes the poster child for active management, like the lottery player who strikes it big. When you index you are investing with the odds in your favor. You are taking the house's odds rather than the gambler's odds.
The 1% will look like genius, when the excess return is most likely attributable to taking on additional risk together with getting lucky. 1% is terrible odds, but that will be the manager/fund that becomes the poster child for active management, like the lottery player who strikes it big. When you index you are investing with the odds in your favor. You are taking the house's odds rather than the gambler's odds.
- Tue Nov 10, 2015 2:56 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What would you do? (Personal/Family financial situation)
- Replies: 55
- Views: 7543
Re: What would you do? (Personal/Family financial situation)
I can't put myself in your brother's shoes, but if it were me in a similar situation the vacation charges wouldn't sit well. I might not complain, valuing relationship over money, but it would be one of those details that would likely be in my thoughts. In my estate plan I have my brother as the executor and have written in there that he is to be compensated what is usual and customary for time spent. I don't think your vacation time is the proper rate. I would rather expect it to be a rate more applicable to the work being done. Actually, I would expect it to be the lower of the two rates. The thought would occur to me that by charging the full vacation rate that sets up the wrong incentives. That's a personal assessment, not a legal one. ...
- Tue Nov 10, 2015 2:36 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Watch under $100
- Replies: 46
- Views: 7211
Re: Watch under $100
Ah the antithesis of petrocelli's thread.
I like my bare-bones analog Timex. Plain, simple. I'm brutal on it, wearing it while doing work in the yard or on the cars. Have had to replace the leather band three times. Last band is metal clasp which seems like it should last longer. Watch + three extra bands + small repair toolkit = somewhere around $70.
I like my bare-bones analog Timex. Plain, simple. I'm brutal on it, wearing it while doing work in the yard or on the cars. Have had to replace the leather band three times. Last band is metal clasp which seems like it should last longer. Watch + three extra bands + small repair toolkit = somewhere around $70.
- Tue Nov 10, 2015 2:28 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Please explain Mr. Market
- Replies: 22
- Views: 3569
Re: Please explain Mr. Market
"Every day he tells you what he thinks your interest is worth and furthermore offers to either buy you out or to sell you and additional interest on that basis." "Often, on the other hand, Mr. Market lets his enthusiasm or his fears run away with him, and the value he proposes sees to you a little short of silly." "Basically, price fluctuations have only one significant meaning to the true investor. They provide him with an opportunity to buy wisely when prices fall sharply and to sell wisely when they advance a great deal. At other times he will do better if he forgets about the stock market and pays attention to his dividend returns ad to the operating results of his companies." Love those quotes - What is t...
- Tue Nov 10, 2015 2:26 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Is my Roth too risky?
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1974
Re: Is my Roth too risky?
Depends on what your ability, willingness, and need to take risk is, and what assets you may have elsewhere.
My Roth is all stocks, with an additional risky tilt to small-cap-value stocks. If that's all I had that would be too much risk for my individual circumstances. However, I have a good degree of bonds & stable value in 401k and savings bonds outside, so overall not too risky.
My Roth is all stocks, with an additional risky tilt to small-cap-value stocks. If that's all I had that would be too much risk for my individual circumstances. However, I have a good degree of bonds & stable value in 401k and savings bonds outside, so overall not too risky.
- Tue Nov 10, 2015 2:13 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Medical invoice for services 10 months ago
- Replies: 21
- Views: 2969
Re: Medical invoice for services 10 months ago
Agree with rrppve. Get the EOB for this, especially since this was in-network. In my experience, the invoice isn't due and payable until it has gone through the insurance.
- Tue Nov 10, 2015 2:09 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: No such thing as free insurance?
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1955
Re: No such thing as free insurance?
A typical premium for $2000 AD&D insurance is pennies/month. Doesn't come near my value threshold considering the effort to sign up, keep records that I have the benefit, risk additional marketing, and go through the claim process should something happen, even if all these are fairly low effort/hassle. I'd rather the credit union returned the pennies/month as extra interest.
- Tue Nov 10, 2015 2:02 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Short term health insurance vs ACA Plan
- Replies: 7
- Views: 1215
Re: Short term health insurance vs ACA Plan
Are you thinking of re-enrolling into the short term plan each enrollment period? If so, better read the fine print on what's considered pre-existing. I've read that some short term plans won't cover any pre-existing conditions, even if it was a condition that arose the previous enrollment period while covered under that plan!
Also, make sure you are calculating the tax penalty for non-ACA coverage correctly. According to
https://www.healthcare.gov/fees/fee-for ... g-covered/
for 2016 it is the *maximum* of 1) the cost of a bronze plan, 2) 2.5% of household income, and 3) the per person penalty, which assuming just you and your wife is $1,390.
Also, make sure you are calculating the tax penalty for non-ACA coverage correctly. According to
https://www.healthcare.gov/fees/fee-for ... g-covered/
for 2016 it is the *maximum* of 1) the cost of a bronze plan, 2) 2.5% of household income, and 3) the per person penalty, which assuming just you and your wife is $1,390.
- Tue Oct 27, 2015 6:56 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: 2-10-50-100 [tracking lots for tax loss harvesting]
- Replies: 12
- Views: 2325
Re: 2-10-50-100
12 total.
Cleaned up a bunch of lots with recent TLHing while donating others to charity earlier in the year.
Responding to this made me look and realize I'm up >10% in ~2 months on the emerging since TLHing. That's kinda nice.
Cleaned up a bunch of lots with recent TLHing while donating others to charity earlier in the year.
Responding to this made me look and realize I'm up >10% in ~2 months on the emerging since TLHing. That's kinda nice.
- Sat Oct 17, 2015 8:19 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Strategy for cashing in I-bonds early
- Replies: 21
- Views: 3240
Re: Strategy for cashing in I-bonds early
Your math checks out.
I'm curious whether you are cashing in to change to a different fixed income real asset with better yield? This post prompted me to look at the current rates on marketable TIPS and they are positive even for the 5 year. Looks like the real yield curve has steepened too.
Date_______5yr___7yr___10yr___20yr___30yr
10/16/15__0.18__0.36___0.56___1.00___1.24
Or perhaps you are going for the NWFCU CDs? Or maybe just want the cash for other reasons.
I'm curious whether you are cashing in to change to a different fixed income real asset with better yield? This post prompted me to look at the current rates on marketable TIPS and they are positive even for the 5 year. Looks like the real yield curve has steepened too.
Date_______5yr___7yr___10yr___20yr___30yr
10/16/15__0.18__0.36___0.56___1.00___1.24
Or perhaps you are going for the NWFCU CDs? Or maybe just want the cash for other reasons.
- Fri Oct 02, 2015 11:14 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: TreasuryDirect down?
- Replies: 6
- Views: 666
Re: TreasuryDirect down?
I *resolved* the issue. (hint)
My ISP's DNS servers weren't resolving www.treasurydirect.gov, even though every other site I've been accessing hasn't had an issue. So I switch to Google's DNS servers in the Windows control panel, and voila, I can get to Treasury Direct again.
My ISP's DNS servers weren't resolving www.treasurydirect.gov, even though every other site I've been accessing hasn't had an issue. So I switch to Google's DNS servers in the Windows control panel, and voila, I can get to Treasury Direct again.
- Fri Oct 02, 2015 10:30 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: TreasuryDirect down?
- Replies: 6
- Views: 666
Re: TreasuryDirect down?
Hmm... I'm trying from Australia right now. Do you think they are now blocking access from IP addresses outside the US? Never had a problem before.
- Fri Oct 02, 2015 10:09 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: TreasuryDirect down?
- Replies: 6
- Views: 666
TreasuryDirect down?
Anybody else having troubles accessing http://www.treasurydirect.gov? Just tried from a Windows 7, 8, and 10 machine and from both IE and Chrome. Keep getting the webpage is not available.
- Sun Jul 05, 2015 4:37 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Strange Savings Bond Wizard update behavior - malware concern?
- Replies: 1
- Views: 928
Strange Savings Bond Wizard update behavior - malware concern?
Went to update my Savings Bond Wizard just now on Windows 8.1.
In the Update Progres pop up, it counted up to "Download 2240% complete." Then Windows asked me if I wanted to allow the following program to make changes to my computer: sbwcrv.exe. I then checked the usual windows process name that runs with the Savings Bond Wizard. It is SBWizard.exe.
Hmm. Given the recent data breaches, including that of the Office of Personnel Management, I wasn't comfortable allowing this update to continue. Downloading a lot more data than expected and asking for a new executable name to run looked very risky to me.
Anyone else notice this behavior with updating the Savings Bond Wizard?
In the Update Progres pop up, it counted up to "Download 2240% complete." Then Windows asked me if I wanted to allow the following program to make changes to my computer: sbwcrv.exe. I then checked the usual windows process name that runs with the Savings Bond Wizard. It is SBWizard.exe.
Hmm. Given the recent data breaches, including that of the Office of Personnel Management, I wasn't comfortable allowing this update to continue. Downloading a lot more data than expected and asking for a new executable name to run looked very risky to me.
Anyone else notice this behavior with updating the Savings Bond Wizard?
- Fri Apr 24, 2015 11:28 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Should I apply for manager's job or continue as a techie?
- Replies: 145
- Views: 18628
Re: Should I apply for manager's job or continue as a techie
I was a star performer as an individual contributor and as a small team technical lead (5-10 engineers). Several managers told me I could write my own ticket. So I became a manager on a much larger scale. Did okay, but didn't like it. Nothing is better than creating something from nothing and seeing it to a successful completion. For some, that something developed may be an employee workforce. For myself, I naturally enjoy creating an engineered technical product. Glad to say I've been able to get back into the technical lead role and getting my hands dirty. Even better, it came with an income increase to boot, though it did require a job change and a long distance relocation. While there was uncertainty in the outcome at the time, it ended...
- Fri Apr 24, 2015 11:03 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Is tax loss harvesting that powerful ?
- Replies: 44
- Views: 6737
Re: Is tax loss harvesting that powerful ?
livesoft, thanks for your reply. The Swedroe article was brief and informative. I learned something new today.
House Blend, that matches what I just learned.
I have some harvested ST & LT losses carried forward so its good to understand the differenced. The LT losses came about on specific lots that were positive throughout the short term holding period, and then went negative after I already held them over a year. Somewhat unavoidable from a TLH perspective, but I haven't had a need or reason to realize gains so its a trickle against my ordinary income.
House Blend, that matches what I just learned.
I have some harvested ST & LT losses carried forward so its good to understand the differenced. The LT losses came about on specific lots that were positive throughout the short term holding period, and then went negative after I already held them over a year. Somewhat unavoidable from a TLH perspective, but I haven't had a need or reason to realize gains so its a trickle against my ordinary income.
- Fri Apr 24, 2015 4:39 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Is tax loss harvesting that powerful ?
- Replies: 44
- Views: 6737
Re: Is tax loss harvesting that powerful ?
livesoft,livesoft wrote: I do not have long-term losses. I tax-loss harvest losses before they go long-term. I have carryover short-term losses from years ago.
This seems to imply that there is an advantage to a short-term tax-loss over a long-term. Is there?
- Sun Mar 29, 2015 7:09 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Michael Spence: Are Equities Overvalued?
- Replies: 13
- Views: 2353
Re: Michael Spence: Are Equities Overvalued?
How do we even know what the appropriate valuation should be? It's all supply-demand in the equities market. Demand is high right now (the average investor is holding lots of equities) and for all we know it could remain constant, or increase further. Check out this chart: http://www.philosophicaleconomics.com/2013/12/the-single-greatest-predictor-of-future-stock-market-returns/ I haven't rerun the results for 2015, but as you can see, we're approaching the peak average investor equity allocation. Expected returns are still positive though, and when you compare them to bonds, there is still a significant equity premium. That chart is pretty amazing. Maybe we can predict the future after all! The original author posted a follow up to the ar...
- Fri Oct 31, 2014 7:08 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: That stress-relieving thing you do at work
- Replies: 45
- Views: 5213
Re: That stress-relieving thing you do at work
I only feel stress when I don't feel in control of something. After discovering that simple fact I came up with a successful motto: "Control what you care about."
There are two parts to that motto. If I care about something, then I stay on top of it. On the other hand if it is something beyond my control, then I force myself to not care about it. That has worked very well for me.
There are two parts to that motto. If I care about something, then I stay on top of it. On the other hand if it is something beyond my control, then I force myself to not care about it. That has worked very well for me.
- Tue Sep 09, 2014 9:40 am
- Forum: Non-US Investing
- Topic: Diversification in practice: Investing from Australia
- Replies: 28
- Views: 6090
Re: Diversification in practice: Investing from Australia
AUD is highly correlated to EM demand for resource exports from Australia (mining & energy being two big ones), so taking a chance to speak for RhinoTroy I think its a continuation of his first bullet:555 wrote:Anyone know what was meant here?555 wrote:AUD is also highly correlated to what?RhinoTroy wrote:* AUD is also highly correlated
* Australian market is more highly correlated with EM stocks through resources linkage than say 20 years ago
- Thu Sep 04, 2014 9:54 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: William Sharpe advises against rebalancing
- Replies: 32
- Views: 4683
Re: William Sharpe advises against rebalancing
Our mentor, John Bogle, also thinks that rebalancing is an unnecessary exercise. “If you can ignore market fluctuations along the way, it’s better not to rebalance, since you’re likely to get higher returns.” In a recent study, he looked at how a portfolio with 70% in stocks and 30% in bonds performed when rebalanced annually vs. when left alone. “Over the 187 25-year periods ending between 1826 and 2012, the rebalanced portfolio earned a sliver less on average,” Money reports. “In 55% of the periods, rebalancing beat doing nothing, by an annualized 0.23%, adjusted for inflation. When rebalancing hurt returns, the penalty was larger — 0.43%.” http://theguruinvestor.com/2013/10/11/bogle-dont-rebalance-if-you-can-stand-it/ But, if it helps y...
- Wed Jul 30, 2014 8:39 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Backdoor Roth question
- Replies: 4
- Views: 638
Re: Backdoor Roth question
Yes. Important to remember that the conversion deadline is 31 Dec, which is earlier than the contribution deadline of April 15 or thereabouts the next year.LAlearning wrote:You just re characterize it to a non deduct Trad IRA. Then backdoor it before the end of the year.
- Wed Jul 30, 2014 5:06 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Advice on getting a power adapter
- Replies: 13
- Views: 1802
Re: Advice on getting a power adapter
For clarification, the power adapter you get needs to be the correct voltage = 6V, the right connector, and be able to suppy at least 1 Amp. So a 6V power adapter rated for 1.5A or 2A or anything >=1A works. Equivalently, a selectable voltage power adapter that has a 6V setting and rated for 6W or greater will work.
I bought a universal AC adapter that came with interchangeable connectors, a wide range of selectable voltages, and rated for 90W for less than $20 from Amazon. No name brand made in China, but it works well, was well reviewed, and I can use it in the states on 110VAC 60Hz and in Australia on 240VAC 50Hz.
Just clicked through Amazon and found dozens of options that will suit your needs.
I bought a universal AC adapter that came with interchangeable connectors, a wide range of selectable voltages, and rated for 90W for less than $20 from Amazon. No name brand made in China, but it works well, was well reviewed, and I can use it in the states on 110VAC 60Hz and in Australia on 240VAC 50Hz.
Just clicked through Amazon and found dozens of options that will suit your needs.
- Mon Apr 28, 2014 4:58 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: deleted
- Replies: 60
- Views: 17233
Re: How low are interest rates, really?
I say the most likely future rate is something other than todays rate. It will fluctuate.steve_14 wrote:You'd have to define "everyone". Everyone I respect says the most likely future rates are today's rates. It is true, however, that rates likely won't go below zero, so downside is limited, while upside is not.letsgobobby wrote:Everyone says interest rates can only go up; and bond prices can only go down. This has been a truism for more than ten years.
I get no respect.
- Fri Apr 18, 2014 6:15 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Timing of savings bonds purchases based on treasury yield
- Replies: 7
- Views: 2291
Re: Timing of savings bonds purchases based on treasury yiel
My calendar notice popped up to make a decision. I splitting the difference. $10k now and $10k in May for I-bonds. Inflation rate: Today's inflation rate: 0.59% May's inflation rate: 0.92% (looks like the Fed's getting close to their 2% annual target) Inflation rate is up, but that's largely a wash as I-bonds bought this month and I-bonds bought next month both receive that rate. The only difference will be in the first and last inflation rates received by these two purchases. I'm guessing the last inflation rate for I-bonds bought in May will be slightly higher than the current inflation rate for I-bonds bought now, but that the difference will be much less significant than any potential change in the fixed rate. Fixed rate: Nothing too in...
- Sat Apr 12, 2014 9:59 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: California Taxes - Am I Missing Something?
- Replies: 142
- Views: 16697
Re: California Taxes - Am I Missing Something?
When a city has an average home price of $800K, where do the teachers live? Where do the firemen live? Here: http://www.mercurynews.com/sunnyvale/ci_25331740/sunnyvale-city-manager-dps-lieutenant-top-citys-salary And here: http://www.mercurynews.com/salaries/bay-area?appSession=70853739252963&RecordID=&PageID=2&PrevPageID=2&cbNewPageSize=250& Lot's of physicians on the list, but keep going and you will run into the firemen, police, and department of public safety (firemen+police). Nowhere near a $50k total cost of employment. I buried the lead. A smattering of data from the 2nd link: Entity Title Base OT Other MDV ER EE DC Misc TCOE Milpitas Fire Battalion Chief - 40 hr $84,372 $0 $376,261 $12,114 $20,336 $0 $463 $156 $...
- Sat Apr 12, 2014 8:57 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Speculation on I Bond fixed rate for May 1st
- Replies: 35
- Views: 7318
Re: Speculation on I Bond fixed rate for May 1st
I view it as $600 being the maximum downside if you wait to buy until after the new rate announcement. The max upside is unbounded, but I would be shocked if the fixed rate went higher than, say 0.4%.HueyLD wrote:I am not Bond, the I Bond Mel. However, I expect the new I bond fixed rate to be no greater than 0.2%. Since I don't want to lose up to $20/year, I will invest my annual limit by 4/30. Hey, $20/year x 30 years is $600 more dollars to spent on Latte.
- Sat Apr 12, 2014 4:58 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Speculation on I Bond fixed rate for May 1st
- Replies: 35
- Views: 7318
Re: Speculation on I Bond fixed rate for May 1st
Couple other threads on the topic:
http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1525629
http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtop ... 0&t=135609
10-yr treasury yields are slightly higher (0.1-0.2%) than they were 6 months ago when we first got the 0.2% fixed rate. Real 5-year yields are higher by a larger margin (0.3-0.4%). Caveat that following #cruncher's first post listed above would have suggested a 0.0% fixed rate last November.
I'm waiting till around the 23rd to make a guess at the fixed rate and buy I-bonds this month or next month.
http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1525629
http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtop ... 0&t=135609
10-yr treasury yields are slightly higher (0.1-0.2%) than they were 6 months ago when we first got the 0.2% fixed rate. Real 5-year yields are higher by a larger margin (0.3-0.4%). Caveat that following #cruncher's first post listed above would have suggested a 0.0% fixed rate last November.
I'm waiting till around the 23rd to make a guess at the fixed rate and buy I-bonds this month or next month.
- Sat Apr 12, 2014 4:50 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: California Taxes - Am I Missing Something?
- Replies: 142
- Views: 16697
Re: California Taxes - Am I Missing Something?
Here:EmergDoc wrote:When a city has an average home price of $800K, where do the teachers live? Where do the firemen live?
http://www.mercurynews.com/sunnyvale/ci ... tys-salary
And here:
http://www.mercurynews.com/salaries/bay ... geSize=250&
Lot's of physicians on the list, but keep going and you will run into the firemen, police, and department of public safety (firemen+police). Nowhere near a $50k total cost of employment.
- Sun Mar 30, 2014 7:45 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Fewer, large contributions vs smaller, regular contributions
- Replies: 14
- Views: 1615
Re: Fewer, large contributions vs smaller, regular contribut
In my book, investing on a rumor is strictly verboten. I contribute more to my investments pretty much as soon as the funds are available.
- Tue Mar 25, 2014 8:37 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Ashamed - Wells Fargo crushing me on credit/debit card fees
- Replies: 18
- Views: 3720
Re: Ashamed - Wells Fargo crushing me on credit/debit cards
+1. Avoid Capital One like the plague. They're one of the worst banks/credit card providers available. Sapphire Preferred has great service too and you immediately get a person on the phone, no nonsense menus. Why do you feel this way? Its ironic that your two comments in this and another thread have only served to elicit testimonials from long-time active bogleheads discounting your assertion. If there is something concrete you can point to, that would be more helpful. Been through several credit cards through the years, and my experience with CapitalOne has been positive. Its been my go to card for years. I've had a Chase Sapphire card for longer than the Capital One, but its in second place. The American Express sits idle. A dozen other...
- Tue Mar 25, 2014 7:58 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Timing of savings bonds purchases based on treasury yield
- Replies: 7
- Views: 2291
Re: Timing of savings bonds purchases based on treasury yiel
On I bonds, I'm going to wait a little while (one week or five weeks... TBD) and make a decision based largely on a complete guess of where the fixed rate may go looking at real yields. Note that this last .2% fixed didn't follow the pattern shown in #cruncher's post linked above. This is a $20k purchase and a difference in .20% after 20 years translates to ~$815 real. I let you know my decision before end of April. Treasury might not extend the 20bp component... they might increase - two in the bush. Maybe I'll take half a bird this month and half of two birds in May. I'm not buying the I Bonds yet. I'll make a decision mid-late April. It costs me ~$7 to wait and see if something funny happens with the Treasury Real Yield Curve. See you i...
- Sun Mar 23, 2014 6:49 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Higher Returns at Lower Risk - please comment
- Replies: 59
- Views: 9640
Re: Higher Returns at Lower Risk - please comment
azanon:
If I read your posts correctly, you are making the argument that small cap value is overvalued based on recent "overperformance". Isn't that a contradiction? If the small cap value index sticks to its criteria for the value factor, how does it become overvalued? Are you disagreeing with the criteria for value?
If I read your posts correctly, you are making the argument that small cap value is overvalued based on recent "overperformance". Isn't that a contradiction? If the small cap value index sticks to its criteria for the value factor, how does it become overvalued? Are you disagreeing with the criteria for value?
- Fri Mar 21, 2014 6:18 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: How did you decide how much to save?
- Replies: 119
- Views: 14257
Re: How did you decide how much to save?
I save a lot now. Something just north of 50%. For me its not denying myself in the present. I live comfortably, and sleep better at night as the financial security quilt has another patch added. Not too long now until I don't have to whore out my mind, as Taleb puts it, but can more freely choose where to expend my energies.richard wrote:How did you decide have much to save?
Popular alternatives range from saving 10% - 15% to maxing a 401(k) to projecting rates of return and saving enough to generate a chosen level of spending if the projections prove accurate.
Save too much and you're denying yourself in the present, save too little and your future won't be very bright.
- Fri Mar 21, 2014 6:07 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Timing of savings bonds purchases based on treasury yield
- Replies: 7
- Views: 2291
Re: Timing of savings bonds purchases based on treasury yiel
Current I bonds issued through April 30th offer a fixed component of 0.20% + the variable inflation rate. Basing your purchases of I bonds over the prior 6 month CPI-U calculation is folly, you don't know if the Treasury will be so willing to extend that 20bp fixed component going forward leaving you dependent on receiving CPI-U inflation factor only. I hold both EE bonds and I bonds, but if I were purchasing now I'd pick up the I bond - bird in hand, and it's likely though not guaranteed inflation will be greater than 3.5% annually over the next 20 years - we could be in a Japan like scenario - lower than what was normal rates for an extended period of time. We are already 6 years in this soup, if rates stay low over the next 14 years, th...
- Fri Mar 21, 2014 5:50 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: best cash back credit card
- Replies: 185
- Views: 891829
Re: best cash back credit card
More common outside the US (but depends on country) to encounter merchants that do not accept American Express but do accept Visa.Sunny Sarkar wrote: My personal anecdotal experience is that I bump across merchants not accepting Amex maybe once every few months. In fact, if I were using the VISA only, I'd have a bigger problem because I shop at Costco often. I switched to using just one card (Fido Amex) for a couple of years now, and I'm loving the simplicity of it.
- Thu Mar 20, 2014 5:27 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Why did Bond Funds take a beating...
- Replies: 39
- Views: 4894
Re: Why did Bond Funds take a beating...
Who knows what yields lurk in the minds of the Fed? The Market knows!
- Thu Mar 20, 2014 5:12 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Timing of savings bonds purchases based on treasury yield
- Replies: 7
- Views: 2291
Timing of savings bonds purchases based on treasury yield
Savings bonds purchases might be one of the few things that could possibly be timed. With I-Bonds you can calculate the new inflation rate before it goes into effect: I-bonds inflation rate computed from the CPI-U numbers: May rate = (Mar - Sep)/Sep; and Nov rate = (Sep - Mar)/Mar. For the I-bonds fixed rate portion, well, this is a guess. I thought #Cruncher's thread was interesting: http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1525629 5 and 10 years yields just popped up today and are a fair bit higher than they were last October when we got the surprise of a new non-zero I-bonds fixed rate. With EE-Bonds, Treasury Direct says they base the annual interest rate off the market yields of the 10-year Treasury Note "adjusting that by ...
- Thu Mar 20, 2014 4:31 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: best cash back credit card
- Replies: 185
- Views: 891829
Re: best cash back credit card
I decided to learn playing the credit card game and want to start soon, because in the next few months I will be spending ~$10k on travel and certain purchases, in addition to my normal expenses. Here are my constraints: 1. I want to get a VISA, because some of my potential vendors are abroad and do not accept AMEX. 2. I am not interested in gas points, because I drive very little. I am thinking of applying for Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card by CapitalOne. It has no annual fee and offers 1.5% cash back. Should I proceed with this card or there is something clearly better? Thanks, Victoria I have just applied for Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card by CapitalOne. My application was immediately accepted. Once I receive the card and st...
- Sat Mar 15, 2014 9:48 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: best cash back credit card
- Replies: 185
- Views: 891829
Re: best cash back credit card
Make sure whatever card(s) you go with don't charge foreign transaction fees. Also Visa Signature travel benefits are nice. Finally, Visa is the most universally accepted. Three reasons I like the CapitalOne Quicksilver Visa Signature.VictoriaF wrote:When I travel in Europe or prepay online for services in Europe, they never accept AMEX. What about MasterCard? Is it accepted as widely as VISA, or VISA is more versatile?
Victoria