Search found 23 matches

by don1066
Fri May 04, 2012 9:02 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Not your regular retirement questions
Replies: 58
Views: 8706

Re: Not your regular retirement questions

My immediate reaction after reading your OP is that you are overreacting to your pending job loss and are going into "hunker down" mode. The world will not end so you dont have to make "drastic" living changes real soon. Posting on here has been a very good idea and i suspect that if you read these comments carefully and take a deep breath you will be able to re-evaluate your circumstances and come up with a very rational and workable plan. Please follow up and let us know how you make out.
by don1066
Fri May 04, 2012 8:50 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The DFA fixed income portfolio, 30 years on
Replies: 46
Views: 3303

Re: The DFA fixed income portfolio, 30 years on

yobria wrote:
don1066 wrote:Fascinating and a painful reminder. In 1983 i bought zero bonds due in 2011 and yielding 9%. Of course i found a "better" investment in 1997 sold them and promptly saw my returns shrink dramatically. If ever there was a case for staying the course that was it! Thank God for alcohol.
Only 9%? Long bonds were yielding 12% in 1983. Often what history tells you is the worst performing corner of the market tends to wind up the best. Small growth stocks, for example.
Thanks? for the reminder. I believe it was over 11% but of course i would prefer to forget the whole incident .................thats why i say "Thank God for alcohol!".
by don1066
Thu May 03, 2012 6:14 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The DFA fixed income portfolio, 30 years on
Replies: 46
Views: 3303

Re: The DFA fixed income portfolio, 30 years on

Fascinating and a painful reminder. In 1983 i bought zero bonds due in 2011 and yielding 9%. Of course i found a "better" investment in 1997 sold them and promptly saw my returns shrink dramatically. If ever there was a case for staying the course that was it! Thank God for alcohol.
by don1066
Thu May 03, 2012 6:07 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: I've proven that market timing is bad, but ...
Replies: 45
Views: 4451

Re: I've proven that market timing is bad, but ...

Welcome to the forum. I will give you the "secrets" to investing I have learned over all the time I have spent learning about investing. They are simple and are summed up in 5 rules: 1. Save as much as you can so you can invest as much as you can. 2. Pick an asset allocation that fits in to your willingness, ability, and need to take risk. 3. Avoid active management (market timing and security selection) as they are a loser's game. 4. Be aware of costs, taxes, and inflation as they eat into long term returns. 5. Stay the course to prevent yourself from messing everything up. Investing really is that simple. As you can see your mistakes that you talked about are in violation of no. 3 of trying to market time before and again now t...
by don1066
Thu May 03, 2012 6:00 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Individual munis vs muni bond funds?
Replies: 14
Views: 1913

Re: Individual munis vs muni bond funds?

Go with funds.
by don1066
Sat Apr 28, 2012 9:14 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Computer Security Redux
Replies: 41
Views: 2627

Re: Computer Security Redux

Recent articles in several reputable papers (WSJ, NY Times) have come to the conclusion that the threat of hacking your home computer has been blown way out of proportion.
by don1066
Fri Apr 27, 2012 7:36 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: If you had 1 week to make $1,000
Replies: 59
Views: 6436

Re: If you had 1 week to make $1,000

Undercut anyone making $1001 a week!
by don1066
Wed Apr 25, 2012 11:04 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 1st Day of Retirement
Replies: 44
Views: 5359

Re: 1st Day of Retirement

Got in my sportscar with the top down and tore a*s along the coast road!!
by don1066
Sun Apr 22, 2012 3:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Where do we bogleheads Splurge?!
Replies: 138
Views: 14510

Re: Where do we bogleheads Splurge?!

Stonebr wrote:Early retirement.
Couldnt agree more!
by don1066
Sun Apr 22, 2012 3:08 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help me help a young new investor
Replies: 13
Views: 1446

Re: Help me help a young new investor

Agree with muchtolearn. Your emphasis should be to get her to be more self reliant. That would really be helping her.
by don1066
Sun Apr 22, 2012 3:05 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Investing financially and investing in life
Replies: 5
Views: 818

Re: Investing financially and investing in life

It appears you have been "accidently" thrown into a new situation and thus have the opportunity to see through a different set of spectacles. Enjoy it and try not to slide back into your previous life without capturing those new lessons learned. Life doesnt really have to be that humdrum does it.
by don1066
Sun Apr 22, 2012 2:51 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Ah.. Bermuda
Replies: 12
Views: 2385

Re: Ah.. Bermuda

Was there in 1971. Great memories.
by don1066
Sun Apr 22, 2012 2:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: New York
Replies: 25
Views: 3360

Re: New York

Try various food walks, tenement museum, russian baths, oddities store, evolutions and the Ars Nova theater.
by don1066
Sat Apr 21, 2012 8:32 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part V
Replies: 3372
Views: 1560633

Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part V

The Peculiar Memories of Thomas Penman...................hilarious!
by don1066
Sat Apr 21, 2012 8:31 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do you have a 'bucket list'?
Replies: 75
Views: 12311

Re: Do you have a 'bucket list'?

#1........Wake up everyday!
by don1066
Thu Apr 19, 2012 9:56 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Advice on retirement...not financial, but what to do all day
Replies: 72
Views: 7989

Re: Advice on retirement...not financial, but what to do all

I am 63 and i retired 3 years ago. I am so happy to own my own time that i never think about working ever! Its a true luxury having this time and the options to basically do whatever you want. At this age i dont get philosophical about being "productive". I am alive, healthy, have an imagination and the wherewithal to enjoy the last one third. A great read you may want to get in to "Younger Next Year" by Crowley and Lodge. Its funny and serious all at the same time.
by don1066
Wed Apr 18, 2012 8:09 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Dick Clark.....Dead at Age 82.......
Replies: 12
Views: 1490

Re: Dick Clark.....Dead at Age 82.......

Thanks for the memories Mr Clark.
by don1066
Tue Apr 17, 2012 5:00 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Med school at 29 year old, is this a viable plan?
Replies: 89
Views: 9483

Re: Med school at 29 year old, is this a viable plan?

I worked with half a dozen MDs over the last 10 years and at least half of them said they wouldnt do it again. Grass is greener? Think again.
by don1066
Tue Apr 17, 2012 8:25 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Thoughts on selling my house.
Replies: 4
Views: 828

Re: Thoughts on selling my house.

Thank you all for your responses. Time for me to role up the sleeves and get to work!
by don1066
Mon Apr 16, 2012 3:43 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Just need to share this
Replies: 53
Views: 5431

Re: Just need to share this

Congrats.
by don1066
Mon Apr 16, 2012 3:39 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Thoughts on selling my house.
Replies: 4
Views: 828

Thoughts on selling my house.

I plan on downsizing in about three years. Large home in top notch school district in northeast. Any thoughts on what i should be doing in the meantime.
by don1066
Wed Apr 11, 2012 3:24 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Can a person have no risk tolerance?
Replies: 63
Views: 4255

Re: Can a person have no risk tolerance?

I am retired with 10% stock and 90% fixed income. Happy as a lark.