Search found 2001 matches

by bpp
Sat Nov 16, 2019 5:46 am
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: Beginner - US/JP dual citizen in Tokyo
Replies: 12
Views: 1264

Re: Beginner - US/JP dual citizen in Tokyo

Sure, will do.
by bpp
Fri Nov 15, 2019 9:10 pm
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: Beginner - US/JP dual citizen in Tokyo
Replies: 12
Views: 1264

Re: Beginner - US/JP dual citizen in Tokyo

Also, some detail in this wiki page: Investing in Japan for US citizens and US permanent residents - Bogleheads ( bpp , can you say if the information in this page remains up to date? Thanks. ) Hi TedSwippet All still true as far as I know, though I am not following in detail anymore exactly what the full range of options is for US taxpayers in Japan, so some brokers may have changed their terms snd offerings since then. (Though if there have been changes, they are probably not for the better.) I see that the section on US-domiciled ETFs directly tradable on the Tokyo stock exchange can be vastly contracted now, since the iShares JDFs were delisted leaving SPY as the sole remaining option. Not that useful all by itself, unless for some rea...
by bpp
Wed Nov 13, 2019 6:13 am
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: Beginner - US/JP dual citizen in Tokyo
Replies: 12
Views: 1264

Re: Beginner - US/JP dual citizen in Tokyo

Your best bet may be to buy Vanguard funds or other US-domiciled funds through Nomura Shoken. They would handle tax paperwork correctly for both your US and Japanese taxes (at least for the Vanguard and other US-domiciled funds). This keeps you out of PFICs. Disadvantage: you mentioned a language barrier. Nomura does not have an English interface. (None of the Japanese brokers do.). You would have to become comfortable making trades over the phone for the Vanguard funds at Nomura. If this doesn’t seem within reach, you might want to look into Interactive Brokers (who I assume have an English option, though haven’t checked). A good choice for world stocks is VT. For Japanese bonds, you could use Japanese savings bonds (kojin-muke kokusai), o...
by bpp
Tue Oct 22, 2019 6:28 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI
Replies: 7650
Views: 1724029

Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

Elena wrote: Sun Oct 20, 2019 3:12 pm Stasiland, by A. Funder. If you have been to the Stasi museum in Berlin, you will recognize the atmosphere. It is a recount of testimonies from common people and low-range citizens in politics (former agents and collaborators, a tv personality, young opposers) through the author's voice. Light prose, with very interesting parts: I did not know the East "sold" cumbersome activists to the West.
I think Nina Hagen’s step-father was a famous example? Not so much “sold” as far as I am aware, but kicked out of the country and stripped of his citizenship when he became bothersome to the East German state. I suppose that was seen as a less politically damaging move than locking him up.
by bpp
Fri Oct 18, 2019 8:31 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Why so many iPhones??? Why did you pick it? Why do you upgrade it?
Replies: 156
Views: 27102

Re: Why so many iPhones??? Why did you pick it? Why do you upgrade it?

OP HERE The reason why I use Android is because "it just works" and yet that is the reason why people use iPhones which is why this is perplexing to me. I agree that Android is more intuitive, and does a better job of “just working” without having to think or learn too much. The user interface is definitely one of the weak points of iOS. But, long-term support is better for iOS. And AirDrop really is pretty handy. (On the flip side, split-screen multitasking would be nice to have on iPhones, as Android has. I hear iPads have it, so iPhones could as well if Apple deigned to let us have it.) I sometimes look longingly at the new Sony Xperias, but realistically, unless they start providing 4-5 years of security updates and OS upgrad...
by bpp
Fri Oct 18, 2019 6:58 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Why so many iPhones??? Why did you pick it? Why do you upgrade it?
Replies: 156
Views: 27102

Re: Why so many iPhones??? Why did you pick it? Why do you upgrade it?

I find it not so easy with just Japanese and English. For one thing, the little “globe” icon for language-switching changes position depending on which language mode one is in. Not nice. Then the emoji keyboard likes to insert itself randomly in the keyboard list, so when you do hit the globe icon, you never know what you’re going to get — a problem I solved by disabling emojis. But this kind of unpredictability should not be the default operation mode. Again, needlessly user-unfriendly. I just tried the Japanese - Kana keyboard, and you're right about the little globe moving. That would be disruptive to flow. :oops: I have Spanish, French, Italian, German, and Chinese Simplified - Pinyin installed, and the globe button doesn't move switch...
by bpp
Thu Oct 17, 2019 9:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Why so many iPhones??? Why did you pick it? Why do you upgrade it?
Replies: 156
Views: 27102

Re: Why so many iPhones??? Why did you pick it? Why do you upgrade it?

—Text editing in particular is needlessly difficult. Why are there no arrow keys on the keyboard?? The whole iOS keyboard is basically a trackpad if you press down. I think it's a fantastic implementation. (I think on the newest phones without the 3D Touch sensor, you hold the space bar and then slide the cursor around.) I know about that trick, but I find it clumsy and imprecise. And about half the time it doesn’t scroll beyond the current boundary. Whereas arrow keys are precise and predictable, and intuitive . (The trackpad trick is not explained in any manual, and certainly not intuitive.) What’s most disappointing is that a few years ago iPhones apparently HAD arrow keys, and they were REMOVED! What a user-hostile thing to do! —Switch...
by bpp
Thu Oct 17, 2019 6:57 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Why so many iPhones??? Why did you pick it? Why do you upgrade it?
Replies: 156
Views: 27102

Re: Why so many iPhones??? Why did you pick it? Why do you upgrade it?

I switched from Android a couple of years ago when my phone started hanging up and freezing randomly. Walked into store planning to get a new Android, walked out with an iPhone. Main reason was price — the iPhone was cheaper than the equivalent-spec Android that I was interested in. Also, rest of my family had iPhones, so figured it might be convenient. Impressions after 2 years: Bad things about iPhones relative to Android: —User interface is extremely unintuitive and hard to figure out, though I have had this complaint about Apple products since the Mac first came out. (Apple seems to have lost their way after the Apple II series.) —Text editing in particular is needlessly difficult. Why are there no arrow keys on the keyboard?? —Switchin...
by bpp
Mon Oct 14, 2019 4:38 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
Replies: 11151
Views: 2085951

Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?

Aniara, Swedish SF, picked up on a lark at DVD rental store without knowing anything about it.

It was good! Turns out to be based on a poem by Nobel prize winner Harry Martinson. Very moody, “slow SF.” Thought I caught a couple of homages to Tarkovsky’s Solaris (almost-duplicate of opening shot of Solaris shows up briefly at one point, and the big round windows from the Solaris station seem to be referenced in one place.)

Recommended for those who liked Solaris (Tarkovsky’s version, not Soderbergh’s short-attention-span version), Arrival, or Blade Runner 2049.
by bpp
Thu Oct 10, 2019 8:08 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do you carry your passport with you during international travel?
Replies: 110
Views: 12473

Re: Do you carry your passport with you during international travel?

mptfan wrote: Thu Oct 10, 2019 3:03 pm
bpp wrote: Thu Oct 10, 2019 1:12 pm If you are in Japan as a foreign visitor, you are required to carry your passport with you at all times. Not a passport card, not a Global Entry card, not a copy or photo of your passport, but the passport itself. (Foreign residents are required to carry their residence cards instead.) And yes, police do perform spot checks on occasion.
And what happens if you do not?
Foreign visitors can be fined up to 100,000 yen (about $1,000).
Foreign residents twice that.
by bpp
Thu Oct 10, 2019 1:12 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do you carry your passport with you during international travel?
Replies: 110
Views: 12473

Re: Do you carry your passport with you during international travel?

If you are in Japan as a foreign visitor, you are required to carry your passport with you at all times. Not a passport card, not a Global Entry card, not a copy or photo of your passport, but the passport itself. (Foreign residents are required to carry their residence cards instead.) And yes, police do perform spot checks on occasion. Sounds like Spain is similar.
by bpp
Wed Oct 02, 2019 3:45 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Creating "your own Index ETF"
Replies: 14
Views: 1379

Re: Creating "your own Index ETF"

You might find the wiki page on Passively managing individual stocks relevant.
by bpp
Sat Sep 21, 2019 4:32 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Larry Swedroe: Individual Stock Investing Increases Risk
Replies: 105
Views: 8345

Re: Larry Swedroe: Individual Stock Investing Increases Risk

rossington wrote: Sat Sep 21, 2019 3:13 am
willthrill81 wrote: Fri Sep 20, 2019 6:05 pm
"randomly chosen stocks "
One who would seriously invest their savings would not randomly choose stocks...they would do careful research.
I would argue almost the opposite. A serious investor who believes in efficient markets would randomly choose stocks. Such an investor would recognize that careful research would be a waste of time, and might in fact introduce dangerous bias into their selection process.

Again, this is for a serious investor who believes in efficient markets, and "is not even thinking about 'beating the market.'"
by bpp
Mon Sep 16, 2019 9:09 pm
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: Not so happy in Denmark... individual stocks better than index funds? [US ex-pat]
Replies: 110
Views: 40060

Re: Not so happy in Denmark... individual stocks better than index funds? [US ex-pat]

What is with all the recommendations for Berkshire Hathaway? It is a single company, headed by an aged CEO who is the source of much of its appeal. Before someone says it is diversified, so is GE. It is still a single stock.
by bpp
Sun Sep 15, 2019 11:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Minivan Vs SUV Experience
Replies: 128
Views: 13441

Re: Minivan Vs SUV Experience

Husker4theSpurs wrote: Sun Sep 15, 2019 11:03 pm I think I would be more apt to choose that if the Toyota Sienna wasn't so due for a re-model.
Is that the only AWD minivan option where you live? That does make it a tougher decision. On the bright side, it should have all the bugs worked out by now, which may not be true of a new re-model.
by bpp
Sun Sep 15, 2019 10:42 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Minivan Vs SUV Experience
Replies: 128
Views: 13441

Re: Minivan Vs SUV Experience

How about an AWD minivan, as you mention at the end of your post? I think a minivan will generally be more spacious than an SUV, and easier for little kids and aged parents and in-laws to get in and out of. Also little things like tires not being oversized make maintenance cheaper. I think fuel efficiency is also generally a bit better with minivans, though still not great.

My AWD/CVT minivan is boring as heck to drive, but it carries all the people, pets and stuff that I need it to, and gets me everywhere I need to go (including snowy mountains in winter), so I’m not about to give it up.
by bpp
Sun Sep 15, 2019 8:56 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
Replies: 11151
Views: 2085951

Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?

Bit of a marathon: Amundsen — Historical drama about the famed polar explorer. Gives a sense of the good and bad sides of his passionate, driven personality. Enjoyed quite a bit. Rocketman — Disappointing. 1) It turned out to be a musical, and I generally dislike musicals. But that could still have been ok, since the songs are old childhood favorites, except that: 2) The original renditions are not used, but rather poorly-done cover versions, sung by the lead actor, who does not have Elton John’s range. So when, e.g., one is expecting a climactic high note, he is forced to thud down to a lower octave. When making a movie about a musician, at least get the music right. 3) Blatant historical inaccuracies, and the stage-musical format, meant t...
by bpp
Sun Sep 15, 2019 7:41 pm
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: Not so happy in Denmark... individual stocks better than index funds? [US ex-pat]
Replies: 110
Views: 40060

Re: Not so happy in Denmark... individual stocks better than index funds?

But regarding OP's stock question: individual stocks are indeed an option, but only if you're willing to get clued up on proper company valuation - not something that's fast or easy. No need to learn about valuation, I’d argue. Please see the wiki page on Passively managing individual stocks : “Note: if the Efficient Market Hypothesis holds, then reading balance sheets, shareholder reports and analyst recommendations is unnecessary and a complete waste of time. The strategy used for deciding which exact stocks to hold should not matter -- one can neither help nor hurt oneself through choice of strategy. Random selection is a perfectly valid strategy[...]” ...as is simply working one’s way down the list starting from the largest-cap stocks....
by bpp
Mon Jun 10, 2019 6:51 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Rethinking Individual Stocks
Replies: 76
Views: 9946

Re: Rethinking Individual Stocks

Chip wrote: Mon Jun 10, 2019 6:14 am
international001 wrote: Mon Jun 10, 2019 5:12 am Can you develop this? If I have :

A: 200 shares at $30 with cost basis $20
B: 100 shares at $30 with cost basis $10

Why is beneficial selling A instead of B?
I think the correct comparison is selling 100 shares of A vs. 100 shares of B. You get one half of the capital gains for the same total proceeds.
Yes.
by bpp
Mon Jun 03, 2019 3:04 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Rethinking Individual Stocks
Replies: 76
Views: 9946

Re: Rethinking Individual Stocks

What I love about my individual stocks is Tax Loss Harvesting. While most of my individual stocks are up in value, some have gone down. [...] Conclusion: Investing some of your money in individual stocks makes sense. Yes, there is even a wiki page on doing this for tax reasons: https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Passively_managing_individual_stocks Good info. But permanent 0.5%/year ? IT doesn't matter for how long have you had the portfolio and how low is your cost basis? I don’t think anyone has guaranteed a permanent 0.5%/year. As for cost basis, even if you don’t have any losses, there could be benefits from choosing to sell those tax lots with higher bases. If this is a benefit, why no mutual fund has implemented this TLH strategy? Mutua...
by bpp
Fri May 31, 2019 8:01 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Rethinking Individual Stocks
Replies: 76
Views: 9946

Re: Rethinking Individual Stocks

DonCamillo wrote: Sat May 25, 2019 11:57 am What I love about my individual stocks is Tax Loss Harvesting. While most of my individual stocks are up in value, some have gone down.
[...]
Conclusion: Investing some of your money in individual stocks makes sense.
Yes, there is even a wiki page on doing this for tax reasons:

https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Passive ... ual_stocks
by bpp
Fri May 10, 2019 8:00 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What is your U.S./ex-U.S. stock allocation?
Replies: 210
Views: 18180

Re: What is your U.S./ex-U.S. stock allocation?

Valuethinker wrote: Fri May 10, 2019 6:40 am Roughly 65% non US
35% USA
Similar. About:
32% US
68% non-US
by bpp
Thu May 02, 2019 9:52 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Areas similar to Jungfrau region in terms of transportation
Replies: 23
Views: 2231

Re: Areas similar to Jungfrau region in terms of transportation

Perhaps the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route in the Japanese Alps?
by bpp
Fri Feb 01, 2019 5:22 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: It was a dip. Did you notice? The December drop is over.
Replies: 96
Views: 14058

Re: It was a dip. Did you notice? The December drop is over.

livesoft wrote: Wed Jan 30, 2019 6:40 am It is almost the end of January. Does this thread need an update?
This just in: December is still over.
by bpp
Thu Jan 31, 2019 6:52 pm
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: [Japan] Investing in NISA
Replies: 11
Views: 3594

Re: [Japan] Investing in NISA

I don’t think it makes a huge difference either way. Personally, I lump-sum into NISA at the beginning of the year, then put monthly contributions into taxable.
by bpp
Thu Jan 31, 2019 2:13 am
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: Optimal equity home bias for non-U.S. investors
Replies: 46
Views: 3995

Re: Optimal equity home bias for non-U.S. investors

Fair enough. It certainly the total volatility that counts in the end, but your assumption is based on a 60/40 portfolio and would not be so valid in a 30/70. True. My portfolio is closer to 60/40 than it is to 30/70, so the Vanguard numbers are in the ballpark for my case. I have also run back tests for a Japan-based investor that generated similar results. A note about currency diversification: if one’s personal economy is in a single currency (it is the case for most people), that is a diversification to be avoided . Its expected return is zero and therefore it is just higher, not compensated, risk. I disagree with the part I bolded. Yes, my personal economy is in yen, in the sense that that is what I earn and spend, but the cost of goo...
by bpp
Thu Jan 31, 2019 12:55 am
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: Optimal equity home bias for non-U.S. investors
Replies: 46
Views: 3995

Re: Optimal equity home bias for non-U.S. investors

I think the Vanguard paper we are talking about is this one: https://personal.vanguard.com/pdf/icrifi_032012_high.pdf They show volatilities for 60/40 stock/bond portfolios for varying ratios of US/non-US stocks and bonds. For example, using the tables on pages 7 and 10, assuming both stocks and bonds are 50/50 domestic/foreign, with foreign stocks unhedged, then: --the standard deviation using hedged foreign bonds = 9.7% --the standard deviation using unhedged foreign bonds = 10.3% In other words, changing from hedged to unhedged foreign bonds raised overall portfolio volatility by 0.6%. Which is... not zero, but I doubt one could easily see the difference in real life -- or more importantly, feel the difference. (Cue one of Nisiprius' pl...
by bpp
Wed Jan 30, 2019 9:24 pm
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: Optimal equity home bias for non-U.S. investors
Replies: 46
Views: 3995

Re: Optimal equity home bias for non-U.S. investors

That same paper showed that unhedged bonds only add slightly more volatility than hedged ones. It really did not make a convincing case for the importance of hedging. That's odd. My recollection is that it showed return for foreign bond funds was in large part due to currency exchange return. This as opposed to foreign stocks returns where the currency exchange is only responsible for a small part of the return. What you are saying would mean that currency markets have low volatility (compared to the bonds volatility in their native currency), which is not my understanding. I could be keener on agreeing if you were talking of sub-investment grade issues. I think the Vanguard paper we are talking about is this one: https://personal.vanguard...
by bpp
Wed Jan 30, 2019 6:35 pm
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: Optimal equity home bias for non-U.S. investors
Replies: 46
Views: 3995

Re: Optimal equity home bias for non-U.S. investors

Thesaints wrote: Wed Jan 30, 2019 4:44 pm
bpp wrote: Wed Jan 30, 2019 4:34 pm 3) Back-testing I have done shows that the choice to hedge or not would have made no significant difference in portfolio performance over the past 30 years or so. (Though past performance etc.)
Exactly. Didn't Vanguard publish a white paper a couple years ago showing that unhedged bond funds only have higher volatility, but not higher return ?
It would make a case for hedging.
That same paper showed that unhedged bonds only add slightly more volatility than hedged ones. It really did not make a convincing case for the importance of hedging.
by bpp
Wed Jan 30, 2019 4:34 pm
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: Optimal equity home bias for non-U.S. investors
Replies: 46
Views: 3995

Re: Optimal equity home bias for non-U.S. investors

(I also split my bonds 50/50 Japan/foreign; I am indifferent to currency fluctuations as well.) Your foreign bond holdings are JPY-hedged, then? No, unhedged. I have debated using hedged foreign bonds, but: 1) The hedging costs seem to significantly lower the yield as compared to the unhedged version of the same fund; 2) I consider an unhedged foreign bond to act as a poor man’s inflation-linked bond (inflation-linked bonds are not available to individual investors here); and 3) Back-testing I have done shows that the choice to hedge or not would have made no significant difference in portfolio performance over the past 30 years or so. (Though past performance etc.) That said, I am not completely opposed to hedging, and could consider it i...
by bpp
Wed Jan 30, 2019 7:03 am
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: Optimal equity home bias for non-U.S. investors
Replies: 46
Views: 3995

Re: Optimal equity home bias for non-U.S. investors

I live in Japan. I split my stocks 50/50 Japan/foreign.

There are some tax advantages to holding Japanese stocks as compared to foreign (non-Japanese) stocks, involving the double-taxation of dividends within funds for the latter. But the main reason for the 50/50 split is that it makes me indifferent as to whether domestic stocks or foreign stocks do better. (I also split my bonds 50/50 Japan/foreign; I am indifferent to currency fluctuations as well.)
by bpp
Wed Jan 09, 2019 6:00 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Investing as an Expatriate
Replies: 11
Views: 895

Re: Investing as an Expatriate

Will you have any business trips to the US? If so, wages earned during those trips are not excludable via FEIE, and can be used to fund IRAs.
by bpp
Tue Jan 08, 2019 5:28 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
Replies: 11151
Views: 2085951

Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?

Salyut-7. Russian movie about “the USSR’s version of Apollo 13.” Much more loosely based on real life than The Apollo 13 movie was, so don’t expect a strict history lesson — about half the problems faced by the cosmonauts in the movie apparently didn’t actually happen. Nevertheless, it was a surprisingly good movie. Great atmosphere, and absolutely beautiful cinematography and special effects. Much better than Gravity (nearest obvious comparison for crisis-in-low-earth-orbit depiction) on those scores, and also in terms of acting.

Picked up on a whim at the video rental store, ended up really enjoying it. Would recommend.
by bpp
Fri Jan 04, 2019 11:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
Replies: 11151
Views: 2085951

Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?

Lost in Translation . Couldn't stand it and can't believe it is so highly rated. Love that movie. To me it captures what can be the comfort and loneliness of traveling, especially when being in the middle of a dramatically different culture, as well as a general feeling of dissatisfaction in middle age. And there are a few parts, like the commercial shooting, with the overly verbose (in Japanese) director that crack me up. I saw the movie in a theater when it came out and enjoyed it a lot. I remember thinking, at the time, that it's one of those movies that would have been much less effective on a smaller screen. We watched "Lost in Translation" a couple of times before our first trip there in 2017. And we've watched it several t...
by bpp
Sun Dec 16, 2018 1:06 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Law school without practicing law
Replies: 79
Views: 7607

Re: Law school without practicing law

michaeljc70 wrote: Sat Dec 15, 2018 11:23 pm I think if you've earned a PhD you can be called a doctor.
Being called “Doctor” is fine.
Calling yourself “Doctor” is gauche.
A lawyer, that is a stretch. In fact, I believe some states prohibit it. A JD is not the highest degree in law. A PhD or MD is in their respective fields.
Doesn’t “JD” literally mean “Doctor of Jurisprudence”?
by bpp
Sat Dec 15, 2018 11:06 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Law school without practicing law
Replies: 79
Views: 7607

Re: Law school without practicing law

In my opinion, calling oneself “Dr.” is acceptable only if one is a medical doctor, since disambiguation is important in that case — e.g. to make it clear one is authorized to write a prescription or perform surgery. Other kinds of doctors (PhDs, DPhils etc.) should never call themselves “Dr.,” though they are free to put their degree letters after their names, when needed for professional reasons. Outside the medical profession, my understanding, like that of 6Pack, is that it is improper to call oneself by social titles. (The equivalent Japanese faux pas would be to call oneself “-san” or “-sensei.”). I disagree with this part. Dr. is a professional credential and can be appropriate to use in the relevant professional setting for any doc...
by bpp
Sat Dec 15, 2018 7:35 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Law school without practicing law
Replies: 79
Views: 7607

Re: Law school without practicing law

In my opinion, calling oneself “Dr.” is acceptable only if one is a medical doctor, since disambiguation is important in that case — e.g. to make it clear one is authorized to write a prescription or perform surgery. Other kinds of doctors (PhDs, DPhils etc.) should never call themselves “Dr.,” though they are free to put their degree letters after their names, when needed for professional reasons. Outside the medical profession, my understanding, like that of 6Pack, is that it is improper to call oneself by social titles. (The equivalent Japanese faux pas would be to call oneself “-san” or “-sensei.”). I disagree with this part. Dr. is a professional credential and can be appropriate to use in the relevant professional setting for any doc...
by bpp
Sat Dec 15, 2018 6:48 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Law school without practicing law
Replies: 79
Views: 7607

Re: Law school without practicing law

I have a JD and took/passed the bar in two states. However, my primary job is with the feds and I have a law practice as a side hustle. Many people I work with in the government have JDs and have no intention of practicing law. Having a JD alone doesn’t let you practice, you still need to pass the bar. I don’t use initials after my name because I think it’s unnecessarily flashy and I am modest. It’s also improper for an attorney to use “Esq.” after their name, but that’s a different story. Honestly, law school doesn’t teach you anything you can’t learn on your own. If you have no intention of practicing or using your JD, why go through the expense and work? Just curious about why the "Esq." is "improper"...? I thought i...
by bpp
Sat Dec 01, 2018 3:34 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
Replies: 11151
Views: 2085951

Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?

Finally saw " Bohemian Rhapsody ". Wow. Just "Wow". This is absolutely a must-see for anyone who rocked out to "A Night at the Opera" back in the 70s or who was at Wembley or JFK in Philly for LIVE AID in the mid-80s, i.e. my generation's version of Woodstock. (As both Bob Geldof and Elton John said, Freddie stole the show - performance linked above at "RIP".) It's even a must-see for anyone who banged their head along with Mike Myers and Dana Carvey in their famous scene in the 90s flick "Wayne's World". (Not a spoiler but fyi: Mike Myers has a cameo role in "Bohemian Rhapsody" that is absolutely priceless.... Nice to see that the producers have a sense of humor and irony....) So...
by bpp
Fri Nov 30, 2018 2:49 am
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: American in Japan - trying to lower JP tax while investing
Replies: 11
Views: 1418

Re: American in Japan - trying to lower JP tax while investing

This is an area I have to read on, as many questions are coming to mind. How would this impact my income and should I avoid these. Any reading material comes to mind? You mean 株主優待? Just google the term, and you will find a bunch of sites that discuss them and offer screeners for them. Examples: https://www.kabuyutai.com/ https://minkabu.jp/yutai https://yutai.net-ir.ne.jp/ranking.php Also, any broker will have ways to screen for them. They do not reduce your income. They provide a bit of extra effective income over buying the same stock inside an index fund. Typically companies give out samples of what they make, or discount coupons to use at their stores or buy their products, or something like that. Sometimes they just send you a small ...
by bpp
Fri Nov 30, 2018 1:16 am
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: American in Japan - trying to lower JP tax while investing
Replies: 11
Views: 1418

Re: American in Japan - trying to lower JP tax while investing

By the way, one notable feature of individual Japanese stocks is shareholder benefits, 株主優待. Different companies offer different types, and not all companies offer them, but for the individual investor they can represent a significant boost in the effective dividend rate. I wouldn't base an entire investing strategy around them, but something to look into if you are considering individual stocks.
by bpp
Fri Nov 30, 2018 12:43 am
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: American in Japan - trying to lower JP tax while investing
Replies: 11
Views: 1418

Re: American in Japan - trying to lower JP tax while investing

mrlost wrote: Thu Nov 29, 2018 11:57 pm By the way, I am guessing that japanese stocks and bonds do not suffer the IRS PFIC punishment correct?
Generally correct. J-REITs are PFICs, though, so avoid those. I once ran across a non-REIT real-estate leasing company (Orix) that announced that they thought they would be considered a PFIC. So maybe stay away from real-estate companies in general to be safe? But in most cases regular individual stocks are not PFICs.
by bpp
Thu Nov 29, 2018 10:10 pm
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: American in Japan - trying to lower JP tax while investing
Replies: 11
Views: 1418

Re: American in Japan - trying to lower JP tax while investing

I see, I wasnt aware of that issue. The main plan of using ideco was to lower my taxable income in Japan. Any other approaches that can do this? There are some tax deductions available, though not in ways that make sense to use just for the deduction itself. There is a partial deduction for charitable contributions to certified NPOs. There is the furusato nouzei thing, which is kind of like a charitable deduction, more like subsidized shopping, which could make sense IF you were going to buy the goods and services available under the scheme anyway. There are medical deductions and mortgage credits, though of course it doesn't make sense to go to the doctor or buy a house just to get those. There are various insurance deductions, but again,...
by bpp
Thu Nov 29, 2018 6:54 pm
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: American in Japan - trying to lower JP tax while investing
Replies: 11
Views: 1418

Re: American in Japan - trying to lower JP tax while investing

ok, please find holes in my plan. What would you improve? The big hole I see is: where are you going to find a broker that will let you purchase Vanguard ETFs inside a NISA or iDeCo? The only brokers I personally know of that allow US citizens to purchase US-based ETFs are Nomura and SMBC Nikko, and neither of them will let you put those ETFs into a NISA or iDeCo. The brokers who will put Vanguard ETFs inside NISAs (like SBI, I think?) do not allow US citizens to buy them. The one exception might be to use SPY (S&P500 index fund from State Street), which trades on the Tokyo Stock Exchange with the ticker code 1557. You can probably get this in a NISA, but note that it pays 10% withholding tax on dividends to the US, and I don't think y...
by bpp
Thu Nov 22, 2018 3:32 pm
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: Can I pay income tax on income that doesn't actually exist? [US ex-pat in Japan]
Replies: 7
Views: 1228

Re: Can I pay income tax on income that doesn't actually exist? [US ex-pat in Japan]

WanderingDoc wrote: Thu Nov 22, 2018 1:10 pm If a U.S. citizen living in Japan, owns real estate in the U.S. which produces income/paper loss .. do you know if that qualifies to be able to contribute to a Roth IRA?
No, because that is passive income, not earned income. Only earned income can be used to contribute to an IRA.
by bpp
Wed Nov 21, 2018 8:41 pm
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: Can I pay income tax on income that doesn't actually exist? [US ex-pat in Japan]
Replies: 7
Views: 1228

Re: Can I pay income tax on income that doesn't actually exist? [US ex-pat in Japan]

I am moving to Japan to work as a software engineer at a large technology company. I have a brokerage account with Schwab, a Roth IRA with Vanguard, and a pretax Rollover IRA with Schwab. I am wondering if, while working in Japan, I can declare to the IRS that I earned ~$5500 in cash and then voluntarily pay tax on this amount in order to continue to have access to a Roth IRA. Would this be illegal? Sorry if this question is ridiculous. If it's not possible to do this, what is the best investment strategy for an American expat living in Japan? Thanks! Will you have any business trips back to the US while you are in Japan? If so, that portion of income earned while in the US is deemed US-source income, so can be used to fund a Roth (and can...
by bpp
Sun Nov 18, 2018 9:09 pm
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: Canadian Citizen with noticeable tax deferred investments and home equity, considering moving outside US before 60
Replies: 15
Views: 1597

Re: Canadian Citizen with noticeable tax deferred investments and home equity, considering moving outside US before 60

(Cross-posted to FWF.) You've identified Schwab and IB as possible candidates but you must verify that they will deal with you both in Japan and Canada. I encourage you to consider and investigate TD Ameritrade as well, because they will keep an IRA for a Canadian resident (at least for now, but it's been 18+ years for me and there's no sign of change) but who knows what their attitude is with respect to Japan. If and when you do conclude which one to use, please come back at both FWF and Bogleheads to explain your choice, because that information can be valuable to another reader in the future. Neither Schwab nor TD Ameritrade will open accounts for residents of Japan. Whether they would let you open one in the US and keep transacting in i...
by bpp
Fri Nov 16, 2018 11:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Foreign Currency
Replies: 24
Views: 1857

Re: Foreign Currency

Phineas J. Whoopee wrote: Fri Nov 16, 2018 9:32 pm OP was asking about somebody moving to Japan, and I'm pretty sure that would incur expenses beyond the daily withdrawal limit on any ATM.
He will presumably only need to exchange currency when he first arrives, until he gets set up with a local bank account to deposit his salary/scholarship/whatever. Though he should make sure he has enough to cover that first month of set-up, which can be quite a large sum depending on his situation. E.g., is he renting an apartment on the open market (not company housing)? He might need a couple of month’s rent up front to cover key money, damage deposit, etc.
by bpp
Fri Nov 16, 2018 9:39 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Foreign Currency
Replies: 24
Views: 1857

Re: Foreign Currency

Church Lady wrote: Fri Nov 16, 2018 5:00 pm Japanese like to turn ATM machines off at night. :oops:
Convenience store ATMs don’t turn off at night.
by bpp
Fri Nov 16, 2018 9:32 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Foreign Currency
Replies: 24
Views: 1857

Re: Foreign Currency

Never, ever exchange currency in the US. You will get ripped off.

Have your son do it in Japan, some at the airport when he lands, then more as needed at any bank. The spreads at the airport are no worse than they are at a bank here.