Search found 381 matches

by kwan2
Thu Oct 27, 2016 7:22 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Anyone use Kaiser Senior Advantage for Medicare
Replies: 48
Views: 15181

Re: Anyone use Kaiser Senior Advantage for Medicare

but then a kaiser case manager can limit your access to services , or make it more difficult, 'managed inconvenience' I have the Kaiser Senior Advantage Medicare. This has not been my experience. What evidence so you have that services are limited or made more difficult? As far as I am concerned, I have received better care with Kaiser than the other plan I had. with respect , i work in the industry, and 1st hand am given 4-6 home visits for my patients, then i must track down the dr./case manager to ask for more, and almost always the give me 1/2 what i think the patient needs. this is what the managed in managed care means. with all due respect, there is no free lunch imho kaiser in norcal, had months long waiting lists to get into certa...
by kwan2
Thu Oct 27, 2016 7:17 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Anyone use Kaiser Senior Advantage for Medicare
Replies: 48
Views: 15181

Re: Anyone use Kaiser Senior Advantage for Medicare

JMacDonald wrote:
kwan2 wrote: but then a kaiser case manager can limit your access to services , or make it more difficult, 'managed inconvenience'
I have the Kaiser Senior Advantage Medicare. This has not been my experience. What evidence so you have that services are limited or made more difficult? As far as I am concerned, I have received better care with Kaiser than the other plan I had.
with respect , i work in the industry, and 1st hand am given 4-6 home visits for my patients, then i must track down the dr./case manager to ask for more, and almost always the give me 1/2 what i think the patient needs. this is what the managed in managed care means.

with all due respect, there is no free lunch imho
by kwan2
Thu Oct 27, 2016 12:41 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Dr. Bill Bernstein Books
Replies: 45
Views: 7690

Re: Dr. Bill Bernstein Books

Bill Bernstein wrote:I blush.

stemikger: you can get Four Pillars and Investors' Manifesto from almost any public library; you then have my permission to deploy an appropriately liberal interpretation of the doctrine of fair use reproduction.

Best, and thanks for all the kind words!

Bill
4 pillars is the BH Bible

also available as a 'spoken book' for your iphone, or as you go to sleep, can dream about indexed investing :)
by kwan2
Thu Oct 27, 2016 12:09 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Anyone use Kaiser Senior Advantage for Medicare
Replies: 48
Views: 15181

Re: Anyone use Kaiser Senior Advantage for Medicare

seems like 1/2 of the folks I meet around the hospital, get confused

anything saying "advantage" is like "part C" , a Medicare HMO, kaiser's version is 'senior advantage' ; so you don't really have medicare AND senior advantage, one is getting their medicare via an HMO, in this case kaiser, with all the trade offs, generally by law the must cover what medicare does, and your premium costs may be lower, but then a kaiser case manager can limit your access to services , or make it more difficult, 'managed inconvenience'

but, i guess the topic is not advantage plan vs. MC so anyhow
by kwan2
Thu Oct 27, 2016 12:02 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How many have moved from California due to Cost of Living?
Replies: 108
Views: 18501

Re: How many have moved from California due to Cost of Living?

looks like this book which was amazingly detailed, went out of print 20 years ago, i studied it intensely, trying to figure out the puzzle of wage vs COL and the other intangibles
https://www.amazon.com/Places-Rated-Alm ... 347&sr=1-1

historically, us, NorCal people would migrate towards the Sierras, or to Oregon, which does have a more advanced health care system, and lower income taxes, however, my uncle in portland seems to be confirming housing costs may not be a lot better than the bay area now.

if you can handle to cloud cover, southern oregon, i've heard can be lovely
by kwan2
Wed Oct 26, 2016 11:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: First time Maui vacation - where to stay?
Replies: 70
Views: 11665

Re: First time Maui vacation - where to stay?

Thanks everyone for the detailed responses! we finally made our bookings today at the Polynesian Shores Condo resort. Its slightly north of Kaanapalli, but within our budget. Most of the beach-side resorts in Kaanapali near to black rock were very much outside our budget. At $1,000 per family for 6 days ($2000 total), the Polynesian resort seemed like a good location and well furnished. We also separately reserved our airfares, which were slightly expensive, but expected for the mid-December peak season. We will be flying into OGG as suggested by folks on this thread. For food, we will be stocking several things from Costco to cook quick dinner entrees in the condo. There is also a safeway not very far from the condo, which could be good t...
by kwan2
Fri Oct 21, 2016 12:00 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Who do you trust when there's no one to trust? (and it involves trusts)
Replies: 47
Views: 6649

Re: Who do you trust when there's no one to trust? (and it involves trusts)

I'm in an awkward position and have to do some estate planning but do not have the usual circumstances. I am basically alone in the world, while this doesn't bother me much, it's posing legal challenges. I need to have a medical proxy which I can handle with my one friend (of 40 years) and I will make him POA on my checking and some savings so that he can actually help me if I get injured or killed. Beyond that however is the abyss. I have a sizable net worth which no one but my accountant knows about. I am trying to do planning for my own care in my old age or if I become disabled. I have no family except my elderly mother who would not be able to help. I have just gone through the process of making arrangements for her if something happe...
by kwan2
Thu Oct 20, 2016 11:58 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard Trust Services
Replies: 23
Views: 7261

Re: Moving trusts to Vanguard.

can someone roughly summarize the offering & fee structure please? and maybe any experiences you've had with it? I am trying to open the link on their web site in two browsers and it isn't showing up :oops: ctreada: I have a friend who is trying to move a large amount of money, in several trusts, to Vanguard (under her own management). It has been over 6 months of back-and-forth documents without success. This morning, she wrote the following to her "Business Development Executive" in Concierge Services : SUBJECT: If you are unable to assign someone else to my account, I will ask that you be replaced as well. This situation is beyond outrageous. I have never been so UNIMPRESSED with ANY company's financial services. John Bogl...
by kwan2
Thu Oct 20, 2016 11:50 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Who do you trust when there's no one to trust? (and it involves trusts)
Replies: 47
Views: 6649

Re: Who do you trust when there's no one to trust? (and it involves trusts)

I believe Vanguard might be a "competent corporate trustee" https://duckduckgo.com/?q=vanguard+trust+services&t=ffsb&ia=web You are the ideal candidate for a competent corporate trustee. I may be a bit biased having spent my life in the trust business but, quite simply, no one does it better than a corporate trustee. They bring to bear on a situation such as yours a perpetual existence (doesn't die), experience, group judgment, daily accessibility (doesn't get sick or go on vacation), impartiality, efficiency (many skills under one roof) and the ability to handle even the most complex situation. There is really no better alternative. Gill How does a person go about finding a competent corporate trustee? Are these part of b...
by kwan2
Wed Oct 19, 2016 1:17 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: ACA and some Final Maturity EE savings bonds
Replies: 25
Views: 3770

Re: ACA and some Final Maturity EE savings bonds

Seems the "statute" to amend a 2009 has expired per the CPA who did the final 1040, and my father had purposely been deferring the interest. CPA did say that at DOD or so the beneficiary, has a choice to change the designation on ALL their savings bond(not seletively) to pay as you go on interest vs. deferred (though I wouldn't want that either), and further there would probably be the already accumulated Large amount come due, I would imagine, if I were even allowed to attempt it now (to change the designated payout choice). In any event I don't think amending the 2009 final 1040 to include the deferred interest would help, as I'd just be taxing myself, as the sole beneficiary of the EE bonds .... I had been thinking that some es...
by kwan2
Wed Oct 19, 2016 1:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: pro's and con's of closing/reopening amazon.com account?
Replies: 31
Views: 7451

Re: pro's and con's of closing/reopening amazon.com account?

someone must have done the math, that this changing the price up or down by 5 cents to 5 dollars, is not going to put someone off, that they won't buy something, if someone is tinkering with the price constantly. because that is often what I do, when the thing changes price, I usually take it out of my basket (I have a theory, that if it is in your 'basket'), that you will see a higher price, than if it is not. I take it out, and often don't end up buying it, till it seems the price has settled more, or never buy it, I screengrab what the price was, then if it never comes back down, I don't buy it. btw, after many phone calls, and mis information I closed the account, reopened it with the same email address, and guess what I see in my 'sugg...
by kwan2
Wed Sep 07, 2016 4:59 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: ACA and some Final Maturity EE savings bonds
Replies: 25
Views: 3770

Re: ACA and some Final Maturity EE savings bonds

yes, now that I think about it. I am going to ask the Trust Accountant, if we might revise the final 1041 or something, as there will be a very large chunk due in 10 years. I dont know if this type of deferred interest can be made part of the trust. or if 1041s can be revised, etc. but, I thank you for the idea ! Check to see if the estate paid taxes on the accumulated interest. Long shot, but it's worth checking. The estate or the decedent. Gill Either or both. The decedent could have elected to pay taxes on the interest on an annual basis (tax returns would show that). The estate could have chosen to pay taxes on the accumulated interest. Both are long shots, but worth checking since it's so important for your qualification status.
by kwan2
Tue Sep 06, 2016 6:12 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: pro's and con's of closing/reopening amazon.com account?
Replies: 31
Views: 7451

Re: pro's and con's of closing/reopening amazon.com account?

yes they do, further, they state they won't maintain their 'file' on you.

it may be perfectly benign, even useful to have all your history at amazon, they told me it is for "security reasons", though no other sites seem to keep my history forever.

just seems like a better policy to start over, unless there is some hidden benefit I can't think of? eg being a good customer, they may give me better CS on refunds or something
TravelGeek wrote:
kwan2 wrote: I just think it may be a bad idea to have a decade of purchase history 'in the cloud' , as a rule.
Does Amazon promise to delete your purchase history when you close your account? It's their data as much as it is yours (financial transaction).
by kwan2
Tue Sep 06, 2016 5:41 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: pro's and con's of closing/reopening amazon.com account?
Replies: 31
Views: 7451

Re: pro's and con's of closing/reopening amazon.com account?

of course, they will 'know whom I am', as they have my name and address, when I buy anything.

I just think it may be a bad idea to have a decade of purchase history 'in the cloud' , as a rule.


and I've never heard an explanation of why things change by 5 cents to 5 dollars, while in my checkout basket. seems there is some very sophisticated algorithm at play. if it is just changing the price by 5 cents , etc


thanks for the responses so far. :)
by kwan2
Tue Sep 06, 2016 4:23 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: pro's and con's of closing/reopening amazon.com account?
Replies: 31
Views: 7451

pro's and con's of closing/reopening amazon.com account?

pro's and con's of closing/reopening amazon.com account?

been using amazon since 2000 or so, and have a moderate number of order history stored, and large wishlist.

i'm thinking it may be better to start over and get out of a "bubble" of whatever amazon knows about me, though they swear up and down they don't share my history.

i don't suppose being a long time customer, or what benefit there might be to all the storage of my buying history, as I was just planning on printing it out all 30 pages. ;

anyone else done this ?
so far, all i can see, is that I would have lost a code I needed for norton, as I bought a downloaded version,


PS: maybe I'll close and reopen ebay as well .
by kwan2
Tue Sep 06, 2016 2:43 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: ACA and some Final Maturity EE savings bonds
Replies: 25
Views: 3770

Re: ACA and some Final Maturity EE savings bonds

seems like there are 2 factors.
1) is underpayment of premium (max penalty of the $1,250 or so); I think my plan is to just revert/maintain the ongoing under estimation, and deal with it, on the 1040 next year......

but, then there is
2) underpayment of withholding, or is w/h allowed on deferred savings bond interest, when the bond comes due ?
by kwan2
Sat Sep 03, 2016 6:27 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: ACA and some Final Maturity EE savings bonds
Replies: 25
Views: 3770

Re: ACA and some Final Maturity EE savings bonds

re: HSA qualified HDHP I've had a "silver" plan all year. So, don't think that is gonna qualify as a 'HSA qualified HDHP' but, it sort of begs the question, if I have 'silver' all year, now I went and entered the new higher estimated earnings of some $43,000, they want me to 'pick a plan' again, maybe I can NOW switch to a 'HSA qualified HDHP' ? but, then what happens to the fact that I benefited from the 'silver' plan all year, which I had surgery, and was maxed out at $800 out of pocket, now I've no more expenses for the year ? :) sometimes wish I live in Canada :) You might be able to take some actions before tax time next year to reduce the amount of the ACA subsidy that has to be repaid. To the degree that you have earned inc...
by kwan2
Sat Sep 03, 2016 6:24 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: ACA and some Final Maturity EE savings bonds
Replies: 25
Views: 3770

Re: ACA and some Final Maturity EE savings bonds

well, no the estate didn't pay taxes on the deferred EE savings bonds. :)
Mel Lindauer wrote:Check to see if the estate paid taxes on the accumulated interest. Long shot, but it's worth checking.
by kwan2
Sat Sep 03, 2016 6:03 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: ACA and some Final Maturity EE savings bonds
Replies: 25
Views: 3770

Re: ACA and some Final Maturity EE savings bonds

the 'principal' in the case of EE savings bonds is the 'denomination' or the 'price' or perhaps the 'value'
at
date of death, which in my father's case was early 2010 :(


HueyLD wrote:
donall wrote:I thought with inherited bonds the value Is amount at death. How does this war with EE bonds?
The principal value is marked to market at death, but the untaxed interest is "income in respect to a decedent" and is taxable to the beneficiary.
by kwan2
Sat Sep 03, 2016 5:58 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: ACA and some Final Maturity EE savings bonds
Replies: 25
Views: 3770

Re: ACA and some Final Maturity EE savings bonds

some things I know, but forgot.
actually, since all my income is going to be "from investments" , I can't do a $6500 IRA contribution against "income" from salary/work, as don't have any/much ; one of those semi-early retirement puzzles....
will look into the HRD thing..

I am 50 years old but have my parents RMDs for my IIRAs. which, is a big chunk of it.

thanks for the ideas, all you smart BHs !
by kwan2
Fri Sep 02, 2016 5:28 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: ACA and some Final Maturity EE savings bonds
Replies: 25
Views: 3770

Re: ACA and some Final Maturity EE savings bonds

wonder if it makes any sense, to just buy new EE bonds instead of cashing out to my bank savings account, hmm.

inputted it all into hc.gov , i know only have a PTC of $50, but next year it will revert, I guess jan 2017 , i'll need to resubmit an estimate for 2017 or my normal lower income range
by kwan2
Fri Sep 02, 2016 4:29 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: ACA and some Final Maturity EE savings bonds
Replies: 25
Views: 3770

Re: ACA and some Final Maturity EE savings bonds

well, now that it is Sept 1, I guess I go over to healthcare.gov and claim the extra estimate of $43,500 9.5% of the $43,500, does come out about $340/month, whereas at present for a Silver plan I pay about $70 /month. Does this mean I should have been paying $340/month all year, and would/will get hit with a very large tax bill next April , 2017 , because of the underpayment, etc ? the $20,000 originally is just an estimate based more on IIRA distributions, and cap gains/income , that is somewhat fixed , rather than work income on last years 1040.... -------- Savings bond with a final maturity of 09/2016 will be worth their final maturity value on 09/01/2016. Income tax will be on the interest, which is the redemption value minus the purch...
by kwan2
Mon Aug 01, 2016 10:06 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: ACA and some Final Maturity EE savings bonds
Replies: 25
Views: 3770

Re: ACA and some Final Maturity EE savings bonds

ah, I guess having no choice, makes it easier. :( thx again
by kwan2
Mon Aug 01, 2016 6:53 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: ACA and some Final Maturity EE savings bonds
Replies: 25
Views: 3770

Re: ACA and some Final Maturity EE savings bonds

OK thats a good start, guess I forgot about it being the deferred interest only that was federally taxed.

Does it make any sense, however, to defer, selling some of the bonds, till next year, assuming I will have the same baseline income for 2017 of MAGI $20,000 or so

I recall reading about how up to $30,000 there is a different rate of subsidy or so, FWIW, I'm in a silver plan.
by kwan2
Mon Aug 01, 2016 4:51 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: ACA and some Final Maturity EE savings bonds
Replies: 25
Views: 3770

ACA and some Final Maturity EE savings bonds

hello, I seem to have 5 EE Savings Bonds, I inherited , 3 are face value $1000/current value $2261, 2 are $5000/$11,306, they all say next interest date/final maturity date 09/2016. So, I think I should wait till 10/1/16 to make sure that I've received the final interest payment? 2nd part is, I currently am gettting healthcare, as I estimated I'd make just inside the lowest private insurance amount , about $20,000 for this year, I understand that if I were to cash out all these savings bonds, I'd then be at about $30,000 higher or roughly $50,000 /year of MAGI towards my ACA, I guess I can not cash out the EE bonds till next year, especially the larger denominated ones, in order to not end up with a penalty for miscalculating my MAGI for 20...
by kwan2
Fri Jul 15, 2016 12:18 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: when and why did news devolve in the # of ways/things "you" need style?
Replies: 2
Views: 826

when and why did news devolve in the # of ways/things "you" need style?

when and why did news devolve in the # of ways/things "you" need style?

even the NYT front page seems now infected.

i'm wondering what this writing style is called, and sort of praying it may go away in 9 ways, some day?
by kwan2
Thu May 26, 2016 3:55 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: gifting an iOS app without installing iTunes, is that possible?
Replies: 4
Views: 887

Re: gifting an iOS app without installing iTunes, is that possible?

hmm, not surprising I guess, to me there should still be an open system/store, non apple to buy apple related stuff/apps

i actually hesitate to install itunes for just this one purpose, from doing it in the past, I'd rather keep my PC pristine from the bloatiness, or traces thereof.

thanks though for replies
by kwan2
Thu May 26, 2016 3:39 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Need what to do advice for elderly relative w/ memory loss.
Replies: 20
Views: 3441

Re: Need what to do advice for elderly relative w/ memory loss.

sadly, I'd say when it comes to "self-neglect" and "competency", a person has to be pretty far advanced to have their "decisions" taking from them, no matter how bad their decisions may seem. end result: many folks do have to "crash" crucial would be if your POA for finances and healthcare, as those need to be legally made while "competent", I'd ask her if she'll make one with you as POA for both. then, at least your prepped for when things get worse, and they do. another issue is family dynamics, often the elderly won't/don't listen to their family, so is she has some old trusted MD, Priest or lawyer, or even a female relative, she might be more accepting, than working through logically to ...
by kwan2
Tue May 24, 2016 6:01 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: gifting an iOS app without installing iTunes, is that possible?
Replies: 4
Views: 887

gifting an iOS app without installing iTunes, is that possible?

gifting an iOS app without installing iTunes, is that possible?

I just have android phone and a PC, I have a apple web account, but in no way do I want to install again iTunes on my PC.

so, am I stuck gifting iTunes gift cards, there is no way to gift an actual iOS app ?
by kwan2
Sun May 22, 2016 10:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: smart phone contact list, android, how to make private?
Replies: 12
Views: 2814

Re: smart phone contact list, android, how to make private?

seems to me , very many apps, want access to contact list, that have no business having it, and then I would guess gets sold/shared off the some datamining company, that acts as a middleman for facebook.

i wonder if there is a way to see all the apps that currently have access to my contacts in Android 6.0.1
by kwan2
Sat May 21, 2016 9:32 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: smart phone contact list, android, how to make private?
Replies: 12
Views: 2814

smart phone contact list, android, how to make private?

smart phone contact list, android, how to make private? i purposely keep facebook off my phone and no Whatsapp either, i even have a pseudonym for a name on facebook, and yet somehow I'd swear my Android phone contacts got harvested and I am offered a "people you might know" on my Desktop Facebook account in which I have only like 1-2 friends, and have never looked this person up on facebook to my recollection. hence, I have never understood, why any and every app I put on my smartphone insists on looking at contacts(which to me is something that should always be private). I know Android 6.0 have the ability to lock down individual permissions, however, somehow I don't really even trust Google to not farm out my list of contacts t...
by kwan2
Sun May 08, 2016 4:46 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Classic Bernstein 2 — Choosing Portfolio Bond Duration
Replies: 42
Views: 10819

Re: Classic Bernstein 2 — Choosing Portfolio Bond Duration

so, do many BH, take Mr.Bernstein's advice, and avoid corporate bonds, and not buy TBM or IT Bond Index, because of their containing corporate bonds?

and/or tilt by say buying 50% TBM and 50% UST IT ?

seems to me, would be uncommon in practice for the majority of BH investors, but I've no idea really
by kwan2
Sun May 08, 2016 4:25 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Keep high amounts of cash for lower ACA premiums?
Replies: 37
Views: 5925

Re: Keep high amounts of cash for lower ACA premiums?

+one thing to keep in mind , is the CSB doesn't have to be repaid, if you underestimate your earning, while the PTC does. so better to error on the side of underestimation.

+i wonder what happens, if one estimates their income at just above the cutoff for Medicaid , but then at the end of the year, actual MAGI is actually AT the medicaid level? eg is there a penalty for overestimation of one's income as well as underestimation ?

+maybe you want to flag your taxable stocks/fund as specific ID, if your going to be tweaking cap gains....
by kwan2
Sat May 07, 2016 10:58 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Safe withdrawal rates
Replies: 51
Views: 11608

Re: Safe withdrawal rates

http://retirementresearcher.com/the-4-r ... awal-rate/
JacK 098 wrote:I have been reading about different types of withdrawal rates such as ARVA, VPW, 4%, and I am curious what type members of this forum would recommend using or how to determine what is best for each person?

Any help would be appreciated.
by kwan2
Sat May 07, 2016 10:44 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard live video webcast: Keys to building a successful investment portfolio
Replies: 15
Views: 2623

Re: Vanguard live video webcast: Keys to building a successful investment portfolio

I wish they would make these, more or less immediately available for replay, not so easy, in this busy life to set aside a random hour of the day to watch. or be unable to skip forward or back, maybe even like on youtube. the could tell you at what minute what topic was addresssed.

if they do allow it to be viewed later, how long does it typically take till it is available?

the next one is going to be on retirement strategies for withdrawal or so
by kwan2
Sat May 07, 2016 10:39 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Question for the Bogleheads Millionaires
Replies: 372
Views: 77298

Re: Question for the Bogleheads Millionaires

if i could do it all again, i think being an officer in the air force, for 20 years, on full retirement pension, or a federal firefighter would be the way to go, assuming you could put up with the military for that long.

the guarantee pension amounts, seem as good as owning $1M in assets IMHO.
by kwan2
Sat May 07, 2016 10:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Considering buying my own modem
Replies: 43
Views: 5453

Re: Considering buying my own modem

this quandry is similar to when does it makes sense to insure something. or buy warrantys on things.

lets' see 4/60 is 15 so in 15 months it pays for itself, all things being equal, i would make a large wager a good deal on a NEW cable modem, is gonna last 15 months..., unless you live in a dusty place, and you might be dropping it or something

i don't think buying refurbished is ever smart. I have seen used 50Mbps modems for as little as $35 on the big box online provider A.
by kwan2
Fri Apr 22, 2016 11:16 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: State Estimated Taxes, Can I lump pay ? Anyone else do this?
Replies: 23
Views: 2521

Re: State Estimated Taxes, Can I lump pay ? Anyone else do this?

I don't quite understand how turbotax calculates these things, software says if I pay '100% of actual 2015 tax ($901)" ; that my payment is $704, I guess it goes into a worksheet/formula, I would think 'safe harbor' would require I pay the $901? 'Safe harbor' requires that you pay the minimum needed to satisfy any of the conditions in order to avoid the underpayment of estimated tax penalty . Simplifying the actual document somewhat, that means if you: - had No Tax Liability In Prior Year, or I have a $700 liability ; - meet the De Minimis Exception, or I seem to meet this , whatever it means - meet the Current Year Exception 90% in est. taxes and/or withholding ( I will have no withholding in 2016 it seems likely , as I'm diverting a...
by kwan2
Thu Apr 21, 2016 6:08 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: State Estimated Taxes, Can I lump pay ? Anyone else do this?
Replies: 23
Views: 2521

Re: State Estimated Taxes, Can I lump pay ? Anyone else do this?

I don't quite understand how turbotax calculates these things, software says if I pay '100% of actual 2015 tax ($901)" ; that my payment is $704, I guess it goes into a worksheet/formula, I would think 'safe harbor' would require I pay the $901? so, if I choose "100% of your 2016 tax" instead of "100% of your actual 2015 tax", then I could be penalized , but probably wouldn't be as this lesser amount (in my case about $557), would be applied to my withholding for 2016 , and probably kick me down to a lower amount than what is typical penalized as a cut off , (say > $500 underpayment each of 2 subsequent years or in Hawaii's case $1000 for 1 year) I'd much rather pay the $557 (est 2016) than the $901 (actual 2015 tax...
by kwan2
Thu Apr 21, 2016 2:10 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: State Estimated Taxes, Can I lump pay ? Anyone else do this?
Replies: 23
Views: 2521

Re: State Estimated Taxes, Can I lump pay ? Anyone else do this?

1st quarter due date here is April 20th, so do I mail a late Voucher, or just use the next quarter's voucher? guess I can give them a call :)
by kwan2
Thu Apr 21, 2016 2:07 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: State Estimated Taxes, Can I lump pay ? Anyone else do this?
Replies: 23
Views: 2521

Re: State Estimated Taxes, Can I lump pay ? Anyone else do this?

hmm, yes, I had followed the same google link to that PDF file, but had not finished looking at it: "De Minimis Exception—Taxpayers can owe up to $1,000 on their tax return without penalty." ........so I guess I don't have to pay estimated taxes since I am < $1000 ($700.00 or so is what Turbotax is telling me) ........unless perhaps I will owe more this year, because I won't have any salary deferrals, which were minor for 2015($198.00) . hmm ........hmm, I actually had a $24 penalty this year , though I only owed some $682.00, maybe this year was the 2nd year of underpayment I guess 'safe harbor' usually means you pay what you owed the year before in taxes, as long as it's at least what you owed the year before, your not penalized...
by kwan2
Wed Apr 20, 2016 6:27 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: State Estimated Taxes, Can I lump pay ? Anyone else do this?
Replies: 23
Views: 2521

Re: State Estimated Taxes, Can I lump pay ? Anyone else do this?

sorry, I've never paid Estimated Taxes before.

the 1st payment would be due April 15th for 2016, so I guess I've missed the 1st payment, so now, I may have a penalty and if I paid today the lump sum, I might need to add the penalty to it?

I assume I can pay at anytime during the quarter for each quarter.

I guess 'safe harbor' usually means you pay what you owed the year before in taxes, as long as it's at least what you owed the year before, your not penalized?
by kwan2
Wed Apr 20, 2016 4:32 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: State Estimated Taxes, Can I lump pay ? Anyone else do this?
Replies: 23
Views: 2521

State Estimated Taxes, Can I lump pay ? Anyone else do this?

State Estimated Taxes, Can I lump pay ? Anyone else do this?

Hello, instead of paying the $6-700 I owe broken into 4 parts every year, can I just pay 1 payment May/June 1st , whatever it is for 2016 to Hawaii State ?

There is no auto system for payment like for federal estimated taxes, just yet. And I don't like the hassle of having to pay 4 times/ year

Anyone else doing this in your own state?
by kwan2
Thu Mar 31, 2016 7:12 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Turbo Tax /?estimated taxes payments for 2015 ??
Replies: 19
Views: 28820

Re: Turbo Tax /?estimated taxes payments for 2015 ??

I seem to owe about $900 to Hawaii, and $682 is tax due,

since it seems all of my inherited IRAs RMDs, and VGs distributions don't allow Hawaii withholding. and all things being about the same. Can I just make a lump sum quarterly estimated tax payment instead of spreading it out over 4 quarters?

or perhaps I could have my per diem employer withhold 100% of my salary for Hawaii, until it hits about $900 ?


3)
do the penaltys tend to go up year over year, for underpayment, my fine this year is $23, i'd almost rather pay that , then hassle with filing estimated taxes and remembering to do it 4x/year .....
by kwan2
Sat Mar 26, 2016 5:49 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cable 50Mb/sec vs. 100Mb/sec ?
Replies: 18
Views: 19086

Re: Cable 50Mb/sec vs. 100Mb/sec ?

seems to be a consensus. which is appreciated
by kwan2
Sat Mar 26, 2016 4:50 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: turbotax state import showing wrong amounts in 2015
Replies: 2
Views: 406

Re: turbotax state import showing wrong amounts in 2015

no i didn't though, last year, TT presented me with all the vouchers to start paying estimated taxes for 2015, i believed i did some research and determined i didn't need to.

sorry, the numbers are actually $637 and $662 (not $662 but good thinking :) )

i'm sort of in a semi early retirement trial, and predicting my income in 2015 was difficult , turns out my inherited IRA VG doesn't allowed state withholding nor does treasury direct, and though i have only $4000 job income, i am underpaying my state taxes, maybe i'll be forced to start estimated taxes, TT 2015 is wanting to assess me a $30 penalty for underpayment
by kwan2
Sat Mar 26, 2016 4:21 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cable 50Mb/sec vs. 100Mb/sec ?
Replies: 18
Views: 19086

Re: Cable 50Mb/sec vs. 100Mb/sec ?

this is not on wifi, is on the enet cable, also over a VPN

jjface wrote:If you are on wifi you could plug in an ethernet cable instead to improve things. For what you are doing I don't see the real benefit of going from fast to super fast.

I stream movies and I am fairly heavy internet user and even 12mb/sec is reasonable.
by kwan2
Sat Mar 26, 2016 4:20 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: turbotax state import showing wrong amounts in 2015
Replies: 2
Views: 406

turbotax state import showing wrong amounts in 2015

turbotax state import showing wrong amounts in 2015 forgive me for asking this here, can't get TT support page to work. i carefully imported 2014 return into 2015, 2014 TT shows a $637 payment to Hawaii State, my checkbook says that is what I paid, however, when I go to put in the taxes paid section TT is auto inputting some $667 as what I paid last year, can I just change it to the $637 ; or is there some worksheet that that number comes from that will mess up some other part of the return ? I can't understand why TT would be coming up with that number , when in the 2014 software it shows the $637 I guess i'm a bit concerned as it is showing that i may have underpaid the state of hawaii last year ...... and I guess may mess up my 2015 fede...
by kwan2
Sat Mar 26, 2016 4:09 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cable 50Mb/sec vs. 100Mb/sec ?
Replies: 18
Views: 19086

Cable 50Mb/sec vs. 100Mb/sec ?

hello,
my modem does a max of 50Mb/sec, and my time warner max's out at 50Mb/sec, I don't stream television or movies much for now.

but, i'm on the internet all day, everyday doing various tasks. I can buy a 100Mb/sec modem for $40 and pay an extra $10 /month for the 100Mb/sec


but, i'm sort of wondering for non movie streamers, and non large file d/l'ing, i don't do torrents either. , whether there are other factors much more important than the overall d/l speed...

and if so , what ? fwiw, i'm also in Honolulu, re: lag
by kwan2
Fri Mar 25, 2016 5:15 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Schedule D Long vs. Short term loss on Trust tax question
Replies: 3
Views: 467

Re: Schedule D Long vs. Short term loss on Trust tax question

in my case, I got a K-1 from the accountant who did my parent's 1041 and determined with sale of a house, that there was a capital loss, which flowed 50% to me, one of the bene's on the RLT.

the accountant said that by law, it is a LTL ;

but ALSO, that I might not have to amend if I put it down as a STL if it didn't change my "tax owed"


is that possible, and therefore no amendment might be necessary?