Search found 3151 matches

by Bacchus01
Sun Oct 20, 2019 11:09 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
Replies: 11037
Views: 2066807

Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?

JBTX wrote: Mon Oct 14, 2019 1:29 pm Watched Fractured on Netflix. They completely Telegraphed where the movie was headed, which when they did end that way I thought "why did I just watch this?".
We watched last night and I felt quite differently. Well done movie. My wife, son and his GF were captivated. While the ending was somewhat expected, there were several times where I thought “no, I’m wrong, something else is happening.” I thought they set up the mind benders pretty well.
by Bacchus01
Sun Oct 20, 2019 7:13 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: vacation home
Replies: 21
Views: 4386

Re: vacation home

Put it in a trust with a maintenance fund that will pay taxes and upkeep into perpetuity.

Otherwise you are just setting up a future generation for a fight. Might not be the 4, but it will happen.
by Bacchus01
Sat Oct 19, 2019 9:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: SAT/ACT prep courses worth the money?
Replies: 47
Views: 5312

Re: SAT/ACT prep courses worth the money?

Around here there are some reasonably inexpensive prepr courses (<$100). My son felt they really helped prepare on how to take the test, not really with any content itself. He scored a 32 on the ACT. I don’t know if the prep helped him or not, but it certainly did not hurt.
by Bacchus01
Fri Oct 18, 2019 6:27 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should I take the job in OKC or Orlando?
Replies: 98
Views: 7262

Re: Should I take the job in OKC or Orlando?

I would look for other options.
by Bacchus01
Fri Oct 18, 2019 6:10 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Handling a substantial salary increase - suggestions?
Replies: 27
Views: 4634

Re: Handling a substantial salary increase - suggestions?

You aren’t there on your own, but if you have more household income start looking at some taxes that kick in over $250k and find ways to avoid them (401k, deferred comp, HSA, etc)
by Bacchus01
Sat Oct 12, 2019 8:05 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: highly compensated employee (HCE) Time bomb?
Replies: 91
Views: 11665

Re: highly compensated employee (HCE) Time bomb?

If you are an HCE, you can still contribute to a tax-deferred account, but not just max it out like you currently want to. Instead, just start thinking that “your” max is only 2/3 of what it really is. You will still get the benefits and be glad in retirement that you don’t have “too much” in tax-deferred accounts. It is short-sighted to want to minimize your taxes now when your situation tells me you will still have lots of income in retirement. At that time, it is possible that the income taxes in retirement could be at a higher tax rate than the rate you would have now (without your large contributions). Just work on making more money! Many plans limit HCEs to 10%. Well, just work he’s and get that salary over $185k! I’m limited to 8% a...
by Bacchus01
Sat Oct 12, 2019 7:05 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: highly compensated employee (HCE) Time bomb?
Replies: 91
Views: 11665

Re: highly compensated employee (HCE) Time bomb?

IMHO the employer that allows HCE to trigger, and not provide a safe harbor plan, is penny wise and pound foolish. Meeting the qualifications of a safe harbor plan through reasonable matches is not very expensive, makes an effort to take care of all employees, and is far less than a pension scheme. Also it takes good care of top management. This is interesting, but somehow I think disconnected from reality. I have worked for three reasonably large companies. One, a $15B public megacorp, the second a $2B PE-backed and the third is a $7B privately held company. All had HCE limits. All had very competitive matches for the market. Two of the three had pension plans. One of them had a NQ deferred comp plan. The reason they had the HCE limits wa...
by Bacchus01
Fri Oct 11, 2019 7:25 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Refinance Mega Thread
Replies: 12862
Views: 1265697

Re: Refinance Mega Thread

I searched multiple online sites and the offers seemed oddly high, I talked to Ally and the rates were downright silly ( around 4%), then I went to my local CFCU and got a great offer, refinancing from a 30 yr fixed at 4% (4.2 APR) to a 15 yr fixed 2.85 % no points and closing costs of about 1700 (TBD since some of the state tax will be saved, but unknown right this second). Very smooth sailing so far, the originator was super organized, took 30 min to check all options and another 30 to bring all my paperwork to sign the application and lock the rate. Just throwing in a plug for local brick and mortar banks (credit unions in particular), this was the best rate I found - by far. I’m curious, did you just look at their rates online (CFCU) o...
by Bacchus01
Fri Oct 11, 2019 12:39 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What should Bond Percentage be as I age?
Replies: 11
Views: 3330

Re: What should Bond Percentage be as I age?

A general rule often used here is age in bonds. Some have suggested 110-age in equities. It’s really up to you depending on your goals, ability, willingness and desire to take risk. At 46, we are 99% equities most days. It is a good idea to at least attempt to think through the issues of goals, ability, and willingness to take risk. Otherwise you don't really know why you are investing the way you are or what consequences to expect. As far as the latter, you can use one or another retirement planning model to enter different asset allocations and see what the results are. You can also contemplate how you might react to a massive downturn in stocks. If you need a rule then the rule is that everyone should be 60/40 at all ages and it is up t...
by Bacchus01
Fri Oct 11, 2019 8:53 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: John Bogle’s formula says 1% real stock returns likely over next decade
Replies: 187
Views: 25530

Re: John Bogle’s formula says 1% real stock returns likely over next decade

gmaynardkrebs wrote: Fri Oct 11, 2019 8:52 am
Bacchus01 wrote: Fri Oct 11, 2019 8:41 am Until someone can tell me why the risk premium is going to collapse, I just don’t buy that the future, in real terms, will be so consistently and dramatically different.
Because most investors, including most BHers, now believe that in the long run, stocks are safe investments. Historically, that has not been the dominant belief among investors.
Do you have facts to support that?
by Bacchus01
Fri Oct 11, 2019 8:44 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What should Bond Percentage be as I age?
Replies: 11
Views: 3330

Re: What should Bond Percentage be as I age?

A general rule often used here is age in bonds. Some have suggested 110-age in equities.

It’s really up to you depending on your goals, ability, willingness and desire to take risk.

At 46, we are 99% equities most days.
by Bacchus01
Fri Oct 11, 2019 8:41 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: John Bogle’s formula says 1% real stock returns likely over next decade
Replies: 187
Views: 25530

Re: John Bogle’s formula says 1% real stock returns likely over next decade

I gave you two reasons (among many others) as to why you shouldn't expect the future to be like the past, which was your question. I'm not sure one of those reasons are "risk profile changes" like you do. How could I answer you why our risk profile has changed drastically when I'm not even sure it has? 0_o If it hasn’t changed, then why would we accept lower returns for the same risk? Why wouldn’t we just invest in other instruments? It's because everything is yielding less. I expect equity returns going forward to be lower than in the past. But I expect the Equity Risk Premium (the excess risky return of stocks over cash) to be similar to the past. Population risk profiles affect the equity risk premium; how much return people d...
by Bacchus01
Thu Oct 10, 2019 10:18 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How Many Allowances To Avoid Any Federal and State Witholding?
Replies: 13
Views: 1997

Re: How Many Allowances To Avoid Any Federal and State Witholding?

jj wrote: Thu Oct 10, 2019 4:33 pm Assuming your AGI will be over $150,000 (over $75,000 if you are married filing separately), you must pay the lower of 90% of the tax shown on the current year’s return or 110% of the tax shown on the return for the previous year to avoid a penalty.

Therefore, if your tax shown for the previous year is $65k, 110% is $71.5k, and you will pay over $100k in payroll deductions by year-end, you are well within the safe harbor.

That is my understanding of the rules anyway. (I am no expert)
That’s what I believe as well and wanted to confirm.
by Bacchus01
Thu Oct 10, 2019 10:17 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: John Bogle’s formula says 1% real stock returns likely over next decade
Replies: 187
Views: 25530

Re: John Bogle’s formula says 1% real stock returns likely over next decade

Two reasons: 1) We don't know if the past is representative of true returns. No amount of past evidence is enough to conclude future occurances because we wouldn't know how unlikely the past was to have occurred in the first place. This is known as the problem of induction. 2) More practically, assets can move future returns to the present and vice-versa via speculation and earnings multiple changes. So any time period might've had 12% return due to asset swelling simply by "robbing" the upcoming period of 6% returns. So the second period would deliver 0% return while you were expecting a whooping 12% by looking at the past. Focusing on fundamentals instead of past history tends to mitigate both of the above Didn’t answer my ques...
by Bacchus01
Thu Oct 10, 2019 8:46 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: John Bogle’s formula says 1% real stock returns likely over next decade
Replies: 187
Views: 25530

Re: John Bogle’s formula says 1% real stock returns likely over next decade

My question is, why? Why would we expect the future to be different than the past? I know we often say the past does not indicate the future, it then I also question, we’ll, why do we think it’ll be radically different? Two reasons: 1) We don't know if the past is representative of true returns. No amount of past evidence is enough to conclude future occurances because we wouldn't know how unlikely the past was to have occurred in the first place. This is known as the problem of induction. 2) More practically, assets can move future returns to the present and vice-versa via speculation and earnings multiple changes. So any time period might've had 12% return due to asset swelling simply by "robbing" the upcoming period of 6% retu...
by Bacchus01
Thu Oct 10, 2019 6:52 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: John Bogle’s formula says 1% real stock returns likely over next decade
Replies: 187
Views: 25530

Re: John Bogle’s formula says 1% real stock returns likely over next decade

My question is, why? Why would we expect the future to be different than the past? I know we often say the past does not indicate the future, it then I also question, we’ll, why do we think it’ll be radically different? Two reasons: 1) We don't know if the past is representative of true returns. No amount of past evidence is enough to conclude future occurances because we wouldn't know how unlikely the past was to have occurred in the first place. This is known as the problem of induction. 2) More practically, assets can move future returns to the present and vice-versa via speculation and earnings multiple changes. So any time period might've had 12% return due to asset swelling simply by "robbing" the upcoming period of 6% retu...
by Bacchus01
Thu Oct 10, 2019 9:59 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: John Bogle’s formula says 1% real stock returns likely over next decade
Replies: 187
Views: 25530

Re: John Bogle’s formula says 1% real stock returns likely over next decade

My question is, why? Why would we expect the future to be different than the past? I know we often say the past does not indicate the future, it then I also question, we’ll, why do we think it’ll be radically different? Among other things, I am a small businessman. Specifically one area I have an pecuniary and passion for is the formation and operation of small businesses. After years of successful start-up and operation of a number of small businesses of mine own in several different industries I began a consultancy practice. My personal experience now spans some 38 years. I am passionate about capitalism, even in our mixed economy, and believe it has done more to elevate the human condition than any other system, With all that being said...
by Bacchus01
Thu Oct 10, 2019 9:55 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How Many Allowances To Avoid Any Federal and State Witholding?
Replies: 13
Views: 1997

Re: How Many Allowances To Avoid Any Federal and State Witholding?

Just bumping this instead of creating a new thread.

Last year we paid about $65K in federal taxes.

This year through payroll deduction we'll pay over $100K.

However, we will likely owe taxes at tax time of another $30K.

My understanding, however, is that because what we withheld through payroll is more than 110% of last year's liability, there will be no penalty due.

Is this correct understanding?
by Bacchus01
Thu Oct 10, 2019 5:39 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: John Bogle’s formula says 1% real stock returns likely over next decade
Replies: 187
Views: 25530

Re: John Bogle’s formula says 1% real stock returns likely over next decade

It seems to me the prudent thing to do, if you believe in 1%, is switch to a dividend strategy: A porfolio heavily invested in consumer staple companies that have a demonstrated ability to turn a profit without growth. They would likely strive to reduce expenses to increase profitability and share price (so the execs and BOD can continue with their ridiculous compensation).That would be a good place to hand out until growth became a factor again. It is the flip side of the total return argument. They would likely strive to reduce expenses to increase profitability and share price (so the execs and BOD can continue with their ridiculous compensation). He clearly saw a difference in the approaches and advantages in each at different periods ...
by Bacchus01
Thu Oct 10, 2019 5:38 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: John Bogle’s formula says 1% real stock returns likely over next decade
Replies: 187
Views: 25530

Re: John Bogle’s formula says 1% real stock returns likely over next decade

Whenever people look at future return scenarios, the consensus seems to be that future returns will be lower. I have yet to see lots of predictions that it will be higher. My question is, why? Why would we expect the future to be different than the past? I know we often say the past does not indicate the future, it then I also question, we’ll, why do we think it’ll be radically different? Has people’s risk profile changed? Are they will to take more risk for lower reward? Has the risk gap between various classes of investments closed up some? Has the nature of investments, risk and reward changed? I just don’t think it has. While future returns may be lower (or higher) than the past, I don’t see what the fundamental shift has been that requ...
by Bacchus01
Mon Oct 07, 2019 7:36 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 529 savings?
Replies: 19
Views: 3277

Re: 529 savings?

TarHeel2002 wrote: Sun Oct 06, 2019 4:02 pm Thanks for the replies. We get a state tax deduction of 4.25% up to 10k of contributions. We will be exceeding this deduction limit going forward with 18k of contributions per year in total. I have them all in the age banded moderate aggressive state sponsored 529 fund so they have decent exposure to equities ...72% equites for the youngest and 63% equities for the older two.
I would not contribute above the state tax deduction.

Also check if you can open an account for yourself and your spouse and pass down to take more tax deductions.

You can keep contributing while they are in school to keep the tax benefit going.

$18k per person per year seems like you’ll be way overfunded in my opinion. If that’s $6k per, that sounds better.
by Bacchus01
Sun Oct 06, 2019 9:59 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 529 savings?
Replies: 19
Views: 3277

Re: 529 savings?

Do you get a state tax deduction? Many (myself included) would argue that the benefit of a 529 without a Tate tax deduction is greatly diminished to the point that the LLC of flexibility may outweigh the tax gains and you are better off in after-tax and skipping the 529s.

But there are a lot more things in play here.

In our case, we get a 7% state tax deduction up to $3150 per person for year. We contribute that amount for each of our kids as well as my wife and me. We then transfer between accounts as necessary to pay. We have just one in college right now. We expect to continue contributing that amount every year provided that the state tax deduction applies. If it didn’t, we would not bother.
by Bacchus01
Fri Oct 04, 2019 5:11 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why not use Margin Loan as eFund?
Replies: 63
Views: 7006

Re: Why not use Margin Loan as eFund?

Most people don't have a $100,000 taxable account, especially when they're at the phase of their life where they most need an emergency fund. By the time most people have a $100,000 taxable account, you'll find many people saying they no longer need an emergency fund at all. Really? I have never, ever heard this. It is discussed on the wiki, under a slightly different name: Placing cash needs in a tax-advantaged account . My taxable account is all stock. If I need to replace my car when the stock market is down, I will still have enough stock to buy a new car, and if I don't want to sell stock, I can move an equal amount from bonds to stock in my employer plan. Interesting as I had never read that part of the wiki and I don’t think I’ve se...
by Bacchus01
Fri Oct 04, 2019 5:09 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Camper Trailers
Replies: 17
Views: 3091

Re: Camper Trailers

The RV industry was down about 15% last year and more than 20% this year. You should be able to get a screaming deal, especially as we roll into fall. If you aren’t getting a huge percentage off, find another dealer.
by Bacchus01
Thu Oct 03, 2019 10:15 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why not use Margin Loan as eFund?
Replies: 63
Views: 7006

Re: Why not use Margin Loan as eFund?

AlohaJoe wrote: Sat Sep 28, 2019 11:10 pm Most people don't have a $100,000 taxable account, especially when they're at the phase of their life where they most need an emergency fund.

By the time most people have a $100,000 taxable account, you'll find many people saying they no longer need an emergency fund at all.
Really? I have never, ever heard this.
by Bacchus01
Thu Oct 03, 2019 5:44 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Solar Installation - 3 Years Later (Updated)
Replies: 105
Views: 23678

Re: Solar Installation - 0.75 Year Later

mervinj7 wrote: Wed Oct 02, 2019 11:09 pm
financeperchance wrote: Wed Oct 02, 2019 10:24 pm Thanks for this information. You have basically the equivalent of a tax-free bond yielding about 20% a year so far, right? That's amazing!
Haha, I wish it were so easy to calculate ROI. Unlike a five year bond, you won't get the full investment back in five years (neglecting potential increases in house value).

https://blog.aurorasolar.com/quantifyin ... tallation/
It will be interesting to see if this is true. Historically, solar panels have devalued properties that I've seen, not increased them. I wonder if that will change.
by Bacchus01
Tue Oct 01, 2019 8:55 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Which prefab shower to get?
Replies: 3
Views: 891

Re: Which prefab shower to get?

Kohler makes amazing products.
by Bacchus01
Tue Oct 01, 2019 3:23 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Roth IRA instead of 529 plan
Replies: 54
Views: 3861

Re: Roth IRA instead of 529 plan

If it's either/or, then fund the Roth. If you get a state tax deduction, and you have filled your Roth already, as well as all other retirement vehicles, THEN do a 529. That's a bit simplistic. With a Roth, you cannot use growth without penalty. Only contributions. That means a parent wanting to save for their kids college would have to stuff a lot of contributions in a Roth in order to pay for college. With a 529, you can use both growth and earnings. You can pay for your kids college and set aside a lot less money and still pay for college. You also can superfund the 529 during the good years rather than having to invest it in $11,000 allotments. You are assuming that the growth for 529s is a lot. With a short timeframe for most, and ver...
by Bacchus01
Tue Oct 01, 2019 3:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Roth IRA instead of 529 plan
Replies: 54
Views: 3861

Re: Roth IRA instead of 529 plan

If it's either/or, then fund the Roth.

If you get a state tax deduction, and you have filled your Roth already, as well as all other retirement vehicles, THEN do a 529.
by Bacchus01
Tue Oct 01, 2019 6:44 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Asset Allocation Approaching Age 40s
Replies: 22
Views: 4582

Re: Asset Allocation Approaching Age 40s

At 46, we are 98/2 equities and I would not recommend differently for others given bond returns and long-term (20+ year) outlook.
by Bacchus01
Sat Sep 28, 2019 10:29 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Pay-off mortgage before FAFSA?
Replies: 19
Views: 3209

Re: Pay-off mortgage before FAFSA?

Do the FAFSA form with numbers using assets you have. Redo it with numbers assuming some assets have paid off your mortgage. I would expect that if you have income, it's going to dominate over assets. I know it's easy to fixate on assets. I did. During one college finance seminar, I stood up during questions and asked the speaker "So if I go take my money down the street and buy a Ferrari, it'll give us a better chance for aid?". He stood there and looked at me for a couple seconds.....then said "Yah". We got Stafford loans with the wonderful 1.04% front end load and 5% or so interest rate. Wonderful (say that in a sarcastic voice). This. The income limits are awfully low for a lot of people. Our expected contribution c...
by Bacchus01
Sat Sep 28, 2019 7:42 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: When do you see effects of compound interest on net worth?
Replies: 36
Views: 5166

Re: When do you see effects of compound interest on net worth?

snackdog wrote: Sat Sep 28, 2019 7:26 am Many of you have yet to see your investment losses exceed your income. That's when you know you have some interesting savings.
I’ve had swings of more than $150k in a given month. And no, that’s not more than my income, but that’s because I focused on my income.
by Bacchus01
Sat Sep 28, 2019 7:41 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: When do you see effects of compound interest on net worth?
Replies: 36
Views: 5166

Re: When do you see effects of compound interest on net worth?

At what multiple of net worth do you feel that compound interest adds to annual net worth increase more than income? This is a great question and one that comes up here often. While the bull market has given high confidence and high returns, even then the growth and dividends do not outweigh my continued contributions. And our portfolio is more than $3M. I always say, if you want to focus on growing the largest possible NW, either for early retirement or other things, focus on your career first. That’s the biggest investment most of us will ever make and is generally the number one factor for wealth accumulation. That’s also why the boglehead way of simple, low cost, broad based indexes is great. You don’t have to spend any time on the por...
by Bacchus01
Sat Sep 28, 2019 7:37 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Ideal income bracket target?
Replies: 49
Views: 6060

Re: Ideal income bracket target?

AlohaJoe wrote: Sat Sep 28, 2019 7:28 am Surely the ideal bracket is 35% because that means you have lots and lots of money. Having less money in order to pay less tax is not "ideal", it is crazy.
In the earning phase, sure, but that’s not what the OP is referencing.
by Bacchus01
Sat Sep 28, 2019 7:20 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: financially clueless senior MIL who thinks she’s rich
Replies: 162
Views: 23069

Re: financially clueless senior MIL who thinks she’s rich

She doesn’t sound the least bit crazy nor does she sound like she thinks she’s rich. She actually sounds like she is making a decent decision and wants to live what is left of her likely very short life well. Why not?
by Bacchus01
Sat Sep 28, 2019 7:18 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Buying a home with unpermitted addition
Replies: 59
Views: 7896

Re: Buying a home with unpermitted addition

Do you know why the sellers don’t want to take care of it? Because maybe they know it’s going to be a major PITA or an issue and don’t want to deal with it.

I wouldn’t touch it.
by Bacchus01
Sat Sep 28, 2019 7:16 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Refinance 7/1 ARM mortgage
Replies: 33
Views: 3963

Re: Refinance 7/1 ARM mortgage

I would refi now into a new 7/1 ARM if no point no closings cost rate is .25% lower. If rates drop further in the future, rinse and repeat.... I refi’d 6 times with 7/1 ARMs from 2009-2012 until rate bottomed out at 2.5%. Each refi, I didn’t think rates could go lower but they did. If you wait to see if they go lower now, rates may reverse course, and you will lose an opportunity. If you’re losing sleep over the ARM feature, do the 30 year fixed. Generally, you should be fine with the 7/1 ARM- average mortgage pays off due to refi or sale in 4-5 years, so ARM with an initial fixed term of 7 years can work nicely for most folks. I am able to get 2.97% for 7/1 ARM but have to pay closing costs of about 3500 OR 3.125 with no closing costs. My...
by Bacchus01
Wed Sep 25, 2019 9:58 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Buying a home with unpermitted addition
Replies: 59
Views: 7896

Re: Buying a home with unpermitted addition

Vanguard Fan 1367 wrote: Mon Sep 23, 2019 1:38 pm You mention the HOA. I hope they don't have any issues with anything involving the sale. I just got an email from my HOA saying that three pallets of roof tiles left from when the house was built 2006 were in a neighbor's vacant wooded lot, well hidden, and would I like to go remove them. I bought the house in 2015. I don't know if I refused if they would word this more forcefully. I am having the project estimated and will make a decision as to how to proceed after I get the estimate.
They are not your property. They are not on your property. They did not convey with your purchase. Why in the world would you pay to remove them?

Tell the HOA to pound sand.
by Bacchus01
Tue Sep 24, 2019 10:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Elite liberal art colleges or bigger selective universities?
Replies: 59
Views: 6292

Re: Elite liberal art colleges or bigger selective universities?

Ultimately, it depends on the level of maturity of the student. Major universities are oriented toward research rather than undergraduate teaching. If she needs more personal attention, it would be better to be at a small liberal arts college such as Amherst, Williams, or Swarthmore than at big name colleges such as Harvard or Yale. I heard Princeton has a good undergraduate program among Ivy league schools. Stanford also has a good reputation. Caltech is definitely not a good choice unless she is very mature. Students there have too much freedom. This is snobbery. Non-evidence based snobbery. Like its Williams verses Caltech. Please. What about Texas Tech or Iowa State or Arizona State or University of Oregon? Do you think any good docs c...
by Bacchus01
Tue Sep 24, 2019 9:21 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: College Student Internships
Replies: 45
Views: 3207

Re: College Student Internships

We hire about 40 interns/co-ops a year in our engineering area. All roles are filled in the fall for next spring/summer/fall terms. It’s highly competitive.

As a point of reference, we will not hire an engineer out of school that has not done at least one and preferably 2-3 internships. It doesn’t have to have been an internship with us, but no internship means no job.
by Bacchus01
Tue Sep 24, 2019 12:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Stump Grinder - Ridiculous Side Hustle??
Replies: 51
Views: 10910

Re: Stump Grinder - Ridiculous Side Hustle??

abuss368 wrote: Tue Sep 24, 2019 8:20 am I heard of folks who take a drill and put a ton of holes in a stump. Filled it with gasoline and ignited. Stump burned out and was gone. Probably not safe for environment.
Why would that not be safe for the environment? What do you think happens when a stump decomposes?
by Bacchus01
Tue Sep 24, 2019 12:28 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should I take a pension buyout?
Replies: 15
Views: 1563

Re: Should I take a pension buyout?

Can it be rolled to a 401K or IRA? If so, I would take the lump.
by Bacchus01
Tue Sep 24, 2019 5:29 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Investing half of net worth, is market too high?
Replies: 25
Views: 6001

Re: Investing half of net worth, is market too high?

Why do you have to reinvest your 401K? Has it been liquidated and moved to an IRA already? Why not just leave it alone where it is?
by Bacchus01
Mon Sep 23, 2019 5:39 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Stump Grinder - Ridiculous Side Hustle??
Replies: 51
Views: 10910

Re: Stump Grinder - Ridiculous Side Hustle??

It definitely seems like the ROI would be decent if you could get business. As a homeowner that is willing to DIY, I'd consider renting a grinder myself, but for these few trees, the hassle isn't worth it to save $200 or so. I'd question why a tree service wouldn't have their own grinders and need to bring you in. Have you priced out the cost of a Vermeer or Morbark stump grinder? It’s a tough business to turn an ROI if you’re not also getting the rest of the work. They are very expensive machines. I'm just commenting based on my situation. The local rental place will rent me a Vermeer 252 for the day for about $300. I have to imagine owning the equipment works out to far less than that, maintenance and depreciation included. It would all ...
by Bacchus01
Sun Sep 22, 2019 6:44 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Stump Grinder - Ridiculous Side Hustle??
Replies: 51
Views: 10910

Re: Stump Grinder - Ridiculous Side Hustle??

I can't comment much on the business plan, but I'm having a few trees removed in a few days, and the tree guy is charging $100/stump for 2 medium sized trees (say a 1-2' diameter stump) and $300 for the stump of a large silver maple with probably a 4-5' diameter stump and mound. This is in a MCOL area. It definitely seems like the ROI would be decent if you could get business. As a homeowner that is willing to DIY, I'd consider renting a grinder myself, but for these few trees, the hassle isn't worth it to save $200 or so. I'd question why a tree service wouldn't have their own grinders and need to bring you in. Have you priced out the cost of a Vermeer or Morbark stump grinder? It’s a tough business to turn an ROI if you’re not also getti...
by Bacchus01
Sun Sep 22, 2019 4:28 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Stump Grinder - Ridiculous Side Hustle??
Replies: 51
Views: 10910

Re: Stump Grinder - Ridiculous Side Hustle??

I ran a stump grinder for two summers in college. It’s hard and dangerous work to do all day long.

Stump grinders also need to be maintained daily. The teeth will need to be replaced or sharpened after nearly every day of work. Fuel and maintenance costs add up.

I never used a PTO mount but I can imagine a fair amount of wear on the tractor.

Also, a tractor driven on a residential lawn is going to cause problems in a lot of cases. How will you fix the lawn after you tear it up?
by Bacchus01
Sun Sep 22, 2019 4:20 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How hard is it to get into college?
Replies: 167
Views: 14754

Re: How hard is it to get into college?

[...] Let me itemize my questions/points so we can figure out where we are differing: 1) I don't know what a "study hall" is. Please explain. 2) I am not disputing your statement that your high school does not weight GPAs. I was just offering up a suggestion on how to pick one valedictorian. 1) a study hall is a period of the day where you do not have a class, but instead have an open period to study. You get no grade and no credit for it. 2) Your whole argument is on the supposition that there needs to be one valedictorian. I have no idea why you are so hung up about it. Even with weighted grades there are often more than one valedictorian. They all graduated ties for first, so why are you fixated that there has to be just one? ...
by Bacchus01
Sun Sep 22, 2019 4:18 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: I am being asked to retire. Am I ready?
Replies: 84
Views: 12283

Re: I am being asked to retire. Am I ready?

You are ready.
by Bacchus01
Sun Sep 22, 2019 8:15 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How hard is it to get into college?
Replies: 167
Views: 14754

Re: How hard is it to get into college?

[...] What do you mean? A full credit load is taking all classes, no study halls. And unweighted means no weight, so how would you add weight? This is not like a participation trophy at all. They all finished first. Literally first. Like crossing a race line all at the same time. There’s no confusion here. They had about 400 kids in the class. I know you meant unweighted - I was doing a play on words that the way to separate them would be to weight their class difficulty. I don't know what you mean by study hall, but in DS's school, each kid's course load is unique. Some kids have ten APs, others have none; some others might even have twenty. So, a 4.0 for the kid who has ten APs is definitely more taxing than for the kid who has none. If ...