Search found 541 matches

by M_to_the_G
Mon Jun 13, 2022 5:44 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Share your net worth progression
Replies: 4288
Views: 1081928

Re: Share your net worth progression

Update time! Interesting thread. I’ll combine some of the posting methods I’ve liked here; I think it’s worthwhile to discuss one’s background and mindset at different stages of life, and one’s epiphanies and milestones. 1979 - 1999 (age 0 - 19): Net worth: $0 1999 - 2005 (age 19 - 25): Net worth: -$15,000 Was poor throughout college and grad school, but always had pocket money from work (had a weekend job and a work-study job), and also had quite a bit of drive and ambition to improve my lot in life. Luckily, the credit union affiliated with my university capped my credit card limit at $1k, or I would have probably availed myself of “free” credit. Had about $15k in student loans to deal with, which I only realized later wasn’t that much. ...
by M_to_the_G
Mon Jul 05, 2021 8:59 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Share your net worth progression
Replies: 4288
Views: 1081928

Re: Share your net worth progression

Update time! Interesting thread. I’ll combine some of the posting methods I’ve liked here; I think it’s worthwhile to discuss one’s background and mindset at different stages of life, and one’s epiphanies and milestones. 1979 - 1999 (age 0 - 19): Net worth: $0 1999 - 2005 (age 19 - 25): Net worth: -$15,000 Was poor throughout college and grad school, but always had pocket money from work (had a weekend job and a work-study job), and also had quite a bit of drive and ambition to improve my lot in life. Luckily, the credit union affiliated with my university capped my credit card limit at $1k, or I would have probably availed myself of “free” credit. Had about $15k in student loans to deal with, which I only realized later wasn’t that much. ...
by M_to_the_G
Mon Jul 05, 2021 6:43 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: New AA [Asset Allocation]
Replies: 56
Views: 11911

Re: New AA [Asset Allocation]

It has been over two years since I last posted here. A lot has happened in my life. I am now 41 years old. I was on unpaid leave for the latter half of 2019 and all of 2020, and I did not contribute to my accounts, at all, during that time. I came very close to a decision to FIRE at the end of 2020, and my portfolio changed quite a bit as a result. Those new to my thread will note that the data presented in the (edited) OP might not match what is otherwise discussed in the thread. In 2020, leading up to my (aborted) decision to FIRE, I got rid of the inherited Roth IRA account, exchanged all of my VTIAX and VTSAX for VCGSX in my taxable account, and exchanged all of my VGSLX and VFIAX for VFORX in my Roth IRA account. For the intent of this...
by M_to_the_G
Sat Jun 15, 2019 12:11 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Portfolio Review 37yo Post Divorce
Replies: 8
Views: 2528

Re: Portfolio Review 37yo Post Divorce

Listen to that duck! I did six years ago, and it has worked out very well for me.
by M_to_the_G
Fri Jun 14, 2019 6:10 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Share your net worth progression
Replies: 4288
Views: 1081928

Re: Share your story of how you got wealthy

1) marry the right partner I disagree. There is no way to know if your partner will remain financially sound, and the odds are against you. Past performance is no indicator of future results. It is almost like saying make sure if you’re buying individual stocks to buy one that will go up. Instead, I view marriage as an increased risk of suffering a windfall loss, particularly if you are a high earner. If you view marriage as an increased risk of suffering a windfall loss, then you didn't follow the instructions. Also, why are the odds against you? Most people's earnings increase over time: https://taxfoundation.org/average-income-age/ Therefore, while it is possible there could be a reversal of fortunes, on average, that is not true. So I ...
by M_to_the_G
Thu Jun 13, 2019 5:12 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Share your net worth progression
Replies: 4288
Views: 1081928

Re: Share your net worth progression

Update time! Interesting thread. I’ll combine some of the posting methods I’ve liked here; I think it’s worthwhile to discuss one’s background and mindset at different stages of life, and one’s epiphanies and milestones. 1979 - 1999 (age 0 - 19): Net worth: $0 1999 - 2005 (age 19 - 25): Net worth: -$15,000 Was poor throughout college and grad school, but always had pocket money from work (had a weekend job and a work-study job), and also had quite a bit of drive and ambition to improve my lot in life. Luckily, the credit union affiliated with my university capped my credit card limit at $1k, or I would have probably availed myself of “free” credit. Had about $15k in student loans to deal with, which I only realized later wasn’t that much. I...
by M_to_the_G
Fri Feb 22, 2019 4:09 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: New AA [Asset Allocation]
Replies: 56
Views: 11911

Re: New AA [Asset Allocation]

Contributed $10,000 to my taxable:
$5,000 VTSAX
$5,000 VTIAX

Updated (but not rebalanced) today.
by M_to_the_G
Fri Feb 22, 2019 4:08 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: New AA [Asset Allocation]
Replies: 56
Views: 11911

Re: New AA [Asset Allocation]

sergeant wrote: Wed Oct 24, 2018 2:44 pm Good for you. No fear! Many would be posting that they are going to cash until the market settles.
Been a little while since this, no? :happy It wasn't a question of fear, at all, but rather a question of a simple understanding of the market... or -- more accurately-put -- of trust in the principles taught to us by Jack Bogle (rest in peace).
by M_to_the_G
Fri Jan 04, 2019 12:30 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: New AA [Asset Allocation]
Replies: 56
Views: 11911

Re: New AA [Asset Allocation]

Have you considered yearly updates of this thread, rather than every time you put money into one of your accounts? This seems more like clutter than anything productive for other forum members. Alternatively, it would be helpful if someone could point me to how I can configure threads to be automatically ignored. Why not make it interesting and post in January where you started and where you are now in means of fund and values. Monthly updates boring. Everyone doing the samething but not posting every month. How does that old song by Rick Nelson go? " You see you can't please everyone, so you got to please yourself ." I actually find myself referring back to this thread a lot, as it's a bit of a record for me, which I'm sharing p...
by M_to_the_G
Fri Jan 04, 2019 12:20 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: New AA [Asset Allocation]
Replies: 56
Views: 11911

Re: New AA [Asset Allocation]

Good morning. Curious as to why you didn't just throw everything into the G Fund instead of a 10/10 split with the F Fund. G Fund is 2.75% right now. With more predictable returns and safety. https://www.tspfolio.com/tspgfundinterestrate Going from inception to date, you have a 1.2% difference between the two. I believe you have 10 years (2029) until retirement, why not take the safer play in your fixed income allocation? I'm asking to only gain more knowledge and not be critical. I have 30 years until retirement but my 5% fixed income is only the G fund. I want to make sure I'm not missing anything. That's a fair question. There has been a ton of discussion on this board and others about G vs. F for fixed income. At the end of the day, th...
by M_to_the_G
Fri Jan 04, 2019 8:46 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: New AA [Asset Allocation]
Replies: 56
Views: 11911

Re: New AA [Asset Allocation]

Contributed $6,000 to my Roth IRA for 2019:
$6,000 VFIAX

Contributed $15,000 to my taxable:
$15,000 VTSAX

Updated and rebalanced today.
by M_to_the_G
Thu Oct 25, 2018 1:09 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: New AA [Asset Allocation]
Replies: 56
Views: 11911

Re: New AA [Asset Allocation]

sergeant wrote: Wed Oct 24, 2018 2:44 pm Good for you. No fear! Many would be posting that they are going to cash until the market settles.
cali wrote: Wed Oct 24, 2018 10:30 pmgood for you!
Many thanks! I’ve read too many books written by people far wiser than me to put any faith in market timing. :)
by M_to_the_G
Wed Oct 24, 2018 9:44 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: New AA [Asset Allocation]
Replies: 56
Views: 11911

Re: New AA [Asset Allocation]

Contributed $10,000 to my taxable:
$5,000 VTSAX
$5,000 VTIAX

Updated (but not rebalanced) today.
by M_to_the_G
Wed Oct 24, 2018 9:43 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: New AA [Asset Allocation]
Replies: 56
Views: 11911

Re: New AA [Asset Allocation]

mervinj7 wrote: Wed Sep 26, 2018 3:57 pm Wonderful progress! Been following this thread for years now.
Many thanks! :)
by M_to_the_G
Wed Sep 26, 2018 1:55 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: New AA [Asset Allocation]
Replies: 56
Views: 11911

Re: New AA [Asset Allocation]

Contributed $10,000 to my taxable:
$5,000 VTSAX
$5,000 VTIAX

Updated (but not rebalanced) today.
by M_to_the_G
Wed Aug 29, 2018 11:36 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: New AA [Asset Allocation]
Replies: 56
Views: 11911

Re: New AA [Asset Allocation]

Contributed $10,000 to my taxable:
$10,000 VTIAX

Updated (but not rebalanced) today.
by M_to_the_G
Sat Aug 11, 2018 9:04 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Share your net worth progression
Replies: 4288
Views: 1081928

Re: Share your net worth progression

LadyGeek wrote: Sat Jan 06, 2018 10:45 am Consider that very, very few members of the total population are posting in this thread.
I'm in the camp that finds this thread inspiring. I admire those who've done better than me, and I aspire to be more like them. Threads like this encourage me to set new goals and up the ante on my savings. I now have a goal of being a bona fide PAW by this time next year, which means a net worth of $740,000. I'm at about $650,000 now. I can do it, I think... if there's no major correction!

I'm NOT in the camp that gets discouraged by this thread or who resents those who've done better than me. I suspect most of the "total population" would fall in the latter category and thus would avoid a thread like this like the plague.
by M_to_the_G
Wed Jul 18, 2018 2:05 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How do you handle the urge to DO something?
Replies: 128
Views: 14229

Re: How do you handle the urge to DO something?

"Benign neglect, bordering on sloth, remains the hallmark of our investment process." - Warren Buffett
by M_to_the_G
Wed Jul 18, 2018 12:03 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How do you handle the urge to DO something?
Replies: 128
Views: 14229

Re: How do you handle the urge to DO something?

Read Bill Bernstein's "If You Can" (as well as all seven books in the accompanying reading list), and I guarantee that you will not ask this question ever again. Whenever someone comes on here to discuss the urge to "do something," I am convinced it is because they have started on the Boglehead path without also becoming fully literate in personal finance, investing, and market history. I guess it's better to blindly follow Boglehead investing rather than blindly hire an advisor, for example, but only a little better. It's good to accept that the Boglehead theory sounds good. It's better to understand it. As Bill Bernstein says in "If You Can", "Finance isn't rocket science, but you'd better understand it ...
by M_to_the_G
Wed Jul 18, 2018 11:38 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: New AA [Asset Allocation]
Replies: 56
Views: 11911

Re: New AA [Asset Allocation]

Contributed $10,000 to my taxable:
$10,000 VTSAX

Updated (but not rebalanced) today.
by M_to_the_G
Sat Jun 16, 2018 11:10 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Living Abroad - Who's done it?
Replies: 90
Views: 13939

Re: Living Abroad - Who's done it?

Cultural variations, yes. But lets please reserve the shock for full on unrecognisability. What you're thinking of isn't culture shock -- perhaps you mean outright shock. Culture shock is a longer-term process and usually begins with a "honeymoon" period, and it doesn't have to involve a place radically different from your home. By quickly, I mean if you desperately want to visit ''home'' before even a year is up (I don't term a year as really living somewhere - its more of an extended holiday). You are describing the vast majority of people who have lived abroad long-term. Most of them end up having a positive experience after some initial difficulty and adjusting. I agree that one year isn't really "long-term." It's m...
by M_to_the_G
Sat Jun 16, 2018 5:07 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Living Abroad - Who's done it?
Replies: 90
Views: 13939

Re: Living Abroad - Who's done it?

HongKonger wrote: Fri Jun 15, 2018 4:36 amThere are Brits Abroad, and then there are expats. The gentlemen you reference was the former. Culture shock - within Europe, purlease. Living in other countries certainly isn't for everyone but you know pretty quickly if it suits you or not.
In fact, one can experience culture shock in one's own country, never mind continent. I don't agree that one necessarily will know quickly if living abroad suits one or not; some people experience an initial hump but tough it out and eventually find their new environs grow on them tremendously.
by M_to_the_G
Fri Jun 15, 2018 12:58 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Living Abroad - Who's done it?
Replies: 90
Views: 13939

Re: Living Abroad - Who's done it?

You've got me now thinking that when we decide to sell this house (which we love, but ... the stairs...) and downsize, perhaps we'll use that time to take a last minute sabbatical, and then move into independent living when we return. We'd both LOVE to spend some serious time abroad again, and DH has real reason to do that, instead of separate trips, etc. Why not? :beer We lived in Switzerland for 5 years. Absolutely one of the best experiences of our lives. ... Once the excitement and novelty of the honeymoon period wears off, a cycle starts where you progress from emotional peaks to valleys. Funny thing, I was in Geneva a few months ago and was talking to an Englishman in the middle of a low point of culture shock. He was describing how ...
by M_to_the_G
Thu Jun 14, 2018 2:57 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 35 and Need Help With Building Wealth
Replies: 55
Views: 8736

Re: 35 and Need Help With Building Wealth

I see your point. Let me ask you this. How easy do you think it is for the average family who earns $4K per month and spends $4.5K per month, to save $1000, ie. spending $1500 less than they normally do. You are asking them to spend 1/3 of what they normally do just to get by. Clipping coupons, and worrying about how much a latte costs is very limited thinking. In my opinion, energy is energy. You can focus it on shrinking or you can focus it on expanding. It takes the same amount of calories and brain power. Why not choose the latter? I appreciate your civil input. I will maintain my stance: you cannot shrink your way to wealth. Period. It cannot be done. If you earn $3000 per month and spend all of it, and you decide to save $1000 per mo...
by M_to_the_G
Wed Jun 13, 2018 2:08 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 35 and Need Help With Building Wealth
Replies: 55
Views: 8736

Re: 35 and Need Help With Building Wealth

I appreciate your civil input. I will maintain my stance: you cannot shrink your way to wealth. Period. It cannot be done. If you earn $3000 per month and spend all of it, and you decide to save $1000 per month. Well, you decreased your quality of life by 34%, which at the same time adding worry and shortcomings to you and your family. Instead of going without conveniences, good quality food, a nice heating/cooling of your house, etc. it is so much easier to learn how to earn an extra $1000 per month. I have hung out on Dave Ramsey's live streams. Its chicken or the egg. You might thing a lot of unsuccessful people listen to Dave in that direction, I postulate that a significant proportion of people who listen to Dave Ramsey, follow his mi...
by M_to_the_G
Wed Jun 13, 2018 1:35 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Boring Job
Replies: 64
Views: 9420

Re: Boring Job

I can't stand it when people complain about being showered with money for doing nothing. I thought that was the definition of paradise lmao In fact, it's a very deceptive form of hell because you don't realize you're there. I occasionally spend time in federal offices in DC and get to hang around the civil servants. A lot of them literally do nothing all day... and can't be fired. And these were people with dreams at one point. Some of them have been showing up to work every day at the same dull, federal office building for 30 years... and do absolutely nothing all day long, but they could never give up that sweet, sweet paycheck and all those federal benefits. I think the day they resigned themselves to that fate was the day they died, me...
by M_to_the_G
Wed Jun 13, 2018 1:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Living Abroad - Who's done it?
Replies: 90
Views: 13939

Re: Living Abroad - Who's done it?

Member of the Foreign Service here. I have lived long-term (for one year or longer) in Germany, France, the Netherlands, Taiwan, China, Iraq, and Afghanistan -- a total of 13 years spent abroad. The planning itself will be an adventure, and -- as others have intimated above, including yourself -- if you don’t do it, you might regret it later. Frankly, your situation sounds almost ideal. Money and partners tend to be the things that hold people back. You have a job that will travel with you and a spouse who is game. As for whether you might do a little better or a little worse with the house, in my humble opinion that’s making a mountain out of a molehill. I could give you all sorts of caveats and advice, but that would be describing a tiger...
by M_to_the_G
Wed Jun 06, 2018 3:02 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: New AA [Asset Allocation]
Replies: 56
Views: 11911

Re: New AA [Asset Allocation]

Contributed $10,000 to my taxable:
$10,000 VTIAX

Updated (but not rebalanced) today.
by M_to_the_G
Wed Apr 25, 2018 11:14 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: New AA [Asset Allocation]
Replies: 56
Views: 11911

Re: New AA [Asset Allocation]

Contributed $10,000 to my taxable:
$5,000 VTSAX
$5,000 VTIAX

Updated (but not rebalanced) today.
by M_to_the_G
Fri Mar 23, 2018 2:35 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: New AA [Asset Allocation]
Replies: 56
Views: 11911

Re: New AA [Asset Allocation]

Contributed $10,000 to my taxable:
$5,000 VTSAX
$5,000 VTIAX

Updated (but not rebalanced) today.
by M_to_the_G
Sat Feb 03, 2018 8:03 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Need help - first major career choice (fed. gov.)
Replies: 39
Views: 3995

Re: Need help - first major career choice (fed. gov.)

It partly depends, as well, on which agency you will be working for. There is an annual ranking of the best places to work in the Federal Government: http://bestplacestowork.org/BPTW/index.php. It's a website that ranks the "best places to work" in the federal government based on how happy people report that they are in any given agency, how likely they would be to recommend their agency to someone else, etc. At the top of the list (among large agencies), year after year, is NASA. If you were offered a job at NASA, I would say take it, fast, and don't look back. At the bottom of the list (among large agencies), year after year, is DHS. Even with the cushy federal benefits, people are miserable enough at DHS to where there is a sur...
by M_to_the_G
Sat Feb 03, 2018 7:44 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: I have an overwhelming gift I'm in need of help of please.
Replies: 89
Views: 10995

Re: I have an overwhelming gift I'm in need of help of please.

If I were in your shoes, I would pay off the mortgage. It sounds like you are currently implementing an investment plan. Continue to do so, and now add the amount that you were paying toward the mortgage. Now you are super-charging your investment plan, your house it paid off in full, and you have not changed your lifestyle in the least. So the end result is that you are more financially secure, edging closer/faster toward your retirement investment goals, and doing so without the risk of lifestyle creep.
by M_to_the_G
Sat Feb 03, 2018 7:35 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 4% withdrawal rate
Replies: 11
Views: 2068

Re: 4% withdrawal rate

ImNotABot wrote: Fri Feb 02, 2018 6:08 pm I understand that 4% withdrawal rate is the 'theoretical' amount that you can take out yearly from you retirement accounts, and have a good chance of retiring successfully.

I think I read that 90% of people following the 4% withdrawal rate actually increased their money by the end of retirement, and like 25% actually doubled their investment (?)

My question is what asset allocation is assumed? All stock, all bonds, 50/50?

Thanks
-INAB
Trinity study. 25/75 up to 75/25 stocks/bonds.
by M_to_the_G
Sat Feb 03, 2018 7:32 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How to ship two big tubs of butter internationally?
Replies: 43
Views: 6754

Re: How to ship two big tubs of butter internationally?

I ship butter internationally all the time. Just smear it on the inner side of a normal cardboard box (like an Amazon box). When it arrives at its destination, the recipient can just pull the box apart and use the cardboard pieces as serving trays for the butter. Quick and easy.
by M_to_the_G
Sat Jan 20, 2018 2:01 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do we need an emergency supplies kit (go bag)?
Replies: 65
Views: 7910

Re: Do we need an emergency supplies kit (go bag)?

I have an emergency 'go bag' in all our cars; dried food, nut and water to make it three days (assumes 48 Oz H2O daily) for 2 people; first aid kit; two pairs of good sneakers. The amount of food most people need to get through three days is zero. Weather appropriate clothing is usually much more important. That's true. The rule of 3's: a human can survive 3 minutes without oxygen, 3 hours without shelter (in serious exposure conditions), 3 days without water, 3 weeks without food. Food is the least of your concerns in a survival situation. Still... if you've got room in your pack, food is a good idea, if for nothing else than morale and comfort in a disaster situation. Throwing a few packs of trail mix into an emergency kit can't hurt.
by M_to_the_G
Sat Jan 20, 2018 12:48 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do we need an emergency supplies kit (go bag)?
Replies: 65
Views: 7910

Re: Do we need an emergency supplies kit (go bag)?

No, you don't need one. Your neighbors don't have one, after all. Your friends and family will think you're weird for having one. It will sit there all year long and gather dust, and eventually some of the things inside it will start to expire and need to be replaced. That will be a serious annoyance. It may even slowly migrate itself to the back of a closet, and you might even forget it's there. Did a disaster happen yesterday? Did one happen today? No. So you don't need one.

Until a disaster happens, that is... then you will desperately need one.
by M_to_the_G
Sat Jan 20, 2018 12:26 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Lost money through Bitconnect scam - learned my lesson
Replies: 94
Views: 12759

Re: Lost money through Bitconnect scam - learned my lesson

Wowzers... well, the lesson here isn't just "don't fall for scams." The other -- and perhaps bigger -- lesson is "don't invest in hot trends." The time to get into bitcoin was in 2013 when it was selling at $72 per coin, i.e. when there wasn't much buzz around bitcoin. If you had invested $100,000 in bitcoin back then and sold it when the price skyrocketed, well... do the math. Here's a simple rule of thumb: anything that has become so prominent in the financial "noise" world that even your aunt Edna is talking about it with her knitting club is probably something to avoid. Apropos, if there is a third lesson, it might be "don't think about what could have beens." If I had known Mark Zuckerberg when h...
by M_to_the_G
Sat Jan 20, 2018 11:39 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Share your net worth progression
Replies: 4288
Views: 1081928

Re: Share your net worth progression

Exactly. I'm probably close to the back of the pack among Bogleheads, with my $600K net worth at 38. If I were sitting at a dinner table with the average cross-section of folks here who work in tech, medicine, law, etc., I might indeed feel a bit self-conscious... But if I were sitting around the dinner table with my relatives... well, let me paint you a picture: holiday dinners are usually spent at my aunt's house. Her one daughter (my cousin) and her husband have spent most of the past 20 years on public assistance. They work menial jobs, just enough to stay under the rules for getting food stamps, welfare, etc. They have lived in the same rickety trailer for 20 years. My aunt, bless her soul, is a sweetheart, but she isn't doing much bet...
by M_to_the_G
Fri Jan 12, 2018 12:52 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Finding local retirement advisor
Replies: 1
Views: 456

Re: Finding local retirement advisor

Find a fee-only fiduciary here: https://www.napfa.org/find-an-advisor#tab=filters

Even if you have to drive an hour to meet an advisor you find there, it will be worth it. Do not just go to your local Edward Jones guy with the flashing, Hollywood smile.
by M_to_the_G
Fri Jan 12, 2018 12:47 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Ideas for Investing 100k
Replies: 5
Views: 1293

Re: Ideas for Investing 100k

letsgobobby wrote: Fri Jan 12, 2018 12:32 am I would invest according to your IPS, which should already take into account your need and ability to take risk. Since you are presumably young and already have money invested, this would seem to be the most straightforward approach. It's likely not enough money to change your life long term, so your asset allocation can likely sally forth unchanged.
Emphasis added. Investing $100K while still in college is "likely not enough money to change your life long term" ??????
by M_to_the_G
Fri Jan 12, 2018 12:45 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Ideas for Investing 100k
Replies: 5
Views: 1293

Re: Ideas for Investing 100k

This is just my suggestion, but here are three immediate steps you could take to set yourself up well: 1. Open a Vanguard taxable account and put the money -- minus $10,100 -- into 20% Vanguard VTIAX (international stock admiral shares) and 80% Vanguard VTSAX (U.S. total stock market admiral shares). That is Jack Bogle advice. The new-fangled Vanguard management advice is 50%/50%. You probably can't go terribly wrong either way. However, if you are working, at all, max out the 401(k) if your employer offers it ($18,500) and max out a Roth IRA for 2018 ($5,500). 2. Download the free pamphlet "If You Can" by Bill Bernstein and use the $100 to buy all seven books in the reading list. Read them at the specified intervals as noted in &...
by M_to_the_G
Thu Jan 11, 2018 1:57 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Investing 200k cash
Replies: 8
Views: 2160

Re: Investing 200k cash

RookieInvestor wrote: Thu Jan 11, 2018 1:53 am
mega317 wrote: Tue Jan 09, 2018 4:11 pm
RookieInvestor wrote: Sun Jan 07, 2018 1:47 pm Thought of putting in a mix of index funds but tax-deferred as well as 401k as well as taxable accounts (IRA, 401k, MF) already have that mix.
What does this mean? Why do you have to invest in something other than what you already have?
Thanks. I meant I already have a portion of my taxable as well as 401k etc on the index fund mix. So for this 200k, wanted to do diversify into something else.
Reading is in order. Start with the free pamphlet "If You Can" by Bill Bernstein. It has everything you need in there, including a reading list. Read the books as indicated in the pamphlet.
by M_to_the_G
Wed Jan 10, 2018 12:24 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Choosing funds for 401k
Replies: 31
Views: 3403

Re: Choosing funds for 401k

Listen to that duck! :) Many of us have done so, and many of us have benefited from sage, avian advice.
by M_to_the_G
Wed Jan 10, 2018 11:41 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: New AA [Asset Allocation]
Replies: 56
Views: 11911

Re: New AA [Asset Allocation]

Contributed $5,500 to my Roth IRA for 2018 (via backdoor conversion -- this will be the first year in which my income exceeds the contribution limit):
$5,500 VGSLX

Updated (but not rebalanced) today.
by M_to_the_G
Sun Dec 17, 2017 12:05 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Question about Backdoor Roth IRA
Replies: 3
Views: 670

Question about Backdoor Roth IRA

I have a Roth IRA account with Vanguard. I do not have – and have never had – any other IRAs. I contributed $5,500 to my Roth IRA for 2017 in January of 2017, so this is a question pertaining to 2018. 2018 will be the first year my MAGI will exceed the individual limit for contributions to a Roth IRA, so I am interested in completing a Roth backdoor conversion for 2018. Can I go ahead and purchase a $5,500 traditional IRA (for example, a Money Market account at Vanguard) on the first trading day of 2018 and then convert that to a Roth IRA the next trading day? Or do I need to wait until 2019 to do this for 2018?

I read the Bogleheads page on Backdoor Roth IRA's, but it does not appear to answer my question regarding the time frame.
by M_to_the_G
Thu Dec 14, 2017 7:45 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Any of you trade just a little as a hobby?
Replies: 65
Views: 9766

Re: Any of you trade just a little as a hobby?

tibbitts wrote: Sat Nov 18, 2017 12:45 pm No, never even tempted. I do many hundreds of exchanges every year in my mutual fund accounts, $100 here and there, and that's kind of a game, aiming for that .1 percent gain vs. doing nothing [emphasis mine]. Sadly I have no way to calculate my results down to anywhere near that precision, so I just declare victory and move on.
"Doing nothing" is a great strategy. As Jack Bogle once said, "Don't do something, just stand there!" Or as Warren Buffet once said, "Benign neglect, bordering on sloth, remains the hallmark of our investment process."
by M_to_the_G
Thu Dec 14, 2017 7:33 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Ameriprise :(
Replies: 64
Views: 13563

Re: Ameriprise :(

Call Vanguard, get some advice, and then just have them just transfer everything to Vanguard funds? You don't have to even talk to this advisor ever again, if memory serves me correctly from what others have reported here.
by M_to_the_G
Thu Dec 14, 2017 7:25 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What to do after losing $117k in stock market?
Replies: 199
Views: 34002

Re: What to do after losing $117k in stock market?

Investing does bring me joy and excitement. Life will be boring. I submit the line above should be changed to "Gambling does bring me joy and excitement. Life will be boring without it." +1. This. I suggest straight-up gambling in a casino. It's more fun, will give you the same "joy and excitement"... plus they give you free drinks in casinos, to boot. Plus you can just call a spade a spade and actually say you are gambling and not sugar-coat it by saying you are "investing." All joking aside, your problem is the fact that you find stock-picking to be "joy and excitement." But there's a cure for that. And here it is: download the free pamphlet " If You Can " by Bill Bernstein here . Read it...
by M_to_the_G
Thu Dec 14, 2017 6:58 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: New AA [Asset Allocation]
Replies: 56
Views: 11911

Re: New AA [Asset Allocation]

Contributed $10,000 to my taxable:
$10,000 VTSAX

Updated (but not rebalanced) today.
by M_to_the_G
Mon Dec 04, 2017 12:01 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Want to start after school prep work for underprivileged
Replies: 14
Views: 1678

Re: Want to start after school prep work for underprivileged

There's a reason why there's such a high burnout rate among inner city school teachers and aid workers. I won't even go into it, as there are copious amounts of literature available on the subject. Sometimes caring isn't enough. Go in "eyes wide open"... and good luck.