Search found 557 matches

by leo383
Wed Mar 13, 2024 7:43 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Managed Account Performance over last 5 years
Replies: 15
Views: 1497

Re: Managed Account Performance over last 5 years

gunny2 wrote: Tue Mar 12, 2024 9:12 pm
Also if a managed account is just going to mostly throw you into index funds, why bother? You can do that yourself and save the mgt cost.
Many investors can't do this. They hop into things after they've been hot, then are out of the market for long periods of time and miss big runs.

Bogleheads are a tiny part of the investing population.

If a managed account keeps a client from making big mistakes, and that might be a big if, it's worth the expense.
by leo383
Fri Jan 12, 2024 8:24 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What big hairy audacious goals do you have for 2024?
Replies: 109
Views: 15386

Re: What big hairy audacious goals do you have for 2024?

Learn to type properly.

Do something physical every day.

Read some every day.

Spend 20 minutes once per week decluttering.
by leo383
Fri Jan 12, 2024 8:20 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Is anybody actually running out of money in retirement?
Replies: 201
Views: 46576

Re: Is anybody actually running out of money in retirement?

My grandparents, who were in in their 20s during the Great Depression, pretty much ran out of money.

My grandfather retired very well off in the 1970s, and I suspect (though they never talked about it much) were heavy in bonds and cash. They were also super proud and refused all kinds of help from family and Gov programs over the years.

They both lived deep into their 90s and my grandmother spent her last 5 years or so in a nursing home with dementia.
by leo383
Fri Dec 01, 2023 3:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: T5 engineering school or in-state T35 with full-ride?
Replies: 285
Views: 40082

Re: T5 engineering school or in-state T35 with full-ride?

Lots of experience with engineers and engineering students.

GT and Cal are excellent schools, but U of Fla for free is a no brainer.
by leo383
Thu Nov 23, 2023 5:56 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What to invest in Roth for 13 year old
Replies: 78
Views: 13633

Re: What to invest in Roth for 13 year old

I started Roths for my kids as soon as they had some income.

100% VT
by leo383
Sat Aug 12, 2023 10:22 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Toyota Sienna with Abnormal Tire Wear
Replies: 47
Views: 5077

Re: Toyota Sienna with Abnormal Tire Wear

Siennas are awesome, but they do tend to eat tires.

We had one from 2006 to 2021. Great vehicle, lots of new tires.
by leo383
Sat Aug 12, 2023 9:52 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What motivated you to save money?
Replies: 232
Views: 27993

Re: What motivated you to save money?

Growing up, we always had enough to live on, but it often was close. And I was in a town that had many upper middle class kids and I always felt we didn't measure up.

My first few years out of college, I had some debt and family problems that just sort of chipped away at me and I kind of decided I would do my best to remedy that.
by leo383
Thu Jun 29, 2023 2:07 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 200K, simplest Mutual Fund approach?
Replies: 20
Views: 2608

Re: 200K, simplest Mutual Fund approach?

Dave Ramsey's advice is a little too aggressive for my tastes, and he is not well liked in this forum.

You will get lots of replies asking for specifics, but I might suggest a 60/40 stock/bond mutual fund or even an etf. AOR with iShares is a 60/40 set it and forget it type of investment that wouldn't be a bad idea given your criteria.
by leo383
Fri Jun 16, 2023 4:31 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Suze Orman - Doesn't Like Target Date Funds
Replies: 65
Views: 15199

Re: Suze Orman - Doesn't Like Target Date Funds

I listen to Orman's podcast and enjoy her way of framing investment issues for her audience.

She is often a proponent of buy and hold, low cost investing. However, she also tends to believe that one can know when to time the market to get the best returns, so she doesn't like target date funds because you will be tapering away from stocks right when it may be time to buy them.

She also doesn't seem to understand bond funds. The NAV can go down, and that seems to really throw her.
by leo383
Mon May 22, 2023 1:05 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Did Anyone Notice Their 2040/50/60 Targeted Retirement Funds are Back to Jan 2020 Levels?
Replies: 32
Views: 4485

Re: Did Anyone Notice Their 2040/50/60 Targeted Retirement Funds are Back to Jan 2020 Levels?

MrCheapo wrote: Sun May 21, 2023 10:38 pm

Sure, but factoring in dividends for the SP500 it still severely out performs the 2050 targeted fund.

Doesn't tell us anything about the future.
by leo383
Thu May 11, 2023 8:07 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: VTI vs VXUS: Why diversify into international stocks?
Replies: 74
Views: 8844

Re: VTI vs VXUS: Why diversify into international stocks?

This has been discussed a lot in the forum over the years.

I might suggest looking at it this way: yes the returns of ex-US have been worse over the last x number of years. What does that say with certainty about the future? Nothing.
by leo383
Sun May 07, 2023 9:30 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Humility 101: Lesson # 5
Replies: 49
Views: 8667

Re: Humility 101: Lesson # 5

arcticpineapplecorp. wrote: Sun May 07, 2023 8:57 am
quantAndHold wrote: Fri Apr 28, 2023 2:06 pm The pay for your first contract will be offensively terrible (I was offered $35/hour)
Humility 101: Lesson #6

Many people (some of them on or reading bogleheads) don't make $35/hour.
Amen. For most, $35 an hour is "crushing it".
by leo383
Thu Apr 06, 2023 10:48 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Roth Investment choice for a 20 year old - Target Date or VT
Replies: 31
Views: 2335

Re: Roth Investment choice for a 20 year old - Target Date or VT

A target date fund that far out will be 90+% stocks so it's not like a 60/40 fund that would be too conservative.

Any of those choices would be fine. He just has to stick with it.
by leo383
Sat Mar 25, 2023 8:00 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: College bound son for CS [Computer Science]
Replies: 205
Views: 16736

Re: College bound son for CS [Computer Science]

Computer science numbers all favor Purdue. Rankings, salary, etc

That isn't the whole picture. Pittsburgh is a great livable city that somehow remains affordable and exciting.

Purdue is a pretty remote, mostly tech university, and 60/40 guys. Don't discount quality of life as a factor in your son's college life.
by leo383
Wed Mar 22, 2023 7:38 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Choosing colleges
Replies: 146
Views: 10148

Re: Choosing colleges

When I think of my college days 30 years ago, the weather isn't really something I think about. I never really considered the weather until maybe my early 30s.

All of these schools would be fine choices; lots of opportunities for CS majors these days.

And remember, you can make the absolutely perfect choice of university for your kid, and they can still be miserable there. I've seen it many times. Whole thing is largely a crapshoot.
by leo383
Sat Mar 04, 2023 5:35 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: About to spend 52k for a 2023 Sienna out the door - tell me it’s going to be okay
Replies: 55
Views: 6700

Re: About to spend 52k for a 2023 Sienna out the door - tell me it’s going to be okay

You can afford it and sienna minivans are awesome.

We had a sienna for 15 years when the kids were little and I wish we still had it.
by leo383
Fri Dec 16, 2022 4:48 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Suggestions for the perfect car?
Replies: 82
Views: 7894

Re: Suggestions for the perfect car?

The new Honda HRV is now based on the Civic platform and by many accounts is superior to what was already a good vehicle. It checks a lot of your boxes.
by leo383
Wed Nov 30, 2022 3:46 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Child's custodial Roth IRA - what to invest in?
Replies: 18
Views: 1595

Re: Child's custodial Roth IRA - what to invest in?

I have custodial Roths for my two oldest kids who have income from lifeguarding. I put it in 100% VT
by leo383
Fri Nov 25, 2022 10:34 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Looking for a vacuum today - recommendations?
Replies: 16
Views: 1166

Re: Looking for a vacuum today - recommendations?

I second the Shark recommendations.

I have had Hoover, Dyson, Panasonic, Kenmore, etc. vacuums over the years, and the $100 Shark I have right now is every bit as effective. Plus, it's the only brand I've had that can handle my spouse and daughter's long hair without lots of shenanigans.
by leo383
Thu Nov 17, 2022 3:15 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Which funds do YOU have in your taxable account?
Replies: 138
Views: 18408

Re: Which funds do YOU have in your taxable account?

ITOT--the iShares version of VTI
IXUS--the iShares version of VXUS
VGSH--Vanguard short term treasuries etf
by leo383
Mon Oct 10, 2022 10:51 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Comparing 2008-9 and 2022
Replies: 130
Views: 10077

Re: Comparing 2008-9 and 2022

This year has been pretty bad, but in 2008-2009, it looked for a while like things might come to a full stop. That was much more existential and alarming than this year for sure.
by leo383
Wed Sep 07, 2022 8:15 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Teenager with $11k - what to do?
Replies: 36
Views: 3744

Re: Teenager with $11k - what to do?

Before ruling out the Roth IRA I would point out it is just a container, and doesn't necessarily have to be used for long term investment even though that is the ideal use. Remember that early withdrawals are treated as contributions-first, and you can get back up to your total contributions without paying a penalty. Roth IRA space is generated with earned income, and if not used by the next tax day, is lost forever. By using a Roth IRA as a savings account or money market fund, if an emergency happens and it needs to be emptied, the only loss is the penalty on the interest. On the other hand, if by 25 he is on stable financial footing and hasn't touched the money, and maybe is even in a high tax bracket, it could then be moved to equities...
by leo383
Sun Aug 14, 2022 7:02 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Social security fund insolvency and planning
Replies: 38
Views: 4844

Re: Social security fund insolvency and planning

I have no concerns at all about SS becoming insolvent.

"Solvency" isn't really a thing when you can create the money that you then pay out.
by leo383
Sat Aug 13, 2022 8:01 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Stop Contributing to IRAs After 40?
Replies: 48
Views: 5995

Stop Contributing to IRAs After 40?

There's a CFP in town who has a radio show I listen to, and I generally agree with much of his advice.

One thing he has mentioned is that once you get to about 40yo, you should stop contributions to IRAs and shovel your money into taxable accounts.

His view is that you don't want to let the IRA "tax tail wag the dog"-- the flexibility you lose with IRAs coupled with the less compounding time makes it no longer worthwhile to put money in IRAs.

He does recommend continuing to contribute to 401k plan up to a match.

I thought I'd run this by the forum, as it runs contrary to some of Bogleheads thought.
by leo383
Wed Jul 27, 2022 6:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do you leave your Porch / Exterior lights on at night?
Replies: 168
Views: 15611

Re: Do you leave your Porch / Exterior lights on at night?

I don't turn my porch light on at night, but I do like to make it look like someone is home. Front office interior lamp on all night, and living room in back lamp on all night.
by leo383
Fri Jul 15, 2022 10:02 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: College application question for child (econ top private vs business state school)
Replies: 102
Views: 8473

Re: College application question for child (econ top private vs business state school)

The colleges in the top 25 or so have become pressure cookers. Not long ago several of the top schools were known for their laid back atmospheres, etc. No longer.

The OP clearly stated their kid wasn't interested in a high pressure environment.
by leo383
Sat Jul 09, 2022 5:03 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: safe investment for a 78 year-old widow
Replies: 30
Views: 4079

Re: safe investment for a 78 year-old widow

MarceT wrote: Fri Jul 08, 2022 7:45 pm leo383, how do you do 6 months treasuries on auto-roll, thorough treasury direct or can we do it using a Vanguard account? Thank you!
Here's a thread from a while back that walks through setting up automatic reinvestment using Fidelity. Not sure if vanguard has similar.

viewtopic.php?t=301403


Many thanks to mervinj7
by leo383
Fri Jul 08, 2022 3:44 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: safe investment for a 78 year-old widow
Replies: 30
Views: 4079

Re: safe investment for a 78 year-old widow

I-Bonds
6 month treasuries on auto roll

If she could handle any risk of downside something like a 20/80 stock bond fund would be great.
by leo383
Thu Jun 30, 2022 3:14 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Any Boglehead musicians out there?
Replies: 284
Views: 21802

Re: Any Boglehead musicians out there?

Bass players and sound techs.... Question: Does a bass guitar with a "passive" pickup system need to be plugged into a preamp before the bass amp? Will it increase volume? J🌺 Years ago, it went like this: passive or active bass--->bass preamp--->power amp--->speaker and you can still do it that way if you'd like. Big stadium rigs still do it this way for the most part. Much more common nowadays is the bass "head" that combines the bass preamp and the power amp into one. So it's this: passive or active bass----->bass head--->speaker this is the most common for the typical bar band bassist out there A "combo" combines the preamp, the amp and the speaker into one: passive or active bass------>bass combo An active...
by leo383
Tue Jun 14, 2022 6:53 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Books on financial system
Replies: 14
Views: 1675

Re: Books on financial system

Marginal Revolution University is run by a couple George Mason U econ professors. Would be a good start.

https://mru.org/
by leo383
Sun Jun 05, 2022 5:49 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What should my parents do with an extra 300k?
Replies: 16
Views: 2532

Re: What should my parents do with an extra 300k?

I might suggest something like a 40/60 fund like the Vanguard Life Strategy Conservative Growth Fund VSCGX.

It has some equities but not enough to really scare you. Growth potential is there. Set it and forget it. Like you said they don't need this money and it would be a good now or later fund to put 300k in.
by leo383
Thu May 19, 2022 8:02 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Experience buying a new car recently?
Replies: 122
Views: 19641

Re: Experience buying a new car recently?

We very recently bought a new Toyota Prius. We went in to the dealer, ordered the car we wanted with the specs we wanted and placed a refundable $500 deposit. They gave us a printed quote right at MSRP.

The car took 8 weeks to come in. The day it came in we went in and financed it with the best deal Toyota had at the time. I believe 1.9%.

There were no shenanigans over price, features, etc. It was the least painful experience I have ever had buying a car.

In days past I could have gotten maybe $1-2k off of MSRP but the game the last couple years is different.
by leo383
Fri Apr 08, 2022 8:24 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: USA is a sub-optimal country to retire in? (idle thoughts)
Replies: 24
Views: 3859

Re: USA is a sub-optimal country to retire in? (idle thoughts)

reimann wrote: Fri Apr 08, 2022 6:39 am My mother (age 94) remembers Civil War veterans in her town's July 4th parades.
John Tyler, who was US President in the 1840s, has a grandson who is still alive.

Joe Rogan has a bit where he says the US is only three people old. He's right.
by leo383
Fri Apr 01, 2022 10:12 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: College decision advice
Replies: 163
Views: 11728

Re: College decision advice

Has anyone ever done a good evaluation of whether going to a young person's "dream school" pans out better than any other way of choosing?

I have seen many of my kid's classmates go to various schools for all sorts of reasons, and "dream school" doesn't seem to fare better in the long run.
by leo383
Wed Mar 23, 2022 8:36 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What should my 87-year old father do with $2 million?
Replies: 126
Views: 10329

Re: What should my 87-year old father do with $2 million?

Given what we know about your dad (what a life he's had!), I think I might recommend something like:
$1 million in a SPIA--this would get him roughly $10k a month or so for the rest of his life
$1 million in something like the Vanguard Target Retirement Income Fund or Wellesley Fund

He'd have income and some growth and he wouldn't be too exposed to the stock market but there's some growth potential.

My hometown growing up had two family doctors who got out of med school in the 60s and worked for the next 50 years. I often think that generation of doctors had quite possibly the most fortunate set of circumstances anyone has ever had in the US. Very little debt, high esteem, high incomes, prestige, you name it. They had it all.
by leo383
Mon Mar 14, 2022 9:04 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What can I do better?
Replies: 20
Views: 2453

Re: What can I do better?

I might suggest contributing up to the match in the 401k, then contributing to the Roth as far as you can, then seeing if there's anything left.


25 years old, you are crushing it.
by leo383
Sat Feb 12, 2022 12:12 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: My friend’s portfolio
Replies: 11
Views: 1917

Re: My friend’s portfolio

It's a bit big growth heavy but if your friend can hold on through the years he could do far worse.
by leo383
Fri Feb 04, 2022 10:42 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: [Have iShares TIPS ETF - how do the dividends work?]
Replies: 5
Views: 587

Re: [Have iShares TIPS ETF - how do the dividends work?]

You should be eligible for the dividends as soon as you're an owner of the etf.

Looks like TIP pays out monthly, last ex date was 2/1 and the payout is 2/7. Anywhere from $ .03 to .8 per share based on the last couple years.
by leo383
Thu Jan 27, 2022 8:56 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: 2023 Sequoia.. or Honda Odyssey
Replies: 43
Views: 5042

Re: 2023 Sequoia.. or Honda Odyssey

The Sequoia looks awesome but you have three kids--that's minivan country and there's nothing you can do about it. :happy

With three kids, the convenience and room with a minivan isn't matched by any of the three row SUVs I've looked at.
by leo383
Tue Jan 18, 2022 12:55 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard - Extremely long customer support wait times
Replies: 41
Views: 5038

Re: Vanguard - Extremely long customer support wait times

Waits can be long at Fidelity, too. Depends on what you need to do.

Everyone is short on staff right now.
by leo383
Sat Jan 15, 2022 7:13 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What is the Radio Guy Selling?
Replies: 13
Views: 2118

What is the Radio Guy Selling?

There's a weekly radio show that is frequently played in this area hosted by a very personable, fun RIA.

He talks a lot about being a fiduciary (no surprise) and helping investors create a "stream of income" that they "can't outlive". He doesn't talk much about stocks, mutual funds, or bonds much. It's pretty much about creating that income you can't outlive.

What do you think he's selling? My guess is of course some kind of annuity, but I'm not sure.
by leo383
Mon Jan 10, 2022 8:10 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is my used 2020 Honda minivan really worth 49k?
Replies: 42
Views: 6269

Re: Is my used 2020 Honda minivan really worth 49k?

8foot7 wrote: Mon Jan 10, 2022 6:13 am This is the California housing problem in vehicles. You can leave your van and cash out, but can you afford to come back into a new van?
+1

Unless I absolutely had to get a new or used car right now, I'd avoid the car market right now. Things are really messed up.

Give it a year or two if at all possible.
by leo383
Thu Jan 06, 2022 12:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Simple Strength Building Resistance Band Workout
Replies: 13
Views: 1946

Re: Simple Strength Building Resistance Band Workout

Have you looked at YouTube?

Search "beginning resistance band workout".
by leo383
Wed Dec 22, 2021 1:09 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Can anyone reach Vanguard on the phone?
Replies: 244
Views: 32353

Re: Vanguard phone wait times?

It probably depends on what you need to do.

This time of year RMD, transfer, and tax trained associates are swamped.
by leo383
Mon Dec 20, 2021 12:26 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Would it be dumb for someone who is about 30 years old to go 100% into Vanguard Total World?
Replies: 109
Views: 6133

Re: Would it be crazy for a 30 year old to hold his entire portfolio 100% all in stocks?

It would not be crazy. It might not be appropriate, but it wouldn't be crazy. Lots of us don't have the stomach for the occasional 50% haircut if you're all in stocks.

Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth, as Mike Tyson once noted.
by leo383
Mon Dec 06, 2021 10:15 am
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here
Replies: 3606
Views: 562197

Re: Officially a 2 comma club member....you too can do it

The third comma is the hardest.
by leo383
Mon Nov 29, 2021 9:18 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: College Considerations & Mental Health
Replies: 33
Views: 4518

Re: College Considerations & Mental Health

This is all a long way off.

Some hand holding small we'll-take-care-of-your-kid private schools are actually wildly intense pressure cookers, and some big state schools are full of support and help. You just can't generalize.
by leo383
Sat Nov 27, 2021 11:25 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: My mother is retiring in one year. Looking for help optimizing her portfolio.
Replies: 27
Views: 3222

Re: My mother is retiring in one year. Looking for help optimizing her portfolio.

[/quote]

When you say “move them to Roths”, are you referring to the Roth conversion ladder strategy?
[/quote]

https://www.investopedia.com/roth-ira-c ... es-4770480

It depends a lot on her tax/life expectancy/etc. situation and ambition level, but she could transfer the 403b accounts to vanguard or wherever into one traditional IRA account, then over time transition the traditional ira to a Roth IRA.

It may or may not be worth doing. Depends a lot on her situation.
by leo383
Sat Nov 27, 2021 10:22 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: My mother is retiring in one year. Looking for help optimizing her portfolio.
Replies: 27
Views: 3222

Re: My mother is retiring in one year. Looking for help optimizing her portfolio.

Your mom is crushing it.

Maybe delay SS until 70.

Maybe roll those 403b accounts all into one trad IRA or a trad IRA then move them to Roths with vanguard fidelity or schwab.

Nothing really emergent imo.