Search found 121 matches

by Draak
Tue Mar 11, 2014 8:41 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Need advice on liquidating UGTM accounts
Replies: 38
Views: 6189

Re: Need advice on liquidating UGTM accounts

deleted at ss critics suggestion
by Draak
Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:48 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Money issues - people take me for granted
Replies: 74
Views: 7955

Re: Money issues - people take me for granted

Next time someone makes one of these requests of you, let them know you need to consult your "board" - we'll help you with the NO!!!!!!


Start Up acquisition isn't Powerball kind of money unless you are the one that started the company. If you are start up employee you may have gotten options or %age ownership to take the risk to work there, depending on what state the company was at when you joined.
by Draak
Sun Mar 09, 2014 5:24 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: DB Pension Options
Replies: 32
Views: 2606

Re: DB Pension Options

I agree with your approach. I stay because they are here now (and young in their careers) and I will stay as long as they are here. Should they decide to move out of this area, I would not follow, but I would lose my primary reason to stay here. When/If that happens then I will move to a lower cost area that gets more sun :D
by Draak
Sun Mar 09, 2014 5:16 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Advice on Fiancees Law School Loans
Replies: 10
Views: 1085

Re: Advice on Fiance's Law School Loans

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by Draak
Sun Mar 09, 2014 3:31 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Any Subaru owners out there?
Replies: 53
Views: 7919

Re: Any Subaru owners out there?

delete
by Draak
Sun Mar 09, 2014 2:39 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: DB Pension Options
Replies: 32
Views: 2606

Re: DB Pension Options

delete
by Draak
Sun Mar 09, 2014 1:48 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: HUGE retirement decision.
Replies: 71
Views: 9386

Re: HUGE retirement decision.

delete
by Draak
Sun Mar 09, 2014 12:59 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tipping for a haircut at Great Clips
Replies: 56
Views: 62751

Re: Tip at Great Clips

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by Draak
Sun Mar 09, 2014 12:55 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Poll: Do you use the Amazon link here to make purchases?
Replies: 24
Views: 2413

Re: Poll: Do you use the Amazon link here to make purchases?

What Link? I see it at the top of the page now, but didn't have a clue it was there before.

I looked at a lot of the FAQ information when I joined, but either didn't see or glossed over the link. Sorry :-(
by Draak
Sat Mar 01, 2014 3:12 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: investment property income
Replies: 7
Views: 1343

Re: investment property income

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by Draak
Thu Feb 27, 2014 12:55 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: HELP! Medical costs
Replies: 54
Views: 5582

Re: HELP! Medical costs

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by Draak
Mon Feb 24, 2014 11:00 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: HSA vs. Regular Plan--two very good choices
Replies: 18
Views: 2043

Re: HSA vs. Regular Plan--two very good choices

Eli Lilly FCU is one of the best & I wish I could be a member. They actually booted us out of it when they sold the company I worked for :(

I will look around more, but the 2 CUs I bank with don't handle them at all.
by Draak
Sun Feb 23, 2014 11:34 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: The Estate lawyer cost us big
Replies: 109
Views: 15294

Re: The Estate lawyer cost us big

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by Draak
Sat Feb 15, 2014 2:19 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Private Stock Sale Opportunity
Replies: 7
Views: 1154

Re: Private Stock Sale Opportunity

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by Draak
Wed Jan 29, 2014 10:44 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard VTI vs VTSAX - why different 5yr returns?
Replies: 25
Views: 6230

Re: Vanguard VTI vs VTSAX - why different 5yr returns?

The difference in the starting investment accounts for about $400 of difference when growth is factored in.

What does your Vanguard account say the value of the 2 accounts are? I think there is something wrong in your Quicken figures for the day. Seems like it is more wrong than the Mutual Fund prior day end figure vs ETF today.
by Draak
Sat Jan 25, 2014 3:45 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: percolator vs drip
Replies: 109
Views: 12106

Re: percolator vs drip

French Press would actually be the tested result that gives best flavor of coffee. I'll trust Howard Shultz on this one.
I think also you are supposed to use a certain kind of grinder - burr if I recall correctly.

Personally I use a drip because I'm lazy and it's easy and I can buy a replacement at Costco for $25 and a 2-3 year supply of filters all in one trip :happy .

I should probably buy my beans a better class of brewer since I do buy slightly expensive Starbucks Dark beans.

My French Press only gets out of the cupboard during power outages.
by Draak
Sat Jan 25, 2014 3:36 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Transferring Defined Contribution Plan to R/O IRA
Replies: 16
Views: 1344

Re: Transferring Defined Contribution Plan to R/O IRA

You need to get and read the DFB plan document. That is what sets the rules.
I have one dfb that does not allow withdrawal until 55, regardless of employment status. It used to have a cash out provision at 55, but they changed their plan document several years ago and changed that to age 65. So you either start the regular monthly distributions at 55, or take nothing so you can get the cash at 65. This plan really worries me that they will go insolvent. I can't think of any reason, other than underfunding, that a change like that would have occurred.

I have another dfb plan that allows you to take the cash value out any time after you terminate employment (better company/better plan), so this one I will roll into my RO IRA.
by Draak
Sat Jan 25, 2014 12:30 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: College Kids taxes
Replies: 35
Views: 2008

Re: College Kids taxes

sscritic wrote:
Draak wrote: I don't understand the 'no benefit' statement;
Google PEP. If you made $500,000 a year, you would understand.
You Google PEP -- Pepsico, Phillipine Show biz, etc I tried PEP test also -- google assumes I MUST have meant PAP test!!

No, I don't make $500K a year. If you clarify what term won't give me bizarre results I'd be interested in understanding it, despite my lowly income standing.
by Draak
Sat Jan 25, 2014 12:20 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Need Advice - Maxed out 401k, Phased Out Roth
Replies: 11
Views: 1819

Re: Need Advice - Maxed out 401k, Phased Out Roth

If you have already maximized your tax deferred options, and are at the phased out of Roth income level - Just open a taxable brokerage account and invest there. Taxation on earnings isn't a sin . . . at least not if you have taken advantage of all your deferred options!
by Draak
Sat Jan 25, 2014 12:11 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: College Kids taxes
Replies: 35
Views: 2008

Re: College Kids taxes

If the student had federal income taxes withheld from his paycheck, he would find value in filing. He would receive a refund. If the student didn't declare as EXEMPT on his W-4 that is true. I advised my student to file her W-4 as EXEMPT. I would happily write a check to the IRS for her if she earned over $10K while a full time student :D Can the parent claim the student as a dependent on their taxes if the student had earned income? If so, then the parents do get a benefit from the $3950 exemption since I assume parents are at 25% or higher marginal tax rate. I don't understand the 'no benefit' statement; unless earned income means you can't take the exemption for them. 2013 is the first year she has earned income, so I will need to find ...
by Draak
Sat Jan 25, 2014 11:46 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to crash the financial plane gently?
Replies: 11
Views: 2298

Re: How to crash the financial plane gently?

Short Sale the UT home - it is an albatross. You need to negotiate that with the bank. Be aggressive (e.g. stop paying the mortgage if they won't engage with you on short sale) You can also look at HARP II program & whether it will give you any benefit since 2nd home qualifies on that program (not positive a rental property qualifies, but check into it). However I'd look at dumping the house since you have enough stress on your plate & need to simplify. Outside of the UT rental home expense, can you float the family expenses on a single income? If worst comes to worse and you also lose your job, pay your primary home mortgage-utilities-living costs only. Plan towards BK filing, but work hard at finding new jobs. Stop buying homes in...
by Draak
Sat Jan 25, 2014 11:34 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Dental Insurance?
Replies: 38
Views: 5239

Re: Dental Insurance?

Most years I have the same scenario. There are two points to consider if you "drop dental insurance".
1] You no longer get the dentist agreed contract rates & will be paying at a higher rate for the same services. If you are seriously considering this, ask your dentist what the non contract charges are for the same services, so you don't analyze using the contract rates.
2] You now self-insure for major work. Root Canal plus Crown is about $2,000 in my neighborhood.
by Draak
Sat Jan 25, 2014 11:29 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: College Kids taxes
Replies: 35
Views: 2008

Re: College Kids taxes

I don't see why he would not still be dependent on your tax return. He is still dependent.

He would get no 'value' from filing independent from you.

Ask your CPA - I think (s)he will tell you the same.
by Draak
Fri Jan 24, 2014 10:53 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Home Equity Loan-Wells Fargo charging $500 to quit!
Replies: 49
Views: 8429

Re: Home Equity Loan-Wells Fargo charging $500 to quit!

So, what happens if you simply leave the HELOC open and don't use it. Also, how precisely would they collect the $500. It's outrageous - but the "problem" seems in part manufactured - just something to get mad about when there would seem to be easy ways to make it a non-issue. Also in the fine print will be your authorizing them to take owed funds from any account you have with them. Banks started doing that several years back & they do not highlight it for you. I had a car loan with my CU that had a line in it that in the event of my death, they could withdraw the full balance of the loan from my accounts immediately. That is the last loan they will ever have with me. They'll get paid, but they can wait in the probate line l...
by Draak
Fri Jan 17, 2014 10:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: File head of household or married?
Replies: 7
Views: 1110

Re: File head of household or married?

Read IRS Publication 504. If you are separated but not legally divorced, the IRS filing is married. I think there are special rules in some states where a legal separation can be obtained & the IRS defers to the state rules about marital status. Read IRS Publication 504. Your brief description suggests your marital status would be considered "married" so you can choose to file joint or separate, but both statuses would be married (no head of household) HOH would apply to one parent after divorce. Only one parent can claim the exemption for the child. Who gets to claim the exemptions for children is usually set by the court during the divorce and is directed to the parent that will receive the most financial benefit from the st...
by Draak
Tue Jan 14, 2014 11:48 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Sacrificing career for family
Replies: 40
Views: 5927

Re: Sacrificing career for family

delete
by Draak
Thu Jan 09, 2014 10:33 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Long Term Disability
Replies: 7
Views: 913

Re: Long Term Disability

Looking for Long term disability for my wife as she does not have any at this time. We could afford if she quit working, but the LTD I have through my organization is so very cheap. When I get the following quote I almost flipped. Does this seem quite expensive to anyone else here? My wife is 29 years old. Think I would rather invest $51 a month in addition to our savings plan. To age 65 plan with 30 day elimination period paying $2000 per month would be $51.39 Thoughts??? I would say it is a deal, but I'm older & my quote for LTD (when I took a year off work) was over $1200 per month!! The agent said that the problem with LTD insurance is that the only people that take it are the ones that are likely to use it. That makes the rates hi...