Search found 5159 matches

by MnD
Wed Mar 27, 2024 8:29 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: how much do you think you need to retire?
Replies: 297
Views: 63039

Re: how much do you think you need to retire?

We retired 5.X years ago in our mid-50's with $1.6M, one FERS pension (36% of one ending high-3 salary) and two claims on Social Security (one above average and one close to maxed out). We spend about $11K a month, the very large majority of it discretionary. Portfolio after withdrawing 5% per year of annual portfolio balance for 5.X years is now almost $2M. We just started drawing the lower claim on SS at age 62 and will wait until 70 on the higher claim. We've had so much fun the past 5+ years. Healthy go-go years of retirement and tons of discretionary income to do within reason pretty much whatever we want without worrying about money. I'm running every other day, cross-training the other days and getting a massage every other week. 50 ...
by MnD
Tue Mar 26, 2024 1:45 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: buying mutual funds seems easier than buying ETFs
Replies: 64
Views: 4889

Re: buying mutual funds seems easier than buying ETFs

When it comes to ETFs, trading volume is key. Compare Friday's trading volume for these two S&P-500 funds: SPY: 79,067,536 VOO: 5,881,487 With SPY, you can use a market order and pretty much get the current price. With VOO, if you use a market order, you likely will have the price move on you . You'll be tempted to put in a limit order, but then the price may get away from you. VOO trades millions of shares traded daily and a typical 1 cent bid/ask spread. On a buy order you will almost certainly get the ask plus some "price improvement" on either a market order or on an order at the ask. So execution at something less than a penny difference and between the bid/ask. If not, it's just because some big order hit just prior to ...
by MnD
Tue Mar 26, 2024 8:48 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Hospital not following up with my insurance for large claim
Replies: 24
Views: 2262

Re: Hospital not following up with my insurance for large claim

It’s a long story and I’ve posted about it a couple times, but I did nothing until I received an invoice after a recent surgery. Invoice came about 190 days after the case, there was a lot of challenges with the billing and I lost my right to appeal the claim because >180 days had passed. I even appealed the “timely appeal” finding and lost that too. Ultimately cost me a significant amount. Would I have had a different outcome had I been proactive with the hospital, not sure. But I know my passiveness eliminated the possibility. That's my concern. That whenever the hospital and insurer get this processed and I receive an EOB (explanation of benefits), that some deadline for disputing the settlement and my share of costs will have passed. N...
by MnD
Mon Mar 25, 2024 10:00 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Those complimentary dinners for retirees by investment advisors
Replies: 143
Views: 10478

Re: Those complimentary dinners for retirees by investment advisors

AlwaysLearningMore wrote: Mon Mar 25, 2024 9:18 pm We get lots of these glossy invitations, and I kept trying to convince spouse that we should go to one. I get a hard "No" in response. There's this fear I'll ask some "clarification questions" and lead to tension in the room. So now they get recycled.
This happened to me today so I guess we are not going.
She reminded me what happened a couple years ago when the son of a good friend of ours (who was an newly minted financial advisor) sat with us at a party. :mrgreen:
by MnD
Mon Mar 25, 2024 12:29 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Hospital not following up with my insurance for large claim
Replies: 24
Views: 2262

Hospital not following up with my insurance for large claim

Should I let sleeping dogs lie here or be proactive with my insurer or the hospital? I spent one night in the hospital following surgery in early November 2023. I paid my estimated copay in full (that the hospital had calculated) when checking in. In mid-November the hospital submitted a claim to my insurance for $250K. I appears that all the charges were duplicated 5 times so the actual claim might be $50K. My insuror responded with a short letter to the hospital requesting additional medicaL information on the claim. They responded by re-submitted the exact same claim to then a few days later without any additional information. Since then nothing. No insurance processing, no payments made to the hospital and no communication to me from ei...
by MnD
Mon Mar 25, 2024 9:37 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Those complimentary dinners for retirees by investment advisors
Replies: 143
Views: 10478

Those complimentary dinners for retirees by investment advisors

So how bad could they be?
I retired 5 years but am finally getting the postcards inviting us to these dinners.
The most common one is a steak dinner at one of our favorite restaurants that is about 5 minutes away from our house.

I'm always entertained by how how bad most investment advisors are so I wouldn't mind the presentation.
Unless it went on for hours.
But do they keep you there trapped like a timeshare presentation?
Or do they later come banging on your door at all hours for weeks on end afterwards?

I would plan to say I'm not interested on a follow-up call and block their number.
by MnD
Sun Mar 24, 2024 9:44 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Does It Ever Make Sense For FEHB Enrollees To Drop Part B?
Replies: 24
Views: 1491

Re: Does It Ever Make Sense For FEHB Enrollees To Drop Part B?

Many retired federal employees just continue their FEHB coverage and never enroll in Medicare part B.
It's very good comprehensive insurance with many choices in policies and you can switch every year as needs change.

You could easily turn that question around and ask - "does it ever make sense to enroll in Part B if you have access to FEHB?"

I have three more years to decide and am definitely on the fence about enrolling in part B. Currently leaning towards not enrolling.
by MnD
Sat Mar 23, 2024 11:17 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: At what age to tell child about family's finances
Replies: 74
Views: 6102

Re: At what age to tell child about family's finances

Given joint life expectancy and the cost of long term care for those with assets to self-pay, I don't really see adult kids that have knowledge of parental finances "slacking" their lives away while waiting for some big inheritance. I do mention those things when discussing the family finances with my adult kids. I was doing an annual update but they seemed bored, so I do it somewhat less frequently now.

I don't see a list of "cons" from those indicating they aren't sharing financial information with kids that includes the scale of assets.
It comes across to me (online at least) as sort of an angry "none of their GD business!".
by MnD
Sat Mar 23, 2024 8:51 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: At what age to tell child about family's finances
Replies: 74
Views: 6102

Re: At what age to tell child about family's finances

My Dad was an estate attorney and he told any number of nightmares about parents who didn't share accurate and up to date financial information with heirs. Lost assets, theft and fraud by advisors, caregivers, or strangers etc. Long searches for assets that didn't exist or were disposed of decades ago. Completely inappropriate mismanaged investments. Kids who thought their parents had lots of assets and planned accordingly (assumed they could age in place and hire anything they needed) when in fact they had nothing. And vice-versa. A lot of people who wouldn't share information with kids did also not share information with spouses will all kinds of similiar disasters. He thought it was a power/control disorder.
by MnD
Wed Mar 20, 2024 9:16 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Reset 4% withdrawal floor if portfolio increases in value?
Replies: 93
Views: 8020

Re: Reset 4% withdrawal floor if portfolio increases in value?

5+ years into retirement we provide the wiggle room (in both directions) by withdrawing 5% of annual portfolio balance. Since 2019 in the go-go years of retirement (age 56-62) we've withdrawn and spent around a quarter million dollars more than what an ultra-conservative 3% inflation-adjusted SWR plan (that seems popular here) would have provided. Portfolio balance is currently significantly larger than what we retired with in nominal terms and slightly larger in real terms. We are currently receiving pension income and just started one (the lower) of our two Social Security claims. Our untapped remaining (larger) SS claim is about 95% of the maximum benefit. We also have low fixed expenses so have large leeway to accommodate fluctuations i...
by MnD
Sat Mar 16, 2024 10:55 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Am I Only One Who Hates Having Left Over Pennies
Replies: 53
Views: 4497

Re: Am I Only One Who Hates Having Left Over Pennies

If you have say 4 cents in cash and have a traded money market fund holding in the account, sell $1 of it and next day purchase $1.04 of it.
I'm taking distributions on most accounts so for the ones where I don't have a money market holding, I'll for example sell $899.96 of a mutual fund and take a $900 distribution next day to scoop up loose change.
I have one account where I don't auto-reinvest dividends so I sop up few cents balances when it makes a distribution by reinvesting it plus the loose pennies.
by MnD
Tue Mar 12, 2024 11:02 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Age 60+ AND retired? What's your asset allocation? What type of bonds/Fixed Inc instruments do you use?
Replies: 63
Views: 10093

Re: Age 60+ AND retired? What's your asset allocation? What type of bonds/Fixed Inc instruments do you use?

Retired and early 60's

70% stocks (40% US 30% ex-US)
19% TSP G fund
9% Dodge and Cox Global Bond Fund
2% T-bills
by MnD
Tue Feb 27, 2024 7:02 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Life Annuity through TSP (fed employees/retirees)
Replies: 6
Views: 1173

Re: Life Annuity through TSP (fed employees/retirees)

Between my social security, her social security and my FERS pension we need another annuity like a hole in the head.

I do know some fed retirees that are extremely reluctant/afraid to withdraw from their TSP in retirement.
They typically are not savvy investors and have no experience owning financial investments outside of the TSP.
They seem to view their TSP account as something for "security" in the abstract as opposed to a resource to provide additional retirement income.

I guess for that crowd, assuming they have utility for additional income, an annuity conversion of at least some of their TSP balance would be a device that would allow them to enjoy income from their lifetime of savings while they still can.
by MnD
Sat Feb 24, 2024 4:25 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: H&R Block e-file and pay tax with credit card at lowest fee?
Replies: 2
Views: 468

H&R Block e-file and pay tax with credit card at lowest fee?

I'm about ready to federal e-file with H&R Block PC version. H&R Block seems to want to steer filers wanting to pay federal tax to their "preferred" credit card payment vendor at a 2.49% fee versus the lowest cost credit card vendor which is at 1.82% according to the IRS website on this topic. https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-your-taxes-by-debit-or-credit-card Are there any games to play to get the best (1.82%) CC payment fee when e-filing with H&R Block? I'm thinking of filing with H&R Block indicating I'm going to mail my payment in, but instead then go to the Credit card payer site that charges 1.82% and pay that way. From H&R Block tax software help After your return is accepted, go to the credit card payme...
by MnD
Sun Feb 18, 2024 11:15 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Safest way to pay bills electronically
Replies: 72
Views: 6209

Re: Safest way to pay bills electronically

95% of our bills and other expenses paid or auto-paid with rewards credit cards.
Credit cards all set to same payment day and paid with ACH "pulls" by credit cards from checking.
Been doing this forever (~20 years) and have never had a single problem.

You get a nice clean monthly "closeout" on credit card payment day.

The house cleaners and her hair person only take cash or checks.
Our gas/electric company has a hefy surcharge for credit cards so I allow them to do an ACH from checking.
That's it.

There is usually a ton of what IMO is paranoia about using "pulls" to pay for things in these threads.
by MnD
Fri Feb 16, 2024 9:45 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What's the best way to have federal taxes withheld so I don't have to pay the dreaded estimated taxes?
Replies: 70
Views: 9519

Re: What's the best way to have federal taxes withheld so I don't have to pay the dreaded estimated taxes?

I do zero tax withholding from all sources of retirement income. That way I have control over the source of funding for quarterly estimated taxes.
It can matter a lot on your total taxes owed depending on what pots of money you pay your taxes from. It takes about 5 minutes a quarter and you don't have to dig through various 1099 forms to figure out what was withheld for taxes.

In 2021 I switched to non-taxable sources of income to pay quarterly taxes in order to keep under the income threshold to get the last covid stimulus payment. That simple move netted our household several thousands of dollars.
by MnD
Tue Feb 13, 2024 11:14 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Turning off Margin ability on a Schwab account
Replies: 28
Views: 2322

Re: Turning off Margin ability on a Schwab account

OK, a bit more issue. I tried to fix the margin by selling off the Money market, but it failed because it complain that there wasn't enough funds. There should be enough funds. It turns out that once you buy a money market, you can sell it right away and have to wait a days for it to settle. so the timeline goes like this. 2/8 Purchase all free cash in settlement fund to Money Market. 2/9 Advisor Fee withdrawn, resulting in a small margin loan. 2/13 The earliest you can sell the MM purchased in 2/8. I believe the settlement terms on Schwab MM fund sales and purchases are T+0 so I don't think this is correct. Did your purchase of MM funds on 2/8 involve freshly deposited cash from outside Schwab? In that case they can restrict it from going...
by MnD
Tue Feb 13, 2024 11:00 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Turning off Margin ability on a Schwab account
Replies: 28
Views: 2322

Re: Turning off Margin ability on a Schwab account

I have margin enabled at Schwab specifically for situations like this given that Schwab doesn't auto-liquidate MM funds. It also functions as overdraft protection to the linked checking account. A trivial amount of margin interest is a lot less troublesome than settlement violations or bounced checks. In 10 years the margin loan has been initiated 2 or 3 times due to an error I made and I think the total margin interest resulting from those was cumulatively around $1. Schwab is very proactive about alerting you when a margin loan is established. I'm also not worried by doing things like buying a t-bill on Monday (that settles Thursday) with settlement being done by a bill maturity on that Thursday. My account has a large negative cash balan...
by MnD
Sun Feb 11, 2024 9:17 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The TSP's Mutual Fund Window
Replies: 19
Views: 2373

Re: The TSP's Mutual Fund Window

I had an interest in the MFW due to the lack of EM and mid/small cap international in the I fund - until I saw the fee schedule. Completely out of line compared to MFW fees at other large employer plans. Now that the I fund is converting to a total international index (ex-China and Hong Kong) I would never even give the MFW another look. Trading friction/costs associated with the August 2023 ban on US investments in certain chinese sectors now probably outweighs any benefits of holding that particular slice of EM. And if one just had to have China+Hong Kong, it would be very simple and much cheaper to take a 3% position in a global market cap weighted equity portfolio via a China+Hong Kong ETF like Ishares MCHI in some account outside the T...
by MnD
Sun Feb 11, 2024 8:38 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Fidelity Fully Paid Lending program - anyone?
Replies: 19
Views: 2685

Re: Fidelity Fully Paid Lending program - anyone?

I got around 10% (annualized) at Schwab for a few months on an individual stock (non-dividend paying) under their Securities Lending Fully Paid program. Then the securities were returned and the income stopped.

It's invite only - you get an email if something you hold qualifies.
I still have the security and I hope it gets loaned out again.
by MnD
Fri Feb 09, 2024 5:16 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Help track down contact or additional information for TSP-like government retirement plan
Replies: 40
Views: 1684

Re: Help track down contact or additional information for TSP-like government retirement plan

Some agencies have the TSP and their own 401-K plan.

For example NCUA employees (the credit union version of FDIC) has:

Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with up to 5% agency matching on employee contributions
NCUA Savings Plan (401k) with up to 5% agency contributions
https://ncua.gov/about/careers/pay-benefits

So one thing to check is whether or not her agency has or had two separate defined contribution retirement savings plans.
The TSP and another one.
by MnD
Tue Feb 06, 2024 8:18 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How to invest cash at Schwab?
Replies: 76
Views: 9473

Re: How to invest cash at Schwab?

I use SWVXX and a 3-month 3-bill t-bill ladder. About 25% in each.

You can have a negative cash balance at Schwab without initiating a margin account.
Once a month I have a negative cash balance for several days from the purchase of a 13 week T-bill on Monday at auction (with a Thursday settlement date) and the maturity of a 13 week T-bill on that Thursday. Never paid even a penny in margin interest.
by MnD
Tue Feb 06, 2024 7:09 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Financial Planner Withdrawal Rate Goes from 3% to 11%
Replies: 24
Views: 2639

Re: Financial Planner Withdrawal Rate Goes from 3% to 11%

Less than 3% until age 75?
Seems like a great plan to defer spending the money that you saved for retirement until you are too old to do much with it.
by MnD
Fri Feb 02, 2024 9:55 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Selling Scrap Silver
Replies: 21
Views: 2933

Re: Selling Scrap Silver

I've appraised a bunch of old coin "collections" for friends and relatives (usually from their deceased parents).
Typically 99.X% of the coins are worth face value (if not containing precious metal) or 90-95% of spot metal value if they contain silver or gold.

The reason genuinely rare gold or silver coins are worth a lot is because they are in fact rare both now as well as being rare back in the day.

You can waste a huge amount of time trying to get more than face value for wheat pennies or $2 bills but good luck with that.
by MnD
Fri Feb 02, 2024 10:14 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Selling Scrap Silver
Replies: 21
Views: 2933

Re: Selling Scrap Silver

I have $200-300 (face value) in 90% silver US coins with no numismatic value to sell. I also have some commemorative silver coins that I want to sell. I’m looking to understand the value and have a few questions. Anyone have experience with what percent of spot price a local dealer will pay for the silver content of the 90% coins? Is that answer any different for the commemorative issues that can be melted down? Anyone used APMEX online for doing this as a better option to a local dealer? Thanks in advance for any help. $300 face value of circulated has has 214.5 troy ounces of silver. .715 troy ounces per $1 face is generally used for circulated US silver coins. Originally they would have had .723 troy ounces per $1 but .715 accounts for ...
by MnD
Wed Jan 31, 2024 10:14 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Coin grading questions - PCGS, NGC or ANACS
Replies: 1
Views: 323

Coin grading questions - PCGS, NGC or ANACS

About 90% of my coin collection is professionally graded and encapsulated by PCGS, NGC or ANACS. I've made it a New Years resolution to get the other 10% graded and encapsulated. For consistency and to help ensure anyone inheriting these coins aren't taken advantage of in a sale. Seven of the coins are uncirculated (likely MS-64) Carson City Morgan Dollars and three are uncirculated gold coins from the mid-late 1800's. One wild card, 6 of the 7 Morgans are Carson City in the US govt. GSA holders from the 1970's US government sale of these. I do not want these to be broken out of their original GSA holders. A few questions.... 1) Any opinions on if it is better to use PCGS, NGC or ANACS? 2) Does it cost extra to take these to an authorized P...
by MnD
Tue Jan 30, 2024 8:57 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to distribute inheritance cash with siblings
Replies: 21
Views: 3203

Re: How to distribute inheritance cash with siblings

RubyTuesday wrote: Sun Jan 28, 2024 5:06 pm While the sister is listed as joint and survivor on the account, and could probably keep the money, she likely has no basis in the account and could probably treat it as an estate asset. Transfer it to an estate account and distribute it per the will.
That's what I would do in this situation.
by MnD
Fri Jan 26, 2024 7:25 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Anyone wished they had worked a few more years before retiring?
Replies: 89
Views: 14726

Re: Anyone wished they had worked a few more years before retiring?

Oh gosh no.
Assuming you aren't financially stressed in retirement, you can always pick up a job more aligned with your personal interests in retirement to keep yourself busy. Not my cup of tea but I know a few peers that did that.
by MnD
Wed Jan 24, 2024 9:11 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Psychological Aversion to Decumulation Phase
Replies: 73
Views: 7446

Re: Psychological Aversion to Decumulation Phase

I retired at the end of November 2018 in my mid-50's. I got my last paychecks in that December and set up an automated monthly portfolio withdrawal starting that January per my IPS below. It wasn't any different than getting a work paycheck - minus the having to work part. :mrgreen: After adjusting for the reduction in taxes and not having to save for retirement, net spendable income was and is basically the same as when working. So for starters I'm not wringing my hands every month about how much to deacumulate. I probably spend 2 hours a year on this topic when I adjust my automatic withdrawals based on annual portfolio balance. So it just really wasn't a meaningful financial change. The change and excitement was all on the experiences si...
by MnD
Mon Jan 22, 2024 6:48 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Anyone Ever Retire With a 6-Month Notice?
Replies: 50
Views: 4682

Re: Anyone Ever Retire With a 6-Month Notice?

Almost 6 months notice.
Federal government.

I recommended splitting my job in two and suggested two individuals to take over the split roles.
Both the recommendation and the individuals were accepted and i had several months to train them including business trips with them to meet important contractors and collaborators.

No negatives.My last performance evaluation, which was linked to some compensation, occurred only about one month prior to retirement.
I did get an evaluation and did get the money. I was a little worried about that.
by MnD
Mon Jan 22, 2024 10:47 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Best setup for getting yield on checking account? Currently w/ Schwab and Etrade
Replies: 49
Views: 4567

Re: Best setup for getting yield on checking account? Currently w/ Schwab and Etrade

We've arranged things so that something like 95%+ of our bills are due on the same day of the month. If you charge everything possible to cash-back credit cards and synchronize those due dates to any other major other monthly bill (like a house payment) this isn't complicated to get that % that high. We then just move funds into Schwab checking just prior to that. The "cost" of having cash equal to a month's worth of bills in Schwab checking versus their money market fund for a few days is insignificant. In round numbers and %'s lets say you have $10K in Schwab checking for three days a month to pay your bills at .50% versus SWVXX at 5%. Annually that's $10K for 36 days earning .5% ($5) versus at 5% earning $50. Net annual cost $4...
by MnD
Sat Jan 20, 2024 5:28 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What motivated you to save money?
Replies: 232
Views: 28391

Re: What motivated you to save money?

To not be dependant on employers for month to month survival and to retire early.
Both my father and my father-in-law retired around traditional retirement age after experiencing significant health problems.
They both had around one year of retirement in poor health and died.
by MnD
Thu Jan 18, 2024 9:02 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: [TSP I Fund changes to MSCI ex US ex China & Hong Kong index]
Replies: 48
Views: 7088

Re: MSCI ACWI IMI ex USA ex China ex Hong Kong Index (USD)

They REALLY need to issue a timetable on the 2024 transition. It is not going to be done overnight.
Lots of people (myself included) have emerging market and small cap international funds in other accounts outside the TSP that now need to be unwound in 2024 to avoid overweighting these positions overall when the I fund adds them.

Absent any specifics I'll just convert 25% per quarter to VXUS.

This could end up being a useful index that gets picked up by a number of fund sponsors - depending on various things.
by MnD
Tue Jan 16, 2024 12:18 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Helping retired parents, Why quarterly tax payments?
Replies: 35
Views: 3241

Re: Helping retired parents, Why quarterly tax payments?

With quarterly payments I control where the funds for taxes are coming from which provides some control over my total tax liability and AGI. In 2021 for example the last covid stimulus payment was announced in March 2021 with income limits for qualifying. I was able to direct remaining quarterly tax payments to be from sources that didn't add to AGI and was then able to just be under the AGI limit to qualify for $2800. Ka-ching! There are several cliff type income limits for retirees depending on their income level so having some control over AGI can be a profitable undertaking. I have recurring/perpetual electronic calendar entries to make the payments and it takes me about 3 minutes per quarter to schedule the federal and state electronic...
by MnD
Sun Jan 14, 2024 5:22 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Starter Kit for teenagers/ undergrad students?
Replies: 15
Views: 2178

Re: Starter Kit for teenagers/ undergrad students?

In addition to the resources suggested above I had them open Schwab investor checking accounts with the paired brokerage account and a Roth IRA account.

The Schwab checking with no minimum anything and complete reimbursement of any ATM fees has saved them a ton compared to their peers.
They have accumulated ETF shares in the both the brokerage account and Roth IRA's.
by MnD
Fri Jan 12, 2024 7:43 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Thoughts on [investing in Toyota stock]?
Replies: 48
Views: 9167

Re: Thoughts on Toyota?

My thoughts.....

My 2005 Tacoma with 180K miles has had 2 repairs other than scheduled maintenance (factory minimum) and wear items like tires/brakes.
Starter motor and radiator. Plenty of 4WD use throughout the western US forests and towing.

I'm very disappointed the 2024 Tacoma Limited trim does not come with a 6-foot bed. I want the hybrid engine but not the hard ride of the various "off-road" packages. It appears that the only way to get the hybrid engine AND a 6-foot bed is in the several flavors of off-road trims. :(
by MnD
Tue Jan 09, 2024 1:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Rule of 55 Workaround
Replies: 15
Views: 1860

Re: Rule of 55 Workaround

I didn't have any withholding on rule of 55 partial distributions because they were "periodic payments expected to last more than 10 years".
The test was the periodic payment amount multiplied out to 10 years had to be lower than the current plan balance.

I imagine it's not that common for 401-K plans to allow post-separation periodic payments AND be on top of the exemption to mandatory withholding, But it's possible.
by MnD
Mon Jan 08, 2024 10:10 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 2024 Hedge Fund contest
Replies: 156
Views: 28435

Re: 2024 Hedge Fund contest

Fund name: Boomer's Sunset Fund

Long: SCI

Short: EAT DRI
by MnD
Sun Jan 07, 2024 8:58 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Where do you bank and why? 2024 Edition
Replies: 113
Views: 15431

Re: Where do you bank and why? 2024 Edition

At the bank my brokerage owns for 15+ years (for checking).
"Savings" is a dedicated brokerage account because it has so many more and better options than an actual bank savings account.
Numerous flavors of MM funds, t-bills, brokered CD's, etc.

I would never have a separate bank.
All my kids were set up this way from the start and can't even conceive of separate banking.
by MnD
Sat Jan 06, 2024 10:30 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 10 year old wants to sit with me when I do taxes . Should I let him?
Replies: 98
Views: 16826

Re: 10 year old wants to sit with me when I do taxes . Should I let him?

I would do my Dad's taxes from scratch around age 11. The game was to see how close I got to his tax guy's actual number.
He was a lawyer so not tiny income numbers but not very complex.

My sisters were 8 and 10 years older than me and I also did their taxes for real after my Dad had checked my numbers.
They were In college with waitress jobs so pretty simple.
by MnD
Fri Jan 05, 2024 8:14 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Class of 2019 Retirees, How Are You Doing?
Replies: 9
Views: 2432

Re: Class of 2019 Retirees, How Are You Doing?

Great! Our investment net worth is up 21% and the inflation-adjusted figure is almost exactly at what we retired with at the end of 2018.
That was the goal (along with maximizing income from portfolio) when I designed our retirement IPS in my signature below.
And so far so good.

In the early go-go years of retirement we've spent about a quarter-million dollars more from portfolio than what a 3% inflation-adjusted SWR would have afforded. Spending is very heavily weighted towards experiences which have been amazing. Tons of travel and a lot of great local events.
Lost a lot of weight, work out every day and at age 61 am running 3 times a week. We camped 56 nights in 2023 plus many weeks of comfier travel.
by MnD
Tue Jan 02, 2024 7:56 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: At what net worth did you start not sweating the "small stuff"
Replies: 137
Views: 28591

Re: At what net worth did you start not sweating the "small stuff"

It's very selective. I don't sweat unexpected expenses - even major ones.Or my spouse buying some stuff I don't see the value in. Or paying more than average - our house cleaners and vet are definitely on the high side but we like the service. I don't chase discounts unless I'm entertained by or interested in doing so. OTOH if i think I've been cheated it drives me nuts. I'm currently working on a health insurance claim denial that obviously should have been paid for a couple of hundred bucks and it makes me mad just thinking about it. I also get aggravated by our financial errors. I recently discovered we didn't cancel a streaming service like I thought we had and that really bothered me, especially since we hadn't watched it in months. Th...
by MnD
Sat Dec 30, 2023 11:52 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What are you up YTD? [Year To Date]
Replies: 5250
Views: 906912

Re: What are you up YTD? [Year To Date]

2023 XIRR = 16.5%
2023 asset allocation = 40% US stocks, 30% ex-US stocks, 30% fixed income
Six accounts, 15 holdings, Weighted ER 0.11%

Benchmark return= 17.1%, so lagged benchmark by 0.6 percentage points.
2023 Benchmark was 70% Total World Stock Market (VT), 30% Total Bond Market (BND)

Contributors to underperforming benchmark included:
- 66% of fixed income in TSP G fund which had a lower 2023 return than Total Bond
- Slight tilt to ex-US stocks versus global market cap
- Expenses .11% versus Benchmark .06%
by MnD
Sat Dec 30, 2023 8:47 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What are you up YTD? [Year To Date]
Replies: 5250
Views: 906912

Re: What are you up YTD? [Year To Date]

Here are some 2023 benchmarks.
A decent year!

+26.1% US Stocks - Vanguard Total Stock Market (VTI)
+15.9% International Stocks - Vanguard Total International Stock Market (VXUS)
+ 5.7% Bonds - Vanguard Total Bond Market (BND)
+ 5.1% Cash - Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund (VMFXX)

Inflation still TBD but something like +3.4%.
by MnD
Sun Dec 24, 2023 8:40 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Frustrated with PersonalCapital - any suggestions?
Replies: 49
Views: 8556

Re: Frustrated with PersonalCapital - any suggestions?

I just deleted all accounts and closed it last week. In addition to synching issues at least two accounts had badly inaccurate performance calculations due to gross errors in misclassification of cash flows. Which ruins the overall performance figures. I figure that with increasing sloppiness from PC on things that I can see, there is likely increasing sloppiness on things I can't see like security. And synching issues and inaccurate performance figures makes the service worthless. My brokerage integrates all internal accounts, even ones held by my SO individually if permissions are set up right so I'm using that. I have only one external account which I update manually in the brokerage system. In theory it can update external accounts auto...
by MnD
Fri Dec 22, 2023 4:19 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: how much do you think you need to retire?
Replies: 297
Views: 63039

Re: how much do you think you need to retire?

When we retired 5 years ago in our mid-50's it was $3.2M. On a net present value basis it was about 50% portfolio, 25% the NPV of Social Security benefits and 25% NPV of my pension. Now it's about $3.7M with roughly the same distribution. Still in the early go-go years of retirement so we have utility for whatever income 5% of annual portfolio balance plus pension plus Social Security provides us with. We had portfolio income and pension income from day 1. Next month we start one of our two Social Security income streams. At 5% of annual portfolio balance we've cumulatively spent roughly a quarter million dollars more than a 3% inflation-adjusted SWR would have afforded. Portfolio is up in nominal terms and about the same as when we retired...
by MnD
Thu Dec 21, 2023 9:43 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Financial pros and cons of obtaining dual EU citizenship?
Replies: 3
Views: 643

Financial pros and cons of obtaining dual EU citizenship?

I'm a US citizen pursuing recognition of Luxembourg citizenship under Article 7. Since they are a EU member this would allow me to obtain a EU passport. I clearly qualify under article 7 and this seems like a no-brainer given the costs. There are a number of consultants that assist with this and I'm looking at $195 (my sister is taking the lead and her cost is $400 or so). It can be done completely DIY but given these costs I have no interest in that route. So assuming I obtain Luxembourg citizenship and an EU passport, are there any significant financial pros or cons in doing so? The ability to travel more freely within EU countries and stay as long as I would like are the main appeals to me. Just wondering if there are any significant fin...
by MnD
Mon Dec 18, 2023 10:19 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Schwab checking
Replies: 62
Views: 5692

Re: Schwab checking

It's fine - 20 years or so. My kids have had checking with them for 11 and 13 years and would never switch.
A bunch of their friends with very subpar local banking have switched to Schwab based on their advice.

We all use the linked brokerage accounts for savings accounts and invest savings in money market funds or T-bills.
by MnD
Sun Dec 17, 2023 8:53 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Should I roll over Roth TSP into Roth IRA for Compound Interest?
Replies: 20
Views: 2802

Re: Should I roll over Roth TSP into Roth IRA for Compound Interest?

The TSP funds don't make distributions and reinvestments but rather the income and other gains are applied and compounded within the share price. So they enjoy the very same compounding growth that other funds do but it just looks different. Because the G fund is a unique and potentially very useful investment not available to investors outside of the TSP I would keep your TSP account. Otherwise you can never return to the TSP if you close that account. You don't need a G fund investment right now, but your future older self might. For simplicity I'd invest your TSP balance in the TSP L fund for 2060 and continue your investing and savings in plans outside the TSP now that you have left US service. The expenses for the TSP 2060 fund are .06...