Search found 294 matches
- Tue Mar 19, 2024 4:32 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Lifelong renter looking to become first time (cash) homebuyer - do I need agent? Or only lawyer & inspector?
- Replies: 23
- Views: 2279
Re: Lifelong renter looking to become first time (cash) homebuyer - do I need agent? Or only lawyer & inspector?
I agree with what was said here. I once almost bought a for sale by owner who didn't want to pay my re agent. So I was left to my own devices and, quite frankly, I had no idea what I was doing. Thankfully, my agent still helped me a little behind the scenes. I ended up walking away from the deal due to the seller wanting me to ignore the bank appraisal. It created a bad vibe. I am always willing to walk away. Be VERY careful and inspect the heck out of the property - including the sewer line, drainage, etc Avoid fomo Take your time and control your emotions. Hot markets can make you think you have to force your hand & you can end up with lots of remorse. Finally, and most importantly, interview multiple re agents and then select one. I ...
- Mon Mar 18, 2024 7:26 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: It seems that intermediate bond funds generate the lowest yield now
- Replies: 11
- Views: 2491
Re: It seems that intermediate bond funds generate the lowest yield now
Interesting observation and one that I had also made recently. It begs the question that what is so special about the 5 and 10 year durations that they are so depressed. Could it be related to the purchase of MBS by the Fed? Just curious.
- Mon Mar 18, 2024 6:40 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: 65
- Views: 10335
Re: Age 60+ AND retired? What's your asset allocation? What type of bonds/Fixed Inc instruments do you use?
Nice to see some conservative portfolios. I suspect that those with more aggressive ones may have pensions, real estate income, or low SWRs . I am not as brave as I get closer to retirement and the fear of SORR is real. Don't want to mess things up just when I am about to jump off. Note: I am 57 and almost retired so I'll bite :-). Those next 3 years will go quick. I recently went to 65/35 from 70/30. Working my way towards 60/40 or maybe even 50/50. My goal is to have a simple portfolio that I don't think about other than maybe once per year. Not sure if that is achievable, but that's the goal. Currently, I hold my nose and keep half in Total Bond, half in shorter duration Bonds/MMKT. I tend to buy more Total Bond when it tanks as I ultima...
- Mon Mar 18, 2024 6:10 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Can I retire with $1.75M at age 43?
- Replies: 169
- Views: 12574
Re: Can I retire with $1.75M at age 43?
I see no reason why you can't at least test it out. I was at a job for 20 years and the last few became horrific. I flat out quit the job with no job to go to. Sounds irresponsible, until you consider the fact that I was single, no dependents, and had enough to just about retire. Seems you are in a similar circumstance. Listen, you can always find another job if you find that early retirement is not working for you. It's your life and, ultimately, you just have to trust your own judgement because you'll get quite a diverse set of opinions (since everyone is looking at it from their own lens).
- Fri Mar 08, 2024 6:58 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Roth Conversion better in market downturn?
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1899
Re: Roth Conversion better in market downturn?
This may be controversial, but if you think the market is due for a downturn, convert but buy bonds for now. Then just txfer to stocks during the downturn. That way, you don't lose your window to convert.
I know the oft stated recommendation is to have all stocks in a Roth, but, in my case, my Roth is fairly large and I need to keep myself from selling in a downturn. So I have, say a 75/25 rather than a 100/0 in my Roth. If I never intended to use my Roth and it was destined for future generations, a 100/0 makes more sense.
I know the oft stated recommendation is to have all stocks in a Roth, but, in my case, my Roth is fairly large and I need to keep myself from selling in a downturn. So I have, say a 75/25 rather than a 100/0 in my Roth. If I never intended to use my Roth and it was destined for future generations, a 100/0 makes more sense.
- Fri Mar 01, 2024 7:22 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: The recent surge: stand pat or "sell high?"
- Replies: 54
- Views: 6563
Re: The recent surge: stand pat or "sell high?"
Only thing I can guarantee is that, if/when things do correct, there will be someone on this forum proclaiming how obvious it was and how they timed things perfectly. I know when I try to time things (and I am just as guilty as the rest), it generally does not work in my favor. And even if I was an expert timer, I realize it's mostly luck anyways. In general, I try to stick to a given Asset Allocation and rebalance if I think things are a bit frothy. In other words, I have no idea what to do, so I keep a fairly conservative AA. That said, It does seem a bit frothy, so I may skim a little bit off the top. But, so far I have been too lazy to do so. I try to stay away from making large AA moves unless I have some sort of life event that change...
- Mon Feb 05, 2024 12:33 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: How Taylor Larimore made a difference in my financial life - Salute to Taylor's 100th
- Replies: 53
- Views: 10305
Re: How Taylor Larimore made a difference in my financial life - Salute to Taylor's 100th
I've always enjoyed "Taylor's Gem's" while full well knowing that the real gem is Taylor himself. Happy 100th!
- Tue Jan 30, 2024 6:01 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: What are some of the things that improved YOUR quality of life?
- Replies: 254
- Views: 42510
Re: What are some of the things that improved YOUR quality of life?
Getting up really early and going for a walk first thing. I grab a coffee/tea and I'm out the door. Walking in the morning before the world has woken up is a totally different experience than walking later on. I am near a body of water and frequently will walk beside it. It's as if the place is all my own. In the winter I always walk with over the ear bluetooth headphones when listening to YouTube or Podcasts or whatever. They filter noise and as a bonus they keep my ears warm!
- Fri Jan 12, 2024 2:15 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Return of excess contributions due to error by former employer
- Replies: 2
- Views: 596
Re: Return of excess contributions due to error by former employer
Thanks. I will send them another notice as well.
- Fri Jan 12, 2024 6:43 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Return of excess contributions due to error by former employer
- Replies: 2
- Views: 596
Return of excess contributions due to error by former employer
Hi All- So I ended my last contract job on 12/31/23. I may retire fully but I am not 100% sure just yet. In the meantime, my former employer has not quite been on the ball and has contributed to both my HSA and 401k in 2024. I did notify them, but no response so far. If I fully retire this year, I will not be eligible to contribute to a 401k or HSA. I will not have a health plan with an HSA and I will not have income, so I am pretty sure BOTH these additions need to be removed for the 2024 tax year. Are both of these items handled the same way at tax time? Looking at another thread on the topic, I believe the answer was: Report these as "Other Income" on my tax return for the 2024 year, while, at the same time, taking a distributi...
- Thu Jan 04, 2024 7:30 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Appointment with local Fidelity Rep: should I bother?
- Replies: 74
- Views: 18785
Re: Appointment with local Fidelity Rep: should I bother?
I did a consult. There is no doubt that their ultimate objective is to get you to sign up for their services. My advisor disappeared one day once he finally realized I am fully self directed. Odd, because he suggested we would meet yearly before the end of our last meeting then quietly disappeared. Oh well. This aforementioned advisor's parting put me back into the pool of "folks without an advisor" (I think it's noted in the upper left when you log on if you have a person or not). Occasionally I still get a call from someone wanting to review my portfolio. I also tend to get directed to "investment services" when I call for a simple help desk question and then I just reinforce that I am self directed. Overall, my experi...
- Sat Dec 16, 2023 1:10 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: For Those Who Are Retired Do You Keep Cash Accounts
- Replies: 57
- Views: 12582
Re: For Those Who Are Retired Do You Keep Cash Accounts
For those of you who are retired and spending down your portfolio, what percentage, if any, do you keep in a safe cash type fund or saving account I’m getting ready and thinking about how to do this between these three options: Option 1: Take out what I need from my portfolio when I need it. No cash type accounts. Keep all the money working. Option 2: Keep a cash type account, a small fixed amount, in case of those times when a new roof, a new car, or other surprises pop up. More or less a very small cushion. Option 3: Cash type account with around 3-5% of total portfolio. This would be used for option 2 issues along with using some of the cash as a cushion during down turns in the markets, so we could spend a bit more if needed or wanting...
- Tue Dec 05, 2023 2:56 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Tax Question - Inherited IRA Federal Withholding
- Replies: 5
- Views: 415
Re: Tax Question - Inherited IRA Federal Withholding
Thanks! I was overcomplicating things. Looking back, I think I was trying to turn the withholding into its equivalent "estimated tax payment" in my brain. Much easier to see now that I know these are handled separately on the tax forms.
Much appreciated.
Max
Much appreciated.
Max
- Tue Dec 05, 2023 2:39 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Tax Question - Inherited IRA Federal Withholding
- Replies: 5
- Views: 415
Tax Question - Inherited IRA Federal Withholding
Hi- I apologize in advance for my ignorance.. I will probably get obliterated for asking. let's assume no state tax.. 24% marginal rate If I withdraw $5000 from an Inherited IRA and withhold 70 percent, it looks like it ends up being $3500 that get added to line 25b on the 1040 (.7*5000). So, an additional $3500 gets added to my total payments to help reduce what I owe in taxes. Cool. However, shouldn't it be $3500 - .24(3500) = 2660 that should go on line 25b? I am withholding 3500 to pay down taxes, but that 3500 itself hadn't yet been taxed. Why would it not then be $2660 that goes in line 25b, since if I took the money out and dropped it into a bank account, I would owe tax on it. I don't know why I am brain farting on this .. Please he...
- Tue Dec 05, 2023 9:01 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: [Panicking because of potential loss of health insurance. Please help!]
- Replies: 56
- Views: 4926
Re: Got laid off- please HELP with the Marketplace insurance process
Insurance companies that have ACA plans have people trained to help you navigate the ACA marketplace. I recommend you talk to one of them to understand the ins and outs of signing up for ACA. It's a free consultation and these folks do this as their job. It was more than worth it for me. Put my mind at ease.
-Max
-Max
- Sat Nov 25, 2023 6:43 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Tax Question: Roth IRA conversions and impact on Roth Contribution limit
- Replies: 13
- Views: 1049
- Wed Nov 22, 2023 8:59 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Six Times Renting Is Cheaper Than Owning
- Replies: 115
- Views: 16689
Re: Six Times Renting Is Cheaper Than Owning
UpperNwGuy wrote: ↑Wed Nov 22, 2023 7:55 amI have been retired for ten years and have been renting the entire time. Not a problem.
- Tue Nov 21, 2023 1:59 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Tax Question: Roth IRA conversions and impact on Roth Contribution limit
- Replies: 13
- Views: 1049
Re: Tax Question: Roth IRA conversions and impact on Roth Contribution limit
This is a tax question I am hoping someone can help me with. If I include my Roth conversions on my taxes, my AGI on my 1040 goes over the limit for which I am allowed to make a Roth contribution. However, I have read that MAGI for the Roth contribution limit excludes Roth Conversions. If so, where in the world is this particular flavor of MAGI calculated and how can I verify that I am not going to be penalized? This is so confusing. I may just reverse my Roth contribution to be safe. I figured I would check in here first to see if others ran into this. I am using Turbotax. Thanks! Max Don't reverse your contribution - calculation of MAGI for the purpose of Roth contributions does NOT include Roth IRA conversion money. Here's H&R Block...
- Tue Nov 21, 2023 1:55 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Tax Question: Roth IRA conversions and impact on Roth Contribution limit
- Replies: 13
- Views: 1049
Re: Tax Question: Roth IRA conversions and impact on Roth Contribution limit
I would have thought that you could calculate this in your head and would not need software. Take your AGI from TurboTax and subtract off the amount of Roth conversions in dollars, right? Correct. If I remove the the Roth conversions, I am safe. I just wanted Turbotax or some Tax form to confirm this before I file my taxes next April rather than rely on the internet telling me it's OK. Did you run it through TurboTax before coming to the internet? I did. First time I did it, Turbotax barked at me and told me I owe a penalty. Then I went back and looked at the boxes for the 1099-R (which I don't receive till next year) and picked a different one that made TurboTax stop barking. It didn't make me feel good though, because I had no idea what ...
- Tue Nov 21, 2023 1:26 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Tax Question: Roth IRA conversions and impact on Roth Contribution limit
- Replies: 13
- Views: 1049
Re: Tax Question: Roth IRA conversions and impact on Roth Contribution limit
I would have thought that you could calculate this in your head and would not need software. Take your AGI from TurboTax and subtract off the amount of Roth conversions in dollars, right? Correct. If I remove the the Roth conversions, I am safe. I just wanted Turbotax or some Tax form to confirm this before I file my taxes next April rather than rely on the internet telling me it's OK. Did you run it through TurboTax before coming to the internet? I did. First time I did it, Turbotax barked at me and told me I owe a penalty. Then I went back and looked at the boxes for the 1099-R (which I don't receive till next year) and picked a different one that made TurboTax stop barking. It didn't make me feel good though, because I had no idea what ...
- Tue Nov 21, 2023 1:24 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Tax Question: Roth IRA conversions and impact on Roth Contribution limit
- Replies: 13
- Views: 1049
Re: Tax Question: Roth IRA conversions and impact on Roth Contribution limit
Perfect. Just what I was looking for. Thank you !
- Tue Nov 21, 2023 1:22 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Tax Question: Roth IRA conversions and impact on Roth Contribution limit
- Replies: 13
- Views: 1049
Re: Tax Question: Roth IRA conversions and impact on Roth Contribution limit
Correct. If I remove the the Roth conversions, I am safe. I just wanted Turbotax or some Tax form to confirm this before I file my taxes next April rather than rely on the internet telling me it's OK.
- Tue Nov 21, 2023 1:12 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Six Times Renting Is Cheaper Than Owning
- Replies: 115
- Views: 16689
Re: Six Times Renting Is Cheaper Than Owning
Oh boy, you just stirred up the hornet's nest. Here we go again ..
- Tue Nov 21, 2023 1:10 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Tax Question: Roth IRA conversions and impact on Roth Contribution limit
- Replies: 13
- Views: 1049
Tax Question: Roth IRA conversions and impact on Roth Contribution limit
[Topic is now in Personal Finance (Not Investing) - tax question. mod mkc]
This is a tax question I am hoping someone can help me with.
If I include my Roth conversions on my taxes, my AGI on my 1040 goes over the limit for which I am allowed to make a Roth contribution.
However, I have read that MAGI for the Roth contribution limit excludes Roth Conversions. If so, where in the world is this particular flavor of MAGI calculated and how can I verify that I am not going to be penalized?
This is so confusing. I may just reverse my Roth contribution to be safe. I figured I would check in here first to see if others ran into this. I am using Turbotax.
Thanks!
Max
This is a tax question I am hoping someone can help me with.
If I include my Roth conversions on my taxes, my AGI on my 1040 goes over the limit for which I am allowed to make a Roth contribution.
However, I have read that MAGI for the Roth contribution limit excludes Roth Conversions. If so, where in the world is this particular flavor of MAGI calculated and how can I verify that I am not going to be penalized?
This is so confusing. I may just reverse my Roth contribution to be safe. I figured I would check in here first to see if others ran into this. I am using Turbotax.
Thanks!
Max
- Thu Oct 19, 2023 4:10 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Still buying bond funds?
- Replies: 43
- Views: 6852
Re: Still buying bond funds?
I drop $$ into my bond fund every single week. Hard to watch it drop, but compared to how fast and far stocks can drop, it's tolerable.
I am a little tempted to sell my BND ETF and buy the equivalent mutual fund right after just to wipe out the red and make me feel better.
I am a little tempted to sell my BND ETF and buy the equivalent mutual fund right after just to wipe out the red and make me feel better.
- Tue Oct 03, 2023 5:39 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: BND exceeding my patience - need something different
- Replies: 169
- Views: 19919
Re: BND exceeding my patience - need something different
Timely post for me. I have been thinking the same thing. Just seems like a constant drubbing with this fund as rates continue to rise. Hard to say when it will end when the pundits are predicting things will go higher. So far I have resisted the temptation to sell, but my patience has also worn a little thin. I am sure there will be a bounce the day I sell, so if I do drop it, I will only DCA out of it over time. On the flip side, it is nice to see the estimated yearly income go up consistently. I just wanted to post to say you are far from alone. As a possible alternative, I see others on the forum use a short term and an intermediate term paired together in a 50/50 combo, so that when intermediate goes down, they fund it with short and vi...
- Thu Sep 21, 2023 12:44 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Tips on staying the course
- Replies: 44
- Views: 3653
Re: Tips on staying the course
I love that link. As an aside, I happened to see this one right next to it: https://youtu.be/eikbQPldhPY?feature=shared. Warning: Not for those who are averse to cursing, but quite funny in my opinion. It references what is known as "F U Money". Lots of you may have seen it already but in case you haven't.KingRiggs wrote: ↑Thu Sep 21, 2023 12:22 pmTHIS is absolutely fabulous...I might listen to it on a loop during a 10-hour flight coming up...blimp wrote: ↑Thu Sep 21, 2023 1:15 amYou may appreciate this guided meditation for then the stock market is dropping by JL Collins: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOGU94eL07E&t=304s
- Fri Aug 18, 2023 2:42 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Who has (or had) a Fear of Retiring?
- Replies: 104
- Views: 11436
Re: Who has (or had) a Fear of Retiring?
I do. This is purely psychological, but to retire means I will be (hopefully) no longer working "for the rest of my life". It forces me to come to terms with the fact that 'the rest of my life' is a lot shorter than it used to be. That is a hurdle I can get over, I think, because my life is limited whether I am working or not. It's just a weird psychological quirk that I am bothered by leaving work behind - what am I nuts? I should want to leave work behind because my time is limited! The bigger fear, for me, is I am afraid I won't know what to do with myself. I am actively addressing that now and building on my hobbies and bucket list items, so I have things to look forward to. I was out of work for about 6 months a couple years ...
- Fri Aug 18, 2023 6:16 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: YouTube Premium
- Replies: 29
- Views: 3836
Re: YouTube Premium
I signed up for YouTube premium as a trial before a vacation so I could listen to it on my drives. I kept it and it has been worth it for me. I listen to all sorts of stuff (Jazz Piano tutorials, History, Comedy, Finance, etc) and don't really watch regular TV any longer.
Be careful though. If you do, as I did, and sign up via Apple store, you will pay more per month than if you signed up directly through Google. Here is the video that tipped me off: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-bd_NP-90g. I cancelled my apple subscription and signed up directly with Google after I discovered this.
-Max
Be careful though. If you do, as I did, and sign up via Apple store, you will pay more per month than if you signed up directly through Google. Here is the video that tipped me off: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-bd_NP-90g. I cancelled my apple subscription and signed up directly with Google after I discovered this.
-Max
- Thu Aug 17, 2023 12:57 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Fidelity Down? [Website]
- Replies: 138
- Views: 9714
Re: Fidelity Down?
Down again for me.
- Tue Aug 15, 2023 2:09 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Fidelity Down? [Website]
- Replies: 138
- Views: 9714
Re: Fidelity Down?
Down for me too.
- Wed Aug 02, 2023 6:40 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: If you could wake up anywhere tomorrow morning, where would it be?
- Replies: 140
- Views: 16303
Re: If you could wake up anywhere tomorrow morning, where would it be?
Well, this is probably cheating but I would wake up in the bed/house I grew up in. Parents would still be living, life would be as complicated as which baseball cards I would want to trade, and the neighborhood kids would be at the door ready to play football in the street.
- Tue Aug 01, 2023 9:59 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Have you recovered from the market downturn?
- Replies: 117
- Views: 11010
Re: Have you recovered from the market downturn?
Nominally, yes. Real, no.
- Thu Jul 27, 2023 8:59 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Retirement Income Management for Obamacare subsidies - single person
- Replies: 5
- Views: 765
Re: Retirement Income Management for Obamacare subsidies - single person
Gotcha. Thank you so much for your reply. Much appreciated!
- Thu Jul 27, 2023 7:41 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Retirement Income Management for Obamacare subsidies - single person
- Replies: 5
- Views: 765
Retirement Income Management for Obamacare subsidies - single person
Hey Bogleheads- I just want to double check to see if I have this right. As a single person, I need to keep my MAGI pretty darn low to qualify for any Healthcare tax credits. Am I calculating this correctly? Note: I have taxable, Roth and tax deferred monies to draw from. Numbers are approximate. Let's say I want to draw $60000 per year from 57 until 65 (so 8 years). To qualify for Obamacare, I estimate I would roughly need to keep my MAGI to $35000 or under. ============================================ Income Stack: Reportable Income for Obamacare: Inherited IRA: $5K / year (will be NY State tax free) Qualified Dividends from taxable account: $10K / year (will owe NY state tax but federal should be zero because these are qualified and my i...
- Wed Jul 26, 2023 4:25 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Renting for life - a bad idea?
- Replies: 735
- Views: 88321
Re: Renting for life - a bad idea?
The money that I have saved by renting for many years, instead of buying, was invested and created a portfolio that can now easily pay my rent and rent increases. This is no different than paying off a mortgage. Perhaps "Renting for life" is a misnomer for most of us here that are pro-renting. We are renting because of the fundamentals of the current housing market, and if the fundaments changed, most would probably just buy. In retirement I wlll be leaving HCOL problems behind anyways. I don't want to die in an urban jungle on the East Coast. Good luck to everyone. This is exactly the situation I find myself in (and I am not in a HCOL). Because I have been investing all along, the rent basically covered for me by my just my bond...
- Fri Jul 21, 2023 4:18 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: The early 2000, a terrible time for investing?
- Replies: 86
- Views: 8385
Re: The early 2000, a terrible time for investing?
I remember coming into the office and a guy bragging about his investments. This was a couple days off the peak of the market. I didn't have a clue, so I bought MSFT, INTC and CSCO. Promptly got my a-- handed to me starting just a few days later. Lucky for me I didn't have a lot to put in, but it still smarted. I recall some girl in the office was telling me about some company called Google and the new QQQ index.
- Thu Jun 29, 2023 10:33 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: When to reduce risk in Roth accounts?
- Replies: 35
- Views: 4135
Re: When to reduce risk in Roth accounts?
I think having some fixed in Roth can be a good thing, especially if you need to keep your income controlled for ACA or IRMAA or a host of other subsidized goodies that you would otherwise not be privy to if you just pull from a tax deferred account and inadvertently bumped up your reportable income. So, I am not in the 100 percent equities in Roth for that reason. For those that don't have the above constraint, by all means, go 100 percent equities, but for those of us that need some control over reportable income, it makes sense to keep some fixed for withdrawals in years where you need help with healthcare subsidies. I am trying to work this whole "withdrawal order" dance out and it is much tougher for a single person since you...
- Fri Jun 16, 2023 6:52 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Hit a rebalancing band, so IPS says must rebalance!
- Replies: 65
- Views: 6159
Re: Hit a rebalancing band, so IPS says must rebalance!
Thanks for posting. It's nice to see someone post their activity more prospectively rather than retrospectively. Much more helpful in the scheme of things.
- Fri Jun 09, 2023 6:30 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Still trying to believe in bonds
- Replies: 214
- Views: 51469
Re: Still trying to believe in bonds
My issue with Bonds is I don't see how we can have the 10 year drop and not have more inflation. In order for the yield curve to revert, long term rates have to go up or short term rates have to go down. I am not convinced that short term rates will go down any time soon, although I keep hearing about a pause/pivot suggesting this will be so. So I am probably wrong. Selfishly, I am also rooting for the 10 year to go up so I can have less competition when buying a condo (in cash) as the 10 year is tied to mortgage rates. So holding an intermediate bond fund is counter to that idea. However, it seems like this is a pipe dream as it appears the real variable is inventory. Argh, wrong again. That said, I still hold BND because, as noted, I am o...
- Tue Jun 06, 2023 6:03 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Can I retire at 50?
- Replies: 112
- Views: 18517
Re: Can I retire at 50?
Just read the thread and will follow along. I am single and close to retirement myself. It is hard to make the jump so kudos to you for taking the leap.
At the moment my job is pretty low stress so I keep going, but I know that can change at any time.
I think what has kept me from retiring so far is the crazy inflation of the past couple years. It has been pretty scary. However, when I run the numbers they look good. So much to think about.. But I do agree that time is way more important than money. I feel time much more acutely now that I am older. How many more nice summer days to I want to forego for a paycheck when I could be out on my bike.. hmmm..
Please keep us updated OP. Hope you have an awesome retirement!
-Max
At the moment my job is pretty low stress so I keep going, but I know that can change at any time.
I think what has kept me from retiring so far is the crazy inflation of the past couple years. It has been pretty scary. However, when I run the numbers they look good. So much to think about.. But I do agree that time is way more important than money. I feel time much more acutely now that I am older. How many more nice summer days to I want to forego for a paycheck when I could be out on my bike.. hmmm..
Please keep us updated OP. Hope you have an awesome retirement!
-Max
- Fri Jun 02, 2023 8:18 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Message from Fidelity - You may have paid $X more in taxes this year. Call us.
- Replies: 10
- Views: 2042
Re: Message from Fidelity - You may have paid $X more in taxes this year. Call us.
They estimate it based on you being in the highest federal tax bracket. That's why it says "you may have" and then there is a long explanation about their methodology/rationale. I'm fairly certain it's just a way to try to get you to call them. As I noted in another post, I keep checking "don't show this again" and they continue to show it to me again.
I just ignore it at this point. I move it to the bottom of the page.
Not a big deal in the scheme of things. Thanks for all the replies!
- Fri Jun 02, 2023 8:14 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Message from Fidelity - You may have paid $X more in taxes this year. Call us.
- Replies: 10
- Views: 2042
- Thu Jun 01, 2023 8:57 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Message from Fidelity - You may have paid $X more in taxes this year. Call us.
- Replies: 10
- Views: 2042
Message from Fidelity - You may have paid $X more in taxes this year. Call us.
Hi there- So, I keep getting this "you may have paid X more in taxes this year" on my Fidelity front page. I basically have a large position in vti in my taxable account, so I assume that is what they are talking about. Yes, I am paying taxes on the quarterly distributions, but so what? I tax loss harvest when I can, and I don't think dumping my taxable account into Muni's is the best thing to do (all my bonds are in tax deferred). When I click the link, it wants me to speak to an Advisor. I am a self-directed investor, so I close out the link. It keeps coming back. I ignore it. My question is, has anyone called the advisor for this message and, if so, what is it that they tell you to do? I have no intention of calling them and ge...
- Wed May 31, 2023 7:33 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Anyone feel like they missed out by not buying real estate?
- Replies: 232
- Views: 38160
Re: Anyone feel like they missed out by not buying real estate?
I do. But I accept it because it was my choice to rent for longer than I probably should have. In short, I have owned a couple houses over my lifetime and the last one was a money pit that I could not wait to get rid of. It put me off from owning a house as I was spending an inordinate amount of my time fixing things, pulling weeds, ad infinitum. I am single, no kids, 50+y/o male who likes to live as simply as possible. The last couple years of inflation really hit me financially since, looking in the rearview mirror, I could easily have had a paid off house years ago, a rental or two, or jumped on a 2 percent mortgage when they were all the rage. I held off primarily because I was convinced this housing euphoria was a bubble in the making....
- Fri May 05, 2023 5:42 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Do you tip at Starbucks/Dunkin Donuts?
- Replies: 206
- Views: 18382
Re: Do you tip at Starbucks/Dunkin Donuts?
I don't tip, but I only order a small black coffee, so I figure there isn't much to tip for. Plus things cost so much more now it is getting ridiculous. I need to cut back on my visits, but I don't go for the coffee. I just go to get away for a few hours.
- Thu May 04, 2023 8:55 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Can I or Can I not convert 403B into a Roth IRA?
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1107
Re: Can I or Can I not convert 403B into a Roth IRA?
My understanding is that, if you are no longer working at the employer that holds your 403b, you can perform the rollover to a Roth IRA (and, of course, pay the taxes). You would effectively be moving out of your Employers plan into a separate brokerage Roth account to do so. But you are still working there, so this is not an option. If you are still working at the employer that holds your 403b, a potential option is to do what is called an 'in plan' Roth conversion, if the plan allows it . It sounds like yours doesn't. Mine does, but I have Roth 401k options inside my plan. The penalty only applies if you are withdrawing money out of an account pre-59 1/2. If, pre 59 1/2, you do a rollover from A to B and the money stays in as it travels f...
- Sun Apr 30, 2023 7:33 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: How many are holding cash right now?
- Replies: 203
- Views: 31420
Re: How many are holding cash right now?
I have more in 3-12 month TBills than I care to admit, but for a potential large purchase (condo for cash). If I decide against that large purchase, that money will go right back into bond funds. I don't like being out of bond funds, but can't take duration risk on a portion of my savings just yet. I do however maintain a portion in total bond for the long term though.
- Thu Apr 27, 2023 7:28 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Advice Needed on Missed Opportunity Obsession
- Replies: 35
- Views: 4394
Re: Advice Needed on Missed Opportunity Obsession
So I agree that many folks have thoughts like these. I do, and trust me, you are far from alone. A few thoughts: 1. It was not necessarily a bad decision. It could have been a good decision, just a bad outcome. I have made decisions that turned out poorly, but if I went back to the time I made them, I could not have known the twists that were approaching. 2. Focus on what you want to do now. The time and energy you spend replaying the past is time and energy you could be using to design an awesome future. 3. You can't know for certain what would have happened if you bought that house. You could have moved in and taken a different road to work that day and had an accident. So many things could play out that you would never know. I think our ...
- Thu Apr 27, 2023 7:10 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Question about Prioritizing Investments - Roth Conversion vs Taxable Investing
- Replies: 19
- Views: 1946
Re: Question about Prioritizing Investments - Roth Conversion vs Taxable Investing
IRMAA at 65 will be based on the tax return you file at 63, so watch your income starting at that point. --Gotcha. I am making a timeline of all this as there are clearly key times to be wary of as you move through retirement. ------------ Dividends are generally qualified unless you are doing a lot of buying and selling. Yes they add to your income, but they are taxed at lower long term capital gains rates and could be 0%. --Tx. Saves on taxes which is nice. Unfortunately they still add to income so I learned that I have to make sure to separate my optimal income plan from my optimal tax plan. ---------------------- RMDs begin at age 75 if you are not close to age 70 yet. The age 73 step was for people who were close to RMD age when the la...