Search found 790 matches

by Swampy
Sat Oct 27, 2018 10:54 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: About to get 200k in inheritance.
Replies: 13
Views: 2177

Re: About to get 200k in inheritance.

Condolences on your loss.

Here's what 'Judge Judy' has to say about this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75aymQBGOd8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgDSes7_HJ4

First things first:
How would your mom have felt about you spending her hard earned cash on someone with no strings attached?
Until you have a good grip or commitment as to where this relationship is leading , keep finances SEPARATE.
by Swampy
Thu Oct 18, 2018 6:49 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: would you buy bonds or corporate bonds now?
Replies: 19
Views: 3229

Re: would you buy bonds or corporate bonds now?

lulukanth wrote: Wed Oct 17, 2018 11:49 am I'm new to bonds and would like to hear your opinion. I currently have stocks but want to diversify.
Thanks!

Since you're new to bonds, why not park the cash in Vanguard's VMMXX or some other attractive short term CD or savings products until you get a better understanding? Interest rates have been rising which has a negative impact on bonds.
by Swampy
Thu Oct 18, 2018 6:44 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Re-doing a trust, contingent beneficiary question
Replies: 12
Views: 1496

Re: Re-doing a trust, contingent beneficiary question

Nestegg_User wrote: We didn’t name specific charities in the trust document itself, rather we designated an amount to go to charities with a notation that a separate list would be provided. We also stipulated that any beneficiary, including charities, that challenged the trust would immediately be eliminated from any benefits. This sounds like the best option for us. We have no interest in continuing trusts for others, whether individuals or charities. I don't know enough about a donor advised fund as a contingent remainderman, but it sounds like more work for us. I will see what the attorney has to say about the separate list idea. The problem with contingent beneficiaries is that, over time, situations change and we would like the option ...
by Swampy
Wed Oct 17, 2018 8:18 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Re-doing a trust, contingent beneficiary question
Replies: 12
Views: 1496

Re-doing a trust, contingent beneficiary question

We are in the process of re-doing our family trust with a new attorney due to significant legal errors we found in the original trust done elsewhere. The most daunting thing is the creation of a 'failure of beneficiaries' list, or a contingent beneficiary list. I'm of the belief that it is better to 'spread' the wealth around to a number of personally known worthy individuals and reliably efficient charitable organizations so that no one individual or organization gets the bulk of the estate. I created a list that would have provided a significant number of entities with 5 to 6 figure endowments, but the new attorney said the list was 'too long' and needed to be cut back to a 'manageable number.' In my case, he recommended cutting the list ...
by Swampy
Sat Oct 13, 2018 8:46 am
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: michael survivors
Replies: 16
Views: 2739

Re: Hurricane Michael

My thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by this storm. We were displaced for days by Hurricane Irma last year and were without power for 4-5 days. I vividly recall 2004, when we were under the gun repeatedly and didn't escape unscathed. My take away from these storms is that everything is expendable except human life. Know your neighbors and, yes, be your brother's keeper. Most everything else can be replaced. What cannot be replaced is relegated to the sands of time. That said, it is always a good idea to have a decent cash reserve at home since you never know what can happen, whether an electrical outage or if ATM's/credit cards/etc go down for whatever reason. Always top off your gas tank at the first signs of any impending ...
by Swampy
Mon Oct 01, 2018 10:41 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Suze Orman - "I hate the FIRE movement."
Replies: 75
Views: 12813

Re: Suze Orman - "I hate the FIRE movement."

With all due respect, I don't give a damn what Orman says, writes or believes.
by Swampy
Wed Sep 19, 2018 8:26 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Dental work and hypertension issue
Replies: 42
Views: 5173

Re: Dental work and hypertension issue

After moving, I went to a couple of local dentists (who were ALL very young and had dollar signs flashing in their eyes trying to run up charges), then I tried the local dental school hoping to get better quality care when I ran into the blood pressure nonsense. Sounds like you went to the same place I did. Unfortunately, current day dentists trying to 'practice' medicine instead of practicing dentistry is a new phenomenon. I am not impressed when they don't even KNOW how to take an accurate blood pressure reading with a real mercury column sphygmomanometer and don't even know how to select the properly sized arm cuff for measurement. It seems that all these wannabe's use are the cheap automated wrist cuffs from the big box store which are ...
by Swampy
Mon Aug 13, 2018 9:17 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Key West Family Vacation - February
Replies: 34
Views: 3935

Re: Key West Family Vacation - February

I'm not a fan of Key West.

Be forewarned of what you might encounter.

We took our kids there when they were about the same age. Many gift and souvenir shops along Duval Street had erect phallus cigarette lighters at the cash register (so you couldn't miss them). One of our kids asked if we could get them a T-shirt with large picture of a horse, underneath it, the caption read "Save a horse - ride a cowboy!" :oops: A lot of questionable behavior and public drunkenness seemed to be the 'norm.'

Sunset at Mallory Square is way over-rated.

If it were me, I'd choose another key in that archipelago.

Better yet, I'd take the west coast of Florida over Key West any day.
by Swampy
Sat Aug 11, 2018 7:57 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Financial Advisor Mandatory?
Replies: 36
Views: 9238

Re: Financial Advidor Mandatory?

NO!

Financial advisors are usually hazardous to your wealth.

Educate yourself. Since you are a relative newcomer, I suggest you read Bogle's, Ferri's, Bernstein's and Larimore's works (I'm not offering a complete list of equally great authors here on Bogleheads ONLY for brevity's sake). It'll take a few months to absorb this information. It'll be time well spent (and money saved)! The books are usually available for FREE at your local public library.

PS Forget what your friends say about their 'advisor.' They don't know what they don't know - it's noise.
by Swampy
Sat Aug 11, 2018 6:49 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: $1M in cash - invest or pay down mortgage
Replies: 21
Views: 4394

Re: $1M in cash - invest or pay down mortgage

I need to help my retired parents invest $1M in cash which they received as proceeds from home sale.

Here are their financial details:

Net worth: $6.5M
Your retired parents did quite well financially in their lives.

I have just one question:
Did they ask you to help?
by Swampy
Mon Aug 06, 2018 7:17 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: February warm weather vacation
Replies: 19
Views: 2338

Re: February warm weather vacation

February?

There is no guarantee of warm weather, even in Florida. We moved here over three decades ago from Chiberia.

Maybe a cruise out of one of the Florida ports? That way you don't have to worry about dining out or entertainment, either.
by Swampy
Sat Aug 04, 2018 8:00 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 20 year old looking for advice
Replies: 10
Views: 922

Re: 20 year old looking for advice

9898, Just to be super clear, did you max out your Roth for 2017 or have you already done so for 2018? If you have just done it for 2017, you can now start contributing for 2018 if you know for sure that you will earn more than $5,500 this year. Most people (in real life, not on this forum) wait until they file their tax returns to make Roth & tIRA contributions, but if you can gain a 12-15 month advantage each year, that is a big plus over time (assuming your investments go up!). But I agree with others that an emergency fund is priority number one. Lastly, you are WAY ahead of the saving and investing curve! Our daughter is the same age as you and you have obviously already internalized what I have been trying to teach her. Great job...
by Swampy
Thu Jul 05, 2018 9:13 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Q&A WITH JACK BOGLE - ASK YOUR QUESTIONS HERE
Replies: 66
Views: 20203

Re: Q&A WITH JACK BOGLE - ASK YOUR QUESTIONS HERE

We have earned our 'fortune' and lost it twice due to bad financial advice. After finally earning it back a third time, we discovered Bogleheads and indexing 6 years ago which has been nothing short of a miracle. We are more cautious and reserved as regards to asset allocation than the average Boglehead, having a large portion in cash and CD's (about 1/3rd of our investable net worth) yielding around 2-2.5% annually. To those of us who are extremely risk averse, yet understand the importance of having low ER equity fund positions in our portfolio to keep up with inflation over the long term, how would you position your portfolio to last many years beyond a normal retirement (We have a young disabled child who will require lifetime care afte...
by Swampy
Mon Jun 18, 2018 3:27 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Morgan Stanley Target date portfolios?
Replies: 23
Views: 2560

Re: Morgan Stanley Target date portfolios?

Hi all, My first post here was to get help establishing my Roth IRA to start saving up for retirement. Now that I've done that, I will max it out, and I am going to be eligible to enroll in a 401k with Morgan Stanley on July 1! Due to ease of use, I wanted to use more Target date funds. However, it seems the Morgan Stanley (CGCM?) target date funds are populated only by CGCM funds, and they don't list specific funds...no ticker symbols, ERs, etc. that I can find. I had asked for a list of available funds to choose from, but Morgan Stanley said there are thousands. Instead, we had a conversation on the phone and I said I would like Target date funds. They sent me a brochure on the CGCM Target date portfolios. The brochure has a breakdown of...
by Swampy
Fri Jun 08, 2018 5:13 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Unnecessary Complexity? Your thoughts please.
Replies: 13
Views: 2077

Re: Unnecessary Complexity? Your thoughts please.

Thanks to nisiprius who wrote: There's no doubt that you can show improved results in backtesting by adding complexity. Furthermore, with reasonable care, you can do it at low cost. And the strategies we variously call slice-and-dice, or multi-asset investing, or factor-based investing are not just a version of intuition-based stock-picking. And it can be argued that they are fairly safe-and-sane; if they don't happen to beat the simple portfolio, at least there isn't likely to be any catastrophic downside. And to me, the biggest argument against complexity is the "argument from sales resistance." It is very clear that complexity benefits advisors--I don't think it's a coincidence that these complex portfolios are presented to adv...
by Swampy
Fri Jun 08, 2018 8:10 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Unnecessary Complexity? Your thoughts please.
Replies: 13
Views: 2077

Re: Unnecessary Complexity? Your thoughts please.

Thanks to everyone for their responses so far. Jack FFR1846 wrote: How do you move from cash to equity? I'm a big fan of lump sum. "Just Do It". "Taking advantage of market corrections" = market timing. Don't do that. Perhaps the correction will come and the market takes a 30% dive. Perhaps the runup to that event sees a 700% gain. If you wait, you simply lose out on the runup gain. livesoft wrote: I didn't look at the Vanguard portfolios, but I can tell you the benefit to me of my slice-and-dice portfolio: It outperforms the 3-fund portfolio by 0.1% to 2.0% each year for about the same ratio of equities to fixed income which some folks might say is a proxy for risk. JoMoney wrote: some people actually do get a kick out ...
by Swampy
Thu Jun 07, 2018 7:44 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Unnecessary Complexity? Your thoughts please.
Replies: 13
Views: 2077

Unnecessary Complexity? Your thoughts please.

Looking at Vanguard's website, specifically "Vanguard ETF strategic model portfolios," which shows diversification over 11 different ETF's/mutual funds, what is the benefit of this complexity versus the simplicity of the three or four fund approach? Case in point, the model portfolio on that Vanguard page shows the equity portion being divided between VUG, VTV, VB, VEA, VWO as opposed to just VTI (VTSMX) for the US side and VEU (VFWIX) or VXUS (VGTSX). I suppose an argument could be made on the bond side which is divided between BSV, BIV, BLV, VMBS, BNDX as opposed to just being in BND (VBMFX) in a climate of rising interest rates. Other than the fact that there is a higher expense ratio for the mutual funds funds as opposed to th...
by Swampy
Wed May 16, 2018 7:40 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Yes, I'm 89 all right! [Jack Bogle]
Replies: 126
Views: 20913

Re: Yes, I'm 89 all right! [Jack Bogle]

Thank you, Mr. Bogle. I wish you the best for a healthy and peaceful life.
by Swampy
Wed May 16, 2018 9:58 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Friend says "Stock market will crash, invest in silver" - thoughts?
Replies: 127
Views: 13849

Re: Friend says "Stock market will crash, invest in silver" - thoughts?

A highly respected friend of mine is an expert in macroeconomics, and warned me to stay away from stocks.

He said that come October or March next year, there are likely to be big crashes. He said companies were artificially inflating their stocks. (I don't understand the detail!)

He advised shifting my investments to silver.

Should I be worried?
With friends like this, who needs enemies? :mrgreen:
by Swampy
Thu May 03, 2018 9:37 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: "Gap in financial literacy widens for couples the longer the relationship lasts, study suggests"
Replies: 13
Views: 2387

Re: "Gap in financial literacy widens for couples the longer the relationship lasts, study suggests"

Classic partnership division of working roles. One is in charge of laundry and cooking. The other is in charge of home maintenance and paying bills.

Trouble begins when that partnership division ends due to death, illness or divorce.
by Swampy
Sat Apr 28, 2018 6:05 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do state taxes change for the 2018 tax year and beyond?
Replies: 15
Views: 1622

Re: Do state taxes change for the 2018 tax year and beyond?

Here is an interesting article from your own state:

http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-gov ... 15539.html

Depending on what your personal situation is, this piece offers some insight as to what appears will happen.
You can draw your own conclusions.
by Swampy
Wed Apr 25, 2018 6:45 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 26 Year Old Asking For Advice
Replies: 19
Views: 4083

Re: 26 Year Old Asking For Advice

You haven't provided enough information to give you any informed advice.
That said, remember - rare is the decision that is an all or none proposition.
by Swampy
Sat Apr 21, 2018 9:57 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Car for 23 year old
Replies: 33
Views: 4145

Re: Car for 23 year old

Just beware of flood damaged cars from Sandy (2012), Harvey (2017) and Irma (2017). Carfax, in my experience, has proven utterly unreliable to get an accurate history. When the time came, we aided one college grad in buying a brand new Corolla just because of this. The other college grad is driving our old 2007 Sonata, which still runs well despite having over 150,000 miles on it. Settle for a less expensive, but reliable, used auto now so you can save up for a better one in the future instead of being a slave to monthly payments. Having a spouse and kids really changes the dynamic. Get one with a good MPG rating since gas prices look like they're trending up - but I wouldn't spend extra for either an electric vehicle or hybrid. Lastly, loo...
by Swampy
Sat Apr 07, 2018 3:32 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Wills and Trusts - Things to consider?
Replies: 11
Views: 1465

Re: Wills and Trusts - Things to consider?

Background: Wife is 58, I'm 60, both in good health. We both still work and plan to for several more years. We have two grown children out on their own. Financially, we are in good shape with ~$4M in retirement savings, own our primary home and have a second lake house with a mortgage. We have a will and an Irrevocable Living Trust. The will was written when the kids were little and we plan to get it updated soon. I would just like to get peoples thoughts before we visit the attorney to give us ideas on what we should consider when we update the will. I'm comfortable with our attorney that he will guide up in the best direction, but would like to be a little more knowledgeable before we meet. Some particular questions I have are: Is the ir...
by Swampy
Wed Jan 10, 2018 4:18 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Buffett on bonds
Replies: 34
Views: 6414

Re: Buffet on bonds

"Large vessels may venture more, but little boats should keep near shore." Attributed to Ben Franklin.

What's 'right' for the QE2 isn't necessarily 'right' for a canoe - and vice versa.
The principle works the same when your portfolio is 4-5-6-7 digits long compared to someone with an 11 digit long portfolio.
by Swampy
Wed Jan 03, 2018 7:49 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Oil filled space heaters
Replies: 39
Views: 8364

Re: Oil filled space heaters

Looking to buy a space heater to keep temp in living room more comfortable. I am leaning towards an oil filled radiator type heater. I understand they take longer to reach temp / warm up a room. My home has a heat pump that struggles when temps get in the teens, even with stage 2 electric heat. Anyone have recommendations? Delonghi seems to be a top performer. I would like a heater that I could leave on safely while sleeping or away for short periods of time. What do you mean by “struggles?” Is it not able to maintain the indoor temperature set point? Or does it merely run a lot? Heat pumps lose efficiency when the temperature drops into the 40's and below. Emergency heat strips use up a lot of electricity for not very much heat production...
by Swampy
Fri Oct 06, 2017 1:14 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Soliciting personal recommendations for a Barcelona trip
Replies: 57
Views: 8104

Re: Soliciting personal recommendations for a Barcelona trip

Packed and ready to hit the road, come what may.

I'm calculating that the media is magnifying the problem and blowing things way out of proportion.

If SHTF, contingency plans are in place, otherwise looking forward to a peaceful trip.

Bye.
by Swampy
Tue Oct 03, 2017 4:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Soliciting personal recommendations for a Barcelona trip
Replies: 57
Views: 8104

Re: Soliciting personal recommendations for a Barcelona trip

We are due to arrive at El Prat within the week and will be spending time at a seaside resort just west of the city to get over the jet lag before proceeding to Andorra, then into France through the Pyrenees. After meandering through a number of stops, we are due to come back to Barcelona, staying in the Eixample district. The Eixample reservation is no longer refundable. I am hoping that the situation simmers down by then, however if the situation heats up instead and SHTF inside the city, we'll plan accordingly and stay in the countryside until it's time to move on. We're due to hop on a boat out of Barcelona. Trouble is, one doesn't necessarily know where a hot spot is until you get there - especially when you're in unfamiliar territory....
by Swampy
Tue Oct 03, 2017 9:17 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Soliciting personal recommendations for a Barcelona trip
Replies: 57
Views: 8104

Re: Soliciting personal recommendations for a Barcelona trip

We're days away from going. The news is not indicative of a serene environment as bloodshed in the streets of Barcelona is prevalent. If they start shooting at each other in earnest, then I will cancel and lose the money spent on the trip as there is no reason to endanger my family needlessly. Here are some recent stories just from the last 24 hours: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-41479048 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-spain-politics-catalonia/metro-roads-disrupted-in-catalonia-pro-independence-protest-idUSKCN1C80UK http://www.smh.com.au/world/anger-and-violence-in-barcelona-as-catalan-independence-vote-goes-ahead-20171001-gyse75.html Maybe I'm a bit overly cautious, gun shy and tired after getting whacked when the center of hurr...
by Swampy
Thu Sep 07, 2017 8:33 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Vacation after minor hurricane?
Replies: 25
Views: 3133

Re: Vacation after minor hurricane?

We were on Hilton Head Island in December 2016, two months after it got hammered by Matthew. We stayed at the Marriott Surfwatch, close to Chaplin Park. The park was closed and was a receiving/processing area for all the downed trees on HHI that damaged property and blocked roads. An endless parade of trucks just kept coming throughout our stay there. They still had a lot of work to do when we left. The damage we saw convince me that HHI is NOT a place to be so soon after a hurricane. As I write this, we are in the cone of probability to get hit by Irma. We made reservations on 'higher' ground just a few miles from home. The 24 hour media has induced a panicked hysteria and utter fear in people. The highway system is currently gridlocked on...
by Swampy
Wed Aug 30, 2017 7:12 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Soliciting personal recommendations for a Barcelona trip
Replies: 57
Views: 8104

Re: Soliciting personal recommendations for a Barcelona trip

Thank you everyone for excellent advice and input.
by Swampy
Mon Aug 28, 2017 7:06 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Soliciting personal recommendations for a Barcelona trip
Replies: 57
Views: 8104

Re: Soliciting personal recommendations for a Barcelona trip

Filled in and booked the missing pieces this weekend. Booked an 'apart-hotel' in Barcelona with one of those well known travel websites. Just got an email from the establishment asking for everyone in our party's name, DOB, Passport numbers, etc. I don't feel comfortable emailing this to them because of potential identity theft. I think I'll respond with just names and DOB's while the passport numbers will be presented in person at the establishment if required. Honestly, it sounds like I'm having dealings with the old Soviet Union again instead of Spain. Then again, maybe it's a new standard modus operandi in this terrorist stricken continent? Is this normal or not? I don't recall this on previous trips before now - even this spring.
by Swampy
Fri Aug 25, 2017 10:40 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Soliciting personal recommendations for a Barcelona trip
Replies: 57
Views: 8104

Re: Soliciting personal recommendations for a Barcelona trip

Any thoughts about the places that offer breakfast, half-board or even full board as opposed to doing it on your own in these areas, especially Lourdes and Carcassonne? The pricing varies quite a bit, but may be a good deal if local restaurants are expensive with mediocre service/food (as I've noted on some website reviews) - or - they may be locking us into lousy food at the hotel. As a rule, I've found hotel food to be 'iffy' in the US and better in Europe. Has anyone else noticed or experienced this?

As regards to what happened in Barcelona, I grew up in the Chicago area in an infamously tough area of town so I'm not overly concerned.
by Swampy
Mon Aug 21, 2017 6:34 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Soliciting personal recommendations for a Barcelona trip
Replies: 57
Views: 8104

Re: Soliciting personal recommendations for a Barcelona trip

Regarding pickpockets, Rome is another hotspot for theft as I already found out on a previous trip.

Given that the terrorists primary target was Sagrada Familia with three van-bombs, it doesn't instill a desire to keep
returning to Europe until they eradicate this menace or get it under control.
by Swampy
Sun Aug 20, 2017 6:18 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Soliciting personal recommendations for a Barcelona trip
Replies: 57
Views: 8104

Re: Soliciting personal recommendations for a Barcelona trip

No plans to skip Barcelona. If anything, we're going to spend more time in the countryside and
rural-seaside hamlets than the city itself. Lodging may actually drop in price after what happened.
by Swampy
Thu Aug 17, 2017 1:59 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Soliciting personal recommendations for a Barcelona trip
Replies: 57
Views: 8104

Re: Soliciting personal recommendations for a Barcelona trip

VictoriaF wrote: Thu Aug 17, 2017 1:00 pm
Swampy wrote: Thu Aug 17, 2017 12:43 pm Any further ideas - other than to be safe?
Being safe is always recommended, in Barcelona and elsewhere. I am watching the current news with horror. On Sunday, I walked at the exactly the intersection where the van has stopped! However, I also keep the perspective: while I was in Barcelona there was a similar attack in Virginia, my home state.

Victoria
We were on International Drive, just a few miles from the Pulse attack when it happened last June in Orlando.
Situational awareness is mandatory but it is no guarantee of safety anywhere.
It's like investing, hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.
The law of averages is still in our favor.
by Swampy
Thu Aug 17, 2017 12:43 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Soliciting personal recommendations for a Barcelona trip
Replies: 57
Views: 8104

Re: Soliciting personal recommendations for a Barcelona trip

Any further ideas - other than to be safe?
by Swampy
Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:12 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Beam 2-4% APY
Replies: 30
Views: 5716

Re: Beam 2-4% APY

Beam is nowhere to be found on the FDIC website.
The Beam website is secretive and the whole thing smells like a rotting fish to me.
Caveat depositor.

"I am not so much concerned with the return on capital as I am with the return of capital."
by Swampy
Mon Aug 14, 2017 8:08 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Soliciting personal recommendations for a Barcelona trip
Replies: 57
Views: 8104

Re: Soliciting personal recommendations for a European trip

Great recommendations so far. Has anyone visited the national parks in this area, specifically Vall del Madriu or either of the Parc Naturel des Pyrenees?

We're planning on spending at least two nights in each of multiple locations along the way with a longer stay in Barcelona at the end of our stay and agree that a car is not necessary there.

We're looking to experience some off the beaten path beauty and historical sights. Names of lodging and dining establishments would help as we can do research prior to going. To paraphrase Robert Frost, we prefer to take the roads less traveled by, which make all the difference.
by Swampy
Sun Aug 13, 2017 3:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Soliciting personal recommendations for a Barcelona trip
Replies: 57
Views: 8104

Soliciting personal recommendations for a Barcelona trip

Planning independent travel to Barcelona, then the Pyrenees including Andorra, Bayonne, Lourdes, Carcassonne, Perpignan and points in between this fall. Does anyone have personal recommendations of places they enjoyed or places to avoid as regards to lodging, dining and historical sights on and off the beaten path? We will be driving and are open to side trips as well.

Thanks.
by Swampy
Sat Jul 22, 2017 5:00 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What if mother uses daughter's Special Needs Trust for herself?
Replies: 23
Views: 2867

Re: What if mother uses daughter's Special Needs Trust for herself?

Consider an ABLE trust if available in your state. Google it. Here is a link to one party's "Qualified Expenses" page: https://www.able-now.com/qualified-expenses We have an 'adult' child who will need lifetime care, potentially another 60 years. Neither my wife nor I have another 60 years left in us. We have established a special needs (supplemental needs) trust and originally nixed the ABLE trust as too limiting with excessive fee's - until we found out what the attorney considered reasonable annual charges for his oversight and services in regards to the trust. To make a long story short, we are looking for another attorney. It seems that everyone involved in the whole special needs trust and ABLE trust process has dollar signs...
by Swampy
Sun Jul 02, 2017 11:46 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Beginner needs sanity check moving a lot of cash to market.
Replies: 58
Views: 7804

Re: Beginner needs sanity check moving a lot of cash to market.

Cash in Bank Savings/Checking Accounts: $434K Debts/Loans: Home Principle left ~$400K. Equity ~$100K+. Interest rate - 3.875%, Payments are $2,750 / mo Car 1: Principle left $7,500, $380/mo payment Car 2: Principle left $16,000 $408/mo payment If it was me: 1) I'd pay off BOTH auto loans, freeing up $788 a month for other things (like adding it to the monthly mortgage payment). 2) Then I'd take $200K and pay down the mortgage principal. You'd bring down the balance which would allow more of your monthly payment to go towards principal and less toward interest. Between the above two steps, you should make your mortgage literally evaporate in a few short years without needing expensive refinancing. I recall reading that the hidden cost of re...
by Swampy
Tue Jun 06, 2017 11:52 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Traveling for 3 weeks
Replies: 17
Views: 2738

Re: Traveling for 3 weeks

Three weeks is not that long, really - you don't have to worry about covering the toilets. Make sure you've paid any bills that may come in during your absence in advance before leaving which is easy with electronic bill pay. Make sure you have at least two different ATM/debit cards to access cash and two credit cards. I was burned on my recent trip when the ATM/debit card I brought failed to work despite my notification - causing a lot of undue stress. I learned my lesson and will never go without a backup. Adjust the AC, easy if you have a programmable thermostat. If you live in a warm climate, set it to cool and dehumidify the house for a few hours in the evening around sunset. You'll save serious money with this one step alone and come ...
by Swampy
Thu May 25, 2017 3:45 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Air Conditioning unit / fix or replace
Replies: 14
Views: 2221

Re: Air Conditioning unit / fix or replace

As a prospective buyer, I'd insist on a completely new system for anything that is over 10-12 years old.
Compressor failure at 17 years means the system is DOA. I'd do it right as a seller and not 'cheap out.'
Buying a place with a makeshift patch job (compressor only) is just looking for trouble in the near future.
Why should I have to sweat in 90 degree heat to have a system replaced in a newly purchased home?
If the owner balked, I'd walk or offer much less than what the replacement of a new unit would cost.


by Swampy
Sat Apr 29, 2017 6:19 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The Importance of “Cash on Hand” to Life Satisfaction
Replies: 29
Views: 5981

Re: The Importance of “Cash on Hand” to Life Satisfaction

...having a buffer of money available in checking and savings accounts confers a sense of financial security, which in turn is associated with greater life satisfaction. I retired in 2015 and, by design, keep three years' living expenses in cash. This absolutely "confers a sense of financial security"—whether real or imagined, I don't care—but I think it's a stretch to say that I enjoy "greater life satisfaction" as a result. For me, life satisfaction is about much more than my portfolio. Actually, I didn't write that, the authors did. Since I left employment, I have had a buffer of several years worth of expenses in cash accounts in addition to the invested portfolio. I believe, in my case, that it does allow greater l...
by Swampy
Fri Apr 28, 2017 1:17 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The Importance of “Cash on Hand” to Life Satisfaction
Replies: 29
Views: 5981

The Importance of “Cash on Hand” to Life Satisfaction

This is an interesting article I came across. http://sonjalyubomirsky.com/files/2012/09/Ruberton-Gladstone-Lyubomirsky-2016.pdf An interesting excerpt toward the end is worth noting: Our results suggest that having a buffer of money available in checking and savings accounts confers a sense of financial security, which in turn is associated with greater life satisfaction. The strength of this association was comparable to the effect of investments—which may themselves be liquid assets (e.g., money mar- ket accounts)—and slightly greater than the effect of debt status. By contrast, higher income and spending—the amounts going into or out of a person’s bank account—were not associated with increased financial well-being after liquid wealth wa...
by Swampy
Thu Apr 27, 2017 6:58 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Boglehead Ideas for College Graduation Gifts
Replies: 14
Views: 2118

Boglehead Ideas for College Graduation Gifts

Looking for Bogleheads inspired ideas of worthwhile gifting to college graduates. Feel free to include your rationale for the gift and what you would consider an over the top gift or one that might have unintended consequences.
by Swampy
Tue Apr 25, 2017 9:38 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Helping adult children
Replies: 80
Views: 12707

Re: Helping adult children

Son 1 has a lot of expenses, particularly with the children's many activities. We have been helping them with the many expenses related to activities as well as dental expenses and major home repairs... My question to you is "Has Son 1 asked for help?" I suggest you read "The Millionaire Next Door" by Stanley and Danko. What you describe sounds an awful lot like EOC - Economic Outpatient Care. [/b] At the risk of being criticized by others, I believe you are inadvertently weakening Son 1 as opposed to Son 2. OP here. Yes, I read it and I remember the EOC topic you refer to. My situation isn't nearly that extreme, but I don't want to head down the wrong path. To answer your question, no--neither son has ever asked for an...
by Swampy
Tue Apr 25, 2017 7:33 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Helping adult children
Replies: 80
Views: 12707

Re: Helping adult children

Son 1 has a lot of expenses, particularly with the children's many activities. We have been helping them with the many expenses related to activities as well as dental expenses and major home repairs...
My question to you is "Has Son 1 asked for help?"

I suggest you read "The Millionaire Next Door" by Stanley and Danko.
What you describe sounds an awful lot like EOC - Economic Outpatient Care.


At the risk of being criticized by others, I believe you are inadvertently weakening Son 1 as opposed to Son 2.
by Swampy
Sat Feb 25, 2017 4:04 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Oscillating withdrawal rate - OWR
Replies: 10
Views: 1452

Re: Oscillating withdrawal rate - OWR

Swampy, we may have acted similar to you. Isn't OWR another name for variable withdrawal rate? My 18 year withdrawal rate has certainly oscillated, but that was expected, so planned for. For me, planning for a big vacation in Europe or Asia, new autos, or buying and maintaining a lake cottage (all of which are in our history), but in other years nothing expensive, requires discipline. My withdrawal plan, a plan where I expected variable needs, has worked. It requires an annual review of past spending and future needs to control withdrawals. My goal was for an AVERAGE annual withdrawal percentage of 4.5%, NOT adjusted for inflation, not a specific set annual withdrawal percentage. The withdrawals will be variable year to year, low in some y...