Search found 592 matches

by ruanddu
Thu Oct 26, 2023 11:20 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Safeco Right Track Drive Monitoring App - Anyone Tried?
Replies: 17
Views: 2708

Re: Safeco Right Track Drive Monitoring App - Anyone Tried?

I tried to use this. We had three drivers and three cars. Two of the drivers procrastinated on setting it up and never reviewed its findings (sometimes it detects driving that isn’t driving). One driver was set up incorrectly by the insurance agent and didn’t figure it out until halfway through, so they had no results. I was the only driver who attempted to complete the program, but I couldn’t do it. The 90-day time period elapsed before I had driven 500 miles. Now that I work from home, I just don’t drive that much. I drive more than any other family member, so even if they had actually tried to do it, it wasn’t going to work for them either. So, no, it didn’t work. Each driver has to ensure its set up correctly, review its results every ...
by ruanddu
Wed Oct 25, 2023 3:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Safeco Right Track Drive Monitoring App - Anyone Tried?
Replies: 17
Views: 2708

Safeco Right Track Drive Monitoring App - Anyone Tried?

Hello, we are insured with Safeco and our insurance broker suggested my wife and I consider signing up for Safeco's Right Track drive monitoring app that works by loading Safeco's app on your phone to see your driving habits. Has anyone tried and recommend or not recommend? Here is what insurance broker said are the parameters: - Must install app on your phone and use for 90 days. After 90 days, you can delete the app from your phone. Is this true? - The app doesn't have to be open on your phone each time you drive, to me sounds like it is just running in the background on your phone, can you please confirm if I am correct that you don't have open the app and press any buttons to activate each time you drive? - You get an instant 10 percent...
by ruanddu
Wed Oct 18, 2023 10:28 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: TIPS Fund for a 40 Year Old
Replies: 37
Views: 4798

Re: TIPS Fund for a 40 Year Old

Thank you! Do you then take that data and find out the cost per year and then times by X amount of years you think you will need it? That will then show you how much assets you need to accumulate before then turning to TIPS to safeguard the assets? An often not mentioned planning risk wth a TIPS ladder is that the cost of the ladder for a given payout depends strongly on the real yield at which one can buy the TIPS. It isn't possible to count on what the interest rates will be at the time you want to build the ladder. At -2% real you get an annual payout of around 2.4% of the total invested. At 0% you get 3.3%. (That one is easy because it is just the investment returned over 30 years 1/30 = 3.33%. At +2% real you get about 4.4%. Much appr...
by ruanddu
Wed Oct 18, 2023 10:27 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: TIPS Fund for a 40 Year Old
Replies: 37
Views: 4798

Re: TIPS Fund for a 40 Year Old

Thank you! Do you then take that data and find out the cost per year and then times by X amount of years you think you will need it? That will then show you how much assets you need to accumulate before then turning to TIPS to safeguard the assets? An often not mentioned planning risk wth a TIPS ladder is that the cost of the ladder for a given payout depends strongly on the real yield at which one can buy the TIPS. It isn't possible to count on what the interest rates will be at the time you want to build the ladder. At -2% real you get an annual payout of around 2.4% of the total invested. At 0% you get 3.3%. (That one is easy because it is just the investment returned over 30 years 1/30 = 3.33%. At +2% real you get about 4.4%. Much appr...
by ruanddu
Wed Oct 18, 2023 10:26 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: TIPS Fund for a 40 Year Old
Replies: 37
Views: 4798

Re: TIPS Fund for a 40 Year Old

You should consider bonds (TIPS included) in your risk portfolio if you cannot stomach the eye-popping losses you will encounter in your investing lifetime. You were probably way too young to fully experience the last big one and don't have the real experience of the punch in the face in 2007/8. Your goal should be to do whatever it takes to not touch the equity portions of your portfolio during these periods and if lucky accumulate equities for future eye-popping growth. Bonds tamp down the short/mid-term volatility for peace of mind (yes, 2022 didn't work out that way, but still) assuming you already have a decent emergency fund salted away since bear markers coincide with the loss of income as well. It might also give you access to capi...
by ruanddu
Tue Oct 17, 2023 12:19 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Wireless Printer for iPad?
Replies: 12
Views: 1340

Re: Wireless Printer for iPad?

Thanks!
by ruanddu
Tue Oct 17, 2023 8:40 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: TIPS Fund for a 40 Year Old
Replies: 37
Views: 4798

Re: TIPS Fund for a 40 Year Old

You should consider bonds (TIPS included) in your risk portfolio if you cannot stomach the eye-popping losses you will encounter in your investing lifetime. You were probably way too young to fully experience the last big one and don't have the real experience of the punch in the face in 2007/8. Your goal should be to do whatever it takes to not touch the equity portions of your portfolio during these periods and if lucky accumulate equities for future eye-popping growth. Bonds tamp down the short/mid-term volatility for peace of mind (yes, 2022 didn't work out that way, but still) assuming you already have a decent emergency fund salted away since bear markers coincide with the loss of income as well. It might also give you access to capi...
by ruanddu
Mon Oct 16, 2023 3:53 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Wireless Printer for iPad?
Replies: 12
Views: 1340

Re: Wireless Printer for iPad?

Thanks again everyone! Super helpful.
by ruanddu
Mon Oct 16, 2023 1:31 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Wireless Printer for iPad?
Replies: 12
Views: 1340

Re: Wireless Printer for iPad?

The Amazon website doesn't list the full specifications for that printer but if you look at it on HP's website you will see it supports "Airprint" - which is the protocol that is needed (unless an additional App is loaded) to easily print from your iPad. https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/pdp/2734e-printer#techSpecs That said - before you buy this printer consider how much you will be printing. The printer is cheap but the costs of replacing the cartridges will get expensive over time. I like the new tank-based ink-jet printers (you literally add ink to a tank - the initial cost is higher but you can print a lot more for much less money). For black-and-white Brother Laser printers are more cost effective. Really helpful info! Thank you.
by ruanddu
Mon Oct 16, 2023 12:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Wireless Printer for iPad?
Replies: 12
Views: 1340

Wireless Printer for iPad?

Hello, looking to buy a wireless printer for printing off stuff from my iPad. Do you know if most wireless printers support printing from an iPad wirelessly? Looking at this unit from Amazon but hard to tell from the info provided. https://www.amazon.com/HP-DeskJet-2734e ... 3316?psc=1

Thank you.
by ruanddu
Mon Oct 16, 2023 12:25 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: TIPS Fund for a 40 Year Old
Replies: 37
Views: 4798

Re: TIPS Fund for a 40 Year Old

You should consider bonds (TIPS included) in your risk portfolio if you cannot stomach the eye-popping losses you will encounter in your investing lifetime. You were probably way too young to fully experience the last big one and don't have the real experience of the punch in the face in 2007/8. Your goal should be to do whatever it takes to not touch the equity portions of your portfolio during these periods and if lucky accumulate equities for future eye-popping growth. Bonds tamp down the short/mid-term volatility for peace of mind (yes, 2022 didn't work out that way, but still) assuming you already have a decent emergency fund salted away since bear markers coincide with the loss of income as well. It might also give you access to capi...
by ruanddu
Mon Oct 16, 2023 12:23 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best Place to Buy Used Phones?
Replies: 28
Views: 3554

Re: Best Place to Buy Used Phones?

The problem with buying used phones (my primary experience is with iPhones, so the notes below refer to those specifically, though probably some crossover with Android) is that even after purchase, someone can still report a phone as "stolen" to a carrier, putting the phone on a blacklist that prevents it from ever being activated again on any carrier. I've had it happen to me several times. Someone does not need to have physical possession of a phone to make things difficult for you. The other thing I've experienced is that phones can be locked to specific carriers because of contract obligations that can prevent them from being used by anyone else on any other carriers. You can't know that often without actually putting in a SI...
by ruanddu
Sun Oct 15, 2023 4:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best Place to Buy Used Phones?
Replies: 28
Views: 3554

Re: Best Place to Buy Used Phones?

Is there a higher chance that your phone that you bought used could be more prone to a SIM card attack where someone is able to port your phone # over to a different phone? Thank you.
by ruanddu
Sun Oct 15, 2023 3:55 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: TIPS Fund for a 40 Year Old
Replies: 37
Views: 4798

Re: TIPS Fund for a 40 Year Old

Hello, re-visiting this thread again (OP here). Now that TIPS yields have increased quite a bit since my original post, when in your opinion does it start to make more sense to allocate a part of portfolio to long term TIPS? If you were in your early 40’s, would you be investing in TIPS? If so what percentage of your portfolio and what duration would you choose? I am thinking I wouldn’t need to tap into this money until my mid 60’s. Thank you! It's tempting to overthink every bit of allocation, but it's not worth the headache. You could ask a seasoned bond expert and he'll tell you it doesn't matter much so long as you're in some wide band of sensible options. Presumably you have an asset allocation with a bond portion. Those can be nomina...
by ruanddu
Sun Oct 15, 2023 11:30 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: TIPS Fund for a 40 Year Old
Replies: 37
Views: 4798

Re: TIPS Fund for a 40 Year Old

Hello, re-visiting this thread again (OP here). Now that TIPS yields have increased quite a bit since my original post, when in your opinion does it start to make more sense to allocate a part of portfolio to long term TIPS? If you were in your early 40’s, would you be investing in TIPS? If so what percentage of your portfolio and what duration would you choose? I am thinking I wouldn’t need to tap into this money until my mid 60’s. Thank you!
by ruanddu
Fri Oct 13, 2023 9:39 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Computer Upgrade for my Elderly Parents - Your Advice Appreciated
Replies: 59
Views: 5268

Computer Upgrade for my Elderly Parents - Your Advice Appreciated

Hello, looking to get my elderly parents an upgraded PC for just light use on the internet and checking email. Would you mind sharing what you think is the best value out there right now for something like that? They don't need a laptop just a desktop. Already have a decent monitor. Thank you!
by ruanddu
Wed Oct 04, 2023 3:42 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: iPhone 13 Mini - Any User Feedback?
Replies: 40
Views: 3729

Re: iPhone 13 Mini - Any User Feedback?

the_wiki wrote: Wed Oct 04, 2023 1:49 pm
watchnerd wrote: Mon Oct 02, 2023 8:30 pm I thought all the minis were discontinued?
They are no longer being sold by Apple. Other retailers may have stock and there are bound to be thousands on the used/refurb market at any time.

Apple will support it for 5-6 years, so should have plenty of relevant life.
Thanks for the reply.
by ruanddu
Wed Oct 04, 2023 1:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: iPhone 13 Mini - Any User Feedback?
Replies: 40
Views: 3729

Re: iPhone 13 Mini - Any User Feedback?

dukeblue219 wrote: Wed Oct 04, 2023 12:39 pm
ruanddu wrote: Wed Oct 04, 2023 12:35 pm Thanks everyone. The majority of you seem to really like this phone.

Has anyone had good luck buying used or refurbished phones and if so where? I am concerned about security of buying a used phone with all the sim card attacks these days.
Plenty of people do it. Swappa is good.

I don't know a reason why a sim swap would be more likely on a used phone, even one that lacks physical sim cards.
Good to know, thank you.
by ruanddu
Wed Oct 04, 2023 12:35 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: iPhone 13 Mini - Any User Feedback?
Replies: 40
Views: 3729

Re: iPhone 13 Mini - Any User Feedback?

Thanks everyone. The majority of you seem to really like this phone.

Has anyone had good luck buying used or refurbished phones and if so where? I am concerned about security of buying a used phone with all the sim card attacks these days.
by ruanddu
Mon Oct 02, 2023 3:19 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: iPhone 13 Mini - Any User Feedback?
Replies: 40
Views: 3729

Re: iPhone 13 Mini - Any User Feedback?

I very much appreciate the additional replies, everyone.
by ruanddu
Sun Oct 01, 2023 11:17 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: iPhone 13 Mini - Any User Feedback?
Replies: 40
Views: 3729

Re: iPhone 13 Mini - Any User Feedback?

Thanks again everyone.
by ruanddu
Sat Sep 30, 2023 3:48 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: iPhone 13 Mini - Any User Feedback?
Replies: 40
Views: 3729

Re: iPhone 13 Mini - Any User Feedback?

Thanks everyone!
by ruanddu
Sat Sep 30, 2023 1:48 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: iPhone 13 Mini - Any User Feedback?
Replies: 40
Views: 3729

iPhone 13 Mini - Any User Feedback?

Strongly considering the iPhone 13 mini due to its small size and looking for phone that fits nicely in my pants pocket. My main concern is battery life compared to other iPhones. I am also considering the SE but reviews seem to be iffy on the 2nd generation SE. Any feedback is appreciated.

Thank you.
by ruanddu
Mon Sep 11, 2023 6:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Questions on Creating a Will
Replies: 12
Views: 1415

Re: Questions on Creating a Will

They said: "My biggest concern is that since you have three underage children, your qualified plans and group term life benefits could end up with three custodianships if something happened to both of you". They also mentioned they typically recommends trusts and not wills for all their clients since there is no advantage to a will versus a trust. Thanks again. You're welcome. And even better -- your question got a reply from bsteiner, who is a highly regarded estate attorney. His advice is worth reading a few times over. Without contradicting bsteiner, I do think it's valuable to say that some attorneys do prefer an RLT over a Testamentary Trust, even in "easy probate" states. A few reasons I've been told: * it's faste...
by ruanddu
Mon Sep 11, 2023 6:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Questions on Creating a Will
Replies: 12
Views: 1415

Re: Questions on Creating a Will

Through my employer via my MetLife Life Insurance plan I have the ability to get a free Last Will and Testament, Power of Attorney and Advanced Health and Directive through one of MetLife’s recommended attorneys. I am hoping to ask you if you feel this is adequate protection for my family of 5 - wife and 3 kids under age 11? We have a simple and relatively small estate - own 1 home, retirement accounts and savings account under 1 million. I called one of the lawyers that MetLife recommended and they said they recommend instead a Revocable Living Trust, Pour Over Will, Living Will, and Power of Attorney. They also mentioned a Community Property Agreement is a good idea (WA state). Since this is involves more work than what MetLife allots fo...
by ruanddu
Mon Sep 11, 2023 4:09 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Questions on Creating a Will
Replies: 12
Views: 1415

Re: Questions on Creating a Will

OP, it's kinda hard to tell whether the extra $1500 would buy you high-quality estate advice, or just a copy of some vanilla trust from their "trust mill." Did they explain why they recommend an RLT vs a Testamentary Trust? And did they explain to you the WA estate tax implications, which depend on your assets including (probably) life insurance payouts? (Community property rules come into play here in ways I don't understand -- but they should be able to clearly explain them if they think a credit shelter trust is necessary). When I was in a similar situation to you, I used a $100 software will, which had provisions for creating simple testamentary trusts in the will. But I didn't have the same state-level estate tax issues that...
by ruanddu
Sun Sep 10, 2023 4:18 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Questions on Creating a Will
Replies: 12
Views: 1415

Questions on Creating a Will

Through my employer via my MetLife Life Insurance plan I have the ability to get a free Last Will and Testament, Power of Attorney and Advanced Health and Directive through one of MetLife’s recommended attorneys. I am hoping to ask you if you feel this is adequate protection for my family of 5 - wife and 3 kids under age 11? We have a simple and relatively small estate - own 1 home, retirement accounts and savings account under 1 million. I called one of the lawyers that MetLife recommended and they said they recommend instead a Revocable Living Trust, Pour Over Will, Living Will, and Power of Attorney. They also mentioned a Community Property Agreement is a good idea (WA state). Since this is involves more work than what MetLife allots for...
by ruanddu
Tue Aug 22, 2023 10:45 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Now that long TIPS yields are 60 bp off their highs I will…
Replies: 2949
Views: 622765

Re: Now that long TIPS have cracked 2.00% again I will…

William Million wrote: Tue Aug 22, 2023 10:15 am I see some 2.2% rates out there.

Inching closer to my 3% back-up-the -truck rate.
Curious as to why the 3% is your back up the truck rate? Thanks.
by ruanddu
Thu Aug 03, 2023 2:10 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Now that long TIPS yields are 60 bp off their highs I will…
Replies: 2949
Views: 622765

Re: Now that long TIPS once again yield more than 1.80% I will…

Bought the 2049 today. Real YTM = 2.01%. Stupid question - still learning about TIPS, I read that the latest TIPS auction was in July and next one is October. Curious how did you buy 2049 today? Any further insight is appreciated. I am still trying to figure out at my age (early 40's) and won't retire till around 60-65, do TIPS now start making sense as part of my portfolio at these attractive rates? If so, does buying them via LPTZ make sense for easy resell, or individually? Thank you. I bought on the “secondary market”. You can do it through your broker. For instance, you might Google “how to buy TIPS at [insert brokerage name]”. Here’s an example for Fidelity: https://www.fidelity.com/bin-public/060_www_fidelity_com/documents/fixed-inc...
by ruanddu
Thu Aug 03, 2023 2:10 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Now that long TIPS yields are 60 bp off their highs I will…
Replies: 2949
Views: 622765

Re: Now that long TIPS once again yield more than 1.80% I will…

Tom_T wrote: Thu Aug 03, 2023 1:48 pm
ruanddu wrote: Thu Aug 03, 2023 1:44 pm
Horton wrote: Thu Aug 03, 2023 8:53 am Bought the 2049 today. Real YTM = 2.01%.
Stupid question - still learning about TIPS, I read that the latest TIPS auction was in July and next one is October. Curious how did you buy 2049 today?
Secondary market via your broker (Vanguard, Fidelity, etc.)
Thank you.
by ruanddu
Thu Aug 03, 2023 1:44 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Now that long TIPS yields are 60 bp off their highs I will…
Replies: 2949
Views: 622765

Re: Now that long TIPS once again yield more than 1.80% I will…

Horton wrote: Thu Aug 03, 2023 8:53 am Bought the 2049 today. Real YTM = 2.01%.
Stupid question - still learning about TIPS, I read that the latest TIPS auction was in July and next one is October. Curious how did you buy 2049 today? Any further insight is appreciated. I am still trying to figure out at my age (early 40's) and won't retire till around 60-65, do TIPS now start making sense as part of my portfolio at these attractive rates? If so, does buying them via LPTZ make sense for easy resell, or individually? Thank you.
by ruanddu
Wed Aug 02, 2023 12:49 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Now that long TIPS yields are 60 bp off their highs I will…
Replies: 2949
Views: 622765

Re: Now that long TIPS once again yield more than 1.80% I will…

1. Stay the course and engage in no market timing. I bought TIPS in 2021 to match future liabilities and have all I need according to my investment policy statement. 2. Wait to see how high that real yield might go. 3. Jump on it and convert a substantial percentage of my fixed income portfolio to long TIPS 4. Convert *all* my bond holdings to long TIPS, including those embedded in Wellesley, Wellington or other balanced funds. 5. Continue to ignore TIPS because the real return potentially on offer in stocks is so much greater than 2.0% over the long term. 6. Already converted all my bonds to the 20-year TIPS as soon as it yielded 1.0% real…just some weeks ago. Positive real returns, government guaranteed, are … positive real returns. The ...
by ruanddu
Wed Aug 02, 2023 12:45 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Now that long TIPS yields are 60 bp off their highs I will…
Replies: 2949
Views: 622765

Re: Now that long TIPS once again yield more than 1.80% I will…

exodusing wrote: Mon Jul 31, 2023 12:58 pm
ruanddu wrote: Sun Jul 30, 2023 10:39 pm Can I please ask how far out from retirement you are? I am in my early 40s and wondering if lptz makes sense for some of my portfolio. Thanks.
DFA, reportedly advised by Robert Merton, recommends starting to transition to TIPS 15 years from retirement. See https://www.dimensional.com/us-en/finan ... calculator Pick another time frame if you prefer. The general idea is to have a safe floor (all necessary expenses covered safely) at retirement.
Thank you. 🙂
by ruanddu
Sun Jul 30, 2023 10:39 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Now that long TIPS yields are 60 bp off their highs I will…
Replies: 2949
Views: 622765

Re: Now that long TIPS once again yield more than 1.80% I will…

Update: I’ve now accumulated about $180,000 (notional) toward my notional goal of $400,000 in long TIPS, using LTPZ as my vehicle. About one-third of that was accumulated here in 2023 by carefully buying on the dips, and staying out of the market early in the year, when long TIPS yields had fallen to about 1.35%. Nonetheless, these 2023 purchases have driven my average purchase price up somewhat, call it $57.75 on LTPZ. That’s okay; it is the equivalent of a yield just north of 1.85% on the 2040s TIPS. At this point, I’ve exchanged all the standalone fixed income funds that I once had for LTPZ. From here on out, I have to start cracking my Wellesley / Wellington type balanced funds. For instance, on the next round, I might sell $100,000 We...
by ruanddu
Sat Jul 29, 2023 3:12 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Life insurance and Will Question from new dad
Replies: 64
Views: 4878

Re: Life insurance and Will Question from new dad

Hello, A "new" 41 yr old dad here with 2 kids (21 and 6 months) and a wife. I am looking at both a will and increased life insurance. I) For my will: Would you recommend a laywer, an online resouce or other option? My will would be reasonably straightforward as my only assets are things such as the family car, home with my wife and stocks (401k, roth IRA, taxable). II) For life insurance: Are there any specific companies I should be looking at? This is all new to me, so I am very open to suggestions. Thank you very much -Dan Congratulations on your fatherhood. I was in your shoes a while ago. Step 1 for estate planning: designate beneficiaries on all of your financial accounts. This is the first step after decease, before the Wil...
by ruanddu
Tue Jul 25, 2023 10:49 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Life insurance and Will Question from new dad
Replies: 64
Views: 4878

Re: Life insurance and Will Question from new dad

I was pretty clear in my email. I asked for a single 500 (2) 500ks, 750 and 1M quotes for my wife and I. They actually gave me two 1M quotes and then told me to not contact them again. Strange, I spoke to the person 1 month ago and they've been emailing me/calling me once a week. Now that I am ready to buy (and their price was the lowest), they dump me. Just buy the cheapest 20-year 1 Mill term life policy for you and one for your wife from a highly rated company now. When that's in the bag, buy a 10-year or 30-year 1 Mill term life policy for you and one for your wife from a different highly rated company. When that's in the bag, continue enjoying your kids and wife and this great life with that risk - the risk of leaving your family with...
by ruanddu
Wed Jul 05, 2023 4:53 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Umbrella Insurance Recommended in Our Scenario?
Replies: 11
Views: 1441

Re: Umbrella Insurance Recommended in Our Scenario?

Flobes wrote: Wed Jul 05, 2023 10:52 am
ruanddu wrote: Wed Jul 05, 2023 10:35 am Thanks for the perspective.
Another perspective:

Yes, umbrella insurance protects your assets. And umbrella insurance will also provide the legal help you'll need.

Perhaps more importantly, remember that it protects a victim to whom you may have caused harm, damage or distress. Imagine you seriously injured a pedestrian in a vehicle accident or someone slipped on the ice at your home. It's good to know you have resources available to support their healing. So umbrella insurance makes sense because you're a decent, responsible person, and you don't want to live a life of guilt and regret.
Thank you.
by ruanddu
Wed Jul 05, 2023 10:35 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Umbrella Insurance Recommended in Our Scenario?
Replies: 11
Views: 1441

Re: Umbrella Insurance Recommended in Our Scenario?

HipCoyote wrote: Wed Jul 05, 2023 9:54 am I’d suggest not being penny wise and pound foolish. How could bankruptcy even be a consideration or alternative strategy? The price of that insurance is a pittance for the possible benefit. Ever see what attorneys make an hour?

Pay the insurance costs and move on.
Thanks for the perspective.
by ruanddu
Wed Jul 05, 2023 9:38 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Umbrella Insurance Recommended in Our Scenario?
Replies: 11
Views: 1441

Re: Umbrella Insurance Recommended in Our Scenario?

beyou wrote: Mon Jul 03, 2023 8:39 pm Note protection of your home depends on your state.
Thank you.
by ruanddu
Mon Jul 03, 2023 5:53 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Umbrella Insurance Recommended in Our Scenario?
Replies: 11
Views: 1441

Re: Umbrella Insurance Recommended in Our Scenario?

Thanks for the replies so far everyone.
by ruanddu
Mon Jul 03, 2023 2:12 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Umbrella Insurance Recommended in Our Scenario?
Replies: 11
Views: 1441

Umbrella Insurance Recommended in Our Scenario?

Hello, I would appreciate it if you can review our financial situation to see if Umbrella insurance is necessary? We have about $120k in taxable (savings) and the rest in retirement accounts such as Roth and traditional. We own a home (mortgage) in WA state. My wife and I are the only ones who drive. Have 3 younger kids under age 10. From my understanding, since we have (relatively) low amount in taxable and most assets in IRA type accounts it might not make sense to have umbrella insurance since we don't have a lot of assets to be taken since IRA is protected and I believe are home is too (don't quite understand the house part and appreciate clarification). I have read many other threads on Bogleheads on Umbrella Insurance and it seemed th...
by ruanddu
Fri Jun 23, 2023 2:42 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Washington State Long Term Care Trust Act - 0.58% payroll tax - $36,500 lifetime maximum benefit
Replies: 1772
Views: 196834

Re: Washington State Long Term Care Trust Act - 0.58% payroll tax - $36,500 lifetime maximum benefit

Workinprogress wrote: Fri Jun 23, 2023 11:58 am
ruanddu wrote: Fri Jun 23, 2023 11:08 am
Whakamole wrote: Fri Jun 23, 2023 11:04 am
ruanddu wrote: Fri Jun 23, 2023 11:01 am
Whakamole wrote: Fri Jun 23, 2023 10:53 am

Your union supported this legislation: https://dornsife.usc.edu/assets/sites/1 ... ort_v2.pdf
Thanks. That sounds about right. :oops:
Perhaps you can quit the union and let them know why. Cutting union dues will help make up for at least part of the income tax.
Yes! Been strongly considering doing so. Thanks for the nudge.
Be VERY careful quitting the union. Your union brothers will retaliate. Yes, it is against the law, but that matters not. You are warned, I was not.
Appreciate the heads-up! Sorry that happened to you.
by ruanddu
Fri Jun 23, 2023 11:08 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Washington State Long Term Care Trust Act - 0.58% payroll tax - $36,500 lifetime maximum benefit
Replies: 1772
Views: 196834

Re: Washington State Long Term Care Trust Act - 0.58% payroll tax - $36,500 lifetime maximum benefit

Whakamole wrote: Fri Jun 23, 2023 11:04 am
ruanddu wrote: Fri Jun 23, 2023 11:01 am
Whakamole wrote: Fri Jun 23, 2023 10:53 am
ruanddu wrote: Thu Jun 22, 2023 11:41 am I missed the boat on applying for exemption. I imagine I out of luck now but thought I would see if you guys had any suggestions at this point? I am a part of the SEIU union and reached out to them if there is any wiggle room but doubt it. Any rumblings that this law could get overturned at some point? Thank you.
Your union supported this legislation: https://dornsife.usc.edu/assets/sites/1 ... ort_v2.pdf
Thanks. That sounds about right. :oops:
Perhaps you can quit the union and let them know why. Cutting union dues will help make up for at least part of the income tax.
Yes! Been strongly considering doing so. Thanks for the nudge.
by ruanddu
Fri Jun 23, 2023 11:01 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Washington State Long Term Care Trust Act - 0.58% payroll tax - $36,500 lifetime maximum benefit
Replies: 1772
Views: 196834

Re: Washington State Long Term Care Trust Act - 0.58% payroll tax - $36,500 lifetime maximum benefit

Whakamole wrote: Fri Jun 23, 2023 10:53 am
ruanddu wrote: Thu Jun 22, 2023 11:41 am I missed the boat on applying for exemption. I imagine I out of luck now but thought I would see if you guys had any suggestions at this point? I am a part of the SEIU union and reached out to them if there is any wiggle room but doubt it. Any rumblings that this law could get overturned at some point? Thank you.
Your union supported this legislation: https://dornsife.usc.edu/assets/sites/1 ... ort_v2.pdf
Thanks. That sounds about right. :oops:
by ruanddu
Thu Jun 22, 2023 11:41 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Washington State Long Term Care Trust Act - 0.58% payroll tax - $36,500 lifetime maximum benefit
Replies: 1772
Views: 196834

Re: Washington State Long Term Care Trust Act - 0.58% payroll tax - $36,500 lifetime maximum benefit

I missed the boat on applying for exemption. I imagine I out of luck now but thought I would see if you guys had any suggestions at this point? I am a part of the SEIU union and reached out to them if there is any wiggle room but doubt it. Any rumblings that this law could get overturned at some point? Thank you.
by ruanddu
Wed Jun 21, 2023 8:44 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: [ACH transaction fraud - Fidelity and elsewhere]
Replies: 95
Views: 8869

Re: Potential fraud transaction in Fidelity - great service

Yes. My accounts have neither check writing nor debit cards. Darn, that’s not good. I have all the alerts set up, not just email but text, so I guess I would know very quickly. What a crazy system. Do understand that only "cash" is vulnerable to ACH withdrawal, if you're invested in stocks/bonds/CDs/funds (other than money market) those aren't vulnerable to an ACH debit. The "lockdown" will stop an ACATS transfer, which is the type of securities transfer a brokerage account (anywhere) is vulnerable to. Can you please specify is VUSXX money market and VFMXX are safe? VUSXX and VFMXX are Vanguard funds. I don't think you can hold those at Fidelity, or if you can there would be extra fees involved so I wouldn't recommend o...
by ruanddu
Tue Jun 20, 2023 4:00 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: [ACH transaction fraud - Fidelity and elsewhere]
Replies: 95
Views: 8869

Re: Potential fraud transaction in Fidelity - great service

Debi, see my previous post. The lockdown does not prevent ACH direct debit pulls. Fidelity's documentation states that and I am proof of it. That said, I am exceedingly pleased with Fidelity's response to the event. Darn, that is not good. But I do have alerts set up, not just email but text, so I would know very quickly. What a crazy system. Do our brokerage and retirement accounts have account numbers that work with ACH, if they are not set up to have check writing? Yes. My accounts have neither check writing nor debit cards. Darn, that’s not good. I have all the alerts set up, not just email but text, so I guess I would know very quickly. What a crazy system. Do understand that only "cash" is vulnerable to ACH withdrawal, if y...