Search found 2882 matches

by Calm Man
Thu Sep 11, 2014 7:45 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Refrigerator problem
Replies: 20
Views: 2471

Re: Refrigerator problem

I cannot diagnose a refrigerator. But I can say that although I don't check the temperature in my refrigerator, I would never be in the situation of it happening more than once as in your case. Refrigerators are so inexpensive I would just replace it rather than agonize over it as is happening to you. Good luck.
by Calm Man
Tue Sep 09, 2014 5:46 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Helping Mother In-Law With Retirement Planning
Replies: 36
Views: 3235

Re: Helping Mother In-Law With Retirement Planning

OP, given the 4 funds you suggest, I strongly suggest that you simply go with a Life Strategy Fund -- either Conservative Growth for 40/60 or Moderate Growth for 60/40. Clearly there is not enough money here to do what your MIL wants. I think the beauty of the Life Strategy fund is that the fund holder cannot focus on the "losses" mounting in a fund having a downturn as it is lumped with everything else. I think you can delay the "day of reckoning" with a LS fund rather than cash, which gives no chance of improving the situation. And maybe she gets lucky and the markets do great. I would suggest averaging in slowly and maybe over even 3 or 4 years as she is likely to panic if things go south rapidly. Good luck to her.
by Calm Man
Tue Sep 09, 2014 5:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: The Calculus of DIY
Replies: 9
Views: 1846

Re: The Calculus of DIY

OP, you talk about acquiring skills which is good. If you are a professional who does not work with his hands, is it really worth investing 10 weeks in courses and learning "on the job" to acquire the skill to repair an auto body when you will have little chance to use it in the future (although you seem cursed with these low impact accidents). I wouldn't waste my time learning something like this. I would pay to get the car fixed. And maybe take a class in parallel parking :twisted:
by Calm Man
Tue Sep 09, 2014 5:26 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: WA state Teacher Retirement System questions
Replies: 34
Views: 13270

Re: WA state Teacher Retirement System questions

I think we are doing the OP a disservice as he is probably quite young. I "laugh" when I read a post like this only because the way things are going, the chance that this system will be in place in 30 years is virtually zero. (I am not saying she will lose anything she gets rights to but routinely plans are being stopped, COLAs removed and benefits reduced from defined benefit plans.)

I would go exactly opposite of the grain and take whatever choice gave me the most defined contribution as they really can never take away money you put in that has a designated account for you.
by Calm Man
Mon Sep 08, 2014 12:39 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Life insurance with a smoking spouse
Replies: 38
Views: 2573

Re: Life insurance with a smoking spouse

Mojave, I get what you are saying about this thread being about insurance and not his quitting, as he isn't going to do it obviously. You are smart in recognizing that nagging him will make it more, not less, likely that he will keep smoking. If he is going to stop, he will need to convince himself. I would suggest that a great piece of insurance for you is NOT to stay at home and Yes to working out of the home. Even if "its doesn't pay" because of childcare and taxes, it does pay as far as being an investment in your not decreasing your value in the workplace (unless you have some remarkably desirable skill set, which few of us have). Each year out makes it tougher to reenter in terms of level of work and salary. This will be par...
by Calm Man
Sun Sep 07, 2014 2:49 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Does DFA emerging markets have any special sauce?
Replies: 7
Views: 1203

Re: Does DFA emerging markets have any special sauce?

freddie wrote:
Calm Man wrote:I wouldn't bother. They would have to beat it by 0.4% a year to even make it worth bothering with. And they probably won't.
Historically they have beaten the index after ER when looking at 5/10/15/20 year periods. You don't want to pay an advisor .25% to get access to the fund however.
Thank you Freddie. So the advisor adds a minimum of 0.25% more so it needs 0.65% outperformance. But assuming it is a taxable account, I believe those funds are somewhat less or a lot less tax efficient. But my bias against DFA funds is obvious.
by Calm Man
Sun Sep 07, 2014 2:45 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help with Retirement/Investing
Replies: 9
Views: 1424

Re: Help with Retirement/Investing

Antichurn, I assume as an engineer you have thick skin. I am coming at this as the parent of adult children. I am getting nervous about your situation. You make $100 K or so. That's great and it is perfectly good in NY when you live rent free and have 1 child and a non-working spouse. You will eventually not live rent free and if you continue to have a non-working spouse plus 3 more children, I think you are really up against it. Look at what your assets are now - about 58K. If you had paid a few thousand a month towards housing for the last few years it would be nothing basically. And more anxiety provoking for me is that your wife, who I assume has earning and career potential is now out of work to raise one child. I presume this would st...
by Calm Man
Sun Sep 07, 2014 2:38 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: [Helping someone] think like a rich person
Replies: 40
Views: 5731

Re: Think like a rich person

I understand what your saying, but don't understand what you mean by 'badges of honor' holding you back. I've never seen someone with a rolex getting held back because they have a watch on their wrist. Unless you are talking about the missed 'return' of spending money on an item I'm describing the behavior of what Tom Stanley of Millionaire Next Door fame calls "aspirationals"--people who purchase expensive, symbolic items before they can afford them in an attempt to look wealthy. If you can afford a Rolex watch and choose to purchase one, that's great. But if you can't afford it and buy one in an attempt to impress other people, that's another matter. In the latter case, such purchases of "badges of achievement" (not h...
by Calm Man
Sun Sep 07, 2014 12:40 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Does DFA emerging markets have any special sauce?
Replies: 7
Views: 1203

Re: Does DFA emerging markets have any special sauce?

I wouldn't bother. They would have to beat it by 0.4% a year to even make it worth bothering with. And they probably won't.
by Calm Man
Sat Sep 06, 2014 9:33 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: [Helping someone] think like a rich person
Replies: 40
Views: 5731

Re: Think like a rich person

With all due respect, I am not sure what you are writing is how rich people think. Are you rich?
by Calm Man
Sat Sep 06, 2014 9:26 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: WEP-Windfill Elimination provision - Social Security
Replies: 3
Views: 757

Re: WEP-Windfill Elimination provision - Social Security

OP, I must be incorrectly reading what you wrote. Are you saying that Lithuania is reducing your pension from Lithuania? What does that have to do with the WEP of social security? I must be misreading it as I don't think we can give you guidance about LIthuania.
by Calm Man
Sat Sep 06, 2014 8:32 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Injury on MBTA: Financially worth it to hire an attorney?
Replies: 27
Views: 3003

Re: Injury on MBTA: Financially worth it to hire an attorney

OP. You have not told us whether she reported this to the driver or anybody who could substantiate her statement at the time of the accident. Otherwise, how does she even know anybody including the driver will even know or agree that a pothole was hit?
by Calm Man
Sat Sep 06, 2014 7:40 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: So, when does a market timer get back in?
Replies: 54
Views: 8422

Re: So, when does a market timer get back in?

The secret is to SAY you got out at the top and bought back in at the bottom. (never actually let anyone see your trade confirmations, that takes away the mystique) Mike I was chatting with a friend of mine a few weeks ago. We have drastically different views on investing (mine is of the Bogleheads mold, he lives for individual stock positions and actively managed funds). I tried to "show him the light" discretely by letting him borrow "The Little Book of Common Sense Investing" by Bogle... he returned it the next day having read one chapter and said it wasn't for him. Anyways, he was telling me when the Dow was at 16,900 ( he uses the Dow as his be-all-end-all definition of the "market") that there was nowher...
by Calm Man
Sat Sep 06, 2014 5:25 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can estimated tax replace withholding?
Replies: 11
Views: 1123

Re: Can estimated tax replace withholding?

I was "troubled" by the issue of whether it was really OK or not to claim a lot of exemptions on the W4 for withholding. As I claim 10 from one payer precisely because, like Neurosphere, i wish to have zero withheld as I have enough withheld and estimated to meet my liability. Because it is only a rare person who has 10 exemptions. So I went to the IRS site and looked at the W4 form and instructions. I got the answer !!! Voila !!

You do not claim EXEMPTIONS on the W4. You claim ALLOWANCES. And the IRS instructions, calculator and W4 use as part of their "equation" the number of dependent exemptions but also other factors such that one could claim 100 allowances and have no problem.

I hope that helps...
by Calm Man
Sat Sep 06, 2014 5:00 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Drawing down a windfall...
Replies: 55
Views: 6636

Re: Drawing down a windfall...

I've been around and seen those businesses where you are "sucked in" in that if you don't keep meeting capital calls, you have nothing. But then, you are giving the capital to people who have run the business into the ground and your additional funds may not be enough and they may want more. I do wish you had read about handling a windfall before you started doing so. You have burnt down a lot of the money and people in your shoes can literally go broke with expensive houses, expensive private schools, 1 or 2 non-working spouses, etc. I would focus on looking hard at your lifestyle and I would really have a talk with yourself about what you are going to do when the next capital call comes. Because as you know that additional capit...
by Calm Man
Sat Sep 06, 2014 12:59 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Looking for feedback on my plan
Replies: 12
Views: 1005

Re: Looking for feedback on my plan

OP, if you are a broker-dealer that sounds like you help other people invest their money. Is that the case? And if so, do you really need advice from this forum?
by Calm Man
Sat Sep 06, 2014 9:54 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Colleague being fleeced by insurance agent / Ponzi Scheme?
Replies: 54
Views: 8316

Re: Colleague being fleeced by insurance agent / Ponzi Schem

This reminds me of a conversation I had with an advisor who manages money for a business partner of mine: Me: I'm just happy with index funds and their returns. Him: yes, index funds are good , but there are products that never lose money. Even in 2008, they made money. Me: i guess they shorted stocks back then Him: oh no, it is complicated stuff that I don't even understand. Me: well, the only things with real returns are stocks and bonds. Everything else is either speculative or derivative. Speculation is zero sum . Derivatives often underperform because of fees. Him: no, no it is very complicated stuff, but it works. I have my own money invested in it. Me: good for you. I'm sure it works. But i enjoy managing my money as a hobby. I will...
by Calm Man
Fri Sep 05, 2014 8:54 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Six-Figure Incomes—and Facing Financial Ruin [WSJ article]
Replies: 59
Views: 13098

Re: Six-Figure Incomes—and Facing Financial Ruin [WSJ articl

VictoriaF wrote:My first thought after looking at Sylvia Flores's picture in the beginning of the article was that she needs more bookcases.

Victoria
She indeed needs more books. What amazes me is that after this woman (more like a child) goes bust for 500K , a bunch of credit card companies let her go 300K more into hock. The computers had bad days.
by Calm Man
Wed Sep 03, 2014 6:48 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Month to start Medicare and Max Social Security
Replies: 3
Views: 601

Month to start Medicare and Max Social Security

Social security: We all know that you get maximum social security benefits by delaying until age 70. What does age 70 mean? To make it close and feel more real, let us say you were born on November 15, 1944 (I made that up). So you turn 70 this November. Do you file to collect effective November (when you turn 70) or 70 (a month later)? I know indeed that the payout is the following month.

Medicare:You go on it at age 65. If somebody turns 65 this November (I am making this up) do you start in November or December?

A free extra question: Assuming you have an online account with social security--- should you do all these filings online or is it better to go to an office and actually sit with somebody (are they helpful)?
by Calm Man
Tue Sep 02, 2014 5:04 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Colleague being fleeced by insurance agent / Ponzi Scheme?
Replies: 54
Views: 8316

Re: Colleague being fleeced by insurance agent / Ponzi Schem

This reminds me of a conversation I had with an advisor who manages money for a business partner of mine: Me: I'm just happy with index funds and their returns. Him: yes, index funds are good , but there are products that never lose money. Even in 2008, they made money. Me: i guess they shorted stocks back then Him: oh no, it is complicated stuff that I don't even understand. Me: well, the only things with real returns are stocks and bonds. Everything else is either speculative or derivative. Speculation is zero sum . Derivatives often underperform because of fees. Him: no, no it is very complicated stuff, but it works. I have my own money invested in it. Me: good for you. I'm sure it works. But i enjoy managing my money as a hobby. I will...
by Calm Man
Tue Sep 02, 2014 4:48 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Assest allocations with a pension, help
Replies: 16
Views: 1554

Re: Assest allocations with a pension, help

I would hope for the best (that you get what you think you are going to get for the pension) and make my plans under lesser assumptions. Political discussions are not permitted at this site but I assume it is OK to say that the state of municipal financing and funding of retirements is uncertain even in the next 5 years, forgetting 20 years from now. Even with intact funding, benefits are routinely being cut in many states and COLAs being reduced or disappearing. Such has happened in my state of New Jersey. Florida is not in good shape, although there are worse. So what I suggest is that you assume you get half of what you think in 20 years from the pension and then propose for yourself an allocation. Good luck to you.
by Calm Man
Tue Sep 02, 2014 4:17 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Fantasy football debt owed
Replies: 27
Views: 3994

Re: Fantasy football debt owed

I have nothing against gambling. Although I find fantasy sports "silly", I do have some thoughts on the issue of the thread. Everybody is assuming the commissioner is innocent in this. I am not. The commissioner claims he has collected $450 (and not the additional $150). Fine, let him pay $350 to first place and $100 to third place. Let him then tell you that he has contacted the 3 people who didn't pay one final time and what their response was or if they did not respond. I doubt he will tell you who the non-payers are even if they exist. Either way, I would seek resolution on this matter and get it out of your life. But there is no reason the collected funds (that he admits to) should not be distributed immediately. Second, and ...
by Calm Man
Sat Aug 30, 2014 9:10 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Advice for stay at home mom/military wife going back to work
Replies: 24
Views: 2829

Re: Advice for stay at home mom/military wife going back to

OP, I hope you do not mind my using your post to yet again recite what is my mantra.
Women, please do not put yourself into this position. When you drop out of the work force for several years, in this case 7 or more, it is extremely difficult unless you have a particular skill or talent to resurface in the work force at a level anywhere near your level of competency.
OP, good luck to you and I hope you have some professional success.
by Calm Man
Sat Aug 30, 2014 6:56 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: My husband's " WILL", $ left for me to live on....
Replies: 258
Views: 26969

Re: My husband's " WILL", $ left for me to live on....

OP, I read your comment about how happy you are that your husband changed his will so that you got 400K plus 200K life insurance. It is almost like he read this thread and decided to say that to you !!! He has pulled a common move which is to try to "fool" you. He has made you think he is being generous. But he's not. If he truly has 7 million dollars, guess what? He has given you well under 10% of what he has. Actually, the life insurance just costs him a premium payment each year. So, of of his 7 MM, you are getting 400K which I calculate to be 5.7% of his total assets. Think about that when the time is right. I rarely post but I am so infuriated by the behavior of this husband that I cannot express it. Good luck to you. To othe...
by Calm Man
Thu Aug 28, 2014 7:25 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: My husband's " WILL", $ left for me to live on....
Replies: 258
Views: 26969

Re: My husband's " WILL", $ left for me to live on....

OP, I sympathize greatly with your situation (to an extent) and I have read the many responses above, many of which are excellent. I have 2 questions for you and only you can answer them. I ask these not out of callousness but rather because they are the ones that are obvious to me as a man who has been divorced and had children. My responses might sound harsh but they come with love. 1. If you are capable of work, as it seems, for what reason do you not work or will you not return to work? Why won't you? 2. Does your husband love you? Regardless of gender, as I view the world independently of that, if any friend, relative or associate of mine told me that their spouse suggested that they could live on governmental assistance with a child o...
by Calm Man
Thu Aug 14, 2014 6:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Where to live? She works in Boston, he works in Worcester
Replies: 27
Views: 6253

Re: Where to live? She works in Boston, he works in Worceste

Although off the thread's goal, [OT comments removed by admin LadyGeek]
by Calm Man
Thu Aug 14, 2014 6:21 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Good Harbor and F-Squared
Replies: 17
Views: 2722

Re: Looking for an Advisor

I had never heard of F-square funds. They all have sales loads up to 5.75% and all have expense ratios of at least 1%. Even a muni bond fund I looked at has a sales charge of 3.75% and an ER of 1%.

I am going to assume the OP is serious, in which case he should not look for an adviser to get him into F-square funds but rather look for no adviser or one who would talk him out of F-square funds. But if the OP has pulled my leg, well I just wasted a bunch of time to help and he owes me an apology.
by Calm Man
Thu Aug 14, 2014 4:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Converting an inherited Roth IRA to a regular Roth IRA
Replies: 11
Views: 1193

Re: Converting an inherited Roth IRA to a regular Roth IRA

Bob, please view my comments from the viewpoint of a father of a daughter. This is your wife's inheritance. I think she should keep it and family money should be used for things like ROTH contributions, college payments, etc !!!
by Calm Man
Thu Aug 14, 2014 4:02 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: House, mortgage and no will -- if parents pass away
Replies: 12
Views: 1620

Re: House, mortgage and no will -- if parents pass away

OP, all of the advice here may be accurate. Most likely it is the case that the physical guardian of the child, if not also the financial guardian,, would need the approval or the financial guardian and the court possibly to do any of these financial maneuvers. However, remember one thing. At least up until now, no court and nobody else can force a person to serve as a guardian regardless of what your will says. So that if somebody made me a physical guardian and I wanted to move into a house, have my rent paid or whatever and was told no, I would simply tell the court or the financial guardian: OK here's the kid - I'm done. In my humble opinion, the physical guardian of your child, who would be determining day to day life activities and co...
by Calm Man
Wed Aug 13, 2014 8:47 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [Low cost] Lipitor
Replies: 13
Views: 2134

Re: Lipitor at Costco with Membership

It is generic that you are getting OP. Generic is fine. My local Wegmans had free atorvastatin for all of 2013 and for 2014 has dramatically raised the cost to $10 for 90 days. It is interesting that ShopRite and others do not have atorvastatin (generic Lipitor) in their generic programs.
by Calm Man
Wed Aug 13, 2014 8:43 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Advice for my mother (Widowed @ 62)
Replies: 13
Views: 1835

Re: Advice for my mother (Widowed @ 62)

OP, I am so sorry about your father. I hope you do not mind my making a point of this. Nothing makes women genetically inferior so that they should "know nothing and care nothing" about personal finance while men do. I for the life of me hate hearing this. So for the others, if you are a female, please don't get into this situation. If you are a husband or partner of a female, please don't let her get into this situation. OP, if your mother is too far down the road to learn, and she needs somebody, I believe Vanguard will have calls via skype. Or at least telephone. Vanguard has or will have asset management at 0.3% of if she has more than 500K I believe will give a free CFP consult to her. Step in hard here and don't let her wast...
by Calm Man
Tue Aug 12, 2014 8:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Life Insurance and "Death Book"
Replies: 6
Views: 1473

Re: Life Insurance and "Death Book"

I think that since you are both young and your wife is apparently mentally totally competent, the best thing you could do for her is to allow her to have no more need for a death book than you. Why can she not learn these simple matters unless she has a job in the hospital that keeps her there many hours. (It doesn't sound like she is a physician though from your description of your situation.)
by Calm Man
Tue Aug 12, 2014 7:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Runners and compression socks
Replies: 18
Views: 2898

Re: Runners and compression socks

I just spend hours reading about all the different types. Thanks a lot !!! CEP regular and 2/0. Something like lightwool phD. Many varieties. I am always ok but since I run every single day, calves always a little sore except during the runs. Maybe worth a try but not sure what brand. PM me if you'd rather or just tell it here if you have any idea on the brand....
by Calm Man
Tue Aug 12, 2014 5:53 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Runners and compression socks
Replies: 18
Views: 2898

Re: Runners and compression socks

David, I"m 61, running now more than half my life and every day essentially between 3 and 6 miles now. I've used Thorlo socks for 30 years. Can you tell me what the good doctor gave as the reason to use the compression socks? Was it for varicose vein prevention or treatment?
by Calm Man
Tue Aug 12, 2014 5:51 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Robin Williams
Replies: 42
Views: 6674

Re: Robin Williams

I am so, so sad. I always like to think of some good coming out of everything although this one is hard. I guess maybe I can find something. And I think it's OK for the forum because it is actionable and not medical advice, although it is spiritual type advice !! We all have loved ones and we all have sensed some of them to be "in trouble" at times for reasons maybe their fault or maybe not. So if you have somebody like this in your life or will in the future, maybe give him/her that extra gift of love. And maybe see to it if you can that they not be alone like this poor soul was in his own house when he did harm to himself. I keep saying to myself: where were "they"? Could this have been prevented?
by Calm Man
Tue Aug 12, 2014 5:22 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Purchasing long term care insurance for relative
Replies: 15
Views: 1556

Re: Purchasing long term care insurance for relative

This seems like an interesting situation. One thing I do suggest first off....you seem somewhat resentful about Mr Rich guy and I understand that. But try to turn it around in your mind and appreciate that Mr Rich Guy is carrying a lot of the burden that you might have had to carry. So maybe MIL will like him more than you -- so what? Second, the $150 per day benefit will help but still leave somewhere between $100 and 250 more per day to pay for the nursing home. Somebody is going to have to pay that. Can you afford to or would that be Mr Rich Guy? (That assume Mr Rich Guy doesn't seek a younger model in a few years.) I am not a fan of LTCI as the premiums can go up a lot and you are dependent on the solvency of the insurance company 20 ye...
by Calm Man
Tue Aug 12, 2014 3:16 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard on Facebook
Replies: 10
Views: 1993

Re: Vanguard on Facebook

Stem, you are an excellent poster and I enjoy your posts. I must say that I compliment both you on the quality of the question and Vanguard on the response. I was a little struck as I read this one that you thought that you should have had your questions addressed right away. It is possible that they had a whole bunch of questions and just couldn't get to it. And is it possible they didn't know that you were a regular client or one who had 1 MM to transfer to them in your 401K? I am not certain that they got back to you because of the complaint but might have anyway, right?
by Calm Man
Tue Aug 12, 2014 3:10 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Pension floor drops from 4% to 2.5% -- Time to bail?
Replies: 17
Views: 3585

Re: Pension floor drops from 4% to 2.5% -- Time to bail?

Bnes it's a long thread so I just scanned. Are your questions involving a drop of 1.5% in the guaranteed lowest rate on a sum of 20K? If so that is $300 a year if things stay at the floor which they might not. I would not have that take up much energy. Whether to use the stable value or an intermediate type or total market bond fund is really probably a wash and again not worth your energy !!!!!
by Calm Man
Tue Aug 12, 2014 7:34 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Net business income
Replies: 8
Views: 958

Re: Net business income

As others say, if this is W2 income, the expense items should not be reported as income. These are covered in expense reports. Even as a 1099 worker, expense reports are routinely handled differently than regular pay and should not be included. One of the companies I consult for sent me a 1099 the first year and I went right back and told them no way. They redid it and now do it for all the other consultants, some of whom came and thanked me. I told them I did it for selfish reasons as it is much better to have a 1099 for say 50K rather than a 1099 for 75k and deduct 25K as expenses audit wise and for record keeping. I assume the accountant in the OPs case just used the numbers he got on the 1099 or W2.
by Calm Man
Tue Aug 12, 2014 7:29 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: $65k bonus for student loans...considering not taking it
Replies: 30
Views: 4751

Re: $65k bonus for student loans...considering not taking it

What am I missing. The OP is working for the government so he will have the loans forgiven in 10 years. But he's going to get a 65K bonus from the government that he is working for? Why would they do that?

Also, it is interesting for me to hear others saying that he may not get the forgiveness? I don't know much about this program but is it or isn't it?
by Calm Man
Mon Aug 11, 2014 7:32 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Robin Williams
Replies: 42
Views: 6674

Re: Robin Williams

I am very sad. I am confused about the third wife's statements that they were great friends etc and where was she? I am not trying to offload blame here but why wasn't he better watched over if in such a state -- where was she and where were the loved ones? I am greatly disturbed by how everybody now is saying that he was "severely depressed" and yet he died apparently alone in his house. Not a hotel like Philip Hoffman, Why wasn't he getting more attention and if suicidal, where was everybody. I am angry as I loved this man and he didn't need to die.
by Calm Man
Mon Aug 11, 2014 5:54 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best websites to buy quality meat for grilling?
Replies: 22
Views: 17416

Re: Best websites to buy quality meat for grilling?

Try grilling vegetables instead !!!!!
Just go to the grocery store...
by Calm Man
Mon Aug 11, 2014 1:34 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: I...I don't even know where to begin.
Replies: 19
Views: 3752

Re: I...I don't even know where to begin.

OP, the good news is that you have plenty of time to learn. If you don't even have the 10K to get an adviser, a few percent difference a year is a few hundred dollars a year in return. Better you learn instead.
by Calm Man
Mon Aug 11, 2014 11:49 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Wills, Spouses, Prenups, etc.
Replies: 67
Views: 7007

Re: Wills, Spouses, Prenups, etc.

As for prenups always being upheld it depends on each states law. I can see an argument for undue influence or duress against it. I'm curious in what state any of this would constitute duress. It seems to be that duress and coercion are pretty well settled across jurisdictions. OP, I BEG YOU TO IGNORE THE post by Gropes. This is a response lacking in either experience or fact. I am not an attorney but had a pre-nup. What is not speculation is that the prenup has no chance of holding if challenged. Was your pre-nup tossed because one side was not represented? This is nonsense, but if she can get a free consultation, I see no harm. There may be facts that we don't know that could affect the situation. I wanted to stay away from the equities ...
by Calm Man
Mon Aug 11, 2014 11:47 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Wills, Spouses, Prenups, etc.
Replies: 67
Views: 7007

Re: Wills, Spouses, Prenups, etc.

Thank you. That is pretty much what my first thoughts were. However, I have heard of prenuptial agreements becoming invalid more frequently, so I thought I would ask anyway. I don't see it being modified as the husband seems to have no interest in doing so. Knowing what I know about her story I would never sign a prenup, even if it was to my advantage. Not only for financial reasons, but it has affected every aspect of their marriage. Of course I am sure there are plenty of very happily married couples with prenups as well. I personally think pre-nups are great for situations where two people who have children from previous relationships are getting married, and there is some corpus of wealth that needs to be handled properly. But you do h...
by Calm Man
Mon Aug 11, 2014 11:43 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: So where's that inflation many forecasted?
Replies: 43
Views: 4442

Re: So where's that inflation many forecasted?

I live in Central New Jersey and go to NYC a lot. I am seeing inflation everywhere. AMC movies - just went up again 50 cents for a daytime movie price from $9.50 to 10.00 per ticket. Food seems to go up every month. Gas for cars cost twice what it did 5 or 6 years ago. Medical insurance premiums up 4-5% every year. Federal income taxes increased. Cable bill just went up 4%. These are real world expenses. Fortunately I can afford them. The only thing that I see lower in price are stubhub ticket resales for the Mets and Yankees and you an go to an exhibition football game for under $50 per seat (which I wouldn't).
by Calm Man
Mon Aug 11, 2014 10:31 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Wills, Spouses, Prenups, etc.
Replies: 67
Views: 7007

Re: Wills, Spouses, Prenups, etc.

I will contribute some background information, but this is not legal advice, and shouldn't be construed as such. I don't have even a fraction of the information that I would want in order to give actionable advice on this (and I would charge money if I were giving advice). A Pre-nup is a contract. A court is almost always going to enforce it. It won't really matter if either party had a lawyer or understood it. Even coercion is limited to situations where someone signed as a result of a plausible death threat. But, as a contract it can be modified at any time by the mutual consent of the parties. Understand that this post if from a person who is normally averse to somebody who really contributed little or nothing to a situation, benefiting...
by Calm Man
Sun Aug 10, 2014 6:21 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Chosing which company to analyze?
Replies: 25
Views: 2198

Re: Chosing which company to analyze?

Peter Pan,
I suggest (very strongly) that you focus your efforts on college and not stocks.
And if you tell me you aren't going to college I am going to tell you to focus your efforts on getting to college. If you think you can outpick the people at Goldman Sachs, you can't.
by Calm Man
Sun Aug 10, 2014 6:13 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Maxed Out & Stressed Out
Replies: 14
Views: 4087

Re: Maxed Out & Stressed Out

I take it that this is a permanent disability and you are going to be collecting "forever" and not going back to work right? You sound very conservative and in little need of risk. And you LOVE your GNMAs. I personally am very reluctant to give up something I love unless I stop loving them, like ex-wives, You will have to decide if you accept the wisdom here and elsewhere that there is actually less risk with 25% stocks then 100% fixed income. If you decide to add stocks, just use the very simple Total Stock Market Index and be done with it. But if you love your GNMAs you could just add to your GNMAs as you are doing. If tax considerations become more important you can use the California bond fund you are referring to. The risk is...