Search found 486 matches

by nvboglehead
Mon Oct 31, 2011 9:18 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Anyone take an Alaska cruise out of Vancouver?
Replies: 29
Views: 2601

On Vancouver Departures, You Might Be In the Minority

My partner and I did an Alaskan cruise out of Vancouver in June 2009. We were pleasantly surprised that the Canadian passengers outnumbered the Americans on board the ship. There were also many British and Australians. We enjoyed talking with them all, and we made a few friends from that trip.

From this experience, I visit the CBC website regularly now to know what is going on up there. We Yanks, as a group, are embarrassingly ignorant of our northern neighbors.

http://www.cbc.ca/thenational/watch/

Dale
by nvboglehead
Mon Oct 31, 2011 12:36 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Thanks for the info re:Costco pharmacy
Replies: 23
Views: 2324

Re: Thanks for the info re:Costco pharmacy

DTSC wrote:In my state (Illinois) you do not have to be a Costco member to use the pharmacy (or buy liquor). I don't know if you'll get the discount though.
In Nevada we have a similar law - that non-members can use the pharmacy. But you won't be entitled to the additional savings of the Costco Members' Rx Program.

Dale
by nvboglehead
Mon Oct 31, 2011 11:28 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Thanks for the info re:Costco pharmacy
Replies: 23
Views: 2324

Re: Thanks for the info re:Costco pharmacy

Costco even beats the low prices for generics available from Walmart/Sam's Club. If you don't have drug plan through your medical insurance (or, at least, you tell them that you don't), you are entitled to use the Costco Members' Rx Program.

For example, instead of going to Sam's and paying $10 for a 90 supply of 20mg Zocor (Simvastatin), I get 100 tablets from Costco for $6.03. :greedy

Dale
by nvboglehead
Wed Oct 19, 2011 3:15 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Steve Jobs and Jack Bogle - Two of a Kind
Replies: 10
Views: 1162

Re: Steve Jobs and Jack Bogle - Two of a Kind

Both Jack Bogle and Steve Jobs had serious health challenges, beginning in the prime of their lives. Both had organ transplants. I am happy that Jack is still with us and doing well 15 years after he got his new heart. :P

One of these men has had a huge impact on my life. I don't have any Apple products but feel well-connected in this cyber age. I would be totally lost without Vanguard and the Boglehead philosophy.

Thank you, Mr. Bogle!

Dale
by nvboglehead
Sun Oct 16, 2011 12:19 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Las Vegas Area BH Mtg on November 5, 2011
Replies: 0
Views: 833

Las Vegas Area BH Mtg on November 5, 2011

Hello local Bogleheads,

A few of our members were in attendance at BH 10 this year. We are looking forward for them to share their experiences and to tell us what they learned at the reunion.

We will be having our luncheon again at Ping Pong Thai on Saturday, November 5th, at 1pm. We hope to see you there for another lively and informative discussion. Here is a link for the restaurant:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_R ... evada.html

Dale
by nvboglehead
Fri Sep 23, 2011 6:18 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why Buying on the Dips Isn't All It's Cracked Up to Be
Replies: 18
Views: 3464

Why Buying on the Dips Isn't All It's Cracked Up to Be

Dr. Bernstein finds that putting a lump sum into the market better than buying the dips. To see how buying the dips may work in practice, I asked William Bernstein, an investment manager at Efficient Frontier Advisors in Eastford, Conn., to look back over the past 10 years using the Vanguard 500 Index Fund...."It's very counterintuitive," Mr. Bernstein says. But a lump-sum investment at the beginning would have earned you an annual average total return of 3%. Buying on the 5% dips would have reduced your return by 0.1 percentage points annually, and buying on the 2% dips would have cut your gains by an annual average of 0.8%, he estimates. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904563904576589134168081092.html?grcc=88888&am...
by nvboglehead
Sun Sep 11, 2011 11:48 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How many friends do you have?
Replies: 52
Views: 8698

I have lots of Facebook "friends" but only two best friends (our dogs).

Dale
by nvboglehead
Sat Sep 10, 2011 6:16 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Las Vegas Area BH Mtg on September 10, 2011
Replies: 2
Views: 1490

DaveS wrote:See ya tomorow. I am stuck in your town for the weekend. Dave
DaveS, it was great having you with us today from Reno.

We also were glad to meet first-timers, Gary & Camy. There were 8 of us in attendance.

The group is interested in continuing our luncheons together every couple of months. We will set a date later for our November meeting.

Dale
by nvboglehead
Tue Aug 23, 2011 11:12 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Magazine Article on Vanguard
Replies: 5
Views: 1382

Magazine Article on Vanguard

Here is a link to a September 2011 "Kiplinger's" article on Vanguard:

http://www.kiplinger.com/magazine/archi ... roach.html

Dale
by nvboglehead
Mon Aug 22, 2011 7:52 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best Money magazine?
Replies: 22
Views: 3287

I agree with others that this website is the best source of information on personal finance.

I used to subscribe to Smart Money, Money, Businessweek, Wall Street Journal and Forbes. I still visit their websites to occasionally read their articles. But getting a glossy, paper magazine in the snail mail now seems so 1970.

Dale
by nvboglehead
Fri Aug 19, 2011 6:28 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How should I spend a weekend after a week of losses?
Replies: 68
Views: 7873

I would consider realizing some losses in my taxable accounts for use in offsetting future capital gains.

-Sell TSM and buy Large Cap Index
-Sell FTSE All-World Ex-US Index and buy TISM

Dale
by nvboglehead
Fri Aug 19, 2011 8:57 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: I've read these 4 books. Is that enough?
Replies: 36
Views: 5434

My recommendations are:

Allan Roth's "How a Second Grader Beats Wall Street"
William Bernstein's "Four Pillars of Investing", "Investor Manifesto", and "Intelligent Asset Allocator"

Dale
by nvboglehead
Sun Aug 14, 2011 8:33 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Why Does Fidelity Offer Vanguard Funds?
Replies: 12
Views: 3507

Vanguard Investor Class and ETF shares are available at Fidelity but you will be paying a commission to trade them. So evidently Fido is willing to offer competing mutual fund products, as long as they are able to make money on the trades.

However, Vanguard Admiral Shares are not available at Fido - you will need to go directly to VG to buy them. I have wondered if Fido has a VG Admiral fund master account for its retail clients and somehow pockets the yield differential between the two fund classes. This would explain the absence of Admiral shares on its retail platform.

Dale
by nvboglehead
Sun Aug 14, 2011 8:01 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help, Please! Distribution Yield vs. SEC Yield
Replies: 7
Views: 2118

Moosedad's Google search did not give the correct result for the SEC yield. From Vanguard re SEC Yield: A — BASED ON HOLDINGS' YIELD TO MATURITY FOR LAST 30 DAYS; DISTRIBUTION MAY DIFFER Yield to maturity is the key, but it should be better called "total return to maturity if interest rates don't change". Think about an old $1,000 Treasury bond with a 5% coupon ($50) that will reach maturity in two years. These numbers are not exact, but the bond would be priced about $1,080. The Distribution yield would be 50/1080 or about 4.6%. In this case the SEC yield would be about 1%, because even though the owner collects $100 in interest over two years, the bond declines to $1,000 at maturity, leaving the investor with $20 his efforts ov...
by nvboglehead
Sun Aug 14, 2011 2:29 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help, Please! Distribution Yield vs. SEC Yield
Replies: 7
Views: 2118

Help, Please! Distribution Yield vs. SEC Yield

I don't understand what the SEC yield is that Vanguard shows on its website for the various bond funds. When I look at my recent monthly distributions on my VG Short-term Tax-exempt Admiral Bond Fund, multiple them by 12 months and then divide by the current value of my holdings, I come up with a figure very close to 1.21% distribution yield that VG shows in this link for the July 29 distribution. https://personal.vanguard.com/us/funds/snapshot?FundId=0541&FundIntExt=INT#hist=tab%3A4 So where is the current SEC yield of .53% coming from and what is its significance? I want to be able to compare my bond fund yields with what I could get in other fixed income products, and I feel that the distribution yield is a closer estimate of my curr...
by nvboglehead
Fri Aug 12, 2011 1:00 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Las Vegas Area BH Mtg on September 10, 2011
Replies: 2
Views: 1490

Las Vegas Area BH Mtg on September 10, 2011

Nine of you have voted on the date for the upcoming meeting. We will again be meeting at Ping Pong Thai on Saturday, September 10th, at 1pm.

Feel free to PM me for more information.

Dale

Info & Map for restaurant:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_R ... evada.html
by nvboglehead
Wed Aug 10, 2011 3:35 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Pay TV industry loses record number of subscribers
Replies: 33
Views: 4069

Here is a link to the entire story:

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireSt ... 831&page=2

Dale
by nvboglehead
Sun Aug 07, 2011 12:41 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Boglehead thoughts on putting in a pool
Replies: 45
Views: 7197

We would never have a pool, even though we live in the Mojave desert. They are a lot work, taking your time and money away from other things. We have heard our friends here describe them as a money pit, because of all the associated expenses.

In this hot climate, without a heater, the water would be warm for only 4 months a year. If the ambient temperature is not warm enough at night, then the heat quickly radiates from the water into the atmosphere.

Besides, we prefer keeping our yard landscaped with shade trees, shrubs and ground covers. We find it satisfying to grow fresh fruit, herbs and vegetables. A pool would take too much space away from this productive activity.

Dale
by nvboglehead
Sat Aug 06, 2011 10:25 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: CNBC previews next week on Sunday at 9 pm ET
Replies: 11
Views: 1848

DJW, thanks for posting this. I enjoy watching all the financial drama on CNBC, Bloomberg and Fox Business Network. It is very entertaining.

Staying the course,

Dale
by nvboglehead
Fri Aug 05, 2011 3:55 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Got in the market last week - Tax Loss Harvest already?
Replies: 23
Views: 2795

Balmalocha,

If you can use the tax losses, why not sell now?

Today I sold all the shares in Total Stock Market that I bought this year and, with the proceeds, I purchased the very similar Large Cap Index. I have booked some capital losses that will be useful going forward.

If the market goes down further, I can sell the Large Cap Index for another loss and put those funds back into TSM. Vanguard won't allow me back into the open-ended shares of VTSAX for 60 days. But I would be able to buy the ETF version of TSM in my VG Brokerage after 30 days and avoid having the I.R.S. void my losses due to Wash Sale rules.

Let's make lemonade out of lemons!

Dale
by nvboglehead
Tue Aug 02, 2011 9:41 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Veterinary resident starting out
Replies: 12
Views: 2122

DMV Resident, You are mistaken. VWO is the Vanguard Emerging Markets Equity Index ETF. It is not a bond fund. Many Bogleheads steer clear of international bond funds. There are many problems with investing in that sector, one being that there is not a low cost international bond fund available to us who D.I.Y.ers using VG. You need to educate yourself on TIPS and I-bonds. There is a lot of information on the wiki on this website. Here is a recent article by Mel Lindauer on I-bonds: http://www.forbes.com/2010/01/29/buying-risk-free-i-bonds-personal-finance-bogleheads-view-lindauer.html There are many threads on this topic, just use the search tool on this website. Many of us have been buying the recent issue of I-bonds because they are issue...
by nvboglehead
Tue Aug 02, 2011 9:25 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Veterinary resident starting out
Replies: 12
Views: 2122

Hello DVM Resident. Your asset allocation strategy has not received any response so far, probably because it looks so good. I sure would like to have had access to the funds that you are using and be holding your portfolio mix when I was 29. However, I am not a big fan of high yield (junk) bonds. The income from these is subject to the the high ordinary income tax rates. They are highly volatile and may be overpriced in these days of record low interest rates. if you are sheltering the income by holding them in a tax-deferred account, you cannot sell them for a tax loss. In regards to the Roth idea, be sure that you understand what your marginal rate is on the monies devoted to this retirement vehicle. I, too, wanted to take advantage the c...
by nvboglehead
Sat Jul 30, 2011 9:54 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Comparing index fund fees/ What factors do you consider?
Replies: 8
Views: 1320

The dividends from the Vanguard Total Stock Market index are 100% qualified, which results in a lower tax rate under current law. Fidelity's Spartan TSM were 97% qualified in a recent annual report. The Fidelity Spartan fund has made small capital gains distributions the last three years: in 2010, $.02 per share; in 2009, $.01 per share; in 2008, $.24 per share; Vanguard TSM has made none. The qualified dividends and capital gains distributions issues would favor the Vanguard product if this investment is to be held in a taxable account. Fidelity's credit rating was recent downgraded: http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=71920&highlight= This news makes one wonder if Fidelity may be less willing or able in the future to cap t...
by nvboglehead
Fri Jul 29, 2011 3:27 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Falling Fortunes of Forbes
Replies: 20
Views: 3040

1530jesup wrote:
yeah, but, 1970 was a pretty good year. and if I could go back with just the Boglehead investment knowledge (no insider Super Bowl or Google info), today I would be in a better place retirement wise...
Yeah, I agree. I could have used the Boglehead philosophy in the late 1970s. It is just great that we have it now.

By the way, I do enjoy perusing Forbes.com for interesting articles. I find a lot more of interest there than I do at Fortune.com, which is not very good. Forbes.com has more to offer than those wonderful articles that Rick, Mel and Laura are writing these days.

Dale
by nvboglehead
Fri Jul 29, 2011 11:54 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Falling Fortunes of Forbes
Replies: 20
Views: 3040

I have cancelled all my magazine subscriptions. Having a glossy, paper magazine delivered in the snail mail seems so 1970 to me.

Dale
by nvboglehead
Thu Jul 28, 2011 7:50 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Falling Fortunes of Forbes
Replies: 20
Views: 3040

Like many others, I used to look forward to receiving Forbes' semi-annual mutual fund issue, where the Best Buys and Honor Roll lists were presented. That was how I started out investing. Since I evolved into a Boglehead, those listings have become unimportant to me.

But in the February 8, 2010 Forbes fund issue, the last one that I received before my subscription lapsed, 7 Vanguard funds were in the esteemed categories, with one, Vanguard Emerging Markets Equity Index, on the Honor Roll. Four of the seven are index funds. That Vanguard funds are well represented in Forbes' evaluation is not surprising - we know that a low cost, index-based approach is the winning strategy.

Dale
by nvboglehead
Thu Jul 28, 2011 4:50 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Individual Muni Bonds vs. Fund For Large Portfolio?
Replies: 7
Views: 1625

Sidney wrote:I prefer to use funds for everything except Treasuries.
I agree. But I substitute certificate of deposits and online bank savings accounts for U.S. Treasurys. Given that I live in a state with no income tax, I am able to benefit from the yield premiums available in these products.

Regarding individual munis, I think that it is advantageous to use Vanguard's low-cost funds. This provides you liquidity - individual munis can be difficult to sell. Also, it is good to have VG's professionals managing the portfolio, giving you greater diversification than can be done on your own.

Dale
by nvboglehead
Wed Jul 27, 2011 11:39 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Fidelity and Vanguard "Account Executives"
Replies: 13
Views: 4807

In my experience, Vanguard's service is good; Fidelity's service is better. But Vanguard has the best investment vehicles. For example, you cannot beat VG's muni bond funds, with their low expense ratios.

Also, I have seen Fidelity account executives attempt to sell an actively-managed mutual fund portfolio in a taxable account, topped off with an additional wrap fee - a very inappropriate investment strategy, IMHO. I was glad that I was able to convince my friend to use VG's equity index funds and muni bond funds, with no wrap fee.

Dale
by nvboglehead
Wed Jul 27, 2011 11:22 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: ...
Replies: 70
Views: 9174

I wish that I had become aware of John C. Bogle and his Vanguard experiment in the early 80s, instead of the early 1990s. But it is great to be using the Boglehead philosophy to guide my investment life now!

Dale
by nvboglehead
Sat Jul 23, 2011 10:30 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Latest interview with Bill Bernstein from IndexUniverse
Replies: 97
Views: 14100

Well, I am sure that this thread will be locked any moment now. Before that happens, I want to say that I do appreciate reading what others think about these policy issues, especially from medical professionals and financial experts.

Thanks,

Dale
by nvboglehead
Tue Jul 19, 2011 7:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Too Big To Fail on HBO
Replies: 18
Views: 2939

Good movie. Casting was well done, as the actors looked like the real-life characters that they were playing (Bernanke, Paulson, Fuld, etc.).

Dale
by nvboglehead
Tue Jul 19, 2011 7:31 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Where are Bogleheads from?
Replies: 51
Views: 7313

Californian by birth, Nevadan by choice.

Dale
by nvboglehead
Tue Jul 19, 2011 7:12 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Being debated: Muni bonds to lose tax exemption ??
Replies: 24
Views: 2823

Here is another recent article by Jason Zweig on this same topic:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... _Video_Top

Dale
by nvboglehead
Fri Jul 15, 2011 4:48 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Don't you wish Vanguard would....
Replies: 101
Views: 15359

I wish that Vanguard would make the ETFs that it is creating for other investor markets available to us in the USA. Vanguard offers the Australian Shares Index ETF (VAS), which is traded on the Australian stock exchange. It has an expense ratio of .15%. Here is the link: http://www.vanguard.com.au/personal_investors/investment/etfs/australian-shares/en/vanguard-australian-shares-index-etf.cfm This fund is not available for trade on the US exchanges. The best alternative for us Yanks is the I-Shares Australia (EWA), which has an e.r. of .53. Why not make the lower cost VG ETF available in the U.S.? I am not asking that they create a new product, just allow the existing ETF to be traded here. A Canadian equity index will be created as Vanguar...
by nvboglehead
Wed Jul 13, 2011 6:02 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Gus Sauter interview on CNBC
Replies: 14
Views: 3084

Gus Sauter was apparently making the rounds today, as I saw him on the Fox Business Network.

http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/10524650 ... his-market

The Vanguard Group has a lot to celebrate. Fox Business showed the figures - VG has captured 57% of the industry-wide flows of investment capital this year into index funds and ETFs.

Dale

P.S. Was Gus also on Bloomberg today?
by nvboglehead
Mon Jul 11, 2011 10:56 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Sending Overnight To VG Big Money
Replies: 31
Views: 3775

I would use FedEx. It might make sense to use the three-day delivery option, instead of the overnight, for the cost savings in these days of .01% yields on money market funds.

USPS first class has always gotten to its destination for me. But sometimes it takes 7-8 days to get there in a pre-paid envelope, which can be upsetting.

Dale
by nvboglehead
Thu Jul 07, 2011 5:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: If you are a Boglehead, what are you?
Replies: 42
Views: 5416

I am just another Boglehead, who proudly uses that appellation to honor Jack Bogle. I am very happy to have learned many years ago about Jack and his many efforts to help the retail investor. He started a revolution by creating the first retail index fund and setting up Vanguard as a non-profit, owned by its clients-investors, with the cost savings passed through to the little guy as higher returns.

One of the biggest and unexpected surprises of my life has been meeting with Jack Bogle and my fellow Bogleheads at the annual reunions!

Dale
by nvboglehead
Tue Jul 05, 2011 8:10 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Best state in which to retire or declare residency
Replies: 119
Views: 29603

Paladin wrote:
letsgobobby wrote:vancouver, washington is a good place. mild weather, gorgeous summers, though rainy winters. Close to the outdoors, including kayaking, skiing, hiking, boating, fishing, hunting. No state income tax. Recreate in Oregon across the river, where there is no sales tax. Access to Portland, a great city, and Portland airport (PDX), a great little airport. Good health care and good quality of life. Property taxes are low to moderate.

Biggest drawback is Washington doesn't have a great estate tax setup. For that you'd want to be in Nevada, which is another good place to consider retiring.
What is the issue with the estate tax setup in WA? Why is NV better?
There is no state estate tax in NV, as there is in WA.

Dale
by nvboglehead
Mon Jul 04, 2011 11:12 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Boglehead Cruise Line Preference
Replies: 61
Views: 12671

We have been on three cruise lines in the last few years. We rate them as follows:

#1 Princess
#2 Holland America
#3 Norwegian

We have been on NCL twice and unfortunately found that the quality of their service had declined markedly on our last trip with them, which we attribute to an aggressive cost reduction program.

This is a good poll - great to know how our fellow Bogleheads rate the cruise lines!

Dale
by nvboglehead
Sun Jul 03, 2011 8:45 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Seeking Vegetarians
Replies: 43
Views: 5662

The Vegetarian Resource Group is a great place to find out more, including lots of recipes:

http://www.vrg.org/

Dale
by nvboglehead
Wed Jun 29, 2011 3:41 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Red Wine as Benefit to Health?
Replies: 41
Views: 6649

For us, we find that many boxed wines are a good choice.

Our favorite is Peter Vella Vineyards Declicious Red.

Dale
by nvboglehead
Sat Jun 25, 2011 12:32 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Schwab to Liquidate Yield Plus, Lowers Bond Fund E.R.s
Replies: 11
Views: 2151

I wonder if there's anything in place to keep the Schwab Total Bond Market fund from blowing up again. that's great that they're doing all this, but I just don't see how you can trust these knuckleheads with anything. very hard to get reputation back, especially when you drop the ball on the very simplest of things like running an index fund. As a former longtime Schwab client, I also wonder how anyone can trust Chuck. With their past history of instituting and raising fees on everything, which happened during CEO David Pottruck's rein, I fear that this for profit enterprise might want to raise those expense ratios to generate more revenue after they have gathered substantial assets. After coming back into control, Mr. Schwab conceded that...
by nvboglehead
Fri Jun 24, 2011 11:29 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Schwab to Liquidate Yield Plus, Lowers Bond Fund E.R.s
Replies: 11
Views: 2151

Schwab to Liquidate Yield Plus, Lowers Bond Fund E.R.s

Charles Schwab Corp. is liquidating its troubled YieldPlus fund, which cost the San Francisco firm more than $350 million before taxes in regulatory fines and class-action settlements...The SEC alleged that Schwab misled investors when it marketed YieldPlus as a cash alternative that was only slightly riskier than a money market fund. The SEC also alleged that the fund violated its concentration policy and federal law when it invested more than 25 percent of fund assets in private-issuer mortgage-backed securities without seeking shareholder approval. Thanks to the competitive pressures created by low-cost Vanguard, here is some good news in the same article about the lowering of expense ratios on their bond funds. The Schwab Inflation Pro...
by nvboglehead
Sat Jun 18, 2011 8:28 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How do you buy insurance
Replies: 10
Views: 1438

USAA all the way for my insurance needs! I qualify because my deceased father was a military officer during WWII.

Thanks, Dad.

Dale
by nvboglehead
Tue Jun 14, 2011 7:26 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: how many Bogleheads are divorced vs still married?
Replies: 98
Views: 13208

I could not vote on this poll. What about those of us who have years of "living in sin" or living in a domestic partnership? Some of us are not legally married but don't consider ourselves single. Perhaps we need to add another option to the poll?

Dale
by nvboglehead
Tue Jun 14, 2011 7:18 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Any barefoot mowers?
Replies: 67
Views: 8080

Walking barefoot through grass and clover is one of life's pleasures.
But what about the bees that might be there pollinating the clover? I was stung that way when I lived in a lawn-friendly clime. Here our "lawn" is just cacti and rocks, definitely not barefeet friendly!

Dale
by nvboglehead
Tue Jun 14, 2011 3:58 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Move to VG or stay at Fido
Replies: 10
Views: 1746

Hello Dimdum:

You see the advantages of using VG: wider array of index funds and ETFs with lower expense ratios.

One disadvantage of leaving Fido is that they will charge you an account transfer fee, which is assessed for these trustee to trustee retirement account transfers. You can avoid it by liquidating all your Fidelity retirement investments and have them give you a check for the balance. Then send the funds to VG with a letter requesting that they open a rollover IRA in your name. I have done this in the recent past and avoided the transfer/account closeout fees.

Dale
by nvboglehead
Sun Jun 12, 2011 10:40 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Kansas Local Chapter - Who's Interested?
Replies: 28
Views: 6901

We have an active chapter here in Las Vegas, the "ninth island of Hawaii".

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/1141 ... ng-as-much

Dale
by nvboglehead
Sun Jun 12, 2011 11:22 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: TV: Cox vs. Dish Network
Replies: 9
Views: 2640

We left Cox Cable for Directv 18 months ago. We got a very low rate the first year of our 2 year contract for service that included a DVR. We will be looking at all the options in 6 months: Cox, Dish, Centurylink and staying with Directv.

It seems that if you don't consider all your options and make it clear that you willing to make the switch, the cable/satellite companies really take advantage of you. I am sure that plenty of people are passive, get attached to their provider and overpay for these services, just as they make poor investment decisions.

Dale
by nvboglehead
Sat Jun 11, 2011 6:50 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Ferri & Gross on Why Stock Mkt Good Bet Now
Replies: 13
Views: 3007

Ferri & Gross on Why Stock Mkt Good Bet Now

Rick Ferri has posted an article in his blog making the bullish case for stocks in these times, "Bad Sentiment Is Good for Stocks" Many individual investors are throwing in the towel on the U.S. stock market. They’re packing their bags and going home. This departure from stocks is not a short-term hiatus, mind you. A sizable number are vowing to stay away from stocks for the rest of their lives....This attitude has mixed blessings. It’s bad because investors who vowed to stay out of the market will miss out on needed growth to reach their retirement goal. It’s good because this attitude tends to signal the worst has passed for the markets, even if the economy slows a bit, and that means today’s investors will likely reap over-size...