Search found 72 matches

by rex
Sat Dec 15, 2012 4:20 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Free monthly credit report viewing ?
Replies: 10
Views: 4460

Free monthly credit report viewing ?

Hi Folks,

I'm currently paying $7.99 every month to have Experian (http://www.freecreditreport.com/) monitor my credit . Are there any cheaper alternatives to this ? Like any credit card that gives me my score/report every month ?

Thanks,
Rex.
by rex
Sun Dec 09, 2012 4:23 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Does wells fargo charge ACH debit fees ?
Replies: 6
Views: 3895

Does wells fargo charge ACH debit fees ?

Hi Folks,

I want to transfer some money from wells fargo checkin to my vanguard account. From what i understand, the money for buying mutual funds is debited from my other bank acount as an ACH debit. Will i have to pay any fees to wells fargo for this kind of transaction ?

Thanks,
Rex

P.S. Wells fargo seems to have a fee for even basic things - i would not have my account with them if i did not need to keep my locker with the branch !!!
by rex
Fri Dec 07, 2012 3:42 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Traditional 401k avoids SS and medicare tax ?
Replies: 8
Views: 2451

Re: Traditional 401k avoids SS and medicare tax ?

sscritic wrote:Look again. The current* SS tax rate is 4.2% (total 5.65%), not 6.2% (7.65%).

* Current end of current is 12/31/2012
True :) i was trying to decide for 2013 ...

actually realized this won't help in my case my last 17.5k is outside the Social Security wage base. a roth probably provides better return than the 1.45% medicare tax advantage....
by rex
Fri Dec 07, 2012 1:29 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Traditional 401k avoids SS and medicare tax ?
Replies: 8
Views: 2451

Traditional 401k avoids SS and medicare tax ?

Hi folks,

I was looking at my payslip and it seems like the traditional 401k is deducted before SS and medicare taxes . Since in retirement, i'll not be on payroll, regular 401k seems to have a definite return of 7.65% because i won't be paying SS + Medicare taxes in retirement... right ?

the context for the above is i'm trying to decide the split between roth and traditional 401k.

thanks,
Rex.
by rex
Sun Dec 02, 2012 9:11 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What's the max liability claim you've faced ?
Replies: 7
Views: 1088

Re: What's the max liability claim you've faced ?

Thansk Op - I've changed the title of the post
by rex
Sun Dec 02, 2012 4:11 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What's the max liability claim you've faced ?
Replies: 7
Views: 1088

Re: What's the max auto liability claim you've faced ?

yes absolutely - please DONOT restrict your liability claims to just auto as Op mentioned.
by rex
Sun Dec 02, 2012 9:36 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Nest Egg number question
Replies: 21
Views: 3014

Re: Nest Egg number question

Good way of estimating - i did something similar myself. The only thing I'd suggest is to account for inflation (2%?) using excel or something similar.
by rex
Sun Dec 02, 2012 9:25 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What's the max liability claim you've faced ?
Replies: 7
Views: 1088

What's the max liability claim you've faced ?

Thanks to all who contributed to a related post regarding the typical umbrella boggleheads carry:
http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtop ... 2&t=106274

This is a followup post to get some more perspective on the issue - what is the biggest auto liability claim (or other liability claim) you've had to deal with ? How did you pay for it ? This'll put some solid numbers behind the coverage we bogleheads need to carry. Please exclude IRS liens and child support claims when voting.

---------------

EDIT: Changing the title to reflect that we're interested in ANY type of liability claim, not just auto.
by rex
Sat Dec 01, 2012 12:33 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Umbrella insurance - boglehead way
Replies: 26
Views: 3286

Umbrella insurance - boglehead way

I'm still wondering about how much insurance is enough and thought a nice way would be to collect some stats on what type of coverage bogleheads carry. Please provide some perspective into the amount you carry vis-a-vis your net worth.
by rex
Sat Dec 01, 2012 12:26 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Max out Roth in Jan or dollar cost average
Replies: 33
Views: 4212

Re: Max out Roth in Jan or dollar cost average

thanks for the thoughts and insights guys.

The money is just sitting in a savings account - i plan to invest 5500 in a bond fund and 5500 in a stock fund. I did not contribute lumpsum this year because i did not have ready cash - but i think i'd have liked the results if i did. Seems like i'll be putting in the full amount this Jan though.
by rex
Sat Dec 01, 2012 12:39 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Max out Roth in Jan or dollar cost average
Replies: 33
Views: 4212

Re: Max out Roth in Jan or dollar cost average

Hmm I'm not sure if i can put 5500 in roth before my payday in Jan - are there any laws restricting it i.e., I have to fun 2013 roth from my 2013 income only ?
by rex
Sat Dec 01, 2012 12:14 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Max out Roth in Jan or dollar cost average
Replies: 33
Views: 4212

Max out Roth in Jan or dollar cost average

Hi Investment Gurus,

I read somewhere that missing the best market days can dramatically lower investment returns.

So i was wondering if i should max out my and DW's roth IRA in Jan or put a fixed sum each month ?

thanks,
Rex
by rex
Thu Nov 29, 2012 1:34 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Switching from All State to Kemper
Replies: 6
Views: 912

Re: Switching from All State to Kemper

Thanks all - I'll try to first negotiate a new rate with AllState as per your advise.
by rex
Wed Nov 28, 2012 1:24 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Switching from All State to Kemper
Replies: 6
Views: 912

Switching from All State to Kemper

Hi Folks,

I just received a quote from Kemper insurance company and the rates are 40% lower than all state. I'm wondering if there is a catch somewhere and if anyone has had any experience with this insurance company ?

thanks !
by rex
Wed Nov 14, 2012 6:52 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Things to consider before buying a used car
Replies: 17
Views: 2833

Re: Things to consider before buying a used car

Thanks for the great advise folks.

I'm basically looking for something within $5000 . The main worry i have about an used vehicle is if something goes wrong after the purchase, say a month down the line, there is no warranty to fall back on.

And yeah, I can get a bicycle , but my commute to work is uphill and I don't think i can handle that in my current physical state :)
by rex
Mon Nov 12, 2012 7:32 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Things to consider before buying a used car
Replies: 17
Views: 2833

Things to consider before buying a used car

Hi Folks, I'm looking for a used car for commuting to and from work (about 3 miles/day) - I'll not be using this for long trips or anything (we have a 2010 Sonata that's pretty reliable) - just commuting back and forth from office. Looking to spend the least amount possible for a car that'll serve me reliably for 5-6 years. I was considering an used Hyundai Elantra. Since I've never purchased an used car before, I'd like some advise on : 1. Where is the best place to look ? 2. Should I go for a certified pre -owned vehicle ? 3. What are the things i should check in addition to KBB value and Carfax report ? 4. Usually how much can you negotiate the price down for a used car (Hyundai, Honda, Toyota etc.) ? 5. What should be the maximum mileag...
by rex
Wed Nov 07, 2012 8:40 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Insurance Checkup
Replies: 8
Views: 800

Re: Insurance Checkup

Thanks Folks.

My takeaway:
1. 1M in umbrella coverage will do it for me for now.
2. Need to research the details and clauses for LTD and see if the one i have at work is good enough or need to get an individual policy.
3. Get a life insurance on my wife

-Rex
by rex
Wed Nov 07, 2012 4:42 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Insurance Checkup
Replies: 8
Views: 800

Re: Insurance Checkup

Thanks Folks .

I currently rent and do have a renters insurance.
I have a 800k term life through work and a seperate 500k term life outside.
Disability is covered through work - any particular reason why group disability is less useful (other than changing /loosing job situation ) ?

So , for umbrella I'm guessing a limit of 2M should suffice for now ?
by rex
Wed Nov 07, 2012 11:56 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Insurance Checkup
Replies: 8
Views: 800

Insurance Checkup

Hi Folks,

Just wanted to get a quick checkup on whether i have the right kind (enough?) auto/liability insurance.

Info:
Male ,married, 30
One child, wife stays home to take care of him
Annual Income = 144k
Assets:
--> 135k in taxable investments
--> 20K in Roth
--> 75k in a 401K

I currently have the standard auto liability insurance with 100k per person/ 300k per incident.

The question is should i get umbrella coverage ? If so, for what amount ?

thanks ,
Rex
by rex
Wed Nov 07, 2012 11:44 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: IBD anyone ?
Replies: 13
Views: 2329

Re: IBD anyone ?

Thanks a lot for the insights and the warm welcome guys. I think it did give me something similar to "Irritable Bowel Disease" and did slim me - mainly from waking up every morning to following the market and the stress of jetting in and out of stocks - after a while i just could not take it anymore (I also have a very demanding full time job). After i quit, i was hit with the stigma of failure -- that i could not master an art (reading the testimonials (fake?) of people in IBD made it even worse) . This caused me to not invest, in the true sense of it, for a while till i could re-coup my confidence and started searching for a different approach and finally found the "Random walk Guide To Investing". I've since switched ...
by rex
Wed Nov 07, 2012 3:27 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: IBD anyone ?
Replies: 13
Views: 2329

IBD anyone ?

Hi Folks,

Earlier in my investing career, I tried a bunch of investing / trading methods -- most of which did not get a good ROI. The one that I tried for a long time (before i became a bogglehead) was IBD - after two years , i was just breaking even. Just curious if anyone here tried the IBD strategy and had any luck with it ?

-Rex
by rex
Tue Nov 06, 2012 2:20 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Bogleheads@MSFT
Replies: 8
Views: 4298

Re: Bogleheads@MSFT

+1 - it'd be interesting to see the intersection of MSFT and Bogglehead culture (though I don't expect the intersection to be very large) :)