Search found 2026 matches

by Bustoff
Mon Jan 25, 2016 8:38 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Donating a retired computer with financial info on it
Replies: 27
Views: 3238

Re: Donating a retired computer with financial info on it

BolderBoy wrote:...I simply encrypt the entire disk and give them away, too - only takes a minute to do (using a BSD util). What I had on them can't be retrieved and someone else might want to use the drive.
What is BSD?
Does it require any level of expertise to use it?
by Bustoff
Mon Jan 25, 2016 7:30 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Rebalancing, another study
Replies: 130
Views: 19639

Re: Rebalancing, another study

...What is MOST INTERESTING are the additional methods that he tested and the take-home message that rebalancing benefits are HIGHLY dependent on the percentage of one's portfolio devoted to equities. ... Thanks for the link! Jim Otar wrote an article that appears consistent with the article mentioned by livesoft. *(Otar uses the presidential election cycle as a yardstick for rebalancing.) Here are a couple of quotes from the article: -- "Only at high withdrawal rates and in portfolios with a high equity percentage was annual rebalancing more effective than rebalancing on the election year only." -- "There were situations where it was better not to rebalance at all . This happened at low withdrawal rates and in portfolios wi...
by Bustoff
Sun Jan 24, 2016 2:12 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Hope everyone is well [Preparing for Eastern US blizzard]
Replies: 102
Views: 10692

Re: Hope everyone is well [Preparing for Eastern US blizzard]

They interviewed Pat's Cheesesteak on TV yesterday. They vowed to remain open throughout the storm. They look really good.
Stay safe everyone.

Image
by Bustoff
Sun Jan 24, 2016 1:54 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What was the 2000 crash like in real time?
Replies: 65
Views: 8565

Re: What was the 2000 crash like in real time?

DonCamillo wrote:Three years of watching the value of my retirement funds shrink by $10,000 a month, while my new job paid half as much in gross pay. It was very painful. I was mostly in equities and had a lot of stock in AT&T, from which I had just retired.

Index funds and a strong allocation to bonds are much less painful.
+1 ... Thanks to my own stupidity, I followed the advice from the "financial pro's" and invested in technology stocks.
One of those stocks dropped from $600 to $20 in less than a year.
by Bustoff
Sun Jan 24, 2016 1:36 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
Replies: 11151
Views: 2085965

Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?

"The Hundred-Foot Journey"
We really enjoyed this film.
It's currently running on Showtime.
by Bustoff
Sun Jan 24, 2016 10:27 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: The Big Short
Replies: 196
Views: 33849

Re: The Big Short

Inside Job was unwatchable to me. Basically not unlike an extended version of those conspiracy theory editorials written by those on either extreme of the political spectrum. I know people eat that stuff up, but still hard for me to understand. People want a villain, this move was the hook and a very gullible/angry public were the fish. Enough so that this garbage actually won awards. I do not recall Inside Job stretching the bounds of reality, which is the hallmark of conspiracy theories, like those claiming that the U.S. government was behind 9-11 or that climate change is a hoax. Certainly it’s the duty of viewer to the determine the facts and the reasonable inferences drawn from the evidence. One can argue Inside Job may not have been ...
by Bustoff
Sun Jan 24, 2016 7:21 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Donating a retired computer with financial info on it
Replies: 27
Views: 3238

Re: Donating a retired computer with financial info on it

Saving$ wrote:I want all traces of that completely gone before the machine leaves my house.
I did the following:
1. Used the eRecovery to reinstall the factory default onto the C drive. This essentially erased everything on C including programs and any data remnants, and reinstalled Windows and all the rest of the random hardware that came with the computer.
2. Downloaded the program Eraser Portable to a thumb drive, and then used that to
a. delete all the files on the D drive with 35 x overwriting
b. overwrite all unused disk space 35x on both the C and D drives
Just curious, how long did it take to do all that?
by Bustoff
Sat Jan 23, 2016 3:02 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Help me settle this investment argument with my spouse.
Replies: 25
Views: 3809

Re: Help me settle this investment argument with my spouse.

Aside from jeopardizing a marriage, friendships and finances, this project sounds fraught with peril.
by Bustoff
Sat Jan 23, 2016 1:04 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: The Boglehead Way of Employment
Replies: 82
Views: 12680

Re: The Boglehead Way of Employment

Fat-Tailed Contagion wrote: What would you advise in ways of job fulfillment, salary, benefits, job security, etc.
Government employment with pension and civil service protection.
by Bustoff
Sat Jan 23, 2016 10:11 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Rebalancing during retirement
Replies: 15
Views: 1941

Re: Rebalancing during retirement

SWP wrote:I'm having trouble thinking clearly about rebalancing stocks during retirement, so I hope someone can offer some insight. My problem is this: if you follow age-in-bonds and decrease your stock percentage each year, does it ever make sense to buy more stocks to reach your current age-in-bonds stock percentage target? Why rebalance to buy stocks when you'd just be selling those stocks in the future as your stock percentage target decreases?
SWP - you might find the discussion in this thread helpful.
viewtopic.php?t=143065
by Bustoff
Fri Jan 22, 2016 4:35 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: ETF.COM article critical of VWO & EEM
Replies: 25
Views: 3220

Re: ETF.COM article critical of VWO & EEM

Here is an article showing some lots a love for VWO.

2016's Most Promising ETFs (VWO, XLF)
by Bustoff
Fri Jan 22, 2016 12:40 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Capitulation!
Replies: 61
Views: 10076

Re: Capitulation!

Dieharder wrote:Sorry, couldn't resist this morning looking at all the doom and gloom in the market. Is it time for capitulation yet?
Maybe for high-yield bonds.
by Bustoff
Fri Jan 22, 2016 11:27 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Nutritional supplements - beware
Replies: 38
Views: 4481

Re: Nutritional supplements - beware

VictoriaF wrote:I am curious if this legitimizes supplements sold by retailers not implicated in the scam. I buy supplements from Costco in reliance on their reputation for quality.

Victoria
Kirkland is USP verified.
http://www.usp.org/usp-verification-ser ... upplements
by Bustoff
Fri Jan 22, 2016 11:11 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Most anticipated retirement purchase
Replies: 107
Views: 11971

Re: Most anticipated retirement purchase

TheTimeLord wrote:What is the one thing you are most looking forward to purchasing once you retire? Trip, car, vacation home, camera, new golf clubs, annuity etc.
Already retired but I still want a house in California. 8-)
by Bustoff
Fri Jan 22, 2016 10:51 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Nutritional supplements - beware
Replies: 38
Views: 4481

Re: Nutritional supplements - beware

For those interested in unbiased testing of nutritional supplements and related information, check out http://www.comsumerlab.com . It is a fee-based website ($39/year) that tests all kinds of nutritional supplements. They recommend and warn against specific brands and offer advice on them based on recent scientific studies. I discovered that certain brands of chocolate, something I eat everyday, contain cadmium, an unhealthy heavy metal. I try to avoid those brands now. Do they test and verify homeopathic products, and, if so, how? You can find out for free here: USP provides documentary standards and reference materials for determining product and ingredient identity, strength, quality, and purity. In addition to its standards, USP offer...
by Bustoff
Fri Jan 22, 2016 8:40 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Nutritional supplements - beware
Replies: 38
Views: 4481

Re: Nutritional supplements - beware

On January 19, 2016, a "Frontline" investigation aired on PBS revealing rampant fraud within the nutritional supplements industry. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/supplements-and-safety/ Last February GNC Holdings, Inc., Target Corporation, Walgreens and Wal-Mart Stores, were ordered by the New York State Attorney General’s Office to immediately stop selling their store brands of herbal dietary supplements due to allegedly mislabeled or adulterated product content. http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidkroll/2015/02/03/cease-and-desist-orders-hit-walmart-walgreens-and-others-for-herbal-supplement-sales/#55df1f644e0f I'm pissed. We have regularly purchased "Spring Valley" from Walmart. The above testing revealed only 4%...
by Bustoff
Fri Jan 22, 2016 7:54 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why buy now, why not wait until the market really crashes??
Replies: 79
Views: 15544

Re: Why buy now, why not wait until the market really crashes??

I see people saying they are buying. Why? The market is only down 12% or so, correct? Why buy stocks now, why not wait until the market really crashes like down 20% or 30%? You answered your own question in a way. "Why" is the key. When you "see people saying they are buying", they might simply be engaged in rebalancing or they may be referring to activity within a separate trading account. With regard to rebalancing , some people might be buying stocks in a class that is underweight or some people might be putting new money into stocks by means of DCA. Still others may be trading for fun. For instance, I do both. In my portfolio, rebalancing is according to my IPS. On the other hand, I also engage in some market timing...
by Bustoff
Fri Jan 22, 2016 6:47 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What age does LBYM (being a big saver) pay off?
Replies: 81
Views: 14468

Re: What age does LBYM (being a big saver) pay off?

betterfinances wrote: My take today is being a big saver isn't paying off at the moment. I'm wondering when in life being a big saver will pay off?
Patience grasshopper. It took twenty years for me.
by Bustoff
Thu Jan 21, 2016 3:25 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why buy now, why not wait until the market really crashes??
Replies: 79
Views: 15544

Re: Why buy now, why not wait until the market really crashes??

HomerJ wrote:
Bustoff wrote:To avoid whipsaws, instead of using the daily stock price, why not use its 10 day moving average crossing the 10 mo mvg avg as a buy/sell signal ?
Yes, let's just keep adding more rules to the system until it works perfectly with past data...

Then it's guaranteed to work going forward!
No, it's not a rule. It's just an optional measurement for the exponentiality of the variance.
by Bustoff
Thu Jan 21, 2016 2:58 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why are REITs not providing any benefit in this market?
Replies: 45
Views: 7537

Re: Why are REITs not providing any benefit in this market?

Here's a benefit.
VNQ current unadjusted effective yield is 3.89% as of 12/31/2015.
by Bustoff
Thu Jan 21, 2016 2:44 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Brokered CD rates falling
Replies: 11
Views: 1214

Re: Brokered CD rates falling

I have been buying brokered CDs since July and over the last month I have noticed a distinct and what I consider sharp decline in rates for new issues offered by Fidelity. Anyone else notice the swing? Yes, especially out beyond 2-3 years. I am not sure I would characterize this as a "sharp" decline. The shorter term CDs are still higher than a few months ago. Since the Federal Reserve short term rate increase happened as the year was ending, it is difficult to separate short term CD rate increases in December caused by the rate increase or the common year end bump for many banks to pump up the balance sheet for the end of year financial reports. I bought a 10 year @ 3.1% back in the summer that I am feeling awfully good about ri...
by Bustoff
Thu Jan 21, 2016 6:39 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Move to Bonds?
Replies: 18
Views: 2833

Re: Move to Bonds?

red5 wrote:Might I just add that stocks are typically held in taxable accounts when there is no more room in tax-advantaged accounts for stocks.
To each his own, but I do just the opposite. I fill tax-advantaged accounts with the least efficient funds first.
by Bustoff
Thu Jan 21, 2016 6:20 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why buy now, why not wait until the market really crashes??
Replies: 79
Views: 15544

Re: Why buy now, why not wait until the market really crashes??

Maynard F. Speer wrote: ...A simple moving average can tell you when a market is moving up or down...
Image
Your chart appears to be compelling evidence.

Couple questions please.

1) Is your basic strategy to sell/buy when the stock price hits the 10 month moving average or when the price actually crosses it?

2) To avoid whipsaws, instead of using the daily stock price, why not use its 10 day moving average crossing the 10 mo mvg avg as a buy/sell signal ?

Thanks
by Bustoff
Wed Jan 20, 2016 11:39 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Move to Bonds?
Replies: 18
Views: 2833

Re: Move to Bonds?

I have 3 mutual funds currently- Roth IRA- VTSAX (Vanguard Total Stock Market Admiral Shares) Traditional IRA- VLACX (Vanguard Large Cap Index Fund Investor Shares) and Taxable Account- VFIFX (Vanguard 2050 Target Retirement) I am 30 years old, and almost 100% Stocks. When should I start incorporating bonds into my A/A? How would I go about doing that? Do I put a bond fund into my Roth IRA? Open another taxable account with a bond fund? Everything I read tells me bonds will stunt potential growth, and since I have a 30+year timeline, I don't see the benefit of having a lot of bonds, being this young. Thanks for any and all advice! Stocks are typically held in taxable accounts, while bonds are held in tax-advantaged accounts such as 401k's ...
by Bustoff
Wed Jan 20, 2016 3:15 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Caterpillar Company investment
Replies: 49
Views: 6467

Re: Caterpillar Company investment

CAT is down 50%.
Current yield is 4.95%

Very tempting.
Sadly, I don't buy individual stocks anymore.
by Bustoff
Wed Jan 20, 2016 10:32 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Capitulation!
Replies: 61
Views: 10076

Re: Capitulation!

Investment guru Ben Stein's "Yes, You Can Time the Market" graph indicates the S&P 500 is not undervalued.*

*These monthly graphs do not constitute specific investment advice. The data provided are from sources believed to be reliable but cannot be guaranteed. http://www.yesyoucantimethemarket.com/price.html
by Bustoff
Wed Jan 20, 2016 10:03 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: U.S. stocks in free fall
Replies: 36221
Views: 4685014

Re: U.S. stocks in freefall

VictoriaF wrote:
Bustoff wrote:Enjoy the ride and don't look down!
Should not you look in the direction of the movement?

Victoria
You're right! When I zip lined across the Royal Gorge I looked down the entire way.
by Bustoff
Wed Jan 20, 2016 8:22 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: U.S. stocks in free fall
Replies: 36221
Views: 4685014

Re: U.S. stocks in freefall

Enjoy the ride and don't look down!
by Bustoff
Wed Jan 20, 2016 8:08 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Best place to live in CA for a retiree
Replies: 27
Views: 6869

Re: Best place to live in CA for a retiree

looking wrote:hi all

where is the best place to live in CA for a retired person--cheap place ,warm weather so on --
Anything east of the Santa Ana Mountains. Most of Riverside County is affordable.

Lots of towns east of I-15. Temecula, Murrieta, Wildomar, Corona, Riverside, San Bernardino.
by Bustoff
Wed Jan 20, 2016 7:11 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Thinking about retirement
Replies: 7
Views: 1343

Re: Thinking about retirement

Ditchdog wrote:I have talked to several well-established fee based only investment firms and the industry standard for fee-based only cost seems to be about 1.25 to 1.75. Plus another expense ratio cost of .35 to .50 %. Now one fee-based only firm, Vanguard, is offering the same proposal as the others for only a .30 % fee and the expense ratio is .05 to .20 % Will the other more expensive firms be worth the extra cost?
No, they are not worth the extra cost.
Not unless they can provide a written money back guarantee they can consistently beat market returns.
by Bustoff
Wed Jan 20, 2016 6:22 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Retiring and people seem to avoid me
Replies: 66
Views: 13697

Re: Retiring and people seem to aviod me

It's simply a trite response from those who are disinterested.
by Bustoff
Mon Jan 18, 2016 7:07 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Failing "sleep well" test: Change AA or more Boglehead-therapy?
Replies: 63
Views: 7688

Re: Failing "sleep well" test: Change AA or more Boglehead-therapy?

rfowler wrote: Our investments (not including home) includes ~$3mil in fairly stable income-producing real estate (LLCs and owned rentals).
In addition our funds portfolio on December 31 was ~$2 mil (not including a separate ~$400K cash reserve.)
Your 66 and 61 with a $5 million portfolio, 60% of which is real estate. Your $400k in cash (hopefully in CD's) will will easily cover living expenses until 70 years old.

Your willingness and need to take risk are zero.

As William Bernstein would say, "When you’ve won the game, why keep playing ?"
by Bustoff
Sun Jan 17, 2016 9:36 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Should I use some of my emergency fund to buy cheap stocks right now?
Replies: 36
Views: 6255

Re: Should I use some of my emergency fund to buy cheap stocks right now?

FItoBFree wrote: I'm wondering if I should take advantage of the cheap prices right now and send some of my emergency fund cash to buy shares of VTSAX in my taxable account.
Only if your willing to see it disappear ... possibly for a few years.
by Bustoff
Sat Jan 16, 2016 8:08 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best place to live in CA for a young family
Replies: 82
Views: 12182

Re: Best place to live in CA for a young family

Having read a fair number of these threads, the often repeated advice is to rent before buying.
by Bustoff
Fri Jan 15, 2016 1:54 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: VWO seems cheap right now
Replies: 203
Views: 48626

Re: VWO seems cheap right now

.......
by Bustoff
Fri Jan 15, 2016 11:23 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: U.S. stocks in free fall
Replies: 36221
Views: 4685014

Re: U.S. stocks in freefall

TheTimeLord wrote:S&P 500 - 2,134.72
1,920 - 10%
1,813 - 15%
1,707 - 20%
1,600 - 25%
1,493 - 30%
When do circuit breakers kick in?
by Bustoff
Fri Jan 15, 2016 9:58 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Real-life, real-time wash sale & TLH documented
Replies: 151
Views: 54177

Re: Real-life, real-time wash sale & TLH documented

livesoft wrote:Right. As long as those are the only two transactions in your life. Sometimes posters reveal further information that they neglected to tell us about that does create a wash sale.
Thanks Livesoft.
Well, I'm also considering selling Vanguard Total Intl Stock Index Admiral (VTIAX) in taxable to buy Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US in tax-advantaged. But that's all.
by Bustoff
Fri Jan 15, 2016 9:22 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Real-life, real-time wash sale & TLH documented
Replies: 151
Views: 54177

Re: Real-life, real-time wash sale & TLH documented

TLH 101 question here.

If I sell Vanguard Total Stock Market (VTI) in my taxable account at a loss and buy Vanguard 500 Index Fund (VOO) in my IRA that same day, the wash sale rule does not apply right? And I still get to deduct the loss ?
by Bustoff
Fri Jan 15, 2016 7:30 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: noob - What funds should I choose? Added husband's info
Replies: 6
Views: 992

Re: noob - What funds should I choose?

bertilak wrote:
Plain_Jane wrote:Spouse contributes 5% of his salary and gets a 5% match at his employer. I don't have the details about the balance (upper four figures probably) or how it's invested. I'm trying to get mine set up first.
You should talk this over with your spouse. Your investments should be looked at as a single nest egg with an overall Asset Allocation. Getting just your accounts "set up first" is impossible to do right. You two need an overall plan.
+1
This link provides some guidance on designing a coherent portfolio across multiple accounts.
https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Asset_a ... e_accounts
by Bustoff
Fri Jan 15, 2016 6:30 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: brokered CDs
Replies: 23
Views: 2431

Re: brokered CDs

See below thread re brokered CD's:
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=152258&newpost=2299424#p2284513

I recently bought some in my Vanguard IRA. Very convenient. I have no plans to sell prior to maturity.
The interest is not compounded but AFAIC that is trivial.
by Bustoff
Fri Jan 15, 2016 6:17 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Saving for the future vs you only live once
Replies: 72
Views: 14397

Re: Saving for the future vs you only live once

betterfinances wrote:Curious to hear your thoughts on you only live once versus saving for the future.
Back in the day, YOLO was my lame excuse for spending money I didn't have or splurging on things I could not afford.
by Bustoff
Thu Jan 14, 2016 7:17 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What do you use to calculate total % up or down each year?
Replies: 37
Views: 3221

Re: What do you use to calculate total % up or down each year?

DSInvestor wrote:I do not calculate the % up or down each year.
+1 ... b/c it's out of my control.
by Bustoff
Thu Jan 14, 2016 7:09 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: $50k cash, Oil Industry, Market Correction
Replies: 19
Views: 1939

Re: $50k cash, Oil Industry, Market Correction

Single, work in O&G. Open-ended plans to buy a house before oil hit $30/bbl. With layoffs becoming more common my attitude is changing towards owning a home and going into debt. If market correction continues it'll be difficult to keep my house down-payment on the sidelines. I have toyed around with dollar cost averaging a certain percentage (e.g. 25% of total) at specific market levels (e.g. every 5-10% market drop from present). If criteria not met, then it stays as cash in a high yield savings account. Would you (1) keep as cash or (2) invest. Vanguard Total Stock Market — Risk level 4 Vanguard funds of this type are broadly diversified but are subject to wide fluctuations in share price because they hold virtually all of their asse...
by Bustoff
Thu Jan 14, 2016 4:29 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Car Buying Negotiation
Replies: 17
Views: 7185

Re: Car Buying Negotiation

Sportswhiz00 wrote:...Just bought a car. Only way to do it is to request online quotes because they know people who are shopping online are keen shoppers so they give you close to their best price right away. in my case several places quotes 1500 to 2000 under true car right off the bat, so I wouldn't rely on true car. ...
Sportswhiz - I see TrueCar shows a range of prices under the headings "Exceptional", "Great" and "Good".
Were those other quotes $1500 to $2000 under TrueCar's "Exceptional" or "Great" prices?
by Bustoff
Thu Jan 14, 2016 3:41 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: $50k cash, Oil Industry, Market Correction
Replies: 19
Views: 1939

Re: $50k cash, Oil Industry, Market Correction

Single, work in O&G. Open-ended plans to buy a house before oil hit $30/bbl. With layoffs becoming more common my attitude is changing towards owning a home and going into debt. If market correction continues it'll be difficult to keep my house down-payment on the sidelines. I have toyed around with dollar cost averaging a certain percentage (e.g. 25% of total) at specific market levels (e.g. every 5-10% market drop from present). If criteria not met, then it stays as cash in a high yield savings account. Would you (1) keep as cash or (2) invest. Vanguard Total Stock Market — Risk level 4 Vanguard funds of this type are broadly diversified but are subject to wide fluctuations in share price because they hold virtually all of their asse...
by Bustoff
Wed Jan 13, 2016 7:18 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Car Buying Negotiation
Replies: 17
Views: 7185

Re: Car Buying Negotiation

Here is a thread posted by Boglehead "denovo" about negotiating a vehicle purchase.
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=124638
by Bustoff
Wed Jan 13, 2016 7:17 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is the Powerball a good play?
Replies: 48
Views: 5900

Re: Is the Powerball a good play?

It is if you don' t want to feel left out.