Search found 3784 matches

by tc101
Tue Oct 25, 2022 12:58 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: An old friend asked for financial advice. I don't know what to say.
Replies: 57
Views: 9956

Re: An old friend asked for financial advice. I don't know what to say.

From a money management perspective, and if it made sense with her mental faculties and level of interest, I might suggest splitting her $56 between a savings account (ally would be a good one) and short duration treasuries.
A schwab mmf is now paying more interest than Ally. The mmf is not as safe as an FDIC account, but it is still very safe. Schwab also has a bank and checking accounts. I think it would be better to keep things simple by putting everything at schwab plus a small account at the local brick and mortar bank.
by tc101
Tue Oct 25, 2022 12:54 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: An old friend asked for financial advice. I don't know what to say.
Replies: 57
Views: 9956

Re: An old friend asked for financial advice. I don't know what to say.

If this is simple roommate situation in a private home there is some risk that the situation may not endure because it's very dependent on the personalities and health of the roommates. If the arrangement is in a formal assisted living situation, which is usually licensed by the county/state, there's a greater likelihood of permanence to the arrangement.
It is at a meditation retreat center where she knows a lot of people. It is an organization that she has been connected with for many years.
by tc101
Tue Oct 25, 2022 12:50 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: An old friend asked for financial advice. I don't know what to say.
Replies: 57
Views: 9956

Re: An old friend asked for financial advice. I don't know what to say.

Is your 82-year old friend computer savvy and does she own a computer in order to transact with an online bank? Even if the answers are yes, I think she’d be better off using a financial institution with a local office (local bank or Fidelity/Schwab) where she can get assistance if needed even if she doesn’t optimize her investment income. She has a computer and is somewhat computer savvy. I would be on the phone with her when she opens the account. I think I will advise her to open a schwab account, keep about $10K in a mmf account and put the rest in whatever the best deal is on treasuries or brokered CDs. She is in rural Vermont. The closest financial institution is a branch office of Schwab in Burlington. That is about 2 hours from whe...
by tc101
Tue Oct 25, 2022 11:39 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: An old friend asked for financial advice. I don't know what to say.
Replies: 57
Views: 9956

An old friend asked for financial advice. I don't know what to say.

My old friend is an 82 year old woman. She is recently divorced and got $56K from her share of a house sale. She gets $1200 a month from social security. She has a car. That is it. No children or family to help her.

The average expected life span for an 82 year old woman is 9 years.

She is thinking of moving into a place where there is a type of communal living. She gets a small room and 3 meals a day for $1400 a month.

The only advice I have given her so far is to move the $56K from a local bank where it is getting no interest, to Ally where she will get 2.35% plus a $500 transfer bonus.

Any thoughts on what I should tell her?
by tc101
Tue Oct 18, 2022 12:02 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How is the market for new cars today?
Replies: 51
Views: 9182

Re: How is the market for new cars today?

I just read this is "The Economist"
Panic buying amid last year’s global chip shortage has left many carmakers and manufacturers of business hardware with inventories overflowing with silicon.
https://www.economist.com/business/2022 ... y-meltdown

That indicates to me that the shortage of cars based on the shortage of chips is ending.
by tc101
Tue Oct 18, 2022 11:57 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How is the market for new cars today?
Replies: 51
Views: 9182

How is the market for new cars today?

How is the market for new cars today? Is there more choice and/or better deals than a year ago?

I was going to buy a new car a year ago but decided to put it off because of the lack of available cars, hence the lack of choice and higher prices. Has it gotten any better than a year ago?
by tc101
Thu Oct 13, 2022 11:36 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Confused by TIPS purchase
Replies: 2
Views: 435

Re: Confused by TIPS purchase

Thanks
by tc101
Thu Oct 13, 2022 10:51 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Another sad day for bonds
Replies: 138
Views: 10714

Re: Another sad day for bonds

the way BND and other funds work, it will be selling more expensive bonds and buying lower priced bonds at higher yields; these will in turn appreciate in price when yields inevitably fall again.
I don't think it is inevitable that rates will fall. We may have been in an abnormally low time for rates the last few years. Maybe rates will stay where they are, or maybe go higher. Look at the history for rates over the last 50 years:

https://www.macrotrends.net/2016/10-yea ... ield-chart
by tc101
Thu Oct 13, 2022 10:10 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Confused by TIPS purchase
Replies: 2
Views: 435

Confused by TIPS purchase

I am just learning about TIPS and made a small purchase of this:

U S TREASURY NOTE INFLATION INDEX NOTE CPN 0.75000 % MTD 2045-02-15 DTD 2015-02-15

I bought 1000 shares, the smallest amount allowed. The price was listed as $77.7344, but the principal amount is $977.88. I don't understand this. I thought the principal amount would by 1000 times the price, or $7,7734.40. How does this work?

Here are the details of the order:

Executed price $77.7344
Principal amount $977.88
Accrued interest $1.54
Commission amount charged $0.00
Net amount $979.42
by tc101
Sat Oct 08, 2022 10:51 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Now that long TIPS yields are 60 bp off their highs I will…
Replies: 2949
Views: 622821

Re: If long TIPS hit a real yield above 2.0% I will…

The people who are not buying individual TIPS all seem to be buying the etf LPTZ. No one ever mentions the vanguard TIPS funds or etfs. Why is this?
by tc101
Wed Oct 05, 2022 8:48 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Now that long TIPS yields are 60 bp off their highs I will…
Replies: 2949
Views: 622821

Re: If long TIPS hit a real yield above 2.0% I will…

A few days ago there was great enthusiasm here about buying long TIPS, even at the current yield of slightly below 2%. Then there was more technical discussion and less enthusiasm. What are your thoughts now?
by tc101
Tue Oct 04, 2022 1:37 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Now that long TIPS yields are 60 bp off their highs I will…
Replies: 2949
Views: 622821

Re: If long TIPS hit a real yield above 2.0% I will…

I can't answer your question, but I hope some knowledgeable person will come along and answer it eventually. I am very curious.
by tc101
Mon Oct 03, 2022 4:22 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Now that long TIPS yields are 60 bp off their highs I will…
Replies: 2949
Views: 622821

Re: If long TIPS hit a real yield above 2.0% I will…

Most people in this thread seem to think longer TIPS are a better deal right now. If you didn't want to buy individual TIPS what would you do? Vanguard, Fido and Schwab all have TIPS funds with low expenses and average maturity of about 7 years. Pimco has the LTPZ etf with expense ratio 0.20 and holds tips with maturities over 15 years. There may be other choices. Which is best?
by tc101
Mon Oct 03, 2022 11:21 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Now that long TIPS yields are 60 bp off their highs I will…
Replies: 2949
Views: 622821

Re: If long TIPS hit a real yield above 2.0% I will…

Thanks for the info on "show more". I now understand that.

I am still confused about this:
Just bought the 2046 maturity at a 1.985% yield.
Where do you see that yield. It is not YTM, at least today there is nothing with a YTM close to that.
by tc101
Mon Oct 03, 2022 10:23 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Now that long TIPS yields are 60 bp off their highs I will…
Replies: 2949
Views: 622821

Re: If long TIPS hit a real yield above 2.0% I will…

Just bought the 2046 maturity at a 1.985% yield. That was for as little as $1K par. If you buy $50K par, the yield is 1.99%. So close to 2%!
and
Right. I see the 2045 at 2.017 for min 50, and 2.011 for min 10. We are there!
Looking at what I can buy at Vanguard, I don't see any for sale today at anywhere near those rates, and all the TIPS require a $50K or more minimum purchase.
by tc101
Sun Oct 02, 2022 9:27 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: TIPS - YTM vs real interest rate
Replies: 7
Views: 772

TIPS - YTM vs real interest rate

When buying TIPS on the secondary market at Vanguard, the far right column lists "yield to maturity" bid and asked. Two questions about this:

1. Is the yield to maturity the same as real interest rate?

2. How can you know the yield to maturity since the interest rate varies with inflation?
by tc101
Sat Oct 01, 2022 8:31 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Now that long TIPS yields are 60 bp off their highs I will…
Replies: 2949
Views: 622821

Re: If long TIPS hit a real yield above 2.0% I will…

TIPS like Jan and April 2023, but the 10 year BEI is 2.38%, at 5 years it's 3.62%.
What is BEI?
by tc101
Sat Oct 01, 2022 8:19 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Now that long TIPS yields are 60 bp off their highs I will…
Replies: 2949
Views: 622821

Re: If long TIPS hit a real yield above 2.0% I will…

Who among us is able to trade all eggs for a satisfactory LMP
What is LMP?
by tc101
Sat Sep 24, 2022 8:49 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Cashing in Series EE savings bonds
Replies: 12
Views: 1899

Re: Cashing in Series EE savings bonds

One thing to note is that the bonds still have interest accumulate on top of the double amount once it reaches that 17/20 year period.
What is the rate of interest after the doubling?
by tc101
Sat Sep 24, 2022 1:12 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Cashing in Series EE savings bonds
Replies: 12
Views: 1899

Re: Cashing in Series EE savings bonds

I know I can cash them at any time. I didn't ask the question clearly. With EE bonds there is a date where they give you the maturity value. For example I have a $5,000 bond that I originally paid $2500 for. When it matures I get the full $5K. If the bond is date 06-06-03 when can I cash them in and get the full $5K?
by tc101
Sat Sep 24, 2022 12:15 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Cashing in Series EE savings bonds
Replies: 12
Views: 1899

Cashing in Series EE savings bonds

I have some paper series EE savings bonds dated 06-06-03. When can they be cased in?

I have a checking account at a PNC bank. Can I just take them to the bank to cash them in when it is time?
by tc101
Fri Sep 23, 2022 9:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do Not Resuscitate Order - how to ensure that it is valid and will be honored both in and out of a medical facility?
Replies: 56
Views: 4928

Re: Do Not Resuscitate Order - how to do one validly and how to make sure emergency personnel find it?

I heard about a guy who had DNR tattooed across his chest.

I asked a friend who was a retired emergency room doctor if that would be honored. He said probably not.
by tc101
Sun Sep 18, 2022 9:03 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Lyft vs Uber
Replies: 41
Views: 4453

Lyft vs Uber

I have not used either one in several years. Is there any difference? Is one better than the other? Which do you use?
by tc101
Mon Sep 05, 2022 1:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Spam in my yahoo email.
Replies: 17
Views: 2398

Re: Spam in my yahoo email.

Op

In your yahoo mail, go to the three dots next to the word "Spam", go down from there to View Raw Message, after viewing message you can see if the email sender is legit without opening message.

After you have determined this is an spam email, you can chose block sender.

This has worked for me.
They are all listed as coming from different senders, but I can tell they are different senders by the format of the emails and use of the word "Tomcarr". Apparently they have a way to set up bogus senders, or send from numerous sender addresses.
by tc101
Mon Sep 05, 2022 1:01 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Spam in my yahoo email.
Replies: 17
Views: 2398

Re: Spam in my yahoo email.

Is the spam you are complaining about appearing in your Inbox or in your Spam folder?

Yahoo filters all incoming email BEFORE ANY FILTERS ARE APPLIED to decide what belongs in the Spam folder. The spam filters you set up in Yahoo email only apply to items that it would otherwise place in the Inbox.
Top
It appears in the inbox. Apparently this is spam that the yahoo spam filter does not catch.
by tc101
Mon Sep 05, 2022 11:47 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Spam in my yahoo email.
Replies: 17
Views: 2398

Spam in my yahoo email.

I recently started getting a huge amount of spam in my yahoo email. It is designed to look like it is coming from a bunch of different sources (Ace haddware, Sams club, costco, iPhone and others) but I know it is all coming from the same source because all of the spam, somewhere in the body of the message uses my name, spelled incorrectly, as Tomcarr, with the first letter upper case. I set up a filter to move all mail that contains Tomcarr in the body of the message to a separate folder. However, the mail doesn't get moved to that folder. I did a test, sending myself a message with Tomcarr (first letter upper case)in the body of the message and the test email did get moved to the folder. What is going on here? Does the spammer have some wa...
by tc101
Sun Sep 04, 2022 11:51 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tesla self driving car
Replies: 63
Views: 3086

Tesla self driving car for older driver

[Thread merge into here --admin LadyGeek]

I'm 72. In the last year I have had to honestly come to terms with the fact that I am not as good a driver as I once was. I generally avoid driving at night, in the rain, or on the more crowded interstates. As the years pass I guess my driving will become more and more limited.

I know that the Tesla self driving car is not really self driving. You are supposed to keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road. I am OK with doing that. But will a Tesla with the self driving option make me a safer driver? Will it expand the range of places I feel comfortable driving?
by tc101
Sun Aug 21, 2022 9:43 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Do you keep paper I-bonds to yourself or move to online account?
Replies: 21
Views: 2467

Re: Do you keep paper I-bonds to yourself or move to online account?

Which banks redeem the paper bonds, and which banks do not?
by tc101
Sun Aug 21, 2022 11:48 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: The worst financial, best life decision you have ever made?
Replies: 114
Views: 15780

Re: The worst financial, best life decision you have ever made?

When I was in my 20's I spent 2 years traveling around the world living out of a back pack. Stopped in Taiwan and taught english for a year. Then when I got back to the USA and got back into computer programming I worked part time whenever possible which allowed me to read lots of books and do lots of other things that were more interesting and fun than writing code all day. Also, since I was writing code 5-6 hours a day rather than 8-9 hours, I enjoyed it more. The financial result of that is that now, at 72, I probably have much less money than if I had worked full time and never traveled. The memories of a more interesting life are worth much more to me than anything I could buy with more money. Part of the reason I could live the life I...
by tc101
Sat Aug 20, 2022 7:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Let's play chess
Replies: 987
Views: 98309

Re: Let's play chess

tc101 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 20, 2022 7:00 pm
When I play chess with my phone, is the chess software running on the processor in the phone, or is it running on some computer in the cloud and sending the moves to my phone?
The implementation might depend on which chess app you're talking about. My first guess is on the processor in the phone.

Some computer in the cloud would be a point of failure, and the app developer would have to maintain it.
My question boils down to asking just how powerful the phone processor is. I can see that it could play chess. How about voice dictation? That seems more complex than chess. Is it done on the phone of in the cloud?
by tc101
Sat Aug 20, 2022 7:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Let's play chess
Replies: 987
Views: 98309

Re: Let's play chess

When I play chess with my phone, is the chess software running on the processor in the phone, or is it running on some computer in the cloud and sending the moves to my phone?
by tc101
Sat Aug 20, 2022 10:04 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Buying agency bonds vs treasuries
Replies: 2
Views: 493

Buying agency bonds vs treasuries

I'm looking at rates on the vanguard bond page. I can get a Fed Hm Ln Mtg bond maturing in one year with a YTM of 3.5%. A similar treasury would yield about 3.2%.

I don't pay any state income tax. I am in Georgia and there are no state taxes after age 65.

Since state taxes are not an issue, is there any advantage to the lower yielding treasury over the higher yielding Fed Hm Ln Mtg bond?
by tc101
Thu Aug 11, 2022 4:26 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best watch for $5,000+
Replies: 166
Views: 22877

Re: Best watch for $5,000+

I recommend that you do not spend so much money on a watch. You can get a good casio for $25. Why spend more?
by tc101
Mon Aug 08, 2022 8:22 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Any fees at Fidelity that you did not know about when you first joined?
Replies: 24
Views: 2738

Re: Any fees at Fidelity that you did not know about when you first joined?

a competent person on the phone immediately.
That has not been my experience. The last two times I called I had a long wait and then talked to a trainee who tried to be helpful but was not.

Maybe this is because I have a small account at fidelity, about $30K. If you are getting good service there, how much money do you have there?

Most of what I have is at Vanguard. I don't get great service at Vanguard, but it is better than Fidelity.
by tc101
Wed Aug 03, 2022 11:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: hearing aids
Replies: 49
Views: 4745

Re: hearing aids

Why do all the hearing aid places insist on doing a hearing test before they will say anything about prices?

The only exception I know of is COSTCO which openly advertises their prices.
by tc101
Wed Aug 03, 2022 3:53 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: hearing aids
Replies: 49
Views: 4745

Re: hearing aids

I have a hearing aid that I like OK, but it is so small I am afraid
I will eventually loose it. Several times it has got caught on my
covid mask and almost got lost. Also the batteries are more
difficult to replace as my vision gets worse and my fingers get
clumsier.

I might like to get a larger hearing aid. Something the size of
computer head phones. Do they make these?
by tc101
Sat Jul 30, 2022 11:56 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: If you have over $1M at Fidelity or Schwab, do you have a personal rep?
Replies: 44
Views: 7352

Re: If you have over $1M at Fidelity or Schwab, do you have a personal rep?

I'm still in the Private Client Group. Perhaps my phone calls get answer sooner (I don't really know). Service is great so I don't feel I need an assigned person.
You must be getting a higher level of service. I have a small account at Fido and the last 2 times I called there was a long wait, and then I talked to people who were trainees and not very knowledgeable.
by tc101
Sat Jul 30, 2022 10:11 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: If you have over $1M at Fidelity or Schwab, do you have a personal rep?
Replies: 44
Views: 7352

If you have over $1M at Fidelity or Schwab, do you have a personal rep?

I used to have a personal rep at Vanguard because I had over $1M, but that has been canceled. I didn't use the service that much but it was nice when I did call to have someone I knew there to pick up the phone immediately. Occasionally when she was busy I would get her voice mail and she would call me back pretty quickly.

Is there something like that now at Fidelity or Schwab? Is $1M the required amount? Does it still exist at Vanguard if you have enough invested there? Does anyone still have that service at Vanguard?
by tc101
Fri Jul 29, 2022 4:59 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How do I buy TIPS on the secondary market at Vanguard?
Replies: 5
Views: 731

How do I buy TIPS on the secondary market at Vanguard?

How do I buy TIPS on the secondary market at Vanguard?

I have bought secondary market treasurys and CDs but I don't see TIPS.
by tc101
Wed Jul 27, 2022 10:10 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Let's play chess
Replies: 987
Views: 98309

Re: Let's play chess

I found an answer to my question about chess theory. It has been evolving for hundreds of years and continues to evolve. Take a look at this if you are interested:

https://www.britannica.com/topic/chess/ ... -of-theory
by tc101
Tue Jul 26, 2022 12:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Let's play chess
Replies: 987
Views: 98309

Re: Let's play chess

I watched an interview with Bobby Fischer on youtube. He said that a good chess player today could beat a good chess player from 100 years ago because chess theory had advanced so far.

I don't know anything much about chess theory. All I know is that in the beginning of the game you try to develop your pieces and control the center and keep your opponent from developing their pieces and controlling the center. What it means to develop a piece means to put it in a position where it can move to lots of other squares.

That's all I know. What are some other basic points of chess theory?
by tc101
Sat Jul 23, 2022 12:11 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Gardening 2022
Replies: 144
Views: 15141

Re: Gardening 2022

What is the most environmentally friendly spray to kill poison ivy?
by tc101
Fri Jul 22, 2022 1:06 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Confused about short term treasury fund yield
Replies: 22
Views: 2712

Confused about short term treasury fund yield

The Vanguard short term treasury fund has a 30 day sec yield of 2.29% and an average maturity of 2.5%.
Treasuries on the secondary market in the 2-3 year maturity range have about a 3% yield.
I thought that when interest rates go up, bond prices go down, so that the bond would sink to a price where it had the same yield as newer bonds. So I thought the price of the treasury bond fund would go down until the average maturity was about 3%.

Obviously I am missing something. What is it?
by tc101
Wed Jul 20, 2022 11:07 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: US vs Int stock allocation
Replies: 462
Views: 39323

Re: US vs Int stock allocation

I am currently 64:36. I think that is the best allocation.
by tc101
Tue Jul 12, 2022 9:55 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Does anyone have a problem with Fidelity?
Replies: 101
Views: 10812

Re: Does anyone have a problem with Fidelity?

The last two times I called Fidelity I was on hold for a long time and then when someone finally picked up they were not very knowledgeable. I only have a small account at Fidelity. I think when you have over a million you get better service and a personal rep.

I have accounts at Vanguard, Schwab and Fidelity. Fido used to be good but recently the service has been worse than Vanguard.
by tc101
Sat Jul 09, 2022 9:48 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Effective ways of helping senior drivers be more safe?
Replies: 41
Views: 2435

Re: Effective ways of helping senior drivers be more safe?

I'm 72. My vision and reflexes are not what they once were. I avoid the busiest freeways. I mostly drive to places that I have driven to many times before.

I was using Uber a lot before the pandemic. When I tried it for the first time since the pandemic, maybe 3-4 months ago, the wait for a car was much longer and the cost higher. I hope Uber service eventually improves. It is the potential solution for lots of older folks who can afford it.
by tc101
Mon Jul 04, 2022 11:24 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: ACATS Transfer thefts from Fidelity
Replies: 546
Views: 60943

Re: ACATS Transfer thefts from Fidelity

I tried to lockdown my investment account, but not my CMA. When I pushed the button to send a security code to my phone I got the following message:
Your ability to continue this activity is temporarily locked
For your security, we've locked your account after too many unsuccessful attempts. To unlock it, please call the number below and an associate will assist you.

800-343-3548
However, nothing is locked. I can log in and out of my account. I think something is broken on their web site.
by tc101
Mon Jul 04, 2022 11:13 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: ACATS Transfer thefts from Fidelity
Replies: 546
Views: 60943

Re: ACATS Transfer thefts from Fidelity

I pay my gas, electric, water, and insurance through my Fidelity CMA. These bills are automatically taken out of the CMA every month. Is that a direct debit? On the info screen for the Fidelity lockdown it says direct debit is not effected. Before I lockdown I want to make sure I understand what direct debit is, and that my bills will continue to be paid.