Search found 756 matches

by rixer
Sun Mar 04, 2018 8:34 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What is your investment strength?
Replies: 70
Views: 7694

Re: What is your investment strength?

My strength is accepting what I'll get from a balanced fund and not stressing over market conditions as much.
by rixer
Thu Mar 01, 2018 6:47 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How to Avoid Selling Depreciated Stocks When Retired
Replies: 48
Views: 3704

Re: How to Avoid Selling Depreciated Stocks When Retired

I'm not advocating anything but this is how I have it planned. I have my portfolio in a Lifestrategy fund. I have 3 years minimum expenses in a CD ladder I keep rolling over just for the purpose of safety in a down market. We have no debt so expenses are low and if need be, we could collect SS and our dividends, capital gains and squeak by. If we HAD to.

I've thought about in an extreme case, a person could sell a balanced fund in an IRA and re-invest in say a 3 fund portfolio. Then just sell just from the total bond fund for income while leaving the equities alone while they're depressed. It's an extreme thing to do but I think it's an option to keep open.
by rixer
Wed Feb 28, 2018 9:47 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: how to draw down taxable retirement acct...?
Replies: 20
Views: 2360

Re: how to draw down taxable retirement acct...?

I have withdrawn from taxable two years now in retirement. My situation is different than some. I have a LS balanced fund in all accounts. I know that balanced funds aren't as tax efficient but in this case, it was purchased after retirement, isn't a terribly huge amount, I spend the dividends and taxes haven't been an issue.

So, what I do is simply sell what I need from my LS fund in taxable and everything remains in balance. Simplicity. :beer
by rixer
Tue Feb 27, 2018 1:51 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: U.S. stock inflows over the past 12 months: $25 billion. Taxable bond inflows: $392 billion
Replies: 17
Views: 3534

Re: U.S. stock inflows over the past 12 months: $25 billion. Taxable bond inflows: $392 billion

I think when a real big drop happens due to recession and things look bleak, you'll see many people bail out of equities. The emotions get strong when you're losing a bundle.
by rixer
Sat Feb 24, 2018 9:31 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What vacations or weekend getaways are you taking this summer?
Replies: 24
Views: 2751

Re: What vacations or weekend getaways are you taking this summer?

We will be agate hunting on coastal beaches and going on rockhounding field trips as much as possible this summer.
by rixer
Sat Feb 24, 2018 8:27 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]
Replies: 5993
Views: 699770

Re: Netflix, Your Current Favorite Show

My new favorite show on Netflix is a Bravo production called "Imposters". It's about a beautiful scam artist that marries men and women leaving them with nothing after she takes it all. Three of her victims team up to find her but they run out of money because she took it all. They resort to becoming grifters to get money to keep searching for her.
Anyway, I've only watched 4 episodes but I love this show!
Check it out. :thumbsup
by rixer
Thu Feb 22, 2018 9:25 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What if you only live off dividends?
Replies: 316
Views: 44997

Re: What if you only live off dividends?

It seems the answer to this is fairly obvious. If you live on only dividends, you will subsist on an income that is far below your means and die with a giant sum of money in all but the scenario of total world financial collapse. If that is desirable to you then go ahead. I’ll personally be using a strategy that makes a bit more sense. Why is dying with a giant sum of money a bad thing and not make sense? I can imagine ramping up spending as the death date nears, but being only 29 that is a long way away, so when I retire in my 40s with hopefully 50+ years left to live (assuming lifespans keep extending with medical technology), I don't plan on consuming everything right away. The classic Trinity study only covered historical 30-year perio...
by rixer
Wed Feb 21, 2018 8:58 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Update: Yikes, I waited too long, am I [too late]? 50k to invest
Replies: 53
Views: 7132

Re: Yikes, I waited too long, am I [too late]? 50k to invest

I think a balanced fund would work best for you also. As far as tax efficient goes, it's not always so bad. It depends on your tax rate and how much income it generated. Which may not be that much to worry about.
I have a balanced fund in my taxable account and it's been no problem for us as it just doesn't add up to that much because we're retired, have little income and there isn't enough there to generate much of a tax event. So you have to look at it in your own personal situation. It may be just fine.

Will you have enough time to build SS eligibility?
by rixer
Tue Feb 20, 2018 8:06 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Creating My Index Portfolio
Replies: 21
Views: 2488

Re: Creating My Index Portfolio

Don't overlook Vanguard Lifestrategy Moderate Growth fund. It's 60-40 and remains in balance. You can make your contributions each month and it will take care of everything else while you concentrate on your business.
by rixer
Mon Feb 19, 2018 10:26 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Retirees: The common sense withdrawal method
Replies: 168
Views: 26064

Re: Retirees: The common sense withdrawal method

I've just withdrawn for two years now since being retired. Just to have a starting place we used the 4% rule and this year we did the same with added cola. For us, we like to withdraw a certain amount for the entire year and make do on it. This way, we'll keep a handle on our spending and we'll know if something is wrong within one year which will give us time to reorganize.

We can cut our expenses if need be but that won't be today. :beer
by rixer
Sun Feb 18, 2018 8:54 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Retirement investment advice for parent
Replies: 10
Views: 1379

Re: Retirement investment advice for parent

Of those choices, I like the Vanguard Balanced Index Fund.
by rixer
Thu Feb 15, 2018 6:19 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: How many of you use the "4% rule" during retirement?
Replies: 68
Views: 13017

Re: How many of you use the "4% rule" during retirement?

I follow the 4% rule.It gave me a reasonable place to start. I'm only on the second year though so the plan is to re-evaluate if things go south. I have room to cut back if necessary but after drawing out for two years income, I have more than I started with so, so far, so good.
by rixer
Tue Feb 13, 2018 9:48 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What if you only live off dividends?
Replies: 316
Views: 44997

Re: What if you only live off dividends?

If I had to, I could get by on SS and dividends. If I had to.
So far I haven't had to, but it's comforting to know I could skate for a few years if need be.
And so far, my portfolio has risen even after taking withdrawals. If we experience some losses, we'll re-evaluate but until then 4% still works fine here.
by rixer
Mon Feb 12, 2018 11:16 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: How does one emotionally keep it together during market swings?
Replies: 118
Views: 13627

Re: How does one emotionally keep it together during market swings?

It used to be tougher for me until I went with a balanced fund. For me, it's so much easier this way. We feel that it's the safest way for us and it keeps the risk at a certain level so it actually takes the emotional aspect out of it.
by rixer
Sun Feb 11, 2018 9:08 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Best options for cash in Schwab brokerage accounts?
Replies: 59
Views: 52594

Re: Best options for cash in Schwab brokerage accounts?

When I have small amounts of cash sitting in there, I just put it in the Schwab total stock index fund. It's not usually enough to throw off my AA.
by rixer
Fri Feb 09, 2018 7:39 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Still waiting to invest?
Replies: 47
Views: 7613

Re: Still waiting to invest?

I'm retired and everything is in Lifestrategy CG. I don't have any dry powder to invest except for my three years minimum expenses CD's I hold for an extreme downturn. I won't gamble those CD's by buying more equities but I've thought about it.
by rixer
Sat Jul 01, 2017 9:43 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Thomas Partners vs Schwab Intelligent Portfolios
Replies: 8
Views: 10302

Re: Thomas Partners vs Schwab Intelligent Portfolios

Thanks. I am going with LifeStrategy conservative. If the market has a significant correction I may switch all or half to LS moderate. As long as I pay attention to my overall AA strategy, ie know the index proportions in these all-in- one products, should be ok. At some point with more confidence, could always do the three or four fund index alternative, that would not be such a change. Is it also $76 every time you need to take money out? Or can you get by on the dividends? The Schwab Target Index funds are only 0.08%ER and no fee to trade. The 2010 Index Fund for example is about 36% equties. Nothing wrong with your plan though. There's the $76 fee to purchase but NO fee to sell. I am retired, purchased VSCGX one time and when I take wi...
by rixer
Mon Apr 10, 2017 4:20 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Anyone else own balanced index fund? [vbinx]
Replies: 26
Views: 6379

Re: Anyone else own balanced index fund? [vbinx]

Unless you plan on changing your asset allocation I don't think it makes any difference whether you draw from a balanced fund or separate funds.
by rixer
Mon Apr 03, 2017 8:39 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Low-earners- What is your profession?
Replies: 371
Views: 62536

Re: Low-earners- What is your profession?

I'm retired. I was a carpet cleaner and the wife was a bookeeper for a small business. We have never made 100 k in a year ever. We lived under our means frugally, paid off our home here in California and contributed to our retirement accounts.
We are enjoying retirement and traveling where we want.
by rixer
Thu Mar 30, 2017 7:46 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: At Schwab, Dividend Reinvestment of Vanguard Mutual Funds
Replies: 7
Views: 2450

Re: At Schwab, Dividend Reinvestment of Vanguard Mutual Funds

I have Vanguard funds at Schwab and there isn't a fee to reinvest dividends and cap gains.
by rixer
Wed Mar 29, 2017 5:55 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: When do you plan to die?
Replies: 164
Views: 19221

Re: When do you plan to die?

I'm thinking 85 at best. I will re-evaluate as time goes by and adjust if I feel its necessary. There is always the house that would provide a few more years in the worse case. Then we'll find out how much the kids love us. ... :happy
by rixer
Fri Feb 03, 2017 1:52 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Retiree Accumulation/Withdrawal Phase -- How many funds do you have? Allocation? Withdrawal strategy?
Replies: 90
Views: 11918

Re: Retiree Accumulation/Withdrawal Phase -- How many funds do you have? Allocation? Withdrawal strategy?

Withdrawal phase. Retired 4 years. Lifestrategy Conservative Growth Fund ( 40-60) in three accounts. Her ira, my ira and a taxable. 3 years expenses in CD's that I roll over. Wife draws early SS, I'm drawing Spousal, I'm 68.6 yo, claiming my own SS next month. No pension. Just started with first withdrawal from portfolio. Will take 4.5% the next 5 years then evaluate. Thanks, "rixer". I'm where you were 4 years ago and . . . it is spooky :shock: Also looking at how to Tier 3 years expenses/income. So you're doing your own CD ladder? Is that for a full year's expense for 3 years? How did you decide for early SS or when to claim SS ? (not till 70?) Lifestrategy Conservative Growth Fund vs Target Retirement, etc. Why did you decide ...
by rixer
Fri Feb 03, 2017 11:45 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Retiree Accumulation/Withdrawal Phase -- How many funds do you have? Allocation? Withdrawal strategy?
Replies: 90
Views: 11918

Re: Retiree Accumulation/Withdrawal Phase -- How many funds do you have? Allocation? Withdrawal strategy?

Withdrawal phase. Retired 4 years.

Lifestrategy Conservative Growth Fund ( 40-60) in three accounts. Her ira, my ira and a taxable.

3 years expenses in CD's that I roll over.

Wife draws early SS, I'm drawing Spousal, I'm 68.6 yo, claiming my own SS next month.

No pension.

Just started with first withdrawal from portfolio. Will take 4.5% the next 5 years then evaluate.
by rixer
Thu Jan 26, 2017 10:29 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Dow hits 20,000. What next? Share your strategy
Replies: 107
Views: 13566

Re: Dow hits 20,000. What next? Share your strategy

I'm retired. My emotional side says I am too conservative and I should ramp up on more stocks. I know "stay the course" is my best strategy but sometimes I just can't help myself.

So that is why I hang out in lifestrategy cg. It's automatic and my emotional side doesn’t get involved.
by rixer
Thu Jan 19, 2017 10:54 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Target Date Fund - Retirement Years
Replies: 29
Views: 4431

Re: Target Date Fund - Retirement Years

4th and Inches wrote:Assuming that you are withdrawing the often-cited 4% a year from your portfolio in retirement, are there any drawbacks to just taking that 4% out per year from a target date fund vs selling off the winners to re-balance if instead you had a 3-4 fund portfolio?
I'm sure there are some reasons some will mention but that's exactly what we do with our lifestrategy fund.
If you're going to stay the course and remain in your desired AA, then what difference does it really make?
by rixer
Fri Dec 30, 2016 9:24 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Advice for staying the course
Replies: 20
Views: 2774

Re: Advice for staying the course

I found it was easier for me to stay the course with a balanced fund.
by rixer
Fri Dec 30, 2016 9:14 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Are balanced index funds tax efficient?
Replies: 9
Views: 1938

Re: Are balanced index funds tax efficient?

I hold lifestrategy cg in taxable. I am retired and don't contribute any more. Since I am in15% tax bracket it's not too bad and the simplicity is worth it to me and the wife.
by rixer
Tue Dec 20, 2016 9:53 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Charles Schwab Experiences?
Replies: 101
Views: 21286

Re: Charles Schwab Experiences?

I've been with Schwab for 20 years. Great customer service, helpful and customer friendly website. They also have a rather big brick and mortar building here and I can get personal help when needed. They have always been there for me when I have needed assistance and I haven't had one single issue with them.
I can recommend them.
by rixer
Sat Dec 17, 2016 10:32 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How to Read portfolio & understand % return
Replies: 8
Views: 1384

Re: How to Read portfolio & understand % return

That's another thing I like about Schwab. Their website is up to date and very user friendly. It has all that info at your fingertips.
by rixer
Sat Dec 17, 2016 8:50 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Single stock conundrum
Replies: 20
Views: 2835

Re: Single stock conundrum

You could also pull your original investment out and leave the 65% gain ride.
by rixer
Fri Dec 02, 2016 12:37 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What percentage of international do you hold?
Replies: 127
Views: 12039

Re: What percentage of international do you hold?

International is 15% of the portfolio.
by rixer
Sat Nov 26, 2016 9:04 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Here We Go Again: SWR 2.5% or 5.5%?
Replies: 115
Views: 17534

Re: Here We Go Again: SWR 2.5% or 5.5%?

I don't have a spreadsheet to show the best outcome of my withdrawal. I am starting the first year of spending from my portfolio. I don't have a pension, only SS and our IRA's. I am going to draw 5% each year for 5 years and then review. The reason is that we won't be able to travel as well or as often as we can now. We are going to get in what we can now and recalculate after 5 yrs and see where we're at.
by rixer
Wed Nov 23, 2016 10:38 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What was your Asset Allocation before and after retirement?
Replies: 91
Views: 15562

Re: What was your Asset Aloocation before and after retirement?

I didn't find this place soon enough. I was always too conservative with my portfolio. I was 40-60 before and by the time I realized it was a mistake, I was entering retirement. So I will likely remain 40-60 for the duration. It is what is and I don't want to ratchet up risk at this point.
by rixer
Wed Nov 16, 2016 3:12 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Take SS at 62 or wait ?
Replies: 74
Views: 18012

Re: Take SS at 62 or wait ?

I have delayed so far but will take it after the first of the year. I'll be 68.5 and that's good enough for me. I am glad I have delayed because for a married couple, the survivor benefit is huge for us. Plus we got to this point without a major drawdown as the wife was still working a few years after I retired.
Everyone is different.
by rixer
Tue Nov 08, 2016 4:28 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: retired and want to change investments
Replies: 30
Views: 5004

Re: retired and want to change investments

You could also just get a lifestrategy moderate growth fund. It's a self balancing fund with low cost that makes it simple.
by rixer
Sat Nov 05, 2016 11:34 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Which state to move for milder weather
Replies: 118
Views: 21445

Re: Which state to move for milder weather

California. Mild weather and high tech jobs.
by rixer
Fri Nov 04, 2016 9:56 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
Replies: 11151
Views: 2085970

Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?

We saw "The Magnificent Seven" yesterday. It was a little different than the original but it was very good.
Denzel Washington is always good.
by rixer
Thu Nov 03, 2016 10:15 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Personal Finance Question for the Retired
Replies: 27
Views: 6123

Re: Personal Finance Question for the Retired

We're retired for a couple of years now. We got a late start saving for retirement so we had been living below our means and saving as much as we could for a long time.
Now that we are retired and not that we tons of money, but we don't have to save for retirement anymore. This allows us to spend more now than when we were working. The extra we spend on is travel and a few more meals out.
by rixer
Tue Nov 01, 2016 7:25 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How Much Do you pay for your Medicare?
Replies: 58
Views: 13377

Re: How Much Do you pay for your Medicare?

I'm retired in N. California also.
Medicare A: free
Medicare B: $105
Medicare Plan F-HD: $40
Medicare Plan D: $17.
by rixer
Tue Oct 25, 2016 11:49 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Chocolate Recommendations
Replies: 64
Views: 8991

Re: Chocolate Recommendations

For me, nothing beats those individually wrapped Doves milk chocolates you buy in a bag at most grocery stores and pharmacies. They're the best and they don't even cost that much.
by rixer
Sat Oct 22, 2016 11:38 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help with 66yr old mother
Replies: 28
Views: 4356

Re: Help with 66yr old mother

As far as lifestrategy vs target date funds, lifestrategy remains the same allocation and target dates automatically reduces down the equity portion. Since I am retired, I want my AA to remain the same at 40/60 so the lifestrategy is the better fund for my situation.
by rixer
Fri Oct 14, 2016 9:06 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Do Bogleheads use Robo Advisors?
Replies: 39
Views: 7305

Re: Do Bogleheads use Robo Advisors?

I just use the lifestrategy balanced fund. It seems to offer good diversity at a decent price so I'm not sure if a robo would be a real benefit.
by rixer
Sat Oct 08, 2016 8:09 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Switching my Roth ira to Schwab
Replies: 5
Views: 1300

Re: Switching my Roth ira to Schwab

I am with Schwab and though I don't pay for an advisor, they assigned a personal consultant to me for any questions I might have. I can visit him at their office nearby or I have his direct phone number I can reach him at anytime.
Great service.
by rixer
Sat Oct 01, 2016 8:30 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Incapacity: who should determine: Doctor or 2 trustees?
Replies: 20
Views: 3324

Re: Incapacity: who should determine: Doctor or 2 trustees?

I had to do this with my f/l. The trust was written so that it took his treating physician and a neurologist.
I want to have at least one neurologist claim I'm incapacitated. I wouldn't want just some doctor to make that decision and lose control of my assets. Not that I have anything, it's just the idea that it could happen.
by rixer
Wed Sep 28, 2016 8:28 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Schwab vs Vanguard
Replies: 30
Views: 6057

Re: Schwab vs Vanguard

I'm retired and hold Vanguards lifestrategy fund in my Schwab account. I love the customer service and their website at Schwab. There is always help available in the few times I've needed it. They also have a brick and mortar building I can go to if need be.
I have thought about going to vanguard to save a few cents on the fee, but it just isn't worth giving up the good service I get at Schwab.
by rixer
Thu Sep 22, 2016 11:49 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Do Bogleheads Bucket?
Replies: 143
Views: 18414

Re: Do Bogleheads Bucket?

I am retired but have yet to withdraw from retirement accounts. I am invested in a lifestrategy balanced fund and there’s no buckets. I will sell what I need once a year for my annual income and remain in balance.

For me, this is the easiest way to "stay the course".
I hope it works out. .....
by rixer
Wed Sep 07, 2016 11:49 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What are you up YTD? [Year To Date]
Replies: 5250
Views: 906879

Re: What are you up YTD? [Year To Date]

Retired. 40/60 Vanguard lifestrategy conservative growth. 7.56%
by rixer
Sun Aug 21, 2016 10:32 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: How will you survive a melt up in stocks?
Replies: 10
Views: 3490

Re: How will you survive a melt up in stocks?

Because I am never sure about what the right moves are at times, I put it in a lifestrategy fund and take what it gives me. It will likely be as good as I can do so I just roll with it.
by rixer
Fri Aug 12, 2016 12:01 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Should most people use a one fund portfolio or robo?
Replies: 4
Views: 1293

Re: Should most people use a one fund portfolio or robo?

My question is: given the very poor results of the average investor, how many of people are cut out to be DIY bogleheads? Would it be better to emphasize one fund portfolios or a robo unless an individual explicitly states a desire to manage their own portfolio? It is my understanding that most of the gap is due to ill-disciplined buying and selling, over-reacting to market drops, chasing performance etc. I don't think the issue is complexity of portfolio. One cannot underperform the market with, say, Vanguard Total Stock Market, since one would own the whole market. The target date funds are a great idea for a solid Buy and Hold investor, but so is a simple BH-style three fund portfolio (Total US, Total Int'l, Total Bond) as long as one h...