Search found 583 matches

by Marmot
Mon May 24, 2021 1:29 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Change Vanguard Personal Advisor
Replies: 13
Views: 1473

Re: Change Vanguard Personal Advisor

Just ask. I'll PM you our PA. He is more than awesome, been with us about 10 years if not more.
by Marmot
Sat May 22, 2021 9:01 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 1.5mm portfolio Advice - Where to Deploy Capital?
Replies: 17
Views: 2019

Re: 1.5mm portfolio Advice - Where to Deploy Capitol?

Are you working towards student loan forgiveness? If for some reason not paying off the student loan provides a 4.75% guaranteed return on that money, then start putting that monthly payment towards the other car payment to get a guaranteed 3% return. What's you current Net monthly/or annual Income on the 2 rental properties (after accounting for Cap Ex, Vacancy, Prop Tax, Insurance, etc.)? It sounds like you have other investing options but have a favorable opinion of liquidity. Along that line. Back in the day - we focused on removing debts one by one. When my wife graduated law school we had: a mortgage, 2nd mortgage (pool), car payment, owed parents 10K, small amount of student debt. We chose to attack the payment we owed the least on....
by Marmot
Sat May 22, 2021 8:30 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: I turn 65 in November. Please advise on medicare choices.
Replies: 61
Views: 7641

Re: I turn 65 in November. Please advise on medicare choices.

susa wrote: Fri May 21, 2021 12:37 pm
FrugalInvestor wrote:..penalization later. The cheap plans I've had are very cheap.

Uh Oh... the penalties are very moderate and easily paid If and When it makes sense to opt for Plan D ... again, another myth easily explained in the Dr Belk Medicare series. Medicare "salespeople" like to scare folks a bit too much..
Thanks for posting about Dr. Belk. That is really good stuff.
by Marmot
Fri May 21, 2021 10:53 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Is there any value in a brick and mortar banking relationship in the year 2021 and beyond?
Replies: 54
Views: 4961

Re: Is there any value in a brick and mortar banking relationship in the year 2021 and beyond?

camden wrote: Fri May 21, 2021 9:43 am
backpacker61 wrote: Fri May 21, 2021 8:42 am I needed several Medallion Signature Guarantees last year (retitling trust assets following a death in my family).

My local bank provided them with no issues.
Curious about this in view of my recent negative experience; was this a small community bank as opposed to a local branch of a national megabank?
We had to get a Medallion Signature last month. As noted before, no problem with my chase branch.
by Marmot
Fri May 21, 2021 9:36 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Is there any value in a brick and mortar banking relationship in the year 2021 and beyond?
Replies: 54
Views: 4961

Re: Is there any value in a brick and mortar banking relationship in the year 2021 and beyond?

USAA can’t figure out how to add a trust as a POD on my checking account and it’s been over two months with no resolution and hours of waiting on hold to even get to a CS rep. After being a 15 year customer I’m moving my money elsewhere. So I see the value in a brick and mortar relationship because I could just walk in and have it figured out relatively more quickly, but at the same time the fee structure / lack of features of brick and mortar is highly antiquated. Currently I’m evaluating between Fidelity CMA and CenterState Bank now merged with SouthState Bank as my day to day banking relationship. Any input as to banking relationships in 2021? Currently with Fidelity I’m part of the Private Client Group and my taxable brokerage account ...
by Marmot
Fri May 21, 2021 9:29 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Ford Lightning EV
Replies: 308
Views: 31138

Re: Ford Lightning EV

FootballFan5548 wrote: Thu May 20, 2021 11:07 am I'm new to the electric vehicle world, but interested in buying a truck (most likely an F150) in the next 6-12 months.

Quick question on the charging... how long does it take to fully charge or charge something halfway?

If you have 283 mile range, and are on the road running low, how long as you stopped waiting to get the charge up enough to get back home?
[/quote
If it is anything like a Tesla, at our house with a Tesla charger installed we charge at about 34 - 36 miles an hour. In this environment I imagine a vast majority of people will charge at home. I imagine it can be about the same. It looks nice, glad they brought back an old name. EV's are great fun to drive.
by Marmot
Mon May 17, 2021 9:25 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 1.5mm portfolio Advice - Where to Deploy Capital?
Replies: 17
Views: 2019

Re: 1.5mm portfolio Advice - Where to Deploy Capitol?

Are you working towards student loan forgiveness? If for some reason not paying off the student loan provides a 4.75% guaranteed return on that money, then start putting that monthly payment towards the other car payment to get a guaranteed 3% return. What's you current Net monthly/or annual Income on the 2 rental properties (after accounting for Cap Ex, Vacancy, Prop Tax, Insurance, etc.)? It sounds like you have other investing options but have a favorable opinion of liquidity. Along that line. Back in the day - we focused on removing debts one by one. When my wife graduated law school we had: a mortgage, 2nd mortgage (pool), car payment, owed parents 10K, small amount of student debt. We chose to attack the payment we owed the least on....
by Marmot
Sun May 16, 2021 9:19 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Increase 401k by 2% or Enroll in Company Stock?
Replies: 11
Views: 945

Re: Increase 401k by 2% or Enroll in Company Stock?

You can do both assuming there is no holding period for your ESPP and you can sell immediately. 1. Take your 401k contribution down to just company match or enough to max out your ESPP whichever is higher. 2. Contribute the max (ie 10%) in your ESPP. 3. 6 months later, sell immediately after the ESPP hits your account. 4. Increase your 401k and take the 15% profit from ESPP to supplement your income. Maintain max in ESPP 5. Repeat For example: You were previously saving 14% in your 401k and you have 2% additional to invest. Company match is 6% Month 1-6 Decrease 401k to 6% Invest in ESPP 10% Your take home pay is unchanged Months 7-12 Sell ESPP and take 15% profit Invest in ESPP 10% Increase 401k to ~13% (Take your ESPP profit to supplemen...
by Marmot
Sat May 15, 2021 2:10 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Inflation could be 20% in the next three years [Sell bonds?]
Replies: 307
Views: 49428

Re: Inflation could be 20% in the next three years: Wharton's Jeremy Siegel

MoonOrb wrote: Sat May 15, 2021 11:20 am I just accept that as part of my investing approach that of course there will be times that bonds will be hammered, but I'm not really sure when this is going to be. Maybe it will be in the next three years. Maybe it won't be in the next three years. I've given up on trying to figure out when these types of things are going to happen. My approach does not call for me to avoid being in certain asset classes just because they will go down some of the time. My approach is to remain in these asset classes all of the time--this is the way I'm assured of getting the benefit of the growth.
Yes!
by Marmot
Sat May 15, 2021 7:48 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tactic to prevent wire fraud in real estate closing?
Replies: 35
Views: 4414

Re: Tactic to prevent wire fraud in real estate closing?

The scam is that they compromise an email account, say of a real estate broker or mortgage broker, then when they see in that email stream that a transaction is scheduled to close, they send an email from the compromised account with fake routing and account numbers for the ACH. The problem with clawing back the funds is that by the time you know there is an issue, the funds will have been moved offshore to a country with weak legal protections. This situation almost happened to us. They had all of the escrow info and the same email of the title person except it was .yahoo and not .com. It was so subtle. This was a 500k deal with lots of moving parts. The scammers real problem was they sent it too early. They targeted the money to go to a ...
by Marmot
Fri May 14, 2021 3:57 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Phoenix, AZ as an early retirement location? Advice please
Replies: 156
Views: 17526

Re: Phoenix, AZ as an early retirement location? Advice please

And oh yea, ditch the dark shirts. Only new people wear them in the summer (a joke, but you get it).
by Marmot
Tue May 11, 2021 10:57 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What prompted you to pull the plug and retire?
Replies: 249
Views: 45995

Re: What prompted you to pull the plug and retire?

namajones wrote: Mon May 10, 2021 12:10 pm What finally did it for you? Was it a number? Your age? A bad boss? Just "tired of it all." A new goal? A new post-retirement career? Some combination?

I'm on the cusp, personally, and for me it has to be a combination of number, changes at work that I don't like, my age, and probably (though not sure) just being tired of working or, perhaps more precisely, being tired of work impinging on my final years of (still healthy) years left on this earth.

So I'm thinking that with all big decisions like this, it's probably some combination of things that prompts people to go.

Am I right? What made you decide "I'm out"?
Boss without scruples. A vp , wouldn’t continue to work for him .
by Marmot
Tue May 11, 2021 1:41 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Phoenix, AZ as an early retirement location? Advice please
Replies: 156
Views: 17526

Re: Phoenix, AZ as an early retirement location? Advice please

We have been in Phoenix since 1985. Love it. The first 2 summers are tough, after that....just hot. Seven months that absolutely beautiful. People usually end up suggesting something north (Flagstaff, Prescott). You asked about Phoenix and that is what replying to. The real estate is no different than most other places. Yes houses are selling fast. Last week we had a 2.2 million house go up next door. It was under contract in less than 24 hours.
by Marmot
Sat May 01, 2021 2:43 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What control over a trustee do you expect?
Replies: 46
Views: 3772

Re: What control over a trustee do you expect?

I am querying those who have a trustee designated to come into the role upon your death, either as successor or initial trustee. In recent talks with a potential successor trustee, their insistence on total control over investment decisions surprised me, to the extent they could go 100% equities despite the significant assets already funded in the trust. I am curious how much control, if any, through the terms of your trust, do you expect to have over the trustee, in regards to the investment policy for the funds left in trust. Considering you have spent a lifetime building up these funds, do you feel comfortable leaving the asset allocation decision completely up to the new trustee, or do you wish to have a say in the matter, by dictating...
by Marmot
Sat May 01, 2021 2:33 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What control over a trustee do you expect?
Replies: 46
Views: 3772

Re: What control over a trustee do you expect?

This is a timely discussion. Thanks all. I am in the middle of settling by fathers estate and also doing our 10 year review with our trust attorney. There is always something to consider. I have a question on a trust (heirs) related topic. Don't want to steal from this discussion, will start a new string.
by Marmot
Thu Apr 29, 2021 8:50 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Wish I could quit Vanguard for poor customer service
Replies: 187
Views: 23765

Re: Wish I could quit Vanguard for poor customer service

relativeratio wrote: Wed Apr 28, 2021 12:00 am
Monsterflockster wrote: Tue Apr 27, 2021 11:06 pm Does anyone have good customer service now days?
My experience with Vanguard customer service has always been outstanding. They have consistently gone "above and beyond" over the years. You should talk to a manager if your dealing with a less then helpful representative.
Agree. I just finished a number of complicated transactions with them, they were great. Consistently across the board. I had to move my fathers trust to an new trust under a new EIN (Dad died) and then move the monies to family accounts after that. The process took about 3 weeks, they were great. Professional and informed.

To the OP, just move your cash if you are not happy.
by Marmot
Thu Apr 08, 2021 7:54 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: For those retired or FI, how much do you spend annually?
Replies: 499
Views: 80204

Re: How much do you spend annually in retirement?

Marseille07 wrote: Wed Apr 07, 2021 2:53 pm
help me understand that one... I've been told to budget about $20k per year for health care ...
This is very concerning. How accurate is this estimate? I took a quick look at ACA and I'm seeing premium pricing around 300/mo~500/mo w/o any subsidies. Do we really need to budget 20k/year? That'll derail planning for lots of people if true.
We pay 20k a year for mega Corp retiree medical insurance. That being said it is good medical insurance as those thing go. Our choice, we could go ACA, but I could also drive a pinto.
by Marmot
Thu Apr 08, 2021 7:37 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: For those retired or FI, how much do you spend annually?
Replies: 499
Views: 80204

Re: For those retired or FI, how much do you spend annually?

smitcat wrote: Mon Jan 04, 2021 10:27 am Without income taxes our spending is pretty much what we expected/budgeted:
$60K per year covers all expenses to live comfortably but no extras
$120K per year is what we budget to do everything we want to do
Close to your budget. 75 per year with 120 cap. 2 houses, retired 6 years,big travel budget which we don’t seem to use enough :happy
by Marmot
Fri Apr 02, 2021 11:26 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Snowbirds - mail and bills
Replies: 68
Views: 12197

Re: Snowbirds - mail and bills

Mom and Dad had their mail forwarded from PA to FL each winter by the Post Office with a termination date of their planned return to PA. In the spring when they left FL, they would submit another forward from FL to PA. This caught most of the mail. Forwarding usually only adds about one week to the mail delivery (in the good old days of decent service). I live in AZ and this time of the year (plus November) the post office is packed with folks stopping their mail forwarding. Seems to work for most people. [/quote We have it held. Anything important is by email. People let you know when you are overdue 😁. Usually gone five months. I talk with the mail carrier about holding the mail. It seems to work. I put magazines on “suspension status”.
by Marmot
Wed Mar 31, 2021 8:19 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: estimate of home value on real estate sites, which site (if any) is 'most accurate'?
Replies: 21
Views: 3389

Re: estimate of home value on real estate sites, which site (if any) is 'most accurate'?

What about the percentage of anticipated price increase (decrease) that those sites project? My zip code has a estimated 7% growth for 2021.
by Marmot
Thu Mar 25, 2021 2:23 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: percentage for 3 fund portfolio
Replies: 11
Views: 1214

Re: percentage for 3 fund portfolio

Beehave wrote: Thu Mar 25, 2021 1:26 pm What was the basis for this advice that you are providing? Did your sibling ask for advice about the money, and if so, what desires and concerns did they express? If they did not ask for advice, why are you providing it?

57/43 is very reasonable for a 65 year old. 100% in TIPS is also very reasonable. So is an SPIA, or a CD ladder, or 20/80, or 80/20. It all depends on the many variables that go into selecting an asset allocation. Without that understanding, advice about whether this or that asset allocation seems right is a shot in the dark.
Thanks. Response to first paragraph is none of your business. I simply asked about the percentage for 3 fund. Nothing else. Thank you for your opinion.
by Marmot
Thu Mar 25, 2021 12:32 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: percentage for 3 fund portfolio
Replies: 11
Views: 1214

percentage for 3 fund portfolio

Just want to check (as I am provided advice to someone), a 65 year old sibling is putting 200K in a non retirement account. Assume no other retirement saving except a small pension, live in a low cost of living area. No debt,taking SS. Sibling does not plan to use money - no income stream needed.

50% Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund (VTSAX)
7% Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund (VTIAX)
43% Vanguard Total Bond Market Fund (VBTLX)

Thoughts?
by Marmot
Fri Feb 26, 2021 7:41 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why the disdain for managed funds like ARKK that destroy total market funds?
Replies: 1587
Views: 211639

Re: Why the disdain for managed funds like ARKK that destroy total market funds?

Why are some people assuming that people who purchase ARKk do so as a subsitute to traditonal index funds? I dont think most people holding ARKk plan to.do so more than 5 or so years. I have a little over 16k ARKK shares, and returns have be great SO FAR. ARKk can stay stagnant for the next 2 or 3 years and sp 500 would still struggle to match the gains I have had so far. If (when) I sense a paradigm shift and become nervous of ARKk, I plan to take my ARKK holdings and switch over to Sp 500 index and park.it there long term. If if takes me 2 or 3 years of no gains or 50% drop in ARKk to switch, I would still have beaten Sp 500 returns. Everyday ARKk outperforms sp 500, my window to switch to sp 500 idex from ARKk becomes longer with more r...
by Marmot
Thu Feb 25, 2021 1:13 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: ARK investment
Replies: 269
Views: 32710

Re: ARK investment

I saw that the Economist has a story on Ms. Woods this week.

Also - I read the "10th Man" weekly, he is fairly insightful and fun to read, from Mauldin economics...yes the alleged "perma bear" (I put added this to help someone else posting a like comment in 2 minutes). Anyway for some reason I have been following this thread for a while and thought this edition of the "10th Man" might add some perspective.

https://www.mauldineconomics.com/the-10 ... tor-action

Love how he has a picture of Tesla with storm clouds overhead. Oh, I am a model X owner and have no Telsa except for my Mutual funds.
by Marmot
Thu Feb 25, 2021 10:00 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Umbrella Policy; Anyone actually made a claim?
Replies: 214
Views: 21722

Re: Umbrella Policy; Anyone actually made a claim?

Marmot wrote: Thu Feb 25, 2021 9:52 am 5 Million from Pure. 5 rental properties
by Marmot
Sun Feb 21, 2021 8:50 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Revealing net worth
Replies: 251
Views: 22556

Re: Revealing net worth

Interesting question. I'm mid 30s. I'm not opposed to discussing finances -- and do -- with one close friend. But it's situational dependent, like many things in life. I know my parents net worth. My brother and I have discussed ours before. I've mentioned at work that I'd like to retire at 50, but almost in a joking way. But it's super serious. There is nothing wrong with having a goal. Hopefully people will ask "how you plan to get there" and you can give them your perspective. It is sad that we have to be embarrassed for "making it". For most of us it wasn't the lottery. We worked hard, didn't buy the latest and greatest. We were responsible (frugal) and made it work. Kinda of odd we tend to be embarrassed talking ab...
by Marmot
Sun Feb 21, 2021 8:26 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Revealing net worth
Replies: 251
Views: 22556

Re: Revealing net worth

No one has ever asked thankfully, I retired at 57 so you can guess our situation. I have the biggest interest in finances, my wife is in the loop. We both do conference calls with our Vanguard Advisor. We are a team so we are both involved. Yearly we have a yearly 3 way discussion with our CPA and Vanguard advisor to basically do tax planning and review the "state of the state". 29% of our portfolio is in rental properties. We talk money with only my sister in law and brother in law who are far better off than us. One last thought. I do make it known I am a bogelhead, we were talking with a Chase rep the other day and he was trying to get us to move assets from Vanguard. Obviously the answer is no, "hell no". I am a card...
by Marmot
Fri Feb 12, 2021 8:19 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Help find an unbiased news source...
Replies: 90
Views: 6327

Re: Help find an unbiased news source...

I subscribe to Stratfor, it has very good international reporting. It can be really dry. I am a huge fan of George Frieidman at Geo Political futures. I believe he founded Stratfor and sold it. I do subscribe to the Economist, I like their attention to "the global" story. In regards to media bias, someone shared this with me: https://www.adfontesmedia.com/
by Marmot
Fri Feb 12, 2021 6:49 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Stationary Bike Program for Weight Loss
Replies: 50
Views: 4426

Re: Stationary Bike Program for Weight Loss

You can’t out exercise your diet. Measure how many calories your eating. If you want to lose weight shoot for 1500 calories a day. You need to lift weights also. Increased muscle on your body will raise your metabolic rate. You CAN out exercise a diet from a weight loss perspective, but it takes a very high level of fitness and a huge time commitment. Elite athletes in training may be packing in 4000+ calories without gaining weight, but they are doing essentially nothing other than training, eating, and sleeping. I doubt there are many elite level athletes posting on bogleheads wanting weight loss advice. Elite athletes are an edge case of course, but a less elite athlete might be in a similar situation with something like hiking the Appa...
by Marmot
Sun Feb 07, 2021 9:33 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Retirees: How typical am I?
Replies: 82
Views: 8798

Re: Retirees: How typical am I?

I was reading this string this morning and then happened into my Vanguard account for something else. We are in managed assets (don't know if we have a different setup to look at), when you are on the "goals" tab near the bottom, there is an Asset withdrawal percentage by years. Theses are projected forward, but no work at all if I stay within the projected budget amount. 2.4% for us in 2021.
by Marmot
Thu Nov 12, 2020 1:27 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: IRS and Tax mediation question
Replies: 18
Views: 1332

Re: IRS and Tax mediation question

One last update. My wife has a cohort who was with the IRS. He said :these take at least six months. In his estimation the IRS will fully reject the claim. This is based on the fact that the house has no mortgage and that the lien is only 1/6th of the property value. The IRS will not negotiate because they don't have to.
by Marmot
Wed Nov 11, 2020 10:35 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: IRS and Tax mediation question
Replies: 18
Views: 1332

Re: IRS and Tax mediation question

Thank you Wombat. Good advice, I also assume you didn't sleep at a Holiday Inn. Good thing I am married an attorney:D
by Marmot
Wed Nov 11, 2020 10:27 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: IRS and Tax mediation question
Replies: 18
Views: 1332

Re: IRS and Tax mediation question

Any thoughts on the original question? What the seller should be seeking is called a Certificate of Discharge. This will remove the house from under the umbrella of the federal tax lien. You indicated the tax lien is 1/6th the value of the house, but do you know how much equity the seller has? This obviously determines what the IRS will get out of the house, because the mortgage (if there is one) has priority over the tax lien. These lien certificates are processed at regional field offices around the country, not at the giant, centralized IRS campuses (service centers). Advisory Group is usually pretty quick, by IRS standards, but these still take 30-45 days to process. They are 100% math-driven. After approval, Advisory will send what am...
by Marmot
Wed Nov 11, 2020 10:22 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: IRS and Tax mediation question
Replies: 18
Views: 1332

Re: IRS and Tax mediation question

Tax Mediation firm is a middle man so to speak (as I understand it). They represent you in dealing with the IRS, i assume they are experts and know the system.

I think the seller wants to try and get the amount reduced, no skin off their back to try providing expenses are low. The IRS has a fee for filing, I don't know what cut a mediation firm would take.
by Marmot
Wed Nov 11, 2020 8:17 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: IRS and Tax mediation question
Replies: 18
Views: 1332

Re: IRS and Tax mediation question

We are in contract for a property in which the owner has a tax lien. The owner has utilized a tax mediation firm. My question is: 1) How does the process work? The mediation firm has submitted the paperwork to the IRS. Is it common for the IRS to look at it and then just respond with a "take or leave it" decision or is it like a tennis game with multiple volleys? I understand that it will be highly independent of the situation, but is there a common path in these matters? 2) With the current covid thing going on, is the IRS just not dealing with these issues quickly. I assume when it comes to tax collection, they are still on the ball. Thanks I'm sure you already know this, but for other readers, be aware that a tax lien against ...
by Marmot
Wed Nov 11, 2020 8:06 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: IRS and Tax mediation question
Replies: 18
Views: 1332

Re: IRS and Tax mediation question

Duplicate
by Marmot
Wed Nov 11, 2020 6:30 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: IRS and Tax mediation question
Replies: 18
Views: 1332

Re: IRS and Tax mediation question

The answer depends on a lot of things. How much tax does the seller owe the IRS and how far does it go back? Does the seller plan to give the IRS all of the net proceeds from the sale or only a portion? What is the tax mediation firm trying to accomplish? Is an installment agreement being sought? Or maybe an Offer In Compromise? Penalty abatements? Is the mediation firm trying initially for a home run, with expectations of being denied and responding later with a more reasonable request? Some of these factors can cause a collection matter to drag on for a while. Even if all this information was known, it's still uncertain how far backlogged the IRS may be in dealing with this type of collection matter due to the covid-related disruptions of...
by Marmot
Wed Nov 11, 2020 4:51 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: IRS and Tax mediation question
Replies: 18
Views: 1332

Re: IRS and Tax mediation question

Any thoughts on the original question?
by Marmot
Wed Nov 11, 2020 4:13 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: IRS and Tax mediation question
Replies: 18
Views: 1332

IRS and Tax mediation question

We are in contract for a property in which the owner has a tax lien. The owner has utilized a tax mediation firm. My question is:
1) How does the process work? The mediation firm has submitted the paperwork to the IRS. Is it common for the IRS to look at it and then just respond with a "take or leave it" decision or is it like a tennis game with multiple volleys? I understand that it will be highly independent of the situation, but is there a common path in these matters?
2) With the current covid thing going on, is the IRS just not dealing with these issues quickly. I assume when it comes to tax collection, they are still on the ball.

Thanks
by Marmot
Fri Sep 04, 2020 9:00 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Switch employers - Transfer of old 401k to new employer
Replies: 29
Views: 2748

Re: Swith employers - Transfer of old 401k to new employer

You can also consider just transferring the funds directly to Vanguard. If you transfer them to Vanguard you get access to the Vanguard universe. Your new employer could change the 401K provider in the future and you might get something you don't want. One thing about your new employer, they might get better expense ratios if they are large enough to negotiate them.
by Marmot
Wed Sep 02, 2020 1:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: charging an EV
Replies: 250
Views: 19939

Re: charging an EV

TomatoTomahto wrote: Wed Sep 02, 2020 8:42 am
MBB_Boy wrote: Wed Sep 02, 2020 8:27 am Those early adopters who got free supercharging for life are probably even happier
I’m an early adopter, and short of selling my car, I can’t think of a way to monetize the free supercharging. Iirc, the last time I supercharged was 2 years ago. I’ll probably sell when my CyberTruck arrives :D
Amazon is buying 100,000 of these:
https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/298 ... -to-date-0
Of course they are an investor
by Marmot
Wed Sep 02, 2020 1:23 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: charging an EV
Replies: 250
Views: 19939

Re: charging an EV

emoore wrote: Wed Sep 02, 2020 1:04 pm
TomatoTomahto wrote: Wed Sep 02, 2020 8:42 am
MBB_Boy wrote: Wed Sep 02, 2020 8:27 am Those early adopters who got free supercharging for life are probably even happier
I’m an early adopter, and short of selling my car, I can’t think of a way to monetize the free supercharging. Iirc, the last time I supercharged was 2 years ago. I’ll probably sell when my CyberTruck arrives :D
If you don't mind me asking which version did you pre-order? The Cybertruck is high on my list for a new car since the specs seem amazing. I'll be curious to see how well it does in the real world.
Did you see the Jay Leno episode (Jay Leno's Garage) when he and Elon were driving the cybertruck? Short, but fun to watch.
by Marmot
Wed Sep 02, 2020 1:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: charging an EV
Replies: 250
Views: 19939

Re: charging an EV

I read some reports that charging an EV commercially (out of your house) is more expensive than filling gas. In other words, running an EV is more expensive than running a gas car for the same mileages, can someone confirm or disconfirm this? I can't. We bought a Model X and get free charging at any Tesla charger I read an article about a non Tesla nationwide charging system that is up and running. I'll see if I can find it, it was interesting. Yea Elon beat everyone to the punch for sure. This stopping and charging is a bit different but it is fun. I saw something from volkswagon last year, it was a prototype robot charger that wanders a garage and charges VW's. I really can't believe that someone (&/11, Circle K, Walmart) haven't sta...
by Marmot
Tue Sep 01, 2020 6:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Phoenix homes - backyard south facing okay?
Replies: 24
Views: 4793

Re: Phoenix homes - backyard south facing okay?

The best orientation is to have the backyard facing north. We had an west facing house (with no sun protection as in trees )for 18 years. It had a very deep porch, but the sun is brutal for at least 3 months. Brutal as in bright and heat brutal. We last had the backyard facing north, that is the best orientation IMO. We also had a backyard facing south for 14 years. Nice, but always bright, made it hard to watch TV. Lived in Phoenix since 1985.
by Marmot
Tue Sep 01, 2020 1:12 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What purchases are you planning now for the Fall/Winter to get ahead of demand?
Replies: 57
Views: 8222

Re: What purchases are you planning now for the Fall/Winter to get ahead of demand?

Believe it or not, toilet paper is starting to disappear again. There are no wipes still, and now bleach containing cleaners either. I can’t find dumbbells either. It must be a local shortage. The closest stores to me have Clorox cleaning products, wipes and TP. Paper towels are available again. Dawn dishwashing detergent too! I worry most about food. Red meet - iron deficient blood is a problem for me right now. Good plant sources of iron include lentils, chickpeas, beans, tofu, cashew nuts, chia seeds, ground linseed, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, kale, dried apricots and figs, raisins, quinoa and fortified breakfast cereal. There are lots of factors that affect the amount of iron your body can absorb from your diet. The most important fact...
by Marmot
Mon Aug 31, 2020 1:55 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Outlook email question
Replies: 5
Views: 545

Re: Outlook email question

Thanks very much. This is very helpful, I'll look at it and respond back if I am lost again :happy
by Marmot
Mon Aug 31, 2020 1:46 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Outlook email question
Replies: 5
Views: 545

Re: Outlook email question

Perhaps I am confused but on my computer we have office 2013 installed and I see it in my apps on the computer, but I guess I don't know what I am looking for? I see Outlook Options, but what am I looking for? Thanks