Search found 4904 matches

by 555
Sat May 09, 2015 11:28 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Will you buy self-driving car?
Replies: 235
Views: 28118

Re: Will you buy self-driving car?

FredL wrote:Computer may not be as good as the brain of Einstein, but certainly better than average Joe.
Actually, that really doesn't make sense. For most tasks, computers will either be much better than humans (e.g. fast arithmetic) or much worse than almost all humans (e.g. understanding complex environments).
by 555
Sat May 09, 2015 10:48 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: much ado about coasting (through life)
Replies: 256
Views: 63872

Re: much ado about coasting (through life)

OP, what is the precise cause of being currently unemployed? Whose choice was it?
by 555
Sat May 09, 2015 1:18 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Composition of Vanguard Institutional Total Stock Market Index Fund Institutional Plus Shares (VITPX)
Replies: 4
Views: 1251

Re: Composition of Vanguard Institutional Total Stock Market Index Fund Institutional Plus Shares (VITPX)

https://personal.vanguard.com/us/FundsSnapshot?FundId=0871&FundIntExt=INT "Seeks to track the performance of the CRSP US Total Market Index." "Vanguard Institutional Total Stock Market Index Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of the overall stock market." "The fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the CRSP US Total Market Index, which represents nearly 100% of the investable U.S. Stock market covering large-, mid-, small-, and micro-cap stocks regularly traded on the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ." It is simply a Total US Stock Market Index Fund. The question of the breakdown in terms of percentages of...
by 555
Sat May 09, 2015 12:30 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Round Numbers in Portfolio Allocations
Replies: 49
Views: 5308

Re: Round Numbers in Portfolio Allocations

Your graph is wrong. It should have jump discontinuities. It stays constant for 5 years, then abruptly changes in an instant. The question is, how could such a plan possibly make sense? People should have some kind of reason to make an asset allocation change. How could it possibly be the case that for 5 years, there is no reason to make any change, and then suddenly along comes an instant of time where you have a big reason to make a sizeable discontinuous jump in allocation? Why would a Target Retirement Date Mutual Fund, have a glide path like that? It would be heavily criticized, and rightly so.
by 555
Fri May 08, 2015 11:15 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Stop contributions to retirement accts due to future RMDs
Replies: 77
Views: 25900

Re: Stop contributions to retirement accts due to future RMDs

sixty40 wrote:Just wanted to know if anyone has even thought about it
:shock: Seriously? There are probably dozens of threads on the topic.
by 555
Fri May 08, 2015 10:50 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Round Numbers in Portfolio Allocations
Replies: 49
Views: 5308

Re: Round Numbers in Portfolio Allocations

harikaried wrote:
555 wrote:How does one implement a glide path while also having their asset allocation in 5% chunks?
It's not that difficult for someone who only updates their asset allocation once per 5 years. A glidepath of 80/20 -> 75/25 -> 70/30 -> 65/35 is more of a glide than staying at 80/20.
Okay, so following that line of thought, what would the graph of that glide path look like? How would it differ from typical glide paths? What would be the justification for having a glide path with this kind of graph? Don't certain features of this graph jump out at you?
by 555
Fri May 08, 2015 9:51 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Round Numbers in Portfolio Allocations
Replies: 49
Views: 5308

Re: Round Numbers in Portfolio Allocations

Setting your asset allocation in 5% chunks is fine. That avoids creating the false illusion of precision. It's actually a really bad idea. How would you implement a glide path? Why? We are 69, retired, with a 50/50 asset allocation, unchanged since age 62, which I don't plan to change. So I don't plan to do any gliding. I didn't mean you , I mean people generally ( of course :oops: ). You suggest people should have their asset allocation in 5% chunks (and portray people who do otherwise as having illusion of precision). How do you How does one implement a glide path while also having their asset allocation in 5% chunks? Why should anyone do this? Do you see where I'm going with this? I really believe that telling people that their asset al...
by 555
Fri May 08, 2015 5:22 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Round Numbers in Portfolio Allocations
Replies: 49
Views: 5308

Re: Round Numbers in Portfolio Allocations

ruralavalon wrote:Setting your asset allocation in 5% chunks is fine. That avoids creating the false illusion of precision.
It's actually a really bad idea. How would you implement a glide path? Why?
by 555
Fri May 08, 2015 1:49 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Round Numbers in Portfolio Allocations
Replies: 49
Views: 5308

Re: Round Numbers in Portfolio Allocations

I have a (countably) infinite list of asset classes, and I use the Zeno allocation.
1/2 in the 1st asset class
1/4 in the 2nd asset class
1/8 in the 3rd asset class
1/16 in the 4th asset class
...
.
.
.
by 555
Fri May 08, 2015 1:42 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Round Numbers in Portfolio Allocations
Replies: 49
Views: 5308

Re: Round Numbers in Portfolio Allocations

Okay, you've convinced me. Everything needs to be in multiples of 5%. It's simpler, and it doesn't make any meaningful difference anyway.

Boy, is one of my kids gonna be surprised when they get 30% and the other two get 35%! :annoyed
by 555
Fri May 08, 2015 10:59 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: If you worry about a correction, you shouldn't own stocks
Replies: 50
Views: 9158

Re: If you worry about a correction, you shouldn't own stocks

I disagree with this sentiment. What you may or may not worry about, is just not relevant. The market doesn't know what's going on inside your head. If you invest $X in investment Y, the performance of that investment will be totally unaffected by your state of mind.
by 555
Fri May 08, 2015 10:47 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Will you buy self-driving car?
Replies: 235
Views: 28118

Re: Will you buy self-driving car?

autolycus wrote:
555 wrote:Actually humans, and all other living things, have been through quite extensive testing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Origin_of_Species
Sure, we've been through plenty of testing for our ability to make fire, hunt for and gather food, and do a variety of other tasks instrumental to our survival. We haven't really evolved for the specific task of driving cars, planes, boats, etc. because those haven't existed for long enough to have materially-altered our genetic makeup as a species.
We are fairly good at using our senses and our brains to perceive and understand the many complexities of our surroundings. Machines aren't even remotely in our league in that regard (yet).
by 555
Fri May 08, 2015 10:30 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: dishwasher service plan
Replies: 18
Views: 2323

Re: dishwasher service plan

We have a kitchenaid dishwasher that is developing problems after about 8 years.

No, a service plan/extended warranty is definitely not worth it.
by 555
Fri May 08, 2015 10:09 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Returns of Bond Funds when interest rates go up
Replies: 19
Views: 4066

Re: Returns of Bond Funds when interest rates go up

One can kill the article with endless "what if" cases. But the Fed has announced more than once that it is intending to increase rates slowly, and it is hard to speculate differently, unless there is a surprise in inflation, etc. And second, index funds behave no different than the model the author used. Therefore, I dispute calling the work a "toy model" and suggest you use this work as a good starting point for planning. The paper may say something different and more sophisticated, but the account in your OP is a "toy model", and it certainly has the potential to mislead, as is clearly demonstrated by some of the responses in this thread. Suggest you read the referred article. How about you. Then bring back ...
by 555
Fri May 08, 2015 9:51 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: much ado about coasting (through life)
Replies: 256
Views: 63872

Re: much ado about coasting (through life)

nisiprius wrote:P.S. Isn't retirement exactly the same thing as "coasting?"
The OP is unemployed, not retired.

Some people lose their jobs and are in financial dire straits immediately (e.g. no savings, high debt) unless they get another job.

Some people lose their jobs, maybe later in their career, and they have an unplanned early retirement, but are financially somewhat okay, even though they'd planned to save and work some more.

OP is somewhere in between, on the one hand having a significant financial cushion so that there is no urgency to find work for maybe many years, and on the other hand not having significant financial means to outright retire.
by 555
Fri May 08, 2015 9:26 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What to use to clean car
Replies: 45
Views: 18268

Re: What to use to clean car

555 wrote:When I want a clean car, I just buy a new one. :happy
Oh I just noticed someone else does the same.
mak1277 wrote:Exterior - rain
Interior - nothing
by 555
Fri May 08, 2015 9:11 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What to do with mink coat
Replies: 30
Views: 8374

Re: What to do with mink coat

I once won a floor-length mink in a raffle sponsored by my town's opera company. It was a ridiculous thing with an $8000 price tag attached to it. I sold it to a guy I know whose wife is a corporate executive who had to attend a lot of community functions, including the opera. I only charged him what I would have had to pay in income taxes for the thing, and I was very happy to get that much. Are you saying that by winning " a ridiculous thing with an $8000 price tag attached to it" you had to declare $8000 income and pay income taxes on that $8000 income??! Yes, I believe that's correct. I was going to remind Rupert, although he probably knows, that you generally don't have to accept a prize. He probably didn't want to embarrass...
by 555
Fri May 08, 2015 9:01 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Round Numbers in Portfolio Allocations
Replies: 49
Views: 5308

Re: Round Numbers in Portfolio Allocations

ruralavalon wrote:Setting your asset allocation in 5% chunks is fine. That avoids creating the false illusion of precision.
What's your answer to my example? How could it possibly be justified to change it to 5% chunks? That whole way of thinking is deeply flawed.
555 wrote:Okay suppose I have 3 asset classes
*US Stocks
*International Stocks
*Bonds

and for my asset allocation I want equal proportions of each.

How would your suggestion apply to this situation?

Would you change this asset allocation? Why or why not?

If you can't think of a good answer, you really should probably abandon the idea of rounding, as it really makes absolutely no sense.
by 555
Fri May 08, 2015 8:57 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Returns of Bond Funds when interest rates go up
Replies: 19
Views: 4066

Re: Returns of Bond Funds when interest rates go up

mpt follower wrote:One can kill the article with endless "what if" cases. But the Fed has announced more than once that it is intending to increase rates slowly, and it is hard to speculate differently, unless there is a surprise in inflation, etc. And second, index funds behave no different than the model the author used. Therefore, I dispute calling the work a "toy model" and suggest you use this work as a good starting point for planning.
The paper may say something different and more sophisticated, but the account in your OP is a "toy model", and it certainly has the potential to mislead, as is clearly demonstrated by some of the responses in this thread.
by 555
Fri May 08, 2015 1:29 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: much ado about coasting (through life)
Replies: 256
Views: 63872

Re: much ado about coasting (through life)

It sounds like you don't have enough money yet to never work again, so you'll need to do some more earning. If you hate work, then you should prefer a shorter time in a decent paying job, rather than many years in low paying work. You're not financially independent yet. Get it over and done with.
by 555
Thu May 07, 2015 11:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What to use to clean car
Replies: 45
Views: 18268

Re: What to use to clean car

When I want a clean car, I just buy a new one. :happy
by 555
Thu May 07, 2015 8:14 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Will you buy self-driving car?
Replies: 235
Views: 28118

Re: Will you buy self-driving car?

No. I would not trust it. With software of any size, there are always potential bugs as not every path through the software can be tested. It's one thing if a program crashes when you try to do A, then B, then C, because that was never tested, but all you have to do is restart the program. And do an upgrade when the inevitable new version with "bug fixes" comes out. The consequences of a bug in the software of a self-driving car are much more significant. How can it handle all possible lighting/weather conditions, all possible road conditions etc.? I would not trust humans. With humans of any size, there are always potential bugs as not every path through the human can be tested. It's one thing if a humans crashes when you try to...
by 555
Thu May 07, 2015 8:04 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Round Numbers in Portfolio Allocations
Replies: 49
Views: 5308

Re: Round Numbers in Portfolio Allocations

How much does it help for (a) ease of understanding, (b) accuracy to portfolio goals, and (c) conceptual understanding for a less investment-savvy spouse to round allocation percentages to the nearest 5%, up or down when setting a fixed allocation? She's less investment savvy but, as an accountant, kicks my butt in spreadsheets. For example, instead of 7.5% REITs, going to 10% REITs or instead of 12.5% Municipal and 12.5% Long Term Treasuries, going 10/15 or 15/10. I plan to use a 5/25 Rebalancing strategy. I guess what I am wondering is how much difference does 7% vs. 5% of an asset class matter or 10/15 instead of 12.5% Okay suppose I have 3 asset classes *US Stocks *International Stocks *Bonds and for my asset allocation I want equal pr...
by 555
Thu May 07, 2015 7:52 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Retiring before kids start college. Thoughts?
Replies: 26
Views: 11402

Re: Retiring before kids start college. Thoughts?

Thanks harmony for the information and your experience. It seems that in some situations, colleges decide costs on a case by case basis, rather than using general formulas, so that makes planning more complex.

I'm resigned to not being able to do Roth conversions, which is okay.

My real question is, given that I could have a taxable account that is essentially $0, but alternatively I could save less in retirement accounts and more in taxable, what is the optimal plan?
by 555
Thu May 07, 2015 4:58 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What to do with mink coat
Replies: 30
Views: 8374

Re: What to do with mink coat

Rupert wrote:I once won a floor-length mink in a raffle sponsored by my town's opera company. It was a ridiculous thing with an $8000 price tag attached to it. I sold it to a guy I know whose wife is a corporate executive who had to attend a lot of community functions, including the opera. I only charged him what I would have had to pay in income taxes for the thing, and I was very happy to get that much.
Are you saying that by winning " a ridiculous thing with an $8000 price tag attached to it" you had to declare $8000 income and pay income taxes on that $8000 income??!
by 555
Thu May 07, 2015 2:36 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Returns of Bond Funds when interest rates go up
Replies: 19
Views: 4066

Re: Returns of Bond Funds when interest rates go up

This is basically just a "toy model" where rates increase exactly linearly over time, right?

It might act as a teaching tool to understand some of the moving parts of bonds.

But in reality, interest rates can fluctuate up and down in many ways, so I'd hate to see someone thinking that the conclusions of this very simplified scenario could be applied much more widely.
by 555
Thu May 07, 2015 1:30 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: I got my invitation to open a wisebanyan account
Replies: 7
Views: 2651

Re: I got my invitation to open a wisebanyan account

I cannot fathom why anyone would want someone else messing with their portfolio. It's very hard to plan when you bring in these extra moving parts.
by 555
Wed May 06, 2015 10:59 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Credit union: "once a member, always a member"?
Replies: 22
Views: 3573

Re: Credit union: "once a member, always a member"?

Thanks for the history and information dm200. You've made it completely clear.
by 555
Wed May 06, 2015 8:48 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: McNabb op ed - possible 8% cash requirement
Replies: 33
Views: 5448

Re: McNabb op ed - possible 8% cash requirement

Wow that's crazy! It's hard to believe anything like that could possibly happen.
by 555
Wed May 06, 2015 8:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Will you buy self-driving car?
Replies: 235
Views: 28118

Re: Will you buy self-driving car?

There will be self-driving cars and self-driving motorbikes.

After talking to my family we've decided we want one self-driving unicycle each.
by 555
Wed May 06, 2015 8:12 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: HSA Max Contribution Annoyance
Replies: 15
Views: 5492

Re: HSA Max Contribution Annoyance

Spirit Rider wrote:To 555's point, 2016 HSA limits are $3350/$6750.
Wow! I'm genuinely stumped by the change from 2015 to 2016. http://thefinancebuff.com/hsa-contribution-limits.html
You can't get these numbers by rounding up X and 2X to the next multiple of $50, regardless of what X is.

But wait! You can get these numbers by rounding off X and 2X to the nearest multiple of $50, for some X.

A lot of these kinds of numbers use round up, but these seem to use round off!

[/nerdfest]
by 555
Wed May 06, 2015 6:10 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: HSA Max Contribution Annoyance
Replies: 15
Views: 5492

Re: HSA Max Contribution Annoyance

Rounding up is non-linear! Who knew?
by 555
Wed May 06, 2015 5:54 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Best Time of Year to Rebalance Portfolio?
Replies: 54
Views: 30812

Re: Best Time of Year to Rebalance Portfolio?

This is the kind of thing where it's better to be lucky than good.
by 555
Wed May 06, 2015 4:14 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: No money market/stable value - 401(k) plan creation
Replies: 9
Views: 1154

Re: No money market/stable value - 401(k) plan creation

ryantm wrote:I am working on the fund lineup for a new 401(k) plan.
You have the wrong approach and you should personally withdraw from this project.
by 555
Wed May 06, 2015 4:10 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: TIAA Trad/stable value and NO bonds?
Replies: 19
Views: 3781

Re: TIAA Trad/stable value and NO bonds?

The fully liquid version of TIAA Trad with 3% guaranteed interest is a sensible place of some of your "bond" allocation at this time (same for stable value with similar interest).
by 555
Wed May 06, 2015 3:51 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: If I Knew Then What I Know Now
Replies: 127
Views: 69759

Re: If I Knew Then What I Know Now

mlebuf wrote: At ASU you are getting a quality education thanks to the taxpayers of AZ.
Wait! What? State tax dollars in a State University budget? I think you'd have a better chance of seeing a flock of pterodactyls land in the quadrangle. You might need to update this part for modern times (though I don't know about AZ specifically, just the typical State U budget reality).
by 555
Wed May 06, 2015 2:05 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard Claims Title of World’s Largest Bond Fund
Replies: 20
Views: 3582

Re: Vanguard Claims Title of World’s Largest Bond Fund

Professor Emeritus wrote:
TradingPlaces wrote:
Professor Emeritus wrote:My shoe size is 11 . That's a fact. If I put it in a press release people would properly think i am a moron.
You just put up a press release about that.
Its not a press release. It's a teaching example to a membership group
Professor (striding into lecture hall): Class, I'll have you know that my shoe size is 11!
Student (looking baffled): Is that gonna be on the test?
by 555
Wed May 06, 2015 1:03 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Credit union: "once a member, always a member"?
Replies: 22
Views: 3573

Re: Credit union: "once a member, always a member"?

If your CU is charging you fees, you need to find a new CU. Mine pays me every month to be a member rather than charging me. Yeah, it's pretty bad. To avoid about $10 monthly fees you need to either keep several $k deposited, or you need to jump through "rewards checking" type hoops, but then at least you get the "rewards checking" interest*. Since the latter is (marginally) worthwhile, and for a couple of other reasons, I'll keep an account open for now, but my days there may be numbered. *I do kind of resent the changes they've made, and consider them a "bad credit union", but by getting 2.x% interest for buying ten $0.50 amazon.com gift cards on my debit card per month, I somewhat get back at them by being ...
by 555
Wed May 06, 2015 11:05 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The Case FOR the Roth 401k
Replies: 46
Views: 13595

Re: The Case FOR the Roth 401k

Be aware that one can have low (or even negative) tax but have a high positive marginal tax rate. It's the marginal tax rate that's more relevant for Trad vs Roth decisions.
by 555
Wed May 06, 2015 10:59 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Credit union: "once a member, always a member"?
Replies: 22
Views: 3573

Re: Credit union: "once a member, always a member"?

Of course you can leave. It just means they won't kick you out if you no longer work for the employer, live in the area, etc. I've wondered how that slogan applies to someone who closed all accounts, then some time later (when not meeting the current membership criteria for whatever reason) wanted to re-establish a relationship. If this is a concern then don't close all your accounts. At my CU all I need do is keep $5 in my share account to remain a member. My credit union has introduced monthly fees that you have to jump through hoops to avoid. I'll stay for now, but once I leave the area, and can't walk into one of their few branches, there's really no reason to stay with them. My experience tells me that it's not a simple as "keep[...
by 555
Wed May 06, 2015 10:28 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Credit union: "once a member, always a member"?
Replies: 22
Views: 3573

Credit union: "once a member, always a member"?

Credit unions make this statement "once a member, always a member".

Does this mean that once I join a credit union, I'll always be a member whether I like it or not.

Or am I permitted to leave the credit union, stop being a member, close all accounts, and sever all connection with them?

Why do they say "once a member, always a member"?
by 555
Wed May 06, 2015 9:32 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The Case FOR the Roth 401k
Replies: 46
Views: 13595

Re: The Case FOR the Roth 401k

wolf359 wrote:I've been reading and researching, and the general consensus on this board and elsewhere is that while the Roth 401k is good, the traditional 401k is better.
I didn't need to read further. There is no such "consensus". Anyone who understands the issues knows that the choice depends very much on each person's circumstances at each point in time.
by 555
Wed May 06, 2015 9:18 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Retiring before kids start college. Thoughts?
Replies: 26
Views: 11402

Re: Retiring before kids start college. Thoughts?

Thanks. It looks like, to a rough approximation, most public colleges do use only FAFSA, and the "Simplified Needs Test" will work as advertised for them. On the other hand, most private colleges do not use only FAFSA, and the "Simplified Needs Test" will not work for them, and so low income and high assets is less good in that scenario. The reason this is a big issue is that during the last few years of work (and just before oldest starts college) I'll have a decision to keep cramming as much as I can into retirement account (which in my case means I can have essentially $0 in taxable), or instead whether to forgo some sheltered retirement space and accumulate some assets in taxable space*, so that in early retirement w...
by 555
Wed May 06, 2015 8:32 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What happens if you violate an HOA?
Replies: 35
Views: 15189

Re: What happens if you violate an HOA?

Not sure about the rest of the state but in South Florida it might by impossible to buy into a community that does not have an HOA. You want the amenities , you gotta live by the rules. And until the builder sells off the 75% or so homes, the HOA is builder controlled and possibly in a not too tight fashion. Means some issues could be grandfathered before the owners get to take over the management of their community. What do you mean by "amenities"? It's not clear that this is beneficial at all. Amenities = clubhouse with ballroom, pool, fitness center, game rooms. tennis courts. gated access security guards Our HOA paints the home exterior and maintains landscaping (both common grounds and individual plots) violate community rul...
by 555
Wed May 06, 2015 8:26 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What happens if you violate an HOA?
Replies: 35
Views: 15189

Re: What happens if you violate an HOA?

adamthesmythe wrote:> Okay, those are things I would expect "local" government to provide, where "local" means the whole city.

You can expect anything you want, that doesn't mean it's going to happen.

It could be argued that one thing behind the proliferation of HOAs is the unwillingness of towns to raise taxes for infrastructure. So they require HOAs to build and arrange for the maintenance of required infrastructure. In the west that might include wells and sewage treatment plants.
Let me change my choice of words. Cities do provide those things. I can live with being taxed by the country, the state and the city. There is absolutely no way I would want to be taxed by my neighbors on top of that.
by 555
Tue May 05, 2015 10:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What happens if you violate an HOA?
Replies: 35
Views: 15189

Re: What happens if you violate an HOA?

What do you mean by "amenities"? It's not clear that this is beneficial at all. Neighborhood pool, playground, etc. We have a lake in our subdivision... HOA keeps it stocked with fish, and clean, and makes sure the fountains in the lake work (to keep from having stagnant water). We have a concrete walking trail around the lake... HOA patched it after it cracked in places last winter. An HOA is just a local group of people banding together for the common good... Pretty common whenever a town or city or any group of people end up living together. Okay, those are things I would expect "local" government to provide, where "local" means the whole city. I would definitely never want to live in a subdivision that pro...
by 555
Tue May 05, 2015 9:58 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Retiring before kids start college. Thoughts?
Replies: 26
Views: 11402

Re: Retiring before kids start college. Thoughts?

Has anyone managed to get the "Simplified Needs Test" to work?
http://www.finaid.org/educators/needs.phtml

What (kinds of) colleges even use this?
by 555
Tue May 05, 2015 7:06 pm
Forum: Forum Issues and Administration
Topic: What's new and changed in phpBB 3.1
Replies: 69
Views: 18883

Re: What's new and changed in phpBB 3.1

Just now, (and it also happened once about a day ago), the "forum" forgot what posts we had read, so that "View first unread post" in a thread goes to the start of the thread instead of wherever you'd previously read up to in that thread. I guess something just got reset and that data got erased. No big deal, just mentioning it.
by 555
Tue May 05, 2015 7:01 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Silly, but Fidelity's Rolldown® is now a plain old glide path
Replies: 3
Views: 1343

Re: Silly, but Fidelity's Rolldown® is now a plain old glide path

nisiprius wrote:I'm not quite sure what the ripply waves were supposed to be doing for you, but Fidelity actually claimed that their Rolldown® was proprietary and had lower risk (in backtesting presumably) than the competition's non-rippled glide paths.
My guess is that it was a gimmick, and that they were lying about the lower risk.