Search found 27 matches

by Bob Weir
Fri Jun 17, 2011 11:37 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What inspired your avatar?
Replies: 79
Views: 7484

Like me some Grateful Dead.

That is all.
by Bob Weir
Fri May 13, 2011 1:08 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Just wondering how much people are saving for retirement
Replies: 76
Views: 9585

RadAudit wrote: Finally, we are the last surviving single income, wife stayed home to look after the kids, family on the planet. Your situation will be differnt and require different calculations.
(raises hand)

We are a dying breed. I work and she stays home with the kids. There are a few of us out there.
by Bob Weir
Fri May 13, 2011 1:05 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Just wondering how much people are saving for retirement
Replies: 76
Views: 9585

Re: Just wondering how much people are saving for retirement

i'm 37 and put about 20% of my pay towards retirement..how much do you put away?? Just curious. 27 y/o here.. Before I was conscious on saving for my future like 40-50% of my income, but after hearing people dying too early (at a really very young age), I realized, I should not spend so much time thinking about how my future is going to be - including my retirement 'coz I'm not sure if I will still reach my retirement age. So now, I only have maximum of 20% of my income monthly. I am completely with you on this one. Wife and i are 33. I could save more, but 20% is probably going to be just right to smooth our spending for the rest of our lives. There are better ways to live than to work 90 hrs a week but plan on retiring early. You just ma...
by Bob Weir
Wed May 11, 2011 10:50 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Looking For A Good Blender
Replies: 28
Views: 5155

The Vita-Mix.

Absolutely, positively, the best. Could chop up a Buick if you needed it to.
by Bob Weir
Sun Aug 29, 2010 10:04 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Crazy to pay so much for a residence?
Replies: 33
Views: 6430

At the risk of being annoyingly brief--yes, I feel that spending that much of your net worth on your primary residence is most assuredly NOT Bogleheadish.

IMHO.
by Bob Weir
Sun Aug 29, 2010 10:00 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Need 100k Portfolio before tilting?
Replies: 17
Views: 3782

Is it always poor form to revisit a topic 2 years later? Better to start a new one and just link to the old one? Either way, here we are. You may recall that the above posts found me pondering doing some tilting. Well, it's 2 years later. I followed Laura's advice closely, and have stuck to my guns on the initial recommendations made to me in my first topic posted, and instead of the ~$50k in retirement I had in 2008, my wife and I now have just over $100k. Some thoughts: 1) It's the savings rate, stupid! We made it easy, made it boring, and we just never made any excuses to keep putting money away. 2) It was nice to make a little higher salary in 2009 than in 2008. 3) Better to just stick to a really good plan instead of worrying over the ...
by Bob Weir
Sun Oct 26, 2008 9:17 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What was your schooling after H.S.?
Replies: 204
Views: 47946

marnold1974 wrote:I got one I don't think I've seen in this thread yet:

B.Arch.

Go Tartans.
Haven't seen this one yet, either:

B.S., Ohio State
D.V.M., Ohio State (Yep, veterinary school)
by Bob Weir
Sat Oct 11, 2008 8:43 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Need 100k Portfolio before tilting?
Replies: 17
Views: 3782

Thanks a million!

I'm going to look this through tonight and get my brain around it a little and get back to you on this one--long night at work.

Thanks again. 8)
by Bob Weir
Fri Oct 10, 2008 10:02 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What truly is the worst
Replies: 86
Views: 18195

Apprentice_941 wrote:I'd freeze my nest eggs off in the Battle of the Bulge if I knew I be coming home to the post WWII opportunities those men had: being able to afford a house, raise a family without government sabotage, GI bill instead of six figure student loan debt, a loyal '50's' wife instead of one with divorce lawyer's number on speed dial, etc.
CLEARLY someone who's never seen combat. I haven't either, but I have the courtesy and common sense to never even consider saying something this trivializing to a veteran who risked his life in order to give us the country we have today. People died over there, you know...

I don't think I've ever written anything that patriotic, but this post has me peeved. Please tell me you're being sarcastic.
by Bob Weir
Fri Oct 10, 2008 9:43 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Need 100k Portfolio before tilting?
Replies: 17
Views: 3782

Whether you tilt or not, stay the course. Don't throw away a small-cap value tilt in years like 1998 and 1999. Aye, there's the rub. My concern about the entire thread is just that--I intend on doing this for the long-haul and would rather get "in" and get used to DCA'ing into the small cap value and learning from its ups and downs while I still have about 25-30 years left to retirement. My coworker and I were just discussing the financial news today for the first time--and the point was, we're both young and planning on working for another 25-30 years, and this too shall pass. I am losing no sleep, and feel quite content with my 90/10 stock/bond mix. So, even after 20-years, Portfolio B may not do better than portfolio A if you ...
by Bob Weir
Fri Oct 10, 2008 3:12 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Need 100k Portfolio before tilting?
Replies: 17
Views: 3782

I just re-read this thread a few days later.

And I still can't find a good reason to avoid putting 20% of my portfolio in Vanguard's Small Cap Value.

Any other thoughts, o wise audience?
by Bob Weir
Mon Oct 06, 2008 9:49 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Near-Newbie Boglehead back again for advice
Replies: 7
Views: 1961

Laura- Thank you *very* much for your reply. As with before, well thought-out and clear, and I appreciate that very much. I do think you have a great point about Emerging Markets, and I am reconsidering that position, and likely won't pursue that fund at all. One question: Re: the Rollover IRA (only around for the next 4 months)--by lowest cost, do you consider that a relative measure? For example, there is a bond fund that has an ER below 1% but well, well above the ER for Vanguard's bond index fund. Does that make it a poor choice relative to a blend fund around 1.1% or so like I have now, or are costs absolute and should I rebalance a little to reflect that? It is, indeed, a pre-tax account, so bonds would be a good idea (like dave broug...
by Bob Weir
Mon Oct 06, 2008 9:39 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Need 100k Portfolio before tilting?
Replies: 17
Views: 3782

Outstanding thread, I love the discussion, especially because I was the OP in question! :) And I also think I could talk myself into either situation. When I started all of this, the portfolio was about $60k, and I got everything out of individual common stocks before the recent drop in the markets. Now the portfolio's worth about $53k--no big surprise there. But worth bringing up that the relevance of the size of the portfolio is more of a moving target this year than in years past--talk to me in 6 months and I won't be able to meet minimums since the total $ of the portfolio will have dropped more! Meh, it's OK, my contributions are what matters, and for the next 25-30 years, all this stretch is doing is raising the likelihood of a higher...
by Bob Weir
Sun Oct 05, 2008 8:37 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Near-Newbie Boglehead back again for advice
Replies: 7
Views: 1961

Never really got a response, so thought I might try again. Not trying to be annoying, hope it isn't taken that way. Thanks in advance for any nit-picking anyone may have about this--and thanks again to dave for pitching in, I appreciate it.
by Bob Weir
Wed Oct 01, 2008 9:29 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Near-Newbie Boglehead back again for advice
Replies: 7
Views: 1961

Just a little bumpity-bump, hey-how-ya-doing, slipped onto the next page post.

:wink:
by Bob Weir
Tue Sep 30, 2008 7:42 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Near-Newbie Boglehead back again for advice
Replies: 7
Views: 1961

Bob -- I think the authorities here would put the bonds in the rollover IRA, which would be completely pre-tax, rather than the Roth. That should eventually make your required minimum distributions (RMD's) smaller when you turn 70, as those are based on the value of your pre-tax assets. The bonds are of course likely to grow less than the stocks. You made me realize something I left out of my original post. The 401(k) is a Roth 401(k), but one where the employer's contributions are pre-tax and my contributions are after-tax. I hadn't thought of that. I hadn't sweated much of the tax implications of what I was doing, since my portfolio is relatively small, and without any taxable holdings. But it turns out the 401(k) and the Rollover IRA ma...
by Bob Weir
Mon Sep 29, 2008 9:26 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Near-Newbie Boglehead back again for advice
Replies: 7
Views: 1961

Near-Newbie Boglehead back again for advice

This is my second post looking for a little advice. You can check out my first one here for reference. Things have changed, I have seen the light on not just reading but DOING, which took getting involved in posting here and a good slap on the forehead to realize I needed to stop thinking and start doing. I had initially wanted to do a lazy-type 4-fund portfolio, but after reading some of Rick Ferri’s books, I’ve opted for a more slice-and-dice approach, and want to do that—and understand/enjoy rebalancing and making sure things are where they need to be. Anyway, I’m still working on my emergency fund, and hope to increase the Roth IRA contribution for myself and my wife again here shortly—I am working at a different job within the same com...
by Bob Weir
Mon Jun 30, 2008 11:44 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard Balanced Fund vs. Wellington
Replies: 18
Views: 10145

Re: Vanguard Balanced Fund vs. Wellington

Those interested in why I'm asking this question can refer to my initial post found here . I've changed my 401k holdings to just Vanguard's Wellington Fund (VWELX). I have had some discussions with the plan administrator, and the company they go with includes VBINX as the "default" fund choice if an employee screws up the enrollment paperwork and forgets to put any percentages under the corresponding fund choices for where the want monies funneled. I cannot access VBINX anymore as I have already chosen funds, then changed them... They are currently 100% with the Wellington Fund, as are future contributions. I have been contacted by the plan administrator (a CFA and CFP who does not work for the company I work for) after I request...
by Bob Weir
Sun Jun 29, 2008 11:58 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard Balanced Fund vs. Wellington
Replies: 18
Views: 10145

dave.d wrote:Bobby --

Be grateful you have the choice. If you want to be truckin' down that golden road of unlimited devotion to the promised land, there comes a time when you have to let that deal go down, and not fade away because of some jack straw-man of a 27bp ER. Otherwise the eyes of the world will see you're a passenger goin' down that road feelin' bad, like some wharf rat on a ship of fools with the mexicali blues. I know that's hard to handle, and it hurts me too, but i've been all around and around this world and it's not dire, wolf, you can beat it on down the line to an estimated profit. And we bid you good-night!

Who's Bob Weir!!
Impressive!

:lol:

<hums Going Down the Road Feelin' Bad>
by Bob Weir
Sun Jun 29, 2008 9:21 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard Balanced Fund vs. Wellington
Replies: 18
Views: 10145

First of all, I'm very sorry about such a late reply. I had to leave town and was away from the 'net. Thank you to those who replied, especially Taylor, whose opinion I respect tremendously.

And since, as Random suggested, I am young, the "value tilt" that Wellington has appears to be worthwhile and interesting--that had not occurred to me.

And finally, nope, not the real Bob Weir. Just a young dead head (Jerry died when I was in early high school).

So I will probably continue on with Wellington as part of the overall portfolio and put all 401k monies towards it for as long as I am at the company.

Thanks, all!

8)
by Bob Weir
Wed Jun 18, 2008 11:33 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard Balanced Fund vs. Wellington
Replies: 18
Views: 10145

Vanguard Balanced Fund vs. Wellington

Those interested in why I'm asking this question can refer to my initial post found here . I've changed my 401k holdings to just Vanguard's Wellington Fund (VWELX). I have had some discussions with the plan administrator, and the company they go with includes VBINX as the "default" fund choice if an employee screws up the enrollment paperwork and forgets to put any percentages under the corresponding fund choices for where the want monies funneled. I cannot access VBINX anymore as I have already chosen funds, then changed them... They are currently 100% with the Wellington Fund, as are future contributions. I have been contacted by the plan administrator (a CFA and CFP who does not work for the company I work for) after I requeste...
by Bob Weir
Tue Jun 10, 2008 9:34 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 30 yr old Boglehead neophyte needs some advice
Replies: 8
Views: 2573

bump...
by Bob Weir
Tue Jun 10, 2008 2:05 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 30 yr old Boglehead neophyte needs some advice
Replies: 8
Views: 2573

...And one more thing...

Looking into transferring a Rollover IRA at TD Ameritrade to Vanguard. Does anyone know how an existing Rollover IRA is categorized? I.E. does Vanguard just view this as a "Traditional" IRA in that these are pre-taxed dollars initially? (Came from an old, old 401k initially)

Thanks.
by Bob Weir
Tue Jun 10, 2008 1:37 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 30 yr old Boglehead neophyte needs some advice
Replies: 8
Views: 2573

After reviewing things, I wanted to try to sum up what Laura said and get it out there to read. If Laura or anyone else wants to comment on what they see, have any disagreements, etc.--please don't hesitate, I like the input. Recommendations: 1. Stop extra mortgage money and put into Roth 2. Sell PG in taxable account and put in Roth--or maybe mortgage 3. Sell individual stocks 4. sell one bond in HIS Roth 5. Get rid of Spiders in HER Roth 6. Transfer HIS Rollover IRA to Vanguard 7. Rollover His SIMPLE IRA to Vanguard when possible 8. Buy REIT in HIS Roth enough to get to 10% of total portfolio value 9. Get everything in rollover to T.S.M. fund 10. Sell VEU (FTSE World ex/US) and buy Total International Stock Market instead. 10. Do VBINX wi...
by Bob Weir
Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:48 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 30 yr old Boglehead neophyte needs some advice
Replies: 8
Views: 2573

Re: Your Plan

Laura- Thank you so much for your helpful and speedy reply. I don't do this often, but I just might have to print out your reply and scan through it by hand--I'm afraid out of the about 12 pieces of advice I might miss something! As I have noticed before, you do great work here and I am much appreciative. One thing I have a question about: Can you go ahead and move your SIMPLE IRA and your rollover IRA into Vanguard today? This would allow you to merge these two different accounts and increase the percentage of funds held in this one account. I can absolutely do that with my rollover IRA--why didn't I think of that before? :) But my SIMPLE was opened less than 2 years ago and so I would have to transfer this to a SIMPLE with Vanguard. My un...
by Bob Weir
Mon Jun 09, 2008 10:21 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 30 yr old Boglehead neophyte needs some advice
Replies: 8
Views: 2573

Lincoln wrote:given your screen name i'd guess your a deadhead and a boglehead? i'll leave the advice to the others. keep on truckin...
Good assumption!

Just picked up the Closing of Winterland 4 CD show recently, it was really pretty sweet. If you're a fan.
by Bob Weir
Mon Jun 09, 2008 9:42 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 30 yr old Boglehead neophyte needs some advice
Replies: 8
Views: 2573

30 yr old Boglehead neophyte needs some advice

Thank you all in advance. Just wanted some feedback-any and all feedback is welcomed and appreciated, even snide comments! The one thing I doubt will significantly change is that I feel my wife and I will be unlikely to sell our current individual stock holdings—we feel they will constitute a smaller and smaller percentage of portfolio going forward, and that with the exception of AAPL (which I enjoy following closely), are pretty stable companies for right now. AAPL will get sold at a massive gain within the IRA when Steve Jobs drops over, we’re currently up about 100x cost basis (a really small purchase!). But just in case you ask, only the GE holdings in my wife’s Roth IRA could be sold for a loss—inside a tax-sheltered account, though…....