Search found 119 matches
- Mon Mar 26, 2018 3:39 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Parking Business Cash - WHERE?
- Replies: 21
- Views: 2571
Re: Parking Business Cash - WHERE?
Look into opening brokerage account (Fidelity/Schwab etc) for business which will increase number of options that you have. What options exactly? Not looking to buy into index funds, stocks or bonds. The primary goal is keeping principal while not eroding to inflation. So very little, if non-exista...
- Fri Mar 16, 2018 1:18 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Parking Business Cash - WHERE?
- Replies: 21
- Views: 2571
Re: Parking Business Cash - WHERE?
Look into opening brokerage account (Fidelity/Schwab etc) for business which will increase number of options that you have.
- Fri Mar 09, 2018 1:51 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: CRISPR Cas9 [Molecular biology - Targeted genome editing]
- Replies: 14
- Views: 1812
Re: CRISPR Cas9 [Molecular biology - Targeted genome editing]
There was article in WSJ recently regarding China using this technology bypassing normal laws that prohibits quick adoption in US.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-unha ... 1516562360
https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-unha ... 1516562360
- Thu Nov 23, 2017 7:40 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Best Basic DESKTOP?
- Replies: 77
- Views: 6242
Re: Best Basic DESKTOP?
You can get "retired" XEON servers from eBay for about 200 with minimum 500 GB hard drive and 8 to 12 GB memory. They are quad processors workhorse.
- Sat Nov 18, 2017 9:16 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Charge card, what info embedded in chip?
- Replies: 9
- Views: 989
Re: Charge card, what info embedded in chip?
So... just how much background, general personal ID info is contained in those chips? Chip provides encryption of credit card data (Doesn't store personal details). Data is encrypted using Key/Value pair and decrypted at Credit Card Company end. This additional security layer prevents hacking of da...
- Sat Nov 18, 2017 5:35 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Southeast Asia trip - Cash handling
- Replies: 19
- Views: 1526
Re: Southeast Asia trip - Cash handling
I have always found plenty of ATMs, and use (2) credit and (2) ATM cards... no fees in last 30 yrs traveling / living as expat in SE Asia. I make it a point to keep integrated in local culture than to use ‘western hotels / food / tourist things’. I keep very little cash on hand If I have to book lo...
- Sat Nov 18, 2017 1:42 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Southeast Asia trip - Cash handling
- Replies: 19
- Views: 1526
Southeast Asia trip - Cash handling
Young family member is planning to travel Southeast Asian countries (Vietnam, Hong Kong, Malaysia etc) for six weeks as an independent traveler with a friend. What's the recommendation for taking/handling cash? He will be carrying Mastercard credit card (Barclays World) with no foreign transaction f...
- Sun Nov 12, 2017 9:47 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Getting a home mortgage without spouse?
- Replies: 43
- Views: 3081
Re: Getting a home mortgage without spouse?
My wife and I are planning to buy a home in the next several (let's say 1-4) years, planning to put 20% down. My FICO is quite good (850 per freecreditscore.com which is owned by Experian), but hers is around 712 (she is dinged for (i) credit history length as she only came to this country for grad...
- Wed Sep 27, 2017 11:09 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: I'm shocked! [Mother 100% in bonds and annuities]
- Replies: 67
- Views: 7337
Re: I'm shocked!
Couple of points from experience dealing with older family member. 1) Prepare list of accounts. Memory tends to fade as person ages. 2) Consolidate to one or two accounts. It will be easier for everyone to keep track of it. 3) Talk to your mom about what do with money later on. Even though, she may ...
- Tue Sep 26, 2017 3:04 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Becoming a Landlord: My Experiences
- Replies: 136
- Views: 26136
Re: Becoming a Landlord: My Experiences
My experience was that it was profitable, but not enough to justify the headaches. I think the biggest mistake people make is thinking it just sort of runs on autopilot and you get automatic income like a dividend without any work. If you have a demanding job where you work late hours, I would reco...
- Tue Sep 26, 2017 2:21 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Becoming a Landlord: My Experiences
- Replies: 136
- Views: 26136
Re: Becoming a Landlord: My Experiences
Bogleheads: Hi, Can anyone give a ballpark figure (with whatever qualifications necessary to make the figure mean something -- like contracting all repair work out) as the actual profit one can expect from a rental? Perhaps as a fraction of the current-market value of the house? If I rent out a 200...
- Tue Sep 26, 2017 2:15 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Becoming a Landlord: My Experiences
- Replies: 136
- Views: 26136
Re: Becoming a Landlord: My Experiences
Couple of additional points. -Buy property only in A or A- area. Don't ever buy property in C area. You may get great cap rate with C area but you may get great headache with that. When market improves, A area property will bring you great returns. -Visit properties when you are in the area (even dr...
- Tue Sep 26, 2017 2:12 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Becoming a Landlord: My Experiences
- Replies: 136
- Views: 26136
Re: Becoming a Landlord: My Experiences
I still remember reading a book about landlording, years ago, in which the writer said that one thing she did when evaluating prospective tenants was to look at the inside of their car. She didn't place much emphasis on whether it was a recent-model car or an old car, but she wanted to see how the ...
- Tue Jul 11, 2017 3:31 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Outside Pittsburgh short trip ideas
- Replies: 36
- Views: 2790
Outside Pittsburgh short trip ideas
We will be in Pittsburgh during September long weekend (Friday till Monday). Any suggestions on trip ideas outside Pittsburgh city? We have already done site seeing within City earlier. So, we prefer to explore surrounding region. Everyone in the group is adult (no kids). We prefer not to drive more...
- Thu Jul 06, 2017 11:34 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Landlording....
- Replies: 12
- Views: 1848
Re: Landlording....
Offer to pay 1/2 to one month rent as courtesy and establish move-out date. This is the best way to handle eviction. Cost of eviction including lawyer fee, court fee, unpaid rent can reach several thousand dollars and you may be responsible for cleaning the place after they leave as they have no mot...
- Thu Jun 08, 2017 12:30 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: High Income Earner Humbly Seeks Advice
- Replies: 81
- Views: 16326
Re: High Income Earner Humbly Seeks Advice
An old article you may want to research. (You are already doing Pension plan from the article).
https://www.forbes.com/sites/ashleaebel ... 31317a68be
https://www.forbes.com/sites/ashleaebel ... 31317a68be
- Thu Apr 20, 2017 12:10 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Moving from Chicago NW suburbs to NJ/NY area
- Replies: 31
- Views: 3060
Re: Moving from Chicago NW suburbs to NJ/NY area
So far my observation is that housing in west windsor and plainsboro is quite expensive possibly due to school ratings. Places like lawrenceville,east windosr etc are cheaper. Montgomary area has some low prices as well and school ratings are good as well. Any suggestions on good high schools in pr...
- Mon Apr 10, 2017 10:57 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Setting up home office/network question
- Replies: 18
- Views: 1495
Re: Setting up home office/network question
Best option would be power-line adapter which will provide decent permanent connectivity.
You can research your options at
https://www.cnet.com/topics/networking/ ... -adapters/
You can research your options at
https://www.cnet.com/topics/networking/ ... -adapters/
- Sat Mar 18, 2017 1:04 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: How Bad was 2008, really?
- Replies: 224
- Views: 22012
Re: How Bad was 2008, really?
We had zero trust on Wall Street, reputable firms could not borrow money at ANY price, with the exception of Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley wound up selling a 20% equity stake to the Japanese. Even Goldman had trouble and paid premium to Buffett to shore it up. Which is cheaper? Premium or Equity? I...
- Fri Mar 17, 2017 3:03 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: How Bad was 2008, really?
- Replies: 224
- Views: 22012
Re: How Bad was 2008, really?
Even Goldman had trouble and paid premium to Buffett to shore it up.Grt2bOutdoors wrote:We had zero trust on Wall Street, reputable firms could not borrow money at ANY price, with the exception of Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley wound up selling a 20% equity stake to the Japanese.
- Mon Mar 13, 2017 11:04 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: gratuitous homeownership items
- Replies: 218
- Views: 22581
Re: gratuitous homeownership items
Jacuzzi bathtub. It takes 10 mins. to fill up and no one in the family wants to wait that long. Formal dining table and china cabinets We never used that for formal dining. It ended up becoming study table for our son. Dish washer Spouse doesn't like to collect dirty dishes and doesn't want to run ...
- Sun Mar 05, 2017 8:45 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: 529- should I stop contributing?
- Replies: 46
- Views: 6613
Re: 529- should I stop contributing?
Your kid might take AP classes and can/may finish school in 3 to 3 1/2 years. So even with 60k school, you are funded well. I would continue for younger one as other suggested till you reach 200k and move contribution to other form of investment (taxable etc.)
- Tue Feb 07, 2017 3:47 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: College kids driving cars (to live off campus)
- Replies: 44
- Views: 3488
Re: College kids driving cars (to live off campus)
Views from parent whose kid is living off campus for almost a year with car. -Bike is necessary (except winter) mode of transportation on campus. -Car is mainly being used for grocery, restaurants and gym. -Include cost of parking in your calculation. We are paying $90/month. -Don't buy really old/c...
- Thu Feb 02, 2017 4:45 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Milestone and gotta tell someone
- Replies: 61
- Views: 7083
Re: Milestone and gotta tell someone
Congratulations.
Paid off house may be a lawsuit magnate. Put maximum line of credit on it.
Paid off house may be a lawsuit magnate. Put maximum line of credit on it.
- Tue Jan 10, 2017 5:17 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Optimum cable and 2nd modem?
- Replies: 27
- Views: 3913
Re: Optimum cable and 2nd modem?
Simple solution may be getting decent powerline adapter. It is just plug & play.
https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Powerlin ... apter&th=1
https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Powerlin ... apter&th=1
- Fri Jan 06, 2017 12:09 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Car for Teen next year...new vs used?
- Replies: 50
- Views: 4197
Re: Car for Teen next year...new vs used?
You have indicated that you don't want rental but you may want to look at Hertz Rent2Buy program. Hertz has Camry as one of their primary vehicle and you should be able to get decent choice. We went through similar issue early last year for our son and ended up purchasing Camry SE from Hertz. Discou...
- Tue Jan 03, 2017 3:36 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: My niece got accepted to Georgetown and we may have to pay for it.
- Replies: 58
- Views: 7782
Re: My niece got accepted to Georgetown and we may have to pay for it.
She must have failed to apply. She is driving the boat on this one, her parents are out of their league here. Me too actually- it's been awhile and i didn't apply for financial aid back then. This was a long shot (although not surprising given her academic record) and we are still reeling from the ...
- Wed Nov 09, 2016 8:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Create a rental lease
- Replies: 4
- Views: 496
Re: Create a rental lease
Also, you can review lease from local apartment complexes in your state. That will give more details on what should lease contain compare to lawyer or online. Many time lawyer also make lease from their templates and may not cover everything that you want.
- Tue Oct 18, 2016 10:36 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: New small business - pre-tax options
- Replies: 5
- Views: 523
Re: New small business - pre-tax options
I current work for a MegaCorp making enough income to fully fund my 401k as well both my and my wife's ROTH as well as a small amount of taxable savings (most extra income is currently working to pay down debt). My wife will be finishing school at the end of the year and is in the process of gettin...
- Tue Oct 04, 2016 10:46 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Desktop vs. Laptop Computer
- Replies: 56
- Views: 5516
Re: Desktop vs. Laptop Computer
If it is only home use, get desktop with 2 monitors. If you are comfortable buying used one, check eBay for XEON based desktop (essentially these are servers). XEON is equivalent to i7 in performance and price for used XEON is much cheaper than used i7 chips. You can get incredible rig for around 20...
- Tue Sep 27, 2016 3:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Spouse concerned about buying luxury SUV
- Replies: 66
- Views: 10141
Re: Spouse concerned about buying luxury SUV
So with the kids driving their own cars, my first question is why do you think you need an SUV? If you're a contractor moving equipment all the time, I'd think you'd own a work truck and utility trailer. If you're just worried that you can't move 2x4's from Home Depot, rent their truck or buy a che...
- Tue Sep 27, 2016 2:03 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Spouse concerned about buying luxury SUV
- Replies: 66
- Views: 10141
Spouse concerned about buying luxury SUV
Spouse's Honda Odyssey died last week due to transmission issues (Around 203k miles) and we are in the market for new SUV. Kids are driving their own cars and we aren't considering minivans anymore. We are only considering Japanese SUVs. If it helps, other cars are Accord and Camry . We test drove a...
- Fri Sep 16, 2016 4:11 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Tenant wants to leave on short notice. Can they?
- Replies: 45
- Views: 5066
Re: Tenant wants to leave on short notice. Can they?
Pick up the phone and talk to them. I have been into similar situations earlier. It is better that you talk and sort out the move out date. Best thing is to do as follow. 1) Finalize the move out date 2) Make sure apartment/condo is clean 3) You will need to repaint it. If they can provide you early...
- Fri Sep 09, 2016 3:25 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Gas station - good business?
- Replies: 69
- Views: 6787
Re: Gas station - good business?
Family members are in gas station business. Avg. margin is 7 to 10 cents/gallon. Money is in associated store and real money is car wash. How's the weather in this particular area? If it is warm year around, car wash can generate 7 figure + easily and margins are around 40 to 60% net on car wash bus...
- Fri Sep 09, 2016 3:04 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Enterprise software sales process - PO, Quote, Invoice etc
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1844
Re: Enterprise software sales process - PO, Quote, Invoice etc
Is it hosted software or deployed at the client's location? If it is hosted, will client pay monthly fee in addition to support fee? Who will own intellectual property of software? I assume you want to if you want to sell it to others. Regarding support, use email address instead of phone support. ...
- Thu Sep 08, 2016 12:56 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Enterprise software sales process - PO, Quote, Invoice etc
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1844
Re: Enterprise software sales process - PO, Quote, Invoice etc
Is it hosted software or deployed at the client's location? If it is hosted, will client pay monthly fee in addition to support fee? Who will own intellectual property of software? I assume you want to if you want to sell it to others. Regarding support, use email address instead of phone support. Y...
- Wed Sep 07, 2016 11:21 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Is the landlord legaly required to repaint the rental unit while the tenant living there?
- Replies: 16
- Views: 3467
Re: Is the landlord legaly required to repaint the rental unit while the tenant living there?
We own multiple properties. From experience - Use only antique white (or Navajo White) paint on the wall. - Don't allow tenant to paint. Many properties have wood floors and paint on the floor as well as paint on door knobs etc is nightmare to remove. Only hire professionals to paint. - Don't paint ...
- Mon Jul 25, 2016 10:52 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Check Fraud
- Replies: 26
- Views: 3809
Re: Check Fraud
It has happened to our business payroll account. Initial check appeared with old bank name (Bank had changed names 4 - 5 years back) with different branch address than ours and signature not matching to our account. Checks were being deposited to Chase Bank to cash out. I caught first day check when...
- Fri Jul 22, 2016 3:36 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Visiting Acadia National Park - Tips?
- Replies: 22
- Views: 2203
Re: Visiting Acadia National Park - Tips?
7 days may be long for Acadia. You may want to either combine with Nova Scotia Ferry trip or White Mountain (little bit drive).
- Wed Jul 20, 2016 2:23 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Evicting a tenant-Hire lawyer?
- Replies: 200
- Views: 26859
Re: Evicting a tenant-Hire lawyer?
Interesting read. I had similar experience with a long time tenant who went through divorce (possibly midlife crisis). Husband left and wife wouldn't leave. I had offered money and she wouldn't take it. She left after taking to court. She left lots of stuff behind which I ended up giving free on cra...
- Tue Jun 28, 2016 9:38 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Cost of SIM card
- Replies: 17
- Views: 1757
Re: Cost of SIM card
T-Mobile.criticalmass wrote:Which provider?NYGiantsFan wrote:Recently, I had to activate another line with a national provider.
As per their policy, SIM Card is $20. Same SIM card can be bought on Amazon and Best-buy for less than $5.
- Mon Jun 13, 2016 1:12 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Cost of SIM card
- Replies: 17
- Views: 1757
Cost of SIM card
Recently, I had to activate another line with a national provider. As per their policy, SIM Card is $20. Same SIM card can be bought on Amazon and Best-buy for less than $5. Now a days many of new smart phones starts at $20-$25 and at the same time cost of SIM card is same as low end smart phones !!
- Thu Jun 09, 2016 2:22 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Discount for all cash offer [on house]
- Replies: 40
- Views: 4041
Re: Discount for all cash offer [on house]
I have been buying rental for cash many years. I have always received discounts for the properties. Minimum discount has been 10% and largest has been 20%. Main difference is that you indicate 30 days (or 15 days closing). When going through bank, there is no guarantee for 30 days closing. With cash...
- Thu Jun 09, 2016 2:09 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: High Earners - What's Your Profession?
- Replies: 613
- Views: 97552
Re: High Earners - What's Your Profession?
Police Sergeant for a large metropolitan PD. With overtime doing approximately $160k. Curious if you live in a HCOL area. My best friend is a captain for a small county (100k residents maybe), head if Swat and always works extra jobs. Probably makes a little more than 1/3 of what you make. The one ...
- Fri May 20, 2016 3:24 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Private equity investment
- Replies: 40
- Views: 4485
Re: Private equity investment
You guys make PE sound like the worst investment ever. Maybe I am better off putting the money elsewhere. We'll see what shakes out at the meeting. BTW, this is not a local business. It's a very small software company creating groundbreaking stuff. I'm a software guy and I have 15 years experience ...
- Fri May 20, 2016 11:42 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Acting like a boss!
- Replies: 21
- Views: 2257
Acting like a boss!
My young one (high school junior) has complained to my significant other that I am acting like as boss in the home.
I manage large team at work. Some of my habits may have come due to work and may have become second nature.
Has any one experienced something similar? How do avoid it?
I manage large team at work. Some of my habits may have come due to work and may have become second nature.
Has any one experienced something similar? How do avoid it?
- Wed May 11, 2016 2:42 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: 30 minute commute?
- Replies: 80
- Views: 12177
Re: 30 minute commute?
I stopped complaining about my commute when co-worker told me that he is commuting from Poconos, PA to Manhattan everyday.
http://martztrailways.com/departures-from-new-york/
Look up Wall St to Poconos, PA commute time
http://martztrailways.com/departures-from-new-york/
Look up Wall St to Poconos, PA commute time

- Mon Apr 25, 2016 5:12 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Question for the Bogleheads Millionaires
- Replies: 372
- Views: 67441
Re: Question for the Bogleheads Millionaires
My wife saves money by wearing the clothes her 14 year old has out grown. She's been doing it a couple of years now. I don't understand why she does that. It confusing to me when I see a cute lady and feel attracted but then I recognize the clothes and suddenly assume it's my son and it's really ju...
- Thu Apr 14, 2016 8:50 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Adding a large bedroom to existing house
- Replies: 12
- Views: 1607
Re: Adding a large bedroom to existing house
You may want to look at adding bathroom to the bedroom. We did it in 2006. Cost was about $100/SQ FT to add 2 bedrooms on the top of the existing garage and living room. We also added bathroom (which bumped up the cost to around $120/SQ FT as we did high end bathroom). As others suggested, you will ...
- Wed Apr 06, 2016 12:05 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: S Corporation retirement plan selection
- Replies: 3
- Views: 437
Re: S Corporation retirement plan selection
Definitely solo 401k. You can make a greater contributions on lower incomes with a solo 401k. Thanks for the insight. Is it possible to open more than one solo 401k? I have 2 separate corporations (1 S and 1 LLC). In LLC, we have SEP IRA set up but considering better contribution ratio, I am thinki...