Search found 29 matches

by SWBoarder
Fri Jul 06, 2018 11:27 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Finally on a Boglehead plan - appreciate feedback
Replies: 9
Views: 1412

Re: Finally on a Boglehead plan - appreciate feedback

Thx. Have heard of TIPS ladders but need to spend some time reviewing your posts to determine if I am comfortable executing.
by SWBoarder
Fri Jul 06, 2018 6:10 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Finally on a Boglehead plan - appreciate feedback
Replies: 9
Views: 1412

Re: Finally on a Boglehead plan - appreciate feedback

Schwab has some excellent index mutual funds that compete with Vanguard and have lower expense ratios. I'd have no qualms about switching over to funds that are free to puchase within your existing brokerage and offer equal diversification at the same or lower fees. You are right that Schwab fees are lower. However, Schwab Total US SWTSX has lower performance than VTSMX and Schwab SWISX is lower than Vanguard's Total Non-US market VGTSX. There has been discussions in the forum whether tax timing or differences in index basket cause the variances. I determined I am safer staying with a known quantity. I don't know that I would catch if Schwab changed its fee structure or index basket,but I am confident the boglehead forum would have many pa...
by SWBoarder
Fri Jul 06, 2018 5:19 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Finally on a Boglehead plan - appreciate feedback
Replies: 9
Views: 1412

Re: Finally on a Boglehead plan - appreciate feedback

Edited post to note social security.
by SWBoarder
Fri Jul 06, 2018 3:24 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Finally on a Boglehead plan - appreciate feedback
Replies: 9
Views: 1412

Re: Finally on a Boglehead plan - appreciate feedback

Thx for rules IRA penalty info. Did not know. Thinking he will be employed, just take home pay less than our spending unless we stop contributing to 401k. Can't pull from retirement while he's still working without triggering the penalty.

Edited to call "Roth IRA".

For all the Schwab accounts we have access to almost infinite mutual fund/ETF choices - except Vanguard Admiral class as they are available only to Schwab institutional clients. There is enough choice to create a more customized portfolio of funds rather than using the Target 2030 fund. Posted fund choices and expenses.
by SWBoarder
Fri Jul 06, 2018 12:46 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The Three-Fund Portfolio
Replies: 3895
Views: 2424575

Re: The Three-Fund Portfolio

Thank you.
by SWBoarder
Fri Jul 06, 2018 12:44 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Finally on a Boglehead plan - appreciate feedback
Replies: 9
Views: 1412

Finally on a Boglehead plan - appreciate feedback

I am within days of having my family on a Boglehead plan - finally! I aligned my investments and have browbeaten my partner for a 4 fund portfolio for his Roth (60% of our assets). We had that money in a mutual fund timer’s newsletter portfolio which did well (as did the markets) over the last 17 years and he is a loyal guy … but I did not give up this time. We need to implement a simple, justifiable approach which will be easy for me to manage. Monday I am selling the mutual funds in his Roth and moving in to the 4 funds outlined below (pending any adjustments considering feedback). Emergency funds: 60K Debt: None Tax Filing Status: MFJ State of Residence: WA Age: 56 (retired), 57 (working, retirement TBD by him) Desired Asset allocation: ...
by SWBoarder
Thu Jul 05, 2018 10:19 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The Three-Fund Portfolio
Replies: 3895
Views: 2424575

Re: The Three-Fund Portfolio

With retirement and too many fun things to do, I got religion and implemented a 4 fund portfolio.

I bought and read the book and plan to use it as I spread the gospel. I was disappointed it did not have a comprehensive historic return grid for a Vanguard 3 fund portfolio at 10%, 20%, & 30% stock/bond split for Vanguard shares. Page 61 contained some return info but it wasn't footnoted so I had to look up the source article to know it was 80/20 stock/bond split. Is my desired grid posted on Bogleheads somewhere or do I need to produce?
by SWBoarder
Fri Mar 23, 2018 10:57 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Buying 2018 Honda Pilot
Replies: 23
Views: 5078

Re: Buying 2018 Honda Pilot

Adding to the historical Honda perspective. In 2004 we bought a Canadian 2003 Pilot from a WA dealer. Over the years we replaced the transmission and ignition but overall happy with value and 265,000 safe miles. Just caught this model/year's emergent airbag recall in Consumer Report this month. How did I miss this? Actually 4 critical recalls. Here is what can happen when you buy a Canadian model. 1) Entered VIN in Honda USA website and not there 2) Entered VIN in Honda Canada, found vehicle and its 4 recalls 3) Called the local dealer, they said call Honda Canada 4) Called Honda Canada but not answering so sent email and got auto response will reply in 2 days 5) No response so a week later I call and get a live person and they say go to my...
by SWBoarder
Wed Mar 07, 2018 11:36 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Anybody been to Porto? Lisbon? - portugal
Replies: 11
Views: 1904

Re: Porto

FraggleRock wrote: Tue Mar 06, 2018 8:48 pm Stay at https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1168784 (there are 7 units in the building).
Always something useful when I visit the forums! Biking Lisbon to Santiago next month and booked the brown unit for our layover days. Will explore all your recommendations. Sara's page had some helpful vegetarian options.
by SWBoarder
Thu Jan 18, 2018 3:58 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Will/Estate question first child
Replies: 16
Views: 1439

Re: Will/Estate question first child

We paid for lawyer-created wills at 3 junctions 1) birth of first child 2) kids in college, realized needed young adult trusts/guardians to place restrictions on inherited money (if we died together) 3) one kid not thriving so modified trust wording to give guardian more power to set requirements to access money If you paid a lawyer and thought ahead, you could take care of 1 and 2 together. When creating will 3, we identified a lawyer that left the powerhouse firm and set up a will shop. For $1,000 the language was boilerplate "will for parents with kid making poor choices" and was fine for a situation where we both were dead! It would be hard to wrap your head around ever needing it with a newborn. The biggest surprise for us wa...
by SWBoarder
Wed Jan 10, 2018 8:18 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best Sources to Buy Prescriptions Out of Pocket
Replies: 49
Views: 5544

Re: Best Sources to Buy Prescriptions Out of Pocket

My physician gave me the name of this Canadian pharmacy and it has worked out well for a variety of drugs.
https://www.northwestpharmacy.com/

It is a murky world. Recently I went through 3 copies of a prescription. I initially filled it at my local Costco using my insurance, then did some research and found out Costco Online 90 day supply cash price was a better deal, then later found out the Canadian price was significant savings.
by SWBoarder
Thu Oct 26, 2017 3:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Credit card companies forgiving debt after death?
Replies: 48
Views: 14077

Re: Credit card companies forgiving debt after death?

I really learned from this discussion. I had not thought through secured versus unsecured debt. Most of all from searching on the web I had no idea this ever happened and wanted to know if anyone shared this experience.

I looked up probate law in WA and if the estate is worth less than $100K, it is exempt. Since there are no assets in his name, this is one worry the widow won't have.
by SWBoarder
Thu Oct 26, 2017 3:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Credit card companies forgiving debt after death?
Replies: 48
Views: 14077

Re: Credit card companies forgiving debt after death?

letsgobobby wrote: Tue Oct 24, 2017 3:45 pm How was wife able to 'transfer' truck and boat titles from husband to herself? Typically that occurs after probate, the purpose of probate being a chance to file claims against the estate.
When you are liked in a small town, people help you out. I gave her marching orders to generate cash and selling the truck was the best option. (Not much market for the boat till Spring.) She needs to pay off the mortuary and if possible the car loan as without his pensions she has negative cash flow.
by SWBoarder
Tue Oct 24, 2017 12:52 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Credit card companies forgiving debt after death?
Replies: 48
Views: 14077

Credit card companies forgiving debt after death?

This month I created a financial action plan for someone after a husband’s death. He died with 8 credit cards with $30K total balances plus medical bills. The wife has a house with $20K in equity, a car with a big loan, a mortuary bill, and $40K in retirement assets. The husband had a truck and boat. We were able to transfer the titles to the wife (an advantage of living in small town) and she has people selling them to generate cash. The Discover card had a $15K balance but we found it had a payment protection plan (costing about 10% of the balance annually) which will cause the loan to be forgiven. Maybe the only instance in history where one of these overpriced plans was beneficial? I had her pricing a credit card consolidation and a sec...
by SWBoarder
Tue Oct 24, 2017 11:30 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Can one have too much money in tax-deferred
Replies: 128
Views: 17185

Re: Can one have too much money in tax-deferred

We are three years from retirement with 70% Roth, 20% tax deferred and 10% taxable.

I overshot the mark on Roths from both an enjoy life today and projected tax rate standpoint. My family was running away from IRS debt and I veered in the opposite direction. When we changed jobs, I rolled the money into a Roth and used our cash to pay taxes.

I would feel better with more accessible money now and will have to pull a chunk when we retire at 60 for a house move and planned splurge. The Roth will be a legacy vehicle but we will be actively spending ours down which we would not if I had left more funds accessible.
by SWBoarder
Wed Jul 19, 2017 9:23 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: A week in Iceland
Replies: 28
Views: 3446

Re: A week in Iceland

From reading blogs, TripAdvisor and Moon guide, my impression is the scenery is truly is outstanding but too much car time and the expense can put a damper on a trip. This is my plan for Snaefellsnes Peninsula/Reykavik 3 day layover tour late next month. We like getting away from the crowds so we aren't doing the classics. Day 1 – Buy duty free beers, pick up Happy Camper, groceries at Bonus, hike Mt Esja or Mt Akrafjal, start Magical Snaefellsnes tour from guidetoiceland.is, camp at Lysuholl to enjoy the pool and bar Iceland beer guide https://www.ratebeer.com/beer/borg-ulfur-ulfur-double-ipa-nr-17/210166/ driving guide https://guidetoiceland.is/connect-with-locals/regina/the-magical-snaefellsnes-peninsula Day 2 – Continue Magical tour, vi...
by SWBoarder
Tue Jul 18, 2017 6:37 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Your Charitable giving – do you have definitions and guidelines?
Replies: 2
Views: 577

Your Charitable giving – do you have definitions and guidelines?

For a long time we tithed our salaries between church and a cast of charities. With kids tuition payments behind us, we are developing a methodology to make our giving more thoughtful and impactful. Here is where we are today. It would be helpful to hear others’ approaches. Define income – 1040 gross income + non-taxable retirement Define donation – Cash or securities. For this purpose we don’t include donations of used goods, volunteer hours or miles. They are good, but they don’t keep the lights on. Define Charity – We target tax deductible charities where a minimum of 80% of receipts go for program services. We give to some organizations that don’t have tax-deductible status where we are confident the money is being appropriately utilize...
by SWBoarder
Tue Jul 18, 2017 10:14 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Claim SIL as Dependent
Replies: 7
Views: 1522

Re: Claim SIL as Dependent

In addition to the IRS tool https://www.irs.gov/uac/who-can-i-claim-as-a-dependent, there is also a form. https://apps.irs.gov/app/vita/content/globalmedia/teacher/worksheet_for_determining_support_4012.pdf In completing this form there is leeway to determine the person qualifies, but she must have met the requirement that gross income can’t be greater than $4,050 (2016). In calculating gross income 1) If disabled can exclude income from sheltered workshop. 2) Don’t include Social Security (SS) unless married and filing separately, lived with spouse at any time during the tax year or if half the SS benefits plus their other gross income and tax exempt interest is more than $25K 3) Medicare not income 4) State assistance (food stamps, SSI, w...
by SWBoarder
Tue Jun 27, 2017 10:58 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: swimming goggles
Replies: 29
Views: 3749

Re: swimming goggles

It depends on individual facial geometry, but the Barracuda Wire Mask works well for me. More expensive but has the added advantage of fitting over the face so you don't leave the pool with owl-eyes.
by SWBoarder
Mon Jun 26, 2017 4:42 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Calculating mutual fund returns for non-standard dates?
Replies: 5
Views: 864

Re: Calculating mutual fund returns for non-standard dates?

I appreciate the forum and the insights of it educated posters. It can feel evangelical but it is a great place to learn. My plan is to use our results to bring my partner around. After Investech/Stack Financial Management (SFM) missed the dot-com gains, it has done well during subsequent downturns with its sector distribution/mild market timing. I am analyzing returns and have created dashboards to illustrate how our different approaches perform against market indices and believe that is the best argument for change. Yes, Jim Stack is raking in the cash. With a billion+ under Stack Financial Management (SFM) and less than 20 employees, I am sure they are paying cash for their new headquarters. The newsletter is just gravy. You are right ab...
by SWBoarder
Sun Jun 25, 2017 3:16 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Calculating mutual fund returns for non-standard dates?
Replies: 5
Views: 864

Re: Calculating mutual fund returns for non-standard dates?

Thanks. I was not finding the right tool.
Hard to make an argument to discredit them without a data set of their portfolio price over time.
by SWBoarder
Sun Jun 25, 2017 11:13 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Calculating mutual fund returns for non-standard dates?
Replies: 5
Views: 864

Calculating mutual fund returns for non-standard dates?

I use a Merriman Vanguard portfolio but my partner still follows a market timing investment newsletter. The June newsletter contained the statement "While the InvesTech Model Portfolio didn't outperform the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund in the bull markets, our ability to manage and reduce risk provided a long term return which more than doubled that of the Vanguard index fund." When asked to clarify they responded "The month-end data used in the example was for the InvesTech Research Model Portfolio and for the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund (VTSMX). The total annualized returns for these two series are 8.31% for the InvesTech Model Portfolio and 5.11% for VTSMX, between 3/31/00 and 5/31/17. The reason that ...
by SWBoarder
Tue Feb 07, 2017 8:58 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Market timing success?
Replies: 25
Views: 4866

Re: Market timing success?

For fun. here are Stack results 12/31/2016

Stack Financial Management Capital Appreciation Portfolio (SFM) - annual fee 1.2% to .75% depending on assets under management, portfolio is 20 or so stocks/mutual funds + cash

Investech newsletter subscription newsletter, costs about $150 annually, EFT/cash portfolio with hotline updates throughout the year

Years 1 10
SFM 5.1%, 6.8% (net of fees and including dividends)
Investech 6.7%
VTSMX 12.53, 7.09% (10 year as of 2/6/17)
by SWBoarder
Tue Jan 31, 2017 12:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Dental insurance, dental plans or pay as you go?
Replies: 43
Views: 8860

Re: Dental insurance, dental plans or pay as you go?

Our COBRA extension for a generous dental plan ended 2016. Because our quality dentist was expensive and offered only a 5% cash discount, it was cheaper to get insurance to have a negotiated rate rather than pay 95% of list price. After comparing dental plans, I bought AARP’s Delta Dental administered by United Healthcare. I strongly recommend NOT using them. They denied coverage initially then each of the claims requiring a significant time investment from the office staff and me. They have significant process issues. When evaluating dental plans and dentists, know whether your cleaning appointments are being charged as D4910 Periodontal Maintenance or D1110 regular cleaning. There is a significant price difference ($255 versus $175 list a...
by SWBoarder
Fri Jul 22, 2016 3:34 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Evaluating our investing performance - what indices and format?
Replies: 5
Views: 663

Re: Evaluating our investing performance - what indices and format?

Thx. I will learn from madsinger and hone my draft report format. News reports often reference market indexes like S&P500 so I want that as one of my benchmarks. I will use an ETF version to ensure it includes reinvested dividends. While our entire portfolio is generally 70/30, the investments are not identical in each account. We each have our own money and made some individual choices. I want to hold us accountable and honest in how each philosophy is performing by reporting historical performance and comparing to benchmarks. I have other reports where I straight track % we have saved toward our $ goal and whether we are advancing toward it at my predicted rate (6% - a conservative goal but I like to forecast low and over-perform plus...
by SWBoarder
Fri Jul 22, 2016 1:03 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Evaluating our investing performance - what indices and format?
Replies: 5
Views: 663

Evaluating our investing performance - what indices and format?

I have assumed responsibility for our investments and want to track and illustrate their performance versus the markets. I plan to update it monthly - that may seem often but it is keeps me comfortable.

We have a six retirement portfolios and one taxable investment account, mostly with Schwab. We won't be withdrawing from the retirement accounts for 5+ years so fortunately I don't have to factor in withdrawals yet.

1) are there existing posts showing other's reporting/tracking formats?
2) what are the standard indexes people compare to and are their websites to get historical performance data for them easily?

Any suggestions appreciated.
by SWBoarder
Fri Jul 22, 2016 12:49 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: medical alert bracelet or something
Replies: 8
Views: 974

Re: medical alert bracelet or something

There are always discount codes for RoadID on sites like retailmenot.com.

We have a family member with short term memory issues and he wears a RoadID with his name, DOB and 4 phone numbers. We are fortunate that he has shown it to people and asked them to call us when he was disoriented in town.
by SWBoarder
Sun May 01, 2016 1:10 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Market timing success?
Replies: 25
Views: 4866

Re: Market timing success?

Stack is more equity than cash.
by SWBoarder
Sat Apr 30, 2016 5:12 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Market timing success?
Replies: 25
Views: 4866

Re: Market timing success?

Travel1013, did you elect to utilize the InvesTech newsletter model? I am executing an overdue financial evaluation which included looking at InvesTech. We utilize another Stack product, Stack Financial Management (SFM), for portolio management services for a tax-advantaged fund. SFM uses mostly individual stocks and cash, while the InvesTech newsletter model fund is predominately ETFs. Stack’s portfolio statements don’t contain annualized historic returns (and Schwab blocks this online performance features for advisor funds), but Stack provided upon request. InvesTech newsletters include only select performance stats so I used Hulbert Financial Digest (RIP). Years 1, 5, 10, 15 SFM Managed Portfolio -1.75%, 7.95%, 6.73%, 7.59% Investech mod...