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I am thinking of appointing Schwab Trust Services as an alternate successor trustee for my personal revocable Trust. This is in the event my SO predeceases me. I have spoken with Schwab and gotten some questions answered about the logistics. They can serve as successor Trustee in the event of my de...

Not to completely derail the thread, but we're working through the same thing in our family. In addition to the questions that the OP has put forward, one of the things we're struggling with is who to name as a trustee. While we have agreed on a guardian for the kids, that person has zero experienc...

I just had an eye exam and my new prescription passes the limit of the lenses that Costco can make. I have been getting my glasses from Costco for several years. And if if I can, I don't want to contribute to that big monopoly company of glasses. So, I have been doing quite a lot of reading to purch...

We used the Costco Citi Card overseas in December and there were no foreign transaction fees. Perhaps they aren't broken down separately, in which case you would just see a really bad exchange rate for each transaction, and you might not know any better unless you calculate it yourself. Check your ...

HikerNC wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 11, 2018 9:37 pm

If your portfolio is 100% stocks and you're over 50 years old, I suggest you watch this PBS Frontline special from 2013:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3htnbwFgoM

Thank you so much for sharing the link. Although I read a few books recommended on this site, it is still very helpful.

[Big sigh] I don't know why I didn't find this thread when I searched about Vangard, but I just opened a Vanguard Roth IRA account, although I already have one with TDAmeritrade. I was thinking that it won't cost me to buy Vanguard's mutual funds. Not only I encountered several problems just to open...

And the quarterly 5 basis points explain the first $2.07 charge. I have $4158.17 in Vangard 500. But why is the fee charged twice? For example, Vangard 500 Index Admiral, Sale of shares, Custodial management fee ($2.07) Vangard 500 Index Admiral, Cash Disbursement, Custodial management fee ($2.07) ...

Thank you very much for providing me the information. That reminds me to look into my files. I found the following passage: "Beginning April 1, 2017, any 12b-1 fees and sub transfer agency fees received during each calendar quarter will be allocated to your investment account prior to the end of eac...

I just invested my HSA money this year. I keep $4000 in the regular HSA account, and invest the rest. My employer's default HSA account is with Fifth Third bank. Today I received my quarterly statement, and there are 10 fees along with 5/3's account management fee ($2). For example, Vangard 500 Inde...

I have been a Prime member for several years. When we need something, like a swim cap or a swim google b/c my kid lost or destroy hers on a weekday, and I don't have to drive to a store, pay the retail price, which is typically higher than that on Amazon, and still can get to bed early enough to get...

I used my Costco Visa for domestic flights purchases to earn the cash back. Once I purchased an airline ticket for my mom flying from a foreign country to USA, and although I booked it through my US location and website, the airline charged me of the foreign currency of the departure location. I did...

Since I have and will continue to max out my Roth and start 457, I feel it is more diversified to not put all my savings under the market's mercy. My other savings can help provide a nice cushion when I retire. My biggest fear is that I don't trust whoever is running the pension, so for that I'm ho...

Thank you all so much for your time, information and suggestions. After a lot of thinking, I finally decided to switch to DB. The reasons being that it has a pretty nice disability benefits built in that I'm already qualified for, survivor benefits and a fixed income I can expect once I retire. My h...

Defined Contribution: The employer contributes 14%, employee contributes 13%, but only 9.5% of the employer contribution gets into the member's Defined Contribution account. 4.5% is being used to fund the liabilities of the defined benefits plan. Frugal , you're still missing the point , it's 14%EE...

OP don't know where you revealed that you were in the Ohio STRS as another poster seemed to be aware of but if that's the case I think you meant 14% EE and 9.5% ER , total 23.5% going into a DC account . Yes, I'm in Ohio STRS. You're right about the percentage. I forgot to count this year's increas...

Easy for me. If there have been problems and underfunding possibilities, I would go defined contribution. Better to know it's your money than rely on something you may never get. +1. Certainly sounds like this pension plan is seriously underfunded. It's likely only a matter of time until they take ...

OP, my wife is a teacher in Ohio and she is in the STRS Ohio DB plan. I know it fairly well. With that, I want to point a few things out ... 1) The DB employee contribution is actually 14%, not 13%. It was originally 10% and then the 2012 changes increased it by 1% each year until it hit 14% at the...

bertilak wrote:Does the company provide a counselor/advisor to help make this decision?

Yes, and I have gone to them to ask questions, but found them to be not very helpful. What they shared with me is what I learned from reading the booklets.

My understanding of the disability benefits is not tied to SS. I'm not sure but I think the disability benefit is quite nice. It says "A monthly disability retirement benefit is based on a percentage (limited to 75% and no less than 30%) of a member's FAS. The percentage is determined by multiplying...

You can use a calculator on the social security website to estimate your SS benefits. Even better, you can create an account and see exactly what they have on record for you for SS contributions and, hence, your eventual benefit. This will eliminate one of the unknowns in your considerations. Thank...

A few other questions: - what spousal benefit is available under the DB scheme, and is it something that would be valuable? ie is your partner (if any) be in a situation where a survivor benefit would be useful (due to low income, lack of pension arrangements, ill health or unemployment, etc.) My p...

I understand this topic has been discussed in various personal scenarios. I have tried to search for them and read them carefully. My situation is a bit different and would love to get your take on this topic. I'm 44, female, at the start of my current job, I selected the defined contribution plan. ...