Search found 639 matches

by invst65
Sat Aug 25, 2018 12:26 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: My 2017 CRV is a victim of the dreaded oil gas-dilution issue
Replies: 1223
Views: 231511

Re: My 2017 CRV is a victim of the dreaded oil gas-dilution issue

CULater wrote: Sat Aug 25, 2018 8:21 am I don't know much about joining a class-action lawsuit: does that mean that I can't receive a personal settlement such as a buyback?
Based on my experience with class-action lawsuits, the lawyers will make a lot of money and you'll get $50 off your next Honda purchase.
by invst65
Fri Aug 24, 2018 3:20 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do you go for annual Medicare preventive tests and screening?
Replies: 84
Views: 6484

Re: Do you go for annual Medicare preventive tests and screening?

Right.. I suspect there is more to the full story! Well, you would have to ask the doctor the full story, because whatever it was, he didn't tell me in the letter he sent. It was just something about there needing to be trust between patient and doctor. I just assumed it was about the statin. I told him I had done a lot of reading on the subject of cholesterol, heart disease, and statins and I could tell he didn't like that at all. In my experience, most doctors don't. They just want you to do what they tell you. You should have sent him a thank-you note. You are likely better off with a different PCP. My PCP of ~10 years and I have had strong disagreements about three unrelated issues that I can recall offhand. Between the two of us we we...
by invst65
Fri Aug 24, 2018 3:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Car Insurance - Add Household Driver
Replies: 3
Views: 609

Re: Car Insurance - Add Household Driver

Well I simply Googled "does PIP in michigan cover passengers" and this is what I got...

Personal injury protection (PIP) insurance covers your medical bills and lost wages when you or your passengers are injured in a car accident. PIP is optional in most states. However, 16 states require you to carry a minimum amount of PIP coverage.


But if you both have full coverage, including PIP what is it exactly that has you worried?
by invst65
Fri Aug 24, 2018 9:28 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: I still use cash not credit cards should I reconsider?
Replies: 102
Views: 10207

Re: I still use cash not credit cards should I reconsider?

I cannot believe Bogleheads let this one slide. Let me help you look at it another way. The price of everything you buy (at merchants that accept credit card) has a ~3% buffer built in. That is what the banks charge the merchants and they pass it on to you. By getting 2% credit card reward back you are just getting some of that back, the banks still pocket 1% transactional fee. If you are an exlusive cash spender you are spending at least an extra 2% on everything. That is like paying a 2% ER (or AUM) on all your spendable money! Bogleheads would choke in tears at that 2% if it was labeled as “AUM” or “ER”. The justification of “psychological advantage” to pay an extra 2% is not unlike all the excuses that Edward Jones give you. :twisted: ...
by invst65
Fri Aug 24, 2018 9:22 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Have a 50K hospital bill reason - too much insurance
Replies: 16
Views: 2887

Re: Have a 50K hospital bill reason - too much insurance

Medicare wasn't involved but when my first wife died I started getting bills for her cancer treatments, amounting to well over $100k even though I was in an HMO insurance plan. I figured that instead of doing whatever was required to collect the money from the insurance company, they thought it would be much easier for them if I would just pay the bills. The way I handled the situation was to hop in my RV and take a 3 month trip out west. When I got back I expected to find all kinds of letters demanding payment and threatening to turn me over to a collection agency but there was nothing of the sort. Apparently they did whatever they had to do to get paid. I have the same insurance situation as you now and I've never even been asked about Me...
by invst65
Fri Aug 24, 2018 9:00 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: physics/math major looking for programmer/analyst job?
Replies: 111
Views: 13508

Re: physics/math major looking for programmer/analyst job?

gips wrote: Fri Aug 17, 2018 12:15 pm I've reviewed his code and it works but demonstrates an unfamiliarity with basic design patterns and best practices.
A "Hello" World" program works, but it doesn't prove much.

I'm a retired programmer with over 40 years of experience and I can tell you that I would have never wanted a newbie like this on my team. I've encountered a few and it's more trouble than it's worth.

If he really wants to make a career of it, maybe he should work on a project with some degree of complexity. Maybe build a website or something. That would also give him something to demonstrate his abilities.
by invst65
Fri Aug 24, 2018 8:42 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Take auto loan 0.9% if I can afford cash?
Replies: 162
Views: 13672

Re: Take auto loan 0.9% if I can afford cash?

Take the loan, then balance transfer into a 0% credit card to save even more money. Where do you find a 0% credit card? I used to get a lot of 0% offers for balance transfers for a limited period of time and I've taken advantage of them. They would even send you checks which you could turn into cash if you wanted. I have a relatively small second mortgage on my house right now and if I got one of these offers I would probably take advantage of it. Haven't seen any of them for quite a while though. The only offers I've seen are for a low, but non-zero interest rate and usually there is a balance transfer fee of around 1.5% which makes it a complete deal breaker. I get them every 60-90 days still, from existing cards I already have. I could ...
by invst65
Fri Aug 24, 2018 8:20 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Take auto loan 0.9% if I can afford cash?
Replies: 162
Views: 13672

Re: Take auto loan 0.9% if I can afford cash?

HEDGEFUNDIE wrote: Wed Aug 15, 2018 8:35 am Take the loan, then balance transfer into a 0% credit card to save even more money.
Where do you find a 0% credit card?

I used to get a lot of 0% offers for balance transfers for a limited period of time and I've taken advantage of them. They would even send you checks which you could turn into cash if you wanted. I have a relatively small second mortgage on my house right now and if I got one of these offers I would probably take advantage of it. Haven't seen any of them for quite a while though. The only offers I've seen are for a low, but non-zero interest rate and usually there is a balance transfer fee of around 1.5% which makes it a complete deal breaker.
by invst65
Fri Aug 24, 2018 8:05 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: I still use cash not credit cards should I reconsider?
Replies: 102
Views: 10207

Re: I still use cash not credit cards should I reconsider?

I've been using my 2% cash back card wherever possible for many years now.

Unless I have gone on vacation or made a major purchase my payoff balance never varies by more than a few hundred dollars each month. Once frugality and living within your means becomes habitual, things pretty much run on auto-pilot.

After so many years of using cash to discipline your spending maybe you should do an experiment with a credit card to see if it causes you to overspend. It would be interesting, if nothing else. My guess is it won't, but if it does, you can always ditch it and go back to cash.
by invst65
Thu Aug 23, 2018 10:33 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Test your cognitive biases
Replies: 89
Views: 7150

Re: Test your cognitive biases

ResearchMed wrote: Wed Aug 22, 2018 7:39 pm Okay, so after all of these Supremely Wonderful Scores, who will 'fess up to a lesser score, or an outright "low" one?

Also, do the "confidence" scores actually factor in to the "result", or is that just for the research in some other way?

RM
I confess. My score was zero because I found the very first question too taxing for my brain.
by invst65
Thu Aug 23, 2018 9:56 am
Forum: Forum Issues and Administration
Topic: Rating system for posts/posters ?
Replies: 60
Views: 5186

Re: Rating system for posts/posters ?

Sounds too much like what's going on with YouTwitFace right now. And like the "social score" in China.

Besides, how many staff members would have to be hired to implement this policy? What would be the vetting process to find people qualified to make the kind of judgments you are talking about and what kind of training would they get?
by invst65
Wed Aug 22, 2018 2:59 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do you go for annual Medicare preventive tests and screening?
Replies: 84
Views: 6484

Re: Do you go for annual Medicare preventive tests and screening?

Since not wanting to take a statin was the reason I got fired from my last PCP... The idea that a physician would fire a patient over not wanting to take a drug is incomprehensible to me. Surely this is not common.... Right.. I suspect there is more to the full story! Well, you would have to ask the doctor the full story, because whatever it was, he didn't tell me in the letter he sent. It was just something about there needing to be trust between patient and doctor. I just assumed it was about the statin. I told him I had done a lot of reading on the subject of cholesterol, heart disease, and statins and I could tell he didn't like that at all. In my experience, most doctors don't. They just want you to do what they tell you. You should h...
by invst65
Tue Aug 21, 2018 10:22 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do you go for annual Medicare preventive tests and screening?
Replies: 84
Views: 6484

Re: Do you go for annual Medicare preventive tests and screening?

dm200 wrote: Tue Aug 21, 2018 4:39 pm
retiredjg wrote: Tue Aug 21, 2018 3:07 pm
invst65 wrote: Tue Aug 21, 2018 1:21 pm Since not wanting to take a statin was the reason I got fired from my last PCP...
The idea that a physician would fire a patient over not wanting to take a drug is incomprehensible to me. Surely this is not common....
Right.. I suspect there is more to the full story!
Well, you would have to ask the doctor the full story, because whatever it was, he didn't tell me in the letter he sent. It was just something about there needing to be trust between patient and doctor. I just assumed it was about the statin. I told him I had done a lot of reading on the subject of cholesterol, heart disease, and statins and I could tell he didn't like that at all. In my experience, most doctors don't. They just want you to do what they tell you.
by invst65
Tue Aug 21, 2018 1:21 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do you go for annual Medicare preventive tests and screening?
Replies: 84
Views: 6484

Re: Do you go for annual Medicare preventive tests and screening?

I don't go for any preventive tests or screening at all. The last time I did was when I got talked into my first colonoscopy when I turned 60 (10 years overdue according to the doctor). I ended up having to pay for it out of pocket and fight for reimbursement because the wrong billing codes were entered. When the doctor said there were no problems and "I'll see you in 10 years", I thought to myself "no you won't". I don't even have a primary care physician nowadays because they have all fired me as a patient. When I get sick I go to an urgent care facility. Wow! Especially since I am older now, I regard access to healthcare as very important. While I also believe that screenings/tests are often overdone, some save lives...
by invst65
Tue Aug 21, 2018 10:47 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do you go for annual Medicare preventive tests and screening?
Replies: 84
Views: 6484

Re: Do you go for annual Medicare preventive tests and screening?

I don't go for any preventive tests or screening at all. The last time I did was when I got talked into my first colonoscopy when I turned 60 (10 years overdue according to the doctor). I ended up having to pay for it out of pocket and fight for reimbursement because the wrong billing codes were entered. When the doctor said there were no problems and "I'll see you in 10 years", I thought to myself "no you won't".

I don't even have a primary care physician nowadays because they have all fired me as a patient. When I get sick I go to an urgent care facility.
by invst65
Tue Aug 21, 2018 10:15 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cashing a check
Replies: 28
Views: 3241

Re: Cashing a check

I think these are all rare exceptions. Most (if not all) banks have deployed "duplicate detection" software which is designed to compare images of checks deposited against previous deposited checks. Since the advent of "Check 21" which laid out to the groundwork for image-based check processing, this has been a concern of banks. Sometimes its a simple mistake, many times attempted fraud. The detection works quite well on the match process. However, sometimes the human factor comes into play as an operator is tasked with review of the suspected items to "accept" or "reject". Overall, much has been done to prevent duplicate deposited items as additional entry points are implemented (mobile, ATM, commer...
by invst65
Sun Aug 19, 2018 11:53 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best (most practical, low cost) Luggage for Airline Travel
Replies: 56
Views: 5728

Re: Best (most practical, low cost) Luggage for Airline Travel

Check the weight. I bought a very nice, expensive, carry-on (Samsonite) and am sorry I did because it weighs so much. By the time I get it packed it is always over the weight limit. So far I have been lucky and have never been called on it. One of these day I will be forced to check it. We only travel with carry-on bags nowadays. We were stopped while boarding and forced to check them only once by Air Canada and that was only on one leg of a multi-destination trip with the same Airlines. That was because it was oversize due to being packed so full. I've never had a carry-on bag weighed before and in fact, don't remember ever seeing scales at the gate. We weren't charged anything when we were forced to check the bags. We have also checked t...
by invst65
Fri Aug 17, 2018 10:15 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Selling notes from Treasury Direct account
Replies: 3
Views: 610

Re: Selling notes from Treasury Direct account

I just looked into this and it appears to me that it is something called "Legacy Treasury Direct" that has this limitation. If I'm understanding it correctly, you can transfer funds from Legacy Treasury Direct to Treasury Direct and be able to do all of your transactions online. I had no problem with this when selling I-bonds a few years ago.

https://www.treasurydirect.gov/indiv/my ... dandtd.htm
by invst65
Fri Aug 17, 2018 7:56 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Continue flood insurance after mortgage paid off?
Replies: 15
Views: 1406

Re: Continue flood insurance after mortgage paid off?

I still have a mortgage but for some reason I'm one of only 3 houses in my neighborhood that isn't required to have flood insurance. So basically, I'm self-insured for flooding even with a mortgage. My house is less than a mile from Tampa Bay which caused me considerable angst last year when the Bay was emptied by Irma, the first hurricane to hit Florida in 10 years. Fortunately, it filled back up during low tide and there was no flooding at all but I was calculating in my head if all the money I had saved by not buying flood insurance for 11 years was going to cover the cost of the damage. I resolved to buy insurance this year but at at this point in time I've procrastinated too long, once again. I think there is a 90 day waiting period an...
by invst65
Fri Aug 17, 2018 7:43 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best (cheapest) way to book a flight well in advance
Replies: 15
Views: 2204

Re: Best (cheapest) way to book a flight well in advance

adamthesmythe wrote: Thu Aug 16, 2018 4:06 pm
invst65 wrote: Thu Aug 16, 2018 1:49 pm Google flights. You can set up fare watches and look at charts of how the prices are fluctuating over time.
Then you use technical analysis to decide when to buy??
Unfortunately, I'm not aware of any technical analysis for the best time to buy. It's pretty much a seat of the pants kind of thing. For me any way.

I just keep my eye on the prices, and if there is a significant drop I'll buy. If the price doesn't fluctuate or starts to go up as my trip approaches that's also the time to buy.

Got great deals on tickets to Australia last year this way, watching over a period of a couple of months. The deal only lasted for a couple of weeks so I was glad I bought when I did.
by invst65
Thu Aug 16, 2018 1:49 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best (cheapest) way to book a flight well in advance
Replies: 15
Views: 2204

Re: Best (cheapest) way to book a flight well in advance

Google flights. You can set up fare watches and look at charts of how the prices are fluctuating over time.
by invst65
Thu Aug 16, 2018 10:28 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Celebrating the day you retired
Replies: 46
Views: 4001

Re: Celebrating the day you retired

I got involuntarily retired about one year before I planned, but with severance pay the paychecks stopped only six months earlier.

Due to the suddenness of it, it was more of a psychological jolt than I had anticipated.

As for the first day, as I recall it, I pissed off my wife by re-arranging everything in the kitchen.

I still do a lot of re-arranging but I'm taking it slower.
by invst65
Mon Aug 13, 2018 11:59 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How often do you check your brokerage accounts
Replies: 77
Views: 6648

Re: How often do you check your brokerage accounts

Cycle wrote: Mon Aug 13, 2018 11:06 am Check my personal capital app once per day, which has all the balances.
Every time I log into Personal Capital I find accounts where the balance hasn't been updated for a long time. This is always due to a failed login and usually involves some kind of new security feature that was added to the account - like asking for an answer to one of your secret questions. Sometimes there is no way to correct the situation but to delete the account and add it back in.

I should be thankful for this because the hassle helps me avoid the temptation to look.
by invst65
Mon Aug 13, 2018 11:34 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Plan for Parental Care in my road to financial independence
Replies: 34
Views: 3655

Re: Plan for Parental Care in my road to financial independence

JoeRetire wrote: Sat Aug 11, 2018 2:03 pm
Rupert wrote: Fri Aug 10, 2018 2:39 pm That's exactly the point I kept trying to impress upon OP in my posts above without getting into politics. See https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigr ... ts-n897931
Yup.
Maybe things will work out in spite of all that.
The optics in that NBC story are quite interesting.
by invst65
Mon Aug 13, 2018 11:01 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How often do you check your brokerage accounts
Replies: 77
Views: 6648

Re: How often do you check your brokerage accounts

RollTide31457 wrote: Mon Aug 13, 2018 10:45 am Check balances and recalculate net worth (house is not included of course) after good market days.
I've resolved to check and re-balance only once a year and so far have kept to it except for peaking a few months ago. And in that case I succumbed to temptation on a good market day when things were going well and I expected to like what I saw. I you are a "hold the course" investor then really, what is the point of checking if you think it is going to upset your day and you aren't going to take any action (or be tempted to do so)?
by invst65
Mon Aug 13, 2018 10:56 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Where to stay in Key West?
Replies: 20
Views: 1853

Re: Where to stay in Key West?

We stayed at http://www.coconutbeachresort.com/. We had a 2 bedroom 2 bathroom unit. It worked great for my family of 5. I don't know if they have any 3 bedroom units. The location was great. It was within walking distance of Duval, a beach, and restaurants. The pool area and views were very nice. Was trying to think of the place we stayed in my post above about the beaches. So thanks for the reminder. That was it. As I said, the beach was small but it was a very nice timeshare resort. As for being within walking distance of Duval, that is true but it was a pretty long walk if my memory of sore feet serves me right. We ended up taking the trolley most of the time (parking spaces can be hard to come by in the busier parts of Key West). The ...
by invst65
Mon Aug 13, 2018 9:48 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: New York Times--Vanguard Warns of Worsening Odds for the Economy and Markets
Replies: 67
Views: 11601

Re: New York Times--Vanguard Warns of Worsening Odds for the Economy and Markets

alwayshedge wrote: Sat Aug 11, 2018 5:19 pm I don't understand why Vanguard focuses so much on avoiding the noise, staying the course and yet they put out research like this constantly it seems as of late.
Given the business they are in, dampening expectations for investors makes sense. I mean, how would you feel if they predicted 8% returns and you only got 3%? But who is going to complain if returns are higher than predicted?
by invst65
Mon Aug 13, 2018 9:36 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Where to stay in Key West?
Replies: 20
Views: 1853

Re: Where to stay in Key West?

munemaker wrote: Mon Aug 13, 2018 9:21 am Are the beaches nice?
I'll put it this way - I wouldn't go to Key West if my primary interest was in finding a nice beach. Not even that many hotels advertise a beach. We stayed in one that did a few years ago and it was nice but it was a very small beach and I learned while I was there that it was man-made.

There are some nice beaches in the Keys but mostly the coastline is rocky. If you are into snorkeling or scuba diving, it can be great.
by invst65
Fri Aug 10, 2018 4:00 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Plan for Parental Care in my road to financial independence
Replies: 34
Views: 3655

Re: Plan for Parental Care in my road to financial independence

After 5 years on the green card she will become a citizen. Is there anything saying she can't apply for SSI and medicaid? And medicare through SSI? Well said. If she has less than 3K in asssets, 65+ age, low income(check specific number), she will be eligible for Medicaid if her green card is 5 year old. If she is a US citizen (which she will be after 5 years of GC), and all other above conditions (3K assets, low income) she can get SSI for $550 per month. She can also get EBT (food stamps) benefits when she gets Medicaid. So if she is poor and can survive first five years she is fine. In many states like CA, NY state will provide state funded Medicaid to new immigrants provided they are poor. That is you don’t have to wait for five years....
by invst65
Thu Aug 09, 2018 3:18 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Plan for Parental Care in my road to financial independence
Replies: 34
Views: 3655

Re: Plan for Parental Care in my road to financial independence

Sounds like a good plan but I'm not so sure you'll be able to get away with the 1099 thing. It's worth a try but it's possible the IRS will challenge it.

Also, if medical problems are "likely" how do you know they are going to wait until she's old enough for Medicare?

My wife is also an immigrant but we've never given much thought to petitioning any of her family for green cards. Health care is the main reason for that. It's MUCH cheaper in the country where they already are.
by invst65
Sat Aug 04, 2018 5:51 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: At what point in history, would I recognize low cost modern index funds?
Replies: 5
Views: 1063

Re: At what point in history, would I recognize low cost modern index funds?

Good question.

All I can tell you is that long about 1985 when I came into my first windfall from stock options and had extra money to invest, I had to pay money up-front for the privilege of buying a mutual fund. And then I had to pay more money to sell it and get out a few years later (do modern investors even know the terms "front-loaded" and "back-loaded". Mine were both).

My how things have changed. Or, at least I hope so.
by invst65
Sat Aug 04, 2018 4:24 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Medicare benefit letter and delay credits
Replies: 6
Views: 622

Re: Medicare benefit letter and delay credits

It looks like the adjustment will be made in January 2019 (c)When is the increase because of delayed retirement credits effective? - (1)Credits earned after entitlement and before the year of attainment of age 70. If you are entitled to benefits, we examine our records after the end of each calendar year to determine whether you have earned delayed retirement credits during the previous year for months when you were at or over full retirement age and you were fully insured and eligible for benefits but did not receive them. Any increase in your benefit amount is effective beginning with January of the year after the year the credits were earned. https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/20/404.313 Wow thanks! I was very clear in my online app a...
by invst65
Sat Aug 04, 2018 4:15 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Medical expenses while on Medicare
Replies: 48
Views: 3349

Re: Medical expenses while on Medicare

cnc449 wrote: Sat Aug 04, 2018 1:02 pm Our financial adviser generated a retirement report and it showed that we should allow $12,233 for medical expenses once we both go on Medicare in roughly 12 years.

Does the $12,233 sound reasonable?

Thanks.
I have never spent anything close to that much EVER in my life - nor have I had insurance claims anywhere close.

I will be 70 in 10 months.
by invst65
Sat Aug 04, 2018 4:09 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Yogi said it. It must be true.
Replies: 21
Views: 3092

Re: Yogi said it. It must be true.

"I Really Didn’t Say Everything I Said"

Probably very true.
by invst65
Sat Aug 04, 2018 3:01 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Ryobi 6ah Li-Ion Battery Not Charging
Replies: 8
Views: 1333

Re: Ryobi 6ah Li-Ion Battery Not Charging

I have read that it is not a good idea to let the battery fully discharge.

But here is website that might tell you how to fix it ....

https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/batt ... -recharge/

I have two 18V batteries for a hammer drill and one 40V battery to power a weed whacker/edger and a blower - both Ryobi. The latter I have been using for three years, every time I cut the grass, and the battery shows no sign of losing any power. Having had other battery powered tools that I had to replace the batteries on every year I've been very pleased. But then, I have never let any of the batteries fully discharge. Even with all the yard work in one shot it never discharges more than 50%.
by invst65
Sat Aug 04, 2018 2:44 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Medicare benefit letter and delay credits
Replies: 6
Views: 622

Re: Medicare benefit letter and delay credits

I decided to file 6 mo short of 70 for my old age benefit and found the decision letter online today. The amount was only .20 from the estimate I got from AnyPIA. The Medicare amount is right, no increase since I was on it before when I was 65 using my own SSN. So that's all good. The letter doesn't say anything about the 6 mo delay credits I should have coming. When I called them a couple years ago they said this would calculated the following year and added to my benefit. But I wish the letter said something about it. Should I call them to make sure it's all understood and I will get an increase for sure in 2019? Not sure what you mean about "six mo delay credits". Do you mean you want to make sure you get credit for the first ...
by invst65
Fri Aug 03, 2018 3:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Last minute travel bookings vs. Booking ahead
Replies: 1
Views: 351

Last minute travel bookings vs. Booking ahead

Before I retired I was in the habit of booking about 3 months ahead when planning a vacation - mostly because I thought you got the best prices that way and I also just liked having everything planned in advance so I could relax and not worry about it. Now that I'm retired, I'm reversing course - somewhat. Things I have found to be true (at least in my perception).... 1.) Plane tickets - there may not be much savings to be had by booking early but if you wait too long, it is possible that you could see a significant increase in price. I have yet to see any significant drop. 2.) Car rental is almost always cheaper if you wait until the last minute - despite warnings when you book early that it is a popular destination and you'd better book n...
by invst65
Fri Aug 03, 2018 2:12 pm
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: Non-US citizen with SSN living abroad, where to invest?
Replies: 22
Views: 2228

Re: Non-US citizen with SSN living abroad, where to invest?

Welcome to Fidelity. I doubt anyone is going to give you any specific advice about where to invest without more information. There is a possibility I will be residing overseas during my retirement years (already started) so I was interested in the statement that Fidelity said you could invest in anything but Mutual Funds. I live overseas (US citizen) and have had a Fidelity account in the US for 25 years (opened it when I lived in LA). Indeed, you can invest in anything apart from MFs (I invest in ETFs). No advise, but why would you want it? Just follow Bogleheads and you are way ahead. Want what - to invest in MFs? I mostly invest in ETFs also but I wasn't aware that this was a Bogleheads principle. I do have some MFs at Vanguard and I'm ...
by invst65
Fri Aug 03, 2018 1:55 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Small Retirement Portfolio—Advice Requested
Replies: 20
Views: 2549

Re: Small Retirement Portfolio—Advice Requested

Thanks for responding, invst65! **"Real Estate is a commodity and money markets are for short-term cash. I don't see anything "bond-like" in either." Re "bond-like": I keep reading that the purpose of bonds is to provide ballast to the portfolio. They're useful for capital preservation, income, and diversification. I thought that several years of expenses in cash plus the steadyish low-correlation-with-equities return on TIAA RE might cover the same bases. Am I wrong here? Should I take money out of my stock funds to invest in bond funds? Well, the gentleman above seems to agree with you on counting your cash as bonds but I don't. Cash in a money market account has a fixed rate of return, whereas the value of ...
by invst65
Thu Aug 02, 2018 5:09 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Treasury Bonds are the Only Bonds You Need
Replies: 195
Views: 34281

Re: Treasury Bonds are the Only Bonds You Need

I believe HB called for bonds with a maturity of a least 20 years. As for the T-Bills, I actually said I use them for "cash". Yes I see that, but since this post was about not using bonds and using treasuries instead, I wasn't sure if you were saying the permanent portfolio did not contain bonds, but did contain treasuries. Sorry if there was a miscommunication. But the point of bringing up the permanent portfolio goes against this post's recommendation, namely to avoid bonds and only use treasuries. That's not at all what the permanent portfolio recommends. And in my opinion the permanent portfolio takes on even more risk by owning long bonds. That might have helped the PP as rates came down over the past 30 years. I'm not sure ...
by invst65
Thu Aug 02, 2018 5:01 pm
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: Non-US citizen with SSN living abroad, where to invest?
Replies: 22
Views: 2228

Re: Non-US citizen with SSN living abroad, where to invest?

Welcome to Fidelity.

I doubt anyone is going to give you any specific advice about where to invest without more information.

There is a possibility I will be residing overseas during my retirement years (already started) so I was interested in the statement that Fidelity said you could invest in anything but Mutual Funds.
by invst65
Thu Aug 02, 2018 4:23 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Small Retirement Portfolio—Advice Requested
Replies: 20
Views: 2549

Re: Small Retirement Portfolio—Advice Requested

(1) Is it fair to think of TIAA Real Estate as being bond-like, and to count my five years’ money market expenses as also being bond-like, so to be comfortable with having a low percentage of bond funds in my retirement accounts? Real Estate is a commodity and money markets are for short-term cash. I don't see anything "bond-like" in either. (2) I’m unclear on diversification _within_ accounts. My traditional IRA just has one fund in it. That means I can’t rebalance within the fund. Is that a problem? Or do I just need to hit my diversification targets across my investments? Do you mean your traditional IRA only offers one fund? Seems very strange. If true, then obviously, if you have no other choices, you just need to adjust thi...
by invst65
Thu Aug 02, 2018 11:43 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do You Purchase "Medical Evacuation Insurance" When You Travel?
Replies: 185
Views: 17206

Re: Do You Purchase "Medical Evacuation Insurance" When You Travel?

daveydoo wrote: Tue Jul 31, 2018 9:03 pm
invst65 wrote: Tue Jul 31, 2018 7:53 pm
All boils down to some basic issues on this website, I think. Some folks on here really don't need to decide whether paying $200 for some kind of foreign travel insurance is a good idea or not. To them it's a no-brainer and good for them. I can relate. Others among us have to count the cost and consider the risks involved. We tend to speak a different language.
Not rich enough for insurance, you say? :D I think you've got this backwards.
Yeah, that's the different language I'm talking about.
by invst65
Thu Aug 02, 2018 11:39 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Treasury Bonds are the Only Bonds You Need
Replies: 195
Views: 34281

Re: Treasury Bonds are the Only Bonds You Need

This is also the recommendation for the permanent portfolio strategy and something I follow. Also do the same with T-Bills for cash. I had to double check this because I listened to every episode of the Harry Browne radio show and I remember him advocating for LONG bonds actually. So I did a quick search on the interweb and sure enough: Why do I want to own bonds in my Permanent Portfolio? Bonds help out under various economic conditions to protect the Permanent Portfolio. Under times of prosperity when the economy is stable and growing bonds provide a steady income stream in addition to the growth of stocks. When markets go through deflationary gyrations that are bad for stocks and gold in the portfolio, bonds can go up greatly in price o...
by invst65
Thu Aug 02, 2018 11:36 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: NT
Replies: 20
Views: 1855

Re: Advisor trying to convince me to buy annuities

I gave up on trying to be polite to salesmen who won't take no for an answer a long time ago. No matter what you say they will always have a comeback and there is usually no way the conversation is going to end on a polite note.

Have you tried asking him how much money he is going to make if you buy what he is selling?
by invst65
Tue Jul 31, 2018 7:53 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do You Purchase "Medical Evacuation Insurance" When You Travel?
Replies: 185
Views: 17206

Re: Do You Purchase "Medical Evacuation Insurance" When You Travel?

You only asked about medical evacuation but you both are of Medicare age. Medicare does NOT cover outside the US although I understand there may be some limited coverage under some plans. You can buy medical travel insurance for a small amount of money. This will include evacuation also. What you really need is travel insurance. I second that you contact the tripinsurancestore.com although call them and don't just read the info online. They are great to work with and will explain the differences of the different insurance types. Remember though... you might be healthy but stuff happens... a fall on the ground which breaks a bone, etc Medjet Assist will fly you home to the hospital of your choice BUT you have to be admitted to a hospital fi...
by invst65
Tue Jul 31, 2018 7:20 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Getting emails saying I signed up for a bunch of subscriptions...
Replies: 7
Views: 965

Re: Getting emails saying I signed up for a bunch of subscriptions...

Coolstavi wrote: Tue Jul 31, 2018 7:03 pm
stan1 wrote: Tue Jul 31, 2018 6:31 pm - Block them as spam
- Stop using your email address and get a new one
This was one of my thoughts. Others agree? I've had it for 10-15 years so would hate to lose it.
No, I don't agree with getting a new email address. Can't even imagine what a hassle that would be for me.

You should be able to figure out how to send the unwanted emails to the bit bucket and ignore them. Which is exactly what I would do.
by invst65
Tue Jul 31, 2018 7:09 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Are Credit Cards Actually Convenient?
Replies: 91
Views: 8957

Re: Are Credit Cards Actually Convenient?

Not only is it convenient, but I get at least 2% cash back on everything. So I use it whenever and wherever I can. +1 I have even paid for some items that charge small fees (DMV @ 1.5%) because I can sometime out earn the fee. I can't justify passing up the chance to move an extra 2-5% cash back to savings. Sometimes I can even redeem that cash above face value for gift cards on gas or other essentials. Its also a huge plus when traveling abroad. As for travelling abroad, Fidelity Visa charges a 1% foreign transaction fee so with the standard 2% cashback you are still ahead by 1% so it's a good deal. Are there any cards that do better for foreign travel? I think Visa might be starting to push the envelope here with what fees merchants are ...
by invst65
Tue Jul 31, 2018 6:51 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do You Purchase "Medical Evacuation Insurance" When You Travel?
Replies: 185
Views: 17206

Re: Do You Purchase "Medical Evacuation Insurance" When You Travel?

No, I have never purchased it and I've done a lot of foreign travel.

To me, it's just an insurance policy trying to capitalize on your worse fear about travelling over seas. If the cost doesn't seem too extravagant to you and it gives you peace of mind then buy it but in reality I have to wonder how many claims there are for this kind of insurance and what is the profit margin of the company selling it?
by invst65
Tue Jul 31, 2018 6:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Getting emails saying I signed up for a bunch of subscriptions...
Replies: 7
Views: 965

Re: Getting emails saying I signed up for a bunch of subscriptions...

I started getting these after doing some surfing to enter online contests. Somewhere along the line I probably clicked on something agreeing to buy some magazines without paying much attention.

They sent me an invoice via email and I replied that I did not order these magazines and if I did, I didn't mean to.

Whether I got any more emails or not, I don't know, because I blacklisted the entire domain and sent it to the trash folder.

I'm not a lawyer but I tend to think there is no way something like this would ever hold up in court even in the extremely off-chance that they would go to the effort to even pursue it.