Search found 480 matches

by leonidas
Wed Sep 06, 2023 8:05 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Choosing a travel rewards credit card
Replies: 19
Views: 3927

Re: Choosing a travel rewards credit card

All good Ideas so far. Last night after I posted my question I went onto YouTube to see what other information is out there and I learned about travel card ecosystems where Chase, for example, has several cards that earn UR (Ultimate Rewards) points and they can be transferred to the CSP/CSR cards to unlock the portal and transfer partners. Defiantly a wrinkle. I was today years old when I logged into my Citibank account and noticed that I can use the Citi Travel portal and convert my point to miles and book travel there too. If I knew that earlier I would have like 150k miles already as I usually charge most expenses to that card and convert to statement credit every 3-6 months. Many of the better cards have good to great insurance protect...
by leonidas
Tue Sep 05, 2023 7:28 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Choosing a travel rewards credit card
Replies: 19
Views: 3927

Choosing a travel rewards credit card

I was reading through a thread about issues with seat selection through the chase travel portal and it got me to thinking about an upcoming set of trips I am planning on 2024. Two domestic flights to FL and one to Europe. I have never owned a travel focused credit card but I have been inundated with multiple offers in the mail recently about cards with bonus miles plus perks for using their cards. I did a bunch of research on those offers, chase, Amex, capitol one … and was somewhat overwhelmed by the choices. My question is what cards if any do you use for traveling and if the benefits are worth the fees charged. Do you use the portals or transfer miles to transfer partners. Do you use the lounges and are they worth the higher fees? The on...
by leonidas
Thu Aug 17, 2023 2:15 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Best No Fee Grocery credit card
Replies: 57
Views: 6268

Re: Best No Fee Grocery credit card

OrangeKiwi wrote: Thu Aug 17, 2023 2:03 pm
Does the AAA credit card require buying AAA to receive the 5% cash back?
No it does not.
by leonidas
Thu Aug 17, 2023 4:20 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Best No Fee Grocery credit card
Replies: 57
Views: 6268

Re: Best No Fee Grocery credit card

I don't have this card but recently I was also looking for good cash back cards for various categories with grocery being one. AAA Daily Advantage Visa Signature Credit Card. Purchases earn: 5% cash back on grocery store purchases 3% cash back on gas and electric vehicle-charging, wholesale clubs, streaming services, pharmacy and AAA purchases 1% cash back on all other purchases Plus: $0 annual fee 0% foreign transaction fees The caveat being.. Maximum of $500 USD cash back earned in a calendar year at grocery stores, wholesale clubs and gas stations combined. After that, purchases will earn 1% cash back for the remainder of the calendar year. So it looks like 10k max per year in spending. I received this card 4-5 months ago. I could not o...
by leonidas
Wed Aug 16, 2023 7:40 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Best No Fee Grocery credit card
Replies: 57
Views: 6268

Re: Best No Fee Grocery credit card

I don't have this card but recently I was also looking for good cash back cards for various categories with grocery being one.
AAA Daily Advantage Visa Signature Credit Card.
Purchases earn:

5% cash back on grocery store purchases
3% cash back on gas and electric vehicle-charging, wholesale clubs, streaming services, pharmacy and AAA purchases
1% cash back on all other purchases

Plus:

$0 annual fee
0% foreign transaction fees

The caveat being..
Maximum of $500 USD cash back earned in a calendar year at grocery stores, wholesale clubs and gas stations combined. After that, purchases will earn 1% cash back for the remainder of the calendar year.

So it looks like 10k max per year in spending.
by leonidas
Mon Mar 27, 2023 8:11 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: turbotax filing help
Replies: 9
Views: 829

Re: turbotax filing help

I think the charge is state specific. I live in NJ and work in NY. NY requires e-file and TTax does not charge the $25 fee for NY. I always mail the NJ taxes and I do remember that last years I attached the w-2 and a few other docs with my return. Since I always owe money to NJ I haven't sent those out yet.
by leonidas
Tue Dec 20, 2022 8:18 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What are your LEAST favorite vacation destinations
Replies: 399
Views: 43306

Re: What are your LEAST favorite vacation destinations

Disney resorts seems to be a common destination that rates low on many posters comments. I'm in that camp too. I've been there 4 times over 20 years and I enjoyed it less each time. So glad the kids aged out of wanting to there. Been to Athens Greece a few times, usually as a precursor to traveling to the Islands and I'm not a huge fan (being a Spartan did you expect anything less :D ). Its kind of dirty and I enjoyed my time to the ruins the first time but I could not wait to get out during my latest trip.
by leonidas
Wed Dec 14, 2022 8:22 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 2023 Savings/Investment Strategy (Non-401K)
Replies: 9
Views: 2123

Re: 2023 Savings/Investment Strategy (Non-401K)

So I went to the Ally site and this is what I read:

Cash-enhanced portfolio

Consider if: You want added security in an inconsistent market.
Absolutely no advisory fees
We permanently set aside 30% of your portfolio in cash to act as a buffer against volatility
Earn 3.00% in annual interest on the cash buffer, credited monthly
If you take out money, we’ll automatically readjust what’s left to keep the same market to cash allocation

Did you consider VTI/VXUS plus some treasuries for "cash"?

Is that one share of Dollar General or Krispy Kreme per month? Why these stocks?
by leonidas
Tue Nov 29, 2022 1:44 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Schwab Bonds, 5.8% for 5 years. Not bad?
Replies: 25
Views: 4442

Re: Schwab Bonds, 5.8% for 5 years. Not bad?

For the 5.8% bonds... Federal Home Loan Bks
Call Details:
Callable in whole or part Quarterly beginning 03/28/2023 with 5 days notice.
by leonidas
Fri Nov 25, 2022 8:19 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Replace roof prior to selling house?
Replies: 30
Views: 2850

Re: Replace roof prior to selling house?

If I saw a house with missing shingles I would wonder what other maintenance issues are lurking. It’s a cheap repair. Just do it.
by leonidas
Fri Oct 07, 2022 9:20 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Is Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. Identical to Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A.?
Replies: 9
Views: 6565

Re: Is Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. Identical to Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A.?

Whenever I hear private bank I think of those accounts that require a million plus minimum. I think MS is like 10M to be a private banking client for whatever that’s worth.
by leonidas
Mon Oct 03, 2022 7:22 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Can I Bring Admiral Funds With Me to Schwab?
Replies: 18
Views: 2145

Re: Can I Bring Admiral Funds With Me to Schwab?

I had an account with Wells Fargo that had 2 admiral funds. I called to confirm the transferability to Schwab. They told me I could transfer them but I was unable to add to my balances. I could reinvest the dividend and cap gains though. It seems that admiral funds are only available to client with higher balances than I currently have.
by leonidas
Thu Sep 15, 2022 6:46 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Coming rate hike and T-Bill rates
Replies: 4
Views: 1252

Re: Coming rate hike and T-Bill rates

T Bill rates have been moving up smartly over the last few weeks in anticipation of the upcoming rate hike.The 3 month rate is over 3.4 and the one year is 3.9. If the fed raises .75 then the target FFR is 3.0 to 3.25. I can only assume that they are pricing more rate hikes afterwards but I am no export in bond yield expectations.
by leonidas
Sun Aug 07, 2022 6:03 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Ally Online Savings/Money Market Rate Increases
Replies: 745
Views: 124445

Re: Ally Online Savings Rate Increase

CFG Bank has a 2.10% MMF plus some pretty good CD rates. CFG High Yield Money Market Online and in Branch - 2.10% 36 Month CD Online and in Branch -3.55% 60 Month CD Online and in Branch -3.65% I setup a 5 year CD 3 years ago when the rates were about 3.25% The 3 Year seems like a pretty good deal if CD's are in your plans. Here is a list: https://www.cfg.bank/personal-banking/personal-deposit-rates/ These yields are quite good - especially the CD yields. 3.55% for 36 month is 74bps above the 36-month Treasury currently at 2.81%. EWP is 180 days. The 5-year CD is even better at 3.65% vs. comparable term Treasury at 2.69%. Color me tempted. High yield MM account rate is good too, although one can do a little better in short-term T-Bills. No...
by leonidas
Sun Aug 07, 2022 6:00 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: How do I create an Asset Allocation pie chart of investments from accounts in different brokerage firms ?
Replies: 44
Views: 2981

Re: How do I create an Asset Allocation pie chart of investments from accounts in different brokerage firms ?

Have you tried personal capital. It’s a free online tool that I’ve been using for years. You can connect your accounts or you can add manually if you prefer.
by leonidas
Fri Jul 29, 2022 10:55 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Ally Online Savings/Money Market Rate Increases
Replies: 745
Views: 124445

Re: Ally Online Savings Rate Increase

CFG Bank has a 2.10% MMF plus some pretty good CD rates.

CFG High Yield Money Market Online and in Branch - 2.10%
36 Month CD Online and in Branch -3.55%
60 Month CD Online and in Branch -3.65%

I setup a 5 year CD 3 years ago when the rates were about 3.25%
The 3 Year seems like a pretty good deal if CD's are in your plans.

Here is a list:
https://www.cfg.bank/personal-banking/p ... sit-rates/
by leonidas
Wed Jun 29, 2022 3:04 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Living Trust Plus a Subtrust - "Childs Trust"?
Replies: 15
Views: 1242

Re: Living Trust Plus a Subtrust - "Childs Trust"?

This is a good question. My wife and I have a RLT and when we both pass it creates 2 sub-trusts, one for each child. I believe that each of those sub-trusts are irrevocable and a trustee that was specially chosen of each child. One question is do these trusts just "exist" after we pass or does one need to go to an attorney and create them. I actually didn't ask that question when the Trust was created.
by leonidas
Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:01 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What convinced you that you can't outperform the market?
Replies: 179
Views: 15693

Re: What convinced you that you can't outperform the market?

During the '90's I had a knack of picking stocks that seemed to soar father and faster than the already soaring market. Then, of course, I stared using options at the goading of my brother-in-law. Well, that was not as successful or easy it seems. Eventually, the stocks I picked had their day in the sun and started falling faster than the market and would rise slower on up days. I did a quick U-turn and set myself up with a 3 fund portfolio in my 401k and total market funds in taxable. I still do a small amount of trading but it is with inconsequential amounts of money which feeds any desire I have to try to outwit Mr. Market. Sometimes I win and sometimes I lose. Taken in totality, it seems I would have been better off sticking with VTI (o...
by leonidas
Fri May 27, 2022 2:04 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Software for rental properties
Replies: 22
Views: 2200

Re: Software for rental properties

I use Innago and Stessa. Both Free and do a pretty good job. I am testing out which one I prefer. Innago sends Invoices to your tenants and tracks maintenance requests so I'm leaning to using that one. Stessa has better reports for taxes. For a few rentals those are good enough.
by leonidas
Tue May 03, 2022 8:04 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Check mailed to the IRS has not cleared
Replies: 30
Views: 2881

Re: Check mailed to the IRS has not cleared

I mailed a check to the IRS on April 18th and they just cashed it on May 2nd. Not sure why its taking so long for you unless you maybe sent it to the wrong address?
by leonidas
Sat Apr 30, 2022 6:06 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: First bank/financial account for teenager
Replies: 8
Views: 946

Re: First bank/financial account for teenager

Delete duplicate post
by leonidas
Sat Apr 30, 2022 6:06 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: First bank/financial account for teenager
Replies: 8
Views: 946

Re: First bank/financial account for teenager

My 14 year old has a youth account with fidelity. I am connected to it and transfer money when he earns it for chores or birthdays and he spends with the debit card.
by leonidas
Sat Apr 09, 2022 8:22 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How do you monitor your Stocks and Bonds portfolio?
Replies: 67
Views: 6979

Re: How do you monitor your Stocks and Bonds portfolio?

I use personal capital and connect all my financial accounts. Been using for years and it provides a good snapshot of the total picture.
by leonidas
Thu Mar 10, 2022 12:34 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should annual pay increase meet/beat inflation?
Replies: 32
Views: 3334

Re: Should annual pay increase meet/beat inflation?

In 2021 I received a 4.25% raise. This was determined in October/November of that year and became effective Jan 1, 2022.
I believe that for this year, the pay raises will be higher but not meet the current CPI rate. From my experience, you will need to move companies or try to make an in company move to a position that has a higher pay range. The second suggestion is the one I will be exploring this summer as we have a wide range of positions becoming available that are presented for internal transfer possibilities.
by leonidas
Sun Feb 20, 2022 12:05 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: TurboTax: How To File Multi-member LLC for Rental Property?
Replies: 24
Views: 2784

Re: TurboTax: How To File Multi-member LLC for Rental Property?

If you have a trust, make the trust the member and you 2 as a mangers. Then file as single member.
by leonidas
Sun Feb 06, 2022 6:03 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: CA: Creating LLC, Have a Revocable Living Trust / Who Owns the Business?
Replies: 10
Views: 873

Re: CA: Creating LLC, Have a Revocable Living Trust / Who Owns the Business?

This was my first LLC. I put our trust as member for estate purposes since the rental is in another state. If it’s just you then you can be the member (members are owners). If it’s just a single member LLC it acts like a sole prop business. I use it for liability protection to separate my assets from the rentals. Plus a good helping of insurance.
by leonidas
Sun Feb 06, 2022 5:45 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: CA: Creating LLC, Have a Revocable Living Trust / Who Owns the Business?
Replies: 10
Views: 873

Re: CA: Creating LLC, Have a Revocable Living Trust / Who Owns the Business?

curiousinvestor wrote: Sun Feb 06, 2022 5:39 pm Hi Everyone,

I am establishing an LLC, and using Legal Zoom. I'm in CA. I have a revocable Living Trust.

Legal Zoom asks "Who will own the business?" so I'm including myself, but I can also include the Trust name. If I do that, it asks for the % division of ownership. So I can do, for example, 90% me and 10% Trust. It seems to make some of the other decisions a bit more complicated if I add the Trust.

Any thoughts / insight on this?

Thanks
I have an LLC to hold rentals. I made the trust the member and myself as the manager. It made it easier to open a bank account since my operating agreement list me as the prez with that authority.
by leonidas
Tue Feb 01, 2022 10:50 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How do divorced parents pay for college for their children?
Replies: 47
Views: 4485

Re: How do divorced parents pay for college for their children?

Try ROTC. 6 years in the military can be a good thing for people.
by leonidas
Tue Feb 01, 2022 8:20 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Where to park cash (again)...
Replies: 20
Views: 4024

Re: Where to park cash (again)...

RedDog wrote: Mon Jan 31, 2022 10:12 am No experience/opinion wrt being a good idea or not, but there was a lot of discussion here a few months ago about Toyota Income Driver demand notes…
https://www.incomedrivernotes.com/en.html
I used this for a while. The minimum is $250 and when I started the rate was 1.50%. It has since ticked down to 1.15%.
I removed the cash and bought I-Bonds in my personal and Trust accounts.

It does work as advertised so nothing bad to say about the program, but there was a better opportunity else ware.
by leonidas
Fri Jan 14, 2022 7:55 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why the disdain for managed funds like ARKK that destroy total market funds?
Replies: 1587
Views: 210435

Re: Why the disdain for managed funds like ARKK that destroy total market funds?

Hyperchicken wrote: Fri Jan 14, 2022 12:15 am ARKK - You were the Chosen One! It was said that you would destroy total market funds, not underperform them.
"It is the Index funds that are evil"
--Darth ARKK
by leonidas
Wed Jan 05, 2022 3:37 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Will/Trust
Replies: 31
Views: 2681

Re: Will/Trust

So I have a legal plan through work (ARAG) and I got an entire estate plan for nothing above the monthly cost of my plan. Wills, Revocable Trust and POA's. My first question is how complicated do you think this trust needs to be as this seems to be a lot of money if they just give you a boilerplate Trust? Ours was of medium complexity as it creates trusts for the kids and disperses monies to then in chunks at certain life stages and ages. I would listen to the lawyers who post here if you even need a Trust or just create one in your will.
by leonidas
Fri Dec 03, 2021 2:28 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How did you finance your rental unit purchase?
Replies: 17
Views: 2414

Re: How did you finance your rental unit purchase?

LittleMaggieMae wrote: Fri Dec 03, 2021 2:15 pm
My relatives have purchased much nicer rental properties (closer to 200K and sometimes over) - they do 5% or 10% down and 30 year mortgages. They use saved up "cash" for the down payment and the "prep for renting" costs.
Who did you go with to get 5%-10% down? At first, I was asked to put 25% down then I got to 20% but with a small bump in the interest rate.
by leonidas
Fri Dec 03, 2021 1:56 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How did you finance your rental unit purchase?
Replies: 17
Views: 2414

Re: How did you finance your rental unit purchase?

I have about 6 months of emergency saving so not really low on cash. My problem is that I'm interested in a 2nd real estate but I'm risk averse and not sure how to go about this. Maybe I'm looking for the magic answer that doesn't exist? Good Afternoon, What type of Rental is it? Single family house or something bigger? I bought a rental this year, single family home and some lenders wanted me to put 25% down and others asked for 20%. For me, I could not find anyone willing to do for less than that. I have been saving for a while so I had the money and the Down payment wasn't bad since it was in a Low cost area (Indiana) where the cash flow is pretty good but price appreciation is muted. Before that house came up I was looking at something...
by leonidas
Mon Nov 22, 2021 8:57 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Add a Trust as a Beneficiary for I-Bonds
Replies: 7
Views: 1026

Add a Trust as a Beneficiary for I-Bonds

Hi all,

I was in Treasury Direct and was following these instructions to Create a new registrant to be my beneficiary..

Log in to your TreasuryDirect account.

Click the "Manage Direct" tab across the top of your screen.

Click "Update My Registration List" under the "Manage My Account" links.

Select the "Beneficiary" button. Fill in your name as the primary registrant. Enter the name of the trust as the second registrant.

It gives me an Error since my Trust and I have the same SS#. Also, the name field is to small for the Trust name.

How did you all do this?

Thanks!
by leonidas
Wed Nov 10, 2021 8:12 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Have you seen a recent jump in home insurance premiums?
Replies: 17
Views: 1645

Re: Have you seen a recent jump in home insurance premiums?

Up about 25% for home insurance. Auto is the same as last year though so that's a plus.
by leonidas
Wed Nov 03, 2021 8:10 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Pay raises for 2022
Replies: 421
Views: 63193

Re: Pay raises for 2022

We are looking at between 3-4% for a raise. We also get variable pay which averages btw 8-9%. This year I believe the variable will be closer to 11% with the same raise as before. More or less in line with the CPI.
by leonidas
Thu Oct 28, 2021 4:52 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Anyone place their home in a trust or LLC?
Replies: 9
Views: 1735

Re: Anyone place their home in a trust or LLC?

I have my personal residence in a RLT and I believe that it does not provide any of the asset protection you are looking for, Its purpose is for estate planning. I do own a rental property in an LLC which limits my liability to the assets in the LLC. I also have 2M in umbrella insurance which covers both. So if there is an issue with the rental, my personal property is protected but the rental can be lost if the judgement is greater than the insurance.
by leonidas
Wed Oct 06, 2021 3:30 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What happens to trust assets if trust is revoked?
Replies: 4
Views: 599

Re: What happens to trust assets if trust is revoked?

The trust property is returned to each person according to how they owned it before transferring it to the trust. I see. So for an individual revocable trust, I'm assuming everything just goes back to the grantor. In that case, does "I am the grantor and here is the revocation document" have equivalent authority to "I am the trustee and I would like to transfer these assets out" when approaching banks, brokerages, etc where the trust accounts are held? Here is a generic template I had stored with a bunch of other Trust Docs I never used.... On July 16, 2021,Bob and Sue created a revocable living trust, called The "Bob and Sue Living Trust" with Bob and Sue as the grantor(s) and trustee(s). Under the terms of t...
by leonidas
Tue Oct 05, 2021 6:22 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Separate finances [getting married]
Replies: 73
Views: 7227

Re: Separate finances [getting married]

Keep us posted on the outcome. I am not sure how you would move forward but the best advice I saw is talk to a Divorce Lawyer in FL. They most likely have seen this before and can explain the pros/cons. Personally, I would hold off on the marriage but I'm not a romantic.
by leonidas
Mon Oct 04, 2021 1:52 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Porte Bank Changing rules for 3.00% Savings
Replies: 2
Views: 434

Porte Bank Changing rules for 3.00% Savings

I've been using this Bank for a short time to get 3% on 15k but they modified the requirements. Still not onerous but Im not a Debit card user (very often). Effective January 1, 2022 The interest rate earned on an average daily balance of $15,000.00 or less will be reduced from 2.97% with an APY of 3.00%, to 0.20% with an APY of 0.20%. You may, however, earn a higher interest rate of 2.97% with an APY of 3.00% on an average daily balance of $15,000.00 or less if you meet the following qualifications during a calendar quarter: (i) receive at least $3,000.00 in Qualifying Direct Deposits of payroll, pension, or government benefits payments from an employer or government agency into your Porte Spending Account in a calendar quarter, AND (ii) m...
by leonidas
Mon Oct 04, 2021 11:58 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Wills & Trusts
Replies: 173
Views: 18907

Re: Wills & Trusts

We used ARAG ( Legal benefit from Work) to create our RLT. cost us nothing. The Trust will create 2 sub-trusts for my sons to disburse our assets to them over time. We requested a few additions like Trustee Discretion to avoid handing out money if in bankruptcy or divorce but nothing over the top.
Your getting ripped off for that kind of money.
by leonidas
Sat Oct 02, 2021 7:59 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How add spouse to LLC ownership?
Replies: 15
Views: 1289

Re: How add spouse to LLC ownership?

If you have a joint trust you can make the trust the owner of the LLC. I know some states you fill a business entity report and can change owners. I can change owners through the secretary of states web site too. The operating agreement is optional in most instances. In it we can state what happens after owner dies.
by leonidas
Tue Sep 28, 2021 9:14 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Cost for trusts
Replies: 5
Views: 1237

Re: Cost for trusts

I used a lawyer through ARAG (benefit at work) and we created a joint Living Trust for my wife and myself. The one I got looked pretty boiler plate. I did a bit of research on my own and asked him to add some language that I borrowed from a more complex trust I used as an example. Cost me nothing. Again, nothing fancy but it does have multiple conditions for distributing Funds to Beneficiaries at certain ages.
by leonidas
Wed Mar 10, 2021 8:30 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Where do you keep your emergency fund?
Replies: 45
Views: 4845

Re: Where do you keep your emergency fund?

mikejuss wrote: Wed Mar 10, 2021 7:38 pm
IowaFarmWife wrote: Wed Mar 10, 2021 6:54 am I have a few "layers" to my EF: first layer is in my checking account earning a whopping 1% interest, but it is safe and easily accessible and other layer is invested in I bonds through Treasury Direct. I also have a modest amount of money in my brokerage account invested in VTI.
If I may ask, what checking account has 1% interest?
There are rewards checking accounts that make you jump through some hoops (10 debit card txns) and they give you a good rate up to a certain balance. Search for Rewards Checking. AXOS bank is an example with 1.25%
by leonidas
Wed Feb 17, 2021 8:28 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Changes to LastPass free
Replies: 215
Views: 20127

Re: Changes to LastPass free

I created a free BitWarden Account and imported all my LastPass information.
This was extremely easy.
BW seems to have a simpler interface and I will use both in parallel to see which one is best for my needs.
by leonidas
Wed Feb 17, 2021 8:00 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Changes to LastPass free
Replies: 215
Views: 20127

Re: LastPass going to start Charging to Sync btw devices

drive2snow wrote: Wed Feb 17, 2021 7:53 am Maybe I'm the odd one out, but a password manager, like email, is something I gladly fork over a few $/month for. I'd like the service to have a sustainable business model and no motive to be selling me out in some way to make a profit.
You are not odd as this is a valid point.

I have been using a free manager for so long and there are many other free managers out there I need to see the value proposition in paying for what others are "giving" away. If I find LastPass to be superior then I will keep them an pony up the $3 a month.

Thank you for your reply.
by leonidas
Wed Feb 17, 2021 7:43 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Changes to LastPass free
Replies: 215
Views: 20127

LastPass going to start Charging to Sync btw devices

[Merged into existing discussion -- moderator oldcomputerguy]

"Wondering what happened to LastPass, As of March 16, 2021, the free version no longer offers this essential synchronization feature. To keep it, you'd have to upgrade to LastPass Premium or LastPass Families ($36 and $48 annually, respectively)."...

So it seems that you can either use it on desktop or Mobile. I have been using LP for years. Need a recommendation for a new Free manager.

I am now testing out BitWarden as it seems to get some positive reviews...
by leonidas
Sun Feb 14, 2021 7:36 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Naming Beneficiaries for Retirement Accounts
Replies: 14
Views: 1664

Re: Naming Beneficiaries for Retirement Accounts

I found this on Bogleheads from 7 years ago.... I was in a similar situation -- married with minor children. My spouse and I decided to create revocable living trusts (RLT) and then designated the trust as the beneficiary on our accounts. The general rule-of-thumb that our lawyer gave us was: 1) Make the trust the secondary beneficiary on tax-deferred accounts because spouses can roll over the deceased spouse's IRA or 401(k) assets into their own IRA tax-free. 2) For most other accounts (e.g., taxable investment accounts ) and term-life insurance policies, the trust should be the primary beneficiary. 3) Checking/Savings accounts should be joint accounts. If there are individual accounts, then it should be in the trust. 4) Primary residence ...
by leonidas
Sun Feb 14, 2021 7:30 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Naming Beneficiaries for Retirement Accounts
Replies: 14
Views: 1664

Re: Naming Beneficiaries for Retirement Accounts

galawdawg wrote: Sun Feb 14, 2021 7:25 am I'd recommend you pose your questions to your attorney. This is not an uncommon question and he can help you understand the implications of various beneficiary designations on your estate planning!
Absolutely. We are meeting in a bit less than 2 weeks. I am prepping a few questions and making corrections to the will now.
I do like to hear opinions of people who have gone through this before. I guess it gives me piece of mind before the meeting.

Thank you