Search found 20 matches

by sox2017
Thu Jul 27, 2017 2:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is Amazon Prime worth it?
Replies: 146
Views: 19417

Re: Is Amazon Prime worth it?

We signed up for Prime for the first time about 6 months ago. I had been ordering from Amazon for years prior to this. So far I haven't been overly impressed with Prime. Some other observations - - We don't buy a ton of "stuff". Essentials (pantry items, paper towels, toothpaste, etc.) at Amazon are kind of a pain. They are either under Amazon Pantry which forces you to pay another $6 for shipping. Or is an add on item, which requires the total order to exceed $25. If I'm not ordering these types of items through Amazon, it will drastically decrease the amount I order from them. - Ancillary services do not justify the additional $99. Spotify is just as good as Amazon Music and is free (for non premium). Nothing on Video is a must ...
by sox2017
Thu Jul 27, 2017 8:28 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Crowdfunding real estate?
Replies: 26
Views: 5849

Re: Crowdfunding real estate?

LarryAllen wrote:Anybody have any good, or bad, reports from investing in crowdfunding recently? I am very interested in them but trying to do some due dil.
After a decent amount of due diligence, I decided not to pursue these investments. Although intriguing, there were a few reasons why I decided against this, 1) my understanding is that commercial cap rates are at historical lows - not a great starting point for higher future returns, 2) zero liquidity, 3) a 5 or 10% allocation to these would not move the needle, and 4) high fees.

Just too many unknowns and risks for me for an 8 or 9% yield.
by sox2017
Tue Mar 28, 2017 3:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Picture / video / file backup
Replies: 44
Views: 3319

Re: Picture / video / file backup

I'm curious as to what about the backup is lacking about Gdrive and Amazon, say, compared to Crashplan? The primary way that a full backup solution differs from services like these is the ability to go back to multiple points in time in order to restore your files or even complete system state (automatic versioning). In my experience the most common reason for needing to restore files is because a file has been accidentally deleted, corrupted, or changed in some way. The user typically doesn't notice for months or even years. As a result that change has propagated across all of their devices, even into the cloud copies. A backup allows you to go back in time a few hours, days, weeks, months, or years, until you reach a point where the file...
by sox2017
Tue Mar 28, 2017 8:10 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Picture / video / file backup
Replies: 44
Views: 3319

Re: Picture / video / file backup

jebmke wrote:I use Amazon. We have a Prime account so I can upload an unlimited amount of photo files.
I've looked at Amazon. Do you just choose the folder to backup and it automatically backs up in the background? Or do you have to go in manually to every photo file to back up?

Also, is the editing both ways? In other words, if you accidentally delete something backed up to Amazon, will it delete the files from your home computer when the backup runs?
by sox2017
Tue Mar 28, 2017 8:01 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Picture / video / file backup
Replies: 44
Views: 3319

Picture / video / file backup

I'm looking for advice on how people backup their pictures / files from their home computer.

In the past, I've typically just copied the files from the hard drive to a zip drive. However, over the years this has become more difficult as the number of files has increased and modifications to old files are not automatically modified.

I'm looking for -

- Online (not backing to a local external drive)
- Automated or somewhat automated (I might have to initiate, but I don't have the choose specific files)
- A service for pics, videos and some word/excel files (it seems some of the services are just for pics)
by sox2017
Sat Mar 18, 2017 7:35 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Citi card Nightmare
Replies: 74
Views: 12820

Re: Citi card Nightmare

Not completely related but I cancelled two Citi cards last month after having them for 14 years.

I missed one payment (literally the 1st time in the 14 years I had the card). I called and they wouldn't waive the late fee.

Bye bye...too many other options if they can't waive one fee. I won't bank with Citi ever again because of this.
by sox2017
Sat Mar 18, 2017 7:18 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
Replies: 11037
Views: 2066585

Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?

Just watched the OJ Simpson documentary on ESPN....excellent
by sox2017
Sat Mar 18, 2017 7:16 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Risks of MLPs
Replies: 29
Views: 5106

Re: Risks of MLPs

I remember reading awhile back that many of these issue additional debt just to cover the dividend. Not sure if that was just when oil sold off last year or a consistent process. Obviously an issue if/when rates start to rise.
by sox2017
Sat Mar 18, 2017 6:52 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Crowdfunding real estate?
Replies: 26
Views: 5849

Re: Crowdfunding real estate?

The white coat investor dabbled in a few and writes about his experience here. He's hinted at an update shortly. This is from May 2016. http://whitecoatinvestor.com/our-real-estate-empire/ I have 10K in peer street. Im less than a year in and a few on my investments are suppose to be coming due in a few months. Initially I switched on auto investing. As it turned out 6 out of 6 possible investments ($1000 each) were quickly deployed in properties in California. This made me nervous. Wanted more geographical diversity. Turned off auto investing and cherry pick properties now but I've missed out on quite a few that I would have chosen because they were swooped up by the auto investors. As it stands now I'm not happy with the geographical div...
by sox2017
Sat Mar 18, 2017 6:49 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Crowdfunding real estate?
Replies: 26
Views: 5849

Re: Crowdfunding real estate?

The white coat investor dabbled in a few and writes about his experience here. He's hinted at an update shortly. This is from May 2016. http://whitecoatinvestor.com/our-real-estate-empire/ I have 10K in peer street. Im less than a year in and a few on my investments are suppose to be coming due in a few months. Initially I switched on auto investing. As it turned out 6 out of 6 possible investments ($1000 each) were quickly deployed in properties in California. This made me nervous. Wanted more geographical diversity. Turned off auto investing and cherry pick properties now but I've missed out on quite a few that I would have chosen because they were swooped up by the auto investors. As it stands now I'm not happy with the geographical div...
by sox2017
Sat Mar 18, 2017 11:44 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Crowdfunding real estate?
Replies: 26
Views: 5849

Re: Crowdfunding real estate?

abuss368 wrote:Honestly I understand your point in terms of cash flows. Because yes, it is all about the cash flows. I like real estate. Personally I would rather allocate a material portion to both U.S. and International REITs.
That's what I go back and forth on as well. I already have between 5 -10% allocated to REITs. Yields are a lot less though (understanding of course there is more risk with the higher yield crowdfunded option).

Also, public REITs have become so highly correlated with the larger market. Not exactly a major diversifier anymore.
by sox2017
Sat Mar 18, 2017 9:21 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Crowdfunding real estate?
Replies: 26
Views: 5849

Re: Crowdfunding real estate?

jebmke wrote:Small amounts wouldn't move the needle on your total return. So why bother?
Could significantly bump up cash flow though.

On a $1M portfolio, let's say you allocate 15% to these. This is an extra $9000 in annual cash flow vs. standard funds (8% - 2% x $150k).
by sox2017
Sat Mar 18, 2017 9:07 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Crowdfunding real estate?
Replies: 26
Views: 5849

Crowdfunding real estate?

I know it's not exactly Bogle-like, but does anyone have any experience with any of the crowdfunding real estate sites (such as Realtyshares, Peerstreet, etc.)? Some of the pros and cons I can think of off the top of my head, but wanted to see someone's real experience - Pros: - Diversification from stocks and bonds - Nice yields (currently 8%+) - Steady cash flows Cons: - Illiquid (can't sell until maturity and on equity deals, this could drag on for years) - Default risk - Late cycle investing (would I be dumping money into these late in the economic cycle) - Must be an accredited investor (I am, but a lot of people will not be able to invest because of this) I must admit, the temptation is there to try out these platforms with a small am...
by sox2017
Thu Mar 16, 2017 8:39 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Early Retirement - what to do about healthcare?
Replies: 237
Views: 43994

Re: Early Retirement - what to do about healthcare?

Thanks for the replies.....not an easy topic to factor into LT planning. Things will probably look drastically different in 5 or 10 years from now, so in my situation, the best advice is probably similar to other personal finance advice.....save more, spend less, invest for the LT
by sox2017
Wed Mar 15, 2017 6:48 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Early Retirement - what to do about healthcare?
Replies: 237
Views: 43994

Re: Early Retirement - what to do about healthcare?

bligh wrote:My current plan, if I do end up retiring early, is to be living in a country with affordable healthcare. :)
Not a bad idea, any countries in the Caribbean with affordable plans? :D
by sox2017
Wed Mar 15, 2017 6:38 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Early Retirement - what to do about healthcare?
Replies: 237
Views: 43994

Re: Early Retirement - what to do about healthcare?

Constant Chaos wrote:The blogger at Root of Good is an Early Retiree who discusses his family's healthcare costs in great detail. Here is a recent post:
http://rootofgood.com/december-2016-financial-update/
Basically, they control their income to be just over the poverty line for maximum ACA subsidies so they pay very little.
No asset considerations on those subsidies?
by sox2017
Wed Mar 15, 2017 6:35 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Early Retirement - what to do about healthcare?
Replies: 237
Views: 43994

Re: Early Retirement - what to do about healthcare?

> it's very difficult to accurately predict future health care expenses I would go further and say that it is impossible to predict, especially in the individual market over a multi-decade time frame. Health care is a far bigger concern for early retirees than sequence of return risk. Now at regular retirement age...you will be part of a very large cadre of people in the same situation with the same concerns and significant political and economic power. Completely agree about predicting future costs, but even before that, I really don't understand how anyone in this country will be able to early retire unless you're saved a ton of money. And by a ton, I mean 3-4m+. If families have to pay $20k+ privately, that is $500k of extra savings at ...
by sox2017
Wed Mar 15, 2017 6:22 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Early Retirement - what to do about healthcare?
Replies: 237
Views: 43994

Re: Early Retirement - what to do about healthcare?

Looking for some thoughts from those who have retired early. We're currently in our late 30s and have saved approximately $2M+. We're young and live in a HCOL location. We're not looking to retire anytime soon, but have definitely started playing with the numbers to see what "my number" would be to retire. Our current expenses are around $75K - $100K per year (including mortgage). At a 4% withdrawal rate, this equals savings of $1.9M - $2.5M. If we were to move to a LCOL location, this number would come down. My question is around healthcare costs and specifically, insurance. I entered our information into our state ACA exchange and the numbers are just off the charts. For a simple plan, the premiums are around $18K per year, wit...
by sox2017
Wed Mar 15, 2017 1:07 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Early Retirement - what to do about healthcare?
Replies: 237
Views: 43994

Early Retirement - what to do about healthcare?

Looking for some thoughts from those who have retired early. We're currently in our late 30s and have saved approximately $2M+. We're young and live in a HCOL location. We're not looking to retire anytime soon, but have definitely started playing with the numbers to see what "my number" would be to retire. Our current expenses are around $75K - $100K per year (including mortgage). At a 4% withdrawal rate, this equals savings of $1.9M - $2.5M. If we were to move to a LCOL location, this number would come down. My question is around healthcare costs and specifically, insurance. I entered our information into our state ACA exchange and the numbers are just off the charts. For a simple plan, the premiums are around $18K per year, with...