Search found 213 matches
- Tue Nov 12, 2019 3:07 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Saving seats on Southwest
- Replies: 210
- Views: 11533
Re: Saving seats on Southwest
We travel to Asia and Australia on vacations a lot, and we are older so we always go first or business class. We use credit card points, so it is much easier to fly out of LA or Houston. Therefore, we leave a couple days early to get to our jumping off point and usually fly SW. When we come home the...
- Fri Nov 08, 2019 3:28 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: First time in Sydney, Australia
- Replies: 12
- Views: 761
Re: First time in Sydney, Australia
A trip by boat from circular quay to the Sydney zoo was a fun experience. A day trip to the Blue Mountains was ok. We took the train/subway to and from the airport. It was clean and easy and fast. The highway traffic was bad due to construction and people were missing flights as they sat trapped in ...
- Wed Oct 30, 2019 11:32 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: I want a pre-made, wholesome lunch delivered to me daily for under $15. Options?
- Replies: 52
- Views: 4793
Re: I want a pre-made, wholesome lunch delivered to me daily for under $15. Options?
We used to get Metabolic Meals. Excellent quality and extremely healthy. Delivered to your door. Keep frozen until microwaved. Only negative was the amount of packaging material. Check out their web site. It may be what you're looking for.
- Thu Oct 24, 2019 12:12 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Carrying cash from overseas
- Replies: 9
- Views: 969
Re: Carrying cash from overseas
Structuring. If the four divided up the money so no one had more than $10,000 that is structuring. If they can't explain how they obtained the money and the reason for bringing it into the US, they could be charged with money laundering.
- Mon Oct 21, 2019 1:10 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Entrance Fee for Retirement Community
- Replies: 45
- Views: 6590
Re: Entrance Fee for Retirement Community
Good advice, above. A factor to consider in the refundable/non-refundable fee scenarios is the credit-worthiness of the CCRC holding the money and whether your refundable deposit is held separately in a manner where it is not accessible to creditors or for general working capital purposes Good advi...
- Mon Oct 21, 2019 9:43 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Computershare to Schwab, individual to joint
- Replies: 7
- Views: 657
Re: Computershare to Schwab, individual to joint
It is a little longer process than most inter-broker transfers because from Computershares your broker must initiate a transfer through the Depository Trust Company. Most other inter-broker transfer are done by the ACAT system (automated customer account transfer). DTC transfer takes more time and m...
- Sun Oct 20, 2019 6:12 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Capturing Solar Investment Tax Credit for Church
- Replies: 1
- Views: 244
Re: Capturing Solar Investment Tax Credit for Church
Very common practice for entities that are tax exempt. If they can get transferable tax credits (as in low income housing) they can just sell the tax credits for about 90% of face value (the purchaser gets the federal tax credit but the spread is subject to state tax). Otherwise, they can find a thi...
- Sun Oct 13, 2019 6:05 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Fine Art Investments
- Replies: 77
- Views: 4470
Re: Fine Art Investments
If you are going to invest in art, buy originals. Lithographs maybe, but not prints. I chose to invest in fine wine. Can't sell it for what I paid but I don't have an issue with liquidity. I'm writing that investment off a glass at a time.
- Sat Oct 12, 2019 12:58 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Deferred Comp Question
- Replies: 12
- Views: 1378
Re: Deferred Comp Question
As a follow up, the deferred comp is included in line 1 (wages) but not included in line 3 (social security wages), so I assume line 3 is what they look at to see if you would be penalized for excess income. But I would verify that with a visit to my local social security office.
- Fri Oct 11, 2019 9:18 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Deferred Comp Question
- Replies: 12
- Views: 1378
Re: Deferred Comp Question
I would definitely talk to a tax expert and the social security administration. I believe any income you receive for services rendered in prior years does not affect your benefits. Also, if you elect payment over 10 years it is treated as pension income for purposes of state and local taxation. The ...
- Wed Oct 09, 2019 12:13 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: POA Reimbursement
- Replies: 48
- Views: 3125
Re: POA Reimbursement
Can you? See RCW 11.25.120. Should you? ???
- Sun Oct 06, 2019 1:37 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Desperate for mattress help (Awara)
- Replies: 8
- Views: 677
Re: Desperate for mattress help (Awara)
We've had a Flobed for 10 years now. Natural latex. Can't beat it. Will probable last another 10. We will replace it with another Flobed. Check out their website.
- Tue Oct 01, 2019 11:38 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Are banks required to freeze accounts when notified of account holder's death
- Replies: 33
- Views: 3809
Re: Are banks required to freeze accounts when notified of account holder's death
UCC article 4 covers paper drafts; UCC Article 4a covers electronic transfers. That article is expanded, and can even be superseded, by NACHA operating rules and Federal Reserve Regs. The FDIC web site would be a great place to get educated in this area.
- Tue Oct 01, 2019 11:30 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: DW and I "need" new advanced medical directives, etc.
- Replies: 11
- Views: 883
Re: DW and I "need" new advanced medical directives, etc.
If you are having a lawyer prepare wills, trusts and other estate documents you might as well get the advance directives from the same source just to make sure everything is witnessed or attested properly. Otherwise, no reason not to use self-prepared forms for the medical docs in my opinion.
- Mon Sep 30, 2019 8:35 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How can I reduce tax exposure?
- Replies: 14
- Views: 1584
Re: How can I reduce tax exposure?
I would say thank you for your support. Formerly in the military and now as a taxpayer. At least you live in Florida.
- Sun Sep 29, 2019 9:36 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Are banks required to freeze accounts when notified of account holder's death
- Replies: 33
- Views: 3809
Re: Are banks required to freeze accounts when notified of account holder's death
There were statutes that required lessors of safe deposit boxes to file wills with the probate court. Those often conflicted with later laws giving joint lessors the right to enter the box after death of one owner. In the state I practiced the conflict was finally removed by a 1994 law but it was dr...
- Sun Sep 29, 2019 9:24 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Revocable Living Trust - naming as beneficary
- Replies: 8
- Views: 980
Re: Revocable Living Trust - naming as beneficary
Lott is correct on the tax ID. A revocable living trust where the grantor is a trustee is a disregarded entity for tax purposes and you must use the grantor's number.
- Sun Sep 29, 2019 4:21 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Are banks required to freeze accounts when notified of account holder's death
- Replies: 33
- Views: 3809
Re: Are banks required to freeze accounts when notified of account holder's death
I think spell check changed my mistaken "client" to alien.
- Sun Sep 29, 2019 4:03 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Are banks required to freeze accounts when notified of account holder's death
- Replies: 33
- Views: 3809
Re: Are banks required to freeze accounts when notified of account holder's death
It is not a statutory or regulatory requirement that I know of. But if a bank honors a check after the owner is dead it can be liable (see sec 4-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code). Also, banks are liable to return social security payments received after the death of the depositor, so banks have eve...
- Thu Sep 19, 2019 2:58 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Vacation ideas for February
- Replies: 48
- Views: 4039
Re: Vacation ideas for February
Too short a time to go to Asia, Australia or NZ in my opinion. We took a trip to Buenos Aires and a ferry across to Uruguay last year. Very enjoyable. Particularly enjoyed Montevideo. Big advantage is the less significant time difference from US time zones. No jet lag.
- Mon Sep 09, 2019 3:57 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Costco washer/dryer delivery: tipping?
- Replies: 54
- Views: 4412
Re: Costco washer/dryer delivery: tipping?
The guys who installed our garage doors just left $40 richer due to this thread. I probably would not have thought about tipping until I saw this thread. But I'm glad I did --- and so are they.
- Fri Sep 06, 2019 1:03 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Can you lose money by buying CDs?
- Replies: 24
- Views: 2633
Re: Did investors who bought Lehman Brothers CDs lose money?
Lehman Brothers was not a bank. They did not issue CDs. If you bought brokered CDs through them, their failure did not affect the CDs they sold. After the collapse many surviving entities obtained bank charters, so now you can buy CDs from Goldman Sachs and General Motors Acceptance Corp (aka Ally),...
- Wed Sep 04, 2019 9:37 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Do you consider your house as part of your bond portfolio?
- Replies: 52
- Views: 2561
Re: Do you consider your house as part of your bond portfolio?
No, but I consider my automobile as my entire international allocation.
- Fri Aug 23, 2019 2:11 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Help me understand stock dividend yield
- Replies: 19
- Views: 1400
Re: Help me understand stock dividend yield
If a dividend yield sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Yields are high right before a troubled company slashes its dividend. Always compare within the same sector to see if a yield is abnormal. Compare utilities to utilities, energy companies to other energy companies, financials to financi...
- Fri Aug 23, 2019 1:00 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Preferred Stock
- Replies: 27
- Views: 1780
Re: Preferred Stock
I own some preferred stocks and some municipal bonds. Both are being redeemed. Almost every bond with a coupon over 3.5% I have is being called and paid off with the proceeds of new issues. Since I always bought with the "yield-to-worst" in mind, I haven't suffered except being unable to replace the...
- Thu Aug 22, 2019 3:25 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Lender Release fees of $75 for Mortgage Payoff, Advice?
- Replies: 19
- Views: 1716
Re: Lender Processing/Release fees of $300 for Mortgage Payoff, Advice?
With respect to the $75 fee, the language authorizes it only if paid to a third party. Typically lenders fill out the blanks on a deed of release themselves as that has been held not to constitute the practice of law, but they can't charge a fee for it since charging a separate fee for filling out a...
- Wed Aug 21, 2019 3:23 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Why investment complexity is appealing and simplicity isn't
- Replies: 65
- Views: 3829
Re: Why investment complexity is appealing and simplicity isn't
I was always fascinated by complex investment vehicles. From auction rate securities to credit enhanced private activity bonds, I loved to parse the myriad underlying indentures, standby letters of credit, remarking agreements, ad infinitum. Of course, I worked as a lawyer in the finance industry. M...
- Tue Aug 20, 2019 2:21 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Cost basis for stock grant - original company gone
- Replies: 6
- Views: 414
Re: Cost basis for stock grant - original company gone
Receiving a stock grant is only a taxable event if they vest immediately. Otherwise the vesting is the taxable event and the value is taxed as ordinary income and the company withhold taxes as of the vesting date. That value is your original basis. If you end up with shares for which you can't figur...
- Tue Aug 20, 2019 2:14 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Ponder this, BH's... is Ben & Jerry's worth it?
- Replies: 142
- Views: 11473
Re: Ponder this, BH's... is Ben & Jerry's worth it?
Two things about this thread made me smile. Just thinking about B & J Phish Food and RadAudit's post.
- Sat Aug 10, 2019 11:45 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Advice on short Vietnam visit
- Replies: 30
- Views: 2619
Re: Advice on short Vietnam visit
We spent a week each in HCMC, Danang and Hanoi. Loved the experience and the people. Best tip I could give is to fly business class domestically. The security process alone is worth the extra money. It was a couple years ago but we got to go through security the same as the flight crew. No lines!
- Wed Aug 07, 2019 1:29 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Korea early Dec
- Replies: 7
- Views: 810
Re: Korea early Dec
Just spent a few weeks in Soeul and Busan and had no need for cash. Tipping is not required but that is about the only thing I used cash for. Transportation cards can be purchased at most stations and they are good for the subway as well as taxis, but all the taxis accepted credit cards.
- Fri Aug 02, 2019 10:56 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Acura RDX vs Audi Q5
- Replies: 93
- Views: 9381
Re: Acura RDX vs Audi Q5
I had owned nothing but Acuras until 2013 when I bought a new A6. Great car but the depreciation on an Audi is huge. Only buy a new one if you're going to keep it for a long time. I might compare the Q5 to an MDX also.
- Wed Jul 31, 2019 12:26 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Municipal bonds
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1661
Re: Municipal bonds
It is not legal to charge a commission and a spread. A broker may charge one or the other. Commissions are disclosed so most brokers do not charge them. Instead they "mark" up the bond. The terminology is a "mark" rather than a "spread," but that is just semantics. You can go to EMMA and track all p...
- Thu Jul 25, 2019 1:31 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Way out of financial catastrophe?
- Replies: 80
- Views: 11588
Re: Way out of financial catastrophe?
Your biggest asset is your human capital so you will be able to recover from this problem over time. The issue is making sure you have the time. Walking away is usually not a good answer. A foreclosure will ruin your credit for years and a foreclosure may leave you owing a large deficiency balance e...
- Fri Jul 19, 2019 10:06 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Undo Joint Account with Parents?
- Replies: 38
- Views: 3072
Re: Undo Joint Account with Parents?
Treas. Reg. § 25.2511-1(h)(4) spells it out clearly: With bank accounts and most brokerage accounts that call for the registration of securities in “street name,” Dad will not have made a reportable gift if he simply adds Junior’s name as a joint owner. Reportable gift transfers occur only if Junior...
- Mon Jul 15, 2019 2:29 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: House not appraising for amount we were offered!
- Replies: 137
- Views: 15081
Re: House not appraising for amount we were offered!
Appraisals are based on the reported sale prices of comparable properties. In a rising market an MAI appraisal will always be low since prices have been rising since the dates of the older sales used as comps. Same thing in reverse in a falling market. since most buyers will include a financing cont...
- Thu Jun 20, 2019 11:44 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: 5 days in Como, Italy
- Replies: 15
- Views: 1407
Re: 5 days in Como, Italy
We were traveling through that area in March and stayed in Monza for a couple days rather than Milan and enjoyed the park and raceway and old town area. Also liked the American style hamburger joint. Compare and see what fits your preference.
- Fri Jun 07, 2019 3:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Do I adjust capital gains/losses for short term trading fees?
- Replies: 10
- Views: 623
Re: Do I adjust capital gains/losses for short term trading fees?
Livesoft referred you to the right place. This is what you will find there: Amount realized. The amount you realize from a sale or trade of property is everything you receive for the property minus your expen- ses related to the sale (such as redemption fees, sales commissions, sales charges, or exi...
- Tue Jun 04, 2019 12:16 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Should All Grandkids Be Treated as Equal Members of Same Class?
- Replies: 104
- Views: 8812
Re: Should All Grandkids Be Treated as Equal Members of Same Class?
While my parents were alive I suggested they bring back primogeniture, but they would not have it. These discussions are interesting and are great reasons to review your will or trust whenever there is a change in circumstances and update in accordance with your wishes, whatever they may be. For me,...
- Sat May 25, 2019 12:18 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Rethinking Individual Stocks
- Replies: 76
- Views: 8114
Re: Rethinking Individual Stocks
Agree with Stinky. Individual stocks are for those whose other assets, or other income, are sufficient to permit the greater risk that goes with owning individual equities. The biggest risk for me is having such a low basis in individual stocks that tax considerations override prudent investment dec...
- Mon Apr 22, 2019 1:41 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: [2018 tax return - How does it compare to previous years?]
- Replies: 441
- Views: 35432
Re: How did you feel about your 2018 tax returns?
I saw someone complained about doing Cal itemization even though they took the federal standard deduction. I should be so lucky. Kansas does not permit itemization unless you itemize on the federal return, and the SALT limit prevented me from itemizing on the federal return. The amount I saved in fe...
- Thu Feb 14, 2019 12:51 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Do I Pay Tax on Husband’s Bonus Check Received the Year After He Died?
- Replies: 16
- Views: 3009
Re: Do I Pay Tax on Husband’s Bonus Check Received the Year After He Died?
check out IRS Publication 559
- Wed Feb 13, 2019 10:28 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: [2018 tax return - How does it compare to previous years?]
- Replies: 441
- Views: 35432
Re: [2018 tax return - How does it compare to previous years?]
The SALT limitation kept me from itemizing but my effective rate went down 2% due to the rate reductions. However, my state (like most?) doesn't permit itemization unless you itemized on the federal. That increased my state tax by about $1000. Looks like the new tax law is a windfall for states (unl...
- Sun Feb 10, 2019 4:04 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Is this just too simple
- Replies: 41
- Views: 6582
Re: Is this just too simple
When you say the minimal you receive on cash my only recommendation would be to move all cash out of Schwab's cash and money market account to SWVXX, which is their higher yielding cash account. One day delay in getting in or out of it. Based on your sobriquet and your financial picture I assume you...
- Sun Feb 10, 2019 2:54 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Best uses of Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
- Replies: 18
- Views: 2577
Re: Best uses of Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
We transfer them to their airline partners for international first and business class airfares.
- Sat Feb 09, 2019 12:44 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Buying house with son [and his girlfriend]
- Replies: 169
- Views: 10890
Re: Buying house with son [and his girlfriend]
Make sure you understand the legalities. I never heard of "joint tenants in common." There is joint tenancy with right of survivorship, and there is tenancy in common in which each fractional share is separately owned. I doubt a typical mortgage loan would be supported by tenancy in common. The only...
- Tue Feb 05, 2019 1:56 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: If you are old, why bother with rebalancing!!?
- Replies: 115
- Views: 9541
Re: If you are old, why bother with rebalancing!!?
I rebalanced last December and reduced my exposure to equities. OK, maybe I didn't proactively do it, but it occurred. I'm over 70 and have enough in fixed income to, so I don't feel the need to rebalance if the market goes up or down. But each person's risk tolerance should be the deciding factor.
- Sat Feb 02, 2019 5:10 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Credit Cards - Autopay inconsistent across companies?
- Replies: 40
- Views: 1959
Re: Credit Cards - Autopay inconsistent across companies?
We take long trips overseas and sometimes the hotel wifi won't let us us our VPN, so we have auto-pay on all our accounts for the full balance. That is our safeguard but we usually pay our card balances every week. Whenever we have a statement balance and subsequently pay manually, the auto-pay feat...
- Sat Feb 02, 2019 4:58 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: a beginner question about bonds interest rate risk
- Replies: 12
- Views: 899
Re: a beginner question about bonds interest rate risk
The day the government pays a higher rate is at least one day too late to sell your government bond. Actually, anticipated rate changes are already priced in so the day before the change was probably too late also. If you are buying bonds for safety and guarantied cash flow you should ignore changes...
- Fri Feb 01, 2019 4:19 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Bond Fund Dividend mistake?
- Replies: 10
- Views: 751
Re: Bond Fund Dividend mistake?
I always assumed buying a bond fund was pretty much the same as buying the underlying bonds. When you buy a bond you are also buying all accrued but unpaid interest. When you buy a bond fund the accrued interest is in the price, as is the premium or discount depending on the underlying bond yields.