Search found 93 matches
- Tue Jan 12, 2021 9:15 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: 2020 was a great year for individual stock pickers
- Replies: 63
- Views: 4691
Re: 2020 was a great year for individual stock pickers
I realize this forum does not generally advocate individual stock picking. But you should at least be aware that 2020 was a fantastic year for many of those who do pick individual stocks. In my own case I got many years of typical returns in one year from individual stocks and the value of my indiv...
- Sun Dec 20, 2020 5:48 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Why do we even need a fund to track the market?
- Replies: 105
- Views: 6182
Re: Why do we even need a fund to track the market?
Assuming this is a legit question (big assumption), you may be able to accomplish some of this using "stock slices". I know Schwab and Fidelity offer these. It allows you to create a pseudo etf. It solves some of the problems mentioned, but you still would have to do a lot of maintenance t...
- Wed Nov 11, 2020 1:30 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Notes taking for math, computer science
- Replies: 36
- Views: 1782
Re: Notes taking for math, computer science
Microsoft Surface with pen and keyboard.
You will be able to run code and install compilers on it. You can even run Linux in a VM.
More versatile.
You will be able to run code and install compilers on it. You can even run Linux in a VM.
More versatile.
- Sun Oct 18, 2020 7:46 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Pay $120/year for iCloud or switch to Google Photos
- Replies: 48
- Views: 3530
Re: Pay $120/year for iCloud or switch to Google Photos
I use Google photos during the year and at the end of the year, I download everything (at their quality storage settings) and back up to my NAS. I do not find any reduced Google Photo file image quality to be noticeable. Photos are limited to 16MP and videos to HD (1080P). I do have an Android phone...
- Thu Jul 16, 2020 11:39 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Oddly Difficult to Find Items During the Pandemic
- Replies: 307
- Views: 29183
Re: Oddly Difficult to Find Items During the Pandemic
baking supplies (ie. yeast). did everyone start baking geez? We are going to have a lot of bigger folks when no one can buy exercise equipment and everyone is baking like crazy. yes there is a HUGE baking trend now for people bored at home and are trying to limit going out for food.... Angel Food c...
- Tue Mar 24, 2020 7:33 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Should I have seen this coming?
- Replies: 107
- Views: 7560
Re: Should I have seen this coming?
When China closed Wuhan shouldn’t I have converted my VTSAX to money-market since I should have known an epidemic never stays local? Worst case scenario, if I had pulled the funds out, I would’ve been out of the market for 2-3 months and could put money back in VTSAX if nothing happened? Im in my 3...
- Tue Mar 24, 2020 7:28 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Why does the 4% rule work when the markets have huge corrections
- Replies: 51
- Views: 3511
Re: Why does the 4% rule work when the markets have huge corrections
I'm more concerned about what low bond returns will do for balanced portfolio than what a diversified portfolio of stocks will do. Stocks are certainly risky, but they have a chance of doing something better, bond yields are telling your precisely there return (which is next to nothing). That said,...
- Sun Mar 22, 2020 8:55 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Why does the 4% rule work when the markets have huge corrections
- Replies: 51
- Views: 3511
Re: Why does the 4% rule work when the markets have huge corrections
I'm more concerned about what low bond returns will do for balanced portfolio than what a diversified portfolio of stocks will do. Stocks are certainly risky, but they have a chance of doing something better, bond yields are telling your precisely there return (which is next to nothing). That said,...
- Sat Mar 21, 2020 9:37 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Guys I Rebalanced (Moved Monies Out Of S&P 500)
- Replies: 301
- Views: 18703
Re: Guys I Rebalanced (Moved Monies Out Of S&P 500)
You'll regret this move later. You'll torture yourself even more trying to figure out on when to get back in. If you can't handle a 50% drop, you shouldn't be in equities at all. "If You Can’t Stomach 50% Declines in Your Investment You Will Get the Mediocre Returns You Deserve" -Charlie ...
- Sat Mar 21, 2020 9:24 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Dad pulling retirements out of market. Advice Please!
- Replies: 84
- Views: 10628
Re: Dad pulling retirements out of market. Advice Please!
I feel sorry for the OPs father. I also agree with a risk reduction plan. It should let him sleep at night and have a some chance if inflation kicks in. NOTE to self. Think hard about a Target Retirement Fund when ready to retire (not too far away). If you retired in 2015 with Vanguard 2015 Target f...
- Fri Mar 20, 2020 7:29 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: 2020 COVID Crash Lessons
- Replies: 157
- Views: 13598
Re: 2020 COVID Crash Lessons
I follow lots of timing systems (don't use them) How do you do it? Portfoliovisualizer? I use that and I also have several Google Sheets setup with indicators. Its mostly an exercise to convince me that its almost impossible to consistently time using a system. I have not found one yet that works w...
- Thu Mar 19, 2020 11:11 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: 2020 COVID Crash Lessons
- Replies: 157
- Views: 13598
Re: 2020 COVID Crash Lessons
One last thing, if I was under the age of 50 (I'm not), I wouldn't do a thing (As in sell anything), unless you need the money for survival. This could be the best buying opportunity of the decade. What do you recommend for those of us over 50 - sell now? If you need the money you have to, otherwis...
- Thu Mar 19, 2020 7:18 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: 2020 COVID Crash Lessons
- Replies: 157
- Views: 13598
Re: 2020 COVID Crash Lessons
1. Hindsight is 2020. Everyone is second guessing themselves that they should have sold out. Even Ray Dalio admits he didn't see it, how could I? 2. There are more market timers here than I would have thought. I follow lots of timing systems (don't use them) and most would have been caught up in thi...
- Tue Mar 17, 2020 9:27 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Courses gone online, how to conduct exams?
- Replies: 35
- Views: 1099
Re: Courses gone online, how to conduct exams?
Not sure what the subject you are teaching, but for the class, I will use a combination of slack and zoom. Slack will work well for office hours. Zoom will work for lectures, since they can be recorded and saved. Can be watched live if they want to. For exams, I think that a take-home type exam is t...
- Mon Mar 16, 2020 7:15 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Planned to pay off debt, now wondering if liquidity is more important.
- Replies: 37
- Views: 3284
Re: Planned to pay off debt, now wondering if liquidity is more important.
I would:
Pay off all debt
Apply previous debt payments to rebuild emergency fund
Cut up credit cards after emergency fund rebuilt.
Save and invest.. don't borrow in the future except for mortgage.
Pay off all debt
Apply previous debt payments to rebuild emergency fund
Cut up credit cards after emergency fund rebuilt.
Save and invest.. don't borrow in the future except for mortgage.
- Sun Mar 15, 2020 6:30 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Fed Slashes Rates to Fight Coronavirus Slowdown WSJ 3/15/20
- Replies: 396
- Views: 20919
Re: Fed Slashes Rates to Fight Coronavirus Slowdown WSJ 3/15/20
The fed is not cutting rates so that we can all have our equity portfolios recover to new highs. They are dumping liquidity into the market. Equity recovery is one of the things they are hoping for, even though they won't say it (at least that's the idea). Remember TINA? There is no alternative. Le...
- Thu Mar 12, 2020 10:06 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: How much could we theoretically lose?
- Replies: 128
- Views: 10673
Re: How much could we theoretically lose?
I figure around 50% from the highs. I have no real basis for that other than it feels like 2008 type of panic. We are down almost 30% from the peak. Think about that. 20% more to go, if that's true (I hope not!). This is a real risk tolerance checkup. If you were 60-40, you are down to around 55-45 ...
- Thu Mar 12, 2020 9:45 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Why are bonds falling?
- Replies: 236
- Views: 6394
Re: Total Bond Market Down >4%
Treasuries are doing OK today. BND is not just Treasury bonds.
Things could change alot by end of day. Who knows?
Things could change alot by end of day. Who knows?
- Wed Mar 11, 2020 8:09 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Unmarried home ownership, joining his preexisting purchase
- Replies: 72
- Views: 3809
Re: Unmarried home ownership, joining his preexisting purchase
Don't do it. Pay rent if you must. Run, don't walk away from this "contract".
- Tue Mar 10, 2020 9:37 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Parent has ALS; Need Financial & General Advice
- Replies: 68
- Views: 2953
Re: Parent has ALS; Need Financial & General Advice
OP, Your mother has substantial assets for her medical care. Use them. Why should taxpayers pay for her when she can pay herself? That is not fair and probably not legal. regards. Just to clarify, of course her assets will be used for her care. And we're not talking about doing anything illegal her...
- Tue Mar 10, 2020 9:18 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Parent has ALS; Need Financial & General Advice
- Replies: 68
- Views: 2953
Re: Parent has ALS; Need Financial & General Advice
OP,
Your mother has substantial assets for her medical care. Use them.
Why should taxpayers pay for her when she can pay herself? That is not fair and probably not legal.
regards.
Your mother has substantial assets for her medical care. Use them.
Why should taxpayers pay for her when she can pay herself? That is not fair and probably not legal.
regards.
- Sun Mar 08, 2020 5:32 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Choosing a university/college for my son a future Computer Science Major
- Replies: 131
- Views: 11307
Re: Choosing a university/college for my son a future Computer Science Major
Faculty member at one of schools on your list here... Lots of good suggestions in this thread. I agree that a Tier 1 school will get your foot in the door when looking for a job after graduation more easily. But after a few years it does not matter as much where you went to school. You have to be ab...
- Thu Mar 05, 2020 6:23 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Be fearful when others are greedy. Be greedy when others are fearful.
- Replies: 129
- Views: 9411
Re: Be fearful when others are greedy. Be greedy when others are fearful.
I am guessing the OP was not invested in 2008... That was fear. Go back on this site and read some of the comments from then. At 10%-12% decrease is well within a "normal" range. This is good reality check to all the people that feel their risk tolerance is high. Maybe it is not, though. T...
- Thu Feb 06, 2020 8:29 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Well, I am market timing due to coronavirus... Wish me luck.
- Replies: 1293
- Views: 123687
Re: Well, I am market timing... Wish me luck.
If I were 34 again, I'd be 100% total market index. Period. Now that I am 52, and hope to retire in 8 years, I'm 62% stocks, 35% TIAA Traditional and bonds, 3% (and growing steadily) TIAA Real Estate. Turn off the TV, ignore the noise. No one knows nothin'. This!^^^^^^^^ I was going to say the same...
- Wed Feb 05, 2020 5:17 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Well, I am market timing due to coronavirus... Wish me luck.
- Replies: 1293
- Views: 123687
Re: Well, I am market timing... Wish me luck.
If I were 34 again, I'd be 100% total market index. Period. Now that I am 52, and hope to retire in 8 years, I'm 62% stocks, 35% TIAA Traditional and bonds, 3% (and growing steadily) TIAA Real Estate. Turn off the TV, ignore the noise. No one knows nothin'. This!^^^^^^^^ I was going to say the same...
- Tue Feb 04, 2020 5:48 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Would you drive without a spare tire?
- Replies: 193
- Views: 11966
Re: Would you drive without a spare tire?
I just switched the tires on my car from run flats to non-run flats. I never liked the stiff ride. Of course, there is no spare tire, so I bought a can of Fix-a-Flat and a 12v air compressor and put them in the trunk area. I have not had a flat in years, but I figure this guarantees I'll get one. If...
- Thu Jan 16, 2020 12:36 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: S&P 2/3 'correction' - Hussman makes his case.
- Replies: 58
- Views: 6143
Re: S&P 2/3 'correction' - Hussman makes his case.
Remember:
"Economists have predicted nine out of the last five recessions"
"Economists have predicted nine out of the last five recessions"
- Tue Jun 11, 2019 7:33 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: intrigued and puzzled by Schwab offer to waive fees on Vanguard mutual fund purchases
- Replies: 9
- Views: 1595
Re: intrigued and puzzled by Schwab offer to waive fees on Vanguard mutual fund purchases
as I've stated in other threads, if you've got enough in Schwab, they offer you the option of having one or two other companies funds at no cost ( I've got Vanguard set up for mine). It's possible that the office you use has seen that you have vanguard funds and wants to make you aware of that opti...
- Mon May 20, 2019 8:25 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Getting Ready for Windows 10
- Replies: 39
- Views: 3503
Re: Getting Ready for Windows 10
For file backup, you might just want to turn on "File History". Its similar to Time Machine on MacOSX. It will automatically backup files and folders of your choosing to an external storage device, with revisions saved too. For full disk backup, there is still the "Backup and Restore&...
- Mon May 13, 2019 7:24 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Will a financial pro be WILLING to run your SWR plan after cognitive decline?
- Replies: 67
- Views: 4685
Re: Will a financial pro be WILLING to run your SWR plan after cognitive decline?
Great question... A 3 fund (which I use) could probably survive without any rebalancing, but someone would still have to decide which of the 3 funds to extract the expenses from. A novice might be overwhelmed, especially if you have large balances. The alternative is to switch to a single fund, such...
- Sat Mar 23, 2019 3:03 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Do the wife and I have house fever? Want to buy 550k home
- Replies: 35
- Views: 4433
Re: Do the wife and I have house fever? Want to buy 550k home
No way would I do it, but its up to you. You will be house poor. What if it starts to need repairs?
And you can make $140K/year in a lot lower cost of living area in a tech field. Lots of green grass elsewhere for half that amount of house money. Let us know what you do.
take care,
And you can make $140K/year in a lot lower cost of living area in a tech field. Lots of green grass elsewhere for half that amount of house money. Let us know what you do.
take care,
- Sun Mar 03, 2019 12:59 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Initial Portfolio Assessment - So Very Excited
- Replies: 13
- Views: 1882
Re: Initial Portfolio Assessment - So Very Excited
Emergency funds: Yes, not included in the below. Debt: $14,000 Car Loan <4% Tax Filing Status: Single Tax Rate: A recent substantial increase in annual employer income pushed me from Federal 2x% tax bracket to 3x% tax bracket. Ouch. State income tax about 9%. More ouch. State of Residence: CA Age: ...
- Thu Feb 07, 2019 8:04 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: switching over Target Index Fund in Schwab to VG [investment advice needed?]
- Replies: 8
- Views: 530
Re: switching over Target Index Fund in Schwab to VG [investment advice needed?]
I’m not sure I’m following your logic. If your goal is to move to Vanguard only to use ETFs, why don’t you just stay at Schwab and use their ETFs instead? If anything, you’ll probably pay slightly less at Schwab. I kinda liked Vanguard in how they do their minimum automatic investment where there i...
- Tue Dec 25, 2018 10:43 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Dual Momentum Execution
- Replies: 17
- Views: 1837
Re: Dual Momentum Execution
Hello, I've read Gary Antonacci's book about dual momentum investing and thought it was interesting and thought provoking. For those of you who understand this strategy or perhaps use this strategy, I have a question. You have taken a YTD loss in whichever S&P500 index you are invested in. I'm ...
- Mon Jul 23, 2018 7:48 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Engineers come in.
- Replies: 108
- Views: 8925
Re: Engineers come in.
BS/MS EE here. Maybe a bit cold, but in the first semester mechanics class the professor started the class with something along these lines... "Look to you left, look to your right. If you make it through the program they won't". He was right less than 1/3 made it. Blowing off a first yea...
- Sun May 13, 2018 10:13 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: College laptop for fall 2018 freshman
- Replies: 82
- Views: 7054
Re: College laptop for fall 2018 freshman
As an engineering faculty member, I would advise an engineering student to get either a Surface Pro with Keyboard or a Surface Laptop. Since I require most work to be submitted electronically, they can do the assignments on their computer with the stylus. It eliminates the need to somehow digitize t...
- Fri Apr 13, 2018 11:41 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Early Retirement - On the fence, need sanity check
- Replies: 53
- Views: 11252
Re: Early Retirement - On the fence, need sanity check
Thanks everyone, for your insights. Its helpful to have other's opinions before I take this big step. Most of you have given your thumbs up, which supports my decision to go. I know I have to watch expenses and there is wiggle room in my budget, for sure. I will take it as it comes. Thanks again! H...
- Sat Mar 31, 2018 6:57 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Need Options - Honda Accord Incredibly Uncomfortable Seats
- Replies: 135
- Views: 35715
Re: Need Options - Honda Accord Incredibly Uncomfortable Seats
+1finite_difference wrote: ↑Wed Jul 26, 2017 10:12 pm Does your Accord have leather seats?
Is it not possible to replace a car seat for $1-2k? And keep the old car seat if you want to reinstall it back to stock? Could take a car seat from a used Acura or something?
- Thu Feb 22, 2018 8:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Replacing Tires on BMW X3
- Replies: 31
- Views: 17162
Re: Replacing Tires on BMW X3
This post caught my eye because I have just purchased at 2017 X3, CPO, with 9,500 miles. One question I have: will standard tires give better performance that run flats? I recall that when run flats first came out I read a lot in sports car forums about how inferior their performance to standard ti...
- Thu Jan 18, 2018 12:46 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: International Bonds
- Replies: 34
- Views: 7368
Re: International Bonds
+1 Valuethinker
- Tue Dec 19, 2017 8:33 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Can I afford it: Dodge Challenger
- Replies: 122
- Views: 9887
Re: Can I afford it: Dodge Challenger
Can you afford it? No
Even though loan rates are low, if you can't afford to pay cash, you shouldn't buy it.
But you are an adult and don't need anyone's permission.
Even though loan rates are low, if you can't afford to pay cash, you shouldn't buy it.
But you are an adult and don't need anyone's permission.
- Thu Oct 19, 2017 5:34 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Amazed by Vanguard Wellington's Performance
- Replies: 71
- Views: 18178
Re: Amazed by Vanguard Wellington's Performance
I'm not aware if anyone is "lauding" Wellington or Wellesley. I just ran a screener and made an observation that I found pretty shocking. Certainly anyone that doesn't believe in coincidences and rare repeatable, multi-decade long lucky streaks despite an active fee headwind would find it...
- Wed Oct 18, 2017 5:56 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: If someone held a gun to your head, and force u to gamble whether the S&P 500 will rise or fall tomorrow, what do u say?
- Replies: 45
- Views: 3754
Re: If someone held a gun to your head, and force u to gamble whether the S&P 500 will rise or fall tomorrow, what do u
This is perfect!MathWizard wrote: ↑Wed Oct 18, 2017 1:25 pm The bull goes up the stairs, the bear goes out the window.
- Wed Jun 14, 2017 4:43 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Poll: 401K Match
- Replies: 99
- Views: 21698
Re: Poll: 401K Match
2 to 1 match with a max match of 9%.
Ex:
contribution=1%, match=2%
contribution=2%, match=4%
...
contribution>=5%, match = 9%
Ex:
contribution=1%, match=2%
contribution=2%, match=4%
...
contribution>=5%, match = 9%
- Fri Jun 09, 2017 7:26 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Allen Roth article on how to get 5% income
- Replies: 16
- Views: 4038
Re: Allen Roth article on how to get 5% income
Try from his Twitter feed:The Wizard wrote:Sadly, that article is blocked...
https://twitter.com/Dull_Investing/stat ... 2574218244
- Sun May 28, 2017 7:47 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
- Replies: 6226
- Views: 1420911
Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
+1tludwig23 wrote:Just saw A Man Called Ove. Very good. I'd highly recommend for anyone.
- Tue May 23, 2017 11:55 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Why Invest in Average?
- Replies: 34
- Views: 4900
Re: Why Invest in Average?
I don't think "average" is the right analogy for an index fund. To use a golf analogy, the index is equivalent to " par ". Which, for golf, can be defined as "the number of strokes a first-class player should normally require for a particular hole or course." As a golf...
- Tue May 23, 2017 7:42 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Why Invest in Average?
- Replies: 34
- Views: 4900
Re: Why Invest in Average?
I don't think "average" is the right analogy for an index fund. To use a golf analogy, the index is equivalent to " par ". Which, for golf, can be defined as "the number of strokes a first-class player should normally require for a particular hole or course." As a golfe...
- Tue May 23, 2017 6:49 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Net worth is overrated
- Replies: 76
- Views: 12286
Re: Net worth is overrated
With all due respect, I do not know what prompted you to send this but I assume something involving yourself. I defy you to show me how somebody with 10 million dollars net worth can be in a worse position than somebody with nothing. I wouldn't say NW is overrated nor meaningless, but to simply ans...
- Wed May 10, 2017 8:59 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Time savers - life on automation
- Replies: 57
- Views: 10037
Re: Time savers - life on automation
I used an Arduino microcontroller with a limit switch to indicate when the door was open. A relay was used to close the contacts typically wired to a button near the door to the house. A little software and that was it.dratkinson wrote:How?ljb1234 wrote:I designed and built my own garage door closer.