Search found 4404 matches

by wander
Tue Mar 12, 2024 7:16 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What's your primary credit card?
Replies: 117
Views: 10238

Re: What's your primary credit card?

American Express Cash is my primary card, but I always carry a master card.
by wander
Sun Mar 10, 2024 6:33 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Sharing why we went with Vanguard PAS
Replies: 69
Views: 6687

Re: Sharing why we went with Vanguard PAS

OP, did Vanguard PAS help you to achieve your $4M? If not, what do you think a PAS can do that you are not capable of?
by wander
Sun Mar 10, 2024 6:25 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How Much Cash Do You Keep In Your Home?
Replies: 207
Views: 14896

Re: How Much Cash Do You Keep In Your Home?

Gas stations in NJ charge extra fees for credit card so having cash handy saves a bit.
by wander
Sun Mar 10, 2024 5:35 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Longtime iPhone user looking at Pixel - what to know?
Replies: 60
Views: 4772

Re: Longtime iPhone user looking at Pixel - what to know?

2behappytoday wrote: Fri Mar 08, 2024 1:05 pm
snic wrote: Fri Mar 08, 2024 12:48 pm
Cheez-It Guy wrote: Fri Mar 08, 2024 6:01 am That's what YOU think, but you're the green person messing up the media in the otherwise Apple-centric message threads.
My flip response to hearing someone complain about my texts showing up in a different color (or whatever the stupid imessage problem is with non-apple messages) would be, "if that is important to these people, I need to find better friends."
+1
+1. Family members accept each other regardless. Actually, my android phone keeps us together as nobody can leave the group. :D
by wander
Fri Mar 08, 2024 2:04 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Longtime iPhone user looking at Pixel - what to know?
Replies: 60
Views: 4772

Re: Longtime iPhone user looking at Pixel - what to know?

Everyone in my family uses Iphones, but I have a Pixel. I have no issue with texting. It's no big deal.
by wander
Tue Mar 05, 2024 10:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can I retire?
Replies: 41
Views: 4741

Re: Can I retire?

Should have posted it on Yahoo.
by wander
Fri Mar 01, 2024 2:54 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: IRS identity protection pin - executor of estate/final return
Replies: 8
Views: 1062

Re: IRS identity protection pin - executor of estate/final return

For filing joint return, do I need IP PINs for all of us or should one be sufficient?
by wander
Thu Feb 22, 2024 5:04 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tax Form 1116 rejected by IRS
Replies: 25
Views: 3453

Re: Tax Form 1116 rejected by IRS

Below are on page 12 and 13, page 14 is left blank as you mentioned above.

Page 12:
Image

Page 13:
Image
by wander
Thu Feb 22, 2024 4:23 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tax Form 1116 rejected by IRS
Replies: 25
Views: 3453

Re: Tax Form 1116 rejected by IRS

Strange! This is all I see on WF-1099 form, page 11:

Image
by wander
Thu Feb 22, 2024 3:58 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tax Form 1116 rejected by IRS
Replies: 25
Views: 3453

Re: Tax Form 1116 rejected by IRS

Schwab 1099 Supplement form shows Foreign Tax Paid and Dividends Amount, WF Supplement does not show dividends amount for foreign-only income so I have to calculate it manually by going line by line to find the exact CUISPs. I am not tax savvy and can only answer TT questions. Schwab's form is more straight forward than WF's. My WF statement did and I posted screen captures this week: https://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7716052#p7716052 I have to go online and look if there is a different 1099 form at WF. There is only 1 form (2023 Consolidated Forms 1099) and I could not find anything shown "Foreign Qualified Dividend income". Under "Investment Expenses, Foreign Taxes Paid and Other Fees", there are column...
by wander
Thu Feb 22, 2024 3:32 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tax Form 1116 rejected by IRS
Replies: 25
Views: 3453

Re: Tax Form 1116 rejected by IRS

This is also our first year of having to deal with 1116 form. TT reported errors and asks for information about qualified dividend. It took me a while to get all ducks in a row since Wells Fargo did not provide enough details in the supplement form, after that it reported no error. But I have not submitted yet. I'm surprised about the WF problem because my WF 1099 "package" has always had everything I need presented in a straightforward direct way. Indeed, I don't have any foreign nor international funds at any other brokerage because of their poor reports compared to WF. Schwab 1099 Supplement form shows Foreign Tax Paid and Dividends Amount, WF Supplement does not show dividends amount for foreign-only income so I have to calcu...
by wander
Thu Feb 22, 2024 3:16 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tax Form 1116 rejected by IRS
Replies: 25
Views: 3453

Re: Tax Form 1116 rejected by IRS

This is also our first year of having to deal with 1116 form. TT reported errors and asks for information about qualified dividend. It took me a while to get all ducks in a row since Wells Fargo did not provide enough details in the supplement form, after that it reported no error. But I have not submitted yet.
by wander
Wed Feb 21, 2024 6:39 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Schwab Bill pay
Replies: 9
Views: 1156

Re: Schwab Bill pay

Because of mailing, my payments were flagged as late plus with fees. Three weeks after Schwab was supposed to mail, the checks have not arrived.
by wander
Mon Feb 12, 2024 5:21 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is it foolish to keep driving my old car?
Replies: 138
Views: 12249

Re: Is it foolish to keep driving my old car?

I am driving an old car (300k+ miles) because it is one of the best cars over speed bumps and potholes.
by wander
Tue Jan 23, 2024 1:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best car for icy weather? Advice about driving in snowy conditions?
Replies: 113
Views: 7459

Re: Best car for icy weather? Advice about driving in snowy conditions?

H-Town wrote: Tue Jan 23, 2024 11:01 am
Macaroni2314 wrote: Tue Jan 23, 2024 7:53 am
jebmke wrote: Tue Jan 23, 2024 7:51 am The safest car when there is ice is the one that sits in the garage. Nothing really works on ice.
This is helpful, thanks! I mean it's helpful that nothing is really helpful, so just best to stay home.
+1. Nothing works on ice. Stay home is the best advice. If you need to drive in case of emergency, take the surface road and avoid freeway, overpass, hill, etc.

Snowy condition is different. All wheel drive works better. But the good rule of thumb is to drive slow.
+1.
Watch: People slip, vehicles slide down frozen hill after Oregon ice storm
by wander
Sun Jan 21, 2024 11:49 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Digitizing old photographs
Replies: 15
Views: 1602

Re: Digitizing old photographs

windaar wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2024 7:57 am Best bet is to get an inexpensive flatbed scanner - There are Canon models for less than $60 on Amazon. You'll pay more than that very quickly when getting a business to do it for you.
+1.
by wander
Sun Jan 21, 2024 11:24 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Re-Assessing Risk at 50
Replies: 42
Views: 4700

Re: Re-Assessing Risk at 50

OP, conservative or not is weighed differently for each person. I am about your age and used to 90/10, but a 36% market crash of did not bother me. If losing money will make you lose sleep, you need to be careful when changing the risk level.
by wander
Sat Jan 20, 2024 2:49 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What motivated you to save money?
Replies: 232
Views: 27993

Re: What motivated you to save money?

I do not really have a motivation to save money. I was just using common sense. I know if I make $1, I must not spend more than $1. It's been like that my whole life.
by wander
Sat Jan 20, 2024 11:18 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Treadmills
Replies: 59
Views: 5508

Re: Treadmills

I also has Sole equipment. It has good machines but bad customer service.
by wander
Sat Jan 20, 2024 10:13 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard: "Important: We've been unable to reach you by email"
Replies: 129
Views: 15020

Re: Vanguard: "Important: We've been unable to reach you by email"

OP, easiest way is to call VG using the phone number on its web site. You will find out exactly what it was about (scam or whatever), then shred the mail. Done.
by wander
Fri Jan 19, 2024 11:07 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Leave family temporarily for new job in Bay Area?
Replies: 88
Views: 8122

Re: Leave family temporarily for new job in Bay Area?

For me, family means being together wherever life leads us. So, my answer is no if it means anything.
by wander
Fri Jan 19, 2024 10:04 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Is GEHA the best option if I want an HSA?
Replies: 16
Views: 1323

Re: Is GEHA the best option if I want an HSA?

We also have had a good experience with GEHA but our family has been relatively healthy (no regular meds). I believe there's a BCBS HDHP as well which seem comparable in the DC metro area. We stick to GEHA HDHP for vision but have GEHA standard for dental. Geha HDHP is your primary for dental and Geha fedvip is your secondary. I would not give GEHA HDHP to dental office and only give them dental card. I understand that dental office will be paid extra for billing both of my medial and dental insurances; however, I don't see they ever return the extra money they receive from our medical insurance to us. Why would they return it to you? They would need to return the overpayment to the dental insurance company. FEHB is always primary over FED...
by wander
Thu Jan 18, 2024 7:49 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tesla in Cold Weather
Replies: 197
Views: 17874

Re: Tesla in Cold Weather

I'm holding off on buying a BEV because about 70% of the time that car would sit in an outdoor parking lot in NYC without ready access to a charger. I can generally park it with a 50% full battery, but how long would that last in February while the car is keeping the battery from freezing? I've read lots of anecdotes but real data are hard to come by. I understand that cold doesn’t consume power, though it does lower the voltage available so the state of charge reads lower (until the battery warms, then the state of charge reads higher again). Personally, I left my Tesla in a near-freezing covered garage during Covid lockdown for 6 weeks, and it lost only 30% state of charge. My previous car, a German ICE, would have needed a jump start af...
by wander
Thu Jan 18, 2024 4:44 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Is GEHA the best option if I want an HSA?
Replies: 16
Views: 1323

Re: Is GEHA the best option if I want an HSA?

tj wrote: Thu Jan 18, 2024 2:19 pm
RJC wrote: Thu Jan 18, 2024 12:25 pm We also have had a good experience with GEHA but our family has been relatively healthy (no regular meds). I believe there's a BCBS HDHP as well which seem comparable in the DC metro area.

We stick to GEHA HDHP for vision but have GEHA standard for dental.
Geha HDHP is your primary for dental and Geha fedvip is your secondary.
I would not give GEHA HDHP to dental office and only give them dental card. I understand that dental office will be paid extra for billing both of my medial and dental insurances; however, I don't see they ever return the extra money they receive from our medical insurance to us.
by wander
Thu Jan 18, 2024 3:39 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tesla in Cold Weather
Replies: 197
Views: 17874

Re: Tesla in Cold Weather

I'm holding off on buying a BEV because about 70% of the time that car would sit in an outdoor parking lot in NYC without ready access to a charger. I can generally park it with a 50% full battery, but how long would that last in February while the car is keeping the battery from freezing? I've read lots of anecdotes but real data are hard to come by. I understand that cold doesn’t consume power, though it does lower the voltage available so the state of charge reads lower (until the battery warms, then the state of charge reads higher again). Personally, I left my Tesla in a near-freezing covered garage during Covid lockdown for 6 weeks, and it lost only 30% state of charge. My previous car, a German ICE, would have needed a jump start af...
by wander
Mon Jan 15, 2024 2:34 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Aren't you an above-average investor?
Replies: 169
Views: 17502

Re: Aren't you an above-average investor?

I am an average investor, but I am an above-average saver.
by wander
Sat Jan 13, 2024 7:41 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Looking for 65" HDTV
Replies: 60
Views: 6775

Re: Looking for 65" HDTV

You seem really angry over a non-issue given $30 Roku sticks. Not at all. I am not angry. If it was you, you would be upset too. It was ten+ years ago before any chromecast or Roku stick was available. I am fed up when company lies about the an awesome feature leading me to buy the TV then remotely updates the software to remove the feature. Sony's first smart TVs with Android built-in came out in 2015, less than 10 years ago. And there were definitely Chromecast, Amazon Fire, Roku and other streaming devices on the market at that time (and well before that). For as long as there have been smart TVs, it's always been the case that the TV's built-in smarts won't receive updates or remain compatible with all apps for all that long, a problem...
by wander
Sat Jan 13, 2024 2:55 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Combo car jump starter/air compressor rec
Replies: 25
Views: 2787

Re: Combo car jump starter/air compressor rec

Buy separately. You can replace easily when one fails. I am fan of capacitor jump starter by the way, it lasts very long.
by wander
Sat Jan 13, 2024 1:43 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Looking for 65" HDTV
Replies: 60
Views: 6775

Re: Looking for 65" HDTV

My Sony TV with Android TV (released in 2020) is working fine and still getting updates. Good for you. I really hate Sony Google TV every time I look at the TV :annoyed. I bought it for my MIL 10 years ago but she only watches live TV. So it works out for her as a dummy TV. I paid a fortune for the Sony Google DVD player too. You seem really angry over a non-issue given $30 Roku sticks. Not at all. I am not angry. If it was you, you would be upset too. It was ten+ years ago before any chromecast or Roku stick was available. I am fed up when company lies about the an awesome feature leading me to buy the TV then remotely updates the software to remove the feature. Sony's first smart TVs with Android built-in came out in 2015, less than 10 y...
by wander
Sat Jan 13, 2024 1:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Looking for 65" HDTV
Replies: 60
Views: 6775

Re: Looking for 65" HDTV

At that price level, no question: OLED. LG, Sony, and Samsung are all good; I like Sony's Google TV platform but find their OLED TVs are glossier and thus more prone to glare than the other two. On balance, LG C3 is probably the best choice ($1800 at Best Buy or Costco). I was one of the earlier buyers of Sony smart Google TVs and Google TV DVD players when they first came out 10+ years ago. After a year of using, when their contract did not go well and they disabled all the "Google" features in those devices and turned them to dummies. My Sony TV with Android TV (released in 2020) is working fine and still getting updates. Good for you. I really hate Sony Google TV every time I look at the TV :annoyed. I bought it for my MIL 10 ...
by wander
Sat Jan 13, 2024 9:14 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Looking for 65" HDTV
Replies: 60
Views: 6775

Re: Looking for 65" HDTV

At that price level, no question: OLED. LG, Sony, and Samsung are all good; I like Sony's Google TV platform but find their OLED TVs are glossier and thus more prone to glare than the other two. On balance, LG C3 is probably the best choice ($1800 at Best Buy or Costco). I was one of the earlier buyers of Sony smart Google TVs and Google TV DVD players when they first came out 10+ years ago. After a year of using, when their contract did not go well and they disabled all the "Google" features in those devices and turned them to dummies. My Sony TV with Android TV (released in 2020) is working fine and still getting updates. Good for you. I really hate Sony Google TV every time I look at the TV :annoyed. I bought it for my MIL 10 ...
by wander
Sat Jan 13, 2024 9:09 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: How big a portfolio is okay for 100% stock?
Replies: 115
Views: 20630

Re: How big a portfolio is okay for 100% stock?

It's okay to see $100,000 turned to $50,000 during a market crash. Is it still okay for you that your $10M portfolio turned to $5M in a short time. Would you wish that you have bought the $5M mansion instead? It's more like a question for yourself. Not any market recovery is as quick as we have seen recently.
by wander
Sat Jan 13, 2024 8:47 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Good quality Air Compressor for car and bike tires, etc
Replies: 58
Views: 5597

Re: Good quality Air Compressor for car and bike tires, etc

Bought my TACKLIFE portable tire inflator for $28 3 years ago and have skipped the line at gas station for air. I have been using monthly for all or our cars. The convenience is well worth the price.
by wander
Sat Jan 13, 2024 8:41 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Is anybody actually running out of money in retirement?
Replies: 201
Views: 46566

Re: Is anybody actually running out of money in retirement?

OP, the answer is easy: yes, of course.
by wander
Sat Jan 13, 2024 7:00 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Looking for 65" HDTV
Replies: 60
Views: 6775

Re: Looking for 65" HDTV

02nz wrote: Fri Jan 12, 2024 9:59 am At that price level, no question: OLED. LG, Sony, and Samsung are all good; I like Sony's Google TV platform but find their OLED TVs are glossier and thus more prone to glare than the other two. On balance, LG C3 is probably the best choice ($1800 at Best Buy or Costco).
I was one of the earlier buyers of Sony smart Google TVs and Google TV DVD players when they first came out 10+ years ago. After a year of using, when their contract did not go well and they disabled all the "Google" features in those devices and turned them to dummies.
by wander
Sat Dec 30, 2023 6:18 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Radiator Flush [cost question]
Replies: 14
Views: 1640

Re: Radiator Flush [cost question]

I did mine for $30 each and our cars are over 200k miles. By the way, coolant is toxic liquid and should be disposed properly. I think high pressure flush makes no sense and may cause problems that should not happen in the first place.
by wander
Sat Dec 30, 2023 10:21 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: DAF - Vanguard, Fidelity, or ?
Replies: 28
Views: 2387

Re: DAF - Vanguard, Fidelity, or ?

I contribute an amount of 3-5 year worth of donation and distribute them accordingly. If I give the whole thing to a charity, they still come back to ask me for more donation on the next day; so I rather make the income steady for them.
by wander
Sat Dec 23, 2023 10:19 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: how much do you think you need to retire?
Replies: 279
Views: 56372

Re: how much do you think you need to retire?

We have enough to retire but are still working. It's all about health insurance for us.
by wander
Sat Dec 23, 2023 10:04 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What are you up YTD? [Year To Date]
Replies: 5249
Views: 899807

Re: What are you up YTD? [Year To Date]

Up 19% with 90/10 equity/bond portfolio.
VOO (YTD 25.89%), EFAV (11.27%), FSMAX (25.44%), AGG (5.21%), AVUV (23.28%), OAKMX (30.47%), EEMS (21.39%), PRIDX (11.54%), VNQI (5.6%).

I don't have much choice and have to choose these ETFs and mutual funds.
by wander
Fri Dec 22, 2023 4:42 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: CA Solar Decision
Replies: 90
Views: 12004

Re: CA Solar Decision

Bot403 wrote: Mon Dec 11, 2023 6:11 am So the hazard risk is significantly less than an extra tank of gas.
+1. I have battery backup (lithium ion) in one of my closets with all the thermal sensors/alarm and have not seen anything out of ordinary.
by wander
Thu Dec 21, 2023 7:43 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Does a SUV have more utility than a sedan?
Replies: 297
Views: 144014

Re: Does a SUV have more utility than a sedan?

Of course, SUV has more utility than a sedan, but depends on what you need and everyone has different needs.
by wander
Thu Dec 21, 2023 7:17 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Can I afford to splurge on a Tesla?
Replies: 92
Views: 9557

Re: Can I afford to splurge on a Tesla?

OP, yes, you can afford a Tesla. It's not a lot money for your new toy. It seems you have set your mind on it already so I wonder why bother posting the question on this forum.
by wander
Sun Dec 17, 2023 10:51 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Honday Odyssey 2012, spark plugs covered in oil
Replies: 19
Views: 3118

Re: Honday Odyssey 2012, spark plugs covered in oil

They said the spark plugs are covered in oil
Can you explain more? Are all the spark plugs covered in oil? external or internal?
by wander
Sun Dec 17, 2023 10:33 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Dental and vision insurance
Replies: 35
Views: 5965

Re: Dental and vision insurance

PowderDay9 wrote: Sun Dec 17, 2023 6:48 am The biggest value of dental insurance is to get the in network discounts. Often they are 30-50% discounts off the dentist's charges. If you're going out of network anyway, then it often makes sense to skip the dental insurance unless the premiums are heavily subsidized for you.
Agree with in network discount; but even for out of network (specialists mostly), my dental insurance always covers 50% the bill, so for me, it is still worth it.
by wander
Fri Dec 15, 2023 8:53 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Radiator Flush How Often How Much
Replies: 61
Views: 10842

Re: Radiator Flush How Often How Much

If you don't know what you are doing, the result may be worse than not flushing at all.
by wander
Sun Dec 03, 2023 5:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: ROKU TV now missing numbers and a question
Replies: 4
Views: 831

Re: ROKU TV now missing numbers and a question

I face similar problem as the OP. It's intermittent. I usually go to recent channels to find the live local TV channels.
by wander
Fri Dec 01, 2023 3:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: T5 engineering school or in-state T35 with full-ride?
Replies: 285
Views: 40076

Re: T5 engineering school or in-state T35 with full-ride?

quantAndHold wrote: Fri Dec 01, 2023 3:17 pm I honestly have never interviewed anyone from Florida, so I have no idea if a grad from there can compete in Silicon Valley or not. If the SV companies don’t recruit there, though, I would consider that at least a pink flag.
An open minded recruiter would recognize a talented and willing to work future employee regardless of where s/he graduates from.
by wander
Fri Dec 01, 2023 8:01 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: T5 engineering school or in-state T35 with full-ride?
Replies: 285
Views: 40076

Re: T5 engineering school or in-state T35 with full-ride?

If your DD's goal is getting MS later, UF is more than enough. I went to community colleges for the first two years, transferred to a public university, graduated BS debt free (was working full-time), was hired after graduation by a good company, worked for 20+ years without being laid-off and will retire with pension. My MS degree was paid by my employer. I've made enough to support my family financially with part-time working spouse. My dream was/is just to live a simple and stable life.
by wander
Thu Nov 30, 2023 9:31 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What are you up YTD? [Year To Date]
Replies: 5249
Views: 899807

Re: What are you up YTD? [Year To Date]

90/10 (Equity/Bond), up 11.5% YTD.