Search found 1019 matches

by Jackson12
Sat Aug 15, 2020 7:06 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Infosys and Vaguard . Should I be concerned?
Replies: 12
Views: 1504

Infosys and Vaguard . Should I be concerned?

I don’t know enough to evaluate this so I’d appreciate some feedback on the implications of Vanguard partnering with Infosys for outsourcing. Is this a positive or potentially negative development? Sorry to be so uninformed about any consequences. See link about Vanguard outsourcing
https://www.forbes.com/sites/steveandri ... 1bdf026722
by Jackson12
Sat Apr 11, 2020 4:37 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Bogleheads community discussion - Coronavirus
Replies: 1653
Views: 107063

Re: Bogleheads community discussion - Coronavirus

I wear an N95 mask around high risk patients and a surgical mask with general unknown patients. If there is a potential for high risk I wear an N95. Most of the time I wear a surgical mask though. All procedures I wear an N95. Just so I understand. You wear no glasses and just street clothes. Is that correct? I sometimes wear glasses at the grocery store but it is rare. I should wear them more because I see better with them. Otherwise no, I wear street clothes, no glasses, a surgical mask, and lately a baseball cap because my hair is getting too long. I also keep hand cleaning solution in the car. I meant to ask what PPE you wear when you are surrounded by covid-19 patients. Eye protection, clothing, hair covering, etc. Also, if you where ...
by Jackson12
Sun Apr 05, 2020 3:05 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Seasoned Bogleheads; What 3 Things Have You Done Financially Related to the Economy Recently
Replies: 112
Views: 12982

Re: Seasoned Bogleheads; What 3 Things Have You Done Financially Related to the Economy Recently

1 Rebalanced

2 Run the numbers on our budget since we no longer eat out, drive ( including driving to and from work ) shop for new clothes, get our hair cut etc, Some expenses have gone up since we now have our groceries delivered, But on the whole, we have more savings
We always evaluated our budget regularly. The only change was doing it a bit earlier than usual.


3 Run the numbers on the impact of a slightly earlier retirement and taking social security early . ...early retirement was always a year to year decision but now seems more probable .

We’re not stressing. .
by Jackson12
Tue Mar 10, 2020 10:38 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Coronavirus (Consumer Issues) How you are preparing?
Replies: 1800
Views: 178826

Re: Coronavirus; How has your Life changed?

Serious question, other than my savings balance, the only changes I've seen are fear, worry, and every store being sold out of hand sanitizer and face masks! Myself, and everyone I know continue with the regular scheduled routine. I'd really like to hear from anyone or anyone that knows anyone affected by this virus. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html Two of my mom's close friends were on the Diamond Princess, a late-50's aged couple. They tested positive for the virus and (to date) have exhibited pretty much no symptoms. Things can change quickly. Several schools just closed in my area but the kids aren’t being asked to quarantine at home ...just not go to school. I’m at retirement age but I know working parents with kid...
by Jackson12
Sat Mar 07, 2020 9:16 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Coronavirus (COV-19) and money - risks?
Replies: 18
Views: 1932

Re: Coronavirus (COV-19) and money - risks?

Enough is enough. Do you realize how crazy this is getting? Well said---true! No, I don’t. The CDC recommends “I Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe “. For some, “frequently touched objects” could include money, depending on how they shop... or their job...and the type of payment accepted ( cash, credit, etc) and need to use some cash regularly, for whatever reason. .Even in today’s world, not everyone accepts credit cards or online payments. The World Health Organization notes that they are still researching the factors related to transmission abd . “ Studies suggest that coronaviruses (including preliminary information on the COVID-19 virus) may persist on surfaces ...
by Jackson12
Sat Mar 07, 2020 5:57 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Coronavirus (COV-19) and money - risks?
Replies: 18
Views: 1932

Coronavirus (COV-19) and money - risks?

Would appreciate input. This linked article ( below :from the Journal of Hospital Infection caught my eye, So did this https://www.reuters.com/article/us-heal ... SKBN20T1YT


. https://www.journalofhospitalinfection. ... cle_inline

So ...does it make sense to take precautions with slightly older currency that might not have been “quarantined” or cleaned ( slightly older bills) ...or am I overthinking this? We,have someone with an immune compromised system in our household so I’m a bit jittery.
by Jackson12
Fri Mar 06, 2020 10:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Coronavirus (Consumer Issues) How you are preparing?
Replies: 1800
Views: 178826

Re: Coronavirus (Consumer Issues) How you are preparing?

Oddly enough, food is the one category that I am not so concerned about stockpiling. If we are infected, neither of us will feel like cooking. In addition, neither of us eats a lot of the types of foods that can be stored indefinitely so as to ensure that they will not go to waste eventually if we don't become infected and quarantined. If quarantined, once we plow through our normal supplies on hand I figure it should be easy enough to get delivery services to drop off meals on our doorstep or in our driveway if they have been paid and tipped in advance online. (That will not be the time that I will be looking to save a few bucks on food!) Failing that, we could almost certainly get friends or relatives to drop meals and/or food on our por...
by Jackson12
Fri Mar 06, 2020 10:05 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Coronavirus (Consumer Issues) How you are preparing?
Replies: 1800
Views: 178826

Re: Coronavirus (Consumer Issues) How you are preparing?

I am going to be cautious. I am definitely not going to be scare. Flu kills more people than the coronavirus. I have toilet paper, paper towel, Clorox and lysol wipes, water and other drinks handy in my house. This is not newly bought items but I usually have a surplus so I don't need to shop all the time. I have several international trips planned b4 the outbreak. I intend to travel to Canada, Croatia , and New Zealand. Unless the airline cancels my flight, I will continue to live and enjoy my retirement life. Flu kills more people than the Coronavirus? That is true so far ButThe World Health Organization epidemiologists stressed, in a recent briefing, that this is a developing situation and the overall mortality rate as well as the morta...
by Jackson12
Thu Mar 05, 2020 7:59 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Coronavirus (Consumer Issues) How you are preparing?
Replies: 1800
Views: 178826

Re: Coronavirus (Consumer Issues) How you are preparing?

Never been a preppier before, bud admittedly refilling medications and toilet paper. Will probably buy some pantry staples too. I usually keep our cupboards fairly bare, and I’m less comfortable with that now. I feel comfortable with our level of prep. A couple of my neighbors were frantically searching the stores for hand sanitizer and necessities just the other day. Sanitizer was all sold out, of course, as it is in many areas. . Now they’re saying things like” We haven’t had a lot of cases in the U.S overnight” and “This is just going to blow over” .” It’s not as big a deal in the news any more so it’s no big deal ”. I don’t think they understand how diseases spread and rates of transmission, etc but I’m no epidemiologist or medical exp...
by Jackson12
Mon Mar 02, 2020 5:13 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Coronavirus (Consumer Issues) How you are preparing?
Replies: 1800
Views: 178826

Re: Coronavirus (Consumer Issues) How you are preparing?

celia wrote: Sun Mar 01, 2020 10:16 pm
Corsair wrote: Sun Mar 01, 2020 9:42 pm Could I use triple ply as a face mask?
Who cares if face masks are sold out!
My doctor says face masks do help but only if worn by sick people. They don’t keep the virus from escaping the masks but do reduce the distance particles travel from a sneeze or cough If an individual stays 6 feet away from others, this might help.

Here’s why: there is evidence that it isn’t only exposure to the virus that causes sickness but also the frequency and intensity of exposure. This may be why health care workers, including young ones, get the virus so often, and why more of them have serious cases: frequent and intense exposure. Their immune systems may be overwhelmed.

If a mask reduces the intensity of exposure I see that as a plus.
by Jackson12
Mon Mar 02, 2020 5:03 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Coronavirus (Consumer Issues) How you are preparing?
Replies: 1800
Views: 178826

Re: Coronavirus (Consumer Issues) How you are preparing?

Would be interested in knowing the general age and professions of those noting they are purchasing extra supplies. I’m been assuming ( but rethinking my assumptions) , that most are in their 50s and older. Younger individuals and their children hav3 less likely to get sick and have serious effects ( exceptions bring health care workers) . Children have been at very low risk. My information not only comes from what I’ve read but input from a trusted physicians assistant and doctor. Our situation : late 60s . One Individual is a teacher ( exposed to many students who travel home ( some cross country) on school vacations, several times a year. The risk of the school closing, perhaps for a month or longer, is significant. We’re stocking up with...
by Jackson12
Fri Feb 28, 2020 10:47 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Coronavirus (Consumer Issues) How you are preparing?
Replies: 1800
Views: 178826

Re: Coronavirus (Consumer Issues) How you are preparing?

Age: Mid- 60s. We’re at higher risk. One family member has an auto- immune condition and thus a compromised immune system. We are already prepared somewhat,because there have been times when he’s been urged to stay inside for up to 2 weeks ( when immunity was particularly low or when a “simple cold” wasn’t so simple when it hit ) . So we’ve basically stocked up on more of what we usually have on hand for extended stays inside... food, water, toilet paper, meds, alcohol wipes, sanitizer, soap, water, ...the basics. We have gloves. disposable shoe covers, disposable sponges, disposable thermometer covers, masks ( which a nurse has told us offers only partial protection but does reduce some risk, mainly the force and distance the virus particl...
by Jackson12
Wed Feb 26, 2020 2:37 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Coronavirus (Consumer Issues) How you are preparing?
Replies: 1800
Views: 178826

Re: Coronavirus (Consumer Issues) How you are preparing?

I'm really not going crazy about this. On the one hand federal officials are sounding scary alarms, on the other hand 34 people in the US out of 300,000,000 are infected. Do you think that the number of new infections in the U.S. has already peaked? i don’t believe so. A Map of verified cases up in the United States , including those who recovered, can be found at the link Below, as compiled by John Hopkins. These include those who recovered but of course not the number of individuals exposed to those people. . There have been 57 confirmed cases in the United States. A group in New York state has just gone into voluntary quarantine and tests are being administered.. https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda759474...
by Jackson12
Wed Feb 26, 2020 7:04 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Coronavirus (Consumer Issues) How you are preparing?
Replies: 1800
Views: 178826

Re: Coronavirus (Consumer Issues) How you are preparing?

We have a number of threads on Coronavirus, but I want this one to specifically focus on consumer issues and how you are preparing. The way I see it, risk of infection is not the same as risk of quarantine; or to put things even more broadly, risk of weathering the effects of quarantine. I do not need to be exposed to be quarantined, I don't even need to be around people who are exposed. All that need happen is that I be around people who are suspected of being exposed. In the same vein, one does not need to be hit by a hurricane to weather shortages in supplies. My prep so far: 1. Stocking up on disposable N95 masks. Easier said than done. 2. Stocking up on all non-perishable consumables. (Lotion, Toilet Paper, Paper Towels, etc) 3. Stock...
by Jackson12
Sat Nov 02, 2019 7:39 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Anyone here use a fee-only flat fee investment advisor?
Replies: 22
Views: 14620

Re: Anyone here use a fee-only flat fee investment advisor?

"Fee only" can mean an AUM fee. This. You may have to search to find a flat fee advisor who truly charges a one time and reasonable flat fee not based on the AUM. Alan Roth is an example of a true flat fee advisor who doesn’t charge an AUM fee. There are others but you may have to wade through a list of those advertising as flat fee advisors to find those meeting your criteria. When researching “ fee only “ advisors, I found many, even those who said they were paid one time flat fees, still offered only an ongoing annual or quarterly fee arrangement and a complex number of investment options. And yet they still advertised as flat fee advisors. I started with https://www.napfa.org/... Thei “ flat fee” for “flat fee” advisors was f...
by Jackson12
Sat Nov 02, 2019 7:21 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Wade Pfau's Safety First Book
Replies: 11
Views: 2647

Re: Wade Pfau's Safety First Book

AlohaJoe wrote: Sat Nov 02, 2019 4:02 pm
Mr. Rumples wrote: Sat Nov 02, 2019 8:15 am Goodreads.com has reviews. I guess my concern is that some folks write that it ends up being a sales book for a company. Before I spend money on that, I'll just see the library copy. Maybe the reviews are cattywampus.
I don't see any reviews on Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/482 ... t-planning

Where are you finding them? I'd be curious to read some reviews first as well.
I found this on Goodreads, 1 rating only : https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/482 ... t-planning
by Jackson12
Sat Nov 02, 2019 7:18 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: EverSafe and cognitive decline study
Replies: 15
Views: 2633

Re: EverSafe and cognitive decline study

On a related note and for what it worth, , you might consider looking at this site https://www.aptwebstudy.org/welcome It’s a series of free tests, some considered challenging for most individuals ( whether or not they have cognitive decline) . You’ll get regular and individualized results over time, alerting you to early cognitive decline when there’s still time to finalize an effective back- up plan. The study is funded by The National Institute on Aging and the Webstudy monitors participants “through regular online memory testing, which they can do from the comfort and convenience of their own home and then matches them to Alzheimer’s disease prevention trials that they might consider. The APT Webstudy , as noted on the site, “does not r...
by Jackson12
Mon Sep 30, 2019 9:48 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Mouse in the house
Replies: 46
Views: 5698

Re: Mouse in the house

A pest control guy advised us to low tech methods for keeping mice away once they’re under control. ...or at least actions which would strongly encourage them to live elsewhere. He says they'll move into a home where there are easy pickings over ones where they have to search hard for food. So our cereal, sugar, flour, snacks, etc are either kept in sealed containers or in the refrigerator. We use the kind of containers where the lid snaps or twists on. Even though we don’t deep clean daily. We do clean and check floors and tables and chairs for any food crumbs. Until we did this we’d see the evidence, not hard to miss, of mouse visits. Now we rarely have those little visitors...and if we do, they’re easily trapped and gone. We know when th...
by Jackson12
Tue Sep 17, 2019 2:06 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Facing very short gap without health insurance, options
Replies: 26
Views: 1694

Re: Facing very short gap without health insurance, options

I hope I’m missing some easy solution .A relative accepted a good job with significantly higher pay than her current job and with a company where she previously worked and with good job stability. She’ll be working with people she’s worked with before and trusts. . A job opportunity opened up with the company and they reached out to her. She’s signed a contract and given notice at her current job, as required, within the time period needed. However, her new job can’t start imnediatrky Unfortunately, as it turns out, there’s a 5 day period where she’ll have no health insurance as she transitions between jobs. Cobra isn’t applicable due to her employer’s size ( less than 20 employees) I know the odds are slight that there'll be a serious hea...
by Jackson12
Tue Sep 17, 2019 2:02 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Facing very short gap without health insurance, options
Replies: 26
Views: 1694

Re: Facing very short gap without health insurance, options

student wrote: Tue Sep 17, 2019 2:00 pm Go on vacation. She can buy health insurance from Geoblue when vacationing outside of the country even if she does not have insurance her, and it is not expensive.
She’s moving cross country. With her possessions and a dog, The 5 days encompasses that and is a complexity I didn’t even remember...which was dumb. She reminded me and she’s also researching options. I was just so focused on the insurance gap.
by Jackson12
Tue Sep 17, 2019 1:57 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Facing very short gap without health insurance, options
Replies: 26
Views: 1694

Re: Facing very short gap without health insurance, options

Not to be too snarky, but why didn't she wait 5 more days before giving notice? Even if she waited 5 more days, she’d be required to stay in her job for a set period before starting the new one, mainly to train a replacement and finish up a project and she can’t get full benefits unless she’s working full time at the new one and the new one requires client contact from day one . After a required transition time in the current job, they can’t force her to continue working there. She does have a sense of responsibility to try and complete a current project although that won’t get finished if they try to string things along behind the expected deadline. Maybe there’s some way to be “ in the new job” before she sets foot in the door but so far...
by Jackson12
Tue Sep 17, 2019 1:49 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Facing very short gap without health insurance, options
Replies: 26
Views: 1694

Re: Facing very short gap without health insurance, options

I hope I’m missing some easy solution .A relative accepted a good job with significantly higher pay than her current job and with a company where she previously worked and with good job stability. She’ll be working with people she’s worked with before and trusts. . A job opportunity opened up with the company and they reached out to her. She’s signed a contract and given notice at her current job, as required, within the time period needed. However, her new job can’t start imnediatrky Unfortunately, as it turns out, there’s a 5 day period where she’ll have no health insurance as she transitions between jobs. Cobra isn’t applicable due to her employer’s size ( less than 20 employees) I know the odds are slight that there'll be a serious hea...
by Jackson12
Tue Sep 17, 2019 1:19 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Facing very short gap without health insurance, options
Replies: 26
Views: 1694

Facing very short gap without health insurance, options

I hope I’m missing some easy solution .A relative accepted a good job with significantly higher pay than her current job and with a company where she previously worked and with good job stability. She’ll be working with people she’s worked with before and trusts. . A job opportunity opened up with the company and they reached out to her. She’s signed a contract and given notice at her current job, as required, within the time period needed. However, her new job can’t start imnediatrky Unfortunately, as it turns out, there’s a 5 day period where she’ll have no health insurance as she transitions between jobs. Cobra isn’t applicable due to her employer’s size ( less than 20 employees) I know the odds are slight that there'll be a serious heal...
by Jackson12
Sun Sep 08, 2019 3:54 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Locating a good, unbiased “financial advisor”
Replies: 15
Views: 2038

Re: Locating a good, unbiased “financial advisor”

Take a look at Allan Roth. Hourly fee based advice. No management of the accounts. https://daretobedull.com +1 for Allan. Highly recommend him. If you conduct a search for his name in this board you’ll see him described as “ one of the good guys “ by prominent Bogleheads, one of which has a published book endorsed by Bogle himself. 1. He does not try to convince clients to use him on an ongoing basis...such as consulting him several times a year.( with a fee each time). Other advisors who can call themselves fee only may push for for ongoing services which can cost as much as AUM agreements...or even more... even though they’re not actively overseeing a portfolio, making trades, etc. 2. He will look at the whole financial picture, everythi...
by Jackson12
Sat Aug 31, 2019 2:56 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Vanguard alert [Unclaimed property notice]
Replies: 103
Views: 19222

Re: Vanguard alert [Unclaimed property noti

miket29 wrote: Sat Aug 31, 2019 12:51 pm
FranMan wrote: Fri Aug 30, 2019 9:23 pm I registered just so I could post my experience with this. The thread is dated, but hopefully this will be helpful to some.
Wow, scary info! Thanks for posting.

I'm a buy and hold investor so I just leave things alone for long periods of time. I'm going to set a calendar event to log in every 6 mos.
See my previous post. Even buy and hold investors get periodic mail or other updates from Vanguard...or we always did, if only during tax season.we also received periodic requests to verify Iour information- names, contact info, etc...and to update if needed.
by Jackson12
Sat Aug 31, 2019 2:53 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Vanguard alert [Unclaimed property notice]
Replies: 103
Views: 19222

Re: Vanguard alert [Unclaimed property notice]

Update. I called Vanguard this morning and they had to research what triggered the alert and call me back--which they did. Here's the story. As I mentioned in a previous post in this thread, I have multiple accounts that show up under my login. I have limited agent authorization on one of these accounts owned by a nephew, who I am trying to help out. Apparently, and I say apparently because as a limited agent on the account they say they cannot discuss this with me, US mail to my nephew has been returned. The alert was triggered by the returned US mail. My nephew does not have email (now you know why I'm trying to help him out) but does have a phone number on file with Vanguard. Seems to me that might have been a better way to resolve what...
by Jackson12
Thu Aug 29, 2019 7:18 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Safe withdrawal rate for this portfolio?
Replies: 22
Views: 1898

Re: Safe withdrawal rate for this portfolio?

Historically, 40% equity exposure would have been a little light for '4% rule'-type withdrawals over 30 years. According to FIRECalc, there would have been eight historic periods where such a portfolio would have been exhausted between years 26-30 (all of which had starting dates before 1970, FWIW). If they were actually planning on 4% withdrawals for 30 years, I would advocate that they consider more equity exposure, at least 50%. But after they begin SS benefits, their withdrawal rate will fall significantly, to the point that they would arguably be around the perpetual withdrawal rate. I agree that probably that increasing equities to 50% would be a good move, but so would ensuring that whatever equities are there are as completely dive...
by Jackson12
Thu Aug 29, 2019 4:54 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: How Bad was 2008, really?
Replies: 407
Views: 63832

Re: How Bad was 2008, really?

jharkin wrote: Fri Jun 14, 2019 7:30 am
finite_difference wrote: Fri Jun 14, 2019 6:35 am
livesoft wrote: Mon Jan 09, 2017 9:27 pm Someone will surely link the thread of fear from back then.

Where is that thread? I don’t fear an imminent situation like 2008 but have followed the advice to not risk more in equities than we could afford to lose. I’d like to share the link with someone who asked “ how bad it was” ,including for those who were confident they’d stay the course.
by Jackson12
Wed Aug 28, 2019 11:40 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What makes your dream house so special?
Replies: 41
Views: 4074

Re: What makes your dream house so special?

Many bogleheads have mentioned that they live in their dream house, some even cut down on travel because the house is so perfect. So what makes your house so special to you? Is it Size? Yard? Decoration? View? Neighborhood? We love the house, did from the first. Wooded view. No neighbors’ windows overlooking our yard or deck. A nice stone fireplace, eat- in kitchen and excellent layout, room to entertain and for the grandkids to play in the family room. The neighbors on our street are the icing on the cake. It was pure luck that we moved to a street where there are regular neighborhood events and newcomers-are warmly welcomed. There’s an email list for any updates- school carnivals, a death, or someone alerting neighbors about a lost- or f...
by Jackson12
Wed Aug 28, 2019 7:27 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Safe withdrawal rate for this portfolio?
Replies: 22
Views: 1898

Re: Safe withdrawal rate for this portfolio?

dbr wrote: Wed Aug 28, 2019 6:34 pm Homestretch has shown that your math is a little off. Unless I have completely misunderstood, three years from now at the most, as you begin Social Security, your withdrawals will be down to about $80,000/year (rough round numbers) and your withdrawal rate will fall from a hypothetical 4% to 2/3 that or 2.7%. This is the same analysis as Homestretch in rougher terms. You should not have a problem. In the meantime your portfolio may well have even gained value. Does that makes sense?
Yes, it all makes sense. Thank you.
by Jackson12
Wed Aug 28, 2019 6:38 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Safe withdrawal rate for this portfolio?
Replies: 22
Views: 1898

Re: Safe withdrawal rate for this portfolio?

dbr wrote: Wed Aug 28, 2019 6:34 pm Homestretch has shown that your math is a little off. Unless I have completely misunderstood, three years from now at the most, as you begin Social Security, your withdrawals will be down to about $80,000/year (rough round numbers) and your withdrawal rate will fall from a hypothetical 4% to 2/3 that or 2.7%. This is the same analysis as Homestretch in rougher terms. You should not have a problem. In the meantime your portfolio may well have even gained value. Does that makes sense?
Yes. Of course the portfolio could have hit a rough patch in equities, given the natural highs, lows, recessions, etc...that occur. But it certainly seems like we could ride that out as well..based on the withdrawal rate we’d be using.
by Jackson12
Wed Aug 28, 2019 6:35 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Safe withdrawal rate for this portfolio?
Replies: 22
Views: 1898

Re: Safe withdrawal rate for this portfolio?

Your portfolio draw would be higher in a surviving-spouse scenario so you may want to run those numbers. If it turns out your child will need support indefinitely, consider seeing an estate attorney to discuss whether leaving assets in trust for child’s support makes sense. Thank you. We met with an estate attorney earlier and have a special needs trust in place for our child .with a trustee and backup trustee...but it can’t be used before our deaths, for complex reasons.., per the attorneys advice. So our current concerns are having sufficient funds to support us and our child without being able to use the trust. We won’t be on Medicare, other than Part A hospital coverage, since my spouse has creditable employer health insurance and we c...
by Jackson12
Wed Aug 28, 2019 6:23 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Safe withdrawal rate for this portfolio?
Replies: 22
Views: 1898

Re: Safe withdrawal rate for this portfolio?

All the advice you received already is excellent and should help you to understand your options better. I also recommend this safe withdrawal rate Google Sheet from Earlyretirementnow.com: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1QGrMm6XSGWBVLI8I_DOAeJV5whoCnSdmaR8toQB2Jz8/edit#gid=0 Just save your own copy to edit. You can enter your portfolio allocation, expected returns, and cash flow in order to see withdrawal rates based on different historical scenarios as well as different market valuations (CAPE). Certainly it is no guarantee, but it might add some additional flexibility and autonomy to your planning to try out the sheet. Thank you for that resource. It appears very helpful and I’ll save a copy to edit. My only other concern is how ...
by Jackson12
Wed Aug 28, 2019 6:11 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Safe withdrawal rate for this portfolio?
Replies: 22
Views: 1898

Re: Safe withdrawal rate for this portfolio?

Ages, 66 and 67 Older spouse is 67. Portfolio: $3 million. Primarily bond and index funds. Expenses : $10k a month Total of Vanguard withdrawals and take home pay: $10,400. We are trying to defer social security to age 70 . If we did we’d get $39,500 a year in SS benefits. If we filed at age 67, we’d get $ 37,700. Of course, we could also file at age 68, 69 and any other year before age 70 and SS benefits would rise accordingly. You are both planning to delay until 70? Are you sure that's optimal? See: https://opensocialsecurity.com/ In general, the higher earner should delay until 70. It's usually not optimal for both to delay that long. [quote=Jackson12 post_id=4722862 time=<a href="tel:1567027092">1567027092</a> user_id=102912...
by Jackson12
Wed Aug 28, 2019 4:18 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Safe withdrawal rate for this portfolio?
Replies: 22
Views: 1898

Safe withdrawal rate for this portfolio?

Ages, 66 and 67 Older spouse is 67. Details: Portfolio: $3 million. Primarily bond and index funds. Expenses : $10k a month We hope this is temporary A significant portion currently goes to a disabled adult child while waiting for SSDI to kick in. It’s been a complicated and drawn out process...which is the norm for SSDI. Where our living expenses come from : 1. We’re currently withdrawing $8000 a month from our Vanguard portfolio with $6000 automatically distributed by a Vanguard PA , in as tax- advantaged manner as possible. $2000 monthly of that total comes from short term cash reserves. Total of above : 8k. 2. An additional $2400 a month comes from my husband’s pay.. His salary is $45k but only $2400 comes home after deducting for pre-t...
by Jackson12
Fri Aug 23, 2019 7:30 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Mom-in-law divorced at 67, investment plan advice
Replies: 26
Views: 3506

Re: Mom-in-law divorced at 67, investment plan advice

How much are you willing to spend to help support your mother? The following take is not meant to be judgmental but a reality check: Based on what you’ve noted about her spending habits, your mother doesn’t seem likely to sustain a safe withdrawal rate from her portfolio. Is that true? We had a relative in the same situation and helped financially for a bit, until we realized we weren’t really helping. We shouldn’t have allowed him to deny the reality of his precarious finances. In his case, when he lost his safety net ( us) he made some significant changes. He decided to downsize and share his space with a roommate to help make ends meet, renting out a spare bedroom and use of an extra bathroom and other areas. He also worked part- time bu...
by Jackson12
Sat Aug 17, 2019 12:23 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Long-Term Care Decision
Replies: 332
Views: 23716

Re: Long-Term Care Decision

https://www.thinkadvisor.com/2019/08/15/5-markopolos-ge-long-term-care-insurance-report-highlights-for-agents/?slreturn=20190716134615 This is disturbing news. On the same page this info appears: : “ . Markopolos himself says he has a strong financial incentive to be hard on GE .This doesn’t mean that his analysis of GE is incorrect but when one’s financial interests and profits are involved, I believe the potential for bias is higher. Members of the public who want to see his report first have to acknowledge that they have read his disclosures. Markopolos says in the disclosures that members of his company, Forensic Decisions PR LLC, personally have “securities, derivatives, and/or other financial instruments” that will generate a profit ...
by Jackson12
Fri Aug 16, 2019 6:31 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: question about Anthem announcement: not paying for outpatient MRI and CT
Replies: 14
Views: 2312

Re: question about Anthem announcement: not paying for outpatient MRI and CT

SandysDad wrote: Thu Aug 15, 2019 9:16 pm Cant the doctor just write the script for the type of scan and equipment needed?
He can write the script but insurance won’t cover it unless it’s at a lower cost facility. They’ll usually. inform patients that coverage is limited. I may not have been clear about that. . If lower cost options exist, the insured is penalized for not using them. Or at least penalized when it comes to coverage, even at a hospital that’s in network.
Years ago, that happened to us but we’ve been lucky since then.
by Jackson12
Thu Aug 15, 2019 11:54 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: question about Anthem announcement: not paying for outpatient MRI and CT
Replies: 14
Views: 2312

question about Anthem announcement: not paying for outpatient MRI and CT

I know that Anthem announced, back in 2018, that their general policy would be to deny payment for outpatient MRI and CT scans performed at hospitals... if patients could save money by going to a freestanding imaging facility. Now my cousin’s doctor informed him that the radiology services used and preferred by the doctor is cutting all ties with Anthem. The doctor also noted he didn’t believe that many of the available freestanding facilities offered the same advanced imaging available at most of the local hospitals. As a result, our cousin now thinks he should dig deep and simply self pay for the doctor preferred hospital scan Has anyone else contended with this and found any recourse ( other than self pay) if ones insurance company refus...
by Jackson12
Wed Aug 14, 2019 8:24 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Laid off - 59yo - advice please
Replies: 44
Views: 8075

Re: Laid off - 59yo - advice please

Do you own a house or do you rent? I see you’re resistant to the idea of a renter but think your suggestion to revisit this is a wise one
You can screen tenants and if a renter has a job , you might see each other only sparingly.

There are also online jobs, working from home...age can be less of a factor because your employer may never meet you or conduct a brief phone interview . If you have the skills, tutoring is an option, perhaps in your home. In my area, tutors are in demand and get a decent hourly rate.
by Jackson12
Mon Aug 12, 2019 8:40 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: [Vanguard ongoing glitches, August 12-13, 2019]
Replies: 256
Views: 24637

Re: What is happening with Vanguard site?

I finally got through to Vanguard. I was referred to this and told it caused a “ back end issue” at Vanguard but would be straightened out soon. I’m not sure how the following info resulted in such a large error with Vanguard but this is what happened with NASDAQ today and I was told it was related to the incorrect numbers shown on the Vanguard website: : “The U.S. stock market’s consolidated quote system, which feeds real-time data feeds to data providers and is used to calculate index values, experienced a processing issue that resulted in some delayed quotes, according to exchange officials familiar with the matter. The Nasdaq market flagged an issue affecting the quote system about 24 minutes before the close”. . : https://www.cnbc.com/...
by Jackson12
Mon Aug 12, 2019 8:33 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: [Vanguard ongoing glitches, August 12-13, 2019]
Replies: 256
Views: 24637

Re: What is happening with Vanguard site?

whodidntante wrote: Mon Aug 12, 2019 8:29 pm Other people have posted that their money at Vanguard disappeared. Now we know where it went.
Is this a glitch anyone has seen before? I’m not worried, just baffled. And curious if others are seeing similar or other glitches today. I can’t see any news about it in online searches.
by Jackson12
Mon Aug 12, 2019 8:26 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: [Vanguard ongoing glitches, August 12-13, 2019]
Replies: 256
Views: 24637

What is happening with Vanguard site?

[merged into existing thread - moderator prudent]

Update : moderator merged my new thread with a pre- existing one, which is appreciated because I couldn’t find the previous thread.

My thread originally read : “ I can’t find a thread on this glitch. Surely someone here has noticed or posted. Any link? My account shows it has over 40 million in it. That’s way above the actual number. , Has this or something similar happened before?”

I wouldn’t have started another thread if I’d seen that someone posted earlier about the glitch.
by Jackson12
Wed Aug 07, 2019 9:47 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Why won’t anyone hire me?
Replies: 156
Views: 18368

Re: Why won’t anyone hire me?

I’m 48, female, was a stay at home parent for the past 7 years, but I’m ready to go back in the workforce so I can help contribute to bills and retirement account. I don’t have a college degree but I do have some secretarial experience prior to when my son was born. I have literally applied on Indeed to close to 100 jobs in the past couple months, and been on about 20 different interviews. All the interviews seemed to go very well, but then I get rejected over and over. I’m fairly attractive, clean, dress nice. What am I doing wrong? Is it really this hard to find a job nowadays? I am applying mostly office positions but now I’m starting to wonder if I should just apply at McDonald’s. Is it my age? I can’t even believe how difficult it is ...
by Jackson12
Wed Aug 07, 2019 9:12 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Selling home and effect on Medicare premiums and taxes
Replies: 4
Views: 773

Re: Selling home and effect on Medicare premiums and taxes

Spirit Rider wrote: Tue Aug 06, 2019 11:50 pm Note: A married couple has a $500K exclusion from real estate capital gains if they have lived in the home for two out of the last five years. Also, certain maintenance and improvements increase your cost basis. You can have a pretty substantial increase in purchase to sale price and have little to no capital gains reported in your AGI/IRMAA MAGI.
We’ve been running the numbers and think we might do fine when it comes to capital gains, He wasn’t married and he was not aware that..in his situation... the home sale would temporarily increase his taxes and Medicare premiums. It wasn’t a huge hardship, just a surprise.
by Jackson12
Wed Aug 07, 2019 9:07 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Selling home and effect on Medicare premiums and taxes
Replies: 4
Views: 773

Re: Selling home and effect on Medicare premiums and taxes

There’s not much you can do about it as selling your home is usually a one time payment, unless you want to carry the mortgage. The good news is that if the cap gains are enough to cause you to pay the IRMAA fee, it only lasts for one year. When you look at how much an ACA health insurance costs, it is still a bargain. The IRMAA surcharge doesn’t go into effect until two years after the high income. Here is what we are talking about for mfj: Income. Part b Premium plus IRMAA <170k. $135 To 214k. $189.60 To 267k. $270.90 To 320k. $352.20 To 750k. $433.40 >750k. $460.5 Of course there are part d increases also. So let’s say you get to the second highest tier, that means a couple would pay an extra $7161.60 for one year. Not the end of the wo...
by Jackson12
Tue Aug 06, 2019 9:38 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Selling home and effect on Medicare premiums and taxes
Replies: 4
Views: 773

Selling home and effect on Medicare premiums and taxes

We want to sell our home and downsize, especially since home sales are brisk in our area...which hasn’t always been the case. We’re rethinking things, though, after a relative gave us a heads up. He sold a home shortly before signing up for social security and Medicare. He said taxation of Social Security benefits is based on a concept called “provisional income.” And because his home sold for a significant gain, he’s faced with maximum taxes on his social security. His Medicare Part B premiums are also income based and higher than anticipated. Both Social Security taxes and Medicare premium amounts will be reduced when his income drops to normal and anticipated levels. . We’re going to run the numbers but I’m wondering how others at or nea...
by Jackson12
Tue Aug 06, 2019 9:23 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Oh geeze. How should I pay for this? Walk me off the ledge
Replies: 52
Views: 7227

Re: Oh geeze. How should I pay for this? Walk me off the ledge

I've heard some folks talk about Carecredit. I think they are interest free for a period of time depending on the amount borrowed. I have zero experience with them. https://www.carecredit.com/ Healthcare oriented. Care Credit works fine...with one caveat. . We’ve used it and it gave us some breathing room to pay off a large bill with no interest and without depleting our emergency fund. However, Care Credit has a significant pitfall . Many Care Credit offers use deferred interest . This means that if you don’t have the full purchase paid off by the end of the promotional period, you will be charged retroactive interest , often at an APR of 26.99%...which is calculated from the date of your original purchase on the card. If you pay off the ...
by Jackson12
Mon Jul 29, 2019 4:29 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Advice on taking a draw from Vanguard accounts
Replies: 8
Views: 1316

Re: Advice on taking a draw from Vanguard accounts

I personally have dividends (but not capital gain distributions) from some of my Vanguard taxable account mutual funds direct deposited into my Credit Union. I have the old mutual fund platform so establishing direct deposit on the new platform using the web interface may be different As someone else said need to cover the tax liability. I think this can also be done with IRAs (if you are old enough and not using the Required Minimum Distribution Service or in addition to the RMD) and having Vanguard to withhold a percentage for IRS tax. Don't know if State tax can be done that way. We do not have IRAs but do have Roth accounts and some TIA- Cref Traditional which is its on animal and has RMDs whenever one reaches 70. There are no RMDs at ...