Search found 54 matches

by Joe_R95
Thu Oct 19, 2023 8:30 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Company running 2 401k plans in same building. Is it legal?
Replies: 4
Views: 1300

Re: Company running 2 401k plans in same building. Is it legal?

Thanks guys. I'm unsure why the testing even exists if they can build a 401k for themselves, and leave the workers with one that fails the testing every year.
by Joe_R95
Thu Oct 19, 2023 4:29 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Company running 2 401k plans in same building. Is it legal?
Replies: 4
Views: 1300

Company running 2 401k plans in same building. Is it legal?

Going to keep this somewhat discrete. At the beginning of this year a "private" meeting was held with aprox 20-30 low income long term employees to discuss their 401k. They were told not to talk about the meeting, but of course they came back excited spilled the beans about the percentage increase and other benefits they were going to receive. The rhetoric they were using was straight out of the safe harbor rules. Rules I'm very familiar with because the 401k I'm stuck with fails HCE compliance testing, and isn't very usable for my retirement planning. I knew what was up, but held out hope they were just trying to fix our 401k. Fast forward to today. HR sent out emails and I started getting questions about safe harbor again. I had...
by Joe_R95
Mon Aug 21, 2023 6:28 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Help Annette Keep Working and Not Retire
Replies: 648
Views: 62249

Re: Help Annette Keep Working and Not Retire

I think you should sit down and come up with a number that would sustain your lifestyle before retiring, make that goal, and then retire into a less stressful field that pays most of the bills. Mid 50's is young, plenty of time for a second career. I'm planning on going into teaching after hitting 2.5m. Lots of time off, keeps me in the same field, and keeps the electricity on without any draw down just in case.
by Joe_R95
Fri Feb 03, 2023 6:11 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here
Replies: 3606
Views: 562287

Re: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here

stoptothink wrote: Fri Feb 03, 2023 5:40 pm Well, we have contributed >$300k in the last 2yrs...
You've got me beat. Best I've been able to contribute is $100k/year.
by Joe_R95
Fri Feb 03, 2023 5:36 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here
Replies: 3606
Views: 562287

Re: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here

stoptothink wrote: Fri Feb 03, 2023 12:47 pm That's awesome, I'm in a very similar situation. My wife and I had pretty close to nothing when we married (I was 32, she was 27), but we had two financial goals before I hit 40: 1M portfolio and a paid off house. Paid off the house at 37, then we hit 1M+ in assets ~6 months before I hit 40. I'm going to be 42 in a few months and the portfolio is now ~1.5M.
Yeah really similar. Paid off the house a few years ago. Net worth with the house is 1.3-1.4ish. I was aiming to hit it by 40, missed it by 2 months because last years market was rough. I would be ecstatic if the portfolio grew by 500k in 2 years. It seems to be hitting the point where the market movement is really beginning to outweigh contributions.
by Joe_R95
Thu Feb 02, 2023 8:50 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here
Replies: 3606
Views: 562287

Re: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here

Darth Xanadu wrote: Thu Feb 02, 2023 8:46 pm
Congratulations to you! Even though $1,000,000 is an arbitrary number, I would never call it a little win. Well done!
Every $10k is a win. A couple of weeks ago i was just excited I might hit it this year!
by Joe_R95
Thu Feb 02, 2023 8:38 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here
Replies: 3606
Views: 562287

Re: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here

Joe_R95 wrote: Thu Sep 12, 2019 5:47 am I finally broke $500k in invested assets yesterday for the first time. Was way more exciting when I almost got there a couple months ago. I'm 36 and have only been investing heavily since the very end of 2015. No inheritance or any windfalls. At the rate I'm going it looks like about 80% of my first million will be my money. Can't wait to see the yield curve start to form!

Congrats to everyone else in this thread. Remember to enjoy the ride.
I'm now 40 and just hit the second comma club for investments today! Will probably be sad to see it slip away tomorrow, but I'm well on my way to independence. Congrats everyone! Don't forget to celebrate the little wins.
by Joe_R95
Sun Apr 03, 2022 9:15 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Once you are FI how do you learn to spend it?
Replies: 230
Views: 21423

Re: Once you are FI how do you learn to spend it?

Along those lines, I have never owned a car anywhere near as long as I have owned my current car and the reason is I bought the exact car I wanted and I have enjoyed driving it everyday since without wishing I had got some feature I left off or even looking at new cars. So in many ways I have proven to myself getting what want is actually cheaper because I will keep it longer. Another funny part about this is the car I am looking at isn't a huge upgrade in level or cost to my current vehicle it but it was enough to roll the $10K digit one higher than what I was targeting/planning to spend. It is just such an odd and insignificant thing to get hung up on. So it's what you want, you'll keep it longer because you like it better, and the added...
by Joe_R95
Sun Apr 03, 2022 8:39 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Once you are FI how do you learn to spend it?
Replies: 230
Views: 21423

Re: Once you are FI how do you learn to spend it?

I have a similar mindset, and a hard time spending money on things I want. It's caused me some regret over the years. I solve my issue by asking myself "Will I regret not getting this". If the answer is yes I buy it, if its no I don't. I also like the Dave Ramsey quote "If burning the money in your backyard has no affect on your financial outcome don't worry about it". Or something like that. For what it's worth I just went through this same situation while finding a replacement for my 13 year old truck as a daily driver. Spent a month or so weighing the options on the model I wanted, and ordered one that's about $20k over a base model. Third largest amount of money I've ever spent at one time, and the cost is a little m...
by Joe_R95
Sun Dec 20, 2020 8:03 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Why am I investing in bonds?
Replies: 135
Views: 10436

Re: Why am I investing in bonds?

Seems like you knew the answer back in April.
Triple digit golfer wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2020 5:53 pm Interest rates increasing means that I will earn more interest in bonds. For a long term investor, that's a good thing.

So much hate on bonds lately, and after they did their job during the decline. I don't understand it.
I'm with you, but I think its just recency bias. Rebalancing in and out of them has served me well this year even if they are a bit of a drag when the market is going up.
by Joe_R95
Sun May 10, 2020 7:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: BJJ -martial art
Replies: 58
Views: 4386

Re: BJJ -martial art

BJJ is I think quite different from most martial arts. It is a very practical discipline that emphasizes full on combat within a set of rules (no striking, no biting, no eye gouging etc... One of my kids did Krav Maga, and if you want practical, holy smokes. :shock: No disrespect, but KM doesn't have a great reputation among the "MMA" arts: (principally BJJ/Grappling, Mu Thai/Boxing). The problem as I alluded to above is one of full on combat. You can't really practice the "dirty fighting" that KM classes love to espouse: Eye Gouging, Kicking your opponent between the legs, biting, etc etc. if you don't/can't practice those things in a full on combat setting, you end up not being effective with them. Unless people are v...
by Joe_R95
Sat May 09, 2020 7:13 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: High Income, next financial move?
Replies: 31
Views: 3568

Re: High Income, next financial move?

I started the company and I own 100%. I enjoy the work, the creativity, the building, the challenges, the problem solving, the interactions with the team. Sounds like you like it, and would get bored if you sold it. If you hated it it would be a different story, but keep it and roll on. Maybe even set a higher goal of 100m or so to keep you motivated. If the issue is you have more than you would ever spend look for new ways to use it to help out your community that would make you feel good about it. If you want to keep working, just less, start phasing yourself out a little and rewarding your leadership team with higher pay and new responsibilities. Lots of ways to handle it just don't sell it because you can then regret it later when you'...
by Joe_R95
Sun Apr 26, 2020 9:43 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Mother has only $85K to sustain her
Replies: 81
Views: 9513

Re: Mother has only $85K to sustain her

I would check with a lawyer. Had a friend go through this in Missouri. She basically got to live in the house as long as she wanted and they couldn't kick her out even though it was legally theirs. They did do a lot of nasty things until she willingly left though.
by Joe_R95
Wed Apr 22, 2020 5:46 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Your views on used car parts Industry
Replies: 31
Views: 1807

Re: Your views on used car parts Industry

I don't know if they're a good buy or not, but you're talking about different market segments. Advanced auto parts is a way different market from LKQ and other salvage companies. Companies like LKQ sell to a lot of body shops via insurance companies. A bad wreck on a 2+ year old car will likely get you some "Like Kind Quality" aka salvage parts installed. Everyone I know who runs their own shops uses o'riellys, as do we for aftermarket parts. Not sure how Advanced is, but it may be more popular in some other region. Independent shops do tend to buy used engines and transmissions salvage, as do extended warranty companies. Not sure about investing in them, but they probably aren't shutting down anytime soon.
by Joe_R95
Tue Apr 14, 2020 12:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Lawn tractor not starting
Replies: 35
Views: 2256

Re: Lawn tractor not starting

When I was a battery engineer, I worked on developing devices to prevent such explosions. During testing, we exploded a lot of batteries and battery mockups. Surprisingly, the acid hazard due to explosion is secondary. The primary hazard is plastic shrapnel from the battery cover. Yes, they do go off with a very loud bang. It doesn't happen often, so people are complacent about the hazard. Nevertheless, wearing eye protection and keep flames away from a battery are good precautions. Out of curiosity, what is the main cause of battery explosions? I'm speaking of small batteries such as those used in cars and light duty trucks? I don't have any data on this, but I would expect the main cause would be sparks due to using improper procedures f...
by Joe_R95
Tue Apr 14, 2020 9:26 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Lawn tractor not starting
Replies: 35
Views: 2256

Re: Lawn tractor not starting

This point gets made often, but I'm a bit curious what actual battery capacity and charge rate would be necessary to come anywhere close to the lower flammability limit for hydrogen. A quick search didn't yield conclusive answers, but a large data center UPS spec sheet indicated a ventilation rate that is equivalent to the minimum ASHRAE healthy air exchange rate in a 150 square foot room...for a battery system 50 times the size of the large PC UPS. It depends on whats wrong inside the battery. Maintaining a charge on a well functioning battery to preserve the charge should be fine. Using a charger to try to save a battery with a bad cell or sulfation issues is where the problem occurs. Rule of thumb is if it starts to smell bad unplug the...
by Joe_R95
Thu Apr 02, 2020 6:03 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Vanguard website: Activity through date?
Replies: 5
Views: 560

Re: Vanguard website: Activity through date?

Personal performance page, just below the graph on the right there is a box that lets you choose the time frame. The default is "Since inception" click that then choose custom.
by Joe_R95
Sat Mar 28, 2020 9:14 am
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: Over rebalancing
Replies: 25
Views: 2510

Re: Over rebalancing

With 80% stocks you dont need a bond fund. What did you mean by this? What do you use for your other 20%? I think Galeno meant that owning bonds when your stock allocation is over 80% doesnt make sense. But maybe my understanding is wrong. So cash instead? Wouldn't bonds still be better than cash? If your goal is to have "dry powder" during a crash high yield savings/cd's may be better because you don't run into volatility risks in the bond market when you need to rebalance. Pick your favorite bond fund and look at the chart over the past month when you may have needed to rebalance versus holding something more stable. Long term buy and hold bond fund yields will likely be better. A lot of people here seem to split that portion i...
by Joe_R95
Sat Mar 28, 2020 7:33 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: A time to EVALUATE your jitters
Replies: 678
Views: 630356

Re: A time to EVALUATE your jitters

I recall reading and responding to Nisi's post of over 4 years ago. The post is timeless and as accurate today as then and will be accurate 4+ years from now. If you have not done so, it's a keeper. :moneybag You jinxed us man... I really enjoy the old threads that pop up on this board when everyone is freaking out. I joined in 2015 and up until this crisis all I saw on this board was "stay the course" and "write an IPS and follow it to the letter". Turns out a lot of people only believe that when the market is going up. I'm sure this time is different. Last time was different too. Time before that even more different. Next time will be a whole new level of different that will surprise everybody. One of my favorite quot...
by Joe_R95
Thu Mar 26, 2020 8:23 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How can I figure out if my accountant reported my qualified dividends correctly?
Replies: 18
Views: 1294

Re: How can I figure out if my accountant reported my qualified dividends correctly?

anon3838 wrote: Thu Mar 26, 2020 6:48 pm Perhaps I'm missing something here, but looking at my own tax return, Form 1040, Page 1, Section 3a is Qualified Dividends, Section 3b is Ordinary Dividends. These numbers match the tax forms provided by my Broker (Fidelity) on Form 1099-DIV.
Yes, that's correct. I was afraid mine were done incorrectly(checking because of a bad mishap last year). I was specifically wondering if I was getting taxed appropriately on my qualified dividends because I couldn't figure out where to see the calculation of the lower rate anywhere in the documents I was given. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040gi.pdf page 33 is the worksheet used for that. I really just need to learn to do my own.
by Joe_R95
Thu Mar 26, 2020 6:11 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How can I figure out if my accountant reported my qualified dividends correctly?
Replies: 18
Views: 1294

Re: How can I figure out if my accountant reported my qualified dividends correctly?

rkhusky wrote: Thu Mar 26, 2020 7:19 am If there were any capital gains or qualified dividends, the tax should have been calculated from the QD and CG worksheet on pg 33, rather than directly from the tax tables.
That was what I kept coming up with from googling. I think that I just wasn't provided with a copy, or it was all done automatically using some software. Thanks for your help.
by Joe_R95
Thu Mar 26, 2020 7:15 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How can I figure out if my accountant reported my qualified dividends correctly?
Replies: 18
Views: 1294

Re: How can I figure out if my accountant reported my qualified dividends correctly?

rkhusky wrote: Thu Mar 26, 2020 6:50 am If this is for the 2019 1040, calculate the tax on the Taxable Income (Line 11b) using the tax tables (pg 62 in the 1040 instructions) or the Tax Computation Worksheet (pg 74). If it matches the tax on Line 12a, then all your income was taxed as income, not qualified dividends or capital gains.
Thank you, this did the trick. I still have no idea where the calculations were made, but this got me to a number where I could calculate qualified dividends in and get the same number she got.
by Joe_R95
Thu Mar 26, 2020 2:32 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How can I figure out if my accountant reported my qualified dividends correctly?
Replies: 18
Views: 1294

Re: How can I figure out if my accountant reported my qualified dividends correctly?

https://www.irs.gov/faqs/interest-dividends-other-types-of-income/1099-div-dividend-income/1099-div-dividend-income Answer Enter the ordinary dividends from box 1a on Form 1099-DIV, Dividends and Distributions on line 3b of Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return or Form 1040-SR, U.S. Tax Return for Seniors (PDF) or on line 10a of Form 1040-NR, U.S. Nonresident Alien Income Tax Return. Enter any qualified dividends from box 1b on Form 1099-DIV on line 3a of Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR or on line 10b of Form 1040-NR. Right, but if I'm not mistaken there has to be a way qualified dividends are treated differently in a form somewhere otherwise it just gets added in to your ordinary income on the 1040 and taxed at your regular rate instead ...
by Joe_R95
Thu Mar 26, 2020 1:34 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How can I figure out if my accountant reported my qualified dividends correctly?
Replies: 18
Views: 1294

How can I figure out if my accountant reported my qualified dividends correctly?

The title pretty much says it all. I have a lot of forms that were filled out, but I don't see a Qualified dividend and taxable gain worksheet. Is there a way to tell if it was done correctly somewhere? The Schedule B shows the full amount as ordinary dividends, but that and form 1040 are all I have that shows dividends. Thanks
by Joe_R95
Sat Mar 14, 2020 4:12 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard saying I created a wash sell. Not sure?
Replies: 3
Views: 822

Re: Vanguard saying I created a wash sell. Not sure?

Thank you! I thought it was odd that they singled that one out, but let the other two go without flagging a wash sale. I purchased all 3 of the funds within the past 30 days.
by Joe_R95
Sat Mar 14, 2020 4:05 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Setting up a portflio for the new year. Seeking Tips and Advice
Replies: 7
Views: 1138

Re: Setting up a portfolio for the new year. Seeking Tips and Advice

Thanks for all the help Duckie. Now that I'm a few years in I thought I would update this with where I ended up. Turns out my 401k really sucks. It fails HCE compliance testing every year, and putting in 4% to get a 2% match gets me a check for about half of what I put in back every year. Cant max it out. I dropped their investment service at the end of 2015, and directed most of the funds into Vanguard total stock, Vanguard small cap, and a Tech fund. I still have to pay the "net asset fee" of .7-1% nationwide charges to own them there. I know the common advice is to have bonds in your 401k, but I can't add enough funds to make it worth while, and I'd like to retire early. So its more of a second stage retirement vehicle that I'l...
by Joe_R95
Sat Mar 14, 2020 2:44 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard saying I created a wash sell. Not sure?
Replies: 3
Views: 822

Vanguard saying I created a wash sell. Not sure?

Last Thursday I sold some VTSAX(total stock market) and put the proceeds directly into VFIAX(s&p 500) and VFWAX(all world ex-us). I did so to tax loss harvest about $30k and even out my international holding in the process. I had purchased shares within the past 30 days, all of which were sold in the process. Newest lot I own now were purchased in December of 2018. Coincidentally I did this exact same thing using VTSAX and VFIAX in December of 2018 without creating any wash sells(that i know of). When I go into the Realized gains and losses section of my account I get a little i icon next to the amount of loss on VTSAX the pop-up says "The loss of $595.19 has been disallowed due to wash sale activity in this security. The disallowe...
by Joe_R95
Thu Sep 12, 2019 5:47 am
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here
Replies: 3606
Views: 562287

Re: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here

I finally broke $500k in invested assets yesterday for the first time. Was way more exciting when I almost got there a couple months ago. I'm 36 and have only been investing heavily since the very end of 2015. No inheritance or any windfalls. At the rate I'm going it looks like about 80% of my first million will be my money. Can't wait to see the yield curve start to form!

Congrats to everyone else in this thread. Remember to enjoy the ride.
by Joe_R95
Fri Mar 30, 2018 8:47 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: New car from dealer may have close to 150 miles - ok?
Replies: 66
Views: 15168

Re: New car from dealer may have close to 150 miles - ok?

They don't want to tell you the dealer that has it because they want to sell it to you rather than you possibly buying if from that dealer. A simple internet search of dealers and a couple of phone calls would probably get you there. Most of them display their current inventory online. I bought my truck off our lot, we had dealer traded it in from a lot 30 miles away. Had 125 miles on it and I never thought to question why.
by Joe_R95
Sun Mar 11, 2018 9:48 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Amount saved by age
Replies: 58
Views: 13002

Re: Amount saved by age

topper1296 wrote: Sat Mar 10, 2018 11:11 am Anybody else on here in a position where they are ahead of schedule based on many "rules of thumb" however you still think you don't have enough?
+1 I think its this place that does it to us. I know I'm vastly ahead of anyone I actually know in my age range(and most older), but coming on and seeing 26 year olds ask what to do with $2 million is kind of daunting. I suppose its the price we pay for being able to ask a room full of very wealthy people how to get there and how to manage the pitfalls on the way.
by Joe_R95
Fri Feb 16, 2018 6:36 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Bonds — Appreciate Some Advice
Replies: 9
Views: 1406

Re: Bonds — Appreciate Some Advice

The rate increases mean that newly issued bonds have a slightly higher rate of return than the ones currently held by the funds. This in turn makes the funds holdings worth a little less comparatively, and the fund price drops accordingly. As the funds bonds expire and they buy more new issues the prices should go up accordingly. Eventually it will even out.
by Joe_R95
Fri Feb 16, 2018 6:06 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: buying around dividend time
Replies: 11
Views: 2035

Re: buying around dividend time

The stock drops by the amount of the dividend, and you get paid the dividend. Its a wash, but in a taxable account its a taxable event so its better to buy more of the cheaper shares for the same money by buying after its paid, and not have to pay the taxes.
by Joe_R95
Sun Jan 28, 2018 10:03 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Investment thought loops have been destroying me
Replies: 31
Views: 2153

Re: Investment thought loops have been destroying me

harvestbook wrote: Sun Jan 28, 2018 8:39 am Counseling is an acceptable reaction to an irrational behavior that causes this degree of crippling distress.

In the meantime, Jason Zweig's "Your Money and Your Brain" may provide some insight into emotional responses to money.
+1 The book is awesome and goes over all your behavioral issues. The solution to your problem is to write a detailed IPS, follow it, and automate it as much as is possible so you aren't counting your pennies everyday. A single balanced fund might even be your best friend. Then find a new hobby to obsess over. Learn to dance, take up golf, let the money do what it does.
by Joe_R95
Tue Jan 09, 2018 8:33 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Employer Restricting 401k Contribution
Replies: 3
Views: 675

Re: Employer Restricting 401k Contribution

Ask an HR person if their 401k passes HCE compliance testing. My companies does not, and I end up only being able to contribute about 6500/year as a result. Got a big nasty check, and tax bill the year I figured that out. If its a good opportunity take it and just invest more in taxable.
by Joe_R95
Sat Dec 02, 2017 9:51 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Anyone tired of the stock market going up?
Replies: 375
Views: 52807

Re: Anyone tired of the stock market going up?

I'm tired of it going up. I didn't start investing heavily until 2015 so I missed a lot of gains, and went 30% bonds in my taxable so I'd have money in the next drop. Probably not the sentiment retirees want to hear, but I'm excited for the next big drop. If the s&p gets to the 1500-1600 range again I'll be mortgaging my house and going 100% equities. Until then its invest, rebalance, repeat. 35 with a decent career and reasonably long time horizon though.
by Joe_R95
Thu Nov 23, 2017 8:47 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Interesting ride so far - Crypto-curriencies
Replies: 112
Views: 13718

Re: Interesting ride so far - Crypto-curriencies

Sounds like you could cash out the majority of your initial investment, and let the rest roll knowing if it is a bubble you haven't lost anything. Whatever your thoughts on rebalancing are, a 69.7% increase in 3.5% of your portfolio probably has your allocation out of whack.
by Joe_R95
Sat Oct 07, 2017 7:09 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Daughter's auto repair shop problems, what should we do now?
Replies: 34
Views: 4715

Re: Daughter's auto repair shop problems, what should we do now?

I'm a tech at a dealership. If she came in requesting her engine mounts be replaced, and diagnose a starting issue, her engine mounts would be replaced, and she'd get an estimate for the starting issue. That being said our diagnostic rate is a set charge of $95, $200 plus parts to replace what I assume is a crankshaft position sensor is about what we'd charge. Without knowing what was said going in its hard to know who is at fault for anything being done. For speed of service we often perform requested repairs/services while waiting for parts/approval to fix other issues so we can get vehicles out the same day. Beyond that running cars are much easier to sell, and paid off cars are nice to keep. If the shop seems shady, or your sure they ar...
by Joe_R95
Thu Mar 24, 2016 5:58 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Best & Worst Financial Decisions?
Replies: 92
Views: 13603

Re: Best & Worst Financial Decisions?

Worst was buying a new truck in 2009. Paid a little under 3/4 sticker but regretted it the day I signed the papers. Still driving it, and its still a great truck.

Best was probably buying a house and choosing to pay it off quickly(3.4 years). No debt is definitely the way to go for me.
by Joe_R95
Wed Mar 23, 2016 9:27 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Lazy portfolio - Mutual funds or ETFs?
Replies: 46
Views: 8250

Re: Lazy portfolio - Mutual funds or ETFs?

So bond gains are taxed before withdrawal? Also, VTEBX has a higher ER than the Total Bond Market. And admiral requires minimum of $50k which is too high if bonds are going to be 20% of my portfolio. You pay tax on taxable bond distributions in a taxable account. You will be paid a little every month for holding them it doesn't matter if you reinvest it or not you will pay taxes on the distribution if its a taxable fund. If you go the tax exempt route with muni bonds you wont pay federal but will likely pay some state/local taxes. So holding total bond market in a taxable account you will pay federal taxes on distributions, but the tax exempt funds you wont. You might check your situation, but for me paying the higher rate for VWITX left m...
by Joe_R95
Wed Mar 23, 2016 6:56 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Lazy portfolio - Mutual funds or ETFs?
Replies: 46
Views: 8250

Re: Lazy portfolio - Mutual funds or ETFs?

Duckie wrote:
Total Bond Market does not belong in a taxable account. If you don't have tax-sheltered accounts (401k/IRA) to hold your bond AA use (VWITX) Vanguard Intermediate-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares (0.20%) or the new (VTEBX) Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond Index Fund Investor Shares (0.20%).

+1 be aware that VTEBX currently has a 0.25% purchasing fee that VWITX does not have.

Also I wouldn't shift bonds to a tax advantaged account unless you needed to maintain balance. Stocks, REITs, and such are much better there because the dividend and capital gains aren't taxed until withdrawal so it can grow faster rather than creating more taxable events. No worries man, its not complicated once you get it setup and rolling.
by Joe_R95
Sat Mar 19, 2016 10:31 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Millionaire Next Door and Budgeting
Replies: 81
Views: 13681

Re: Millionaire Next Door and Budgeting

Its different strokes for different folks. Yes budgeting is great and you can watch every penny if you would like to. It will also help you track your progress and give you the warm and fuzzies for meeting your goals. It would be helpful for the vast majority of the population to know where the money is actually going. That being said I cant follow one. It takes to much effort for my liking. I use monthly savings goals that I treat like any other payment and put whatever excess I have into a money market account to use for surprise bills, vacations, and funding the investments if I have a weak month. Bottom line is its all living below your means and investing. Try it and see if you like it. It would probably be easy to compile one if you k...
by Joe_R95
Sun Feb 28, 2016 8:01 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Camping & "Adventure" Gear for a 3 year old
Replies: 34
Views: 2959

Re: Camping & "Adventure" Gear for a 3 year old

Camping games like washer toss or ladderball should be fun for a 3 year old. If you're going to a real campground somewhere I've taken several kids that loved geocaching. After dark smores and stories.
by Joe_R95
Wed Feb 24, 2016 6:33 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Not allowed to fully fund my 401k? Options?
Replies: 10
Views: 1525

Re: Not allowed to fully fund my 401k? Options?

Thanks guy's. My company is smaller and will probably never vary from their 2% max for 4% contribution. Its been that way for the 14 years I've worked there, except for the years when they stopped matching. I think my only real option is to reduce my contribution so I don't get smacked on the nose again. Looks like I'm getting about $6000 back, and my understanding is I'll get a 1099R and send about half back to the IRS.

There's only one other person that has this issue at my location. They have to refund about $50k total so there aren't a lot of people in my boat. They don't allow any contributions until you've been employed for a year and that's probably whats killing it.
by Joe_R95
Tue Feb 23, 2016 6:54 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Should I buy a new car?
Replies: 32
Views: 5756

Re: Should I buy a new car?

Take if from a technician. If you're thinking of keeping it have the temp issue looked at before you do major damage to it. A $10 hose can cost you a $3500 engine. I wouldn't go new unless its worth it to you and you're willing to buy a lot of gratification. Low mileage 2-3 year old cars are generally the best value.
by Joe_R95
Tue Feb 23, 2016 6:23 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Not allowed to fully fund my 401k? Options?
Replies: 10
Views: 1525

Re: Not allowed to fully fund my 401k? Options?

Thank you. Our 401k sucks, and I'm sure most employees don't use it. The odds of them contributing more than the 2% matching, or making it better is pretty slim. I think I'm about as tax efficient as I can get, I just like the 401k to lower my taxable because without it I'd be bumping the next tax bracket. Looks like I'll be having more to contribute in my taxable accounts.

Who takes the loss on the investments when the market is down?
by Joe_R95
Tue Feb 23, 2016 6:02 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Not allowed to fully fund my 401k? Options?
Replies: 10
Views: 1525

Not allowed to fully fund my 401k? Options?

Got a call from my accounting department today saying that they needed to pull some money out of my 401k and reissue my w2 because they were going to get in trouble and have to pay some kind of fine if they didn't. I only contributed $13k last year, but was on track to fully fund it this go round. Apparently they have a high percentage of high income earners contributing a lot, and a very low percentage of everyone else. This is kind of troubling news for my retirement planning because I was planning on fully funding it for another 10-15 years while working for this company. Not sure who would fine them. The 401k is through nationwide, but I assume it would be the govt fining them. I have never heard of this before. Does anyone have any exp...
by Joe_R95
Sun Dec 27, 2015 10:03 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Turn off water heater on vacation?
Replies: 97
Views: 128426

Re: Turn off water heater on vacation?

+1 on turning the knob on it to vacation mode. Make SURE you shut your water off. I had a $37k insurance claim last year because the flex line to a toilet burst while I was on vacation.
by Joe_R95
Thu Dec 24, 2015 9:11 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Market timing
Replies: 19
Views: 2663

Re: Market timing

I set mine on autopilot. Direct draft on the 28th of every month set amount(wasn't sure what they'd do about February if I did the 30th). The allocation is also automatically set. My investment schedule replaced a mortgage payment that was at the end of the month so I'm use to it anyway. Anything you can do to make it as automatic as possible will keep you on target.
by Joe_R95
Fri Dec 18, 2015 6:09 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Setting up a portflio for the new year. Seeking Tips and Advice
Replies: 7
Views: 1138

Re: Setting up a portflio for the new year. Seeking Tips and Advice

My comments/questions: Once you drop the account management in the 401k will that eliminate the net asset fees? Your 401k doesn't have very good international options so I recommend using your taxable and Roth IRA accounts for international. I have to call them to ask that, cancel it, then send it in in writing to drop the management. These aren't the options I had before it was actively managed so they may change. The charge is .9% per year which is the average of the net asset fee. I agree the international options aren't wonderful, and the only REIT I have access to isn't great either. I've setup the TIRA with vanguard and will roll it into a roth before the end of the year, and then do it again next month. I think I'm going to split th...