Search found 511 matches
- Mon Mar 14, 2022 4:50 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Jon Stewart, Gamestop, and The New Dumb Money
- Replies: 51
- Views: 8308
Re: Jon Stewart, Gamestop, and The New Dumb Money
delete this post and my account please
- Sat Mar 05, 2022 2:31 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Car/SUV with autopilot
- Replies: 22
- Views: 2061
Re: Car/SUV with autopilot
I need it primarily to reduce the work of driving. Dynamic cruise and lane centering with auto brake will do. Keeping that in mind what are my options for a relatively larger size vehicle? Right before the pandemic, I bought an Acura SUV with these features. Adaptive cruise and braking are fantastic - this is where I notice that I'm less fatigued, especially in stop-and-go traffic. I set mine to two car-lengths of following distance and it has been very reliable and mostly smooth. I find myself driving less aggressively which is another a huge plus - sort of sit back and enjoy the ride. Lane keep - the feature works about 50% of the time, so you do still need to actively steer. It turns on and off constantly, with minimal warning. At best,...
- Sat Feb 12, 2022 12:01 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Landlord - Emergency Maintenance Only / Options
- Replies: 23
- Views: 1836
Re: Landlord - Emergency Maintenance Only / Options
And then the landlord claims you threw away their family heirloom, solid gold cast toilet. Don't touch it.
- Sat Feb 12, 2022 9:44 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Landlord - Emergency Maintenance Only / Options
- Replies: 23
- Views: 1836
Re: Landlord - Emergency Maintenance Only / Options
Is it wrong of me to expect some kind of concession for this? Or am I expecting too much in todays world? I want to maintain a good rapport with the leasing office, but also think they should have offered me something. It's a new manager in charge as of November, the first such turnover in our tenure here. Same company, new employee. I have not yet met or spoke to her. Go speak to them in person and plead your case. They owe you something, but only in the sense that you're a long term tenant and it makes business sense to keep you. I doubt that you have any legal standing, because you do have one working toilet. I also doubt your lease has any language that would help you here, but do take a look. d18lover, What would I do in that situatio...
- Mon Jan 10, 2022 11:03 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Broker Account Hack and Defraud Attempt Question
- Replies: 108
- Views: 8423
- Sun Jan 09, 2022 10:28 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Broker Account Hack and Defraud Attempt Question
- Replies: 108
- Views: 8423
Re: Broker Account Hack and Defraud Attempt Question
Secure your email now as your very next step, because this will be the gateway into other accounts.
New password. Use the "sign out all devices" feature if one exists. Two-factor authentication. Confirm that any recovery phone number/secondary email on this account are correct.
Consider placing a fraud alert at the credit bureaus.
- Sun Jan 02, 2022 11:19 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Do I really need a relationship with a full service bank, even as my net worth grows?
- Replies: 118
- Views: 13680
Re: Do I really need a relationship with a full service bank, even as my net worth grows?
It's about as good as it gets without a manufacturer incentive. The manufacturer was offering 2.9% but you can sometimes get 0%, depends on which car you buy.
- Sun Jan 02, 2022 11:09 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Do I really need a relationship with a full service bank, even as my net worth grows?
- Replies: 118
- Views: 13680
Re: Do I really need a relationship with a full service bank, even as my net worth grows?
Great point. Alliant hired the old CEO of Key Bank, a large regional bank. I haven't heard anything good about Key. I'm a loyal Alliant customer because they treat me well, but I'm prepared to walk if he wrecks the place. I only recently got my Alliant account (last month, still waiting for the CC to arrive in the mail). Any tips / tricks? The 2.5% card is great if you don't mind jumping through the hoops (monthly deposit to checking required, $10k/mo limit on 2.5%, keep $1k in checking). I am getting a car loan from them below 2%. I have CDs from them from a few years back that are still paying almost 3%. If rates go up (fed) and you have cash, it's worth looking at Alliant for long-term CDs. I wish they would stop sending a paper letter ...
- Sun Jan 02, 2022 11:01 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Do I really need a relationship with a full service bank, even as my net worth grows?
- Replies: 118
- Views: 13680
Re: Do I really need a relationship with a full service bank, even as my net worth grows?
Great point. Alliant hired the old CEO of Key Bank, a large regional bank. I haven't heard anything good about Key.
I'm a loyal Alliant customer because they treat me well, but I'm prepared to walk if he wrecks the place.
- Sun Jan 02, 2022 10:22 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Citibank credit card - can you win a dispute?
- Replies: 91
- Views: 14622
Re: Citibank credit card - can you win a dispute?
The chat transcript with the merchant shows they made a mistake and overcharged me and would credit me the money back. I never got the credit. I submitted this chat transcript as well as a receipt and a picture of the items with price tags on them (this was an online order for groceries) showing the overcharge. Citi "resolved" the dispute in favor of the merchant and said I didn't provide enough documentation. The merchant admitting a mistake and promising a credit doesn't seem to be enough. Have people won disputes on purchases with Citi cards? What reason did you give when disputing the transaction? If it was "I was overcharged," the dispute was likely closed in their favor because they agreed to give a refund. The ba...
- Fri Dec 31, 2021 12:30 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: bill pay delay
- Replies: 19
- Views: 1222
Re: bill pay delay
Make it easy on yourself and pay 4-5 days early, especially if you are already into the grace period. Build in some buffer so that you can correct the issue simply (without phone calls and pleading/arguing with the rep on the other end) regardless of whose "fault" it is.
Rates are zero. You are not benefiting by waiting until the last possible second. In fact, you are costing yourself time and aggravation by having to deal with this issue three times now.
Rates are zero. You are not benefiting by waiting until the last possible second. In fact, you are costing yourself time and aggravation by having to deal with this issue three times now.
- Tue Dec 28, 2021 1:56 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Contribution Options to a Health Savings Account (HSA)
- Replies: 16
- Views: 1476
Re: Contribution Options to a Health Savings Account (HSA)
Would you invest in a fund with an expense ratio of 1.45% or a front load of 1.45%? I get the argument. The math changes since I'd be firing Optum too. Optum charges a 0.36% wrap fee on my investments. Fidelity does not. So the net cost is 1.09%. Optum requires $2,100 to be held as cash, whereas I would invest every dollar at Fidelity. Let's be generous and say net cost before cash drag is now 1.10% because Optum pays 0.01%. That $2,100 only needs to earn 1.91% once invested to fully offset this. Do you not have any cash anywhere? No emergency fund in cash? If so just count this as part of your emergency fund and move some of the existing emergency funds to investments. Nope, no true "cash" holdings here. I have a combination of ...
- Tue Dec 28, 2021 11:00 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Contribution Options to a Health Savings Account (HSA)
- Replies: 16
- Views: 1476
Re: Contribution Options to a Health Savings Account (HSA)
I get the argument. The math changes since I'd be firing Optum too.
Optum charges a 0.36% wrap fee on my investments. Fidelity does not. So the net cost is 1.09%.
Optum requires $2,100 to be held as cash, whereas I would invest every dollar at Fidelity. Let's be generous and say net cost before cash drag is now 1.10% because Optum pays 0.01%.
That $2,100 only needs to earn 1.91% once invested to fully offset this.
- Tue Dec 28, 2021 9:57 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Contribution Options to a Health Savings Account (HSA)
- Replies: 16
- Views: 1476
Re: Contribution Options to a Health Savings Account (HSA)
In my personal situation, paying the 1.45% in tax (~$53 annually) is absolutely worth it to avoid dealing with my Optum HSA provided through my job: an additional website to monitor that is often down, $2,100 in cash drag before I can invest, and the hassle of an indirect rollover each year. What am I missing where its "definitely" better to contribute through payroll? You could do 1 annual rollover of money from Optum to a Fidelity HSA, which doesn't have any fees and has a world of low-cost investment choices. You'd have to confirm with Optum if there are any fees for fund transfers or minimum account balances. You may be able to avoid transfer fees by just requesting a disbursement of funds (for example, to pay qualifying medi...
- Tue Dec 28, 2021 9:34 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Contribution Options to a Health Savings Account (HSA)
- Replies: 16
- Views: 1476
Re: Contribution Options to a Health Savings Account (HSA)
As centrifuge41 said, if you make more than the Social Security Wage Base, you should definitely be using payroll deduction. It also makes the contribution exempt from Medicare and Additional Medicare tax; unlike FICA those taxes are a total loss for you and don't reduce your future Medicare in any way. I'm finding this thread months later because it's the first result for "hsa social security wage base". I am surprised to read that I should "definitely be using payroll deduction" if I am above the SS wage base, my own math shows that the benefits are less clear. Say I earned $125k last year (below SS wage base). Contributing to my HSA through payroll would have reduced my taxes by 6.2 + 1.45 = 8.65% on the amount I con...
- Wed Dec 08, 2021 8:02 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Encrypted email? Any issues with this scenario?
- Replies: 21
- Views: 2273
Re: Encrypted email? Any issues with this scenario?
A common misconception is that all of ProtonMail's e-mails are encrypted. When sending e-mail within the ProtonMail ecosystem, the e-mail is unreadable to anyone but the recipient. Once it leaves ProtonMail's ecosystem, say to arrive at gmail or another business, then all bets are off and it's a regular e-mail. Bottom line, no advantage to using ProtonMail or Tutanota if the recipient is also not using that system. *edited to add a conjugated verb.. and the final sentence. Maybe this is a recent addition, but you absolutely can encrypt a message sent to an external user. They will receive a ProtonMail-branded email letting them know they received an encrypted message. They will then click a link to read the message, and enter a password th...
- Tue Dec 07, 2021 3:43 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Encrypted email? Any issues with this scenario?
- Replies: 21
- Views: 2273
Re: Encrypted email? Any issues with this scenario?
I have found out how to encrypt a folder with my document in it via my Mac and disk utility - in case they do not have a portal. Will a PC be able to open an Apple encrypted password folder? And how long complex for the password? It has to be give verbally? I'd be using 256 bit encryption with read-only (rather than compression ...which I read could leak info). Mail is a possible option. Sounds like you're making a disk image from your Mac - they won't be able to open that from a PC. For reference, compressed would be fine here, as it would be compressed and encrypted, not just compressed. Encrypted ZIP would work between a Mac and a PC, but I don't know how to do that on a Mac without using the command line. Password does not need to be o...
- Mon Dec 06, 2021 6:48 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Encrypted email? Any issues with this scenario?
- Replies: 21
- Views: 2273
Re: Encrypted email? Any issues with this scenario?
they are telling me if I put the word "encrypt" in the subject line it will be encrypted when they get it. That might be true, but heck wouldn't it have already been traveling to their servers unencrypted? In short, your understanding is correct for this purposes. The "encrypt" keyword would only be processed once it arrived on their server, unless you were also sending it from a corporate mail server that handled "encrypt" on your side. (The slightly longer answer is that there might be encryption from your mail server to theirs (TLS, which is kind of like HTTPS but for other types of traffic like email) but you can't guarantee this, so safest to assume it's unencrypted.) THEN they send it on to a third party...
- Mon Dec 06, 2021 10:23 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Super Automatic Espresso Makers: Philips vs Delonghi
- Replies: 15
- Views: 5006
Re: Super Automatic Espresso Makers: Philips vs Delonghi
I have the Philips 4300, which is the same machine as you listed but with different controls. I love it after 3-4 months. Got me to kick my Starbucks habit. The LatteGo milk system is incredible. So easy to keep clean, it comes apart into two pieces that are very easy to wash versus other brands that use a tube.
I had a Delonghi machine previously, but it was a manual. It was great too, the only reason I got rid of it was I wanted to try a superauto. Just be aware that the Delonghi has a steam wand, so it doesn't do the milk automatically like the Philips will.
LatteGo demo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwRjvHnZXjA skip to about 7:30.
I had a Delonghi machine previously, but it was a manual. It was great too, the only reason I got rid of it was I wanted to try a superauto. Just be aware that the Delonghi has a steam wand, so it doesn't do the milk automatically like the Philips will.
LatteGo demo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwRjvHnZXjA skip to about 7:30.
- Sun Dec 05, 2021 9:22 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Work from home phone: dual sim cell, softphone, other?
- Replies: 18
- Views: 2064
Re: Work from home phone: dual sim cell, softphone, other?
I've had good luck with Ooma, surprised it's not working for you. The only limitation I ran into was that there is an (I believe) 8-hour limit on a call before it just hangs up on you. I am occasionally required to dial into a 14-hour conference bridge so it's a little annoying, but easy enough to work around.
I also had good luck with Google Fi (different from Voice) and E-Sim on my iPhone. I turned off data since I already had it on my primary plan, so I think it was only about $25 with taxes.
You could also do Mint Mobile for like $15/mo if you prepay for a year at a time. I think they recently started doing E-Sim.
I also had good luck with Google Fi (different from Voice) and E-Sim on my iPhone. I turned off data since I already had it on my primary plan, so I think it was only about $25 with taxes.
You could also do Mint Mobile for like $15/mo if you prepay for a year at a time. I think they recently started doing E-Sim.
- Sun Dec 05, 2021 11:59 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Protecting Purchasing Power of Cash
- Replies: 28
- Views: 2351
Re: Protecting Purchasing Power of Cash
You can shelter up to $40k in the next 30 days using I Bonds (you mentioned "we", so you each buy $10k now and in January to use up your $10k annual limit). They are currently paying over 7%. However, the downside is that you cannot touch this money at all for 1 year (and there's a 3-month interest loss in the first 5 year). You would also have to open separate TreasuryDirect accounts. I'm doing that to protect my down payment money. Just make sure that you can work with the 1-year lock up. Would $160k pay the down payment on the house you want, or do you have access to another $40k? ImUrHuckleberry, Would you care to protect the purchasing power of $100 cash? The obvious answer is no. And, the reason why the answer is no is becau...
- Sun Dec 05, 2021 1:28 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Creating a negative balance on a credit card to make a charge that's greater than the credit line
- Replies: 33
- Views: 3898
Re: Creating a negative balance on a credit card to make a charge that's greater than the credit line
Is there any way to pay ~$400 by check and then pay the rest by card? Eg, could you just send them a check for $400 in the mail and pay the remainder on the card?
Is PayPal an option? I use it heavily and I've seen the option to split payment. Not sure if that's limited to certain stores or available everywhere.
I wouldn't attempt to go beyond your spending limit in the first month, seems like a good way to get your card shut down. Especially if you are a brand-new customer to the bank.
Is PayPal an option? I use it heavily and I've seen the option to split payment. Not sure if that's limited to certain stores or available everywhere.
I wouldn't attempt to go beyond your spending limit in the first month, seems like a good way to get your card shut down. Especially if you are a brand-new customer to the bank.
- Thu Dec 02, 2021 6:16 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Auto Rebalancing
- Replies: 6
- Views: 957
Re: Auto Rebalancing
No, you can click at any time. It gets queued up and then actually traded at the next window (shortly after the open if you are not paying for Plus).texasfight wrote: ↑Thu Dec 02, 2021 6:15 pmSo do you only get the option to click at certain points in the day? Or does it trade at that point since you last clicked rebalance (say you click rebalance after hours, does it execute the rebalance the following day?)mpsz wrote: ↑Thu Dec 02, 2021 6:12 pmYou have to click, but dividends and new contributions help keep it in balance over time.texasfight wrote: ↑Thu Dec 02, 2021 5:19 pm Also does M1 do it automatically or do you still have to click?
- Thu Dec 02, 2021 6:12 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Auto Rebalancing
- Replies: 6
- Views: 957
Re: Auto Rebalancing
You have to click, but dividends and new contributions help keep it in balance over time.texasfight wrote: ↑Thu Dec 02, 2021 5:19 pm Also does M1 do it automatically or do you still have to click?
- Mon Nov 22, 2021 2:26 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What is the use for Fidelity Cash Management Account when I already have the brokerage account?
- Replies: 51
- Views: 8561
Re: What is the use for Fidelity Cash Management Account when I already have the brokerage account?
Security / segmentation. Do you really want to write checks against your $$$$ taxable account instead of your $ cash account?
You can also turn on "Lockdown" mode on your brokerage account to protect against just about all means of unauthorized withdrawal.
You can also turn on "Lockdown" mode on your brokerage account to protect against just about all means of unauthorized withdrawal.
- Sat Nov 20, 2021 5:45 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Cash Back and Rewards Cards - Just Say No?
- Replies: 237
- Views: 19756
Re: Cash Back and Rewards Cards - Just Say No?
They run the full range between 0 - 30%. Sometimes there are promotions but they are usually at the same percentage as a regular card purchase. Plus a 0-5% transfer fee. Just shred them, and then call and request that don't send any more. Every issuer I've dealt with has honored such a request.AnnetteLouisan wrote: ↑Sat Nov 20, 2021 5:30 pm What kinds of interest rates on them? I’m sure a lot of people use them.
The 12-16% interest rate available to someone with good credit is much nicer than what AmEx would do to you if you didn't pay in full on a charge card...
- Sat Nov 20, 2021 4:15 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Cash Back and Rewards Cards - Just Say No?
- Replies: 237
- Views: 19756
Re: Cash Back and Rewards Cards - Just Say No?
One of my travel cards - to which I dutifully submitted flight and hotel receipts for years - changed its terms and my miles expired unused, which turned me off. Another one had so many blackout dates and high taxes that by the time I redeemed it wasn’t a good feeling. I'd suggest a cash-back card rather than a travel card if you've had this experience. The miles-and-point game is still "earn & burn" - earn your points and burn (use) them as quickly as possible, because they are constantly being devalued or changes made to programs. With COVID still working its way through the system we'll definitely see continued devaluations over the coming years. Cash does not expire or have blackout dates (assuming you redeem it). Perhaps...
- Fri Nov 05, 2021 1:48 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Multi-WAN Internet Setup
- Replies: 74
- Views: 9008
Re: Multi-WAN Internet Setup
I use the original Unifi Security Gateway (USG) router, with a cable internet connection as the primary, and a T-Mobile Home Internet 5G backup. The T-Mobile connection can't be put into "gateway mode" so there is a double-NAT on that backup connection. General browsing and streaming work fine but certain direct P2P apps like video chat or gaming could have issues. It fails over and fails back automatically when the connection is hard-down, but not if the connection is degraded (packet loss, high latency). In full disclosure, I'm probably planning to migrate to opnSense in the near future but that is a different beast entirely. Ubiquiti mishandled a data breach earlier this year (it appears they attempted to cover it up) and their...
- Fri Nov 05, 2021 1:30 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Best way to pay down mortgage with windfall?
- Replies: 15
- Views: 2036
Re: Best way to pay down mortgage with windfall?
It sounds like you are looking to recast/re-amortize your mortgage. I believe it is up to the lender if they will allow this and what the fees will be.
https://www.rocketmortgage.com/learn/recast-mortgage
Edit: I will echo what posters further down said, that this is not necessarily a good idea right now. Maybe invest a portion and pay off your mortgage later with inflated dollars.
https://www.rocketmortgage.com/learn/recast-mortgage
Edit: I will echo what posters further down said, that this is not necessarily a good idea right now. Maybe invest a portion and pay off your mortgage later with inflated dollars.
- Sat Oct 30, 2021 9:55 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: What brokerage do you use for your "Play/Funny Money?"
- Replies: 21
- Views: 1924
Re: What brokerage do you use for your "Play/Funny Money?"
Stick with the large, well-known brokerages. If you have 99% of your assets at Fidelity, then use Schwab or Vanguard for play money. Sure, these have dated user interfaces compared to apps like Robinhood, but they are safe. If you look back to what happened in January, the two brokerages you listed, Ally and Robinhood, blocked many popular tickers that were seeing large volume among the "play money" crowd. Without debating the merits of those stocks , Ally, Robinhood, and many of the "toy" brokerages restricted trading because they either didn't have enough capital to properly clear the trades, or there's some speculation that these brokerages or their backers were on the losing side (short) of the trade and did this in ...
- Wed Oct 27, 2021 11:35 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Best way to 'deselect' a stock from an index?
- Replies: 30
- Views: 12452
Re: Best way to 'deselect' a stock from an index?
You're right... it's a terrible idea to invest in a popular company, where people aspire to own their products.PolarBearMarket wrote: ↑Wed Oct 27, 2021 7:21 am I personally don't like holding so much of something where the value seems to be driven as much by memes and tweets as by fundamentals. Yes, everything in the stock market is driven by speculation, but this feels like an extreme case given its outsized position in my portfolio.
Sit back and enjoy the ride. TSLA has already been great for your portfolio in the last year.
- Tue Oct 26, 2021 12:14 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Apple MagSafe Wallet - any users?
- Replies: 12
- Views: 1551
Re: Apple MagSafe Wallet - any users?
I use this wallet most of the time and like it very much. I have the old version without "Almost Find My" built in.
This is a minimalist wallet. It really does only fit 3 cards, and hopefully they are not embossed.
My minimal carry is 4 cards, so I was able to get mine to hold a 4th card by stretching the leather in my sous vide cooker (YMMV, but I can post general instructions if anyone wants).
This is a minimalist wallet. It really does only fit 3 cards, and hopefully they are not embossed.
My minimal carry is 4 cards, so I was able to get mine to hold a 4th card by stretching the leather in my sous vide cooker (YMMV, but I can post general instructions if anyone wants).
- Mon Oct 25, 2021 2:38 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: How would a Boglehead buy a new Apple laptop?
- Replies: 65
- Views: 6717
Re: How would a Boglehead buy a new Apple laptop?
+1, do not buy an Intel MacBook at this point. You are likely to see these on sale but do not fall for the trap.jhfenton wrote: ↑Mon Oct 25, 2021 12:27 pm Under no circumstances would I buy a MacBook at this point with an Intel processor. They just can't compete with the Macs running on Apple Silicon. The latest MacBook Pros just came out this month. As others have said, we could see a new MacBook Air in the next few months.
The entry-level Air is a nice upgrade over a computer that is 10 years old. Just get enough SSD capacity for whatever you are storing. Whatever specs you get for the RAM and CPU will still be fine and a tremendous upgrade over the old machine.
- Mon Oct 25, 2021 2:35 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Chase vs. Citi: anyone have experience?
- Replies: 45
- Views: 3536
Re: Chase vs. Citi: anyone have experience?
These banks are both top-notch for credit cards. Go elsewhere for everything else.
Citi IT is notoriously bad. Chase is notorious for locking or closing accounts at random (or for really stupid reasons).
Citi IT is notoriously bad. Chase is notorious for locking or closing accounts at random (or for really stupid reasons).
- Sun Oct 24, 2021 9:30 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Why are banks offering CDs?
- Replies: 33
- Views: 4912
Re: Why are banks offering CDs?
The situation with CDs right now mystifies me. Why are banks even offering them? Remember that a bank could not care less whether the customer wins or loses. They will offer the lowest rates necessary in order to attract the deposits/capital that they need. One-year at 0.2% when a savings account offers double that? What's the point? While unlikely, it's possible that the savings rate could drop to zero, or even go negative. 0.2% would be a guaranteed positive rate, but I don't consider the loss of liquidity to be worth it. This is also used to trap people who do not pay attention to renewing CDs. Your 6-month teaser rate of 1.5% was great, but buried in the fine print is that it will renew for 1 year, now at 0.2%, and you're stuck. Is any...
- Fri Oct 22, 2021 2:44 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Bank is sitting on my CD
- Replies: 7
- Views: 1944
Re: Bank is sitting on my CD
Are there bank regulations about the maximum time it should take to close accounts and tranfer funds? I had a fairly large CD mature on a Monday. The bank didn't close the account until the following Friday -- a whopping 4 days later. The bank says it was "backed up" and too busy to close the account, and that it will take an additional 3 days to transfer the funds via ACH to my other bank. All in, the closing and ACH transfer will take 7 days. Can a bank use the excuse that it was "backed up" to keep deposit money like this? Does anyone know of a bank regulation that requires speedier account processing than 7 days -- 4 days to close and 3 to transfer? After all, they're getting free use of the money. Thanks. 3 days se...
- Tue Oct 19, 2021 5:58 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Is it OK to use a dummy social security number for TOD?
- Replies: 23
- Views: 4121
Re: Is it OK to use a dummy social security number for TOD?
Because I am wary about spraying people's information all over the place. Banks have data breaches, too. I'm confident they will figure it out, they do not truly need it. If $3k goes to probate - oh well.
- Mon Oct 18, 2021 7:48 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Is it OK to use a dummy social security number for TOD?
- Replies: 23
- Views: 4121
Re: Is it OK to use a dummy social security number for TOD?
I use 000-00-0000 for my employer's crappy HSA account, but that's it. I drain that account to $0 each year by rolling the funds elsewhere.
I wouldn't get creative beyond that, lest the bank fail to realize that it is a dummy number.
I wouldn't get creative beyond that, lest the bank fail to realize that it is a dummy number.
- Sun Oct 17, 2021 9:37 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: How is your wallet or purse financially prepared: Suggestions?? what do you carry? men/women? Daily? For travel?
- Replies: 115
- Views: 9467
Re: How is your wallet or purse financially prepared: Suggestions?? what do you carry? men/women? Daily? For travel?
I use two wallets.
I carry the Apple Magsafe card case every day. I stretched it to hold a 4th card comfortably. I carry an Amex, Visa backup card, debit card, and my driver's license.
Only on days that I will need it, I have a billfold that has another Amex, another debit card, authorized user card from an elderly relative, health insurance card, and about $100 in cash. I can't remember the last time I dipped into this cash where I couldn't have used Venmo or Cash app instead.
I think carrying a big wallet is very dangerous. If you lose it or it's stolen, there is a lot at risk. I wouldn't want to have to make 20+ phone calls to put my life back together again.
I carry the Apple Magsafe card case every day. I stretched it to hold a 4th card comfortably. I carry an Amex, Visa backup card, debit card, and my driver's license.
Only on days that I will need it, I have a billfold that has another Amex, another debit card, authorized user card from an elderly relative, health insurance card, and about $100 in cash. I can't remember the last time I dipped into this cash where I couldn't have used Venmo or Cash app instead.
I think carrying a big wallet is very dangerous. If you lose it or it's stolen, there is a lot at risk. I wouldn't want to have to make 20+ phone calls to put my life back together again.
- Sat Oct 02, 2021 1:59 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Do you notify your CC company about travel?
- Replies: 69
- Views: 6330
Re: Do you notify your CC company about travel?
Amex doesn't even accept domestic travel alerts anymore. I used to notify others, but I forgot once or twice and the card kept working, so I don't bother anymore.
One of my CUs requests that you use your debit card at an ATM (with PIN) at your destination city and that notifies them that you're traveling. (I don't use my debit card, but I do bring it with me). I also understand that certain bank apps request location access on your smartphone, so if you grant this permission and open the app at your destination, this will notify them too.
One of my CUs requests that you use your debit card at an ATM (with PIN) at your destination city and that notifies them that you're traveling. (I don't use my debit card, but I do bring it with me). I also understand that certain bank apps request location access on your smartphone, so if you grant this permission and open the app at your destination, this will notify them too.
- Fri Oct 01, 2021 5:46 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Sirius/XM Latest Pricing "Game".
- Replies: 57
- Views: 8185
Re: Sirius/XM Latest Pricing "Game".
I haven't had Sirius in like 6 years, but I used to call and say "I saw an offer online for $5*x for x months". There's always some $25 for 5 months or $30 for 6 months offer floating around, but the rep usually had a slightly different version. Don't pay more than $5/mo before taxes.
You can save music to your phone.Californiastate wrote: ↑Fri Oct 01, 2021 5:36 pmThat's an option if you have internet access. Some of us leave the city on a regular basis.
- Thu Sep 30, 2021 8:56 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: [updated: follow up question] Job interview - asked to apply another position
- Replies: 49
- Views: 6165
Re: Job interview - asked to apply another position
I've done this a handful of times at my company. Never to "be nice," as it's easier to just tell you directly (or in a batch email) that you were not selected to move forward, so in my case it's always genuine. Two memorable instances of this were two extraordinarily strong candidates, and we'd have to flip a coin to pick. We picked one, somehow, and the second candidate skipped half of the interview process with the other team, and was ultimately hired. In another instance, I interviewed someone who was willing to relocate but we opened a position in a branch ahead of schedule, where he would not have to relocate. I want to build a strong company, which includes helping other managers build their own strong teams. So it is a win-...
- Wed Sep 29, 2021 3:41 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Protecting cars on driveway
- Replies: 176
- Views: 16351
Re: Protecting cars on driveway
Just lock your car and make it part of your bedtime routine to make sure cars are locked. If your car is newer, check if it can "auto lock" when the fob is carried away.
Make sure you do not keep garage door openers or spare house keys in cars that are left unlocked...
Make sure you do not keep garage door openers or spare house keys in cars that are left unlocked...
- Wed Sep 22, 2021 11:37 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Web Hosting and Email Recommendations?
- Replies: 41
- Views: 4822
Re: Web Hosting and Email Recommendations?
You can combine this all at one provider like GoDaddy, or split it up between up to 4 providers (domain registration, DNS, email, website – these are the four basic components, some of these can be combined at various providers).
Is this a personal site, or a business? If business, seriously consider Office 365 or G-Suite (Google Workspace) for email and whatever you choose for the other 3.
If this is personal, I believe that iCloud is now an option for custom domain email, including catch-all. If you're in the Apple ecosystem this could be a good choice but I do not personally use it.
Is this a personal site, or a business? If business, seriously consider Office 365 or G-Suite (Google Workspace) for email and whatever you choose for the other 3.
If this is personal, I believe that iCloud is now an option for custom domain email, including catch-all. If you're in the Apple ecosystem this could be a good choice but I do not personally use it.
- Mon Sep 06, 2021 11:07 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Bank Of America ATM demands CVV
- Replies: 16
- Views: 9272
Re: Bank Of America ATM demands CVV
Outside of megabank branches, I have not seen a single ATM that accepts contactless.
I did try using my Schwab debit card at a Chase branch over Apple Pay - it did not work. I think I read somewhere that it's usually restricted to debit cards issued by the same bank as owns the ATM. That doesn't make a lot of sense to me unless it's an artificial limitation imposed by the ATM owner.
- Sat Aug 14, 2021 9:13 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: TD Ameritrade or E*Trade for Individual 401k
- Replies: 15
- Views: 1982
Re: TD Ameritrade or E*Trade for Individual 401k
A few people have mentioned that TDA was acquired by Schwab.
E Trade will be part of Morgan Stanley. https://us.etrade.com/l/morganstanley/i ... nd-banking
With that being said, I would personally go with TDA-Schwab or find a third option, but I don't have any direct experience with i401ks.
E Trade will be part of Morgan Stanley. https://us.etrade.com/l/morganstanley/i ... nd-banking
With that being said, I would personally go with TDA-Schwab or find a third option, but I don't have any direct experience with i401ks.
- Sat Aug 14, 2021 11:49 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: 1Password users: Are you leaving?
- Replies: 26
- Views: 5563
Re: 1Password users: Are you leaving?
I left yesterday. I switched to self-hosted Bitwarden (vaultwarden) since I have the means to host this securely and reliably on my own hardware. I liked the arrangement where 1Password synced via iCloud. AgileBits never had access to my sync data (stored in iCloud). iCloud never had access to my decryption keys since that was handled through the 1Password app. That's about as secure as you can get without going to extreme measures. Now that you must sync your data up to 1Password Cloud if you want to sync between devices - what is to stop AgileBits from """accidentally""" sending your decryption password somewhere, and then accessing your passwords themselves (or an attacker doing so)? That may sound improbabl...
- Fri Aug 06, 2021 5:06 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Data Breach and security question and quality identity monitoring protection companies?
- Replies: 8
- Views: 921
Re: Data Breach and security question and quality identity monitoring protection companies?
My personal experience is these monitoring services are total junk, and companies are choosing the lowest bidder. I signed up for AllClearID after the Anthem breach (I think - there have been so many) and it would constantly robo-dial me. Absolutely useless.
I much prefer to just act as if my info is out there already: full credit freezes wherever I can, strong/unique passwords + 2-factor on all accounts, utilize built-in credit monitoring from accounts that offer it (most credit card companies have a service like this).
I much prefer to just act as if my info is out there already: full credit freezes wherever I can, strong/unique passwords + 2-factor on all accounts, utilize built-in credit monitoring from accounts that offer it (most credit card companies have a service like this).
- Fri Aug 06, 2021 12:46 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Executor learns that there is $100k in cash in safe deposit
- Replies: 45
- Views: 7725
Re: Executor learns that there is $100k in cash in safe deposit
Remind him that cash in a safe deposit box is still "in the bank". Maybe then he'll be willing to remove it.TheGreyingDuke wrote: ↑Fri Aug 06, 2021 9:17 am Efforts to have brother address this during his lifetime would be fruitless, he has a certain "skeptical" view of the world.
- Sat Jul 31, 2021 2:47 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Set up ROTH's for adult kids without them knowing
- Replies: 49
- Views: 5585
Re: Set up ROTH's for adult kids without them knowing
I agree that a Roth is a no-go because of the reasons identified above. Consider just giving them some of the money directly, right now. Start small and see how it goes. Give guidance on what you'd like to see them do with the money. "Start a Roth IRA and put this in VTSAX", "put this towards your down payment"... and so on. If they are appreciative and responsible, consider giving more in the future. If they blow it on something dumb, then reconsider. I agree 100% with the "honest conversations" comment above, which is partly why I am suggesting this. "That way they won't tap into it" - they may or may not. If you are really worried that they will act irresponsibly, this is a critical teachable momen...