Search found 424 matches

by chx
Sun Jul 03, 2016 9:34 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Money or Fulfillment [quit unsatisfactory job]?
Replies: 27
Views: 4367

Re: Money or Fulfillment [quit unsatisfactory job]?

At your age, I hated most of my well-paying job. I interviewed and got several offers for jobs that would have been better fits for my interests, but in the end decided that I didn't want to move or take a pay cut. I was fortunate in that my employer (grudgingly) allowed me to cut back to 3/4 time and even take a complete year off without pay. I used that extra time for a side career, for family, for friends, for solitary activities that I enjoyed. And my spouse and I saved well enough that I retired early (at 55). So even though my impulse is to say forgo the high pay for a more satisfying job, there are also other compromises you can make. Therapy of various ilks may help you think about the question of what deeper interconnected issues m...
by chx
Sun Jul 03, 2016 9:26 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Fixed 60/40 AA in retirement
Replies: 105
Views: 15845

Re: Fixed 60/40 AA in retirement

I am the mirror image in retirement: 40 stock / 60 fixed income. This allows me to sleep well, even though the 40% stock contains aggressive tilts. In addition, at my current spending rate, the 60% in fixed income will last my entire life, even if it merely matches inflation. Chances are that a 60/40 would do better in the long run, but my sleep might not.
by chx
Sun Jul 03, 2016 8:00 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Withdrawal strategies for non-rebalancers?
Replies: 20
Views: 2480

Re: Withdrawal strategies for non-rebalancers?

Jack Bogle and many others don't rebalance much. If you're one of them how do you decide whether to withdraw from stocks vs. bonds to maximize you returns for the long term? If you want to make a withdrawal without rebalancing, then take an amount from each fund in proportion to its current value. This will maintain whatever misbalance has been created by disproportionate increase or decrease. Example: You start with a 60/40 portfolio of $600,000 stocks and $400,000 bonds. The market crashes big-time and bonds increase by 50%, so you now have $200,000 stock and $600,000 bonds, which is a 25/75 portfolio. If you were to use this withdrawal as an opportunity to rebalance toward your original 60/40 allocation, then you would take the entire $...
by chx
Sat Jul 02, 2016 5:52 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Calculating Basis Step Up (What happens to the Commisions and Fees?)
Replies: 6
Views: 1206

Re: Calculating Basis Step Up (What happens to the Commisions and Fees?)

Thanks. I suppose it keeps things more simple plus, as I think of it, the costs associated with the original investment wasn't paid by the beneficiaries so why would they be able to subtract those costs. Would it be similar to a house? If a house is valued at $800,000 and the original owner paid $20,000 in closing costs, the cost basis of the inherited home is still $800,000 (not $820,000). The step up is from the previous owner's basis - which already included the fees. So adding on the fees again would be double dipping. Actually, I would say that the change in basis (whether a step-up or step-down) completely ignores the deceased person's basis. It doesn't matter whether your uncle bought that stock for $1 or $1,000,000,000. The basis i...
by chx
Sat Jul 02, 2016 11:23 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Transfer From Edward Jones to Vanguard: Taxable
Replies: 12
Views: 2177

Re: Transfer From Edward Jones to Vanguard: Taxable

Dottie57 wrote:
drkathryn wrote:
Enganerd wrote:
Capital World Growth & Income Fund CWGIX
This is a very good fund. I have the retirement F1 class. When I moved this to Fidelity, I was able to keep it and since the front end load was money already paid, or already lost. It is no more than its expense, which is rather high, but it is a good world fund. I am pretty sure you can move it all to Vanguard?
I just transferred this fund to fidelity this week. The Expense ratio is high at .77. I will be selling and spend way less on expenses.
Good move.
by chx
Sat Jul 02, 2016 11:20 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Wisebanyan vs Vanguard Brokerage for ETF's?
Replies: 16
Views: 3184

Re: Wisebanyan vs Vanguard Brokerage for ETF's?

If you have more than enough to purchase Admiral shares, then shift everything to Vanguard now and buy Admiral shares of the two funds in an 80/20 proportion. Stop worrying about the price of a fractional share sitting in cash, or if that truly worries you, then purchase mutual funds rather than ETFs, so that you can purchases precise dollar amounts.
by chx
Fri Jul 01, 2016 6:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How many of you have cut the cord?
Replies: 244
Views: 39176

Re: How many of you have cut cord?

I'm pretty sure that the only reason I was able to retire early is that we never had cable tv or smartie phones. :mrgreen:
by chx
Fri Jul 01, 2016 6:40 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: A look at REITs, and a new study
Replies: 52
Views: 7523

Re: A look at REITs, and a new study

larryswedroe wrote:afoolwithmoney
Are you the only one who knows this information? In fact it seems likely that that information could lead to overvaluation of those very stocks as people think they are undervalued. Only information that ONLY you have should matter. The rest is already embedded in prices.
Larry
Seems a little bit harsh to attack that poster with sarcasm.
by chx
Fri Jul 01, 2016 4:28 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: R.I.P. CIT Bank 3.25% brokered CD (called)
Replies: 49
Views: 6854

Re: R.I.P. CIT Bank 3.25% brokered CD (called)

LadyGeek wrote:The wiki has some background info: Brokered CDs

I would caution on the use of brokered CDs inside an IRA. If you need to make a Required Minimum Distribution, the CD must be sold.
This is a good caution. However, with a little planning using a CD ladder, you can arrange for the roughly the right proportion of the RMD to come from CD interest and maturing CDs.

Still, it is a good thing to remember.
by chx
Fri Jul 01, 2016 4:25 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Pay off the house leaving only $15k
Replies: 32
Views: 2946

Re: Pay off the house leaving only $15k

Tal- wrote:Tal votes no.

Normally, I would ask you personal questions about credit, income, spending, assets, interest rates, taxes/mortgage write offs, etc. etc. etc., but this one seems pretty clear cut to me. Nada.

Props to being able to do it, but unless your situation is pretty unusual, I say no.
Chx votes yes.

Assuming that you'll continue to fund tax-advantaged savings to the max. Especially if you are no longer getting any tax deductions from the mortgage vs the standard deduction.
by chx
Fri Jul 01, 2016 1:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How many of you have cut the cord?
Replies: 244
Views: 39176

Re: How many of you have cut cord?

I've never had pay-tv, but have had an antenna on my roof for 36 years. I did need to get a bigger antenna when the signal changed from analog to digital, but I get plenty of stations and augment that with a rotation of netflix, amazon prime, and hulu. Sometimes my son brings over his roku stick and we watch espn together on sling tv, which he subscribes to.
by chx
Fri Jul 01, 2016 1:31 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tipping Etiquette Question.
Replies: 37
Views: 5554

Re: Tipping Etiquette Question.

Another tipping question, for which there may be no answer, but I would still like to hear opinions: Suppose you generally tip 20% for nice service. Sometimes you'll go to an inexpensive restaurant, dining on your own, and have a $20 meal. So because of the nice service, you tip $4. The next night, you dine at a high-end restaurant, and the bill comes to $200. Obviously, there was a nice bottle of wine. So you tip $40. To me, in terms of the compensation to the service staff, it makes more sense to tip $22 each night. Why don't we tip some flat rate, say $8 per hour (or whatever amount seems appropriate in the given economy)? Perhaps part of it is that the tip at the expensive restaurant must be spilt between more people and that those peop...
by chx
Fri Jul 01, 2016 11:03 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: R.I.P. CIT Bank 3.25% brokered CD (called)
Replies: 49
Views: 6854

Re: R.I.P. CIT Bank 3.25% brokered CD (called)

mickroark wrote:These are secondary market brokered spia's. You need to search thru a broker or secondary marketer.
I see. I have never looked into Secondary Market Annuities, partly because I would have to go outside my current stock brokers. Thanks for the info. At first look, it seems that SMAs are not backed by the state guaranty associations that back SPIAs.
by chx
Fri Jul 01, 2016 10:55 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Handling "drive-by" doctoring bills following surgery?
Replies: 107
Views: 15342

Re: Handling "drive-by" doctoring bills following surgery?

So is there anything that I can do to avoid this ahead of time? I'd like to go into surgery knowing whom I am hiring and agreeing to pay. Is there something that I will be given to sign that will state all that? I am asking because I am likely to have back surgery (fusing L4-L5) sometime during the current year.

Thanks for any input. I really want to avoid billing surprises! My employer is also self-insured. What questions do I ask and whom do I ask?
by chx
Fri Jul 01, 2016 10:50 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How best to take little kids sightseeing?
Replies: 37
Views: 4417

Re: How best to take little kids sightseeing?

A pair of child harnesses with leashes is a good idea in crowded areas.
by chx
Fri Jul 01, 2016 10:49 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: A look at REITs, and a new study
Replies: 52
Views: 7523

Re: A look at REITs, and a new study

I have a question: Presumably, a REIT owns real estate, and that real estate may increase in value over time, producing capital gains. Or perhaps they produce depreciation losses that can be passed on to shareholders. But I did not see either of these issues mentioned in the article; I saw only dividends discussed. How does the discussion change if the value of assets is also accounted for?

Thanks.
by chx
Fri Jul 01, 2016 10:25 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: A look at REITs, and a new study
Replies: 52
Views: 7523

Re: A look at REITs, and a new study

larryswedroe wrote:http://www.etf.com/sections/index-inves ... nopaging=1

The heightened demand for yield has driven valuations way up and thus expected returns down

Hope you find this helpful
Larry
This nearly makes me want to time the REIT market.
by chx
Fri Jul 01, 2016 10:23 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: R.I.P. CIT Bank 3.25% brokered CD (called)
Replies: 49
Views: 6854

Re: R.I.P. CIT Bank 3.25% brokered CD (called)

mickroark wrote:NO that's 3.75% per year for 3 years.
That is a very good rate. The best rate I could spot this morning for a three-year SPIA is 2.3% annualized, but there is the insurmountable downside that you must move to Texas to get it. How do you get a higher rate? Is there a forfeiture if you die before the product matures? Is it state-insured?

Thanks for any additional information you can provide.
by chx
Fri Jul 01, 2016 10:20 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: R.I.P. CIT Bank 3.25% brokered CD (called)
Replies: 49
Views: 6854

Re: R.I.P. CIT Bank 3.25% brokered CD (called)

dm200 wrote:
chx wrote:
mickroark wrote:I used to buy brokered CD's but now I buy brokered SPIA annuities. I just bought one that pays out for 3 years. You get your principal and 3.75% interest (tax deferred) paid back in 3 years. No calls here. :sharebeer
Is that a total of 3.75% interest for the entire three years (i.e., a bit less than 1.25% annualized)? Are they insured by individual states rather than by the federal government?

Thanks.
All Vanguard brokered CDs are only from FDIC Insured institutions and have FDIC coverage up to the FDIC limit per insured institution.
No, I was not asking about CDs. I was asking about mickroark's SPIA annuity. But thanks nonetheless. Anybody know the answer to the SPIA question?
by chx
Fri Jul 01, 2016 10:14 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: I made a profitable mistake
Replies: 11
Views: 2463

Re: I made a profitable mistake

On Thursday night (eve of Brexit) I sold my rollover IRA(about 1/3 of my portfolio) for cash because I had easy access to it. For a couple weeks I had been wanting to switch from my targeted date retirement fund into s&p500 index fund as part of my new long term Bogglehead inspired portfolio. However, instead of immediately buying the s&p500 index I decided to time my purchases and sat on the cash all of Friday. I bought the s&p500 fund at Friday's closing price. So yes it paid off and I didn't experience Friday's sell off but I'm feeling guilty and maybe just lucky. I know this is not the Bogglehead way and today I'm not feeling so great about this. Next time I maybe wouldn't be so lucky and might go the other way. What advice...
by chx
Fri Jul 01, 2016 10:11 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Really bad days (RBDs) and porfolio performance
Replies: 74
Views: 17288

Re: The DL on RBDs

livesoft and I were having a discussion on RBD strategy in another thread, and I thought I'd post my final thoughts there. To see how the RBD strategy might work in practice with a traditional balanced stock/bond portfolio, I made the following portfolios: Continuous : 60% Vanguard 500 index (VFINX), 40% Vanguard total bond (VBMFX). Portfolio is rebalanced daily to maintain this allocation. +5% stocks on livesoft-defined RBDs : Baseline of 60% VFINX, 40% VBMFX. VFINX allocation is increased by an absolute 5% after a livesoft-defined RBD, and maintained for 30 trading days. Rebalanced daily to maintain this allocation. +5% stocks on all RBDs : Baseline of 60% VFINX, 40% VBMFX. VFINX allocation is increased by an absolute 5% after any RBD, a...
by chx
Fri Jul 01, 2016 9:23 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: R.I.P. CIT Bank 3.25% brokered CD (called)
Replies: 49
Views: 6854

Re: R.I.P. CIT Bank 3.25% brokered CD (called)

mickroark wrote:I used to buy brokered CD's but now I buy brokered SPIA annuities. I just bought one that pays out for 3 years. You get your principal and 3.75% interest (tax deferred) paid back in 3 years. No calls here. :sharebeer
Is that a total of 3.75% interest for the entire three years (i.e., a bit less than 1.25% annualized)? Are they insured by individual states rather than by the federal government?

Thanks.
by chx
Fri Jul 01, 2016 9:20 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: R.I.P. CIT Bank 3.25% brokered CD (called)
Replies: 49
Views: 6854

Re: R.I.P. CIT Bank 3.25% brokered CD (called)

I am a small fish investor and curious about any CDs(dont lose principal and get interest) that are 3%+ rates. What is the minimum investment in these type of vehicles? Can we do from within IRAs? The highest rate I see this morning is 2.5% on a 20-year Wells Fargo C.D., but it is callable (at the bank's option) beginning in July 2019. So, if rates go up, you could be stuck with a 2.5% rate for the full 20 years. And if rates stay low, you could have it called away any time after three years. The minimum purchase for that issue is one bond at face value ($1,000). Some brokered bonds have a larger number of bonds as the minimum. The mechanics of buying a bond or C.D. are not complicated, but they are different from buying a stock or mutual ...
by chx
Thu Jun 30, 2016 1:49 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: IRS says we owe over $2 million -- when to round amounts?
Replies: 28
Views: 11100

Re: IRS says we owe over $2 million -- when to round amounts?

JonnyDVM wrote:Pretty sure that when you make a mistake like that on your taxes it's binding. So you might want to start working some overtime.
Good for a daily laugh. Thanks! :mrgreen:
by chx
Thu Jun 30, 2016 9:16 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 15K Deposit after Attorney Review. Buying a house. Is this Normal???
Replies: 31
Views: 4758

Re: 15K Deposit after Attorney Review. Buying a house. Is this Normal???

My second house I bought (it was a new house from a builder) I had to put down 5% as earnest money (about $20k). I unfortunately got cold feet and forfeited this amount. It's one of two regrets I've had while purchasing real estate. The next house I bought I put down $5k. This was on a $368k house. The last house I bought I also put down $5k. This was on a $931k house. So as others have stated here, earnest money amount can be anything and isn't necessarily a function of price. The seller of the house is working on incomplete information about prospective buyers (how likely you are to get financing, how picky you are with repairs, etc.) so higher amounts of earnest money will likely make the seller more willing to accept your bid. If a buy...
by chx
Thu Jun 30, 2016 9:14 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 15K Deposit after Attorney Review. Buying a house. Is this Normal???
Replies: 31
Views: 4758

Re: 15K Deposit after Attorney Review. Buying a house. Is this Normal???

miles monroe wrote:
chx wrote:
Miles: Did you get your $3,000 back in the end?
we split it $1,500 each.

i have no doubt i would have prevailed in court. my attorney said we would probably win - gave me the "you never know what can happen in court" disclaimer - but said his fee would end up being more than the $1,500 the other party would get if we settled.

i hated to do it but i held my nose and settled.
Thanks for the information. Must have been a stressful event.
by chx
Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:35 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Not legal advice [Seeking advice about HOA ban on swimming pool use]
Replies: 62
Views: 9101

Re: Not legal advice

JLMA wrote:
littlebird wrote:cannot help being a little suspicious of the account given
could you elaborate, please? thank you
I had the same suspicions. I wanted to know whether the pool was clearly closed and the original poster ignored the closure.
by chx
Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:19 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: My first smartphone
Replies: 17
Views: 3070

Re: My first smartphone

CABob wrote: I am afraid, however, that it’s about time I upgrade to a smart phone.
I am sorry to lose another to the dark side. My observation is that it does not improve the quality of life of the smart phone addicts whom I see wandering around campus in a fog.
by chx
Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:15 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 15K Deposit after Attorney Review. Buying a house. Is this Normal???
Replies: 31
Views: 4758

Re: 15K Deposit after Attorney Review. Buying a house. Is this Normal???

Escrow is common but 10% is not. 10% down is common, though a buyer and a seller may agree on a different amount. Yes, the down payment is generally held in escrow by one of the lawyers, usually the seller's lawyer, though the buyer and seller may agree on whatever they want. I've never heard of the down payment being held in escrow, nor have I seen earnest money (which is held in escrow) of more than 3%. I could be wrong on this part, but I think it's rare for a seller to actually get the earnest money when a buyer backs out. The contracts seem to have lots of outs for the buyer that don't require forfeiting the earnest money. I would like to hear any stories where the seller did get to keep the earnest money after a contract is broken by...
by chx
Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:10 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Investing Returns on the S&P500
Replies: 34
Views: 3091

Re: Investing Returns on the S&P500

avalpert wrote:
chx wrote:
NMJack wrote:
avalpert wrote:
NMJack wrote:Very interesting chart. It is exactly facts such as these that would keep me from sleeping at night if I was risking a lot of money in bonds. :sharebeer
Huh? This chart doesn't compare the returns to the risk-free rate, let alone the returns of bonds. It doesn't in anyway help inform that decision.
Think about it.... :twisted:
Jack, why are you being coy and smug?
It's what you do when you don't have an actual argument to make
I think that's actually a good observation. I am sure that I have done it myself.
by chx
Wed Jun 29, 2016 2:25 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Investing Returns on the S&P500
Replies: 34
Views: 3091

Re: Investing Returns on the S&P500

NMJack wrote:
avalpert wrote:
NMJack wrote:Very interesting chart. It is exactly facts such as these that would keep me from sleeping at night if I was risking a lot of money in bonds. :sharebeer
Huh? This chart doesn't compare the returns to the risk-free rate, let alone the returns of bonds. It doesn't in anyway help inform that decision.
Think about it.... :twisted:
Jack, why are you being coy and smug?
by chx
Wed Jun 29, 2016 12:54 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Not legal advice [Seeking advice about HOA ban on swimming pool use]
Replies: 62
Views: 9101

Re: Not legal advice

I'm sorry to hear about your run-in with the Board of Directors. Was there a notice posted at the pool?
by chx
Wed Jun 29, 2016 12:31 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: HELOC for emergency and when you would use it
Replies: 38
Views: 5466

Re: HELOC for emergency and when you would use it

I have always had a HELOC for emergency. My plan is to only use it for actual emergencies, not for a new car when mine is still running, not for a wedding party, not to have my house painted when I can climb a ladder myself. I would use it for an emergency before selling any taxable investments, provided that I could pay it back in short order. As it turns out, I have used it only once, when my sister had an emergency shortfall of funds at a house closing because of a bank transfer error. She paid me back two days later when the bank mix-up was sorted out.
by chx
Tue Jun 28, 2016 5:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Why is everyone up in arms about Costco's credit transition?
Replies: 65
Views: 9276

Re: Why is everyone up in arms about Costco's credit transition?

unclescrooge wrote: This is the media making moutains out of molehills because we're a nation of Kardashian-watching morons and don't really care about real news anymore.
Hey, I resent part of your remark. I have never watched Kardashian!
by chx
Tue Jun 28, 2016 11:30 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Would you want to know if your doctor doesn't take your insurance?
Replies: 59
Views: 5986

Re: Would you want to know if your doctor doesn't take your insurance?

No offense to you, OP, personally, but sometimes when I read these healthcare posts at Bogleheads, I am frankly stunned at the cluelessness of some doctors re what's important to their patients. Do we want to know that we're about to be bankrupted by unexpected healthcare costs? Really? You have to ask this question? The only time I wouldn't care whether my treating physician was in-network or out-of-network is in a true emergency situation, e.g., I've just been wheeled into the emergency room unconscious following a high-speed car accident and I'm bleeding out. In that case, someone, anyone, fix me, and I'll bankrupt myself paying for it later. But if there's time to reflect on the question, then I'm always going to choose the best in-net...
by chx
Mon Jun 27, 2016 9:52 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: IRS says we owe over $2 million -- when to round amounts?
Replies: 28
Views: 11100

Re: IRS says we owe over $2 million -- when to round amounts?

This is the funniest post I've seen since I created my account! :mrgreen:
by chx
Sun Jun 26, 2016 11:10 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Roth IRA for a child
Replies: 15
Views: 2174

Re: Roth IRA for a child

I would also recommend that you match any of his earnings that he puts into an ira.
by chx
Sun Jun 26, 2016 1:19 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Calculating Basis Step Up (What happens to the Commisions and Fees?)
Replies: 6
Views: 1206

Re: Calculating Basis Step Up (What happens to the Commisions and Fees?)

When there is a basis step-up or step-down from a death, all information regarding original cost/fees/commissions/etc are discarded. In your example, the new basis will be $85,000.
by chx
Sun Jun 26, 2016 8:57 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Intermediate Term CD Strategy After Brexit
Replies: 8
Views: 1787

Re: Intermediate Term CD Strategy After Brexit

What do the quote marks mean around the number '5' and the word 'disruption'?
by chx
Thu Jun 23, 2016 8:57 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Home Sale Strategy
Replies: 9
Views: 2142

Re: Home Sale Strategy

Find out the consequences of the rental time on the capital gains tax issue. Without that information, it's impossible to make an informed decision. If possible, let us know what you find out on that issue.
by chx
Tue Jun 21, 2016 2:54 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help - At An Investing Crossroads
Replies: 15
Views: 1914

Re: Help - At An Investing Crossroads

2Birds1Stone wrote:Thank you for the feedback everyone!

Do you agree with the PC advisor that by owning VTI/VXUS as my equity portion I am overweight in Large Caps as well as certain sectors (Tech, FInancial, and Healthcare?)
Not at all. You own large caps and those sectors in nearly exact proportion to their presence in the U.S. market.
2Birds1Stone wrote:Would you folks recommend diversifying into a small/mid cap ETF, and possibly some of the sector ETF's were I lack overall exposure?
Only if you want extra exposure to those sectors. I do by using a small-cap value index fund.
by chx
Tue Jun 21, 2016 1:41 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Need advice ..Lexus battery fails when car is not driven 24 hrs
Replies: 87
Views: 36517

Re: Need advice ..Lexus battery fails when car is not driven 24 hrs

Nobody in the real world knows a "good independent mechanic." Plenty of people do. I do. Never conflate "I don't" and/or "no one I know does" with "no one does", regardless of topic. Agreed. Honest independent mechanics do exist. I go to one with all my vehicle problems. He earned my trust one day when I took my rough-running car in to him, he found an air hose had fallen away from where it was supposed to be connected, reconnected it and didn't even charge me. He could have soaked me for a tune-up and engine diagnostic, but he didn't. I know a mechanic whom I consider to be honest. Others do, too, according to a Gallop poll. 29% of respondents rated the honesty of auto mechanics as high or very high...
by chx
Tue Jun 21, 2016 1:35 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Dividend and Buyback Yields, S&P 500, 1982-2015
Replies: 86
Views: 15993

Re: Dividend & Buyback Yields, S&P 500, 1982-2015

Simplegift wrote:
triceratop wrote:Where is the inflation protection?
Sorry not to be more explicit with the assumption that real dividend growth rates (and real net buyback rates) would be positive going forward. Obviously no future guarantees, but dividend growth rates have consistently outpaced inflation in the U.S., especially since the 1940s:
  • Image
    Note: These are growth rates of dividend dollars, not dividend yields.
    Source: WisdomTree
chx wrote:How do you get a negative amount of buybacks?
On a net basis, more stock was issued for the year than was repurchased. Here’s the equation from the OP:
  • Net Buyback Yield = (Trailing 12 month stock repurchases - stock issuances) / Market capitalization
Thank you for the explanations.
by chx
Tue Jun 21, 2016 1:24 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Accounting or Computer Science
Replies: 67
Views: 12216

Re: Accounting or Computer Science

CS has the advantage because there's no need to get a masters or any certifications. Less time in school + similar pay = more lifetime pay. Both degrees can get you into the C suite. Is it correct that following are the CS cons? - Effects of offshoring in second half of career from 45 to 65 No, this is not a real worry for competent software engineers. - Women percent is low, approximately 20% This is a strong con, although it's rapidly getting better. There are certainly efforts to increase the number of women majoring in computer science, and they have had good short-term effects, but the and levels are still quite low. In the U.S., the percentage of women in CS peaked in the 1980s with 37.1% of cs undergraduate degrees being awarded to ...
by chx
Tue Jun 21, 2016 1:06 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Perfect negative correlation = zero total return?
Replies: 63
Views: 11582

Re: Perfect negative correlation = zero total return?

Regarding Investopedia, I would venture that we all agree on the following: 1) When taking correlation into account in the construction of a portfolio, it is the correlation of returns that matters. I don't agree with that. The value of the portfolio is important. But I also think that if you do the math right you should get similar answer either way, and if you don't the method is not robust and the answers are questionable (for yet one more reason, as if we needed more). The focus on percentage returns rather than values is a crutch to move the interesting digits to the left of the decimal point. This was useful when it was all done on paper and pencil. No. Focusing on value of the portfolio is the wrong place to look if you're computing...
by chx
Tue Jun 21, 2016 9:45 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Accounting or Computer Science
Replies: 67
Views: 12216

Re: Accounting or Computer Science

I have done both in different careers. Like night and day. Accounting is rote; computer science is problem solving.
by chx
Tue Jun 21, 2016 9:09 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Perfect negative correlation = zero total return?
Replies: 63
Views: 11582

Re: Perfect negative correlation = zero total return?

Regarding Investopedia, I would venture that we all agree on the following: 1) When taking correlation into account in the construction of a portfolio, it is the correlation of returns that matters. I don't agree with that. The value of the portfolio is important. But I also think that if you do the math right you should get similar answer either way, and if you don't the method is not robust and the answers are questionable (for yet one more reason, as if we needed more). The focus on percentage returns rather than values is a crutch to move the interesting digits to the left of the decimal point. This was useful when it was all done on paper and pencil. No. Focusing on value of the portfolio is the wrong place to look if you're computing...
by chx
Tue Jun 21, 2016 8:59 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Older MacBook: what could go wrong?
Replies: 12
Views: 2199

Re: Older MacBook: what could go wrong?

A top of the line PC laptop (still less expensive than an Apple) can last ten years or more; an Apple might make it to five; time for a new one.
by chx
Tue Jun 21, 2016 8:19 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Anyone else have problems with appliances from Home Depot?
Replies: 43
Views: 18365

Re: Anyone else have problems with appliances from Home Depot?

I bought a refrigerator at Home Depot. It was delivered, and I didn't notice a scratch on the side until after the delivery men left. Went down to the store and asked for a replacement, which was delivered the next week with no problems.
by chx
Mon Jun 20, 2016 5:57 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Dividend and Buyback Yields, S&P 500, 1982-2015
Replies: 86
Views: 15993

Re: Dividend & Buyback Yields, S&P 500, 1982-2015

It's hard to read the chart in that form. For example, in 2008, it looks like there are both negative and positive amounts. How do you get a negative amount of buybacks? It appears that for 2008, the chart does not explicitly show a total to compare with other years.