Search found 1064 matches

by UpsetRaptor
Sat Mar 02, 2024 10:56 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Realize Taxable Gains or use HSA?
Replies: 2
Views: 370

Realize Taxable Gains or use HSA?

I'm trying to think about the right way to think about this. Some lumpy expenses coming up for house projects necessitate a $15K withdrawal from savings. I can either realize capital gains from a taxable account, or use HSA funds and pay no tax, but then I'm using up some tax-advantaged space that's likely to have many years of tax-free growth ahead. Which to use? Some info: - Taxable account is $400K, and the lowest-gain assets are around half gains. So let's assume ~$15K, at ~50% gain, at 15% LTCG, the tax incurred will be a little over $1K. - Been just saving up HSA as an extra tax-advantaged account for the future, now has about $50K, and I've got about $30K medical expense receipts stored back from over the years, so no issues using th...
by UpsetRaptor
Mon Feb 05, 2024 7:41 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Is paying off a 2.99% mortgage always a bad idea?
Replies: 332
Views: 24662

Re: Is paying off a 2.99% mortgage always a bad idea?

The arguments for paying off the mortgage in this situation are purely psychological. The arguments for keeping it are objective/mathematical.

You also give up liquidity by paying it off. Even if the objective financial analysis wasn’t the preemptive point governing me, I still think I’d psychologically prefer the bigger portfolio and extra liquidity. Just me though. Some people just reeeeaaallly hate debt.
by UpsetRaptor
Thu Jan 18, 2024 5:24 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: It Does not Seem to Make Sense for Me to Ever Pay Home off Early
Replies: 51
Views: 5595

Re: It Does not Seem to Make Sense for Me to Ever Pay Home off Early

Paying down the mortgage early is a guaranteed 6.75% return. The word guaranteed is important. Equities are likely to return similar over the long haul but there’s a lot more risk/volatility there.

Many these days have a mortgage 3% or less, which is actually an asset in the current environment. That’s a different story.
by UpsetRaptor
Wed Jan 17, 2024 2:09 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: If You Willing To Tolerate More Risk For Higher Returns Which Tilt(s)?
Replies: 26
Views: 2418

Re: If You Willing To Tolerate More Risk For Higher Returns Which Tilt(s)?

OP, is your asset allocation already at 100:0 and you still have more risk appetite? If not, get there first and see how your stomach feels through your first major (30%+ ish?) downturn.

The literature, and opinions, are all over the map on any factors that may answer your thread title question, but for most people it's totally unnecessary unless/until the conditions in my first two sentences are met. Increasing equity allocation is the simplest, cheapest, and most proven way to increase risk/return profile.
by UpsetRaptor
Tue Jan 02, 2024 12:18 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: At what net worth did you start not sweating the "small stuff"
Replies: 137
Views: 27096

Re: At what net worth did you start not sweating the "small stuff"

At 1.5M net worth in early forties, with good stable dual incomes, we made a conscious decision to open the purse strings somewhat and get more spendy on things like vacations, big home improvements that'd increase quality of life for our family, not sweating the small stuff, etc. Absolutely zero regrets. Most people don't have a good relationship with money. Either too spendy or too thrifty. Frankly, bogleheads tend to self-select into the latter camp. Just look at all the posts in this thread where the answer is "never" despite multi millions net worth...just make me smh. You see it on this board repeatedly in these type of psychology of money threads. Yeah I sweated the small stuff earlier, but it's pretty clear now that in a c...
by UpsetRaptor
Thu Dec 28, 2023 10:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Book recommendations for emotional control
Replies: 34
Views: 4149

Re: Book recommendations for emotional control

+1 to previous poster who said therapy. If counseling could somehow be destigmatized, the world would be a better place.
by UpsetRaptor
Sun Dec 17, 2023 11:44 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Why not leveraged Sp500 - xxxx/upro?
Replies: 41
Views: 6680

Re: Why not leveraged Sp500 - xxxx/upro?

If the market drops 50% (or not even that) a 3x or 4x leveraged fund that tracks it is a wipeout. Not exactly 0, but close enough. And the market tends to do that once every decade or two.

There’s a place for leveraged strategies, look at psldx and hedgefundie threads here. But just buy a 3x and blindly hold long term and triple your investment returns doesn’t work.
by UpsetRaptor
Sun Dec 17, 2023 10:32 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The Illusion of the Small Cap premium
Replies: 121
Views: 17184

Re: The Illusion of the Small Cap premium

Okay, so let's say it's possible that certain stock market sectors may be riskier, and thus incur greater expected long term returns, than others. And sketchy small companies could be where this scenario is most likely to manifest. Fine.

Honest question though:
Unless an investor's asset allocation is already 100:0 and they have more risk appetite, wouldn't it still be a better (simpler, cheaper, more efficient, less prone to behavioral errors, etc) way to increase their risk/return profile to simply increase their overall equity allocation?
by UpsetRaptor
Mon Dec 11, 2023 12:29 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Private High School - worth it?
Replies: 164
Views: 27778

Re: Private High School - worth it?

Peer group matters. If your kid's social group is motivated, intelligent, and high-achieving that tends to rub off. If it's the opposite, well....

If you're in a good public school district you can certainly have a good peer group, and then on top of that if your kid tests into gifted and/or AP programs they're more likely to affiliate with a good niche. A private school can, if it's a good one, basically automatically guarantee a strong peer group.
by UpsetRaptor
Sun Dec 10, 2023 7:20 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: VBTLX - Am I looking at this fund incorrectly for long term investing?
Replies: 60
Views: 8580

Re: VBTLX - Am I looking at this fund incorrectly for long term investing?

Just stay the course OP. There is and will always be a lot of noise, in this thread and elsewhere, but your portfolio is simple and fine.
by UpsetRaptor
Thu Dec 07, 2023 12:05 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why not 100% PSLDX? [PIMCO StocksPLUS Long Duration Fund]
Replies: 2106
Views: 391603

Re: Why not 100% PSLDX? [PIMCO StocksPLUS Long Duration Fund]

Effective as of 07/31/2023 Gross Expense Ratio 1.71% Really everyone? If you check yourself, it has had a worse return as of 2017 (6 years) and also costs a bunch more. https://www.portfoliovisualizer.com/backtest-portfolio#analysisResults VTI's cost ratio is .05% PSLDX cost ratio 1.71% It also underperforms. Why again? I can't speak for anyone but me, but I put some money intended to pass to my heirs into this one just 10 days ago. So far it's been great. I'm curious why you limited your analysis from 2017 to date? If you go back to 2010 PSLDX outperforms by a lot, and if you go back to inception it still out performs. Anyway, my thinking is the bond component has been a drag the last few years but should help over the next several years....
by UpsetRaptor
Thu Oct 26, 2023 9:35 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Unused 529s. What to do?
Replies: 26
Views: 2804

Re: Unused 529s. What to do?

Seems like a great situation for an ABLE account. If the kids qualify, it's like having a Roth IRA without affecting the $2K means test. Maybe I'm missing something, but what exactly is the concern there?
by UpsetRaptor
Wed Oct 25, 2023 11:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Should I pay more for a plumber to install garbage disposal versus a handyman?
Replies: 93
Views: 10077

Re: Should I pay more for a plumber to install garbage disposal versus a handyman?

Agree with BigDog, this is a really simple job. I am not very handy but would still do myself. Find something else to pay a premium for.
by UpsetRaptor
Sat Oct 21, 2023 9:01 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Refrigerators. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.
Replies: 115
Views: 13986

Re: Refrigerators. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.

Threads like this invariably are full of anecdotes and a selection bias of bad experiences. Lot of "Don't go with brand X mine didn't last long" and "I will personally never buy another appliance from store Y, lemme tell ya". You can get an unlucky lemon or a fortuitous 30 yr appliance from anywhere, but the major vendors pretty much all source all their primary components from a similar subset of basic suppliers.

I'd recommend focusing on feature set, appearance, fit into your space, and price. If you think the lifetime of the appliance is not a crapshoot just because you picked Brand Primo, I got some land to sell ya.
by UpsetRaptor
Sat Sep 02, 2023 9:05 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Order of painting a room (ceiling, walls, trim)
Replies: 47
Views: 4727

Re: Order of painting a room (ceiling, walls, trim)

Normal is ceiling -> walls -> paint trim independently and install. If you’ve got installed base already that you’re repainting then just go ceiling -> walls -> base. Tape the base best you can before doing the walls, but in general, working top-to-bottom will help you cover any drips as you go work down.

Use brushes/rollers. Sprayers are quicker but more expensive unless you already have the equipment, and more drips especially if you aren’t used to it.

Sure a pro job will always look best but as long as perfection isn’t your goal, if you’re not gonna DIY painting, you’re not going to DIY anything. It’s 1/10 difficulty.

Good luck!
by UpsetRaptor
Wed Jun 07, 2023 12:41 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: In-Laws financial advisor charges 1.0% on AUM. Say something?
Replies: 129
Views: 10351

Re: In-Laws financial advisor charges 1.0% on AUM. Say something?

1000% stay out of it OP. They've worked hard, built their own success, are worth 8 figures, and likely in their minds they're getting "good" financial advice, and are probably already aware (even if not fully comprehending) that they're paying good money for it. Even if you're right, why risk sticking your nose in it? I.E. What specific scenario are you worried about long term here? You and your wife are obviously not going to have to take care of them. Your wife's inheritance might be slightly less at some point down the road? My parents are overpaying for an Edward Jones advisor they've used for decades and trust highly. The AUM is slightly higher than your in-laws, and the investments are all high fee funds. They're worth 3M, h...
by UpsetRaptor
Tue Mar 21, 2023 12:48 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: 2.5 days in Memphis
Replies: 18
Views: 1872

Re: 2.5 days in Memphis

Had a similar trip several years ago. We did Beale St, had some ribs there at a moderate high-end place I forget (not The Rendezvous), toured Sun Studios, Civil Rights museum, and the Pyramid. If you're looking to drink do Beale, if you're into music and/or music history do Sun Studios (and probably Stax too though we didn't do it), and if you're into outdoorsy stuff the Pyramid is like the Ultimate Bass Pro of anywhere, which I found really neat. Civil Rights museum was probably my favorite though. Got to stand on the ledge where MLK was shot. And they made a nice museum out of it in general.

Note: Memphis style ribs are more sweet, KC style more savory. Personal preference, I found the ribs underwhelming vs back home.
by UpsetRaptor
Fri Mar 10, 2023 10:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: swimming pool pumps
Replies: 38
Views: 6034

Re: swimming pool pumps

OP probably already found a solution for their pool pump issue 9 years ago, but for anyone that keeps finding/bumping this thread:
http://www.troublefreepool.com is really the bogleheads for pool owners. Any pool related question, it's worth researching/posting there.
by UpsetRaptor
Tue Feb 21, 2023 11:42 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What % of your gross income do you set aside for retirement?
Replies: 224
Views: 21799

Re: What % of your gross income do you set aside for retirement?

45% of gross this year, counting pension contributions but not SS. Counting SS would be 50%.
by UpsetRaptor
Tue Feb 21, 2023 6:08 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: gifts "to college fund" and what to do once 529 is well funded?
Replies: 23
Views: 1934

Re: gifts "to college fund" and what to do once 529 is well funded?

We have a similar “issue” but our kids are in private K-12 so we can withdraw their current tuition money (up to $10K per kid per year) while still depositing the full grandparent gifts.
by UpsetRaptor
Sat Feb 11, 2023 6:24 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why not 100% PSLDX? [PIMCO StocksPLUS Long Duration Fund]
Replies: 2106
Views: 391603

Re: Why not 100% PSLDX? [PIMCO StocksPLUS Long Duration Fund]

international001 wrote: Sat Feb 11, 2023 5:59 pm Why not portfolio visualizer?
PV only provides monthly data. Some like tracking daily.
by UpsetRaptor
Tue Jan 10, 2023 7:14 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Why Do People Like Linux?
Replies: 254
Views: 18799

Re: Why Do People Like Linux?

Because they dislike Microsoft. It used to be worse, but Apple kindof overtook MS as being the tech baddy.
by UpsetRaptor
Sun Jan 08, 2023 10:49 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 529's basic question/concept
Replies: 169
Views: 14105

Re: 529's basic question/concept

1) Fire your tax guy
2) Start doing backdoor Roth IRA contributions each year
by UpsetRaptor
Tue Jan 03, 2023 10:33 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 529's basic question/concept
Replies: 169
Views: 14105

Re: 529's basic question/concept

You might be missing the fact that all of your contributions can be withdrawn without penalty or taxation. Is this true? I always thought it was done pro rata. Correct, pro-rata out of 529s. I think JoeRetire was thinking of Roth IRAs. Though with the new law you can roll 529 funds into a Roth IRA under certain qualifications, whereupon the penalty-free contributions withdrawals apply. No real limit to investing but as it is considered a gift for federal tax purposes, limit is 15/16k per year per kid. If you're Married Filing Jointly it's twice that. And like another poster said, even if you go over, that doesn't necessarily mean any tax will be owed. It only becomes a concern if the estate tax exemption eventually comes into play for the ...
by UpsetRaptor
Sun Jan 01, 2023 12:13 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Good riddance to bad rubbish - 2022
Replies: 16
Views: 2729

Re: Good riddance to bad rubbish - 2022

Best year ever - Messi finally got his WC.
by UpsetRaptor
Fri Dec 30, 2022 12:12 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Kitces on Secure Act 2.0
Replies: 40
Views: 8387

Re: Kitces on Secure Act 2.0

sofarsogood wrote: Fri Dec 30, 2022 12:05 am If the MAGI of the beneficiary is above the threshold (i.e. > 144,000 for single filer for 2022), that disqualifies the beneficiary from contributing to their own Roth IRA. Can the surplus 529 then be used to fund the Roth IRA instead?
Yes. Income limits are excluded from these rollovers.
by UpsetRaptor
Thu Dec 29, 2022 11:38 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Kitces on Secure Act 2.0
Replies: 40
Views: 8387

Re: Kitces on Secure Act 2.0

Interesting. Based on example #3, it seems the author does not believe that earned income is required to do the conversion. Also does not think that changing beneficiaries re-sets the 15 year clock. If both are true, the 529 truly has a new superpower Example 3 doesn't really insinuate anything regarding the 15 yr clock or earnings requirement: "Example 3: Helena is the beneficiary of a 529 plan account that has excess funds she will not need for school, and the account has been open for more than 15 years. In 2024, Helena contributes $4,000 of her own earned income to a Roth IRA. As such, assuming the IRA contribution limit for 2024 remains at the $6,500 limit for 2023, the owner of Helena’s 529 plan could transfer up to another $6,5...
by UpsetRaptor
Thu Dec 29, 2022 11:19 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Do new 529 rules allow this?
Replies: 15
Views: 2042

Re: Do new 529 rules allow this?

Now that the Secure Act 2.0 has been passed along with the FY23 Omnibus, is the following allowable? 1. Frontload 529 now to take advantage of many years of compound growth (529 beneficiary is child) 2. In 20 years, I find that I have excess money in the 529 (kid doesnt go to college, gets a scholarship, or I just have extra after paying for college). At this point, I switch the 529 beneficiary to myself . 3. I wait 15 years following beneficiary name change (to satisfy 15-year requirement in new law). Then I begin rolling excess 529 funds into my own Roth IRA (subject to annual Roth IRA contribution limits and $35K lifetime rollover limit). *this would allow me to roll the excess 529 funds into my own Roth IRA (since I would be the final ...
by UpsetRaptor
Thu Dec 29, 2022 10:24 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Do we think of 529 Differently Now with Roth Conversion (Passed Omnibus Changes)
Replies: 116
Views: 18244

Re: Do we think of 529 Differently Now with Roth Conversion (Passed Omnibus Changes)

Income limits are waived, but the annual contributions limit and earned income requirement remain. Pretty sure, willing to put up a case of beer on it. It’s not clear to me that the earned income requirement remains. They are calling it a “rollover” not a “contribution.” Here's what it says: ‘‘(I) ANNUAL LIMITATION.— 9 Clause (i) shall only apply to so much 10 of any distribution as does not exceed 11 the amount applicable to the des 12 ignated beneficiary under section 13 408A(c)(2) for the taxable year (re 14 duced by the amount of aggregate 15 contributions made during the taxable 16 year to all individual retirement plans 17 maintained for the benefit of the des 18 ignated beneficiary). And here's 408A(c)(2): (2)Contribution limit The ...
by UpsetRaptor
Wed Dec 28, 2022 8:14 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What are you doing differently in 2023?
Replies: 210
Views: 28709

Re: What are you doing differently in 2023?

Very non-Boglehead answer: Spending more. I'll be finishing my basement, adding furniture and home theater etc, and doing an overseas trip over the summer. Sure, my investments were down slightly in 2022, but the status quo of our accumulation phase is just fine, and there comes a point where the portfolio should be something other than just a number.
by UpsetRaptor
Wed Dec 28, 2022 6:49 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: To ROTH 401k or just Roth backdoor
Replies: 10
Views: 1497

Re: To ROTH 401k or just Roth backdoor

$310K income, stick with traditional
by UpsetRaptor
Tue Dec 27, 2022 10:29 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Standard deductions sunsetting with tax rates Dec 2025
Replies: 36
Views: 6491

Re: Standard deductions sunsetting with tax rates Dec 2025

I understand that current law is that it'll sunset, but I wouldn't make any major financial decisions in advance of its expiration under the presumed assumption that all provisions of TCJA are allowed to fully expire. There's going to be a huge policy debate in 2025, and the range of possible outcomes is very wide. We can't speculate further, and if this already crosses the political line, apologies mods.
by UpsetRaptor
Fri Dec 23, 2022 11:12 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Secure Act 2.0 Signed
Replies: 164
Views: 22695

Re: Secure Act 2.0 Signed

I just spent an hour parsing the text and going through current law on the cornell website. I believe that with regards to the 529 rollovers, income limits are waived, but the annual contributions limit and earned income requirement remain. Absolutely no idea on the biggest question: Does a 529 beneficiary transfer reset the 15 yr clock
by UpsetRaptor
Fri Dec 23, 2022 11:09 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Do we think of 529 Differently Now with Roth Conversion (Passed Omnibus Changes)
Replies: 116
Views: 18244

Re: Do we think of 529 Differently Now with Roth Conversion (Passed Omnibus Changes)

fujiters wrote: Fri Dec 23, 2022 4:49 pm While the income limit is waived, all rollover contributions are subject to the annual contribution limit and presumably also require earned income like typical Roth contributions, so this wouldn't be useful to those who are already retired (with no earned income).
I just spent an hour parsing the text and going through current law on the cornell website. I believe this interpretation is correct. Income limits are waived, but the annual contributions limit and earned income requirement remain. Pretty sure, willing to put up a case of beer on it.

Absolutely no idea on the biggest question: Does a 529 beneficiary transfer reset the 15 yr clock
by UpsetRaptor
Fri Dec 23, 2022 8:22 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Secure Act 2.0 Signed
Replies: 164
Views: 22695

Re: Secure Act 2.0 Signed

Also, these rollovers are not subject to Roth IRA income limts or earnings rules. Are you sure? Lines 7-11 on page 2164 seem to make it so that part that excludes rollovers from the contribution limit does not apply to 529-to-Roth rollovers, so the normal income limits and earnings rules applying to Roth contributions should apply here. Lines 12-25 on page 2164 make it so that the 529 withdrawal does not count toward your Roth income limit but doesn't otherwise waive the Roth contribution income limit. What is the difference between not counting toward the Roth income limit and waiving the Roth contribution income limit? Perhaps you're right and it effectively waives the income limit. The logic on page 2164 (language like "the amount ...
by UpsetRaptor
Fri Dec 23, 2022 6:31 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Secure Act 2.0 Signed
Replies: 164
Views: 22695

Re: Secure Act 2.0 Signed

I don't think the 529-to-Roth IRA rollover is what it's cracked up to be. See the proposed 529(c)(E)(ii): ‘‘(ii) LIMITATIONS.— (I) ANNUAL LIMITATION.—Clause (i) shall only apply to so much of any distribution as does not exceed the amount applicable to the designated beneficiary under section 408A(c)(2) for the taxable year (reduced by the amount of aggregate contributions made during the taxable year to all individual retirement plans maintained for the benefit of the designated beneficiary). Isn't this saying that any other IRA contributions for the same beneficiary for the same year eat away at the permitted 529-to-Roth rollover? So this is not a rollover at all, but more analogous to the once-per-lifetime Traditional IRA-to-HSA "r...
by UpsetRaptor
Fri Dec 23, 2022 4:56 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Secure Act 2.0 Signed
Replies: 164
Views: 22695

Re: Secure Act 2.0 Signed

3) The amount rolled over "does not exceed the aggregate amount contributed to the program (and earnings attributable thereto) before the 5-year period ending on the date of the distribution" Can someone explain what that means? Or give an example of what can and cannot be rolled over? The way I read it is contributions have to age 5yrs before they (and their earnings) can be rolled over. Somewhat similar to Roth withdrawal rules. Yeah, they're trying to prevent another Backdoor Roth scenario, this time with no earned income requirement. If the contributions didn't have to sit at least 5 years, there's nothing else preventing someone from opening (and not even necessarily funding) a 529 when they're younger with themself as benef...
by UpsetRaptor
Fri Dec 23, 2022 4:29 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Excess 401K Contribution
Replies: 5
Views: 609

Re: Excess 401K Contribution

Gotcha. Thanks!
by UpsetRaptor
Fri Dec 23, 2022 3:45 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Secure Act 2.0 Signed
Replies: 164
Views: 22695

Re: Secure Act 2.0 Signed

So, I'm super confused with the new 529 rollover rules into a Roth IRA. Can someone explain that to me? If I oversave for my son in his 529, and it's been more than 15 years since I opened the account, I can rollover up to $70k (35k per person) into my wife's and my Roth IRA? Leftover 529 account savings can be rolled over into a Roth IRA without tax or penalty, if a few qualifications are met: 1) The 529 account is at least 15 years old 2) The beneficiary of the 529 and the Roth IRA owner are the same individual 3) The amount rolled over "does not exceed the aggregate amount contributed to the program (and earnings attributable thereto) before the 5-year period ending on the date of the distribution" 4) Each rollover is subject ...
by UpsetRaptor
Fri Dec 23, 2022 3:14 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Excess 401K Contribution
Replies: 5
Views: 609

Excess 401K Contribution

Switched jobs mid-year. New employer apparently did not import prior 401K contributions and the payroll software was then allowed excess contribution. Just happened on paycheck today, I'm a few hundred over for the year, around $21K.

I notified payroll dept of the issue, but...I don't have high confidence in them knowing the right way to handle (small company, many things like this since I started, etc).

What should I do? Try to get them to do an overcontribution return before EOY? Or let it play out and deal with future excess contribution return, updated W-2, 1099, etc?
by UpsetRaptor
Mon Dec 19, 2022 7:02 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Should I bail on International Investing?
Replies: 35
Views: 3947

Re: Should I bail on International Investing?

Op, you should definitely tax loss harvest it if you’re sitting on a loss. Whether it’s into VTSAX or VFWAX (us or int) is up to you. Just pick one and stick with it. As others have said, not much sense for 1% int, IMO.
by UpsetRaptor
Sun Dec 18, 2022 8:06 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Lump Sum or DCA?
Replies: 17
Views: 2811

Re: Lump Sum or DCA?

Lump sum wins around 75% of the time. So I always lump sum, because I like being right 75% of the time.
by UpsetRaptor
Fri Dec 02, 2022 12:19 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Taxes with large capital gains and variable bonus
Replies: 2
Views: 480

Re: Taxes with large capital gains and variable bonus

Last year I paid enough to qualify for a safe harbor based on prior year tax payments, but it was not quite enough in federal payments. Subsequently, I was sent a bill a few months after the April tax deadline with a calculation of interest owed due to taxes not being paid fast enough on that year’s capital gains. I wonder if I had paid enough by year end (even $1 over), then the IRS would not bother calculating the timing of payments relative to the timing of income. I'm not sure what this means. If you actually qualified for a safe harbor, you shouldn't have had any of the penalty/interest payment rigamarole that followed. I'm speculating based on incomplete info, but if you were making voluntary tax payments at the IRS website through t...
by UpsetRaptor
Thu Dec 01, 2022 7:45 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Are all total stock market index funds the same?
Replies: 15
Views: 5988

Re: Are all total stock market index funds the same?

In theory no, there’s small differences in ER and holdings and whatnot. As a practical matter though, yeah they’re pretty much all the same.