Search found 1567 matches
- Thu Feb 15, 2024 11:07 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Can you do better than BND?
- Replies: 278
- Views: 35093
Re: Can you do better than BND?
Thank you for posting this OP! I wish Larry Swedroe's posting on this forum overlapped with the posting of this thread. I can guess from his books and previous posts that he would have pointed out that what we're interested in is not really a comparison of the individual bond funds by themselves, but rather how a bond allocation in each fund would influence a portfolio that has an asset allocation to equities as well. Because Treasury funds do well during flights to safety, the theory is the timing of ups and downs would work out well in a portfolio that is regularly rebalanced. Let's check Portfolio Visualizer. https://www.portfoliovisualizer.com/backtest-asset-class-allocation?s=y&sl=1hPm6OgxaRMBXvFpadF9rs https://i.ibb.co/RHZHnxL/Per...
- Mon Jan 08, 2024 3:05 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: What browser(s) do you use, and why? Mobile and Desktop
- Replies: 49
- Views: 7952
Re: What browser(s) do you use, and why? Mobile and Desktop
Brave for most browsing on my iMac, the device on which I do most of my browsing.
Chrome for most browsing on my Chromebook, which is usually limited to just a few websites, mostly owned by Google.
Firefox for most browsing on Linux.
DuckDuckGo for most browsing on my iPhone.
Some other browsers including Safari and Edge for (1) things that don't work in my preferred browser on a particular device and (2) to test how some of the online content I produce works in different browsers or with different browser extensions enabled.
Chrome for most browsing on my Chromebook, which is usually limited to just a few websites, mostly owned by Google.
Firefox for most browsing on Linux.
DuckDuckGo for most browsing on my iPhone.
Some other browsers including Safari and Edge for (1) things that don't work in my preferred browser on a particular device and (2) to test how some of the online content I produce works in different browsers or with different browser extensions enabled.
- Thu Oct 05, 2023 2:53 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: treasury direct
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1040
Re: treasury direct
The Treasury posts an auction schedule as a PDF. I'm not sure if the URL ever changes, because I always Google "Treasury auction schedule" to get there:
https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/ ... hedule.pdf
Similarly, you can Google "Daily Treasury Yield Curve Rates" to get to the table where they post daily record of rates. You can't avoid some rate change before auction, but at least you'll have the rate for the close before you schedule your purchase.
https://home.treasury.gov/resource-cent ... nth=202310
As jebmke says, you can buy on secondary auction and have less guessing.
https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/ ... hedule.pdf
Similarly, you can Google "Daily Treasury Yield Curve Rates" to get to the table where they post daily record of rates. You can't avoid some rate change before auction, but at least you'll have the rate for the close before you schedule your purchase.
https://home.treasury.gov/resource-cent ... nth=202310
As jebmke says, you can buy on secondary auction and have less guessing.
- Thu Oct 05, 2023 2:45 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Long Treasuries down 55%. Time to bottom fish?
- Replies: 416
- Views: 52068
Re: Long Treasuries down 55%. Time to bottom fish?
I keep track of my current asset allocation versus my target asset allocation in a spreadsheet. The spreadsheet is used for rebalancing on the rare times the allocation of particular asset classes move outside the ranges I've set.
But more frequently on an ongoing basis, the spreadsheet is used to spot the asset classes most in need of a boost toward the target allocation so I can send my biweekly contributions there. Recently, those asset classes have been nominal bonds, TIPS, and sometimes REITS.
Edit to add: So, thus I've been buying, if that counts as "bottom fishing"
But more frequently on an ongoing basis, the spreadsheet is used to spot the asset classes most in need of a boost toward the target allocation so I can send my biweekly contributions there. Recently, those asset classes have been nominal bonds, TIPS, and sometimes REITS.
Edit to add: So, thus I've been buying, if that counts as "bottom fishing"
- Tue Aug 29, 2023 11:15 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Married 4 years and I'm the money person - change wife's target funds to VOO etc?
- Replies: 16
- Views: 2683
Re: Married 4 years and I'm the money person - change wife's target funds to VOO etc?
I'm in similar situation but ten years into the future. :happy A couple decades ago, I read a bunch of books by Boglehead authors and enthusiastically created a portfolio with several asset classes, not unlike the "Young Yvonne" example in William Bernstein's original version of The Four Pillars of Investing. (I am on library wait list for the Second Edition and have no idea yet if Young Yvonne makes an encore appearance there.) I use a spreadsheet to tell me when to rebalance. Meanwhile, my wife wants no part of that, but, like your wife, left asset location and allocation decisions to me. I opted to leave my wife in the Target Date Fund for simplicity. She has Vanguard's Target Date Fund in both her Roth at Vanguard and her work...
- Fri Jul 14, 2023 8:18 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Is selling I-bonds in the current environment a wise move?
- Replies: 86
- Views: 8539
Re: Is selling I-bonds in the current environment a wise move?
My I Bonds are the upper tier of my emergency fund. I already bought the amount I allotted for May with the 0.9% fixed rate at end of May.
I'm not in a rush to sell older I Bonds, but if cash needs were to demand it, I've already planned which lower fixed rate I Bonds would be sold first and at what month each would no longer be sacrificing any 6%+ months of interest as early withdrawal penalty.
I'm not in a rush to sell older I Bonds, but if cash needs were to demand it, I've already planned which lower fixed rate I Bonds would be sold first and at what month each would no longer be sacrificing any 6%+ months of interest as early withdrawal penalty.
- Mon Jul 03, 2023 5:27 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Anyone still favor Vanguard?
- Replies: 359
- Views: 48444
Re: Anyone still favor Vanguard?
I started a Roth IRA with Vanguard almost two decades ago. My workplace account has always been with Fidelity, so I have higher balance there. But when people asked my advice back in the day, Vanguard was main recommendation. My peers and I are older now, and there are fewer among them asking for advice. Everyone's already found where they are parking their money. But if I were asked, I think Vanguard would still rank very highly, and a slam dunk for anyone who slightly favors traditional index funds over ETFs like me. I agreed with the complaints about the interface as recently as maybe a year ago, but have you used it lately? It's pretty smooth; I like it better than Fidelity's interface actually, and I'm not knocking Fidelity, that's som...
- Fri Jun 09, 2023 4:58 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: What frugal thing did you do today?
- Replies: 4525
- Views: 617640
Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
I wish I had noticed this thread a few days ago on my 50th birthday...
As I was approaching 50, AARP sent me an invite to join. At first I was like, what, no, I'm not retiring yet, leave me alone. But then I saw they have 10% discount at Bonefish, and my wife and friend were taking me there to dinner for my birthday. So I joined for $12 on my birthday morning, put the digital membership card on my phone, and made the $12 back the same evening.
As I was approaching 50, AARP sent me an invite to join. At first I was like, what, no, I'm not retiring yet, leave me alone. But then I saw they have 10% discount at Bonefish, and my wife and friend were taking me there to dinner for my birthday. So I joined for $12 on my birthday morning, put the digital membership card on my phone, and made the $12 back the same evening.
- Tue May 30, 2023 11:48 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Calculating Personal Savings Rate
- Replies: 63
- Views: 3660
Re: Calculating Personal Savings Rate
I've calculated an annual savings rate number using a spreadsheet for the last ten years or so. I also added the previous ten years or so, though I sometimes had to estimate some of the numbers for these historical years. My purpose was to see when and how much I improved my savings rate and especially to keep track each year whether I've been keeping up to my goals. There have been some years with high expenses where I couldn't save as much, but since implementing the spreadsheet I've kept a "floor" target of 16.6%, chosen mostly because that was a number Wade Pfau threw out several years ago according to his study at that time (which of course is just a number, but it gives me a target.) I have columns in the spreadsheet for eac...
- Fri May 05, 2023 1:54 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: TBill 1 month vs 2 months interest spread
- Replies: 25
- Views: 3381
Re: TBill 1 month vs 2 months interest spread
I have t-bills maturing early June, late June, and early July. I never thought these securities would be so, um, exciting...
- Thu Apr 13, 2023 1:48 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Best place to park cash at Schwab?
- Replies: 53
- Views: 17341
Re: Best place to park cash at Schwab?
A Schwab using friend was considering the very topic of this thread, and this was very helpful, thank you!
In answer to the question above, this calculator is nice:
https://www.mymoneyblog.com/tax-equival ... funds.html
In answer to the question above, this calculator is nice:
https://www.mymoneyblog.com/tax-equival ... funds.html
- Fri Mar 24, 2023 4:25 pm
- Forum: US Chapters
- Topic: Amazon Smile: John C Bogle Center
- Replies: 24
- Views: 8032
Re: Amazon Smile: John C Bogle Center
Sorry to bring up this old thread. A number of Bogleheads including myself donated via Amazon Smile, even in combination with the referral URL.
Amazon Smile appears to have ceased. I guess we still have the referral link to use with our Amazon purchases.
https://smile.amazon.com/charity/thankyou
Amazon Smile appears to have ceased. I guess we still have the referral link to use with our Amazon purchases.
https://smile.amazon.com/charity/thankyou
- Mon Mar 06, 2023 2:23 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: If not Vanguard, then who?
- Replies: 62
- Views: 5915
Re: If not Vanguard, then who?
My work's 401 plan has always been at Fidelity, and my Roth IRA has always been at Vanguard. 10-15 years ago, Fidelity had a limited selection of index funds, but I could still fill out my desired asset allocation using ETFs from iShares or even from Vanguard at Fidelity. Over the years, the low-cost index fund selection available at Fidelity has improved greatly. I'm sure you have heard of the Zero funds. If you are OK with ETFs rather than index mutual funds that trade at closing price, then you pretty much have everything available you want with no transaction costs now. In the Roth at Vanguard, I still keep the All World Ex-US Small Cap index fund, which doesn't have a real equivalent offering among Fidelity's low cost index funds. If I...
- Wed Feb 22, 2023 11:16 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: I Bonds Mega Thread (I Bond Heads Rejoice!)
- Replies: 6651
- Views: 1204377
Re: series i bonds
I have been buying I-Bonds over the last two decades for one of two reasons: (a) As an inflation-protected bond within my asset allocation of retirement assets or (b) As an alternative to a CD for cash emergency fund (available after 1-yr) For much of the last decade, TIPS real yields were negative but I-Bonds' real yield was 0%, so I-Bonds had an advantage with reason (a) above. But I-Bonds purchased now have 0.4% real yield. Using TIPS to fill an allocation to inflation-linked bonds has more than 1.0% advantage of real yield, so for the asset allocation purpose I'd favor TIPS (in a tax-advantaged account) right now. For reason (b) above, I-Bonds will earn 6.89% the first six months, which is pretty advantageous over other cash options lik...
- Mon Nov 07, 2022 9:41 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Kindle or Paper... which do you use and why?
- Replies: 117
- Views: 7109
Re: Kindle or Paper... which do you use and why?
I always loved reading, but was limited to fewer than ten books a year with paper books due to poor eyesight. Even with reading glasses, reading paper books quickly makes my eyes tired and gives me a headache.
With Kindle, I can change the font and the font size. Open Dyslexic font is a game changer. I have been able to more than triple my books read each year. Occasionally, I run into a book that isn't available as an e-book from the library and I can only read on paper, or that I owned on paper from before so felt obligated to read in that format, and although I still enjoy the book, the tiredness and headache and slower paced reading all return and remind me.
With Kindle, I can change the font and the font size. Open Dyslexic font is a game changer. I have been able to more than triple my books read each year. Occasionally, I run into a book that isn't available as an e-book from the library and I can only read on paper, or that I owned on paper from before so felt obligated to read in that format, and although I still enjoy the book, the tiredness and headache and slower paced reading all return and remind me.
- Thu Oct 27, 2022 1:17 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What do Bogleheads think about Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)?
- Replies: 22
- Views: 1981
Re: What do Bogleheads think about Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)?
Used FSA for about a decade. Between the two of us, we usually max out the limit by August. This year, however, I expect us to finally hit the limit around Halloween (in a few days). Still, selecting the max amount each open season has been an easy decision.
The money saved on taxes today is invested for tomorrow, not worried about the slight drop in Social Security.
EDIT TO ADD: I don't mean to push one provider, but CVS does make submitting receipts for over the counter items easy. Everything that qualifies for FSA gets an "F" next to it, and at the bottom of the receipt there is a "Healthcare Eligible Total." Maybe other pharmacies do this too?
The money saved on taxes today is invested for tomorrow, not worried about the slight drop in Social Security.
EDIT TO ADD: I don't mean to push one provider, but CVS does make submitting receipts for over the counter items easy. Everything that qualifies for FSA gets an "F" next to it, and at the bottom of the receipt there is a "Healthcare Eligible Total." Maybe other pharmacies do this too?
- Fri Oct 07, 2022 11:02 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: How to determine what home internet upload speeds I need? I pay for 100Mbs up, but can get 10 Mbs for free.
- Replies: 62
- Views: 4286
Re: How to determine what home internet upload speeds I need? I pay for 100Mbs up, but can get 10 Mbs for free.
I don't know about software to track uploads, but this May 2022 article may be a helpful guide:
https://www.howtogeek.com/799850/how-mu ... ally-need/
It describes 10 as fine for most people, but lists a few exceptions that may want faster uploads.
https://www.howtogeek.com/799850/how-mu ... ally-need/
It describes 10 as fine for most people, but lists a few exceptions that may want faster uploads.
- Fri Aug 05, 2022 3:37 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: I Bonds Mega Thread (I Bond Heads Rejoice!)
- Replies: 6651
- Views: 1204377
Re: Series I savngs bond (aka ibond) question
Assuming you have a Treasury Direct account already set up, purchasing an I-Bond today (8/5/22) would: 1. earn the current 9.62% (0% fixed rate plugged into the formula with inflation) for the first six months 2. earn at a new rate for the following six months (same 0% plugged into the same formula with new inflation numbers), my guess is this will also be quite high compared to a savings account, but theoretically it could be as low as 0% 3. You would be able to withdraw the invested money as of the one-year mark on Aug 1, 2023 (all bonds purchased in August get that date) with a penalty of the most recent three months' interest. Your actual earned rate after penalty would increase closer to the official rate the longer you hold it 4. As o...
- Wed Jun 08, 2022 5:03 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: What are you up YTD? [Year To Date]
- Replies: 5249
- Views: 900461
Re: What are you up YTD? [Year To Date]
so far this year: -7.98%
65% equities, 28% bonds, 7% gold broken down as follows:
19% Domestic Large Blend
13% Domestic Extended Mkt
7% Domestic Real Estate Fund
12% Large International
7% Small International
7% Emerging Markets
14% Inflation-Protected Bonds (much of which are older I-Bonds)
14% Nominal Bonds
7% Gold
65% equities, 28% bonds, 7% gold broken down as follows:
19% Domestic Large Blend
13% Domestic Extended Mkt
7% Domestic Real Estate Fund
12% Large International
7% Small International
7% Emerging Markets
14% Inflation-Protected Bonds (much of which are older I-Bonds)
14% Nominal Bonds
7% Gold
- Wed Jun 01, 2022 1:35 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: What happened to May 30th day of doom for some 3rd party apps?
- Replies: 16
- Views: 1993
Re: What happened to May 30th day of doom for some 3rd party apps?
I had not heard of this, but it sounds like you are talking about the same issue discussed here? https://support.mozilla.org/bm/questions/1369658 If so, it sounds like as long as your Thunderbird is configured to use OAUTH2, there should be no issues. Copy/paste of the linked question-answerer's comment below: Using OAUTH2 has been an option for several years and now it will soon be mandatory for Gmail. TB has that option and it's rather straightforward. You need to change authorization by going to tools>account settings>server settings and changing authentication method to OAUTH2 and then going to tools>preferences>privacy&security and remove the gmail passwords. After that, shut down TB and restart. You will be presented with a menu t...
- Tue May 31, 2022 11:47 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Frustration with Blundering Slow Treasury Direct
- Replies: 21
- Views: 1837
Re: Frustration with Blundering Slow Treasury Direct
Hi OP. Just wanted to say I'm in similar boat as you.
May 4: Mailed signature-guaranteed form to Treasury Direct
May 28: Received email acknowledging that it was received and saying it may take up to 16 weeks for them to respond
Thankfully, I had a second bank account attached to TD that was still active, so I was able to get my May purchase in before the end of the month despite their slow response. Good luck OP!
- Wed May 04, 2022 9:53 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: TreasuryDirect.gov unavailable
- Replies: 48
- Views: 5376
- Tue Mar 22, 2022 3:34 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: I Bonds Mega Thread (I Bond Heads Rejoice!)
- Replies: 6651
- Views: 1204377
Re: I-Bonds for 1 Year
Thanks all! Just acquired some I-Bonds! Does anyone have a sense of what the next 6 months rate will be? (Is it possible for us to know have a clue about that?) Assuming higher as inflation numbers were up... So far, it's looking like the next six months may actually be higher than the current six month period. https://www.bls.gov/cpi/ In mid-April, the last monthly number that figures into the equation will be announced, and there will be a two week period before the end of April in which you can actually buy an I-Bond and know precisely what it will earn over the course of the one-year holding period. Then on May 1, a new rate will be officially announced and we will go back to only knowing the first six months for certain. Edit to Add: ...
- Fri Mar 11, 2022 9:10 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Are you buying I bonds right now?
- Replies: 103
- Views: 14055
Re: Are you buying I bonds right now?
Yes. I'm thinking of it as a one-year CD that (even with 3-month withdrawal penalty) handily beats all other cash options currently available and has the option to continue to hold up to 30 years if it still looks good after the mandatory one-year holding period.
- Mon Feb 28, 2022 1:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Pay raises for 2022
- Replies: 421
- Views: 63199
Re: Pay raises for 2022
My work provides COLA based on the CPI-W, which is the same figure that social security uses.
According to this chart, that should be 5.9% for 2021. They don't usually apply it to us until June, so we'll see...
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/COLA/colaseries.html
According to this chart, that should be 5.9% for 2021. They don't usually apply it to us until June, so we'll see...
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/COLA/colaseries.html
- Fri Feb 25, 2022 3:02 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Rebalancing trigger?
- Replies: 35
- Views: 2666
Re: Rebalancing trigger?
I have used a Google Sheet with conditional formatting to alert me of rebalance times for more than a decade. All I have to update is the # of shares, then the formulas and Google Finance functions calculate the rest.
- Fri Feb 18, 2022 1:26 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Authenticator Apps in an Apple environment
- Replies: 15
- Views: 1735
Re: Authenticator Apps in an Apple environment
I don't have a lot of experience with Authenticator Apps, but I've used Microsoft's Authenticator for a few years on iPhones with no complaints. I believe some of the items in it required QR code to connect and there were no issues.
- Thu Feb 03, 2022 4:27 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: I bonds [When to buy?]
- Replies: 21
- Views: 3153
Re: I bonds
Good point.dbr wrote: ↑Thu Feb 03, 2022 4:18 pmThere's a big difference between deferring taxes on the principal and the earnings vs only on the earnings. That is one reason people would have put contributing to pre-tax plans with no I bonds ahead of buying I bonds.Ice-9 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 03, 2022 4:07 pmI-Bonds are already tax deferred by default, so you don't need to put them in an IRA. Which is a good thing, because there is no way to put them in an IRA.ColoRetiredGirl wrote: ↑Thu Feb 03, 2022 4:05 pm Thank you for posting this guide. It was what I needed. By chance, would you know if iBonds can be purchased through ones IRA account? I plan to call tomorrow but thought you may know.
You would set up an account at https://treasurydirect.gov/ to buy them online. They can also be purchased via a tax refund.
- Thu Feb 03, 2022 4:07 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: I bonds [When to buy?]
- Replies: 21
- Views: 3153
Re: I bonds
I-Bonds are already tax deferred by default, so you don't need to put them in an IRA. Which is a good thing, because there is no way to put them in an IRA.ColoRetiredGirl wrote: ↑Thu Feb 03, 2022 4:05 pm Thank you for posting this guide. It was what I needed. By chance, would you know if iBonds can be purchased through ones IRA account? I plan to call tomorrow but thought you may know.
You would set up an account at https://treasurydirect.gov/ to buy them online. They can also be purchased via a tax refund.
- Mon Jan 24, 2022 10:31 am
- Forum: US Chapters
- Topic: Happy 98th Birthday to Taylor Larimore 🎂🍰🎉🎊❤️🎁⭐️
- Replies: 264
- Views: 19423
Re: Happy 98th Birthday to Taylor Larimore 🎂🍰🎉🎊❤️🎁⭐️
Happy birthday Taylor. You don't know me and probably have no idea how much you've helped me over the years.
- Tue Dec 28, 2021 8:00 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: PDF editors
- Replies: 8
- Views: 982
Re: PDF editors
Keep in mind that the PDF file format can vary a lot depending on how the creator of the PDF made the document. The same document saved as PDF with one configuration may be editable in one of these PDF softwares, and saved with another configuration may not.
Even if it's editable, it's usually best to edit the original document and re-save as a PDF, whether that be in Word or graphics software or what have you. (Of course, that's not always possible, and PDF editors can come in handy despite their limitations.)
Even if it's editable, it's usually best to edit the original document and re-save as a PDF, whether that be in Word or graphics software or what have you. (Of course, that's not always possible, and PDF editors can come in handy despite their limitations.)
- Fri Dec 10, 2021 10:44 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Running Linux vs Other OS?
- Replies: 173
- Views: 16201
Re: Running Linux vs Other OS?
iMac = My main computer, used for telework as well as computer hobbies like Photoshop Chromebook = my quick stuff computer, for doing quick things downstairs like writing, online shopping, or viewing a video without having to head upstairs to the iMac On the iMac, I often use a Debian virtual machine via Parallels (can also be done with free Virtual Box), which OP could similarly test to see how (s)he likes Linux. Apparently MX Linux is a very popular distro these days and billed as simple to use, though I've never used it myself. Linux is good (1) for folks willing to accept some learning curve and Googling/entering terminal commands every once in a while and (2) for purposes that you don't need the mainstream software from Adobe and Micro...
- Mon Nov 22, 2021 8:10 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Any reasons not to switch to ETF from mutual funds?
- Replies: 34
- Views: 3277
Re: Any reasons not to switch to ETF from mutual funds?
Yes, thank you. Should have mentioned I have not had taxable account for about a decade. (Used for downpayment at that time.) Everything is tax-advantaged for me, which would be a different situation from many folks on this forum.UpperNwGuy wrote: ↑Sat Nov 20, 2021 8:59 pmThis is only true if (a) you are in a tax-advantaged account or (b) your mutual funds are Vanguard funds held at Vanguard. Otherwise you can't switch without it being a taxable event.
- Sat Nov 20, 2021 5:58 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Any reasons not to switch to ETF from mutual funds?
- Replies: 34
- Views: 3277
Re: Any reasons not to switch to ETF from mutual funds?
In my investing career of about two decades, I have used both. I could continue to use both if required to execute my desired asset allocation while staying away from high expense ratios, which was indeed the case for several years. For maybe the last seven years or so, with brokerage window feature at my 401 plan, I've had both available in all of my accounts and chose to use almost exclusively mutual funds. The reasons I prefer mutual funds? * I had read the best practice in trading ETFs was to look up the intraday indicative value and use that (or close to it) on a limit order. This is not a deal-breaker, but it is tedious. * Someone upthread mentioned that they didn't have trouble setting limit orders within a small range of the current...
- Fri Nov 19, 2021 12:13 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Vanguard's new mobile app (formerly known as "Beacon")
- Replies: 702
- Views: 81762
Re: "Beacon," Vanguard's new mobile app
Just logged in and saw some of the responses regarding my comment about frequency of looking at accounts.
For the record, I too look at accounts more frequently than many on this forum probably would approve of based on comments I've seen. Probably log into Vanguard once or twice each week on my computer.
But I personally don't log in so frequently that I need it on my phone. And I consider each device I use to access these accounts another potential vector for a bad actor to try to access it, so I try to limit that. To each their own.
For the record, I too look at accounts more frequently than many on this forum probably would approve of based on comments I've seen. Probably log into Vanguard once or twice each week on my computer.
But I personally don't log in so frequently that I need it on my phone. And I consider each device I use to access these accounts another potential vector for a bad actor to try to access it, so I try to limit that. To each their own.
- Wed Nov 17, 2021 10:39 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Vanguard's new mobile app (formerly known as "Beacon")
- Replies: 702
- Views: 81762
Re: "Beacon," Vanguard's new mobile app
I am sorry all of these Vanguard app users appear to have to deal with a bad app. The complaints sound valid. However, the interest on this forum sort of surprises me. My Boglehead forum and book reading has taught me over the years that the number of transactions (and thus number of times I need to log into my Vanguard account) are very limited being a passive investor. Because of this, long ago I decided I can be extra secure and commit to only logging into my Vanguard account from a specific (actually virtual) machine, as I don't need ubiquitous access anyway. Therefore, I have never downloaded the Vanguard app. Just somewhat surprised mobile access to Vanguard is so important to members of a forum where posters (including me) routinely ...
- Thu Nov 11, 2021 3:39 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Inflation Reporting
- Replies: 28
- Views: 2550
Re: Inflation Reporting
Many people in general misinterpret everything reported about inflation. I work with people with advanced degrees not related to economics who will insist that the CPI number used to increase their paychecks every year doesn't include food and energy. They are insisting this, because the core inflation number often reported on the news doesn't include those things, and the news reporters appropriately state that those things aren't included when they quote the number. The problem occurs because I think these otherwise smart people have trouble believing there actually exists more than one inflation figure. I tell them, "No, you're talking about core inflation, and the paychecks are adjusted by the CPI-W," and their eyes glaze over...
- Thu Nov 11, 2021 3:26 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: is it possible to have split beneficiaries with Treasury Direct I-Bonds
- Replies: 16
- Views: 1606
Re: is it possible to have split beneficiaries with Treasury Direct I-Bonds
I have multiple beneficiaries. Different I-bonds are assigned to different beneficiaries.
When you buy a new I-Bond on Treasury Direct, there is a drop-down from which you can select among the registrations you've created with different beneficiaries. Next to that is a button where you can add a new registration.
When you buy a new I-Bond on Treasury Direct, there is a drop-down from which you can select among the registrations you've created with different beneficiaries. Next to that is a button where you can add a new registration.
- Wed Nov 10, 2021 8:11 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Inflation Estimates
- Replies: 161
- Views: 15322
Re: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Inflation Estimates
Interesting link, thank you OP.
From the linked paper:
From the linked paper:
So, sorry if I'm missing a basic point: What's not clear to me, is the recent discrepancy between TIPS breakeven rate and DKW adjusted inflation breakeven rate on the chart in the original post more related to inflation risk premium, or TIPS liquidity premium?As a result, TIPS inflation compensation (IC)—defined as the nominal yield minus the TIPS yield—can be decomposed into three components,
TIPS IC = expected inflation + inflation risk premium – TIPS liquidity premium. (4)
- Wed Oct 27, 2021 9:46 am
- Forum: US Chapters
- Topic: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here
- Replies: 3606
- Views: 562472
Re: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here
Age 48. Not sure where to count crossing over into the Two-Comma Club, but...
* Net worth including mortgage and Zestimate got two commas in mid-2020
* Liquid investible assets topped that mark a few months ago
* Assets in portfolio consisting of all retirement accounts just hit the mark this week
Of course, after reading Millionaire Next Door way back when I was first getting into Bogleheadism and setting up my portfolio, part of me wants to not count myself as part of the Club until I meet the criteria listed in the book in publishing year 1996 dollars, which is approximately $1,750,000 in late 2021. So, I guess that's my next milestone to push towards.
* Net worth including mortgage and Zestimate got two commas in mid-2020
* Liquid investible assets topped that mark a few months ago
* Assets in portfolio consisting of all retirement accounts just hit the mark this week
Of course, after reading Millionaire Next Door way back when I was first getting into Bogleheadism and setting up my portfolio, part of me wants to not count myself as part of the Club until I meet the criteria listed in the book in publishing year 1996 dollars, which is approximately $1,750,000 in late 2021. So, I guess that's my next milestone to push towards.
- Tue Oct 26, 2021 12:50 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: I Bonds Mega Thread (I Bond Heads Rejoice!)
- Replies: 6651
- Views: 1204377
Re: I Bonds Mega Thread (I Bond Heads Rejoice!)
Is there a way to link TreasuryDirect account with NW tracking app such as Personal Capital? I do not see any option in Personal Capital to add TreauryDirect account. I have used Personal Capital since 2014, and similar Yodlee Moneycenter for many years before that, all the while collecting I Bonds in a Treasury Direct account. Like other financial websites, at various times, Treasury Direct has been technically available in the aggregator sites, then failed after some site update, then back again at a later date. From your question, I'm guessing TD is currently unavailable for linking on Personal Capital? I suggest that for this one particular website, Treasury Direct, you consider settling for manual updating in Personal Capital rather t...
- Fri Oct 15, 2021 8:31 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Capital One Shopping?
- Replies: 15
- Views: 2460
Re: Capital One Shopping?
I'm curious about this too. It sounds like it might be nice to have the coupon search done automatically for you. A few questions for those experienced with it: * Am I correct in guessing this feature takes the form of a browser extension, similar to Capital One's ENO for virtual account numbers? * Does this feature "nag" you as you surf and shop? (I find Eno annoying sometimes, especially when it pops up while I'm trying to pay with a different card.) * Can you get away with using this feature to get the coupon codes easily but mostly use non-Capital One cards (that might earn better rewards)? * This thread says "Amazon," but their website advertisement makes it sound like it's coupons for all online shopping. Which is ...
- Sat Sep 11, 2021 1:53 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Do you factor in taxes owed as part of your net worth?
- Replies: 84
- Views: 8032
Re: Do you factor in taxes owed as part of your net worth?
In planning for retirement, I often use firecalc. The instructions at firecalc say to include taxes in the annual spending figure you input. So this is how I've always thought of future taxes on my retirement savings - a future expenditure, separate from my current balances.
- Tue Aug 17, 2021 7:16 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Aggregating digital financial statements automatically?
- Replies: 18
- Views: 1957
Re: Aggregating digital financial statements automatically?
I recall several years ago there were a few websites that did this - Zumbox, File This, Manilla, I think others. I'm not sure which if any of these are still around, but I researched them all at the time, as it was tempting to save time. I concluded I didn't feel it was worth trusting any of these entities with all of my passwords. I opted instead to download PDF statements manually and keep them in an encrypted container. I have to log in to pay anyway, so I didn't really see great potential time saved by using one of the services. Sorry, I know this doesn't help with your hope for an automatic solution. Edit to add: Just found this on the forum. The OP gave an update earlier this year: https://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=132...
- Mon Aug 16, 2021 5:12 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Aggregating digital financial statements automatically?
- Replies: 18
- Views: 1957
Re: Aggregating digital financial statements automatically?
I recall several years ago there were a few websites that did this - Zumbox, File This, Manilla, I think others. I'm not sure which if any of these are still around, but I researched them all at the time, as it was tempting to save time. I concluded I didn't feel it was worth trusting any of these entities with all of my passwords. I opted instead to download PDF statements manually and keep them in an encrypted container. I have to log in to pay anyway, so I didn't really see great potential time saved by using one of the services. Sorry, I know this doesn't help with your hope for an automatic solution. Edit to add: Just found this on the forum. The OP gave an update earlier this year: https://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=132308
- Wed Aug 11, 2021 5:00 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Paper selection - what weight? Text vs cover?
- Replies: 5
- Views: 718
Re: Paper selection - what weight? Text vs cover?
If this were social media, I would "like" this. Thank you both for putting this up on Bogleheads, as it is useful for me as well.
- Wed Aug 04, 2021 11:01 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: MarketWatch article about FIRE, 4% SWR and 30+ yr retirement
- Replies: 91
- Views: 10328
Re: MarketWatch article about FIRE, 4% SWR and 30+ yr retirement
I just wanted to note that FireCalc uses actual historical returns, and this study apparently assumed worse than historical.
In FireCalc, you can account for worse than historical returns by adding to the expense ratio on the Your Portfolio tab. For example, if your actual weighted average expense ratio for your portfolio is 0.08% and you expect returns 2% worse than historical going forward, you can enter your expense ratio as 2.08% to simulate that.
- Fri Jul 16, 2021 4:03 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Pickleball Rule Question
- Replies: 20
- Views: 3186
Re: Pickleball Rule Question
The advice on this forum is very reliable.
- Sat Jun 12, 2021 11:18 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: 401k Expenses - Investing past the match?
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1441
Re: 401k Expenses - Investing past the match?
I'm sorry to hear you are in that position, but I agree that those expenses are so high I'd probably invest in a taxable account (beyond the match) in your situation. I'm not sure what math would be involved in determining when it's advantageous, but total expenses of 2.25% each year seems to me would make it difficult for those investments to beat your choice of investments with a few basis points ER in a taxable account - especially a tax-friendly broad market index fund held passively. Interested to hear others' responses to this.
- Sun May 09, 2021 9:53 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Quick I-Bond Question
- Replies: 9
- Views: 1394
Re: Quick I-Bond Question
According to this calculator, that is correct:
https://www.investor.gov/financial-tool ... calculator
They do vary of course with the inflation rate, which can move around a bit. One nice feature of I-Bonds is that if the fixed rate on future I-Bonds improves significantly from the current 0.00% (after the initial one-year holding period), you can simply sell and repurchase the new one. If this were to happen within the five-year period with penalty of last three months' interest, you may get lucky and be able to time it so the three months interest lost will be a relatively low-paying three months.
https://www.investor.gov/financial-tool ... calculator
They do vary of course with the inflation rate, which can move around a bit. One nice feature of I-Bonds is that if the fixed rate on future I-Bonds improves significantly from the current 0.00% (after the initial one-year holding period), you can simply sell and repurchase the new one. If this were to happen within the five-year period with penalty of last three months' interest, you may get lucky and be able to time it so the three months interest lost will be a relatively low-paying three months.