Search found 109 matches
- Sat Feb 16, 2019 6:16 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Jet Blue - missing planes?
- Replies: 19
- Views: 2127
Re: Jet Blue - missing planes?
It probably dug out under the fence. Happens to our dogs all the time. I'd try the local shelter first, and if that doesn't work they can post some flyers around where it went missing. I just checked and it's not in our yard, and my neighbor says he hasn't seen it either. I did see a small tan and ...
- Sat Feb 16, 2019 3:34 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Help with difficult work situation
- Replies: 46
- Views: 3039
Re: Help with difficult work situation
Option #5 Pretend the situation was reversed. What would you do if you were her boss? How would you want her to act toward you ? You might find you can reverse your present negative point of view. Perhaps you might want to congratulate her and let her know you will be doing your best to continue you...
- Thu Feb 14, 2019 3:03 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Ongoing confusion about account types at Vanguard
- Replies: 6
- Views: 617
Re: Ongoing confusion about account types at Vanguard
I think it was mostly that people upgraded without realizing what they were getting into - they were not just switching to a different web site - it was a different account type and if they had not had a brokerage account before, there were things that worked differently. For example, the settlement...
- Thu Feb 14, 2019 1:47 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Ongoing confusion about account types at Vanguard
- Replies: 6
- Views: 617
Re: Ongoing confusion about account types at Vanguard
Someone posted this link on a similar ongoing discussion - it's a good summary, especially the comparison table, and may answer all your questions:
Vanguard brokerage https://www.vanguard.com/pdf/vbafqm.pdf
Vanguard brokerage https://www.vanguard.com/pdf/vbafqm.pdf
- Wed Feb 13, 2019 12:47 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Disabled but unable to withdraw money early from 401(k)
- Replies: 16
- Views: 1484
Re: Disabled but unable to withdraw money early from 401(k)
Regarding the Rule of 55 mentioned above - since you say the 401k was from former employer the Rule of 55 does not seem to apply according to an article I found on the web, which says: The Rule of 55 only applies to assets in your current 401(k) or 403(b )—the one you invested in while you were at t...
- Mon Feb 11, 2019 1:16 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Career Advice: Side hustle on resume?
- Replies: 15
- Views: 1078
Re: Career Advice: Side hustle on resume?
I know nothing really, no hiring experience. But seems like this could be validly included as part of a functional resume versus chronological resume. Also, if there are opportunities for taking on your desired new role within company, that might be easier that external transistion. And maybe you co...
- Wed Feb 06, 2019 2:59 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Social Security Benefit Statement
- Replies: 8
- Views: 520
Re: Social Security Benefit Statement
I think they ran a bit late - got mine beginning of Feb. Once I got the paper copy I was also able to track it down a PDF download on the soc sec website - wasn't showing up before then.
- Mon Feb 04, 2019 9:32 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Relocating to St. Pete/Tampa
- Replies: 16
- Views: 2024
Re: Relocating to St. Pete/Tampa
I retired to Clearwater recently. If you are thinking of Clearwater as a location that might work for commuting to both Tampa and St Pete - I think you might end up with 2 brutal commutes - maybe just go to St Pete so that at least one of you doesn't have the long commute. I guess suburban sprawl de...
- Fri Feb 01, 2019 9:12 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Need Objective Mattresses Ratings and Reviews
- Replies: 41
- Views: 1899
Re: Need Objective Mattresses Ratings and Reviews
I spent hours in stores test driving mattresses a couple years ago. Finally bought at a big half price sale at Macy's after spending over an hour trying them out. The salesperson warned me that the mattress as delivered would not feel the same as the mattress in the store - it wouldn't be as soft. W...
- Fri Feb 01, 2019 8:53 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Credit Cards - Autopay inconsistent across companies?
- Replies: 40
- Views: 1670
Re: Credit Cards - Autopay inconsistent across companies?
My CITI card makes it clear that if I schedule a payment before the autopay date, they adjust the autopay amount accordingly. For example right now I have a payment of $700 scheduled for next week and less than that is due on the autopay the following week, so their web site shows the statement: You...
- Sat Jan 26, 2019 3:04 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Regretting home purchase and move - advice needed
- Replies: 21
- Views: 3126
Re: Regretting home purchase and move - advice needed
Nothing is perfect - you made the best decision you could at the time For an older house there will always be things that show up that need fixing after you buy. Usually you can prioritize and fix them over several years. Maybe making a list and identifying priorities to start working on would help....
- Sun Jan 20, 2019 11:36 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Is it wise to move from NewYorkCity to Sunnyvale CA, Lifestyle choice to be more outdoorsy - warm weather
- Replies: 61
- Views: 5626
Re: Is it wise to move from NewYorkCity to Sunnyvale CA, Lifestyle choice to be more outdoorsy - warm weather
I only worked briefly in Fremont so don't know the parks there. I lived near Shoreline Park in Mountain View (near Googleplex), has some nice areas for families I think. When I lived in Sunnyvale I used to hike Rancho San Antonio park in Los Altos - it has beautiful hiking trails (heavily used these...
- Sun Jan 20, 2019 11:03 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Is it wise to move from NewYorkCity to Sunnyvale CA, Lifestyle choice to be more outdoorsy - warm weather
- Replies: 61
- Views: 5626
Re: Is it wise to move from NewYorkCity to Sunnyvale CA, Lifestyle choice to be more outdoorsy - warm weather
Weather: It's temperate, but can get warm in the summer - if you are in an apartment without air conditioning you will wish you had it. Seasons: Summer is the dry season, winter the wet season (if California is not in a drought). You do see differences in vegetation - trees can change color, shed le...
- Wed Jan 16, 2019 8:58 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: working as paid tax preparer
- Replies: 1
- Views: 592
Re: working as paid tax preparer
Had a friend who started doing this last year part-time for an agency in Calif - think it was some small independent tax prep company that had their own tax software, so her first step was going for classroom training in using the tax prep software - I think she spent at least 20 hours on that, mayb...
- Sat Dec 22, 2018 1:07 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: "Stay the course" is rational -- but is it reasonable?
- Replies: 43
- Views: 5482
Re: "Stay the course" is rational -- but is it reasonable?
I think this is a good post, OP, and well worth thinking about. Seems clear to me that these are individual decisions, there is no absolute right or wrong. Stay the course is a guideline that has to be applied with some understanding of the situation, and having first carefully thought out your cour...
- Tue Dec 18, 2018 12:40 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: IRA RMDs
- Replies: 11
- Views: 719
Re: IRA RMDs
Yes sorry, edited to correct. I always think of it the other way and never can remember what age to use either!Would that be the RMD for 2019 (based on 2018 yr end balance)?
- Tue Dec 18, 2018 12:14 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: IRA RMDs
- Replies: 11
- Views: 719
Re: IRA RMDs
I think that before rolling over her 401k in 2019, she must first take the RMD for 2019 (based on 401k balance at end of year 2018). The 401k admin could confirm that.
Edited to correct that it is the RMD for 2019, based on the end of year 2018 balance.
Edited to correct that it is the RMD for 2019, based on the end of year 2018 balance.
- Fri Dec 14, 2018 4:02 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Is it difficult to change a baby's legal name?
- Replies: 70
- Views: 2976
Re: Is it difficult to change a baby's legal name?
I know in some cultures the derivation/meaning can be important but in American culture, generally no one knows or cares. Maybe it will also help you decide if you think about the nicknames and which you would like of those. Daniel/Dan/Danny James/Jim/Jimmy/Jamie I like them all - have lots of good ...
- Fri Dec 14, 2018 12:15 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Potential New Home - Planes and Trains Noise
- Replies: 35
- Views: 2630
Re: Potential New Home - Planes and Trains Noise
I live near a small airport and I knew it was there but thought I was far enough away. I was viewing the house in the mid afternoon - no planes overhead. Turns out they mostly fly in the morning and late afternoon. So if there is an airport nearby see if you can be there at the times of day that wou...
- Fri Dec 14, 2018 11:59 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Imminent retirees & sequence fear
- Replies: 69
- Views: 4551
Re: Imminent retirees & sequence fear
To me, it seems like the same level of threat and chaos as it has for the many decades I've been around - which means not that bad things can't happen but that I just don't know when or if. So I take precautions but don't withdraw entirely. Newspapers have always made money by scary headlines. These...
- Wed Dec 12, 2018 10:03 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Any way to display the old design on the Vanguard website?
- Replies: 16
- Views: 1358
Re: Any way to display the old design on the Vanguard website?
I likewise prefer the readability of the old style page and accidentally discovered how to get there quickly. I am still on the old mutual fund website, not the brokerage platform. When I log in on the mutual fund web site, it opens the Account Overview page, which is the new style page. Click My Ac...
- Wed Dec 05, 2018 5:55 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Southern California Vacation Questions
- Replies: 39
- Views: 2119
Re: Southern California Vacation Questions
I'm surprised to see a recommendation to visit USC in downtown area, very long ways from west LA and UCLA and in not so great neighborhood. Likewise, Pasadena and the Huntington are a long drive.- I would recommend sticking on west side, or maybe as far east as Universal Studios which are fun and wo...
- Tue Dec 04, 2018 2:13 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Murder Mystery Authors
- Replies: 117
- Views: 13955
Re: Murder Mystery Authors
Read Stout's novel The Family Affair - I think that's what you may be thinking of. Avoiding a direct answer to avoid a "spoiler". I found a bunch of "new" Nero Wolfe books in digital form, free, on Hoopla - they were quite enjoyable. If you have Hoopla access, search "Nero Wolfe" and you will find t...
- Sun Dec 02, 2018 1:33 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Simple Person Needs Simple Advice Regarding Retirement
- Replies: 26
- Views: 2391
Re: Simple Person Needs Simple Advice Regarding Retirement
If your mental capacity feels limited now, you must have been brilliant before your difficulties because your post is so articulate. I agree with those who say you would do well to find yourself someone as backup and make sure all the legal stuff is also set up. For simple, if you have not previousl...
- Mon Nov 19, 2018 9:43 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Vanguard lowering Admiral level to $3,000?
- Replies: 225
- Views: 18908
Re: Vanguard lowering Admiral level to $3,000?
I checked my account online just now - one fund was flagged as "eligible to convert", with a "convert to Admiral" link. But when I clicked on it, it then told me it was not eligible to convert. So UI looks a bit buggy right now.
- Mon Nov 12, 2018 10:33 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Trying to move out.
- Replies: 25
- Views: 2041
Re: Trying to move out.
Do some online research to learn the best way to introduce 2 dogs together. This is something you need to educate yourself on. You may also may need to find a good dog trainer to work with.
- Sun Nov 11, 2018 10:17 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Decumulation phase of retirement: money market a safe place to park money needed over the next two years?
- Replies: 9
- Views: 1441
Re: Decumulation phase of retirement: money market a safe place to park money needed over the next two years?
3)
I think you have to open the account first before you can exchange/sell into it. Could be wrong though - I only have IRA accounts at Vanguard.Can one open the account(s) by exchanging or selling from an IRA?
- Sat Nov 10, 2018 10:35 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Vanguard customer service
- Replies: 12
- Views: 1732
Re: Vanguard customer service
I wouldn't call it the worst - I had some good experiences and bad experiences at Vanguard, but most recently all good. Some definitely sounded clueless, others sounded really on top of things. Most explained things very clearly. For a while I thought Fidelity was better but that was because I was d...
- Fri Nov 02, 2018 10:42 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Weight Training After 70
- Replies: 33
- Views: 2454
Re: Weight Training After 70
I second the idea to consult a good physical therapist rather than a trainer at a gym. That's based on my personal experience though - I get injured easily and in my one experience with a personal trainer, I spent the next 2 months in physical therapy recovering. To get back in shape after long peri...
- Sun Oct 21, 2018 8:43 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: First RMD is due last day of year
- Replies: 31
- Views: 1720
Re: First RMD is due last day of year
Right.So I can take my first RMD any time during 2019 and claim it on my 2019 taxes. I do not have to wait until "after" I turn 70.5. Right?
- Tue Oct 16, 2018 10:39 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Relocation to California
- Replies: 49
- Views: 4340
Re: Relocation to California
OP - San Fernando Valley covers a wide area. Which part of the valley do the relatives live in? As mentioned above, Simi Valley is close to northwest corner of the valley - I lived there for about 8 years in the 1980s/90s and it was a really peaceful place to live back then - don't know about now. A...
- Mon Oct 08, 2018 11:27 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Death Valley Trip Recommendations?
- Replies: 19
- Views: 1299
Re: Death Valley Trip Recommendations?
No answer but a few comments from my one trip decades ago - the main thing I remember: Drink LOTS of water, even if you don't feel thirsty - the dryness sucks the moisture out of you before you realize it. I found it interesting and enjoyed visiting - once. We were tent camping and I found it too ha...
- Sun Oct 07, 2018 7:14 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Fidelity 1.8% money market fund with unlimited checkwriting and free ATMs
- Replies: 23
- Views: 2583
Re: Fidelity 1.8% money market fund with unlimited checkwriting and free ATMs
Is it the "overdraft" feature of Cash Manager that will fund your bills by automatically pulling money from the higher interest earning MM fund?
The FAQ on the Fidelity website don't provide much info on how that works.
The FAQ on the Fidelity website don't provide much info on how that works.
- Sat Oct 06, 2018 4:38 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Required Minimum Distributions-RMDs
- Replies: 5
- Views: 537
Re: Required Minimum Distributions-RMDs
If you want to make QCD (qualified charitable distribution) once you are 70.5, you can only do that from IRA not 401k. Just something to be aware of.
- Fri Oct 05, 2018 12:43 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Transition to Vanguard's new investment platform???
- Replies: 17
- Views: 3387
Re: Transition to Vanguard's new investment platform???
This "transition" has been going on for years - Vanguard seems to be getting more forceful now. For a while I would see an "upgrade" button whenever I logged on. That went away. Now there is a popup window every time I log on that tells me: "Important update needed for your account We'll be retiring...
- Tue Oct 02, 2018 8:12 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: New Apartment, city noise
- Replies: 43
- Views: 3411
Re: New Apartment, city noise
Agree that you may or may not get used to it - give it some time, maybe even months. I moved into a house 3-4 miles from a small airport not knowing that the plane traffic pattern was overhead the neighborhood. I found the noise of planes taking off/landing annoying. It wasn't all day long, mostly m...
- Tue Sep 18, 2018 6:43 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Bank of America credit card “feature” (be careful with autopay)
- Replies: 45
- Views: 3073
Re: Bank of America credit card “feature” (be careful with autopay)
My Cap One card says the following: We will debit your AutoPay Bank Account on your due date even if you make other payments. No debit will be made if you have a balance of $0 when the AutoPay Payment begins processing, typically 1-2 days before your due date. So not just BoA. So yeah, it requires s...
- Thu Sep 06, 2018 4:54 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Implementing a QCD at Fidelity
- Replies: 17
- Views: 1485
Re: Implementing a QCD at Fidelity
Thanks for posting the link to the form. I have a Fidelity IRA but have not done any RMDs or QCDs, but have done both from Vanguard and am considering at some point consolidating at Fidelity, so interested in the answer to this question. This following part was surprising to me because when I did a ...
- Wed Sep 05, 2018 10:10 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How much to spend on rent in high COL area?
- Replies: 15
- Views: 1648
Re: How much to spend on rent in high COL area?
In Silicon Valley a couple of years ago, a nice (as in recently built, air conditioning) 2 bedroom in Mountain View (Google land) would go for 3500 and up. Older units maybe 2500. I guess that's VHCOL vs HCOL. So it's all relative, sometimes you are forced to pay more because that's what it costs.
- Tue Aug 21, 2018 7:33 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Retirement location planning
- Replies: 19
- Views: 2240
Re: Retirement location planning
There is a guy named Ron Stack who sells books evaluating retirement places including Florida and has a huge website with info on various places to live in Florida and risks to be aware of. You might find it informative. But keep in mind that his approach to sell book seems to be to use scare tactic...
- Mon Aug 20, 2018 9:30 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Retirement location planning
- Replies: 19
- Views: 2240
Re: Retirement location planning
I recently moved to Tampa Bay area - Tampa airport is nice and has many flights - I think including international, not sure. Hurricanes: areas by the coast or right on Tampa Bay are evacuation zones because of potential storm surge but inland areas can still get the winds and flooding from heavy rai...
- Sat Jun 23, 2018 2:15 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Relief From Pain provision in Advance Care Directive
- Replies: 10
- Views: 836
Re: Relief From Pain provision in Advance Care Directive
Probably refers to if you are willing to receive palliative sedation - you can google that for more info - basically being sedated into unconsciousness as a relief for pain when dying.
- Mon Jun 04, 2018 10:51 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Would like to bounce some ideas regarding renting a home or condo
- Replies: 16
- Views: 1392
Re: Would like to bounce some ideas regarding renting a home or condo
When I lived in LA area many years ago in rental houses, several came with stove only, or stove/refrig. Most had no washer/dryer. Maybe there is a nearby laundromat. Yes you can find used appliances.
- Mon May 28, 2018 10:12 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Financial plan review for a widowed mother
- Replies: 18
- Views: 2041
Re: Financial plan review for a widowed mother
This is true, had the same situation - it will no longer show hers. She can call Social Security office and ask them for that info.She claims that now that she's on his benefits she can't see what hers would be when looking online.
- Thu May 24, 2018 9:03 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Changing Medicare Part D Plan
- Replies: 2
- Views: 410
Re: Changing Medicare Part D Plan
I am pretty sure you do it all through the insurer. My experience: I moved from California to Florida last year. I was on a Humana part D plan. I checked the medicare website and it showed that Humana had the same plan in Florida. So after I moved I called Humana about changing my address. Turned ou...
- Thu May 17, 2018 9:06 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Renting storage unit
- Replies: 24
- Views: 2149
Re: Renting storage unit
Yes it can become expensive long term and you might be better off getting rid of more stuff than storing it, or spending the money to organize it better rather than on storage costs. What seems to happen is people don't have time to sort through accumulated stuff, or they inherit a bunch of stuff an...
- Thu May 17, 2018 8:18 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Buying I bonds - what is the purpose of Registration on TD website
- Replies: 22
- Views: 2613
Re: Buying I bonds - what is the purpose of Registration on TD website
OP had question about what happens if the owner of the bond is incapacitated and another question on what happens in event of death - these are 2 different situations. I don't think the "incapacitated" question was answered - I don't know the answer and would be interested. On the other question, ad...
- Thu May 10, 2018 1:40 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Medicare Part B sticker shock - should I appeal
- Replies: 7
- Views: 1593
Re: Medicare Part B sticker shock - should I appeal
There is a form you can fill out and file with SSA when your income is reduced because you stopped working. It is SSA-44 Medicare Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount Life Changing Event. Work stoppage is one of the "events." It may help to have something from your employer confirming that you s...
- Tue May 08, 2018 4:53 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Do you know anyone unhappy in a CCRC?
- Replies: 41
- Views: 5300
Re: Do you know anyone unhappy in a CCRC?
Not much new to add to comments above but will share my mom’s experiences, since she left a CCRC. She was in her mid 80s but still active and in good health, and worked part time. She lived in an apartment close to public transportation and within walking distance of stores and services. But the apa...
- Tue May 01, 2018 2:00 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Career change and going back to school at 40+
- Replies: 37
- Views: 3793
Re: Career change and going back to school at 40+
You've got a lot of good suggestions. Just want to chime in to agree with them and encourage you to keep investigating your options, including what others suggested of talking to people in fields that appeal to you, doing self-assessment career type tests to discover other possibilities, etc. I got ...