Search found 25 matches

by Bondman
Tue Oct 09, 2018 1:08 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Delay between ESPP purchase and when shares are received
Replies: 2
Views: 419

Delay between ESPP purchase and when shares are received

Company's new ESPP description:

Shares will be purchased at the closing price of the last trading day of each quarter, with a 15% discount. You will receive the shares up to 30 days after the last day of the quarter.

HR clarified that US employees probably won't see 30 days between purchase and receipt, but could see a 15 day lag.

The previous ESPP (before a merger with another company) had almost no lag time. Shares were purchased on the last trading day of the period and distributed 1 trading day later. I would participate and sell shares immediately upon receipt to realize the discount. Now, the estimated 15 day "lockup" has me worried. Does the longer holding period make it undesirable to participate in?
by Bondman
Thu Jun 29, 2017 3:51 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Maintaining Asset Allocation and Tax-Efficiency
Replies: 5
Views: 890

Maintaining Asset Allocation and Tax-Efficiency

My asset allocation calls for a certain % of US small cap value and international small cap holdings. The equity portion of the 401k plans for myself and spouse only have access to US total market, international total market, and US small blend. Currently, the only holdings within our Roth IRAs are US SCV and INT small funds.

We are nearing the point where in order to satisfy the asset allocation, we would have to start holding the US SCV or INT small cap funds in our taxable account. Given the relative tax-inefficiency between the two asset classes, would the best plan be to sell all US SCV in the Roth IRAs in order to purchase INT small in the Roths, and then purchase and hold US SCV in the taxable account?
by Bondman
Wed Mar 22, 2017 1:20 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: TIAA fees with R1 tier options
Replies: 8
Views: 847

Re: TIAA fees with R1 tier options

Are you saying you have a variable annuity within your Roth IRA?

What is the point of purchasing an annuity but then choosing to invest the annuity assets within equities? Is your maximum rate of return capped? Can you lose principle within this vehicle? It seems to me like this choice could cause your asset allocation to be misrepresented, ie: 15% of my equities are within a growth-capped annuity. So your expected risk/return gets thrown off.

I am not criticizing, I just don't have much experience or knowledge with these types of products.
by Bondman
Fri Feb 24, 2017 8:35 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: AGI in Roth phase out
Replies: 7
Views: 1021

Re: AGI in Roth phase out

KlangFool wrote:
Bondman wrote:Hello,

Could you increase you or your spouse's Trad, 401K contribution to reduce your AGI?

KlangFool
Unfortunately, our expected AGI is right in the middle of the Roth phase out AFTER maximizing both of our $18,000 401(k) deferral.
by Bondman
Fri Feb 24, 2017 8:22 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: AGI in Roth phase out
Replies: 7
Views: 1021

AGI in Roth phase out

Hello,

New job for spouse will put us about halfway into the phaseout range for Roth IRA contributions. Our contributions are auto-set at what I think we will be eligible for. What if I put in too much? Can I withdraw contributions without penalty? Would it be better to wait to contribute until next year for 2017 so I know exactly how much we can contribute based on our income?
by Bondman
Sun Feb 05, 2017 2:48 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Financial Fortitude radio show
Replies: 7
Views: 1264

Re: Financial Fortitude radio show

My guess is that it they are selling insurance/annuities. Where I live there are multiple weekly radio shows that talk about guaranteed return via an annuity. They mention some of the same points regarding the market being at all time highs, scary volatility, what happened in 2008-2009,etc.
by Bondman
Thu Feb 02, 2017 10:40 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Whether or not to eliminate Vanguard Dividend Growth Fund
Replies: 2
Views: 948

Whether or not to eliminate Vanguard Dividend Growth Fund

Spouse and I (30 years each) became actively involved in retirement planning last January. We opened Roth IRAs and purchased S&P 500 index fund in mine and dividend growth fund (VDIGX) in hers. We chose the dividend growth fund thinking that it would provide more stability than a total market approach, ie: sacrifice CAGR for stability.

Since that choice, we have become more financially literate and have adjusted all other accounts to achieve a more boglehead style: 75/25 with a slight small tilt using only low-cost, passive index funds. Since the bond allocation is used as a stabilizer/anchor, does it make sense to exchange the dividend growth fund for total stock market?
by Bondman
Thu Feb 02, 2017 11:48 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Very Confusing - Employer 401K S&P 500 Fund
Replies: 4
Views: 798

Re: Very Confusing - Employer 401K S&P 500 Fund

It's built into the NAV of one share. Instead of a dividend increasing your net shares, your share value goes up.

Something about it being a CIT and not a mutual fund by definition.

Your dividend is there, just in a different way.
by Bondman
Sun Jan 01, 2017 8:18 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 2017 hedge fund contest
Replies: 247
Views: 50016

Re: 2017 hedge fund contest

Anti- /r/Investing Fund

LONG
-
-
-

SHORT
$TSLA
$NVDA
-
by Bondman
Thu Dec 08, 2016 10:38 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Purchasing a 2016 Honda CRV EX -- the best out the door price I have found is $25,875.20 -- is this reasonable?
Replies: 22
Views: 3099

Re: Purchasing a 2016 Honda CRV EX -- the best out the door price I have found is $25,875.20 -- is this reasonable?

Location can change things some.

We got 2016 CRV EX in July for ~$23,300 out the door price. So, your price is high, or my price was low.
by Bondman
Mon Nov 14, 2016 2:23 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: No dividend with 401K Reit idx fund
Replies: 5
Views: 1263

Re: No dividend with 401K Reit idx fund

I wonder if the fund value itself got readjusted to account for any dividend
I believe this is how it works. Your # of shares don't go up, nor do you see the actual dividend distributions. However, they should be incorporated into your share value as an increase.
by Bondman
Mon Nov 07, 2016 10:35 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What 529 plan are TX residents using?
Replies: 46
Views: 10231

Re: What 529 plan are TX residents using?

I am a resident of Texas. I use Nevada 529 plan in order to get access to Vanguard funds. If you are interested in Texas public universities, have you considered Texas Promise Fund?
by Bondman
Wed Nov 02, 2016 10:43 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: choosing new 401k investments
Replies: 9
Views: 2155

Re: choosing new 401k investments

For least effort, use 100% VFIAX
For some effort, 80% VFIAX, 20% VIMAX
For most effort, use 70% VFIAX, 20% VIMAX, 10% VSMAX
by Bondman
Sun Oct 30, 2016 3:04 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: which engineering major for renewables
Replies: 62
Views: 10227

Re: which engineering major for renewables

Chemical -> Batteries/Panels

Biochemical -> Biofuels

Mechanical -> Turbines?

Have him take a look at the elective coursework in each engineering program at each university he is interested in. In each of the disciplines, there should be a selection of alternative energy coursework available.


Of course, petroleum is renewable over a long timespan.
by Bondman
Tue Sep 13, 2016 12:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Infosec Tech jobs and quality of life in Raleigh area
Replies: 16
Views: 2626

Re: Infosec Tech jobs and quality of life in Raleigh area

It is a nice area. It may be hard to find 1.5 acres in Raleigh at the price, but if you are willing to commute 20-30 minutes, it can be done. As others said, there are several tech hotspots in the area (Raleigh by NCSU, RTP, Durham).

There is an area called Brier Creek near the airport that is very centrally located to all the major areas. 5 minutes to anywhere within RTP, 15 minutes to Durham or Chapel Hill, 20 minutes to Raleigh.

If you ultimately decide that this area is the right place, I would rent in Brier Creek for a 6-12 months while you learn the area.
by Bondman
Mon Aug 29, 2016 8:21 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Good School District or Private School?
Replies: 77
Views: 8740

Re: Good School District or Private School?

What is "in the city"? There are 3br/2bath homes near Meyerland in the low 300's that are zoned to decent elementary and Bellaire high school. It is pretty close in, maybe 15-20 minutes to downtown.
by Bondman
Fri Aug 05, 2016 12:14 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Advice on purchasing a new Honda CRV
Replies: 26
Views: 6958

Re: Advice on purchasing a new Honda CRV

Just bought a new crv-ex. Out the door price was 23500. Spent two weeks haggling online through emails. Went to dealership with best price and went through the whole offer charade and got it down to 23500. Did not enjoy the process, Wife was primary negotiator.
by Bondman
Sat Jul 30, 2016 7:52 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What is the best way to send the direct rollover check to Vanguard?
Replies: 35
Views: 16188

Re: What is the best way to send the direct rollover check to Vanguard?

Hi,

Last week I mailed a rollover check to Vanguard via priority mail with signature confirmation. They received it in the morning, and it was credited to my account that afternoon.
by Bondman
Fri Jul 29, 2016 12:29 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Young Professional seeking advice
Replies: 6
Views: 1204

Re: Young Professional seeking advice

Hi, Great job on your savings rate. For your T-IRA, even though you are making contributions today with after tax money, when you file your tax return, it will count it as pre-tax money. I think there will be a question or box about annual contributions to a T-IRA, and it will lower your taxable income accordingly. You can set up automatic investment, but it will still come from after tax money. Just remember that when you file your return, it will get counted as a deferment. What is the total expense for the VFINX fund in your 401k? If it is low, then only contributing to that fund within your 401k would be fine. You could then use your T-IRA to fill out the rest of your portfolio with bonds/international/extended market to reach your desi...
by Bondman
Wed Jul 27, 2016 3:46 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Comcast - lease modem/router or buy?
Replies: 72
Views: 10445

Re: Comcast - lease modem/router or buy?

Absolutely buy your own device. The cost will be offset in less than a year for both the router and the modem. Comcast has a list of compatible modems. I use the Surfboard 6121. I don't think there are limitations or compatibility issues with routers. Asus and Linksys make routers that I have successfully used.
by Bondman
Wed Jul 20, 2016 2:10 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 401k fund Symbol confusion: e.g. SIA-WJ, SIA-WU, etc.
Replies: 4
Views: 1134

Re: 401k fund Symbol confusion: e.g. SIA-WJ, SIA-WU, etc.

Hi,

I think the issue is that they aren't really classified as mutual funds, but investment trusts. It is in effect the same type of investment, but it's somewhat less transparent. I think the wiki has information about how to find funds on yahoo/morningstar to use as a proxy.
by Bondman
Thu Jun 30, 2016 8:51 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How is "in-state" determined?
Replies: 12
Views: 1226

Re: How is "in-state" determined?

This is similar to how it worked for me in a different state with ambiguous rules. I had to show intent to establish a post-student life. In addition to the 12 month period of living there, I:

1. Registered vehicles in that state
2. Obtained drivers license in that state

That was enough for me.
by Bondman
Sun May 08, 2016 7:49 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Index Bond Funds
Replies: 10
Views: 2129

Re: Index Bond Funds

Thanks for your responses.
by Bondman
Sun May 08, 2016 6:10 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Index Bond Funds
Replies: 10
Views: 2129

Index Bond Funds

Do index bond funds like BND or BNDX or VTEB sell their bonds after buying them, or do they just ride them out to maturity?