Search found 12253 matches

by Dottie57
Mon Mar 18, 2024 3:10 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Which industry will benefit from new real estate commission fee structure?
Replies: 51
Views: 4098

Re: Which industry will benefit from new real estate commission fee structure?

bh716 wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2024 7:54 pm Perhaps the consumer will benefit for once, instead of some industry. One could wish.
I’m not sure current agents will stick around for fees.

That will be great for ALL buyers and sellers right?
by Dottie57
Mon Mar 18, 2024 3:01 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Which industry will benefit from new real estate commission fee structure?
Replies: 51
Views: 4098

Re: Which industry will benefit from new real estate commission fee structure?

Barefoot wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2024 7:43 pm I think the law of unintended consequences will be on full display.
+1
by Dottie57
Sun Mar 17, 2024 9:25 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: HELP - what to invest in for 750,000 windfall
Replies: 14
Views: 1970

Re: HELP - what to invest in for 750,000 windfall

Are you currently maximizing the contributions to all tax-deferred / tax-advantaged vehicles? 1) $23k at an employer retirement plan: 401(k), 403(b), 457(b) 2) $7k for Roth IRA 3) $10k in I-bonds purchases per year per SSN 4) Any Mega Backdoor opportunity at your employer? If you aren't doing at least the first three, do it. If this results in a shortfall from your paycheck, use this $750k windfall for living expenses. Do you own a home, if so is there a mortgage on it, and if so, what is the rate? If the rate is anything above 4.5%, it is worth paying off that mortgage than investing. If it is anything more than 3.5% and you are *NOT* itemizing deductions (taking the standard deduction on your tax returns), then it is also worth paying it...
by Dottie57
Sat Mar 16, 2024 5:05 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: I will need a new car or repair one
Replies: 46
Views: 1926

Re: I will need a new car or repair one

What is comparable Japanese car that is being considered? Model Y is good but drive it and see if it works for you. For me it has a few deal breakers like the harsh suspension and no sunroof shade. Also had someone mention the seat foam is not very durable. I would want to wait till the refresh before considering the M-Y because I think they will soften the ride. BMW are money pits and they aren’t even fun to drive anymore. So I would get rid of it. Agree. Model Y refresh coming in late 2024. So you can likely get the older model marked down before the rollout, or get a much better vehicle after. Can you limp the existing car for a year? That is, is it just squeaks at this time? Just squeaks at the moment. I think i will try to limp it for...
by Dottie57
Sat Mar 16, 2024 12:46 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Am I crazy for considering a home purchase.
Replies: 19
Views: 1585

Re: Am I crazy for considering a home purchase.

My answer is anecdotal.

When I bought my first home I had to redo my spending. Some extras needed to be cut. I expect that many home owners bought homes and then had to cut back. The idea of putting the PITI - current rent into savings/investments. I also think that counting on free childcare forever is hazardous.

You have to think about for your future and increased expenses now. And build in flexibility -to handle job loss, both parents not working etc, death of parents.
by Dottie57
Fri Mar 15, 2024 6:33 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Great news! No more [fixed real estate] agent commission
Replies: 163
Views: 15085

Re: No more agent commission

Rocky Mtn Man wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 10:07 am
samsoes wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 9:54 am Interesting. How are the agents to be compensated once the ruling takes effect?
I imagine it would be based on metrics in a contract at the start of the sale.

Base pay of x, and a bonus of y if the house sells in z weeks, and 10% of the profit if a house sells over $xxx,000.

I'm not sure how it would work for the buyer's agent.
Metrics only work if it is within the agent’s control. Bad market, poor pricing by the owners, property on a noisy street are not in the agen’s control.
by Dottie57
Fri Mar 15, 2024 4:45 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do you need to carry your health insurance card?
Replies: 75
Views: 7344

Re: Do you need to carry your health insurance card?

bob60014 wrote: Sat Sep 16, 2023 8:46 am
MCST wrote: Sat Sep 16, 2023 8:10 am Should you carry your health insurance card in your wallet? Why or why not?

I always have, assuming that if I were seriously injured I’d want first responders to see I have private insurance and take me to a good hospital.

But, I recently read that it can be dangerous if you lost your wallet. Someone could use your insurance for fraudulent claims.
. (bolded mine)

Sorry, that's not how it works for emergencies in most areas. You'll be taken to the closest available location. Besides, first responders don't give a darn about what type of insurance you may or may not have.
+1
by Dottie57
Fri Mar 15, 2024 12:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Signing Listing Agreement Sunday. Any actionable steps with NAR lawsuit?
Replies: 15
Views: 1624

Re: Signing Listing Agreement Sunday. Any actionable steps with NAR lawsuit?

My spouse and I are selling our home and are going with a full-service Realtor. We agreed to terms with the Realtor on Wednesday and are planning to sign the listing contract Sunday. Going rates for good Realtors in our area have historically been 6%, which we agreed to along with a number of concessions for marketing our home. We've just been made aware of the National Assoc of Realtors lawsuit with today's NYTimes article. The article makes it sound like commissions may undergo a market correction, but with no sense of timeline or if commissions will be explicitly controlled or left to market forces. With regards to this lawsuit, is there anything actionable my spouse and I should do prior to signing the listing agreement Sunday? Does th...
by Dottie57
Thu Mar 14, 2024 10:09 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Open Social Security - 1st Year Benefits
Replies: 12
Views: 1256

Re: Open Social Security - 1st Year Benefits

Benefits are paid in arrears. So you earn the benefit in Month X and are paid in X+1. Start dates are confusing which is where the "month after 62nd" birthday comes from. The important rules are: - You "attain" a particular age on the day before your birthday. So, if you are born on May 1, you will attain age 62 on April 30. - You are eligible for a benefit on the first month that you are a particular age through the entire month. So if you are born on the 1st or 2nd of the month, you are eligible to start in that month. If you are born on the 3rd or later, you are eligible in the month after. But for normal (aka full) retirement age or just determining your age when fililng, it's the month you attain that age, but you ...
by Dottie57
Thu Mar 14, 2024 10:06 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How much should I leave to nieces/nephews vs. siblings vs. charity I'm passionate about?
Replies: 58
Views: 4262

Re: How much should I leave to nieces/nephews vs. siblings vs. charity I'm passionate about?

My brother inherits bulk of my assets. His son will probably get some money from dad. An amount leave some to my SIL explicitly.
Also about 25k to a friend I’ve known for 40 years.
by Dottie57
Thu Mar 14, 2024 7:54 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Open Social Security - 1st Year Benefits
Replies: 12
Views: 1256

Re: Open Social Security - 1st Year Benefits

Benefits are paid in arrears. So you earn the benefit in Month X and are paid in X+1. Start dates are confusing which is where the "month after 62nd" birthday comes from. The important rules are: - You "attain" a particular age on the day before your birthday. So, if you are born on May 1, you will attain age 62 on April 30. - You are eligible for a benefit on the first month that you are a particular age through the entire month. So if you are born on the 1st or 2nd of the month, you are eligible to start in that month. If you are born on the 3rd or later, you are eligible in the month after. But for normal (aka full) retirement age or just determining your age when fililng, it's the month you attain that age, but you ...
by Dottie57
Thu Mar 14, 2024 4:51 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Open Social Security - 1st Year Benefits
Replies: 12
Views: 1256

Re: Open Social Security - 1st Year Benefits

RickBoglehead wrote: Thu Mar 14, 2024 4:43 pm
Dottie57 wrote: Thu Mar 14, 2024 4:27 pm
Silk McCue wrote: Thu Mar 14, 2024 4:22 pm The benefit for each month is paid out the following month. It’s just the way it’s implemented. You will receive x months worth of benefit but the December benefit will be received in January.

Cheers
Doesn’t the benefit start themonth AFTER your birthday?

If my birthday is in middle of May, the benefit starts in April and I get my first payment in May. Am I correct?

No.

If your birthday is mid-May, benefits start in May. May benefits are paid in June.
Sorry my birthday is mid MARCH, Corrected it in my post.
by Dottie57
Thu Mar 14, 2024 4:30 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 5M, probably enough to retire to a frugal lifestyle
Replies: 180
Views: 15193

Re: 5M, probably enough to retire to a frugal lifestyle

KlangFool wrote: Thu Mar 14, 2024 2:48 pm Folks,

It is very simple.

You only need one word to be happy: enough.

You only need one word to be unhappy: more.

Heaven or hell is within you.
- Buddha

KlangFool
My spin is that I would like more but I have enough. When I get SS I will feel rich. Everything is good.
by Dottie57
Thu Mar 14, 2024 4:27 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Open Social Security - 1st Year Benefits
Replies: 12
Views: 1256

Re: Open Social Security - 1st Year Benefits

Silk McCue wrote: Thu Mar 14, 2024 4:22 pm The benefit for each month is paid out the following month. It’s just the way it’s implemented. You will receive x months worth of benefit but the December benefit will be received in January.

Cheers
Doesn’t the benefit start themonth AFTER your birthday?
ETA correcting birth month.
If my birthday is in middle of March, the benefit starts in April and I get my first payment in May. Am I correct?
by Dottie57
Thu Mar 14, 2024 4:15 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Happy Pi Day! (And what pie?)
Replies: 54
Views: 4546

Re: Happy Pi Day! (And what pie?)

F150HD wrote: Sun Mar 14, 2021 6:21 pm anyone remember the little hot apple pies McDonalds used to sell? I recall them as a kid, that was a rare treat when we got one.

Ah, via Google I see they are back.
I loved them as an adult!

Ooh. Just looked and they don’t have the crust I remember - crackly crispy.
by Dottie57
Thu Mar 14, 2024 4:12 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Quaker Oats Recall Coupons Pretty much Useless
Replies: 9
Views: 1032

Re: Quaker Oats Recall Coupons Pretty much Useless

catnamedspot wrote: Thu Mar 14, 2024 3:45 pm
tashnewbie wrote: Thu Mar 14, 2024 3:44 pm Could you just do 3 separate self-checkout purchases (or regular checkout)?

Sounds frustrating.
I tried, but the self checkout won't accept them.
Bring other family members to also check out.
by Dottie57
Thu Mar 14, 2024 4:06 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 5M, probably enough to retire to a frugal lifestyle
Replies: 180
Views: 15193

Re: 5M, probably enough to retire to a frugal lifestyle

StartedAt22 wrote: Thu Mar 14, 2024 3:04 pm
KlangFool wrote: Thu Mar 14, 2024 2:48 pm Folks,

It is very simple.

You only need one word to be happy: enough.

You only need one word to be unhappy: more.

Heaven or hell is within you.
- Buddha

KlangFool
DING DING DING
Thanks!
by Dottie57
Thu Mar 14, 2024 12:12 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: "Rich Man's Roth" / 7702
Replies: 37
Views: 5439

Re: "Rich Man's Roth" / 7702

You just exited a life insurance plan last month (https://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7729812#p7729812), so why do you feel you need to buy another? Or more generally, what is special about your situation that makes investing in the boring-as-dirt mix of 401k, traditional or Roth IRA, and taxable accounts that everyone else uses inappropriate or inadequate? A good question as I was not considering it. I do not have access to a 401k, I do however have a pension that I have another 10 years until I can access and in reality another 23 years to max out, I am maxing out my traditional IRA that I moved over from NWM, as well as my HSA that has enough cash to cover my out of pocket max and the rest is put into a Schaub account for m...
by Dottie57
Wed Mar 13, 2024 9:45 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Where does your [investing] inspiration come from?
Replies: 31
Views: 2927

Re: Where does your inspiration come from?

My inspiration was knowing I wanted more than SS in retirement. The easiest, most consistent way for me to retire was a 401k.
Fortunately my options in 401k were pretty good and became really good with my last 401k - vanguard index funds for stock.
Bogleheads is the cherry on top.

It really confuses me when people seem so oblivious to the need to save and invest for retirement.
by Dottie57
Wed Mar 13, 2024 11:08 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Preparing for Marriage
Replies: 47
Views: 4723

Re: Preparing for Marriage

Agreed there. I make it very clear on my goals for the future and show her what we need to do to achieve them and how much needs to go where. I am definitely the more financially savvy one and these types of things is what I genuinely enjoy doing. I have no problem creating a budget and enforcing saving/paying down debt to the tune of 'we can't go out to eat tonight because we are over our budget for the month and would have to dip into savings'. She may not like it, but it's for the better. Oh, wow. No. Way off. These are decisions y’all need to make together if you want this thing to work out This. If OP wants to overpower his wife, then stop and don’t get married. A lot of fiance's are very agreeable before marriage, and then turn out t...
by Dottie57
Wed Mar 13, 2024 9:48 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: College degree worthwhile for marketing?
Replies: 112
Views: 7119

Re: College degree worthwhile for marketing?

mhadden1 wrote: Mon Mar 11, 2024 5:53 pm
Ladeedaw wrote: Mon Mar 11, 2024 3:58 pm Her arguments for leaving college:
She wants to "bet on herself" and try to do real estate. She feels like she can do really well financially.
She feels like she'll never use her degree.
She feels like she's wasting time with busy work in school and that it doesn't help her reach her potential.
She feels like my generation thinks college is a good idea, but that the world has changed and a college degree is no longer what it used to be.
1) She can bet after 3 semesters too.
2) She certainly won't use her degree if she doesn't have one.
3) Her untapped potential can be developed after 3 semesters.
4) Having no degree is exactly what it used to be.
This.
by Dottie57
Wed Mar 13, 2024 9:47 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: College degree worthwhile for marketing?
Replies: 112
Views: 7119

Re: College degree worthwhile for marketing?

Real Estate agent is not an easy job.

You need to have the right personality.

You need to ge able to judge people correctly.

Every customer does not generate a sale.

Can be very long and irregular hours.

Customers are not always on good behavior.

Many agents fail.
by Dottie57
Tue Mar 12, 2024 4:54 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Preparing for Marriage
Replies: 47
Views: 4723

Re: Preparing for Marriage

ScubaHogg wrote: Mon Mar 11, 2024 7:03 am
eevers27 wrote: Sun Mar 10, 2024 8:05 pm Agreed there. I make it very clear on my goals for the future and show her what we need to do to achieve them and how much needs to go where. I am definitely the more financially savvy one and these types of things is what I genuinely enjoy doing. I have no problem creating a budget and enforcing saving/paying down debt to the tune of 'we can't go out to eat tonight because we are over our budget for the month and would have to dip into savings'. She may not like it, but it's for the better.
Oh, wow. No. Way off.

These are decisions y’all need to make together if you want this thing to work out
This. If OP wants to overpower his wife, then stop and don’t get married.
by Dottie57
Tue Mar 12, 2024 1:52 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How is a broker going to make money off me?
Replies: 62
Views: 5788

Re: How is a broker going to make money off me?

nisiprius wrote: Tue Mar 12, 2024 12:54 pm
Of the $2.3 billion invested in FELC, I wonder what percentage is held by customers of Fidelity's brokerage, who have likely been exposed to Fidelity's marketing material? That's a real question, I'd be interested in know the answer. I'll bet it's much more than half.
I have not had much marketing from Fidelity on any of the products you listed. Didn’t even know they existed. I did recently receive a call offering to help me with my inactive 401k. Inactive means I am retired.

But my account is small potatoes and they can’t make much off of me.
by Dottie57
Tue Mar 12, 2024 11:07 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Financial Advisor says my portfolio is akin to a retiree at age 34
Replies: 80
Views: 8057

Re: Financial Advisor says my portfolio is akin to a retiree at age 34

aristotelian wrote: Tue Mar 12, 2024 9:48 am
student wrote: Tue Mar 12, 2024 8:43 am
aristotelian wrote: Tue Mar 12, 2024 8:37 am Looks like you have perhaps 25-30% in cash or bonds. That's a little conservative but not overly so. I do not think it is the job of an advisor to pressure a client into taking more risk. They should tell you the pros and cons of doing so but support you in making the choice.
I think the cash is for a down payment. Given that it is already at $200k, I assume that he/she will buy a house within the next few year. So it seems quite appropriate to keep the money in cash.
If that is the case the advisor is even more off base.
The advisor wants to sell OP some high priced growth funds to justify 2% AUM. It is a twofer for the advisor.
by Dottie57
Tue Mar 12, 2024 10:06 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Removing "managing" from Fidelity account
Replies: 8
Views: 1231

Re: Removing "managing" from Fidelity account

Op,

I don’t think there was any tricking going on. I would call it willful ignorance.

I to was willfully ignorant during much of my investing life. One advisor talked me into options on stock I owned. I lost the stock because the price was met. I told her I didn’t want to lose the stock . She said that there was no chance. But I lost the stock. My fault - willful ignorance. I chose to not educate myself.

I have other instances of advisors mak8ng recommendations that were not in my interest but theirs.

But it was my fault.
by Dottie57
Mon Mar 11, 2024 10:00 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Confused--Part D (Drug Plan) Much More for Certain Prescriptions than Originally Quoted
Replies: 15
Views: 1146

Re: Confused--Part D (Drug Plan) Much More for Certain Prescriptions than Originally Quoted

RudyS wrote: Mon Mar 11, 2024 9:26 pm
Rex66 wrote: Mon Mar 11, 2024 8:53 pm Why would you assume the prices can’t change?
It is clear that prices can, and do change. But it is surprising how much these specific drugs did change. I too am interested to hear back from OP whether they have re-run the query on the Medicare site and what came out.
I read in today’s WaPo that drug companies increased prices on a lot of drugs in January because of proposed government ability. To negotiat medicare drug prices.. Look to the pharmaceutical companies for this problem.

Don’t start commenting on the negotiations as it is political.
by Dottie57
Mon Mar 11, 2024 10:59 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Electric wiring along/through basement floor slab?
Replies: 23
Views: 1718

Re: Electric wiring along/through basement floor slab?

psteinx wrote: Mon Mar 11, 2024 10:51 am
Dottie57 wrote: Mon Mar 11, 2024 10:48 am What are the chances of tripping on each of these solutions?
Roughly reverse the order of cost/difficulty. Most tripping hazard with #1, least with #4. Not a huge trip hazard in general, but not zero. Also, kinda unsightly.
Then I would do 3 or 4. Only do 4 if you plan to live a long time in the house. #4 probably will only benefit you. A new owner might even think it is a negative for furniture placement or as a “walking on” surface.
by Dottie57
Mon Mar 11, 2024 10:48 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Electric wiring along/through basement floor slab?
Replies: 23
Views: 1718

Re: Electric wiring along/through basement floor slab?

What are the chances of tripping on each of these solutions?
by Dottie57
Mon Mar 11, 2024 9:21 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Longtime iPhone user looking at Pixel - what to know?
Replies: 60
Views: 4776

Re: Longtime iPhone user looking at Pixel - what to know?

With pixel phones I can store my mp3. Can't do that with iphone. Integration with Dropbox is great. You can't? I have thousands of MP3s on my iPhone 14. What do you mean? +1 I have lots of CD's that I rip to mp3. It is not possible to store on the phone and use iTunes to play them. Of course you can stored them as files and play with VLC but it's a pain. There are hacks and third party work arounds. For security I used only apps from the app store. If there is a way to store mp3 on an iPhone using an app from the app store let me know. I just ripped my cds in the last year on a brand new Macbook Air. I think I used the apple Music app to do so. Easy and fast. The songs now exist under my iCloud account and are available to all my Apple dev...
by Dottie57
Mon Mar 11, 2024 9:10 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Wool slippers worth it?
Replies: 53
Views: 5230

Re: Wool slippers worth it?

I’ve found that wool socks work well. My socks are termed “hiking socks” and have a thicker, cushier sole. Love them.
by Dottie57
Sat Mar 09, 2024 3:28 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Teaching wealth building as a new career
Replies: 28
Views: 3588

Re: Teaching wealth building as a new career

Dear All: edgeagg: Thank you for the suggestion. I have considered doing it for free since it aligns with my passion. But if I can maximize my revenue in the process of helping others to enrich themselves, I only see it as a win-win. The value of what I will be bringing to the table will far exceed the cost. Here is what I am trying to get at: You will have a significant problem with inflating the balloon. Were your friends above willing to pay you for additional service? The option is to do a free/premium model. If I were in your shoes, I start out free, get happy users and then provide some premium layer. Just my $.02 from several successful startup exits. I agree with this post. How will OP convince people he is better than the next per...
by Dottie57
Sat Mar 09, 2024 10:35 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: feeling stuck with kid expenses and this phase of life
Replies: 61
Views: 7379

Re: feeling stuck with kid expenses and this phase of life

mikejuss wrote: Fri Mar 08, 2024 12:08 pm
KlangFool wrote: Thu Mar 07, 2024 8:34 pm 2) Why won't you spend down your taxable account and shift the money into the tax advantaged accounts?
+1.

Max out your 401(k)s and your Roth IRAs, and then take what you need from your taxable account.
The point is he can’t max all those at this point on his salary.
by Dottie57
Fri Mar 08, 2024 6:15 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Your Original Medicare OR Advantage Experience: Nightmare or Sublime?
Replies: 156
Views: 9926

Re: Your Original Medicare Experience: Nightmare or Sublime?

TravelforFun wrote: Thu Mar 07, 2024 6:18 pm Why would anyone consider original Medicare? There is no annual maximum out of pocket cost and hence, your exposure is unlimited. Get Medicare Advantage or Medigap.

TravelforFun
To get Medigap you first have to have original medicare part b.
by Dottie57
Fri Mar 08, 2024 6:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank bill pay: takes a week and only sends paper checks?
Replies: 14
Views: 1326

Re: Bank bill pay: takes a week and only sends paper checks?

livesoft wrote: Tue Mar 05, 2024 7:39 am I think it means that you need to switch banks.
+1
by Dottie57
Fri Mar 08, 2024 4:18 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What would you have done differently if you could go back and restart your financial journey?
Replies: 68
Views: 5602

Re: What would you have done differently if you could go back and restart your financial journey?

Things to change.
- look harder for a job with 401k. I didn’t have one for 6 years at start of career.
- put something into Roth every year it was available.
- read Bogle books > use index funds in IRA
- Eliminate use of advisors who put me into managed higher 3xpense gunds.

Things I did well

- kept increasing percent put into 401k until it was 15%
- didn’t stop 401k contributions at any time
- went beyond 15% to max contributions 7-8 yrs of work.

Pretty happy with results in retirements.
by Dottie57
Fri Mar 08, 2024 4:18 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What would you have done differently if you could go back and restart your financial journey?
Replies: 68
Views: 5602

Re: What would you have done differently if you could go back and restart your financial journey?

Things to change.
- look harder for a job with 401k. I didn’t have one for 6 years at start of career.
- put something into Roth every year it was available.
- read Bogle books > use index funds in IRA
- Eliminate use of advisors who put me into managed higher 3xpense gunds.

Things I did well

- kept increasing percent put into 401k until it was 15%
- didn’t stop 401k contributions at any time
- went beyond 15% to max contributions 7-8 yrs of work.

Pretty happy with results in retirements.
by Dottie57
Fri Mar 08, 2024 3:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Longtime iPhone user looking at Pixel - what to know?
Replies: 60
Views: 4776

Re: Longtime iPhone user looking at Pixel - what to know?

Cheez-It Guy wrote: Thu Mar 07, 2024 6:04 pm
ee_guy wrote: Thu Mar 07, 2024 8:43 am With pixel phones I can store my mp3. Can't do that with iphone. Integration with Dropbox is great.
You can't? I have thousands of MP3s on my iPhone 14. What do you mean?
+1
by Dottie57
Fri Mar 08, 2024 3:04 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Fidelity advice
Replies: 67
Views: 8020

Re: Fidelity advice

Zoom call seems surprising to be a scam as you can see faces, but yes I would certainly attempt to verify the identities. My skepticism would be based on the 11% guarantee of return as well as a "VP" being on a call with you, but maybe Fido makes anyone a VP? I will say this regarding Fidelity's solicitations - I've had an old 401K and BDA with them for a number of years and always found them to be good, but left me alone with regards to soliciting for the most part. With a recent employment change I have a new 403B with them, plus I migrated over to Fido a second former 401K as well as an HSA. My investments there just breached the 2 comma level. Within the past month I have now gotten 2 voicemails and 3 emails from a regional F...
by Dottie57
Fri Mar 08, 2024 2:57 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Fidelity advice
Replies: 67
Views: 8020

Re: Fidelity advice

Chuckles960 wrote: Thu Mar 07, 2024 11:38 pm This does not sound like Fido at all. I think the OP is being scammed.
Fidelity called me recently . I didn’t answer the first 3 calls but inadvertently did answer the fourth. The guy wanted to review my.portfolio, get me out of my “inactive” 401k, etc, etc. He implied that I NEEDED to move my investments out of my 401k because it was just sitting there. I Said no thank you. i am self managing and was happy keeping all the same.
by Dottie57
Fri Mar 08, 2024 2:42 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can I splurge on a family vacation to Hawaii?
Replies: 56
Views: 4799

Re: Can I splurge on a family vacation to Hawaii?

FootballFan5548 wrote: Fri Mar 08, 2024 10:04 am I'm 40. Between Covid, family illnesses (MIL), and me starting my own business, we haven't done a big family vacation for my family of 4. We can afford it, just haven't found the time.

We did our honeymoon in Hawaii for 2 weeks and always vowed to go back.

In January my wife (also 40) was diagnosed with breast cancer and just this week had a major surgery and we're 3 days into recovery.

I am booking Hawaii for our family of four in August. Screw it. We'll make the time, we'll pay it off, we're just gonna go.

Life is short, gotta stop and enjoy it sometimes.
I think given the circumstances that this is a great idea. As I would tell anyone - buy travel insurance.
by Dottie57
Thu Mar 07, 2024 5:32 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Your Original Medicare OR Advantage Experience: Nightmare or Sublime?
Replies: 156
Views: 9926

Re: Your Original Medicare Experience: Nightmare or Sublime?

I’m turning 65 in a few months and have Medicare decisions to make. I’ve done a lot of research and am pretty much convinced to steer clear of Medicare Advantage plans. However, I do hear some things about original Medicare (OM) that are giving me pause before I pull the trigger. For instance, regarding OM, a friend of mine is witnessing “the endless nightmare that my in-laws are going through right now, constantly dealing with medical billing issues, and negotiating prescription costs, trying to find a doctor that is taking new patients, and waiting forever to get in to see a specialist.” Not the only time I’ve heard this, but it is a very small sample pool. I’ve also heard a very small sample of people say they have had great experience ...
by Dottie57
Thu Mar 07, 2024 5:20 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: FAANG, MAMAA now AI and GLP-1
Replies: 12
Views: 1359

Re: FAANG, MAMAA now AI and GLP-1

Retired and on the days I'm home, I often have the financial channels running in the background while I take care of other things. Not so much for specific advice, etc....but to catch whatever topic's making the most noise. I've noticed in the past several months, the talk has moved from FAANG and MAMAA - and is now really hitting heavily on discussions surrounding AI and the GLP-1 drugs. I get the AI, but the GLP-1 discussions have me a bit puzzled....they seem focused not only on the outrageous market potential for the drugs, but also the impacts on other sectors - mostly snack companies and fast food companies. Also mentioned is the potential drop in needed procedures - knee replacements, diabetes treatment, etc. The way they discuss th...
by Dottie57
Thu Mar 07, 2024 2:42 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Fidelity and Bank of America data lost in Infosys breach
Replies: 57
Views: 6477

Re: Fidelity and Bank of America data lost in Infosys breach

With regards to fidelity the Register says “According to Fidelity, in documents filed with the Maine attorney general's office, miscreants "likely acquired" information about 28,268 people's life insurance policies after infiltrating Infosys.” So this might hit annuities. I hope investments are ok. I wonder if, in the case of Fidelity, the financial data comes from stored payment data for those policies... Seems like Infosys did not encrypt anything. :oops: This outsourcing to the lowest cost bidder is going to be the end of us all. Infosys should have the ability to encrypt data in the file system an in stream. The problem is if there is a problem with incoming data it is harder to find quickly. So some businesses eliminate encr...
by Dottie57
Thu Mar 07, 2024 1:34 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Fidelity and Bank of America data lost in Infosys breach
Replies: 57
Views: 6477

Re: Fidelity and Bank of America data lost in Infosys breach

With regards to fidelity the Register says “According to Fidelity, in documents filed with the Maine attorney general's office, miscreants "likely acquired" information about 28,268 people's life insurance policies after infiltrating Infosys.” So this might hit annuities. I hope investments are ok. I wonder if, in the case of Fidelity, the financial data comes from stored payment data for those policies... Seems like Infosys did not encrypt anything. :oops: This outsourcing to the lowest cost bidder is going to be the end of us all. Infosys should have the ability to encrypt data in the file system an in stream. The problem is if there is a problem with incoming data it is harder to find quickly. So some businesses eliminate encr...
by Dottie57
Thu Mar 07, 2024 1:29 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Fidelity and Bank of America data lost in Infosys breach
Replies: 57
Views: 6477

Re: Fidelity and Bank of America data lost in Infosys breach

Northern Flicker wrote: Wed Mar 06, 2024 10:49 pm
Horsefly wrote: Wed Mar 06, 2024 10:26 pm Supposedly - based on several articles I read - the breach at Fidelity was only in the Fidelity Life Insurance component. I.e., none of the brokerage or mutual fund areas. If that is true, it should calm most of us.
Calm that one's data was not breached if a brokerage customer, but not so calm that Fidelity evidently was breached via a breach at an off-shore IT contractor to which they evidently outsource.
Outsourcing to off shore is a big problem in financial data and in health care. Many countries do not have same privacy laws as the U.S.
by Dottie57
Thu Mar 07, 2024 1:21 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Should I buy this phone?
Replies: 24
Views: 1883

Re: Should I buy this phone?ng.

I agree - a new phone is a good thing. Use it for as many years as it is good for you.

I bought an iPhone SE on 2022. I wish I had bought the pro model with better camera. But I didn’t so will wait until 2026 for a new one

Get the new phne and keep it until it doesn’t work. I use a verizon prepaid plan with 10 gb of data.
by Dottie57
Wed Mar 06, 2024 8:10 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Fidelity and Bank of America data lost in Infosys breach
Replies: 57
Views: 6477

Re: Fidelity and Bank of America data lost in Infosys breach

With regards to fidelity the Register says

“According to Fidelity, in documents filed with the Maine attorney general's office, miscreants "likely acquired" information about 28,268 people's life insurance policies after infiltrating Infosys.”

So this might hit annuities.

I hope investments are ok.
by Dottie57
Tue Mar 05, 2024 4:58 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: When to switch from dealer to independent for service
Replies: 52
Views: 4115

Re: When to switch from dealer to independent for service

There appears to be a lot of hate or dislike for dealership service departments. I use the dealership and they appear to have done well by my cars. My cars have run well. I wouldn’t know how to evaluate an independent shop.
by Dottie57
Mon Mar 04, 2024 3:04 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Are ETFs Just Plain Superior To Mutual Funds?
Replies: 139
Views: 15869

Re: Are ETFs Just Plain Superior To Mutual Funds?

exodusNH wrote: Thu Mar 30, 2023 10:09 am
wolf359 wrote: Thu Mar 30, 2023 10:05 am
exodusNH wrote: Wed Mar 29, 2023 12:34 pm
Random Walker wrote: Wed Mar 29, 2023 12:23 pm The main reason I ask the question is I have someone telling me that ETFs are far superior with regard to taxes. Any comments from a tax perspective?

Dave
ETFs can generally avoid paying out capital gains at the end of the year.

However, Vanguard mutual funds that have an ETF class are able to use the ETF to flush out capital gains. E.g., VTSAX and VTI. In this case, use whatever you prefer.
This advantage may not be exclusive to Vanguard for long. Vanguard's patent on this structure expires in May of this year (2023).
That's true, but the SEC isn't likely going to approve anyone else doing the same.
Why would the SEC object?