Search found 856 matches

by soboggled
Sun Dec 04, 2016 7:50 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How to darken type in firefox or chrome?
Replies: 27
Views: 6056

Re: How to darken type in firefox or chrome?

Though I have not used the feature, in Windows (8.1 and 10 at least) you can opt for High Contrast under Settings/Ease of Access. Other versions have similar capabilities.
In Android, it's Settings/Accessibility/High Contrast.
by soboggled
Mon Nov 14, 2016 6:43 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The Permanent Portfolio as an accumulation portfolio
Replies: 67
Views: 16979

Re: The Permanent Portfolio as an accumulation portfolio

Reubin wrote:Another bad day for gold and treasuries! Is this the absolute worst time to even consider this portfolio?
Treasuries I understand but I thought gold was supposed to be golden when any increase in inflation is expected?
by soboggled
Mon Nov 14, 2016 6:41 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Muni bonds are getting killed. Are you bailing out?
Replies: 88
Views: 21461

Re: Muni bonds are getting killed. Are you bailing out?

Van wrote:Apparently as a consequence of Trump becoming POTUS elect, municipal bonds are getting slammed much worse than corporate bonds and somewhat worse than treasuries. The main factors are reported to be: anticipated lowering of tax brackets, anticipated increase in inflation and an anticipated increase in muni issuance due to increased spending on infrastructure.

Are you riding it out or are you bailing now? This massacre might go on drip, drip, drip for a long time.
Don't really get that last one. If the feds increase infrastructure spending, shouldn't it help municipalities, albeit at the expense of federal taxpayers?
by soboggled
Mon Nov 14, 2016 6:37 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
Replies: 11037
Views: 2066337

Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?

We just saw the new release 'Arrival'. Without giving too much away, it is about the sudden appearance of twelve alien spaceships around the world. The movie stars Amy Adams as a linguist tasked with figuring out how to communicate with a species whose concept of language is completely different than ours. For example, it involves time as a component. It was a very thought provoking film and we enjoyed it. Yes, we saw it on Friday, the first day in our nearby theater. We both liked it. I had one problem in that a lot of the dialog is very subdued/quiet so I missed some of it. Left the hearing aids at home as usual since most all the movies we see are extremely loud.:oops: JW Just saw it. A terrific movie. Kind of a meditation on time, lang...
by soboggled
Mon Nov 14, 2016 12:17 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
Replies: 11037
Views: 2066337

Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?

We just saw the new release 'Arrival'. Without giving too much away, it is about the sudden appearance of twelve alien spaceships around the world. The movie stars Amy Adams as a linguist tasked with figuring out how to communicate with a species whose concept of language is completely different than ours. For example, it involves time as a component. It was a very thought provoking film and we enjoyed it. Yes, we saw it on Friday, the first day in our nearby theater. We both liked it. I had one problem in that a lot of the dialog is very subdued/quiet so I missed some of it. Left the hearing aids at home as usual since most all the movies we see are extremely loud.:oops: JW Uh-oh. Plan to see it. Recent movies and even some TV with all th...
by soboggled
Mon Nov 14, 2016 12:13 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The Permanent Portfolio as an accumulation portfolio
Replies: 67
Views: 16979

Re: The Permanent Portfolio as an accumulation portfolio

No, I am talking about the last 5 years or more, when it has under performed most other recommended portfolios. Of course, there seem to be so many variations on it, I'm not sure you can say that about all of them. Also, the rolling averages and CAGR have slowly but steadily declined from their lofty levels in the 1970s, no surprise for a portfolio top-heavy in gold and cash. You can talk about whatever you like, but my remarks were directed to this comment by Reubin . That they don't apply to the last five years is, I would have thought, pretty obvious. EDIT to add: I did mistakenly confuse you with another poster and had to edit my message to correct the mistake. Looks like you were responding to the first version. My apologies for the m...
by soboggled
Mon Nov 14, 2016 11:57 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The Permanent Portfolio as an accumulation portfolio
Replies: 67
Views: 16979

Re: The Permanent Portfolio as an accumulation portfolio

The PP is designed to perform adequately under various market conditions. What I think we're seeing now is that the market is unable to reach a concensus on what those conditions currently are. Are we headed for inflation? Deflation? A boom? A bust? I see headlines predicting all of these. Again: (1) It was designed during a period of historically high inflation, and I don't think it works very well with deflation or very low inflation. Ok, but you were talking about the last three days. (2) We never know which way markets will go. (3) The headlines are written by people who don't know any more than anybody else. We never know which way the market will go, least of all the experts, but there is normally some sort of majority view that dete...
by soboggled
Mon Nov 14, 2016 11:24 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The Permanent Portfolio as an accumulation portfolio
Replies: 67
Views: 16979

Re: The Permanent Portfolio as an accumulation portfolio

telemark wrote:The PP is designed to perform adequately under various market conditions. What I think we're seeing now is that the market is unable to reach a concensus on what those conditions currently are. Are we headed for inflation? Deflation? A boom? A bust? I see headlines predicting all of these.
Again: (1) It was designed during a period of historically high inflation, and I don't think it works very well with deflation or very low inflation. (2) We never know which way markets will go. (3) The headlines are written by people who don't know any more than anybody else.
by soboggled
Sun Nov 13, 2016 4:34 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The Permanent Portfolio as an accumulation portfolio
Replies: 67
Views: 16979

Re: The Permanent Portfolio as an accumulation portfolio

That is not what I was referring to: I suggest you recheck your numbers since 2011. No matter what I come up with, someone will pull up another portfolio that did better over X time. It's like nailing jelly to the wall. Again, I've been over this so many times. I'm not interested in debating it any more. The asset allocation has been established since 1987 and has pretty much done as designed. That's why it hasn't changed. Welleslely is a fine fund. I have no quibbles with it as long as the management can maintain their track record of value investing. But the Permanent Portfolio is designed to be manager-free DIY. And again, no matter what time frame someone picks, they'll be able to find another fund that did better. I can go into a spre...
by soboggled
Sun Nov 13, 2016 4:16 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The Permanent Portfolio as an accumulation portfolio
Replies: 67
Views: 16979

Re: The Permanent Portfolio as an accumulation portfolio

Using etfreplay.com, going back to September 2, 2008 which is the furthest I can go from today: Permanent Portfolio (ETFS: VTI, TLT, GLD, SHY @ 25% each): +57.7% 60/40 (etfreplay.com Benchmark Portfolio: +58.1% Volatility: Permanent Portfolio: 8.0% 60/40: 12.7% So nearly identical returns with about 40% less volatility. Again, there is no issue with the portfolio and these returns are all time dependent. Anyone can pick any date range to make one look better over another. The important issue is that investors stick with a plan and don't go into their portfolio mucking around with things and trading vs. holding long-term. Isn't it true that you don't even follow its principles precisely? No, that's not correct. That is not what I was referr...
by soboggled
Sun Nov 13, 2016 3:30 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The Permanent Portfolio as an accumulation portfolio
Replies: 67
Views: 16979

Re: The Permanent Portfolio as an accumulation portfolio

The portfolio was designed in a period of unusually high inflation by Harry Browne, who is dead, so we have no idea if he would still endorse his portfolio. Most of its historical return has been from gold. We have been living in a period of low inflation. As a result, the portfolio has been flat for the last five years, while stock and bond markets have soared, and that is only because of this year's performance. This topic has been beaten to death here. Returns for the portfolio are not flat the last five years. 2010 +13.4% vs. 60/40 +12.3% 2011 +11.5% vs. 60/40 +2.9% 2012 +6.5% vs. 60/40 +12.3% 2013 -2.0% vs. 60/40 +13.0% 2014 +9.5% vs. 60/40 +5.4% 2015 -2.9% vs. 60/40 +0.7% This is not flat performance. The portfolio targets real retur...
by soboggled
Sun Nov 13, 2016 2:15 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The Permanent Portfolio as an accumulation portfolio
Replies: 67
Views: 16979

Re: The Permanent Portfolio as an accumulation portfolio

The portfolio was designed in a period of unusually high inflation by Harry Browne, who is dead, so we have no idea if he would still endorse his portfolio. Most of its historical return has been from gold. We have been living in a period of low inflation. As a result, the portfolio has been flat for the last five years, while stock and bond markets have soared, and that is only because of this year's performance. It seems clear: It is likely to outperform during periods of high inflation, underperform in low or deflation. That is hardly a "permanent" portfolio for all economic conditions, only one if you think inflation will be permanent. Now that we have TIPs, you can use them if you are particularly concerned with high inflatio...
by soboggled
Sun Nov 13, 2016 11:58 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: John Bogle Industry Icon Award & PBS Broadcast *Alert* - When I'm 65
Replies: 4
Views: 1751

Re: John Bogle Industry Icon Award & PBS Broadcast *Alert* - When I'm 65

Bogle is a national treasure and should have a regular show or time slot on PBS if not the major channels instead of some of those who give bad advice there.
Regarding SS, he rightly understands the mix of possible choices, here is what real actuaries say about them:
http://www.actuary.org/content/try-your ... ity-reform
by soboggled
Sun Nov 13, 2016 11:46 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The Permanent Portfolio as an accumulation portfolio
Replies: 67
Views: 16979

Re: The Permanent Portfolio as an accumulation portfolio

whodidntante wrote:Sounds like the permanently broke portfolio to me.
Or a de-accumulation portfolio. Browne's investing ideas have lost any validity they may have once had.
by soboggled
Sun Nov 13, 2016 11:43 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: REITs, Gold & Commodities
Replies: 23
Views: 5298

Re: REITs, Gold & Commodities

jalbert wrote:
Over long periods of time, REITs have similar returns to stocks but often with low correlation to stocks.
I would consider REITs to have a moderate correlation to stocks. Treasury bonds have a low correlation to stocks. The correlation of REITs to stocks is significantly higher than that.
The positive correlation of REITS to stocks is because REITs are stocks.
The positive correlation of gold to commodities is because gold is a commodity.
Buy stocks and commodities (if you must and are able to do it inexpensively), but not REITS and gold, because ... diversification.
How hard should that be for a BH to figure out?
by soboggled
Sun Nov 13, 2016 12:26 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Retire early and sail off into the sunset?
Replies: 48
Views: 11198

Re: Retire early and sail off into the sunset?

I love it when people blithely assume you can plan to spend up to 4% of your capital a year, without considering that it's possible if not likely that you will live 40+ years - because it is somehow guaranteed by recent history and we know you will fearlessly rebalance every year no matter if the market drops 50% or more.
As for sailing around the world, go for it if you know what you are doing, just don't spend $200K a year doing it.
by soboggled
Sat Nov 12, 2016 8:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
Replies: 11037
Views: 2066337

Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?

Heartbreak Ridge (1986). Great movie! Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Highway (Clint Eastwood) constantly outsmarts his elitist rivals by teaching his platoon to adapt, improvise and overcome obstacles. This movie also features Mario Van Pebbles finest acting performance as the ayatollah of rock and rolla. That's your usual uniquely slanted take on things. Actually, Clint is a violent drunk and petty criminal but an effective soldier during war with a secret heart of gold. In other words, a very fictional character. He can't get along with his ex-wife, gets into barroom fights and is in constant trouble with his military superiors because they are fools who don't believe in tough training for war. There is also some nonsense about some straw man v...
by soboggled
Sat Nov 12, 2016 8:20 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Experience selling car to Carmax?
Replies: 110
Views: 252064

Re: Experience selling car to Carmax?

For those of you who think they know what they got for a trade-in: I wouldn't bet on it.
by soboggled
Fri Nov 11, 2016 10:33 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary creates ETF
Replies: 45
Views: 12487

Re: Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary creates ETF

No doubt he just lends his name and money to it and somebody else makes the real investment decisions. The basic idea that he will never invest in any stock that doesn't pay a dividend means he missed out on Microsoft, Apple, Amazon and many others in their highest growth years.
by soboggled
Fri Nov 11, 2016 10:18 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Anybody regretting holding on to your REITS?
Replies: 97
Views: 18900

Re: Anybody regretting holding on to your REITS?

At last the price has come down to a point where I can justify buying more. No, I certainly do not regret holding on to my REITs. The reasons I bought them are as valid as ever. Every so often, for no particular reason I can see, everybody hates REITs. Then, for no particular reason I can see, everybody loves them again. Possibly they are being dumped now so some investors can take the cash and rush into what they think are post-election sexy stocks, like banks and construction equipment for the proposed big infrastructure spending. REIT dividends are not so attractive in comparison to what people imagine they will get from speculation on growth. Or perhaps real estate just has this boom-and-bust effect upon the human brain, who knows. You...
by soboggled
Fri Nov 11, 2016 9:04 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Anybody regretting holding on to your REITS?
Replies: 97
Views: 18900

Re: Anybody regretting holding on to your REITS?

At last the price has come down to a point where I can justify buying more. No, I certainly do not regret holding on to my REITs. The reasons I bought them are as valid as ever. Every so often, for no particular reason I can see, everybody hates REITs. Then, for no particular reason I can see, everybody loves them again. Possibly they are being dumped now so some investors can take the cash and rush into what they think are post-election sexy stocks, like banks and construction equipment for the proposed big infrastructure spending. REIT dividends are not so attractive in comparison to what people imagine they will get from speculation on growth. Or perhaps real estate just has this boom-and-bust effect upon the human brain, who knows. You...
by soboggled
Fri Nov 11, 2016 8:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI
Replies: 7638
Views: 1712572

Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

Nicolas wrote:
letsgobobby wrote:Rereading Orwell's 1984...
The Road to Wigan Pier and Down and Out in Paris and London are also enjoyable. Both by Orwell of course.
http://www.planetebook.com/ebooks/Down- ... London.pdf
Great stuff!
by soboggled
Fri Nov 11, 2016 4:51 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Anybody regretting holding on to your REITS?
Replies: 97
Views: 18900

Re: Anybody regretting holding on to your REITS?

REITs are essentially stocks. They comprise about 3% of the Total Stock Market Index Fund. Investing in them separately is no different from investing in any other sector separately - health, tech, consumer goods, etc. I choose not to overweigh in any sector, hence no REITs.
It's bad enough most people are overexposed to real estate by owning a house and mortgage.
by soboggled
Fri Nov 11, 2016 1:59 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: "Stealth Wealth: I’m Just an Ordinary Average Guy"
Replies: 445
Views: 127228

Re: "Stealth Wealth: I’m Just an Ordinary Average Guy"

The real mistake is judging people based on their wealth, not misjudging their wealth.
Those who are smug because they are richer than others think may be indulging in a sort of reverse snobbery that mirrors the snobbery of their judges.
by soboggled
Fri Nov 11, 2016 1:37 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: John Hancock discontinues LTC insurance sales
Replies: 45
Views: 11534

Re: John Hancock discontinues LTC insurance sales

I was always under the impression 10-20 years ago that Long Term Care Ins. was the prudent thing to do. Employers offered it at group rates to encourage people to get it, Suze Orman and lots of advice columnists said you should get it, etc. Now that huge numbers of people have done this and are basically committed with decades of premiums already paid, there are all these doubts. What changed and what's going on? At least in my case, they cannot raise my premiums or reduce my benefits (although they are not automatically inflation-adjusted unless I choose to pay more time to time). Does this aspect make things better? Thanks in advance. [The premium is about $260/month per person for my wife and me, so that's $530/month total.] What is goi...
by soboggled
Fri Nov 11, 2016 12:12 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Drain Cleaner or Plumber for slow drains?
Replies: 52
Views: 13982

Re: Drain Cleaner or Plumber for slow drains?

livesoft wrote:
soboggled wrote:http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news ... /index.htm
The link is old but recommends mechanical products, is skeptical of chemicals.
That link is skeptical of so-called "green chemicals", so the lye products discussed by me are not these "green chemicals."
No, the question is on green ones but the video includes them all, recommends a product called Drain King that uses water pressure from a hose. Chemicals take forever and only some will work on hair.
Another method is vinegar and baking soda which produces a gas (per Toons) that expands and may force the hair down drain.
by soboggled
Fri Nov 11, 2016 12:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Drain Cleaner or Plumber for slow drains?
Replies: 52
Views: 13982

Re: Drain Cleaner or Plumber for slow drains?

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news ... /index.htm
The link is old but recommends mechanical products, is skeptical of chemicals.
by soboggled
Fri Nov 11, 2016 11:52 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Drain Cleaner or Plumber for slow drains?
Replies: 52
Views: 13982

Re: Drain Cleaner or Plumber for slow drains?

lthenderson wrote:I prefer the chemical route. I pour some gel type draino down the drain and let it sit for 15 minutes before pouring a pot of boiling water after it. Works well unless it is a hair clog and then you have to go the manual route. I've not seen any problems that using chemicals has hurt plastic piping. It is used for far more dangerous stuff than drain cleaner. That stuff it pretty inert.
In the bathtub, it is usually a hair problem. Chemicals don't help and may hurt. At least try mechanical means first.
by soboggled
Fri Nov 11, 2016 11:32 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Drain Cleaner or Plumber for slow drains?
Replies: 52
Views: 13982

Re: Drain Cleaner or Plumber for slow drains?

Or a couple of those cheap plastic drain cleaner tools.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Zip-It-00412 ... l/21799377
by soboggled
Fri Nov 11, 2016 11:08 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 50% Increase in my Long Term Care Policy
Replies: 23
Views: 6806

Re: 50% Increase in my Long Term Care Policy

See https://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=202987&newpost=3111912 for another thread today on Long Term Care, which includes a link to a Boston Globe story: https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2016/11/10/john-hancock-stops-selling-new-long-term-care-insurance/h2bkR8Tm2O7MiZDKTCsYLM/story.html "insurers set prices too low when they launched the policies" It's called bait and switch. General health care inflation is not helping, either. I never liked these programs much, they seemed under priced initially, the insured takes all of the very significant upside risk while getting absolutely nothing for many years and by the time the care is needed the companies could very well be under water. The only people who...
by soboggled
Fri Nov 11, 2016 10:44 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What kind of apartment can $1k get you in your city?
Replies: 80
Views: 12986

Re: What kind of apartment can $1k get you in your city?

RoadHouseFan wrote:Lots of nice apartments for that price. They're close to Cracker Barrel and Chick-fil-A too.
I'd pass, pitch a tent somewhere.
by soboggled
Fri Nov 11, 2016 10:44 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What kind of apartment can $1k get you in your city?
Replies: 80
Views: 12986

Re: What kind of apartment can $1k get you in your city?

Here, a studio in an older building.
In a sketchy neighborhood in DC, ditto. Otherwise, you can share a studio or small 1 BR or live in a group home.
In SF, share a studio.
In my old hometown, you can rent a run-down 3 BR duplex or a decent two BR apartment.
by soboggled
Fri Nov 11, 2016 8:44 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Asset Allocation question re: Bonds
Replies: 9
Views: 1535

Re: Asset Allocation question re: Bonds

I wish I had your nerve, to be 75% stock. I am younger with a great pension coming, but I have been more comfortable at 60/40. Of course, in hindsight, that's been a huge mistake. Anyway, my thought is if you're going to reduce stocks, I'd begin now, but you can do say 2% a month instead of say 10% at one time. That way you sorta dollar cost average and probably won't notice any major changes that make it appear to have been a bad decision. Good luck. That's a bad mistake only in the way having 100% stocks has been a bad mistake. If you were not comfortable, you might have panicked and sold at the worst time when markets went down. The only really bad mistake would be not saving. If you have a great pension, you are further excused - no ne...
by soboggled
Thu Nov 10, 2016 11:03 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: John Hancock discontinues LTC insurance sales
Replies: 45
Views: 11534

Re: John Hancock discontinues LTC insurance sales

Alan S. wrote:The market is dysfunctional when there is very limited or no competition.
How so? Maybe if there were fewer or even just one seller, the policies would have been priced more realistically from the start rather than being underpriced to attract buyers. One could even argue this should be something like a closely regulated public utility.
by soboggled
Thu Nov 10, 2016 10:27 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 50% Increase in my Long Term Care Policy
Replies: 23
Views: 6806

Re: 50% Increase in my Long Term Care Policy

See https://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=202987&newpost=3111912 for another thread today on Long Term Care, which includes a link to a Boston Globe story: https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2016/11/10/john-hancock-stops-selling-new-long-term-care-insurance/h2bkR8Tm2O7MiZDKTCsYLM/story.html "insurers set prices too low when they launched the policies" It's called bait and switch. General health care inflation is not helping, either. I never liked these programs much, they seemed under priced initially, the insured takes all of the very significant upside risk while getting absolutely nothing for many years and by the time the care is needed the companies could very well be under water. The only people who...
by soboggled
Thu Nov 10, 2016 10:19 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary creates ETF
Replies: 45
Views: 12487

Re: Kevin O'Leary Fund

The ER may only be .48% but Mr. Wonderful also gets a $.25 cut of every $1 dividend you get in perpetuity. (Inside joke.)
by soboggled
Thu Nov 10, 2016 10:10 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 50% Increase in my Long Term Care Policy
Replies: 23
Views: 6806

Re: 50% Increase in my Long Term Care Policy

I am in shock. Just got my Long Term Care Insurance premium change notice. I have had LTC policy with Genworth since January 2007. My premium is increasing from $2,772.00 to $4160.77----a 50% INCREASE. The notice also cautions that they may increase again in the future. I am not sure what we are going to do. Any one else facing this problem? I know not many companies offer LTC . We have already paid them $27,720.00 on this policy so far. birdy They are being bought out by China Oceanwide. You knew they must be in trouble when their CEO took a cut in compensation from $20M to a mere $3M in 2014 and the company has been bleeding money. Don't worry, I am sure the top execs there will get handsome retirement packages for a job well done, and c...
by soboggled
Thu Nov 10, 2016 9:39 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: "Stealth Wealth: I’m Just an Ordinary Average Guy"
Replies: 445
Views: 127228

Re: "Stealth Wealth: I’m Just an Ordinary Average Guy"

Why bother - and why bother with them? The older I get, the more I realize I don't want to get along with everybody and certainly don't have to impress them. For starters - philistines, snobs and racists. That eliminates a lot of people, but it makes life much easier. This is it for me as well - not trying to impress nor get along with everybody so don't care what people think. If people ask me what I do for work, I generally just tell them something nondescript like "Finance". I come across people all the time that have a speechlet on themselves and all the great things they done, which means I quickly move on to someone else. A big red flag is when the first question they ask is "What do you do for a living?" or "...
by soboggled
Thu Nov 10, 2016 9:25 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: "Stealth Wealth: I’m Just an Ordinary Average Guy"
Replies: 445
Views: 127228

Re: "Stealth Wealth: I’m Just an Ordinary Average Guy"

ClevrChico wrote:
soboggled wrote:
ClevrChico wrote:My favorite part of stealth wealth is blending in and having people ask what we do for a living. We'll reply with our STEM titles and see their jaw drop open.

I guess that means the cloaking is working.
STEM titles? I am very impressed. Let me guess - one of these: http://www.stemjobs.com/9-stem-job-titl ... les-ever/#
We're not rich and it's not a brag. It's funny seeing people's perceptions get challenged based on material goods and race.
Why bother - and why bother with them? The older I get, the more I realize I don't want to get along with everybody and certainly don't have to impress them. For starters - philistines, snobs and racists. That eliminates a lot of people, but it makes life much easier.
by soboggled
Thu Nov 10, 2016 9:15 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Barbell strategies?
Replies: 14
Views: 4968

Re: Barbell strategies?

Clive wrote:
protagonist wrote:My approach is to forget about percent allocations and rebalancing. I just keep as much money as I figure I will need for survival in ultrasafe investments that should keep up with inflation (in my case, CDs), and gamble in stocks with whatever is excess.
. The likes of TIPS/Index Linked Gilts have primarily only been available during a era of declining inflation, should that inflation trend reverse then new issues of TIPS/Index Linked Gilts could be withdrawn. You're in effect buying insurance from someone who can set rates and opt to cease insurance provision at a time of their choosing.
Uh, that is always the case with insurance. And that is why you buy it before you need it.
by soboggled
Thu Nov 10, 2016 9:06 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: "Stealth Wealth: I’m Just an Ordinary Average Guy"
Replies: 445
Views: 127228

Re: "Stealth Wealth: I’m Just an Ordinary Average Guy"

ClevrChico wrote:My favorite part of stealth wealth is blending in and having people ask what we do for a living. We'll reply with our STEM titles and see their jaw drop open.

I guess that means the cloaking is working.
STEM titles? I am very impressed. Let me guess - one of these: http://www.stemjobs.com/9-stem-job-titl ... les-ever/#
by soboggled
Thu Nov 10, 2016 4:47 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Researching non-ACA health insurance in NJ
Replies: 14
Views: 2153

Re: Researching non-ACA health insurance in NJ

Good luck to him, he will soon be on his own unless the state steps up to the plate somehow.
OTH, no politician is going to let 20M people lose their health insurance overnight.
by soboggled
Thu Nov 10, 2016 3:30 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: "Stealth Wealth: I’m Just an Ordinary Average Guy"
Replies: 445
Views: 127228

Re: "Stealth Wealth: I’m Just an Ordinary Average Guy"

So the joker who wrote this article pretends that people don't know he has money?
Pardon me, if you have enough to get through medical school and have been practicing as a private practice physician in this country any length of time, I know darn well you have money, no matter what kind of car you drive and no, you are not just an "ordinary guy".
by soboggled
Thu Nov 10, 2016 10:40 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Barbell strategies?
Replies: 14
Views: 4968

Barbell strategies?

I assume BH AA implementations are based on taking a middle-of-the-road approach to investing, e.g., some mix of total stock and total bond markets.
This is in contrast to barbell strategies such as those espoused by Taleb and others that supposedly place greater emphasis on avoiding black swan events and using only super-safe and high risk/reward investments.
So who is implementing an AA based on this approach and are there any studies as to how such strategies have worked in the past?
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/barbell.asp
by soboggled
Thu Nov 10, 2016 9:58 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Insurance company watching your mileage?
Replies: 28
Views: 8240

Re: Insurance company watching your mileage?

Interesting discussion. I don't doubt an insurance company can obtain mileage info from inspection and registration records. Somewhere in the fine print they have probably told us this. Perhaps the same holds for Onstar users. I'd be truly creeped out if insurance companies were getting mileage info from Jiffy Lube, however! As a matter of fact they are getting it from Jiffy Lube. Privacy is dead as a door nail and we have gone with it like sheep. http://fusion.net/story/327366/car-insurance-companies-get-odometer-data/ But don't worry, with the proliferation of online devices in cars anyone willing to pay will be able to get that data, your location and more in real time. Younger people especially have been brainwashed into thinking there...
by soboggled
Thu Nov 10, 2016 9:45 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Insurance company watching your mileage?
Replies: 28
Views: 8240

Re: Insurance company watching your mileage?

Since when should a private insurance company have unnecessary access to your personal data provided by a government agency supported by your tax dollars? I get it that some checks may be useful, but mileage data from inspections? The fact that no one on this thread sees anything wrong with this is evidence that privacy has become a quaint idea and we have given up that right for less than nothing. The growing prevalence of mostly uncontrollable data sharing and on board computers indicates Big Brother is just around the corner. Anyone with a rationale for "permissable use" (whatever that means) has access to your personal information through the DMV. And don't worry, the people paying for the info would never think of misusing th...
by soboggled
Wed Nov 09, 2016 2:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Risk of not paying sales tax?
Replies: 36
Views: 9410

Re: Risk of not paying sales tax?

Oh, Jeeez, almighty. I give up. Epsilon Delta, didn't it occur to you in plodding thru all the tedious text in the link to your BOE - that the Land of Fruit & Nuts has again distinguished itself - duh It all comes down to semantics. In the case of the Calif BOE people - when they say the seller (merchant) must "pay" the sales tax - duh - they really mean the seller must "pay" the sales tax receipts to the state of Calif. At least that is what I am getting from a close read of the text. The copy writers in the Land of Fruit and Nuts who composed the drafts for the BOE merchants' guide evidently escaped any form of editorial proof - reading. Obviously, they meant to say: sellers must remit , not pay, the sales tax rec...
by soboggled
Tue Nov 08, 2016 12:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Got a very wide range of plumbing contractor bids. Is this normal?
Replies: 19
Views: 3255

Re: Got a very wide range of plumbing contractor bids. Is this normal?

Often when they send a salesman to do an estimate rather than the person who is going to do the work, you are going to pay his commission and the cost of the fancy brochures. The smaller the job the more that overhead costs proportionally.
by soboggled
Tue Nov 08, 2016 12:18 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Medicare, Ugh
Replies: 34
Views: 4621

Re: Medicare, Ugh

Ugh? Those of us who are working age are losing $$ out of every paycheck to pay for your coverage, when we may not have health care coverage ourselves. Yes, note the problems and share solutions... but please start with some gratitude that you even have access to any health coverage, unlike those of us who haven't lived as long. Just as we who are now on Medicare paid for our elders' coverage, and your children will pay for your coverage when you reach Medicare age. That's a nice dream, but the reality is that the U.S. rate of having children is shrinking, so that model will be unsustainable, and politicians are leery to make any changes that would facilitate the longevity of the program. I just want folks to understand that complaints fro...
by soboggled
Tue Nov 08, 2016 11:36 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Medicare, Ugh
Replies: 34
Views: 4621

Re: Medicare, Ugh

Naismith wrote:Ugh?

Those of us who are working age are losing $$ out of every paycheck to pay for your coverage, when we may not have health care coverage ourselves.

Yes, note the problems and share solutions... but please start with some gratitude that you even have access to any health coverage, unlike those of us who haven't lived as long.
Count your blessings that you were born with a longer life expectancy due to the many medical advances available, which were financed in part by everybody, especially older people.
You will also have Medicare, unless your generation doesn't fight for it.
But Americans are not too smart in figuring out we are pretty much all in it together.