Search found 1049 matches

by Wakefield1
Fri Sep 13, 2019 2:46 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Whistleblowing / Going Rogue at Work
Replies: 122
Views: 9522

Re: Whistleblowing / Going Rogue at Work

Quite the conundrum
Agree that the job is in danger
by Wakefield1
Fri Sep 13, 2019 2:23 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What older products/tools are better than modern equivalents?
Replies: 54
Views: 5553

Re: What older products/tools are better than modern equivalents?

Live potatoes in the grocery store used to be better:I think the current oversized ones are grown overfertilized or with too much nitrogen vs. potassium in the soil Older commodes used to work with only one flush-not so the new "water saver" Some push button car windows will suffer breakage of the lift mechanism if they are pushed all the way up before you stop pushing on the electric button (a cable that the motor winds around a spool will bust loose from its attachment point) much food actually does not taste as good,I think overfertilization and overwatering are in play,also new high yield varieties may play a part? Remember Tasteekake butterscotch krimpets from 60 or so years ago-much more butterscotch taste and not so sickeni...
by Wakefield1
Wed Sep 11, 2019 1:55 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What older products/tools are better than modern equivalents?
Replies: 54
Views: 5553

Re: What older products/tools are better than modern equivalents?

Made in USA Armstrong tools and their Craftsman equivalents
by Wakefield1
Wed Sep 11, 2019 1:48 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What older products/tools are better than modern equivalents?
Replies: 54
Views: 5553

Re: What older products/tools are better than modern equivalents?

daheld wrote: Wed Sep 11, 2019 1:46 pm Clothes washers (i.e. washing machines).
Old Maytag with simple twist controls?
by Wakefield1
Wed Sep 11, 2019 1:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What older products/tools are better than modern equivalents?
Replies: 54
Views: 5553

Re: What older products/tools are better than modern equivalents?

Bonney brand tools
Older Mac breaker bar (hinge handle)
Some mechanics seen to like the Snap On tools from the recent past as compared to the currently available ones (different script on them)
by Wakefield1
Sun Sep 08, 2019 8:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Going desktop-less?
Replies: 54
Views: 4890

Re: Going desktop-less?

Since I am not secure as to probably not going to stay where I am at present indefinitely,if I have to get a new computer(this Gateway is going on 18 years old) it would be a laptop for the ease of relocating. But if I were in my "Dream Home" and thinking to be content to stay there for many years I would want a big tower computer that would stay put. (And hard for a burglar to steal) One that would accommodate me if I ever get ambitious again towards working inside the case,maybe a new video card or hard drive or something. Would be nice to have at least 2 hard drives and the ability to boot from at least 2 sources in the computer (as well as from a CD or DVD drive)
by Wakefield1
Thu Sep 05, 2019 7:35 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: BofA ShopSafe going away
Replies: 116
Views: 13443

Re: BofA ShopSafe going away

I was very disappointed to hear ShopSafe is going away, because I use it a lot. Especially for magazine and trial membership charges that I do not want to be charged even though I have cancelled. Shopsafe has saved me numerous times, because I get notices like "we have been unable to charge your credit card". Capital One has Eno, which I have never used because Shopsafe enabled me to set a dollar and time limit. I suppose you can delete a virtual number with Eno immediately after using it. Would love to hear if anyone has experience with this. https://www.creditkarma.com/credit-cards/i/virtual-credit-card/ I am also disappointed that they are taking Shopsafe away,I almost always used it when buying online. When I don't use it I f...
by Wakefield1
Sun Sep 01, 2019 11:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How to help niece improve her driving
Replies: 94
Views: 8037

Re: How to help niece improve her driving

Cars are a major expense and I think,one of the reasons why many people never seem to build assets that would enable them to choose a better lifestyle after a number of years of employment.
The way people treat the cars has a bearing on how long the cars last and how much money must be expended on repairing the cars or replacing them. Being careless in driving wears the car out prematurely and leads to more expenses in brake jobs,tires,and other expenses related to such things as hitting potholes at speed. Not just the increased chance of trying to occupy the same space as some other nearby car.
So perhaps her thrift instincts can be enlisted to get her to be more careful with the car. It costs money to tear it up unnecessarily.
by Wakefield1
Fri Aug 30, 2019 7:28 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: College age male: How much money for food?
Replies: 138
Views: 8443

Re: College age male: How much money for food?

Can't remember for sure but a certain U. had a meal ticket plan in the early 1970s that offered 3 meals/day 5 days/week (no weekend) might have been about $400. for the whole academic year! Kids got unlimited milk,unlimited cottage cheese (which was noted and exploited by kids that frequented the weight room at the gym-each meal was open for about a 2 hour period so kids didn't have to be there at an exact time in addition the U. had snack bars where people could eat on weekends (except for certain holidays and then I think the snack bar near/in the Hospital/School of Medicine remained open those snack bars had 4 ounce and 8 ounce beef patties and "cube steaks" that put the fare at the place with the Golden Arches to shame. Also r...
by Wakefield1
Fri Aug 30, 2019 2:32 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Index Funds Bubble? [Michael Burry article]
Replies: 254
Views: 40859

Re: Index Funds Bubble?

Retractable Technologies makes syringes that retract and store the needle after use, for safety. As a nurse who gives thousands of injections per year, I am grateful for this product, and also happily own shares of Retractable Technologies (in my total market index funds). With the total market, I own every awesome company in the entire nation (and the world, too). :sharebeer Does Retractable Technologies license this technology to BD which makes an "Integra" syringe that comes with a needle such that after you give an injection from the unit pushing very hard on the plunger causes the needle to "disappear" inside of the syringe? I don't know, but I use those "pen" syringes as well. I administer a migraine med...
by Wakefield1
Thu Aug 29, 2019 8:04 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Index Funds Bubble? [Michael Burry article]
Replies: 254
Views: 40859

Re: Index Funds Bubble?

bck63 wrote: Thu Aug 29, 2019 3:05 pm
nisiprius wrote: Wed Aug 28, 2019 5:52 pm Retractable Technologies makes syringes that retract and store the needle after use, for safety.
As a nurse who gives thousands of injections per year, I am grateful for this product, and also happily own shares of Retractable Technologies (in my total market index funds).

With the total market, I own every awesome company in the entire nation (and the world, too). :sharebeer
Does Retractable Technologies license this technology to BD which makes an "Integra" syringe that comes with a needle such that after you give an injection from the unit pushing very hard on the plunger causes the needle to "disappear" inside of the syringe?
by Wakefield1
Thu Aug 29, 2019 7:52 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Passive investing now controls nearly half the US stock market
Replies: 39
Views: 4391

Re: Passive investing now controls nearly half the US stock market

A lot of indexers still hold S&P 500 or other large cap index funds or ETFs that neglect the smaller cap companies? (Not "Total Stock Market")?

Not an index bubble but a large cap index bubble as compared with total index or small cap index?
Harder for a small fund house to operate a true total stock index fund as compared to large cap index fund?
Some employer provided tax deferred plans only offer the S&P 500 index type fund and not something like Vanguard Total Stock Market?

Upon thinking about it,if there is a large cap bubble or at least price premium as compared to small cap it is probably active investors and fund managers rather than indexing that is driving it.
by Wakefield1
Thu Aug 29, 2019 7:18 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Passive investing now controls nearly half the US stock market
Replies: 39
Views: 4391

Re: Passive investing now controls nearly half the US stock market

When Michael Burry talks,maybe people should listen.
Did Larry Swedroe have a similar observation mentioned in a thread on here in the last few days? (Small value getting comparatively cheaper because of the popularity of big caps/cap weighted indexing?
by Wakefield1
Thu Aug 29, 2019 7:09 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Passive investing now controls nearly half the US stock market
Replies: 39
Views: 4391

Re: Passive investing now controls nearly half the US stock market

"passively managed" as defined by the article: does it include the broad index based ETFs which are possibly being traded very actively and possibly driving some of the day to day volatile price movements in the S&P 500 ?
by Wakefield1
Thu Aug 29, 2019 6:59 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Social Security age 70 or bust?
Replies: 81
Views: 6473

Re: Social Security age 70 or bust?

willthrill81 wrote: Thu Aug 29, 2019 4:55 pm the best longevity insurance out there (i.e. deferring SS benefits until age 70).
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
generally outweighs the effect of more depletion of your retirement accounts provided you live long enough?
by Wakefield1
Mon Aug 26, 2019 1:09 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: At what age to teach kids about investment
Replies: 19
Views: 2162

Re: At what age to teach kids about investment

I would start out with mutual funds knowing what I do now rather than the individual stocks as I did (other than the employer 457 plan which began to be offered after I had already worked a few years
of course a young kid can start out with a bank account but make sure it promises to pay interest!
Better yet maybe a credit union
by Wakefield1
Mon Aug 26, 2019 1:05 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: At what age to teach kids about investment
Replies: 19
Views: 2162

Re: At what age to teach kids about investment

My first lesson about "investment" was when my parents had me put about $20. into the (?) Old Dominion Bank and several years later we found that they hadn't paid a cent of interest so that lesson was "beware" and be suspicious Actually all I was taught was to "put your money in the bank" and don't spend wastefully until I got a tiny smattering of "investment" from high school history class when I was in high school or a bit earlier a retired Federal Government employee who paid me to cut his lawn told me of the virtues of stock ownership,particularly Standard Oil/Esso In college I rubbed shoulders with people who had investments and Financial Advisors such as Merrill Lynch a stockbroker who was a mem...
by Wakefield1
Sun Aug 25, 2019 8:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Death in family (not sure how to proceed)...
Replies: 30
Views: 6120

Re: Death in family (not sure how to proceed)...

- Keep paying mortgage on the home that they shared for ten years (she is living in her own apartment) so she can sell it when she is ready to. - He owned the house before they got married but did not add her to the title, so we want to contact a lawyer to either get her name on the title or find out how she can sell the house. They lived in the house for ten years before their seperation. ??????, Is her name on the mortgage? How can she sell when she doesnt own it, name on title/deed etc...? How can her name be added after the fact? Just curious. In any case, consult a lawyer! So before she pays (with her money) any mortgage due she needs to make sure that she is not throwing money away on something that she might not have any inheritable...
by Wakefield1
Tue Aug 20, 2019 1:29 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: free money from NCUA 6years after CU failure?
Replies: 16
Views: 1895

Re: free money from NCUA 6years after CU failure?

Returned interest that didn't get paid as due at the time? (or) Interest paid on funds not available during time between failure of the original c.u. and the successor picking up the obligations?
Otherwise sounds like a mistake
by Wakefield1
Mon Aug 19, 2019 6:39 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard's "Bogle Site" gone, but most material available at johncbogle.com
Replies: 59
Views: 19712

Re: Vanguard's "Bogle Site" gone? Hopefully just a glitch.

If Vanguard is no longer hosting the site but if there is another site hosting the historical material then Vanguard should post the link to the alternative site at the old Vanguard address for the site.
by Wakefield1
Sun Aug 18, 2019 12:59 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: IRMAA Appeal
Replies: 37
Views: 4348

Re: IRMAA Appeal

Am I correct that IRMAA is not all or none but instead has a number of stages of higher and higher surcharges added to one's Medicare bill?
Is the first stage all that bad?
by Wakefield1
Thu Aug 15, 2019 8:10 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Should we buy bond mutual funds now?
Replies: 30
Views: 6186

Re: Should we buy bond mutual funds now?

Those CDs sound better if they still have 2.6 APY going for at least 16 months going forward,my credit union just cut :( some of their CD rates to quite a bit less than that. Glad some of mine are at a better than the newly announced rate.
by Wakefield1
Thu Aug 15, 2019 1:52 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 30 year treasury yield drops below 2% for the first time in history
Replies: 41
Views: 6078

Re: 30 year treasury yield drops below 2% for the first time in history

I wonder what is driving these and especially 10 year rates so low? Is it lack of demand for credit?
The credit union where I have my cash stash just dropped their CD rates the other day,at least I have much of my cash in higher rate CDs that will last for a few months before expiring. No where near 10 year those CDs.
by Wakefield1
Tue Aug 13, 2019 3:26 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Can having wealthy parents be a justification for a more aggressive investment strategy?
Replies: 97
Views: 9502

Re: Can having wealthy parents be a justification for a more aggressive investment strategy?

BillWalters wrote: Tue Aug 13, 2019 2:58 pm Grandparent founded a publicly traded company. Watched parents wait 20 years to inherit, messed up their lives and marriage.

The 99% comment indicates a problematic perspective. Parent 1 dies, Parent 2 remarries and predeceases spouse #2, whose kids get all the money. Happens ALL THE TIME.
A very very wealthy parent,who wants to make sure that their child(ren) will benefit from that wealth eventually,should not depend upon inheritance or succession. That parent should do something to create some sort of endowment or trust for the child NOW.

As Lady Geek said,one should probably never stake their fortune on inheriting one penny. Might not happen.
by Wakefield1
Mon Aug 12, 2019 7:29 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: [Vanguard ongoing glitches, August 12-13, 2019]
Replies: 256
Views: 24848

Re: Missing money - Vanguard accounts

They really should put a banner on their web portal about the technical problem. Shouldn't display gibberish when it is known not to be valid.
by Wakefield1
Sun Aug 11, 2019 7:59 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard Domestic Dividend Funds - VHDYX vs VDADX
Replies: 25
Views: 10108

Re: Vanguard Domestic Dividend Funds - VHDYX vs VDADX

I believe that some short term cap gains that are distributed by mutual funds are buried in the IRS tax liability 1099s as "dividends" that are not Qualified? (Trading and turnover in the fund) if so that might affect some of the considerations as to tax efficiency of funds My take is that high quality bonds as mutual funds are much safer in the short run than stocks including dividend payers but that over very long times the stocks may actually be safer -meaning very long time like more than 7 years and I think that dividend paying stocks might not be quite as safe as total market but I think they are much safer than an excepted class of stocks of which none pay dividends (stocks meaning broad baskets such as the various managed ...
by Wakefield1
Sun Aug 11, 2019 12:42 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: If you think oil prices will drop where would you invest?
Replies: 70
Views: 5254

Re: If you think oil prices will drop where would you invest?

HawkeyePierce wrote: Sun Aug 11, 2019 4:06 am
misterno wrote: Sun Aug 11, 2019 1:58 am
Wakefield1 wrote: Sat Aug 10, 2019 2:29 pm Oil is also feedstock for much of the chemical industry I think. Insulating coating for the wire used in the electric car motor windings?
Didn't Mr. Rockefeller say that no one can predict future oil prices,so if you want to build a great oil company you have to figure out how to make a profit when prices are high and when prices are low?
when did Rockefeller say that? 50 years ago?
He died in 1937, so it was at least 82 years ago.

In any case, it's as true now as it was then.
:idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea:
by Wakefield1
Sat Aug 10, 2019 5:58 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why do dividends still exist?
Replies: 204
Views: 16124

Re: Why do dividends still exist?

I recall reading, many years ago, that paying dividends tends to instill some financial discipline in management, in that it prevents you from throwing everything away in ill advised acquisitions, investments and bonuses. They have to prioritize. How applicable that may still be I don't know. Still applicable. KraftHeinz is the perfect example of value being destroyed through a merger. The shareholders of Kraft and the shareholders of Heinz would have been far better off getting a dividend here instead of capital gains that never came from a bad merger. Somehow folks think that merging and then firing employees always creates Value, it doesn't. What a disaster. Corporate mergers don't always work out. Not merging may have worked out worse ...
by Wakefield1
Sat Aug 10, 2019 5:55 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why do dividends still exist?
Replies: 204
Views: 16124

Re: Why do dividends still exist?

...A buyback is a payout economically speaking just as much as a dividend is... Serious question: has anyone reading this personally had a big corporation buy back your shares and pay you money directly? That is, has a buyback ever put dollars from the stock issuer directly into your pocket? The check in the mail (or the online display of your bank account) shows a payment from Acme Pyrotektronics, not from the brokerage? When a buyback occurs, do small retail investors, holding the stock in a brokerage account in street name, receive a notice of the buyback, and an opportunity to participate by selling directly to the issuer? Yes, I get it that the buyback (in theory ought to, and in practice probably does) increase the value of everyone'...
by Wakefield1
Sat Aug 10, 2019 2:56 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why do dividends still exist?
Replies: 204
Views: 16124

Re: Why do dividends still exist?

Do managements sometimes engage in buybacks as a strategy to discourage takeover attempts of "their" companies by potential other owners who could possibly get a majority stake (if they can afford to buy up enough shares) and install other managers?
Might this possibly not be in the interest of small shareholders-particularly if management hasn't been doing all that well in running the company?
by Wakefield1
Sat Aug 10, 2019 2:29 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: If you think oil prices will drop where would you invest?
Replies: 70
Views: 5254

Re: If you think oil prices will drop where would you invest?

Oil is also feedstock for much of the chemical industry I think. Insulating coating for the wire used in the electric car motor windings?
Didn't Mr. Rockefeller say that no one can predict future oil prices,so if you want to build a great oil company you have to figure out how to make a profit when prices are high and when prices are low?
by Wakefield1
Sat Aug 10, 2019 1:34 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why do dividends still exist?
Replies: 204
Views: 16124

Re: Why do dividends still exist?

usagi wrote: Sat Aug 10, 2019 2:25 am
totallystudly wrote: Fri Aug 09, 2019 8:15 pm IBM is a shining example of how buybacks don't increase share value and dividends would have been better for everyone
Bingo...and buybacks were used as a way for the C-Suite to raid the company coffers.
May I add that I don't think that buybacks guarantee that a stock can't go to zero some time in the future. And if you owned that stock and didn't sell in time you have nothing. (Except perhaps for a claim to use on your income tax return calculations)
by Wakefield1
Sat Aug 10, 2019 2:08 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why do dividends still exist?
Replies: 204
Views: 16124

Re: Why do dividends still exist?

According to the dividend discount theory of stock value, dividends are the root of stock value. The value of the stock is the present value of the future stream of dividends it will pay. If you assume that the stock will never pay a dividend, then the calculation becomes indeterminate, like zero divided by zero, or infinity minus infinity. On a computer it usually displays as "NaN," not a number. Without dividends, a stock becomes something like bitcoin whose value is entirely psychological, based on circular reasoning--it's valuable because people think it's valuable because people think it's valuable. The value of stock is the present value of the future price of the stock, which in turn is the present value of the future pric...
by Wakefield1
Fri Aug 09, 2019 6:47 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why do dividends still exist?
Replies: 204
Views: 16124

Re: Why do dividends still exist?

I hear the "cap gains and dividends are ultimately the same" and the "cap gains are taxed advantageously" crowds, and these notions have truth to them. But taking advantage of them cannot be done in an entirely passive fashion. But ultimately, like everything else, all companies eventually die too, meaning that capital gains can't be counted on now (passively) or in the long term (the gains will eventually go to zero). Hence, dividends are the only guaranteed, as in actually delivered, returns that a company can offer its investors. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ I wonder if the anti dividend people can refute this? That has been my belief (stocks that don't pay dividends...
by Wakefield1
Fri Aug 09, 2019 2:26 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Inflation then and now?
Replies: 5
Views: 911

Re: Inflation then and now?

I believe when a Federal official says that inflation is too low that the danger and corrosive nature of inflation is being underestimated. As well as the difficulty and pain involved with trying to slow it when it has gotten high and the expectation for continuing inflation has permeated comsumers' and business leaders' thinking.
I do not believe that inflation is "low" and I certainly don't think it is "too low".

My best guess as to the cause of the great inflation of the Nixon years is that the Johnson administration tried to sustain the Viet Nam War and Johnson's social programs without being able to properly pay for them.
(I might have picked up that idea from reading Barbara Tuchman)
by Wakefield1
Thu Aug 08, 2019 7:58 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Fidelity highlights its better sweep account yields
Replies: 28
Views: 4357

Re: Fidelity highlights its better sweep account yields

Fidelity highlights its better sweep account yields compared to Schwab, Etrade and TDA https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190807005433/en/Fidelity-Investments%C2%AE-Takes-Strong-Step-Provide-Investors Fidelity Investments®, the largest retirement and brokerage firm with nearly $8 trillion in total client assets, today announced it has challenged conventional industry practices by automatically directing investors’ cash into higher yielding options available for brokerage and retirement accounts as well as providing product choice – all without any minimum requirements. Fidelity’s approach is contrary to typical industry practices of defaulting customers’ cash into a low-yielding product – often at an affiliated bank – with no other o...
by Wakefield1
Thu Aug 08, 2019 12:45 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard Dividend Growth Fund Vs Picking your Stock Dividend
Replies: 11
Views: 3082

Re: Vanguard Dividend Growth Fund Vs Picking your Stock Dividend

Perhaps the O.P. might like to look at Equity Income Fund or the VHDYX (High Dividend Index?) Fund
Not sure whether the Dividend Growth Fund is really about dividend yield as opposed to stocks that grow or are likely to grow their dividend in the future (so a closet growth fund?)
of course with all of these things,results may vary depending on whether they are held in Tax Deferred or Taxable Accounts and keeping an eye out for Total Return after taxes also
certainly one of these funds is probably a safer choice than betting the house on a single or couple of individual stocks
"High Capital Gains Distribution" Fund? :twisted: :shock:
by Wakefield1
Wed Aug 07, 2019 12:00 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: DRIP (Dividend Reinvestment Plan)
Replies: 30
Views: 4899

Re: DRIP (Dividend Reinvestment Plan)

I am thinking about buying stocks, and I was wondering if a DRIP plan is good. I've never bought stocks before. The stocks I'm thinking about buying would be from big companies, like Coca-Cola, Starbucks, ExxonMobil, etc. The DRIP plan sounds so good. It automatically reinvests your dividend payments to buy more stocks in the company. It sounds like an excellent way to build wealth. Over time, because of the additional stocks being bought automatically, it seems like you could eventually be making millions of dollars. It this as good as it sounds? Does anyone use DRIP? Should I use DRIP? I used to do that,seemed like a good thing. At the time I had not heard much of diversification or the danger of a"good" stock failing. I believ...
by Wakefield1
Sun Aug 04, 2019 8:36 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: When taking RMD, better when market "high" or "low"
Replies: 28
Views: 5344

Re: When taking RMD, better when market "high" or "low"

I think it depends on what you do with the RMD. If you are using it for spending then you want it high (sell high). However, if you are doing a Roth conversion (maybe pre-RMD) or if you plan to just reinvest the RMD , then I think it is better if it is low. That gives you more shares. A tax-deferred investment, e.g., 401(k) or IRA, is better than a taxable investment. If you plan to reinvest the RMD , it is better if it is high (higher than Dec. 31, last year). You can keep more shares in IRA. When I say "reinvest the RMD" I mean to invest in taxable. My plan is if I have extra after an RMD distribution I will invest that in stock. A lower price gives me more shares. I plan to keep that invested for my lifetime. My beneficiaries ...
by Wakefield1
Sun Aug 04, 2019 7:54 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Clements, HumbleDollar, viewing Vanguard with unease: "Whither Vanguard?"
Replies: 54
Views: 8791

Re: Clements, HumbleDollar, viewing Vanguard with unease: "Whither Vanguard?"

Mr Bogle was an architect of a great product, index funds. And, he was offered the ETF product first. He chose not to accept an absolute gift. Perhaps Mr Bogle could have rolled out ETFs in a better fashion. We will never know. So, Vanguard came later to the show. I think he could have been the architect of two very powerful products, but he has only one to his name. This is not to in any way meant to throw shade at Mr. Bogle. I have the upmost respect for him. But, consider this: He could have been a guiding force for ETFs. The bazillion number of ETFs might be fewer had his hand been on the helm (gratuitous nautical reference) from the beginning. Perhaps Bogle was a believer in the phrase, "The medium is the message." Or, bette...
by Wakefield1
Sat Aug 03, 2019 5:33 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Is this a good time to invest?
Replies: 18
Views: 2305

Re: Is this a good time to invest?

It's always a good time to invest. The question is what investment is appropriate.
Is the rule of thumb that "money needed in less than 7 years should not be in stocks" too strict?
by Wakefield1
Sat Aug 03, 2019 2:17 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Does it bug anyone else that Vanguard only has money market for cash?
Replies: 101
Views: 11378

Re: Does it bug anyone else that Vanguard only has money market for cash?

Did any of Vanguard's Money Market Funds have any problem in 2008 ? I don't think so
by Wakefield1
Tue Jul 30, 2019 11:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bloomberg: Forget Tech, Medicine Still Pays More
Replies: 124
Views: 12710

Re: Bloomberg: Forget Tech, Medicine Still Pays More

It's an art It's a profession It's a calling (at least it should be but things are not always as they should be and that includes some who are only in it for the money)
perhaps Nursing should also get a mention
I disagree that software engineering is equal to medicine although it certainly might be more lucrative at high levels
wish Boeing had used better software engineering
by Wakefield1
Mon Jul 29, 2019 10:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tree Removal Crane vs Boom
Replies: 24
Views: 2593

Re: Tree Removal Crane vs Boom

One treeman/tree removal businessman owns a boom truck and uses it on a job when it is adequate. On a bigger job he will call an operator who owns a very large crane
when the large crane is required I think the job is more expensive.
Also might depend on whether the tree is very tight up against a building that might get damaged if something goes wrong
the crane is driven like a truck but much harder to manouver into place than the boom truck

both boom truck and crane have outrigger arms that support them when at work (the crane's are much larger and extend further from the vehicle when deployed)
by Wakefield1
Mon Jul 29, 2019 1:06 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why not aim for a HIGH YIELDING portfolio?
Replies: 60
Views: 6901

Re: Why not aim for a HIGH YIELDING portfolio?

Isn't there a case to be made to construct a portfolio that has a higher yield than what index funds pay? VTSAX pays only 1.84%. If I wanted an annual income of $80,000 I'd need $4.2 million in a portfolio yielding 1.9%. But you'd only need $842,105 from a portfolio yielding 9.5%. Of course, you'd need to load up on high-yielding stocks and other high-yield assets that are reasonably safe/reliable. Don't a lot of retirees or near-retirees do that kind of thing? What are the pros and cons? Don't do this please. Nothing wrong with reaching for yield a little bit, our mentor John Bogle frequently discussion how to do this. Perhaps sell a slice of your Total Stock Market Index fund and buy Vanguard High Dividend Index. Probably wouldn't do thi...
by Wakefield1
Mon Jul 29, 2019 12:56 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Advice on taking a draw from Vanguard accounts
Replies: 8
Views: 1316

Re: Advice on taking a draw from Vanguard accounts

I personally have dividends (but not capital gain distributions) from some of my Vanguard taxable account mutual funds direct deposited into my Credit Union. I have the old mutual fund platform so establishing direct deposit on the new platform using the web interface may be different
As someone else said need to cover the tax liability.
I think this can also be done with IRAs (if you are old enough and not using the Required Minimum Distribution Service or in addition to the RMD) and having Vanguard to withhold a percentage for IRS tax. Don't know if State tax can be done that way.
by Wakefield1
Thu Jul 25, 2019 7:27 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is there a High Tech Bubble in S&P 500 & Total Market?
Replies: 152
Views: 13802

Re: Is there a High Tech Bubble in S&P 500 & Total Market?

Maybe if there is a bubble in the "FAANG" then the other side of it is the small cap value space and/or the stocks represented in the "Mid Cap Index Fund" .
by Wakefield1
Thu Jul 25, 2019 7:22 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Retire with Less Than $1 million?
Replies: 175
Views: 39926

Re: Retire with Less Than $1 million?

A paid up house would certainly help. Especially if not counted towards that "less than $1 million".
by Wakefield1
Thu Jul 25, 2019 5:35 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Be aware of Verizon!
Replies: 34
Views: 5173

Re: Be aware of Verizon!

Verizon telephone and Internet service is very expensive.
I hope Verizon doesn't become the electric power supply company! :greedy Would probably double the price over a couple years!
by Wakefield1
Sat Jul 20, 2019 1:31 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How to Contribute if Employer Doesn't Offer Traditional IRA
Replies: 23
Views: 2081

Re: How to Contribute if Employer Doesn't Offer Traditional IRA

I simply like my Roth IRA( :happy ) better than my "traditional" IRA( :x ) what with no "required minimum distributions" even if the numbers favored the "traditional" (they didn't since I am in a higher tax bracket in retirement).
If you have to make "non-deductible" "traditional IRA" contributions instead of Roth it might still be advantageous for future Roth conversion.