Bogleheads.org

gmc4h232 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 25, 2023 6:43 am Get a used airdyne

+1
I had one of these for many ears, they are dependable and the fan certainly keeps things cool.
j

tc101 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 01, 2021 2:28 pm Please recommend a good quality stationary bike for at home exercise.

Aside. .

Have you thought of a quality eliptical, ie: sole, etc?

j

Wiggums wrote: ↑Sat Mar 25, 2023 7:11 am Once you retire, you will have more time to focus on your properties and your finances. In other words, I don’t see that you necessarily need to solve this problem in the next four or five years.

+1000
Great point.
Well said.

j

Emergency funds: 85k - 4 months, inclusive of investment real estate emergency funds Debt: Primary mortgage 495k @ 2.25%. 30-year amortization Tax Filing Status: MFJ Tax Rate: 24% Federal, 0% State State of Residence: Texas Age: 38, wife 39 Desired Asset allocation: 100% stocks Desired International allocation: 0% of stocks Please provide an approximate size of your total portfolio: $1.7 mil Current retirement assets Taxable 410k VTSAX (.04) TSP 295k C Fund (S&P 500 index equivalent) (.06%) 529 70k VOO (amongst 3 kids) (.14%) Real Estate (not including primary residence) Debt: 1.39 mil Market Value: 2.4 mil Annual Cash Flow: 55k Pension: 67k annually (in today’s dollars, will be inflation adjusted) in 4 years (2027) when I retire from ...

It's time to update our will and estate planning (trust document) after a decade. I wanted to do a matrix to model the various events that could occur. The kids now are 15 and 18 so I'm thinking that the critical events related to them are: a) We pass whilst both are *not* mature adults (let's say the age of 30) b) One is a mature adult and the other is not c) Both are mature adults These are the rows in my table, the columns would be events that can occur to us: a) Both wife and I are in sound health and mind b) One of us are in sound health and mind c) Both of us will need care We have a meeting with our lawyer to redraft the will and trust and wanted to know what other events people are thinking of. To OP: What Events Are You Accounting...

Emergency funds: 85k - 4 months, inclusive of investment real estate emergency funds Debt: Primary mortgage 495k @ 2.25%. 30-year amortization Tax Filing Status: MFJ Tax Rate: 24% Federal, 0% State State of Residence: Texas Age: 38, wife 39 Desired Asset allocation: 100% stocks Desired International allocation: 0% of stocks Please provide an approximate size of your total portfolio: $1.7 mil Current retirement assets Taxable 410k VTSAX (.04) TSP 295k C Fund (S&P 500 index equivalent) (.06%) 529 70k VOO (amongst 3 kids) (.14%) Real Estate (not including primary residence) Debt: 1.39 mil Market Value: 2.4 mil Annual Cash Flow: 55k Pension: 67k annually (in today’s dollars, will be inflation adjusted) in 4 years (2027) when I retire from ...

to op:
numbers and age do not compute

1 stay where you are and work and increase income and position, take advantage of the company transition by rising to the top, using adversity to your advantage vs being a victim, etc.

2 find employment elsewhere in the private sector

3 find employment elsewhere in the public sector

4 start your own business and work for yourself (you can't fire yourself)

Keep that steady income, keep paying off debt and expenses and saving toward retirement.

Eventually, the storm will pass, calm seas and a friendly wind will prevail.
j

Hey all Looking for an 'economic' solution for doing family camping roadtrips thats a step up or two from tent camping :) I have been looking into camper vans and truck with shells and popups but those seem like they can get awfully expensive. One camper van popped up during my search which was intriguing - nissan roadtrek n6 active. My friend who is mechanically inclined says to avoid Nissan and doesnt trust their engines hahaha. It seems like a cool camper van and concept though. Otherwise, sprinter vans are crazy expensive. Not sure i'm into the idea of diy building and modding my own setup either. A smaller camper trailers seems like it could fit the bill though, and another friend suggested Aliners (with dormers). Basically looking fo...

Hi all, It seems like a big question - but I'm looking for resources. We started snorkeling a few years ago and would like to do more. We took a trip to Belize in December and were surprised to learn that there is a little more to picking a snorkeling trip than I realized. In Belize, I did not realize there would not be any beach snorkeling, and we would have to plan for boat trips. Boat trips are great - I need to be able to budget for them. I've done some internet searches but haven't found a solid resource that describes locations, the best time of year, accessibility of beach snorkeling, boat trip required, etc. Can anyone recommend resources for snorkeling information? I will research places in detail. But a higher level view would be...

Have seen threads about outsourcing lawn care…but not about a good riding mower! Have heard some pretty decent things about Husqvarna. Some not so great things about John Deer. I’m looking for a lawn tractor that can also handle pulling a trailer wheelbarrow type attachment for hauling fire wood and mulch, and a mulching and bagging system for spreading clippings and helping with leaves. Anyone have any recommendations? We have about 3/4 acre with lots of open space and only a few trees/obstacles that aren’t on the outskirts of the hard. Some marginal slopes to the land as well. :sharebeer To OP: There is the perspective that whatever mows very well is not particularly suited to being a lawn "tractor" to pull things, carry things...

Sometimes a motorhome and RV Trailer, etc, are like owning a boat.

J

Sandtrap, thanks so much for your suggestions. I'll proceed as you recommended. My neighbor has already offered to split the costs. BTW, his downspouts also appear to be connected to 4" corrugated pipe but I can't find an outlet. That might be part of the problem and need to be addressed before starting. To OP: Thanks so much for posting the pictures. It explains everything. Some notes and questions: 1 Is there an upper drainage culvert with grill that drains underground to that black corrugated pipe that is shown emptying into the lower culvert grate? Or. . . Is there no upper drainage culvert and the black pipe shown is a perforated (uselesss) pipe burried at the low point below the drainage "erroded" swale water cut now? ...

To op:
Actionably:

Search or "Google"
Basic human behavioral psychology:
(also social sciences)

"Tall Poppy Syndrome"
and
"Crab in the Bucket Syndrome"

Time to post a portfolio review to reassess your financial goals and long term strategy?

Focus on the present and whst is personally substantive and actionable. Everything else is transient, interpretive subjective perspective, et al.

j

To OP: Thanks so much for posting the pictures. It explains everything. Some notes and questions: 1 Is there an upper drainage culvert with grill that drains underground to that black corrugated pipe that is shown emptying into the lower culvert grate? Or. . . Is there no upper drainage culvert and the black pipe shown is a perforated (uselesss) pipe burried at the low point below the drainage "erroded" swale water cut now? 2 This is a lot of slope and there's no time for the water to soak into the ground, so perforated pipe and "french drain" style measures are not effective in a heavy downpour. 3 Goals: a) get the water out of the area asap on heavy downpours so it doesn't soak the home foundations on either side. b) u...

j

TarHeel2002 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 2:02 pm I purchased a new Toyota Sienna XLE recently and they presented me with the option to buy their extended warranty “bumper to bumper” which extends the original warranty from 3 year 36k miles to 8 year 125k miles. Total cost was $2895. The warranty is prorated and cancellable if I decide tomorrow I don’t want it. I bought it after seeing all of the extra electronics and gizmos in this new ride that look expensive to fix. We keep our cars for +10 years. I was curious to hear boglehead opinions. Thanks!

yes
"if" you plan to keep the car until 300k miles or more, or the life of the car.

Can you get it for longer than 8 years?

j

The area between my house and my neighbor’s has started to develop a slight ”ravine” where water washes and drains. There is an 8’ 6” drop over 50 feet as water works its way to the storm water inlet. All the water flowing down this channel is coming from our ~ 1/8 acre back yards and sources other than roofs and gutters which drain via 4” corrugated pipe. I know there’s much more missing in order to provide advice but I’m just looking for a “back of the envelope” calculation. Here’s the 3 options I have come up with: 1- Bury another 4” corrugated pipe with 2 or 3 9”x12” catch basin inlets and dump into the storm water inlet. 2- Lay a bed of river stone in the depression. Topography will make it difficult to get stone to this location. 3- ...

I have a small (bathtub + 60x74" area) master bathroom that needs to be remodeled. I'm looking for input on the following choices. My priorities are that it last a long time and be simple to maintain and clean, with minimal risk of mildew/mold. 1. bathtub vs. shower. My wife and I are in our 40's and our kids use the other bathroom that has a tub. We rarely use the tub, but I like having the option of using it, so I'm leaning towards getting a tub. I think a tub is less likely to get mildew like you might get in the corners of a shower. On the other hand, a shower is nice because there is no step and you have the option of installing a seat. 2. glass vs. shower curtain (if we go withh a bathtub). I like the simplicity of the shower cu...

A "Great Horned Owl" we named "Cleo" has visited our highest rooftops nearly all year 'round over the past 7 years.
Early dark morning's just before the lst light of dawn, and evenings just in the fading light of the day.

"Cleo"
What a "hoot"!

Brooke, just tell your advisor/friend that you have studied up on investing and you are going to do it yourself from now on. Thank him for his his help and move on. Don't get into any further discussion . 1.7% is a very high ongoing fee for any advisor, especially one you have connections with. Paul +1 Well said. Great points. To OP: This is how to go about it. Keep emotions and relationships out of it. Polite and courteous, and gracious (but not obligatory or guilty) for past efforts. Open your new accounts at a new brokerage, Fidelity, Vanguard, etc. And, talk to cust.serv/reps there to help you as needed to make the transfers from their end. Use Vanguard VPAS (no contracts) as needed to get your initial setup, as needed. Good luck. j :D...

Have seen ads for OOFOS footwear, The ads stress foot comfort, but say nothing about arch and heel support. I realize that there are different OOFOS models. Allowing for that, what are the main selling points for OOFOS footwear? What are the cons? Canopus Pros: Price and quality is reasonable. I have several for "in house only" that are white and does not leave marks on the floors (slipper thong style). Fit: my wide "Hawaii Islander" feet. Soft and supportive where "my feet only, not others" need support. They can be thrown in the laundry. Good, for me, arch and heal support. ( bought them for these reaasons, tried tons of house slippers) Cons: Darker materials, souls, might leave marks on floors. I have darke...

chris conte wrote: ↑Tue Mar 14, 2023 7:07 am Hi everyone,

I've tried Target, Bonobos, and some other brands, and they just aren't doing it for me. Now I'm in the market for some new business casual pants again. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
cc

Maybe they are dated and out of fashion now, but, "Pleated dress Dockers" has always been the "go to" for me, especially because their sizing fit me right off the rack. They are versatile with dressing up or down depending what they are paired with, etc.
Pricing has always been reasonable as well as quality. Not sure about now.

Hope this helps.
j

I recently found out that a relative who is almost 65 but still working for at least 1-2 more years has kept 100% of his retirement accounts in stock index funds. I don't know exact fund names, but they are at different brokerages/banks. He only started saving for retirement around age 40, knew enough to buy index funds, and keeps about 10% in cash. He has never held any bonds and casually told me that his retirement accounts are down 10-15%. I would guess his entire net worth is 1 to 1.2 million plus about 500k home equity. I'm afraid that I had an allergic reaction to the news of the 100% stocks at age 65, but my goal now is to help him. He and his wife live extremely frugally (<40k/year) so will not run out of money (I THINK). There is ...

Hi, I am planning to cover Big Island and Kauai in one trip. Has anyone done this before? If yes, can you help me in covering the major places. I am planning 4 days for each island during December. Not much into hiking but small hikes are okay as have kids of age 12-14. If anyone has similar itinerary, would be great. To fully experience the wonder and beauty of Hawaii, there has to be time to simpy "be" vs rushing and doing and rushing and doing, things. The "Aloha Spirit" is unique in the world, in the land and the people. So, learning to "downshift" from "vacation/travel/rush" mode into. . .the calm of sitting on a beach, wading in the water, and feeling the cool ocean trades and warm surf. . is w...

She is 47, and I am 56, and our plan is to both retire when I turn 65. I understand the general principle of building a bridge from quitting your job "retirement age" to ideal collecting social security "retirement age" (68, in my case, per OpenSocialSecurity), typically using a ladder of TIPS or treasuries, in order to ensure that you aren't drawing down from the active market to fund those limbo years in the midst of a downturn. But how soon should one begin building that bridge? We're at T minus nine years right now, and 10-year treasuries are around 4%. That said, I don't want to take money out of the market for the bridge too soon and miss out on the natural growth that should occur there in the interim. To be clea...

To OP: Think of a tractor like software and a computer. You buy the computer according to the software that you need to do what you need to do. So. . . what are the things that I'm going to do? How can a tractor save me from back strain and back pain 10 years from now or 20 years after using a wheelbarrow and a shovel or digging trench, or to reduce carrying this and carrying that? Think of a tractor like your personal 3PeeOh Droid, or a Swiss army knife with all these cool attachments that do stuff. And, then buy a tractor that is the most versatile. Not too big or it can't do small thingsm and vs vs. Here's a picture I happened to find of using our tractor, a 34 hp John Deere, diesel, (I think), and I bought all the attachments for the fr...

you might enjoy the privacy and freedom of large acreage and no HOA CCRs Hall Monitors TSA etc etc ... or not.... everyone is different in these things

i know a lot of retirees in gated and hoa or none with tractors and acreage, lawns, farms, gardens, livestock, horses, cows, chickens.....
Depending on the neighborhood and neighbors and hoa and all that..... it can get interesting.......

no expert in anything
hoe this helps you
j

Slowly transitioning from home in a community to a home in 1 acre and now thinking of moving to 5 - 10 acres. Nothing commercial, just for hobby / enjoyment with a variety of fruit trees and home vegetable garden.. What equipment is needed in terms of a tractor, lawn mover, etc.... if tractor, what is the gas tank capacity and how to fill in using gas 5 gallon tanks... https://www.kubotausa.com/products/tractors/compact/lx-series 8.5 Gallon... Any practical tips on how move forward... To OP: Notes and questions? 1 5 acres or 10 acres or 20 acres or bigger. . specifically? 2 Flat or hilly or steep? 3 Trees, forests, bushes, or cleared? Do you have to clear it? Do you have to keep it mowed, all of it, fairly flat? (if 3-20 acres depends, you...

Spouse and I entered full time retirement last year, at age 56. My primary question as we move into decumulation is whether to do Roth conversions or not. Competing forces are ACA subsidies vs future IRMAA and RMD issues. I've tried using the spread sheet tool provided by the bogleheads wiki, and I just can't really make sense of it. I am a Fido customer, but can't get access to their best tools without having assets under management. So, I'm now considering some software package I can buy vs hiring somebody to help with planning. Any software recommendations? If I go the advisor route, how would I find somebody good that is fee based? Thanks! To OP: Do you have a CPA? suggest a consult with a highly qualified CPA before you commit to soft...

AnnetteLouisan wrote: ↑Sat Mar 04, 2023 5:59 pm Highly recommend the book 365 Tao: Daily Meditations

(Taoism made accessible)

There is such a thing as “active meditation” which is good too.

+1

. . aha!. . another rabbit trail you've point out in the fading light of your flashlight in the forest on a moonlight stroll. . .
j

OK so not directly personal finance but because it involves about $1,000 I wanted to put it out there to see if anybody on this forum has any experience positive or negative with Transcendental meditation (TM)? Sometime an investment in oneself is in fact personal finance To OP: 1000 dollars is 1000 dollars too much. Run. It should not cost you anything to visit various established meditation centers and gatherings, etc, especially those grounded in solid cultural foundations and deep historic roots that have not been commercialized, and shouldn't be at all. Suggest visiting, sitting in on a class, here and there and find something that appeals to your specific needs and expectations, etc. (you've not outlined that here). You can keep sear...

quantAndHold wrote: ↑Fri Mar 03, 2023 2:14 pm There are loads of ways to learn to meditate that are at least as effective, and far, far cheaper. You might look for Buddhist temples or insight meditation groups that have beginner classes. Most of those groups are structured under Buddhist principles, and fees will be minimal. Making money isn’t what they’re about.

+1
Cultural context is important, sometimes, as well.

OP: TM has been highly commercialized in the past, and here and there. "Flavors of the month" so to speak.
But, everyone has had different experiences and perspectives that they bring to it in these things.

j

Toying with the idea of picking up a classic car to enjoy. Problem is I have nowhere to keep it at home during the 6 cold winter months. How secure would it be at a gated self storage? I feel like the locks on those garages can be easily cut with a battery powered angle grinder. Then again, they would need to get inside in the first place. And there should be cameras. And yes I would leave my insurance in place. Although if it can be proven that there was theft, would the storage company have insurance kick in? Or would it fall on my auto insurance? To OP: There's no one good answer to your question: It depends on: Location. . neighborhood. . area. IE: industrial area. mixed zoning. . IE: next to a pawn shop, bar, or area deserted at night...

I went from the iPhone 7 Plus to a "loaded" iphone 14 Pro Max specifically for the "fall detection" and emergency features on the a new Apple Watch series 8.
The camera on the iPhone 14 pro max is incredible.

j

I'm just curious, as there are many smart and wealthy people on here. How did you determine you were a millionaire? For those of us trying to get there, at what point are you considered a millionaire? Is it just just the money that is liquid? Is it money that is liquid and in retirement accounts? Does it count what you own? Subtract any dept (if you have any) I would assume? Just curious what did you use to determine you were a millionaire? Many homeowners in Hawaii and other HCOL and UHCOL areas are "Millionaires" because the "average" home values are so high. While they might be; "getting by", "shopping at Costco and discount stores", or have 3 generations living under one roof to make ends meet, t...

Over the last 10 years of home ownership, I've done a lot of DIY, especially with friends/family that have certain skills. The results vary, and I'd much rather hire a pro to do it once correctly than to struggle for inferior results. Currently I'm up against an entry door issue that I don't feel confident in doing myself. And I don't like asking aging family members for help anymore. Our front door needs new hardware as it's difficult to open/shut. I replaced the dead bolt myself but it never locks easily. We have to "pull" on the door while locking to get the dead bolt to slide in properly. Also the side entry door in kitchen is rotted and needs replacement. Both doors are drafty in the winter. Is it reasonable to hire a pro fo...

Rent various sizes of jackhammers with chisel points as needed from Home Depot, etc. to match the project.

Saves eyes and flying things.
Controlled demolition.
Saves the back, spine, knees, neck, arms, etc.
etc.

j

To OP:
Notes:
1
Are you considering "owner carry" because you want to sell your rental unit and it cannot be sold on the open market traditionally via realtor and listing for some reason?. . .and you "must" sell it for financial or other reasons?
2
You stated that you intended to move back into the unit and the tenants were told that and things were going smoothly.
But, now there's a decision to consider the option to sell with owner finance. Why?
3
Suggest not selling the unit.
Continue renting and let it roll over to a mo to mo lease if thrre is a clause for that.
Move back in when you are ready.

j

Hello bogleheads, I am 22 years old and very recently received a $2.5 million dollar windfall due to the death of someone I love in my family. Not taxable based on my research and the circumstances (meeting with someone this week to verify this). I know there was a similar post here a few years ago (https://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=301519) but I decided to make a new one since my situation is a bit different About me -Currently no stable income as I am finishing up my Masters this spring. Have a bachelors degree. $20k in student loans -$500 a month rent, paying using savings from previous internships -Plan on getting a permanent job in my field that pays $55-60,000 this summer -No credit card debt, good credit score -Planni...

When buying new items on Ebay, is there any more concern than buying anywhere else on the internet? Maybe a couple of examples. Was shopping for sunscreen the other day. I went to Amazon and some Capital One Shopping thing alerts me that I can get the item cheaper elsewhere. I click on the link and I can buy the $35 sunscreen for $10 cheaper new on Ebay. Is Ebay riskier than buying on Amazon? Or even at a local drugstore? My biggest concern would be counterfeit items. But I would have the same concern on Amazon. I once bought a new pair of tennis shoes on Ebay? Is there concern there? Just wondering what others thought about one of the older online sites that has survived. Ebay's customer service has become much better than in the past man...

Hello Bogleheads, Seven years (and counting) at a start-up and two graduate degrees from a prestigious school later, I feel like an underachiever in my mid 30s. I sometimes feel like I have not realized my potential and at other times I feel like my ambition, which admittedly is nebulous, is not backed by my potential. My thinking is a smorgasbord of contradictions: - I work for a start-up that nobody knows about BUT is considered to be at the cutting edge of what it does (probably the best in the world) by those who know this space. - I am not world class at anything BUT I operate at the intersection of deploying cutting edge tech to solve real business challenges for megacorps. I work with everyone from a rookie IT engineers to MD-level ...

We need help overcoming our fear of investing after both my wife and me grew up poor. Both of us had single mothers and both of us had times (years) where basic necessities were an issue. I'll never forget the relief and then dread of receiving the Monopoly money food stamps after Mom had sold anything of value in our house to buy food and pay the electric bill. She was a proud women and watching her cry of embarrassment having to accept government help left a profound impression on me. If you ever had a period of life where you were in that situation you understand it stays with you and you'll do everything in your power to never return. Fast foward to today and we are both 52 and in what we consider great financial position but the major...

My story is very similar, as my early posts reflect. Getting out and working through the trauma of poverty helps. It’s not irrational fear. A lot of us on BH grew up poor or lower middle income but we don’t mention it. A thread on that topic is overdue so thank you for raising it. I started investing late, but saved a lot instead from an early age. I made peace with investing very gradually, by investing initially for the 401K match, having a low equity AA and wading in slowly. I started with a treasury bond fund and then made peace with an S&P 500 index fund. It took ten years to become comfortable with it and I’m still not entirely. Just make a deal with yourself that you are ok investing $X per month. For me, I only invested in an a...

For a few years, I've considered becoming a landlord in my local real estate market (Pittsburgh metro area). A rule of thumb I've come across often, including in a recent thread here, is the 1% rule. In short, monthly rent should be 1% of the purchase price. Even in my LCOL/MCOL area, I'm struggling to find anything that fits this bill. Perhaps the "good" properties are being snapped up by more savvy RE investors before they even hit the market. I can't understand how a $100,000 property is going to rent for $1000 month in any market without either 1) a great deal at purchase or 2) sweat equity to rehab the property or 3) both. What am I missing? To OP: Notes: 1. Highlight above is first on the list. Savvy very experienced, sharp...

We are late 30s family, own our primary residence (minimal mortgage balance left @ 2%). We are on track on savings and planning for retirements (as of now) We have $300k cash on hand that we have saved up, that we like to pass it on to our kids. (30 year timeframe) Reading several forums (such as bigger pockets & other RE forums) - I feel real estate will remain to be an appreciating asset in the long run. Goal: Maximize the return on the $300k in 25 years time frame to pass it on to the kids. Plan #1: ($100k/$100k/$100k) 1. Put (~$100k) down on a ~$600k property for long term holding in appreciating cities like AZ - Phoenix, NV - Las Vegas, TX - Dallas or FL- Miami or TN- Nashville, or NC - Charlotte. Rent it out and hold for value ap...

smitcat wrote: ↑Wed Feb 08, 2023 9:42 am Small business owner at one point in time.

Fascinating!
Kudos to your efforts and success!

Did you start from scratch, nothing?
Similar to the case studies in the book, "Millionaire Next Door"?

j

retire2022 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 07, 2023 11:50 pm Op

Started investing early (27) retired at 61 (2021), invested 34 years, compound interest gave me free money.

Lived below my means.

Lived frugally and over saved.

AA 95/5, state and local government job with pension and job security was able to invest aggressively.

No kids, all my savings went into retirement funds and investing.

brought apt and vacation home

Impressive!

Congratulations on retirement.
j

Prolific autho, Danielle Steel, wrote over 190 novels on her vintage Olympia that she nicknamed, "Ollie" (i think). She said that writing that way was an important part of her muse, etc. Tolstoy wrote all 1600 published pages of "War and Peace" in rough drafts with a pencil. Here's a Royal QuietDeluxe. Hemmingway adopted and earlier version. Like Tolstoy, he also used just pencil and paper early on. https://i.postimg.cc/fTS3mXRQ/fullsizeoutput-1a30.jpg Though there's certainly a resurgence in the popularity and use of vintage typewriters for letters, daily use, or as a hobby collector, etc, the "idea of it" is fading with the generations that lived and worked at a time (pre computer) when it was the dominant wr...

Marylander1 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 15, 2023 7:33 am I used an Olympus TG-5 camera that's almost indestructible and took great photos on my week-long whitewater trip.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ ... amera.html

Also get a floating wrist strap.

+1
You can also get an external waterproof housing for underwater shots, if that's a requirement as well.

Olympus TG-6 on Amazon for more info:
https://www.amazon.com/Olympus-Tough-TG ... B07RC8HPHL

j

I am looking to buy a franchise and just starting my research on this. Are there some excellent forums for Franchise like Biggerpockets for real estate or boglegeads for Financial advice. Thank you for your help. To OP: Questions and notes for you: 1 How much "cash" do you have to invest in a franchise? 2. What type and size of franchise? a) Working as a "self employed", "independent contractor", for a drain cleaning company that "franchises" a van and all the equipment to you, and sends you on calls in which you get a "percentage". . . (all sorts of structures here, some are for pest control and have bug ears on the van). b) Tub and shower resurfacing, coating, etc. You purchase the equipm...