Search found 296 matches

by chinto
Thu Sep 07, 2017 8:54 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Schwab, Fidelity, or Vanguard for taxable account?
Replies: 21
Views: 6394

Re: Schwab, Fidelity, or Vanguard for taxable account?

Isn't the tax efficiency thing with Vanguard a bit of a red herring? Are there really distribution issues with the ETFs at Schwab and Fidelity (for instance ishares ITOT available at Fidelity commission free)? I believe the tax efficiency is referring to holding traditional mutual funds, not ETFs. For example, compare how the zero capital gains distributions of Vanguard's Total Stock Market Index compare to Fidelity's or Schwab's . The Vanguard fund has zero capital gains distributions for the last couple years, whereas the Fidelity and Schwab funds both have kicked out capital gains distributions. (A fraction of the dividend distributions, but there nonetheless.) Whereas if you compare ETFs, I think they're all about equally tax efficient...
by chinto
Wed Sep 06, 2017 11:02 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Schwab, Fidelity, or Vanguard for taxable account?
Replies: 21
Views: 6394

Re: Schwab, Fidelity, or Vanguard for taxable account?

Isn't the tax efficiency thing with Vanguard a bit of a red herring? Are there really distribution issues with the ETFs at Schwab and Fidelity (for instance ishares ITOT available at Fidelity commission free)?
by chinto
Wed Sep 06, 2017 6:18 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: how often does high ACT score == scholarship?
Replies: 102
Views: 14712

Re: how often does high ACT score == scholarship?

Ours had a 4.0/4.0 GPA, on the Dean's list every semester in the hard sciences for 6 years and we never got a single dime of scholarship money, despite the name scholar in it. All the money was awarded to minorities and poor people, as the counselors told us, scholarships no longer had anything to do with grades or ability and were all about need. One of the kids we know had a 2.7 GPA and got a full ride because his family were a bunch of spendthrift losers. Naturally he got a very useful history degree and is now delivering pizza for Dominos. To add insult to injury, after entering the program, they added surcharge for those graduating with degrees that lead to actual jobs(Math, Computer Science, Engineering, Nursing). So I would not count...
by chinto
Wed Sep 06, 2017 1:04 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Safe Withdrawal Rate -> 2% or lower
Replies: 72
Views: 14884

Re: Safe Withdrawal Rate -> 2% or lower

Another big variable is of course life expectancy. Only recently has serious study begun on life extension, and scientific breakthroughs are unpredictable. Aubrey De Grey has claimed that the first person to live to 1,000 has already been born. Of course, if we live that long, the economy will likely adapt in the long run and it's impossible to project that far into the future, but once you're 100 years old and science is slowly able to make you "younger", you might still need another few decades before you'd be able to work again or the robots do all the work or however the future looks. Longevity might come before societal transformation, and it'd suck to realize that you're nowhere near dying of age but you've only got money l...
by chinto
Tue Sep 05, 2017 3:30 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Safe Withdrawal Rate -> 2% or lower
Replies: 72
Views: 14884

Re: Safe Withdrawal Rate -> 2% or lower

Folks, Someone else is discussing portfolio construction for a very safe withdrawal. But, does that make any sense if your withdrawal rate is 2% or lower? Won't simple 60/40 portfolio works? There must be a gap in my thinking. For example, if the social security cover 50% of a person's retirement expense and the portfolio is 50X the remaining expense, why won't 60/40 portfolio works? In fact, the portfolio would grow bigger for most years. Please enlighten me. There must be a flaw in my thinking somewhere. KlangFool Klang, For some reason, when you use tools like Vanguards for figuring out your safe withdraw rate, portfolio size matters and duration matter. In other words you get one answer for a million dollar portfolio and another answer...
by chinto
Mon Sep 04, 2017 8:06 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: [Are the Bogleheads] getting less interesting?
Replies: 255
Views: 30034

Re: [Are the Bogleheads] getting less interesting?

I think the most interesting conversations take place when people engage with those who have very contrasting and challenging views and a civil and productive means of discussing them (like this forum). I agree, if the ever takes place, but most people do not debate points and logic, they usually fall into a illogical, name calling, flame war with neither side truly listening to the other. Hence, in like minded company, there tends to be a bit more debate, although it may to be as compelling. In addition in like minded company, the wall flowers, so to speak, are more likely to chime in, they tend to have very valuable information and are for uncomfortable articulating it, especially in the presence of confrontational others. Cheers...
by chinto
Sun Sep 03, 2017 10:09 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: [Are the Bogleheads] getting less interesting?
Replies: 255
Views: 30034

Re: [Are the Bogleheads] getting less interesting?

Over the years I have been fairly active in a number of forums. Here, I lurked for 7-9 years before posting. There was a reason for that. The way the forum is run, it simply is not conducive to people getting to know one another and bonding at a more personal level; that is fine, it is not a criticism, it is an observation. Also the forum seems heavily skewed to a certain perspective that has nothing to do with BogleHead principles so the posters tend to be cut from a similar fabric in world outlook that likely dissuades many from commentary. I finally posted when I had a circumstance that allowed a chance to leverage the vast knowledge of the community. And that appears to be the focus and purpose of the forum, not fellowship and camarader...
by chinto
Sun Sep 03, 2017 2:14 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: How much weight do you put on back-testing?
Replies: 53
Views: 5374

Re: How much weight do you put on back-testing?

Here is a perspective. Private sector companies use to offer defined benefit pensions. In general now they do not. When you look at the actual reason, it amounts to the fact that thy were predicated upon back testing and it turned out to be very poor at modeling the future. I don't think that's really accurate - it had nothing to do with back testing. In defined benefit plans the company takes on the risk, in defined contribution plans the employee takes on the risk. Accounting rule changes put that risk clearly on the balance sheet, changing employment dynamics lowered the market value of offering a pension, the long-term low rate environment we have been in has increased the cost of offering a pension - lot's of contributing factors, bac...
by chinto
Sun Sep 03, 2017 12:20 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: How much weight do you put on back-testing?
Replies: 53
Views: 5374

Re: How much weight do you put on back-testing?

Here is a perspective. Private sector companies use to offer defined benefit pensions. In general now they do not. When you look at the actual reason, it amounts to the fact that thy were predicated upon back testing and it turned out to be very poor at modeling the future.
by chinto
Sat Sep 02, 2017 6:16 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Michael Kitces 4% rule podcast on Madfientist
Replies: 355
Views: 55209

Re: Michael Kitces 4% rule podcast on Madfientist

One thing I think would be useful is to understand the background of the people posting. I know of two general types of people who once lived in poverty. One group is very cautious and lives their life in acquirement mode against uncertainty. Another is the live for today type, they may save diligently but they have a perspective of I once was broke and they can take it all away from me so I am going to enjoy what I have now, while setting aside a little something to get me by. And then of course there are those who never knew want for basic comforts such as heat, running water, electricity, enough food and felt actual hunger. I am willing to bet people's attitude toward SWR are greatly colored by the simple test of, have they ever experien...
by chinto
Sat Sep 02, 2017 2:21 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Robert Kiyosaki - rich dad, poor dad
Replies: 45
Views: 8760

Re: Robert Kiyosaki - rich dad, poor dad

Here are a few books I find more credible than Robert Kiyosaki's:
  • Abominable Snowmen: Legend Come to Life by Sanderson, Ivan T.

    Mothman: The Facts Behind the Legend by Donnie Sergent Jr., Jeff Wamsley

    The Loch Ness Monster: The Evidence by Steuart Campbell

    The Tracker: The True Story of Tom Brown Jr. by Tom Brown

    Meet the Sasquatch by Murphy, Christopher.
by chinto
Sat Sep 02, 2017 2:09 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Michael Kitces 4% rule podcast on Madfientist
Replies: 355
Views: 55209

Re: Michael Kitces 4% rule podcast on Madfientist

I just want to say, this has been a pretty awesome thread; the diversity of viewpoints has been illuminating. Thanks to all for a fascinating conversation.
by chinto
Fri Sep 01, 2017 4:12 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Michael Kitces 4% rule podcast on Madfientist
Replies: 355
Views: 55209

Re: Michael Kitces 4% rule podcast on Madfientist

Perhaps the bottom line is that no matter how much you save, there is no 100% iron-clad security. Okay agreed. If you can save 25x spending (4%SWR), you're probably doing about as good as most can do. Many of we Bogleheads are natural savers and can do better. Many (most?) Americans retire with very little except SS. A small group, dedicated to saving, can save enough to do a 4% SWR. And it's not really realistic to expect people to be able to get to a 2-3% SWR for the vast majority of the population. There are no barriers to most people getting to 2-3% except self-imposed discipline issues. The issue is primarily cultural. The U.S. has been repeatedly noted for its low savings rate, especially when correlated with GDP. So while many strug...
by chinto
Thu Aug 31, 2017 8:17 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Michael Kitces 4% rule podcast on Madfientist
Replies: 355
Views: 55209

Re: Michael Kitces 4% rule podcast on Madfientist

Once you reach the Medicare age, your health insurance cost becomes relatively stable. As a retiree you have control over where you live, and thus you have control over your real estate taxes. Yes, there are many other potential catastrophic expenses, e.g., getting into an accident and becoming disabled or losing your home in a flood. However, you would have the same problem if you were trying to estimate if 4% of your assets is enough. Victoria On Medicare, my understanding is its finances are in peril which I think makes it a poor choice to view in terms of stability of cost. I'll give you the: where you live, to a great extent. And I agree if you were trying to determine if 4% of your assets was enough you would have the same problem. W...
by chinto
Thu Aug 31, 2017 8:02 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Michael Kitces 4% rule podcast on Madfientist
Replies: 355
Views: 55209

Re: Michael Kitces 4% rule podcast on Madfientist

In your example, if the retirement portfolio is invested in the typical 60/40 fashion and the market drops 50%, and stays there, even 3% in required distributions can become catastrophic. As a safer approach, Bill Bernstein divides retirement assets into Liability Matching Portfolio (LMP) and Risk Portfolio (RP). LMP includes income and assets that are as safe as they could be, e.g., Social Security, TIPS, I-bonds, pensions, SPIAs. RP is everything else. LMP covers your required spending, RP provides you with discretionary spending and ultimately, the legacy. Victoria While I agree with your last paragraph, the main point of the Kitces podcast is that 4% takes into account a 50% drop...even the 89% drop of 1929-32..and is survivable. His p...
by chinto
Thu Aug 31, 2017 7:43 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Starting to invest at 29 - After lots of reading, I have questions! *Long read*
Replies: 10
Views: 1809

Re: Starting to invest at 29 - After lots of reading, I have questions! *Long read*

BRADandWIWI wrote: Thu Aug 31, 2017 5:24 pm If you have ambitions of retiring early don't it excessive amounts of your net worth into 401k and IRA, keep it accessible and liquid pre retirement age. Don't let a plan dictate when you retire, you dictate when you retire
I would not gloss over this posters point. In my case I did not start diligently saving for retirement till I was a tad older than you. If you follow some of the folks thoughts in this forum on how much is enough I could have walked away at 25x-30x expenses, with no debt twelve years later at. At that point 59.5 or even 55 was a long ways off.
by chinto
Thu Aug 31, 2017 5:31 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: The Wall Street Journal to close Google loophole entirely
Replies: 169
Views: 42373

Re: The Wall Street Journal to close Google loophole entirely

IMNTBMFHO, we live in a world of information overload. Oft we set by habits, of reading this and that each day, following on link after another, drowning a sea of information, often conflicting...one of the best things that happened to me last year was when my e-mail provider went out of business over night with no prior notification. Sadly I lost valued contacts with people I met in forums and only knew by e-mail addy, I also lost my daily subscription links to news sources acquired over 15 or so years. That is in part how I found this forum, just looking for something to read. That being said, in reflection, I can only say the quality of my life has gone up since I lost access to so many news sources and other information sources. Now I n...
by chinto
Thu Aug 31, 2017 11:26 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Michael Kitces 4% rule podcast on Madfientist
Replies: 355
Views: 55209

Re: Michael Kitces 4% rule podcast on Madfientist

So based on the contents of Ric Edelman's book The truth about your future I had a few conversations with some physicians I know, they lend a level of credence to some of Edelman's futurist views on longevity. Combining that with some conversations with pension actuaries...wow, the implications are staggering. But relevant to this thread is the idea of significantly longer and healthier lives and then the impacts to the economy and of course market returns. It is up to each of to decide how those factors may alter the past historic data that SWR are predicated upon.
by chinto
Thu Aug 31, 2017 10:31 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: ETF vs index funds for a 3-fund portfolio at Fidelity?
Replies: 13
Views: 3452

Re: ETF vs index funds for a 3-fund portfolio at Fidelity?

2. Funds are free to both buy and sell at Fidelity while the ETF's are only free to buy. That's incorrect. The iShares ETFs are commission-free. There is a short-term fee if you sell before 30 days. Hmmm....well look at this: Free commission offer applies to online purchases of Fidelity ETFs and select iShares ETFs in a Fidelity brokerage account. Fidelity accounts may require minimum balances. The sale of ETFs is subject to an activity assessment fee (of between $0.01 to $0.03 per $1,000 of principal). iShares ETFs and Fidelity ETFs are subject to a short-term trading fee by Fidelity if held less than 30 days. The preceding paragraph consists of 4 distinct sentences. I do not see a semicolon used to join sentence 3 and 4, indicating a sol...
by chinto
Wed Aug 30, 2017 9:42 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How much sooner could you retire with NO property taxes?
Replies: 116
Views: 11221

Re: How much sooner could you retire with NO property taxes?

dwickenh wrote: Wed Aug 30, 2017 8:58 pm Currently considering moving from Illinois to Tennessee for lower property taxes. Illinois property taxes are harsh and getting worse. Services in my rural area are non-existent. I get that I am helping the less fortunate, but I do that through my church giving. I also contribute directly to several charities and donate blood. I worked hard for my retirement, and would prefer not to have it taken from me without any service provided.

Just my 2 cents worth,

Dan
Shop around for counties In TN. There is a huge difference in the taxation rates by county.
by chinto
Wed Aug 30, 2017 9:23 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Companies/Brands You Love?
Replies: 157
Views: 17754

Re: Companies/Brands You Love?

Tatiana's TOMATObase - Heritage Tomatoes
Aldi
Trader Joes
Casey's Gas Station and Convenience Store
Chick-Fil-A - Truett Cathy was on of the nicest human beings I eve had the pleasure to meet.
Virgil's sodas
Fedco pruners
Godiva
Mexican Pepsi
Mexican Coke
Dr Pepper Dublin (no longer made)
Merkt's cheese
Kerry Gold cheese
RC cola with sugar cane
by chinto
Wed Aug 30, 2017 9:02 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: ETF vs index funds for a 3-fund portfolio at Fidelity?
Replies: 13
Views: 3452

Re: ETF vs index funds for a 3-fund portfolio at Fidelity?

2. Funds are free to both buy and sell at Fidelity while the ETF's are only free to buy. That's incorrect. The iShares ETFs are commission-free. There is a short-term fee if you sell before 30 days. Hmmm....well look at this: Free commission offer applies to online purchases of Fidelity ETFs and select iShares ETFs in a Fidelity brokerage account. Fidelity accounts may require minimum balances. The sale of ETFs is subject to an activity assessment fee (of between $0.01 to $0.03 per $1,000 of principal). iShares ETFs and Fidelity ETFs are subject to a short-term trading fee by Fidelity if held less than 30 days. The preceding paragraph consists of 4 distinct sentences. I do not see a semicolon used to join sentence 3 and 4, indicating a sol...
by chinto
Wed Aug 30, 2017 4:28 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How much sooner could you retire with NO property taxes?
Replies: 116
Views: 11221

Re: How much sooner could you retire with NO property taxes?

If the goal is to retire with no property taxes and yet have a home it is easy to accomplish you just have to know your jurisdiction. A lot of places allow you to have a modular home and as long as it is not set on a foundation you simply pay a license plate fee. So for example in IL, you can pay what amounts to $101 a year to buy plates on the home and pay no property tax on it, unless you are paying on the land itself which is normally very cheap. If you plopped the same home on foundation you might have a bill of 4-5K.

I know some wealthy folks with some very, very nice house boat/barge(s) who live that lifestyle to avoid theft by property tax.
by chinto
Wed Aug 30, 2017 10:56 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What should the savings be for an average professional
Replies: 168
Views: 25649

Re: What should the savings be for an average professional

My advice, determine your lifestyle, figure out how much it costs to live that lifestyle, make an approximation of what it would take in terms of a lump sum at 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70 years of age to retire. Then simply invest the difference between your income and your lifestyle expenses. When you hit one of your age related lump sums, you can pause and decide if you wish to retire at that point in time. Which is to say, I would ignore the noise of what the average person would do and do what is relevant to me based on the only relevant character in the equation: me, not the guy next to me. Well stated! The two of us certainly marched to a different drum beat compared to what I read on some of these threads at BH. We front end loaded our l...
by chinto
Tue Aug 29, 2017 11:16 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What should the savings be for an average professional
Replies: 168
Views: 25649

Re: What should the savings be for an average professional

I just love this post; it made me happy just reading it! Re: CyclingDuo - is that bicycle, motorcycle? Bicycles, of course. We ride road bikes together. In addition to our regular rides throughout a routine week, we usually try to throw in at least one week of a cycling trip each Summer (did 50 - 80 miles a day for a week in the Chianti region in Tuscany last Summer, and the same in Colorado/Utah the previous year), but this year remained home due to moving our children to their respective locations on either coast. I race mountain bikes 10 - 15 weekends a year for fun, but started to have trouble keeping up with the 40 and under crowd the past couple of years. Heck, even the 50 and under crowd. Wife has her 60th next year, so might have t...
by chinto
Tue Aug 29, 2017 10:57 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: First article I've read against indexing that seems convincing
Replies: 40
Views: 7246

Re: First article I've read against indexing that seems convincing

frankmorris wrote: Tue Aug 29, 2017 11:30 am However, the common thread in this article is the decreasing incentivization of companies to perform well, and perform well for the long-term.
Given the way compensation for executives and the board of directors is structured, given how little interest shareholders have in voting their shares in a responsible manner when given the chance, I am not sure companies have an incentive to perform well for the long term in the first place.
by chinto
Tue Aug 29, 2017 10:05 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Real estate vs stock market returns: some unbiased numbers
Replies: 55
Views: 12087

Re: Real estate vs stock market returns: some unbiased numbers

I would you suggest you take a hard look at the pension obligations of the state and then the municipality you are planing or are buying real estate in as well as weigh the business and political climate. I divested years ago as I saw the writing on the wall. Here is, in part, what to look for. You want to examine the liability for pensions and health care for public sector employees as well as the funding mechanism. You need to know if the obligations are guaranteed or ultimately negotiable. Next you need to understand the funding mechanism for public sector retirement obligations. You need to learn how occupancy permits are given,because that is one backdoor way of exerting control that is not in the code. You also need to check very care...
by chinto
Tue Aug 29, 2017 9:34 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What should the savings be for an average professional
Replies: 168
Views: 25649

Re: What should the savings be for an average professional

Well stated! The two of us certainly marched to a different drum beat compared to what I read on some of these threads at BH. We front end loaded our life with world travel and experiences while we were young, healthy, mobile, raising children (while we were between the ages of 25 and 45 where we lived and worked overseas during most of that). We both openly discussed the reality of getting one shot at life, and how to do it in a fiscally sound way that provided a nice balance of experience and fiscal responsibility. Choosing careers that had Summers off certainly created a lot of flexibility for meeting our lifestyle balance/goals. So a lot of bucket list stuff has already been crossed off the list. We managed to save a minimum each year ...
by chinto
Mon Aug 28, 2017 8:46 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Starting to doubt my index portfolio, will it at least get me 5% inflation adjusted over next two decades?
Replies: 34
Views: 5353

Re: Starting to doubt my index portfolio, will it at least get me 5% inflation adjusted over next two decades?

Explain to me now with these measly returns why would anyone bother with stocks and not just buy duplexes / triplexes , polish them up and rent them out, netting 8-12% annual profit from the cost of property? Honest question. When I asked about investments, this is what I meant. Because real estate is regional. Those who tried in my area to load up on homes after the real estate crash got their rears handed to them by local governments that quickly developed punitive ordinances that were designed to reduce the attractiveness of income properties. I use to own several rentals; I saw it coming and divested, those who acquired those properties have deep regrets. I'll just give you one example. If you are a homeowner and have a crack in your d...
by chinto
Mon Aug 28, 2017 6:55 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Article on Savings - Are BHs the 1% ?
Replies: 23
Views: 4937

Re: Article on Savings - Are BHs the 1% ?

Grt2bOutdoors wrote: Mon Aug 28, 2017 11:49 am There will always be those who barely make enough to make ends meet and in those cases it should be expected that they will have less saved.
However, for those who earn more than enough disposable income after paying for necessities but choose to deploy those assets into depreciating items with a focus on current consumption rather than deferred, you have no one to blame but yourself. One may not necessarily reach $1 million or more but by deferring consumption and directing those assets in a productive manner (read = stable to appreciating assets), one will always have more than those who choose to save nothing.
+1 Awesome post.
by chinto
Mon Aug 28, 2017 6:46 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What should the savings be for an average professional
Replies: 168
Views: 25649

Re: What should the savings be for an average professional

I wonder if I am the only person who finds these threads odd. I have always walked the road less traveled, but these threads seem very strange to me. It seems to me, people have likes and dislikes and ways they simply wish to live. To that end you develop a lifestyle and perhaps you have aspirations of a different lifestyle. Your income, in that regard, simply either means you can live your chosen lifestyle or you cannot. It seems to me anything above your preferred lifestyle is simply something you invest so that you can one day retire to your chosen lifestyle. Hence I am not sure what the average professional does is relevant. In other words who cares what someone else does? I know I never gave a furry-kitten what my alleged peers did and...
by chinto
Mon Aug 28, 2017 1:51 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why not just buy BRK.B or BRK.A?
Replies: 49
Views: 8042

Re: Why not just buy BRK.B or BRK.A?

Nicolas wrote: Mon Aug 28, 2017 1:46 pm Even Buffett wants his widow to be 90% in the S&P 500, not BRK.
This. Seriously, Uncle Warren did not tell his widow to keep everything in BRK. If he has no faith in future managers why should you?
by chinto
Mon Aug 28, 2017 1:46 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Starting to doubt my index portfolio, will it at least get me 5% inflation adjusted over next two decades?
Replies: 34
Views: 5353

Re: Starting to doubt my index portfolio, will it at least get me 5% inflation adjusted over next two decades?

I think you are living in fantasy land assuming 5-6% real. You really have 3 logical choices.

01) Run with your allocation and hope, realizing at the end of 20 years you may have to simply work longer to get where you want to be
02) Run with you allocation and hope, realize at the end of 20 years you may not be where you wish to be a may have to lower your standard of living.
03) Dedicate more to your savings now to get more money working in order to decrease your dependence on such a high real rate of return.

I would chose number 03 as it also means if you d get your desired return you can simply walk away sooner.
by chinto
Mon Aug 28, 2017 1:28 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Prior employer wants to lump sum me out - check my logic
Replies: 18
Views: 2135

Re: Prior employer wants to lump sum me out - check my logic

That is pretty good. I have a defined benefit plan laying around worth about 100K, if I annualized it I can get 500 a month plus change vs taking it as a lump sum.

As for the spousal benefit, you are 39, that is along time off, and you are assuming you will still have your spouse. I know literal legions of guys who were married at 39 and are no longer married. Remember you may know how you feel about your spouse but you do not know the converse. Men are often totally blind sided by this simple reality.

If the alleged compounded annual growth rate is correct, I would hold pat. Over 5% pretty much guaranteed is pretty sweet.
by chinto
Mon Aug 28, 2017 12:28 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Lowes vs Home Depot
Replies: 97
Views: 17153

Re: Lowes vs Home Depot

Home Depot. For several reasons, Lowes is far more dysfunctional when it comes to looking up a product on-line and then going to pick it up at a store only to find out it is not in stock at the store even though they website said it clearly was in stock. Getting them to deliver on time is a major challenge. Home Depot still employs people who actually have worked in the trades. I have not had an intelligent comment from a Lowes store employee yet that makes me think they know what their products are actually used for. Then there is the horrible way Lowes treats its employees. I cannot express deeply enough the terrible way Lowes now treats its employees. For example, this year they off-shored to Bangalore 90% of their IT, forcing U.S. emplo...
by chinto
Sun Aug 27, 2017 10:22 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Review with Me - Larry Swedroe's new book
Replies: 160
Views: 13116

Re: Review with Me - Larry Swedroe's new book

I guess what stops me cold is the title of another books of his: The Only Guide to a Winning Investment Strategy You'll Ever Need Just sayin'. This is a valid critique of the academic research, that is it is dynamic. The academics have pretty well stuck to their guns on the Size and Value factors but further research has turned up Momentum and Profitability/Quality. In other words, factors don't just exist on the Value side of the Morningstar stylebox any more, you see them on the Growth side as well. I can see why people get frustrated with the research. Well not that I am prone to believe them (but it is a starting point) but AARP reports that your financial mental faculties start to decline after age 60 at a rate of 1 percent a year. ht...
by chinto
Sun Aug 27, 2017 3:17 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: School Redistricting - What should we do?
Replies: 96
Views: 12112

Re: School Redistricting - What should we do?

I'll just say this. There are a lot of virtual schools out there and I have never seen anything other than superior results from the students who utilize them. The best of them (IMO) do not have mandatory group participation and are entirely self-contained. I am a firm believer that teacher lead classroom instruction is archaic at best and technological delivery is superior. Hence I would not give a furry-kitten what school district my children were in.

As an example the Government usually uses K-12 or one of their affiliates for military children overseas and the results have been exceptional.
by chinto
Sun Aug 27, 2017 2:39 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Review with Me - Larry Swedroe's new book
Replies: 160
Views: 13116

Re: Review with Me - Larry Swedroe's new book

I guess what stops me cold is the title of another books of his:

The Only Guide to a Winning Investment Strategy You'll Ever Need

Just sayin'.
by chinto
Fri Aug 25, 2017 11:58 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Move Fidelity ROTH to Vanguard?
Replies: 15
Views: 2602

Re: Move Fidelity ROTH to Vanguard?

OP, what are the benefits of moving your money to Vanguard that you perceive over Fidelity? In other words what is your motivation?

If auto rebalancing is an issue you might want to check out Fidelity's Four-in-one fund.
In genreal Fidelity has some very. very low cost funds, lower than Vanguard. And they commission free ishares are very attractive.
by chinto
Fri Aug 25, 2017 9:28 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: "I'm Bill Bengen, and I first proposed the 4% safe withdrawal rate in 1994. Ask me anything!"
Replies: 119
Views: 21707

Re: "I'm Bill Bengen, and I first proposed the 4% safe withdrawal rate in 1994. Ask me anything!"

miles monroe wrote: Thu Aug 24, 2017 7:07 pm i'm no fan of bob brinker, but on his now shuttered discussion forum he had no problems with retirees going 50% vanguard total stock market index and 50% vanguard gnma.
I am not sure why anyone would give an iota of credence to anything Bob Brinker states or writes, or pretends to write. Have you ever checked his background? Ever wondered why he does not track his newsletter from inception time? There is a lot more to say, but this is not the venue. I would just say you really, really want to kick the tires of anyone who is selling financial advice.
by chinto
Tue Aug 22, 2017 10:49 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Jobs that pay over $100,000
Replies: 157
Views: 24769

Re: Jobs that pay over $100,000

Study accounting in undergrad + CPA. CPA It took me 7 years and leaving public to hit $100k and 3 more to hit $165k. Isn't 100K plus salaries for a CPA unusual? I looked on the net and most of what I found was akin to this: http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Certified_Public_Accountant_(CPA)/Salary But internet information tends to be very unreliable, usually multiple sites just rearrange the same data from very limited sources and I would defer to anyone with industry experience. I am just wondering if the 100K is an outlier or not? Then again they seemed spot on with their info for actuaries. Curious... My 6th year I was making $81k as a manager running my own jobs and also being licensed. I got a bump when I left to $100k. All of t...
by chinto
Tue Aug 22, 2017 3:14 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Jobs that pay over $100,000
Replies: 157
Views: 24769

Re: Jobs that pay over $100,000

Heck, some classroom teachers are pulling in over $100k. Add in some pre-school monitoring, yearbook advisor and after school basketball, and they can really get up there. Summers off and great health care. This is very geographically dependent. My base salary with six years of experience is $34k. By taking on numerous extra duties and adding an ESL endorsement to my license, I'll pull in $38.6k this year. I love my job, but I wouldn't advise anyone to go into teaching for the money. PhysicsTeacher is quite correct, it varies tremendously by location. Chicago teachers are the highest paid when adjusted for COL ad IL teachers in general have an unbelievable retirement package that is easy to ratchet up. So while they are paid well during th...
by chinto
Tue Aug 22, 2017 2:45 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Jobs that pay over $100,000
Replies: 157
Views: 24769

Re: Jobs that pay over $100,000

clutchied wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2017 9:17 am
Accrual wrote: Fri Aug 18, 2017 3:14 pm Study accounting in undergrad + CPA.
CPA

It took me 7 years and leaving public to hit $100k and 3 more to hit $165k.
Isn't 100K plus salaries for a CPA unusual? I looked on the net and most of what I found was akin to this:

http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job ... PA)/Salary

But internet information tends to be very unreliable, usually multiple sites just rearrange the same data from very limited sources and I would defer to anyone with industry experience. I am just wondering if the 100K is an outlier or not?

Then again they seemed spot on with their info for actuaries.

Curious...
by chinto
Fri Aug 18, 2017 8:36 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Jobs that pay over $100,000
Replies: 157
Views: 24769

Re: Jobs that pay over $100,000

An actuary, a physicians assistant. The former is much harder than the latter in terms of barriers to entry and education. My offspring is the former, 23, makes about 120K right now. Female I am trying to set him up with is the latter. Both great career paths for the education investment. Unlike many, I would suggest avoiding IT, unless you love technology. It is a grind. I started a couple of of consulting companies, one is an IT firm. My people all make 6 figures. But we all agree the industry sucks. The thing about IT, is unlike medicine or engineering, your past experiences quickly become irrelevant. Youth is prized, particularity minds that are untainted by the old ways. Ask anyone who works in IT at TIAA Cref or Lowes about what can h...
by chinto
Fri Aug 18, 2017 8:25 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Anyone planning on never retiring?
Replies: 173
Views: 21175

Re: Anyone planning on never retiring?

I loved my work, and planned to work until I croaked, but then I "aged out" in Silicon Valley almost twenty years ago. So now I'm retired and I wish I were still working. I have made a few passes at taking courses, but, although I live near a major university, they did away with their community courses because not enough people signed up. So I really am not using my brain. Online courses are not the same, because they lack interaction with other students and the instructor. Some friends of mine fill their lives with good works. In the last few years I have developed health issues that make me a bit undependable. That's one thing when my work could be done sitting down and even remotely from home, but it would be another thing to ...
by chinto
Fri Aug 18, 2017 4:09 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Roth 401K vs Traditional 401K
Replies: 25
Views: 4932

Re: Roth 401K vs Traditional 401K

A lot of it has to do with where you are in life, how much runway you have left,and if you know what state you may retire in verses the one you worked in. If you have a good idea where you income may end up and you will definitely benefit from a lower tax bracket in retirement then it makes a great deal of sense. On the other hand, some intrinsic come into play. We are not suppose to speculate on future legislation, so I won't I'll just say when the Government needs money it goes where the money is. So far the masses are in non-Roth type plans. But of course, in looking at that cloudy crystal ball, your age becomes very relevant. Another variable is how you invest. The reality is capital gains are currently taxed at a lower rate than ordina...
by chinto
Fri Aug 18, 2017 3:56 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Anyone planning on never retiring?
Replies: 173
Views: 21175

Re: Anyone planning on never retiring?

FIREchief wrote: Fri Aug 18, 2017 2:59 am
chinto wrote: Fri Aug 18, 2017 1:28 am She is a LCSW so she was not surprised and saw it coming, she deals with retiree issues often in her practice. His identity was tied to work.
What the heck is an "LCSW?" :confused

If somebody's identity is "tied to work," then they REALLY need to retire and find out what life is really all about.
LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker - basically a counselor for people who cannot afford a shrink, often readily accessible through an employer's employee assistance program.
by chinto
Fri Aug 18, 2017 1:28 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Anyone planning on never retiring?
Replies: 173
Views: 21175

Re: Anyone planning on never retiring?

I was talking to my first love the other day (we are still friends some 35 years later), her husband retired last month. We talked about that for some time, sitting together on a park bench, watching the sun set. We both saw the irony,sitting together watching the sun set not only on the horizon but on our lives. Her husband is already bored and looking for a job now (retired municipal employee with a 100K plus pension and gold plated healthcare). She is a LCSW so she was not surprised and saw it coming, she deals with retiree issues often in her practice. His identity was tied to work. She asked me my plans and smiled, knowing I would have a litany of projects, goals, and agendas planned out for my retirement years. In fact, I pretty much ...
by chinto
Fri Aug 18, 2017 1:02 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: news yesterday that Buffett has $100,000,000,000 in cash now
Replies: 65
Views: 11940

Re: Buffett and his $100 Billion in cash [are you increasing your cash holdings]

willthrill81 wrote: Thu Aug 17, 2017 11:47 am
No they aren't. Buffett and Munger's philosophy has been to find businesses that they believe are undervalued or that they can take to a higher level. They just haven't been able to invest all of their cash in these types of businesses right now. And it's their company that is holding the cash, not them personally.
So like, you are saying IBM isn't on their buy list - LOL!
by chinto
Fri Aug 18, 2017 12:41 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Lost $7000 today in ONE DAY!
Replies: 183
Views: 24146

Re: Lost $7000 today in ONE DAY!

By this way of reasoning I lost 37,561 dollars today, to which I reply: yawn.
I am glad you mentioned this though, I might do some buying in my offspring's accounts.