Search found 181 matches
- Sat Sep 17, 2022 9:16 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Tips to improve executive presence.
- Replies: 41
- Views: 5843
Re: Tips to improve executive presence.
Similarly shy guys have had some success with local Toastmasters groups. Everybody takes a turn speaking and it should be a mutually supportive group, as everyone has to give the same little talk and everyone is trying to get more comfortable speaking. Often, the problem isn't shyness but simply not liking to talk. Many people can talk, give speeches, etc. perfectly fine. The "problem" is that they don't like doing so, so they don't often choose to do so. They can give 500 speeches and be competent and comfortable doing so, but they still don't want to. This is a distinct problem from being a poor speaker. This! In my career I was a scientist who eventually had to deliver presentations at conferences to very large audiences (1000...
- Sat Jul 16, 2022 7:54 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Would You Leave Over A Lack of Roth 401K?
- Replies: 23
- Views: 1451
Re: Would You Leave Over A Lack of Roth 401K?
Given how happy you are with other aspects of your job, I know I wouldn’t leave the job over lack of Roth 401k.
How much do you and your SO contribute to each of your Roth IRAs each year? To me, that is an important question here (unless I missed it).
And please don’t say you don’t qualify because that means you haven’t read up on Backdoor Roth.
How much do you and your SO contribute to each of your Roth IRAs each year? To me, that is an important question here (unless I missed it).
And please don’t say you don’t qualify because that means you haven’t read up on Backdoor Roth.
- Tue Jul 05, 2022 7:51 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Any reason not to buy iBonds?
- Replies: 99
- Views: 10273
Re: Any reason not to buy iBonds?
I have a decent amount of I bonds, and buy more each year, but if we’re listing potential reasons not to: I seem to recall a thread from several years ago where people were greatly concerned about the potential for not being made whole if fraud occurred in TD accounts.
If I find that thread I’ll link it here
If I find that thread I’ll link it here
- Fri Jun 10, 2022 5:57 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Pay a CFP? What am I doing wrong? 38M/38F/2 kids
- Replies: 63
- Views: 6969
Re: Pay a CFP? What am I doing wrong? 38M/38F/2 kids
In addition to what others have mentioned wrt better understanding your expenses, I would add that I’m thinking you are under contributing to 401k. That would help you save in taxes, plus be able to put more money away tax deferred while you’re younger. Do you have a reason perhaps for putting more in other investments vs 401k?
- Wed Jun 01, 2022 1:39 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Bummed. Tropical storm likely for South Florida this weekend. Looking to cancel our trip
- Replies: 17
- Views: 3313
Re: Bummed. Tropical storm likely for South Florida this weekend. Looking to cancel our trip
Sorry about your plans having to change.
I suggest either Charleston, SC or Savannah, GA.
Really charming cities with lots to do, they had a personality of their own.
I suggest either Charleston, SC or Savannah, GA.
Really charming cities with lots to do, they had a personality of their own.
- Mon Feb 07, 2022 9:16 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Is the Eiffel tower worth a visit?
- Replies: 79
- Views: 8151
Re: Is the Eiffel tower worth a visit?
Most definitely it is! Been to Eiffel a few times and walked the stairs each time as far as one could go, then took elevator the rest of the way up. Great experience, much better than waiting in horrendous ground floor lines at the tower.
Also, google for the best place to take a picture of yourself with the full Eiffel Tower in the background (but close enough to be a beautiful shot), because that spot is worth a visit too. It’d be a separate spot from Eiffel altogether, it’s maybe a subway stop or two from the Eiffel Tower stop—I forget the name. Your kids will post that picture for sure!
TLDR rest of the responses.
Also, google for the best place to take a picture of yourself with the full Eiffel Tower in the background (but close enough to be a beautiful shot), because that spot is worth a visit too. It’d be a separate spot from Eiffel altogether, it’s maybe a subway stop or two from the Eiffel Tower stop—I forget the name. Your kids will post that picture for sure!
TLDR rest of the responses.
- Mon Feb 07, 2022 9:01 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Reducing retirement $ for family trips: bold idea or bad idea?
- Replies: 42
- Views: 5348
Re: Reducing retirement $ for family trips: bold idea or bad idea?
Yes, do it!! I don’t know your kids ages but based on your age, I’m guessing they are elementary school age? That’s a fantastic age to increase travel. US and Europe and even Asia and Africa were all great with kids in elemtary and middle school. High school gets busy even with summer activities and there was less chance for us to go as a family during those years.
I highly recommend taking advantage now given your financial stats and pension future.
I highly recommend taking advantage now given your financial stats and pension future.
- Thu Jan 27, 2022 6:40 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: How many times has it been "different"?
- Replies: 47
- Views: 4825
Re: How many times has it been "different"?
To echo what others have said differently, this is what I believe:
Every decline/crash/sell-off may have a different cause, but the fact it will end (that recovery will happen) is the same.
Actionable TO DO: ignore the headlines, follow your IPS plan, stay the course, rebalance if you’ve hit a trigger, buy and hold, etc
Do NOT do: panic and sell out, stand scared on the sidelines, ignore your IPS or rebalance bands, pay heed to scary headlines, think that it will stay forever down or declining.
I also really like this thread, note the date of it:
viewtopic.php?t=308970
Every decline/crash/sell-off may have a different cause, but the fact it will end (that recovery will happen) is the same.
Actionable TO DO: ignore the headlines, follow your IPS plan, stay the course, rebalance if you’ve hit a trigger, buy and hold, etc
Do NOT do: panic and sell out, stand scared on the sidelines, ignore your IPS or rebalance bands, pay heed to scary headlines, think that it will stay forever down or declining.
I also really like this thread, note the date of it:
viewtopic.php?t=308970
- Thu Jan 27, 2022 6:25 am
- Forum: US Chapters
- Topic: Happy 98th Birthday to Taylor Larimore 🎂🍰🎉🎊❤️🎁⭐️
- Replies: 264
- Views: 19411
Re: Happy 98th Birthday to Taylor Larimore 🎂🍰🎉🎊❤️🎁⭐️
Wishing you a wonderful birthday, Taylor!
Thank you so much for your wisdom and kindness—both come shining through in your posts.
Thank you so much for your wisdom and kindness—both come shining through in your posts.
- Sun Jan 23, 2022 8:39 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Building a front porch: regrets and recommendations
- Replies: 45
- Views: 4739
Re: Building a front porch: regrets and recommendations
Friends of ours added a large, covered but unscreened front porch and this ^ is one of the huge side benefits. Besides neighbors walking by and waving or a quick hello, the porch also has a lovely ambience and is a favorite place to be for the family and their guests.coalcracker wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 9:13 pm Thanks for the thoughts so far, and glad to hear people love their front porch!
We live in a very pedestrian-friendly neighborhood and love our neighbors. While we have a great back yard and deck, we miss the random interactions with folks walking by that we used to have from the front porch in our old house. I hope it will be money well spent
- Mon Jan 17, 2022 5:15 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Chase 'took' $3800 from my son's account and closed it
- Replies: 83
- Views: 13573
Re: Chase 'took' $3800 from my son's account and closed it
I’m so sorry that this happened to you/your son. It is incredibly frustrating as we know first hand: a very similar thing happened to my then 19-year old son from Chase. Then it happened at Citi. Then we gave upon big banks and had no problem with DCU :D , which I learned about from this wonderful forum. We had even more money at stake, and I was sweating buckets (probably more than my son even though it was his hard earned money) because I didn’t have trust that the [large] check would arrive in the mail without some possible nefarious interception along the way. It eventually arrived, thank goodness, but the big banks could not tell us why he got flagged other than the fraud dept flagged it (as someone upstream mentioned, banks are weirdl...
- Wed Jan 05, 2022 7:03 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Suggestions for Europe Trip in July 2022- Iceland, Amsterdam, Brussels
- Replies: 31
- Views: 2621
Re: Suggestions for Europe Trip in July 2022- Iceland, Amsterdam, Brussels
Re: Netherlands, while in Amsterdam, my spouse and I took one look at the line for Anne Frank's house and decided to skip it. About 10 years ago, when I had a business trip to Amsterdam (and naively thought it would be my only business trip there :mrgreen: ), I was super excited to see the Anne Frank’s house. I had relatively recently read the book (as an adult) and really enjoyed the writing—the ending, not so much :( Because I was going to be presenting at a conference in the afternoon, I only had the morning available to try to see the house. I had found somewhere—I can’t recall whether it was a website or a book—that you could buy tickets online ahead of time and skip the line completely. That worked like a charm, and saved me hugely c...
- Thu Oct 28, 2021 4:16 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Asked to change job title - what to pick?
- Replies: 14
- Views: 2236
Re: Asked to change job title - what to pick?
“Head of “ is at least two levels higher than “senior manager” in three Corps / Megacorps I have worked at. I’d use that in this scenario.
On resume you can use Head of X (Director) or something like that.
On resume you can use Head of X (Director) or something like that.
- Mon Oct 25, 2021 6:37 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Useful items for seniors (80+ years)
- Replies: 57
- Views: 7011
Re: Useful items for seniors (80+ years)
My neighbor is middle aged but loves the Ipsy glam bag that comes every month, its versions are listed here: https://www.mysubscriptionaddiction.com ... auty-boxesPoppyA wrote: ↑Mon Oct 25, 2021 5:53 pm I gave Mom a subscription to international food snack box’s. She’s always been an adventurous eater & seems to enjoy getting a “mystery” box each month.
I wish they had a subscription box for older womens face creams, soaps, etc. Mom has always been a lotion/potion hound when it comes to her face!
I think with Ipsy you can customize to get more of things (like moisturizers) and less of things (like makeup), but maybe your mom will enjoy?
- Mon Oct 25, 2021 6:23 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Not ["One More Year"] but Last year - Finally ready
- Replies: 37
- Views: 6295
- Sun Oct 24, 2021 9:29 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Master’s Degree and Sunk Cost Fallacy [Edit: Resolved]
- Replies: 91
- Views: 8231
Re: Master’s Degree and Sunk Cost Fallacy
I am sorry for this hardship and I would encourage you to view it as one more speed bump /milestone (albeit one with emotions and burnout) to achievement of crossing the finish line. I don’t know what field you’re in, but I know that my MS degree changed the trajectory of my career in ways I never anticipated at Megacorp. I had less redundancy in my role over the years, more novelty, definitely more personal satisfaction, more exposure within the industry (customers /conferences), and higher salary. It took me four long years to do it while in my 20’s, since I was working in my full time career job after finishing my undergrad and was doing my MS part time in evenings (homework and study over nights and weekends). I hated also that I had to...
- Sat Oct 23, 2021 4:54 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Apple Watch - do you like it / use it?
- Replies: 104
- Views: 10622
Re: Apple Watch - do you like it / use it?
Yes, you sure can! This is one of my primary uses of my Apple Watch. That, plus:
- using the watch to find my Phone (multiple times a day)
- triaging incoming texts (quick reads)
- tracking fitness
- wallet / Apple Pay
- Wed Oct 06, 2021 3:32 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: How do I purchase original artwork?
- Replies: 37
- Views: 3690
Re: How do I purchase original artwork?
We had a close friend who loved purchasing from https://www.parkwestgallery.com/
- Sun Sep 19, 2021 4:21 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Alamo Skip the Counter
- Replies: 4
- Views: 608
Re: Alamo Skip the Counter
Yes!! I absolutely recommend using it if the Alamo at the airport you arrive to supports it. I used it twice this year and it saved a ton of time. The main thing to remember—when you go through the skip the counter preregistration process before your trip—is to goALL the way through the process until you get a barcode. I once apparently didn’t go all the way through (because it was my first time and I must have not noticed there is a final step), and it was the same as not having done it. :oops: So get to that final step where there is a bar code that says something like “show this to the lot agent”, and you’ll get to skip any lines. Also tell anyone on the ground at Alamo that you have “skip the line”, they’ll point you to the fast path.
- Sun Jun 20, 2021 12:01 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Anyone used Avail Car sharing recently?
- Replies: 0
- Views: 521
Anyone used Avail Car sharing recently?
Hello all!
As I’m looking for alternatives to car rentals at LAX, I’m wondering if anyone has used “Avail car sharing”. https://availcarsharing.com/
It says that it’s backed by Allstate. I thought it might be a good alternative to Turo, since I was concerned after reading some comments in this thread.
viewtopic.php?t=294316
Has anyone used it, and do you get hit with extra fees or other concerns?
Thanks in advance!
As I’m looking for alternatives to car rentals at LAX, I’m wondering if anyone has used “Avail car sharing”. https://availcarsharing.com/
It says that it’s backed by Allstate. I thought it might be a good alternative to Turo, since I was concerned after reading some comments in this thread.
viewtopic.php?t=294316
Has anyone used it, and do you get hit with extra fees or other concerns?
Thanks in advance!
- Sun Jun 20, 2021 8:44 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: How to best experience the Florida Keys?
- Replies: 34
- Views: 3896
Re: How to best experience the Florida Keys?
Another recommendation for Hawks Cay, which is a resort on Duck Key near Marathon. Nice and central in the middle of the keys, away from party scenes (felt nice and residential), but also had a ton of resort activities: multiple pools on site, dolphin center on-site, restaurants onsite, free bikes, mini golf, soccer, basketball, volleyball all on site, ocean in our backyard which we used our own stand up paddle boards on. No beach per se, but there’s a small man made one for younger kids. We took a day trip to Key west since it’s a little over an hour to get to. We rented a unit with a kitchen.
- Thu May 27, 2021 8:43 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Global Entry Interview conditional approval (365 day clock)...
- Replies: 54
- Views: 7060
Re: Global Entry Interview conditional approval (365 day clock)...
Yah, I think those are really great points you raise. My home airport doesn’t have a TTP center on site, so I was really hoping I wouldn’t have to arrange that again!TimeRunner wrote: ↑Thu May 27, 2021 7:48 pm I had the same experience on GE renewal - 5.5 weeks (completed yesterday) and no interview. But...I would guess that the interview depends on the information you submitted. A reasonable theory is that if you haven't changed addresses, employers (or retired from previous employer of record), didn't change your name, nothing pops on your credit report, customs records, etc, that it would probably pass the screen for a no-interview renewal. If you're flagged, you're forked.
- Thu May 27, 2021 7:28 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Global Entry Interview conditional approval (365 day clock)...
- Replies: 54
- Views: 7060
Re: Global Entry Interview conditional approval (365 day clock)...
Because of this thread I discovered that my GE expired last month. I'm not sure what it's going to mean to renew an expired GE rather than a soon-to-be-expired GE, but I guess I'll find out. Filled in the data tonight, waiting for conditional approval now. Oops, based on this thread, I discovered that my GE expired in 2020 also. If it was a normal travel year last year, I would’ve noticed :oops: Anyway, ZinCO, any update on whether the renewal is “smooth” even though yours was expired? Thanks for any insight! As a matter of fact I just checked the Trusted Traveler Program site and I've already been approved (did not receive an email), no interview required. So apparently renewing after expiration is not a problem. Got the email that my sta...
- Thu May 27, 2021 7:13 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Getting around in Hawaii during Covid?
- Replies: 36
- Views: 4383
Re: Getting around in Hawaii during Covid?
I was there back in late March. The rental car issue is very real. Also, many Uber drivers weren't working because they were making more staying home on unemployment. This is what our couple of Uber drivers told us and the hotel valets. We actually used taxis a few times in Oahu. When in Maui we had a minivan from Avis. I've been renting cars for over twenty years at many different locations and I've never seen the lines and chaos that I saw in Maui two months ago. Good luck! I was just in Maui in mid May, traveling on a Costco vacation package that included air, hotel, and car. I was worried about what the car situation would be based on what I had read and seen on the news, but was pleasantly surprised to find no lines or chaos at the ca...
- Wed May 26, 2021 4:49 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Poor Timing Between Buying and Selling Home
- Replies: 23
- Views: 2805
Re: Poor Timing Between Buying and Selling Home
Does your area have the situation where buyers are buying sight unseen? If so, you won’t need to get it ready, just get it on MLS. If not, just do the minimal necessary prep. Go over your to do list and comb through it crossing things off.
- Wed May 26, 2021 4:25 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Gambled on a trip to Europe
- Replies: 59
- Views: 8374
Re: Gambled on a trip to Europe
That’s too bad, but good to know if I ever make it to Portugal again I was definitely there during a non-tourist month (it was for a business trip), so I guess I got lucky. I don’t remember many other tourists, just the delight of SintraWhyNotUs wrote: ↑Wed May 26, 2021 3:59 pm Another person mentioned Sintra, that was the most touristy place that we went on our trip. We rented ebikes to ride up there and the line of buses was overwhelming. We ended up with a short visit and then got out of there and into the forest nearby and the ocean towns below.
- Wed May 26, 2021 3:56 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Gambled on a trip to Europe
- Replies: 59
- Views: 8374
Re: Gambled on a trip to Europe
I agree with others who recommended two places in particular:
- Seville was an unexpected highlight of our family trip to Spain. We ALL talk about wanting to go back there, particularly the old town by the cathedral.
- Sintra was an absolutely delightful experience in Portugal. I would totally go back there again too. It was just a day trip from Lisbon for us—which was enough—but I’m sure one could spend more time there if desired.
Enjoy!!
- Seville was an unexpected highlight of our family trip to Spain. We ALL talk about wanting to go back there, particularly the old town by the cathedral.
- Sintra was an absolutely delightful experience in Portugal. I would totally go back there again too. It was just a day trip from Lisbon for us—which was enough—but I’m sure one could spend more time there if desired.
Enjoy!!
- Wed Apr 14, 2021 8:28 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: events that require unfreezing credit
- Replies: 21
- Views: 1417
Re: events that require unfreezing credit
IIRC, we had to unfreeze credit for starting a new cell phone plan. But I think there was a promo deal we utilized that caused this. We really wanted to just pay for the phone all at once, but the math on the promo deal saved a non trivial amount, so we opted to do the promo. It was several years ago so I don’t remember the details other than we had to unfreeze credit.
- Mon Mar 22, 2021 8:50 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Pre-retirement to-do list
- Replies: 31
- Views: 4337
Re: Pre-retirement to-do list
Lots of great input upthread, and I would add something I learned from Bogleheads before I early retired: apply for a home equity line of credit if you own your home. Although I was well prepared with my emergency fund, asset allocation, and fixed income amount in case of any major event, it was nice to know that I had another backup fund source to tap just in case. And I believe the HELOC is much easier to get if you’re employed.
- Mon Mar 22, 2021 8:40 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Global Entry Interview conditional approval (365 day clock)...
- Replies: 54
- Views: 7060
Re: Global Entry Interview conditional approval (365 day clock)...
Oops, based on this thread, I discovered that my GE expired in 2020 also. If it was a normal travel year last year, I would’ve noticed
Anyway, ZinCO, any update on whether the renewal is “smooth” even though yours was expired? Thanks for any insight!
- Sat Feb 20, 2021 7:54 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: No Heat Foods?
- Replies: 92
- Views: 6253
Re: No Heat Foods?
Some ideas that weren’t mentioned yet (or I missed if they were):
- Pita bread and hummus (or pita chips).
- Any tortilla wrap-type sandwich with hummus and loaded with vegetables
- Tacos with either flour or corn tortillas (both don’t have to be warmed up), lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, avocado, and if you want to use I heated black beans from a can (though I usually heat canned beans)
- chicken salad on croissants (chicken salad made from chicken from a can, plus mayo, celery, etc)
- a caprese or burrito salad with tomatoes, balsamic dressing, burrata or fresh mozzarella, basil, ...
- Pita bread and hummus (or pita chips).
- Any tortilla wrap-type sandwich with hummus and loaded with vegetables
- Tacos with either flour or corn tortillas (both don’t have to be warmed up), lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, avocado, and if you want to use I heated black beans from a can (though I usually heat canned beans)
- chicken salad on croissants (chicken salad made from chicken from a can, plus mayo, celery, etc)
- a caprese or burrito salad with tomatoes, balsamic dressing, burrata or fresh mozzarella, basil, ...
- Fri Jan 01, 2021 7:21 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Critique my 2020 spending
- Replies: 74
- Views: 5360
Re: Critique my 2020 spending
OP, I don’t see categories for personal,care, such as haircuts for the four of you, hair color (if your wife gets hair color or highlights), or if your wife gets manicures, waxing, etc. Do you have a teen daughter, or only sons? Because if you have a teen daughter, it’s possible that she has some of these personal care expenses too. I raise this because it wasn’t listed in your expense list, yet it could be something your wife is spending on if you’re unable to see where she’s actually spending money. And I think some level of personal care expenses are certainly reasonable. I personally find it odd if one person in a marriage hides spending, but that’s just me. Otherwise, expenses look reasonable (we choose to have less subscriptions than ...
- Sat Nov 21, 2020 8:26 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Is this Vanguard "transition" e-mail legit?
- Replies: 29
- Views: 4594
Re: Is this Vanguard "transition" e-mail legit?
One way to tell it’s legit is that it doesn’t tell you to “click the button or link below”, or “claim your million dollar prize by calling this <unrecognized> number”, use a fear tactic like, “ your PayPal account has been hacked“, nor indicates that you have “to respond within 24 hours.” It tells you to simply log onto vanguard.com and follow the instructions once you’re inside; it also calmly tells you why they’re doing this change and doesn’t make it urgent.
- Fri Nov 13, 2020 7:11 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Taylor Sends His Best to Fellow Bogleheads
- Replies: 334
- Views: 34163
Re: Taylor Sends His Best to Fellow Bogleheads
You’re looking great, Taylor!
Hope you’re back on your feet, feeling great, in no time
Hope you’re back on your feet, feeling great, in no time
- Fri Sep 18, 2020 9:12 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Toddler Education
- Replies: 43
- Views: 2999
Re: Toddler Education
Introductory Board games:
Candy land (a classic)
Hullabaloo. (Super fun!!)
Legos (the toddler size ones)
Any kind of building blocks or building sets for tiny hands, there are so many.
A play kitchen with play food and pots and pans.
Helping you in the kitchen too.
Household tasks (indoor or outdoor) with their own size broom for example, or rake, etc
Play doh and associated sets
Puzzles with large pieces are excellent for learning
Activity books like dot to dot are perfect starters for toddlers.
Candy land (a classic)
Hullabaloo. (Super fun!!)
Legos (the toddler size ones)
Any kind of building blocks or building sets for tiny hands, there are so many.
A play kitchen with play food and pots and pans.
Helping you in the kitchen too.
Household tasks (indoor or outdoor) with their own size broom for example, or rake, etc
Play doh and associated sets
Puzzles with large pieces are excellent for learning
Activity books like dot to dot are perfect starters for toddlers.
- Tue Sep 15, 2020 9:12 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Is this guy trying to scam me on a car I'm selling?
- Replies: 172
- Views: 16870
Re: Is this guy trying to scam me on a car I'm selling?
I don’t trust any strangers who try to butter me up without even knowing me. Too suspicious.
I am definitely voting scam on this one.
I am definitely voting scam on this one.
- Tue Sep 15, 2020 5:59 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Positioning for retirement at 55
- Replies: 15
- Views: 2785
Re: Positioning for retirement at 55
The answer to this goal (for me anyway) was definitely a taxable account. You’re doing wonderfully with 401k, home equity, and are on your way with 529s. And I agree with the comments above about backdoor Roth. Above and beyond these, considerable savings in taxable enabled my retirement by 45, and you obviously have savings habits that will enable you to build up taxable over the next 15 years.
This will also allow you to read and act upon all the tax loss harvesting advice from Livesoft
This will also allow you to read and act upon all the tax loss harvesting advice from Livesoft
- Sun Sep 06, 2020 10:20 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Leaving your job: quitting for good vs sabbatical leave
- Replies: 46
- Views: 4501
Re: Leaving your job: quitting for good vs sabbatical leave
I can totally relate as I went through a very similar situation several years ago: had the prestigious job that most people would never think of leaving, liked many aspects of my role and what I actually did for wok, but had also been in a burn out stage and was financially independent. Add to that that I had some changes in management and other megacorp politics that made me think daily of “why am I still here [in what feels like a toxic environment] if I don’t need to be?” It definitely felt like a huge dilemma because as I said, I had reached a pinnacle and also liked so many things about my job. The reality is, and perhaps this will be helpful for you to consider, is that when I was in the middle of it, I couldn’t clearly see what else ...
- Sun Aug 16, 2020 3:33 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Best HSA Provider for Rollover
- Replies: 31
- Views: 2028
Re: Best HSA Provider for Rollover
Fidelity was super convenient for our HSA transfer needs, and had great options for investments.
- Wed Jul 22, 2020 9:00 pm
- Forum: US Chapters
- Topic: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here
- Replies: 3606
- Views: 562314
Re: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here
Well said!! And congratulations, whodidntante!!Grt2bOutdoors wrote: ↑Wed Jul 22, 2020 7:36 pmCongratulations. The elation will come when next months mortgage payment goes into your taxable account instead of the bank!whodidntante wrote: ↑Wed Jul 22, 2020 12:04 pm This gambler paid off the mortgage yesterday. I expected a brief moment of elation but it was anticlimactic. I've felt more excitement walking away from a poker table with a couple grand more than I came with. Maybe one of y'all can feel the excitement for me.
- Mon Jul 06, 2020 6:29 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Manager vs. Direct report salary issues
- Replies: 155
- Views: 23100
Re: Manager vs. Direct report salary issues
Wow, not sure if this is an industry thing, but common sense says a manager makes more than direct reports. If it is a field where managers are usually former contributors who have been promoted up, then that makes sense in general. But there's always going to be a few indispensable workers who have outlier salaries and don't want to be managers. I don't see that's it's common sense that my boss has to make more than me just because he signs my time card. What is the point of becoming Mgr and taking in more stress and responsibility if total compensation isn’t better in some significant way? Just depends on the situation and the field. Managers aren't always former worker bees who got promoted up some fixed scale. In some fields managers a...
- Thu Jun 18, 2020 9:15 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: I am beginner, it's hard to decide when to buy.
- Replies: 41
- Views: 2772
Re: I am beginner, it's hard to decide when to buy.
If the money is pegged for retirement and since you are 28, there is no need to make a “decision” on when to buy. The answer is now. Over the long haul, you’re likely to gain more by being in the market longer (which is why you should buy now), vs waiting for a day when the market is down.
Your “original idea was to leave it alone after invest. Then focus on my work.” was a wining idea, times 1000. This has two benefits:
1 - helps you get started on the path to tune out the noise, buy and hold, ...
2- focusing on work may result in increased career income, which is a win
Your “original idea was to leave it alone after invest. Then focus on my work.” was a wining idea, times 1000. This has two benefits:
1 - helps you get started on the path to tune out the noise, buy and hold, ...
2- focusing on work may result in increased career income, which is a win
- Sun Jun 14, 2020 9:12 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Prenup? What Should It Say?
- Replies: 233
- Views: 15031
Re: Prenup? What Should It Say?
I find this thread very interesting. OP, I agree with folks who are advising you to reflect more, before making big decisions that impact finances. I don’t have specific comments on your original post question, but one idea for getting a close up view of dividing assets might be to watch the movie “marriage story” and also reflect on it. This isn’t relationship advice, it was a real eye-opener for me and probably anyone else who hasn’t gone through a divorce—it covered both the emotional as well as financial effects. It’s a well done movie and also has a child involved; might help you think about language and type of lawyers for a prenup. I wish you three the best in your situation, whatever that may be. Also, am I the only one here that is...
- Wed Jun 10, 2020 7:10 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Is my thinking out of line with NOT funding a 529?
- Replies: 41
- Views: 3572
Re: Is my thinking out of line with NOT funding a 529?
As others have said, it’s certainly not a requirement to fund a 529. However, with your plan to cash flow college, how certain are you that cash flow will be coming in at that time? In other words, how stable is your employment?
- Wed Jun 10, 2020 2:54 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Asset allocation for Vanguard 529
- Replies: 5
- Views: 631
Re: Asset allocation for Vanguard 529
This is a decent plan, and you can also consider using the glide funds were Vanguard automatically does the above for you. You might think ages three and one are busy, but oh, just wait till they’re older . The Vanguard glide funds sort of take care of it for you, so it’s one less thing for you to have to remember to do
- Tue Jun 09, 2020 8:16 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: investment priority recommendations - what do we fund next?
- Replies: 38
- Views: 1673
Re: investment priority recommendations - what do we fund next?
Congrats on a great start and a clear plan! My vote would be to increase number seven and my thinking goes as follows: the money you would otherwise put towards number five and six—if now redirected to number seven—could theoretically double by the time you have to pull it out for college payments, and that would cover almost one year of college. If you didn’t have other contributions to retirement already going in, I would’ve not recommended this; however since you’re already putting away money to retire (items 2-4). To be clear, I wouldn’t “trade” college funding for retirement savings, but since you are continuing to save for retirement, the next priority for me would be putting college money away to compound. You’ve got more time for re...
- Sun May 31, 2020 7:18 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Fraudulent charges... Getting really tired of the number of times this happens and resulting hassle.
- Replies: 70
- Views: 7564
Re: Fraudulent charges... Getting really tired of the number of times this happens and resulting hassle.
Also be wary of any merchant—where you transact in person—who says “my card reader is not working correctly at the moment (or seems to be flaky today), can I see your card?” If they need to manually enter in your card information including the CVV number, they could be a middle man selling CC numbers. I had this personally happened to me at a hair salon (it was the only place I used that specific credit card for that was a non auto-pay transaction), and voila! The fraudulent charges stopped after I stop using that salon :annoyed and changed out my credit card. A friend of mine also had the same situation happen at a tourist spot he used on an annual vacation (getting asked to see the card for an in-person transaction and then fraudulent cha...
- Wed May 27, 2020 8:43 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: College tuition- DIY or pay a professional?
- Replies: 15
- Views: 2509
Re: College tuition- DIY or pay a professional?
I recommend that you invest it yourself. From your post it seems you’re not a newbie to investing. Your approach seems reasonable to me. You can also use a target date fund or a Vanguard 529 glide path fund as others have mentioned. We’ve been very happy with the gains in our 529s, and no taxes on withdrawals.
If you use an advisor, then you’d very likely be helping to pay for his or her child’s college tuition in addition to your own. Do you want that?
If you use an advisor, then you’d very likely be helping to pay for his or her child’s college tuition in addition to your own. Do you want that?
- Tue May 26, 2020 5:18 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Move HSA to Fidelity or Elsewhere?
- Replies: 39
- Views: 4748
Re: Move HSA to Fidelity or Elsewhere?
I was very glad to get out of Optum bank for our HSAs. When I did my research, Fidelity seemed to offer exactly what I was looking for: no minimums, no ongoing fees, lots of low cost index fund choices, and excellent online service. I was able to transfer two different HSAs by a few online clicks and was very happy that it was straightforward, simple, and also that it is now part of a portfolio view along with some other accounts that we have at Fidelity.
- Sun May 24, 2020 5:36 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Any Instant Pot users here?
- Replies: 165
- Views: 22994
Re: Any Instant Pot users here?
I’m very attached to mine! I cook a ton, and it has been easily the handiest thing ever to come into my kitchen besides an assistant chef :D There are several things I love about it, the most important being the fact that it is mostly hands off, as opposed to standing over/near a stove and having to stir things. I also love the fact that I can sauté before sealing it up for the pressure cycle. The fact that flavors get sealed in, its mostly dummy proof, things like lentils and beets cook faster than over the stove, and there is just one pot to wash at the end are all bonuses. I have made many soups, many curries, rice, lentils, quinoa, oatmeal, pasta dishes, beets, chicken recipes, and am always on the hunt for anything else that I can try ...