Bogleheads.org

Hebell wrote: ↑Sun Mar 26, 2023 9:37 pm This forum is the best.

We haven't found a better one.
This has enough "other" topics in the "consumer" section that it is really all purpose, IF one had to choose.

And another thanks to the Mods/Owner/Powers-that-be!
You keep it civil, and thus useful.
Thank you.

RM

After reading all this, I'm getting the sense that a couple of German Shepherds is the best solution. Are there really, no good, cost effective alarm systems out there that would protect one's home from an intruder ? One thing to consider, in case of an intruder (although this wouldn't work in all circumstances) is to have a duress code. That is, for example, if someone forces their way in with you when you are arriving and you need to disarm the door, or someone enters while you are home and the alarm sounds, they may "insist" that you "disarm it". With a duress code, you enter that code instead of the regular one. It appears "just fine" from your side. You disarm, the alarm stops, etc. All good, seemingly. H...

Recently, I received an email stating that my McAfee service had been upgraded for a fee of $299, and that the credit card on file had been charged. This is despite the fact that I don't use McAfee for anything. I don't remember all the details, but I think there was a link to click on and a phone number to call for additional information. I checked my credit card transactions to make sure none of my credit cards had actually been used for the transaction. Then I deleted the email without clicking on any links or making a call to the number provided. It was probably a phishing attempt. It looked more legit that most scam emails I've seen. I guess the scammer thought someone might be more likely to trust an email purportedly from a company ...

You are moving full time to Florida, and won't have a residence in both MA and FL? The good news there is I take it that you are very pleased with your purchase in FL. Enjoy! About insurance... since you already have a place in FL, have you connected with a PCP yet? or any provider? If so, can you ask them IF they would accept <your plan> if you wanted to use it after becoming a Floriday resident, without being an MA resident? There are enough snowbirds and some who do retire there :happy that they may have some experience with this situation. Of the billing office at a large clinic you'll likely use? I'd still check on whatever they say, but that's a start. And do you know that you will indeed be allowed to keep that MA plan without an MA ...

There seems to be no doubt that the account is taxable, although I've never met someone with a taxable TIAA account. Did they work at the company? We've got a taxable brokerage account at TIAA. We opened that a bit more than a year ago, when we first had access to some of the 403b money. Most of the withdrawals go to the Roth, but RMDs can't go there, so... the new taxable brokerage. Then, from either of those accounts, we can move money to our regular checking account/etc., elsewhere, the one we've had for <mumble> years. :wink: Or is what you are describing something different than just "a regular brokerage account", one not in 403b/TIRA/Roth/etc.? RM This was a TIAA UTMA account, regular brokerage account. Yes, thanks. I was r...

smitcat wrote: ↑Sun Mar 26, 2023 9:22 am boating forums
car/automotive forums
travel forums
theme park forums
Facebook groups for volunteering, charities,

Any particularly useful/interesting travel forums?
Thanks!

RM

sport wrote: ↑Sun Mar 26, 2023 8:10 am

enad wrote: ↑Sun Mar 26, 2023 8:03 am Hackers are stealing Gmail messages — delete this extension right now

Any chrome/chromium browser including Microsoft Edge can be affected

I don't want to click on that link. What is the extension?

Thanks for asking! My reaction was the same, although hovering seemed okay (but it's not always...)

RM

www.CruiseCritic.com has been incredibly helpful. When I first joined almost 10 years ago, there was some snark/outright unpleasant posters problem. Something changed at some point, and there was more moderation, at least about the ad hominem type nonsense. It's quite good now, with a few of the expected "characters". They can be blocked if one can't bear to encounter them at all. There are lots of topics/threads that are not cruise specific, but all/almost all are travel related: travel insurance, ports of call (city information), etc. And there's www.FlyerTalk.com I find this one more difficult to navigate; perhaps I just haven't used it enough. It can be more snarky, especially to newbies, a problem that is exacerbated by the n...

I can’t buy primecap. It closed to buyer . Should we buy VOO / VtI. Instead. Thanks I'm not sure if you mean the Vanguard "primecap" or one of the PRIMECAP funds, which may be similar but not identical. IF the latter, you can buy one of their closed funds (not sure if they are currently closed, but they have been) in a new account *IF* you already hold it. Note: This is if the fund is closed to *new* buyers. So if you are even considering that, then open a new account, have PRIMECAP authorize a purchase, at least a small one, and *then* you can sell the fund in your 401k. When we went through this several years ago, I first phoned PRIMECAP to verify this was possible and got the name of the person who said yes, etc. Then we purch...

LadyGeek wrote: ↑Sat Mar 25, 2023 8:55 pm I got a loaf that's about half the height it should be.

Are you sure it isn't twice the height someone else thinks it needs to be?




RM

If the credit union has the best terms for the loan, is there a downside to joining?
Other than what is probably a relatively small fee or annual fee?

RM

We are in a family situation where my wife's parents (88 and 85 years old, probably live another 5 - 6 years) are needing a place to live. There are two options both options include roughly about $100k of home improvements to one of the two siblings houses to provide for comfortable living arraignments. They have just over $400k in a 401k and collect SS and a very small pension to live off of. The question is, the sibling that is getting the home improvement, should that be considered part of their inheritance (if there is anything left) or is that just considered part of the parents living expenses as if they would be going into a assisted living because the sibling would be taking care of them as well? Also should they be charged for foo...

I have listed a vacation rental on VRBO since 2014. Those were the days of great customer service out of the Austin office. Since the acquisition by Expedia, customer service has been outsourced and is often frustrating. I have two issues that I cannot resolve through calling the Premiere Partner line, and I really need to talk to someone a notch higher up, and would like to talk with someone in the Austin office. I found this number for the Austin headquarters, 512-6845-1100, but the customer service option just sends you to the wretched outsourced customer service. To access the company directory you need a staff name. After waiting for the "corporate receptionist," I get disconnected. I have 109 five-star reviews and have gene...

We had our son (20+, non-student), after reading recommendations on this board a while back, apply for a Discover It card as his first credit card. He applied and was denied. The reason---he didn't have any credit. We had him try again recently with the Visa Petal card, and he was approved. It's not secured, there is no deposit, and the credit limit was a very reasonable amount, around $1k-$2k, perfect for him in starting to build credit. Not that *you* will have another chance at this "first card", but for others, it might be useful to first get the other person set us as an authorized user on a card (or maybe even two) and use them, and then let them generate a credit history. Then the first "own card" should be much ...

Which Vanguard MM funds do not have gates/delays?

Treasury?
or?

What about Schwab, Fidelity, TIAA?

Thanks.

RM

exodusNH wrote: ↑Thu Mar 23, 2023 12:53 pm I think you're setting yourselves up for a lot hassle for no upside now.

I suspect it's the *brother* who is anticipating some upside, now or eventually, although it's not yet obvious just what his scheme is...

To go to the trouble of setting up something in such an unusual way, such that regular legal protections may not apply (ditto taxes or such?), there must be *some* reason.

OP may not be aware of Brother's "situation".

OP; By the way, if it's something like Brother expecting to get sued (or something similar), this could be viewed as a fraudulent transfer, and thus clawed back, plus perhaps more.
Without knowing Brother's real reasons...??

RM

I don't know what real estate agents charge in the OP's area, but they charge 6% in my area (maybe less for land?). On a $1.2MM sale that's a $72K expense that would be avoided by selling to the friend. $72K is equal to an extra 2% of interest over 10yrs paid upfront. $600K financed 4% rate = $6074.71/mo = $728,964.99 over 10yrs 6% rate = $6661.23/mo = $799,347.61 over 10yrs = $70,382.62 difference If you looked at future value vs present value, assuming 3% inflation its more like a 6.4% note. I'm not a finance guy, so my math may be off. Whether a real estate agent is used can be separate from who property is sold to, and for how much. One would want to use a real estate attorney to make sure all the docs are in order. And IF an agent wer...

I live in a smaller town that has some local jewelry stores which often means limited inventory options and a decent markup. Are there any trusted online jewelry stores that typically offer better prices than can be found in person? The specific item I’m searching for is a woman’s gold chain necklace. Any advice would be a big help. Whichever online vendor you use, please double check that you could return the item for a full refund (preferably not just a credit). It can be *very* difficult to judge the "in person" appearance of jewelry (other items, too, of course), including the actual size. Showing a photo of someone wearing a necklace may not be at all like what it would look like on someone else's neck. I'd second Costco and...

You asked about drivers last year: https://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6964800&hilit=Driver#p6964800 If a driver is more important than the personal security aspect, you might check into The Village Movement. Membership in my my local chapter includes up to 10 round trip rides per month from a volunteer. From that other thread linked by SuzBanyan: https://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6964800&hilit=Driver#p6964800 My wife and I had drivers who we separately have used when we traveled to two cities. Nice to have a trusted resource. Recently started using Carey Car Service, which came highly recommended. Expensive, but vetted. DH had started doing a lot of business travel, and lots of runs to/from the airport,...

Who is making the determination about need? If it's within a Medicaid lookback (sounds possible), then it would be cleaner, probably, if a physician or such recommended a need for a certain level of care. RM I guess this is question I am asking. You've got a few different issues, which is what is causing confusion/difficulty. In terms of "private care/nursing/etc.", basically, there are agencies that will provide different levels of care, and caregivers with different skill levels. If that is the only concern, paying privately for the care, then you'd just arrange with the agency for whatever you need/want. (I'll assume there aren't any caregiver shortages in your area.) You would arrange the level of care and the amount of time,...

Good point. It's something I will definitely discuss with him. What about issues in terms of taxes/income? For example, we currently own 4 properties together. Let's say, within the next year or so, we sell them all and use that money to purchase 4-7 properties in Pennsylvania. Except now, they're all under my name. My brother's name suddenly disappears. Would this incur a 'gift tax' to my brother and a potential income tax to me (even though all the proceeds of the sale was rolled over to new property using the 1031 exchange law)? Also, what about if we someday want to sell and I distribute his half of the money to him? Won't there be the same issues? joer1212, Your questions are all very appropriate, so you are on the right track about s...

Is your brother giving you his share of the property, or does he just not want to be listed on the title? If he is not listed on the title, how can he prove that he has an ownership interest in the property? He will own half the properties, as before. He just doesn't want to be listed on the titles. How is "ownership" documented? And how are you handline income, expenses, taxes/profit/loss whenever you sell? Would you have 100% liability if someone sued? Why would someone sue anyone but you? I don't understand "...just not want to be listed on the title..." There are *reasons* for titles! I suspect there are a variety of things people would like to 'have' but not 'be listed as"... :shock: RM On paper, I'd be the so...

TheTimeLord wrote: ↑Wed Mar 22, 2023 5:43 pm Is this what you are thinking of?
https://americandeposits.com/what-is-cdars/

I was just looking into this, and also found:

https://americandeposits.com/what-is-cdars/

Is what they say about restrictions on CDARS deposits accurate, or are they just looking to get the business for their own network?

"Are there effective alternatives to CDARS?
Yes. And one particular alternative stands out from the others.

Marketplace Banking™ by the American Deposit Management Company [ADM] provides all the benefits of investing in CDARS without the liquidity and term restrictions."

RM

I'm very new to this. My father needs a home health aid/personal care attendant as I am no longer able to provide the hours needed. My father has appr 150K in savings with $3,100.00 monthly income and pays rent. I am speaking with a home health aid agency two weeks from now. If the agency determines my father only needs "x" amount of hours per week can I request more and still qualify for Medicaid when his money his spent down? I ask because I am already doing too much and if I continue I will get burnt out. Thanks If you are providing care and want the agency to take over those hours in addition to other hours, why would they that fewer hours are needed? Who is making the determination about need? If it's within a Medicaid lookb...

joer1212 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 22, 2023 5:26 pm

cadreamer2015 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 22, 2023 4:42 pm Is your brother giving you his share of the property, or does he just not want to be listed on the title? If he is not listed on the title, how can he prove that he has an ownership interest in the property?

He will own half the properties, as before. He just doesn't want to be listed on the titles.

How is "ownership" documented?

And how are you handline income, expenses, taxes/profit/loss whenever you sell?

Would you have 100% liability if someone sued? Why would someone sue anyone but you?

I don't understand "...just not want to be listed on the title..."
There are *reasons* for titles!
I suspect there are a variety of things people would like to 'have' but not 'be listed as"...

RM

Another reason to "move in early" is, as it is said, it's better to make the decision to move in 5 or 10 years too early, than 5 minutes too late.

If one has a debilitating illness, one might no longer be accepted at a CCRC.
Being charged more, if it ever works that way (?) is one thing; being turned away... quite another!

RM

Is it possible to purchase rental photo equipment in a self directed Ira and keep the profits inside the Ira? I am also hired by clients but paid 1099 for equipment and w2 for labor. YOU cannot benefit from the use of the TIRA self-directed money, such as with purchased items. "Your IRA" can benefit, as with the profits going back in. Yes, that can sound funny. But my understanding is that with the hands' off requirements, someone else would need to be doing the work with anything that used self-directed TIRA money. It gets really tricky very quickly. Read the appropriate regulations yourself, to get a sense of this. IF you get it wrong, my understanding, from several years ago at least, is that the entire TIRA loses its tax-defe...

Too bad this is a zombie thread because the Feb 2023 answer to the OP's question is easy, TTTXX. Really? with a $3M minimum investment required in TTTXX? Not at Merrill Edge, you only need $1k to buy. Trust me I don't have $3M to make that minimum! Some brokerage firms have lower minimums for their own fund, and sometimes also for certain other fund families (I'm thinking here, for example, of some PIMCO funds at Vanguard). And at least in many cases, once one has that holding, it can be transferred elsewhere, and more can usually be purchased, too. So IF one has one of those funds from a special lower minimum, and you are changing brokerages (or an Employer plan is moving and thus forcing a change of brokerages, you might want to consider...

Yes, these threads offer a lot of reasonable concerns, but clear solutions not so much. In my local news over the last year or so, there have been at least two incidents that have given me pause - a local estate/elder law attorney (I think that's the correct occupation) who embezzled millions from several of his clients; a bill-paying service that embezzled, also. Very discouraging. Several years ago there was the article about "guardianship" that took over an unsuspecting senior citizen's life and finances and drained their accounts with various charges. The one I'm thinking of was in Nevada (and I believe they were convicted), but it was eye opening to read. ETA: link https://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=228930&...

This is weird. Went to M* TIAA group: blank. Signed in on that page: still blank. Went to the M* Vanguard group: also blank. But the sidebar there listed some other groups, including TIAA - clicked on that and voila all the posts appeared! M* discussion groups appear to be FUBAR. I've had erratic "responses" from trying to access the M* TIAA section. I tried one or two other sections a day or two ago, and "got in". Another time, not. Sometimes I need to try to login a second time, and then it all shows. Other times, just once. And yet other times, no need to log in. And yet other, other times, I just can't get anything to display. So I give up for that attempt, and try again later/much later. It's obviously a function o...

I've not done it but I've seen other Bogleheads mention their RMD of mutual funds was done in-kind from IRA to taxable account. Pretty sure it was at Vanguard. I don't imagine some brokerages allow for this, and some don't. I wonder what size of bond can be transferred, e.g. only in $1,000 increments? Assuming you can do it, one question is: what's the basis and holding period of the TIPS bonds that were transferred? Do they retain the original characteristics of when you bought them? We have transferred "in kind" from TIRA to taxable. We can either withhold taxes from that transfer or pay the taxes separately. Whether it's an/the "RMD" isn't necessarily relevant to the transfer process. That depends upon the situation ...

We moved to a CCRC a little over 3 years ago at 67 and 66. Wow - that seems pretty early to do that, although I understand the motivation. Are there many there of a similar age? I always thought most people who move into these places are well into their 70s. Don't know about nonnie's CCRC, but some of them have *very* nice "Independent Living" facilities. These can be completely separate from the Assisted Living or Skilled Nursing sections. One near us has two "connected" sections, one in the same building, but very nicely separated, from the main facility (including the sections with more care, plus pool, gym, salon, deli, sundries shop, auditorium, etc.) and one larger section in a separate wing that feels more separa...

One quick question: What's in it for your mother , vs. listing it, selling it, getting the cash, and moving on with life? (And especially at 75; nope, I'm not being ageist...that's about my age, and loaning someone a significant amount of money now for 10 years...? Uh, no.) Is she prepared to take foreclose on them? Sue them for non-payment? Why can't they get a conventional RE loan? Oh, they don't want to pay the higher interest? What about Mother perhaps *wanting* to benefit from higher interest/etc.? (Buyer seems to be getting low interest and perhaps low price, or at least a non-competitive price. Again, what's in it for Mother?) Listing and selling, especially if you let an agent do most of the work? That's not going to be much more tr...

Good afternoon, I have a down payment to make and would appreciate help/advice regarding using IRAs for the payment...and then re-funding the IRA within 60 days after. First question: earlier this year I did a Backdoor Roth IRA conversion (eg funded an IRA and then converted those funds to Roth the first available day). Does that "count" as my once-per-year IRA withdrawal/repayment without penalty? Second question: Assuming the answer to the 1st question is the Backdoor Roth is a non-factor for the IRA withdrawal/repayment option: both my wife and I have IRAs. Can we both withdraw from our IRAs and then repay within the 60 day period, without penalty? Thanks! A Roth conversion has nothing to do with that 60-day "window"...

I read some of the other threads earlier and you had a number of posts. I was thinking about switching to the Geo Blue Choice, as I said, but I just got the Allianz Global annual which I can cancel. I know you have Medjet, or did. I just want to have peace of mind at our age so was considering Geo and Medjet.I am being a bit paranoid about traveling again and we have 3 big trips planned the next 10 months. I think we may be even more worried than you are; we haven't yet made new plans to travel. That decision (or lack of decision?) is in great part because in Dec, 2019, I was carried off a plane from Hong Kong and spent 10 days on oxygen, with some dicey days in the middle. At least we were already at our home/hospital, but I vaguely remem...

Start here, it's limited, check your policy. https://www.medicare.gov/supplements-other-insurance/medigap-travel I have checked that before. My question was more about that I am assuming that Medigap would pay first, and that the second policy would then pay out anything above 50,000 up to its limit. So we would have 100 to 150,000 in coverage and there is not some catch I am unaware of. Why are you assuming that Medigap would pay first? Is this a $50k lifetime limit? (Many Medicare-based out of country policies have that restriction.) This is a reason to use a 3rd party travel insurance that has *primary* coverage. This means it pays first; no other insurer needs to either pay first or deny payment responsibility before the primary covera...

statman wrote: ↑Tue Mar 21, 2023 10:37 am OP here. I am registered and did log in when reaching the blank TIAA discussion page - still blank after logging in. Just tried again, same result.

I had that happen.
Then I tried it again (and again), and suddenly... I was "in".
However, navigating was not at all the same. Trying to click to some things (or "backup"), sometimes took me to... a blank page, and once that happened... it was very difficult to get back "in".

Getting "back in" later/another time... non trivial...

It's quite odd.
Obviously, I haven't figured out the magical combination of conditions, etc., but it shouldn't be this tricky.

RM

slippinsurlies wrote: ↑Mon Mar 20, 2023 9:14 pm Is it at all important that the card has a regular history of usage?

For example, do I need to setup some token $15/m expense with that card? Then have that auto-paid every month in perpetuity?

Or is it sufficient to continue to use my card for all our monthly expenses and her card only gets 1 or 2 charges per year? (Just enough to ensure that the card issuer doesn’t close the line for lack of activity.)

Why *not* give "her card" a good usage pattern... you can handle it as though it's one of your own, right? Just pay it off the same way.
Is there a reason you do not want to have "her card" get regular use?

RM

Amana has had some Shariah compliant funds. How does this one look as an "income fund"- not strictly a "bond" fund, of course, but serving a similar function? https://www.saturna.com/amana/participation-fund?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-qmN7tXr_QIVtsmUCR3HMgo-EAMYASAAEgJJSvD_BwE RM You are not going to find a true bond fund. You can’t earn “interest on interest”. We can debate what this means. However the general consensus here is that there must be some type of risk sharing between the investor and the owner. As such one’s investment has to be on the equity side. I know it's not a "bond fund", as I wrote. Are you saying that the Amana income fund I mentioned is *not* Shariah compliant? I can only pass along what I lear...

Amana has had some Shariah compliant funds.

How does this one look as an "income fund"- not strictly a "bond" fund, of course, but serving a similar function?

https://www.saturna.com/amana/participa ... gJJSvD_BwE

RM

So, based on the previous reply, I checked into annuitization and was pleasantly surprised! TIAA projected an income stream that totalled 3x the starting amount for the next 30 years (I will likely not live that long- I am 70. And still employed). But they state that 42% of this annuity is not really guaranteed- it is based on TIAA's annual determinations of the "loyalty bonus" and "additional interest amounts". I could not get an answer on how often these numbers go UP vs DOWN. I am actually pessimistic about the financial future of the US (I just watched the Frontline PBS special on the Age of Easy Money- highly recommended). If I pull this trigger, it's a substantial part of my retirement and it is irrevocable. Howev...

Is it time to get a baseline DEXA scan (bone density)?

Most importantly, use a freebie visit to speak with your PCP about this, and then to schedule accordingly.

RM

By all means TRY to ignore the statements, beliefs, pleadings, etc., of others, regardless of their motivations. This is for *your* family, full stop. But don't forget the non-financial considerations. Sometimes people "need" to buy a house because they can't find what they want in a rental in an area they desire. There could be a variety of reasons for that, including zoning for one thing. And some people prefer renting due to non-financial reasons, such as not wanting the maintenance, etc. Some of that, but only some, can be taken care of with a condo, but there's still the interior maintenance, plus costs of other maintenance, etc., even if not actually "dealing with it", etc. IF you have a place you like and it seems...

Note that running a 2-year old around on the beach all day usually means they sleep like the dead that night. Use that to your advantage; set up a baby monitor app on your phone and your wife's phone, leave one in the room and take the other down to the hotel bar for a nightcap. I literally laughed out loud imagining the look I’d get from my wife if I suggested we leave our 2 year old alone in the hotel room. Even if we are just downstairs. 😂😂 Customs vary, sometimes to one's astonishment. We were completely beyond belief when we were at a top hotel in the Lake Como, Italy, area, and we saw some signs to hang on the doorknob. You know, like "Privacy Please". "Please Make Up Room", etc. The English wording may have been ...

Re: annuitization Does TIAA have annuitization options WITHOUT the 10 year guarantee, with noticeably higher rates? If we annuitized WITH 10 year guarantee, and mother dies, say, 4 years in, then I assume payments continue for 6 years, split out to beneficiaries/heirs? If we do NOT annuitize, and mother dies (after father), then does lump sum balance more or less follow traditional IRA rules for distributions and timeframes, for heirs? (10 years max, IIUC)? There should be a place within the online account that shows the different choices. There is no need to have a guarantee period. However, many people, especially those with heirs/legacy desires, don't like the idea of the possibility of all the money disappearing in a very short time af...

There is a movie on Netflix called “I Care A Lot” that will scare and anger you if you watch it. It is loosely based on a true story of people abusing the conservatorship process. Here is one news story I found about it. https://www.newsmax.com/bernardkerik/abuse-conservatorship-guardianship-netflix/2021/03/22/id/1014725/ I thought that the movie was really well done and brought up issues to think about. Scary! Circe wrote that it was loosly based upon a true story. You should read a true story if you really want your hair to stand on end. :shock: Here is one: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/10/09/how-the-elderly-lose-their-rights and the same case, legal outcome later: https://www.ktnv.com/news/contact-13/family-awarded-8-5-millio...

… And I'm not sure how frequently those involved realize that a regular POA may actually cease at incompentency, when it might be needed more than ever. … RM, under what circumstances will a durable (I think this is what you meant by “regular”) power of attorney cease at incompetency of the grantor? I guess there is always the possibility where someone not named in the DPOA applies for a conservatorship. Sorry that I wasn't more clear. No, a "regular" POA is not a Durable POA. I don't know a more specific name for what I call a "regular" POA. That's one that is in effect "right now". It ceases at death, and, importantly, it also ceases at incompentency, which is when it would often be most wanted. The DPOA (Du...

… And I'm not sure how frequently those involved realize that a regular POA may actually cease at incompentency, when it might be needed more than ever. … RM, under what circumstances will a durable (I think this is what you meant by “regular”) power of attorney cease at incompetency of the grantor? I guess there is always the possibility where someone not named in the DPOA applies for a conservatorship. Sorry that I wasn't more clear. No, a "regular" POA is not a Durable POA. I don't know a more specific name for what I call a "regular" POA. That's one that is in effect "right now". It ceases at death, and, importantly, it also ceases at incompentency, which is when it would often be most wanted. The DPOA (Du...

yes, for a lot of reasons. Not to bring up a sad topic but in the event of some kind of personal tragedy, you would want your spouse to have their own credit history too (they can’t ‘inherit’ yours.) OP, at least for this possibility, you really should help her get started with her own credit/credit cards. Not just the credit score... her *own* credit cards. If that needs to start with a guaranteed card (you guarantee it; this is different from authorized user, IF they still have such a thing?) or a very low limit card, perhaps with a deposit... just get it started. Once she gets a card, have her a bit later get a second card, so there's a backup if one card is compromised. Then... have her use them. If necessary, put some of your househol...

As for TIAA, you cannot pick and choose RMDs from individual investments within a GRA, GSRA or RC. By this, do you mean that TIAA will not take the RMD automatically from individual investments that you pick and choose, so that you would have to take the distribution(s) "by hand" every year? My TIAA accounts are all in TIAA Traditional (about 35%) and CREF Stock (about 65%). I'm still a few years from RMD age myself, but I'm currently figuring on taking my RMDs only from CREF Stock, at least for the first several years, so as to suppress future growth and RMDs in those accounts. I'm OK with doing this "by hand" if necessary, as long as I have the mental capacity for it. The calculation isn't that complicated. At least f...