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I feel like I have seen it said on here that dividends/ETF capital gains distros "aren't a free lunch" because they just lower the NAV. I kind of follow, but I guess at the same time I don't follow. If I own a high yield fund paying 5% vs a fund paying 0%, how am I not making money? If th...

The apartment complex referred our claim to their insurance company and we agreed to settle as follows: $50,000 total settlement consisting of $14,000 to settle our medical insurance companies lien and the remainder of $36,000 for us to satisfy our cost (incl pain & suffering , out of pocket co...

investwisely wrote: ↑Tue Aug 07, 2018 2:30 amI would actually be interested in reading a few books to better understand tax.

Consider this one.

Another vote for Bogleheads or Bogleheads Podcast , or something to that effect. Longer, more descriptive titles are unnecessary and can be limiting. 1. One of the most popular ways people download podcasts is through Stitcher. Here is a list of the 100 most popular podcasts on that platform: https:...

Amphian wrote: ↑Thu Apr 19, 2018 5:02 pm

le_sacre wrote: ↑Thu Apr 19, 2018 12:17 pm I also try to find as many opportunities as possible to give anonymously.

Using a Donor Advised Fund may provide that sort of opportunity. You fund the Fund; the Fund can (usually) transmit money to the charity without mentioning you.

Can we assume that your opinion on this has no connection to how you make your living, that you have no vested interest in this issue? I'm not sure I understand the first part of the question, but aside from my own hypothetical taxes, I have no financial interest in whether backdoor Roths are allow...

From the article: “When Congress says what its intent is, that’s it. They absolutely, clearly say it’s okay. You can make a contribution to a nondeductible IRA and convert it to a Roth,” says CPA and IRA expert Ed Slott who publishes the IRA Advisor Newsletter. . . . The Congressional blessing came ...

You still reduce your federal taxable income by the amount of the HSA contribution, so it will save you money. That would be worth it especially if it brings you down a tax bracket . You can also split up your bond holdings and hold your treasuries there which aren't taxed by the state. Some employ...

Now, going by their description of what the money is for, would you agree that it is an "Emergency Fund" and should be invested in cash? Or, should a portion of this money be considered their retirement portfolio and invested as such? (e.g. in the Vanguard Target Retirement Income fund (V...

Have you compared the present value of the larger contributions you might make if you pursue this strategy ("whatever money") with the present value of your expected future contributions if you do not ("a certain percentage")? You may save on taxes, but end up with less money in...

We give a certain percentage of our take home income to various charities and plan to continue to do so indefinitely. My thought is that whatever money we have that would otherwise be going to a taxable account should instead go to a donor-advised fund (DAF). This will enable us to take the deducti...

bjames310 wrote:Very educating, thank you all. For some reason I thought Dow Jones tracked the entire stock market. Not sure where I got that from.

You might enjoy this episode of the Planet Money podcast: http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2017/ ... e-the-hype

I am not comfortable with investing all the remaining cash $62k - I'd like to have at least $25k in an insured account. If I understand correctly, the only way to do this inside the IRA is by buying CDS through the brokerage, but the rates are very low. Do you want the money in an insured account b...

Reminds me of this: 3 guys go to rent a room - the clerk says - that it be 30.00 - they each put in 10. After they leave the clerk remembers they have a special 25.00 - so he takes 5 singles out of the drawer and on the way back he thinks - I can't break this evenly 3 ways so I'll keep 2 bucks and ...

Consider this: https://www.bluebird.com

It's essentially a debit card. Can be funded even if you don't have the card with you. No overdraft fees. The "Family Accounts" option may be particularly useful.

Any other reasons that you can think of for a preferred location for an annuity, assuming you have enough money to fund from any of the three locations? The opportunity cost of using up your tax-advantaged space. My understanding is that many people use SPIAs to create an income floor, which permit...

They must be making some assumptions that are not stated . Seems to me that if your marginal tax rate when you convert is the same as when you withdraw the funds , you are equal on day 1 and are even or pull ahead in every subsequent yr. My understanding is that this has to be right. All else equal...

I'm too green to offer advice, but I noticed that your post refers to bond funds . You might consider purchasing individual TIPS , possibly laddered , and holding them to maturity ( using one of your tax-deferred accounts ), or perhaps purchasing an inflation-adjusted SPIA to ameliorate your longevi...

Thank you all very much. My wife and I appreciate your taking the time to respond and will think carefully about your feedback before making a final decision. Much obliged.

I’ve learned a lot from this board and the books recommended here. I’m grateful for all of the general knowledge and hoped some of you might be willing to advise on a question with which I’ve been struggling. In short, assuming some non-zero portion of my wife’s and my portfolio is in bonds, how muc...