Search found 2229 matches

by DRiP Guy
Mon Jun 24, 2019 11:49 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 72(t) SEPP: What did you do at 59 1/2?
Replies: 5
Views: 1187

Re: 72(t) SEPP: What did you do at 59 1/2?

KarenC wrote: Mon Jun 24, 2019 8:18 am I'm also making 72(t) withdrawals. I'll make my last withdrawal in the 2021 tax year, but I won't feel like I'm really done with it until I file my 2021 tax returns.

At that point, I'll roll the remaining funds in the account I created specifically for 72(t) purposes back into my general TIRA account. I think the most gratifying part will be eliminating two rows from the spreadsheet I use to manage rebalancing. :happy
Cool. Since mine is already at Vanguard and also already in the right fund mix I wanted, no change at all for me. Just great to know that should the day come that I want to make a big purchase, I can now do so without breaking the plan and having Uncle Sugar come grab a huge chunk of my nestegg!
by DRiP Guy
Mon Jun 24, 2019 11:46 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 72(t) SEPP: What did you do at 59 1/2?
Replies: 5
Views: 1187

Re: 72(t) SEPP: What did you do at 59 1/2?

rkhusky wrote: Mon Jun 24, 2019 6:46 am Has it been more than 5 years since your first payment? (The requirement is age 59.5 or 5 years, whichever is longer)
It has. I timed it so that the terminus was on the 59 1/2 anniversary. But I gotta admit, you made me look!!!!! LOL
Link to back when I was just starting the 72(t):
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/ ... ost1777610
:sharebeer
by DRiP Guy
Mon Jun 24, 2019 5:48 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 72(t) SEPP: What did you do at 59 1/2?
Replies: 5
Views: 1187

72(t) SEPP: What did you do at 59 1/2?

It might be interesting to know what people who started a SEPP did when they reached 59 1/2 and could begin to take unlimited distributions. The reason this occurs to me is that I passed that milestone not too long ago and didn't even notice. I spent a lot of time over the last few years looking forward to that magic moment, where I no longer had to sweat about a teeny bureaucratic snafu, or an oversight on my part, busting my plan and leaving me staring at that nasty 10% retroactive penalty. And yet, when the moment finally came I did not even realize it, and now, in the best traditions of our beloved dearly missed benefactor, I am going to do what he would likely have advised: Nothing. My withdrawal rate was more than adequate to both mee...
by DRiP Guy
Wed Jan 16, 2019 6:10 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: John Bogle has died at age 89
Replies: 856
Views: 81274

Re: John Bogle is dead at 89

Tonight the Earth is a little duller, and the Heavens a little brighter.

John Bogle is at least as responsible for my being able to retire early and well, as my own efforts towards that goal. I know this to be true for many others, as well. Who among us could hope for such a far-reaching and meaningful legacy?

Rest easy; your efforts have been fruitful, and your message has been heard and then carried forward by like-minded souls.
by DRiP Guy
Wed May 21, 2014 1:56 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Using Dr. Pfau's research
Replies: 27
Views: 3924

Re: Using Dr. Pfau's research

Rodc wrote: I'll meet you half way in future postings.
....
If I were writing a dry academic paper I would use language that was dry and carried no emotion. :)
Cool!

Honestly did not mean to be unnecessarily didactic; just wanting to avoid possible confusion/misconstrual of what you were pointing out, by other's possible casual reading of it.
:sharebeer
by DRiP Guy
Tue May 20, 2014 7:13 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Using Dr. Pfau's research
Replies: 27
Views: 3924

Re: Using Dr. Pfau's research

If they did a proper analysis with error bars or confidence intervals it would be clear they have shown there is no value whatsoever in rising stock allocations.
Without (I think) disagreeing with your basic premise and observations, I would propose an edit towards more precise and accurate wording:

'If they did a proper analysis with error bars or confidence intervals it would be clear they have failed to show that there there is a significant value in rising stock allocations.'
by DRiP Guy
Wed Apr 30, 2014 3:03 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Change the name of the "Backdoor Roth" to something else?
Replies: 41
Views: 4108

Re: Change the name of the "Backdoor Roth" to something else

jimb_fromATL wrote:It is a little strange-sounding, but "loophole that the feds probably didn't think about and will probably close one of these days" doesn't roll off the tongue as easily, and is a lot harder to type.

jimb
I guess "401(k)" fits that bill as well!

Eek!

EDIT TO ADD: On topic, I would weigh in with the 'leave the term alone' bunch -- I am also among those childish creatures who enjoy it's easily entendre'd nature. I freely admit that in this thread, I have snickered and will likely snicker again.
by DRiP Guy
Fri Apr 18, 2014 11:56 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Windows XP users
Replies: 223
Views: 59695

Re: Windows XP users

You make a very good point because I do recall of lot of recent updates involving Office, Word, IE8, and Net Framework. I believe you are correct about the web-facing applications. There are constant warnings about Java and Adobe . Applications such as Word and Excel have also been mentioned in the past especially if files contain any macros. This seems a good time to point out that any of your web-aware executables can be a problem, including non-MS programs you have installed on your system. What to do? Well, I don't leave it resident, but I do run Secunia's free Personal Software Inspector (PSI) at least once a quarter. It inventories all the programs on your computer, and lets you know which of them need to be updated for security reas...
by DRiP Guy
Tue Apr 15, 2014 12:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: TV show recommendations?
Replies: 606
Views: 247658

Re: TV show recommendations?

Urechis wrote:Prime Suspect
a British police procedural series starring Helen Mirren.
Of all the British procedurals/cops/crime, I like Scott & Bailey the best.

http://www.tv.com/shows/scott-and-bailey/
(can read reviews and even watch entire episodes on line, at link)

Then if you decide you are really wild about it:
BBC Home Entertainment revealed that Scott & Bailey - Season 1 is coming to the USA and Canada on June 17th, a 2-disc set for $34.98 SRP. It comes with 6 episodes plus Behind-the-Scenes special features... you can pre-order either season from Amazon
http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Scott- ... on-1/19591
by DRiP Guy
Tue Apr 15, 2014 12:24 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: I saw a "Boglehead" on my flight yesterday!
Replies: 65
Views: 18494

Re: I saw a "Boglehead" on my flight yesterday!

Okay, I can't take it any more!

I need swag!

Bogleheads SWAG, dagnabit!

:annoyed
by DRiP Guy
Wed Apr 09, 2014 7:58 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: heartbleed - widespread internet security problem
Replies: 175
Views: 39060

Re: heartbleed - widespread internet security problem

The discussion of 'best practices' for passwords is useful, but people need to remember that on this exploit, it doesn't matter how clever your password was, how you stored it, it was being grabbed out of raw system memory on the server-side (not your PC). True, changing it often and using different passwords for different sites mitigates your exposure, but it does not eliminate it. One of the best pieces of information to come from this debacle, in my opinion has yet to be mentioned on the thread, so I'll do so briefly, and leave any further followup to those few technically oriented or with server-side responsibilities, who might be interested. This technique at least prevents retrospective decryption using keys gathered after initial enc...
by DRiP Guy
Wed Apr 09, 2014 7:43 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: I saw a "Boglehead" on my flight yesterday!
Replies: 65
Views: 18494

Re: I saw a "Boglehead" on my flight yesterday!

Taylor Larimore wrote:Victoria's secret handshake involves the index finger. :wink:
Oh, my!


Well then; I might know many more Bogleheads than I had previously thought -- mostly seen on the highway!

:mrgreen:
by DRiP Guy
Wed Mar 26, 2014 6:55 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Job Offer Negotiation / Interview Snafu
Replies: 177
Views: 52806

Re: Job Offer Negotiation / Interview Snafu

At my employer we strive to be the #1 choice among our candidates and will do everything in our power to secure someone we think can make a difference. As a prospective candidate, I would walk if a hiring manager was upset that I had another offer. ...if you want me you need to impress me. When $$ is a big topic in all rounds of interviews it's very telling about the companies values and cultures. As a candidate, I want a company and culture that focuses on value. 1. I don't want to be the #1 choice in all the candidates interviewing. I want to be able to make a compelling offer to a candidate I think fits my needs and our culture. 2. I did not say I would be upset if a candidate had multiple offers. I assume a good candidate will, includi...
by DRiP Guy
Tue Mar 25, 2014 10:53 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Really confused by Bernstein
Replies: 168
Views: 20597

Re: Really confused by Bernstein

lazyday wrote:For my top gurus I consider everything they say seriously. Even if I reject it, I try to find the elements of truth in it.
To the bolded part, I think I'd just add:
"...or at least what caused them to say it..."
by DRiP Guy
Mon Mar 24, 2014 10:39 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Job Offer Negotiation / Interview Snafu
Replies: 177
Views: 52806

Re: Job Offer Negotiation / Interview Snafu

2stepsbehind wrote: heaven forbid a prospective employee would seek to maximize their salary.
LOL

I anticipated that at least someone would make that response.

I would offer that I am not at all against the goal, in the abstract.

But, my feeling is that the particular means engaged become awfully important, and something of a litmus test, given the decision being considered by both the prospect and the hiring manager, always made on less information than one would ideally like to have.

I stand by my earlier response as written - good employees can be difficult to find, hire, and retain.

Difficult employees can be nearly impossible to remove, yet poison to an organization.
by DRiP Guy
Sun Mar 23, 2014 12:51 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Job Offer Negotiation / Interview Snafu
Replies: 177
Views: 52806

Re: Job Offer Negotiation / Interview Snafu

What I may do, is see if I can get a good offer from MegaCorp II and then use that to see if MegaCorp will re-evaluate their offer for me. Good problems to have but the whole process gets exhausting. As the hiring manager, if I got wind of this, or suspected it, you can bet you would never be hired by me or any of my associates. Someone willing to embark on this type of gamesmanship is not someone I want on my crew, no matter how otherwise desirable and talented I had assessed them as being. If an initial good faith offer is not sufficient, then so be it -- someone trying to lever me by using other supposedly more lucrative offers would find me telling them to accept one of those offers with my blessing (and my silent thanks and relief at ...
by DRiP Guy
Thu Mar 20, 2014 7:55 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Alert. Scam with callers posing as IRS agents...
Replies: 46
Views: 6133

Re: Alert. Scam with callers posing as IRS agents...

I guess this is moderately off topic, but related -- just got one of these calls today myself: Cases of criminals claiming to be calling “from Windows” to offer people computer remote support software are increasing. The calls, usually originating from India or the Philippines, are scams aimed at installing malicious software (malware) to steal personal and financial data or to scare people into buying software they don’t need. The callers usually introduce themselves as being from Windows IT remote support and claim that they have “identified” that the computer of the person being called is at risk of infection. They encourage the person being called to switch on their PC and usually direct them to the Windows operating system log. Here th...
by DRiP Guy
Mon Mar 17, 2014 3:57 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: XP to 7--please spell out what I buy, where, how much
Replies: 42
Views: 8332

Re: XP to 7--please spell out what I buy, where, how much

Watty wrote:
3CT_Paddler wrote: You can get a refurbished Dell with a one year warranty with Win 7 from Newegg for $159, or even less.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 2081DZ0298
Dang -- $159, from NewEgg, free standard shipping, OS pre-installed?

I've ordered from them before and loved it, so this is a no-brainer for me -- DONE!

Thanks so much -- I'll do a 'manual migration of my current XP files to the new computer, and have a nice clean system, and one that should be maintainable, and perhaps even upgradable to Win 8 when time comes.

XP end of life worries OVER!

:celebrate:
by DRiP Guy
Sat Mar 15, 2014 4:50 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Recommended Brand/Model for a Heart Rate Monitor?
Replies: 15
Views: 2725

Re: Recommended Brand/Model for a Heart Rate Monitor?

I use the Sportline Men's Solo 915 Heart Rate Monitor/Watch.

Simple, functional, relatively cheap.

http://assets.academy.com/mgen/06/10080206.jpg
by DRiP Guy
Sat Mar 01, 2014 10:44 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Benjamin Graham thinks current S&P valuations are reasonable
Replies: 67
Views: 13624

Re: Benjamin Graham thinks current S&P valuations are reason

I think Benjamin Graham has a really nice way of thinking about valuations. He stresses the [importance?] of distinguishing between investing and speculating . Investors aim to get the most value for their investment dollars. Speculators aim to buy securities before they appreciate in price and sell securities before they depreciate in price. Investors care about value. Speculators care about price. [snipage] ... The line between value investing and market timing is an important one, and not always easy to draw. But it can be drawn. Thanks for writing my favorite post in an otherwise already excellent thread. Well-stated and well-thought out; whether Graham would actually subscribe to it, or not. I didn't quote it, but do also agree on the...
by DRiP Guy
Thu Feb 20, 2014 6:24 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Job Offer Negotiation / Interview Snafu
Replies: 177
Views: 52806

Re: Job Offer Negotiation / Interview Snafu

I agree about waiting until after the offer. I always wonder about people who ask this question-- why are they asking this? Are they just going to come here and slack? I'm not sure that is a snafu, actually. Post-offer, you can probably get this type of information. But I think you have to be careful how you ask this as not to come across as asking "how little do I have to work?" Saved me from writing the same thing. As an ex-hiring manager, that question would perk my ears up, especially if handled inexpertly. If I had two equally qualified candidates, and one had alerted me to potential availability/commitment/drive/family issues by indicating they expected a 'normal' 40 hour week, versus someone who was silent on the potential...
by DRiP Guy
Thu Feb 13, 2014 1:29 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Pet peeve: When people refer to this forum as "Boggleheads."
Replies: 36
Views: 14825

Re: Pet peeve: When people refer to this forum as "Bogglehea

Langkawi wrote:Literacy is not a strong point of this forum. How many posts have you seen about iBonds, Warren Buffet, bond principle?
I, for one, am proud to follow Boggle's Bond Principle.
:wink:
by DRiP Guy
Fri Feb 07, 2014 3:40 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Trinity Study
Replies: 20
Views: 3229

Re: Trinity Study

pkcrafter wrote:Very perspective today, drip guy. :sharebeer

Paul
:D
As Archie Bunker once said: ""We need a few laughs to break up the monogomy."

:wink:
by DRiP Guy
Thu Feb 06, 2014 6:29 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Trinity Study
Replies: 20
Views: 3229

Re: Trinity Study

One of the beautiful things about this site is that many eyes and many minds are better than one, and the collective wisdom helps us all to understand some pretty complex stuff. Hear, hear! :sharebeer Inside baseball postscript: (sigh) I was at last fully ready to concede an 'analytical error' existing in this study. Almost hoping to be able to do so, in fact. Sadly, as has been the case in the past, it was the result of a simple, and in this case transient, misunderstanding -- one that was totally reasonable, given the authors used different periods on two charts. IMHO, if there is one point to take away, as has been stressed using different words at different times by Taylor, nisiprius, and many others (including Trinity's authors within...
by DRiP Guy
Thu Feb 06, 2014 6:21 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Trinity Study
Replies: 20
Views: 3229

Re: Trinity Study

pkcrafter wrote: Note that the definitive Trinity study on withdrawals has been updated twice.
(bold added in case you missed his excellent point the first time)
8-)

:D
I love this forum!
by DRiP Guy
Fri Jan 24, 2014 6:15 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What's your dream car?
Replies: 197
Views: 22321

Re: What's your dream car?

Any late model 911.

Had a C6 Corvette, did the Boxster -- both were good cars.
by DRiP Guy
Fri Jan 17, 2014 4:31 pm
Forum: Forum Issues and Administration
Topic: Why this forum WILL BE successful
Replies: 207
Views: 104198

Re: Why this forum WILL BE successful

cfs wrote:The Bogleheads forum WILL be successful because a large majority of the members are fully engaged in making things better and because we have a team of administrators, moderators, librarians, and contributors which are second to none. Total Team Effort Concept. I LIKE what I see happening on this forum.

cfs
Wow. Coming up on a seven year anniversary of this post, and still as true today as it was then.

Thanks Bogleheads!
by DRiP Guy
Fri Jan 17, 2014 4:20 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Windows XP users
Replies: 223
Views: 59695

Re: Windows XP users

nisiprius wrote:Chi-Rho offers a completely fresh set of screen colors that take full advantage of modern 24-bit display adapters; an exciting, contemporary looking default font; and blazing performance, fully 78% faster by actual test on an 4th-Gen Intel Core i7 compared to Windows XP running on an Intel Pentium.
No fair posting this! Clearly, you have actually worked at Microsoft!

:mrgreen:
by DRiP Guy
Fri Jan 17, 2014 2:52 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: SA: Why I'm Not A Passive Investor
Replies: 19
Views: 3555

Re: SA: Why I'm Not A Passive Investor

Okay, okay, I have more to say, but I did want to accentuate that 'results' is paramount. The rest of the argument for why you should do it, is that passive investors ARE (with apologies) ' buying quality companies at reasonable prices and watching them grow. Ignoring price fluctuations - focusing on the index of companies and its ability to generate earnings. And as a direct corollary, not focusing on achieving a superior total return to some active benchmark ." Given that it's an averaging strategy, the questions resolve down not to the individual company management level, but the overall market health level. IOW, do you believe that the market basket of US plus International stocks you 'pick' are likely to return about 6 or 7 % real...
by DRiP Guy
Fri Jan 17, 2014 2:45 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: SA: Why I'm Not A Passive Investor
Replies: 19
Views: 3555

Re: SA: Why I'm Not A Passive Investor

boggler wrote:What's the best argument against this?
Results.
by DRiP Guy
Fri Jan 17, 2014 12:11 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Highest safe withdraw rate
Replies: 49
Views: 5440

Re: Highest safe withdraw rate

sscritic wrote:
DRiP Guy wrote: I just noticed your 'footer'...What's that all about?
Wow! One of the first "footer"* throw downs I have seen. Now I have had my "footer" removed by the powers that be...
OMG -- I apologize for even asking the question! While it did stem from legitimate curiosity, I should have asked via PM, since it was completely off topic to the thread. I certianly never meant to get anyone in Dutch for anything, or cause removal. I am now very much embarrassed. Sorry.
by DRiP Guy
Fri Jan 17, 2014 12:01 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Highest safe withdraw rate
Replies: 49
Views: 5440

Re: Highest safe withdraw rate

Replying as a courtesy, not to necessarily further argument: [snipped and grouped for ease and clarity in responding] please don't think of most people as engineers...[therefore] don't use the dictionary definition of safe, sustainable, or anything else. Use a very strong, existential even, emotional meaning. A fair enough request, and an important point,too, given that 'Joe Everyman" is doing more of his own financial and retirement planning these days. So a term that is relatively free of potential ambiguities in BOTH the literal and the emotional realms would be ideal. I agree, but since I already said I think the word 'safe' suffices, I am simply not sure why such work to find a new term would be incumbent on me, instead of on any ...
by DRiP Guy
Thu Jan 16, 2014 3:49 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Tuning out the noise...
Replies: 7
Views: 919

Tuning out the noise...

Usually, tuning out the noise is pretty easy for me. I simply don't follow stock or financial news unless or until it hits the 'regular' headline streams. Today this one was unavoidable even with my noise canceling headphones on, popping up as a top item on the Google News aggregator: The headline? Big stock drops rock Wall Street Matt Krantz, USA TODAY 4:35 p.m. EST January 16, 2014 http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2014/01/16/big-stock-drops-declines/4521877/ The body? ...the overall stock market remains somewhat tranquil... These painful one-day drops are very company-specific and investors can't glean too much into them in terms of their broader importance. Back to turning up those noise filters a little higher, I supp...
by DRiP Guy
Thu Jan 16, 2014 3:38 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Highest safe withdraw rate
Replies: 49
Views: 5440

Re: Highest safe withdraw rate

My experience and subjective impression is "sustainable" is a pretty good, understood, and neutral term. When we say "safe," regarding anything, a lot of posters (and therefore probably a couple more orders of magnitude readers) get all upset, because they're fixated on the word. Close enough? PJW Meh. Don't think I agree, but not going to argue if some other phrase helps people out. As an engineer and ex-engineering manager, I am usually a pretty literal guy, and some might say even a bit of a stickler. But I also am a pragmatist and understand long use, convention, and clarity sometimes win-out over absolutism. I guess when I use Safety glass, or a safety razor, or pull into a place called Safety Harbor, I know that t...
by DRiP Guy
Thu Jan 16, 2014 12:28 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Opening a Target Fund with Vanguard...
Replies: 29
Views: 3687

Re: Opening a Target Fund with Vangaurd...

jivany wrote: Anyways, any recommendations on what my asset allocation should be?
I'm sure others will be willing to give you some personalized help, after asking you a few more specifics about your unique situation.

However, you can also start out by maybe doing a little 'self-help' via the Wiki:
http://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Category ... allocation

Please note that while the linked page might seem spartan, or even almost empty, if you will look at the "Topics" section, especially the first entry on "IPS", I think that will help you get started on the right foot!

8-)
by DRiP Guy
Thu Jan 16, 2014 12:02 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Highest safe withdraw rate
Replies: 49
Views: 5440

Re: Highest safe withdraw rate

Would you mind calling it a sustained withdrawal rate instead of a safe withdrawal rate? If it is truly 'sustained' or 'sustainable', then that sounds safe to me. Not sure what your point is. EDIT TO ADD: I just noticed your 'footer', and can't resist noting it: It's all about market timing, uh, I mean rebalancing, uh, I mean opportunistic rebalancing, uh, I mean short-term opportunistic rebalancing due to a short-term change in one's asset allocation What's that all about? Do you have an IPS? Do you follow it? Have you noted others having an IPS, but not following it, leading to your apparent attempt at being clever? I guess I am also confused about what point you intend to make to Bogleheads with your footer, as well. Surely you don't me...
by DRiP Guy
Thu Jan 09, 2014 3:46 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: The Funniest Movie Ever
Replies: 227
Views: 27690

Re: The Funniest Movie Ever

my favorite part is when they scam the home owner with a phony Life magazine photo shoot and their before & after aluminum siding routine and Barbara Hershey was at her peak gorgeous self - hard to believe she would be married to the Danny DeVito character Agree completely, and just as I mentioned before, the camerawork including the siding scenes, and the editing of their patter/ come-ons... well it was awesome. Soundtrack well-selected, as well. I am now brought to mind also of how they know they are 'cons', but not really evil -- when Drefess' character exposes the mole, it's a great moment. Hard to have a movie that's basically a funny romp, but you really do feel for the characters. The breakfast 'peace-offering' scene...funny. Th...
by DRiP Guy
Fri Jan 03, 2014 8:42 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: The Funniest Movie Ever
Replies: 227
Views: 27690

Re: The Funniest Movie Ever

Great movies, and have seen almost all of them, and mostly agree they each belong on a 'best of' list. One I don't think has been mentioned yet, and that is definitely not the most funny ever, but was still plenty funny and also strangely endearing and quite witty at the same time, was " Tin Men " (Danny Devito/Richard Dreyfus/Barbara Hershey). Also visually stunning (the smorgasbord scene, Liberty Valance scene, and throwing clothes out into the yard come to mind). When I had that on VHS, I think I wore the poor thing out. Worth a view just for either the opening sequence of Cadillacs, or for the bar scene with Fine Young Cannibals providing background music. "When I am done with him, Mr. Meringue won't dance too good."
by DRiP Guy
Tue Dec 31, 2013 5:54 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 2013 TurboTax: Which Product? New Rules?
Replies: 302
Views: 50205

Re: 2013 TurboTax: Which Product? New Rules?

I want to apologize if my frustration dipped into the 'uncivil,' momentarily via my prior reply. I love the general 'air' of congeniality on the forum, even on emotional or controversial topics, so I'll try to do better. Bogleheads is a beloved sanctuary from the rest of internet coarseness. However, seeing the information above on bundles, deals, discounts, etc on Intuit products in the thread, I will air just one more lament + rhetorical question (nicely!) then leave this thread alone: Does EVERYTHING about increasing revenue and sales have to be about 'pure' marketing these days? Sure, hype sells, and bundling and advertisements, coupons, tie-ins, endorsements, segmenting a formerly complete product into confusing or private label sub-ve...
by DRiP Guy
Sun Dec 29, 2013 6:43 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 2013 TurboTax: Which Product? New Rules?
Replies: 302
Views: 50205

Re: 2013 TurboTax: Which Product? New Rules?

Drip Guy... ...promoting the Premier product as the right choice ... ...we decided to further differentiate ... Bob Meighan, VP TurboTax Let me try not to be rude, and yet to still post my unvarnished and hopefully helpful thoughts to your reply: It's a new economy out there. People will not be herded, manipulated and forced to accept a bad deal (i.e. 'crippleware'')* as easily as happened in the past. Consumer choice really is the answer. So, I'm voting with my feet, as I am sure your figures show you others are doing as well. On a personal note, I cannot adequately express to you the profound pleasure I take, after over 30 years of corporate life, to finally stand clear from having to either generate, or to listen to and attempt to respo...
by DRiP Guy
Sun Dec 29, 2013 12:27 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Are Bogleheads "robots with Excel Spreadsheets?"
Replies: 74
Views: 6803

Re: Are Bogleheads "robots with Excel Spreadsheets?"

"Teresa Ghilarducci... Is she right? I'd encourage all readers to Google her, and to take the time to learn about her views and past attempts at policy changes, then judge for yourself. Any comment I might make would be banned as political. I will say that her position on this is consistent with her positions taken in the past, and will also likely be what she advocates in the future -- she is nothing if not consistent (some might even say 'relentless'). ... “It’s not the fault of people that they don’t have enough savings in their individual retirement account or their 401(k)s,” she said. “It’s the fault of the system, and the whole system needs to be reformed....People liked the [Ford] Pinto until the engines blew up. So it’s a matt...
by DRiP Guy
Sat Dec 07, 2013 8:50 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 2013 TurboTax: Which Product? New Rules?
Replies: 302
Views: 50205

Re: 2013 TurboTax: Which Product? New Rules?

In response to the above posts about which TurboTax version to use, please read below. ... Thanks. Bob Meighan, VP TurboTax _______________________ In prior years, all tax forms and schedules were included in all TurboTax Online products. That is no longer the case. Bob sure just made my choice easier for not only this year, but from now on. I have a very long memory when it comes to recalling how a company has treated me and it's other potential customers. Stripping those forms out was (IMHO) a callous and foolish thing to do, calculated only as a revenue boosting move, and not in ANY way tied to helping me as a user. That's like saying a library serves it's customers best if it strips out all books you haven't checked out in a while, unl...
by DRiP Guy
Tue Dec 03, 2013 8:32 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: New PenFed CD rates!
Replies: 313
Views: 67135

Re: New PenFed CD rates!

Happy2BeFree wrote:...when I talked to a CSR a couple days ago, she said she couldn't guarantee rates would hold even through December!
PenFed is surely doing these in tranches according to a detailed financial plan of their own (which details may or may not be available to the public).

Once all the current tranches are filled, you can bet the offers of CDs with good rates will go away, at least until the next round needs to be funded, to provide capital for auto/home loans and such.
by DRiP Guy
Sun Dec 01, 2013 12:05 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: New PenFed CD rates!
Replies: 313
Views: 67135

Re: New PenFed CD rates!

Thanks!

Just picked up a 3 year to help fill in my existing CD ladder.

2.02% APR beats 0.02% in Money Market/Checking!
by DRiP Guy
Mon Nov 25, 2013 6:38 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: If index funds didn't exist, what would you do?
Replies: 60
Views: 5088

Re: If index funds didn't exist, what would you do?

Honestly? DRiPs and a spreadsheet stock screen, using some simple rules. That's how I started out investing, and if I was willing to dedicate the required time and effort, I think it would still be a pretty good method, IF a person is not too speculative (I feel I'm not).
by DRiP Guy
Thu Nov 21, 2013 11:31 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Why I will use Target Retirement for the foreseeable future.
Replies: 38
Views: 5807

Re: Why I will use Target Retirement for the foreseeable fut

A few years ago, I simplified all my Vanguard holdings into TR2010, and haven't looked back. It's glide slope matched my IPS quite well, and it just can't be any easier -- no need to peek, prod or worry. True, my returns aren't what they could have been in this recent upswing in stocks, but that's the beauty (and the cost) of set-it-and-forget-it -- you don't 'clean up' on the upside, but you are also hopefully not going to lose your shirt on the backside. I used to fret and check so much; so I am loving the freedom from thinking about rebalancing, and whether I should tweak allocation, and what exact funds to buy, and record keeping for cap gains or dividends, or electing which bond fund to try, etc.
by DRiP Guy
Tue Nov 19, 2013 5:37 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Shiller P/E 10 hits 25
Replies: 331
Views: 55047

Re: Shiller P/E 10 hits 25

peppers wrote: Was she going long on the love seat or going short on the ottoman? :wink:
I guess 'long on the loveseat' = sofa, and 'short on the Ottoman' = small footstool, eh?

I like this stuff!

(I reckon I now just need to find a cute salesgirl ready to advise mattress futures for me!)
by DRiP Guy
Thu Nov 07, 2013 5:28 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Brent Arends: you can beat the market with smart timing
Replies: 89
Views: 9212

Re: Brent Arends: you can beat the market with smart timing

Greenman72 wrote:....the answer to every investment question isn't "Because Jack said so."
Well.......

:)

Just kidding, point well taken -- I am certainly guilty of not reading new material and relying on old arguments when someone with a record like Ben Stein's comes up with supposedly new pontifications.

So, Mea Culpa, in future, I will try to always look anew, but it's hard to fully disregard the source, especially if he hasn't apparently changed his spots.
by DRiP Guy
Thu Nov 07, 2013 5:17 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: google does math
Replies: 53
Views: 6323

Re: google does math

And all types of conversions, too! Metric to US, inches to feet, quarts to liters, etc. My pedometer provides an output in total steps, and I can multiply that by my stride length (provided by my own estimate) to get total inches walked. I wanted to verify the system's overall accuracy, both for pedometer mechanics and my own stride estimate. I walked my exact 5 mile route, took note of step count, and I go to Google and type in: " convert 314266 inches to miles " Boom, the answer comes back "4.96 miles", which is certainly accurate enough for my purposes. So now, pedometer is ready to rock and roll and be trusted for places beyond my calibrated path! (Of course, if I were a stickler, I'd multiply my current stride estim...