Search found 1158 matches
- Sun Mar 17, 2024 1:03 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How much long term care might you need?
- Replies: 31
- Views: 2265
Re: How much long term care might you need?
Living in a retirement community, I see lots of cases of people surviving chronic health conditions, mishaps, and illnesses that would have been fatal in prior generations. Lifespans for people who do not make self-destructive lifestyle choices and who receive good medical care will almost surely keep increasing. This makes the possibility of encountering and living longer with a disabling condition more likely. This makes me believe that the estimates of the percentage of the population that will need LTC are low and that the estimated duration of the need is also low. Of course, if there are cures or mitigations for LTC-triggering conditions then the considerations above would change. However, for planning under current conditions I'd rec...
- Sat Mar 16, 2024 1:38 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Vanguard or Fidelity
- Replies: 73
- Views: 6487
Re: Vanguard or Fidelity
I had similar (but worse) experience with Fidelity in the past. There's a fundamental difference between the two and anyone concerned about their relationship with their financial services provider as they age would do well in my opinion, to pay heed.trugs wrote: ↑Tue Mar 12, 2024 3:54 pm There is a greater chance that a Fidelity advisor, more so than a Vanguard advisor, will push you to invest in something expensive that you would be better off without. It just happened to me. viewtopic.php?t=426480
If you don't mind, and can recognize and resist the advice, you could do ok at Fidelity.
- Mon Feb 12, 2024 10:27 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Has anyone appealed a drug price with Kaiser? Mine quadrupled.
- Replies: 22
- Views: 2650
Re: Has anyone appealed a drug price with Kaiser? Mine quadrupled.
Not with Kaiser, but we faced two similar situations. In one case one of my wife's meds were suddenly raised to Tier 4. She uses it for its original neurological purpose. During the Covid epidemic but before availability of vaccines, rumors started that this med is effective against Covid. To stop the resultant run on the drug, the price was raised mercilessly. We contacted our Medicare prescription plan to explain our need and use, they had me speak with someone in the (not the real name) "compassion department" who told me what our physician needed to write and how the physician could send it to them. We did this and the price was reduced back to around the pre-Covid level. The compassion discount expires every Dec 31, so you ne...
- Tue Jan 23, 2024 2:08 am
- Forum: US Chapters
- Topic: 🎁 🎉Happy 100th Birthday to Taylor Larimore 🎊🎂
- Replies: 429
- Views: 41919
Re: 🎁 🎉Happy 100th Birthday to Taylor Larimore 🎊🎂
Dear Taylor,
Happy Birthday!!!
With best wishes and with deep thanks for all your courage and generosity in making this a better world,
Beehave
Happy Birthday!!!
With best wishes and with deep thanks for all your courage and generosity in making this a better world,
Beehave
- Sun Jan 21, 2024 11:53 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Trip to Baltimore,Virginia and Delaware
- Replies: 37
- Views: 3173
Re: Trip to Baltimore,Virginia and Delaware
I'll take a crack at DE: Jessop's Tavern in Old New Castle https://jessops-tavern.com/ Pea Patch Island in Delaware City https://destateparks.com/History/FortDelaware Nemours Estate - Wilmington outskirts https://nemoursestate.org/ Winterthur Museum, Gardens, & Library; Wilmington https://www.winterthur.org/ Mt Cuba Center (botanical gardens), Hockessin https://mtcubacenter.org/ John Dickinson Plantation, Dover https://history.delaware.gov/john-dickinson-plantation/ Hagley Museum, Wilmington https://www.hagley.org/ Wilmington & Western Railroad, Wilmington https://www.wwrr.com/ Oh, and of course, Rehobeth Beach :happy Another major attraction in the area is Longwood Gardens, although it's not in Delaware but rather just over the bo...
- Wed Jan 10, 2024 1:20 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Best Vanguard alternatives [when in withdrawal mode]
- Replies: 13
- Views: 2199
Re: Best Vanguard alternatives [when in withdrawal mode]
Because of employer retirement fund locations I've long had both Vanguard and Fidelity. When I think of customer service, especially as having entered the withdrawal phase and thus thinking about possible cognitive decline, my focus is much more on fundamental trust than on technology. Based on that criterion and personal experience, were I to consolidate it would be to Vanguard. Here's why. In 2008 or so Fidelity was putting speculative collateralized mortgage obligations into DW's 401k stable value fund. When I got concerned about the CMOs and the possibility they could be in her fund I spoke directly with Fidelity whose customer service rep obfuscated, repeatedly tried to switch the topic away to upselling me. The rep finally "escal...
- Tue Dec 26, 2023 10:31 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: A Christmas Message
- Replies: 140
- Views: 14246
Re: A Christmas Message
Dear Taylor,
Thanks and best wishes. You are an inspiration and one-of-a-kind model for excellence in widespread, lasting, and growing beneficial impact in citizenship, service, and responsibility.
Thanks and best wishes. You are an inspiration and one-of-a-kind model for excellence in widespread, lasting, and growing beneficial impact in citizenship, service, and responsibility.
- Wed Dec 20, 2023 2:27 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: 2022 Ford Maverick Megathread...;-)
- Replies: 179
- Views: 25067
Re: 2022 Ford Maverick Megathread...;-)
BTW, my first new car was a 1976 Maverick. That thing took me everywhere, from coast to coast, from sun to snow. Put over 100K miles on it and then let it go. It was a 3-speed on the column; not sure if any Millennials have ever had the pleasure of driving with that setup. I drove my parents’ old Maverick in college in the mid 80’s. Three on the tree was an anti theft mechanism even then. I took that car to a concert where there was valet parking. The valets didn’t know how to drive it. After the concert, I ended up giving them a lesson. Reminds me of a Peugeot I rented at Orly Airport in Paris very early morning in August, 1974. It was vacation time in France for anyone with any seniority, and the Hertz desk was staffed by two young men a...
- Fri Dec 15, 2023 5:12 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Camry 2016 - Tires and Seller / Installation Question
- Replies: 20
- Views: 2688
Re: Camry 2016 - Tires and Seller / Installation Question
If you will be getting an alignment along with the new tires, I'd suggest getting the tires from the same good folks who sell and install the tires. That way, if you discover any abnormality in the ride there is just one place to deal with. I bought tires at Costco on sale and then drove to my original dealer for an alignment nearby over local streets. My Costco does not do alignments. Then driving on the highway next day there's a wobble. I went back to Costco and the manager immediately suggested I may have driven over a pothole or the alignment I got was no good, etc. Reluctantly. he agreed to check the balancing they'd performed on the tires. So I scheduled and brought it back in for balancing. When completed, I had to ask for info and ...
- Sat Nov 18, 2023 10:42 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: AARP Plan F to Plan G
- Replies: 17
- Views: 2183
Re: AARP Plan F to Plan G
We have the Medicare F plan and have been very (VERY) happy with it because wherever we have gone for whatever service we show the card at the front desk, get the service, and can walk out without stopping for any billing or paying issue at the desk or in the mail at home. For several years we had coordinated benefits which defrayed most of the premium cost, but one program changed so we're now paying more of the premiums out of pocket. And there are regular increases (I believe something like 11% this year for DW), likely for reasons mentioned in prior posts regarding a shrinking and aging cohort of enrollees in each F tier. For now we are sticking with the F plans because of the positive experience, simplicity, and the "you won't get...
- Sat Nov 11, 2023 11:15 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: What is Medicare Advantage "gotch ya!" ???
- Replies: 271
- Views: 29301
Re: What is Medicare Advantage "gotch ya!" ???
Retired from 2 companies, I have choice of MA plan or traditional. Despite the attractiveness of thousands in savings with MA, I've retained traditional because: (1) if I give it up I can;t get it back and (2) my experience with HMOs in the late 1970s through 1980s timeframe was that initially they seemed fantastic compared with the then-current alternative of the typical employee benefit "you pay 20% and company pays 80%" health plans, and then they deteriorated with repeated denial of valid claims (hoping you'd give up) and reduced numbers of providers. Regarding #2, it was my impression, based on my individual experience, that the offerers of HMO plans had initially provided great services at well below their costs to (a) gain ...
- Sat Nov 04, 2023 12:09 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Moving to new job - keep old pension or move to 403b?
- Replies: 2
- Views: 583
Re: Moving to new job - keep old pension or move to 403b?
Some comments... hope they are helpful The monthly pension benefit of approximately $950 per month starting in ten years at age 65 seems low relative to the $148,000 lump sum offer, unless the pension has a COLA or if there's a spousal benefit involving a significantly younger spouse. If neither of these, take a look at immediateannuities.com to double check the monthly payout. Also, perhaps your predicted benefit was computed when interest rates were very low and an updated report might have a more generous monthly estimate. You've not provided specifics about your financial condition, so I'm guessing you're looking for general considerations to make sure you haven't missed any. I've gone through a sort of similar change to the one you're ...
- Mon Oct 23, 2023 9:37 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Don't pay full price for SiriusXM radio
- Replies: 649
- Views: 112397
Re: Don't pay full price for SiriusXM radio
Well, they called my bluff and cancelled me... Last year I renewed at $6/month (including taxes and fees) per radio (2) for 12 months. That expired earlier this month so I did the chat to try and get that rate again. The best they would give me was $7.27 /month. I really, really wanted to stay at my $6 but they would not budge. So, I said "well, I guess I'll have to cancel then" - expecting them to come back with a final offer or something. But nope, they just provided the cancellation notice and said "Is there anything else?". Dang. I really didn't want to cancel as I like the service and now it will cost me $15 per radio just to reactivate plus whatever rate I can get. Oops. They offered me $6 a month renewal for one ...
- Mon Oct 16, 2023 11:40 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Anyone still favor Vanguard?
- Replies: 359
- Views: 48408
Re: Anyone still favor Vanguard?
Yes, I still favor Vanguard for reasons I've stated many times before in this forum.
- Wed Oct 11, 2023 3:24 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Rear-ended, minimal(?) damage, should I file police report / insurance claim?
- Replies: 34
- Views: 3741
Re: Rear-ended, minimal(?) damage, should I file police report / insurance claim?
I've had three experiences with no-injury rear impact to my vehicle with minimal apparent damage. In all cases the other driver and I stopped. In one case the other driver apologized and we did not exchange any info. Possibly I was in a hurry - - I can't recall. There was no apparent damage, but there was a jolt. In two other instances I asked for and accomplished exchange of info and also called police and they wrote a report (in one instance, quite reluctantly). In both cases the other party notified their insurance carriers, I do not believe I ever notified mine. In both cases the apparent minor damages cost about $1000 to repair because there are rear bumper supports that apparently bend without breaking but need replacement or whatever...
- Tue Oct 03, 2023 1:15 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Lum sum payment of pension plan
- Replies: 26
- Views: 2473
Re: Lum sum payment of pension plan
We do not know what the future will bring. One way to deal with that is by diversifying assets to make a stab at an "all-weather" or "fortress" asset base. If there's significant inflation, it will erode the value of the pension income. On the other hand, if there is a significant period of price stability (say, very low inflation) or of deflation, that will likely make the pension quite valuable financially and, importantly, emotionally because regular income during a downturn when you are retired is a very, very, very nice thing to have. Of course if the payer is not strong and the deflation craters the payer, that's not a good thing. If you are healthy and take good care of yourself, it is likely reasonable to expect ...
- Fri Sep 29, 2023 2:18 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: What more can I do?
- Replies: 15
- Views: 3062
Re: What more can I do?
Just a quick word of encouragement regarding the "worried about saving enough" part of your post.
We had three kids and DW stayed at home for ten years while they were young, so when she returned to the job market her skills were considered obsolete. As a couple you have skills and steady employment. We ended up fine by living within our means and saving, especially towards the ends of our careers and you will too. You are much savvier about finances than I was at your age and I believe you will do absolutely fine in the long run by keeping up your skills and living within your means and saving and enjoying your family.
Best wishes.
We had three kids and DW stayed at home for ten years while they were young, so when she returned to the job market her skills were considered obsolete. As a couple you have skills and steady employment. We ended up fine by living within our means and saving, especially towards the ends of our careers and you will too. You are much savvier about finances than I was at your age and I believe you will do absolutely fine in the long run by keeping up your skills and living within your means and saving and enjoying your family.
Best wishes.
- Thu Sep 21, 2023 5:08 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How are you self-insuring for long-term care?
- Replies: 167
- Views: 21746
Re: How are you self-insuring for long-term care?
DW and I looked into LTC insurance and rejected it because we were concerned about rate rises over time and thought that the 90 day exclusion period during which an insured could not toilet, feed, dress, bathe themselves would most likely mean you're dying soon anyway (which was pure ignorance). Long story short, we ended up okay because of the savings/investment self-insurance activities we undertook because of rejecting LTC insurance, but kind of wish we'd purchased the LTC policy. Here's what was going on at the time we looked into LTC. Under complicated contractual terms over which I had no control I had to retire from my long employment at one company and join another. I was eligible for pension and took it immediately because deferral...
- Tue Sep 12, 2023 5:07 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Another Co Pension Termination ?
- Replies: 29
- Views: 3145
Re: Another Co Pension Termination ?
My advice to the OP is to do the best you can to replicate the current pension (that you are very happy with) with an annuity from top provider(s). If your employer selects a top-notch annuity provider, then grab the annuity. If they select a second-tier provider, or if they make you choose before they can tell you who they chose, then take the cash and buy your own annuity or annuities. This advice is based in part on my own pension/annuity experience. On retiring, faced with the lump vs pension decision, I took the pension. Subsequently, the company transferred the pension payout responsibility to two very large, top-rated insurance companies. I had no choice - - it simply happened. But when I thought about it I was happy because I felt t...
- Thu Sep 07, 2023 10:46 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Adios, Vanguard
- Replies: 465
- Views: 93330
Re: Adios, Vanguard
I like vanguard, because we (the customers) own the company, we get the company profits, in the form of much lower expense ratios. I wouldn't want them to spend any more of my money to pretty up the website that I hardly ever visit. Hate to break it to you but you don't own the company. That is marketing bs. It wasn't marketing bs to me when Vanguard protected my money market funds from collateralized mortgage obligations circa 2008 (their quarterly report said "we won't touch that stuff so we outperformed) when at the same time the big "F" reported that they had underperformed because they had stuffed CMOs into our stable fund. Oh, and that was after I had called to specifically ask if there were CMOs in that fund (in DW's ...
- Sat Aug 19, 2023 12:59 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Adios, Vanguard
- Replies: 465
- Views: 93330
Re: Adios, Vanguard
I plan to move away from Vanguard towards retirement... it seems there are MANY problems and no decent customer service... I'm in the accumulating stage working up to $4 million... When I start to draw is where I figure I many need customer service and I've heard too much about how poor Vanguard is. I’ve been with Vanguard 38 years. Never had an issue with automated purchases or EFT to our bank. We are both retire and never had a need to call. Vanguard probably has about 30 million customers so I base your opinion onithdrawing RMDs and contributing to brokerag your actual experience. My experience is the same as Wiggums' has been. I'm both withdrawing RMDs and contributing to brokerage holdings with no problems and no customer service issu...
- Mon Aug 14, 2023 11:28 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: New to this Game and NEED Advice
- Replies: 23
- Views: 3412
Re: New to this Game and NEED Advice
I was in almost exactly the same position as you renting in NJ and coming out of grad school (and teaching) and starting a corporate career 45 years ago. I had nowhere near the financial sophistication you already have (it took me years!!!). More than specific advice, I'd like to offer you encouragement and general advice based on my own experience. Even with my spouse leaving the workforce for 10 years and with the 1973 recession followed by exploding real estate costs we made it through, slowly and surely by paying off debt, getting employer 401k match, and living frugally. You are in a better position in terms of relative salaries (both husband and wife) and in terms of specific financial knowledge. You are asking all the right questions...
- Mon Aug 14, 2023 9:51 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How is American Express better than a 2% cashback Visa/Mastercard ?
- Replies: 80
- Views: 10123
Re: How is American Express better than a 2% cashback Visa/Mastercard ?
I agree. I've had two episodes while travelling (theft and rental car issue) where AmEx was flat out in my corner. It's my preferred credit card because of the trust they've earned.Iang wrote: ↑Sun Jul 23, 2023 4:45 am I think the general consensus is that AmEx is much better for disputes. I had an issue which I disputed with Visa that according to the terms and conditions of the service provider (airline) I should have clearly won but the arbitrator just split the difference. I don’t even think they bothered so anything that could be disputed (hard to know), I would use AmEx.
- Fri Aug 04, 2023 8:12 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: South FL insurance
- Replies: 9
- Views: 1640
Re: South FL insurance
Regarding home insurance: Tower Hill Insurance changed over to a "mutual-type" of insurance company (I think it was two years ago). As I understand it and as I recall, they said they would raised rates to generate a reserve and then stabilize costs and somehow return funds later on if they had an excess (again, that's my impression more from my agent than from trying to read the giant prospectus or whatever). It seems to me I paid a bump year one but not year two and that the cost is comparable to others. I've had one small claim with them a few years ago and they were up-front and helpful about getting things fixed. Tower Hill might be worth looking into. Regarding auto/umbrella From my own experience and conversations with frien...
- Thu Aug 03, 2023 10:30 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: What to do after reading an article like this [predicting market crash]
- Replies: 80
- Views: 7637
Re: What to do after reading an article like this [predicting market crash]
For me, the best way to deal with crashes or the fear of crashes is to be sure to be buying stocks appropriately as they are declining.
One way to do this is with balanced funds. Another is with rebalancing according to a preset plan. Either of these insures that you are buying when stocks are on sale.
The rational expectation (or at least hope) is that productivity increases over time which leads to the further expectation (or hope) that ownership of the means of production will increase in value over time. This is what makes rebalancing according to a preset plan so appealing for getting through crashes both rationally (buying on sale) and emotionally (being in control rather than a hapless victim) intact.
One way to do this is with balanced funds. Another is with rebalancing according to a preset plan. Either of these insures that you are buying when stocks are on sale.
The rational expectation (or at least hope) is that productivity increases over time which leads to the further expectation (or hope) that ownership of the means of production will increase in value over time. This is what makes rebalancing according to a preset plan so appealing for getting through crashes both rationally (buying on sale) and emotionally (being in control rather than a hapless victim) intact.
- Thu Aug 03, 2023 9:06 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Help determining IBM-sponsored 401k value from 1996
- Replies: 16
- Views: 1632
Re: Help determining IBM-sponsored 401k value from 1996
Below is a link to an independent website that tracks IBM 401k funds on a daily basis.
Take a look at the site options and see if there's some way to go back to a specific historical date. This site has been around for a long time but I do not know if it was functional in 1996. There's a "contact us" invitation on the upper left of the screen which leads to a feedback option. Perhaps they can help you - - I hope so.
Edited to add: take a look at the tab on the left for "snapshot emails." It contains the email address of the site's database keeper who it seems may well be a really helpful contact.
http://my401ksavings.com/listall.php
Best wishes.
Take a look at the site options and see if there's some way to go back to a specific historical date. This site has been around for a long time but I do not know if it was functional in 1996. There's a "contact us" invitation on the upper left of the screen which leads to a feedback option. Perhaps they can help you - - I hope so.
Edited to add: take a look at the tab on the left for "snapshot emails." It contains the email address of the site's database keeper who it seems may well be a really helpful contact.
http://my401ksavings.com/listall.php
Best wishes.
- Wed Aug 02, 2023 9:05 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How much state pension to leave spouse?
- Replies: 46
- Views: 4133
Re: How much state pension to leave spouse?
I agree that insuring his wife for the 100% is the right thing to do. Here are suggestions for "a few extra words" that might help. (1) Some pensions have a 100% with step-up option. This option costs more than the 100% option, but if the spouse of the person who earned the pension predecedes, then the monthly benefit zooms back up to the full amount (like the 0% amount). Not sure if this is available (especially if this is a COLA'd pension or if the husband would want it. But if the husband in this case says "that step-up is an all-around loser because I'll predecede for sure" then at least he's gobbled the bait that leads to the follow-on of "well then, all the more important to protect her." (2) The pension ...
- Wed Aug 02, 2023 9:41 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Paging Those with Medicare A and Two Group Health Insurances
- Replies: 53
- Views: 4944
Re: Paging Those with Medicare A and Two Group Health Insurances
I am retired have two health benefits (different companies). How they coordinate has varied over time. I'll explain, but first, one company ("Company 1") allows you on enrollment each fall to take it or leave it. If you do not take it, you are welcome back next year without any "penalty." The other company ("Company 2") is also take it or leave it each fall. If you do not take it, you can re-enroll in the future, but on the then-current terms which may be worse. When I retired from Company 1 and joined Company 2 I used Company 2 insurance. When I retired from Company 2, I continued Company 2 even though it was more costly than Company 1's offering. Later Company 1 farmed out its benefit management to a coordina...
- Wed Aug 02, 2023 9:40 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Paging Those with Medicare A and Two Group Health Insurances
- Replies: 53
- Views: 4944
Re: Paging Those with Medicare A and Two Group Health Insurances
I am retired have two health benefits (different companies). How they coordinate has varied over time. I'll explain, but first, one company ("Company 1") allows you on enrollment each fall to take it or leave it. If you do not take it, you are welcome back next year without any "penalty." The other company ("Company 2") is also take it or leave it each fall. If you do not take it, you can re-enroll in the future, but on the then-current terms which may be worse. When I retired from Company 1 and joined Company 2 I used Company 2 insurance. When I retired from Company 2, I continued Company 2 even though it was more costly than Company 1's offering. Later Company 1 farmed out its benefit management to a coordina...
- Sun Jul 30, 2023 3:05 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Vanguard slow to address mistake
- Replies: 31
- Views: 3159
Re: Vanguard slow to address mistake
KenKY: Welcome to the Bogleheads Forum! It appears that Vanguard made a mistake but they quickly acknowledged their error. That's good. Unless you lose money in this lengthy transaction (which I believe Vanguard would make good) I would accept the mistake. Good compared to what… them denying an error? When did the bar get so low? There is no reason that an error of this magnitude should take 2-3 weeks to resolve. And OP will almost certainly lose as a result of this. Time is money. As for Vanguard making them whole, if that were to occur (and that’s a big “if” in my experience), it would still require the OP to have to put in more time and make more calls/pleas. But let me guess… that’s good too? I think Taylor is absolutely right about cu...
- Sun Jul 30, 2023 2:27 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Vanguard slow to address mistake
- Replies: 31
- Views: 3159
Re: Vanguard slow to address mistake
My understanding is that Vanguard handles checks by scanning, not by data entry keystrokes. That would make any "one-digit error" much more likely to be with the way the check was written than with the way it was read. You say Vanguard "sees the error" and that it is slow to address the mistake. But who is it that made the mistake? If it was not Vanguard, why blame them? Error handling is a separate process from normalcy and should be done very carefully lest the problem become even thornier.
- Fri Jul 28, 2023 12:37 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Gated Senior Apartment vs a new home in a nice neighborhood 12 miles out of town
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1501
Re: Gated Senior Apartment vs a new home in a nice neighborhood 12 miles out of town
A new subdivision will likely be filled with families with kids in school. You'll be much, much more likely to make new friends with people who have similar available time and interests in the over-55 community.
- Tue Jul 25, 2023 10:41 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Schwab vs. Fidelity vs. Vanguard
- Replies: 111
- Views: 16486
Re: Vanguard vs Fidelity Pros/Cons
I'm a long-term customer of both. You will likely do well with either. In my experience Vanguard's recent massive move of clients to its brokerage platform was a giant changeover that stressed its resources, especially when somewhat contemporaneous with the Covid pandemic. So certainly some of the customer support issues you've readabout have to do with that, which I think is now largely past. Personally, I don't do lots of transactions, so I'm satisfied with Vanguard's website appearance and functionality, but from reading posts in this forum it seems there's a general preference for Fidelity's website over Vanguard's. Also, Fidelity has a brick and mortar presence which may be appealing. Nevertheless, If I were going to consolidate to one...
- Sun Jul 23, 2023 11:03 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Transferring out from Vanguard after a week
- Replies: 64
- Views: 8417
Re: Transferring out from Vanguard after a week
Ah, the ol' $8 Trillion Mom and Pop Shop! You tried to cancel in-process ACATS transfers (which tend to occur quickly) because you can't take enough time to consider and decide what you really want to do, and then you blame them? Yeah but should not a $8T shop be able to cancel or it just saves costs that much that cannot do basic things like Schwabs can do. Had a similar issue in the past and Schwabs canceled / rejected the transfer without any issues. If Vanguard clearly told me they could not cancel - then I would just accept it. But not tell me untruth and then me being shocked when funds moved OP, it seems a bit harsh of you to be complaining about Vanguard "saving costs" when you yourself have paid nothing to Vanguard and y...
- Thu Jul 20, 2023 10:59 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Unsolicited Vanguard Call for Investment Advice?
- Replies: 35
- Views: 3895
Re: Unsolicited Vanguard Call for Investment Advice?
You can't have it all. Wanting Vanguard to stay true to its low-cost mission and then getting upset when they try to find reasonable ways to fund their operations and attempt to close the gap on customer service expectations. The product they offer still costs less than competitive advice offerings. Just because we don't need it doesn't mean there isn't a large customer subset that's well-served by it. Politely decline and ask to be put on the "do not market" list. Nothing personal. Huh. What about all the scare mongering we have heard for years about how those evil profit making companies that provided better service at same or lower cost were someday going to try to sell you more expensive products and services, but Vanguard wh...
- Mon Jul 17, 2023 7:00 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Question about annuity an the reason why you have one?
- Replies: 51
- Views: 4063
Re: Question about annuity an the reason why you have one?
I worked for a company with a pension plan and chose not to leave for higher salary or (risky) chance of big bucks. So in some sense I "paid" for the pension in that way. The pension had no COLA, but it facilitated our delaying Social Security, which has both favorable tax and COLA features. The company subsequently transferred pension responsibility to an insurance company based annuity. It has now has less federal protection and weaker support if the provider goes bankrupt, but I feel that major insurance providers are more stable than my company was so it's not a particular worry to me. I view the annuity and Social Security lifelong monthly benefits as a whole, and the Social Security keeps growing, so as a whole (using "...
- Fri Jul 14, 2023 3:16 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Why is VWUAX so bad vs benchmark?
- Replies: 19
- Views: 1976
Re: Why is VWUAX so bad vs benchmark?
I fully agree with the content of the posts above criticizing the investing expectations of the original poster as well as the over-the-top emotive and unjustified accusations made against Vanguard in the post. However, my suspicion is that no real advice, solace, or explanation was sought by the OP. On the contrary, my strong suspicion, based on similar emotive anti-Vanguard posts from first or second-time posters who regularly show up and disappear on this site is that they simply want to stir up controversy about Vanguard and create a general impression that something must really be wrong there - - that Vanguard can no longer be trusted in the most fundamental ways. If that suspicion is correct, then the post is no more than ghost-writte...
- Thu Jul 06, 2023 9:30 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Anyone still favor Vanguard?
- Replies: 359
- Views: 48408
Re: Anyone still favor Vanguard?
I believe in multiple providers, however, at a certain age and certain circumstances consolidation to one makes compelling sense. I've been a client of several major brokerages and financial institutions for years and Vanguard will be the one I consolidate to. I've seen posts on this site questioning or downplaying the "ownership" aspect of Vanguard, but I've only experienced consistent, true fiduciary concern from Vanguard reps and I've experienced the opposite elsewhere. This issue of fundamental trust is of paramount importance to me as we age.
- Wed Jul 05, 2023 9:56 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Aldi supermarket?
- Replies: 106
- Views: 11156
Re: Aldi supermarket?
Some things we use from Aldi's are consistently high quality and priced similar to Costco or Sam's Club if even carried in those big box stores but with the added benefit of availability in smaller quantities: - Priano Ravioli (frozen, not available at the big box stores) - Deutsche Kutsche Apple Strudel (Aldi's-only, and only seasonally available in their special products freezer, so load up if you see it, it disappears fast!) - Fresh Salmon - if you use triple osmosis bottled water their price is comparable to Sam's' and Costco's - if you use pasture or cage free eggs they have very good quality and prices (I prefer them to Costco's and seem similar to Sam's) - Milk (regular, lactose-free) well priced and good. - Spring Mix Salad (lettuce...
- Mon Jun 26, 2023 9:40 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Long-term outlook of a career in higher education
- Replies: 65
- Views: 5066
Re: Long-term outlook of a career in higher education
I taught at a major state university in the 1970s and then worked in IT for over 30 years. After retiring from corporate life I've been teaching as an adjunct at a local community college for twelve years. There's lots of sage advice in the posts in this thread. I'll mention trends in higher ed that I don't believe are mentioned above, and then give my opinion based on my experience for whatever it is worth. First, I see lots of movement to online classes and online degrees. If someone wants to teach in-person classes (my very strong preference) the opportunities may be decreasing. Moreover, even if assigned to teach an online course, it mayd be one in which lectures are the certified "best-in-class" as determined by the administr...
- Sat Jun 10, 2023 11:55 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Default Risk Associated with Collecting a Pension
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1165
Re: Default Risk Associated with Collecting a Pension
There's a trend of corporations transferring pension responsibilities to insurance companies. As you wrote, when this happens the PBGC is out and state laws are in. There's a deep, deep dive into this and associated issues here: https://www.actuary.org/content/pension-risk-transfer-0 FYI, I had a megacorp pension that has just recently become an annuity because of just such a transfer. The info provided with the changeover included a statement that such transfers of pension responsibilities to insurers are closely monitored and vetted by the government. In the case of this megacorp pension responsibility transfer, the annuity is now guaranteed 50% by one mega-Insurer and 50% by another. When the insurance company takes over, they make longe...
- Wed May 31, 2023 9:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Should I go all in with Vanguard or "diversify" with Fidelity?
- Replies: 48
- Views: 7626
Re: Should I go all in with Vanguard or "diversify" with Fidelity?
Due to multiple options during our working career, we had accounts with a number of 401k providers. As we hit retirement this year, we are consolidating all to just VG and Fido. We sleep better with two vendors, rather than just one. There are many solid reasons to consolidate as you are in the process of doing. However, in case you or others interested in this thread are not aware, 401k plans are protected from creditors and lawsuits by federal law while IRAs are protected by state laws (and thus the protection varies among different states). My research shows that the federal protection is generally considered better, but I'm neither an accountant nor attorney, and different websites seem to say different things about the importance of t...
- Sat May 27, 2023 10:54 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Monthly Pension or Lump Sum ?
- Replies: 51
- Views: 6743
Re: Monthly Pension or Lump Sum ?
Decided to take the lump sum. Since the Pension annuity did not have a cost of living adjustment, my spouse & I decide to invest the proceeds of the lump sum. We will withdraw as needed & truthfully won’t likely touch any of this money for 5-10 years. Hopefully it will slowly grow into something beautiful & useful for our family , charity, or other purposes. Thanks for all of the input. Although I provided some reasons personal experience for taking the pension/annuity, there are also many very good reasons and personal experiences as discussed above for taking the lump sum. I think that the choice really depends on personal circumstances and self-knowledge and that since you sought diverse opinions and thought this through car...
- Sat May 20, 2023 2:24 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Vanguard Transition to Brokerage Issue
- Replies: 12
- Views: 1252
Re: Vanguard Transition to Brokerage Issue
Is it possible that there was joint access (whether wanted or not) on the prior mutual fund account and it was never noticed because of the way information was presented under the mutual fund's screens and reports, and then that the joint access only became noticeably obvious with the changeover to brokerage with its new screens and report formats?
I'm just trying to understand if the unwanted joint access issue arose because of the changeover process from mutual fund to brokerage, or if it was an issue that had been longstanding but unnoticed.
- Fri May 19, 2023 6:06 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Vanguard Transition to Brokerage Issue
- Replies: 12
- Views: 1252
Re: Vanguard Transition to Brokerage Issue
Just curious... your initial post said the new account showed up a s joint ownership and view privileges. The subsequent posts refer to view privilege only. Have you determined which was the case?Anaconda wrote: ↑Fri May 19, 2023 4:14 pm Yes, the SIL also has a vanguard account. My guess is there is some link in their systems since this was an inherited IRA account. The accounts were split years ago into separate accounts. The action of transitioning somehow caused a one-way link allowing view privileges.
- Mon May 15, 2023 6:01 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Locked out for months and Support claims no human can override system [Vanguard]
- Replies: 66
- Views: 9049
Re: Locked out for months and Support claims no human can override system [Vanguard]
I share your skepticism. I thought these 1st time posts claiming horrendous problems at Vanguard that following a distinct pattern of its tale of woe had stopped. Previous ones have turned out to be specious (lost accounts, funds moved without permission, etc.). In prior instances, either the OP never comes back, or if they actually respond to questions, their tale of woe unravels.
- Sat May 13, 2023 9:41 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Can you advise on a solar-powered watch? (UPDATE)
- Replies: 43
- Views: 2634
Re: Can you advise on a solar-powered watch?
DW has an Citizen Eco-Drive (solar power). It is a most elegant watch. Exact same experience with DW's Citizen. She wears it every day - all occasions and she's very selective about accessory-type things, I've worn a Citizen for years. In my experience they are trouble free except if you drop one from chest height onto a hard tile floor. In that instance I had to ship mine to the specialized Citizen's repair place in California where they basically rebuilt the watch with all new parts for about the cost of a new one, which I did because this precise model is no longer available. While the watch was under repair I borrowed an exact duplicate from a friend who's a watch-freak and had bought one just like mine (he found one of the last availa...
- Wed May 10, 2023 9:22 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Monthly Pension or Lump Sum ?
- Replies: 51
- Views: 6743
Re: Monthly Pension or Lump Sum ?
Stinky, Jovby, backpacker61, Chip Munk - Thank you. SPIA buyers health status makes perfect sense. I wish the pension offering did have COLA built in - that would make it a no brainer for sure. I took the pension/annuity. There's no COLA. DW and I are very happy with the choice. My experience regarding the non-COLA aspect of the pension is this. Initially it was a big concern. Retired now for over a decade I view it differently. We have some monthly costs that are either fixed or else limited by law as to how much they can rise annually. We have other expenses that grow with inflation. Our monthly income from Social Security (we pretty much maxed out both of ours) grows nicely with inflation. The non-Cola'd pension covers the "fixed&q...
- Wed Apr 05, 2023 8:00 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: My misadventure with Chase Checking account
- Replies: 70
- Views: 8169
Re: My misadventure with Chase Checking account
These large banks have gone through lots of M&A activity over the years. Internally, people often introduce themselves by telling you their name and adding "heritage this bank, or heritage that bank."
There are a lot of legacy moving parts in their systems, and perhaps you hit a tooth on a gear in the internal workings that has a defect that pops up under certain conditions that results in a condition that requires manual intervention and simply gets fixed that way, and the code issue will only disappear the day the whole system gets chucked. It's only a guess, but since no one else mentioned this issue I thought it might be worth considering.
There are a lot of legacy moving parts in their systems, and perhaps you hit a tooth on a gear in the internal workings that has a defect that pops up under certain conditions that results in a condition that requires manual intervention and simply gets fixed that way, and the code issue will only disappear the day the whole system gets chucked. It's only a guess, but since no one else mentioned this issue I thought it might be worth considering.
- Wed Apr 05, 2023 12:08 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Social Security and Asset Allocation
- Replies: 73
- Views: 10860
Re: Social Security and Asset Allocation
The main reason not to lump SS together with a bonds for the purpose of asset allocation is the fact that no principle is returned to you. I do not think this is a good reason because in a sense it's simply untrue. No the main reason you don't lump it in with bonds is because SS isn't a bond. It is an income stream. Your amount of money you can spend out your portfolio, the returns you get, and the variance you experience will be a function of stock/bonds you hold and your NPV of SS will not change that. You are basically using interest rates as a market timing device (what is your NPV of SS at 4% versus 1% and what does that do to your stock/bond holdings) and glide path (as you age that SS NPV drops). You can skip the middle man and do t...