I turn 65 in May and will be eligible to enroll in Medicare.
Currently with Kaiser Permanente through Obamacare.
Because of long time medical history with Kaiser and a current medical condition that requires surgery pretty soon, I need to stay with Kaiser until recuperation. This means staying with Obamacare Kaiser until May, then switch over to Kaiser's Senior Advantage until Medicare open enrollment in October.
.
Come October when open enrollment begins, can I change from Kaiser Senior Advantage to Medicare Original with Medigap Plan G?
Will it be difficult and will I have to go through underwriting procedures?
Or am I stuck in Medicare Advantage?
Thanks.
Addendum: I'm in Southern California.
Search found 151 matches
- Mon Feb 26, 2024 10:57 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Medicare: Medicare Advantage to Medicare Original
- Replies: 9
- Views: 1437
- Thu Feb 01, 2024 2:49 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Managing your affairs when you live alone and have no family or true friends
- Replies: 133
- Views: 21634
Re: Managing your affairs when you live alone and have no family or true friends
I subscribed to Life Alert (mobile). It's expensive but there's a discount for AARP members. Yeah, these are the, "Help! I've fallen and I can't get up." people. But the experience of not being able to communicate with EMS makes that quite real. You can set up a google home, alexa, etc. to make phone calls, so you just have to say "hey google, call 911". These devices tend to be good at hearing you even if you're not close. You can also buy a pendant that connects wirelessly to a base unit that connects to your home phone and calls 911 (or whatever number you program) when you press the button. That doesn't require a monthly fee. Here's an example, although I've seen much less expensive versions: https://www.amazon.com/...
- Wed Jan 31, 2024 12:39 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Managing your affairs when you live alone and have no family or true friends
- Replies: 133
- Views: 21634
Re: Managing your affairs when you live alone and have no family or true friends
Thanks all for the thoughtful and helpful replies. I have some ideas where to start now. I agree this is a service area ripe with opportunities — we don't all have trustworthy family. Some details on me : Age 64, I exercise (walk every day in the woods with the dogs, do resistance training, take care of my house and landscaping), never smoked, stopped drinking alcohol 10y ago, have mild hypertension well-controlled with a single med. I eat well, no diabetes, BMI 22. I'm quite healthy and physically active. My wife is a few years older than me. We have no children. My relatives live 650 miles away, my in-laws live 500 miles away. Both groups are thinning out and steadily dispersing. I like it here, and also have no desire to move closer to ...
- Wed Jan 31, 2024 12:03 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How do Trustee Services work?
- Replies: 25
- Views: 2545
Re: How do Trustee Services work?
We are using a local/regional bank trustee. I’ve met with them and sent info and wills/trusts for their records. Nothing really happens until you die but it’s good to have information on file before with any notations/clarifications. The corporate trustee is the trustee. There is a trust committee with three trusted relatives that can give input, or select a new corporate trustee if they have reason to think current trustee is not performing. Fee is around 1.1%. Having no relatives or close trusted friends I've been thinking about utilizing a Corporate Trustee. However..... Is this 1.1% fee based on the total assets balance and charged annually? Between the formation of the Trust and until you die, nothing really happens. During that time,...
- Wed May 24, 2023 1:42 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: What are your hobbies?
- Replies: 561
- Views: 16581
Re: What is your #1 hobby? (I need to develop new skill/hobby.)
I am hopping to learn from your favorite hobby. What is it? And what is so great about it? Please share. Thank you!! **** I like two things: outdoors (mainly hiking) and a logical argument about any topic. It is easy to do hiking. All I need is time and a good weather. But, for the argument, I need someone to take the opposite position, which most people dislike, so I don't do it enough. Thus I only have one hobby and I need to develop another one. Ideally, the new hobby should be easy to start, is inexpensive, and has some long term physical or mental benefit. Are you still working or retired? Under 65 or 65 and over? I'm 65 and retired and a solo ager. Right now my "# 1 hobby" is fixing up my house, decluttering, downsizing and...
- Wed May 24, 2023 1:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Made In The USA Computers
- Replies: 35
- Views: 3690
Re: Made In The USA Computers
I have seen some advertisements for laptops/desktops/mini made/assembled in the USA. I realize the individual components such as "box"/motherboard/RAM/SSD etc., are almost certainly made elsewhere, but is there a superior value in anyone's opinion to these if assembled in the U.S.? Supposedly more thorough checks, assembly, quality parts, etc. Any comments? I understand these are just opinions but am curious. What I have seen seem to be significantly pricier but my opinion is it would be worth it if better quality. I have purposely left names out of this. Whenever I hear about a product "made in USA"., it really means assembled in USA with parts and components of foreign origination...most likely made in China. But is a...
- Wed May 24, 2023 12:55 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Schwab Intelligent Portfolio: How to convert to Intelligent Income in a taxable account
- Replies: 25
- Views: 2428
Re: Schwab Intelligent Portfolio: How to convert to Intelligent Income in a taxable account
I currently have my ROTH IRA with SIP and I am thinking of enrolling a taxable account into SIP too. I am fine with the high allocation of cash and their investment options, however, there is one thing that is bothering me. I see that if I create an intelligent portfolio w/o the income option, and then later on add on the income option the allocations will be different. And I have called in and confirmed with Schwabs that there will be a sell-off to rebalance the portfolio to the new allocations and that will be a taxable event. Does anyone know what will happen when that change is made? I plan to keep on investing in it for 30-40 years before I start taking out money, and if I add the smart income option then, wouldn't I be fined with a h...
- Wed May 24, 2023 11:56 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Schwab Intelligent Portfolio: How to convert to Intelligent Income in a taxable account
- Replies: 25
- Views: 2428
Re: Schwab Intelligent Portfolio: How to convert to Intelligent Income in a taxable account
Five years ago, the company I worked for was acquired and we were shown the door. Fortunately, I had employment contract with a separation payment. I am a long time Schwaab client, when I met with my Schwab rep, he advised me to put it in the SIP portfolio as a set and forget type situation. I also rolled my 401K into a new rollover SIP IRA. The portfolios performed in line with my expectations, but as I grew closer to retirement (66 Now) and started looking to build cash balances, with the SIP in a taxable account, everything creates a taxable event. I am just leaving it alone for now and will liquidate after I retire and my income drops. Two other issues, all of the various holdings make watching your asset allocation across accounts a l...
- Mon May 22, 2023 2:40 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Schwab Intelligent Portfolio: How to convert to Intelligent Income in a taxable account
- Replies: 25
- Views: 2428
Re: Schwab Intelligent Portfolio: How to convert to Intelligent Income in a taxable account
OP, 30-40 years is a great investment runway! Glad to see you are planning to use it. That said, I would not implement the Intelligent Income portfolio in Taxable at this point: - It doesn’t match your Need or Ability to take risk - Tax Inefficient - A lot can happen in 30 years, too early to be setup for Retirement Income Just my thoughts… WoodSpinner Yeah, that is true. I don’t want to lose out on capital growth, but it seems like in the projected balance it is a 11% annual growth. Which is great! So i want to get some feedback from people who’ve had it to see what it is actually like. If not, i might just have to go for aggressive growth and leave out the intelligent income. For the tax inefficient part, i am fine. I was doing DIY, but ...
- Mon May 22, 2023 1:29 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Schwab Intelligent Portfolio: How to convert to Intelligent Income in a taxable account
- Replies: 25
- Views: 2428
Re: Schwab Intelligent Portfolio: How to convert to Intelligent Income in a taxable account
I currently have my ROTH IRA with SIP and I am thinking of enrolling a taxable account into SIP too. I am fine with the high allocation of cash and their investment options, however, there is one thing that is bothering me. I see that if I create an intelligent portfolio w/o the income option, and then later on add on the income option the allocations will be different. And I have called in and confirmed with Schwabs that there will be a sell-off to rebalance the portfolio to the new allocations and that will be a taxable event. Does anyone know what will happen when that change is made? I plan to keep on investing in it for 30-40 years before I start taking out money, and if I add the smart income option then, wouldn't I be fined with a h...
- Mon May 22, 2023 12:05 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Schwab Intelligent Portfolio: How to convert to Intelligent Income in a taxable account
- Replies: 25
- Views: 2428
Re: Schwab Intelligent Portfolio: How to convert to Intelligent Income in a taxable account
Yeah, that is true. I don’t want to lose out on capital growth, but it seems like in the projected balance it is a 11% annual growth. Which is great! So i want to get some feedback from people who’ve had it to see what it is actually like. Are you absolutely sure about this? A projection of 11% annual growth would be considered optimistic for an aggressive, high-risk equity portfolio. Make sure you really understand the numbers before you make a decision based on them. The portfolio with 60% muni’s and cash doesn’t sound like anything close to an 11% annual return portfolio. No, I am not. That’s why I am hoping for someone to share their experience. The 11% was just from the tool. The historic performance has been 4.04% on the website. Hen...
- Thu May 04, 2023 4:02 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Unexpected IRS refund
- Replies: 59
- Views: 5330
Re: Unexpected IRS refund
I prepared my 1040 return using HR Block software and it calculated a refund due. I e-filed it.
Am somewhat surprised my refund came in $3.71 higher than expected.
Maybe a last minute change in the tax rate?
CA Refund came in as expected.
Am somewhat surprised my refund came in $3.71 higher than expected.
Maybe a last minute change in the tax rate?
CA Refund came in as expected.
- Sat Apr 08, 2023 3:59 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: income generating portfolio
- Replies: 42
- Views: 4409
Re: income generating portfolio
Jonathan Ping, a "boglehead-ish" blogger, has a new post https://www.mymoneyblog.com/mmb-portfolio-2023-first-quarter-update-dividend-interest-income.html describing his income producing retirement portfolio, which last year had a 3% yield. Asset Class / Fund % of Portfolio TTM Yield Contribution US Total Stock (VTI) 30% 1.60% 0.48% US Small Value (VBR) 5% 2.20% 0.11% Int’l Total Stock (VXUS) 20% 2.94% 0.59% Int’l Small Value (AVDV/EYLD) 5% 4.23% 0.21% US Real Estate (VNQ) 10% 4.11% 0.41% Inter-Term Treas Bonds (VGIT) 15% 1.89% 0.28% Inflation-Linked Trs Bnds (TIP) 15% 6.12% 0.92% Totals 100% 3.00% Thoughts on this approach? I like Rick Ferri's CORE-4 Income Seeker Portfolio which uses the following four asset class funds, for si...
- Sat Apr 08, 2023 2:30 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: income generating portfolio
- Replies: 42
- Views: 4409
Re: income generating portfolio
I'm not sure that is accurate. Looking back at older posts it looks like he settled on a rough asset mix and then has been tracking its income, and while it currently is at 3% it hasn't always been. Like a year ago, it looks like it was 2.51%: https://www.mymoneyblog.com/mmb-portfolio-2022-q1-dividend-income.html I'll admit I am not familiar with his blog, so I might be getting this wrong. Well, the point of going after dividends is so that you can preserve shares. But Jonathan is doing an odd thing because you don't have to hold 7 different funds to achieve that. All you need to do is to hold something like SCHD and call it a day. SCHD is an excellent High Dividend U.S. Stock ETF. For a more diversified portfolio, I like Rick Ferri's Inco...
- Mon Jan 23, 2023 12:39 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: New California Middle Class Tax Refund
- Replies: 274
- Views: 34982
Re: New California Middle Class Tax Refund
I saw a news item on my phone over the weekend relating to the Middle Class Tax Refund. The article said that the Franchise Tax Board is urging everyone to transfer their balance to a bank account as soon as possible. A lot of cards have been compromised. The article said that the majority of the cards went out without a security chip. Let's hope this is a lesson learned for anyone sending out debit cards in the future. In order to transfer the balance to a bank account you need to go to www.mctrpayment.com and register an online account. I was issued debit card. I created an online account to transfer the balance to bank account only to discover the card was compromised with $320 fraudulent charges. I talked with Money Network (the debit ...
- Sat Jan 21, 2023 6:47 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: New California Middle Class Tax Refund
- Replies: 274
- Views: 34982
Re: New California Middle Class Tax Refund
So my FIL got his card ($700 on it) back in December. I don't know why but we activated it and didn't set up the online account, etc. A couple weeks later (probably while we were out of town), my wife mentioned something about how some people getting these cards are having their accounts drained by fraudsters. I'm not entirely sure how they are able to get the card number, etc but they are and it looks like my FIL was hit with his account drained fully on 12/21 - it happened in the span of a few hours at a Ross, Burlington and Kohls (3 different amounts all that totaled up to be $700). Has this happened to anyone else here? I'm assuming the next steps would be to contact their number at 1-800-240-0223 (in the paper mailer) or on the MCTR p...
- Sat Jan 21, 2023 1:26 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: California Middle Class Tax Refund debit card: fraudulent charges discovered
- Replies: 1
- Views: 466
California Middle Class Tax Refund debit card: fraudulent charges discovered
Received California Middle Class Tax Refund debit card back in December 2022. Activated per instructions to provide last 6-digits of Social Security number to activate. Went online to www.mctrpayment.com, created an account to download refund to checking account per instructions. But discovered card was compromised and $325 were fraudulently charged at a Ross Store in San Bernardino, CA just after activated leaving balance of $25. Notified Money Network (administrator of the debit card) and disputed the charges and dispute case was opened. Case would take 45 days to investigate. Existing card would be cancelled and a new card with $25 remaining balance would be issued. If dispute approved, remaining $325 balance would be credited to the car...
- Sat Nov 05, 2022 2:47 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Closing U.S. bank account and transfer funds to foreign bank account
- Replies: 9
- Views: 743
Re: Closing U.S. bank account and transfer funds to foreign bank account
MUFG Union BankMarseille07 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 05, 2022 2:09 pmAs Eno Deb asked, are you allowed to disclose which US bank this is? I'm sure the folks could look up the terms of wiring if the name is shared.Zonian59 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 05, 2022 2:05 pmThanks for suggestion.Marseille07 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 05, 2022 1:55 pm Any way to wire the money out? I know international wire is a bit tricky with the SWIFT code and all that, but might be doable.
I think relative said not possible.
Also, he hasn't accessed the account in a long time.
Thanks again for help.
- Sat Nov 05, 2022 2:05 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Closing U.S. bank account and transfer funds to foreign bank account
- Replies: 9
- Views: 743
Re: Closing U.S. bank account and transfer funds to foreign bank account
Thanks for suggestion.Marseille07 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 05, 2022 1:55 pm Any way to wire the money out? I know international wire is a bit tricky with the SWIFT code and all that, but might be doable.
I think relative said not possible.
Also, he hasn't accessed the account in a long time.
- Sat Nov 05, 2022 1:53 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Closing U.S. bank account and transfer funds to foreign bank account
- Replies: 9
- Views: 743
Closing U.S. bank account and transfer funds to foreign bank account
I have a relative (non-U.S. citizen) currently living in a foreign country who has a savings account in a bank in the U.S. and wishes to close out the U.S. account and transfer the money to a bank in his country.
That U.S. bank does not have a branch in his country.
He has written to the U.S. bank but they haven't been helpful. They insist he come to the U.S. to make that transaction in person. It is difficult for him to travel due to health reasons and age.
How can the money be transferred and the U.S. account closed if he cannot come to the U.S?
Anybody experienced this situation and has suggestion/advice? Much thanks.
That U.S. bank does not have a branch in his country.
He has written to the U.S. bank but they haven't been helpful. They insist he come to the U.S. to make that transaction in person. It is difficult for him to travel due to health reasons and age.
How can the money be transferred and the U.S. account closed if he cannot come to the U.S?
Anybody experienced this situation and has suggestion/advice? Much thanks.
- Mon Jun 27, 2022 1:00 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Help cutting the cord (landline)
- Replies: 35
- Views: 4303
Re: Help cutting the cord (landline)
I'm trying to do the same thing. Landline is now costing me $65/month. Amazing how fees and taxes add 50% to the basic rate. I've thought about VOIP, but then the carrier (AT&T) wants me to bundle internet, phone and TV services . Already have internet but to go VOIP, they require a new plan (and higher price than currently paying). Don't watch TV and can't justify 100+ channels. Also their "great prices" is only for 12 months. After that can see paying $200/month. Though about going cell phone only, but they insist on 2-lines. Single line will cost $55-$70 plus. Not much different than currently paying for landline. Then there's the phone itself. Can't imagine paying over $400 for a simple phone. How is Consumer Cellular and...
- Mon Jun 27, 2022 12:47 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Solo Seniors: what are you doing to plan for the possibility of dementia/alzheimer's?
- Replies: 54
- Views: 7919
Re: Solo Seniors: what are you doing to plan for the possibility of dementia/alzheimer's?
My main concern is avoiding predators out for my resources, particularly since there's a prevailing bias that physically frail is the same as mentally frail, when that is not always the case. There was an extensive problem in a nearby state of predatory "conservators" essentially stealing the resources of wealthy elders in such facilities, even ones who had active family caregivers, through corruption of the court-appointed conservator process. They'd get themselves appointed by the courts as conservator (through falsified medical and other statements), move the elders to far cheaper and more poorly run facilities without disclosing their new location to their friends and family members, and then drain their finances dry. It make...
- Mon Jun 27, 2022 12:36 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Solo Seniors: what are you doing to plan for the possibility of dementia/alzheimer's?
- Replies: 54
- Views: 7919
Re: Solo Seniors: what are you doing to plan for the possibility of dementia/alzheimer's?
This is a very significant discussion that I'm trying to figure out.....while I'm still have cognizance. I can't help thinking there's a big train wreck in the making. I am a solo male ager/senior at age 63 having no siblings, no spouse, family, children, relatives. My father passed away decades ago and my mother just recently passed away at age 95 from Dementia/Alzheimer's. I was her only child and only immediate relative and spent the last ten years as her caregiver as she didn't want to be cared for by strangers or living in a nursing home. So she lived with me and I had part-time caregiver help, but my mother had trust issues with them. When I retired five years ago, I transitioned to a solo full-time caregiver and cared for her until s...
- Sun Jun 26, 2022 11:04 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Moving shares from Computershare to Vanguard
- Replies: 24
- Views: 5251
Re: Moving shares from Computershare to Vanguard
My ESPP uses Computershare. Every quarter I initiate a transfer using the Computershare website. All it asks for is broker account number and DTC number. It takes about 2 days for the shares to show up in my Vanguard brokerage account, and then another 2 days for cost basis to show up. Computershare doesn’t charge a fee for this if I just transfer whole shares. Then, as I’m sure everyone knows, the shares can be sold at Vanguard without charging a fee. Overall though Computershare is pretty terrible, in case anyone thinks I’m defending them. Their website looks like something from the ‘90s. And I don’t think there is any way to transfer partial shares. About once a year I sell remaining fractional shares and get hit with a fee of around $3...
- Sun Jun 26, 2022 10:50 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Moving shares from Computershare to Vanguard
- Replies: 24
- Views: 5251
Re: Moving shares from Computershare to Vanguard
When I looked into this about 2 years ago, initiating the transfer from Vanguard required either a phone call or paperwork to be mailed in. However, I was able to initiate a "push" of these shares from Computershare to Vanguard on the Computershare website. You'll need to enter your Vanguard account number and a broker code for Vanguard. One warning though - I did this several times, and the transfer took place with no issues. Later on, I read on the Computershare website that unless they are told otherwise, this action would be reported to the IRS as a sale. I was in a bit of a panic after seeing this because I just wanted to transfer the stock, but that reporting never happened so all was good. Also, cost basis info was sent ov...
- Wed Jun 15, 2022 2:59 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Help cutting the cord (landline)
- Replies: 35
- Views: 4303
Re: Help cutting the cord (landline)
I'm trying to do the same thing. Landline is now costing me $65/month. Amazing how fees and taxes add 50% to the basic rate. I've thought about VOIP, but then the carrier (AT&T) wants me to bundle internet, phone and TV services . Already have internet but to go VOIP, they require a new plan (and higher price than currently paying). Don't watch TV and can't justify 100+ channels. Also their "great prices" is only for 12 months. After that can see paying $200/month. Though about going cell phone only, but they insist on 2-lines. Single line will cost $55-$70 plus. Not much different than currently paying for landline. Then there's the phone itself. Can't imagine paying over $400 for a simple phone. How is Consumer Cellular and ...
- Wed Jun 15, 2022 2:34 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?
- Replies: 2851
- Views: 225767
Re: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?
Found my dad's old 7x50 binoculars, had it focusing mechanism fixed, calibrated and cleaned up.
Been seeing lots of sparrows, crows, Boeings, Airbuses, Cessnas, Pipers, Beechcraft and occasionally AT-6s and Stearmans. Sometimes hummingbirds and helicopters.
Been seeing lots of sparrows, crows, Boeings, Airbuses, Cessnas, Pipers, Beechcraft and occasionally AT-6s and Stearmans. Sometimes hummingbirds and helicopters.
- Fri Mar 11, 2022 10:57 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: SCHB price ?
- Replies: 19
- Views: 2432
Re: SCHB price ?
There was a 2:1 stock split. stock price halved but share holdings doubled. I hold SCHB in one of my accounts at Schwab and I saw the stock split. Question: If the whole shares doubled, what about the fractional shares, if any? For example, let's say I have 1000.125 shares before stock split. After stock split I should have 2000.25 Instead my holdings show 2000.125. Schwab tells me they will issue a "cash in lieu" at the market price for the 0.125 fractional shares leaving me with 2000 shares. This doesn't seem right. The fractional shares should have doubled along with the whole shares, but since they are going to give me a cash-in-lieu for the fractional shares, it should be on the basis of 0.25 shares rather than 0.125 shares. ...
- Fri Feb 25, 2022 6:58 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: U.S. stocks in free fall
- Replies: 36221
- Views: 4650868
Re: U.S. stocks in free fall
Where's this money coming from for all you buy-the-dip-ers? Emergency fund? Dry powder specifically for this purpose? Delaying a discretionary purchase you had planned? easy peasy. 1) bond -> stock 2) cash reserve -> stock 3) our monthly spending has 2 components: fixed and discretionary. squeeze the discretionary -> stock 4) delaying charity contribution -> stock.. well, this sorta like #3 5) accelerate 401k 6) decrease withholding to create surplus cashflow -> stock you'll get creative. Yeah, but on a 10%-ish decline? I mean, the two major dips we've seen this year brought us back to Oct 2021 and more recently maybe Jun/July 2021 pricing (if you caught the bottom) which begs the question that if you feel this is a major buying opportunit...
- Fri Feb 11, 2022 4:11 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: End of life ... on one's own
- Replies: 189
- Views: 26333
Re: End of life ... on one's own
That seems to be true in the U.S., unfortunately.
I wonder if those retirement communities like Sun City AZ or Leisure World CA offers those community support and connection?
On the other hand, a friend of mine suggests rural towns in Southeast Asia and Latin America still has that old-fashioned intergenerational connection and community support. I'm tempted to search for a family there who is willing to adopt a "grandfather" to care for.
- Fri Feb 11, 2022 3:53 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: End of life ... on one's own
- Replies: 189
- Views: 26333
Re: End of life ... on one's own
People who are in the ccrc's here which charge seven figures as a down payment seem to be quite satisfied with their choice. Wow, just for reference, I looked one up in the ritzy part of my SoCal coastal city and it only had one or two 7 figure options! I really want to see what that gets in Arizona. https://www.businessinsider.com/luxurious-retirement-home-communities-in-us?amp https://www.seniorly.com/resource-center/city-guides/the-5-best-luxury-senior-living-communities-in-phoenix-az Encanterra is nice. Speaking of Arizona, I was in Sun City, Arizona recently and looked around. Seems like a nice retirement community with lots of club activities, golfing and swimming pools and nice affordable housing. Also a large well-equipped hospital...
- Fri Feb 11, 2022 3:28 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: End of life ... on one's own
- Replies: 189
- Views: 26333
Re: End of life ... on one's own
My experience has been that a lot of the “old” and old old” are pretty self-absorbed. They are so wrapped up in their own problems — and to be fair they often have numerous issues, particularly with their health — that they don’t recognize or care about how they impose upon others. And cognitive impairment makes it worse. Made a few adjustments based on my own observations. My experience has been that a lot of the "young young" are pretty self-absorbed. They are so wrapped up in their own problems — and to be fair they often have numerous issues, particularly with their social life — that they don’t recognize or care about how they impose upon others. And youthful arrogance makes it worse. Generalizations are generalizations. I p...
- Fri Feb 11, 2022 3:08 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: End of life ... on one's own
- Replies: 189
- Views: 26333
Re: End of life ... on one's own
If you have no children and no close family, how are you thinking about and planning for end-of-life? This describes my dilemma to a tee. I spent the last ten years caring for my mother after she had a stroke and eventually Alzheimers' and passing away recently at the age of 95. I was her only child. She was fortunate in having someone to care for her and follow through with her end-of-life planning, funeral and burial details. Now as a "elder orphan" and "solo ager" at the age of 63 with no siblings, no immediate family or children, no relatives in this country or even close friends whom I can trust or rely on, planning for end-of-life is bothering me, second to dealing with recently diagnosed prostate cancer. The doct...
- Fri Dec 10, 2021 12:51 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: ACA subsidies and income
- Replies: 45
- Views: 4702
Re: ACA subsidies and income
If your friend's income in 2022 will be BELOW $12,880 (ACA 100% Federal Poverty Level income for single person in 2022), ACA will put him on Medicaid. He doesn't want to go there. He wouldn't want to be subject to Medicaid restrictions. It's also hard to get out of Medicaid once you're in it. Since your friend is 60, he could safely withdraw from his tax-deferred just enough to bring his MAGI income above the 100% FPL Above that level his health insurance choices are better. it is not always 100% of FPL, for states that did not adopt the Medicaid expansion, the lower limit is 138% of FPL. Last I read, there were 12 such states. That's a good point. Thanks. For the OP: those 12 states that did not adopt the Medicaid expansion are: Alabama, ...
- Wed Dec 08, 2021 1:12 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: ACA subsidies and income
- Replies: 45
- Views: 4702
Re: ACA subsidies and income
If your friend's income in 2022 will be BELOW $12,880 (ACA 100% Federal Poverty Level income for single person in 2022), ACA will put him on Medicaid.
He doesn't want to go there. He wouldn't want to be subject to Medicaid restrictions. It's also hard to get out of Medicaid once you're in it.
Since your friend is 60, he could safely withdraw from his tax-deferred just enough to bring his MAGI income above the 100% FPL Above that level his health insurance choices are better.
He doesn't want to go there. He wouldn't want to be subject to Medicaid restrictions. It's also hard to get out of Medicaid once you're in it.
Since your friend is 60, he could safely withdraw from his tax-deferred just enough to bring his MAGI income above the 100% FPL Above that level his health insurance choices are better.
- Sat Sep 18, 2021 8:50 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: What are you listening to now
- Replies: 5802
- Views: 574245
Re: What are you listening to now
Many of my retired friends say they are listening to the DW now since she's the head of household and breadwinner.
- Tue Aug 17, 2021 11:54 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: ACA vs Medicaid
- Replies: 15
- Views: 2378
Re: ACA vs Medicaid
I've been told you don't really want to be covered under Medicaid if you can help it. The coverage is limited and restrictive. and it's difficult to get out of. When I was laid off and my severence pay and COBRA exhausted, my only income at the time was interest and dividends. I could have qualified for Medicaid but opted not to for reasons stated above. In order to get a health insurance coverage NOT subject to Medicaid, I filed an income somewhat above the maximum allowed income for Medicaid and based on that income qualified for a subsidy, which resulted in an affordable monthly premium under a Silver Plan. It worked out fine. Coverage and benefits under the Silver Plan were acceptable. When I had to file income taxes the following April...
- Tue Aug 17, 2021 10:04 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: I'm 70 Years Old and I Can't Spend My Savings
- Replies: 418
- Views: 68025
Re: I'm 70 Years Old and I Can't Spend My Savings
I'm a single 62 years old Frugal Cheap Charlie and just find it difficult to spend money. Will eventually have to. I'm sitting on about $1.3M in taxable and IRA investments, and living in a house currently estimated at about $865K. Can't bring myself to draw 3-4% now. Company pension and interest/dividends seem to be covering essential expenses. Will commence SS at FRA of 66 yr/10 mth. Won't delay to 70 because I currently have some health issues and may need that money. Mandatory RMD will kick in at 72. Pondering what to do with all that additional income and money. Maybe someday I will do those annual world cruises, pending health. One of the goals is be "Bi-Polar": Visit the North Pole and South Pole. On the other hand, I expec...
- Thu Aug 05, 2021 9:34 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Schwab Information Thread with FAQ, Links, Tips and Q&A
- Replies: 693
- Views: 104177
Re: Schwab Information Thread with FAQ, Links, Tips and Q&A
If you pretend to open an account, it will show you the allocations. Just go through the questionnaire. Thanks. It worked... more or less. Much better. It gave me a more detailed breakdown, still into generic classes but much smaller, such as "US Securitized Bonds" and "US Inflation Protected Bonds." There was a very odd disclaimer, "ASSET ALLOCATION The allocation shown below is typical of previous portfolios; your actual portfolio may differ." And it was still necessary to click on "Learn more about our fund selection process" to get actual ticker symbols, and even then it was puzzling. They listed a "primary ETF" and a "secondary ETF" without any explanation. "US Securitiz...
- Fri Jun 04, 2021 12:23 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: IRS included interest on refund
- Replies: 39
- Views: 5698
Re: IRS included interest on refund
That's very interesting.....and sneaky.
I knew I was due for a refund and knew the deadline was extended, but went ahead and filed my taxes as though the deadline was still April 15.
Received what I expected.....no interest added.
Glad I did as I probably wouldn't have noticed interest added.
Now I wonder about those IRS Covid-relief payments.
Is the IRS going to claw back those payments in the future as some kind of income?
I hope not, but never forget that whatever the government giveth, they can taketh away too.
- Wed May 26, 2021 2:26 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: planning for early retirement, while "self insuring" for long term care?
- Replies: 51
- Views: 12695
Re: planning for early retirement, while "self insuring" for long term care?
There's a decent likelihood I may need long term care someday due to a family history of Alzheimer's which has required the huge expense of memory care for both my mother and grandmother starting around age 75 for both of them. Folks like you should get an LTC policy as early as possible. For those who say they would self insure like my next-door neighbor, here is what actually happened: the husband got a stroke and can't care for himself but now they didn't want to spend the money for home care help or nursing home, and the wife ended up caring for her husband; and she's going down quick. TravelforFun I too am thinking about long term care.....self insuring vs purchasing long term care policy. I don't quite understand long term insurance ...
- Wed Apr 07, 2021 3:06 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: CA MAGI and Excess Advance Premium Assistance Subsidy (APAS) repayment
- Replies: 1
- Views: 300
Re: CA MAGI and Excess Advance Premium Assistance Subsidy (APAS) repayment
Any thoughts on the above? Thanks
- Wed Apr 07, 2021 12:16 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: CA MAGI and Excess Advance Premium Assistance Subsidy (APAS) repayment
- Replies: 1
- Views: 300
CA MAGI and Excess Advance Premium Assistance Subsidy (APAS) repayment
For those in California state receiving Covered California subsidies for their health insurance, I have a question on calculating California MAGI as it relates to calculating the Excess Advance Premium Assistance Subsidy (APAS) repayment on Calfornia FTB Form 3849 "Premium Assistance Subsidy". Back in January 2020, I rolled over my 401(k) distribution to a Traditional IRA. The 1099-R indicated the distribution was a Code G - Direct rollover to a qualified plan. The event is considered at the Federal level a non-taxable event. In calculating the Excess Advance Premium Assistance Subsidy (APAS) repayment on FTB Form 3849 "Premium Assistance Subsidy", the 2020 H&R Block tax software for California State included the 401...
- Mon Mar 29, 2021 3:54 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: H&R Block 2020 software offer
- Replies: 426
- Views: 43468
Re: H&R Block 2020 software offer
I usually purchase the H&R tax software from Office Depot or Staples and get a $10 discount off the MSRP. Was surprised to find for 2020 software, no CD was included, instead download. Back on February 19 I purchased the Deluxe+State through H&R Block's website and got a $15 discount. Also ordered the Backup CD for additional $9.99. Purchase was paid with a MasterCard. Software was downloaded. No problems with the download and activation, however... To this date, I have not received the software CD. H&R online purchase states delivery takes up to 5 weeks. It has been longer than 5 weeks. Called H&R Block Customer Support number to find out what happened and was transferred to the Software department after a 40 minute wait. R...
- Wed Feb 24, 2021 10:09 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Medicare or Social Security fraud activity?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 433
Medicare or Social Security fraud activity?
I took my mother to a new doctor and filled out the usual information, but leaving the SSN # blank. For their records they copied her Medicare card and secondary insurance info. The doctor gave me a lab order form to be submitted to the lab facility for blood tests. At the top of the form is the usual information listing her name, address, age, medicare number and secondary insurance policy number, etc. I noticed an irregularity on the form where the SSN# (sanitized) lists a different last four digits from my mother's actual SSN #. Is there some medicare or social security fraud activity going on where there is an attempt to use my mother's medicare number and insurance with somebody else's social security number? How should I report this i...
- Mon Jan 04, 2021 10:08 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Got my stimulus check, how about you?
- Replies: 212
- Views: 19764
Re: Got my stimulus check, how about you?
Received $600 Dec 30, which was a surprise.
Will come in handy for Feb 1 property tax payment.
Will come in handy for Feb 1 property tax payment.
- Mon Jan 04, 2021 10:05 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Space Exploration
- Replies: 79
- Views: 6202
Re: Space Exploration
But is was especially motivated by national pride and politics. Well, the U.S. beat the Soviets to the Moon in 1969 because it had the financial resources, technical resources and the political-will that outpaced the Soviet's capabilities at that time. Dr. Wernher von Braun had ambitious post-Apollo plans for establishing a Moon Base to use as a stepping point to Mars and the outer planets, but people and Congress lost interest because the Moon mission was accomplished and were not willing to expend any further funds on the Space Program. <> I don't believe that it was political and it was absolutely not technical. The Soviets certainly had less hard money but in the end it could have gone either way (the US rolling the dice on a fully ass...
- Mon Jan 04, 2021 8:35 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Space Exploration
- Replies: 79
- Views: 6202
Re: Space Exploration
My impression was that past space exploration was largely motivated by the technological arms race with the USSR. This would also explain why people lost interest in space flight in the 30 years or so following the fall of the Soviet Union, and why it is picking up again just as a new superpower in China is threatening to eclipse the United States - both in economic output and in technology. But is was especially motivated by national pride and politics. Well, the U.S. beat the Soviets to the Moon in 1969 because it had the financial resources, technical resources and the political-will that outpaced the Soviet's capabilities at that time. Dr. Wernher von Braun had ambitious post-Apollo plans for establishing a Moon Base to use as a steppi...
- Mon Jan 04, 2021 7:01 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Space Exploration
- Replies: 79
- Views: 6202
Re: Space Exploration?
In other words, what you've described is the world prior to the 1960s. ... Some would even argue it was better, i.e., the U.S., as a nation, was confident, ambitious and unafraid of the future and even viewed the space age as the solution to Earth's overpopulation crisis and its derived technology a solution to all problems. Yah, that world was “better” if you were a white male. For everyone else, not so much. As for imagining a world without GPSS, have you ever heard of or used maps? People today probably think it was some miracle that 18th/19th century ships ever got to their destination. Or wondered how the early American settlers of the 1850s traveled from the East Coast on their trek westward in the U.S. Or wonder how Charles Lindberg...
- Sun Jan 03, 2021 3:07 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Space Exploration
- Replies: 79
- Views: 6202
Re: Space Exploration?
It is impossible to imagine a world without communication satellites, weather satellites, national defence founded upon spy satellites, early warning of nuclear attack satellites ... our understanding of what is happening to this planet and the influences of bodies like the Sun on it is entirely founded on our space exploration programmes. The cost of sending probes to the further reaches of the solar system is a few billions in that much larger picture. Can you imagine a world now without GPSS? It's so vital that the Europeans are building an alternative (Galileo). the idea that we could somehow do without space exploration, or that we would use that funds to help the world's poor (why not use the F35 budget? Over $1 trillion?) is really ...