Search found 3918 matches

by drk
Wed Mar 27, 2024 4:46 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Any advice on how to manaage cashflow when % of income is variable?
Replies: 39
Views: 1810

Re: Any advice on how to manaage cashflow when % of income is variable?

pejp1 wrote: Wed Mar 27, 2024 12:01 pm For a while we kept separate accounts and I'd basically send her whatever she needed for the month, but I don't think that was a healthy situation either. Everyone is different, but it was a weird dynamic, like I'm deciding what she gets and her having to come to me for money. We have challenges, and this is still relatively new to us (first time having house, kids are young etc), but I don't want her to feel like the money is 'mine' and shes just using it.
This reminded me of the recent Rational Reminder episode with Scott Rick. The focus is money and relationships, covering many of the insights from his book (Tightwads and Spendthrifts). Maybe give that a listen on your commute.
by drk
Wed Mar 27, 2024 3:55 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Why does a discussion of Financial Planning almost always turns into buying Whole life insurance?
Replies: 54
Views: 2936

Re: Why does a discussion of Financial Planning almost always turns into buying Whole life insurance?

hamhocs wrote: Wed Mar 27, 2024 3:37 pm Because you're most likely to live another 30 years. If you invested that $2 million and earned average returns of 7%, it would be worth $15 million. That's what they want to do with your $2 million.
And it would be similarly tax-free for their heir.
by drk
Mon Mar 25, 2024 5:19 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Trump Media & Technology Group Corp begins trading on NASDAQ as DJT on Tuesday
Replies: 12
Views: 2521

Re: Trump Media & Technology Group Corp begins trading on NASDAQ as DJT on Tuesday

VTI tracks the CRSP US Total Market Index, whose methodology is publicly available (p. 49):
DE-SPAC TRANSACTIONS
New corporations (C-corps) created via de-SPAC transactions (e.g., a Blank Check Company (SPAC) merges with a private
company) will be considered for index inclusion at the next regularly scheduled quarterly ranking.
As for shorting, well, you're asking in the wrong place.
by drk
Mon Mar 25, 2024 12:07 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Mega Back Door Roth 401K AND Back Door Roth IRA
Replies: 13
Views: 785

Re: Mega Back Door Roth 401K AND Back Door Roth IRA

Just Form 8606 to report the after-tax basis in the IRA. That blog post has the complete details.
by drk
Mon Mar 25, 2024 10:13 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard TDF -- Why are there International Bonds?
Replies: 8
Views: 763

Re: Vanguard TDF -- Why are there International Bonds?

Since you're reading the book, you're aware that Bernstein dislikes most of the bonds in Vanguard Total Bond, too.
by drk
Sat Mar 23, 2024 1:05 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: HCOL in retirement - mortgage vs. paid off vs. rent?
Replies: 25
Views: 2072

Re: HCOL in retirement - mortgage vs. paid off vs. rent?

Admiral Fun wrote: Sat Mar 23, 2024 12:27 pm I'm surprised that more people are not in the "retired people should own" camp.
Home-ownership in HCOL areas is a luxury good. If you don't feel passionate about it, skip it. You maintain valuable optionality by renting.

At your level of assets, I don't think this decision should change your asset allocation, but you should have some fixed income in inflation-protected assets because your housing costs will rise with inflation either way (property taxes and maintenance on the one hand, rent on the other).
by drk
Sat Mar 23, 2024 11:53 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Great news! No more [fixed real estate] agent commission
Replies: 238
Views: 22607

Re: Great news! No more [fixed real estate] agent commission

If they wanted to ban sellers from paying for buyers' agents, then they could have just, you know, done that. Instead all they did is add this weird additional step in the communication of a buyer's agent fee, which the media is interpreting as the end of buyers' agency fees. But it's not that at all. I don't think sellers' generosity is the target of the lawsuit. It's the listing agent's steering by saying "We have to put something in MLS. Let's say 3% because that's standard." Now, it will be "We should advertise compensation to the buyer's agent. Let's say 3% because that's common." How many sellers are going to say that that sounds reasonable? What listing agents are going to bat for the buyer's agent at the expense...
by drk
Fri Mar 22, 2024 2:56 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Cash accumulator pathology
Replies: 24
Views: 2485

Re: Cash accumulator pathology

Here's a suggestion: invest once a year. With a 40% US, 20% ex-US, 30% bonds, 10% cash portfolio since 1997, your money-weighted rate of return would have been virtually the same investing annually (6.56%) or monthly (6.57%). During the year, accumulate cash to your heart's content, then make Annual Investment Day a family holiday.
by drk
Fri Mar 22, 2024 2:54 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Backdoor Roth vs TIPS Ladder - want both but wary of prorata rule
Replies: 19
Views: 1041

Re: Backdoor Roth vs TIPS Ladder - want both but wary of prorata rule

If I go with DIPSX, it says avg. maturity 7.43 and avg. duration 6.74 and YTM 1.99%. Does that mean if I buy $100K on Monday, I lock in 1.99% real yield on $100K guaranteed till 2031, roughly around time I want to retire, then rollover 401K to TIRA and buy TIPS ladder to mature 2040-2044 at whatever market is at then? If yes, then I am still exposed in 2031 but with TIPS ladder now, my $100K is guaranteed 2%+ till 2044...so not sure DIPSX solves the problem? Yes, you have a duration mismatch with that single TIPS fund. You could combine it with LTPZ in your Roth IRA to match the duration for your desired ladder, selling some LTPZ and buying some DIPSX every year. At retirement, sell both funds and buy your TIPS ladder. Maybe call this opti...
by drk
Fri Mar 22, 2024 2:02 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Cash accumulator pathology
Replies: 24
Views: 2485

Re: Cash accumulator pathology

makeitcount wrote: Fri Mar 22, 2024 1:52 pm Are they also using their cash in an attempt to time the market like the OP, or is the cash part of their chosen AA?
I don't think there's a meaningful difference between the two. OP claims a preference for 10% cash, but reveals a preference for 13%. Sinning with 3% of one's portfolio is even Bogle-approved.
by drk
Fri Mar 22, 2024 1:34 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Cash accumulator pathology
Replies: 24
Views: 2485

Re: Cash accumulator pathology

You're in good company: Boglehead-approved financial gurus Morgan Housel and Christine Benz also have "irrationally" large cash allocations.
by drk
Thu Mar 21, 2024 8:27 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Monthly cash availability but weekly buys?
Replies: 9
Views: 625

Re: Monthly cash availability but weekly buys?

I can't imagine this will have a noticeable impact over 30 years. Over the last 30 years, it looks like investing monthly only gave you 1 bp extra money-weighted return than investing annually. Weekly versus monthly could really go either way. So, yeah, go for it.
by drk
Thu Mar 21, 2024 6:16 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Backdoor Roth vs TIPS Ladder - want both but wary of prorata rule
Replies: 19
Views: 1041

Re: Backdoor Roth vs TIPS Ladder - want both but wary of prorata rule

life_force_prana wrote: Thu Mar 21, 2024 4:26 pm do not like TIPS funds
It seems like they would help you accomplish your goal, though. Maybe spend some time reviewing #Cruncher's Consistent Yield & Duration to Help Choose TIPS Fund. There are some posters who use a combination of TIPS funds to simulate a TIPS ladder (e.g., viewtopic.php?p=7637829#p7636981).
by drk
Thu Mar 21, 2024 1:40 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: In-laws 529 for grandkids, bite my lip or say something?
Replies: 58
Views: 5897

Re: In-laws 529 for grandkids, bite my lip or say something?

I think this highlights the distinction between being kind and being nice. You've noticed something rotten. It's nice to save them the potential embarrassment of knowing that they're getting ripped off. It's kind to (offer to help) stop them from getting ripped off. They're sharing the statements with you, so it's not like you're prying into something they want to keep secret. At the end of the day, everybody wants the kids to benefit as much as possible from this generosity.
by drk
Thu Mar 21, 2024 10:14 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Simple things like writing a check, balancing a checkbook, depositing, withdrawing, interest. Teach a child... but how?
Replies: 39
Views: 2599

Re: Simple things like writing a check, balancing a checkbook, depositing, withdrawing, interest. Teach a child... but h

You should be their bank/brokerage. When they get money, tell them that they can deposit it with you to earn 5% interest guaranteed, or invest it in something reasonable like VTI. Make it an attractive alternative to spending immediately. When they want to withdraw or check their balance, sit down to calculate this together.

Skip the checks (insecure and archaic), balancing a checkbook (useless), etc. There's a good chance that your kids will never have to write a check. That's already true of Gen Zers.
by drk
Wed Mar 20, 2024 6:20 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: When and How to Reduce Equity Allocation if One Fills their Mental LMP While Reasonably Young?
Replies: 7
Views: 770

Re: When and how to reduce equity allocation if one fills their liability matching portfolio LMP while reasonably young.

OK, I definitely misunderstood. Those other threads are for people who have already built their LMP with TIPS.

It seems like "full mental LMP" is just another way to say that you've reached 25x expenses? If so, it might make sense to start building an LMP with that money (e.g., via TIPS ladder to take advantage of high real yields). Maybe check out grok87's series on LMPs because this would be #3.

Basically, there's no need to either make drastic changes now or to defer all action until you're ready to actually retire.
by drk
Wed Mar 20, 2024 3:43 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: When and How to Reduce Equity Allocation if One Fills their Mental LMP While Reasonably Young?
Replies: 7
Views: 770

Re: When and how to reduce equity allocation if one fills their liability matching portfolio LMP while reasonably young.

Maybe I'm misreading your post, but why would your LMP have any equities? I thought it was supposed to be a bucket filled with real and nominal fixed income with maturities matching your future real and nominal liabilities. Inflation protection would be provided by real-return assets like TIPS.

Here are a few threads on this topic: viewtopic.php?t=410175, viewtopic.php?t=399073, viewtopic.php?t=381357 (all coincidentally started by TheTimeLord).
by drk
Fri Mar 15, 2024 11:18 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Great news! No more [fixed real estate] agent commission
Replies: 238
Views: 22607

Re: Great news! No more agent commission

ResearchMed wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 10:08 am Any suggestions about how agents *would* be compensated?

RM
Redfin pays agents a salary. (It also loudly left the NAR last year.)

There will still be commission-based compensation, but it seems like the big change will be making these commissions negotiable between sellers and listing agents, between buyers and their agents, and between sellers and buyers.
by drk
Mon Mar 11, 2024 12:10 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: The classic dilemma between income and growth... Where should I be?
Replies: 40
Views: 2448

Re: The classic dilemma between income and growth... Where should I be?

HanSolo wrote: Mon Mar 11, 2024 12:08 pm Not to derail this into another dividend debate, but the above assertion is unbalanced. Non-dividend-payers also pull anti-shareholder shenanigans. At least with the dividend-payer, money got transferred from the corporate treasury into my pocket instead of into executive boondoggles or whatever.
Right. That was covered by the OP, which I quoted.
by drk
Mon Mar 11, 2024 11:53 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: The classic dilemma between income and growth... Where should I be?
Replies: 40
Views: 2448

Re: The classic dilemma between income and growth... Where should I be?

Kandinsky wrote: Mon Mar 11, 2024 8:24 am I've been in corporate America long enough to see a lot of stupid stuff. So the logic sort of makes sense that you would rather take the return as a dividend instead of an equity gain. I could be swayed either way on this argument though.
Dividends don't provide immunity against this. Execs at big dividend payers routinely pull anti-shareholder shenanigans to preserve their dividend.
by drk
Sun Mar 10, 2024 2:38 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank of America Outbound ACH Fee now zero!
Replies: 22
Views: 2091

Re: Bank of America Outbound ACH Fee now zero!

G-Force wrote: Sun Mar 10, 2024 1:53 pm Does this only apply if you have accounts at the same bank of the recipient? Or does it work across banks as well?
No such restriction. It's just ACH.
by drk
Sun Mar 10, 2024 2:23 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Take lower paying job for less stress
Replies: 14
Views: 1021

Re: Take lower paying job for less stress

There have been a number of posts from folks considering this (recent example). Search "coast fire" or "down shift" for some of them.

If you work at Amazon, note that this would be a two-way door decision: boomerangs can return to the same role and level within 12 months as long as the hiring manager approves.
by drk
Sun Mar 10, 2024 12:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank of America Outbound ACH Fee now zero!
Replies: 22
Views: 2091

Re: Bank of America Outbound ACH Fee now zero!

anagram wrote: Sun Mar 10, 2024 12:05 pm How can you do this? At Ally it seems you have to be the owner of an external account to link it.
Both BofA and Fidelity let you establish connections to others' accounts as payees. I don't use Ally.
by drk
Sun Mar 10, 2024 12:01 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank of America Outbound ACH Fee now zero!
Replies: 22
Views: 2091

Re: Bank of America Outbound ACH Fee now zero!

TomatoTomahto wrote: Sun Mar 10, 2024 11:16 am Slightly different topic: can you ACH to anyone whose routing and account information you have? This year, there was a moment of panic when some irregularity occurred with my daughter’s annual gift check; everything was fine in the end. If I have her details, could I just ACH to her next year?
Yes. I've paid contractors like this. Lots of folks pay rent this way.
by drk
Sun Mar 10, 2024 11:38 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Best way to convert multiple stocks to 3-fund portfolio?
Replies: 22
Views: 2211

Re: Best way to convert multiple stocks to 3-fund portfolio?

Right, but if I sold all the stocks now and bought $191k of VTI, I wouldn't have anything to TLH with, AND I would have $9k less to invest because I have to pay the tax bill. Also, yes, $9k doesn't sound like a lot, but let's multiply the amounts by 3 or 10 or 30 or 100 and see if that changes your answer? What I'm curious about is the optimal strategy, independent of the specific amount. (The hypothetical investor, as it turns out, is me; the amounts in question are different, but proportional to the numbers I gave above.) This framing is wrong again. You don't have that $9k (or $90k, $270k, etc.) now. You're borrowing it from the Treasury. The only way you would really have it is by holding these individual stocks until you get down to t...
by drk
Sat Mar 09, 2024 6:29 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Slice and dice VTI for tax savings: worth the squeeze?
Replies: 17
Views: 1551

Re: Slice and dice VTI for tax savings: worth the squeeze?

HEDGEFUNDIE used to post about this. IIRC, he rage-quit after someone said that VTI is good enough.

I think you could reduce the marginal complexity somewhat by dropping funds. There's no reason for VO because it's a subset of VV (VUG+VTV), and VB looks expendable given that VTI and VV have been almost perfectly correlated. If you want more smid-cap exposure, consider using SCHG and SCHV because Schwab/Dow Jones's Large-Cap universe includes 750 stocks versus 600 for Vanguard/CRSP.

Is it worth it? If you value the taxes you'll save more than the time you'll spend, go for it.
by drk
Sat Mar 09, 2024 6:06 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Best way to convert multiple stocks to 3-fund portfolio?
Replies: 22
Views: 2211

Re: Best way to convert multiple stocks to 3-fund portfolio?

snic wrote: Sat Mar 09, 2024 5:27 pm Let's say I'd use the proceeds from selling this smattering of stocks to buy just the stock funds of a 3-fund total market portfolio. So, no, I wouldn't buy these stocks, I'd buy a total market stock index fund.
That seems like the correct framing and a reasonable course of action. Making the switch now in March also gives this hypothetical investor over nine months to find opportunities to TLH this year, plus the 13-month loan on the taxes due.

It makes no sense to me to wait for these stocks to lose their gains. There are better than even odds that they will under-perform the market in the mean-time. Would this hypothetical investor prefer to retire later in order to save $9k in LTCG taxes?
by drk
Sat Mar 09, 2024 4:56 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Best way to convert multiple stocks to 3-fund portfolio?
Replies: 22
Views: 2211

Re: Best way to convert multiple stocks to 3-fund portfolio?

If you had $191k in cash right now, would you buy this smattering of stocks instead of your preferred allocation?
by drk
Mon Mar 04, 2024 4:35 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to share HR Block tax software with wife
Replies: 5
Views: 521

Re: How to share HR Block tax software with wife

Save the HRB23 file to a secure cloud drive shared with her, let her fill out the details and overwrite that file in the cloud drive, then wrap it up on your end.
by drk
Sun Feb 25, 2024 11:21 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: LMP/TIPS Ladder Pros & Cons Master Thread
Replies: 71
Views: 6034

Re: LMP/TIPS Ladder Pros & Cons Master Thread

AlwaysLearningMore wrote: Sun Feb 25, 2024 11:16 am Does Merton indicate that to qualify as Level 1 income the payments must be *lifetime* inflation-protected income?
Yes:
Level 1 type income provides inflation-protected income, guaranteed for life, and thus eliminates longevity risk, interest rate risk and inflation risk.
by drk
Sun Feb 25, 2024 10:53 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: LMP/TIPS Ladder Pros & Cons Master Thread
Replies: 71
Views: 6034

Re: LMP/TIPS Ladder Pros & Cons Master Thread

No, I was channelling Merton's article ( Applying Life-cylce economics: And income-oriented DC retirement solution that integrated accumulation and payout phases ), Barry Barnitz ( https://www.bogleheads.org/blog/2016/12/04/a-three-fund-portfolio-tailored-for-stable-retirement-spending/ ) and Vineviz more. I can no longer find Merton's article. I looked at this years ago, conceptually and outlined the SPIA v. TIPS ladder approaches. Here's a link to Merton's "Applying life-cycle economics" paper courtesy his appearance on the Rational Reminder podcast . BobK chimed into grok's series ( and more directly here ) to make Merton's point that a TIPS ladder (Level 2 income) is inferior to an inflation-protected lifetime annuity (Level ...
by drk
Sat Feb 24, 2024 1:10 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: LMP/TIPS Ladder Pros & Cons Master Thread
Replies: 71
Views: 6034

Re: LMP/TIPS Ladder Pros & Cons Master Thread

protagonist wrote: Sat Feb 24, 2024 12:49 pm I didn't know that....thanks But what about the inflation adjustment (which, for most years, would likely be larger than the interest payment)?
For Series I Bonds, isn't the inflation adjustment just paid out as interest and compounded to the principal?
by drk
Sat Feb 24, 2024 1:09 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: LMP/TIPS Ladder Pros & Cons Master Thread
Replies: 71
Views: 6034

Re: LMP/TIPS Ladder Pros & Cons Master Thread

TheTimeLord, could you expand on your intention in this thread? Is it to discuss the pros and cons of TIPS, or to discuss LMPs using TIPS. We are 20 posts in and I searched and the word "annuity" has yet to show up in any form in any post. I'll take this as a cue to plug Grok's Tips on TIPS ladders as a COLA pension . This year, I started building a TIPS ladder in my TIRA that will (eventually) pull forward my expected Social Security benefit from age 70 to my target retirement age. In the Pro column, I'd add that this makes my fixed income allocation feel more productive because it provides (a) a baseline real income and (b) exposure to long Treasurys with >2% real yields. That's some nice option value over the next few decades.
by drk
Sat Feb 24, 2024 12:13 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Where to manage a low touch portfolio
Replies: 41
Views: 3205

Re: Where to manage a low touch portfolio

fsa317 wrote: Fri Feb 23, 2024 2:16 pm * I have an etrade (now MS) account that I do my speculative stock stuff with.
FWIW, E*Trade is a good place for a low-touch portfolio (ref. E*Trade as a one stop shop), and the transfer process will probably be smoother than Vanguard's.
by drk
Sat Feb 24, 2024 12:06 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Heavy Value Tilt Away from Mag 7 stocks
Replies: 221
Views: 14197

Re: Heavy Value Tilt Away from Mag 7 stocks

snowday2022 wrote: Sat Feb 24, 2024 7:25 am I think it’s reasonable to tilt to value and Int while also holding lots of TSM index funds. Tons of threads on this. Not sure why everyone is assailing the OP.
It's only acceptable to tilt away from ex-US stocks, thereby tilting towards Mega-Cap Growth. Every other tilt is heresy and needs to be shouted down.
by drk
Sun Feb 18, 2024 1:45 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help me understand SCHO (Schwab Short-Term US Treasury) ETF...
Replies: 22
Views: 2075

Re: Help me understand SCHO (Schwab Short-Term US Treasury) ETF...

It didn't work (i.e. recover NAV) the way you'd expect because the fund doesn't hold its underlying bonds until maturity.
by drk
Sun Feb 11, 2024 12:26 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What is happening with the SEC Yield for TIPS funds?
Replies: 15
Views: 1468

Re: What is happening with the SEC Yiled for TIPS funds?

snowsurfer wrote: Sun Feb 11, 2024 12:22 pm OK, if see the difference. If I check Vanguard's VIPSX (intermediate fund)
https://investor.vanguard.com/investmen ... omposition
it shows duration 6.5 years (comparable to SCHP and TIP) and SEC yield of 2.01% (and average coupon of 1.1%).

I wish TIPS funds were more clear about it. Otherwise it's apples to oranges.
#Cruncher provides a weekly update of real yields for TIPS funds in Consistent Yield & Duration to Help Choose TIPS Fund. At Friday's close, SCHP's real yield was 2.02%.
by drk
Sun Feb 04, 2024 10:54 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Recently laid off from FAANG, should I go work for a non-profit or try to stay?
Replies: 65
Views: 9321

Re: Recently laid off from FAANG, should I go work for a non-profit or try to stay?

Here's some anecdata: a former coworker made a similar decision to #1 last year (except for less pay and more intellectual stimulation than difference-making), and he says that he would make the same decision today. The primary opportunity cost here is time with your kids at this age, not the high comp.
bdfe9 wrote: Sun Feb 04, 2024 10:37 am One way I've been thinking of this situation is that the goal of FIRE is to reach a level of independence such that work doesn't dictate your life anymore.
You've reached that point. You can afford to downshift to a better job that demands less of your time and energy.
by drk
Fri Feb 02, 2024 1:57 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Lifecycle Investing Challened - Scott Cederburg
Replies: 83
Views: 8025

Re: Lifecycle Investing Challened - Scott Cederburg

There's a small minority of investors that can handle a 100% stock portfolio through retirement let alone those that can also stick to a 50/50 US/international allocation their entire lives while avoiding the temptation to adjust things at any point. Imagine being able to strictly stick to a 50/50 US/intl with only rebalancing while faithfully contributing the same % of your income no matter what from age 20 to age 65. Then spending down that in retirement while sticking to the same portfolio no matter what from age 65 to 95. No one in the history of investing has likely ever done that. But it is easy enough to do a computer simulation that does. The bolded assumption is not necessary. Cederburg on the Rational Reminder podcast: As we look...
by drk
Sun Oct 15, 2023 11:15 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The Final, Definitive Thread on Brokerage Transfer Bonuses
Replies: 7768
Views: 1351816

Re: The Final, Definitive Thread on Brokerage Transfer Bonuses

Gene2001 wrote: Sat Oct 14, 2023 11:54 pm WF manager told me 45 days. - I'm not there yet so not sure if 45 days means 45 days
Offer terms state that you have 45 days to bring in $250k and need to maintain at least $250k through day 90, then they'll deposit the bonus within 30 days (i.e. 120 days after enrollment).
by drk
Tue Sep 26, 2023 12:38 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Case Study: Broker speed of dividend payments
Replies: 108
Views: 28023

Re: Case Study: Broker speed of dividend payments

livesoft wrote: Tue Sep 26, 2023 12:24 pm Now that one my TDAmeritrade accounts have been transferred to Schwab I can report that Schwab is very slow on reporting today's VTI dividend.

[...]

Schwab has not reported the dividend as of 13:21 Eastern. I'll edit this when I notice it. However, Schwab reported an AVUV dividend after 11 am today, so not completely terrible.
Probably not intra-day. Last week's VXUS dividend didn't credit until after hours (definitely too late to ACH out that day). Fidelity and Wells Trade both credited before the open.

It's interesting that Schwab credits Avantis dividends earlier. I wonder if that's due to (a) lower volume, (b) slower communication from the fund, or (c) something else.
by drk
Fri Sep 15, 2023 6:43 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Berkshire Hathaway and Dividends
Replies: 92
Views: 9044

Re: Berkshire Hathaway and Dividends

comeinvest wrote: Fri Sep 15, 2023 5:56 pm I couldn't care less, as long as my significant BRK-B position performs well. I'm glad that they don't waste money on web developers or on ESG tasks.
That's fine! I suppose "best, easiest to navigate, and easiest to read web site" is in the eye of the beholder. :D

BTW, they have a link for "ESG tasks" on the home page.
by drk
Fri Sep 15, 2023 5:25 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Berkshire Hathaway and Dividends
Replies: 92
Views: 9044

Re: Berkshire Hathaway and Dividends

^ It's simple, but it's still a bad website because of the complete lack of information architecture. Why are Charlie's old Wesco updates and the Activision letter given the same weight as current letters and filings?
by drk
Fri Sep 15, 2023 2:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Approaching mortgage lender to buy out loan?
Replies: 33
Views: 2814

Re: Approaching mortgage lender to buy out loan?

Rainier wrote: Fri Sep 15, 2023 1:51 pm Since this is obviously impossible for a dozen different reasons, has anyone thought of how to synthetically pull this off? Would buying a now discounted 30 year treasury with the same remaining lifespan as your home loan accomplish the same thing? There has to be a way, in theory to match the outcome.
With your mortgage, you're paying off principal and interest every month, so you would need to set up a ladder.
by drk
Fri Sep 15, 2023 11:05 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Approaching mortgage lender to buy out loan?
Replies: 33
Views: 2814

Re: Approaching mortgage lender to buy out loan?

Step one: go read your mortgage contract.
by drk
Sun Sep 10, 2023 10:38 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Thinking of Departing the Formation [Moving to a financial advisor]
Replies: 178
Views: 23663

Re: Thinking of Departing the Formation

You seem like a great candidate for a one-fund portfolio. The TSP appears to have excellent target-date funds, and I'm sure your brokerage has something similar (or a static allocation fund like Vanguard LifeStrategy Funds or iShares Core Allocation ETFs, both of which are covered in the thread above).
by drk
Wed Sep 06, 2023 3:31 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Alternatives to Chase traditional savings accounts for “Emergency Funds”
Replies: 50
Views: 4598

Re: Alternatives to Chase traditional savings accounts for “Emergency Funds”

lthenderson wrote: Wed Sep 06, 2023 2:35 pm All fair points that I agree with but with all due respect, you are all missing the point I was making which didn't have anything to do with emergency buying of vehicles. My point was that a true emergency might require a large amount of money quickly that might not be fulfilled by using a credit card, selling off investments, etc. I just used a bad example as you have pointed out.
It's not your fault. There just aren't any good examples. Maybe a ransom, as student suggested, or some other illegal payment. :twisted:
by drk
Wed Sep 06, 2023 12:55 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Alternatives to Chase traditional savings accounts for “Emergency Funds”
Replies: 50
Views: 4598

Re: Alternatives to Chase traditional savings accounts for “Emergency Funds”

lthenderson wrote: Wed Sep 06, 2023 8:35 am I'm sure mileages may vary but our credit cards wouldn't have a big enough limit to say buy a new car in a pinch, nor would our dealer take a credit card without charging us a percentage of the total in fees. But I could transfer money out of my savings into my checking account and write a check for a new car in a matter of minutes. I could do something similar with a money market but it might take a day or two to complete the entire transaction and it might even take longer if on a holiday weekend.
Buying a new car in an emergency, eh? If I suddenly needed a car last Friday, I would have rented one.
by drk
Tue Sep 05, 2023 3:02 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The Final, Definitive Thread on Brokerage Transfer Bonuses
Replies: 7768
Views: 1351816

Re: The Final, Definitive Thread on Brokerage Transfer Bonuses

whodidntante wrote: Tue Sep 05, 2023 2:11 pm I just did a targeted Chase brokerage bonus. Added 200k to an existing account for $625. Public got the bad news about my disloyalty.
How did they target you? Website, email, other?
by drk
Tue Sep 05, 2023 10:37 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Alternatives to Chase traditional savings accounts for “Emergency Funds”
Replies: 50
Views: 4598

Re: Alternatives to Chase traditional savings accounts for “Emergency Funds”

AFAIK, Chase's self-directed investing platform offers Vanguard money market funds with no fees. You'll end up with the same next-day availability as at Vanguard or other brokerages, though.

Edit: If you want to read what others do, use the search functionality because this topic has been covered many times. Speaking personally, we don't keep a dedicated emergency fund in cash because of sufficient incomes, assets, and credit lines.