Search found 699 matches

by Ping Pong
Sun Feb 04, 2024 4:55 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Unintentional trading violation at Schwab due to pending dividend reinvestment
Replies: 32
Views: 3908

Re: Unintentional trading violation at Schwab due to pending dividend reinvestment

Maybe the issue is that Schwab doesn’t even enter the order for the reinvestment until some time after the dividend comes in. So you’re seeing the state of your account after receiving the dividend. It’s not showing the funds as unavailable because it hasn’t entered the trade for the reinvestment yet.
by Ping Pong
Sun Jan 21, 2024 1:21 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Nice home, nice neighborhood, unsavory neighbors – options?
Replies: 92
Views: 10635

Re: Nice home, nice neighborhood, unsavory neighbors – options?

If they can be convinced to sell, I see no reason for the OP be the one to buy it. If anyone buys it, the problem goes away.

So step one would be to find out if they want to sell. Step two, get a Realtor to sell it.
by Ping Pong
Thu Dec 07, 2023 2:21 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What gave GEICO its Economic Moat?
Replies: 19
Views: 2979

Re: What gave GEICO its Economic Moat?

One of their advantages was that they didn’t pay commissions to insurance agents. You called a 1-800 number to get a policy.

A lot of people bring up investing the float. Their float is always invested in treasuries. Nothing special about that.
by Ping Pong
Sun Dec 03, 2023 5:35 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: TIPS Ladder Purchasing Strategy
Replies: 5
Views: 980

Re: TIPS Ladder Purchasing Strategy

I would buy as much of the ladder as I could now, at the later end. If interest rates fall, the cost of the later years will increase the most.
by Ping Pong
Sun Dec 03, 2023 10:26 am
Forum: Forum Issues and Administration
Topic: Why are PM messages stuck in the Outbox ?
Replies: 12
Views: 5943

Re: Why PM messages are stuck in outbox ?

livesoft wrote: Wed Apr 14, 2021 5:53 pm Maybe they meant "unread."
It’s hard to unread something after you’ve read it. That’s why I’m careful about what I read.
by Ping Pong
Sat Dec 02, 2023 7:44 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Thinking about a 5 year interest-only ARM - rent or buy?
Replies: 13
Views: 1438

Re: Thinking about a 5 year interest-only ARM - rent or buy?

CletusCaddy wrote: Sat Dec 02, 2023 7:22 pm
Raraculus wrote: Sat Dec 02, 2023 6:37 pm
CletusCaddy wrote: Sat Dec 02, 2023 5:54 pmWhy not 10 year interest only ARM?
I didn't know if such mortgage products existed. I would think that an interest-only 10-year ARM would not exist. The time period would be too long - pushing the interest rate higher, making it more expensive.

All things equal, if the 10-year fixed rate interest-only ARM is competitive in cost to its 5 year sibling and is equivalent to market rents, then yeah, I would rather have that.
https://www.schwab.com/mortgages/mortgage-rates

As of today the 10 year is cheaper than the 5 year
And the 30 year fixed is cheaper than the 10 year ARM at that link.
by Ping Pong
Fri Dec 01, 2023 4:07 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Money does grow on trees!!
Replies: 12
Views: 2229

Re: Money does grow on trees!!

Sometimes the trees like to cut themselves down.
by Ping Pong
Thu Nov 30, 2023 3:46 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Small tool chest on wheels
Replies: 30
Views: 2877

Re: Small tool chest on wheels

US General tool boxes sold at Harbor Freight get good reviews online. Some of their tools have a bad reputation, but not the US General boxes. I have SKU 64281 and am happy with it.
by Ping Pong
Fri Nov 17, 2023 4:32 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Portfolio Feedback: Wife Taxable mutual fund
Replies: 16
Views: 1326

Re: Exchange wife taxable mutual fund: added diversity + tax efficiency

Exchange wife? I don’t think you can do that. You have to sell, wait for settlement, then buy the replacement.
by Ping Pong
Thu Oct 26, 2023 10:12 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Should I pay more for a plumber to install garbage disposal versus a handyman?
Replies: 93
Views: 10287

Re: Should I pay more for a plumber to install garbage disposal versus a handyman?

Sometimes people think they need to replace the disposal when all they really need to do is reset it.
by Ping Pong
Tue Oct 10, 2023 9:42 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Money Markets Can Replace All Fixed Income - Bengen
Replies: 45
Views: 7166

Re: Money Markets Can Replace All Fixed Income - Bengen

It sounds like he’s talking about how money markets affected safemax. Safemax is the 30 year period starting in 1966 in the US. So he’s saying money markets did better than bonds in a portfolio 1966-1995.

Usually any time someone comes up with something that would have improved SWR, it is merely something that did well in 1966 compared to alternatives.

(There are some asset mixes in which the worst year wasn’t 1966)
by Ping Pong
Wed Sep 27, 2023 4:31 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Bill Ackman: "Long-term rates will rise further"
Replies: 84
Views: 13301

Re: Bill Ackman: "Long-term rates will rise further"

nisiprius wrote: Sun Sep 24, 2023 9:14 am To state the obvious, one should never assume that these quotable newsmakers are even telling the truth about what they think. I don't have an actual example for Ackman, but The Bond King gave an example of Bill Gross appearing on CNBC to diss TIPS five minutes before an auction, followed by PIMCO entering a huge bid in the auction five minutes later.
Isn’t PIMCO a huge bond shop? Wouldn’t they be participating in every auction anyway? Vanguard publishes papers saying the outlook for US equities is not great, then turns around and buys almost every stock in the market.
by Ping Pong
Wed Sep 27, 2023 4:30 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Bill Ackman: "Long-term rates will rise further"
Replies: 84
Views: 13301

Re: Bill Ackman: "Long-term rates will rise further"

nisiprius wrote: Sun Sep 24, 2023 9:14 am To state the obvious, one should never assume that these quotable newsmakers are even telling the truth about what they think. I don't have an actual example for Ackman, but The Bond King gave an example of Bill Gross appearing on CNBC to diss TIPS five minutes before an auction, followed by PIMCO entering a huge bid in the auction five minutes later.
Isn’t PIMCO a huge bond shop? Wouldn’t they be participating in every auction anyway? Vanguard publishes papers saying the outlook for US equities is not great, then turns around and buys almost every stock in the market.
by Ping Pong
Fri Sep 15, 2023 8:26 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: First a cordless vac and now a cordless duster too!
Replies: 13
Views: 1920

Re: First a cordless vac and now a cordless duster too!

There’s no need to buy a separate duster. Just run the vacuum in reverse. It works well putting the dust where you want it.
by Ping Pong
Fri Sep 01, 2023 5:27 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Selling Raw Land
Replies: 15
Views: 1929

Re: Selling Raw Land

I didn’t know people cooked land.
by Ping Pong
Fri Sep 01, 2023 5:27 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Selling Raw Land
Replies: 15
Views: 1929

Re: Selling Raw Land

I didn’t know people cooked land.
by Ping Pong
Fri Aug 18, 2023 6:31 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: International (Non-US) versus US Equities (The "Arguments")
Replies: 5351
Views: 904337

Re: International (Non-US) versus US Equities (The "Arguments")

You’ve got the US-exceptionalism in the wrong column. Since investors are rewarded for risk, US-exceptionalism is a reason for holding international. There have been studies that show returns are inversely proportional to GDP.
by Ping Pong
Wed Aug 09, 2023 9:17 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Battery Backup for Refrigerator?
Replies: 62
Views: 6444

Re: Battery Backup for Refrigerator?

Just keep extra ice. When the power goes out, move the ice to the fridge.
by Ping Pong
Fri Jul 28, 2023 7:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: rogue S-2 owners
Replies: 5
Views: 744

Re: rogue S-2 owners

I know you said you don’t want a full rack due to space, but I just wanted to mention the squat rack and full rack have the same footprint on the floor in case you weren’t aware.
by Ping Pong
Mon Jul 24, 2023 4:55 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: International (Non-US) versus US Equities (The "Arguments")
Replies: 5351
Views: 904337

Re: International versus US (The official list of arguments)

An argument that used to be brought up that I haven’t seen recently is that a country’s stock market performance is negatively correlated with its GDP growth.
by Ping Pong
Sun Jun 18, 2023 6:33 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What does free lunch really mean
Replies: 22
Views: 2306

Re: What does free lunch really mean

It is a lunch…bonds improve portfolio performance if you have to withdraw a lot of money in a period during which bonds outperform stocks. Just because the people complaining about bonds haven’t been in that situation doesn’t mean it won’t apply to someone at some point.
by Ping Pong
Sun Jun 18, 2023 5:17 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How has 60/40 worked out in retirement ?
Replies: 84
Views: 13763

Re: How has 60/40 worked out in retirement ?

Vivbet wrote: Wed Jun 07, 2023 10:21 pm I knew RMDs were lurking around the corner, but haven’t really given it much thought. I guess this means I need to plan to transition IRA funds out of stocks just to meet the RMD - even just fixed income in general may not cut it because bond funds can go down quite a bit too. Ugh, this gets very complicated. So I may need to leave money in cash or very short term fixed income just to cover RMDs? Would you be able to share kind of fixed income you used? Thanks again!
RMDs should have no effect on your asset allocation. RMDs only require that you move assets from retirement accounts to a taxable account, where you can hold stocks or bonds, or you can spend it.
by Ping Pong
Wed Jun 14, 2023 7:48 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: would you buyout this Audi lease? Audi owners please comment!
Replies: 34
Views: 3902

Re: would you buyout this Audi lease? Audi owners please comment!

Isn’t the market price of autos still high from the pandemic? If prices normalize by the time the lease is up, getting a slight discount from an inflated market value now might not be much of a bargain. Besides, you lose the optionality of the lease. Something might happen in the next year that might make you not want it any more. Reliability issues or you get an an accident. You might prefer to turn it in after insurance repairs it.
by Ping Pong
Mon Jun 05, 2023 12:44 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cooktop on/in Counter
Replies: 18
Views: 1577

Re: Cooktop on/in Counter

csm wrote: Mon Jun 05, 2023 9:56 am We had a single 220 v plus for the range, so my husband had to do a splitter and created the option to plug two 220 volt appliances in. It wasn't a problem, just something to keep in mind.
This isn’t up to code. The larger circuit breaker that the range had might not trip if there’s a short in one of the appliances, as they may have been designed with a smaller wire size and breaker in mind. The smaller wire isn’t enough to draw the current necessary to trip the breaker, but is large enough to start a fire in the event of a short circuit.
by Ping Pong
Tue May 30, 2023 2:57 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Attaching a Mesh Bag to a stationary object?
Replies: 18
Views: 2177

Re: Attaching a Mesh Bag to a stationary object?

An S-hook might work, though traveling with a large enough one might be awkward.
by Ping Pong
Sun Apr 30, 2023 3:37 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Landlord denied 6 month lease, and we're moving in 6 months
Replies: 66
Views: 7762

Re: Landlord denied 6 month lease, and we're moving in 6 months

EveryDayI'mBoglein' wrote:
No, in fact it says it will default to a new 12 month lease....
What price does it default to? Your current rent? If there’s no price increase in the default, you could save a lot of money by not signing the renewal and using the default.
by Ping Pong
Mon Apr 17, 2023 6:34 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Help me compare 30 year vs 5/1 Arm
Replies: 11
Views: 1283

Re: Help me compare 30 year vs 5/1 Arm

What is the formula for the rate reset? I’ve noticed with a lot of ARMs, the formula shows the payment going up even if rates stay the same. Ie the first 5 years aren’t tied to the formula, but everything after is.
by Ping Pong
Tue Apr 11, 2023 5:53 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard order of execution
Replies: 4
Views: 621

Re: Vanguard order of execution

I’ve done this before and it executes fine. If you enter the orders in an illogical order, they might not execute in order. If you transact All then transact a dollar amount, that wouldn’t make sense.
by Ping Pong
Thu Mar 30, 2023 1:47 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Why not always take debt if it’s sub 4% / SWR discussion
Replies: 68
Views: 6853

Re: Why not always take debt if it’s sub 4% / SWR discussion

The mortgage payment is higher than the interest rate because you’re required to pay down principal. So using your example, the payment rate, not the interest rate, needs to be less than 4%.
by Ping Pong
Thu Mar 30, 2023 1:47 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Why not always take debt if it’s sub 4% / SWR discussion
Replies: 68
Views: 6853

Re: Why not always take debt if it’s sub 4% / SWR discussion

The mortgage payment is higher than the interest rate because you’re required to pay down principal. So using your example, the payment rate, not the interest rate, needs to be less than 4%.
by Ping Pong
Fri Jan 13, 2023 12:01 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: New PC vs running windows on MacBook Pro
Replies: 50
Views: 2925

Re: New PC vs running windows on MacBook Pro

Spin up a Windows machine on AWS or other cloud provider. Remote Desktop in and install software and do taxes. Download your files and shut down the Windows instance.
by Ping Pong
Fri Jan 06, 2023 2:12 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best lightweight Puffer Jacket - for Wall Street office
Replies: 101
Views: 13280

Re: Best lightweight Puffer Jacket - for Wall Street office

PeninsulaPerson wrote: Fri Jan 06, 2023 9:18 am
Me either - always have heard puffer.

Actually never have heard puffee before ... :)!
Puffee is how you refer to the person wearing the puffer.
by Ping Pong
Sat Dec 31, 2022 3:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Size TV for Master Bedroom?
Replies: 57
Views: 7029

Re: What Size TV for Master Bedroom?

If you’re only going to watch when it’s dark, you could use a projector. When not in use, you’ll just have a wall to look at.
by Ping Pong
Fri Dec 02, 2022 7:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: NFPA National Electrical Code 2023 prices
Replies: 9
Views: 1473

Re: NFPA National Electrical Code 2023 prices

What jurisdiction is the recipient in that requires the NEC2023 for building codes?
by Ping Pong
Sun Nov 27, 2022 4:06 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard ultra short bond etf instead of money market?
Replies: 14
Views: 2551

Re: Vanguard ultra short bond etf instead of money market?

An ETF requires the stock market to be open in order to trade. There have been instances in which it was closed for extended periods of time. It would be less risky to have the traditional fund version, which only requires the bond market to be functioning, or individual bonds which don’t require trading to be available if you can hold to maturity.
by Ping Pong
Tue Nov 15, 2022 6:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do I need to save my old title insurance policy paperwork?
Replies: 33
Views: 3334

Re: Do I need to save my old title insurance policy paperwork?

Uh-huh...and how does that apply to a home sale once those 3 years have elapsed? Do you really think you'll be able to pursue a civil case against the seller simply by alleging you 'just discovered' a problem? One scenario is that it turns out that you never owned the property. The seller could have forged the owner’s signature. The owner could have been in a nursing home for decades and been unaware of the situation. When it turns out that they never really sold the property, but you thought you bought it and thought you sold it, you’ll have to return the money you received from the sale. If you have title insurance, they would pay. If you don’t have title insurance, you have to return the buyer’s money to them. If the buyers have title i...
by Ping Pong
Tue Nov 15, 2022 9:02 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Berkshire Hathaway Purchases $4B Stake in Taiwanese Company TSMC.
Replies: 34
Views: 3588

Re: Berkshire Hathaway Purchases $4B Stake in Taiwanese Company TSMC.

invest2bfree wrote: Tue Nov 15, 2022 8:21 am Buffet has not had luck buying international companies.

But he keeps trying though.

First was petrochina which was a disaster, then byd selling it at a loss and finally he is trying it on tsmc.
They made like 3000% on BYD.
by Ping Pong
Sun Nov 06, 2022 8:17 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Chai tea bags
Replies: 63
Views: 5924

Re: Chai tea bags

You might want to try Tai Chi.
by Ping Pong
Wed Aug 10, 2022 7:21 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Is there a reason why you would not want to stretch out IRA withdraw
Replies: 16
Views: 1975

Re: Is there a reason why you would not want to stretch out IRA withdraw

FreddieFIRE wrote: Wed Aug 10, 2022 12:44 am If I was now, and expected to remain, in the top individual income tax bracket. I would cash it all out year one, pay the taxes, and invest in something where growth would be taxed at capital gains rates. This is assuming a pre-tax IRA.
Your investments would grow slower if you did this. Leaving investments in the Traditional IRA would cause the after-tax value to grow tax-free in your tax scenario. Assuming tax rates stay the same.
by Ping Pong
Fri Aug 05, 2022 6:31 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Oldest grandparent +10 year rule
Replies: 39
Views: 5397

Re: Oldest grandparent +10 year rule

Neus wrote: Thu Aug 04, 2022 8:45 pm since i’m in asia where typically elderly still retires at kids’s house, it’s quite safe to assume that my child would take care of my meager expense at that age.

But to be safe and leave some for my child, reducing withdrawal seems reasonable :)
Your child would likely be retirement age when you reach an advanced age, so they would need to save up enough for themselves as well as saving extra to take care of you if you run out of money. Though if your child plans on having their child take care care of them when they run out of money, that would mean your grandchild has to take care of both of you.
by Ping Pong
Wed Jul 13, 2022 7:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Mold getting on baby clothes/sheets from washing machine
Replies: 47
Views: 4856

Re: Mold getting on baby clothes/sheets from washing machine

Either they are being stored damp as mentioned, or you have high humidity in your house, in which case they’re always damp.
by Ping Pong
Mon Jul 11, 2022 6:39 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Floating Deck
Replies: 8
Views: 1573

Re: Floating Deck

I’m assuming you’re going to use 2x10 joists. Do you plan on excavating the soil so that the whole thing is below 8 inches above grade?
by Ping Pong
Wed Jul 06, 2022 5:39 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Treasury Yield 10 Years (^TNX) dropping
Replies: 23
Views: 3201

Re: Treasury Yield 10 Years (^TNX) dropping

TIPS yields haven’t fallen as much, so it’s likely long term inflation expectations have come down some.
by Ping Pong
Mon Jun 27, 2022 5:31 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: why aren't bonds in your retirement portfolios factoring in duration?
Replies: 26
Views: 3965

Re: why aren't bonds in your retirement portfolios factoring in duration?

If the economy tanks, stocks fall 60%, unemployment shoots to 20%, and you lose your job decades before you planned on retirement, you should withdraw from the bond side of your portfolio. Having bonds that mature way into the future don’t really help you in this case. Your bonds should be liquid and not too volatile because of this.

If you’re not worried about long term job loss in the midst of a bad economy and you’re a long way from retirement, I’m not sure why you’d have much in the way of bonds.
by Ping Pong
Mon May 30, 2022 5:48 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Buying a house back 2 years later
Replies: 46
Views: 6573

Re: Buying a house back 2 years later

I’d at least wait until you had a new job in Kansas City and relocated. Once there, you could look at available inventory for awhile. If you still thought only the old house would satisfy you, you could make an offer at that time.
by Ping Pong
Mon May 09, 2022 10:02 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why do 401k loans charge interest?
Replies: 28
Views: 3207

Re: Why do 401k loans charge interest?

One reason is that your 401(k) is a separate entity from you. You’re merely the beneficiary. You wouldn’t be doing your fiduciary duty to your 401(k) if borrowed money from it without paying the interest that should have been due.

Another reason is you are restricted from withdrawing from A 401(k). You’d have to pay taxes and/or a penalty to withdraw. Taking a loan without paying interest would be the same as making a withdrawal in the amount of the of the stolen interest.
by Ping Pong
Mon Apr 18, 2022 2:11 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Wife watch a kid last year and was paid cash, the parent who paid is now asking for tax information
Replies: 28
Views: 5293

Re: Wife watch a kid last year and was paid cash, the parent who paid is now asking for tax information

I thought the child care credit was only applicable if it was to allow a parent to earn a living. Though maybe the parent was working from home.
by Ping Pong
Mon Apr 18, 2022 1:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Can wood filler make a closet door "whole"?
Replies: 33
Views: 3461

Re: Can wood filler make a closet door "whole"?

Is the issue that the bottom isn’t parallel to the floor? You could cut the bottom to address that.
by Ping Pong
Thu Apr 07, 2022 6:52 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: New build, no Certificate of Occupancy - questions
Replies: 14
Views: 1763

Re: New build, no Certificate of Occupancy - questions

If the house fails inspection, you might need to move everything out so the builder can make repairs.

Also, when I’ve had contractors in an unoccupied home to do renovations, some things mysteriously disappeared. You might want to avoid that.
by Ping Pong
Sun Apr 03, 2022 1:16 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: SERP tied to interest rates so I "Have to" retire.
Replies: 10
Views: 1081

Re: SERP tied to interest rates so I "Have to" retire.

Sure, a rise in interest rates makes your lump sum go down. It also makes your portfolio go down. If you had taken the lump sum earlier, you would have gotten more, but then it would have lost value anyway.

If your pension isn’t frozen, it should go up as your salary goes up with inflation.