Search found 1026 matches

by mariezzz
Wed Mar 27, 2024 11:33 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Buying a Home: Am I Required to retain Escrow Services?
Replies: 15
Views: 1065

Re: Buying a Home: Am I Required to retain Escrow Services?

The answer depends on your state's laws, and your specific lender.
Make sure your interest rate won't increase, or there won't be some additional fee, if you don't have property tax & homeowners insurance escrowed.
by mariezzz
Wed Mar 27, 2024 11:03 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help | 85 Year Old about to Lose Home
Replies: 25
Views: 1661

Re: Help | 85 Year Old about to Lose Home

Given that she's lived in the house for 40+ years, and is essentially a family member, I can understand why you might choose to pay off the mortgage for her (assuming you can do this with relatively minimal (and tolerable) impact on your financial situation). This assumes she's currently capable of living independently - at her age, that can change quite quickly. If you decide to pay off the loan, it seems that you need to set up a legal agreement that the estate (or she) pays you back this debt (with market rate interest) at some point, possibly upon her debt, or sooner, if the house is sold (for example, if she reaches a point where she cannot live independently). If not, it seems you might be giving her a "gift", subject to gif...
by mariezzz
Wed Mar 27, 2024 7:26 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Setting up a trust
Replies: 5
Views: 743

Re: Setting up a trust

I'm not an estate law expert, but to answer the question, a lot more details are relevant, and the question really can't be answered here. Whether or not you should have a trust really depends on your specific situation, including your state. In many states, having a correctly set up trust can help to avoid probate or allow for a simplified probate process (if the value of assets transferring under the will is under a certain amount). Probate can be costly (time AND money), so for some, it can be worth it to pay for a competent lawyer to set up a trust. The trust also keeps your financial affairs private - this may be really important for some people; probate makes a will public. From what I've read/heard, while a trust is a little more cos...
by mariezzz
Wed Mar 27, 2024 4:41 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Have Trad IRA & plan to rollover gov't 457b into (separate) TIRA; any neg. consequences for Roth conversion of TIRA?
Replies: 1
Views: 153

Have Trad IRA & plan to rollover gov't 457b into (separate) TIRA; any neg. consequences for Roth conversion of TIRA?

I have a governmental 457b from a previous employer (held in a Voya account) that has relatively low, but still higher fees than I would pay in a Vanguard IRA account. I’m planning on rolling the 457b over to an IRA (via a direct transfer from Voya to Vanguard). I also have a Traditional IRA (TIRA) account at Vanguard. Both the 457b and the TIRA only have pre-tax contributions. I also plan on converting over a number of years some of my TIRA funds to Roth via a Roth conversion (https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Roth_conversion), ideally starting this year in December (once I know how much 2024 taxable income I’ll have from dividends & any capital gains in taxable accounts). I don’t plan to have any earned income this year (early retiremen...
by mariezzz
Fri Mar 22, 2024 7:51 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bought a new Lexus - can't get a second key for 3-5 months???
Replies: 54
Views: 6105

Re: Bought a new Lexus - can't get a second key for 3-5 months???

This whole thread is reinforcing for me to keep my older Honda forever.
by mariezzz
Fri Mar 22, 2024 7:34 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Please help me help my uncle with an inherited 401K
Replies: 28
Views: 3104

Re: Please help me help my uncle with an inherited 401K

Thanks to all who have offered advice and/or related their own experiences, it helps knowing this situation isn’t that out of the ordinary. Presently the death certificate count is 7 in hand, 3 in process and the last one I will probably be lucky to find a SS#. He passed young in 1972 from a rare disease. What I do have is a quarter page article/obituary written by a newspaper reporter about him. His parents and all his siblings names are mentioned and jive with the certificates. Hey, if you read it in the paper it’s true right? I’m calling Fidelity tomorrow for advice on that one, and press for more information on the account. https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/3693/ For that one relative: If you have a ballpark figure on birthda...
by mariezzz
Fri Mar 22, 2024 7:18 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Growing Tomatoes in Five Gallon Buckets
Replies: 39
Views: 4456

Re: Growing Tomatoes in Five Gallon Buckets

Tomatoes are heavy feeders, and I doubt that the amount of fertilizer present in the potting mix will be sufficient to sustain maximal production throughout the growing season. If OP elects not to feed throughout the season, he/she should be on the lookout for early signs that feeding is necessary. Tomatoes also benefit from even watering, and watering should be done in a fashion that avoids getting the leaves wet. Growing tomatoes in containers works pretty well. Yields might not be what you'd get in a well dug, in ground garden, but not everyone can do that. Watering is definitely important - on hotter days, at least once early morning, and check later in afternoon for drooping leaves. I used 1/2 potting mix, 1/2 compost from Cedar Grove...
by mariezzz
Thu Mar 21, 2024 3:51 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Professionally Managed or Automated Investing
Replies: 11
Views: 889

Re: Professionally Managed or Automated Investing

There's really no need for professionally managed, if you're following a low fee, passive index fund approach.
With 403b money, I had mine initially put into a bond fund, and then moved some of that into an equities fund as needed, for balancing purposes or a tiny bit of market timing purposes. :shock:
I kept on top of it, though; if you're not likely to, I'd advise having some or all of it go initially into equities.
by mariezzz
Thu Mar 21, 2024 3:23 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: funeral preparations
Replies: 48
Views: 4437

Re: funeral preparations

On this, if you've ever had experience dealing with planning the funeral of a close relative or friend, think of all the fast decisions that had to be made related to the funeral. You'll be helping your family by doing this - otherwise, they'll all be trying to guess what you wanted. Write your own obituary. It can be tweaked, but you're the best one to get details in it. These days, you can write a long one for the internet & funeral card, and a shorter version can be published in the newspaper (if family wants to keep costs down). What kind of flowers do you want? Do you prefer people donate to some organization? You can pick out a funeral card, and prayer + specify what you want on the funeral card. (If funeral card options change ov...
by mariezzz
Thu Mar 21, 2024 2:54 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Growing Tomatoes in Five Gallon Buckets
Replies: 39
Views: 4456

Re: Growing Tomatoes in Five Gallon Buckets

5 gallon buckets with holes would work, if you get them for free or very low cost. Always put some rocks at the bottom to keep the holes from getting clogged up. Some people use big bags (like the blue bags Ikea sells for 99 cents) for growing things. (You can put a few holes in bottom, but the seams tend to be leaky enough). I've used big plastic tubs (about 2 1/2 feet wide at top and about 2 1/2 tall) with holes drilled in the bottom. (These are the tubs people sometimes put ice in at parties for holding cans of soda, etc.) I've had cherry tomatoes grow pretty big in these - even the 4 foot tall heavier duty tomato cages weren't enough. I'd put them up against a shed wall that had trellises on it and use velcro gardening straps (or cheap ...
by mariezzz
Thu Mar 21, 2024 2:46 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: TurboTax - Need to File Amendment but ran out of licenses
Replies: 9
Views: 802

Re: TurboTax - Need to File Amendment but ran out of licenses

Shouldn't you be able to file an amendment under the same license that you used to file the original return? I thought that's what my brother said he did last year - he opened up his return in TT and somehow there was an option to file an amendment. If not, I'm surprised at TT.
by mariezzz
Thu Mar 21, 2024 2:39 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: The best game-changing financial advice you ever received (or "discovered")
Replies: 219
Views: 25581

Re: The best game-changing financial advice you ever received (or "discovered")

Glockenspiel wrote: Thu Mar 21, 2024 12:26 pm This website, honestly.
Exactly this.

I already had living within my means and saving down. I understood compound interest, at least to a degree. I knew to avoid running up credit card debt.

But I had no idea about investing. I tried to research and learn early on, but thought there was a way to pick and choose stocks. Luckily at the time, I didn't have much money so couldn't lose all that much. Then somehow, something my dad had said years earlier, led me to do some research, and somehow, I stumbled on BH. (Yes, I did listen to dad ; just didn't always immediately act on what he said ! :D ) Like so many others have said, this site helped immensely.
by mariezzz
Thu Mar 21, 2024 2:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Flash drives vs external HDs?
Replies: 63
Views: 3911

Re: Flash drives vs external HDs?

Flash drives are tiny and easily lost. Encrypt them if there is any sensitive info on them at all. But as others have said, they fail more frequently. I'd only consider them for a backup of a backup of a backup.
by mariezzz
Thu Mar 21, 2024 2:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Please help me help my uncle with an inherited 401K
Replies: 28
Views: 3104

Re: Please help me help my uncle

Are you sure you're working with Fidelity and this isn't some type of scam? How would Fidelity know your uncle is a relative of his deceased brother? And if this is "“for an account with no designated beneficiary” why wouldn't they simply turn it over to the state as unclaimed property? That’s what I asked a rep and she said it wasn’t unusual for an account to be dormant for 13 years and I don’t think they knew he was deceased because they asked for a death certificate. The two brothers lived together at one time at the current address. One would think Fidelity could occasionally check accounts against the Social Security Death index records ?? It could take an estate some amount of time to settle things, but if an account is dormant ...
by mariezzz
Thu Mar 21, 2024 11:43 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Medical Debt in Collections
Replies: 7
Views: 1113

Re: Medical Debt in Collections

First, make sure you actually owe the money. Double check with your Explanation of Benefits from your insurance company, and ask for an itemized bill from the hospital, and check it. See also: www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/medical-debt/ and files.consumerfinance.gov/f/documents/cfpb_medical-debt_infographic-alt-text_2022-04.txt If you're not planning on taking out a loan in the next year, the hit on your credit score is pretty irrelevant, so don't rush through things. You can tell the collections agency to stop contacting you and they are required to (see link below). The other thing to note is that the hospital turned over the debt to a collections agency. At this point, I'm not sure who would get the money you paid. Is it all going...
by mariezzz
Thu Mar 21, 2024 11:26 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Applying for loans in retirement...
Replies: 25
Views: 2782

Re: Applying for loans in retirement...

Why fiddle with a small loan? Maybe a 0% credit card if short term. Your income is what you take from your portfolio + pension/SS. If you spend $60k per year, your income has to be $60k if you don't get loans. I was thinking the same thing. What are loan rates these days? I can get over 5% in Vanguard money market fund, so loan rates are going to be higher. If it's a small loan, taking the money out of one's portfolio = a guaranteed return on that money (because you're not paying interest on a loan). Unless a person has absolutely no liquidity in their portfolio? Or they're dealing with something like a 0% car loan or something like that ... but usually the tradeoff on those is they make it up with a higher selling price. If you pay cash, ...
by mariezzz
Thu Mar 21, 2024 11:11 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Sending Copy of Driver License and SS Card by Email Question
Replies: 36
Views: 3743

Re: Sending Copy of Driver License and SS Card by Email Question

To receive an ACH, you have to give out your checking account number. I wouldn't do that simply to sell DVDs/CDs. Give the DVDs/CDs away for free on craigslist. The risk of identity theft just isn't worth it. Writing a check gives out your checking account number... it isn't a big state secret. Almost everything I do any more is cash or (mainly) credit (not debit) cards. You have excellent federal law protecting you with credit card transactions. I'm very careful with financial accounts - as fraud has increased, I've become more careful. I don't write checks to strangers these days. I only write a few checks a year, and have gotten even more cautious in the recent year or so with the reports of check being stolen from the mail, sometimes b...
by mariezzz
Thu Mar 21, 2024 10:54 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Home Insurance Policy - Legalities Related to Cancelling It
Replies: 13
Views: 1182

Re: Home Insurance Policy - Legalities Related to Cancelling It

ElizabethAnn wrote: Wed Mar 20, 2024 11:19 am Thank you for your advice. I contacted the state agency, and they were able to help me. I did not have to sign those forms.
Yeah!!! Glad they were of assistance.
by mariezzz
Thu Mar 21, 2024 9:33 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is sewer insurance advisable when renting a house?
Replies: 18
Views: 1719

Re: Is sewer insurance advisable when renting a house?

If you owned the house, the amount you'd pay for the coverage would be higher than $100/year, at least in my state (would also depend on how much coverage ($$) you purchased). The renters insurance likely assumes the homeowner (and their insurance) would bear some of the damage cost. Around these parts, homeowner's insurance excludes sewer lines. This is true for all insurers I have ever had. There is no optional coverage. The only thing available is a separate policy from a different insurer with very limited benefits ($2k max payout). Yes, state laws governing homeowners insurance may vary. I think in some states, with some home insurers, (based on my experience) there might be a very minimal amount of coverage in the standard homeowners...
by mariezzz
Thu Mar 21, 2024 8:55 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Which industry will benefit from new real estate commission fee structure?
Replies: 120
Views: 9450

Re: Which industry will benefit from new real estate commission fee structure?

There seems to be a lot of discussion back and forth in this thread based on misunderstandings about what the lawsuit originally was about. https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/15/economy/nar-realtor-commissions-settlement/index.html In November, a federal jury in Missouri found the NAR [National Association of Realtors] and two brokerages liable for $1.8 billion in damages for conspiring to keep agent commissions artificially high. ... The NAR had required homesellers to include the compensation for agents when placing a listing on a multiple listing service. Although NAR has long said commissions are negotiable and that the structure helped making housing more affordable for buyers, critics have long argued that the fees were expected and homesell...
by mariezzz
Thu Mar 21, 2024 7:51 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Index Investing Basics - Revisited
Replies: 133
Views: 9520

Re: Index Investing Basics - Revsited

Just wanted to say thanks for sharing. I'm really not looking to play with the market having been doing long term index investing for over 20 years now. My impulses to alter my AA were usually during downturns, and my impulse was to move bonds into stocks. In my OP, my concern was more about what happens if the fundamentals of the market itself start to change such that what used to mean being well diversified becomes something quite different. Just today CNN came out with another article about declining fertility rates and Newsweek did a piece weeks ago. But at the end of the day I'll keep my AA. I want to and will remain a boring buy and hold index investor. If you've been investing for 20 years, you'll remember the 2008 major recession....
by mariezzz
Thu Mar 21, 2024 7:23 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Anybody heard stories of well "prepared" retirees running out of money?
Replies: 210
Views: 23822

Re: Anybody heard stories of well "prepared" retirees running out of money?

"Prepared" can be subject to all interpretations... that can lead to disasters. I was thinking more someone who were NOT involved in heavy stuff (addictions, healthcare or got stolen), was not poor to begin with, nor cases in which their company pension went kaput. I know about VPW, SWR..., I don't really need more details about them (I understand their benefits). My personal experience with retirees I know is financial prep may have been ok, it was other issues that have lessened enjoyment of retirement - reduction or loss of mobility far sooner than expected. Recommend ypu try to prepare yourself for strength and mobility in old age while you are young and middle age. Just as you contribute to your retirement Financials each pa...
by mariezzz
Tue Mar 19, 2024 11:24 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Moving companies
Replies: 30
Views: 3175

Re: Moving companies

Don't assume that if you go with a full service company, that your belongings won't be touched once they're loaded into the truck at your house. With Allied: at some point, my friend's belongings were moved from one truck to another, and several boxes went missing. Some items ended up broken because the packers did not pack them all that well. The packers also arrived with far too little packing materials, despite the fact Allied had sent someone out to assess how much there was to pack. (If you pack boxes yourself, Allied won't assume liability for breakage.) You'll want to have a good inventory of each box that Allied packs. Allied/Norcal numbered each box, but there were boxes that weren't included in the inventory (but were there at unl...
by mariezzz
Tue Mar 19, 2024 11:07 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Moving companies
Replies: 30
Views: 3175

Re: Moving companies

I was editing my previous reply when you replied. I added a paragraph at the bottom re: full service moving companies. With U-pack, you can personally hire people to simply load up your belongings for you, or you can hire them to pack and load. It is NOT cheap to hire people but it's less expensive probably than going with a full-service moving company. You can look on yelp, or other internet sites, for such companies. When I looked, they wanted a guaranteed minimum number of hours for at least 2 people, and rates were higher on weekends & towards end/beginning of month. A one-bedroom apt isn't going to be all that bad - are there family & friends (or people from church, etc.) who could at least help on one end or the other? If some...
by mariezzz
Tue Mar 19, 2024 10:54 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Moving companies
Replies: 30
Views: 3175

Re: Moving companies

Seriously missed the "Washington" in your post. I'd say go with Penske or U-pack. You can negotiate with Penske - get a quote from Penske online, then call U-haul, and see if they'll underbid, then call back to Penske, and see if they'll lower the rate. Penske keeps their trucks much better maintained in general, compared to U-haul. (You can also usually negotiate for an extra day of time for no extra charge with Penske.) But, in recent years, one-way rental rates have sky-rocketed because the companies also are able to lease the trucks for local package delivery. Get a quote from them, then see what U-pack wants to charge (U-pack charged me a base rate for the 1st 5 feet, plus $99 per extra foot - so if you pack your stuff really...
by mariezzz
Tue Mar 19, 2024 10:26 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Index Investing Basics - Revisited
Replies: 133
Views: 9520

Re: Index Investing Basics - Revsited

Sounds like OP is itching to play with their portfolio and is fishing for forum justification to do so. I think many on this forum have said they play a bit in non-Boglehead ways, with a small percentage of their assets, maybe 5% of assets. I inherited a few stocks, and that was all the lesson I needed to know I'll never invest in individual stocks. The fact that I'd seen how successful low expense, broad market, index fund investing has been for me probably helped, too. But I've engaged in a tiny bit of market timing around the edges, but mainly when there was a good amount of volatility in the market. The main thing that helped my portfolio a lot was to invest heavily (80-90%) in equities while employed & young enough to ride out mar...
by mariezzz
Tue Mar 19, 2024 10:06 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Anybody heard stories of well "prepared" retirees running out of money?
Replies: 210
Views: 23822

Re: Anybody heard stories of well "prepared" retirees running out of money?

I have known plenty of "not well prepared" retirees in my family who managed just fine in retirement - they pretty much lived on SS, plus a little in savings. Most of them lived a working class life and never spent all that much throughout life. On both sides of my family, people tend to live longer than is typical, some into late 80s/early 90s (a 95 year old aunt still lives independently, although has children & grandchildren within 20 miles). It all depends on how much money one wants to spend in retirement. Having family or good friends nearby to give some support (not money) can make a big difference - help with driving longer distances, home/yard maintenance, checking in on you. Most people I've known have owned their ho...
by mariezzz
Tue Mar 19, 2024 9:58 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: TurboTax alternatives?
Replies: 23
Views: 2503

Re: TurboTax alternatives?

I'm suspicious of online options ...although I have used Free File Fillable Forms for years, I've always been aware that you really cannot trust anyone. Even if you download the software and have it locally on your laptop, when you file online, there's always risk. And some companies have been shown to have violated the trust taxpayers put in them: TaxSlayer, TaxAct and H&R Block https://money.com/tax-prep-sites-shared-data-google-facebook/ H&R Block, TaxSlayer and TaxAct have long been using a type of computer code called a "pixel" that collects information about users. The report alleges that these pixels (along with other tools) were able to track and transmit data to Google and Meta, the latter of which used it for tar...
by mariezzz
Tue Mar 19, 2024 9:50 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Retuning an iPad— How to Clear All Sensitive Info?
Replies: 9
Views: 1299

Re: Retuning an iPad— How to Clear All Sensitive Info?

Is the "wipe" that the Ipad does a secure wipe, to government standards? I'd worry about someone being able to recover info - if the wipe isn't secure enough, they could.
by mariezzz
Tue Mar 19, 2024 9:45 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is sewer insurance advisable when renting a house?
Replies: 18
Views: 1719

Re: Is sewer insurance advisable when renting a house?

I have a relative who works for the city's sewer & water division. This city has done a good job of maintaining the sewer & water system over time (many cities have not). He told me that the risk of backup depends on where your house is located along the sewer lines - if you're near the end of a sewer line, he says you're at higher risk (but still relatively low, in this city). He looked up where my house is, and said he wouldn't pay for extra insurance. I don't have a finished basement, and I have a floor drain, so that also factored into the calculation. The house has also been in the family for over 50 years, and has never had a back up. ' You can never know for sure (a historically unprecedented heavy rain may make me regret thi...
by mariezzz
Tue Mar 19, 2024 9:30 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Which industry will benefit from new real estate commission fee structure?
Replies: 120
Views: 9450

Re: Which industry will benefit from new real estate commission fee structure?

Perhaps the consumer will benefit for once, instead of some industry. One could wish. I've read news articles (about the change in the US) that say that Europe has long had the kind of system we will now have, and buying agents tend to only get 1-2% of selling price on average. If true, it's definitely the consumer who will benefit. I've long thought buying agents get paid too much for what they do (at least for the vast majority of home purchases), at least in the last 15 years or so. It does depend on the typical selling price in the market - agents in areas like Seattle (with very high selling prices) made a lot more than agents in a market like Cincinnati. With internet listings, buyers can peruse the internet themselves, and eliminate...
by mariezzz
Tue Mar 19, 2024 9:18 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How worthwhile is Zillow to estimate home value?
Replies: 58
Views: 5237

Re: How worthwhile is Zillow to estimate home value?

Zillow actually publishes accuracy statistics: https://www.zillow.com/z/zestimate/ When you look at this, scroll down and look at the "off market" section. As I mentioned 2 posts above, Zillow almost immediately adjusts their estimate to the listing price, so their "active listing" estimate accuracy isn't going to be all that useful for telling anyone how good Zillow is at estimating house values. You'll see the accuracy of the "off market" section is much LOWER than the "active listing" section. Edit: scroll even further down to "How is the Zestimate calculated?" and indeed, they use the listing price to estimate a house's value. So Zillow is using the intellectual property of realtors (th...
by mariezzz
Tue Mar 19, 2024 9:08 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How worthwhile is Zillow to estimate home value?
Replies: 58
Views: 5237

Re: How worthwhile is Zillow to estimate home value?

Zillow estimates seem strongly affected by whether a house has sold recently, within last 5-7 years. I was in a situation where I had a bigger and much newer construction home (built 20 years previously vs 90-100 yrs), but my house hadn't sold in last 10 years. Plus, I bought the house near the bottom of the housing market downturn after the great recession (around 2011), so I got a pretty good price on it - which I think long-term, may have reduced Zillow's valuation of the house. In addition to being much older, the neighboring houses were also smaller in terms of square footage; my house had a full second story, while they had 1/2 stories on the second floor. While older, they didn't have charming old-style woodwork; they were pretty che...
by mariezzz
Tue Mar 19, 2024 8:40 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Home Insurance Policy - Legalities Related to Cancelling It
Replies: 13
Views: 1182

Re: Home Insurance Policy - Legalities Related to Cancelling It

Depending on your state, you might have pretty good consumer protection through the state agency that regulates insurance. Before getting an attorney involved (expensive): I'd look at that agency's web site, look at the information on insurance there, call them, and they may have a form on the site to file a complaint. (Before calling or filling out an online form: Use some word processing program (microsoft word or libre office write) to first compose a detailed description of the problem then paste that into the form; it's usually easier to compose and write in a program than in the form. It will also help you clearly explain the details on the phone.) I've live in several states, and I've always gotten the policy prorated to the day of c...
by mariezzz
Mon Mar 18, 2024 11:06 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Fidelity free Turbotax 2023
Replies: 435
Views: 156893

Re: Fidelity free Turbotax 2023

doobiedoo wrote: Mon Mar 18, 2024 8:25 pm
PatrickA5 wrote: Mon Mar 18, 2024 4:08 pm Free TurboTax finally showed up yesterday on my Fidelity home page. After years of not getting it, I've finally made it in the world. Of course, I bought it months ago, but still... I am worthy!
Well, I'm still not "worthy" [this year]. :annoyed
I'm not either. Free File Fillable Forms, here I come.
I was just going to do the desktop version, and use it to check what I come up with on Free File. Last year they matched perfectly, and my return was more complicated last year than this ... although I may end up recharacterizing all or some of my TIRA contribution made in Jan 2023 - depends on how the numbers come out.
by mariezzz
Mon Mar 18, 2024 9:55 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Sending Copy of Driver License and SS Card by Email Question
Replies: 36
Views: 3743

Re: Sending Copy of Driver License and SS Card by Email Question

The cavalier use of PII is really getting out of hand. I was prepared to sell several boxes of DVDs/CDs to a site that accepts them but the site pays up only via direct deposit (say what?!) or Paypal (no thanks). I don't understand, what is wrong with receiving a ACH (direct deposit)? Or payment by Paypal? Carvana paid me via ACH with no issues when I sold my car to them. I've received 2 payments via Paypal for different data breach claims with no issues either. Neither one of these ways of receiving payment requires you sending someone your social security # or other ID. :confused To receive an ACH, you have to give out your checking account number. I wouldn't do that simply to sell DVDs/CDs. Give the DVDs/CDs away for free on craigslist....
by mariezzz
Mon Mar 18, 2024 9:46 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Moving companies
Replies: 30
Views: 3175

Re: Moving companies

Does anyone have a recommendation for a moving company to move from San Francisco to Vancouver, Washington? Moving contents of a one-bedroom apartment. Thank you! The fact that you're moving to Canada makes all the details more complicated - you need to worry about clearing customs at the border, and finding a moving company that will move your stuff across the border, unless you rent a truck and drive your belongings across the border yourself. I know someone who made almost the same move as yours a couple years ago, except they ended in northern Washington. But I know someone else who moved to Canada from the US. The Canadians are going to want a detailed itemization of what is in every box. I'd suggest researching what the current Canad...
by mariezzz
Thu Dec 21, 2023 11:41 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: how much do you think you need to retire?
Replies: 294
Views: 62205

Re: how much do you think you need to retire?

I do not doubt that a lot of folks struggle financially in later years if they have not planned / sacrificed enough in preparation. Folks that retire with almost nothing saved. And then there are the 25x - 40x folks here, on the other end of the spectrum. But I do wonder about the middle ground. Anecdotally it seems like these folks are mostly just fine too. They scale down spending significantly, or get some help from kids, or the local community. But that’s just in my circles. It seems that if they do get to this level (say 10x), they have decent financial habits. They have social security payments coming in, since they worked a lot. They seem happy, and health is far and away their focus, not money. They don’t seem to lament not being a...
by mariezzz
Thu Dec 21, 2023 11:23 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: how much do you think you need to retire?
Replies: 294
Views: 62205

Re: how much do you think you need to retire?

How much you need in retirement depends on how much you want to be able to spend in retirement. How much you expect to get from sources like pensions or social security is another factor. I found this to be a good tool for me to use when exploring this for myself: engaging-data.com/will-money-last-retire-early I don't spend all that much money now, and don't plan to in retirement. That calculator told me around $800,000 in my financial accounts was more than enough. I was over that when I decided to stop working. For me, there's more value in having time for myself while I'm still healthy and younger. If there was a lengthy market downturn, I could always consider working for a bit, but I don't anticipate it will come to that. If the right ...
by mariezzz
Thu Dec 21, 2023 9:58 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Roth to traditional 401k recharacterization: Is it possible?
Replies: 17
Views: 1228

Re: Roth to traditional 401k recharacterization: Is it possible?

EnjoyIt wrote: Thu Dec 21, 2023 8:33 am Thank you everyone for your help. Much appreciated.

I’m going to try and push some business expenses for next year before the end of the year which will help a little bit not a lot. I also will pay myself a bit more for the 4th quarter allowing increased employer contributions to my traditional 401k. This won’t fix the problem, but it will help some.
Think of the value of your time and how much you saved by not having to do run tax scenarios to try to decide whether you should recharacterize! You probably saved yourself money in the end, if you include the value of your time.
by mariezzz
Thu Dec 21, 2023 9:50 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: VTSAX vs VTI
Replies: 40
Views: 7137

Re: VTSAX vs VTI

Having the same fund or ETF in different accounts, whether at Vanguard or anywhere, is not a TLH problem so long as you don't reinvest dividends and capital gains, just put them into your settlement fund or some other fund/ETF. 1 bp savings? Do you shut off your car at a stop sign or traffic light to save gas? If so then yes switch that mutal fund to an ETF and retire 4 hours earlier. Actually that's not the best example since almost everyone's ICE vehicle shuts off when stopped now. Almost everyone's? I doubt that, some, not most. I think it was a fine example of saving next to nothing. :sharebeer Well, almost every ICE vehicle manufactured in recent years, so no, not the typical Boglehead's '98 Corolla. It might save a tiny bit on gas an...
by mariezzz
Sun Dec 17, 2023 8:47 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Two youngish-people meeting estate lawyer for planning - handle how?
Replies: 60
Views: 10257

Re: Two youngish-people meeting estate lawyer for planning - handle how?

Personally if I had no children I would not have spent the time and $ that I did on my estate plan. Would have done a cookie cutter will using online software (maybe chatgpt) and leave to charity. If it's not the best will, who cares if you have no children or others to care for ? As long as assets are held jointly with spouse, no concern for transfer between spouses upon death of one, and when 2nd dies without heirs, why do you care to spend resources on a plan ? I can give an example of why a couple with no children would want to do estate planning - to direct any remaining estate per our specific wishes as efficiently as possible, especially given naming an executor (and/or successor trustee) is not always simple when there is no immedi...
by mariezzz
Sun Dec 17, 2023 8:35 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: For Those Who Are Retired Do You Keep Cash Accounts
Replies: 57
Views: 12576

Re: For Those Who Are Retired Do You Keep Cash Accounts

Depends on what you mean by cash.
Right now money market funds, including your settlement account, at Vanguard pay something like 5.3%(and rates have been high for the last year) , so I've kept some money there.
by mariezzz
Sun Dec 17, 2023 8:28 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: ideas for killing time near SEATAC airport with kids
Replies: 11
Views: 1496

Re: ideas for killing time near SEATAC airport with kids

Traffic into/from Seattle can get pretty bad, and it's at least a 30 min drive each way, even when traffic is good. Even getting to the Museum of Flight (somewhat south of SEA) will involve high traffic areas, and admission is pricey - if you wanted to do that, leave early so you have more time (check their hours). Southcenter Mall is near the airport, and the city of Burien is just to the west. I'd go online and see what people have to say about Burien - there are some good restaurant options, a public library, but there will also be parks, etc. Might be some kind of entertainment options for kids; not sure on that. And Puget Sound borders the west side of Burien. These options will keep you close enough so you can wait for the student to ...
by mariezzz
Fri Dec 15, 2023 10:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: small bluetooth speakers?
Replies: 18
Views: 2432

Re: small bluetooth speakers?

Anker has some great options (rectangular, about 2 in x 2 in x 5 in), under $30, small, with really good sound, + battery really lasts, and you can use the speaker while charging.

I just purchased Anker's very small, cylindrical speakers for $19.99 but hasn't been delivered yet - these had great reviews.
by mariezzz
Fri Dec 15, 2023 8:21 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Move to CA realistic at retirement age?
Replies: 50
Views: 11723

Re: Move to CA realistic at retirement age?

If you go further inland (> a couple of miles from the coast), rents get cheaper, but you're in higher fire risk areas, because you're living in a desert. But fire risk can be high even within a couple miles of the coast (which is an irrigated desert). I assume you're moving there because you have family in the area, and are familiar with the area? I lived in San Diego in the early 2000s for about 7 years, but I left, and wouldn't go back. I found it way too expensive, and not an appealing enough place to live (I need more than beaches and good weather in my life. If I had had family there, I might have felt differently.) Don't be a landlord (especially not from afar) - CA is a very tenant friendly state. It can be expensive and time consum...
by mariezzz
Fri Dec 15, 2023 6:16 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Two youngish-people meeting estate lawyer for planning - handle how?
Replies: 60
Views: 10257

Re: Two youngish-people meeting estate lawyer for planning - handle how?

Bruce Steiner — a well-respected estates attorney and frequent contributor here — often has pointed out that probate is not burdensome or expensive in many states. So it may not be important to set up your estate to avoid probate in those states. (Privacy issues aside.) Obviously, a competent estates attorney in any given state can provide guidance regarding probate there. Dealing with probate just adds another level of complexity and headaches - time, and money. So if that can be avoided through smart estate planning, I personally would. Many people in the US simply need a transfer on death deed and to make sure all their financial accounts have beneficiaries specified, plus a will. For younger people, whose finances will likely keep chan...
by mariezzz
Fri Dec 15, 2023 5:52 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Two youngish-people meeting estate lawyer for planning - handle how?
Replies: 60
Views: 10257

Re: Two youngish-people meeting estate lawyer for planning - handle how?

I agree with others that they could do some research on their own first. They may be able to get this book through their public library: "Make your Own Living Trust". I'm not suggesting that they write their own trust. The book, however, has a lot of good information in it which will educate them about estate planning. They may not need a trust - and this book can help them determine that. It all depends on their assets. Setting up their estate so that it doesn't have to go through probate after their deaths is ideal . Whether this is possible depends on state laws (most but not all states have laws pertaining to trusts, and some are more comprehensive than others; laws related to when an estate must go through probate vary across...
by mariezzz
Fri Dec 15, 2023 5:35 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How best to dry off passenger seat
Replies: 23
Views: 3373

Re: How best to dry off passenger seat

livesoft wrote: Thu Dec 14, 2023 8:55 am Put a lyocell towel on it and sit on it. The lycoell will absorb the water that is squeezed into it. Then put towel in dryer to dry it and repeat.

Also can suck out water with a wet/dry vacuum, but the towel will work wonders.
+1 for Towel & Wetvac.

Some carpet shampooers have an upholstery tool which also will work, if you can use it in a garage (or outside, if not raining).

For safety, I always plug electrical things I use outdoors in a GFCI outlet (you can add an extension cord if necessary).
by mariezzz
Fri Dec 15, 2023 5:25 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Advice for early retirement to take care of sick partner
Replies: 63
Views: 10250

Re: Advice for early retirement to take care of sick partner

1. Update: over the last few weeks since I posted here, my portfolio grew from $860k to about $1 million. Have I met the FIRE goal, as I have about 25 times the annual spend? While I want to celebrate, I feel it might be premature. 2. As I mentioned earlier, most of my portfolio is in risky individual stocks, and I want to move this to 3 fund portfolio as some of you recommended. I am concerned that if I sell all the stocks at once, I might have a large tax bill. If I sell over several years to break down the gains over the long-term to avoid a large tax bill, then the stock value may decrease with the sequence of return risk. Does anyone have any guidance on how I should transition from individual stocks to a 3 fund portfolio with the goa...