Search found 8574 matches

by UpperNwGuy
Wed Mar 22, 2023 4:36 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: [Bought First Republic @$30 - where to go from here?]
Replies: 11
Views: 1295

Re: [Bought First Republic @$30 - where to go from here?]

LifeAquaticTenenbaum wrote: Wed Mar 22, 2023 3:21 pm Bought FRC @ $30 because I thought it was a good bank caught up in the overreaction of SVB.
You did WHAT ??????
by UpperNwGuy
Wed Mar 22, 2023 4:24 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: buying treasury bills/bonds vs bond etf
Replies: 5
Views: 550

Re: buying treasury bills/bonds vs bond etf

waterbill wrote: Wed Mar 22, 2023 1:00 pm It seems one can definitely lose money on bond ETFs.
Not if you are a long-term investor.
by UpperNwGuy
Tue Mar 21, 2023 9:37 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Are we/me investing in the wrong things?
Replies: 51
Views: 4279

Re: Are we/me investing in the wrong things?

sailaway wrote: Tue Mar 21, 2023 9:10 pm
Charles Joseph wrote: Tue Mar 21, 2023 9:08 pm
UpperNwGuy wrote: Tue Mar 21, 2023 8:16 pm
Charles Joseph wrote: Tue Mar 21, 2023 6:25 pm I prefer to just be left alone with my brokerage passwords. Thats...basically it.

That, and a good roast beef and swiss on a hard roll with lettuce, tomato and mayo.
Might I suggest adding some Dijon mustard? If not mustard, perhaps a few drop of a fiery hot sauce?
I cut my teeth on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. If I had asked for Dijon or hot sauce on my sandwich at the deli when I was a kid, Joey Meatloaf woulda come around from behind the counter given me a smack! 8-)
Besides, roast beef and swiss calls for horseradish.
Horseradish is the best solution!
by UpperNwGuy
Tue Mar 21, 2023 8:16 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Are we/me investing in the wrong things?
Replies: 51
Views: 4279

Re: Are we/me investing in the wrong things?

Charles Joseph wrote: Tue Mar 21, 2023 6:25 pm I prefer to just be left alone with my brokerage passwords. Thats...basically it.

That, and a good roast beef and swiss on a hard roll with lettuce, tomato and mayo.
Might I suggest adding some Dijon mustard? If not mustard, perhaps a few drop of a fiery hot sauce?
by UpperNwGuy
Tue Mar 21, 2023 8:02 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Best Vehicles For Dry Powder in Brokerage Accounts
Replies: 16
Views: 2768

Re: Best Vehicles For Dry Powder in Brokerage Accounts

I have never kept dry powder. I have a plan, and I stick to it. To effectively use dry powder, you have to be smarter than everyone else. Are you? I know I am not.
by UpperNwGuy
Tue Mar 21, 2023 7:58 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Avantis ETF Filing Today
Replies: 22
Views: 2260

Re: Avantis ETF Filing Today

Which of these ETFs will make use of factors, and which ones will not?
by UpperNwGuy
Tue Mar 21, 2023 7:55 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Bad Work Situation Pushing me into retirement.
Replies: 155
Views: 13055

Re: Bad Work Situation Pushing me into retirement.

I was in a similar situation in my mid 30s. My solution was to find another job and work another 25 years. I recommend that solution to you.

I found myself in almost the same solution in my late 40s. My solution was to find another job and work until 61.
by UpperNwGuy
Tue Mar 21, 2023 11:51 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What counts as an Emergency Fund?
Replies: 151
Views: 8362

Re: What counts as an Emergency Fund?

MrJedi wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 8:31 pm I have trouble coming up with scenarios that would require me to hand over a briefcase full of Benjamins with zero notice. I feel comfortable with assets that would take a week or so to liquidate and transfer to a bank account. Wife and I also have over 30 credit cards between the two of us if really needed. One has a very reasonable 7.5% APR on cash advances with no extra transaction fee.
I agree. I have never considered it important to get cash quickly for emergency situations. As long as I can get access to the money within a week (or even two weeks), I am happy.
by UpperNwGuy
Tue Mar 21, 2023 11:46 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Need advice on SCHX vs. SWPPX
Replies: 13
Views: 765

Re: Need advice on SCHX vs. SWPPX

bshnew wrote: Tue Mar 21, 2023 10:47 am Would adding SCHB, Schwab's total US market ETF, unnecessarily complicate my portfolio?
I use SCHB and SCHX as tax loss harvesting partners. I see no need to own both. Either one is fine. If I had to pick one, I'd pick SCHB because it covers the total market whereas SCHX is just the large companies. Either fund is preferable to an S&P 500 fund.
by UpperNwGuy
Tue Mar 21, 2023 6:00 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: CDs: Ladder or Not?
Replies: 8
Views: 1575

Re: CDs: Ladder or Not?

Van wrote: Tue Mar 21, 2023 5:44 am Thanks mega317.

The money is just part of my allocation to bonds.

What do you mean by according to your horizon? Since the money is not designated for any upcoming event, perhaps my horizon is infinity, but I probably won't live quite that long.
If this money is part of the bond portion of your retirement portfolio, I would not buy CDs. Instead I would buy an intermediate bond mutual fund or ETF (either TIPS or nominal).
by UpperNwGuy
Mon Mar 20, 2023 10:04 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What is actually in VMFXX
Replies: 3
Views: 698

Re: What is actually in VMFXX

What's fascinating is to watch how VMFXX, VMRXX, and VUSXX seem to be converging into similar portfolios.
by UpperNwGuy
Mon Mar 20, 2023 9:53 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: All money market funds by 7-day yield
Replies: 26
Views: 4834

Re: All money market funds by 7-day yield

Yesterdaysnews wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 5:06 pm Schwab is the worst when it comes to MMF. I consolidated at Schwab and got a nice bonus, but it annoys me.
Schwab has some fine money market funds. Your complaint is probably about their low-yielding settlement fund which is not a money market fund.
by UpperNwGuy
Mon Mar 20, 2023 6:45 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Investing cash safely
Replies: 38
Views: 5390

Re: Investing cash safely

brad.clarkston wrote: Wed Mar 15, 2023 3:15 pm
coffeeblack wrote: Wed Mar 15, 2023 2:33 pm Why not a short term treasury fund like VUSXX?
Why would I pay 0.09% ER for T-Bills? Save the ER and buy a rolling ladder yourself.
I would hate managing a rolling ladder of T-Bills. I am willing to pay the ER to have a fund do it for me.
by UpperNwGuy
Mon Mar 20, 2023 11:22 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: MasterCard declining transactions - Card issuer shrugs
Replies: 48
Views: 4379

Re: MasterCard declining transactions - Card issuer shrugs

OP,
Welcome to the frustrations of booking travel to, from, and within Spain! This kind of problem (credit card being rejected) occurs frequently with both Iberia airlines and Renfe (the Spanish rail company). Your bank is not at fault. The fault is with the terrible websites of Iberia and Renfe.
by UpperNwGuy
Mon Mar 20, 2023 11:14 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What counts as an Emergency Fund?
Replies: 151
Views: 8362

Re: What counts as an Emergency Fund?

an emergency fund must meet at least two criteria: 1. It must be liquid and accessible 2. It must be principal-protected To me, this strongly suggests an emergency fund consists of assets like cash in a savings account, iBonds held >1 year, short-term Tbills, etc. Correct. If you have to "sell low" or at a loss to raise emergency cash, it's not an emergency fund. It's a mistake. You can twist yourself into a pretzel trying to justify a stock portfolio as constituting an emergency fund. All I can say to that is, "good luck." You'll need it. This year I've been hit with ~$50K+ of emergency expenses. Without my emergency fund, I would have had to sell stock holdings at a loss. Not good. Why do you think it is worse to sell...
by UpperNwGuy
Mon Mar 20, 2023 8:12 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How do you search for plane tickets? (tired of budget airline gimmicks)
Replies: 73
Views: 9100

Re: How do you search for plane tickets? (tired of budget airline gimmicks)

I only fly United (has nearby hub), American (also has nearby hub), or occasionally Delta (if flying to one of their hubs). I check their websites directly. I don't mess with Kayak, Google Flights, or other such sites.
by UpperNwGuy
Mon Mar 20, 2023 7:14 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Merrill Edge not working for me
Replies: 37
Views: 2923

Re: Merrill Edge not working for me

OldSport wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 12:27 am I've missed out on several days interest because of these additional hoops.
Are you sure about that? If your order for a mutual fund or money market fund is placed on Friday night, anytime Saturday, anytime Sunday, or Monday before 4pm, it executes Monday evening.

This is not unique to Merrill Edge.
by UpperNwGuy
Sat Mar 18, 2023 8:43 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Credit Card Rewards
Replies: 9
Views: 1156

Re: Credit Card Rewards

Most credit card experts advise that you keep a new credit card open for at least one full year before closing it. That shouldn't cause you any hardship. After all, you don't have to use the card once you have earned the bonus. Why are you so eager to close it as soon as possible?
by UpperNwGuy
Sat Mar 18, 2023 10:02 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Bond Allocation to TSP G Fund
Replies: 23
Views: 1506

Re: Bond Allocation to TSP G Fund

stan1 wrote: Thu Mar 16, 2023 6:09 pm TSP G Fund yield right now is 4.125% annualized

Inflation is 6% through Feb 2023.

So negative real return of 1.875% at least for the time being. Safety comes at a cost.

What are your ages and how long until you retire?
^^^ This is a comment about fixed income in general, not about the G Fund in particular.
by UpperNwGuy
Sat Mar 18, 2023 9:56 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Best firm for Boglehead investing *after* Vanguard and Fidelity?
Replies: 47
Views: 4325

Re: Best firm for Boglehead investing *after* Vanguard and Fidelity?

jeffyscott wrote: Sat Mar 18, 2023 9:03 am Schwab lets me effectively do exchanges of any mutual funds, while holding no cash (and no margin). I can do this by entering separate buy and sell orders. I also can, for example, enter an order to sell a mutual fund and then enter an order to buy a CD (again this is with no cash and no margin) with the anticipated proceeds. I can not do that on E-trade (nor Vanguard, Fidelity).
Will Schwab permit me to exchange one money market fund for another without waiting for a sell to settle before making the buy?
by UpperNwGuy
Fri Mar 17, 2023 6:55 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: General Liability Insurance needed in Retirement Phase?
Replies: 12
Views: 1133

Re: General Liability Insurance needed in Retirement Phase?

cowdogman wrote: Fri Mar 17, 2023 6:48 pm
UpperNwGuy wrote: Fri Mar 17, 2023 6:44 pm Yes, you need liability insurance to protect yourself from claims arising from work you did years earlier before you retired.
OP said he was keeping his professional liability policy going. I think he is just talking about his slip-and-fall policy.
I would keep it.
by UpperNwGuy
Fri Mar 17, 2023 6:48 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Fidelity Cash Mgmt account?
Replies: 24
Views: 2345

Re: Fidelity Cash Mgmt account?

As best as I can figure it out as a T-Mobile customer, they still accept credit cards for payment of monthly bills. What seems to have changed is that they no longer give the 5% discount for using autopay if you pay with a credit card.
by UpperNwGuy
Fri Mar 17, 2023 6:44 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: General Liability Insurance needed in Retirement Phase?
Replies: 12
Views: 1133

Re: General Liability Insurance needed in Retirement Phase?

Yes, you need liability insurance to protect yourself from claims arising from work you did years earlier before you retired.
by UpperNwGuy
Fri Mar 17, 2023 4:50 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: [Bank failure discussion mega-thread]
Replies: 2111
Views: 139065

Re: [Bank failure discussion mega-thread]

I hold my cash at Schwab in their Value Advantage Money Fund® – Investor Shares (SWVXX) at 4.49% So would you say it's a good idea to move it to a safer place like Schwab U.S. Treasury Money Fund - Investor Shares at 4.31% I'm guessing the answer is "yes"? Edit: Wow, I skimmed thru the SWVXX holdings and I think I have to change that answer to: DEFINITELY YES! :D I'd still like to hear any views on it tho. Schwab already saw $8.8B in net outflows from its Value Advantage funds this week. You would be in good company. What is motivating the exodus of funds from SWVXX? I thought that the SEC regs would keep the problems with Schwab bank from spilling over into Schwab brokerage. It's a Prime money market fund. Prime money market fun...
by UpperNwGuy
Fri Mar 17, 2023 4:22 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: [Bank failure discussion mega-thread]
Replies: 2111
Views: 139065

Re: [Bank failure discussion mega-thread]

nps wrote: Fri Mar 17, 2023 4:33 am
theac wrote: Thu Mar 16, 2023 11:38 pm I hold my cash at Schwab in their Value Advantage Money Fund® – Investor Shares (SWVXX) at 4.49%

So would you say it's a good idea to move it to a safer place like Schwab U.S. Treasury Money Fund - Investor Shares at 4.31%

I'm guessing the answer is "yes"?

Edit: Wow,
I skimmed thru the SWVXX holdings and I think I have to change that answer to:
DEFINITELY YES! :D

I'd still like to hear any views on it tho.
Schwab already saw $8.8B in net outflows from its Value Advantage funds this week. You would be in good company.
What is motivating the exodus of funds from SWVXX? I thought that the SEC regs would keep the problems with Schwab bank from spilling over into Schwab brokerage.
by UpperNwGuy
Fri Mar 17, 2023 4:08 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Schwab SWVXX vs Vanguard VMFXX risks
Replies: 37
Views: 4727

Re: Schwab SWVXX vs Vanguard VMFXX risks

What's going on with SWVXX? If the fund in some kind of trouble?
by UpperNwGuy
Fri Mar 17, 2023 4:01 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: When to use Money Market Accounts?
Replies: 17
Views: 3145

Re: When to use Money Market Accounts?

gotoparks wrote: Fri Mar 17, 2023 3:38 am Personally, I keep 2/3 months worth of spend in my checking account and everything else in money market funds, T-Bills, and a couple of CDs. I also have an HYSA with not much in it right now. Money markets were not paying much recently, and everything was in HYSA but I switched last year to mostly money market. If/when money markets go down and HYSA is doing as well or better like before, I will switch back.
This is exactly what I have done.
by UpperNwGuy
Fri Mar 17, 2023 3:52 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Talked to Vanguard but still confused.
Replies: 32
Views: 2939

Re: Talked to Vanguard but still confused.

The problem is that you still hold mutual funds. If you convert those mutual funds to ETFs, the proceeds from ETF sales become available immediately for your next investment, but the proceeds from mutual fund sales don't become available until the following business day. I used to dislike the concept of ETFs, but now I love them.
by UpperNwGuy
Fri Mar 17, 2023 3:46 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: VMFXX Money Market- Safe? Insured? or go with FDIC insured?
Replies: 28
Views: 4195

Re: VMFXX Money Market- Safe? Insured? or go with FDIC insured?

I would go with VMFXX rather than FDIC insured. Both of them fall into the category of "very safe parking lots for your money," but VMFXX currently has better yields.
by UpperNwGuy
Fri Mar 17, 2023 3:43 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Restricted access to retirement accounts
Replies: 30
Views: 2953

Re: Restricted access to retirement accounts

Macawi wrote: Fri Mar 17, 2023 3:38 pm
ResearchMed wrote: Fri Mar 17, 2023 9:46 am OP,

Perhaps I missed it, but before the move, did you have unrestricted access to the money in the "stability of principal" account?
Or were there already some restrictions about removing money?

Often those "stable value" funds have some liquidity limitations, which is part of what allows them to offer the "stability" they provide.

RM
I would have been able to exit out of my position prior to my company’s migration out of voya. I was not notified of this possibility.
You would have been able, but would you have done it?
by UpperNwGuy
Fri Mar 17, 2023 5:50 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Use fund data from VG or M*?
Replies: 25
Views: 1216

Re: Use fund data from VG or M*?

Morningstar undoubtedly gets its data from Vanguard. I don't trust either one to be always current with the data they display on the internet.
by UpperNwGuy
Thu Mar 16, 2023 9:29 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What are retirees who "over saved" doing with funds?
Replies: 72
Views: 5992

Re: What are retirees who "over saved" doing with funds?

1. Adding a few luxuries to my life.
2. Leaving money to my kids.
3. Donating to good causes.
by UpperNwGuy
Thu Mar 16, 2023 6:55 pm
Forum: Forum Issues and Administration
Topic: Slow site? [Forum slow, wiki not working]
Replies: 22
Views: 1207

Re: wiki page not working

See the other thread about problems with general slowness across the entire boglehead site.
by UpperNwGuy
Thu Mar 16, 2023 6:53 pm
Forum: Forum Issues and Administration
Topic: Slow site? [Forum slow, wiki not working]
Replies: 22
Views: 1207

Re: Slow site?

Still slow for me at 7:50pm eastern daylight time.
by UpperNwGuy
Wed Mar 15, 2023 6:53 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Converted VG acct to Brokerage but now I have double accounts (?)
Replies: 8
Views: 423

Re: Converted VG acct to Brokerage but now I have double accounts (?)

If you did the conversion earlier today, I wouldn't be concerned until after the overnight processing runs. If that's the situation, check back tomorrow morning.
by UpperNwGuy
Wed Mar 15, 2023 2:15 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Doing it yourself vs. paying someone else
Replies: 60
Views: 3917

Re: Doing it yourself vs. paying someone else

wojo8625 wrote: Wed Mar 15, 2023 1:35 pm Just kinda curious as what some of your decision making processes are when it comes to repairing things yourself vs. hiring someone else.
My decision making process is fast and simple: always hire someone else to do the job.
by UpperNwGuy
Tue Mar 14, 2023 5:45 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Use Fidelity FZDXX or Vanguard VMRXX
Replies: 9
Views: 1214

Re: Use Fidelity FZDXX or Vanguard VMRXX

With money market funds you should be focusing on the yield, not the ER. I would much rather hold a higher ER fund with a higher yield than one with a lower ER and a lower yield.

Disclosure: I have owned VMRXX, FZDXX, SWVXX, and VUSXX, and I was happy with all four of them. I was about to switch my VMRXX holdings over to VUSXX when I learned of Vanguard's recent decision to buy repos within VUSXX, thereby negating some of the tax advantage of what used to be an all-Treasury fund.
by UpperNwGuy
Tue Mar 14, 2023 5:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best Business Casual Pants (men)
Replies: 57
Views: 4456

Re: Best Business Casual Pants (men)

iamlucky13 wrote: Tue Mar 14, 2023 4:24 pm
Glockenspiel wrote: Tue Mar 14, 2023 10:23 am Lululemon are what the stylish slimmer men are wearing in my upper class part of town.

Definitely not the Dockers Pleated Pants suggested above.
Why not Dockers? Some of us have style literacy worse than the average American's financial literacy, so being specific would be helpful.
Dockers are fine, but not the ones with the pleats. Get the plain front Dockers in slim fit.
by UpperNwGuy
Tue Mar 14, 2023 12:34 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: VIOV NAV halved! (2:1 split)
Replies: 16
Views: 1273

Re: VIOV NAV halved! (2:1 split)

I would love to see VOO and VTI split. Their share costs are much higher than ITOT and SCHB. I realize that I can buy partial shares, but I refuse to own partial shares until Vanguard fixes the process for selling those partial shares.
by UpperNwGuy
Tue Mar 14, 2023 12:21 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Buy Schwab Stock?
Replies: 38
Views: 4510

Re: Buy Schwab Stock?

JoMoney wrote: Mon Mar 13, 2023 10:36 pm
UpperNwGuy wrote: Mon Mar 13, 2023 8:01 pm I've thought about buying Schwab stock because then I could say that I am one of the owners of my brokerage. Perhaps now might be a good time.
If you own index funds, you already own Schwab stock, it's an S&P 500 constituent.
That doesn't entitle me to vote. Owning Schwab via an S&P 500 index fund is no better than owning Vanguard via owning Vanguard funds.
by UpperNwGuy
Mon Mar 13, 2023 8:01 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Buy Schwab Stock?
Replies: 38
Views: 4510

Re: Buy Schwab Stock?

I've thought about buying Schwab stock because then I could say that I am one of the owners of my brokerage. Perhaps now might be a good time.
by UpperNwGuy
Sun Mar 12, 2023 7:12 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard account hacked?
Replies: 29
Views: 2605

Re: Vanguard account hacked?

Whenever this happens, check the calendar. If it's the wee hours of a Sunday morning Vanguard is doing system maintenance. Try again on Monday morning.
by UpperNwGuy
Fri Mar 10, 2023 6:59 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: VUSXX taxable for state and local now
Replies: 77
Views: 7160

Re: VUSXX taxable for state and local now

Seems like the tax tail is wagging the dog.....
by UpperNwGuy
Fri Mar 10, 2023 6:56 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: FZROX and FZILX in Brokerage account - Advice on next steps
Replies: 58
Views: 4645

Re: FZROX and FZILX in Brokerage account - Advice on next steps

Why do people here place such a high importance on transferability? I have never transferred anything between brokerages and don't think most people do. Seems like a purely theoretical advantage that appeals to the boglehead mindset.