Search found 1403 matches

by TwstdSista
Sat Mar 16, 2024 2:28 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Please check my thinking about changing my Roth account from VTIAX to VTSAX
Replies: 42
Views: 3419

Re: Please check my thinking about changing my Roth account from VTIAX to VTSAX

I did exactly this recently. Moved my international allocation to my traditional 401k and kept my Roth IRA as 100% total US stock.
by TwstdSista
Thu Mar 07, 2024 1:42 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Wordle [Anyone playing Wordle?]
Replies: 393
Views: 43395

Re: Wordle [Anyone playing Wordle?]

I love wordle! My family also likes Connections.
by TwstdSista
Tue Mar 05, 2024 2:53 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Automatic Contributions for Self-Employed Retirement Accounts?
Replies: 8
Views: 752

Re: Automatic Contributions for Self-Employed Retirement Accounts?

FYI - Fidelity recently started allowing ACH transfers from outside accounts into their solo 401k plan, but not from their own brokerage account. I don't know if automatic transfers are now available though.
by TwstdSista
Mon Feb 26, 2024 5:25 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Advice Requested on Re-Balance of Retirement Portfolio
Replies: 11
Views: 2427

Re: Advice Requested on Re-Balance of Retirement Portfolio

I would in your shoes shove all the international equities into traditional IRA and have taxable / Roth only in US equities. Frankly, international equities have been dogs the past 16 years and counting, and I expect that dog performance to continue. Instead of seeing growth in tIRA and therefore subsequent increase in your RMD, stuff the dogs -- bonds and international equities -- into tIRA. Uncle Sam will commiserate with you. Edit: I also see that you have the same exact investments in all three accounts. This would open you up to pitfalls of wash sales rules, where you cannot sell any lot for a loss in taxable. Thank you lakpr...I'll give your suggestion serious consideration. Appreciate it. I just want to second lakpr's advice - I rec...
by TwstdSista
Sat Feb 24, 2024 8:23 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Pay the penalty estimated by H&R Block or let IRS bill me
Replies: 13
Views: 1331

Re: Pay the penalty estimated by H&R Block or let IRS bill me

I have always chosen to let the IRS bill me. Note, they have never done so.
by TwstdSista
Sun Feb 18, 2024 6:18 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The One-Fund Portfolio as a default suggestion
Replies: 872
Views: 234940

Re: The One-Fund Portfolio as a default suggestion

I love a one-fund portfolio - it's my go to advice for most people! The one-fund manages your portfolio for you, and is way cheaper than hiring some Edward Jones type for financial advisor.
by TwstdSista
Sun Feb 18, 2024 5:42 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: HSA Question
Replies: 3
Views: 417

Re: HSA Question

You have until tax day to make your 2023 HSA contribution(s). Tax day this year is 4-15-2024.
by TwstdSista
Fri Feb 16, 2024 5:13 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Is it Too Late to Invest in VTI?
Replies: 126
Views: 19018

Re: Is it Too Late to Invest in VTI?

I follow a no market timing rule since I've been guilty of it in the past. The money is meant for for the long term, and I know can ride out any market crashes since I've never panicked during past market drops (2008, 2020, etc). Sure the market tends to dip the day after I buy, but whatever. So far it keeps coming back.

Oh, and the bonus is I don't have to worry about when to get in - this is a huge win for me!
by TwstdSista
Wed Feb 14, 2024 5:31 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How much did you pay Vanguard this year?
Replies: 66
Views: 6940

Re: How much did you pay Vanguard this year?

This is an easy one for me - $0

(I don't hold money at Vanguard, nor do I hold any Vanguard funds)
by TwstdSista
Wed Feb 14, 2024 5:12 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What frugal thing did you do today?
Replies: 4522
Views: 617031

Re: What frugal thing did you do today?

Instead of paying monthly subscriptions for some financial software, I built some spreadsheets to do their job. It's a little bit more work for me, especially as I work on streamlining, but free is way better than $X per month. And I love playing with spreadsheets, so it's a double win for me!
by TwstdSista
Wed Feb 14, 2024 5:08 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Tax Deferred : Taxable : Tax Free
Replies: 260
Views: 22875

Re: Tax Deferred : Taxable : Tax Free

2019 (when this thread started)
50.5 : 0 : 49.5

2024 (today)
42 : 3 : 55
by TwstdSista
Sun Feb 11, 2024 2:59 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Why BlackRock not used as much?
Replies: 45
Views: 5376

Re: Why BlackRock not used as much?

I love the BlackRock index ETFs - ITOT and chill is my taxable account.
by TwstdSista
Sat Feb 10, 2024 10:17 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: H&R Block 2023 Cap Gains say "Visit the Update Center for release dates" ?
Replies: 12
Views: 1560

Re: H&R Block 2023 Cap Gains say "Visit the Update Center for release dates" ?

I'm getting that same message from HRB for my Schedule C and some other Forms. None of which are on their list as needing updates. I'm assuming it's a generic message??
by TwstdSista
Sat Feb 10, 2024 5:00 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Fidelity Tax Documents
Replies: 15
Views: 1728

Re: Fidelity Tax Documents

Nope - mine are due today and I don't do my taxes until mid-February anyway since I'm self-employed and wait for the 1099s to roll in. Also, I'm used to it.
by TwstdSista
Fri Feb 09, 2024 5:59 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Birthday gift for kids at 13
Replies: 32
Views: 2579

Re: Birthday gift for kids at 13

I like experiences - arcades, laser tag, escape rooms, etc. In Boston we also have Boda Borg and Level99 which my kids love.
by TwstdSista
Thu Feb 08, 2024 5:20 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Turn around time on passports
Replies: 19
Views: 1889

Re: Turn around time on passports

I renewed my passport this past summer - they told me 13 weeks and it was almost exactly that.
by TwstdSista
Mon Feb 05, 2024 7:26 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Sleeping struggles with two people one bed
Replies: 71
Views: 6816

Re: Sleeping struggles with two people one bed

Would larger blankets help? (ie, buy king sized blankets for a queen sized bed - or whatever the equivalent would be for king sized beds)
by TwstdSista
Wed Jan 31, 2024 4:56 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Share your net worth progression
Replies: 4273
Views: 1072157

Re: Share your net worth progression

muitu wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 12:49 pm Age 26/24
Started late 2022.

1/2023: 30k
1/2024: 73k

Salaries are 55k and 88k. Contributing 24% of total income towards investments.

Consists of just 2 Roth IRAs and 2 401(k)s.
This is great! Keep doing what you're doing - you are definitely on the right path!
by TwstdSista
Tue Jan 30, 2024 4:42 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How do you budget?
Replies: 59
Views: 5783

Re: How do you budget?

Spreadsheet. We technically create a "budget" every year based on last year's expenses with a slight increase for inflation. But we don't really follow it anymore. Our expenses have maintained at about the same amount every year, with the exception of any large purchases. We do track our expenses though - it's hard to know when you're hit 25X if you don't know what X is.
by TwstdSista
Sun Jan 28, 2024 6:00 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Balance fund instead of a Financial Advisor
Replies: 24
Views: 2970

Re: Balance fund instead of a Financial Advisor

This is my recommendation to anyone who wants to hire an AUM advisor. A single fund - balanced, target date, etc. I read through the entire One Fund Portfolio thread and I completely agree that it is "good enough" for those who don't want to learn more about investing/indexing.
by TwstdSista
Sat Jan 27, 2024 5:33 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Recommendation for a Solo/Individual 401k Provider
Replies: 32
Views: 1918

Re: Recommendation for a Solo/Individual 401k Provider

Sam_957 wrote: Fri Jan 26, 2024 7:27 pm With Fidelity we’ve had to call to make deposits, and they were transfers from a cash account at Fidelity. I wish we could automate this.
This is no longer the case. Sometime last fall Fidelity started allowing online transfers into their solo 401k from an external account. For example, I can transfer both employee and employer contributions from my local bank. (note: Fidelity does not allow me to transfer online from my Fidelity brokerage account)
by TwstdSista
Fri Jan 26, 2024 6:21 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 2023 Taxes, How close were your estimates
Replies: 55
Views: 4453

Re: 2023 Taxes, How close were your estimates

I was off by $15k last year! Thankfully my estimated tax payments were based on the year before (which was a very unusual year and the reason I was so far off), so I still got a small refund. I'll do this year's tax return in the next month sometime, but my current projections are an even smaller refund this year. Fingers crossed!
by TwstdSista
Fri Jan 26, 2024 5:50 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How did you get over your fear of investing in the market?
Replies: 64
Views: 5019

Re: How did you get over your fear of investing in the market?

I never had a fear about retirement accounts. My sister told me to open a Roth IRA and always max it, and also to put 15% in my 401k. She also told me what to invest in (index funds). She's smarter than me and I didn't know any different, so I just listed to her advice. I never really paid much attention to it and it never seemed real. Eventually I found my way here.

Investing in a taxable account scared the bejeebers out of me! That's real money, my money, important money! After a year of it though, I realized I was doing fine. And what a small percentage of my overall portfolio it is (since I was now maxing out 2 Roth IRAs, 2 HSAs and 2 workplace retirement plans).

So for me - it was ignorance, and then experience.
by TwstdSista
Fri Jan 19, 2024 3:56 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Gross income, AGI, taxable income etc
Replies: 20
Views: 2327

Re: Gross income, AGI, taxable income etc

I use my take home pay (and ignore my spouses income entirely) - that's what we live on and nobody needs to know the real numbers.
by TwstdSista
Thu Jan 18, 2024 7:33 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Fidelity Solo 401k contribution question
Replies: 17
Views: 1210

Re: Fidelity Solo 401k contribution question

Yep - I suspect it's new since I just noticed it recently! (note: I could only pull from my outside bank account, I could not pull from my Fidelity brokerage account) I recall pizzle and your posts with this welcome news in another thread in late 2023. When you transfer (pull) from a linked outside bank account into your Fidelity Solo 401k account, are you allowed to input the contribution detail (plan year, contribution type)? Just curious, my plan is now at E*TRADE for the Roth option. I am able to decide between Employee and employer contributions, and it does track my employee contributions. I assume it will let you choose the year between now and April 15th, but I already maxed out my employee contributions last year, and won't max ou...
by TwstdSista
Thu Jan 18, 2024 7:32 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Fidelity Solo 401k contribution question
Replies: 17
Views: 1210

Re: Fidelity Solo 401k contribution question

[This is easily resolved by pulling the funds from the Fidelity side. Or mailing a check. I have had a solo 401k with Fidelity since 2018 and have never called them about a contribution. There is a way to pull? I've been mailing checks for years. Off to research. Yep - I suspect it's new since I just noticed it recently! (note: I could only pull from my outside bank account, I could not pull from my Fidelity brokerage account) Glad to hear this is finally available. The lack of this feature kept us from moving our accounts from Vanguard to Fidelity. 1) Does this also work for spousal solo 401k's? 2) Can contributions be pulled from a Fidelity CMA? Sorry - I don't have either of these situations so cannot answer you question. Hopefully some...
by TwstdSista
Thu Jan 18, 2024 6:23 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Fidelity Solo 401k contribution question
Replies: 17
Views: 1210

Re: Fidelity Solo 401k contribution question

You will have to call Fidelity to have them do it if you are pushing the funds via ACH to them or writing a check. With the latter, there is a Remittance Form I submit (see, below) that designates the plan year and contribution type. You could also try completing the Form and either (1) drop it off at a local office, or (2) upload it to Fidelity CS via your online account. https://www.fidelity.com/bin-public/060_www_fidelity_com/documents/customer-service/self-employed-401k-contribution-remittance.pdf Calling is such a pain. I like pay myself on the 1st and 15th and having to call 24x a year is annoying This is easily resolved by pulling the funds from the Fidelity side. Or mailing a check. I have had a solo 401k with Fidelity since 2018 a...
by TwstdSista
Thu Jan 18, 2024 4:51 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Fidelity Solo 401k contribution question
Replies: 17
Views: 1210

Re: Fidelity Solo 401k contribution question

You will have to call Fidelity to have them do it if you are pushing the funds via ACH to them or writing a check. With the latter, there is a Remittance Form I submit (see, below) that designates the plan year and contribution type. You could also try completing the Form and either (1) drop it off at a local office, or (2) upload it to Fidelity CS via your online account. https://www.fidelity.com/bin-public/060_www_fidelity_com/documents/customer-service/self-employed-401k-contribution-remittance.pdf Calling is such a pain. I like pay myself on the 1st and 15th and having to call 24x a year is annoying This is easily resolved by pulling the funds from the Fidelity side. Or mailing a check. I have had a solo 401k with Fidelity since 2018 a...
by TwstdSista
Wed Jan 17, 2024 10:45 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Fidelity Solo 401k contribution question
Replies: 17
Views: 1210

Re: Fidelity Solo 401k contribution question

RXfiles wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2024 9:58 am
TwstdSista wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2024 9:38 am The website gives you an option to choose between the two.
It's a push from my bank tho so i cant designate from thr bank side. When the contribution hits fidelity I get to designate it then?
I don't know, I've never done it from that direction. I suggest you call Fidelity to ask.
by TwstdSista
Wed Jan 17, 2024 9:38 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Fidelity Solo 401k contribution question
Replies: 17
Views: 1210

Re: Fidelity Solo 401k contribution question

The website gives you an option to choose between the two.
by TwstdSista
Wed Jan 10, 2024 7:02 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard 5500-EZ report
Replies: 8
Views: 912

Re: Vanguard 5500-EZ report

You prompted me to look this up for Fidelity: https://www.fidelity.com/retirement-ira ... /form-5500. I don't see a similar online page for Vanguard.

Note that the Fidelity link is not updated for 2023 which has a new line 12.
by TwstdSista
Wed Jan 10, 2024 4:55 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Feedback on Plan for Professionally Managed Account
Replies: 8
Views: 1154

Re: Feedback on Plan for Professionally Managed Account

Make sure to turn off dividend reinvestment in the taxable account - no need to keep making purchases of funds you no longer want to hold. Use those dividends to purchase your desired investment(s).
by TwstdSista
Tue Jan 09, 2024 4:28 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Fidelity Back door Roth. Transfer or convert?
Replies: 7
Views: 1049

Re: Fidelity Back door Roth. Transfer or convert?

I transfer, and then the system gives me warning about paying taxes on my conversion. I get a properly coded 1099-R each year/
by TwstdSista
Mon Jan 08, 2024 8:39 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Have two HSA's what can/should i do with them
Replies: 12
Views: 1195

Re: Have two HSA's what can/should i do with them

I think the confusion is stemming from the two types of HSA contributions. Payroll/cafeteria plan contributions (which are FICA and income tax-free); and non-payroll contributions similar to traditional IRA contributions (which are only income tax-free; and reported on line 2 Form 8889 and Line 14 of Schedule 1 Form 1040). I believe if the HDHP is through your wife she could contribute the full family amount through her cafeteria plan (you would save the FICA taxes) or you could contribute the max family amount (minus any employer contribution she received) to your HSA (and you would pay the FICA taxes). Or some contribution of the two. Assuming your wife has a reasonable earnings record for Social Security purposes I believe you'll save t...
by TwstdSista
Mon Jan 08, 2024 6:47 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Have two HSA's what can/should i do with them
Replies: 12
Views: 1195

Re: Have two HSA's what can/should i do with them

I think there's some confusion here. My understanding is that so long as both spouses are eligible under a HSA qualified health insurance plan they can both contribute to their own HSA plans in whatever amounts they agree to, or go all in on one HSA, up to the family limit (except for catch up contributions at age 55+). This includes when the policy is solely held by one spouse.

My tax software automatically assumes a 50/50 split. Payroll deductions are usually preferred since they save on SS + medicare taxes as well, but this is still a choice. Please correct me if I'm wrong!
by TwstdSista
Sat Jan 06, 2024 6:53 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Finding and tracking HSA reimbursable expenses
Replies: 3
Views: 670

Re: Finding and tracking HSA reimbursable expenses

WillyMcG wrote: Sat Jan 06, 2024 6:38 am ....
Also still interested in a good way to save and track receipts to use for future reimbursement. Right now I can scan receipts and save in a folder and keep a spreadsheet log but wondering if there is a better way.
This is exactly what I do. I keep paper receipts all year long and then scan them as 1 document at the end of the year. I update my spreadsheet each time I make a qualified medical purchase and also when I make a withdrawal. The spreadsheet keeps a running total of unreimbursed medical expenses.
by TwstdSista
Fri Jan 05, 2024 8:17 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Boglehead's remorse?
Replies: 102
Views: 19558

Re: Boglehead's remorse?

All of my attempts to "time the market". I've finally realized that it really doesn't matter. A $1 difference 20 years later is nothing. And at this point my contributions are a very small percentage of our total portfolio. Stop stressing it, just invest it.

(my 2024 goal is to simply invest when I have money to invest)
by TwstdSista
Wed Jan 03, 2024 4:46 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Fidelity as a one stop shop
Replies: 5973
Views: 1007867

Re: Fidelity as a one stop shop

TimeIsYourFriend wrote: Tue Jan 02, 2024 5:04 pm If you turn off Fidelity lockdown to do a transfer (from bank or another account) to an IRA, do you have to wait to restore lockdown until after that goes through or can you immediately turn lockdown back on?
Immediately. I just did this on the 1st - turned lockdown off, transferred my Roth IRA and HSA contributions from my brokerage account, and then turned lockdown back on. It took about 5 minutes.
by TwstdSista
Tue Jan 02, 2024 5:02 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Credit card recommendation: one card to rule them all?
Replies: 95
Views: 13876

Re: Credit card recommendation: one card to rule them all?

For the folks recommending or using the Fidelity 2% cash back card… How do you take your cash back? The reason I recently chose the Wells Fargo Active Cash card was because I didn’t want to open a “Cash Management” account with Fidelity. Do you automatically transfer your rewards out of the Fidelity Cash Management account and into a checking account at a regular bank? Or do you do the transfer manually once a month or so? Or do you use the Fidelity Cash Management account as your main checking account? Or something else? If I move overseas again (which is likely) I will probabaly go the Fidelity 2% cash back route. If only to avoid the FTF. Thankfully, I can wait to cross that bridge when I get there. We have a brokerage account at Fideli...
by TwstdSista
Tue Jan 02, 2024 4:43 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What big hairy audacious goals do you have for 2024?
Replies: 109
Views: 15386

Re: What big hairy audacious goals do you have for 2024?

Take care of my health, less stress, more naps, and more fun!
by TwstdSista
Tue Jan 02, 2024 4:36 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What are you up YTD? [Year To Date]
Replies: 5249
Views: 899853

Re: What are you up YTD? [Year To Date]

TheTimeLord wrote: Mon Jan 01, 2024 3:59 pm So far I am up 0.0228% in 2024.
Thanks for the smile! I ordered something from Amazon yesterday, so I guess we're actually down on the year (2024) now!

PS - don't blink!
by TwstdSista
Sat Dec 30, 2023 7:18 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What was your largest annual expense in 2023?
Replies: 21
Views: 1643

Re: What was your largest annual expense in 2023?

Other than retirement contributions and federal taxes, it was property taxes. Hands down winner almost every year.
by TwstdSista
Sat Dec 30, 2023 3:22 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Rebalance Strategy when market has big move
Replies: 22
Views: 1678

Re: Rebalance Strategy when market has big move

I rebalance with new contributions and then when our allocations are off by more than 5%. So we rebalanced twice in 2020, and that's pretty much it.
by TwstdSista
Sat Dec 30, 2023 2:22 am
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here
Replies: 3606
Views: 562188

Re: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here

What a great year - so many milestones!

Our retirement portfolio added a comma this year. Our total net worth went up by more than our total combined income. And I have to file Form 5500ez for my solo 401k for the very first time. Fun times!
by TwstdSista
Fri Dec 29, 2023 12:33 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: New Investor Questions
Replies: 7
Views: 1001

Re: New Investor Questions

The Zero funds are great in tax advantaged accounts, but not so great in a taxable account since they aren't portable to another brokerage should you ever decide to leave Fidelity.

Consider FZROX + FZILX for your two Roth IRA contributions ($6500 for 2023 and $7000 for 2024). FSKAX and FTIHX would be great options for a taxable account, and this set-up will also avoid any potential wash sales.
by TwstdSista
Wed Dec 27, 2023 5:27 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How often do you redeem your credit card cash rewards?
Replies: 102
Views: 12425

Re: How often do you redeem your credit card cash rewards?

The Fidelity card does it automatically for me. And the Amazon card automatically deposits our points to our account.
by TwstdSista
Sat Dec 23, 2023 3:51 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Beneficial Owner Information reporting (BOI) - LLC and s corp owners
Replies: 20
Views: 1953

Re: Beneficial Owner Information reporting (BOI) - LLC and s corp owners

Thank you for this! I bookmarked the link, and then placed it right next to Duckie's TLH list which I reference regularly.
by TwstdSista
Sat Dec 23, 2023 3:49 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Invest in brokerage?
Replies: 13
Views: 1320

Re: Invest in brokerage?

I used to wait for the dip, and it drove me crazy. I almost always regretted not just buying when I could, and missed out on a lot of gains as a result.

2024 goals: Invest when I have the money to invest.
by TwstdSista
Thu Dec 21, 2023 2:40 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: SPAXX Alternative?
Replies: 16
Views: 3015

Re: SPAXX Alternative?

I use FZDXX and SPRXX, but I have very low state taxes.
by TwstdSista
Tue Dec 19, 2023 1:58 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: [Updated] The IRS Owes Me Money...
Replies: 20
Views: 2584

Re: The IRS Owes Me Money...

Data point: I amended my 2019 taxes in March of 2021, and got the associated refund in August of 2022.