That is fantastic - well done!
Search found 1407 matches
- Thu Mar 28, 2024 6:01 am
- Forum: US Chapters
- Topic: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here
- Replies: 3621
- Views: 568892
- Wed Mar 27, 2024 6:04 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Favorite protein powder for shakes at home?
- Replies: 75
- Views: 3229
- Fri Mar 22, 2024 5:18 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Setting Up Taxable Brokerage Accounts for Kids' Retirement Without Losing Control
- Replies: 16
- Views: 1407
Re: Setting Up Taxable Brokerage Accounts for Kids' Retirement Without Losing Control
This is exactly what I have done.
- Wed Mar 20, 2024 3:54 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Diversifying Away from Income Source
- Replies: 6
- Views: 950
Re: Diversifying Away from Income Source
I am in such an industry and I just stick to total market index funds. I don't bother trying to lessen my exposure to that industry, and I don't venture outside of my total market funds.
- 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: 3760
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.
- Thu Mar 07, 2024 1:42 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Wordle [Anyone playing Wordle?]
- Replies: 393
- Views: 43949
Re: Wordle [Anyone playing Wordle?]
I love wordle! My family also likes Connections.
- Tue Mar 05, 2024 2:53 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Automatic Contributions for Self-Employed Retirement Accounts?
- Replies: 8
- Views: 763
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.
- Mon Feb 26, 2024 5:25 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Advice Requested on Re-Balance of Retirement Portfolio
- Replies: 11
- Views: 2457
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...
- 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: 1346
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.
- Sun Feb 18, 2024 6:18 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: The One-Fund Portfolio as a default suggestion
- Replies: 904
- Views: 241972
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.
- Sun Feb 18, 2024 5:42 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: HSA Question
- Replies: 3
- Views: 418
Re: HSA Question
You have until tax day to make your 2023 HSA contribution(s). Tax day this year is 4-15-2024.
- Fri Feb 16, 2024 5:13 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Is it Too Late to Invest in VTI?
- Replies: 130
- Views: 20967
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!
Oh, and the bonus is I don't have to worry about when to get in - this is a huge win for me!
- Wed Feb 14, 2024 5:31 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: How much did you pay Vanguard this year?
- Replies: 66
- Views: 7010
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)
(I don't hold money at Vanguard, nor do I hold any Vanguard funds)
- Wed Feb 14, 2024 5:12 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: What frugal thing did you do today?
- Replies: 4535
- Views: 625760
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!
- Wed Feb 14, 2024 5:08 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Tax Deferred : Taxable : Tax Free
- Replies: 260
- Views: 23330
Re: Tax Deferred : Taxable : Tax Free
2019 (when this thread started)
50.5 : 0 : 49.5
2024 (today)
42 : 3 : 55
50.5 : 0 : 49.5
2024 (today)
42 : 3 : 55
- Sun Feb 11, 2024 2:59 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Why BlackRock not used as much?
- Replies: 45
- Views: 5432
Re: Why BlackRock not used as much?
I love the BlackRock index ETFs - ITOT and chill is my taxable account.
- 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: 1624
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??
- Sat Feb 10, 2024 5:00 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Fidelity Tax Documents
- Replies: 15
- Views: 1747
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.
- Fri Feb 09, 2024 5:59 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Birthday gift for kids at 13
- Replies: 32
- Views: 2617
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.
- Thu Feb 08, 2024 5:20 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Turn around time on passports
- Replies: 19
- Views: 1929
Re: Turn around time on passports
I renewed my passport this past summer - they told me 13 weeks and it was almost exactly that.
- Mon Feb 05, 2024 7:26 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Sleeping struggles with two people one bed
- Replies: 71
- Views: 7013
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)
- Wed Jan 31, 2024 4:56 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Share your net worth progression
- Replies: 4288
- Views: 1081985
Re: Share your net worth progression
This is great! Keep doing what you're doing - you are definitely on the right path!
- Tue Jan 30, 2024 4:42 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How do you budget?
- Replies: 59
- Views: 5891
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.
- Sun Jan 28, 2024 6:00 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Balance fund instead of a Financial Advisor
- Replies: 24
- Views: 2992
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.
- Sat Jan 27, 2024 5:33 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Recommendation for a Solo/Individual 401k Provider
- Replies: 32
- Views: 2002
Re: Recommendation for a Solo/Individual 401k Provider
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)
- Fri Jan 26, 2024 6:21 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: 2023 Taxes, How close were your estimates
- Replies: 55
- Views: 4529
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!
- 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: 5109
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.
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.
- Fri Jan 19, 2024 3:56 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Gross income, AGI, taxable income etc
- Replies: 20
- Views: 2345
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.
- Thu Jan 18, 2024 7:33 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Fidelity Solo 401k contribution question
- Replies: 17
- Views: 1238
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...
- Thu Jan 18, 2024 7:32 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Fidelity Solo 401k contribution question
- Replies: 17
- Views: 1238
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...
- Thu Jan 18, 2024 6:23 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Fidelity Solo 401k contribution question
- Replies: 17
- Views: 1238
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...
- Thu Jan 18, 2024 4:51 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Fidelity Solo 401k contribution question
- Replies: 17
- Views: 1238
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...
- Wed Jan 17, 2024 10:45 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Fidelity Solo 401k contribution question
- Replies: 17
- Views: 1238
Re: Fidelity Solo 401k contribution question
I don't know, I've never done it from that direction. I suggest you call Fidelity to ask.RXfiles wrote: ↑Wed Jan 17, 2024 9:58 amIt'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?TwstdSista wrote: ↑Wed Jan 17, 2024 9:38 am The website gives you an option to choose between the two.
- Wed Jan 17, 2024 9:38 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Fidelity Solo 401k contribution question
- Replies: 17
- Views: 1238
Re: Fidelity Solo 401k contribution question
The website gives you an option to choose between the two.
- Wed Jan 10, 2024 7:02 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Vanguard 5500-EZ report
- Replies: 8
- Views: 970
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.
Note that the Fidelity link is not updated for 2023 which has a new line 12.
- Wed Jan 10, 2024 4:55 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Feedback on Plan for Professionally Managed Account
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1177
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).
- Tue Jan 09, 2024 4:28 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Fidelity Back door Roth. Transfer or convert?
- Replies: 7
- Views: 1068
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/
- 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: 1231
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...
- 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: 1231
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!
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!
- Sat Jan 06, 2024 6:53 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Finding and tracking HSA reimbursable expenses
- Replies: 3
- Views: 689
Re: Finding and tracking HSA reimbursable expenses
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.
- Fri Jan 05, 2024 8:17 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Boglehead's remorse?
- Replies: 102
- Views: 20363
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)
(my 2024 goal is to simply invest when I have money to invest)
- Wed Jan 03, 2024 4:46 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Fidelity as a one stop shop
- Replies: 6053
- Views: 1036864
Re: Fidelity as a one stop shop
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.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?
- 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: 14596
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...
- 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: 15920
Re: What big hairy audacious goals do you have for 2024?
Take care of my health, less stress, more naps, and more fun!
- Tue Jan 02, 2024 4:36 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: What are you up YTD? [Year To Date]
- Replies: 5250
- Views: 906776
Re: What are you up YTD? [Year To Date]
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!
- Sat Dec 30, 2023 7:18 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What was your largest annual expense in 2023?
- Replies: 21
- Views: 1714
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.
- Sat Dec 30, 2023 3:22 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Rebalance Strategy when market has big move
- Replies: 22
- Views: 1739
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.
- Sat Dec 30, 2023 2:22 am
- Forum: US Chapters
- Topic: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here
- Replies: 3621
- Views: 568892
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!
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!
- Fri Dec 29, 2023 12:33 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: New Investor Questions
- Replies: 7
- Views: 1031
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.
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.
- 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: 12725
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.