Search found 621 matches
- Wed Nov 15, 2023 11:43 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Vanguard cancelled scheduled RMD withdrawals
- Replies: 28
- Views: 4832
Re: Vanguard cancelled scheduled RMD withdrawals
How do you not consider this notification? Because they continued to make the scheduled withdrawals for months after that email, and then cancelled the withdrawals that were already scheduled. While legally it might be notification, deleting the scheduled withdrawals that were shown on their website, near the end of the year without notification that the last 2 wouldn't be made, is really setting people up to miss them. They should have specifically notified people that pre-scheduled withdrawals, that were shown to be scheduled, were being deleted. While it's nice for them that they can disclaim any responsibility when people call up angry that they have to pay a fine for missing withdrawals, it's a really slimy way to do it. They probably...
- Wed Nov 15, 2023 9:22 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Vanguard cancelled scheduled RMD withdrawals
- Replies: 28
- Views: 4832
Re: Vanguard cancelled scheduled RMD withdrawals
Here is the email they sent: 7/7/23 Subject: Changes are coming to your Inherited IRA RMD Service Dear [name], At Vanguard, we continually work to improve the systems and technology we use to serve our clients. These improvements sometimes require us to make process adjustments. After evaluating our Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) Service offer, we've decided to remove inherited IRAs from the RMD Service for clients whose decedent passed away on or after January 1, 2020. This means we'll no longer offer RMD calculations or automatic payments for the inherited IRA you've enrolled in the service. This is in response to the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act of 2019 and the impact of its proposed final regul...
- Wed Nov 15, 2023 9:21 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Vanguard cancelled scheduled RMD withdrawals
- Replies: 28
- Views: 4832
Re: Vanguard cancelled scheduled RMD withdrawals
It is a brokerage account, not a mutual fund account.
The account was inherited after January 1, 2020, so the new rules apply, and Vanguard threw up their hands and decided to just let beneficiaries fend for themselves.
The account was inherited after January 1, 2020, so the new rules apply, and Vanguard threw up their hands and decided to just let beneficiaries fend for themselves.
- Wed Nov 15, 2023 6:52 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Vanguard cancelled scheduled RMD withdrawals
- Replies: 28
- Views: 4832
Vanguard cancelled scheduled RMD withdrawals
My mom has an inherited IRA that she has been taking withdrawls from. Since the age difference was less than 10 years, she qualified to only take regular withdrawls, so no 10-year rule. Earlier this year (in July) she received an email that Vanguard would no longer be calculating or doing RMDs for inherited IRAs. Starting this month, they stopped the automatic withdrawls (she had chosen monthly withdrawls). They didn't even notify her that they were cancelling the scheduled withdrawals, but luckily my mom noticed that it didn't happen this month! It would have been nice if they'd at least finished out the year since they already have the amount calculated and scheduled. So she'll manually withdraw the last 2 months. People who had been plan...
- Mon Aug 07, 2023 11:36 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: International (Non-US) versus US Equities (The "Arguments")
- Replies: 5216
- Views: 833406
Re: International (Non-US) versus US Equities (The "Arguments")
Right, but trying to use the past data to predict which will outperform in the future is both an exercise in futility and the reason why these threads persist ad nauseum. All we have is information about the past and the present. Making decisions based on that is what we have to do. That's how I picked the Bogleheads approach to begin with, and how I picked real estate investments as well. Investment strategies have to do well in back testing in my view. Ex-US indexing fails that. We can revisit in the future. Someone above suggested 2030 for the final showdown :beer When I created my IPS that wasn’t true (Int’l had long-term returns similar to Total US) and was much less controversial. At what point should one change their IPS based on pa...
- Mon Aug 07, 2023 2:28 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: International (Non-US) versus US Equities (The "Arguments")
- Replies: 5216
- Views: 833406
Re: International (Non-US) versus US Equities (The "Arguments")
Right, but trying to use the past data to predict which will outperform in the future is both an exercise in futility and the reason why these threads persist ad nauseum. All we have is information about the past and the present. Making decisions based on that is what we have to do. That's how I picked the Bogleheads approach to begin with, and how I picked real estate investments as well. Investment strategies have to do well in back testing in my view. Ex-US indexing fails that. We can revisit in the future. Someone above suggested 2030 for the final showdown :beer When I created my IPS that wasn’t true (Int’l had long-term returns similar to Total US) and was much less controversial. At what point should one change their IPS based on pa...
- Sun Jul 16, 2023 3:54 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: [RESOLVED] $250k lost in unauthorized wire fraud - experience/advice?
- Replies: 206
- Views: 28892
Re: $250k lost in unauthorized wire fraud - experience/advice?
The number one thing I'd recommend to people is to remove all phone numbers from your email 2FA and only use an authenticator app and another email address and print and store account recovery codes for worst case scenarios. I wish it were that easy. Most of the financial institutions I use, including Vanguard, use mobile phone 2FA only. In fact, none of the financial institutions I use even offer authenticator app 2FA method. I use a Yubikey to access my Vanguard account. After setting up my Yubikeys I removed my mobile number. I tried this, but it let me add my phone number back using the app knowing only my password (even after I re-installed the app, so it wasn’t because I was using an authorized device). In other words, an attacker wo...
- Sun Jul 16, 2023 1:54 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: [RESOLVED] $250k lost in unauthorized wire fraud - experience/advice?
- Replies: 206
- Views: 28892
Re: $250k lost in unauthorized wire fraud - experience/advice?
The number one thing I'd recommend to people is to remove all phone numbers from your email 2FA and only use an authenticator app and another email address and print and store account recovery codes for worst case scenarios. I wish it were that easy. Most of the financial institutions I use, including Vanguard, use mobile phone 2FA only. In fact, none of the financial institutions I use even offer authenticator app 2FA method. I use a Yubikey to access my Vanguard account. After setting up my Yubikeys I removed my mobile number. I tried this, but it let me add my phone number back using the app knowing only my password (even after I re-installed the app, so it wasn’t because I was using an authorized device). In other words, an attacker wo...
- Mon Apr 03, 2023 4:38 am
- Forum: Non-US Investing
- Topic: Holding BND / VXUS in taxable account while claiming FEIE
- Replies: 5
- Views: 1087
Re: Holding BND / VXUS in taxable account while claiming FEIE
Interest and dividends in your taxable account aren’t taxed as long as you stay below the standard deduction. You’d have to check about the state you previously lived in, might have problems if it’s California.
The CPA firm I use has never used any of the foreign tax credit from Int’l funds, so I moved them into retirement accounts and only have total US stocks in taxable (because they have lower dividends). I also do Roth conversions to fill up my standard deduction.
The CPA firm I use has never used any of the foreign tax credit from Int’l funds, so I moved them into retirement accounts and only have total US stocks in taxable (because they have lower dividends). I also do Roth conversions to fill up my standard deduction.
- Mon Apr 03, 2023 1:09 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Will Vanguard liquidate these funds if I attempt to transfer them in-kind?
- Replies: 7
- Views: 984
Re: Will Vanguard liquidate these funds if I attempt to transfer them in-kind?
Is this in a taxable account or a retirement account?
- Thu Mar 30, 2023 8:44 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: 401Ks Do you save any money?
- Replies: 51
- Views: 5857
Re: 401Ks Do you save any money?
One additional wrinkle is that you don’t have to pay FICA on the employer contribution, so that saves 7.65% right there (and if it’s your own company, you can consider it 15.3% since the employer doesn’t have to pay either)… Also the employer part can be a percentage of salary (up to 25%) instead of a match so you can do more there instead of matching (my experience is with a 403(b), I think it’s more complicated with a 401(k)).
- Sat Feb 25, 2023 2:33 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Cases where the "base model" is a steal, but the fancier models are quite expensive
- Replies: 77
- Views: 8964
Re: Cases where the "base model" is a steal, but the fancier models are quite expensive
Maybe if you don’t consider the operating system. Before I switched to a Mac I would pound the table and swear several times a day at how boneheaded Windows is. It hasn’t improved. Mac OS works the way I expect it to work.
I just bought a new MacBook Air to replace my 10-year-old MacBook Pro and paid extra for ram and disk upgrades. The old one still works but the new one is lighter and has better battery life, along with being faster.
Anything to not have to deal with Windows (and I’m not a neophyte, I have a degree in Computer Science and work in IT).
- Fri Feb 03, 2023 10:14 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: James Bond and Watches
- Replies: 47
- Views: 4551
Re: James Bond and Watches
I view the switch to Omega “omeega” product placement as too clumsy and heavy-handed, and putting the Rolex/Omega switch in the trailer was so cringey. The special editions are gimmicky. It put me off the brand even more than Omega’s wanna-be Rolex vibe.
- Fri Jan 27, 2023 6:25 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Bank account closed because of 15-year-ago news article [updated]
- Replies: 17
- Views: 5776
Re: Bank account closed because of 15-year-ago news article
To update this story...
My friend appealed through the manager of the branch. He just heard back that they won't close his account after all. Apparently the risk management team told senior management about the article, but management thought it was current rather than from 15 years ago. Once corrected they decided he can stay with the bank. I've removed the name of the bank from the original post.
My friend appealed through the manager of the branch. He just heard back that they won't close his account after all. Apparently the risk management team told senior management about the article, but management thought it was current rather than from 15 years ago. Once corrected they decided he can stay with the bank. I've removed the name of the bank from the original post.
- Fri Jan 27, 2023 9:17 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Linux Desktop today how is it as a daily driver?
- Replies: 145
- Views: 11691
Re: Linux Desktop today how is it as a daily driver?
I used to use Windows up to XP. I switched to Mac and found that I no longer pounded my desk in frustration at the boneheaded design decisions. From what I’ve read it’s only gotten worse.
I occasionally use Terminal for work-related stuff (manipulating data and files with scripts) which is nice to have available. It’s the best of both worlds.
I just ordered a MacBook Air which will arrive Wednesday. My 2013 MacBook Pro still works perfectly but I want something thin and light for travel and to have on my lap, and having something new and snappy will be nice. Also use iPhone and love AirDrop.
MacOS does have some annoyances but not many. I’d say it’s the worst OS, except for all the other ones.
I occasionally use Terminal for work-related stuff (manipulating data and files with scripts) which is nice to have available. It’s the best of both worlds.
I just ordered a MacBook Air which will arrive Wednesday. My 2013 MacBook Pro still works perfectly but I want something thin and light for travel and to have on my lap, and having something new and snappy will be nice. Also use iPhone and love AirDrop.
MacOS does have some annoyances but not many. I’d say it’s the worst OS, except for all the other ones.
- Mon Jan 23, 2023 9:44 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Bank account closed because of 15-year-ago news article [updated]
- Replies: 17
- Views: 5776
Bank account closed because of 15-year-ago news article [updated]
A friend of mine had some negative press coverage about 15 years ago. He hasn't been involved in any activities and hasn't been in the news since then. He has had a [removed] Bank account for about 10 years, and he was just notified that they're going to close his account in 30 days because of the news article from 15 years ago. Can anyone recommend a bank that doesn't close accounts for political/publicity reasons? Also he now lives overseas and the bank would need to accept a customer living abroad. I thought of Schwab but I'm not sure if they close accounts for social-credit types of reasons. Update: My friend appealed through the manager of the branch. He just heard back that they won't close his account after all. Apparently the risk m...
- Sun Dec 11, 2022 8:14 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: HP 4GB intel celeron all in one for basic games
- Replies: 46
- Views: 2912
Re: HP 4GB intel celeron all in one for basic games
My mom has a 2010 iMac and plays candy crush and similar games all the time. I wonder the reason a 2017 won’t handle them, it should be plenty fast enough. Maybe if the RAM is only 4GB it could be upgraded.
- Thu Nov 17, 2022 8:38 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Resetting the 4% SWR
- Replies: 36
- Views: 2653
Re: Resetting the 4% SWR
I wonder what percentage you’d have to use instead of 4% to make this as safe as the standard 4% rule. In other words, a percentage based on peak portfolio value.
- Tue Nov 15, 2022 8:20 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: How to fix slow Macbook Air
- Replies: 26
- Views: 2138
Re: How to fix slow Macbook Air
Try quitting Chrome for a while and see if it’s better. I find Chrome to be a total power hog.
- Sat Nov 12, 2022 7:22 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Vanguard now accepts Yubikey on Safari
- Replies: 3
- Views: 498
Re: Vanguard now accepts Yubikey on Safari
I’ve been using Chrome (on OSX) for years, it works on that too. I’m glad Safari works now, I’d prefer to use that.
- Tue Nov 08, 2022 8:31 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Constant Surveys Annoying
- Replies: 35
- Views: 2650
Re: Constant Surveys Annoying
I get really annoyed when the survey only asks about the customer representative I spoke with, when I’m really aggravated that their phone system sucks or that there’s something the rep can’t do anything about. They never seem to let you rate other aspects of the company.
- Wed Sep 28, 2022 2:38 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Global Entry Delay (March 2022)
- Replies: 26
- Views: 3508
Re: Global Entry Delay (March 2022)
In the absence of GA or Nexus, the Mobile Passport app can be a major time saver when arriving back to the U.S. from international travel, at least at my “home airport. You basically skip to the front of the border control line. https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/mobile-passport-control I’ve always just scanned my passport at the kiosk and answered a few questions on the screen, I’ve never had to wait in any lines. Is messing with some app really faster? I really only wanted it for the TSA Precheck, maybe I should just try to enroll in that separately. Even that line is only a few minutes, I just don’t like having to take off my belt, shoes, take out my laptop, empty my pockets, etc. I wish there was some way to skip the 2-hour line to...
- Tue Sep 27, 2022 9:33 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Global Entry Delay (March 2022)
- Replies: 26
- Views: 3508
Re: Global Entry Delay (March 2022)
I applied before COVID and waited for about a year for approval and was ready to do the interview but then they cancelled all applications by New York residents. I applied again and was approved immediately but then COVID hit. They extended it for another year and I tried to do the interview-on-entry, but when I arrived at immigration they said “sorry we’re too busy.” I tried to make an appointment but they didn’t have any available before my next trip and now my application will expire before I have a chance to have an interview. I think I might just give up, this whole thing is rediculous.
- Fri Jul 01, 2022 1:32 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Using taxable fund losses to offset Roth conversions?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 503
Re: Using taxable fund losses to offset Roth conversions?
Yes but you can only offset $3000 in ordinary income per year (which includes Roth conversions). You can save the rest for future years. Search and read the many topics on tax loss harvesting to find out about the mechanics of this (to avoid actually losing money if the market goes back up).
- Sat Jun 18, 2022 8:05 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Living abroad, Dad wants to cancel Medicare
- Replies: 22
- Views: 3321
Re: Living abroad, Dad wants to cancel Medicare
To answer a question, he is a natural-born US citizen. He would presumably still have part A since he has worked in the US his whole life.
- Fri Jun 17, 2022 7:43 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Living abroad, Dad wants to cancel Medicare
- Replies: 22
- Views: 3321
Living abroad, Dad wants to cancel Medicare
My dad and I moved to the Philippines 5 years ago. He hasn't been back to the US during that time, although he may visit in the future. This could be covered by travel insurance.
He has local health insurance which has a $250,000 limit. Medical care is much cheaper here (as well as nearby countries like Thailand which would also be covered).
Is there any reason he shouldn't cancel medicare? Since we can't use it in foreign countries he sees it as a waste of money.
He has local health insurance which has a $250,000 limit. Medical care is much cheaper here (as well as nearby countries like Thailand which would also be covered).
Is there any reason he shouldn't cancel medicare? Since we can't use it in foreign countries he sees it as a waste of money.
- Thu Jun 16, 2022 11:10 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Wash sale questions
- Replies: 9
- Views: 640
Re: Wash sale questions
So does this mean that one can avoid wash sales involving IRAs by making the same trades to the same TLH partners within the IRA at the same time as the taxable account? Sounds too good to be true…
- Thu Jun 16, 2022 9:01 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Wash sale questions
- Replies: 9
- Views: 640
Re: Wash sale questions
Are you sure that this is true? If the IRA shares were bought within 30 days AFTER the taxable sale, they'd create a wash sale irrespective of when they are sold. Why is it different if this happened BEFORE the taxable sale?
- Thu Jun 16, 2022 8:58 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Wash sale questions
- Replies: 9
- Views: 640
Re: Wash sale questions
500 shares purchased many years ago taxable.
10 shares bought in IRA on June 13.
100 shares bought on June 13 in taxable.
10 shares sold on June 16 in IRA. No shares remain.
100 shares (to be) sold in taxable on June 17. This isn't done yet, it's what I'm considering and asking about.
10 shares bought in IRA on June 13.
100 shares bought on June 13 in taxable.
10 shares sold on June 16 in IRA. No shares remain.
100 shares (to be) sold in taxable on June 17. This isn't done yet, it's what I'm considering and asking about.
- Thu Jun 16, 2022 7:42 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Wash sale questions
- Replies: 9
- Views: 640
Wash sale questions
Say that I had 500 shares of a Total Stock fund. I bought 100 more shares, and then a week later sold those specific 100 shares at a loss. Would that create a wash sale?
I guess this comes down to whether the wash sale depends on specific lots or if it's just shares in general, since I will continue to own the original 500 shares.
Also, a week before this, 10 shares were automatically bought in my IRA and sold a day later. This is because I neglected to change automatic investing. Would this create a wash sale? No shares of this were owned in the IRA at the time of the potential wash sale, but shares were bought (and sold) within 30 days.
I guess this comes down to whether the wash sale depends on specific lots or if it's just shares in general, since I will continue to own the original 500 shares.
Also, a week before this, 10 shares were automatically bought in my IRA and sold a day later. This is because I neglected to change automatic investing. Would this create a wash sale? No shares of this were owned in the IRA at the time of the potential wash sale, but shares were bought (and sold) within 30 days.
- Sun Jun 12, 2022 12:18 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Portable travel routers
- Replies: 22
- Views: 3085
Re: Portable travel routers
Do hotels offer Ethernet that bypasses the login and ads? Do they even have Ethernet? Have you plugged your laptop directly into the Ethernet to see how it works?
If you log into another wifi you might run into issues with double NAT. Make sure the router has this capability.
For light usage you could consider a WiFi hotspot, then you use cellular data and don’t have to connect anything, and you can use it anywhere on the road, not just at a hotel, etc.
I’m not an expert at networking but I’ve never had a problem with routers.
I used to have a $10 one that worked fine, I don’t know what the expensive ones offer. You could look at the instruction manual for the one you’re considering or read some reviews.
If you log into another wifi you might run into issues with double NAT. Make sure the router has this capability.
For light usage you could consider a WiFi hotspot, then you use cellular data and don’t have to connect anything, and you can use it anywhere on the road, not just at a hotel, etc.
I’m not an expert at networking but I’ve never had a problem with routers.
I used to have a $10 one that worked fine, I don’t know what the expensive ones offer. You could look at the instruction manual for the one you’re considering or read some reviews.
- Sat Jun 11, 2022 9:55 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: eBay Shortchanged on Items Received
- Replies: 7
- Views: 714
Re: eBay Shortchanged on Items Received
The last 2 times I ordered from eBay I was sent cheap, obviously counterfeit items (perfume), despite the listing having photos of the real item. Both sellers refused to honor return policy, tried to delay me into letting the dispute window pass, and I had to go around a few times in disputes. The gall of the blatant lying really got to me. Then PayPal didn’t want to refund the money back to my credit card and tried to force me to link my bank account to get a refund until I spent hours on the phone and threatened to dispute the charge. After getting and returning a fake item twice (and having to pay for return shipping both times), I gave up and bought it from Jomashop. It cost a couple hundred $ more but I know it’s real. It’ll be quite a...
- Sat Jun 11, 2022 12:37 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: YouTube Ads
- Replies: 13
- Views: 1264
Re: YouTube Ads
Another vote for YouTube Premium. I’ve had it since it was called YouTube Red. In addition to no ads and background audio play, it also lets you download videos which is useful for conserving cellular data or to watch on flights.
But there are more and more sponsorships in the videos now (that is, advertising read by the YouTuber as part of the video). I even find that annoying and can’t imagine having that PLUS the regular ads.
If YouTube ever gets rid of premium I’ll watch a lot less of it.
YouTube is the only thing I watch (unless I’m visiting someone or something and then maybe Netflix).
But there are more and more sponsorships in the videos now (that is, advertising read by the YouTuber as part of the video). I even find that annoying and can’t imagine having that PLUS the regular ads.
If YouTube ever gets rid of premium I’ll watch a lot less of it.
YouTube is the only thing I watch (unless I’m visiting someone or something and then maybe Netflix).
- Wed May 18, 2022 10:42 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Experiences with Incogni data removal service?
- Replies: 4
- Views: 782
Re: Experiences with Incogni data removal service?
It is neither of those, it’s data stored by the giant data broker companies and probably mostly used for targeted advertising.
- Wed May 18, 2022 9:47 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Experiences with Incogni data removal service?
- Replies: 4
- Views: 782
Experiences with Incogni data removal service?
I've been seeing sponsorships for Incogni lately from several YouTube channels that I watch. They are run by SurfShark VPN (I generally find VPN ads to be fairly deceptive in the claims they make).
Incogni a service that sends requests to many different data brokers, who are then legally required to remove data about you. They require you to sign a limited power of attorney in order for them to request removal on your behalf. It costs around $70 per year or double that on a monthly basis.
I'm wondering if this is a good thing. While I find it creepy to have these big companies know so much about me, is there actually any advantage to having the data removed?
Incogni a service that sends requests to many different data brokers, who are then legally required to remove data about you. They require you to sign a limited power of attorney in order for them to request removal on your behalf. It costs around $70 per year or double that on a monthly basis.
I'm wondering if this is a good thing. While I find it creepy to have these big companies know so much about me, is there actually any advantage to having the data removed?
- Wed Apr 20, 2022 9:23 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Buyer's Remorse: Omega watch
- Replies: 83
- Views: 11763
Re: Buyer's Remorse: Omega watch
It looks like Rolex prices have started to come down bit, along with watch prices in general. I’m going to wait a bit and see what happens, I may buy something.
- Tue Apr 19, 2022 10:06 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Tax Refund Paper I Bond - One $5,000 I Bond
- Replies: 32
- Views: 5494
Re: Tax Refund Paper I Bond - One $5,000 I Bond
I got the single $5000 bond also, and saw several other people post in the I-bonds thread that they received the same.
- Fri Apr 15, 2022 4:56 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: I Bonds Mega Thread (I Bond Heads Rejoice!)
- Replies: 6651
- Views: 1204312
Re: I Bonds Mega Thread (I Bond Heads Rejoice!)
My wife and I have our multiple gifts to one another scheduled for later this month....so we will just coast into 2024. Back to the gifts per person language....Has anyone ever seen the process through to its conclusion of actually delivering gifts in different years to the same person when the original purchase of the gifts, purchased in one year, exceeded $10,000? The reasons I ask is because some folks on another board keep stumbling over this language from TD: "So, in a calendar year, you can buy up to $10,000 in electronic bonds and up to $5,000 in paper bonds for each person you buy for." I've appreciated the language some Bogleheads have cited from TD that paints a broader picture. And I have pointed out that clearly plent...
- Thu Apr 14, 2022 4:33 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: I Bonds Mega Thread (I Bond Heads Rejoice!)
- Replies: 6651
- Views: 1204312
Re: I Bonds Mega Thread (I Bond Heads Rejoice!)
I just got my paper bond from my tax refund. In contrast with others here, it was a single $5000 bond.
- Fri Mar 04, 2022 1:38 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Yubikey only at Vanguard now possible.
- Replies: 658
- Views: 83821
Re: Vanguard 2-factor authentication becoming mandatory and available for non-US
It is currently not possible to do this safely. You can do it but then anyone can get in with just the password using the app.southerndoc wrote: ↑Fri Mar 04, 2022 12:13 am How do you disable the SMS text messaging and only allow Yubikeys?
- Thu Feb 17, 2022 12:09 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Retirement plan bill $3987 for phone discussions 4 years ago
- Replies: 23
- Views: 4410
Re: Retirement plan bill $3987 for phone discussions 4 years ago
https://investor.vanguard.com/accounts-plans/403b-plans/low-cost#modal-tpa Our fees are clear and straightforward. While some 403(b) providers may charge many types of fees—fees you may not even realize you're being charged—Vanguard has just 2: A monthly recordkeeping fee of $5 per plan participant ($60 annually). The investment expense (expense ratio) for each fund you choose for your account. Plan participants will never find a hidden fee or charge. That means no front-or back-end loads, commissions, surrender charges, or asset-based administration "wrap" fees. And we don't charge you for taking a distribution from your account, as many of our competitors do.* Plan sponsors have 2 options for paying the recordkeeping fee: as a ...
- Wed Feb 16, 2022 6:31 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Retirement plan bill $3987 for phone discussions 4 years ago
- Replies: 23
- Views: 4410
Re: Retirement plan bill $3987 for phone discussions 4 years ago
Just to clarify, the company is being billed, not the investors or the fund.johnubc wrote: ↑Wed Feb 16, 2022 5:22 am What does your written contract say in regards to Fees? That is where you need to start. I would also push back on just billed fees that are over a year old - todays investors should not be paying yesterday's expenses. The people that benefited during those years could be gone from the fund.
- Tue Feb 15, 2022 5:32 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Retirement plan bill $3987 for phone discussions 4 years ago
- Replies: 23
- Views: 4410
Re: Retirement plan bill $3987 for phone discussions 4 years ago
I wonder if it's still worth it to send the one to Vanguard. The page does say they have a "partnership".Stinky wrote: ↑Tue Feb 15, 2022 3:52 pm FWIW - Vanguards website says it is not affiliated with Newport Group. See this link, near the bottom of the page.
https://investor.vanguard.com/accounts- ... affiliates.
- Tue Feb 15, 2022 10:10 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Retirement plan bill $3987 for phone discussions 4 years ago
- Replies: 23
- Views: 4410
Re: Retirement plan bill $3987 for phone discussions 4 years ago
Even if they do agree to waive the fees as you request, why would you continue to keep them on? If the delta between what they billed, and what you think they should have billed, is not too ridiculous, I'd be inclined to just pay it, and fire them. I was unable to find any other company willing to host an ERISA-compliant plan as small as ours. It would also be a major headache which I’m not willing to go through again just to make a point. It literally took years to get everything finished. Understood. Please know my suggestion of firing them was not for you to simply make a point. It was to get away from a company you described as very incompetent. Sorry to hear you have limited options now. Good luck, and hopefully they will be reasonabl...
- Tue Feb 15, 2022 10:06 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Retirement plan bill $3987 for phone discussions 4 years ago
- Replies: 23
- Views: 4410
Re: Retirement plan bill $3987 for phone discussions 4 years ago
I don’t know enough about it to really know this. I probably should have directly asked but I took Newport’s word that it needed to be done.
It may be one of those things that’s not strictly a matter of law, but more about how much the IRS would care if we were ever audited.
I feel like it was also partly Vanguard’s fault because when I originally opened the account with them, they just gave me an account-opening form, and never told me any additional documents were required.
I think my biggest gripe, though, is that Newport took 3-4 years to even tell me about these charges.
- Tue Feb 15, 2022 9:31 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Retirement plan bill $3987 for phone discussions 4 years ago
- Replies: 23
- Views: 4410
Re: Retirement plan bill $3987 for phone discussions 4 years ago
I was unable to find any other company willing to host an ERISA-compliant plan as small as ours. It would also be a major headache which I’m not willing to go through again just to make a point. It literally took years to get everything finished.
- Tue Feb 15, 2022 7:59 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Retirement plan bill $3987 for phone discussions 4 years ago
- Replies: 23
- Views: 4410
Retirement plan bill $3987 for phone discussions 4 years ago
My company has our 403(b) plan with Newport Group (affiliated with Vanguard). Our plan started in 2018. A few days ago we received a big pile of bills from them for almost $4,000. They include: 2/2/2018: $375 for "Discussion and emails re: plan types..." 7/1/2019: $1,300 for preparation of plan documents 4/17/2018 to now (12 separate bills): total $2221.83 for plan expenses for "compliance base fee" and "recordkeeping base fee". When I originally set up the plan, I was quoted $750/year in fees. They have only billed us for some of them until now. If it was only this, I would have no problem paying it. The other fees that were never disclosed: $60 per year for the "recordkeeping base fee". Again not a ...
- Sat Jan 08, 2022 12:47 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Ultra HNW on this forum?
- Replies: 223
- Views: 30276
Re: Ultra HNW on this forum?
Ten years ago, Bill Gates was #2 on the Forbes Billionaires list @ $56B https://web.archive.org/web/20120103153943/http://www.forbes.com/wealth/billionaires Currently Bill is #4 on the list @ $124B https://www.forbes.com/billionaires/ If instead of doing whatever Bill Gates did, he had put that $56B in 2012 into the portfolio Buffett suggested for his bequest to his wife (90% S&P 500/10% Short-Term Treasury) , and took 4% inflation adjusted withdrawals (starting at $2,224,000,000 in 2012 withdrawals) Bill would still be #1 on the list, or at least tied with current Jeff Bezos $177B PortfolioVisualizer Simulation :P :D It should be noted Gates has donated roughly $50 billion to charity over the years, best I could tell $14 billion since...
- Thu Jan 06, 2022 5:57 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Macbook Air (New) Battery Life Issue
- Replies: 18
- Views: 1710
Re: Macbook Air (New) Battery Life Issue
I disagree with keeping it connected to power all the time. I’ve had 2 separate iPhone batteries swell to the point of splitting the case open after only 2 years of being continuously plugged in. The Battery Health in settings still showed 100%. Also had the batteries in my MacBook Pro swelled after about 3 years of being plugged in. Complete opposite experience with my MacBook Pro. I use it as a "desktop" and it's been plugged into my dock for 2 years now and no swelling or excessive heat; unfortunately I haven't been traveling like I normally do. But I'm curious why/how you would have a mobile phone continuously plugged in for 2 years. It’s actually my dad’s phone. It’s a 6s+. He not good with technology and only ever uses it t...
- Wed Jan 05, 2022 11:21 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Macbook Air (New) Battery Life Issue
- Replies: 18
- Views: 1710
Re: Macbook Air (New) Battery Life Issue
Also is it Intel or M1 based?