Search found 171 matches

by jayars35
Sun Mar 10, 2024 7:54 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
Replies: 11037
Views: 2066647

Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?

On Amazon Prime a couple nights ago.

Rio Bravo.

John Wayne, Dean Martin, Ward Bond, John Russell, Ricky Nelson, Walter Brennan and Angie Dickinson.
Nelson turned 18 during the filming.

I've seen it many times and never get tired of it.
by jayars35
Tue Feb 27, 2024 6:48 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What got you out of poverty?
Replies: 111
Views: 12859

Re: What got you out of poverty?

I grew up in relative poverty but always had food to eat. Many times it was day old bread and powdered milk, but it was something at least. 1. I chose friends that stayed out of trouble and helped keep me out of trouble. 2. I worked from the time I was young. At 12, I began spending my summer and Christmas vacations as a laborer on construction crews. My parents thought boys my age could work. I made money and saved all I could. 3. I went to college, got a degree that was marketable for a decent salary. 4. I worked a full time career and always at least 1 part time job. 5. I first decided how much money I would save then adapted my lifestyle to what was left. 6. I increased my savings each year. I don't think a college degree alone is going...
by jayars35
Tue Feb 27, 2024 6:05 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Still trying to understand TIPS
Replies: 42
Views: 4676

Still trying to understand TIPS

Hello all,

I have read every TIPS thread on here and still do not know the answer to this question.
For the following TIPS:
Matures 4/15/2028
Coupon is 1.25%
Price is 96.916
YTM is 2.033

Would the return =2.033% above inflation or 1.25% above inflation or neither?

Thank you
by jayars35
Fri Feb 09, 2024 10:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What is your favorite book?
Replies: 186
Views: 19936

Re: What is your favorite book?

I narrowed it down to two. I've reread both several times.

The Histories by Herodotus.

Recollections and Letters of General Robert E. Lee
by jayars35
Mon Feb 05, 2024 9:58 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Accumulators, what's your response to inflation?
Replies: 146
Views: 12838

Re: Accumulators, what's your response to inflation?

I’ll provide a data point. I’m a public school teacher in the Bay Area and my wife is a stay-at-home parent; both of us are 49 years old. Five years ago, I earned a salary of $103,200. By 2023, it had increased by 35%, to $139,200. Meanwhile, inflation over this time period has been roughly around 20% according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics calculator. We purchased our home in 2010 for $500k. The payment on our home (which is currently valued around $1.2m) is $1900 per month. Our property taxes have increased from $9k in 2010 to $10k now due to Prop 13 in California limiting the increases. The mortgage payment and property taxes are our two biggest expenses and basically sheltered from inflation. Our life insurance premiums are fi...
by jayars35
Thu Feb 01, 2024 7:01 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best & Worst "Mid-Life Crisis" expenditures
Replies: 129
Views: 24368

Re: Best & Worst "Mid-Life Crisis" expenditures

Retired from teaching at age 52, but still owned two businesses so I never thought of having a midlife crisis. I wear a crew cut so not much hair to color. I never understood the point of tats. I guess the closest thing I did to a big money spend was having my shop built after we moved into our current house. Shop is 1,200 sq-ft which is bigger than the house I grew up in. The shop has been a huge amount of fun, from working on cars to building and repairing anything I want or need to. I also bought a used tractor to maintain our driveway and land, but it cost less than my Accord.
by jayars35
Mon Jan 29, 2024 11:44 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Social Security: "You Have Earnings Not Covered By Social Security"
Replies: 39
Views: 4757

Re: Social Security: "You Have Earnings Not Covered By Social Security"

I received one of these notices recently. I taught school for 27 years and paid into SS the entire time. As far as I know, all teachers in this state, NC, pay into SS. i was also told by person at the SS office that it was for my grad school TA money.
by jayars35
Fri Jan 26, 2024 10:11 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Bond price and YTM
Replies: 4
Views: 704

Re: Bond price and YTM

[The two bonds] do have different coupons. ... They have the same YTM. They have different prices. ... Lower price bond would leave money to buy more bonds ... With the lower price bond you can indeed buy more face value , but you're not buying much more cash flow. And the small additional cash flow you do get, is delayed until maturity. This can be seen in the following comparison of $10,000 invested in two hypothetical 5-year bonds that both have a 4% yield-to-maturity (YTM). I set the coupon rates to 1.958% and 6.496% so the lower price bond would have a face value of $11,000 and the higher priced bond only $9,000. Row Col A Col B Col C Formula in Col B Copied Right 2 Investment 10,000 3 YTM 4.000% 4 Years 5 5 Coupon 1.958% 6.496% 6 Pri...
by jayars35
Thu Jan 25, 2024 3:46 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What type of investment for UTMA accounts
Replies: 11
Views: 793

Re: What type of investment for UTMA accounts

My kids have custodial ROTH's at Schwab. Each is in a target retirement index fund.

They also have custodial brokerage accounts at Schwab. 75% total stock market index, 25% total international index.

They have money market accounts for money to be used less than four years down the road.
by jayars35
Thu Jan 25, 2024 2:05 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What frugal thing did you do today?
Replies: 4524
Views: 617372

Re: What frugal thing did you do today?

vnatale wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2024 8:14 pm
jayars35 wrote: Sat Jan 20, 2024 9:46 pm Today I

1. replaced 9 electrical outlets and 2 light switches.
2. changed the oil in my Accord.
3. replaced the wax ring on a leaking toilet.

Not sure how much I did not spend by doing it myself, but I suspect $300 at least.
If we were all still in elementary school you had at least a 5 gold star day!
:happy That was an unusually busy day of physical labor. Added benefit is I enjoy it, except for the wax ring replacement.
by jayars35
Thu Jan 25, 2024 1:57 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Bond price and YTM
Replies: 4
Views: 704

Bond price and YTM

I edited my original post as it left out some details. I apologize.

Good afternoon,

I see this when I look at bonds classified by Schwab as the same duration, as when I am looking at rungs in a treasury ladder.

They do have different coupons.

They have maturity dates within 16 days of each other.

They have the same YTM.

They have different prices.

I am buying notes/bonds to reduce overall portfolio volatility. Income is secondary now, as I plan to work at least 5 more years. I am trying to determine which is a better option. Higher or lower price bond? Lower price bond would leave money to buy more bonds, but I don't know if that is a valid reason to buy the lower price bond.

Thank you for any insight.
by jayars35
Sat Jan 20, 2024 9:46 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What frugal thing did you do today?
Replies: 4524
Views: 617372

Re: What frugal thing did you do today?

Today I

1. replaced 9 electrical outlets and 2 light switches.
2. changed the oil in my Accord.
3. replaced the wax ring on a leaking toilet.

Not sure how much I did not spend by doing it myself, but I suspect $300 at least.
by jayars35
Thu Jan 04, 2024 7:05 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Where do you bank and why? 2024 Edition
Replies: 113
Views: 14710

Re: Where do you bank and why? 2024 Edition

Personal banking at State Employees Credit Union.

Business banking at Truist, started when it was BB&T, First Bank of North Carolina and Fidelity Bank. I plan to leave Truist soon.
by jayars35
Wed Dec 27, 2023 5:21 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: House Maintenance Question
Replies: 6
Views: 1198

Re: House Maintenance Question

I would have the boards sanded/scrapped then primed and painted regardless of if you have them covered or not. I would also have any of them replaced, if needed.
by jayars35
Thu Nov 30, 2023 10:09 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What non-index fund investment made you a lot of money?
Replies: 141
Views: 26486

Re: What non-index fund investment made you a lot of money?

I bought 50 shares of an IPO for a new bank in 1988. Cost was $550 total. Now worth ~$28,000 not including years of dividends. I chalk it up to luck on my part.
by jayars35
Tue Nov 28, 2023 5:24 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What to invest in Roth for 13 year old
Replies: 78
Views: 13647

Re: What to invest in Roth for 13 year old

When I opened custodial ROTHs for my two kids, we went with a Schwab target retirement index fund. Monthly contributions are done by bank draft, diversification that I am happy with, no need to rebalance.
by jayars35
Wed Nov 08, 2023 2:21 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Any other Schwab user unable to trade mutual funds using partial dollar amounts?
Replies: 13
Views: 1207

Re: Any other Schwab user unable to trade mutual funds using partial dollar amounts?

After reading this thread, I had to try just for the heck of it. $7.51 purchase of SWAGX went through no problem.
by jayars35
Mon Oct 23, 2023 11:31 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: best platform for 20 year new investor
Replies: 11
Views: 1204

Re: best platform for 20 year new investor

When my kids were 11 and 13, I opened custodial Roths for them at Schwab. They are now 17 and 19. They also have custodial brokerage accounts at Schwab. There have been no problems with any of it. My daughter recently switched her checking account from the credit union to Schwab and that process was easy as well.
by jayars35
Mon Oct 09, 2023 3:17 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Traditional IRA or Taxable ETF?
Replies: 18
Views: 1513

Re: Traditional IRA or Taxable ETF?

retiredjg wrote: Mon Oct 09, 2023 2:51 pm The conversion step of the backdoor process will pro-rate your existing IRAs with the contribution for the backdoor IRA. Your backdoor Roth will be mostly taxable instead of not taxable and it leaves basis in the tIRA that you will have to live with for a long time. Just not worth it.

Look for information about the "pro-rata rule" in information about backdoor Roth.
Thank you, retiredjg. I just read the pro-rata rule. In all the times I have heard people advocate for doing a backdoor ROTH, I do not remember hearing of this rule until your post. I appreciate the help.
by jayars35
Mon Oct 09, 2023 2:47 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Traditional IRA or Taxable ETF?
Replies: 18
Views: 1513

Re: Traditional IRA or Taxable ETF?

Thank you all for the replies. I do appreciate it.

A previous reply said not to do a backdoor ROTH. What would be the drawback to doing so?

Thanks.
by jayars35
Mon Oct 09, 2023 1:00 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Traditional IRA or Taxable ETF?
Replies: 18
Views: 1513

Re: Traditional IRA or Taxable ETF?

the_wiki wrote: Mon Oct 09, 2023 12:54 pm
jayars35 wrote: Mon Oct 09, 2023 12:30 pm Thank you all for the responses.

Based on this:

https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/20 ... an-at-work

Why would we not be eligible for a deductible IRA?

Because you said your income is too high to participate in a Roth IRA. That means it is also too high to deduct IRA contributions to a Trad IRA. ($218k phaseout to $228k cap for MFJ)
If neither of us is covered by a pension plan at work, isn't it correct that there is no income limit?
by jayars35
Mon Oct 09, 2023 12:35 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Traditional IRA or Taxable ETF?
Replies: 18
Views: 1513

Re: Traditional IRA or Taxable ETF?

stan1 wrote: Sun Oct 08, 2023 9:41 pm You may be interested in what is called a "Backdoor Roth IRA":
https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Backdoor_Roth

The most important point is this: do you or your spouse currently have any other Traditional IRA accounts?
Thanks stan1. Yes, my wife and I both have traditional IRA's.
by jayars35
Mon Oct 09, 2023 12:30 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Traditional IRA or Taxable ETF?
Replies: 18
Views: 1513

Re: Traditional IRA or Taxable ETF?

Thank you all for the responses.

Based on this:

https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/20 ... an-at-work

Why would we not be eligible for a deductible IRA?

After reading more about the backdoor ROTH, I am considering going that route. My wife and I already have traditional IRAs that were deductible. To do a backdoor ROTH, should we open separate nondeductible IRAs to do the conversion or make nondeductible contributions to our current IRAs then convert from them?

Thank you.
by jayars35
Sun Oct 08, 2023 9:32 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Traditional IRA or Taxable ETF?
Replies: 18
Views: 1513

Traditional IRA or Taxable ETF?

Good evening, I did a search and did not find an answer, so here goes. Due to our income, we cannot contribute to a ROTH, only a traditional IRA. Our top federal tax rate is 24%. I am trying to determine if, from a tax standpoint, we would be better served contributing to a traditional IRA or a taxable ETF like SCHB? Wife and I are ages 55 and 59 and both plan to work for a few more years, at least part time. Thank you for any opinions. Edit: Neither my wife nor I are covered by any retirement plan at work. We both currently have ROTH and traditional IRA's. Hers is actually a rollover from a previous employer. I know that ETF's can be held in an IRA or taxable account. I would hold SCHB or VTI, etc. in a taxable due to tax efficiency. Thank...
by jayars35
Sat Dec 24, 2022 5:37 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What are your LEAST favorite vacation destinations
Replies: 399
Views: 43306

Re: What are your LEAST favorite vacation destinations

Someone mentioned Atlantic City, and I agree. The first time I went, I was ready to leave after an hour. Fortunately, we were staying with family in another nearby town, so we were able to do other things.

Wife, kids and I have been to Disney World each year for the last 5 years and have enjoyed it, but I stay in the park until I have had enough then get on a Disney bus and go back to the cabin or lodge. Last visit was this past July. My kids are in their late teens and still enjoy the place as does my wife. I did learn, firsthand, that the guys working the security check ins get panicky if you are carrying a knife.

HJA
by jayars35
Fri Jul 30, 2021 8:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do you have a "man garage" away from your home?
Replies: 84
Views: 10394

Re: Do you have a "man garage" away from your home?

I live in the country and have a shop that is nearly finished~185 feet from my house. Plumbing for a sink is the last thing to be done. 30 x 40 metal building on a slab. 200A service with a 50A circuit for a welder. Purpose is a shop for wood/metal working, auto repair and whatever I come up with. Also home to my tractor. My son and daughter are looking forward to using the shop as well.

I don't have boats, RV, etc..

I would not want to drive to a shop. I also loath the phrase "man cave".
by jayars35
Wed Jul 21, 2021 10:21 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: For those with teens: what accounts/funds do they have?
Replies: 8
Views: 1163

Re: For those with teens: what accounts/funds do they have?

My two kids started working in our business when they were 12 and 14. Both have been salaried employees since they started. They both have custodial savings accounts at our credit union. The older is now 17 and we recently added a custodial checking account for her at our credit union. Both also have custodial ROTH IRA's (Schwab Target 2055 Index Fund), that were started when they were 13 and 15.
by jayars35
Fri May 28, 2021 11:03 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What are you putting in your Roth IRA?
Replies: 138
Views: 27294

Re: What are you putting in your Roth IRA?

My set up is:

5% SCHE, Schwab Emerging Markets ETF

5% VBR, Vanguard Small Cap Index ETF

90% SWYFX, Schwab Target 2035 Index Fund
by jayars35
Sun May 09, 2021 10:40 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What does your bond portfolio look like in this low interest world?
Replies: 65
Views: 8295

Re: What does your bond portfolio look like in this low interest world?

I have been ~30% in bonds, but a recent inheritance dropped my bond %. I am now getting it back up to 30%. My bond allocation is split between Schwab short term bond index fund (SWSBX) and the Schwab total bond index ETF that is held in their Target 2035 Index fund (SWYFX).
by jayars35
Wed Mar 24, 2021 10:52 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: TV size question
Replies: 105
Views: 8282

Re: TV size question

I think I must be an odd one. I sit ~18 feet from our TV, it's a 42, and seems fine to me. I can't imagine sitting 8 or 10 feet from a 50+ inch TV,
by jayars35
Sun Mar 21, 2021 8:11 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: "Best Total Stock Market Index Funds"
Replies: 25
Views: 5608

Re: "Best Total Stock Market Index Funds"

Thanks for posting the article. This one that I will save in my favorites.
by jayars35
Sun Mar 21, 2021 7:53 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: USPS sends federal tax return to state tax office
Replies: 22
Views: 3741

Re: USPS sends federal tax return to state tax office

A few weeks ago, I sent some documents to the state DOR and IRS by certified with return receipt. The USPS clerk told me that recently, there has been a problem with the people at the IRS refusing to sign for mail and receipts not being returned.
by jayars35
Thu Mar 18, 2021 6:10 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Where to keep cash 2021
Replies: 4
Views: 1526

Re: Where to keep cash 2021

I don't look at keeping a percentage in cash, but I do keep four months of cash in an emergency fund plus a savings account for special projects. All of it is at a credit union. Currently interest rate is 0.3%. I could get more someplace else, but the closest CU branch is 5 minutes from my house. Also, I'm not interested in making my affairs more complicated to get another 0.1% interest on a relatively small sum.
by jayars35
Sun Mar 07, 2021 8:15 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Mechanics of private mortgage payoff
Replies: 9
Views: 1457

Re: Mechanics of private mortgage payoff

I purchased a commercial building with the partnership that owned financing it. It was a 15 year mortgage with a prepayment penalty for the first 10 years. At the end of year 13, I was ready to pay it off. I called the lead partner, asked for the payoff on date xxxxxxx, and told him I would pay it off. I got a cashier's check from the bank, and took it to the bank where the partnership had their account. I gave it to the counter guy and got a receipt showing it was paid on the agreed payoff date. He sent me a letter stating that the mortgage was paid in full.
by jayars35
Sun Mar 07, 2021 12:52 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Cash Out Refi to Invest
Replies: 39
Views: 3917

Re: Cash Out Refi to Invest

I would not. I would just take what you would pay monthly on the new mortgage and invest that in a taxable account.
by jayars35
Sun Mar 07, 2021 12:47 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Does anyone use travelers checks any more?
Replies: 110
Views: 8515

Re: Does anyone use travelers checks any more?

My parents used them in the 80's when going to Europe. I, 56 yo, have never used one. I live a few miles outside Pinehurst NC, and there are several branches of PNC bank that will exchange travelers cheques. https://travelers-cheques.americanexpress.com/en-us/travel/travelers-cheques/locator I do still use cash. Less now, but I will use it when I can or when a business only takes cash. Some locally owned restaurants here will only take cash even now. I also still use a banker. I have commercial relationships with specific individuals at three different banks. It has been a great help many times. Most recently, when the government was forcing businesses to close, one of our bankers called me and said they were doing the 1st PPP program, did ...
by jayars35
Sun Mar 07, 2021 9:56 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Medallion signature guarantee
Replies: 121
Views: 18273

Re: Medallion signature guarantee

I had a relative that bought stocks through direct purchase plans administered by Computershare. When he passed, we had to get ~35-40 medallion signatures to remove his name from the joint ownership he had with his wife. Every stock had to have it's own paperwork and signature guarantee. The bank where he and his wife had accounts did them.

The lesson for me was, if I was going to buy individual stocks, don't buy them through direct purchase plans.
by jayars35
Sun Mar 07, 2021 12:37 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Commercial Real Estate
Replies: 22
Views: 2934

Re: Commercial Real Estate

A two acre industrial park seems pretty small to me. We purchased a 1.6 acre commercial property ~16 months ago. 15,000 sq-ft of building foot print is about all we could put on it unless parking was minimal.

On another property, I have a commercial building with septic, and no problems with proper maintenance. Did the seller provide documentation on the size of the septic system?

I would be nervous about using a well for my water source. Does the seller have any information on how much volume a well could provide at that location?

Maybe the answer should be obvious, but I'll ask anyway. Does the property have road frontage on a state/county road?
by jayars35
Thu Mar 04, 2021 9:52 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Where is your fixed income invested?
Replies: 88
Views: 10389

Re: Where is your fixed income invested?

My fixed income is; taxable in 6 month cd's at credit union. nontaxable is in Schwab short term bond index.
by jayars35
Thu Feb 18, 2021 9:46 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Never saw myself buying gold ...
Replies: 302
Views: 34981

Re: Never saw myself buying gold ...

This is my best recollection of events. In 2002, I bought silver. It seemed that nobody wanted it, and the price was low. I bought 200 ounces for ~$5 an ounce. It was mostly in Balboas, US coin slicks, silver eagles, silver rounds and bars. None more than 1 ounce each. I bought, as I figured, eventually people will get scared again and drive up the price then I can sell and make some money. Yes, my thinking was that shallow. I sold it around 2013, I missed the peak naturally, for ~$26.50 an ounce. I used the proceeds to put gutters on my house, tires on my car, and the rest to my mutual funds. After calculating my return, I did okay, but not great. If I had kept it until now, I would have done even worse. I think today's closing price was ~...
by jayars35
Sun Feb 14, 2021 9:47 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What is your favorite non fiction book?
Replies: 152
Views: 13445

Re: What is your favorite non fiction book?

I did my best to narrow it down to these. https://smile.amazon.com/Battleship-Bismarck-Burkard-Freiherr-Mullenheim-Rechberg/dp/0870210270/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=battleship+bismarck&qid=1613359910&sr=8-6 A great read. The author describing their futile attempts to free their comrades trapped inside a secondary turret as the vessel sank still touches me when I think about the terror the men inside must have experienced. https://smile.amazon.com/Lee-Years-Charles-Bracelen-Flood/dp/0395929741/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1613360175&sr=8-1 Details the forgotten part of Lee's life. "Letters and Recollections" by Lee was also excellent, but I this book shows a side of Lee that few people know about. h...
by jayars35
Sat Feb 06, 2021 9:47 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cash vs. Credit
Replies: 189
Views: 13486

Re: Cash vs. Credit

Prior to March, 2020, I used cash for most daily transactions and credit cards only for hotels and a few other things. Now, most places have, or claim to have, minimal change so I use a credit card. As this eases up, I will go back to paper cash. We still have a couple restaurants here that only accept paper bills and coins, no cards of any type or checks.
by jayars35
Sat Feb 06, 2021 9:26 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: inherited TOD account at edward jones
Replies: 10
Views: 2831

Re: inherited TOD account at edward jones

My mother passes away a few months ago and I inherited a taxable account at Edward Jones. I could not do anything with it until I set up an account in my name at EJ and the account was put in my name. After that, I was able to transfer it to my account at Schwab. I notified the broker at EJ that I was moving the account, did the form online on the Schwab website then did a transfer in kind.

I never went to the EJ office to set up my account with them or to transfer it, Everything was done by email or their website. I had the EJ account for several weeks before moving it and I have never seen the broker face to face. The transfer was quite easy. Moving my funds from vanguard to Schwab has been more hassle then moving from EJ.
by jayars35
Sun Jan 03, 2021 11:45 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Feeling stuck at Edward Jones, medallion problem
Replies: 61
Views: 6504

Re: Feeling stuck at Edward Jones, medallion problem

One of my parents bought stocks through direct purchase plans with Computershare as the custodian. When he passed, we had to get a MSG for 30+ stocks to convert them from joint to just my mom's name. BB&T and a credit union both would do them.

I recently moved a taxable account from Ed Jones to Schwab. No signature guarantee needed. Submitted to online form to Schwab and that was it, but IRA's certainly could be different.
by jayars35
Sun Jan 03, 2021 10:04 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Taylor Sends His Best to Fellow Bogleheads
Replies: 334
Views: 34163

Re: Taylor Sends His Best to Fellow Bogleheads

Great news! Stay well.
by jayars35
Thu Dec 31, 2020 12:28 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: So what kind of raise did you guys get for 2021?
Replies: 251
Views: 26905

Re: So what kind of raise did you guys get for 2021?

jeremyl wrote: Wed Dec 30, 2020 6:40 pm I'm very fortunate. I get my last step on the teacher pay scale (4% raise). It's hard to say what will happen in 2022 as the state is going to be doing it's 2 year budget during this next legislature session. Supposedly they're going to be able to spend more in education but my district is trying to cut $5m due to loss of enrollment because of covid. I'm guessing salary freezes in January 2022 though.
I can somewhat relate. I retired from teaching in July 2015. My last six years, we received a single 1.5% raise. No step increases. Due to increases in our health insurance cost, my take home in 2015 was less than in 2009.
by jayars35
Wed Dec 30, 2020 2:48 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Wash Sale Rule Question
Replies: 3
Views: 275

Wash Sale Rule Question

Hello all,

I spoke with a relative today and she is thinking about selling her shares of Exxon for tax loss harvesting and buying BP or Shell with the proceeds. I told her I would be concerned about the wash sale rule. She doesn't have an accountant to call, so I'm asking for her. Would that be a violation if she does the buy and sell within 30 days?

Many thanks.
by jayars35
Wed Dec 30, 2020 2:02 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: So what kind of raise did you guys get for 2021?
Replies: 251
Views: 26905

Re: So what kind of raise did you guys get for 2021?

Zero. Our governor closed businesses like mine for 6 weeks during the summer. We're still under restrictions on occupancy. I had to layoff 48 of my 52 employees. In April, I cut my pay 50% to save business funds.
by jayars35
Tue Dec 29, 2020 11:58 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Inheritance Help
Replies: 29
Views: 2454

Re: Inheritance Help

In July, I inherited accounts that were at Edward Jones and Wells Fargo. Both contained stocks and some mutual funds. I moved both to Schwab. There were not annual account fees, but the investment options, in both accounts, did carry high fees. I have no complaints about the two advisors at either firm, I simply did not need their assistance. I don't think you would go wrong at Vanguard, if you go that route. Using some of the money to get rid of PMI, I think is an A+ idea as I think of PMI as a total waste of funds for the payer.

While an inheritance carries some unpleasant emotions with it, mine was the loss of my parents, the investment opportunity for you is wonderful, especially at your age.
by jayars35
Sun Dec 27, 2020 10:35 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Exit out of Edward Jones
Replies: 25
Views: 4216

Re: Exit out of Edward Jones

I recently, ~3 weeks ago, moved an inherited EJ account to Schwab. I have no complaints about the firm or the gentleman that was the "advisor". I sent him an email explaining why I was moving the account then filled out the transfer form online. He sent back a message saying he could certainly understand my reasons, asked me to keep him in mind if I ever needed assistance and wished me a merry Christmas. It sounds like you talked to one of the “good” EJ advisors. Based on the posts on this Board, not all EJ advisors operate that way. Many seem to take it personally when a client moves funds away from EJ. Based on the short period of time we interacted, he did seem to be a "good" one. The account was transferred to me in...