Bogleheads.org

Why would you question whether " if I apply to House A, am I compelled to use or not use realtor 2?"??

Realtor 1 is the listing agent for house A and showed it to you both times. Realtor 2 had nothing to do with house A. Realtor 1 gets the commission. It would be very bad form for you to now involve Realtor 2 in any transaction concerning house A.

What do the terms and conditions of your booking say regarding guest damages?

I found two errors that, if corrected, would result in a couple thousand dollars of additional refund for these years. Unfortunately, the three year window has expired for both these years. Is it worth attempting to file an amendment? If it matters, one of the errors involves a capital gains loss, and another involves an AMT carryover. I'm well aware of their stated policy of 3 years after filing, but I'm specifically seeking to know how they operate in practice (whether it is at their discretion or not to refund for a closed year). If at their discretion, did the covid years make a difference at all? Either personal experience, or an IRS-insider's knowledge would be most appreciated. Thank you. Per this article from the IRS website: Amend...

Have you reviewed IRS Publication 556?

Six month treasuries are at 5.26% currently. Schwab's SWVXX has a current seven (7) day yield of 4.48%.

I'd consider putting anything you may need within six (6) months in SWVXX, anything you wouldn't need to access within six (6) months in a treasury.

jebmke wrote: ↑Wed Mar 08, 2023 6:10 am

galawdawg wrote: ↑Wed Mar 08, 2023 5:48 am

Mr. Rumples wrote: ↑Wed Mar 08, 2023 5:35 am Thank y'all. This is a check to a non-profit corporation which runs a private cemetery; has been around for over 100 years - (I checked and it is registered with the state's corporation commission and is legit). However, it's being mailed to the home of an officer.

If you use a donor advised fund, consider setting up that organization to receive a grant in your desired amount. Then the brokerage holding your DAF will send the check to the appropriate address.

This only works if it is a 501(c)(3) and the payment is a charitable donation.

Agree but we don't know based upon OP's information whether that non-profit qualifies. If OP has a DAF, he should consider looking into it.

Thank y'all. This is a check to a non-profit corporation which runs a private cemetery; has been around for over 100 years - (I checked and it is registered with the state's corporation commission and is legit). However, it's being mailed to the home of an officer. If you use a donor advised fund, consider setting up that organization to receive a grant in your desired amount. Then the brokerage holding your DAF will send the check to the appropriate address. If not, consider using your bank's online bill pay service. Assuming they have to send the payment via US mail, they provide the security envelope and pay the postage. Some banks debit your account when the check is sent, others don't debit your account until the check is actually pre...

Just curious...as most Bogleheads (if not all) are invested in the US equity market via low-cost index funds, does the fact that Schwab is a publicly-traded company whose profits go to shareholders (i.e. Bogleheads and other investors) tip the scales in anyone's mind in favor of Schwab over Fidelity, whose profits go to the Johnson family rather than US equity investors? I know for me that was a factor, albeit a minor one, worth considering. To the OP: I like Schwab, very satisfied with their service and their product offerings. I've got a great financial consultant who is very responsive and, as a CFP, he does a comprehensive plan for us once a year, gratis. He knows I am a self-directed investor and respects my preferred Boglehead approac...

I'd recommend you consider a sinking fund. Put those extra dollars dedicated to paying off your mortgage into a money market fund or treasuries. When the fund balance equals the principal balance of your mortgage, then pay it off in full.

Check washing is very uncommon now but your post suggests that this involved multiple checks. How did that happen?

This is a personal investment account. Since I have other 401k and Rollover accounts geared toward my retirement, this account can be a bit more aggressive. Here is the current allocation and percent of account. It obviously wasn't the best time to buy as only the first 2 stocks (in green) are in the positive. The rest are in the red. Applied Materials INC(AMAT)________29% Fidelity Zero Total Market (FZROX) ________20% Advanced Micro Devices (AMD)________ 2% Fidelity Blue Chip Growth (FBGRX) ________17% Fidelity Select Technology (FSPTX) ________16% Alphabet INC (GOOG) ________8% Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM)________ 8% The account is down about 25% and want to get this growing back. Stick with these Stock? Or Switch to Index Funds? Or Any ot...

New to the forums. Figured I’d post to get your opinions/advice. About me 34M physician. Was looking to buy a CPO Range Rover. Have over 300k saved up. I also have some investments (real estate/stocks). As of right now, I don’t plan on making anymore major investments, and am just focused on saving. I’m looking to purchase a 2019 Range Rover.~65k. Price Being interest rates are what they are, should I just pay for the car in cash? Or would you recommend financing Welcome to Bogleheads! Do you have other debt, such as student loans, car loans, consumer debt or a mortgage? If so, what kind of loans, payment, interest rate and balance. Is the $300k being held in cash? What is your total portfolio? What is your HHI gross income and net income,...

When you donate a car or boat, your deduction is usually what they get for it at auction. Many organizations will not accept boats that are not in running order, as anything they spend on storage or auction fees will.eat into any benefit to them. If your area has any kind of boat or mechanics apprentice opportunities, they might be able to work something out with you. This is correct. If you are able to find an charitable organization that will accept your boat as a donation, you only get to deduct what they receive when they sell or dispose of the boat OR the fair market value, whichever is less . See page six (6) of IRS Publication 526: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p526.pdf Because the boat is not running, it is unlikely that you woul...

In the Accounts menu, select Schwab Portfolio Checkup. There is a link for View Holdings near the top. Click on that link and on the right side near the top you'll see a drop down Select Holdings View. You want to select "Full Portfolio". Then click the green button labeled Back to Analysis.

https://client.schwab.com/Accounts/Port ... ?legacypcu

campy2010 wrote: ↑Sat Feb 18, 2023 8:56 am The 7 day yield includes the expense ratio. I just moved my cash from Ally to Fidelity. Sorry Ally. Interestingly, Vanguard’s money market rates are consistently about 25 bp higher than Fidelity’s.

As a general rule, Vanguard's money market funds have the highest yield, Schwab isn't usually too far behind, and then Fidelity comes in behind Schwab.

Sure. If you anticipate your emergency fund would not be needed all at once but over the course of a few months, you could hold a portion that is fully liquid in money market fund and create a short-term treasury ladder for the remainder. At Schwab, you can get treasury bills maturing in March with a yield of between 4.7% to 4.86%. You should be able to find similar rates at Fidelity. So if you have $50k in your emergency fund which you want to last you for six (6) months, keep $10k in a money market and put $10k each in treasury bills maturing in thirty (30), sixty (60), ninety (90) and one-hundred twenty (120) days. Then when each matures, if you don't need it for an emergency, buy another treasury bill maturing in one-hundred twenty (120...

Okay. That's why I asked earlier (but perhaps you overlooked it as you didn't reply): Or are you addressing your question to Bogleheads who choose not to give their children anything, both now and after their death? My bad. Answered one of your questions but not the other. Going for more coffee now. :beer I'm on my fourth cup so no worries here! (We need a coffee emoticon...really too early for beer unless you are in Europe or Asia). Regarding your question, while I can't speak for the Bogleheads who indicated that was their chosen approach, I can share with you some of the typical explanations I have heard from others who are also not giving to their children: 1. The child(ren) have issues with addiction such that any financial gift will ...

CloseEnough wrote: ↑Sat Feb 18, 2023 8:00 am Not really. My original comment was questioning, as someone else did just up-thread, why someone would decide to leave no money to their children, while living or through will. The idea of "I'll spend it all, and if anything is left it will go to charity, not my kids". That is puzzling to me (and, "Bltn" above, asks the same question).

Okay. That's why I asked earlier (but perhaps you overlooked it as you didn't reply):

galawdawg wrote: ↑Sat Feb 18, 2023 7:34 am Or are you addressing your question to Bogleheads who choose not to give their children anything, both now and after their death?

With that philosophy, what would you find different between giving to fully-functioning and independent adult children while one is living and giving to them as an inheritance after death? The third paragraph of my original comment answers your question. I had seen that when I read your original comment...it appears to me that the only practical difference between your preferred approach (giving an inheritance after death) and the approach others use (giving while still living) is the level of confidence that those who give while still living have that their retirement portfolio and income will, even with the giving, be sufficient to provide for their needs for the remainder of their life. But I would personally not consider a preference o...

I wasn’t advocating a false police report. If your car is hit then you likely got bounced around. Maybe you hit your head and don’t even recall. Self-diagnosing a concussion isn’t easy for a concussed person. So people should seek medical care after any accident. I didn't indicate that you were. I was, however, pointing out that merely asking to be transported to the hospital to be checked out "just in case" does not cause an accident to be classified as an accident with injuries, in my experience in the jurisdictions I have worked. Nor would a complaint of pain, complaint of "whiplash", air bag injuries or minor cuts and bruises. Collisions with incapacitating injuries are the ones that receive priority investigative a...

What I don't get in this thread, in your comment and a few others, is the decision to leave no money to children (assuming you have first taken care of yourself in whatever way you desire). In a case where there is a serious estrangement or deep personal issues that go beyond this forum, I would understand disinheritance. But excepting that, is the decision to not leave money to children (who presumable are by that time adults) that it somehow spoils them, or creates negative incentives, or that they make bad decisions with the inheritance? ...For me, it is also the sense that it is more difficult to get ahead today, there are more complicating issues in life so why not use family wealth, at least to some extent, to improve your family (yo...

What I don't get in this thread, in your comment and a few others, is the decision to leave no money to children (assuming you have first taken care of yourself in whatever way you desire). In a case where there is a serious estrangement or deep personal issues that go beyond this forum, I would understand disinheritance. But excepting that, is the decision to not leave money to children (who presumable are by that time adults) that it somehow spoils them, or creates negative incentives, or that they make bad decisions with the inheritance? ...For me, it is also the sense that it is more difficult to get ahead today, there are more complicating issues in life so why not use family wealth, at least to some extent, to improve your family (yo...

Also, it’s best to request an ambulance and go to the hospital after an accident since the police usually treat accidents that cause injuries more seriously. In the jurisdictions where I worked, both as a patrol officer and as a DA, that is only the case when there are actual injuries requiring medical treatment, not a mere complaint or soft-tissue injuries or requesting to get "checked out" at the hospital. And if a person is not injured in any way whatsoever but falsely reports to the police that they were injured...not a wise approach. In some jurisdictions, criminal justice "reform" has resulted in prosecutors choosing not to prosecute crimes like leaving the scene of an accident, the result of which is that the pol...

miamivice wrote: ↑Fri Feb 17, 2023 9:47 am Bonus would include a little extra money for the annoyance of dealing with all of this.

So you believe that one should be compensated for the annoyance of dealing with things? In that case, I need to see how I can send an invoice via PM for the annoyance of dealing with all of the "semi-serious" trolling threads a certain Boglehead has posted over the past few years...

Whether or not the hassle is worth it is up to you, but just like with anything with Citi there's bound to be some sort of issue. For me it was worth it for the brokerage bonus and the subscription rebates afforded Citigold status. With Citi's current CD rate of 4.15%, if one put the $200k required funds for Citigold status in their CD, their one (1) year return would be $8,300.00. At Schwab, customers receive free checking, free checks, free ATM use and ATM fee rebates, free check orders and many other banking features with no minimum balance requirement and (with $100k in your total Schwab portfolio) four (4) free domestic wires per quarter. Plus, their current rate on a one (1) year CD is 5.05%, so the same $200k in that instrument woul...

Citi is, IMO, hands-down the worst financial institution to do business with when it concerns customer service. Phone calls are handled by an overseas call center where no supervisor is ever working or available. When their fraud algorithm is triggered, Citi does not provide the ability to respond other than by phone to that overseas call center when other financial institutions give you the ability to verify activity via their app, email or text message. When you call in response to a fraud alert, they will regularly claim that they cannot "verify" your account and you must wait to receive a letter in the mail with a response code before they will unfreeze the account. A number of Bogleheads have posted of their problems with Cit...

It will depend on your state. Perhaps you can check your state DMV website to see what, if any, requirements a vehicle owner has upon selling their vehicle.

Here are a number of recent threads on the topic that may be helpful to you:
viewtopic.php?t=397383
viewtopic.php?t=396666
viewtopic.php?t=397405
viewtopic.php?t=395547
viewtopic.php?t=397511
viewtopic.php?t=397684

You can use the search box to find many other threads discussing where and how to hold/park/invest cash.

The risk in a MM fund is a liquidity crisis causes the fund to implement control gates or fees to get out such that the money that you thought was liquid and easily available on demand suddenly isn't. The fund could "break the buck" and the value not be redeemable for the fixed $1 value that it's expected to. The scenarios that could cause such a crisis is considered very very low, but it's not a calculable probability. I would suggest taking a hard look at your willingness to deal with the consequences should the event occur relative to what you believe the benefit of taking that risk is providing. Government MM funds are considered less risky, and are not required to implement control gates or fees in the event of a liquidity p...

billaster wrote: ↑Thu Feb 16, 2023 12:55 pm Schwab (and Fidelity) yields are similar to Vanguard yields only because they hold riskier assets to make up for the extra interest they skim. They keep the extra interest and you keep the extra risk.

You may decide the extra risk isn't important but you shouldn't pretend it doesn't exist.

Actually, since Schwab is a publicly-traded company and its stock is found in most major US equity index funds, Schwab doesn't really keep the extra interest. It is part of their profits which inure to the benefit of SCHW shareholders. And for many Bogleheads, that is us!

When Vanguard and Fidelity keep the "extra interest they skim" and other profits, they really do keep it.

Glockenspiel wrote: ↑Thu Feb 16, 2023 6:54 am

galawdawg wrote: ↑Thu Feb 16, 2023 5:42 am
If that data is reliable, the theory espoused above that "ICE engines are definitely less efficient in winter" compared to EV and hybrids is simply not correct.

I wasn’t implying ICE engines less efficient than EVs in the winter. I was implying ICE engines are less efficient in the winter time COMPARED to the summer time.

Ahhh. Apologies. I misunderstood your post. I agree that all vehicles are less efficient in very cold temperatures. I suspect that is likely the case for machinery of all types.

Further evidence that gas-fueled vehicles are a much more cost-effective and time-effective transportation option for many in the US. These threads are always so strange. The vast majority of your driving doesn't come anywhere near the range of an EV or an ICE. Reduced fuel economy in either has little to do with your daily and weekly routines. Average residential electric rates in the US are $15.64 (according to the US Energy Information Administration), a rate at which it's well cheaper to use an EV. Free public charging abounds as well. I can charge for free at the library, the grocery store, the mall, hotels, and a number of other retail areas that I'm already visiting, and result in zero financial or time cost. Are there some situatio...

I grew up in Detroit before ev was a thing. I never noticed decreased mileage in the cold though it wasn’t something I would have paid attention to either. I’m born, raised, and live in Minnesota and have been driving ICE engines for 22 years now. Had a Mazda3 that got 29 mpg in winter and 33 mpg in summer. Had a Hyundai Santa Fe that gets 25 mpg in summer and 21 mpg in winter. Currently have a Toyota Highlander Hybrid (ICE engine with regenerative braking) that gets 30-31 mpg in winter and 34-36 mpg in summer. ICE engines are definitely less efficient in winter. Interesting. Because the heater is simply byproduct energy. Whereas w an EV the drain on the battery to heat the interior is explicit and seems to cost 20-35% in range (heat pump ...

TomatoTomahto wrote: ↑Thu Feb 16, 2023 5:04 am

tibbitts wrote: ↑Wed Feb 15, 2023 8:56 pm

galawdawg wrote: ↑Wed Feb 15, 2023 7:43 pm Jack Bogle (who donated about half of his already modest salary) said his only regret about money was that he didn't have more to give away!

In fairness while Bogle's net worth and salary might have been modest in the context of his accomplishments, wasn't his estate close to the $100M range?

Point taken, but it was much lower than Abigail Johnson’s billions from Fidelity. I thought Bogle’s was closer to middle 8 digits than approaching 9 digits, but clearly he was financially solid.

And clearly he gave a LOT of it away, and it continues to this day. Morgan Housel called Jack "the biggest undercover philanthropist of all time"! https://philanthropydaily.com/john-bogl ... nthropist/

I do not want to pay 2500-3500 for will /trust . Can someone who has done it suggest which online service should I use . Spouse with 2 kids, most of assets in retirement . One house , thank you To follow-up a post by JenniferW, I don't know of any attorney, and certainly not a competent one, who would handle creating even a basic will for a single adult with no dependents for $400. And estate planning attorneys don't "make their real money when they settle the estate after you pass." However, trial lawyers can (and do) make a lot of money litigating estate matters after a death when the decedent has botched a DIY will or trust. Unfortunately for the surviving heirs, by the time those cases are settled or tried, much of the value ...

So while EVs may have their place in urban and suburban settings, for rural America and for traveling any substantial distance, the most reliable way to drive is with a gas-powered vehicle. Even in most of rural America, there are towns and service stations every 10-30 miles or so, unless you're in the very remote parts of Nevada, Montana, New Mexico, west Texas, or Utah. Service stations...perhaps. EV chargers? Nope. I could point to a number of areas in the southeast US where you could travel on the interstate for forty (40) or fifty (50) miles without a charging station. For example, when driving between Atlanta and Savannah, on the approximately one hundred seventy (170) mile section of I-16 between Macon and Savannah there are three (...

If you do any charitable giving (but not enough to itemize) you can group your donations every few years using a Donor Advised Fund. Then you can itemize those years to get a bigger deduction than the standard deduction while maintaining the same level of charitable giving. Yep. Since OP has the problem of having $100k extra each year for "fun" or investment but is reluctant to pay the taxes associated with his level of income, then perhaps he might consider giving a substantial amount of it away! It really is quite "fun" to look for ways to bring joy to others through giving, such as donating enough to dig a well and provide clean water to a village of people in India who now have to walk miles to the nearest stream or...

In my area of the country, looking at some paths we commonly travel, ~500mi - 600mi distance to visit families or just sightseeing, I estimate that I need to stop at least 3 - 4 times between Tesla superchanger to be "safe. Once you miss one of those, a base model Tesla would not have the range to get to the next supercharger. Every stop would be at least 15 min to get it charge for ~200 miles. So with exiting the interstate, getting to the supercharger location, etc, it could easily add 30 min for every stop. A total addition of of at least 90 min - 120 min to the trip, just to charge the car. Compare that with driving my trustee Honda Odyssey or Civic. We usually do one stop on those trips. Gas, bathroom, food, coffee, all in one ex...

I'd leave it exactly as you have it now if you are happy with that allocation. You'd just swap FXAIX for VFIAX. Done!

By the time OP incorporates all of the suggestions in this thread (concerning what to add/change/modify on the house plan), it will cost $1.2 million to build! :shock: Yes, I do find it a bit ironic that I said I can build this house for X, and then people are saying, "No way, especially after you add X Y and Z features for $100,000." *** Appreciate the rest of your post. I actually just started to read a book called "Satisfied" by Jeff Manion which has been illuminating and thought-provoking. I'd also commend to you Enough: True Measures of Money, Business and Life written by our mentor, Jack Bogle. An excerpt from Enough (quoting Socrates as he challenged the citizens of Athens some 2,500 years ago) “I honor and love ...

Nothing in the relevant language you cited indicates that this is a lady bird deed or enhanced life estate deed. That means that your mother-in-law, your wife, and your wife's sister would all need to agree to any modification of the deed. I would again recommend that your mother-in-law, your wife and her sister consult with a qualified Florida real estate attorney about having a new deed prepared which conveys the remainder interest granted to your wife and her sister back to your mother-in-law. Once a legally sufficient deed is recorded which restores all interests in the property back to your mother-in-law, she can simply sell the property without the involvement of the remainder beneficiaries. That also should prevent any issues during ...

Are you contributing sufficient amounts to 529 plans for your children to the extent you desire to fund a portion or all of their college (and perhaps graduate) education?

If so, just invest surplus funds for long-term goals (such as retirement) in a tax-efficient low-cost equity index fund in a taxable brokerage account. Funds for shorter term goals should be invested more conservatively.

boater07 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 15, 2023 2:28 pm From reading earlier post on TLH, I could have a major problem. I hold comparable funds in taxable, Ira,&Roth. If I understand-selling at a loss in the identical fund in another account, My loss could be disallowed.
Do I have that right?

Only if within thirty (30) days before or after selling a fund in taxable for a loss you repurchase the same or a substantially identical fund in any investment account you hold at any brokerage.

This may be helpful: https://www.schwab.com/learn/story/primer-on-wash-sales
(See question "What if I sold a loser in one of my Schwab accounts and then bought it again with another account? What about my IRA?")

By the time OP incorporates all of the suggestions in this thread (concerning what to add/change/modify on the house plan), it will cost $1.2 million to build! :shock: OP...enjoy the trip to Chicago. While you and your wife are talking about your financial goals, desires and dreams, consider this: contentment is a rare but incredibly beneficial outlook to have when looking at one's life. Having been blessed with the opportunity to travel to a number of places in the world both on vacation and for ministry and seen and talked to people who are happy with nearly nothing, I have found it impossible not to be grateful simply to have a home that shelters me from the weather; where I can heat or cool the air; drink, cook with, and bathe in hot an...

But really, is it even worth it? On my plan it sure wasn’t! It depends upon the plan and the only way to find out is to get a quote from the plan administrator. In my case, the cost to purchase service credit was outstanding (about 50% of what it would cost to purchase an immediate annuity paying the same monthly amount (joint and survivor) as the increase I would realize in my monthly pension benefit) and had a nine (9) year break-even point at which time the cumulative increase in my monthly benefit would exceed my cost to purchase the service credit. Since I retired at age fifty-three (53) my break-even point on the purchase of service credit is sixty-two (62) and the likelihood that neither DW and I would survive to that age was so sma...

gatorking wrote: ↑Wed Feb 15, 2023 12:46 pm

Mike Scott wrote: ↑Wed Feb 15, 2023 12:36 pm Have you asked your pension representative this question?

Not yet. I wanted to know first if this is even feasible and not against IRS rules or something.

The information you are looking may also be in your pension plan documents, often available online (particularly for state and larger municipal governments).

It is required. Fidelity will require it as well.

Looking at Fidelity Contrafund vs. Vanguard 500 Index, Contrafund has outperformed Vanguard 500 Index substantially looking back at periods of the last ten, twenty, thirty and forty years. While there have been a few years that Vanguard 500 Index did better than Contrafund during the last forty (40) years (most recently in 2021 and 2022), the overall returns have been in favor of Contrafund. That being said, why are you considering changing from Contrafund to Vanguard 500 Index? Is it due to the performance since 2021 and, if so, would you consider that market timing? Or are you hoping to get out before the fund manager just in case he departs Fidelity before you depart Earth and his departure results in lower overall performance? Do you ho...

gatorking wrote: ↑Wed Feb 15, 2023 12:35 pm Can money from a rollover IRA be used without penalties to purchase additional years of service? If possible I would prefer to use pre-tax money since the pension income will be taxable.

As a general rule, yes, one can use pre-tax funds to purchase pension service credit. Whether your pension provider can use a rollover IRA or the funds need to come from an employer pre-tax source (such as your 401k or similar plan) is something you would need to find out from your pension plan representative.

Go Dawgs!

Article summary: T-bills.

Seriously...that's it. Not what I'd consider Boglehead-quality discussion.

There are many active threads on where and how to hold/park/invest cash.