Search found 72 matches

by bluesky50
Tue Sep 12, 2023 8:18 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Social Security and survival benefits
Replies: 14
Views: 2217

Re: Social Security and survival benefits

I have been looking for this topic! Hopefully it is ok that I ask my question here. If not, I will start a new thread. Our case is very similar with a little difference that is not covered in this thread. I am 57 and my spouse is 65 and retired. I have a serious health issue. In case I die in the next few years before I turn 62, is my spouse entitled to the survival benefit while he is waiting for his SS in his 70, with the same/similar formula that #Cruncher outlined on his spreadsheet? Decedent dies before claiming - - - Decedent dies before Normal Retirment Age (NRA) - - - - - - Widow(er) gets Decedent's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) - - - Decedent dies after NRA - - - - - - Widow(er) gets benefit if Decedent had claimed month he died D...
by bluesky50
Fri Aug 12, 2022 6:03 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Retiree Portfolio Model
Replies: 1809
Views: 548010

Re: Retiree Portfolio Model

I removed "circular reference error" message after enabling "Enable iterative calculation". It seems it does appear when I am doing Roth conversions. Could someone see if I understand the following fields under Setup #8 "taxable account capital gains" correctly? 1. Taxable account yearly growth: Is this the amount of (div + interest + cap. gains/loss on the amount that I sell on each year)? 2. Less tax-exempt earnings (0 of Taxable): For me it is 0 as I will not have munis. 3. Net yearly growth subject to tax: I don't need to enter. It is auto calculated. 4. LT/ST gains distributed (divs, interest, etc.): I am not sure what this is. Is this the amount of (div + interest) ONLY or long/short term cap gains/loss O...
by bluesky50
Fri Aug 12, 2022 3:57 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Retiree Portfolio Model
Replies: 1809
Views: 548010

Re: Retiree Portfolio Model

I just want to report what I did to stop the "circular reference error" that occurred when I was typing a positive numbers into Setup page Cell C354. I saw the hint earlier in this thread to go to Excel Preferences and check mark the box to "Use Interactive Calculations" and setting "Maximum iterations" to 1000 when another user got a circular reference error when entering data on some data entry cells. I followed that tip. Now, when I type a positive number into Cell C354, the calculation results do not return a "circular reference error" message, and I see that typing in a positive number in Setup page Cell C354 clearly causes a negative Taxable Account balance about 9 years later in my model, rath...
by bluesky50
Fri Aug 12, 2022 1:59 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Kotlikoff - Upside investing strategy
Replies: 66
Views: 7484

Re: Kotlikoff - Upside investing strategy

I am intrigued by this tool.

I am wondering if they have a demo version for a few days to evaluate before committing.
by bluesky50
Wed Aug 10, 2022 2:19 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Trading Treasuries (nominal and TIPS)
Replies: 4191
Views: 466788

Re: Trading Treasuries (nominal and TIPS)

Kevin M wrote: Wed Aug 10, 2022 2:12 pm
bluesky50 wrote: Wed Aug 10, 2022 2:03 pm Hi, Kevin:

I have set aside $50K to buy October 5-year TIPS at auction which has tentative settlement date of 10/20/2022 according to auction schedule.

If I buy 8-weeks T-bills today (912796YD5) that has maturity date 10/11/2022, does it give me enough time to have money from this T-bill settlement to buy 10/13 TIPS at auction? Or am I cutting to close?
Sure, no problem. That auction doesn't settle until 10/31/2022 (the auction date is 10/20), so you have way more than enough leeway. I think it actually is fine as long as the money is in your settlement fund by the settlement date.

Kevin
Thank you very much, Kevin!
by bluesky50
Wed Aug 10, 2022 2:03 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Trading Treasuries (nominal and TIPS)
Replies: 4191
Views: 466788

Re: Trading Treasuries (nominal and TIPS)

Hi, Kevin:

I have set aside $50K to buy October 5-year TIPS at auction which has tentative settlement date of 10/20/2022 according to auction schedule.

If I buy 8-weeks T-bills today (912796YD5) that has maturity date 10/11/2022, does it give me enough time to have money from this T-bill settlement to buy 10/13 TIPS at auction? Or am I cutting to close?
by bluesky50
Tue Aug 09, 2022 12:57 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Retiree Portfolio Model
Replies: 1809
Views: 548010

Re: Retiree Portfolio Model

BigFoot48 wrote: Tue Aug 09, 2022 12:45 pm Shouldn't be a requirement to sign up for downloading. Post if you are unable to download. Thanks.
Thank you BigFoot48!

I got pass that signup screen and now I am able to download.

I am planning to study the spreadsheet and see if I can use it to model our retirement portfolio as I am about to retire in a few months.
by bluesky50
Tue Aug 09, 2022 12:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Retiree Portfolio Model
Replies: 1809
Views: 548010

Re: Retiree Portfolio Model

I would like to download the spreadsheet and it is asking me to sign up.

Do I need to sign up in order to download?

Thanks!
by bluesky50
Sat Aug 06, 2022 9:30 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Downside of using I bonds as our only inflation/duration protection versus tips
Replies: 22
Views: 3463

Re: Downside of using I bonds as our only inflation/duration protection versus tips

squirrel1963 wrote: Sat Aug 06, 2022 6:59 pm
Yeah, holding TIPS in taxable is definitely not ideal.

FWIW I think front loading I-bonds is a great idea, DW and I front loaded 50k to each other and I am actually thinking to up it a little bit more. Only works if you don't need the front loaded money until delivery of course.
We also front loaded 50k to each other this year and are mulling over whether we should buy more I bonds in giftbox.

Current thinking is: we are in the middle of creating TIPS ladder in our IRAs and we have enough space in IRA to do so. And also TIPS have positive yields, so maybe it is not necessary to buy more I bonds???
by bluesky50
Sat Aug 06, 2022 3:59 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Yet another social security question
Replies: 20
Views: 2619

Re: Yet another social security question

Thank you all for your comments! After seeing marcopolo mentioning on "restricted application" a few posts above, I did some google search to learn more about it. https://www.kiplinger.com/article/retirement/t051-c000-s004-restricted-application-social-security-strategy-is.html It is also mentioned in the Vanguard link retireIn2020 provided. "... To restrict an application to spousal benefits only, you must have been born before January 2, 1954. Anyone born on or after that date is out of luck when it comes to this particular strategy. ..." Since we are born after 1954, we can not do restricted application any more. FiveK , we are definitely planning to do Roth conversion, we just have not figured out how yet. Roth conve...
by bluesky50
Fri Aug 05, 2022 10:56 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Yet another social security question
Replies: 20
Views: 2619

Re: Yet another social security question

marcopolo wrote: Fri Aug 05, 2022 10:37 pm
What you are referring to was called a "restricted application". Meaning you were restricting your application to just the spousal benefit, without claiming your own.

Tax law changes a few years ago eliminated this option for people born after Jan 1, 1954.
Thank you very much, marcopolo!

That answers my question!
by bluesky50
Fri Aug 05, 2022 10:26 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Yet another social security question
Replies: 20
Views: 2619

Re: Yet another social security question

I believe that if you were born after 1/1/1954, when you apply for SS you will get spousal or your own SS benefit whichever is higher. I also think that you can apply for survivor SS benefits if your spouse passes away then apply for your own SS benefit at a later date if higher. If you apply for SS survivor benefits before your full retirement age, your SS survivor benefit will be reduced, as you mentioned. I’m not a SS expert so maybe someone with more SS knowledge will chime in. bill Thanks for your comments, Bill! I believe our case is a little different. I am delaying my SSA until 70 in case my husband survives me and he can claim mine after I die before him. What I would like to know is whether I am eligible to claim the spouse benef...
by bluesky50
Fri Aug 05, 2022 9:53 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Yet another social security question
Replies: 20
Views: 2619

Re: Yet another social security question

I forgot to mention in OP that the PIA amount is with husband already retired and wife retiring in the next a few months.
by bluesky50
Fri Aug 05, 2022 9:50 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Yet another social security question
Replies: 20
Views: 2619

Yet another social security question

I have a question about social security benefit that is applicable in our case.

Husband:
63, PIA: 2199 (2022 dollar) in full retirement, 2756 in 70
Wife:
56, PIA: 2622 (2022 dollar) in full retirement, 3252 in 70

When I run https://opensocialsecurity.com/, it recommends that husband starts SSA at age 67 and 10 months, wife starts at age 70 and 0 months. That is what we would plan to do.

But it does not say or account for whether I am eligible for spouse benefit when I am 67 (or even earlier with reduced amount) before I start my SSA at 70.

Am I eligible for spouse benefit when I am 62 or 67 based on my husband SSA? If I am, how much is the spouse benefit at age 62 and 67?

Thanks!
by bluesky50
Thu Aug 04, 2022 10:34 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Asymmetric risk with nominal vs. inflation-linked bonds
Replies: 539
Views: 40818

Re: Asymmetric risk with nominal vs. inflation-linked bonds

To reduce that chances of others misunderstanding, it's worth pointing out some important nuances relevant to that discussion on Tipswatch. TIPS "give back" value with deflation only if you are tracking unrealized gains. If you buy your TIPS at auction, in a tax-deferred account, and hold them to maturity, the intermediate value fluctuations before maturity are irrelevant. Example: $1,000 in a 5 year TIPS After year 4, due to cumulative inflation of 17%, the theoretical value of the TIPS is $1,170. However this is a theoretical value, and it's only relevant for tax purposes if you hold the TIPS in a taxable account. You won't be able to sell the TIPS for $1,170. (Its market value will be higher or lower, depending on investor dem...
by bluesky50
Wed Jul 20, 2022 11:53 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Trading Treasuries (nominal and TIPS)
Replies: 4191
Views: 466788

Re: Trading Treasuries (nominal and TIPS)

... If you are building a 15 year ladder then you also need to take into account (for each year) all the payments from bonds which mature later. For instance on year 10 you have the principal for year 10, plus the interest payments for years 10,11,12,13,15. If you don't you will have an excess cash flow, which is not a bad thing of course, but the total cost will be a bit higher. I highly recommend downloading #cruncher TIP Ladder Builder spreadsheet from here http://eyebonds.info/downloads/index.html to do the calculations for you. I did that and then I redid the calculations separately because I wanted to really understand the math, but this is not a step you have to do. I just the did the calculations for a 15 year ladder of $20,000 rea...
by bluesky50
Wed Jul 20, 2022 2:01 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Trading Treasuries (nominal and TIPS)
Replies: 4191
Views: 466788

Re: Trading Treasuries (nominal and TIPS)

Deleted. I found an answer to my question.
by bluesky50
Wed Jul 20, 2022 12:15 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Trading Treasuries (nominal and TIPS)
Replies: 4191
Views: 466788

Re: Trading Treasuries (nominal and TIPS)

I am thinking to buy some of the following TIPS in the next a few days or a few weeks. I would like to start setting up 15 years ladder until both my spouse and I have SSA.

Could someone please look over my shoulder to see if they are good buys or provide any feedback?

UNITED STATES TREAS NTS SER AE-2024 0.12500% 10/15/2024 (912828YL8): YTM: 0.101

UNITED STATES TREAS NTS SER X-2025 0.12500% 04/15/2025 (912828ZJ2): YTM: 0.263

UNITED STATES TREAS NTS SER X-2026 0.12500% 04/15/2026 (91282CCA7): YTM: 0.433

UNITED STATES TREAS NTS SER X-2027 0.12500% 04/15/2027 (91282CEJ6) : YTM: 0.454

Thanks!
by bluesky50
Tue Jul 19, 2022 11:52 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Trading Treasuries (nominal and TIPS)
Replies: 4191
Views: 466788

Re: Trading Treasuries (nominal and TIPS)

Thank you, squirrel1963!

This is supper helpful!
by bluesky50
Tue Jul 19, 2022 11:14 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Trading Treasuries (nominal and TIPS)
Replies: 4191
Views: 466788

Re: Trading Treasuries (nominal and TIPS)

I am just starting to learn TIPS. I will be retiring in a next few months so I would like to buy TIPS. I have some basic questions. Let's use these 2 TIPS: 1. UNITED STATES TREAS NTS 0.25000% 01/15/2025 (CUSIP: 912828H45) Coupon: 0.25 Price: 99.923 Inflation Factor: 1.22887 Adjusted Price: 123.01115 YTM: 0.209 2. UNITED STATES TREAS NTS SER X-2025 0.12500% 04/15/2025 (CUSIP: 912828ZJ2) Coupon: 0.125 Price: 99.442 Inflation Factor: 1.12683 Adjusted Price: 112.259311 YTM: 0.263 Questions: 1. Is YTM number already factors in coupon amount? Meaning coupon does not have any impact if I want to see which one pays more assuming everything else is equal. 2. Adjusted Price (Price * Inflation Factor) will determine how much I pay if I buy, for exampl...
by bluesky50
Tue Jul 19, 2022 1:19 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Trading Treasuries (nominal and TIPS)
Replies: 4191
Views: 466788

Re: Trading Treasuries (nominal and TIPS)

Hi, Kevin:

I am trying to learn as much as I can from this tread.

You mentioned a few times ask yield and SA ask yield.

What is SA ask yield and how is it calculated? I do not see SA ask yield on the Overview or Price & Performance tab or "Depth of Book". I am using Fidelity.
by bluesky50
Thu Jun 02, 2022 5:39 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Need feedback on Trust creation as part of estate planning
Replies: 38
Views: 3260

Re: Need feedback on Trust creation as part of estate planning

... If a shared (joint) revocable trust is not commonly used in non-community property states, what kind of trust should hold the house title? This is the first point on my OP that I would like to resolve in my estate planning. We love the current home and we currently plan to live there as long as we can until we decide to move to assistance living house. The house is currently tilted on my name as it was purchased and paid off before the marriage. I like to make sure my spouse live in that house if I die first, and then goes to my children after the last spouse passing. ... You could continue to own it, and leave it to your spouse for life, remainder to (or, preferably, in trust for) your children. Or, preferably, you could leave it in t...
by bluesky50
Thu Jun 02, 2022 1:27 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Need feedback on Trust creation as part of estate planning
Replies: 38
Views: 3260

Re: Need feedback on Trust creation as part of estate planning

It also may be awkward to have this conversation with the attorney with both you and your spouse present as it seems that some of your goals are to take away decision making power of the surviving spouse. Only if one spouse is vastly wealthier than the other spouse. If both spouses go in with similar levels of wealth or a plan whereby they’re going to have half the estate go down spouse 1’s plan and half the estate go down spouse 2’s plan, the conversation is not bad. Although usually they want it to end up with their joint children. The tricky conversations are dealing with step children, but it’s not that awkward, everyone knows it’s a zero sum game and no one should be trying to tell the other spouse what to do with their estate. Thanks...
by bluesky50
Thu Jun 02, 2022 1:18 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Need feedback on Trust creation as part of estate planning
Replies: 38
Views: 3260

Re: Need feedback on Trust creation as part of estate planning

tonyclifton wrote: Wed Jun 01, 2022 2:24 pm “4. On one of our demise, all accounts, except our shared revocable trust, will be distributed per beneficiaries of each account.”

You should ask your attorney if this is a realistic outcome if one of you dies. If both of you die simultaneously, then yes.
Thanks, tonyclifton!

I will ask the attorney.

My understanding is beneficiary designation of all accounts, including traditional IRA and Roth IRA, trumps wills or trusts beneficiaries/instructions.

And traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs can have non-spouse beneficiaries as well.

Is this not always the case?
by bluesky50
Thu Jun 02, 2022 12:47 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Need feedback on Trust creation as part of estate planning
Replies: 38
Views: 3260

Re: Need feedback on Trust creation as part of estate planning

A shared (joint) revocable trust is for people in community property states, mainly California, though we do them for people who've moved from California so we can track their community property. Did you move from a community property state? Thanks bsteiner! We did not move from a community property state. If a shared (joint) revocable trust is not commonly used in non-community property states, what kind of trust should hold the house title? This is the first point on my OP that I would like to resolve in my estate planning. We love the current home and we currently plan to live there as long as we can until we decide to move to assistance living house. The house is currently tilted on my name as it was purchased and paid off before the m...
by bluesky50
Tue May 31, 2022 10:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Need feedback on Trust creation as part of estate planning
Replies: 38
Views: 3260

Re: Need feedback on Trust creation as part of estate planning

On my OP, this is one of things that I would like to accomplish, if possible, in our estate planning.
bluesky50 wrote: Mon May 30, 2022 8:46 pm
2. Create a trust for each of my 2 children. These 2 trusts will be beneficiaries of some of mine and my spouse accounts, for example, taxable accounts and Roth IRA. This is to protect their inheritance against their bad marriage, etc.
My question is how do I create their trusts? Can I even create one for them or my children have to create their own? I assume since this is their trust it requires their signature or something?

Not sure this matters or not. They live in other state.
by bluesky50
Tue May 31, 2022 10:28 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Need feedback on Trust creation as part of estate planning
Replies: 38
Views: 3260

Re: Need feedback on Trust creation as part of estate planning

But I am not sure what creating an account titled in the name of trust accomplishes that the one with a trust as a beneficiary does not. I am not a lawyer and my family situation is different from yours. but i do have an answer to this question. having your property and accounts titled to the trust means it's easy for another trustee to step up and manage them for you in the case where you are unable to do it yourself, say after an accident, or during a long serious illness. OP, One advantage of titling After-Tax accounts in the trust name vs. beneficiaries is that it is much easier to manage if one of you becomes incapacitated. No need to deal with PoAs and restrictions. WoodSpinner Now I got it. I see advantage to put our shared bank acc...
by bluesky50
Tue May 31, 2022 10:09 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Need feedback on Trust creation as part of estate planning
Replies: 38
Views: 3260

Re: Need feedback on Trust creation as part of estate planning

Not an attorney either but my spouse and I elected to leave our retirement benefits in trusts with the surviving spouse as income beneficiary and other family members as remainder beneficiaries. This was in part because we did not want a surviving spouse to be able to change the remainder beneficiaries. In our case, surviving spouse will receive the income and (with restrictions) may also use principal of the trust for their own benefit. The trusts are "see through" trusts with the surviving spouse an eligible designated beneficiary for RMD purposes. We had to make sure our trusts are QTIP qualified so the federal estate tax unlimited spousal exemption on death of first spouse applies. We used the same QTIP qualified trusts for s...
by bluesky50
Tue May 31, 2022 9:34 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Need feedback on Trust creation as part of estate planning
Replies: 38
Views: 3260

Re: Need feedback on Trust creation as part of estate planning

mhalley wrote: Mon May 30, 2022 10:58 pm Not a huge fan of trusts for iras. As long as the money is kept separate, inheritances should be safe from divorce. IANAL
https://www.findlaw.com/family/divorce/ ... %20divorce.
When I did my estate plan, I put the taxable account in a trust with periodic distributions by age to my grandaughter.
You might listen to the retirement & ira shows on trusts and iras.
https://www.theretirementandirashow.com ... neficiary/
Thank you for the links, mhalley! I am planning to listen to those shows.
by bluesky50
Mon May 30, 2022 10:31 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Need feedback on Trust creation as part of estate planning
Replies: 38
Views: 3260

Re: Need feedback on Trust creation as part of estate planning

Luckywon wrote: Mon May 30, 2022 9:58 pm Do you have a prenup? If not, how do you anticipate your assets would be divided in the event of a divorce?
We do have a prenup.
by bluesky50
Mon May 30, 2022 10:28 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Need feedback on Trust creation as part of estate planning
Replies: 38
Views: 3260

Re: Need feedback on Trust creation as part of estate planning

Do you have a question? I updated my original post with my question. Have you considered creating an account titled in the name of your trust and let the trust account own your taxable assets instead of the account being a beneficiary? I have. But I am not sure what creating an account titled in the name of trust accomplishes that the one with a trust as a beneficiary does not. Are all your non-retirement accounts jointly owned or do one or both of you have an account that existed before you married? Have either of you inherited anything and kept it in your own name? (Be prepared to bring in a list of all your accounts, current titling of each account, current custodian, and approximate value.) All our non-retirement accounts (except one b...
by bluesky50
Mon May 30, 2022 8:46 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Need feedback on Trust creation as part of estate planning
Replies: 38
Views: 3260

Need feedback on Trust creation as part of estate planning

We plan to see an estate planning attorney in the next few weeks or so to create our will/estimate before I retire. I have been wanting to do this for a while but I was not sure what I really wanted and what kinds of questions I should ask the attorney. I have been educating myself and I have read most of trust related threads on Boglehead site. But it is still overwhelming. So far, this is my current thought, and I am hoping that I get your feedback to clear my thought before we meet with the attorney. We live in Oregon. This is our 2nd marriage for both of us. I have 2 young adults children, one already launched and the other is on his way to be launched. They are not married. My spouse does not have any children, my children and my spous...
by bluesky50
Sat Apr 30, 2022 3:43 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: First time converting paper I bond
Replies: 4
Views: 579

Re: First time converting paper I bond

BrokerageZelda wrote: Sat Apr 30, 2022 3:30 pm When entering bonds for the manifest, there is a "Comments" text box where you can write "any helpful information about this bond, such as a change of name by marriage" relating to a specific paper bond.

If your SSN and first and last name and first letter of the middle field all match, I don't think a comment will be necessary (but I have no firsthand experience to support this claim). You can write a short note in the Comments box if you think it would help Treasury staff.
Thanks! Good idea to use that "Comments" box. Will plan to mail it out this weekend or next Monday.
by bluesky50
Sat Apr 30, 2022 3:40 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: First time converting paper I bond
Replies: 4
Views: 579

Re: First time converting paper I bond

fundseeker wrote: Sat Apr 30, 2022 3:18 pm I think that will be fine, since they likely rely more on your SSAN than your name. I can't recall if our paper bonds matched our accounts exactly, but I'll feel better when they finally get converted. I completed the manifest on April 10 and mailed the bonds the next day, but apparently they have not been processed. However, on the TD website I can see my manifest so I believe it will all work out. This may just be the busiest the TD employees have ever been. Good luck!
Thanks! I hope your conversion completes soon!
by bluesky50
Sat Apr 30, 2022 12:21 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: First time converting paper I bond
Replies: 4
Views: 579

First time converting paper I bond

I am trying to convert my paper I bonds the very first time. And I am very nervous and I want to make sure I do it right.

I am following step-by-step from this site:
https://thefinancebuff.com/how-to-depos ... count.html

The question I have now is on my paper I bond I have my full middle name spelled out.

However, on TD online account that I already have, I only have middle name initial on all my registrations (solo, POD, WITH).

When I created Conversion Linked Account, I see it automatically assigned my solo registration of TD account which only has my middle name initial.

Can I use my middle name initial registration when I convert paper I bond, even though I have full middle name on my paper bond?
by bluesky50
Thu Jul 08, 2021 10:53 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Steelcase Chair Selection - Leap v2 vs Think, Options
Replies: 31
Views: 4452

Re: Steelcase Chair Selection - Leap v2 vs Think, Options

I have Leap 2 in black fabric in my home office. I have similar Leap 2 in my work office as well. 4D armrests and adjustable lumbar is must. They are very sturdy and comfortable.
by bluesky50
Sat Jul 03, 2021 1:29 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Which Bonds in Taxable?
Replies: 28
Views: 2748

Re: Which Bonds in Taxable?

I am trying to figure this out as well.

The following 2 funds have not mentioned in this thread or other similar threads recently.

Vanguard Short-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares (VWSTX)
Vanguard Limited-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares (VMLTX)
by bluesky50
Fri May 28, 2021 10:30 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Have a really hard time quitting
Replies: 157
Views: 28333

Re: Have a really hard time quitting

This post really hits me close to home as I am struggling with the same issue and find myself difficult to pull the trigger.

I also grew up very poor, sometimes not enough food to go around, and I was shamed that we were so poor. I promised myself throughout my entire childhood and college that I would never ever poor again.

OP received some very good feedback and help me rethink as well.
by bluesky50
Tue Feb 09, 2021 8:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Thought about buying a small motor home, but the market is crazy; Just bought one!!
Replies: 260
Views: 30543

Re: Thought about buying a small motor home, but the market is crazy; Just bought one!!

WhyNotUs wrote: Tue Feb 09, 2021 10:03 am Sick as in cool,very impressive.

Drop down bed, lives like a 40' RV, All Wheel Drive, separate living room with dinette to function as office, glass in just the right places, etc.

bluesky50 wrote: Mon Feb 08, 2021 11:04 pm
WhyNotUs wrote: Mon Feb 08, 2021 8:49 am
bluesky50 wrote: Sun Feb 07, 2021 7:07 pm Wow, I did not know there are small motor home boglehead fans here. Even LTV fans!

We just got a new 2021 LTV Wonder AWD. I am very sure we will enjoy it greatly.
That is a sick van
How so?
Ahh, gotcha! We did a lot of research before we decided to buy a new Wonder.

@csm: We got Wonder RTB AWD.

@willthrill81: Congratulations for your new purchase of Trend! I am sure your family will enjoy it!
by bluesky50
Mon Feb 08, 2021 11:04 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Thought about buying a small motor home, but the market is crazy; Just bought one!!
Replies: 260
Views: 30543

Re: Thought about buying a small motor home, but the market is crazy; Just bought one!!

WhyNotUs wrote: Mon Feb 08, 2021 8:49 am
bluesky50 wrote: Sun Feb 07, 2021 7:07 pm Wow, I did not know there are small motor home boglehead fans here. Even LTV fans!

We just got a new 2021 LTV Wonder AWD. I am very sure we will enjoy it greatly.
That is a sick van
How so?
by bluesky50
Sun Feb 07, 2021 7:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Thought about buying a small motor home, but the market is crazy; Just bought one!!
Replies: 260
Views: 30543

Re: Thought about buying a small motor home, but the market is crazy; Just bought one!!

Wow, I did not know there are small motor home boglehead fans here. Even LTV fans!

We just got a new 2021 LTV Wonder AWD. I am very sure we will enjoy it greatly.
by bluesky50
Mon Jan 25, 2021 9:58 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Any boring investors left?
Replies: 222
Views: 18189

Re: Any boring investors left?

Chicken Little wrote: Sun Jan 24, 2021 8:37 am
livesoft wrote: Sun Jan 24, 2021 8:36 am I check all 10 boxes.
I knew I was in good company!
Me too!

The only open issue is our AA is off 5% from our target 60:40. Have not decided when I should rebalance or whether I should rebalance at all.
by bluesky50
Sun Dec 20, 2020 7:37 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Anyone retire pre 55 without any pensions?
Replies: 101
Views: 16664

Re: Anyone retire pre 55 without any pensions?

I don't have much to contribute except that I really appreciate this thread as we are planning to retire mid next year when I am 55 without any pensions or employer healthcare guaranty except SS and medicare when it due.
by bluesky50
Fri Dec 18, 2020 8:09 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What to do with "extra" $50/ month?
Replies: 30
Views: 2995

Re: What to do with "extra" $50/ month?

You may want to make sure you do not over spend of your $50 :D Since this is the interest it is taxed at the marginal tax which could take away a significant portion of your $50.
by bluesky50
Sun Dec 13, 2020 2:23 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best < $100 purchase?
Replies: 299
Views: 56508

Re: Best < $100 purchase?

Electric kettle bought from Costco. I bought it early this spring when I started working from home. I have been using it every day all day long when I am home. I don't know why I did not buy it earlier.
by bluesky50
Fri Dec 11, 2020 12:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Standing desk ....
Replies: 34
Views: 3234

Re: Standing desk ....

stan1 wrote: Fri Dec 11, 2020 10:34 am Uplift with the extra horizontal brace and C-shaped legs (unless I was on a tight budget).
I believe that is Uplift Commercial version. That is the one I have. One additional benefit of that horizontal bar that I found after I bought is I can use it as leg rest from time to time while sitting.
by bluesky50
Thu Dec 10, 2020 10:18 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Standing desk ....
Replies: 34
Views: 3234

Re: Standing desk ....

I have uplift standing desk. I highly recommend it.
by bluesky50
Sat Dec 05, 2020 6:37 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Restaurant take out during the pandemic?
Replies: 93
Views: 8864

Re: Restaurant take out during the pandemic?

Interesting thread.

We are over 60's and mid 50's. Since pandemic we have not been anywhere near restaurants and don't feel comfortable to do any take out either.
by bluesky50
Sun Nov 29, 2020 12:43 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Any bogleheadish black friday deals to look out for?
Replies: 105
Views: 21347

Re: Any bogleheadish black friday deals to look out for?

Thermapen MK4 is on sale now.
https://www.thermoworks.com/Thermapen-M ... =1&color=6

Dang it! I just bought it last week and paid full price. I should have waited for black friday sale. Oh, well!
by bluesky50
Mon Nov 23, 2020 9:39 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: When to retire - early, mid, end of year
Replies: 40
Views: 4285

Re: When to retire - early, mid, end of year

I have been thinking about this a lot as I plan to retire next year.


Besides not missing out big bonuses you deserve, one good time might be when you max out 2021 work place retirement contribution $64,500 (401k + employer match + maga backdoor Roth), max out social security tax (income $142,800 +), and MAGI is still low enough to contribute yours and your spouse Roth IRA.

Also first day or first week of month so you can get the insurance coverage of that month.