Bogleheads.org

We were invited to a timeshare presentation in a Marriott Kauai resort a few years ago. First rule is never let them drive you off property to the presentation site, especially in places like Mexico. They had a nice building set up on the property. Personally I had always wanted to hear what these presentations were like, and we know better than to buy one of these, but they offered got a bunch of hotel points for about a 90 min presentation and it was on property so we accepted. The fun part was that they couldn't overcome our objections/challenges. Everyone was nice enough and I think they got the idea it wasn't going anywhere. In fact, afterwards my DW and I came with a number of better ways for them to present their offer; of course we...

Cruise wrote: ↑Thu Mar 23, 2023 12:43 am

Cruise wrote: ↑Sun Jan 22, 2023 10:57 am A humble haiku, courtesy of ChatGPT:

Frugal investors,
Bogleheads united, wise,
In wealth they will thrive.

And now for the Bing Chatbox version:

Bogleheads unite,
Investing for the long term,
Simple and effective.

Bard version:

Bogleheads invest
In index funds for the long term
And reap the rewards.

Google flights no budget airlines and no SW

Costco

I love St John and Cayman Islands. Very clear and very blue water.

been to morocco but only on business and that was a very long time ago. I recommend you monitor the US state department (and record their contact info)

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel ... isory.html

I have done this several times at the Apple store. They took 1-2 hours each time.

I received a 5K I-bond refund (one paper bill) 25 days after filing taxes and about 17 days after I received remainder of my refund at my bank.

All in all, much faster than last year.

Like a previous poster said it's bewildering that they must send any paper at all just so you can mail it back to TD. It would be really funny if the person sending these out sits right next to the person receiving them.

Just got my i-bond. wow- one 5k bill - what a nice surprise !!!

Use the Alexa app
Select more
Select reminders
Click + to add
Choose a repeat option

BetaTracker wrote: ↑Wed Mar 08, 2023 3:55 pm Is there a way to totally disable iCloud Keychain? I ask because I'm using NordPass now.

There is a ‘Sync this iPhone’ setting under keychain in preferences

Have you tried this?

I received my refund 17 days after filing. I also requested 5K in I bonds.
Much quicker than last year.

Full 100% (or 200% or worse 300%-400%) of the ever-increasing premiums paid could "STRICTLY GO WASTED/LOST" Policies sold today will not have the big rate increases older policies had because the policies sold today already include those rate increases in the current pricing. This is true in all 50 states. Independent sources beg to differ: Long-Term Care Insurance: Higher Premiums for Shrinking Benefits: https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/604759/long-term-care-insurance-higher-premiums-for-shrinking-benefits Regulators across nation warn of this negative effect too (Sep 9, 2022): "..another round of rate hikes for long-term care insurance" .. in line for double- or triple-digit percentage jumps in bills for their lon...

Full 100% (or 200% or worse 300%-400%) of the ever-increasing premiums paid could "STRICTLY GO WASTED/LOST" Policies sold today will not have the big rate increases older policies had because the policies sold today already include those rate increases in the current pricing. This is true in all 50 states. Independent sources beg to differ: Long-Term Care Insurance: Higher Premiums for Shrinking Benefits: https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/604759/long-term-care-insurance-higher-premiums-for-shrinking-benefits Regulators across nation warn of this negative effect too (Sep 9, 2022): "..another round of rate hikes for long-term care insurance" .. in line for double- or triple-digit percentage jumps in bills for their lon...

I like google docs for dictation. The video explains benefits. Apple now supports typing during dictation but google is still more flexible. https://youtu.be/Unwa4fYxwJo Thanks! But can you use voice typing to dictate to this forum and social media, and not just in google documents for example? I still have no clue where to find it on windows 10, or how to activate it like on my iphone. not really, unless you're willing to dictate in google docs first and then copy and paste to this forum or other destination such as social media. on my iPhone I use the regular apple dictation... it has been improved a great deal as it now allows you to interrupt the dictation by typing and then continuing dictation. I think this is good for short texts. I...

I like google docs for dictation. The video explains benefits. Apple now supports typing during dictation but google is still more flexible.

https://youtu.be/Unwa4fYxwJo

I scan everything with my Fujitsu SnapScan ix500. All documents end up in the cloud with a copies on external drives. I don’t keep any paper. I can search for anything in a few seconds.

I have at least 10 western digital 5 TB external drives. I haven’t had a problem yet.

The consultant on Amazon prime

I wanted to watch it because Christoph waltz is in it. It’s started out great but I found it a bit boring as I binged thru the episodes.

I would use a GoPro when rafting. You don’t need any hands to operate and you can control it with your voice. For example, you would say go pro start Capture and GoPro stop capture.

I don’t understand why anyone would use a point and shoot or a DSLR when rafting unless you know you’ll have your hands free

worthit wrote: ↑Tue Feb 14, 2023 2:37 pm Have you looked at cointracker.io?

Hey this is fantastic- thanks!

I joined coin tracker, connected coinbase and in 5 minutes it imported all my transactions and then I uploaded the TT file into my TT Premier.
I think I'm done (well, with the crypto portion anyway).

Thanks again.

Hi all.

I ended my crypto experiment last year and sold everything. I've tried to figure out how to get transactions into TT (Premier desktop version) without success. I have around 100 transactions and no gains- just a loss.

I've downloaded the transactions from Coinbase - have both PDF and CSV versions. Lots of TT links on the web about importing CSV but they seem to relate to the TT online version.

Thanks!

Apple ultra.

Garmin instinct solar when I’m hiking.

When I retired I went with Schwab but also have a bit of money at Fido and VG. I may switch to Fido completely some time in the future for various reasons...

- I like their T-bill rollover service more than schwab.
- I like their lockdown feature.
- I like their app a bit more.

I've found the service levels at both to be very good (and far better than VG).

My main cards: Capital One SAVOR: Dining & Streaming (4% cash back) SAVOR: Groceries (3%) Amazon Card: Amazon purchases (5%) Amex Platinum: Airfare (5%) Alliant Credit Union: Most everything else (2.5%) Hotel and airline cards are also worth keeping if you don't mind fooling with them: Amex Hilton Surpass, Aspire, Bonvoy, Hyatt, Chase SWA Rapid Rewards, Citi AAdvantage. Put over $200k/year on the cards, including quarterly tax payments. It is definitely worth it if you are organized. Set up all your payment due dates to be similar and set everything on autopay. How do you get 5% off airfare with Amex plat? You get 5x points when booking through Amex or directly with the airline. Not 5% cash back unless you have a Schwab Plat I have thi...

jtdavid wrote: ↑Mon Jan 30, 2023 8:37 pm My main cards:

Capital One SAVOR: Dining & Streaming (4% cash back)
SAVOR: Groceries (3%)
Amazon Card: Amazon purchases (5%)
Amex Platinum: Airfare (5%)
Alliant Credit Union: Most everything else (2.5%)

Hotel and airline cards are also worth keeping if you don't mind fooling with them: Amex Hilton Surpass, Aspire, Bonvoy, Hyatt, Chase SWA Rapid Rewards, Citi AAdvantage.

Put over $200k/year on the cards, including quarterly tax payments. It is definitely worth it if you are organized. Set up all your payment due dates to be similar and set everything on autopay.

How do you get 5% off airfare with Amex plat?

I used to spend too much money
Whether cloudy or sunny
I became a bogle head
Who was no longer misled
So now I’m as good as honey

Happy Birthday Taylor !!!

No fall detection device currently available is going to be perfect. It's best to look around at what is available, what features each have and what requirements each system has (e.g. wifi, cellular, recharging, plug in, live help over a squawk box or not, needs to coordinate with a cell phone or not, etc, etc). And think about the person using the system and what will work for them. Also realize that the system may or may not work as hoped when it is really needed - fall detection may not be 100%, etc. So while this adds a layer of safety, it's just one layer, and having friends or relatives check in regularly and other safety protocols in place will still be necessary. I think for a tech savvy person that lives alone, already uses an iPh...

livesoft wrote: ↑Sat Jan 21, 2023 7:35 pm I would put it all in Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth (VSMGX) or DFA Global Allocation 60/40 (DGSIX). No managing necessary at all.

And if you wanted more complicated, then put 50% in VSMGX and 50% DGSIX. That way you can see when one does better than the other one.

+1

I’m a big fan of the,lifestrategy funds. Can’t get much simpler than that.

I’m not aware of anything credit protection companies can provide that’s not available for free. I use free services from Chase and Capital One. They monitor my credit and if there are any changes or inquiries , I get an email almost immediately.

I have plenty of them. I think 16 which is the max.
I also have some third-party ones.
Keep in mind that third-party trackers that use the Apple find my network cannot support precision location finding. This is not an issue for me.
The third-party one that I like the most is Pebblebee because it’s credit card size and fits very easily in my wallets and especially useful for traveling. It’s also rechargeable.

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0B1F4FKPF? ... ct_details

I purchased a bunch of LG 32" Class 4K UHD FreeSync Monitors as dual monitor set ups for my MacBooks. I love them and they were cheap. $269’each.

Some posters here may have devices that work differently from mine. I have a bunch of o kindles along with kindle fires. I always knew that I didn’t technically own any books or movies that I purchased, but only the rights to use them. My kindles do not lose content “to the cloud” when they are inactive. I also keep at least one Kindle and a kindle fire unconnected from any Internet source. This is the only way I can hope that the content on them will remain. I remember years ago I received a notice from Amazon that movies I purchased from Amazon prime are not guaranteed to be available from Amazon and that if this was a concern, I should download them for safekeeping. So I’ve got all my downloaded movies on several Kindle fires and books a...

dup deleted

It's easy to avoid crowds and timed entry requirements in RMNP. Arrive before 5am. I realize this isn't for everyone.

I'm there most summers but I'll start my hikes before sunrise. Where I go hiking the parking lots are small and will fill quickly but I get there around 3-4am.

No crowds, no timed entry... just the dedicated folks.

I also don't like hiking there in the afternoons in the summer- too hot for me. So the earlier I start the better I feel.

Some good advice on trails in posts above.

If you get the Alltrails app you can get up-to-date reviews of the trails, if that helps. I use it to understand snow levels since I'll hike pretty high.

Plaid is horrible. I included several links in the thread linked above.

I have been burned by using VC-backed financial solutions but fortunately I was only experImenting.

I couldn't agree more. I learned my lesson the hard way to AVOID at all costs, using VC-backed fintech solutions. Many are not worth the risks. All are unproven and their business models subject to change ad nauseam. As one example, I joined Betterment only to be subjected to increased fees and nonsensical (to me) business policies - I'm no longer a customer.

Plaid has already had lawsuits regarding its practices.

https://www.fastcompany.com/90715125/pl ... ncial-apps

https://www.plaidsettlement.com/index.php

5051.

bradinsky wrote: ↑Thu Dec 29, 2022 3:08 pm If husband & wife are arguing, separate vacations fill the bill.

You reminded me of a joke from Nate Bargatze

https://youtu.be/exhvp-XmL4s

Fujifilm, SnapScan
One of my best purchases ever. The one I bought has been going strong for many years

https://smile.amazon.com/Fujitsu-ScanSn ... 4bcb5&th=1

iPhone to iCloud

MacBook pros to rotating western digital external drives, and Synology NAS

FiveK wrote: ↑Sun Dec 04, 2022 1:37 pm

Freefun wrote: ↑Sun Dec 04, 2022 8:58 am Question 3 - should I do another 50k or 100k Roth conversion this year? I already did 100K.

The wiki section on Whether to convert and other parts of that article may help. After reading that, what do you think?

Based on that I wouldn't convert any more this year but my quandary is whether I should raise my AGI if it helps me qualify for a home.

My goal is to not have mortgage payments especially with current rates. I could of course sell my current home, add 200K or a bit more to the ~400K proceeds and pay cash. But I'm reluctant to sell until I have a home to move to. I continue to hear nightmares about renting. So I'm thinking of taking a mortgage on the next home but paying it off asap. Especially since you're looking at relocating, there's a lot to be said for renting for a bit to make sure you like the area. You'll hear nightmares about everything, as with anything else you need to do your homework. And ultimately for a (at most) one-year commitment, the risk is low compared to the alternative of moving to a new city and incurring all the sunk costs of realtor commissions, r...

specially if it helps me qualify for a mortgage- my questions below). ... Question 3 - should I do another 50k or 100k Roth conversion this year? I already did 100K. Some reasons that these conversions may help (please advise if these are realistic): A) help qualify for next home before selling current home by boosting income. I’m guessing I won’t qualify based solely on 7K / mo pension. I'm not a banker and don't grant home loans, but... I certainly hope they would scrutinize your "income" enough to realize that Roth conversions, which are technically considered income on your IRS Form 1040, don't do anything to help you with house payments from month to month. It's basically phantom income and probably shouldn't be considered w...

I'd also be careful with Roth conversions - one reason to be a bit aggressive in early retirement years is to mitigate the scenario that one of the two people dies and the other faces higher rates as a single filer. Since you're already a single filer, and you have a pension that already fills out the lower income tax brackets, the case for Roth conversions is not strong. Having a sizable tax-deferred balance can be beneficial in the event of very high medical expenses, as well as for charitable donations (learn about QCDs if you haven't already). On qualifying for a mortgage: there are lenders who do mortgages based on portfolio rather than employment income. You may want to look for one. If I were in this situation, I'd probably go for a...

specially if it helps me qualify for a mortgage- my questions below). ... Question 3 - should I do another 50k or 100k Roth conversion this year? I already did 100K. Some reasons that these conversions may help (please advise if these are realistic): A) help qualify for next home before selling current home by boosting income. I’m guessing I won’t qualify based solely on 7K / mo pension. I'm not a banker and don't grant home loans, but... I certainly hope they would scrutinize your "income" enough to realize that Roth conversions, which are technically considered income on your IRS Form 1040, don't do anything to help you with house payments from month to month. It's basically phantom income and probably shouldn't be considered w...

I'd also be careful with Roth conversions - one reason to be a bit aggressive in early retirement years is to mitigate the scenario that one of the two people dies and the other faces higher rates as a single filer. Since you're already a single filer, and you have a pension that already fills out the lower income tax brackets, the case for Roth conversions is not strong. Having a sizable tax-deferred balance can be beneficial in the event of very high medical expenses, as well as for charitable donations (learn about QCDs if you haven't already). On qualifying for a mortgage: there are lenders who do mortgages based on portfolio rather than employment income. You may want to look for one. If I were in this situation, I'd probably go for a...

welderwannabe wrote: ↑Sun Dec 04, 2022 9:17 am Regarding question 4. You gotta do whats right for you, but my opinion is 30% stocks 70% bonds is way too conservative. You've got a lot of life left to live, and this portfolio needs to outlive you. I'd suggest you crank up the stocks a bit to maybe 40/60 or 50/50, and consider stretching the duration on the bonds to a good intermediate. Bills = cash, so your effectively suggesting a 30% stocks 70% cash portfolio.

Thank you. I'll consider 40/60 at least.

Hi everyone. I've benefited greatly from this forum and wanted to tap the collected wisdom on some questions. Thanks in advance. Emergency funds: 2 years expenses cash Debt: none Tax Filing Status: Single- no dependents, no heirs, no desire to have money left over when I pass away (I donate now). Tax Rate: 24% Federal. State of Residence: TX Age: 62 Desired Asset allocation: 30% stocks / 70% bonds Desired International allocation: N/A approximate size of your total portfolio 1.7M tax deferred + 600K Roth + 250K after tax Current retirement assets Taxable 250k cash Roth IRA at Schwab 600k Traditional IRA at Schwab 1.7M The majority of my IRAs were in Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth. I’ve been moving them to VTI + Treasury Bills Als...