Search found 7827 matches
- Wed Mar 27, 2024 7:42 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Refinance Auto Loan. What to do?
- Replies: 2
- Views: 197
Re: Refinance Auto Loan. What to do?
Subaru won't refinance.
- Wed Mar 27, 2024 7:03 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: I think my Mom, recently widowed, is looking at a tax bomb
- Replies: 28
- Views: 4707
Re: I think my Mom, recently widowed, is looking at a tax bomb
No, the entire cost is usually not deductible. You can find some guidance via Googling, a physican needs to do an assessment of need to determine what the individual cannot do themselves, etc.Chardo wrote: ↑Wed Mar 27, 2024 6:35 am A somewhat related question, if one needs to move to assisted living, is the entire cost a deductible medical expense (subject to minimum) or just the care component? Some facilities have a base rent plus varying levels of care at additional cost. Other facilities include some level of care in the base. Then there's a community fee upfront, and assorted other charges. What is potentially deductible?
Then of course the medical costs must exceed a sizeable percentage of income.
- Wed Mar 27, 2024 6:55 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Penna. executor's fees for handling will?
- Replies: 26
- Views: 1390
Re: Penna. executor's fees for handling will?
Prior to handling a deceased estranged relative's estate, which no one wanted to handle, my siblings and I agreed that my share would be increased at an hourly rate as well as expenses. Although nit a complicated estate, I spent close to 200 hours handling it including disposing if assets that brought in additional thousands of dollars, liquidating accounts, etc.
If you don't agree with what he is charging (ask for a breakout), then offer to do it yourself. He can appoint you to help him.
If you don't agree with what he is charging (ask for a breakout), then offer to do it yourself. He can appoint you to help him.
- Tue Mar 26, 2024 6:27 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Car Totaled - Insurance Options
- Replies: 22
- Views: 1449
Re: Car Totaled - Insurance Options
Carrying collision on a $3,000 car for how many years? Cost?
- Tue Mar 26, 2024 6:15 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How many credit cards do you have
- Replies: 89
- Views: 3991
Re: How many credit cards do you have
1211. Two are rarely used.
- Tue Mar 26, 2024 6:13 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Kindle Users--Please help
- Replies: 24
- Views: 1386
Re: Kindle Users--Please help
My wife is non-techie. I have told my children to make sure to put that as my cause of death...
- Tue Mar 26, 2024 7:20 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Those complimentary dinners for retirees by investment advisors
- Replies: 137
- Views: 10139
Re: Those complimentary dinners for retirees by investment advisors
We got on those lists when my wife retired from a teaching job, lists are public. Spent a lot of effort getting off those lists. No mailings in a year plus.
It is pretty clear that if you are invited to an event, you have the right to attend. If you keep going to these events knowing you won't ever purchase, that's not right IMO.
It is pretty clear that if you are invited to an event, you have the right to attend. If you keep going to these events knowing you won't ever purchase, that's not right IMO.
- Mon Mar 25, 2024 6:10 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Looking for advice on unhappy experience in VG short term bond fund
- Replies: 66
- Views: 5551
Re: Looking for advice on unhappy experience in VG short term bond fund
Small? VBTLX hit a high in 2020 of $11.77. $9.53 today. Still off 19%.
Been in the market since early 80s. I will take Primecap any day over this. I am putting all earnings into MM and soon treasuries. Done with bond funds.
- Mon Mar 25, 2024 5:18 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Is there any difference between cashing out a Mutual fund in/out of an IRA - if you are retired already?
- Replies: 13
- Views: 1413
Re: Is there any difference between cashing out a Mutual fund in/out of an IRA - if you are retired already?
Do you understand how tax brackets work? You pay a higher percentage in taxes as your annual income increases, but the increase is step-wise not gradually linear. For example, for a couple filing married/joint, up to a combined income of about $125,000, they are in the 12% tax bracket. From an income of $125,000 to about $210,000, they are in the 22% tax bracket. Above that is a 24% bracket and then higher brackets. If you take the money out from your IRA a bit at a time each year, you might be able to do it without going into the next higher tax bracket. If you take all the money out at once, you may put yourself in a higher tax bracket and pay a higher percentage in taxes than you would if you just take out a bit each year. I hope that m...
- Sat Mar 23, 2024 7:16 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Which reputable insurance company can give a home insurance policy quickly?
- Replies: 23
- Views: 1712
Re: Which reputable insurance company can give a home insurance policy quickly?
Very unlike AMICA. Try PURE.
- Fri Mar 22, 2024 7:40 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Feeling Lost with 529s
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1900
Re: Feeling Lost with 529s
Utah plan is highly rated.
The "I can see it at Vanguard" is a red herring. Simply type your holdings into Vanguard and it updates the value daily. All reinvestment in Utah are reflected into share price, not shares, so it is always accurate unless you make additions or withdrawals, then simply update the shares.
The "I can see it at Vanguard" is a red herring. Simply type your holdings into Vanguard and it updates the value daily. All reinvestment in Utah are reflected into share price, not shares, so it is always accurate unless you make additions or withdrawals, then simply update the shares.
- Fri Mar 22, 2024 7:36 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: When brand names matter and when they don't
- Replies: 193
- Views: 11700
Re: When brand names matter and when they don't
This. Totally subjective. As in everything @KlangFool lists that he can or can't tell the difference in, I think the opposite.KlangFool wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 7:27 am OP,
It is very simple.
It is subjective. If it matters to you and you can tell the difference, then it matters. If not, it don't. I can tell the difference between coffee and teas. I cannot tell the difference between seafood. Hence, coffee and tea matters to me. Seafood does not. It tastes the same to me.
To each its own.
KlangFool
- Fri Mar 22, 2024 6:43 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: What Toys Have You Bought That Have Been Worth it?
- Replies: 249
- Views: 17794
Re: What Toys Have You Bought That Have Been Worth it?
Electric Vehicles. Love handsfree driving.
- Thu Mar 21, 2024 7:28 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Cost Basis for Inherited stock
- Replies: 7
- Views: 838
Re: Cost Basis for Inherited stock
I'm trying to figure out the cost basis for some inherited stock my mom and dad held jointly. My dad passed away last year and this is one of the final pieces I am trying to figure out with the CPA doing the taxes. What I know: My grandmother (father's side) purchased 300 shares of Ohio Edison in 1978. I know this because I have the original carbon copy receipt from the Merrill Lynch broker. Side note - the cost to facilitate this trade was $118.93 on shares worth $5512.50! My grandmother had this stock titled in her name alone. When she died in April of 1997 my father inherited this stock from her. I've searched and searched and cannot find a historical price for the date she past away where my father would have received the full step up ...
- Thu Mar 21, 2024 7:19 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Capital loss carryover question
- Replies: 10
- Views: 682
Re: Capital loss carryover question
She may not even pay tax on a good portion of those gains depending on her tax bracket, and therefore not use anywhere near all the offset.
Edit - Don't know what I was thinking, it is absolutely correct that gains use losses first, and will use it up. Brain fa#t.
Edit - Don't know what I was thinking, it is absolutely correct that gains use losses first, and will use it up. Brain fa#t.
- Thu Mar 21, 2024 7:17 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Do I need a buyer's agent when seller is a realtor?
- Replies: 69
- Views: 5275
Re: Do I need a buyer's agent when seller is a realtor?
Get a real estate lawyer.
- Thu Mar 21, 2024 7:15 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: funeral preparations
- Replies: 48
- Views: 4435
- Wed Mar 20, 2024 4:39 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Applying for Medicare/Social Security
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1151
Re: Applying for Medicare/Social Security
You have a Social Security number. The name on that is how SS and Medicare will be processed.
- Wed Mar 20, 2024 3:43 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: funeral preparations
- Replies: 48
- Views: 4435
Re: funeral preparations
https://www.va.gov/burials-memorials/eligibility/SmileyFace wrote: ↑Wed Mar 20, 2024 3:20 pmCan you expand on this? Are you talking about veteran benefits or something else?RickBoglehead wrote: ↑Wed Mar 20, 2024 3:07 pm Then my FIL found out that burials at national cemeteries are free, and went that route.
The only free burial I was aware of was for war time veterans.
I was surpised to find out plots were pretty inexpensive. We paid more for the grave marker (small stone momument) than we did for the plot.
- Wed Mar 20, 2024 3:07 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: funeral preparations
- Replies: 48
- Views: 4435
Re: funeral preparations
My in-laws bought 6 plots with their sister and brother in-law, nothing specified about who got what. They used 3 of the spots. Then a brother died and another spot was used, leaving 2.
Then my FIL found out that burials at national cemeteries are free, and went that route. We now have 2 useless plots that basically have little value.
Then my FIL found out that burials at national cemeteries are free, and went that route. We now have 2 useless plots that basically have little value.
- Wed Mar 20, 2024 3:04 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Vanguard Cash Plus Account
- Replies: 511
- Views: 69399
Re: Vanguard Cash Plus Account
I found that while I could setup my Citi credit cards, I could not setup CashPlus to receive my credit card cash bonuses. No big deal, I can send them to Ally as well as use Ally for Xfinity.
Clearly it is a virtual account, that was obvious from the beginning.
Clearly it is a virtual account, that was obvious from the beginning.
- Wed Mar 20, 2024 7:14 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: How does a landline phone decrease my bundle cost
- Replies: 52
- Views: 3314
Re: How does a landline phone decrease my bundle cost
Outside of a business, I don’t know why anyone has a landline phone today. But I guess I’d keep it if it cost more to get rid of it. I’d probably looking for other providers, though. It's been helpful for me when I've had cell phone issues. A few times have had separate calls going on both my cell phone and landline at the same time. Finally, cell phones still have nowhere the clarity on both ends as do landline phones. More readons: During storms in summer amd winter, power out and sometimes so is cell tower. I don’t get cell service in m condo. Emergency during internet service outage is problematic. Another reason (for me): my emergency alert button is a pendant which is actually a tiny landline extension phone that can only call 911. L...
- Tue Mar 19, 2024 4:10 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: How does a landline phone decrease my bundle cost
- Replies: 52
- Views: 3314
Re: How does a landline phone decrease my bundle cost
They know that forcing you to keep the bundle increases the likelihood that you will remain a customer. If you switch to only 1 service, dumping them is easy.
We dumped our landlines over a decade ago, switching to a Google Voice number. We dumped our cable provider a few years later. Today we pay $30 a month for internet only.
We dumped our landlines over a decade ago, switching to a Google Voice number. We dumped our cable provider a few years later. Today we pay $30 a month for internet only.
- Tue Mar 19, 2024 3:54 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: funeral preparations
- Replies: 48
- Views: 4435
Re: funeral preparations
States have regulations. Some states require a funeral director be involved, and that has a cost.
- Tue Mar 19, 2024 3:53 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: funeral preparations
- Replies: 48
- Views: 4435
Re: funeral preparations
A check signed by a dead person isn't valid. Bank account will be locked up in death.brandy wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 5:13 pm'Because of that very possibility, some states do not allow prepay. Arizona doesn't/or didn't. I kept a check in my file cabinet written to the crematory of my choice in my file cabinet, re-written over time as needed. Along with it of course was their contact info, website, etc. But I'm no longer there, and have no idea what ever else needs done, as suggested in my first post.
- Sat Mar 16, 2024 11:03 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Does PNC Bank have a good reputation for financial advisors?
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1764
Re: Does PNC Bank have a good reputation for financial advisors?
Answer to question posed - no.
- Sat Mar 16, 2024 5:00 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Furniture prices... is this normal?
- Replies: 60
- Views: 10054
Re: Furniture prices... is this normal?
Before reading this thread, I never heard of LoveSac...
- Sat Mar 16, 2024 4:48 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Mobile finance apps - do you use them?
- Replies: 52
- Views: 4178
Re: Mobile finance apps - do you use them?
I believe that a locked phone, with apps that require a fingerprint or password, is plenty secure. The advantage of having apps in addition to doing tranasis getting immediate alerts of activity.
In general, this forum skews older and more cautious / wary of technology than the general public.
In general, this forum skews older and more cautious / wary of technology than the general public.
- Sat Mar 16, 2024 4:44 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Good Estate/Trust/Will Tool?
- Replies: 6
- Views: 572
Re: Good Estate/Trust/Will Tool?
Many libraries carry WillMaker, but book only. Software gets one registration.
- Fri Mar 15, 2024 10:44 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Utilities cost?
- Replies: 57
- Views: 4387
Re: Utilities cost?
What's actionable?
- Thu Mar 14, 2024 5:02 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How Much Cash Do You Keep In Your Home?
- Replies: 207
- Views: 15471
Re: How Much Cash Do You Keep In Your Home?
Most people who keep a stack of cash likely lived through the Depression. To me, keeping thousands in cash is nuts. My in-laws did, the minute they went into Assisted Living, that went into a money market, and my FIL's cash on hand was eliminated, since they had no place to spend it.
Between us we have less than $100. On a big trip we add maybe $40.
Between us we have less than $100. On a big trip we add maybe $40.
- Thu Mar 14, 2024 4:55 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Open Social Security - 1st Year Benefits
- Replies: 12
- Views: 1293
Re: Open Social Security - 1st Year Benefits
Dottie57 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 14, 2024 4:51 pmSorry my birthday is mid MARCH, Corrected it in my post.RickBoglehead wrote: ↑Thu Mar 14, 2024 4:43 pmDottie57 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 14, 2024 4:27 pmDoesn’t the benefit start themonth AFTER your birthday?Silk McCue wrote: ↑Thu Mar 14, 2024 4:22 pm The benefit for each month is paid out the following month. It’s just the way it’s implemented. You will receive x months worth of benefit but the December benefit will be received in January.
Cheers
If my birthday is in middle of May, the benefit starts in April and I get my first payment in May. Am I correct?
No.
If your birthday is mid-May, benefits start in May. May benefits are paid in June.
So benefits start in March, paid in April. You get 9 payments first year.
- Thu Mar 14, 2024 4:53 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Check my work: Taking over management of my parent's portfolio
- Replies: 23
- Views: 3295
Re: Check my work: Taking over management of my parent's portfolio
Now is the time to do the POA paperwork, and file it, when they are lucid.
Are you setup with Agent Authorization at Vanguard? If not, they will shut you down when they figure out that you are accessing from a different location than your parents.
Think about having statements showing their Petworth, in their living situation if care givers have access to their room.
Are you setup with Agent Authorization at Vanguard? If not, they will shut you down when they figure out that you are accessing from a different location than your parents.
Think about having statements showing their Petworth, in their living situation if care givers have access to their room.
- Thu Mar 14, 2024 4:48 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Quaker Oats Recall Coupons Pretty much Useless
- Replies: 9
- Views: 1139
Re: Quaker Oats Recall Coupons Pretty much Useless
Costco simply refunded our money.
- Thu Mar 14, 2024 4:43 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Open Social Security - 1st Year Benefits
- Replies: 12
- Views: 1293
Re: Open Social Security - 1st Year Benefits
Dottie57 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 14, 2024 4:27 pmDoesn’t the benefit start themonth AFTER your birthday?Silk McCue wrote: ↑Thu Mar 14, 2024 4:22 pm The benefit for each month is paid out the following month. It’s just the way it’s implemented. You will receive x months worth of benefit but the December benefit will be received in January.
Cheers
If my birthday is in middle of May, the benefit starts in April and I get my first payment in May. Am I correct?
No.
If your birthday is mid-May, benefits start in May. May benefits are paid in June.
- Wed Mar 13, 2024 11:14 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: College degree worthwhile for marketing?
- Replies: 124
- Views: 8470
Re: College degree worthwhile for marketing?
Finish degree.
Sales is not Marketing.
Real Estate is a mistake.
Sales is not Marketing.
Real Estate is a mistake.
- Tue Mar 12, 2024 11:09 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Schedule D -- Turbotax Premier
- Replies: 21
- Views: 1783
Re: Schedule D -- Turbotax Premier
It is called screwing the consumer.familythriftmd wrote: ↑Tue Mar 12, 2024 9:14 pm
Also, why would the Deluxe version for online do less than with desktop Deluxe?
- Mon Mar 11, 2024 1:04 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Feeling stuck with the mortgage
- Replies: 34
- Views: 3459
Re: Feeling stuck with the mortgage
I would hope your parents say "no thank you" to your desire to move in.
- Sun Mar 10, 2024 12:18 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Sharing why we went with Vanguard PAS
- Replies: 69
- Views: 6942
Re: Sharing why we went with Vanguard PAS
Vanguard has been pushing international funds for years. The return has consistently been awful as compared to US funds. I went a bit into intentional years ago after listening to a Vanguard advisor, but over time have shifted almost all international investments back to US.
Vanguard wanted to liquidate non-recomended holdings, like my long-term investments in Primecap. Thanks, but no.
10 year, 13.05%
10 year, Total Stock Market, 11.97%
Vanguard wanted to liquidate non-recomended holdings, like my long-term investments in Primecap. Thanks, but no.
10 year, 13.05%
10 year, Total Stock Market, 11.97%
- Sun Mar 10, 2024 11:37 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Discrepancy with employer withholding and federal tax I owe
- Replies: 16
- Views: 1075
Re: Discrepancy with employer withholding and federal tax I owe
As noted, bonuses are taxed at flat rate. It's up to you to withhold the proper amount, or pay estimated tax in addition, during the year. I suggest that you consult with your tax professional to ensure that you withhold properly in 2024.
The good news is that a massive increase in a year usually means you won't have any penalties, but you still need to adjust for 2024.
The good news is that a massive increase in a year usually means you won't have any penalties, but you still need to adjust for 2024.
- Mon Feb 26, 2024 10:00 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: When did your Net Worth surpass your lifetime earnings?
- Replies: 93
- Views: 11830
Re: When did your Net Worth surpass your lifetime earnings?
Have no idea what lifetime earnings are.
- Mon Feb 26, 2024 9:57 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Tech forward bank recommendations: instant transfers and decent bill pay
- Replies: 38
- Views: 2805
Re: Tech forward bank recommendations: instant transfers and decent bill pay
Places that won’t take credit cards do ACH pulls.
- Mon Feb 26, 2024 7:05 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Dot.Com Era/AI Era?
- Replies: 309
- Views: 29616
Re: Dot.Com Era/AI Era?
RetiredAL wrote: ↑Mon Feb 26, 2024 7:00 pm In the dot-com boom years, many companies had not yet made a profit, yet had a sky-high valuations. Others had no product yet had big valuations due to the hype. Today AI seems to mostly centered around chip manufacturers who are making a profit. Are their valuations hyper-inflated balloons? Time will tell.
Me? I plan on remaining a steady-Eddie. In 2000, I was a fence straddler. One side did OK, the other got the ankle chewed on.
Nearly all dot com companies were losing a fortune. They did not have "profit" in their vocabulary. Investors, including myself, were stupid. I could have retired earlier. My ankle, and my leg, got eaten.
- Mon Feb 26, 2024 7:03 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Dot.Com Era/AI Era?
- Replies: 309
- Views: 29616
Re: Dot.Com Era/AI Era?
Wow. Just wow.
I saw I, Robot. VIKI is dead meat.
I saw I, Robot. VIKI is dead meat.
- Mon Feb 26, 2024 7:01 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Questions about Whole Life
- Replies: 133
- Views: 10303
Re: Questions about Whole Life
My wife's parents bought her a policy as a child. It was "self-funding" when we got married decades ago. I cashed the puppy in within weeks of getting married, and told the representative that was our local contact we were all set and have a nice day.
- Wed Feb 21, 2024 7:31 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Realtor handling both sides
- Replies: 28
- Views: 2590
Re: Realtor handling both sides
Exactly.CaptainT wrote: ↑Wed Feb 21, 2024 6:57 pm The realtor has only 1 persons best interest and that is their own. The interest of either buyer or seller doesn't matter all they want is for the deal to go thru as quickly as possible at the highest commission possible.
Now if have 2 realtors buyer and seller realtor still mainly care about commission but also understand that they get paid because of you not the other party so they will look out for you and your side more
Seller wants $1 million. Realtor gets say 3%, $30,000.
Buyer wants to pay less. Realtor pushes Seller to accept $950,000.
Seller gets $50,000 less. Realtor gets $1,500 less. They want the sale to close.
- Wed Feb 21, 2024 3:48 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Realtor handling both sides
- Replies: 28
- Views: 2590
- Mon Feb 19, 2024 10:50 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Snowblowers - Electric Start Option
- Replies: 16
- Views: 1247
Re: Snowblowers - Electric Start Option
Ditto. Since 1996...
- Sun Feb 18, 2024 4:08 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Medicare benefits … help
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1133
Re: Medicare benefits … help
Why would your son be financially responsible for someone else's debt? She goes broke, hospital bills her, she goes on Medicaid...
I guess more important for your son is why he's asking the question now, versus before disaster hits his MIL.
I guess more important for your son is why he's asking the question now, versus before disaster hits his MIL.
- Sun Feb 18, 2024 7:13 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Safest way to pay bills electronically
- Replies: 72
- Views: 6208
Re: Safest way to pay bills electronically
Likely zero correlation here.Berean wrote: ↑Sun Feb 18, 2024 7:03 am A lot of you recommend paying regular bills electronically by credit card. That would require me to put my credit-card info out there on the Internet to about ten other companies. That scares me. In the past year, I have had three bogus charges on my credit card, each of which resulted in inconvenience because the company issued me a new card. Somebody please hold my hand, stroke my brow, and tell me "It's gonna be okay."