Search found 5319 matches
- Tue Apr 10, 2018 10:46 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Retirees: Who's increasing their equities as they age?
- Replies: 74
- Views: 5197
Re: Retirees: Who's increasing their equities as they age?
Our 40/60 portfolio has gradually been shifting towards 50/50 because we take RMDs from bonds and invest it in Tax Managed Small Cap fund in our taxable account.
- Tue Apr 03, 2018 2:34 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Index Admiral Shares or ETF's??
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1020
Re: Index Admiral Shares or ETF's??
Generally I prefer mutual funds but there are good reasons for ETFs. Many Vanguard sector specific index funds have 100K minimums for admiral shares, their ETF shares can be purchased in any integer share amount. REITs are the exception with 10K minimums for admiral class. Perhaps another case for u...
- Tue Apr 03, 2018 2:05 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Microsoft tech support scam - how to recover?
- Replies: 39
- Views: 4185
Re: Microsoft tech support scam - how to recover?
Of course these scammers are not really Microsoft, they usually say they are with Windows technical support implying Microsoft. I tell them how strange this is since I am using a Mac at which time they hangup. They often direct users to the event manager which normally has some errors. They often ca...
- Tue Mar 27, 2018 1:20 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: [Vanguard sends out erroneous "not enough money in settlement fund" notice]
- Replies: 94
- Views: 6133
Re: Concerns with Vanguard
What was the computer glitch this morning? I had a Vanguard computer glitch this morning too, 3/27/2018. Maybe the OP's was different. Yesterday I bought a fund in our joint taxable account with what was in our settlement. The money in the settlement account was from an RMD that showed up from a sa...
- Tue Mar 27, 2018 7:35 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Should I sell Wellington Fund Today?
- Replies: 30
- Views: 3922
Re: Should I sell Wellington Fund Today?
Also Wellington fund admiral just raised their expense ratio by a whopping one basis point from .16% to .17%
.

- Sun Mar 11, 2018 1:59 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Should I Take MY RMD Now Or Wait Until Later In The Year?
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1620
Re: Should I Take MY RMD Now Or Wait Until Later In The Year?
I am taking my RMDs in quarterly installments and having tax withholding deducted from each. I was surprised by the way VBS handles state of MI. withholding. I put in 3% in the field and executed the transaction. They took out 4.5%. Why doesn't VBS validate the field upon data entry if it is not acc...
- Sun Mar 11, 2018 9:05 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: H&R Block vs TurboTax (spoiler: HRB is awful)
- Replies: 70
- Views: 6700
Re: H&R Block vs TurboTax (spoiler: HRB is awful)
Speaking of playing little games, TurboTax is guilty of that too in my opinion. I got fooled a few years ago. Here is what to watch out for with the TT Deluxe package. When filing the state using efile, don't let them pay for the efile with money from your refund. There is an extra fee for this on t...
- Sun Mar 04, 2018 5:00 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Finally get it, Step 2 - Get rid of FA at Fidelity?
- Replies: 65
- Views: 4492
Re: Finally get it, Step 2 - Get rid of FA at Fidelity?
Financial advisors paid according to assets under management, AUM, may not give objective advise. Bad advise may benefit them. Questions on taking a pension or a lump sum settlement when the lump sum goes to AUM. Similarly true for any lump sum windfall. If asked should I pay down a mortgage or inve...
- Thu Mar 01, 2018 10:34 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: How can two mutual funds have the same symbol?
- Replies: 1
- Views: 398
How can two mutual funds have the same symbol?
I noticed yahoo finance recognizes VEGBX, Vanguard Emerging Markets Bond fund admiral, as Van Kampen Equity Growth B. with same symbol? By the way, Morningstar finally has added VEGBX to its database as the Vanguard Emerging Markets Bond fund.
- Mon Feb 19, 2018 4:03 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Understanding an ETF by it's Name
- Replies: 24
- Views: 893
Re: Understanding an ETF by it's Name
How about the Wellington and Wellesely funds? Those names don't seem to mean much at all. (Disclaimer: haven't invested in them.) They are not ETFs. Those are fine - as you said they don't mean anything. If you want to know what it means you need to crack open the prospectus. The SEC is more worrie...
- Mon Feb 19, 2018 3:49 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Downloading VG Brokerage to TT
- Replies: 6
- Views: 350
Re: Downloading VG Brokerage to TT
I had this problem shortly after VBS posted the 1099 form on the web. I just assumed I was too early and entered the information manually. Warning, I imported my Fidelity by downloading into TT. It was successful but had me as the sole owner of a joint account. This was easy to fix manually.
- Mon Feb 19, 2018 3:39 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Understanding an ETF by it's Name
- Replies: 24
- Views: 893
Re: Understanding an ETF by it's Name
They are not ETFs.randomizer wrote: ↑Mon Feb 19, 2018 3:36 pmHow about the Wellington and Wellesely funds? Those names don't seem to mean much at all. (Disclaimer: haven't invested in them.)
- Mon Feb 19, 2018 3:30 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Best Investment Options with Zero Earned Income
- Replies: 16
- Views: 1076
Re: Best Investment Options with Zero Earned Income
Any chance you have a working spouse? If so that opens up IRA possibilities for a spousal IRA contribution for yourself. This could be a Roth or traditional your choice.
- Sun Feb 18, 2018 5:51 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Do you wear a wedding band? [at a job interview]
- Replies: 157
- Views: 9873
Re: Do you wear a wedding band?
Not currently, my fingers out grew my 1970 era wedding band. Ditto for my college ring which I bought in 1969. Ditto for my wife too. She had hers made bigger but due to arthritis in her knuckles she can't wear them. We are both okay with no rings, been married over 47 years.
- Thu Feb 08, 2018 8:12 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Converting Vanguard ETFs to Admiral Shares Workaround
- Replies: 15
- Views: 958
Re: Converting Vanguard ETFs to Admiral Shares Workaround
There is not anyway to avoid a taxable event going from ETFs to mutual funds assuming the holdings are in a taxable account. There is no such thing as an ETF to mutual fund conversion. Going the other direction for many Vanguard index funds (but not all) a conversion is possible and it is not a taxa...
- Fri Feb 02, 2018 8:35 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Emerging Market Bond Fund Choice
- Replies: 23
- Views: 3078
Re: Emerging Market Bond Fund Choice
My VEGBX dividend just showed up too.
- Thu Feb 01, 2018 7:15 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Emerging Market Bond Fund Choice
- Replies: 23
- Views: 3078
Re: Emerging Market Bond Fund Choice
I bought VEGBX last week in a Roth. Our stock/bond target needed to be rebalanced due to the recent equity run up. Morningstar does not recognize VEGBX (admiral shares) but does recognize VEMBX (investor shares). They have been notified, in the meantime I use VEMBX for portfolio xray purposes. Spri...
- Sat Jan 27, 2018 5:50 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: VSMGX compared to VBIAX
- Replies: 3
- Views: 543
Re: VSMGX compared to VBIAX
I like VBIAX slightly better of the two but Wellington fund is my personal choice for a Vanguard moderate balanced fund. These funds are best held in a tax advantaged account or if in a low tax bracket, otherwise there is a Tax Managed Balanced fund that is very good.
- Wed Jan 24, 2018 8:24 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Post Your Morningstar Box Style
- Replies: 88
- Views: 5998
Re: Post Your Morningstar Box Style
In retirement since 2004.
39% Stocks (28% international, 72% domestic)
21 20 24
8 9 9
3 3 2
61% Bonds (primarily domestic VBTLX, with some emerging markets, VEGBX, and some PIMIX, PIMCO Income)
0 35 0
0 22 0
12 0 0
39% Stocks (28% international, 72% domestic)
21 20 24
8 9 9
3 3 2
61% Bonds (primarily domestic VBTLX, with some emerging markets, VEGBX, and some PIMIX, PIMCO Income)
0 35 0
0 22 0
12 0 0
- Tue Jan 23, 2018 3:41 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What did you do with your first RMD withdrawal money?
- Replies: 69
- Views: 5957
Re: What did you do with your first RMD withdrawal money?
After being fully retired for several years I decided to take a part time job with a food catering company to keep myself occupied. That qualifies me for a Roth IRA so part of my RMD pays state and federal taxes, part into a Roth and the rest into Vanguard personal account . Not your situation but ...
- Tue Jan 23, 2018 8:35 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Vanguard Advisor Recommendation
- Replies: 9
- Views: 831
Re: Vanguard Advisor Recommendation
If you go with a single fund solution, consider you may not need VPAS anymore.
- Sun Jan 21, 2018 4:36 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Medical Appointment Cancellation Policies/Fees
- Replies: 36
- Views: 2200
Re: Medical Appointment Cancellation Policies/Fees
I had an appointment with my primary care doctor and found out at the last minute my wife had accidentally taken off with my car keys as well as her own. I called his office, explained the situation and rescheduled. There was no charge even though there is a sign displayed in his office about fees f...
- Sun Jan 21, 2018 4:08 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Turbotax Online vs CD/download
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1547
Re: Turbotax Online vs CD/download
I bought the TT Deluxe CD with one state form for $40. My CD reader on my old desktop stopped working so I looked at the download version. The CD version was $40 and the download version was $50 on Amazon which makes no sense to me. I bought a $20 external USB optical drive and the TT disk loaded fi...
- Sat Jan 13, 2018 9:34 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: FHIGX (Fidelity Municipal Income) as a "second tier" saving s/emergency fund?
- Replies: 7
- Views: 557
Re: FHIGX (Fidelity Municipal Income) as a "second tier" saving s/emergency fund?
Nothing wrong with this fund but cheaper Vanguard equivalents are available. I am a Michigan resident and have considered FMHTX, Fidelity Michigan Municipal Income fund, with ER of .49% because Vanguard does not offer a Michigan state specific fund. Have not pulled the trigger yet.
- Fri Jan 12, 2018 10:09 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Looking for Best Alternatives for VTMFX
- Replies: 7
- Views: 674
Re: Looking for Best Alternatives for VTMFX
No but maybe by doing so you could hold all your bond allocation in your IRAs and not bother with tax exempts in you taxable account.
- Fri Jan 12, 2018 9:29 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Looking for Best Alternatives for VTMFX
- Replies: 7
- Views: 674
Re: Looking for Best Alternatives for VTMFX
The alternative is two funds instead of one with 50% in each. If Emerald City is in a state with an income tax, consider a state specific municipal bond fund for that state. Stock fund could be total stock market. Doing two funds may give you more tax loss harvesting possibilities. Also consider an ...
- Sun Jan 07, 2018 1:01 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Emerging Market Bond Fund Choice
- Replies: 23
- Views: 3078
Re: Emerging Market Bond Fund Choice
I bought VEGBX last week in a Roth. Our stock/bond target needed to be rebalanced due to the recent equity run up. Morningstar does not recognize VEGBX (admiral shares) but does recognize VEMBX (investor shares). They have been notified, in the meantime I use VEMBX for portfolio xray purposes.
- Thu Dec 28, 2017 4:55 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: S&P500 Indexing stay away? - does article make valid points?
- Replies: 18
- Views: 2874
Re: S&P500 Indexing stay away? - does article make valid points?
They are talking about ETFs which they say are untested. I do remember the "flash crash" which miss-priced many ETFs. I owned VG Large Cap index fund, VLACX, which has ETF share class VV. VV went nuts during the trading day but the mutual fund VLCAX was fine at the end of the day. Regarding FAANG st...
- Wed Dec 20, 2017 3:29 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Milestone
- Replies: 5
- Views: 542
Re: Milestone
If you have been investing for a long time it certainly is possible to make seven figures in earnings. The rule of 72 says divide the rate of return into 72 and that is how long it takes money to double.
- Wed Dec 20, 2017 11:51 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Milestone
- Replies: 5
- Views: 542
Re: Milestone
Congrats but my guess is you don't mean total gains of $1M but rather account value which includes original cost basis plus gains/losses.
- Tue Dec 19, 2017 3:09 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: adding mid cap and REIT to VTSAX - wise ?
- Replies: 5
- Views: 605
Re: adding mid cap and REIT to VTSAX - wise ?
Small caps over time returned a couple percent more than large caps albeit with more risk. Mid caps over time return somewhere in between. I would not say tilting is wise but nothing wrong with it. Personal preference as nothing wrong with simple either. Only use a tax advantaged account for REITs i...
- Tue Dec 19, 2017 2:52 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Second Opinions on my Current Allocation 21y.o.
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1442
Re: Second Opinions on my Current Allocation 21M
Suggestion would be that the OP edit the title of their post if they really don't have an allocation of 21 M. I was a bit curious how a child of poor alcoholic parents inherited 21 million.
- Sun Dec 17, 2017 8:25 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Do you have bonds in Roths as a retiree?
- Replies: 35
- Views: 2986
Re: Do you have bonds in Roths as a retiree?
Our tax deferred accounts are all bond funds. Our taxable accounts are all index stock funds both domestic and foreign. Our Roths contain some bonds too, Wellesley income for example. Overall we are 60/40, bonds to stocks (age-10 in bonds).
- Wed Dec 13, 2017 9:36 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Is Nationwide a good company?
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1443
Re: Is Nationwide a good company?
Nationwide is on your side. Was there ever a better sign that a company is not, if fact "on your side"? https://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/11/21/elderly-couple-suing-police-nationwide-insurance-after-hibiscus-gets-mistaken-for-marijuana-growing-operation/23284583/ Nationwide was not on their side.
- Sun Dec 10, 2017 12:34 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Why is Vanguard switching all accounts to brokerage accounts?
- Replies: 65
- Views: 10027
Re: Why is Vanguard switching all accounts to brokerage accounts?
Seems like converting an IRA to a Roth now requires using the MM settlement account rather than in-kind conversion at VBS. Try to verify this. I just tested an exchange of shares in a Vg fund from taxable to ROTH and it appeared it was allowed. (I didn't actually submit the trade request.) I verifi...
- Sun Dec 10, 2017 10:50 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Recommendation Best fund for retirees in taxable
- Replies: 20
- Views: 901
Re: Recommendation Best fund for retirees in taxable
Vanguard's Tax Managed Balanced fund, VTMFX, is 50% US stocks and 50% tax exempt bonds might fit. The down side of not holding pure stock funds or pure TE bond funds in a taxable account is you may lose tax loss harvesting possibilities and more difficulty rebalancing.
- Sun Dec 10, 2017 10:36 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Dividends ETF
- Replies: 7
- Views: 710
Re: Dividends ETF
Almost all ETFs pay dividends, so if you mean the dividend-paying Total US Stock Market index ETF like VTI or ITOT or the Total International Stock Market Index ETF like VXUS or ACWX, then Yes! It is very wise to have such ETFs in your taxable account if they will not fit into your Roth IRA or your...
- Sun Dec 10, 2017 10:29 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Why is Vanguard switching all accounts to brokerage accounts?
- Replies: 65
- Views: 10027
Re: Why is Vanguard switching all accounts to brokerage accounts?
You lose some options when going to a VG Brokerage account but you gain some too. I never cared for the multiple accounts web presentation when you hold ETFs (even Vanguard's free to trade ones). I always preferred Fidelity's presentation. I was happy to convert to VG Brokerage. In doing the convers...
- Sat Dec 09, 2017 12:19 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What did you do with your first RMD withdrawal money?
- Replies: 69
- Views: 5957
Re: What did you do with your first RMD withdrawal money?
After being fully retired for several years I decided to take a part time job with a food catering company to keep myself occupied. That qualifies me for a Roth IRA so part of my RMD pays state and federal taxes, part into a Roth and the rest into Vanguard personal account . Not your situation but ...
- Fri Dec 08, 2017 9:26 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What did you do with your first RMD withdrawal money?
- Replies: 69
- Views: 5957
Re: What did you do with your first RMD withdrawal money?
Our first RMD was this year. It was my spouse's. Next year we both have RMDs. Mine is almost 4 times hers. Federal taxes were withheld and the remainder reinvested in a joint taxable account. Coincidentally we made an equal contribution to our grandkids college plans
- Sat Nov 11, 2017 12:23 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Retirees: I got this!!
- Replies: 82
- Views: 10568
Re: Retirees: I got this!!
I don't feel comfortable if long term care is in our future. Do not have LTC insurance because of negatives I have heard. There is risk associated with self insuring. I think this is a concern for those even with insurance. Mad Money's host Jim Cramer claimed it cost him more in lawyer's fees than t...
- Sat Nov 11, 2017 11:46 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Yay, my question was answered by Jack
- Replies: 40
- Views: 4152
Re: Yay, my question was answered by Jack
Tax Managed Balanced fund may make more sense IMO if one is using a taxable account. It is 50/50 stock/bond rather than 60/40.
- Thu Nov 09, 2017 12:13 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Is the new Chevy Equinox any good?
- Replies: 59
- Views: 6904
Re: Is the new Chevy Equinox any good?
As a GM retiree I get an employee discount. I also get a Chrysler discount through one of my sons. We test drove a Dodge Journey and the Equinox. I did not like the dealer/salesman tactics and the high doc fee that the Dodge dealer wanted to charge. My sister has a Honda CRV and has been good for he...
- Wed Nov 08, 2017 8:30 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: "I took all my money out of the stock market and it feels amazing"
- Replies: 69
- Views: 9694
Re: "I took all my money out of the stock market and it feels amazing"
I have a friend that sold all his taxable account stocks a couple years ago locking in his profits. Because of this one year income bump, he and his jointly filing spouse were hit with higher medicare payments. This came as a complete surprise to them though it should not have. He never got back in ...
- Sun Nov 05, 2017 7:52 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: PRIMECAP Fund
- Replies: 63
- Views: 3531
Re: PRIMECAP Fund
I am a fan of PRIMECAP fund. Held it for years but sold it when I started obsessing about low expense ratios. Bought it back recently in my wife's Roth. It is limited to 25K per year so I am waiting to add another 25K for admiral shares. Ditto for Capital Opportunity fund. I like PRIMECAP Core as we...
- Sun Oct 29, 2017 4:00 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Tax Managed Balanced Fund vs Total Stk Mkt plus Tax Exempt Bond Index
- Replies: 28
- Views: 2602
Re: Tax Managed Balanced Fund vs Total Stk Mkt plus Tax Exempt Bond Index
In a state with an income tax, I might use a state specific tax exempt bond fund. Unfortunately Vanguard does not have a Michigan TE bond fund. Fidelity does have such a fund, FMHTX but the ER is .49%. I am torn between a national Vanguard Tax Exempt fund with a decent ER and the MI Tax Exempt bond ...
- Sun Oct 29, 2017 10:32 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: VG free turbo tax?
- Replies: 26
- Views: 2518
Re: VG free turbo tax?
Fidelity's website does not mention free turbo tax as a benefit. If this benefit exists for larger accounts you would think they would advertise it.
- Sun Oct 29, 2017 9:32 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What was the main reason you retired?
- Replies: 210
- Views: 17299
Re: What was the main reason you retired?
Retired at 57 and am now 70. I still have PTSD from my years of working for EDS (Electronic Data Systems). I had a good job at of GM in 1984 when GM bought EDS and transferred their computer people to EDS. Though at the time EDS was a wholly owned subsidiary of GM, it had its own set of inferior ben...
- Sun Oct 29, 2017 9:05 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: New TV, what's important?
- Replies: 42
- Views: 3441
Re: New TV, what's important?
Be sure to check that the TV actually has a tuner builtin. IMO any TV without a tuner should be called a monitor and not a TV but some brands don't do that. Many folks want to get over the air TV with an antenna and keep the option of cord cutting open. Today I would probably go for 4K and HDR but s...
- Sun Oct 29, 2017 8:40 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: VG free turbo tax?
- Replies: 26
- Views: 2518
Re: VG free turbo tax?
Fidelity does not offer free TT either. Last year Fidelity offered a discount on TT. When I looked into it, I could get the same discount from Amazon so no big deal. Maybe Fidelity has different perks for super sized accounts. I am more minnow sized than whale sized.