Search found 3453 matches

by Dale_G
Fri May 20, 2022 2:09 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: How often are you rebalancing these days?
Replies: 87
Views: 9727

Re: Is anyone rebalancing?

xpy1999 wrote: Fri May 20, 2022 1:10 pm Due to the drop of bond along with stocks, my AA is still within the 5% band range, but feel itchy to rebalance when stocks drop 20% YTD.
Agreed. I have been rebalancing for at least the past 25 years - in both directions. Because I was at the very top of my equity allocation at the market peak last November (and bonds have eased down), I am still slightly above my equity target. I need another 20% decline in equities (while bonds hold steady) before my IPS requires rebalancing. I have zero confidence in bonds holding steady, but that is another matter.

That said, I am guilty of nibbling any time the market reaches a bear, regardless of what the IPS says :D .

Dale
by Dale_G
Tue May 10, 2022 12:11 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What Do You Consider a "Really Bad Day"?
Replies: 88
Views: 12577

Re: What Do You Consider a "Really Bad Day"?

I watched the S&P500 decline by 23% on October 13, 1987. I thought that was a bad day. I still think it was a bad day :D

These recent "little bad days" aren't doing anything for me - despite taking capital gains in equities during 2021, I am still above my equity allocation. No need to rebalance on a baby RBD or otherwise.

Dale
by Dale_G
Sun May 08, 2022 12:45 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is compound yield the 1st geometric integral of annual yield?
Replies: 59
Views: 4693

Re: Is compound yield the 1st geometric integral of annual yield?

MIretired - please tell us that you are not an Engineer.

Dale
by Dale_G
Wed Apr 20, 2022 4:36 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Googlefinance function is broken again
Replies: 27
Views: 2100

Oh Woe - Google has VTI at 31 cents after close

[Thread merged into here --admin LadyGeek]

I think it is to late for April Fools day, but Google Finance is playing tricks anyway (at least I hope it is a trick). :D :D
by Dale_G
Sat Apr 02, 2022 4:35 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: TLH VWIUX?
Replies: 7
Views: 1292

Re: TLH VWIUX?

My question is what is the best way to TLH VWIUX 1. Exchange into Money Market Fund and buy back after 31 days? 2. Exchange VWIUX into VTSAX in taxable and at the same time Exchange VTSAX into TBM fund in a tax advantaged account to keep the same assest allocation? 3. Don't bother wtih TLH in case the fund recovers its losses, as I already have ~ $60k in raelized looses? 4. Do somethin else? I've TLH'ed about 20k in muni funds this year. I prefer simply switching from one muni fund to another. From VWIUX, you can go to VWLUX Long Term muni, or VWSUX Short Term muni, or VWALX High Yield muni. I doubt there will be much difference in the performance of these funds in the short term. I'm willing to bet that in another 31 days or so you will b...
by Dale_G
Sun Mar 06, 2022 5:00 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Tax Loss Harvesting How much is enough?
Replies: 54
Views: 5474

Re: Tax Loss Harvesting How much is enough?

I still have carryover losses from 2008, so 14 years of deducting 3K a year from income. I collected more losses since 2008, but 2020 was especially good :twisted: so I still have losses that would to be use against ordinary income that far exceed my most optimistic lifetime.

In late 2021 I reluctantly(why???) used about half of the carryforwards to rebalance from equities to bonds, even though some of the gains were more than 4 times the original cost.

I don't fiddle with a few percent loss, but a 10% loss gets my attention.

Dale
by Dale_G
Fri Mar 04, 2022 10:22 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Taxes when moving to new state (CA -> FL)
Replies: 5
Views: 808

Re: Taxes when moving to new state (CA -> FL)

A few years ago one of my sons transferred from CT to NC on January 1st. Sonny wrongly assumed that HR would advise payroll of his new domicile. The company paid moving expenses and the son frequently bumped into the payroll people at the NC location.

I do his taxes and saw the W-2 showed 12 months of state taxes were sent to CT rather than CT. It took a little prodding, but HR issued a corrected W-2 sometime in March of the following year. I expected some grief from CT, but they fully refunded the taxes that were erroneously sent to them.

Good luck
by Dale_G
Fri Mar 04, 2022 3:16 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Foreign Tax Credit - Changes to Form 1116 for 2021
Replies: 261
Views: 30195

Re: Foreign Tax Credit - Changes to Form 1116 for 2021

UPDATE
I have had several calls from my new TT "rep", but no news on the elegant work-around, he claims to be awaiting release of form 1116 form B. We'll see, but the onus is on TT to fix the problem in a straightforward manner - and expeditiously.

I encourage everyone with this issue to email TT at the addresses further up the page. You'll get a canned response, but hopefully they are logging the complaints and will figure out they need to fix this.

Dale
by Dale_G
Sun Feb 27, 2022 12:52 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Transamerica Annuity Originally at Vanguard
Replies: 20
Views: 3312

Re: Transamerica Annuity Originally at Vanguard

Snip..... Having said that, I have not gotten to the stage to annuitize etc. so don't have any experience there and not sure if there are any changes for annuitization since Transamerica took over. I am curious about others' experiences with annuitization of the Transamerica VA stratman Stratman, All annuity options are specified in the original CONTRACT. Sorry for the caps, but your annuity is a contact and the insurance company cannot willy-nilly change the terms. For instance, the increase in fee was not beyond the maximum fee specified in the original contact. The company does have the option of increasing the guaranteed rate on annuitization, but not decreasing that rate. Read the contract, what you see is what you get. (P.S. My month...
by Dale_G
Sat Feb 26, 2022 1:16 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Foreign Tax Credit - Changes to Form 1116 for 2021
Replies: 261
Views: 30195

Re: Foreign Tax Credit - Changes to Form 1116 for 2021

This is a transcript of an voicemail I received from Turbotax (my bold). I haven't yet contacted Patrick, but if the fix works I will attempt to post a link to instructions. This is Patrick with TurboTax and was calling you in response to your email to the executive office about the form 1116 and being unable to E file I'd love to talk to you about it because I don't know for certain yet if we're gonna be able to E file because that form has not been released into the program yet but I do have a pretty elegant work around that will absolutely guarantee that you're gonna be able to E file . Anyways I will try to reach out later today see if I can catch you but she's tried her little bit I I know I know you kind of had some emails back and fo...
by Dale_G
Fri Feb 25, 2022 7:00 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Foreign Tax Credit - Changes to Form 1116 for 2021
Replies: 261
Views: 30195

Re: Foreign Tax Credit - Changes to Form 1116 for 2021

Intuit responded to my email. We'll see how the conversation goes. Hello Dale, My name is Charly with Intuit's Office of the President. We received your email and I will be your personal advocate while we address your concerns. I am arranging for a Tax Expert to contact you and with their assistance I strongly believe that we will be able to address any and all obstacles you are encountering. They can be available to reach out to you to work on your TurboTax concerns tomorrow if that works for you, otherwise we can arrange for a contact next week. Please just let us know when would be good and we will make the arrangements. If you have any concerns regarding this matter you can reach me at OfficeofthePresident@Intuit.com. If I am unavailabl...
by Dale_G
Fri Feb 25, 2022 4:08 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Foreign Tax Credit - Changes to Form 1116 for 2021
Replies: 261
Views: 30195

Re: Foreign Tax Credit - Changes to Form 1116 for 2021

Call me irritated. My 2021 tax return and that of a son who works overseas both have tax credit carry-overs. My 2020 tax return was filed on paper and it is still somewhere in the bowels of the IRS and is listed at not filed. It is unconscionable that TT can't get their act together. I have TT disks going back to at least 1995, but I am getting discouraged. I sent an email to the CEO and left a voicemail on his alleged personal line. Others might choose to do the same. Email Sasan_Goodarzi@intuit.com Telephone 650-944-3350 (Direct) Their automated response to the email says I may reach them sooner by emailing to OfficeofthePresident@Intuit.com Dale EDIT 1: Scroll down to see Intuit's response to my email Edit 2: Scroll down to my post just ...
by Dale_G
Fri Feb 25, 2022 3:33 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Transamerica Annuity Originally at Vanguard
Replies: 20
Views: 3312

Re: Transamerica Annuity Originally at Vanguard

I second the suggestion to look carefully at the older Transamerica (Vanguard) annuity before doing anything with it. If it is one of those with a guaranteed rate of 4% on annuitization, you will not find anything comparable available today. And by the way, the fund choices are perfectly fine.

But there isn't enough information in the original post to give any suggestions. The age of the owner, their tax situation and the intended purpose of the annuity are important considerations.

Dale
by Dale_G
Sat Feb 05, 2022 7:12 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Health Savings Administrators closing (health savings account)
Replies: 30
Views: 3970

Re: Health Savings Administrators closing (health savings account)

I've looked for a public announcement but can't find one. Any publicly available info?

Dale
by Dale_G
Mon Jan 31, 2022 7:51 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Transamerica (former Vanguard) Variable Annuity 1035 exchange to Fidelity ...
Replies: 13
Views: 1564

Re: Transamerica (former Vanguard) Variable Annuity 1035 exchange to Fidelity ...

How old are you (skip if you are sensitive). How old is the Vanguard annuity - do your know the guaranteed rate on annuitization? Might be important for someone approaching retirement.

Dale
by Dale_G
Wed Jan 26, 2022 11:16 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Re-Balancing in Taxable Investing?
Replies: 8
Views: 801

Re: Re-Balancing in Taxable Investing?

Your approach is correct. And because of the new money being added to taxable and your ability to do some rebalancing in tax deferred, you should be able to keep your asset allocation on target fairly easily.

At your tax level however, I would be mindful that tax loss harvesting during major downturns can be very useful and it is not that complicated. I am still writing off losses from 2008/09 against ordinary income.

Dale
by Dale_G
Sat Jan 22, 2022 11:16 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Selling shares to switch funds in taxable
Replies: 6
Views: 1088

Re: Selling shares to switch funds in taxable

Yes, I have been in the cost basis tab, so have line-by-line basis from 2012 to present. BUT... cost basis is completely empty for the non-covered shares That is weird . And Average cost is not listed either? Before struggling to reconstruct the cost basis, I would "punch up" Vanguard. Assuming the shares of Star were originally purchased at Vanguard, they should be able to determine the cost basis. I just looked at my 2011 year end report - and Vanguard showed cost basis for my ETFs, but not for any of the regular mutual funds at that time. Cost basis of all funds are included in current year end reports - and Vanguard may have started that for YE 2012. YE reports are currently available online only back to 2015, but Vanguard su...
by Dale_G
Fri Jan 21, 2022 11:06 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Selling shares to switch funds in taxable
Replies: 6
Views: 1088

Re: Selling shares to switch funds in taxable

For sure sell recent lots that are at a loss.

But have you looked at the "Cost Basis" tab for the Star Fund? (My Accounts -> Balances & holdings -> then cost basis -> then show details). All of the lots prior to 2012 are lumped together under "various" with the average price and total cost shown.

You don't have to dig for the individual lot costs prior to 2012 if the tax bite is acceptable for selling the entire position.

Dale
by Dale_G
Mon Jan 17, 2022 11:15 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Portfolio review / municipal bond allocation growing out of control
Replies: 13
Views: 1462

Re: Portfolio review / municipal bond allocation growing out of control

Oops, I took a peek. 40% of my bonds are muni's mixed with 15% long treasuries in the taxable accounts, the balance are corporates and some long treasuries in tax deferred accounts. I have capped my bonds (a 2 million coincidently), but if I were to add to bonds in taxable, I would use a mix of muni's and treasuries, preferably long term.

I don't have the "problem" of adding new money to any of the accounts. :D :x

Dale
by Dale_G
Mon Jan 17, 2022 10:23 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Accredited Investor - Owner Occ Rental for Net Worth?
Replies: 6
Views: 806

Re: Accredited Investor - Owner Occ Rental for Net Worth?

I'd include the value in net worth. But why would you want to be "an Accredited Investor"?

Dale
by Dale_G
Wed Jan 12, 2022 4:23 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Reporting my own cost basis and/or lots
Replies: 67
Views: 4728

Re: Reporting my own cost basis and/or lots

Okay I've gotten more clarification. Whew, this stuff is complicated. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p550.pdf "You can revoke an election to use the average basis method for your covered securities by sending written notice to the custodian or agent holding the stock for which you want to revoke the election. The election must generally be revoked by the earlier of 1 year after you make the election or the date of the first sale, transfer, or disposition of the stock following the election . The revocation applies to all the stock you hold in an account that is identical to the shares of stock for which you are revoking the election. After revoking your election, your basis in the shares of stock to which the revocation applies is th...
by Dale_G
Wed Jan 12, 2022 1:36 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 2022 Bogleheads Contest Charts
Replies: 6
Views: 1451

Re: 2022 Bogleheads Contest Charts

Bump this thread
by Dale_G
Tue Jan 11, 2022 4:04 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Inherited annuity-Life expectancy /beneficiary questions
Replies: 6
Views: 661

Re: Inherited annuity-Life expectancy /beneficiary questions

If it is a non-qualified annuity you will pay taxes on all of the appreciation within the annuity.

Assuming the contract has been annuitized at fixed payments, if the contributions to the annuity were $100,000 and the value of the contract at the time of annuitization was $200,000, 50% of the payment would be subject to taxes at your ordinary tax rate.

Dale
by Dale_G
Tue Jan 11, 2022 12:33 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: One more about inflation
Replies: 1
Views: 601

Re: One more about inflation

From the Allison Morrow article: The Fed, for its part, has publicly acknowledged that inflation has been much more of a headache than it had anticipated. The bank is unwinding its bond-buying program, a process known as tapering, in the first half of 2022, and plans to raise interest rates three times throughout the year. And when money becomes more expensive to borrow, that can take the heat off price increases and bring the economy back down to that nice, gentle simmer . I'm sure Allison was not in the workforce in the early 1980s. If she had been, she might not have liked the journey to "that nice, gentle simmer". From Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Volcker US inflation, which peaked at 14.8 percent in March 1980...
by Dale_G
Sun Jan 09, 2022 4:05 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why not Vanguard Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund?
Replies: 3
Views: 950

Re: Why not Vanguard Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund?

On the other hand, the longer duration fund should have more return over the long term. A bit more risk, and hopefully better returns. I hold both the intermediate and long term muni bond funds, but I am only 84. If you are well into your nineties, maybe you should hold intermediate. :)

Hmm...., I also hold long term treasuries, so my risk level may not be the same as the OP.

Dale
by Dale_G
Sat Jan 08, 2022 11:27 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Foreign Tax Credit - Changes to Form 1116 for 2021
Replies: 261
Views: 30195

Re: Foreign Tax Credit - Changes to Form 1116 for 2021

I sure hope it is fixed. I do taxes for a son who works overseas and over the past few years I have grown to hate Form 1116. TurboTax was most unhelpful when the efile was rejected over and over. Something like, "There was a problem with Form 1116, We'll help you fix it". Not. :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

They could have had a pop-up saying, "Hey Buster if you entered anything on line 10 the IRS will reject your efile. Don't waste any more time, file a paper return". Would have saved me at least 100 hours of frustration.

Grrrr.... Dale
by Dale_G
Tue Jan 04, 2022 10:27 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: date set for Vanguard retiring its legacy brokerage platform
Replies: 63
Views: 22433

Re: date set for Vanguard retiring its legacy brokerage platform

Not sure of your exact problem, but I "think" you cannot "exchange" from a mutual fund to the settlement account. Instead "sell" some amount of the mutual fund - and you should get a drop down asking where you want the money to go. Pick the settlement fund.

I rarely move money to the settlement fund, I may have stumbled/fumbled over this before.

Dale
by Dale_G
Tue Jan 04, 2022 9:51 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard/Transamerica Annuity - Total Bond Market Idx Question
Replies: 4
Views: 432

Re: Vanguard/Transamerica Annuity - Total Bond Market Idx Question

Yes, the Variable Annuity Total Bond Market fund is in fact the Vanguard Total Bond Market fund with the adddition of the VA fees.

Dale
by Dale_G
Sun Dec 19, 2021 9:57 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Condo transaction keeps getting weirder
Replies: 24
Views: 4498

Re: Condo transaction keeps getting weirder

The listing agent may also want to make sure they get a piece of your 25K upgrade.

Dale
by Dale_G
Fri Dec 17, 2021 7:32 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: [Moved from Edward Jones to Schwab, want to simplify]
Replies: 13
Views: 3234

Re: [Moved from Edward Jones to Schwab, want to simplify]

davis99 wrote: Fri Dec 17, 2021 3:55 pm Thanks for the replies. I should have mentioned my concern was for the taxable account not my IRA. I'm nowhere close to RMDs so I have a plenty of years to spread out the "simplification" into index funds. The annual fees and 12-b-1 fees are a small drain, but I guess it makes sense to spread out the tax bill in the most efficient way possible- ie over many years.
Just to clarify, you can do all the simplification you want in the IRA immediately. There are no tax ramifications.

Dale
by Dale_G
Fri Dec 17, 2021 1:06 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Great article from Portfolio Charts on most efficient portfolios
Replies: 504
Views: 47690

Re: Great article from Portfolio Charts on most efficient portfolios

Great article. I am not about to change anything but "confirmation bias" makes me feel better about what I do own. :P

Dale
by Dale_G
Thu Dec 16, 2021 12:50 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Vanguards step Verification
Replies: 7
Views: 826

Re: Vanguards step Verification

Vanguard has been very cranky with the 2FA for the past couple on months. Despite repeatedly setting security settings on Vanguard to only send codes for unknown devices, I am usually required to enter a code. Filling in the dot that I am going to use this computer over and over and over doesn't stop the code requests. Same day logins don't usually require a code. I wouldn't care except the primary phone that gets the code is about 100 feet away from my office. The browser is Chrome. Another peculiarity, maybe since Windows 11, is that when a log-in is attempted, Chrome will only accept MY user ID. My wife cannot log-in with her own user name on MY computer with Chrome in it's normal configuration. The work around is to go to INCOGNITO mode...
by Dale_G
Thu Nov 11, 2021 4:12 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Ben Carlson's Column today has some interesting thoughts on inflation
Replies: 197
Views: 22351

Re: Ben Carlson's Column today has some interesting thoughts on inflation

From the article:
Inflation could always get out of control and throw a wrench into this equation
Could always get out of control? 6% CPI and 8% PPI are already out of control. I had serious doubt 8 months ago that inflation was going to be transitory. I also have serious doubts that inflation will be lower anytime soon.

Absent deflation, 6% of the buying power of my pension and invested assets is gone forever.

Dale
by Dale_G
Mon Nov 08, 2021 11:00 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: vva/transamerica annuity question
Replies: 18
Views: 2329

Re: vva/transamerica annuity question

sdog, rest easy on the fee issue. Your annuity is a contract. Transamerica, nor any successor insurer, can increase any fee beyond the maximum that is specified in the original contract.

Dale
by Dale_G
Sun Nov 07, 2021 5:55 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Do not understand my Transamerica Variable annuity
Replies: 20
Views: 1795

Re: Do not understand my Transamerica Variable annuity

The guaranteed rate on annuitization will be specified in the area of the contract that has the annuity tables.

Dale
by Dale_G
Sun Nov 07, 2021 4:47 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Do not understand my Transamerica Variable annuity
Replies: 20
Views: 1795

Re: Do not understand my Transamerica Variable annuity

Age 90 is probably the default age to annuitize if you do not select another age. There is nothing wrong with age 90, because you can withdraw money or annuitize at any time. Withdrawals before age 59-1/2 will result in a 10% penalty plus ordinary taxes however.

But it is very clear that you do not understand your annuity contract - and you really should understand it. You can start by reading your annuity contract, then ask any further questions.

Dale
by Dale_G
Sat Nov 06, 2021 11:07 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: vva/transamerica annuity question
Replies: 18
Views: 2329

Re: vva/transamerica annuity question

hirlaw, look carefully at your contract. My 1999 contract provided for "partial annuitization", appparently as many partial annuitizations as you wish. If your contract has the same provision there will be no need to do a 1035 exchange to another product. In my contract, the provision is in the first paragraph that "explains" withdrawals. In my contract it is four pages before the contract gets to the Annuity Payment Options section. There is no mention of this provision in the Annuity Payments section. When I annuitized, the people I initially spoke with did not know about this provision and had to contact the "legal" Department. Sure enough the lawyers ended up being able to read and understand the contract. ...
by Dale_G
Sat Nov 06, 2021 6:44 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: vva/transamerica annuity question
Replies: 18
Views: 2329

Re: vva/transamerica annuity question

I retired in 2001 and left two Vanguard Annuities alone for 11 years because there was no need for the money.

In December 2012 at age 75 and still with no need for the money, I decided to annuitize for fixed periods. One policy was annuitized for 10 years and the other for 23 years.

The reasons:
1. The annuities were entirely invested in bonds and Total bond Market was paying well less than 2%, while the annuity guaranteed rate was 4%.
2. Like Small Law above, I was concerned about the ability of my/our heirs to choose the the "right" way to utilize the policies after I passed.

Dale
by Dale_G
Sun Oct 31, 2021 12:53 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: how to transfer a large cash gift to a non-relative?
Replies: 38
Views: 5275

Re: how to transfer a large cash gift to a non-relative?

I used the Vanguard on-line gifting procedure this week. It works like a charm. I am so glad Vanguard has done something right this year. :D

Dale
by Dale_G
Mon Oct 18, 2021 4:57 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Changing Variable annuity agent
Replies: 5
Views: 1009

Re: Changing Variable annuity agent

And if you do get a new agent, be very, very careful if she/he suggests cashing out your present VA and buying something that is "New and better".
by Dale_G
Sat Sep 18, 2021 3:45 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Possible solution to Vanguard / Transamerica Annuity
Replies: 11
Views: 2331

Re: Possible solution to Vanguard / Transamerica Annuity

Phil DeMuth wrote: Sat Sep 18, 2021 11:33 am I wasn't aware that the fees went up with Transamerica took over. Is it advisable to do a 1035 exchange to some other insurer? If so, who?
Because the annuities are contracts, the original or succeeding insurance company cannot increase fees beyond those stipulated in the original contract.

Newly issued contracts are a different matter.

Dale
by Dale_G
Fri Sep 17, 2021 11:36 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Possible solution to Vanguard / Transamerica Annuity
Replies: 11
Views: 2331

Re: Possible solution to Vanguard / Transamerica Annuity

Also of possible interest, especially to owners of older Vanguard annuity contracts: my annuity contract issued August 1999 provided for the option of "partial annuitization". It is buried in the contract - and at the time I annuitized, the Vanguard VA people were not familiar with this provision and had to check with "some" legal department. Fortunately, the legal department was able to actually understand the contract. I don't know if this provision was included in later contracts. The point is that if someone (with this provision in the contract) has maturing CD's, or other loose money, they can add that money to the annuity and then immediately annuitize that sum plus whatever additional amount they wish, while leavi...
by Dale_G
Fri Sep 17, 2021 10:53 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Possible solution to Vanguard / Transamerica Annuity
Replies: 11
Views: 2331

Re: Possible solution to Vanguard / Transamerica Annuity

Older policies - from the time Vanguard began issuing policies in the late 1990's into early 2000's, had guaranteed rates of 4% on annuitization. I annuitized two policies about 8-1/2 years ago, one for 10 years and another for 23 years.

I don't know when the guaranteed rate was reduced from 4%, but the rate can be found in the contract near the annuity tables.

Annuitization has worked well for me during this period of low fixed rates. But I am gambling that market rates rates don't climb significantly higher than 4% over the next 14 years for the longer annuitized policy.

Dale
by Dale_G
Mon Sep 13, 2021 11:40 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Well this is Disturbing [Vanguard pushing actively managed funds]
Replies: 39
Views: 6004

Re: Well this is Disturbing [Vanguard pushing actively managed funds]

roth evangelist wrote: Mon Sep 13, 2021 10:14 pm I don't get it. Just don't invest in their active funds. They aren't doing away with their index funds.
So if someday you feel you want to own municipal bond funds and don't want active, I guess you have to go elsewhere. Most of Vanguard's bond bunds, municipals and otherwise are actively managed.

Cap weighted equity indices make total sense, bond indices are more for reference.

Dale
by Dale_G
Mon Sep 13, 2021 9:10 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Well this is Disturbing [Vanguard pushing actively managed funds]
Replies: 39
Views: 6004

Re: Well this is Disturbing [Vanguard pushing actively managed funds]

It looks like IShares Core Total USD Bond ETF IUSB tracks the Bloomberg US Universal Index. The e.r. is .06%.

I am perfectly happy with the Vanguard actively managed bond funds that I presently own. I am not excited about the initial .2% e.r. of the new Vanguard Core Plus fund, but I expect the e.r. will come down in time. I am likely to recommend the Core Plus as a replacement for Total Bond Market to a few accounts that I informally advise, and do not otherwise have any exposure to EM or junk bonds.

Dale
by Dale_G
Fri Sep 03, 2021 11:58 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Dumping Emerging Markets?
Replies: 75
Views: 8183

Re: Dumping Emerging Markets?

I'm taking a wild guess OldSport, but you seem to be concerned about China which amounts to about 37% of VWO. One solution is to keep VWO and short one of the China only ETFs - FXI for instance.

Personally, I wish that other emerging markets (Qatar, Chile, Hungary Pakistan, etc.) were not such tiny fractions of the China holdings, but market success counts for a lot more than what I might wish for.

Good luck shorting China.

Dale
by Dale_G
Mon Aug 23, 2021 3:54 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Just had a meeting with Fidelity
Replies: 63
Views: 9080

Re: Just had a meeting with Fidelity

4nursebee wrote: Mon Aug 23, 2021 3:18 pm There was some discussion about avoiding probate by naming beneficiaries to our retirement accounts.
For sure add the beneficiaries to your accounts. It avoids (at least some of) the cost and delay of probate. Your heirs will have access to the inheritance with a week if you designate beneficiaries. If the taxable account ends up subject to probate proceeding, your heirs should be prepared to wait for months.

Dale
by Dale_G
Wed Aug 11, 2021 5:27 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: [Vanguard may remove secure messages, members transitioning out of Vanguard]
Replies: 1334
Views: 127798

Re: VG Removing Message Center [Vanguard]

Not a lot new to add, but just in case Vanguard is reading: I still have a "Relationship Manager", but who knows for how long. For the past several years I have always used Secure Messaging for the initial contact. It only takes 25 to 50 words to state the question I have, or the problem that needs to be solved. And I've always gotten a response within a few days. Messaging is absolutely convenient for me, and I have to believe it is efficient for Vanguard. Chat? I hope it never comes to chat only. Anytime I've used "chat" in the past (Verizon, various banks, Microsoft) it takes 5 times longer to do something than a simple phone conversation. Chat with a live person is bad enough. Chat with some robot will be totally una...