Search found 3840 matches
- Tue Mar 19, 2024 4:12 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Federal efile rejected * H&R Block
- Replies: 54
- Views: 7046
Re: Federal efile rejected * H&R Block
Reason #547097 I file the first week of April.
- Tue Feb 27, 2024 8:00 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Max out 401k pre-tax or post-tax
- Replies: 18
- Views: 2778
Re: Max out 401k pre-tax or post-tax
Definitely pre tax and then mega backdoor roth if available. Then you can do both.
- Sat Dec 23, 2023 9:14 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Can I afford to splurge on a Tesla?
- Replies: 92
- Views: 9859
Re: Can I afford to splurge on a Tesla?
Whatever car you get, check the rate with your car insurance. I found the hike in insurance canceled most of the gas savings with a Tesla, with a teen driver in the house (whose rate affects all cars on the policy).
- Thu Dec 14, 2023 1:55 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: BND exceeding my patience - need something different
- Replies: 169
- Views: 19907
Re: BND exceeding my patience - need something different
Did you sell BND back in October?
- Thu Dec 14, 2023 12:19 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: “Fed” up with Bonds? the markets laugh at our inability to stay the course …
- Replies: 58
- Views: 10925
Re: “Fed” up with Bonds? the markets laugh at our inability to stay the course …
It was the first time I could TLH my bond fund in my HSA for my state return. Now the problem is I'm stuck in the other one.
- Thu Dec 14, 2023 11:33 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Target gift cards: 10% off on December 2-3, 2023
- Replies: 19
- Views: 4302
Re: Target gift cards: 10% off on December 2-3, 2023
Wife is in there a lot more than me and buys housewares, medicine, toiletries, makeup, back to school stuff, clothes, even groceries on vacation..Nicolas wrote: ↑Tue Dec 12, 2023 7:42 amExcuse me for asking but what do you buy there for so much? I’ve been to their stores over the years and I can buy their wares more cheaply elsewhere. This would seem to negate the savings on the gift cards.mikep wrote: ↑Sun Dec 03, 2023 8:47 am In for $1000 for $900 as usual, it will get used over the next few months.
You can get $500 for $450 per circle account in your family.
Not extending to the kids and cats yet..$1000 is good enough. But you could use a different CC on each account and get as many gift cards as you wanted to cover your spend until this offer comes next December.
- Sun Dec 03, 2023 9:36 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Best current HSA for investing in Vanguard ETF/funds
- Replies: 3
- Views: 422
Re: Best current HSA for investing in Vanguard ETF/funds
My employer uses Fidelity where you can buy Vanguard ETFs or Fidelity funds for free.
- Sun Dec 03, 2023 8:47 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Target gift cards: 10% off on December 2-3, 2023
- Replies: 19
- Views: 4302
Re: Target gift cards: 10% off on December 2-3, 2023
In for $1000 for $900 as usual, it will get used over the next few months.
You can get $500 for $450 per circle account in your family.
Not extending to the kids and cats yet..$1000 is good enough. But you could use a different CC on each account and get as many gift cards as you wanted to cover your spend until this offer comes next December.
You can get $500 for $450 per circle account in your family.
Not extending to the kids and cats yet..$1000 is good enough. But you could use a different CC on each account and get as many gift cards as you wanted to cover your spend until this offer comes next December.
- Sat Dec 02, 2023 11:01 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: There is No Good Account to Hold TIPS
- Replies: 62
- Views: 7245
Re: There is No Good Account to Hold TIPS
My HSA is the perfect account for these. TIPS interest/dividends (not CG) are state tax free and my state taxes HSA earnings.
Took a nice TLH for the state when bonds tanked this year as well. Now I'm stuck in Intermediate term treasuries though, which is just as good.
Took a nice TLH for the state when bonds tanked this year as well. Now I'm stuck in Intermediate term treasuries though, which is just as good.
- Fri Dec 01, 2023 1:14 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: California 2023 state income tax rates
- Replies: 7
- Views: 1500
Re: California 2023 state income tax rates
Great thank you. I wonder the need to bury this info. I guess they want people to plan based on 2022 brackets and overpay? They already take 10% more withholding than they are supposed to. :annoyed I am on track to break even so I will stop my withholding in Dec. They don't just "want". They actually do. CA income tax withholding during 2023 is calculated based on 2022 tax brackets. It is always lagging 1 year behind. That's one more reason CA over-withholds income tax. And, the higher the inflation, the more it over-withholds. And then there is 10% intentional over-withholding baked into the withholding rates on top of that. See details here: https://edd.ca.gov/siteassets/files/pdf_pub_ctr/de44.pdf It's sad that you have to over...
- Fri Dec 01, 2023 12:40 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: California 2023 state income tax rates
- Replies: 7
- Views: 1500
Re: California 2023 state income tax rates
Great thank you.
I wonder the need to bury this info. I guess they want people to plan based on 2022 brackets and overpay? They already take 10% more withholding than they are supposed to and I have to bump up my DE-4 to get it back on target.
I am on track to break even so I will stop my withholding in Dec.
I wonder the need to bury this info. I guess they want people to plan based on 2022 brackets and overpay? They already take 10% more withholding than they are supposed to and I have to bump up my DE-4 to get it back on target.
I am on track to break even so I will stop my withholding in Dec.
- Fri Dec 01, 2023 12:32 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: California 2023 state income tax rates
- Replies: 7
- Views: 1500
California 2023 state income tax rates
It's December 2023 and CA FTB still has the 2022 rates on their website.
How can we plan for 2023 if the brackets, exemptions and std deduction are not posted?
Does anyone have a link?
How can we plan for 2023 if the brackets, exemptions and std deduction are not posted?
Does anyone have a link?
- Wed Nov 29, 2023 2:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What is my "true" wage income?
- Replies: 33
- Views: 3866
Re: What is my "true" wage income?
Gains from an employer stock purchase plan aren't in Medicare wages, but disqualifying dispositions are added to wage income.
- Tue Nov 28, 2023 3:17 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Water Heater Replacement
- Replies: 87
- Views: 9826
Re: Water Heater Replacement
Not income based.onyxlinkia wrote: ↑Tue Nov 28, 2023 11:59 am Hi Mike,
If I read the terms on the website correctly, this is income based eligibility, right?
mikep wrote: ↑Mon Nov 27, 2023 4:17 pm In some places in California right now, you can get a heat pump water heater installed for free.
https://incentives.switchison.org/rebat ... =directory
My local utility offers a $2500 rebate and "Tech clean CA" picks up the rest for $0 out of pocket.
- Mon Nov 27, 2023 4:17 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Water Heater Replacement
- Replies: 87
- Views: 9826
Re: Water Heater Replacement
In some places in California right now, you can get a heat pump water heater installed for free.
https://incentives.switchison.org/rebat ... =directory
My local utility offers a $2500 rebate and "Tech clean CA" picks up the rest for $0 out of pocket.
https://incentives.switchison.org/rebat ... =directory
My local utility offers a $2500 rebate and "Tech clean CA" picks up the rest for $0 out of pocket.
- Fri Nov 24, 2023 10:07 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: H&R Block 2023 software offer
- Replies: 246
- Views: 39276
Re: H&R Block 2023 software offer
In for deluxe + state at $24.99 from amazon, with additional 15% back on prime visa (5% already included on any amazon purchase, but they feel the need to say 20% instead of 15% to make it sound better.
- Sun Nov 19, 2023 10:18 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: What frugal thing did you do today?
- Replies: 4535
- Views: 625616
Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
Chase had 5% cashback on $1500 spending (groceries, gas) in Q3. Recorded my Q3 grocery/gas spending; then bought grocery gift cards for remaining balance in last week of Q3 . So I'll be using them into next year. Since redeeming cashback is a minor hassle , I redeem all from all cards (Citi, Chase,...) in Dec of each year. I like one-and-done for the year. 1) Gift cards - great move! 2) Recently Citibank's Double Cash has made it incredibly easy to redeem cashback. I chose the statement credit option so I see the benefit in less than a month and only takes a few minutes to initiate. With DoubleCash you should send the payment to your bank account. Since they credit 1% cash back when charged and 1% when paid. The statement credit doesn't co...
- Thu Nov 16, 2023 6:14 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: For the purposes of a MegaBack Door Roth, do health insurance premiums and HSA contributions "count" as salary?
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1117
Re: For the purposes of a MegaBack Door Roth, do health insurance premiums and HSA contributions "count" as salary?
I thought 401k had to technically come from salary deferrals.
- Thu Nov 16, 2023 3:17 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: For the purposes of a MegaBack Door Roth, do health insurance premiums and HSA contributions "count" as salary?
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1117
Re: For the purposes of a MegaBack Door Roth, do health insurance premiums and HSA contributions "count" as salary?
There is a limit to the MBR of $69,000 in 2024. Unless you make under that amount AND have outside financial support that allows you to contribute your entire salary it's a moot point. Most MBR programs also will limit you to contributing a percentage of your salary and not let you use 100%. Your employer will/should stop your contributions once you hit the max. You'll want to make sure that this doesn't prevent matching contributions. For 2023, the year I'm doing this, the limit is $66,000. https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2023/may/how-mega-backdoor-roth-works.html I am the employer, and I know of no such laws that don't allow you to contribute your entire salary to an MBR. If you contribute 100% salary to MBR, how will SS/Medica...
- Wed Oct 25, 2023 10:42 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: TSA pre check for teenagers
- Replies: 9
- Views: 1342
Re: TSA pre check for teenagers
Get it or Global entry for them. Our kids fly on southwest companion passes and always have a separate confirmation number so the TSA precheck was never on their boarding pass. Also You should never pay for it since there are many credit cards that have a credit for it. If you are traveling you will likely have at least one of these cards anyway.
https://www.tsa.gov/precheck/credit-cards-offer
https://www.tsa.gov/precheck/credit-cards-offer
- Tue Oct 24, 2023 2:43 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Why Isn't A High Deductible H.O. Policy Available?
- Replies: 22
- Views: 2327
Re: Why Isn't A High Deductible H.O. Policy Available?
I looked into this with my home insurance with Farmers. I would like to, but increasing my deductible from $1000 to $2500 would save me $6 per year. I wouldn't live long enough to break even if I had a claim.
- Mon Oct 16, 2023 11:15 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Where put HSA $?
- Replies: 15
- Views: 2414
Re: Where put HSA $?
I am in California, so I keep it in US govt securities .. TIPS index fund, treasuries, T-bills etc. since the interest is state tax free. However that wasn't the best strategy in the last 10 years. Maybe it will be for the next 10. I look at all accounts as one pot, but part of me wants to grow the HSA as big as possible and maybe this isn't the best way. You shouldn't make your goal growing specifically the HSA. If you will withdraw from your traditional accounts at a 25% tax rate, then gaining $30K in the HSA, or $30K in the Roth IRA, or $40K in the traditional 401(k), gives you the same amount to spend in retirement. So if you invest $30K in the HSA, or $30K in the Roth IRA, or $40K in the traditional 401(k), in the same funds, you get ...
- Mon Oct 16, 2023 11:13 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Vanguard ESA to 529 conversion - they sent me a check
- Replies: 6
- Views: 899
Re: Vanguard ESA to 529 conversion - they sent me a check
Holding my ESA here as well. Why cut my money market return in half?
- Sun Oct 15, 2023 9:17 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Where put HSA $?
- Replies: 15
- Views: 2414
Re: Where put HSA $?
I am in California, so I keep it in US govt securities .. TIPS index fund, treasuries, T-bills etc. since the interest is state tax free.
However that wasn't the best strategy in the last 10 years. Maybe it will be for the next 10.
I look at all accounts as one pot, but part of me wants to grow the HSA as big as possible and maybe this isn't the best way.
However that wasn't the best strategy in the last 10 years. Maybe it will be for the next 10.
I look at all accounts as one pot, but part of me wants to grow the HSA as big as possible and maybe this isn't the best way.
- Thu Oct 12, 2023 8:58 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Trying to help extremely risk averse parents
- Replies: 31
- Views: 2922
Re: Trying to help extremely risk averse parents
Did they ask for your help? If not, they are perfectly fine. I would not get involved, it will be your fault in the next market crash.
- Wed Oct 11, 2023 2:45 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Have you increased bond allocation lately?
- Replies: 64
- Views: 7118
Re: Have you increased bond allocation lately?
Yes, my AA spreadsheet calls for age-10 in bonds and calculates from the date. So, today I have (1/365)% more bonds than yesterday.
- Wed Oct 11, 2023 12:25 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Today the bond market was closed, so why ...?
- Replies: 32
- Views: 5117
Re: Today the bond market was closed, so why ...?
My collective trust bond fund in my 401k didn't change yesterday (BTC US DEBT). I use this for the low .023% ER. Now I see this might be an arbitrage opportunity on holidays where bond markets are closed.. if the rest of the bond funds go up 1%, I hope this fund adjusts the next day.. ? if so I should have moved my entire 401k in it to get a guaranteed 1% bump today? If not, a 1% tracking error is a big problem and I should move this to a real mutual fund. Report back today on where it lands. I strongly suspect that you are just fine. I am told that the bump in price was due to a flight-to-safety thing from the Mamas attack over the weekend. As such it is a market timing thing. Yes it was fine, adjusted up the next day. I learned something...
- Tue Oct 10, 2023 8:38 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Today the bond market was closed, so why ...?
- Replies: 32
- Views: 5117
Re: Today the bond market was closed, so why ...?
My collective trust bond fund in my 401k didn't change yesterday (BTC US DEBT). I use this for the low .023% ER. Now I see this might be an arbitrage opportunity on holidays where bond markets are closed.. if the rest of the bond funds go up 1%, I hope this fund adjusts the next day.. ? if so I should have moved my entire 401k in it to get a guaranteed 1% bump today? If not, a 1% tracking error is a big problem and I should move this to a real mutual fund.
- Sat Oct 07, 2023 8:56 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Any benefits for downloading McDonald's Phone App?
- Replies: 75
- Views: 9752
Re: Any benefits for downloading McDonald's Phone App?
The points are almost useless since you can't use your points and a deal at the same time and the deals are often better.
- Fri Oct 06, 2023 2:54 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Is Avantis All Equity Markets Value ETF (AVGV) Okay for Taxable?
- Replies: 15
- Views: 2069
Re: Is Avantis All Equity Markets Value ETF (AVGV) Okay for Taxable?
I would suggest different funds in retirement accounts if you plan to tax loss harvest. Do you really want to worry about wash sales with every IRA or HSA contribution?Morse Code wrote: ↑Wed Oct 04, 2023 2:20 pm Details behind the question:
To keep things simple, I've selected AVGV as a single equity fund for all my retirement accounts; Roth, HSA, tIRA. I will have about $100K coming soon from a house sale. Up until now, I have only used taxable brokerage accounts for cash reserves in money market funds. This is the first time I will have taxable money I can devote to equities for retirement, therefore, wondering about the tax efficiency of AVGV.
- Thu Oct 05, 2023 6:06 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Sim Card for Use in Another Country
- Replies: 52
- Views: 5424
Re: Sim Card for Use in Another Country
I have used www.mrsimcard.com with no complaints when we went to the Bahamas. All I had to do was put it into the phone.
- Tue Oct 03, 2023 12:31 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: HSA tax loss harvesting TIPS in California
- Replies: 1
- Views: 576
HSA tax loss harvesting TIPS in California
Just exchanged my Fidelity TIPS index fund to intermediate treasury index.
Will swap back in 30 days and keep swapping during this bond market dip.
California treats the HSA like a taxable account, so I'm perfectly fine sharing my $3000 capital loss on my state return.
Looking forward to higher yields, which are tax free income to California as US govt interest.
Stock index funds may also give an opportunity to TLH.
Will swap back in 30 days and keep swapping during this bond market dip.
California treats the HSA like a taxable account, so I'm perfectly fine sharing my $3000 capital loss on my state return.
Looking forward to higher yields, which are tax free income to California as US govt interest.
Stock index funds may also give an opportunity to TLH.
- Mon Oct 02, 2023 5:52 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: BND exceeding my patience - need something different
- Replies: 169
- Views: 19907
Re: BND exceeding my patience - need something different
Stay the course. BND is perfectly fine.
https://investor.vanguard.com/investor- ... sing-rates
https://corporate.vanguard.com/content/ ... ncome.html
I am having a hard time with my kid's 529s though, who have the age based asset allocation landing at an approx 50% BND allocation during college.
https://investor.vanguard.com/investor- ... sing-rates
https://corporate.vanguard.com/content/ ... ncome.html
I am having a hard time with my kid's 529s though, who have the age based asset allocation landing at an approx 50% BND allocation during college.
- Fri Sep 29, 2023 10:15 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Help Me Rid Myself of a Dog (VNQI)
- Replies: 21
- Views: 3185
Re: Help Me Rid Myself of a Dog (VNQI)
I have VNQI in my Roth and I feel the pain as well, but I just rebalanced into it. Its 3% of my total AA but 20% of my Roth space. Then I have that along with VSS and VBR. The reason I have these in the Roth is these are the funds not available in my 401k... Ouch. When its a low performer, most people say well its a small part of the portfolio so I'll simplify and remove it. There are a LOT of dumping real estate fund threads and simplify into VTI sentiment right now. I argue its a small part, why not keep it as play money and see what happens? Its not going to make much difference either way, so let it ride. Past performance has nothing to do with future performance, but I'd rather buy at a lower price than a higher price. Buy high, sell l...
- Tue Sep 26, 2023 6:46 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: What frugal thing did you do today?
- Replies: 4535
- Views: 625616
Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
Ran to the gym instead of driving at $5.50/gal. The 1.5 mi back and forth also added to my workout, and I don't have to worry about my car getting broken into which is more common at gyms.
- Mon Sep 25, 2023 2:36 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: HSA and Living in California :(
- Replies: 38
- Views: 7474
Re: HSA and Living in California :(
Anyone holding TIPS or US treasury funds in a Fidelity HSA, which is ideal with the state tax treatment of federal interest income, should take a look to see if they can take a CA tax loss harvest with many bond funds near a 52 week low. What alternative investment would you suggest to hold for 30 days?
- Wed Sep 20, 2023 6:11 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Problems with a Vanguard 529 account. They closed it.
- Replies: 28
- Views: 2896
Re: Problems with a Vanguard 529 account. They closed it.
Me too. And they are killing ESAs as well in my other post.privateer79 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 20, 2023 4:44 pm as an out of state owner of a vanguard nevada 529 plan, I find Vanguard's lack of interest in diagnosing/correcting this issue disturbing.
I guess this means I should use a Utah or similar plan other than Vanguard itself.
- Wed Sep 20, 2023 11:14 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Vanguard retiring Coverdell ESAs
- Replies: 29
- Views: 4775
Re: Vanguard retiring Coverdell ESAs
I think the 15 year clock is from the 529 opening date. There is a 5 year lookback on 529 contributions/earnings.. so I think if you transfer an ESA to an existing 529 opened at least 10 years ago, in 5 years you could then move that money to the Roth.
Of course its all speculation, without the text of the new law. Its possible that transferring 529s between custodians resets the 15 year clock as well.
New parents should open 529s at birth even if you fund with $1, to start the 15 year Roth clock. Maybe even multiple 529s if you think you will transfer money around between them.
Of course its all speculation, without the text of the new law. Its possible that transferring 529s between custodians resets the 15 year clock as well.
New parents should open 529s at birth even if you fund with $1, to start the 15 year Roth clock. Maybe even multiple 529s if you think you will transfer money around between them.
- Tue Sep 19, 2023 7:23 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Vanguard retiring Coverdell ESAs
- Replies: 29
- Views: 4775
Re: Vanguard retiring Coverdell ESAs
I have ESAs and 529s with my kids at Vanguard. I called Vanguard to see how to move the ESAs to the 529s. They said I would have to fill out paper forms and mail them in. I told them I would do no such thing in the 21st century. If they want me to get rid of the ESAs, then they need to make it easy for me; otherwise, I'm keeping them until I use up the money for educational expenses. What can they do besides stop allowing new contributions? Can they force close it and send you a check? I guess I'll deal with it then. It's the cheapest place to hold investments for college without enriching state treasurers, and I get no 529 state tax deductions. I like to glide with the TR/LS funds and add cash reserves MM at 5.3% as college gets closer. E...
- Tue Sep 19, 2023 9:15 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Moving 529 to FDIC-insured option
- Replies: 13
- Views: 1655
Re: Moving 529 to FDIC-insured option
For the utah 529 why would anyone use the PIMCO stable value fund with a lower return than the FDIC insured option?
I hesitate to roll over to another 529, to restart the 15 year clock on Roth transfers if not used.
I hesitate to roll over to another 529, to restart the 15 year clock on Roth transfers if not used.
- Mon Sep 18, 2023 10:29 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Vanguard retiring Coverdell ESAs
- Replies: 29
- Views: 4775
Re: Vanguard retiring Coverdell ESAs
Thanks.. is there any advantage (besides cost and investment flexibility) to keeping money in the ESA vs transferring to 529?
Finally, if a 529 is transferred to another 529, does that restart the 15 year clock for the Roth exit strategy? If that’s the case I think it would be best to just transfer the ESA to the Utah 529 plan I’ve had open since they were born.
Finally, if a 529 is transferred to another 529, does that restart the 15 year clock for the Roth exit strategy? If that’s the case I think it would be best to just transfer the ESA to the Utah 529 plan I’ve had open since they were born.
- Mon Sep 18, 2023 9:41 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: HSA and Living in California :(
- Replies: 38
- Views: 7474
Re: HSA and Living in California :(
I use Fidelity HSA to hold a portion of my TIPS fund since CA doesn’t tax federal government interest, and use the treasury MM for what I want to keep in cash for my health spending. I TLH’d this year with the bond market drop too. If CA wants to keep taxing it I’ll share my capital loss with them as well.
Stick with tax efficient stock index funds and/or federal government interest and you’ll be fine.
Stick with tax efficient stock index funds and/or federal government interest and you’ll be fine.
- Mon Sep 18, 2023 9:03 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Vanguard retiring Coverdell ESAs
- Replies: 29
- Views: 4775
Vanguard retiring Coverdell ESAs
I received a letter from Vanguard today that they are soon ceasing to accept new contributions to Coverdell ESAs and encouraging rollovers to their 529 plan. They stopped new accounts a long time ago but kept existing accounts open. When I started investing for college 15 years ago, ESAs were more flexible and the best place for the first $2000 of college savings contributions. 529s seemed scammy to me since there’s always an extra layer of state fees. My kids are 16 and 13. Fast forward to today, it seems that fees have come down (but still a state fee nonetheless) and the rollover to 529 is the next best thing? Any reason to keep my Vanguard ESAs open for my kids? I have an Utah 529 for them as well, opened about 15 years ago. If I roll t...
- Mon Sep 18, 2023 11:55 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Water heater replacement . One or both?
- Replies: 19
- Views: 1635
Re: Water heater replacement . One or both?
Look into a heat pump water heater with the 30% tax credit and if any local utility rebates. You could keep the 2nd one on gas so you never have to run the heat pump one in full electric mode. Also, rebates/tax credits are usually limited to one water heater per address.
- Thu Sep 14, 2023 2:46 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Virginia requesting my CA state income tax return
- Replies: 41
- Views: 4654
Re: Virginia requesting my CA state income tax return
CA has a ridiculous written test you have to pass even if you have a driver license from another state. Is there a penalty if you don't PASS that test within 10 days to get your license?
- Wed Sep 13, 2023 10:48 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Running out of tax-advantaged space -- reduce REIT allocation? Or put REIT in taxable?
- Replies: 22
- Views: 2155
Re: Running out of tax-advantaged space -- reduce REIT allocation? Or put REIT in taxable?
I would not let taxes drive your asset allocation decisions. RE is down so the best feeling is to get rid of it, but history has shown that hasn't worked out well. Incase you want to keep REIT, here are a couple things to consider: Int'l RE would probably be the first to put in taxable over US RE, to pick up FTC. Assuming it is VNQI, last year the dividend was only 0.23% so that is very tax efficient... :annoyed OTOH, US (or Intl?) REIT dividends may be eligible for the 20% QBI deduction until that expires. Yes, VNQI is what I use for international REITs. It would have been very efficient in 2022, but in 2021 it paid out over 6%, so even with foreign tax credit, it would have been bad to have it in taxable in 2021. One thought I had was, V...
- Mon Sep 11, 2023 9:12 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Running out of tax-advantaged space -- reduce REIT allocation? Or put REIT in taxable?
- Replies: 22
- Views: 2155
Re: Running out of tax-advantaged space -- reduce REIT allocation? Or put REIT in taxable?
I would not let taxes drive your asset allocation decisions. RE is down so the best feeling is to get rid of it, but history has shown that hasn't worked out well. Incase you want to keep REIT, here are a couple things to consider:
Int'l RE would probably be the first to put in taxable over US RE, to pick up FTC.
Assuming it is VNQI, last year the dividend was only 0.23% so that is very tax efficient...
OTOH, US (or Intl?) REIT dividends may be eligible for the 20% QBI deduction until that expires.
Int'l RE would probably be the first to put in taxable over US RE, to pick up FTC.
Assuming it is VNQI, last year the dividend was only 0.23% so that is very tax efficient...
OTOH, US (or Intl?) REIT dividends may be eligible for the 20% QBI deduction until that expires.
- Sat Sep 09, 2023 2:16 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Water Heater Replacement Costs
- Replies: 113
- Views: 11881
Re: Water Heater Replacement Costs
HCOL area, $3000 for AO smith 65 gal heat pump water heater.
After $2500 utility rebate.
Routed new 30A circuit from panel, moved to garage so included some new piping through attic, included permit.
Maybe I overpaid but $2100 after 30% tax credit was lower than installing a 50 gal gas water heater with 3-4 quotes.
After $2500 utility rebate.
Routed new 30A circuit from panel, moved to garage so included some new piping through attic, included permit.
Maybe I overpaid but $2100 after 30% tax credit was lower than installing a 50 gal gas water heater with 3-4 quotes.
- Tue Aug 29, 2023 6:32 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Is Hyundai the value sweet spot?
- Replies: 164
- Views: 23534
Re: Is Hyundai the value sweet spot?
Some insurers were dropping Hyundai and Kia owners because of this.
https://www.thezebra.com/resources/car- ... d-hyundai/
- Thu Aug 24, 2023 2:05 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Best EV or PHEV
- Replies: 96
- Views: 8928
Re: Best EV or PHEV
How much increased car insurance cost can I expect with an EV? I've read that EV's have higher insurance costs due to the higher price and non repairable parts such as the battery. Our teen is getting his license soon so we are looking at passing down our clunker and buying an EV, but worried about the double whammy effect on car insurance.