Search found 329 matches

by DireWolf
Sun Feb 04, 2018 3:56 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How risky is Med school student loan debt?
Replies: 158
Views: 16863

Re: How risky is Med school student loan debt?

afan wrote: Sun Feb 04, 2018 10:55 am It is NOT true that physician incomes are going down. Like most highly paid professionals, physicians have seen their incomes go up consistently over the years.
It absolutely IS true. Your dishonesty is reckless.
by DireWolf
Sat Feb 03, 2018 5:28 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How risky is Med school student loan debt?
Replies: 158
Views: 16863

Re: How risky is Med school student loan debt?

There's a lot of bad advice being given. Facts are facts... physician salaries are decreasing and will continue to decrease... there are many unstoppable policies in place that will facilitate this. Couple that with tuition inflation (much higher than general inflation) and regular inflation. Decreasing salaries along with increasing costs = a recipe for disaster.
by DireWolf
Thu Feb 01, 2018 11:09 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How risky is Med school student loan debt?
Replies: 158
Views: 16863

Re: How risky is Med school student loan debt?

I always have college students asking me this very question... since I feel obligated to tell them the truth and not just what they want to hear... my response is... if your debt will be over $250k and you won't have another significant source of income (high earning spouse, future inheritance, side business, etc) then medicine is a very poor economic choice. To answer your question specifically... high risk.
by DireWolf
Wed Dec 06, 2017 11:11 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: I received a speeding ticket via mail from IA - should I pay it?
Replies: 72
Views: 36022

Re: I received a speeding ticket via mail from IA - should I pay it?

The Wizard wrote: Wed Dec 06, 2017 10:17 pmSo I guess they weren't too serious about it then.
Odd...
I assume they didn't have the resources to hunt people down. Many people didn't pay. One attorney even went on St. Louis radio and said the court could never prove you received the ticket in the mail, unless it was delivered by certified mail. All of the tickets were mailed first class postage. He said a valid argument would be, "What ticket? Never got anything in the mail". I don't think his advice was ever tested because there were no consequences to not paying.
by DireWolf
Wed Dec 06, 2017 10:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: I received a speeding ticket via mail from IA - should I pay it?
Replies: 72
Views: 36022

Re: I received a speeding ticket via mail from IA - should I pay it?

I got several of them in Missouri when they had cameras. Threw them all in the trash. Never heard from them again. That was 8 years ago.
by DireWolf
Sat Nov 18, 2017 5:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cabo San Lucas - question
Replies: 34
Views: 5670

Re: Cabo San Lucas - question

We're going in early January. We'll be staying at an all-inclusive resort but will be playing golf at various locations throughout the week. It seems like renting a car would be the most convenient. Any concerns about having a rental car there?
by DireWolf
Sun Sep 10, 2017 12:04 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How many funds in your retirement accounts?
Replies: 56
Views: 6525

Re: How many funds in your retirement accounts?

4

Roth - VWENX

401k - VBILX

Taxable account - VTSAX and VTIAX
by DireWolf
Sat Sep 09, 2017 10:29 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can't freeze credit at Experian?
Replies: 77
Views: 70264

Re: Can't freeze credit at Experian?

HIinvestor wrote: Sat Sep 09, 2017 5:32 pm We did all 5 credit bureaus yesterday fir H and me. We only had a slight glitch with Transunion because some of their info is dated/old and we didn't like the multiple choice options. Fortunately we were able to complete the freeze over the phone. It was easier than when we did fraud alerts previously and had to mail in documentation.
5? The big 3 are Transunion, Equifax, and Experian.
by DireWolf
Sat Sep 09, 2017 10:08 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Luxury car: perception vs reality
Replies: 118
Views: 11803

Re: Luxury car: perception vs reality

I was torn about buying a luxury car. But after extensive research I bought a new Audi Q5 and haven't had any regrets.

Pros:
- Look/design
- Performance/handling
- Interior comfort/quality finishes
- Soundproof
- Feels like you're gliding through the air on the highway
- Good gas mileage
- Good reliability/low maintenance

Cons:
- Cost to insure
- It draws attention

My biggest fear was drawing attention to myself since I'm very private and don't like to advertise financial success making myself a target. Anyone who buys something for the sole purpose of showing their affluence is a moron. Not only is it shallow, it can make you a target.
by DireWolf
Wed Aug 02, 2017 4:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Barcelona Hotel Recommendations
Replies: 30
Views: 3914

Re: Barcelona Hotel Recommendations

Olivia Balmes Hotel. Perfecto.
by DireWolf
Thu Mar 30, 2017 8:18 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Divorcing and handling shared and split assets after divorce
Replies: 55
Views: 5712

Re: Divorcing and handling shared and split assets after divorce

flyingbison wrote:Split the joint assets now, 50/50.
Never just do 50/50. Do what's fair... that could be 90/10
by DireWolf
Thu Mar 30, 2017 7:16 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Divorcing and handling shared and split assets after divorce
Replies: 55
Views: 5712

Re: Divorcing and handling shared and split assets after divorce

People seem to be forgetting that fair distribution of assets does not always mean equal. If one spouse earned much more than the other, it is certainly fair for him/her to keep more of the assets. A lot of this comes down to who's at fault for the divorce and whether or not it is contested in court. Also, the concept of alimony is practically extinct.
by DireWolf
Wed Mar 29, 2017 6:33 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Hospital billing nightmare
Replies: 26
Views: 4362

Re: Hospital billing nightmare

If it's any consolation, you got by very cheap for the anesthesiologist. We charge a minimum of $1,500.
by DireWolf
Tue Mar 14, 2017 4:37 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Autonomous Vehicles and Drone Deliveries
Replies: 31
Views: 4070

Re: Autonomous Vehicles and Drone Deliveries

There are too many obvious potential issues with either one. For drones... they can easily be used to spy on people, carry explosives and shoot weapons, crash into people and property, be hacked and controlled by others, be shot out of the sky, be stolen along with the merchandise they are carrying, interrupt air travel, etc. For autonomous cars... they can be hacked and taken over by other people, how do you escape someone chasing you or trying to kill you in your autonomous car? what if you are late for something important and need to drive over the speed limit to make it on time? what if you have an emergency that requires you to get to the hospital or some other location immediately? The real-life scenarios are endless and I don't see h...
by DireWolf
Tue Mar 14, 2017 2:31 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: gratuitous homeownership items
Replies: 218
Views: 26833

Re: gratuitous homeownership items

deleted
by DireWolf
Thu Feb 16, 2017 3:11 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What's the secret to happiness?
Replies: 39
Views: 6144

Re: What's the secret to happiness?

Lack of desire is the only way to achieve true happiness.
by DireWolf
Sat Jan 07, 2017 6:55 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Any Audi Wagon owners?
Replies: 29
Views: 3391

Re: Any Audi Wagon owners?

Avoid Audi like a plague. Nothing but issues (google it) and high repair costs. I'm a big fan of Subarus, although older generations had leaking valve cover gaskets. Anything build after 2011 is bullet proof (Outback oil leak was resolved in 2009). Subarus affected by Leaking valve cover gasket. Impreza 1999 to 2011 Forester 1999 to 2010 Legacy 2000 to 2009 Outback 2000 to 2009 Baja 2003 to 2006 I would avoid Subaru like the plague. Oil consumption issues have not been resolved. We bought a brand new 2014 Outback that had this issue. There is now a class action suit against Subaru. To make matters worse, Subaru lied and said it wasn't consuming oil... they said it was a faulty oil sensor. The repair was going to be around $7,000. We got ri...
by DireWolf
Sat Jan 07, 2017 2:24 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Backdoor Roth IRA question
Replies: 17
Views: 1807

Re: Backdoor Roth IRA question

Suman wrote:Vanguard website has a link: convert to roth ira. You can find it in tira account. From there, it's pretty straightforward.
That link doesn't exist for me. Guess I'll have to do it over the phone again. Sigh.
by DireWolf
Sat Jan 07, 2017 1:29 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Backdoor Roth IRA question
Replies: 17
Views: 1807

Re: Backdoor Roth IRA question

I have been doing backdoor Roth IRA conversions at Vanguard for a few years now. I've always transferred the $5,500 from my checking account into the traditional IRA. Then I would wait a day or two and then call Vanguard and have them transfer the $5,500 to the Roth IRA over the phone.

Is there a way to do the conversion online or do you have to do it over the phone like I've been doing it?
by DireWolf
Fri Jan 06, 2017 10:32 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Is a prenup always necessary when remarrying?
Replies: 49
Views: 5992

Re: Is a prenup always necessary when remarrying?

Interesting perspectives here.

It is worth noting that less than half of divorces involve lawyers and only 2-3% of divorces go to trial. Almost all divorces that involve lawyers also involve children.

Many couples work out a way to fairly divide the assets on their own, and it's not always 50/50. Alimony is very rare nowadays. Usually it's when one spouse worked and the other didn't. In that case the non-working spouse is usually granted a small alimony allowance for a couple years so he/she can find a job.
by DireWolf
Thu Jan 05, 2017 10:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How to dress for winter vacation in Alberta
Replies: 45
Views: 4234

Re: How to dress for winter vacation in Alberta

I just finished shopping for gear for my trip to Fairbanks where temps can get down to -40F

- Smartwool socks
- Baffin boots
- Under Armour Coldgear baselayers
- Carhartt arctic bibs
- Fleece midlayers
- Fuerza parka
- Geartop balaclava
- Icebreaker wool beanie
- Smartwool liner gloves
- Ice Armor mittens
- Grabber hand warmers
by DireWolf
Tue Dec 27, 2016 10:21 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: TV in the bedroom?
Replies: 82
Views: 9450

Re: TV in the bedroom?

We watch a fair amount of TV. It would probably get the most use watching the news before bed. It might also be useful when one or both of us is sick or lazy and wants to lay in bed for long periods of time.
by DireWolf
Tue Dec 27, 2016 10:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: TV in the bedroom?
Replies: 82
Views: 9450

TV in the bedroom?

We are debating getting a small TV for the master bedroom. Is this common? Excessive?
by DireWolf
Tue Dec 27, 2016 10:01 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best shows to see while in Vegas
Replies: 28
Views: 3883

Re: Best shows to see while in Vegas

Don't miss LOVE
by DireWolf
Tue Dec 20, 2016 5:23 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What kind of person buys a franchise?
Replies: 49
Views: 8943

Re: What kind of person buys a franchise?

The problem is getting the information you need to make an informed decision. It's very difficult to find out "the real scoop" on how local franchise owners are doing. They don't want to divulge that information.
by DireWolf
Tue Dec 20, 2016 4:41 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Grocery cart rolls into side of car, dent, scratched
Replies: 92
Views: 12821

Re: Grccery cart rolls into side of car, dent, scratched

From a liability standpoint, I think the grocer is wrong. Say the grocery cart did far worse damage, like suppose it killed someone. (Not sure HOW that could have happened but let's say it did.) And let's say the cart was abandonded my a mentally-ill transiet. Would that transient be responsible for the cart getting away and killing someone? No. The mentally ill person would likely be unaware the consequences of the actions. Who would be responsible? Well, the manufacturer of the cart theoretically might be cupable. I suppose that the manufacturer could develop auto-locking brakes that prevent the cart from moving unless someone is holding on. The owner of the cart (the store) would also be liable because they could take actions to prevent...
by DireWolf
Sun Dec 18, 2016 10:44 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cutting cable cord...
Replies: 75
Views: 20299

Re: Cutting cable cord...

As a fan of simplicity, I am keeping my cable/internet package. As you can see from all the posts on this thread, cutting the cord requires multiple subscriptions from multiple vendors... an anxiety-provoking nightmare for me.
by DireWolf
Wed Dec 14, 2016 11:44 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Front Wheel Drive (FWD) vs All Wheel Drive (AWD)
Replies: 136
Views: 19766

Re: Front Wheel Drive (FWD) vs All Wheel Drive (AWD)

Just get a Wrangler Rubicon with some DuraTrac tires and you can literally go anywhere.
by DireWolf
Wed Dec 14, 2016 6:22 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What happens to those who don't invest?
Replies: 70
Views: 6909

Re: What happens to those who don't invest?

Carefreeap wrote: Yup, Mom died with a negative estate (-$400,000) and Dad will punish me with having to shovel out two garages full of junk out of his girlfriend's house.
Just curious... what happens to that debt? Assuming your Dad can't pay it, do the creditors just lose out on the $400,000?
by DireWolf
Sat Oct 29, 2016 1:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Shipping a car
Replies: 13
Views: 2621

Re: Shipping a car

We had great success using uship.
by DireWolf
Thu Sep 08, 2016 9:46 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Nursing home question [Can they go after my Mom's assets?]
Replies: 28
Views: 4957

Re: Nursing home question [Can they go after my Mom's assets?]

With nursing home costs being so outrageously expensive ($7k/month), does it make more sense for that person to live at home and hire a home health aide/nurse?
by DireWolf
Thu Aug 11, 2016 8:37 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How much vacation time do you get at work?
Replies: 155
Views: 20423

Re: How much vacation time do you get at work?

JamalJones wrote:Wow! Doctors get a lot of time off! 14 weeks?!?! Sign me up!

I'm a federal employee at 15+ years so:
26 days of vacation
13 days of sick leave
~10 holidays
I'll gladly trade jobs with you.
by DireWolf
Wed Aug 10, 2016 7:12 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Better to sell house ~ every 15 years?
Replies: 50
Views: 9466

Re: Better to sell house ~ every 15 years?

I think the sweet spot is 10 years. It seems a lot of the nicer new homes around here always go on the market after 10 years. A lot of major repairs start popping up around the 10 year mark, and the "newness" of the house starts to fade. Then you have to make a decision to remodel or just get a new house.
by DireWolf
Mon Jun 27, 2016 4:50 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Will - Remarried with Troubled Kids
Replies: 37
Views: 6470

Re: Will - Remarried with Troubled Kids

The inheritance certainly needs to be separated where your daughter gets your half of the estate, and his sons split his half of the estate.

Also, not to be a downer, but I have witnessed two instances where addicts inherited a lot of money and both overdosed/died within a week of getting the check.
by DireWolf
Tue Jun 21, 2016 8:49 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: College and beyond without a credit card?
Replies: 92
Views: 9554

Re: College and beyond without a credit card?

With identity theft and online shopping so prevalent, credit cards are definitely preferred. They offer much better liability protection if the card is lost or stolen and you can easily dispute transactions. If your debit card is stolen, your entire account balance can be wiped out and unrecoverable. Also, you can earn rewards and build a credit score with credit cards. With most credit cards having no fee, I actually see zero benefit in having a debit card. The only caveat is that you have to make your payments on time and preferably pay the full balance, but that's a no-brainer.

In summary, credit card >>>>>>> debit card
by DireWolf
Tue Jun 21, 2016 7:20 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: NY Times Op-Ed: Pension Holders Need a New Retirement Plan, Not Stock Tips
Replies: 65
Views: 8039

Re: NY Times Op-Ed: Pension Holders Need a New Retirement Plan, Not Stock Tips

If you like to do backdoor Roth IRA contributions, then transferring your 401K into an IRA can have severe tax implications because of the pro rata rule.
by DireWolf
Mon Jun 06, 2016 9:23 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best AWD Sedan/Coupe?
Replies: 53
Views: 12895

Re: Best AWD Sedan/Coupe?

jharkin wrote:The thing to be ware of is that the German makes all tend to be far less reliable than Subaru and the other Japanse brands. I have a friend with a 10 year old xdrive and the trans/center diff just blew up to the tune of a near 5 figure replacement bill!
Excellent analysis until this part. Don't lump "all" the German makes together. Audi was named the overall best in reliability. That's #1. BMW and Mercedes have traditionally been unreliable makes.
by DireWolf
Tue May 24, 2016 6:36 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: New rules for retirement advisors rolled back
Replies: 4
Views: 1104

Re: New rules for retirement advisors rolled back

Ditto. The answer is painfully obvious.
by DireWolf
Sat May 21, 2016 8:30 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Trip to Portland, Oregon
Replies: 35
Views: 4995

Re: Trip to Portland, Oregon

Stay: Inn at Northrup Station

Eat: Tasty n Sons

See: Columbia River Gorge
by DireWolf
Thu May 19, 2016 4:37 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Pride in no inheritance to kids?
Replies: 233
Views: 11488

Re: Pride in no inheritance to kids?

I don't feel a need to ponder this. My wife and I will spend whatever money we have saved to live whatever lifestyle we choose. When we die, whatever money is leftover will be inherited. That could be millions of dollars or zero dollars, depending on when we die and how much we needed to spend when we were alive. We don't feel a need to "spend every last penny" to leave no inheritance nor "save every penny" to leave a large inheritance.
by DireWolf
Mon May 16, 2016 4:37 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Did I uncover a scam?
Replies: 34
Views: 6120

Re: Did I uncover a scam?

smackboy1 wrote:Most dealerships outsource glass installation. The price difference could be due to parts cost. Typically OEM glass is much more expensive than other brand replacement glass. Twice the price is not unusual.
Just trying to understand this... local shop charges $400 for glass and install... dealership charges $800 but contracts with the local shop to install it. So the dealership charges $800 because their glass is better and costs $400 more than the glass installed by the local shop?
by DireWolf
Mon May 16, 2016 4:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Did I uncover a scam?
Replies: 34
Views: 6120

Did I uncover a scam?

I recently had a rock hit my windshield, which cracked it beyond repair. I got 3 quotes to replace it... one from the dealer, one from a national franchise, and one from a local shop. The dealership quote was literally twice as much as the other two quotes.

Coincidentally I had to run by the dealership for an unrelated issue. For no particular reason I drove around the back of the dealership to get to the side entrance of the service department. What did I see? The same make/model car as mine getting its windshield replaced in the back parking lot by a local shop's mobile van service.

So the dealership basically pays the local shop to come and replace windshields and then charges the customer a 100% "fee". Unreal.
by DireWolf
Mon May 16, 2016 4:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Should I go to NHL Western Conference Finals game?
Replies: 36
Views: 4107

Re: Should I go to NHL Western Conference Finals game?

I went to the game last night. It cost a small fortune but provided a lifetime of memories. Let's Go Blues!
by DireWolf
Thu Apr 21, 2016 8:21 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Thinking about decreasing work hours...
Replies: 7
Views: 1490

Thinking about decreasing work hours...

Here's my situation:

Relatively high earning professional whose job is very stressful and requires a lot of hours.

40 years old. Married. Wife is a teacher. Debt free. 1.5 million in retirement savings. My "number" is 4 million.

I have the opportunity to job share with someone and essentially work half the hours at half the pay. Benefits are not affected.

I would still be able to save some for retirement every year (probably around $35k/year). Plan is to retire at 65 at the latest.

Currently at 80/20 stocks/bonds all in Vanguard index funds. Will probably transition to 70/30 soon, and ultimately be around 40/60 at retirement.

Thoughts?
by DireWolf
Thu Apr 21, 2016 8:05 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Law School Advice
Replies: 89
Views: 12103

Re: Law School Advice

It's interesting that everytime I see a law school thread no one ever mentions becoming a judge. Is it very difficult to become a judge or just not desirable? What kind of salary do they make?

I've always thought I'd be a good judge but never wanted to go to law school.
by DireWolf
Mon Apr 04, 2016 6:02 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard and Fidelity must really dislike each other [Bond fund question]
Replies: 21
Views: 4396

Re: Vanguard and Fidelity must really dislike each other [Bond fund question]

The 4 Bond Funds available are:

JPM Core Bond R6 (JCBUX) (ER 0.36)

Vanguard Intermediate Term Bond Institutional (VBIMX) (ER .07)

Vanguard Inflation Protected Securities Institutional (VIPIX) (ER .07)

Principal Diversified Real Asset Fund Institutional (PDRDX) (ER 0.88)


I think I'm going to stick with simplicity (being included in the core 16 funds offered) and the ultra low ER of VBIMX.
by DireWolf
Mon Apr 04, 2016 3:25 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard and Fidelity must really dislike each other [Bond fund question]
Replies: 21
Views: 4396

Vanguard and Fidelity must really dislike each other [Bond fund question]

I'm starting a new job and obviously with that comes a new 401K program. Fidelity is the custodian. I was hoping to have 100% of my 401K in VBMFX. However, that is not one of the 16 fund choices my company offers. Fortunately there is a Self-Directed Brokerage option through Fidelity that lets you choose your own funds. VBMFX is available but Fidelity charges a $75 transaction fee every time you make a purchase! That would be a $75 fee every two weeks when I make my paycheck contribution. I called Fidelity and asked them why they charge this outrageous fee and they said Vanguard charges Fidelity money to offer the fund, and they are simply passing that charge on to the consumer. Anyway, with this fee it doesn't make any sense at all to use ...
by DireWolf
Sat Apr 02, 2016 8:14 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Custom House Cost
Replies: 22
Views: 4327

Re: Custom House Cost

Custom luxury homes in our area cost about $200/sq ft to build (not including the lot). You can buy one for about $150/sq ft.
by DireWolf
Wed Mar 23, 2016 8:14 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How do billionaires invest?
Replies: 50
Views: 10367

Re: How do billionaires invest?

If I had that kind of money, 25% Stocks/25% Bonds/25% Cash/25% real estate would make sense to me.