Search found 991 matches

by Xrayman69
Sat Mar 16, 2024 7:07 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Great news! No more [fixed real estate] agent commission
Replies: 163
Views: 15012

Re: Great news! No more [fixed real estate] agent commission

eer_no_evil wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2024 4:02 pm I currently have a house for sale and am represented by an agent, at the 6%- can I benefit from this change? If so, any advice would be greatly appreciated!
It has ALWAYS been negotiable. Been involved in multiple home sales and purchases during our time. NEVER paid more than 1.5% on each side of my interest. When selling capped at 4.5% when buying I capped my agent at 1.5% and we received 1.5% credit (total 3% for buyers agent ).

Not once did anyone even blink and agreed immediately when I stated the requirements at first conversation
by Xrayman69
Sat Mar 16, 2024 1:47 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Great news! No more [fixed real estate] agent commission
Replies: 163
Views: 15012

Re: Great news! No more [fixed real estate] agent commission

I suspect little will change other than the upfront discussions and contract for who and where compensation will arise. As noted in multiple other discussions people are inherently “scared” during the process of buying or selling a home and thus marketing that a 6% commission is “needed” to make everyone “safe” is still going to be the final result for the vast majority of sheep. But we will see.
by Xrayman69
Fri Mar 15, 2024 10:32 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Dumped from PT due to low Medicare reimbursements?
Replies: 59
Views: 3769

Re: Dumped from PT due to low Medicare reimbursements?

“Medicare discrimination” is a new term for me. I don’t believe a provider is required to treat or provide service to a patient in the absence of an “emergency”
by Xrayman69
Sun Mar 03, 2024 8:41 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: OK to pay down large chunk of mortgage?
Replies: 35
Views: 2741

Re: OK to pay down large chunk of mortgage?

ApeAttack wrote: Sun Mar 03, 2024 1:06 am I was lucky enough to get a 2.5% refi during the pandemic. There's no way I will pay this down earlier than the agreed upon schedule.

Every year, my mortgage payment becomes smaller and smaller in real terms.

But hey... It's your decision.
We did the same thing. My only regret was when we refinanced it was for a 15 year period, wish we would have done 30 years.

OP, money market currently 5+% at vanguard. 5% > 2.75%. It’s just math. Put 150K in money market and draw down every month.
by Xrayman69
Sun Mar 03, 2024 8:24 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Convert $1M+ to Roth while in high tax bracket?
Replies: 33
Views: 4270

Re: Convert $1M+ to Roth while in high tax bracket?

It’s ok to leave some in a pre tax account for the diversification ( pre- tax, Roth, and taxable) from which you can draw from when required. Have no idea what tax rates and laws will look like in future.

Life plans will probably look a lot different over the next 10-30 years so perhaps don’t assume a straight line vision/path but allow some flexibility and freedom.

How about 100K a year for 5 years to decrease the sticker shock of taxes annually.
by Xrayman69
Thu Feb 29, 2024 9:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Want to leave timeshare.
Replies: 111
Views: 12015

Re: Want to leave timeshare.

Bought 2 Marriott branded timeshares in the resale market decades ago. Paid about 12 cents on the $. About 80% of the time we trade thru Interval Intl, which Marriott recently bought. Most trades in the past decade have been to a couple of properties in the south of Spain and the Balearic Islands, which we really enjoy. No problem completing tradings when we prefer to travel. Happy with this arrangement. When we decide to stop using these weeks, we plan to simply stop paying annual fee unless Marriott make buy back easy. If you stop paying the annual fee what occurs? Is there no contractual obligation to pay the “maintenance fees” ? Are the Marriott time shares different than the run of the mill time shares? Curious as to the difference
by Xrayman69
Wed Feb 28, 2024 6:26 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: When did your Net Worth surpass your lifetime earnings?
Replies: 93
Views: 11637

Re: When did your Net Worth surpass your lifetime earnings?

Taxes took and continues to take at least 35% of salary annually. Savings take up about 25%. Thus about 40% of our salary goes to living expenses. Gonna have to admit I have no desire to live on less and constantly hold off. We live comfortably and I’m good with this pace. I’m trying to reflect back on how much the savings rate would have been required for net worth to pass lifetime salary and conclude it’s not fun nor desirable.
by Xrayman69
Fri Feb 23, 2024 7:14 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What inferior good do you love?
Replies: 232
Views: 25521

Re: What inferior good do you love?

almostretired1965 wrote: Thu Feb 22, 2024 10:34 pm
Dottie57 wrote: Mon Feb 19, 2024 11:44 pm
DiploInvestor wrote: Sat Feb 17, 2024 2:24 pm Arby’s roast beef sandwiches. I love those sandwiches. And I can’t get them when I’m living overseas.
They dropped the potato triangles! :(
Ah, hope they have a 5 for 5 deal soon. My family immigrated to the US when I was 10 and my first roast beef sandwich of any kind was at Arby's. To this day I prefer it to the real thing .......
Curious as to what you mean prefer it to the “real thing”…. Arby’s roast beef isn’t real meat?
by Xrayman69
Tue Feb 20, 2024 8:30 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Renting vs. Owning - still on the fence
Replies: 63
Views: 4876

Re: Renting vs. Owning - still on the fence

Locked rent at 2K for 10 years?????? How does this occur. Apparently no one that’s responded to this topic has ever heard of this as well and thus I am dubious on this presumed fact. Assuming this is a fact, the. I would rent and reinvest the difference. If it’s not fact then I would lean towards thoughtful and deliberate unpressured processs of buying as a hedge against inflation and stability for a family. It may or may not be “economically” beneficial buying over rent but it is generally a stabilizing insurance plan for hosing needs. With all insurance I certain,y hope I never have to collect because something bad usually takes place for collection. Our first and foremost intent when buying a home was to insure we had a roof over our he...
by Xrayman69
Tue Feb 20, 2024 8:04 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Renting vs. Owning - still on the fence
Replies: 63
Views: 4876

Re: Renting vs. Owning - still on the fence

Locked rent at 2K for 10 years?????? How does this occur. Apparently no one that’s responded to this topic has ever heard of this as well and thus I am dubious on this presumed fact. Assuming this is a fact, then I would rent and reinvest the difference. If it’s not fact then I would lean towards thoughtful and deliberate unpressured processs of buying as a hedge against inflation and stability for a family. It may or may not be “economically” beneficial buying over rent but it is generally a stabilizing insurance plan for hosing needs. With all insurance I certain,y hope I never have to collect because something bad usually takes place for collection. Our first and foremost intent when buying a home was to insure we had a roof over our he...
by Xrayman69
Tue Feb 20, 2024 8:04 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Renting vs. Owning - still on the fence
Replies: 63
Views: 4876

Re: Renting vs. Owning - still on the fence

Locked rent at 2K for 10 years?????? How does this occur. Apparently no one that’s responded to this topic has ever heard of this as well and thus I am dubious on this presumed fact. Assuming this is a fact, the. I would rent and reinvest the difference. If it’s not fact then I would lean towards thoughtful and deliberate unpressured processs of buying as a hedge against inflation and stability for a family. It may or may not be “economically” beneficial buying over rent but it is generally a stabilizing insurance plan for hosing needs. With all insurance I certain,y hope I never have to collect because something bad usually takes place for collection. Our first and foremost intent when buying a home was to insure we had a roof over our hea...
by Xrayman69
Sun Feb 18, 2024 12:15 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: bond coupon payments from target date fund
Replies: 6
Views: 558

Re: bond coupon payments from target date fund

All the income (whether accrued bond interest* or dividends) is included the fund NAV. Then when the dividend is paid, it is deducted from the NAV. So you don't lose the income by selling early. *As Alex_686 points out, funds operate on accrual accounting, so a fund's income from bonds is not bond coupons but accrued interest (which accumulates every day). If you look in semi-annual or annual reports for your Target Date fund, you will see in the notes that interest income is accrued daily. Would his then confirm that total rate of return based upon the NAV on the last trading day of the year be the actual rate, vs something like VFIAX (S&P 500 fund) which may not necessarily include yield (or the dividends) as part of the end of year ...
by Xrayman69
Sun Feb 18, 2024 11:16 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Turning 50. Would love your thoughts on reallocation
Replies: 22
Views: 3642

Re: Turning 50. Would love your thoughts on reallocation

OP, 1) What is your annual expense? 2) What is your annual savings/investment? 3) Why do you think you can reach your Financially Independent's goal significantly faster with 100% stock? 4) Why do you think that the difference could not be insignificantly small? https://investor.vanguard.com/investor-resources-education/education/model-portfolio-allocation 5) The average annual return for 100/0 -> 100% stock is 10.1% The average annual return for 70/30 -> 70% stock is 9.0% Why do you think 1% extra return per year over the next few years will significantly help you? It will not. 6) Tell us your numbers (1) and (2). And, we can show you the calculation. KlangFool Thank for the #5 point. Can we inquire as to the time period for this comp? Yo...
by Xrayman69
Sat Feb 17, 2024 6:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What inferior good do you love?
Replies: 232
Views: 25521

Re: What inferior good do you love?

Olive Garden - I love it when dining by myself - will just sit at the bar and get the spaghetti and meatballs. It’s my hidden pleasure since I was a kid and the OG was considered a luxury growing up. Nothing inferior about their prices! I think I'd been seeing ads for their $10 meals. So shortly after when we were in New York City I took me and three kids there to eat. We walked forever to get to a table as it was huge and a lot of people there. Somewhat shocked by the $100+ bill. This was 20 years ago so that'd be somewhere between $150 to $200 now. I seem to recall their dishes have about a full day’s worth of calories so maybe on a per calorie basis it was a bargain. It has been over 15 years since I was there. The people were large. Al...
by Xrayman69
Fri Feb 16, 2024 6:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What inferior good do you love?
Replies: 232
Views: 25521

Re: What inferior good do you love?

Olive Garden - I love it when dining by myself - will just sit at the bar and get the spaghetti and meatballs. It’s my hidden pleasure since I was a kid and the OG was considered a luxury growing up. Nothing inferior about their prices! I think I'd been seeing ads for their $10 meals. So shortly after when we were in New York City I took me and three kids there to eat. We walked forever to get to a table as it was huge and a lot of people there. Somewhat shocked by the $100+ bill. This was 20 years ago so that'd be somewhere between $150 to $200 now. I seem to recall their dishes have about a full day’s worth of calories so maybe on a per calorie basis it was a bargain. It has been over 15 years since I was there. The people were large. Al...
by Xrayman69
Fri Feb 16, 2024 6:10 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What inferior good do you love?
Replies: 232
Views: 25521

Re: What inferior good do you love?

Public transit to and from airport. Seattle and Chicago to downtown I use the train. Very reliable with frequent schedules of train all day. NYC still prefer cabs with flat rate. LA rent car -ugh.

Olive Garden - I love it when dining by myself - will just sit at the bar and get the spaghetti and meatballs. It’s my hidden pleasure since I was a kid and the OG was considered a luxury growing up.

Vanguard VOO vs financial advisor (Edward jones or Fischer investments). (This is sarcasm for BH mindset)

My generic prescriptions
by Xrayman69
Thu Feb 15, 2024 9:53 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Interest rates, bond funds and equity prices and how we begin the process towards “retirement”
Replies: 8
Views: 913

Re: Interest rates, bond funds and equity prices and how we begin the process towards “retirement”

When interest rates rise the bond funds will typically decrease and in the current market prices of equities seemingly also decreases. Is the major purpose and impact of bond funds in this climate that bond funds will decrease less by percentage than equity prices and thus the inverse when interest rates decrease? I’ve been in the accumulation phase for the past 20 years and in the next 5 years or so considering the next phase in my family’s investment journey towards working less and only for joy and not for need. I’ve been truly trying to educate myself on how to begin the process to increase the bonds portion of our portfolio and this is strictly because this is what I’ve constantly seen reiterated. Currently as of the end of last month...
by Xrayman69
Thu Feb 15, 2024 6:15 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Interest rates, bond funds and equity prices and how we begin the process towards “retirement”
Replies: 8
Views: 913

Re: Interest rates, bond funds and equity prices and how we begin the process towards “retirement”

3 what’s the benefit of more money…. I’m currently not a servant to my “job” Xrayman69, Please note that I did not ask about your job. I was talking about your money. If you are not a servant to your money, why would you allocate 80% of your portfolio to stock? What is the point of taking on those unnecessary risk when you have enough? "I’m currently not a servant to my “job” " And, unless you can predict your future, you may not feel the way later. Why not give yourself an option to get out if you want to? KlangFool And thus should…… as conventional wisdom ? 10%, 20, 30, 40, 50% up to or all into a bond ladder and never think about it for me personally again. That’s ok for me and my spouse but on a selfish level would like to “i...
by Xrayman69
Thu Feb 15, 2024 5:49 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Interest rates, bond funds and equity prices and how we begin the process towards “retirement”
Replies: 8
Views: 913

Re: Interest rates, bond funds and equity prices and how we begin the process towards “retirement”

I would not call this a rant. It is actually a fairly common set of concerns and questions. Both equities and bonds are expected to have positive returns. Bonds, generally speaking, have lower returns and lower risk (volatility). So that is one set of benefits. The second is diversification. The correlation between stocks and bonds is somewhere between 0.8 to -0.4 depending. So if stocks go down maybe bonds will go up, or down by a little bit. The linkage is complex and nuanced. It varies over time. I find it a fascinating subject and made a career out of it. It is the diversifying nature of bonds which is the real benefit. You should be able to make a more efficient portfolio with bonds. That is higher returns per unit of risk. This may b...
by Xrayman69
Thu Feb 15, 2024 5:31 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Interest rates, bond funds and equity prices and how we begin the process towards “retirement”
Replies: 8
Views: 913

Re: Interest rates, bond funds and equity prices and how we begin the process towards “retirement”

OP, 1) What is your portfolio size in terms of your current annual expense? 10X? 20X? "We’ve got high risk tolerance historically. Comfortable with a 25-40% decline in equities if it occurred today as we would still have ability to continue our work to accumulate." 2) But, what is the point of doing that if you can increase the fixed income percentage by X% and you do not have to continue working? 3) What is marginal benefit of having more money and taking on more risk than needed when you have enough? Money is a good servant but it is a lousy master! KlangFool 1. Size of our portfolio is about 20x our expenses as of today, but 25% of our expenses goes towards savings. The sale of our primary house and downsizing into our second ...
by Xrayman69
Thu Feb 15, 2024 4:37 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Interest rates, bond funds and equity prices and how we begin the process towards “retirement”
Replies: 8
Views: 913

Interest rates, bond funds and equity prices and how we begin the process towards “retirement”

When interest rates rise the bond funds will typically decrease and in the current market prices of equities seemingly also decreases. Is the major purpose and impact of bond funds in this climate that bond funds will decrease less by percentage than equity prices and thus the inverse when interest rates decrease? I’ve been in the accumulation phase for the past 20 years and in the next 5 years or so considering the next phase in my family’s investment journey towards working less and only for joy and not for need. I’ve been truly trying to educate myself on how to begin the process to increase the bonds portion of our portfolio and this is strictly because this is what I’ve constantly seen reiterated. Currently as of the end of last month ...
by Xrayman69
Fri Feb 09, 2024 9:10 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Einhorn: Value is not working
Replies: 116
Views: 11367

Re: Einhorn: Value is not working

Don’t hear Buffett complaining about the cost of “value” companies going down. If they are truly value and sufficiently low stock price, I suspect buffet would have a sniff at the company and buy it out wholesale as that’s the Berkshire model.
by Xrayman69
Sun Jan 21, 2024 6:17 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: S&P 500 Closes at Record High
Replies: 203
Views: 26129

Re: S&P 500 Closes at Record High

I planned to contribute 2k/month to VFIAX (Vanguard 500 Index Admiral) but as the value continues to increase it gets harder to contribute. Any thoughts or tips for my nervousness? Why only US large cap stocks? As mentioned diversification like International stocks is a way to hedge against 100% US large cap stocks Do you think the market will be up from current number in 5 or 10 years. If yes then you will be ahead. I started do this in my taxable account in 2013 consistently for the past decade and throughout there were plenty of periods of”all time highs”. I took advantage of tax lost harvesting during period of pull backs and bear markets and was still able to stay in the market during that stretch in 2022 and in hind site very happy I...
by Xrayman69
Sun Jan 21, 2024 2:50 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: S&P 500 Closes at Record High
Replies: 203
Views: 26129

Re: S&P 500 Closes at Record High

I planned to contribute 2k/month to VFIAX (Vanguard 500 Index Admiral) but as the value continues to increase it gets harder to contribute. Any thoughts or tips for my nervousness? Why only US large cap stocks? As mentioned diversification like International stocks is a way to hedge against 100% US large cap stocks Do you think the market will be up from current number in 5 or 10 years. If yes then you will be ahead. I started do this in my taxable account in 2013 consistently for the past decade and throughout there were plenty of periods of”all time highs”. I took advantage of tax lost harvesting during period of pull backs and bear markets and was still able to stay in the market during that stretch in 2022 and in hind site very happy I...
by Xrayman69
Sat Jan 20, 2024 5:35 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: At what invested net worth do contributions start to matter less?
Replies: 48
Views: 8281

Re: At what invested net worth do contributions start to matter less?

Time for growth is also a significant factor. For example 10K a year in a 4M portfolio may not mean much in a1 year time frame but that 10K over 10-20 years within the portfolio has time to “compound/grow”.

If you max out tax efficient accounts the rest that’s not spent must go somewhere and therefore might as well put in taxable portion of the portfolio based upon AA
by Xrayman69
Sat Jan 20, 2024 12:18 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: S&P 500 Closes at Record High
Replies: 203
Views: 26129

Re: S&P 500 Closes at Record High

In addition there was an approximately annual 2% dividend yield during this 2 year round trip.


Japan’s market is nearing 30 years for its round trip from its all time high.
by Xrayman69
Fri Jan 19, 2024 7:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Favorite Easy Meal?
Replies: 127
Views: 14344

Re: Favorite Easy Meal?

Iceberg lettuce head. Cut into 1/4 and thus a wedge. Blue cheese crumble, a few cut grape tomatoes, bacon bits, and blue cheese. And some croutons.

Aka a wedge salad.
by Xrayman69
Fri Jan 19, 2024 7:04 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Leave family temporarily for new job in Bay Area?
Replies: 88
Views: 8122

Re: Leave family temporarily for new job in Bay Area?

lakpr wrote: Thu Jan 18, 2024 9:09 pm I think your wife made a mistake in searching for a job internally. If she rejects the job offer, she is ineligible for severance payment too; at least that is how most internal job offers work.

If you are being let go and offered severance, accept tge severance and always look elsewhere for a job.
Does seniority come into play? Not sure if seniority even matters given she was let go to start.
by Xrayman69
Mon Jan 15, 2024 1:08 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Beating the market too easy?
Replies: 51
Views: 6644

Re: Beating the market too easy?

jebmke wrote: Mon Jan 15, 2024 10:51 am come back in another 30-40 years and report back on long term performance.
Are you kidding? 30-40 years. 30-40 months is a typical cycle.

It’s not hard to pick winners. It’s hard to determine entry and exit points while optimizing effeciencies picking more winners than losers or neutrals.
by Xrayman69
Sat Jan 13, 2024 9:07 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Backdoor Roth Staging
Replies: 17
Views: 2041

Re: Backdoor Roth Staging

Purchased 8K of VFIAX on January 2. Couldn’t it convert until the 5 business days passed. Will need to pay the tax on approximately $200 of gains. Oh well. I had funds in my MM funds but couldn’t seem to identify the method of selecting this source to buy the tIRA.
by Xrayman69
Mon Jan 08, 2024 1:23 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Berkshire Hathoway (BRK.B) stock
Replies: 16
Views: 2981

Re: Berkshire Hathoway (BRK.B) stock

I also hod baby-B shares and now it only makes up 1% of my total investments. Purchased about 15/years ago when I did not have my current predominantly BH investing slant. I no longer add individual stocks to my taxable account but fortunate to just purchase VFIAX every Friday and first business day of the month without concern for the yield.

I think Berkshire is a good company and in my opinion a value equivalent fund. I’m comfortable holding this long term and transferring to my future heirs or charity from the gains
by Xrayman69
Sat Jan 06, 2024 9:27 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Apple ... stay the course or scale back?
Replies: 155
Views: 27314

Re: Apple ... stay the course or scale back?

Have had apple stock in a taxable account and holding since 2009. It has grown in value accordingly. Have not added and just allowed to appreciate and grow. This is a small overall percentage but a fairly sizable number. We have used these individual stocks as the means in which our family makes charitable contributions.
by Xrayman69
Fri Jan 05, 2024 6:27 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is the Magnificant 7 stocks too heavily weighted within vanguards S&P 500 funds
Replies: 47
Views: 9193

Re: Is the Magnificant 7 stocks too heavily weighted within vanguards S&P 500 funds

Church Lady wrote: Fri Jan 05, 2024 4:31 pm OP,
You could look at RSP (equal weighting of S&P 500 components) ETF if you don't like concentrating on seven stocks. Best held in a tax free or tax deferred account.
RSP, expense ratio is .20%. Seems ok expense ratio.
by Xrayman69
Fri Jan 05, 2024 3:15 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is the Magnificant 7 stocks too heavily weighted within vanguards S&P 500 funds
Replies: 47
Views: 9193

Is the Magnificant 7 stocks too heavily weighted within vanguards S&P 500 funds

Is the magnificent 7 stocks such as Apple, Microsoft, Tesla et al. too heavily weighted within vanguards S&P 500 funds or are they evenly weighted?
by Xrayman69
Wed Jan 03, 2024 8:45 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 1st Time Backdoor Roth Contribution
Replies: 26
Views: 2375

Re: 1st Time Backdoor Roth Contribution

Ok, so I know there are plenty of posts on backdoor Roth conversions and how to do them. I’ve read through a bunch but I just want to make sure I’m doing it right. I’m unsure how much we will make this year due to some potential job changes for me and my spouse, so trying to play it safe with the backdoor Roth. My situation: Currently I have a 403b, spouse has a 401K with a former employer. We don’t have any normal IRA’s but do have Roth IRA’s we have contributed to in prior years. So to do the backdoor Roth I should: - open an IRA - contribute to the IRA (but don’t invest the $ in stocks, just contribute) - contact the provider to do the transfer to the Roth IRA from the regular IRA - then there’s a form to fill out when we do our taxes n...
by Xrayman69
Wed Jan 03, 2024 7:05 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Won the Game Question
Replies: 77
Views: 14874

Re: Won the Game Question

WapelloHawk wrote: Wed Jan 03, 2024 4:00 pm When my dividends and bond interest exceeded my annual spending.
When dividends are paid out doesn’t nearly the same amount of your fund decrease? For example stock is $100 per share. Pays a dividend of $1 per share and thus the stock now valued at $99.

I understand theoretical the stock may have an upside due to he ability to pay a dividend but the share holder must pay a tax on the dividend paid out regardless
by Xrayman69
Wed Jan 03, 2024 7:04 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Won the Game Question
Replies: 77
Views: 14874

Re: Won the Game Question

WapelloHawk wrote: Wed Jan 03, 2024 4:00 pm When my dividends and bond interest exceeded my annual spending.
When dividends are paid out doesn’t nearly the same amount of your fund decrease? For example stock is $100 per share. Pays a dividend of $1 per share and thus the stock now valued at $99.

I understand theoretical the stock may have an upside due to he ability to pay a dividend but the share holder must pay a tax on the dividend paid out regardless
by Xrayman69
Wed Jan 03, 2024 6:33 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 1st Time Backdoor Roth Contribution
Replies: 26
Views: 2375

Re: 1st Time Backdoor Roth Contribution

Ok, so I know there are plenty of posts on backdoor Roth conversions and how to do them. I’ve read through a bunch but I just want to make sure I’m doing it right. I’m unsure how much we will make this year due to some potential job changes for me and my spouse, so trying to play it safe with the backdoor Roth. My situation: Currently I have a 403b, spouse has a 401K with a former employer. We don’t have any normal IRA’s but do have Roth IRA’s we have contributed to in prior years. So to do the backdoor Roth I should: - open an IRA - contribute to the IRA (but don’t invest the $ in stocks, just contribute) - contact the provider to do the transfer to the Roth IRA from the regular IRA - then there’s a form to fill out when we do our taxes n...
by Xrayman69
Sun Dec 31, 2023 10:27 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: FIRE for 44 year old physician and Investment Strategy
Replies: 28
Views: 5239

Re: FIRE for 44 year old physician and Investment Strategy

You are rich. I didn’t see anything about FIRE in your post. Why on earth would you go do consulting for the higher income potential? I understand your desire to switch medical fields if you would find another more interesting but why do you care about the lower salary? Who cares about reimbursement when you have more than 20M of assets? Unless your expenses are sky high, I can’t imagine any of this matters to you. But in seeking to learn, alpha is teaching as well. His questions contain a lot of interesting information. As to his motives—when you have a ton of money any mistakes cost a ton of money too. With wealth comes the responsibility to manage with prudence; and part of prudence is to seek knowledgeable advice. This forum is a widel...
by Xrayman69
Sun Dec 31, 2023 10:25 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: FIRE for 44 year old physician and Investment Strategy
Replies: 28
Views: 5239

Re: FIRE for 44 year old physician and Investment Strategy

What would warren buffet do for his spouse when he passes for investment vehicles? Keeping it simple is not necessarily a terrible thing. The trust- go spend a full day or two with a legal and financial service - pay the single day fee and get personal specific advice, then provide follow up to this group so as to share knowledge. It may take more than a day for your financial consulting visit because they will need to know exactly your goals. The other stuff as far as to what to do with your professional journey going forward- clearly define your goals, passion and time commitment. It’s ok to not have a passion and just a desire to glide path and live life with joy and pleasure, don’t feel any “social” pressure to have to do something. It’...
by Xrayman69
Sun Dec 31, 2023 10:03 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: AARP; worth joining?
Replies: 74
Views: 10040

Re: AARP; worth joining?

livesoft wrote: Sun Dec 31, 2023 8:28 am
doobiedoo wrote: Sun Dec 31, 2023 8:26 amWhat's the advantage of joining AARP after Medicare?
Discounts on supplemental plans I think. More or less free Pilates classes and gym memberships.
Discounts of gym membership?? Which ones ?
by Xrayman69
Sun Dec 31, 2023 9:48 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: At what net worth did you start not sweating the "small stuff"
Replies: 137
Views: 27067

Re: At what net worth did you start not sweating the "small stuff"

We are comfortably set and there was no light switch that we said “don’t sweat the small stuff” but rather a glide path process where I started prioritizing comfort and time vs the cost/effort (so called small stuff). Grocery store - I don’t sweat the price of our standard items. Gas station- won’t wait in line (ie costco if greater than 3 cars deep to save the .30 gallon on a 20 gallon tank) Will not fly domestic red eye to save money for leisure trips (ok for business to permit me to stay home longer or get home earlier) In OPs situation, i would absolutely dive into this situation as it could be a recurring issue with the manner in which the lodging was booked using the process and I would want clarity for future use of the processs. Rec...
by Xrayman69
Sat Dec 30, 2023 9:47 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What big hairy audacious goals do you have for 2024?
Replies: 109
Views: 15382

Re: What big hairy audacious goals do you have for 2024?

Have a letter available to share with my team by December 2024 that 2025 will be my final full year of full time dedication to the business/company at hand. My goal in 2025 is to start the process of unwinding my role as a senior leader, and at a minimum go to 80% with a trajectory towards 50% over 5 years.
by Xrayman69
Sat Dec 30, 2023 9:35 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Rate of return on primary residence
Replies: 56
Views: 6781

Re: Rate of return on primary residence

Mandatory requirements that are non-negotiable: food, shelter and clothing. The level of which an individual and family require and have the means are variable. Our current main home is our forever home and thus on the side of mandatory expense that has continued to decrease relatively over the years since our purchase in 2009. Other than the property taxes, insurance and upkeep the “mortgage “ is fixed and decreasing relatively speaking related to inflation adjustments. Rent in an equivalent home has increase at least 100% since 2009 while our mortgage remains constant. We are conservative in the sense that having a roof over our heads is one of the highest priorities since we started our journey. It is not an investment other than what wi...
by Xrayman69
Sat Dec 30, 2023 2:07 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Airline frequent flyer status: how much is it worth?
Replies: 33
Views: 3442

Re: Airline frequent flyer status: how much is it worth?

Home based in Seattle. Most of my personal business travel (which is substantial annually) is to the Midwest. I have about 70 flights per year and total about 115K seat miles annually. Alaska airlines is my carrier and I would say I receive about 15K in added value annually as part of their highest tier and one world highest tier. 98% rate of upgrades to first class. I receive over 200K bonus miles per year. The credit card gives us miles and a companion round trip pass every year. Permitted the opportunity to provide status my spouse who travels with my kid about 20K miles annually for leisure annually and probably about 10K mikes with me on business trips. Access to the lounges worth about $650 year. The bonus miles about $3000 equivalent...
by Xrayman69
Fri Dec 29, 2023 5:35 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Cathie Wood - What's the story?
Replies: 83
Views: 13644

Re: Cathie Wood - What's the story?

Charles Joseph wrote: Wed Dec 27, 2023 11:57 am The most enlightening thing to know about Cathie Wood is that her flagship fund, ARKK (ARK Innovation ETF) has underperformed the S&P 500 by more than 47% over the past five years.

There's nothing else you need to know.
EXACTLY.
by Xrayman69
Thu Dec 28, 2023 8:53 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is Solar Worth It?
Replies: 193
Views: 45377

Re: Is Solar Worth It?

watchnerd wrote: Thu Dec 28, 2023 12:36 pm
MrNarwhal wrote: Thu Dec 28, 2023 12:11 pm Based on location, I expect winter solar production would be poor. Do you have any interest in installing air conditioning? Then you'd have a better solar use case to offset summer AC load.
We don't really need AC, we live right next to the Sound and it's pretty breezy.

What most do around here is over-produce in the summer and bank the credits for winter use; the credits expire on March 31 each year, anyway.
The March 31date is that for everyone or just for your individual circumstance? We had ours installed and up and operational mid March of 2023, I just assumed it was March because of my install date here in Seattle.
by Xrayman69
Thu Dec 28, 2023 8:18 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Am I the only investor allocating more towards Bonds in 2024?
Replies: 149
Views: 30542

Re: Am I the only investor allocating more towards Bonds in 2024?

Probably will add more bonds as part of the glide from 100:0 towards goal of 80:20 currently about 90:10
by Xrayman69
Thu Dec 28, 2023 7:58 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What was the investment climate like in the bull market 10 years ago?
Replies: 55
Views: 7246

Re: What was the investment climate like in the bull market 10 years ago?

Didn’t realize it was a bull market. 2013, 2003, or 2023 just stay the course.
by Xrayman69
Thu Dec 28, 2023 7:58 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What was the investment climate like in the bull market 10 years ago?
Replies: 55
Views: 7246

Re: What was the investment climate like in the bull market 10 years ago?

Didn’t realize it was a bull market. 2013, 2003, or 2023 just stay the course.