Search found 1711 matches

by BarbBrooklyn
Thu Mar 21, 2024 12:25 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Real estate buying - NYC specific
Replies: 8
Views: 647

Re: Real estate buying - NYC specific

Have your lawyer (or you) read two years of Board Meeting minutes. Think long standing lawsuits, delinquent tenants, complaints about heat, water, noise.

Can you hang around and talk to current owners?
by BarbBrooklyn
Sun Mar 17, 2024 7:15 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Parents building a new house - how should they pay for it?
Replies: 62
Views: 5093

Re: Parents building a new house - how should they pay for it?

Is there an HOA that does all snow removal, landscaping and outside maintenance? Do they have there wherewithal to hire significant household help for domestic, indoor chores?

Or is the close by sibling and wife expected to "pitch in" as your parents, already not in good shape, become more frail?
by BarbBrooklyn
Sat Mar 16, 2024 3:50 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Dumped from PT due to low Medicare reimbursements?
Replies: 59
Views: 4135

Re: Dumped from PT due to low Medicare reimbursements?

Isn't there a Medicare appeal process?
by BarbBrooklyn
Fri Mar 15, 2024 4:01 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Spousal social security
Replies: 16
Views: 1781

Re: Spousal social security

I have gotten more accurate information by calling the main SS number and making a phone appointment. You give them your information and they call back at a set time.
by BarbBrooklyn
Sat Mar 09, 2024 7:01 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Have any of you Frugal Zebras Changed Your (Spending) Stripes?
Replies: 139
Views: 12976

Re: Have any of you Frugal Zebras Changed Your (Spending) Stripes?

I retired at the end of 2018.

It took me until early 2020 to spring for a "big" vacation: 5 nights in Rome and then onto a cruise ship (Balcony cabin) for a 20 day trip through the Middle East. It was the best! And the world shut down shortly after our return.

We spend more on travel (business class); I take bridges and tunnels with tolls (my dad is rolling in his grave) and I pay for parking when we go to my DH's medical appointments when he's not feeling up to public transportation.

Being frugal when I was younger has allowed me some comforts that I am very grateful for in my "young" old age.
by BarbBrooklyn
Sat Mar 09, 2024 4:11 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Nursing homes, Medicaid and credit freezes
Replies: 4
Views: 685

Re: Nursing homes, Medicaid and credit freezes

OP, I understand that you are asking about a "credit freeze" and not a "credit check" (I just saw your question on another forum). But isn't the reason to lift a credit freeze so that someone can do a credit check?

I recently agreed to be a guarantor on a loan. I waited until the lender contacted me and I asked which agency they wanted unfrozen. I unfroze for several hours while they did their check and reinstituted the freeze.

Is there another reason you are asking about a credit freeze? I wouldn't lift one until it was requested.
by BarbBrooklyn
Fri Mar 08, 2024 6:53 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Nursing homes, Medicaid and credit freezes
Replies: 4
Views: 685

Re: Nursing homes, Medicaid and credit freezes

Medicaid is very State specific.

There is Community Medicaid and Long Term Care Medicaid. They each have very different qualifications.

LTC Medicaid is interested in income and assets. And where those have been spent or gifted, usually over the past 5 years, termed the "look back" period.

I've never heard of Medicaid doing a credit check.
by BarbBrooklyn
Fri Mar 08, 2024 7:07 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: First bonus, taxed at almost 50%!
Replies: 55
Views: 3534

Re: First bonus, taxed at almost 50%!

Being a municipal employee, I never got bonuses, but I occasionally got lump sum back pay

It always seemed to me that they withheld taxes on those payments as if we earned that amount on a regular basis.
by BarbBrooklyn
Fri Mar 08, 2024 5:34 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Advice on Paying for Care of Elderly Uncle
Replies: 62
Views: 6633

Re: Advice on Paying for Care of Elderly Uncle

In the world of "caring for you aging relatives" that I've sometimes inhabited and often observed observed, this scenario is called the three-legged stool. The leg that is propping up the illusion of independence has to pull out in order for change to occur.

Ultimately, we only have control over our own behavior.
by BarbBrooklyn
Wed Mar 06, 2024 8:11 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Giving (unequal) money to adult children
Replies: 90
Views: 8407

Re: Giving (unequal) money to adult children

I am certain that the "receiving child" and spouse will not advertise. My children have been brought up, as I was, to expect no inheritance. My parents were prodigious savers and thank God, because mom spent the last 4 1/2 years in a Nursing Home, 10k per month. There was, amazingly, a bit left over at the end. I'm 70, as is their stepfather. We are frugal, but we travel and give generously to our synagogue. I have a net worth (not counting my ccop) of about 1.5M. I have a non-COLAed pension and SS. My heart tells me to give this one time "donation" to the family of my kid who struggles. I don't want there to be a question of "can we afford a copay" to get in the way of her or my granddaughter's medical care.
by BarbBrooklyn
Tue Mar 05, 2024 8:18 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Giving (unequal) money to adult children
Replies: 90
Views: 8407

Re: Giving (unequal) money to adult children

"That being said, a couple things. I would never loan money to family again. Did it once to brother in law. He repaid eventually but when I gave him the loan I did understand it might not happen. Didn’t bother me, but he avoided us the whole time it was in repayment. (I think because he was always behind. Have heard much worse than that." This is a gift, not a loan that I'm considering. And it will be paid directly to the charitable organization that is making them the loan (which is interest free). I am doing this with no strings attached. I found out long ago not to give money with conditions: it leads to resentment on all sides. With regard to transparency, when my SIL asked me to be guarantor, he asked explicitly for me not to...
by BarbBrooklyn
Tue Mar 05, 2024 2:44 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Giving (unequal) money to adult children
Replies: 90
Views: 8407

Re: Giving (unequal) money to adult children

OP here; I am blown away yet again by the wisdom and thoughtfulness of this special group.

You have pointed out some issues that hadn't occurred to me and that I'm going to put into the pot to let stew for a week or so before I come to a decision.

I promise to update you on what I decide and if there are any consequences.
by BarbBrooklyn
Tue Mar 05, 2024 9:41 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Giving (unequal) money to adult children
Replies: 90
Views: 8407

Re: Giving (unequal) money to adult children

I am grateful to all of you for your wisdom. No, not going to get into the very tangled family dynamics, which are beyond the scope of this discussion. No addiction and no alcohol. Adult child's SPOUSE is steady and responsible, if not sophisticated about money. Grew up very poor, no good examples in his family of folks saving for a rainy day or investing. Two years ago, eldest, hyper-responsible child called me in a panic when she was about to close on a HELOC and realized she was 45K short (for a short period, bonus or something was late) of what she needed. She wasn't calling to ask for money; I finally calmed her down and said, I can have that money in your account in one week if you can pay it back in a couple of months. She was shocke...
by BarbBrooklyn
Tue Mar 05, 2024 7:34 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Giving (unequal) money to adult children
Replies: 90
Views: 8407

Giving (unequal) money to adult children

I trust the mods will close this if they feel it's strictly a relationship issue. I have three adult children, all married, two with children. Two are thriving. One (married and with a small child) is not. My ex-DH and I both contribute to supplement grandchild's life--think summer camp, afterschool enrichment. Adult child's husband approached me in 2022 to act a guarantor on an interest free loan from a benevolent society to catch up on late rent, mostly due to pandemic related lack of income. (He now has a steady civil service job; spouse (my child) works very part time, due to both physical and mental health issues. Loan was for $7000. That loan is almost paid off; he approached me last week because they need to re-borrow that amount for...
by BarbBrooklyn
Mon Mar 04, 2024 6:23 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Helping mom with finances - how do I get access?
Replies: 48
Views: 4011

Re: Helping mom with finances - how do I get access?

OP, there's a little book called "5 at 55" by an Elder Law attorney named Grimaldi.

You need to get POA and other End of Life documents sets while mom is "still herself". Life sometimes happens in an instant.
by BarbBrooklyn
Fri Mar 01, 2024 6:27 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Another SSDI / IRMAA Question
Replies: 11
Views: 1250

Re: Another SSDI / IRMAA Question

I don't know the answer, but it's possible that filing separately might be one way to address this.
by BarbBrooklyn
Fri Mar 01, 2024 6:21 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Feels impossible to take the foot off the pedal of saving, but saving at the boglehead pace is stressful.
Replies: 88
Views: 13778

Re: Feels impossible to take the foot off the pedal of saving, but saving at the boglehead pace is stressful.

StevieG72 wrote: Thu Feb 29, 2024 9:48 pm I save a ridiculous amount of my income, but spend rather freely on travel. My advice would be to spend on experiences with the kids. They really do grow up too fast.
This. My ex and I saved like demons. To quote my eldest, when she was in her 20s, "we didn't have the fancy clothes or toys our classmates had, but when my music teacher said I needed an upgraded instrument, you guys had the money to split the cost with me.".

Travel (road trips that included lots of factory tours, canal locks and fisheries), music lessons and enrichment summer camp were our "spends". Not fancy gaming systems.

Spend wisely, save audaciously.
by BarbBrooklyn
Thu Feb 29, 2024 6:21 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How much will you get as Costco Citi reward this year?
Replies: 112
Views: 16732

Re: How much will you get as Costco Citi reward this year?

LilyFleur wrote: Thu Feb 29, 2024 2:18 pm
BarbBrooklyn wrote: Thu Feb 29, 2024 1:33 pm Almost $800. I did the direct deposit thing through my Citi account. The money was deposited within 24 hours.
I received an email with my Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card reward certificate. It has a barcode on it and says it has to be redeemed in the warehouse.

I really don't go into the warehouse anymore.

How can I deposit this to my checking account?
Lily, I did it by going to the Citibank site; there was an option there to link a bank account and then deposit the certificate.

It has to be over $300. I don't know if the fact that you have a business account makes a difference.
by BarbBrooklyn
Thu Feb 29, 2024 1:33 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How much will you get as Costco Citi reward this year?
Replies: 112
Views: 16732

Re: How much will you get as Costco Citi reward this year?

Almost $800. I did the direct deposit thing through my Citi account. The money was deposited within 24 hours.
by BarbBrooklyn
Thu Feb 29, 2024 8:27 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Roth conversion during retirement question
Replies: 51
Views: 5850

Re: Roth conversion during retirement question

Note that the "income" level that gets subjected to IRMAA on Medicare is MAGI.
by BarbBrooklyn
Tue Feb 27, 2024 8:14 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Advice on Paying for Care of Elderly Uncle
Replies: 62
Views: 6633

Re: Advice on Paying for Care of Elderly Uncle

OP, I hope today's meeting went well and was productive.
by BarbBrooklyn
Tue Feb 27, 2024 4:01 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Cancer Diagnosis Hubby
Replies: 39
Views: 5811

Re: Cancer Diagnosis Hubby

Does his job provide any disability insurance? Does he have any other disability insurance, perhaps through a professional organization?
by BarbBrooklyn
Tue Feb 27, 2024 7:44 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to deal with/spend too much money?
Replies: 91
Views: 9040

Re: How to deal with/spend too much money?

You don't have to travel 24 hours by plane to exotic destinations.

You can fly to some places in the Euro Zone and board a cruise that ends up in Dubai.

You can fly business class to the Grand canyon, Zion and Bryce.

You can book an all inclusive package to a resort in Mexico or the DR.

You can take an ecotour of Costa Rica.

When you travel, book a private guide.

This sort of incremental spending can make travel much more relaxing.

And yes to giving something around 10% to your house of worship, vetted community organization or the like.
by BarbBrooklyn
Mon Feb 26, 2024 7:43 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Advice on Paying for Care of Elderly Uncle
Replies: 62
Views: 6633

Re: Advice on Paying for Care of Elderly Uncle

Call_Me_Op wrote: Mon Feb 26, 2024 7:08 pm There is a consultant visiting my parents tomorrow from a non-profit elderly care organization called Ethos. Hopefully, that starts some positive things happening.
Are you able to be there to hear what is actually said? I found that my mom (with a somewhat similar profile to your mom) often heard something very different from what was actually being said by doctors, lawyers etc.

It might be well to have another set of ears, even just on a speaker phone.
by BarbBrooklyn
Mon Feb 26, 2024 6:25 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Advice on Paying for Care of Elderly Uncle
Replies: 62
Views: 6633

Re: Advice on Paying for Care of Elderly Uncle

It would also be good to check to make sure your uncles empty house is still insured too. Often there are clauses in home insurance policies which limit coverage after a house has been vacant more than a couple of months. Many years ago, uncle made the brilliant unilateral decision to discontinue his homeowner's insurance. His house has been vacant for 12 years and had a pipe burst a few years ago causing quite a bit of damage. the only reason the is worth ~$750k is the land. And the books are in the house with the burst pipe? Agree with the fact that mom needs to be protected from doing nothing. Please get dad to call a lawyer with experience doing this sort of work. Many Elder Law attorneys have social workers on staff who guide families...
by BarbBrooklyn
Mon Feb 26, 2024 5:55 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Cancel my health insurance?
Replies: 102
Views: 13163

Re: Cancel my health insurance?

I'm curious what was said that led you to believe that the physicians only wanted cash patients.

I assume you were talking to receptionists and not physicians?
by BarbBrooklyn
Mon Feb 26, 2024 4:29 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Advice on Paying for Care of Elderly Uncle
Replies: 62
Views: 6633

Re: Advice on Paying for Care of Elderly Uncle

Uncle has 200k. In home care is going to run him quite a bit of money per month, depending on the quality of the folks hired and how many hours per day he needs.

You need to get these elders to sit down with an attorney who understands Medicaid regs in their state because that's where this is heading.

The house is an exempt asset until he dies. Medicaid will place a lien that gets satisfied after death.
by BarbBrooklyn
Mon Feb 26, 2024 4:07 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Advice on Paying for Care of Elderly Uncle
Replies: 62
Views: 6633

Re: Advice on Paying for Care of Elderly Uncle

OP, At this stage you can pretty much count on a crisis happening where uncle makes a trip to the hospital after some kind of medical issue. It sounds cold hearted but when this happens you mom (and or your siblings) should refuse to take him home so he is forced into skilled nursing. His $200k will last for a while during which time disposal of the house should be arranged. Where is the sibling who is inheriting everything? This should be the person coordinating care. That sibling lives with my parents, is about 65 years old, and is a difficult person in his own right (very, very temperamental). He makes more trouble for my parents than provides help. For some reason, my uncle apparently favors him. In fact, it will be very difficult deal...
by BarbBrooklyn
Mon Feb 26, 2024 4:06 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Advice on Paying for Care of Elderly Uncle
Replies: 62
Views: 6633

Re: Advice on Paying for Care of Elderly Uncle

A wise friend who has been down the elder care road often says "there will be no plan as long as you are the plan."

Agencies/Social Workers/Adult Protective Services seldom step in when there is even a ghost of a family caregiver around.

Your mom may need to step WAY back and say "I cannot do this any longer" and mean it

If he goes into the hospital, you start telling the discharge planners that sending him home would be an "unsafe discharge".
by BarbBrooklyn
Fri Feb 23, 2024 5:30 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 0% 60 month Car loan in todays 5% Savings Environment
Replies: 43
Views: 4526

Re: 0% 60 month Car loan in todays 5% Savings Environment

I did exactly this in October 2021. Has worked out well.
by BarbBrooklyn
Sun Feb 18, 2024 3:35 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Protecting Assets Nursing Home Care
Replies: 64
Views: 9525

Re: Protecting Assets Nursing Home Care

I'm so sorry for your loss

Your updates will help many of us in the future.
by BarbBrooklyn
Fri Feb 16, 2024 2:25 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Edward Jones Refusing Disbursement of Inherited Funds
Replies: 7
Views: 1301

Re: Edward Jones Refusing Disbursement of Inherited Funds

New Jersey freezes the assets pending a tax waiver (release of lien) for estate and inheritance tax. However, before the tax waivers are issued, the financial institution may release 50% of the account, and you may change the investments within the other 50%. If the Will does not create any trusts, and if all of the beneficiaries are Class A (persons who are exempt from inheritance tax), (or if the particular asset passes to a Class A beneficiary) you may give the financial institution a Form L-8, https://www.nj.gov/treasury/taxation/pdf/other_forms/inheritance/itl8.pdf, which is a self-executing waiver. That allows the financial institution to release the entire account. The lawyer handling the estate should have told the original poster ...
by BarbBrooklyn
Wed Feb 14, 2024 12:35 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Talking with my Dad about Finances
Replies: 16
Views: 2084

Re: Talking with my Dad about Finances

There's a really good little book called "Five and 55" by Grimaldi about the five documents that one needs to have in place at that age.

It might be a place to start a discussion.

My hard ball line with parents about POA is "either the state can make your decisions for you, or one of us "kids" can. Which would you prefer?"
by BarbBrooklyn
Wed Feb 14, 2024 7:10 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Help with Taxes and Owing More than I Can Afford
Replies: 36
Views: 3221

Re: Help with Taxes and Owing More than I Can Afford

Before you do anything, go into "forms" and make sure that you haven't double entered anything-- like listed the withdrawal twice in different places.

Or maybe even start a new return.

If you post your filing status and actual numbers, someone here will be able to tell you if your worries are justified or not.
by BarbBrooklyn
Tue Feb 13, 2024 2:13 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: When your poa is out of date
Replies: 8
Views: 1212

Re: When your poa is out of date

Was this a security challenge (who is your employer, what was your first grade teacher's name)?

In that case, you would need to know mom's answers
by BarbBrooklyn
Sun Feb 11, 2024 7:19 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How are my Fixed Funds actually invested?
Replies: 3
Views: 520

Re: How are my Fixed Funds actually invested?

alec wrote: Sat Feb 10, 2024 5:10 pm See either

1. The Asset Allocation of this page https://www.trsnyc.org/memberportal/Inv ... ReturnFund

2. Page 4 of this: https://www.trsnyc.org/memberportal/Web ... folios2023

3. The more comprehensive annual report: https://www.trsnyc.org/memberportal/Web ... s/ACFR2023
Thank you SO much,! I was familiar with the first two links, but not the third. It told me exactly what I wanted to know--TIPS, Corporate bonds and Government bonds.
by BarbBrooklyn
Sun Feb 11, 2024 7:11 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Cancel my health insurance?
Replies: 102
Views: 13163

Re: Cancel my health insurance?

Do you have a primary care physician?

The way I generally find highly qualified doctors is by choosing a teaching hospital that is accessible geographically.

You find a PCP who is affiliated with that hospital and who is in network with your insurance.

Your PCP recommends specialists who are affiliated with that hospital and in your network.

Every major hospital I know has a "find a doctor" option. You can check if your insurance is accepted by each doctor.
by BarbBrooklyn
Sat Feb 10, 2024 4:28 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How are my Fixed Funds actually invested?
Replies: 3
Views: 520

How are my Fixed Funds actually invested?

I am a retired NYC Department of Education employee. 45% of my retirement funds are invested in the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) Fixed Fund, currently guaranteed at 7% per year.

The other 55% of my portfolio is invested in VTSAX.

I am trying to figure out if I'm actually 55/45 or if my TRS funds are at greater risk.
by BarbBrooklyn
Fri Feb 09, 2024 2:56 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Parent requesting to have assets transferred out of their name
Replies: 46
Views: 3595

Re: Parent requesting to have assets transferred out of their name

OP, a solution we've used in my family is to simply gift assets from parent to child. Child agrees to use assets for benefit of parent. It is very easy and very cheap and very effective if child is trustworthy. There are potential downsides -- including the fact that a gift retains her cost basis, while an inheritance would step-up the basis. But when the alternative is (perhaps) no inheritance at all (due to parent being manipulated/scammed), a bird in the hand may be worth 2 or 3 in the bush. Basically, I want to say that, in addition to paperwork-and-bureacracy-heavy solutions, with varying degrees of cost and complexity and effectiveness, she can always just give you complete legal title to the assets. Best wishes. This works out if yo...
by BarbBrooklyn
Fri Feb 09, 2024 2:47 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Parent requesting to have assets transferred out of their name
Replies: 46
Views: 3595

Re: Parent requesting to have assets transferred out of their name

Find a good Elder Law attorney in her state and arrange either a video call that you both attend or arrange for her to go in person and you attend via call. In addition to sorting how best to "lock up" her money, the lawyer can send a cease and desist letter to the criminal in question, and advise whether involve law enforcement now or later, and how best to report prior abuse. I am going to action the Elder Law attorney as the likely next step. After dealing with this situation for over 30 years my perspective is not as fresh and objective. Also see above for some more information regarding past and present circumstances of the offender. Agree with you about LE engagement and revisiting recent theft again. Despite the modest siz...
by BarbBrooklyn
Fri Feb 09, 2024 8:21 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Parent requesting to have assets transferred out of their name
Replies: 46
Views: 3595

Re: Parent requesting to have assets transferred out of their name

Find a good Elder Law attorney in her state and arrange either a video call that you both attend or arrange for her to go in person and you attend via call.

In addition to sorting how best to "lock up" her money, the lawyer can send a cease and desist letter to the criminal in question, and advise whether involve law enforcement now or later, and how best to report prior abuse.
by BarbBrooklyn
Thu Feb 08, 2024 4:00 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Any tips as I enter agreement with senior facility for mom's care?
Replies: 21
Views: 2435

Re: Any tips as I enter agreement with senior facility for mom's care?

Has your mother been professionally assessed as needing IL and not AL or something else?

If you contact your local Area Agency on Aging, they can usually provide such an assessment. Many doctors have SWs or RNs on their teams who can provide these.

Figuring out what mom needs BEFORE moving her someplace will save you lots of heartache and community fees.

How much is mom's SS? It doesn't seem wise for you to foot the entire bill each month unless you have fully funded your own retirement and then some.
by BarbBrooklyn
Tue Feb 06, 2024 8:28 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Financial Planner Withdrawal Rate Goes from 3% to 11%
Replies: 24
Views: 2638

Re: Financial Planner Withdrawal Rate Goes from 3% to 11%

We have access to an extremely low cost CFP through my former employer. We have visited twice and each time I specified that I am planning to live to 105. This is a realistic number based on my health, age of death of close relatives and advances in medicine I highly recommend adjusting your plan to get you to at least age 100. You'll sleep better. You know the OP's health and family medical history? Or you are just saying average age of death will be 100 in 20 years? Not sure how you know the OP would sleep better unless you are trying to make them sleep worse with your advice to start with :-). If I make it to 85 it would be a miracle of modern science. I am simply telling the OP what I did. He seems anxious that s/he's only planned to 9...
by BarbBrooklyn
Tue Feb 06, 2024 3:53 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Financial Planner Withdrawal Rate Goes from 3% to 11%
Replies: 24
Views: 2638

Re: Financial Planner Withdrawal Rate Goes from 3% to 11%

We have access to an extremely low cost CFP through my former employer.

We have visited twice and each time I specified that I am planning to live to 105.

This is a realistic number based on my health, age of death of close relatives and advances in medicine

I highly recommend adjusting your plan to get you to at least age 100. You'll sleep better.
by BarbBrooklyn
Sun Feb 04, 2024 6:12 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: New Car Extended Warranty?
Replies: 50
Views: 4474

Re: New Car Extended Warranty?

You can buy the extended warranty at any time up until your 3 year/36K mile full warranty expires. Especially if you are financing the car it would make sense to not buy one until then so you do not pay interest on a car loan to buy the extended warranty and finance it. Another reason not to buy the extended warranty when you buy the car is that my understanding is that if the car is totaled then you will get a prorated refund of the extended warranty. If you sell it while the full warranty is still in place you will only get a prorated percentage of the cost back. I have a Subaru Forester which will be three years old in a few months so I am getting quotes to see if buying a 10 year extended warranty makes sense. Part of my reasoning is f...
by BarbBrooklyn
Fri Feb 02, 2024 4:32 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Mechanics of QCD [Qualified Charitable Distribution]
Replies: 21
Views: 2476

Re: Mechanics of QCD [Qualified Charitable Distribution]

Flobes wrote, "Important: Once you arrive at the "Sell Vanguard Funds" page, at the top of the "Where's the money coming from? dialog, there will be a message within a highlight-yellow box: "You are able to make a qualified charitable distribution." If you do not see this message, Vanguard does not think account owner is 70.5 plus one day." I don't get this message and I don't get the option to send funds to a charity. I think there's a glitch in the Vanguard system, at least as applied to me. The IT folks are supposed to be looking into this. We'll see. I turned 70.5 yesterday. When I try to use this method, I get a "withholding taxes" option at the end which makes me very nervous. If I'm sendi...
by BarbBrooklyn
Mon Jan 29, 2024 7:43 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Managing your affairs when you live alone and have no family or true friends
Replies: 133
Views: 21853

Re: Managing your affairs when you live alone and have no family or true friends

I live in a large coop apartment complex in NYC. My DH got taken to the ER early this AM. There are 3 folks in my complex (aside from management,) who have my keys. All 3 have teenagers. They feed my cat(s) when we're away and because this setup is already "set up" it took very little to put it into action this morning. I am quite the introvert and none of these folks are "friends". They are trustworthy acquaintances. I think it's time for downsizing from what sounds like a SFH to something a bit more communal. My ex Mil, in a CCRC has a dog. A Geriatric Care Manager sounds like they may be a good addition to your team right now. You small stroke gave you the opportunity to do some serious re-evaluation and planning. Tak...