Search found 70 matches
- Tue Jun 04, 2019 2:46 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Should All Grandkids Be Treated as Equal Members of Same Class?
- Replies: 104
- Views: 8799
Re: Should All Grandkids Be Treated as Equal Members of Same Class?
I tend to lean towards the thinking of split inheritance by children and not grand children. The children can then handle how much to give to their kids directly. If we were planning on leaving an inheritance, this thinking to us makes the most sense. But we also only have one 25 yr old son, who pr...
- Tue Jun 04, 2019 2:26 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Should All Grandkids Be Treated as Equal Members of Same Class?
- Replies: 104
- Views: 8799
Re: Should All Grandkids Be Treated as Equal Members of Same Class?
This seems to be a familiar feeling with many of our friends who have teenage kids...haha....

- Tue May 07, 2019 3:36 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Has anyone invested in marijuana stocks?
- Replies: 31
- Views: 3204
Re: Has anyone invested in marijuana stocks?
Just thought I would pass it alone as part of the topic. This should be of concern to anyone holding, or wishing to hold, an active security clearance because we can personally attest that it's a very real area of concern within the defense community. Numerous communications have been centered aroun...
- Mon May 06, 2019 6:54 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: CDs in early retirement to enable Roth Conversions?
- Replies: 33
- Views: 3522
Re: CDs in early retirement to enable Roth Conversions?
NotYourAverageJones , I am glad you have more income each year than you need for living expenses. This will give you flexibility to pay more taxes if (when) you decide to pay the taxes on RMDs or early Roth conversions. Although your first post in this thread appears to me to be talking about "CDs ...
- Mon May 06, 2019 4:06 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: U.S. stocks in free fall
- Replies: 12396
- Views: 2141412
Re: U.S. stocks in free fall
I have my Market Timing Lite® play all set up: Limit order for 1 share of VTI at ~1.5% below Friday's close. YOLO!!1! H-town says to move it to 5% :shock: Would not surprise me if it touched that intraday. Meh, I'll be fine if I catch my falling butter knife. Incidentally, every time I see a post b...
- Mon May 06, 2019 3:38 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: CDs in early retirement to enable Roth Conversions?
- Replies: 33
- Views: 3522
Re: CDs in early retirement to enable Roth Conversions?
... we take it year by year and will certainly adjust as needed and according to our situation. I strongly suggest that you do a projection to at least age 80 instead of year-by-year. A yearly analysis seems quite short-sighted to me. Well, now that you mention it, I am near sighted! 8-) Of course ...
- Sun May 05, 2019 6:04 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Expat couple filing taxes
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1163
Re: Expat couple filing taxes
I was pretty happy with TaxesForExpats . Probably a lot cheaper than E&Y. This isn't really a complex matter for someone who deals with it regularly. I agree an expat can absolutely go that less costly route, especially when it's more of a vanilla expat return. We are tax equalized expats, so we ha...
- Sun May 05, 2019 3:38 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: CDs in early retirement to enable Roth Conversions?
- Replies: 33
- Views: 3522
Re: CDs in early retirement to enable Roth Conversions?
OP - I don't have a fancy spreadsheet or any specific calculation that can tell you with any level of certainty if you should or should not convert your IRAs and when. But I wanted to share our plan as an alternative solution to the question. It may not make sense for your or others situation, but i...
- Sat May 04, 2019 9:10 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Expat couple filing taxes
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1163
Re: Expat couple filing taxes
FEIE for 2019 is 105,900 using Form 2555. Additional housing exclusion depends on location. Each of you can qualify for it filing joint, as long as you both meet either Bona Fide Residence Test or Physical Presence Test. Both have different qualifiers (and many disqualifiers including cruise ship tr...
- Thu May 02, 2019 3:00 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Tax Question - Retired and now 59 1/2.
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1478
Re: Tax Question - Retired and now 59 1/2.
Because I am not working I will have very little income this year (just basically the dividends from the taxable account and a small rental income). My total income might be $15,000 - $20,000. Any idea on what % of tax I would have to pay if I took distributions from the IRA? Strategically which ac...
- Thu May 02, 2019 2:41 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Tax Question - Retired and now 59 1/2.
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1478
Re: Tax Question - Retired and now 59 1/2.
I never ask on the internet "what are my taxes?" Instead, I use tax-prep software to actually calculate my taxes and to estimate my taxes for all kinds of various situations and decisions that I make for the coming year. I have done Roth conversions in the past, but now I am having my spouse do Rot...
- Wed May 01, 2019 3:36 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Biggest Investment Mistake
- Replies: 219
- Views: 20197
Re: Biggest Investment Mistake
Buying into a timeshare back in 2002 while on vacation in Princeville, Kauai. Stupid, Stupid... :oops: Worst part is we have only been back 2 times in 16 years.. :? We paid $15k for it upfront, but spend far too much on increasing annual maintenance costs, which of course we don't get back when we c...
- Tue Apr 30, 2019 11:40 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Low Cost Will?
- Replies: 13
- Views: 640
Re: Low Cost Will?
https://eforms.com/ Ready-made forms, super quick and simple, with various templates specific to each state. However, I would highly recommend setting up a Revocable Trust, especially with a wife and 3 kids. Like other have suggested already, stuff isn't always as straightforward and simple as we th...
- Tue Apr 30, 2019 10:46 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: too many fund portfolios
- Replies: 7
- Views: 964
Re: too many fund portfolios
Some of the financial advisors seem to recommend 20+ funds for a $100k portfolio. Does it make sense? Not at all, it just makes investing complicated. +1 Our former adviser from Schwab had us invested in about 15 different ETFs, all of which basically overlapped each other. It was ridiculous, sorta...
- Tue Apr 30, 2019 10:43 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What are the cons of always being a one parent working household?
- Replies: 134
- Views: 9169
Re: What are the cons of always being a one parent working household?
always best for a parent to raise their kids I personally don't understand the mentality of staying at home parents. It might be my upbringing. Growing up I have almost never seen such thing, actually there was a neighbor with a SAHM and my mother told be explicitly not to play with him because wha...
- Tue Apr 30, 2019 5:20 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What are the cons of always being a one parent working household?
- Replies: 134
- Views: 9169
Re: What are the cons of always being a one parent working household?
always best for a parent to raise their kids I personally don't understand the mentality of staying at home parents. It might be my upbringing. Growing up I have almost never seen such thing, actually there was a neighbor with a SAHM and my mother told be explicitly not to play with him because wha...
- Tue Apr 30, 2019 2:06 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: too many fund portfolios
- Replies: 7
- Views: 964
Re: too many fund portfolios
+1 Our former adviser from Schwab had us invested in about 15 different ETFs, all of which basically overlapped each other. It was ridiculous, sorta like a woman having 15 pairs of black pumps in her closet, all with different heel heights. Same black pump, just different variation of sameness. We m...
- Mon Apr 29, 2019 2:51 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: 50x minimum expenses to use VPW?
- Replies: 28
- Views: 4485
Re: 50x minimum expenses to use VPW?
Another approach that sounds potentially right up the OP's alley is a new calculator found at Portfolio Charts titled " Retirement Spending ." Using data going back to 1970, it allows users to backtest the results of a strategy where they start withdrawing X% of a portfolio each year and then poten...
- Sun Apr 28, 2019 11:26 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Buying a home w/cash vs taking a mortgage and investing
- Replies: 39
- Views: 4896
Re: Buying a home w/cash vs taking a mortgage and investing
Given these factors, what would be the most financially savvy move? You already made it...Not having any kids! :wink: All joking aside! (sort of) Not sure how anyone can give you an accurate opinion on it, if they don't know your overall financial situation. What makes sense for one person doesn't ...
- Sun Apr 28, 2019 4:36 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How to define wealth
- Replies: 51
- Views: 5185
Re: How to define wealth
How do we define wealth? Prob for us its more about having an overall sense of security, both emotionally and financially. But the literal term is so ambiguous because it holds such a different meaning to many different people. I think it's silly and irrelevant to rate or compare our personal succes...
- Thu Apr 25, 2019 8:18 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Lifestyle creep
- Replies: 73
- Views: 7986
Re: Lifestyle creep
Do you intentionally self-limit your lifestyle creep? For any other frugal-minded super-savers, how do you evaluate “excessive” correction? We have lived so as to enjoy each stage of our lives. It's normal that spending changes as your life changes. You get to decide how much spending is too much (...
- Thu Apr 25, 2019 8:15 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: What to do? Sitting on the bench since October
- Replies: 66
- Views: 7682
Re: What to do? Sitting on the bench since October
OP, you did say "almost 7 figures" so I assume we are not talking about millions here. Either way, the amount is irrelevant because its more about your reaction to market fluctuations. What I do agree with is that you need to use this forum as a resource for information. Nobody can tell you how NOT ...
- Thu Apr 25, 2019 6:15 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: REIT in ROTH or Tax deferred?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 447
Re: REIT in ROTH or Tax deferred?
Short answer: Roth - Because of their tax inefficiency, REITS are best held in your most tax-advantaged accounts. We also keep REITS in our Roth IRAs for this very reason. https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Real_estate_investment_trust Another related article to consider: https://www.simplysafedividend...
- Thu Apr 25, 2019 5:21 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Lifestyle creep
- Replies: 73
- Views: 7986
Re: Lifestyle creep
***Below was my response to another similar post the other day regarding "spending and expenses while saving for retirement." It also applies to our position on what you are calling "Lifestyle Creep." Here's the thing: We decided early on after watching our own parents work so.damn.hard to only stri...
- Thu Apr 25, 2019 4:27 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: [Retiring before 65: How do you deal with health insurance?]
- Replies: 88
- Views: 12177
Re: [Retiring before 65: How do you deal with health insurance?]
Gratefully, we don't have to deal with it. DH enlisted in the USMC at age 17, retired from USMC at 39. He will retire again in a couple years at 58, but neither of us need to worry about medical coverage until age 65 when forced to downgrade to Medicare. Positive note is we still keep Tricare as our...
- Thu Apr 25, 2019 2:55 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: 14 years old and looking for investment advice
- Replies: 37
- Views: 3842
Re: 14 years old and looking for investment advice
If this new BH is really only 14, I can't love this enough. :D At 14, I was wondering how may new vinyl records I could buy with my babysitting money, never mind investing it!! :( I really hope that you take time to educate yourself and suck up as much advice on here as you can. But also keep in mi...
- Wed Apr 24, 2019 10:52 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Family Trust
- Replies: 25
- Views: 3504
Re: Family Trust
Good idea. Suggestion: considering setting up your Estate plan (trust) in a far more "trust friendly state" such as Nevada. We did. We were from San Diego but made some changes for tax purposes and are now domiciled in Nevada, living overseas. We are having my parents draw up a new trust in NV this ...
- Wed Apr 24, 2019 2:21 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Please critique our plan
- Replies: 18
- Views: 1518
Re: Please critique our plan
I am not understanding still, but I don’t want to extend the argument. To each his own. Agree: I don't think it needs to be an argument either. Critique/Advice like asked, Yes! Give them some food for thought with varied opinions, Yes! But the argument should be saved for he and his wife down the r...
- Fri Mar 08, 2019 9:20 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Can I retire? Looking for math help here.
- Replies: 24
- Views: 3266
Re: Can I retire? Looking for math help here.
Hello all, Wondering if I can seriously step down my income/work level at this point? Reading through your post, my gut answer was "No Way Chipperd!" But it's missing so much info, it's hard to even make a ballpark estimate that gives much clarity. But I am going to try just for the heck of it sinc...
- Fri Mar 08, 2019 1:53 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Should I rebalance for tax efficiency and/or extend retirement age?
- Replies: 8
- Views: 865
Re: Should I rebalance for tax efficiency and/or extend retirement age?
OP - Welcome! We are in a similar situation (minus the 16yr old since we are empty-nesters!) We plan to retire Jan 2022. We will both turn 59/52 soon after. My husband could also continue to work until 62 (or later) especially since he has now reached the point in his career where his disposable inc...
- Thu Mar 07, 2019 11:47 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Best Account for 2 Million from Sale of my Business
- Replies: 63
- Views: 3714
Re: Best Account for 2 Million from Sale of my Business
Park it in a money market fund and take your time. Don't succumb to the feeling to "do something" with it until you've had the chance to properly assess. If that takes months, that's okay in my opinion. +1 :thumbsup You said it yourself "you need time to think." Take the time. Don't be pressured to...
- Thu Mar 07, 2019 8:06 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Need advice making an investment decision for a trust
- Replies: 7
- Views: 599
Re: Need advice making an investment decision for a trust
I am sorry about your brothers passing. I do not envy the position you are in as trustee. But I do agree with others that you have to take your personal investment opinions out of it. If it were my niece, I would place her money in the most safe investment possible, to ensure I wasn't blamed later o...
- Thu Mar 07, 2019 7:40 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: New to Board; Portfolio help and suggestions on transferring funds within an account
- Replies: 5
- Views: 734
Re: New to Board; Portfolio help and suggestions on transferring funds within an account
Stop the 529 plan. You need to save for retirement first. You can borrow for college but you can’t borrow for retirement . +1 :thumbsup I absolutely agree with this statement. I only wish my friends would take that advice. They are so worried about saving enough to pay for their kids college, that ...
- Wed Mar 06, 2019 7:40 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Where to start?
- Replies: 23
- Views: 1799
Re: Where to start?
Welcome to the board! Here are the funds my IRA is in: ACGMX: Invesco Growth and Income AMCFX: AMCAP Fund Class F-2 REACX: American Centurt Real Estate Fund AHIFX: American High Income Trust Class BARIX: Barron Asset Fund Instituional Class ABNFX: The Bond Fund of America Class F-2 UMBWX: Carillon S...
- Sun Mar 03, 2019 5:56 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Investment advice for 21 year old
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1410
Re: Investment advice for 21 year old
- Sat Mar 02, 2019 9:09 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Investment advice for 21 year old
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1410
Re: Investment advice for 21 year old
I'm trying to help my 21 year old son learn from my mistake, I'm 51 years old and just now starting to get serious about investing. He is 21 and getting married next year, he's got a good job making $18/hour which will go up to about $30/hour in a year when he finishes his schooling (he's in a HVAC...
- Sat Mar 02, 2019 8:47 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: How would you protect your 401k prior to a recession
- Replies: 14
- Views: 1489
- Thu Feb 28, 2019 5:48 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred card any good?
- Replies: 61
- Views: 4464
Re: Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred card any good?
I have the Sapphire Reserve. The annual fee is $450 vs. $95 for the Preferred, but you get $300 back as travel credit. So, the effective cost is $150/yr, and you get Priority pass lounge access. I travel often enough to make that worthwhile for me. Plus, there are a number of other benefits too. ht...
- Sun Feb 24, 2019 1:49 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Edward J rep is not answering my Questions
- Replies: 63
- Views: 9783
Re: Edward J rep is not answering my Questions
Advice needed. Thank you in advance. I recommend watching this 1 hour show with your parents. Its an episode from PBS called The Retirement Gamble and goes over the effect of fees on a portfolio's overall return. It worked for my mom. She transferred her investments to Vanguard the next day. Thank ...
- Sun Feb 24, 2019 12:31 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: What’s the next Boglehead move?
- Replies: 21
- Views: 2613
Re: What’s the next Boglehead move?
SevenBridgesRoad wrote: ↑Sat Feb 23, 2019 11:48 pmGerryL wrote: ↑Sat Feb 23, 2019 11:39 pmStartinlate wrote: ↑Sat Feb 23, 2019 12:21 pm
Little used strategy and only works if the extended family (uncles, aunts, etc.) help drive the combine at least 4 hours a day. Less taxing.
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Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!!!
- Sat Feb 23, 2019 11:55 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Edward J rep is not answering my Questions
- Replies: 63
- Views: 9783
Re: Edward J rep is not answering my Questions
@Notyouraveragejones it surely does sound like we’re facing the same situation. It’s a struggle. No one really understands unless you’re facing the same. Best to you as you navigate! I know that my mother will outlive my dad. And honestly it scares me to know that the only investments that I have t...
- Sat Feb 23, 2019 9:37 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Amending California Tax Return to Reflect Revised Federal AGI
- Replies: 8
- Views: 548
Re: Amending California Tax Return to Reflect Revised Federal AGI
I despise CA FTB
Whether you need to or don't, why not just do it to cover your assets. It won't take very long to do the 540X. From past experience, I always err on the side of stupid when dealing with CA FTB. Just my 2 cents.

Whether you need to or don't, why not just do it to cover your assets. It won't take very long to do the 540X. From past experience, I always err on the side of stupid when dealing with CA FTB. Just my 2 cents.
- Sat Feb 23, 2019 5:22 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Edward J rep is not answering my Questions
- Replies: 63
- Views: 9783
Re: Edward J rep is not answering my Questions
We are both in the same type of boat, just headed the opposite direction. My mom, also has dementia, but she is the one who has always and still does handle ALL the finances. She doesn't want to let go yet and my sweet 80 year old dad is basically clueless and can't tell you anything about their fin...
- Sat Feb 23, 2019 12:28 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: [Computer issues: Financial Predators and the Elderly, and What YOU Need to Do]
- Replies: 4
- Views: 209
Re: Financial Predators and the Elderly, and What YOU Need to Do
Thank you. I fly there in 10 days to sort it all out. For now, what's done is done. Geek squad would work, but like you said being here and trying to coordinate it with her is really stressful. Not as much for me, but she shuts down and get in a total panic is she thinks something is wrong. She won...
- Fri Feb 22, 2019 11:21 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Financial Predators and the Elderly, and What YOU Need to Do
- Replies: 41
- Views: 3669
Re: Financial Predators and the Elderly, and What YOU Need to Do
I want to say I am sorry to Rickboglehead, my intention was NOT to derail your post with my own issues. I really appreciate all the detailed information you took time to share with your post. It will come in very handy for us!
Thanks to everyone else for their input. 


- Fri Feb 22, 2019 11:14 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Financial Predators and the Elderly, and What YOU Need to Do
- Replies: 41
- Views: 3669
Re: Financial Predators and the Elderly, and What YOU Need to Do
I completely understand - glad to help! Something to bear in mind - my disclaimer though - I am not an elder law attorney. However, I have real time experience in dealing with elder law through my volunteer work, dealing with my parents of which I was the sole caregiver, and my estate attorney happ...
- Fri Feb 22, 2019 10:58 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Financial Predators and the Elderly, and What YOU Need to Do
- Replies: 41
- Views: 3669
Re: Financial Predators and the Elderly, and What YOU Need to Do
notyouraveragejones, I feel for you. Very difficult. However, I'm a bit alarmed that someone definitely sketchy had access to your mother's computer. If that is correct, and you are far away, may I suggest trying to get your mother to have someone like GeekSquad make a home visit? I'd suggest remot...
- Fri Feb 22, 2019 10:29 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Financial Predators and the Elderly, and What YOU Need to Do
- Replies: 41
- Views: 3669
Re: Financial Predators and the Elderly, and What YOU Need to Do
I 100% agree. I also know it may be difficult to accomplish depending on your own and extended families willingness. My DH has only his mother and she is age 83, deeply southern and very private about her finances. We don't know anything. This is frustrating to me because I was raised the complete o...
- Sat Feb 16, 2019 8:59 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: What are your best retirement years?
- Replies: 50
- Views: 4755
Re: What are your best retirement years?
My dad is 80. I caught him one day this past summer standing on top of a 20 foot hand-made wood scaffolding, topping off his redwoods. I almost crapped myself! :shock: But he is a stubborn mule and thankfully in top physical condition, so it won't matter one lick if I "get on to him," he is gonna do...
- Tue Feb 12, 2019 12:43 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What assets are used to calculate true FIRE total?
- Replies: 19
- Views: 1430
Re: What assets are used to calculate true FIRE total?
...For example in our case, we turn 56/49 this year. We have roughly $3mil saved in taxable and non-taxable accounts and plan to retire in 3 years (end of 2021) and with additional investment and modest interest accumulation , we should see another $1mil in those accounts at that time. But in addit...