Search found 125 matches

by MitchL
Wed Feb 07, 2024 5:55 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What Does Flagship and Flagship Select Levels Get You These Days?
Replies: 49
Views: 6582

Re: What Does Flagship and Flagship Select Levels Get You These Days?

tj wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 4:32 pm
MitchL wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 4:09 pm A brokerage transfer bonus
I'm pretty sure Vanguard has never bothered to offer transfer incentives.
Oh, I meant that I had a high enough balance that I got a bonus when I transferred to Fidelity :sharebeer
by MitchL
Sun Feb 04, 2024 3:43 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Please Check My Portfolio's Asset Allocation?
Replies: 20
Views: 1689

Re: Please Check My Portfolio's Asset Allocation?

Hi Rex687

Welcome to the forum!

Excellent job on the Emergency Fund and no debt.

I think your asset allocation looks good.
If you have a reasonably priced bond fund available in your 401(k) I you could change your Roth IRA to all US Equity and the 401(k) to all US Bond.
What are your 401(k) bond options?

Remember that your savings rate at this stage is more important than your investment returns.

Mitch
by MitchL
Fri Sep 15, 2023 8:53 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard to Fidelity Transferred Asset History
Replies: 4
Views: 866

Re: Vanguard to Fidelity Transferred Asset History

I transferred all Covered Shares and the cost basis info eventually transferred completely and accurately.
by MitchL
Fri Sep 15, 2023 7:18 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: [Revised] Delta Skymiles Program
Replies: 32
Views: 4654

Re: [Revised] Delta Skymiles Program

Agree. The changes make the very expensive Reserve card much less appealing.
by MitchL
Fri Aug 04, 2023 7:08 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: cat tree?
Replies: 24
Views: 2269

Re: cat tree?

We got this in St Paul, https://www.purrniture.com/product/p/tom-towers, small independent shop with plenty of options.
Sits on screened porch so cats can monitor the rabbits, squirrels and birds in the yard.
by MitchL
Sun Jan 01, 2023 10:16 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: REGISTRATION FOR THE 2023 BOGLEHEAD CONTEST
Replies: 672
Views: 41054

Re: REGISTRATION FOR THE 2023 BOGLEHEAD CONTEST

4321.09
same guess as last year...
by MitchL
Sun Jul 03, 2022 6:54 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What are you listening to now
Replies: 5833
Views: 591227

Re: What are you listening to now

Rosalîa - La Fama

https://youtu.be/JpOcyc2vUG0
by MitchL
Wed May 25, 2022 7:40 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: International: anyone tilt emerging or small cap?
Replies: 32
Views: 3531

Re: International: anyone tilt emerging or small cap?

NYCaviator wrote: Wed May 25, 2022 7:01 am I read up on AVDV and really like it. ER is low enough to stomach and I like the way they invest. $1.6B in assets, but only average of 217k in average trading volume. Is that anything to worry about? This would be a buy and hold investment for my taxable account.
1/3 of my stocks are International.
1/3 of my International stocks are in AVDV.

I have been cautious with trades, limiting each purchase lot to a few hundred shares, but haven't had any significant trouble with bid-ask spreads or poor liquidity.
by MitchL
Fri May 06, 2022 6:45 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What is your actual - IN REALITY - average annual return?
Replies: 64
Views: 8915

Re: What is your actual - IN REALITY - average annual return?

10 year IRR = 9.73% through end of 2021
15 year IRR = 6.96%, as this includes 2008
30-40% bonds
40% international
SCV ~30% of domestic and International
ER 0.07%
by MitchL
Fri Apr 15, 2022 7:14 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Question about using CC with chip in Europe
Replies: 83
Views: 6656

Re: Question about using CC with chip in Europe

Returned from Madrid last week. All transactions were contactless. Even the El Rastro flea market had vendors with handheld CC machines. AmEx didn't work at the Palacio Real or Prado but CapOne Visa worked fine. Cash was rarely needed. Transactions are tarjeta (card) or effectivo (cash).
by MitchL
Tue Jun 22, 2021 3:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: renting a house boat??
Replies: 22
Views: 2462

Re: renting a house boat??

As you're in Wisconsin you could check out a houseboat rental in far northern MN and explore Voyageurs National Park.
I haven't done it but have considered. A quiet lake(s) seems much safer than the Mississippi.
by MitchL
Sun Apr 11, 2021 7:34 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Comfortable Men's Flip Flops?
Replies: 81
Views: 9744

Re: Comfortable Men's Flip Flops?

My go-to is https://scotthawaii.com/
Very comfortable, long lasting.
by MitchL
Tue Oct 27, 2020 6:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What medical cards do you need to carry around in your wallet?
Replies: 56
Views: 16410

Re: What medical cards do you need to carry around in your wallet?

gwe67 wrote: Tue Oct 27, 2020 1:46 pm I have a Tom Bihn minimalist wallet, which forces me to carry very few physical cards. Medical/dental cards are on phone.

https://www.tombihn.com/collections/acc ... 2276556863
I have one too and love it, but even that is too much for a daily carry. Just license and one cc attached to phone.
Agree with above, ERs are obligated to stabilize you. Later, of course, they'll want the insurance info.
by MitchL
Fri Oct 02, 2020 7:17 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Replacement for Google Finance price quote function
Replies: 153
Views: 49483

Re: Replacement for Google Finance price quote function

Working this morning in Google Sheets to retrieve price for funds and ETFs is

Code: Select all

=VALUE(Right((Index(ImportHtml("https://bigcharts.marketwatch.com/quickchart/quickchart.asp?symb="&$A1, "table"),3,1)),6))
by MitchL
Mon Aug 03, 2020 8:21 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: In service transfer from 401k to IRA
Replies: 6
Views: 643

Re: In service transfer from 401k to IRA

Can you buy ETFs in your self-directed brokerage?
by MitchL
Tue Feb 18, 2020 7:05 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Vanguard App
Replies: 16
Views: 1752

Re: Vanguard App

No problem for me
by MitchL
Wed Feb 12, 2020 7:03 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Does selling shares of a fund within a year trigger a Capital Gain?
Replies: 28
Views: 2498

Re: Does selling shares of a fund within a year trigger a Capital Gain?

thelateinvestor43 wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2020 7:15 am I'm just wondering how I'm going to transfer my $6k that I build up in my taxable in a fund to my Roth without getting a CG. Does adding shares to a mutual fund start the whole 1 year count down to LTCG again or is it from when you purchase the original mutual fund?
Why don't you just leave that money in the Fidelity Freedom fund? No sale, no wash, no CG.
Then in 2021 contribute monthly (or whatever) directly to your 2021 Roth until you reach $6000?
by MitchL
Fri Jan 17, 2020 10:20 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: HSA and 401k on W2 for S corp.
Replies: 19
Views: 1803

Re: HSA and 401k on W2 for S corp.

ElBarto wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2020 8:55 am We are not yet married but have a family plan which is nice because we each get to put $7k in our respective HSAs
I am certainly no expert, but isn't the $7k a total for both of your HSAs?
by MitchL
Thu Nov 14, 2019 7:51 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: How to Understand Mutual Fund Information Expense Ratio
Replies: 1
Views: 404

Re: How to Understand Mutual Fund Information Expense Ratio

Mutual fund returns are reported after expenses have been deducted.
by MitchL
Sat May 05, 2018 6:35 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What do you pay baby sitters?
Replies: 53
Views: 7520

Re: What do you pay baby sitters?

My kids get $10-12/hour.
by MitchL
Sat May 05, 2018 6:33 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Backdoor Roth (Vanguard) Do I "buy" or "exchange?"
Replies: 8
Views: 1026

Re: Backdoor Roth (Vanguard) Do I "buy" or "exchange?"

And I do 'exchange' so it sounds like either will work
by MitchL
Sun Feb 11, 2018 3:36 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best place to exchange dollars to euros?
Replies: 49
Views: 6206

Re: Best place to exchange dollars to euros?

The PenFed Promise Visa has no-fee cash advance, I was able to use ATM in Italy to withdraw. Interest is charged from the date of the advance but, of course, you can transfer $ from your PenFed checking or savings account to pay it off right away and avoid all but minimal interest.

My large bank ATM/debit card worked with a good exchange rate but charged a 3% fee.

Have a good trip!
Mitch
by MitchL
Thu Mar 16, 2017 8:45 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: [Virtual online chapter - Master thread]
Replies: 138
Views: 50730

Re: Virtual boglehead meeting?

Could also stream the annual Boglehead conference...
by MitchL
Sun Aug 28, 2016 2:47 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Annual Investments Check In
Replies: 5
Views: 1080

Re: Annual Investments Check In

Chrissyscott wrote:Question - I want to make sure I made good investment choices in my 401k.

Currently:
State Street S&P 500 - 55%
Franklin Templeton Small/Mid Cap Growth R6 - 15%
State Street US Bond Index - 25%
Overall Gain of 8.95%
Hi Chrissy,

Looks like a good setup.
If it was me, I would change FRANKLIN SMALL MID CAP GRTH R6 0.48% to STATE STREET RUSSELL SML/MID A 0.06%.
I would also consider adding some International stock, Vanguard suggests 20-40% of equities. I would use STATE STREET INTERNATIONAL IDX 0.09%.

Perhaps
State Street S&P 500 - 40%
State Street Sml/Mid - 15%
State Street International - 20%
State Street US Bond Index - 25%

Regards,
Mitch
by MitchL
Fri Jun 24, 2016 4:52 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Plunge and Panic-Do You Get It Now?
Replies: 108
Views: 17972

Re: Do You See it Now?

ray.james wrote:Good post. Nisi's post on this subject should probably be a paper in crowd theory journal or so.
nisiprius wrote:From reference posted on 8/7/2011:
You may not know what stock market risk is really like, and you may not know what your own risk tolerance really is. This is, if nothing else, a good opportunity to assess both.

What we have today is about a 10-15% decline in the S&P over the last month or so, coupled with a feeling of seismic shifts in the financial world. A sense that the earth is moving under our feet. A sense that events are happening that are going to make it into the history books.
The funny thing is, I have no recollection of what was going on in August 2011. Must have been pretty dramatic.
by MitchL
Fri Feb 05, 2016 6:13 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Money Withdrawn From UTMA Account Eligible for Roth IRA Contribution?
Replies: 5
Views: 554

Re: Money Withdrawn From UTMA Account Eligible for Roth IRA Contribution?

tamuag wrote:To clarify, I won't make more than $5500 in taxable income this year. What you're saying is that the UTMA money can't be used to make up the difference?
The UTMA money cannot be used to make up the difference.
You can contribute up to a maximum of $5500 or your earned income, whichever is lower.
Hope this helps.
Mitch
by MitchL
Fri Feb 05, 2016 5:41 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Money Withdrawn From UTMA Account Eligible for Roth IRA Contribution?
Replies: 5
Views: 554

Re: Money Withdrawn From UTMA Account Eligible for Roth IRA Contribution?

You can contribute that money to a Roth, but only up to the amount of your earned income for the year. The UTMA money doesn't count towards your earned income.

Regards,
Mitch
by MitchL
Sat Nov 28, 2015 2:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Following the Bogleherd … scary!
Replies: 37
Views: 6205

Re: Following the Bogleherd … scary!

nisiprius wrote:I decided not to post the details. By my count, I had to look at about 18 posts to get 10 that I thought I could classify. By my count I got 2 or 3 "Bogleherd" posts and 7 or 8 "Bogleheretic" posts. As I was looking it over, I decided that while my judgement was sound, the whole business of classifying things as "Bogleherd" or "Bogleheresy" was just not a good idea.
I wonder if the more applicable test would be to document the community response to the "Bogleheresy" posts. I don't have time to look but I would guess the heretics would be advised to join the herd...
by MitchL
Sat Aug 29, 2015 7:19 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Aug 2015 correction: what Bogleheads did...
Replies: 143
Views: 16364

Re: Aug 2015 correction: what Bogleheads did...

Wasn't enough of a drop for me to TLH.
I adjusted the qualified plan contributions to all international/EM, small rebalance in tax-deferred accounts to the same.
I was pleased that I did not feel anxious during the brief dip and I "slept well at night."
Mitch
by MitchL
Tue Nov 11, 2014 7:13 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: A Very Special Story on Veterans Day
Replies: 4
Views: 1200

Re: A Very Special Story on Veterans Day

Thanks, Michael.
Heartwarming indeed.
Many thanks to our Veterans including those on the board.
Mitch
by MitchL
Sat Sep 27, 2014 11:47 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Answer to Most Physician/High Income Job Questions:
Replies: 50
Views: 10207

Re: Answer to Most Physician/High Income Job Questions:

ralph124cf wrote:I certainly agree about umbrella insurance.

Does anybody know if umbrella insurance will pick up if malpractice insurance is limit is exceeded?

Ralph
I do know.
The answer is absolutely not. The policy (at least my policy) specifically excludes business/professional activities.

Mitch
by MitchL
Sat Jul 05, 2014 1:05 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tiny House Movement
Replies: 139
Views: 23317

Re: Re:

yobria wrote:As with any other consumption item, the key is to consume neither too much, or too little. 700 square feet is about my low limit as a single person as well.

Nick
wonder what happened to yobria.
by MitchL
Mon Jan 20, 2014 3:18 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: How do you benchmark your portfolio.
Replies: 78
Views: 7660

Re: How do you benchmark your portfolio.

livesoft wrote:I think a benchmark is useful to understand if your transactions are so badly timed that you fail to track your benchmark closely. Yes, no one here sells in a panic at market lows, or sells out of Total US Bond index in late June 2013 and waits until December to buy more of the hot Total Stock Market index fund instead of rebalancing. Or do they?
I agree with livesoft. I benchmark against madsinger's portfolio and VTTVX (Vanguard Target Retirement 2025) to make sure I'm not screwing up.
by MitchL
Fri Jan 10, 2014 7:42 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help with investments for my kids
Replies: 4
Views: 722

Re: Help with investments for my kids

New here. I have been buying stocks for my 3 kids ages are 7,6 and 3. Right now they each have 20 shares of Coke Cole , 25 shares of Altria. They each have $500 in there sharebuilder accounts, but I cannot decide what to purchase next. my top three picks are csx railroad, Kinross gold and vanguard natural resource. My goal is to pick 5 stocks put $1500 into each stock and then let it ride for years to come. My approach is that I realize I have no idea which stocks will do better over any time horizon. Should they be international or US? Large or small? Which sector? I find it is easiest and most likely to have a decent, acceptable outcome to put money in a well-diversified, balanced fund like Vanguard LifeStrategy Growth (VASGX) or Vanguar...
by MitchL
Thu Nov 14, 2013 8:15 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Charity auction - tax write-off?
Replies: 8
Views: 1396

Re: Charity auction - tax write-off?

sunnyday wrote:I won an auction item at a charity event. The amount I paid was slightly under the real/face value of the item. Can I write the amount I paid off on my taxes?
I believe you can deduct the amount you paid minus the value of the item.
by MitchL
Sun Nov 03, 2013 7:02 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Anybody pay for college 100% out of 529 plan assets?
Replies: 28
Views: 4443

Re: Anybody pay for college 100% out of 529 plan assets?

Hi livesoft. I'm hoping to have enough in 529 to pay for college, maybe have some left over for post-grad. Thankfully have had some, though not spectacular, gains.

I'm curious how you "get education credits and a tax break." I would have thought your income was too high to qualify.

Regards,
Mitch
by MitchL
Sat May 25, 2013 2:31 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Target retirement fund VS. Lazy Portfolios
Replies: 22
Views: 7677

Re: Target retirement fund VS. Lazy Portfolios

texasdiver wrote:OK. I need to clarify here. When I am talking about no admiral shares in 401k plans i am referring to plans administered directly through Vanguard.
Oh, sorry. Our plan is not administered by Vanguard but we do have some Vanguard Signal funds and one Admiral fund in addition to a large variety of actively managed funds and some DFA. We do have an extra administration fee of 0.09% annually.
by MitchL
Sat May 25, 2013 12:07 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Target retirement fund VS. Lazy Portfolios
Replies: 22
Views: 7677

Re: Target retirement fund VS. Lazy Portfolios

texasdiver wrote:The lower fee Admiral Funds are only available within individual accounts (IRAs, Roths, and taxable accounts). If you are investing with Vanguard through a group plan (401k or 403b) then it is very unlikely that Admiral funds are going to be available at any account balance.
My 401(k) has some Vanguard Signal share funds such as VTSSX = Vanguard Total Stock Market Signal, ER 0.06%, and VIBSX = Vanguard Intermediate Term Bond Index Signal, ER 0.11%.

Maybe check with your provider to see if you can get the funds changed.

ML
by MitchL
Mon Apr 08, 2013 7:56 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Month-long visits to American cities
Replies: 52
Views: 6921

Re: Month-long visits to American cities

Was there a reason you're limiting the options to domestic? I've thought about staying a month in a city overseas when I'm "55 and out..." :)

ML
by MitchL
Mon Apr 08, 2013 7:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: San Francisco with kids?
Replies: 39
Views: 3913

Re: San Francisco with kids?

Hi TexasDiver,
We took our kids last summer, had a great time.
We got a 3-day pass for the cable car & buses to get around. At $6 one way for the cable car it rapidly paid for itself. Also see the CityPass, we didn't try but I think we would next time (we paid $99 to get 4 into the Exploratorium :oops:).
http://www.sfmta.com/cms/mfares/passports.htm
Also, agree with above -- weather can be chilly and foggy.

Regards :beer
Mitch
by MitchL
Mon Feb 04, 2013 7:08 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Penfed Chip and Pin Card
Replies: 4
Views: 1350

Re: Penfed Chip and Pin Card

I saw this mentioned a previous thread so I called PenFed.
It involved applying for a new "replacement" PenFed Promise card including a credit check. My old Promise card was cancelled when the new one was approved.
You pick your PIN via the website then they manufacture and send your new card.
I haven't had the chance to try the chip feature yet...
by MitchL
Sun Jan 13, 2013 10:18 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How good is vanguard website security?
Replies: 109
Views: 27917

Re: How good is vanguard website security?

Another security-related surprise, you don't get notified by email (i.e., at the old address) if someone logs in and changes your email address. So email notifications are not a reliable way to detect unauthorized activity. This is not true. Last week I changed my email address on file at Vanguard and they not only sent me an email at my old email address that I had changed, but they sent me a snail mail letter informing me of this as well. Me too: "Dear xxx, As you requested, we have changed your e-mail address from old@server.com to new@server.com. The change made by you will apply to all Vanguard accounts registered under your Social Security number as well as any accounts for minors that list you as custodian. If you did not make ...