Search found 380 matches

by Don Christy
Wed Sep 04, 2019 7:45 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Pre-paid Funeral Expenses
Replies: 66
Views: 5596

Re: Pre-paid Funeral Expenses

My 89 year old friend and I were playing golf several years ago, discussing the benefit of having a pre-paid membership to the golf course.

He said he thought it was a great idea to buy the prepaid golf because it made you more likely to use it... without hesitation he then said its the same reason he would never prepay funeral expenses.

Don
by Don Christy
Thu May 02, 2019 10:49 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Giving two week's notice before stock options vest
Replies: 91
Views: 14432

Re: Giving two week's notice before stock options vest

Apparently he has the options, they just haven’t vested.

I would suggest letting the options vest, giving 2-3 days notice, AND offer to be available for some period as a consultant to aid knowledge transfer etc., consistent with your availability considering the new job.

D
by Don Christy
Sat Nov 12, 2016 5:49 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: I Bonds as tax refund: tracking down a missing one
Replies: 32
Views: 5721

Re: I Bonds as tax refund: tracking down a missing one

I'm missing a $1000 I bond as well! We filed late and I just received all on same day last week except one. Guess I'll wait a week or so and then call to be told to wait a little longer. Why couldn't it be the $50 one!
by Don Christy
Sat Nov 12, 2016 12:18 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Question on deferred comp options at work
Replies: 7
Views: 1309

Re: Question on deferred comp options at work

For the plan I was in, if I terminated employment or was terminated before retirement, the entire balance was paid out to me in a lump sum right away. If I was otherwise employed, that would make it taxable at a very high rate, maybe higher than when I was employed and putting money into the plan. The beauty of these plans is that they usually pay out after employment ends, so your marginal tax rate is less than when you were working. That's another reason to only start putting money in them until you're closer to retirement. You have a much better idea of you're going to work there until you retire. Check your plan documents and see how they handle disbursement if you leave the company before retirement. That's a good point. My plan had s...
by Don Christy
Fri Nov 11, 2016 7:29 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: "Stealth Wealth: I’m Just an Ordinary Average Guy"
Replies: 445
Views: 127228

Re: "Stealth Wealth: I’m Just an Ordinary Average Guy"

Mav wrote:KlangFool, that jacket is now $129, when was it $99?
Appears to be a 20% off sale in progress now.
by Don Christy
Thu Nov 10, 2016 8:15 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Risk of not paying sales tax?
Replies: 36
Views: 9410

Re: Risk of not paying sales tax?

Had a thought, probably not feasible, but will throw it out there :D

Most places don't tax services. Could your wife be reimbursed for the cost of materials, which she could buy retail having paid sales tax on those materials, and charge for her services to make a handmade necklace?

Wouldn't this be the same as when hiring a carpenter or painter?

The state would get sales tax on your wife's purchase of materials. She would be reimbursed for this expense and sell her time as a service.

Just a thought...
by Don Christy
Thu Nov 10, 2016 7:42 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Bonds are getting crushed...
Replies: 42
Views: 12392

Re: Bonds are getting crushed...

Just want to thank Nisiprius for this, and his many other, great posts. I'll simply add that in addition to the issue raised here that headline use of "bond" may differ from boglehead use of "bond", there is also another issue with headlines. As they are meant to get you to read an article, in my experience they often mischaracterize the actual article. Let's be more specific on what type bonds were crushed today. Last I checked bank loan/leveraged loan/floating rate were a bond category and definitely not crushed today. Edit: Sorry, reread the original post and saw his reference to the 30 year Treasury. Yes, but this does speak to a common problem in interpreting financial headlines. The word "bond" has too ma...
by Don Christy
Thu Oct 27, 2016 7:59 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Crazy NonBH Strategy of Playing Options on ETFs?
Replies: 15
Views: 3674

Re: Crazy NonBH Strategy of Playing Options on ETFs?

Like any covered call strategy, the big pitfall is that you're capped on the upside, but not on the downside. The downside events are rare, but when the occur, and they will occur, it usually wipes out all the benefits. Would this have been wise in 2006 or 2007? How long before you would have broken even then? or at all if you simply got discouraged and exited the game at a loss? And compare the strategy to simply owning SP500. Also, keep your eye on the VIX. It's been mostly under 20, so you're not getting that much premium. And when it's over 25, the risk is higher, so think about your willingness to stay in the strategy during those periods. Finally, the trading costs and taxes (short term capital gains) mean that even if you win, you c...
by Don Christy
Thu Oct 27, 2016 3:51 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Company Health Insurance Increase
Replies: 12
Views: 1589

Re: Company Health Insurance Increase

Definitely shop it. Some markets have quite a bit of variability, with different carriers trying to grow share each year.
by Don Christy
Thu Oct 27, 2016 3:45 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help with potential Investment Venture
Replies: 13
Views: 1520

Re: Help with potential Investment Venture

I would tell him you would prefer a 75% ROI.
by Don Christy
Thu Oct 27, 2016 12:45 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: HSA Family $6,750 limit questions
Replies: 104
Views: 19833

Re: HSA Family $6,750 limit questions

Do a little more research for yourself, but I think all the following are true:
- HSAs are always individual
- contribution limits are tied to the type of coverage, individual or family
- if your wife has family coverage in an eligible HDHP and isn't covered under other insurance, she is subject to the family limit.
by Don Christy
Thu Oct 27, 2016 12:20 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: HSA Family $6,750 limit questions
Replies: 104
Views: 19833

Re: HSA Family $6,750 limit questions

GTBuzz wrote:Your wife can actually contribute the full $6,750 to her HSA. Here's a good post from TheFinanceBuff with several examples in the post as well as the comments:

https://thefinancebuff.com/hsa-contribu ... anges.html
Note to mods: sorry I reported this message accidentally. Didn't have my readers on and thought I was replying... 8-)

GTBuzz: not if OP is covered under his HMO.

EDIT: I retract my statements above... while OP is not an eligible individual to have an HSA, it's not clear to me whether his spouse, who has family coverage in HDHP, is limited to the individual limit or the family limit.

Hopefully someone with more knowledge can clarify or direct to authoritative source.
by Don Christy
Thu Oct 27, 2016 12:07 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: HSA Family $6,750 limit questions
Replies: 104
Views: 19833

Re: HSA Family $6,750 limit questions

Caveat... I'm not an expert and you should not rely on this...

My understanding is that if you are covered under your HMO you cannot contribute to an HSA. Also, it would surprise me if the plans would allow for dual coverage.

Do I understand you that you are in both your HMO and her HDHP?
Don
by Don Christy
Thu Oct 27, 2016 11:56 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Crazy NonBH Strategy of Playing Options on ETFs?
Replies: 15
Views: 3674

Re: Crazy NonBH Strategy of Playing Options on ETFs?

Long term investors typically aren't interested in the effort, complexities, tax issues, etc... and as you note, you miss out on significant appreciation moves... also if the covered stock plummets, you're limited in getting out, scrambling to rebuy calls. Unable to rebalance... just goes against most of what BHs think is sound strategy.... and it Sounds like work with no long term value.
by Don Christy
Wed Oct 26, 2016 5:04 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Looking For Pension Cash Out Investment Advice
Replies: 9
Views: 1372

Re: Looking For Pension Cash Out Investment Advice

Will you have a lump sum option at commencement if you don't take this offer?

I'm not an actuary, but it's my understanding that plan sponsors will have to use new mortality tables reflecting longer lifespans and therefore higher lump sum values soon (1-2 years). Of course, if interest rates rise that would offset the LS value increase.

How long until you want to leave and when would you be able to commence.?
by Don Christy
Wed Oct 26, 2016 3:15 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 2017 ACA plan previews
Replies: 172
Views: 24356

Re: 2017 ACA plan previews

Only a small percentage of the insured are in individual ACA exchange and large (83%) number of those are subsidized so that the rate increases won't be felt by them (though they may have fewer plans and narrower networks). Here's an analysis of the health coverage market for the entire US population: http://acasignups.net/16/10/26/reminder-25-only-applies-unsubsidized-individual-market-not-employer-coverage So while this is a BIG issue for a few, it's not an issue for many. It is a BIG issue for many. Those stats only count the 11M people on the exchange, not the 6M people who buy off-exchange individual policies because they don't qualify for subsidies (there's more choice off-exchange, even if it's small variations) and the 7M people wh...
by Don Christy
Wed Oct 26, 2016 11:14 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 2017 ACA plan previews
Replies: 172
Views: 24356

Re: 2017 ACA plan previews

Does anybody have any idea what is causing the spike in these prices? Is it basically because the pool of people that the insurers have to insure now include those with pre-existing conditions and the fact that insurers cant just drop clients? First, the rate "spike" impacts only a tiny portion of the insurance market (albeit likely a higher portion of bogleheads). Only a small percentage of the insured are in individual ACA exchange and large (83%) number of those are subsidized so that the rate increases won't be felt by them (though they may have fewer plans and narrower networks). Here's an analysis of the health coverage market for the entire US population: http://acasignups.net/16/10/26/reminder-25-only-applies-unsubsidized...
by Don Christy
Tue Oct 25, 2016 12:37 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 2017 ACA plan previews
Replies: 172
Views: 24356

Re: 2017 ACA plan previews

Data point: 30 year old male, single, no tobacco use or children. The cheapest bronze plan available with an HSA eligible account has a monthly deductible of $246.64, a deductible of $5500, and an out of pocket max of $6550. So nothing is really covered for the first $9510. That doesn't seem like health insurance. It seems more like fraud or paycheck theft. A slew of preventive services must be covered without a copay, coinsurance, or subject to deductible. Unfortunately for men under 50 there isn't much of anything included. I think we get 1 free PCP visit annually. But it doesn't include any lab tests or imaging. And if the visit becomes more complicated than an ''annual checkup'' and they add an extra billing code then we're on the hook...
by Don Christy
Tue Oct 25, 2016 11:45 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 2017 ACA plan previews
Replies: 172
Views: 24356

Re: 2017 ACA plan previews

MikeMak27 wrote:Data point: 30 year old male, single, no tobacco use or children. The cheapest bronze plan available with an HSA eligible account has a monthly deductible of $246.64, a deductible of $5500, and an out of pocket max of $6550. So nothing is really covered for the first $9510. That doesn't seem like health insurance. It seems more like fraud or paycheck theft.
A slew of preventive services must be covered without a copay, coinsurance, or subject to deductible.
by Don Christy
Mon Oct 24, 2016 3:09 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: VW Jetta TDI Settlement
Replies: 9
Views: 1635

Re: VW Jetta TDI Settlement

Not sure how your deal may differ from my deal for 2010 model TDI, but You should also be getting a damage settlement of several thousand and have the option to have the car repaired for free. I think you can also wait until VW has an EPA approved fix to decide whether to repair or sell back. So depreciation-free driving for a year or so...

Go to the TDI forums and the settlement website to make sure you fully understand the settlement.
Don
by Don Christy
Mon Oct 24, 2016 11:28 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Assistance Requested: Candidate to be CEO of a Small Business
Replies: 23
Views: 3600

Re: Assistance Requested: Candidate to be CEO of a Small Business

Along with an employment contract, with well described responsibilities/authority, I would include a "constructive termination" clause. This will protect you in the event they significantly change your role or make the environment hostile trying to run you off without paying whatever your agreement offers for involuntary separation.
by Don Christy
Mon Oct 24, 2016 7:07 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Assistance Requested: Candidate to be CEO of a Small Business
Replies: 23
Views: 3600

Re: Assistance Requested: Candidate to be CEO of a Small Business

I would also be interested in what the ongoing corporate governance will be, i.e. Will there be a board of directors and/or what "advisors" will you have as CEO.
by Don Christy
Sat May 28, 2016 12:38 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Lump Sum Pension Offer
Replies: 21
Views: 3327

Re: Lump Sum Pension Offer

If I'm doing the math correctly, they're using about a 6% discount rate to get from $94k in 32 years to $14k today. Seems like a big discount rate. If it were me and I didn't need the cash, and the plan is an ERISA plan with PBGC coverage, I would not take the offer.

6% guaranteed is worth waiting for IMO.

At that time you can then decide whether you want the lump or one of the annuity options.

FWIW, my experience is that 50-60% of folks eligible take the offer, and 99% who take the offer take the lump sum form of payment.
by Don Christy
Sat May 28, 2016 12:24 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Lump Sum Pension Offer
Replies: 21
Views: 3327

Re: Lump Sum Pension Offer

A couple of things to keep in mind... Many plan sponsors are offering these lump sum windows right now due to an upcoming requirement to use new mortality tables to value their benefit obligations. The new tables have both a longer life expectancy, as well as an assumption of future improvements in life expectancy. This will likely be required in next 1-2 years, so sponsors are moving now to get vested terminated participants out of their plans. With the new mortality tables, your benefit will be worth more... Of course they may not offer another window in the future so you may have to wait until retirement age if you don't take the lump sum during the window. Additionally, the premiums plan sponsors pay to the Pension Benefit Guarantee Cor...
by Don Christy
Sat Jul 04, 2015 9:05 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 2 million dollar mistake meeting with MIL's financial guy
Replies: 47
Views: 17160

Re: 2 million dollar mistake meeting with MIL's financial guy

You can have fancy software and small errors fed into it will make huge changes compounded over time.
My only quibble with the OP is the statement above. Calling the information fed into the fancy software a small error is a misnomer. Those were not errors, but inputs carefully chosen to sell a product.
by Don Christy
Thu Aug 14, 2014 7:59 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 401k Disbursement Fee?
Replies: 6
Views: 1909

Re: 401k Disbursement Fee?

I would ask them to waive it, but wouldn't let $50 impact my decision.

OP said rolling to a 401k, not IRA, so presumably any protections are same.
by Don Christy
Thu Aug 14, 2014 7:30 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Do you hold cash/money market outside of your emergency fund
Replies: 31
Views: 3540

Re: Do you hold cash/money market outside of your emergency

I don't have a specific emergency fund, but end up keeping significant cash in all of these places:
Bank account
HSA money market (x 2)
Tax exempt money market (receives cap gains and dividends from investments until reallocated ~qtly)
by Don Christy
Thu Aug 14, 2014 7:27 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best Place to Do Research on Orthopedic Surgeons
Replies: 28
Views: 4037

Re: Best Place to Do Research on Orthopedic Surgeons

If you're in a city with professional sports teams, I would try to find out who is repairing those professional rotator cuffs. If that surgeon is not available to you, ask who they would recommend. Short of that, I would find a shoulder expert in a sports medicine practice who does a high volume of the procedure.

Good luck.
by Don Christy
Wed Aug 13, 2014 5:24 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Early Retiree In-Service Rollover to Roth guidance & opinion
Replies: 6
Views: 1105

Re: Early Retiree In-Service Rollover to Roth guidance & opi

This site is really great! I did a quick review of the wiki entries around Roth IRA, Roth conversions, Backdoor Roth, etc., and didn't see anything this detailed related to means to isolate basis. This would seem to be a great candidate for a wiki entry. Thanks for taking the time to write such a detailed, precise, and concise guide Alan! Your after tax sub account has a high earnings to basis ratio, meaning that you are a prime candidate for one of the "isolation of basis" strategies. This topic has been discussed at length here due to the uncertain guidance the IRS has issued since 2009. Some methods to isolate basis are safer than others, but not necessarily the most convenient. Methods from safest to more risky listed in order...
by Don Christy
Tue Aug 12, 2014 10:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Runners and compression socks
Replies: 18
Views: 2898

Re: Runners and compression socks

davidkw wrote:Last Tuesday night after running with my running club that meets at a running store, a vein doctor was there talking about the benefits of compression socks for runners. He said he wears them during days when he is in surgery for 10 hours. I did purchase a pair of CEP Men's Running Progressive Compression with a list price of $60. Runners were given a 10% discount last Tuesday. I ran with them once and no problem running in them. I did recover well from my last run. Well I rested too.

Anyone else use compression socks for running?

Is there a more cost effective brand than CEP Men's Running Progressive Compression with the $60 price tag?
I've seen that brand sock available for $45 through Amazon.com.
by Don Christy
Tue Aug 12, 2014 7:30 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Motorcycle for short commute?
Replies: 67
Views: 10335

Re: Motorcycle for short commute?

I'm an avid motorcyclist, and wouldn't consider a 10 min commute in 100 degree weather!

As someone else said, it will be HOT. Especially if you wear ATGATT. That's "all the gear, all the time." AS YOU SHOULD.

I would ride my bicycle or if I took my motorcycle, I would wear ATGATT and figure out how to make it an hour commute!

Don
by Don Christy
Mon Aug 11, 2014 6:37 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Robin Williams
Replies: 42
Views: 6621

Re: Robin Williams

RIP.

Great comedian and fine actor.
by Don Christy
Mon Aug 11, 2014 6:35 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Reminder: Check your 401K contribution rates
Replies: 27
Views: 5055

Re: Reminder: Check your 401K contribution rates

Thanks for the reminder. I try to get the most in early, leaving just enough to reach the max in last paycheck to capture full match. It's a PITA every year.
tadamsmar wrote:If your plan is like mine, you need to do "mid-course corrections" to your paycheck contribution rates to ensure that the year's total contribution comes in at the maximum withdrawal limit right on time, not too early. If I hit the max too early, then I will lose my employer match for paychecks at the end of the year that don't contribute at least 4%. If my rate is too low, then I will fail to max out for the year and lose the opportunity for some tax deferral.
by Don Christy
Mon Aug 11, 2014 10:59 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tricky Tax: Backdoor Roth + Simple IRA
Replies: 14
Views: 1803

Re: Tricky Tax: Backdoor Roth + Simple IRA

Also note that the I in IRA is for Individual. So (if my understanding is accurate), you can still do the backdoor with your IRAs whether you clean up your wife's SIMPLE IRA or not.
by Don Christy
Fri Aug 08, 2014 5:40 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Affording a 1.3 million home?
Replies: 122
Views: 33196

Re: Affording a 1.3 million home?

Valuethinker wrote:
Plan for a situation where, post kids, only one of you is working (ditto circumstances if one of you is redundant).
.
In case it's not clear, in this case "redundant" means laid off / fired. British use.

And agree with points made here and by others who suggest renting and considering retiring earlier.

Unless you are pretty confident you'll remain in the area 10 years, since the market is "hot", I would seriously consider renting or otherwise minimizing your exposure (e.g. lower down payment) to a housing crash.

Don
by Don Christy
Thu Aug 07, 2014 8:11 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How Often to Look for Rebalancing Opportunities?
Replies: 20
Views: 1795

Re: How Often to Look for Rebalancing Opportunities?

Are you really thinking more about missing an opportunity to tax loss harvest (TLH)?

If you're really concerned about missing rebalancing opportunities, consider a target date or lifestyle fund that automatically rebalances. Otherwise, TLH not withstanding, IMO, due to momentum and other factors, there's probably little reason (i.e. no benefit) to rebalance more than once a year and/or by using relatively large rebalancing bands.

Don
by Don Christy
Wed Aug 06, 2014 9:27 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best Coffee Maker? What do you have?
Replies: 75
Views: 11686

Re: Best Coffee Maker? What do you have?

Bonavita for daily coffee with DW. Aeropress for the occasional cup alone. Aeropress with good coffee and proper water temp is my favorite. Burr grinder for consistent grind for both Bonavita and Aeropress.

Lately using Starbucks Sumatra beans, but thinking of trying a local roaster to see if there's a noticeable difference.

Don
by Don Christy
Tue Aug 05, 2014 1:28 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: AARP: The Great Pension Sell-Off
Replies: 30
Views: 5138

Re: AARP: The Great Pension Sell-Off

Well at least those individual pension obligations become fully funded once they buy an annuity, right? Why do you say that? They are simply general obligations of the annuity corporation, no longer backed by the PBGC. The line I really like is along with proposed new mortality tables that raise life expectancies, Wow that is some table that can raise life expectancies Where do I get one? DISCLAIMER - Didn't read the article... But my understanding is that it costs the sponsor on the order of 15% more than the actuarial valuation of the liability to buy the annuities. I don't know what discount rates and assumptions are made, but candidly I would expect insurance companies to be much better at managing the risks of life annuities than comp...
by Don Christy
Tue Aug 05, 2014 12:20 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: average American eats out 203 times per year
Replies: 105
Views: 11882

Re: average American eats out 203 times per year

Not hard to exceed those numbers with a couple lunches or dinners regularly plus vacation.

Also, how do you count the once a week Thai carry out that we make 2 meals out of? Is that 1x or 2x?
by Don Christy
Tue Aug 05, 2014 10:04 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Stop Passing Up This Great Deal - In Money Magazine
Replies: 80
Views: 17040

Re: Stop Passing Up This Great Deal - In Money Magazine

2) Some items in this article seem incorrect or misstated such as, "Roth 401ks leave just about all workers, regardless of age or tax bracket, with more money to spend in retirement than pretax plans do" "The Roth 401k should be considered the default investment" "Every dollar you save in a Roth 401k is worth more than a dollar you put in a pretax account. That's because you'll eventually pay income taxes on those pretax dollars, while you get to keep every Penny in a Roth" These are true but misleading. If you save $10,000 in a Roth 401(k), you will be better off than if you save $10,000 in a traditional 401(k), because the dollars are more valuable. However, if you are in a 25% tax bracket, you don't have th...
by Don Christy
Sat Jul 19, 2014 10:04 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: HSA woes, former employer keeps contributing
Replies: 11
Views: 1985

Re: HSA woes, former employer keeps contributing

Could you transfer to another custodian and close the account?
by Don Christy
Sat Jul 19, 2014 9:56 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: USPS Shipping Problem Again
Replies: 19
Views: 1960

Re: USPS Shipping Problem Again

I've had problems with all three, USPS, FEDEX, and UPS. Biggest problem was with UPS. Insure to proper value and use track able service if it's valuable. If it's truly heirloom, irreplaceable, reconsider shipping at all.
by Don Christy
Fri Jul 18, 2014 8:41 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Options/guidance for a lazy person to be fit
Replies: 79
Views: 17071

Re: Options/guidance for a lazy person to be fit

For weight loss, you obviously have to burn more calories than you consume. The calorie in side is typically the biggest challenge. And especially challenging are calories from alcohol. With alcohol, you get lots of relatively useless calories, an appetite stimulant, and reduced self-control. And if you over consume, you'll likely sleep poorly and not workout the following day. So try to cut way back on any regular alcohol consumption. That said, exercise helps a lot with creating the calorie deficit, speeding the process and having the additional benefits of stress reduction, better sleep, and cardiovascular health. I find strength training with some high intensity exercises between sets is great. You get your heart rate up and build some ...
by Don Christy
Tue Jul 15, 2014 11:20 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: A question for the Bogleladies or those who can consult one
Replies: 70
Views: 9483

Re: A question for the Bogleladies or those who can consult

VictoriaF wrote:
sscritic wrote:http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/blogs/5451 ... awers.html

My favorites: Rosie for Autograph and Beautiful Bottoms.
My favorites: Rosie for Autograph and Stella McCartney.

Victoria
A third vote for Rosie. Perhaps a poll is in order.

Good luck to PE, who seems to have settled on a fine approach.

Would be interested in hearing if the outcome is positive.
Don
by Don Christy
Sun Jul 13, 2014 6:41 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: But why not 100% stock index fund?
Replies: 76
Views: 11563

Re: But why not 100% stock index fund?

Dutch wrote:Ok I'm calling the top of the market
With several 100% equity threads in short order, I think you may have made the right call. Just waiting for stock tips at cocktail parties to confirm.
by Don Christy
Sat Jul 12, 2014 7:35 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Travel Converters/Adapters
Replies: 11
Views: 1536

Re: Travel Converters/Adapters

Most electronics can handle the voltage/frequency, so an adapter is all that's needed for charging most electronics (phones, iPads, Kindles, etc.). Adapters don't change the voltage or frequency, they just physically adapt one plug to another. We used type L adapters, but from what I understand, type c work in Italy as well. We used this from amazon:
OREI 2 in 1 USA to Italy Adapter Plug (Type L) - 4 Pack, Black which was handy for the 2 into 1.

Things like hair driers, curling irons, things with motors, etc, may need a converter, which actually converts the voltage. We didn't take or need any converters.

Happy travels!
Don
by Don Christy
Mon Jun 30, 2014 12:51 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Deleted
Replies: 53
Views: 8582

Re: Pay down (not off) mortgage?

To the extent that you would be putting the cash into fixed income in your taxable, paying down the mortgage seems a reasonable option. If you're going to need the extra cash when you move, either home equity or any risky investments may not be there when you need them. In other words, think about what you're saving the extra money for and deploy it appropriately.
by Don Christy
Mon Jun 30, 2014 9:30 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Maxed out contributions help!!
Replies: 14
Views: 1874

Re: Maxed out contributions help!!

You say you don't have medical insurance.

Perhaps reconsider that decision and choose a plan with an HSA.
by Don Christy
Mon Jun 30, 2014 8:08 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How to get father on board with index funds
Replies: 34
Views: 4029

Re: How to get father on board with index funds

indexmeasap wrote:
Maybe an agreement could be worked out that would allow you to help your mom manage the finances if something were to happen to your father? Mothers tend to be susceptible to those nice boys...
In my experience, fathers are just as susceptible.
by Don Christy
Mon Jun 30, 2014 7:10 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Help choosing DI policy
Replies: 3
Views: 823

Re: Help choosing DI policy

I would research a bit about prevalence of conditions which are limited under the Principal policy. Also, check to see if EmergDoc's blog (the white coat investor) has anything to say about this.

Saw this on WebMD,
Mental health problems. You might think of disability as physical, but mental health problems can make work difficult or impossible. Depression, bipolar disorder, and other conditions can be as disabling as any physical illness.

Mental health problems are the most common reason that people file for Social Security disability, Tassey says.