Search found 457 matches
- Mon Apr 16, 2018 7:55 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Recommend airline luggage fitting in overhead bin?
- Replies: 23
- Views: 1902
Re: Recommend airline luggage fitting in overhead bin?
On American, Delta, and United anything wider than 14" won't fit in the bag sizer if they make you use it. They all say 22X14X9 is the max size. Sandtrap's 19" Samsonite spinner is said by Samsonite to be 15" wide. I have been looking for a carry-on and haven't found one yet that fits the 22x14x9 si...
- Wed Mar 21, 2018 12:48 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Cookware Brands - Demeyere?
- Replies: 43
- Views: 3460
Re: Cookware Brands - Demeyere?
I have a number of pieces of Demeyere Atlantis. When I moved to induction in 2009 the first pieces I bought were the 9 1/4" fry pan and the 2.2 qt saucepan since I cook for one. I later added more pieces when they went on sale. Most recently I bought the Demeyere 5 Plus 8" non-stick fry pan for eggs...
- Sat Mar 03, 2018 7:50 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What will you do with your tax refund?
- Replies: 87
- Views: 5733
Re: What will you do with your tax refund?
I'll probably buy a candy bar with the 3 dollars.
- Fri Feb 16, 2018 1:45 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: I Bonds - now or later in the year?
- Replies: 17
- Views: 2270
Re: I Bonds - now or later in the year?
I bought half of my planned purchase already and will buy the remainder after May. As DaftInvestor wrote it's not likely to make much difference.
- Sat Feb 10, 2018 12:34 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: I didn't tax-loss harvest this month, did you?
- Replies: 96
- Views: 6102
Re: I didn't tax-loss harvest this month, did you?
I haven't done any TLH yet but my December 2017 purchase of VTSAX is in the red. I'm keeping my eye on it.
- Tue Jan 30, 2018 11:30 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Advice needed for investing in a taxable account
- Replies: 8
- Views: 648
Re: Advice needed for investing in a taxable account
Only thing to add is be careful if tax loss harvesting. Personally I don't use the same funds in taxable and tax-advantaged and I only have the one IRA.
- Thu Jan 25, 2018 10:55 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Question to Taylor and others regarding bucket approach in retirement
- Replies: 54
- Views: 3776
Re: Question to Taylor and others regarding bucket approach in retirement
Many people on this board have very large portfolios; more than enough for a comfortable retirement barring calamity. Lots of other people have portfolios that are adequate if managed carefully and in bad times they may have to cut back to bare basics.
- Sun Jan 14, 2018 1:38 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What unexpected emergencies require sizeable emergency cash funds available immediately in a checking account?
- Replies: 95
- Views: 8264
Re: What unexpected emergencies require sizeable emergency cash funds available immediately in a checking account?
Besides fire and flood, hurricanes, tornados, and other windstorms may require emergency funds. You may even need to have cash on hand to hire help to board up the house and make it safe from predators.
- Sat Jan 06, 2018 1:23 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Effects of extreme cold weather
- Replies: 107
- Views: 10078
Re: Effects of extreme cold weather
If you're in south Florida watch for falling iguanas.
- Sat Jan 06, 2018 10:49 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Taxable Fidelity Account - FSTVX vs ITOT
- Replies: 59
- Views: 4842
Re: Taxable Fidelity Account - FSTVX vs ITOT
IndexEnthusiast
FSTVX pays out in April and December. April's payout is not nearly as large. You could turn off reinvestment, sell your long term holdings, and wait until August to sell the rest and only one batch will be short-term. Also it could go negative if the market retreats.
FSTVX pays out in April and December. April's payout is not nearly as large. You could turn off reinvestment, sell your long term holdings, and wait until August to sell the rest and only one batch will be short-term. Also it could go negative if the market retreats.
- Sat Jan 06, 2018 8:51 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Taxable Fidelity Account - FSTVX vs ITOT
- Replies: 59
- Views: 4842
Re: Taxable Fidelity Account - FSTVX vs ITOT
Epictetus I started buying VTSAX at Vanguard after the capital gains in FSTVX got to be too much. I have about the same amount of dollars in the two funds. Most of my FSTVX goes back to 2008-early 2012 so has too much capital gains to sell until I need to use it for expenses. I have the largest chun...
- Wed Jan 03, 2018 1:35 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How safe are retirement accounts?
- Replies: 19
- Views: 1836
Re: How safe are retirement accounts?
The government could change Roth IRAS by treating them as mixed Traditional IRAs with both pretax and aftertax monies.
- Wed Jan 03, 2018 12:23 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: E-reader for ebooks - Pros and Cons
- Replies: 74
- Views: 3986
Re: E-reader for ebooks - Pros and Cons
I also have the Paperwhite and I really like it. It is lightweight and easy on the wrists. The only problem comes when trying to see pictures that punctuate some books. One caveat. If you think you might want to use it to get rental books from your local library check with the library first. I have ...
- Tue Jan 02, 2018 7:43 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Ever drink Chartreuse?
- Replies: 16
- Views: 1591
Re: Ever drink Chartreuse?
I've never tried Chartreuse but I have sipped Strega. Anybody tried both and wants to compare?
- Mon Jan 01, 2018 4:42 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Keeping a checkbook register
- Replies: 95
- Views: 6243
Re: Keeping a checkbook register
I use a spreadsheet check register and do balance it when I get my statement. The paper register in the checkbook is only used when I am out and writing a check so I don't forget to put it in my spreadsheet.
- Mon Jan 01, 2018 11:57 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Retirees: No earned income, how do you pay tax for pensions, SS and RMDs
- Replies: 43
- Views: 3792
Re: Retirees: No earned income, how do you pay tax for pensions, SS and RMDs
For federal tax I have withholding from my pension and my annuity. Like many others I determine the amount I still need to withhold to make the safe harbor threshold for the next year's filing. Late in the year after making QCDs I determine the percentage I need withheld from the RMD to meet the saf...
- Mon Jan 01, 2018 11:05 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Savings Bond Wizard to be eliminated 5/18
- Replies: 45
- Views: 5372
Re: Savings Bond Wizard to be eliminated 5/18
Just as well. I run Windows 10 and the Wizard layout is one of the worst I have seen. It has one of the faintest fonts and if I want to see the whole page one of the tiniest fonts because of so much whitespace in the layout. I just ran it today and could barely tell if the value ended in 532 or 582.
- Fri Dec 29, 2017 12:26 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Stoics View on Debt
- Replies: 33
- Views: 3419
Re: Stoics View on Debt
There is a big difference between ancient Greece and Rome and modern day America and it is call Bankruptcy. Not that I am advocating such but needs must.
- Thu Dec 28, 2017 1:52 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: What non fiction book will you be reading in 2018?
- Replies: 132
- Views: 8633
Re: What non fiction book will you be reading in 2018?
I plan to finish Freedom from Fear (The War Years) by David M. Kennedy and then start Battle Cry of Freedom by James M. McPherson.
I find reading very slow now because I tend to fall asleep.
I find reading very slow now because I tend to fall asleep.
- Fri Dec 22, 2017 12:00 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Do you see a meaningful change in your income with new Tax Bill?
- Replies: 266
- Views: 22418
Re: Do you see a meaningful change in your income with new Tax Bill?
I would save a few thousand in federal tax because of the change in the tax brackets. I have been in the 25% marginal tax bracket for a few years and now will probably be in the 22% bracket instead. I haven't itemized in many years and for 2017 I used QCDs for charitable giving.
- Tue Dec 12, 2017 3:06 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Transferring Appreciated Securities to a Charity
- Replies: 4
- Views: 265
Re: Transferring Appreciated Securities to a Charity
How do you transfer mutual fund shares to a charity?
I understand that the second option has no tax benefits to me but the funds will go to the charity on my death unless I need to use it while I'm alive. It is an answer to question "How do you know you have enough".
I understand that the second option has no tax benefits to me but the funds will go to the charity on my death unless I need to use it while I'm alive. It is an answer to question "How do you know you have enough".
- Tue Dec 12, 2017 2:33 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Transferring Appreciated Securities to a Charity
- Replies: 4
- Views: 265
Transferring Appreciated Securities to a Charity
Must one use a Donor Advised Fund to do this? Could one move the securities (shares of a mutual fund) to another account and make the charity the beneficiary? I understand that the second choice doesn't give me any tax benefit but it is revocable if necessary.
- Mon Dec 11, 2017 1:23 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: For those retired at least 10 years, what about the money?
- Replies: 47
- Views: 7482
Re: For those retired at least 10 years, what about the money?
It is hard to give it away when you are not sure if you will need it. I have no children so my nieces and nephews are my heirs. I don't want to have to go begging to them because I gave too much away. I'm doing ok finishing up 22 years of retirement but have home improvements and planned health expe...
- Mon Dec 04, 2017 1:39 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: TV show recommendations?
- Replies: 572
- Views: 219108
Re: TV show recommendations?
Finished another re-watch of Person of Interest; my favorite show in years. The last episode is tough to take. Also finished re-watching Justified seasons 1 and 2 and now to watch the last 4 seasons that I have not yet seen. Don't have Netflix or Amazon Prime or HBO and I don't really have a contemp...
- Wed Nov 29, 2017 12:26 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: After financial independence, do you lose motivation for work?
- Replies: 156
- Views: 12285
Re: After financial independence, do you lose motivation for work?
As the Irish Rovers used to sing
Goodbye Mrs. Durkin, I'm sick and tired of workin'.
Goodbye Mrs. Durkin, I'm sick and tired of workin'.
- Sun Nov 26, 2017 9:43 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: if you could use only 1 investment firm...
- Replies: 79
- Views: 5536
Re: if you could use only 1 investment firm...
to Upper New Guy I opened my first account with Fidelity online when I converted my 401K managed by Fido to a traditional IRA. Later I went to an office with paper stock certificates and opened a taxable account. I had a personal representative that I talked to once in person and now I have another ...
- Fri Nov 24, 2017 5:36 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: if you could use only 1 investment firm...
- Replies: 79
- Views: 5536
Re: if you could use only 1 investment firm...
I have accounts at Vanguard and Fidelity. If I had to go with only one it would be Fidelity. Local access is important to me and I believe it will be very helpful to my heirs when I pass.
- Thu Nov 23, 2017 11:28 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Regrets for taking SS at 62 or waiting?
- Replies: 100
- Views: 10042
Re: Regrets for taking SS at 62 or waiting?
I retired at age 54 with a reduced pension and a bridge to social security at 62. When I hit 62 I applied for social security because I was not in good health, had already had a bout with cancer, and both parents died in their early 60s. Also I was single so no spousal benefit. I had enough money sa...
- Wed Oct 04, 2017 2:26 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: iphone app for checking stocks and funds?
- Replies: 9
- Views: 950
Re: iphone app for checking stocks and funds?
Ron Scott,
I used to use the Fidelity app watchlist without needing to enter account and password but I didn't like the permissions. I also prefer to have as little personal info on my phone as possible.
I used to use the Fidelity app watchlist without needing to enter account and password but I didn't like the permissions. I also prefer to have as little personal info on my phone as possible.
- Wed Oct 04, 2017 2:03 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: iphone app for checking stocks and funds?
- Replies: 9
- Views: 950
Re: iphone app for checking stocks and funds?
I just use the Chrome browser.
- Mon Sep 25, 2017 2:49 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Move 401(k) to IRA after retirement?
- Replies: 27
- Views: 2268
Re: Move 401(k) to IRA after retirement?
Nana
I want to add that I left my Fidelity 401K at my company for about 10 years after I retired. I only moved it when I wanted to purchase assets not available in my 401K. I was lucky enough to have index funds with low expenses and the company paid the administrative fees.
I want to add that I left my Fidelity 401K at my company for about 10 years after I retired. I only moved it when I wanted to purchase assets not available in my 401K. I was lucky enough to have index funds with low expenses and the company paid the administrative fees.
- Mon Sep 25, 2017 2:34 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Move 401(k) to IRA after retirement?
- Replies: 27
- Views: 2268
Re: Move 401(k) to IRA after retirement?
Nana 3 simple possibilities 1 - Pick a Fidelity Freedom Index fund that has the stock/bond ratio you want. Let them do the rebalancing. 2 - Use a combo of Fidelity Four-in-One Index and FSITX in proportion to the stock/bond ration you want. You may decide to rebalance maybe once a year. 3 - Use FSTV...
- Sat Sep 23, 2017 3:24 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Move 401k to new 401k or transfer to ira
- Replies: 2
- Views: 340
Re: Move 401k to new 401k or transfer to ira
Also some 401K plans allow early access to the funds without penalty; say if you were at least 55 in the year you retired.
- Sat Sep 23, 2017 9:38 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Age you retired
- Replies: 112
- Views: 9800
Re: Age you retired
54 and 3 months. Single, never had children, parents deceased. I had cancer surgery the year before. Good benefits from the company after retirement including health insurance until Medicare and supplementary health insurance after Medicare until the Great Recession. I still get a small Health Reimb...
- Fri Sep 22, 2017 10:56 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Credit freeze or fraud alert?
- Replies: 18
- Views: 1530
Re: Credit freeze or fraud alert?
I never froze my credit until now. If one wants to change insurance, get a car loan or lease, or get a new credit card will most companies tell which credit bureaus they use? I live in Michigan and it is not free to freeze credit.
- Thu Sep 21, 2017 12:31 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Can't freeze credit at Experian?
- Replies: 75
- Views: 41386
Re: Can't freeze credit at Experian?
I was able to freeze my Experian account online and receive my PIN yesterday at about 4:40 Eastern time. I was charged the $10 fee immediately.
- Mon Sep 18, 2017 9:09 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
- Replies: 3502
- Views: 987665
Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
In the last week I watched two British animated films. First was "Watership Down", the 1978 movie. I had read the book many years ago but never saw the movie. I thought it was very well done. Last night I was again in the mood for something different so I re-watched "Shaun the Sheep". It was light, ...
- Fri Sep 08, 2017 8:57 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: How many funds in your retirement accounts?
- Replies: 56
- Views: 5194
Re: How many funds in your retirement accounts?
1 traditional IRA account with 3 bond funds and 2 stock funds
2 stock funds in taxable accounts
2 stock funds in taxable accounts
- Mon Aug 21, 2017 3:06 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Automatic IRA distribution, Fidelity and ETFs
- Replies: 1
- Views: 258
Re: Automatic IRA distribution, Fidelity and ETFs
Since this is an IRA you could sell the ETFs and put the monies into a 3 fund portfolio. Then change the distribution to pull from each fund. There also might be a Fidelity Freedom Index fund with the stock/bond ratio you prefer.
- Sun Aug 20, 2017 9:45 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
- Replies: 3502
- Views: 987665
Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
Last theatre movie was Dunkirk. Enjoyed it but between the sound (it shook the seats) and the accents I was wishing it had subtitles.
Last TV movie was the original Manchurian Candidate on TCM.
Last TV movie was the original Manchurian Candidate on TCM.
- Wed Aug 09, 2017 12:23 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: total stock market in 401k, rothIRA and taxable- tlh/wash sale?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 406
Re: otal stock market in 401k, rothIRA and taxable- tlh/wash sale?
You can't tax loss harvest in a 401K or IRA. Use VFIAX to tax loss harvest VTSAX in your taxable account.
- Sun Aug 06, 2017 7:25 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Drinking water price craziness
- Replies: 79
- Views: 9015
Re: Drinking water price craziness
In June my two nieces and I flew to Georgia. We returned to a boil water alert. I was very glad my one niece had extra bottles of water and that she gave me some. I need to get some more to keep in the house for emergencies.
- Sun Jul 30, 2017 9:57 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: NYT: Buy more takeout and hire a maid, study suggests
- Replies: 36
- Views: 6509
Re: NYT: Buy more takeout and hire a maid, study suggests
Cooking can be soothing but cleaning is nothing but a PITA.
- Fri Jul 21, 2017 1:55 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: AnnualCreditReport Equifax
- Replies: 31
- Views: 2413
Re: AnnualCreditReport Equifax
It wasn't the form that mentioned copies; it was the web page that informed me that I could get a report by mail. Social Security a) copy of social security card or b) copy of pay stub showing the social security number or c) copy of w2. For address I think a copy of a utility bill showing name and ...
- Fri Jul 21, 2017 1:01 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: AnnualCreditReport Equifax
- Replies: 31
- Views: 2413
Re: AnnualCreditReport Equifax
I may have answered one question incorrectly the first time but none the last time. It could have been the time of day so I'll try again early in the day sometime next week. There was a statement about proof along with the mail-in form. Maybe they are getting tighter with security.
- Fri Jul 21, 2017 11:32 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: AnnualCreditReport Equifax
- Replies: 31
- Views: 2413
AnnualCreditReport Equifax
I just attempted to get my annual credit report from Equifax using the AnnualCreditReport.com portal. I tried twice and each time received a message that the report was not available online and I could mail copies of identification and get a written report. That is not acceptable. Has this happened ...
- Tue Jul 04, 2017 9:11 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What is the best way to do 60/40 in a taxable account I only have taxable to work with
- Replies: 24
- Views: 1783
Re: What is the best way to do 60/40 in a taxable account I only have taxable to work with
I second BL. Total Stock, Total International Stock, Total Bond. If you go back to work and move to a higher tax bracket you can decide if you want to replace Total Bond with a Municipal Bond Fund. You might have a small capital gain or a small capital loss if you do but the stock portion does not h...
- Mon Jun 05, 2017 9:22 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Favorite Thriller Authors and Why
- Replies: 54
- Views: 10698
Re: Favorite Thriller Authors and Why
I also like Steve Hamilton who has written a series about a retired Detroit detective who owns and manages some cabins outside Paradise, Michigan. His first book is "A Cold Day in Paradise".
Raymond Chandler and Ross McDonald are among my favorites.
Raymond Chandler and Ross McDonald are among my favorites.
- Tue May 30, 2017 9:04 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Is anyone here allocated 30/70 a la Rick Ferri's "new center of gravity?"
- Replies: 35
- Views: 6554
Re: Is anyone here allocated 30/70 a la Rick Ferri's "new center of gravity?"
I'm 75 and hold about 33% in stock and stock funds, the rest in cash, CDs, bonds, and bond funds. Individual bonds are TIPS and EE and I bonds.
- Wed May 17, 2017 12:55 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Is the Vanguard Balanced Index Fund all you need?
- Replies: 58
- Views: 12573
Re: Is the Vanguard Balanced Index Fund all you need?
Can somebody who held Vanguard Balanced Index tell me what percentage of dividends were qualified dividends? That info doesn't seem available on the website.