Search found 82 matches
- Tue Jan 30, 2018 7:54 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: "I Volunteered for the Hospital Board and was Sued for Millions."
- Replies: 44
- Views: 10536
Re: "I Volunteered for the Hospital Board and was Sued for Millions."
I served on boards of charities which included stints as Treasurer (de facto CFO) as well as Chairman of the Board. I've always made sure the following was in place and urge friends contemplating charity/community service to do the same: 1. Make sure the organization has in place D&O coverage with g...
- Wed Jan 03, 2018 4:24 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: 2nd million is easier!
- Replies: 123
- Views: 24446
Re: 2nd million is easier!
Congratulations! Another reason why the second million and beyond gets easier is that one pays tuition along the way to that first milestone. Those who learn from mistakes and don't repeat them find themselves in the best possible position to accelerate wealth accumulation.
- Mon Jun 26, 2017 7:17 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Pre-owned X5 xDrive35d or ML 250 Bluetec
- Replies: 4
- Views: 750
Re: Pre-owned X5 xDrive35d or ML 250 Bluetec
My wife has a 3 year-old ML350 Bluetec. 60k miles on the clock and not one single issue so far (knocks wood).
- Mon Jan 02, 2017 8:06 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Vanguard flagship phone wait times
- Replies: 3
- Views: 1114
Re: Vanguard flagship phone wait times
It depends. Sometimes I can get right through to the assigned rep, other times I can choose voicemail or another rep - time of day doesn't make a difference. However, accessibility is "fair" at best - but always pleasant and professional. In addition to personal accounts, I am authorized agent/trust...
- Fri Dec 09, 2016 8:03 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Swedroe's book
- Replies: 25
- Views: 3376
Re: Swedroe's book
Larry,
Just purchased the Kindle version and I'm looking forward to reading it.
Just purchased the Kindle version and I'm looking forward to reading it.
- Wed Nov 23, 2016 12:32 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Chase no longer works with Quicken?
- Replies: 25
- Views: 18504
Re: Chase no longer works with Quicken?
Wells Fargo data will not download transactions using the free Quicken Express Web Connect. Now it appears that you'll need to use the Direct Connect method, to which Wells will charge a $3 service fee. I'll likely sign up for the Direct Connect service, and then have the fee waived since our busine...
- Wed Nov 09, 2016 7:29 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: investing 900k at 28yrs old
- Replies: 8
- Views: 2646
Re: investing 900k at 28yrs old
I think you need to expound on the 3-5 year horizon. If it's to buy a home or other date-specific expense then I would stick to CDs or build a CD ladder with some short term bond funds thrown in for good measure. I cannot predict the direction of interest rates, but wouldn't get in over my head with...
- Wed Nov 09, 2016 7:18 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Vanguards Life Strategy Funds
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1254
Re: Vanguards Life Strategy Funds
the LifeStrategy funds have made small adjustments and changes from time to time based on Vanguard's ideas of what such a fund should be. I own the LS Growth fund in my Vanguard IRAs and this is a qualm I have with them. One "good" thing they did was to ditch their active tactical fund several year...
- Wed Nov 09, 2016 7:08 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Vanguards Life Strategy Funds
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1254
Re: Vanguards Life Strategy Funds
As livesoft said, allocating to international is a personal decision and I would urge you to not make a wholesale shift of your investment strategy based on reading one book. Take your time and research the case for and against international investing. Resist the urge to engage in confirmation bias,...
- Sat Oct 29, 2016 10:02 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Aswath Damodaran on MIB Podcast
- Replies: 2
- Views: 708
Re: Aswath Damodaran on MIB Podcast
I really enjoy Barry Ritholtz's podcasts - they're deep dives into some interesting topics and he's hosted Bogle, Swedroe, Ellis, McNabb (twice!) as well as other proponents of passive investing. My favorite podcasts are the ones where guests are active managers that provide an alternate view to my ...
- Sat Sep 24, 2016 4:06 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How Much House Can I Afford (HCOL edition)
- Replies: 21
- Views: 3023
Re: How Much House Can I Afford (HCOL edition)
Since the $2.5 million is available for a down payment and isn't held in tax deferred accounts I think the 2-2.5mm range is reasonable - especially since you think you "splurged" on a Honda! But if purchasing a $3 million dollar home leaves you feeling behind rather than ahead of the game I think it...
- Sat Sep 24, 2016 10:07 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How Much House Can I Afford (HCOL edition)
- Replies: 21
- Views: 3023
Re: How Much House Can I Afford (HCOL edition)
Need more info: - is the $2.5 million in savings held in IRA/401k and thus largely inaccessible for a home down payment? - is the private middle and high school parochial or independent? Reason I ask is in a HCOL an independent school will likely be at least $50k per student per year in ten years. A...
- Sat Jun 11, 2016 4:30 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Paid off the mortgage today
- Replies: 67
- Views: 7999
Re: Paid off the mortgage today
Congrats!
Feels great to mortgage-less, doesn't it?
That great feeling doesn't go away with time either.
Feels great to mortgage-less, doesn't it?
That great feeling doesn't go away with time either.
- Sat Jun 04, 2016 2:18 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Morgan Stanley to pay 8.6 million for mis-management
- Replies: 5
- Views: 880
Re: Morgan Stanley to pay 8.6 million for mis-management
I'm actually surprised that this account's highly-concentrated holdings did not set off a red flag with Morgan Stanley's compliance department. And if it did, it would have taken approval of branch management/compliance officers to override the red flags. According to the article, branch management ...
- Sat May 28, 2016 6:25 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: [Book: Living off Your Money, by M. McClung (Prime Harvesting)]
- Replies: 417
- Views: 79067
Re: New Book: Living off Your Money (Michael McClung)
I look forward to downloading the Kindle version, if one becomes available. You can get the PDF version from the website and have it converted to Kindle version by sending it to your free Kindle email account with CONVERT in the title. Of course the PDF costs $50. That's too much for my taste, but ...
- Fri May 27, 2016 9:46 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Books on Options
- Replies: 57
- Views: 3593
Re: Books on Options
Understanding Options by Michael Sincere is a good entry level options book.
- Fri May 27, 2016 9:33 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: [Book: Living off Your Money, by M. McClung (Prime Harvesting)]
- Replies: 417
- Views: 79067
Re: New Book: Living off Your Money (Michael McClung)
I just downloaded and browsed the free preview and agree that this is much heavier content than a lot of the "pop finance" books I've read lately. In fact, the last several books I purchased felt like a ripoff @ $10 since the content could be addressed in a blog post - the author just was understand...
- Thu May 26, 2016 12:31 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: [Book: Living off Your Money, by M. McClung (Prime Harvesting)]
- Replies: 417
- Views: 79067
Re: New Book: Living off Your Money (Michael McClung)
I look forward to downloading the Kindle version, if one becomes available.
- Wed May 25, 2016 5:48 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Vanguard Customer Service
- Replies: 301
- Views: 35728
Re: Vanguard Customer Service
I'm authorized agent on trust accounts worth well over $5 million, qualifying for "Flagship Select" status. Although the reps assigned to these accounts have been uniformly pleasant, I find it frustrating that in over 20 calls to the reps not once did they answer "live". Instead, I have to leave a v...
- Mon May 16, 2016 3:33 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Am I on the right track for building dream house in LCOL area?
- Replies: 14
- Views: 2134
Re: Am I on the right track for building dream house in LCOL area?
If those closer to retirement can suggest how far $100,000 goes, I'd appreciate it. There are so many variables from person to person when it comes to expenses that the input of others will be of little value, except for healthcare costs and perspectives of unexpected expenses in retirement (e.g. s...
- Fri Apr 15, 2016 7:45 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Magic Number? How much to save for retirement
- Replies: 45
- Views: 8450
Re: Magic Number? How much to save for retirement
Before you can get a ballpark estimate of "Your Number" it's essential that you drill down on anticipated expenses in retirement. Although 20 years seems too far into the future to estimate expenses, spending time now tracking them and adjusting for those that will increase (e.g. healthcare, travel)...
- Wed Feb 10, 2016 11:35 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: alleged pharmacist malpractice- does wife need a lawyer?
- Replies: 32
- Views: 3689
Re: alleged pharmacist malpractice- does wife need a lawyer?
I would at least consult with an attorney based on the following assumptions: 1. You have no idea what level of coverage the store has, and whether it extends to your wife. Right now, you could assume that she is "merely" an agent of the store and therefore the cause of action (and presumably deepes...
- Thu Oct 29, 2015 11:55 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: SEPs, Solo Roth 401k's and the Pro-Rata Rule
- Replies: 7
- Views: 648
Re: SEPs, Solo Roth 401k's and the Pro-Rata Rule
I'm switching my SEP IRA to a Solo 401K with Fidelity. Fidelity allows you to rollover a SEP IRA into the Solo 401K then I will do backdoor Roth Is this necessary? It appears that solo 401k's with a Roth option are not subject to the pro-rata rule. You also don't need to go the back door route. So ...
- Thu Oct 29, 2015 10:05 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: SEPs, Solo Roth 401k's and the Pro-Rata Rule
- Replies: 7
- Views: 648
SEPs, Solo Roth 401k's and the Pro-Rata Rule
I have various SEP-IRA accounts and recently opened a Solo 401k and a Solo Roth 401k at Vanguard. If I was to make backdoor Roth contributions to a standard Roth 401k account there would be issues with the existing SEPs due to the pro-rata rule. It would be necessary to roll these SEPs into Solo 401...
- Wed Oct 28, 2015 10:27 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Schwab Robo already 5B
- Replies: 4
- Views: 1318
Re: Schwab Robo already 5B
Can someone explain the logic of PAYING someone to put you into a FREE service? If you want Intelligent Portfolios, then you can have it for free, without a middleman. I am a little disappointed to hear how fast the Vanguard PAS has been growing. I was hoping the market would drive their price down...
- Tue Oct 27, 2015 12:38 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Infuse Student Loan into Mortgage?
- Replies: 31
- Views: 3300
Re: Infuse Student Loan into Mortgage?
Correct: phaseout begins at husband's current income. Not sure of wife's. But if she stops working to raise family, etc...then it may still be a consideration, but all in all not a significant one.Bob's not my name wrote:Not likely deductible at all given his income.JasonF wrote:The student loan interest (partially deductible)
- Tue Oct 27, 2015 11:33 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Infuse Student Loan into Mortgage?
- Replies: 31
- Views: 3300
Re: Infuse Student Loan into Mortgage?
What you would essentially be doing (if I understand the facts) is doing a cash-out refi of the mortgage, and using most (or all) of the cash-out proceeds to retire the student loan debt. All assuming of course you can refi and take out the necessary amount of cash to complete the student loan payof...
- Thu Aug 06, 2015 10:09 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: College Admission Time, What parents need to be aware and how to be helpful
- Replies: 284
- Views: 32884
Re: College Admission Time, What parents need to be aware and how to be helpful
It's shocking how ultra-competitive colleges have become with the advent of the common app and international students. My daughter is starting at a "top 25" private U (per US News) this fall and had great grades (from a highly competitive and well-regarded NJ private school), and "decent" board scor...
- Sat Jul 04, 2015 9:19 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Simba's backtesting spreadsheet [a Bogleheads community project]
- Replies: 1106
- Views: 605737
Re: Spreadsheet for backtesting (includes TrevH's data)
I too would love to see your spreadsheet. Thanks in advance!
- Sun May 17, 2015 3:25 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: adversarial inheritance situation - advice needed.
- Replies: 23
- Views: 4379
Re: adversarial inheritance situation - advice needed.
It's my understanding that the testator (i.e., the wealth-holding individual) would have to appoint the corporate fiduciary/executor and unless a compelling argument can be made that the selected executor is not capable of doing the job, will be recognized by the probate court as the valid individua...
- Sun Jan 25, 2015 2:21 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: "Its Time To End Financial Advisers 1% Fees"
- Replies: 102
- Views: 11414
Re: "Its Time To End Financial Advisers 1% Fees"
I don't buy it and I don't agree. The more I learn about human nature, the more I realize that it is pure folly to expect the average American to successfully devise and execute a 75 year plan for financial success, including education, careers, marriage/divorce, kids, college savings, medical expe...
- Thu Oct 16, 2014 8:49 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Retired, my viewpoint has changed again.
- Replies: 22
- Views: 3864
Re: Retired, my viewpoint has changed again.
Malloc,
Thank you for sharing your mature insight and the fact that you recognized all the hard work put in over the years is paying off.
Enjoy your retirement!
Thank you for sharing your mature insight and the fact that you recognized all the hard work put in over the years is paying off.
Enjoy your retirement!
- Sat Jun 28, 2014 7:36 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: A challenge to "risk free" pre-payment of Mortgages
- Replies: 17
- Views: 1465
Re: A challenge to "risk free" pre-payment of Mortgages
I don't necessarily agree with the statement that the holder of the put option walks away without liability. There are the residual affects of damaged credit (which itself erodes over time) as well as the lingering feelings of guilt from defaulting on an obligation. Of course the latter will affect ...
- Wed Jun 25, 2014 8:46 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Paul Merriman article: every investor needs Small Cap Value
- Replies: 127
- Views: 10146
Re: Paul Merriman article: every investor needs Small Cap Va
Here's the problem. If I were investing back to the future, SCV would be a really, really good idea. But the more the historical benefits of this asset class are celebrated in articles like Merriman's and the more investors who crowd into this small space, the less likely it will be as rewarding in...
- Tue May 13, 2014 8:19 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Has Anyone here used Vanguard's Investment Plan Services?
- Replies: 24
- Views: 3263
Re: Has Anyone here used Vanguard's Investment Plan Services
I'm authorized agent on multiple trust accounts for a friend/business associate and found that the hoops I had to go through to get the proper agent authorizations in place was more onerous than other financial institutions. In fact, I find that Vanguard's operations when it comes to out-of-the-ordi...
- Mon Jan 06, 2014 8:14 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Simba's backtesting spreadsheet [a Bogleheads community project]
- Replies: 1106
- Views: 605737
Re: Spreadsheet for backtesting (includes TrevH's data)
serbeer,
Thanks so much for updated the spreadsheet, I think it's a great resource.
Thanks so much for updated the spreadsheet, I think it's a great resource.
- Sun Dec 22, 2013 2:37 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: All in one reference/journal/development system
- Replies: 2
- Views: 553
Re: All in one reference/journal/development system
I'm very similar in that I like to track and update everything pertaining to my personal goals (be they family, financial, career, health, etc, etc...). Although I find Evernote useful to review my goals (i.e., instead of keeping them on a card in my wallet, I simply open the app on my iPhone to rev...
- Fri Oct 11, 2013 7:54 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Why does roughly 500B seem to be a market cap ceiling?
- Replies: 2
- Views: 371
Re: Why does roughly 500B seem to be a market cap ceiling?
Could be psychological. Analysts were bemoaning the fact that Apple's market cap couldn't keep growing as it was since in short order it would surpass the GNP of a large developed country. My guess is the sample size is so small (<5?) we're drawing conclusions based on inadequate data and giving it ...
- Sat Jun 23, 2012 7:55 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Amazon's new Kindle Fire looks good
- Replies: 58
- Views: 8437
Re: Amazon's new Kindle Fire looks good
The WSJ, NY Times, Bloomberg, & USA Today apps for the iPad are truly excellent and allow you to save and/or email articles of interest.nonnie wrote:Any comments on any e-readers or tablets for reading a newspaper?
- Wed Feb 01, 2012 4:22 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Simba's backtesting spreadsheet [a Bogleheads community project]
- Replies: 1106
- Views: 605737
Re: Spreadsheet for backtesting (includes TrevH's data)
Simba,
This is truly an outstanding piece of work, thank you for updating it.
Thanks! Jason
This is truly an outstanding piece of work, thank you for updating it.
Thanks! Jason
- Thu Jan 12, 2012 3:07 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: 8 Reasons to Avoid Whole Life Insurance
- Replies: 24
- Views: 3113
Re: 8 Reasons to Avoid Whole Life Insurance
Sure, read my story about 5 posts above...letsgobobby wrote:there must be some Bogleheads who own a permament life insurance policy and are happy with it. Can anyone who meets those criteria tell their story?
- Thu Jan 12, 2012 10:24 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: 8 Reasons to Avoid Whole Life Insurance
- Replies: 24
- Views: 3113
Re: 8 Reasons to Avoid Whole Life Insurance
Good article, thanks for sharing it. Another data point to consider in favor of permanent insurance is to help fund the needs of disabled heirs. For example, we have a son with autism that will require care for the rest of his life. In planning his future, we are assuming a "nightmare scenario" wher...
- Tue Jan 10, 2012 8:40 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Who are the Bogleheads - age adjusted net worth
- Replies: 62
- Views: 6030
Re: Who are the Bogleheads - age adjusted net worth
Although it's customary to include the value of illiquid assets in the calculation of your net worth, I tend to ignore these items (equity in home, autos, jewelery, etc...) since many of us (me included) have a bias to overestimate their value. To eliminate this bias, I simply focus on my goals esta...
- Sun Dec 25, 2011 8:39 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Seeking input: AWD or 2WD?
- Replies: 41
- Views: 3221
Re: Seeking input: AWD or 2WD?
The type of tire on your car is as (or more) important than what wheels are getting the power. I've had AWD vehicles with either worn or higher performance tires act horribly in cold, wet or snowy conditions. On the other hand, I owned a RWD wagon shod with winter tires with no antilock brakes, no t...
- Fri Dec 09, 2011 3:00 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: My annual book list for those interested
- Replies: 9
- Views: 1689
Re: My annual book list for those interested
Thanks for the list Larry, you read more books in a year than the average person does in a lifetime. I too am an avid reader. Do you typically read several books at once, alternating between them, or do you not start a new book until the current one is finished? Your The Only Guide You'll Ever Need ...
- Fri Dec 09, 2011 10:25 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Crazy expensive umbrella insurance !!
- Replies: 42
- Views: 4829
Re: Crazy expensive umbrella insurance !!
Wow, that is an extremely high premium.
I live in NJ (a very high risk state), have a $2 million umbrella policy with USAA. The total annual premium is $279 for 2 drivers with spotless records. Come to think of it, I'm going to double my coverage since it's relatively inexpensive.
I live in NJ (a very high risk state), have a $2 million umbrella policy with USAA. The total annual premium is $279 for 2 drivers with spotless records. Come to think of it, I'm going to double my coverage since it's relatively inexpensive.
- Tue Jul 26, 2011 12:30 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Who does their own oil changes?
- Replies: 51
- Views: 5821
My wife took the van down a few weeks ago before we went on vacation and I got all the ticks on the invoice but I see the coolant was completely empty and they pored dirty water into the washer - god knows what they really did for the oil change :-/ Some places are just a plain rip off..... When I ...
- Tue Jul 26, 2011 7:46 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Who does their own oil changes?
- Replies: 51
- Views: 5821
I also use an oil extractor and it is unbelievably safe and easy. My car is a BMW 330i. Since it has a dipstick (many newer cars got rid of it in favor of an electronic dipstick), the oil extractor tube goes right down the dipstick opening. Plus, BMW's oil filter is right on top of the engine, so yo...
- Sat Apr 09, 2011 7:05 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Quantitative Approach to Tactical Asset Allocation by Faber
- Replies: 13
- Views: 3312
His firm launched an ETF to capture the firm's strategy (including trend following). The market has been in an uptrend since the fall (save for two pullbacks) and the ETF has lagged. It's been out only six months, and here is how its performance is compared to VTI. The ETF is the candlestick chart, ...
- Sat Sep 11, 2010 8:28 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Best Way to Visit NYC coming from Princeton
- Replies: 10
- Views: 2299
I live in Princeton, if you're staying near campus (Nassau Inn), then walk to the "Dinky" and take it to Princeton Junction. Express trains will get you to Penn Station in just under an hour (I did the commute for many years). You'll find that many people in Princeton commute to NYC daily; definitel...