We are very happy with Republic Wireless, it is however billed monthly, but it ranks very high in consumer reports for prepaid cell service
https://republicwireless.com/
Search found 259 matches
- Thu Oct 26, 2017 8:01 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: No true pay as you go [cellphone plan]
- Replies: 63
- Views: 5996
- Mon Aug 14, 2017 8:43 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: LLC partnership "individual 401k" questions
- Replies: 13
- Views: 2002
Re: LLC partnership "individual 401k" questions
Spirit Rider,
Thanks much for your clarification, citation, and suggestions, even if it was not the answer I was hoping for...
Thanks much for your clarification, citation, and suggestions, even if it was not the answer I was hoping for...
- Fri Aug 11, 2017 2:33 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: LLC partnership "individual 401k" questions
- Replies: 13
- Views: 2002
Re: LLC partnership "individual 401k" questions
Well 2 + years later and I am revisiting the same question. This year Vanguard suggested that I acquire an EIN just for myself, and that each partner do the same, and then we each open a plan that way. As I read the description for what type of EIN I want none appear to exactly describe my employmen...
- Tue Jun 28, 2016 12:47 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: My first smartphone
- Replies: 17
- Views: 2399
Re: My first smartphone
Bob,
I recommend Republic wireless, consumer cellular, Wal-Mart total wireless, tracfone or Google project Fi.
Check consumer reports, for carrier ratings.
Android is 85% of the market, Apple IOS is 14%,
We chose Republic wireless and have not been disappointed, we both came from VZW.
I recommend Republic wireless, consumer cellular, Wal-Mart total wireless, tracfone or Google project Fi.
Check consumer reports, for carrier ratings.
Android is 85% of the market, Apple IOS is 14%,
We chose Republic wireless and have not been disappointed, we both came from VZW.
- Mon Jun 27, 2016 7:34 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Verizon raised unlimited data by $20
- Replies: 49
- Views: 4412
Re: Verizon raised unlimited data by $20
Republic wireless or project Fi, we personally switched from VZW to Republic wireless 2 years ago, total bill for both phones now $30/ month.
Next month Republic supports 7 new phones, I would wait until July.
Project Fi is very similar but not yet as mature
Next month Republic supports 7 new phones, I would wait until July.
Project Fi is very similar but not yet as mature
- Wed Dec 02, 2015 4:21 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Vanguard TurboTax - Not Available 2015?
- Replies: 327
- Views: 53212
2015 TurboTax -- Vanguard discount gone
Sadly I received this in my e-mail today from Vanguard. The days of subsidized or free TurboTax software appear to be over... "Year End Tax information from Vanguard" .... "Update for TurboTax users Vanguard will continue to offer access to TurboTax® products to clients on our website, but we're dis...
- Sun Jan 25, 2015 9:43 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Upgrading to TurboTax Premier through Vanguard
- Replies: 2
- Views: 496
Re: Upgrading to TurboTax Premier through Vanguard
what I did was to log into Vanguard, follow the link to the turbotax site, select the download version, and the "checkout page" showed a zero cost for premier. I downloaded it and deleted my old version. I had not yet installed deluxe so no experience with "upgrading" but to be safe I would recommen...
- Thu Jan 15, 2015 4:24 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: LLC partnership "individual 401k" questions
- Replies: 13
- Views: 2002
Re: LLC partnership "individual 401k" questions
Your provider probably won't tell you this but assuming you have all HCE's, in your case - all owners own greater than 5%, there's no compliance testing to be done. You would still need to make sure all participants receive contributions according to the plan document, and that no one exceeds relev...
- Thu Jan 15, 2015 4:23 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: LLC partnership "individual 401k" questions
- Replies: 13
- Views: 2002
Re: LLC partnership "individual 401k" questions
You are correct, the terms Solo 401k, Individual 401k, etc... are marketing terms and misnomers for what the plans actually are. There is no such thing as a Solo 401k plan in the U.S. Code or IRS regulations. Even the IRS muddies the water by referring to one-participant 401k plans. They are not se...
- Mon Jan 12, 2015 2:41 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: LLC partnership "individual 401k" questions
- Replies: 13
- Views: 2002
Re: LLC partnership "individual 401k" questions
I thought I read on here somewhere that you can have a solo(k) for each partner but I can't find the thread. However, another solution to your situation is to adopt a standard 401(k) plan. Assuming all partners are equal owners, all participants are HCEs so there is no nondiscrimination testing to ...
- Mon Jan 12, 2015 11:19 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: POLL: For those under $20/month/$100k: What Insurance Comp?
- Replies: 11
- Views: 2213
Re: POLL: For those under $20/month/$100k: What Insurance Co
AAA insurance ( The auto club) underwritten by ACA insurance company Oakland CA
- Mon Jan 12, 2015 10:37 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Looking for low cost cell phone plans...
- Replies: 47
- Views: 7654
Re: Looking for low cost cell phone plans...
I would NOT recommend Republic Wireless at all. They are attached to Sprint, which has one of the poorest network coverage in the US. For example, I could not any data in many areas between Cleveland and Akron (hardly rural areas), a good amount of the Tucson area, and the like. In addition, WiFi c...
- Sun Jan 11, 2015 1:24 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: TurboTax Premier now free (for some)
- Replies: 20
- Views: 4959
Re: TurboTax Premier now free (for some)
The full saga of the changes and the price adjustments can be read about here ---> http://www.forbes.com/sites/janetnovack ... ubstitute/
- Sun Jan 11, 2015 11:51 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: LLC partnership "individual 401k" questions
- Replies: 13
- Views: 2002
Re: LLC partnership "individual 401k" questions
My understanding is that individual 401k's are limited to businesses with only one employee (plus their spouse): http://www.irs.gov/Retirement-Plans/One-Participant-401%28k%29-Plans this is the type of plan I am looking at https://investor.vanguard.com/what-we-offer/small-business/individual-401k "...
- Sun Jan 11, 2015 11:00 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: LLC partnership "individual 401k" questions
- Replies: 13
- Views: 2002
LLC partnership "individual 401k" questions
After a concerted search effort I have been unable to locate answers to our individual 401k questions. Any links to sources that definitively address the following 2 questions is appreciated. We have a partnership with 10 partners, organized as an LLC with no employees, only partners and 1099 contra...
- Sun Jan 11, 2015 10:34 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Looking for low cost cell phone plans...
- Replies: 47
- Views: 7654
Re: Looking for low cost cell phone plans...
Check out republic wireless, we have the $10/ month plan, also please see the December issue of Consumer Reports for independent ratings of Cell service providers. Ting and Republic wireless come out on top.
- Sun Apr 07, 2013 11:48 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: High ER and Index fund results
- Replies: 19
- Views: 1961
Re: High ER and Index fund results
A personal conversation I had with Jack about Index VS active funds and the apparent dichotomy within Vanguard (Wellington, STAR, etc…) he indicated that given the same asset allocation (stock, bond) and holdings (value, growth, small cap, large cap, etc) that the ER was the driving factor in predic...
- Wed Jan 23, 2013 7:01 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: How much to spend on a new washer & dryer
- Replies: 66
- Views: 19144
Re: How much to spend on a new washer & dryer
I could have written your post a few weeks ago! After fixing our 25 Year old washer, I said (Insert wife’s name here) it is time for a new washer! I also do as Taylor suggested and look art CR. Unfortunately, what I discovered is that high rated expensive washers have a bimodal distribution. Folks l...
- Sun Jan 20, 2013 9:01 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Thank you, Jack Bogle !!
- Replies: 17
- Views: 4381
Re: Thank you, Jack Bogle !!
About 2 1/2 years ago, at age 24, my finances were in poor shape. Not in shambles, but certainly not in a good position. I was paying down student debt sporadically and putting a meager amount (couple hundred monthly) in a savings account earning 0.1 % APY. I knew I needed a change but had no idea ...
- Sat Jan 19, 2013 5:17 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Inflation; Total Bond Market; GNMAs; and TIPS
- Replies: 18
- Views: 3339
Re: Inflation; Total Bond Market; GNMAs; and TIPS
Bogleheads: This is an update of a post I made last year : YEAR .. INFLATION .. TBM .... GNMA .... TIPS 1996......3.3%.....3.6%.....5.2% 1997......1.7%.....9.4%.....9.5% 1998......1.6%.....8.6%.....7.1% 1999......2.7%....-0.8%.....0.8% 2000......3.4%....11.4%...11.2% 2001......2.8%.....8.4%.....7.9...
- Wed Jan 16, 2013 9:02 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: When interest rates rise, Total Bond market Index vs Interme
- Replies: 25
- Views: 5764
Re: Forecasting bond returns. A loser's game.
Vanguard Total Bond Market Admiral (VBTLX) and Vanguard Intermediate Term Treasury Investor Shares (VFITX) currently have almost identical durations: VBTLX = 5.2 years vs. VFITX = 5.3 years. A naive investor might think they would have similar returns. But here's what happened to these two funds du...
- Tue Jan 08, 2013 5:30 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: What was your 2012 return?
- Replies: 275
- Views: 25635
Re: What was your 2012 return?
12.9% with 55/45 stock/bond. Average duration of the majority of our bond funds is 3.2Y, most stock is VTSAX, light on International allocation
- Sat Sep 22, 2012 12:55 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Most underrated band of all time [that you listen to]?
- Replies: 342
- Views: 20721
Re: Most underrated band of all time [that you listen to]?
+1 for BostonJDaniels wrote:Some friends and I were discussing this topic.
Our top three were:
1) The Who
2) Rush
3) Boston
All great bands that never got the credit they deserved.
What are yours?
- Tue Aug 14, 2012 5:38 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: 21 Year Old With Good Amount of Savings Seeking Advice
- Replies: 11
- Views: 2434
Re: 21 Year Old With Good Amount of Savings Seeking Advice
I'd put $50 into a few books from the reading list and then read them. Maybe you already have though. If so, what did you learn from the books? Bill, Welcome. You might consider FDIC insured CD’s, the interest rate is better than the MM funds, but not by a lot. I would agree with livesoft that some...
- Sun Jun 24, 2012 6:37 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: 401K Stable Value Funds Making Changes
- Replies: 15
- Views: 1977
Re: 401K Stable Value Funds Making Changes
My Stable Value fund took a number of months to liquidate and all investors that stayed in the fund received a fairly nice bonus after the final trading day. It appears to me that the market/book ratio was modestly above 1.00 and the fraction above 1.00 was paid out on the last day. Good point, our...
- Sun Jun 24, 2012 6:02 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: 401K Stable Value Funds Making Changes
- Replies: 15
- Views: 1977
Re: 401K Stable Value Funds Making Changes
yes, Stable Value fund went away in our 401k replaced by short term bond fund
- Tue May 08, 2012 5:08 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: OK, Maybe I am Wrong on Bonds
- Replies: 53
- Views: 4880
Re: OK, Maybe I am Wrong on Bonds
3. If your rich uncle died and left you $1Million dollars today...or $5Million...and you were a Boglehead...would you have the guts to invest 40% of that in intermediate bonds paying 2 to 3 percent? 1) He did 2. I am 3. I did Only because I don't know any better :happy 1) I I don’t have one, but if...
- Sat May 05, 2012 9:18 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Poll: What is your current largest unrealized loss?
- Replies: 22
- Views: 1994
Re: Poll: What is your current largest unrealized loss?
+1FrugalInvestor wrote:I have none. I tax loss harvested once during the big downturn and am hoping to never have the opportunity again.
- Sun Apr 29, 2012 11:58 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: WSJ: Heard on the Street Deception (?)
- Replies: 17
- Views: 1617
Re: WSJ: Heard on the Street Deception (?)
Interesting. I had used google myself and got that link, and saw the whole article, but when I click on your link (with identical address), I only get a portion. It see like anyone wanting to read it needs to google the title themselves. I have two tabs open with exactly the same address, one with ...
- Sat Apr 28, 2012 7:16 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: vanguard municipal bond funds
- Replies: 20
- Views: 2376
Re: vanguard municipal bond funds
State-specific funds are typically a bad deal. Do the math. They return less after state tax than the national funds. Notable exception is California. this can help... https://personal.vanguard.com/us/funds/tools/taxequivalentyield How? This is a federal tax calculator. No, this is a Taxable-equiva...
- Sat Apr 28, 2012 5:58 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: vanguard municipal bond funds
- Replies: 20
- Views: 2376
Re: vanguard municipal bond funds
State-specific funds are typically a bad deal. Do the math. They return less after state tax than the national funds. Notable exception is California. this can help... https://personal.vanguard.com/us/funds/tools/taxequivalentyield How? This is a federal tax calculator. No, this is a Taxable-equiva...
- Sat Apr 28, 2012 5:02 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: vanguard municipal bond funds
- Replies: 20
- Views: 2376
Re: vanguard municipal bond funds
this can help...Bob's not my name wrote:State-specific funds are typically a bad deal. Do the math. They return less after state tax than the national funds. Notable exception is California.
https://personal.vanguard.com/us/funds/ ... alentyield
- Sat Apr 28, 2012 4:05 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Another GNMA post
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1602
Re: Another GNMA post
Actually I was agnostic between TBM and GNMA until 2008. Take a look at this five year comparison chart, check out in particular 2008. You may call it past performance, I might call it a “real world test during extreme market conditions” http://quote.morningstar.com/fund/chart.aspx?t=VFIJX®ion=US...
- Sat Apr 28, 2012 12:01 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Another GNMA post
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1602
Re: Another GNMA post
Do you think you've found a case of extra return without extra risk? Nisiprius, Please quantify the “increased risk” of GNMA Credit risk: GNMA =“backed by the full faith and credit of the US government” TBM= Diversification, with 70% of the holdings backed by the US government Interest rate risk: A...
- Fri Apr 27, 2012 2:48 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Another GNMA post
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1602
Re: Another GNMA post
Yes, yet another GNMA “discussion” 1) Prepayment risk: When interest rates fall people refinance to capture a portion of this benefit. However, the cost to refinance limits this activity. Also people move all the time, I believe that 30 year mortgages are held on average for 12 years. All this is in...
- Tue Apr 03, 2012 6:56 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Bond Funds
- Replies: 3
- Views: 667
Re: Bond Funds
You did not state if this was taxable. I would be more inclined to select a single intermediate term fund, Vanguard GNMA or Total bond, and just stick with it.
- Sat Mar 31, 2012 7:27 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: 401k employer contributions/employer matching tax treatment
- Replies: 5
- Views: 1140
Re: 401k employer contributions/employer matching tax treatm
Thanks TFB. Could you direct me to a document that details this? So the expense of a 1.0% 401k match is reduced by the % of the tax bracket of the employer, up to 25% of payroll? 26 USC 404(a)(3) (3) Stock bonus and profit-sharing trusts (A) Limits on deductible contributions (i) In general In the ...
- Sat Mar 31, 2012 1:56 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: 401k employer contributions/employer matching tax treatment
- Replies: 5
- Views: 1140
Re: 401k employer contributions/employer matching tax treatm
Thanks TFB. Could you direct me to a document that details this? So the expense of a 1.0% 401k match is reduced by the % of the tax bracket of the employer, up to 25% of payroll? Livesoft, I understand the comparison when employees are evaluating two potential jobs but if you already had a job witho...
- Sat Mar 31, 2012 12:07 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: 401k employer contributions/employer matching tax treatment
- Replies: 5
- Views: 1140
401k employer contributions/employer matching tax treatment
In an effort to encourage my employer to start a 401k matching, or employer contribution to our 401k, I am trying to understand the tax implications to the employer of contributing or funding employee 401k’s. How is the employer expense of contributing to a 401k treated under the tax code? This is a...
- Sun Mar 04, 2012 6:14 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: 529 Plans - Criteria to Save
- Replies: 9
- Views: 959
Re: 529 Plans - Criteria to Save
I generally agree with your logic however some 401K plans are bad (No match, very high expenses) and some 529 plans, like nysaves.org, are run by vanguard and offer very low expenses, great investments, and a tax deduction in NY state for contributions… Sooo... it is hard to have one size fits all a...
- Mon Jan 30, 2012 7:53 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Inflation; Total Bond Market; GNMAs; and TIPS
- Replies: 18
- Views: 3339
Re: Uniform type shares
Hi Winterescape: I used your figures to edit shares in the chart to " investor shares." Thank you. You may find this Conversation interesting: GNMA behavior in a sharply rising environment Best wishes. Taylor Taylor, Thanks for the link to that thread, I had not read it. What I fail to see mentione...
- Sun Jan 29, 2012 10:14 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Inflation; Total Bond Market; GNMAs; and TIPS
- Replies: 18
- Views: 3339
Re: Total Bond Market; GNMAs; TIPS and Inflation
Thanks Taylor for the historic chart. It helps me keep perspective. The Vanguard site shows Vanguard GNMA Fund Admiral Shares 7.80% Vanguard Total Bond Mkt Index Admiral 7.69% Vanguard GNMA Fund Investor Shares 7.69% Vanguard Total Bond Mkt Index Inv 7.56% so are you comparing the Total Bond Mkt Ind...
- Sun Jan 22, 2012 6:35 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: How to take advantage of Natural Gas Collapse
- Replies: 31
- Views: 2740
Re: How to take advantage of Natural Gas Collapse
I updated the crossover point on my home heating system. Instead of running the heatpump down to 10 degrees outside temp it now switches to the gas furnace at 30 degrees.
- Mon Jan 16, 2012 4:42 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Wash Sale? - Vanguard FTSE to Vanguard Total International
- Replies: 29
- Views: 2347
Re: Wash Sale? - Vanguard FTSE to Vanguard Total Internation
If you search I seem to remember a thread where someone argued that a S&P index fund at one fund family was not equal to a S&P index fund at another family, let me know if this holds up in an audit… Although this has never been tested in court either, the conventional wisdom is that two index funds...
- Mon Jan 16, 2012 4:14 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Short term treasuries vs. bond index for emergency funds
- Replies: 15
- Views: 2173
Re: Short term treasuries vs. bond index for emergency funds
Setting up the ladder gives certainty but adds complexity to managing your reserves. If you are O.K. with that, fine. If you want simplicity you could consider a short duration bond fund. The Vanguard short-term bond index currently has a duration of 2.7 years I even like the Vanguard GNMA, but plea...
- Mon Jan 16, 2012 3:54 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Tax filing and Roth Overcontribution
- Replies: 7
- Views: 992
Re: Tax filing and Roth Overcontribution
I did this too a number of years back and I called the IRS. They advised me to attach a letter of explanation to my return which said much what you just posted. Never heard anything more about it. I do remember that I was very pleasantly surprised by the short hold time on the phone with the IRS and...
- Mon Jan 16, 2012 3:47 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Wash Sale? - Vanguard FTSE to Vanguard Total International
- Replies: 29
- Views: 2347
Re: Wash Sale? - Vanguard FTSE to Vanguard Total Internation
O.K. O.K good point, the asterisk at the bottom then reads “except where the same fund has multiple share classes and it is just a different ticker/ share class of the same fund”
The print is normal size here but of course it would be 4 point font
The print is normal size here but of course it would be 4 point font

- Mon Jan 16, 2012 3:26 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Wash Sale? - Vanguard FTSE to Vanguard Total International
- Replies: 29
- Views: 2347
Re: Wash Sale? - Vanguard FTSE to Vanguard Total Internation
I use a very simple rule, which has never been tested as far as I know. If the ticker symbol is not the same it is not “substantially identical” A simple argument for this would be “why would Vanguard go to the trouble of registering and maintaining the two funds if they were identical? Why not just...
- Mon Jan 16, 2012 3:03 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: I'm very disappointed with Vanguard right now (cost basis)
- Replies: 30
- Views: 6528
Re: I'm very disappointed with Vanguard right now
I understand your frustration. Seems you have a very unique situation with those shares but I am unclear as to why they would not let you enter cost basis info? Is that something new? When I helped transfer my Fathers account to Vanguard the brokerage screeen had a place to enter a revised cost basi...
- Sun Jan 15, 2012 3:51 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Improved Net Worth by Age [and plot]
- Replies: 250
- Views: 45364
Re: Improved Net Worth by Age [and plot]
Fascinating! I just spent some time looking at the results. Thanks for all the work to pull this together. It looks like line 174 and 176 are duplicates and I question if the “value of residence” is not missing 2 or 3 zeros. My surprise in looking at the data is how much variance there is in asset a...