Fidelity pushes annuities in various subtle and not-so-subtle ways. Selling annuities is a profitable business for them, which is one sign that it isn't a good deal for you.
But as many other threads here will tell you, annuities are a form of insurance, not investment. They offer a reliable income stream. Giving up the chance to make money by investing, in order to get that reliable income, is an individual decision and depends on your own needs. No one else can tell you what to do.
But it isn't a good investment, any more than car insurance, home insurance, etc. are good investments. You lose money in order to be protected from losing even more money. You can't compare them to bonds, which are volatile investments. They have gone down ...
Search found 1057 matches
- Fri Feb 07, 2025 3:37 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: I was offered an annuity
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1558
- Wed Feb 05, 2025 2:58 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Only S&P 500 or is TSM necessary?
- Replies: 47
- Views: 4212
Re: Only S&P 500 or is TSM necessary?
If selling a 'reasonable portfolio' and putting the money in an S&P500 index fund is not reasonable now, it then follows that one should sell one's currently held S&P 500 index fund shares.White Coat Investor wrote: Wed Feb 05, 2025 1:34 pm I deployed with a doc in 2007 whose portfolio was 100% S&P 500 index fund. I bet he's been pretty happy with that decision the last few years. It's not a crazy portfolio. I just don't think it's a great idea to switch from a reasonable portfolio to that portfolio NOW.
(Every day one holds something, that is equivalent to being required to sell and then choosing to buy it again. In other words, by holding, one is choosing to buy the S&P500 index fund daily. Is this wise? If yes, then investing new money in it is wise also...)
- Tue Feb 04, 2025 7:50 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Get Out of Bond Funds
- Replies: 94
- Views: 11130
Re: Get Out of Bond Funds
What has happened in the last five years tells you nothing about what will happen. You are sort of acknowledging that, and yet betting that it will be 'close'. You could be right or wrong, but if you are right, it will be by chance and not by logic because logic and reasoning are worthless.Buzzman wrote: Tue Feb 04, 2025 7:34 pm...I ask: What has happened in the last five years, and what do I expect in the next five? Over the past five years, money market funds (VMRXX) have outperformed most long- and short-term bond funds (VBLAX, VBIRX, VSIGX). Will that trend continue? Probably not—but I’d bet the performance will be close.
- Tue Feb 04, 2025 2:49 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Best coffee for ~$10 / lb?
- Replies: 101
- Views: 17033
Re: Best coffee for ~$10 / lb?
"Bustelo" is not very specific. They make several types, and most of those are primarily robusta with its characteristic taste of burned rubber.
- Mon Feb 03, 2025 5:41 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Freetaxusa vs Turbotax
- Replies: 144
- Views: 28161
Re: Freetaxusa vs Turbotax
TurboTax and TaxAct support downloading of 1099s from major brokerages. That, or (equivalently) accurately reading uploaded 1099 PDFs(*), is worth some money to me. If I understand correctly, FreetaxUSA doesn't do either. (Yes, I know it isn't a huge amount of data entry, but still.)
I'm using TA this year because TT doesn't do form 8621. While TA did download most of the 1099 data, I had to add the Sec 199A dividends manually. I don't recall if TT had the same issue, i.e. I am not sure if it is a Fidelity problem. Both have the problem that all joint account data gets downloaded twice, once for each of us, and one copy must be manually deleted(*).
(*)Shouldn't AI be able to help do these things?
I'm using TA this year because TT doesn't do form 8621. While TA did download most of the 1099 data, I had to add the Sec 199A dividends manually. I don't recall if TT had the same issue, i.e. I am not sure if it is a Fidelity problem. Both have the problem that all joint account data gets downloaded twice, once for each of us, and one copy must be manually deleted(*).
(*)Shouldn't AI be able to help do these things?
- Fri Jan 31, 2025 10:45 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Disappearing Hard Drive
- Replies: 48
- Views: 4607
Re: Disappearing Hard Drive
No, it isn't a Dell limit. It is an MBR limit (2.2TB). You have to set up the drive to use GPT instead. Dell has no problem with you using more than 2TB.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troub ... eding-2-tb
- Fri Jan 24, 2025 10:21 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Why are India ETFs (EPI-INDA-SMIN-INCO-GLIN-INQQ) sagging: Is it just the exchange rate (USD too strong)?
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1220
Re: Why are India ETFs (EPI-INDA-SMIN-INCO-GLIN-INQQ) sagging: Is it just the exchange rate (USD too strong)?
I am not sure why people appear to be going along with the suggestion that it is the exchange rate. A search on the internet will easily show that the Indian indexes peaked at the end of September 2024 and have dropped sharply since (in Rupees). Yes, the exchange rate has also worsened, adding a tiny amount (around 1%) to the drop if priced in USD but not at all a major factor.
- Tue Jan 21, 2025 2:42 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: United Airlines Travel Credit Problem
- Replies: 16
- Views: 1605
Re: United Airlines Travel Credit Problem
Suggest asking on Flyertalk, not here (and they may have an existing thread with wiki on the topic of UA travel credits).
- Mon Jan 13, 2025 10:25 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Alternative to Google Voice for SMS
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1584
Re: Alternative to Google Voice for SMS
The original post doesn't make sense. Google Voice does not depend on a physical phone, it is a virtual number. And why would one need Google Voice (or an "alternative" to it) just for SMS?
- Sun Jan 12, 2025 10:39 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Sales Tax on Amazon Purchases
- Replies: 16
- Views: 1748
Re: Sales Tax on Amazon Purchases
Sales tax rates typically depend on the type of the item purchased. For example, food is taxed less in my state.
- Sat Jan 11, 2025 2:38 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Refrigerator Filter
- Replies: 27
- Views: 2538
Re: Refrigerator Filter
I buy the cheapest versions of most things, but generic filters for our Samsung fridge never worked out. The water tasted funny, the flow rate was low, and/or leaks developed. I would even warn against buying 'OEM' filters on Amazon, there are many fakes out there. Buying direct from Samsung cost only a few dollars more.
Of course, we use the filters longer than Samsung recommends. But four years seems excessive. We think we can detect a change in taste after 3 six-month cycles. Could be our imagination, of course.
Of course, we use the filters longer than Samsung recommends. But four years seems excessive. We think we can detect a change in taste after 3 six-month cycles. Could be our imagination, of course.
- Fri Jan 10, 2025 4:46 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Second-guessing my Fidelity advisor. Please give 2nd opinions.
- Replies: 25
- Views: 4355
Re: Second-guessing my Fidelity advisor. Please give 2nd opinions.
Since FFRHX buys short term junk, it is NOT "closely correlated with the stock market". It can drop sharply during extreme events e.g. 2008, but then tends to bounce back, and otherwise chugs along steadily. It is not a bad suggestion for those willing to take a little risk and not obsessing on expense ratio.retired@50 wrote: Mon Jan 06, 2025 11:22 am
FFRHX is a junk bond fund (ER 0.73%) that is an ocean away from an I-bond issued by the US Treasury.
...
However, since junk bonds are so closely correlated with the stock market ups and downs...
Regards,
In general this advisor's suggestions are fairly reasonable, unlike some Fidelity-advised portfolios reported here.Yes, of course FXAIX rather than FZROX.
- Fri Jan 10, 2025 1:54 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Father retiring at age 77. First RMD timing question
- Replies: 2
- Views: 422
Re: Father retiring at age 77. First RMD timing question
Yes. Note that it will make a difference to his 2026 taxes also. Depending on the amounts involved, it may be helpful to split the first RMD between the two years in such a way as to avoid crossing into a higher tax bracket.koryg75 wrote: Fri Jan 10, 2025 1:42 pm My father has finally decided to retire from his profession at age 77 in September of this year. Since this will be his first RMD, does he still have the option to defer it until April of 2026? It could make a big difference in his 2025 taxes. Thank you in advance.
- Thu Jan 09, 2025 1:03 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: When can i start backdoor roth ira for 2025?
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1114
Re: When can i start backdoor roth ira for 2025?
Stock market gains and social security payments are also taxable but are not earned income. Earned income needs to have have FICA (SS and Medicare) taxes paid on it, not just income tax.rakish_weasel wrote: Thu Jan 09, 2025 11:49 am Thanks -- and good to know this! Understandable how it generally doesn't impact most folks, given how little would need to be earned... but still worth keeping in back of the mind, especially as it appears that despite being taxable, unemployment income isn't considered earned income and wouldn't count towards the minimum for IRA contributions.
-rw
- Thu Jan 09, 2025 12:50 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: venice in feb?
- Replies: 24
- Views: 1601
Re: venice in feb?
Sorry, there are no such bridges.vishalugle wrote: Tue Jan 07, 2025 9:33 am ...the water ferries were not operating, we had to cross over multiple bridges to reach the main island from Murano carrying our luggage.
- Wed Jan 08, 2025 7:13 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: When can i start backdoor roth ira for 2025?
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1114
Re: When can i start backdoor roth ira for 2025?
You can only contribute earned income.rakish_weasel wrote: Wed Jan 08, 2025 6:54 pmCan you elaborate on the logic here? Not aware of any minimum income requirement to contribute to a TIRA (which is where a backdoor Roth IRA would begin), but of course there's a maximum income requirement for a direct Roth IRA contribution above which it's disallowed.GoldStar wrote: Tue Jan 07, 2025 2:58 pm ...Some very conservative people like to wait until after they have enough earned income into January (e.g. if you are laid off on Jan 2 and never find a job you may not make enough earned income in 2025).
Mine is done already.
- Wed Jan 08, 2025 3:11 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Vanguard had my RMD amount for 2025 this AM
- Replies: 20
- Views: 2910
Re: Vanguard had my RMD amount for 2025 this AM
Sale from what account, going where? And what does "applied it" mean?dperkins wrote: Fri Jan 03, 2025 4:49 pm I made a sale on December 31st for my mom and they applied it to 2025's RMD. Irrr- so annoying.
Anyway, regarding the original post, I am not sure why one would ever need to wait "forever" for the brokerage to announce the RMD amount. The end of year balance should be available on 1/1 (it is at Fidelity, once MM 12/31 dividends have been added in overnight). Just divide by the relevant factor. And if desired, round it up to the next dollar to avoid penny-level discrepancies.
Do Vanguard and Schwab not show current balances daily?
- Tue Jan 07, 2025 1:36 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: US Mobile vs. Mint - anyone here tried both?
- Replies: 41
- Views: 5907
Re: US Mobile vs. Mint - anyone here tried both?
I would say your question answers itself, but I have added bolding to make it even better.nydoc wrote: Tue Jan 07, 2025 3:36 am Why did you get add on? International roaming is included in their unlimited plans and it worked great for me.
I spend most of my time in places with wifi and struggle to use 2GB of wireless data in a month.
- Fri Jan 03, 2025 4:29 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: tsa precheck touchless ID available at United
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1346
Re: tsa precheck touchless ID available at United
In my experience there is a tiny icon next to the Precheck label on the United electronic boarding pass (I cannot describe the shape of that icon because it was so small), and that tells the Precheck line dragon that you can go into the Touchless ID line for TSA processing. When I went through, the line was empty and it took just as much time as Global Entry does at international arrival, i.e. about two seconds.
There seems to be some confusion in this thread about what Touchless ID is---it is not Global Entry or regular Precheck, and it is TSA, not the airline. It just involves standing for a second in front of a camera (the camera ID's you without touching you, you see!) No boarding pass or ID is required.
I assume they use my photo ...
There seems to be some confusion in this thread about what Touchless ID is---it is not Global Entry or regular Precheck, and it is TSA, not the airline. It just involves standing for a second in front of a camera (the camera ID's you without touching you, you see!) No boarding pass or ID is required.
I assume they use my photo ...
- Fri Jan 03, 2025 10:29 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: US Mobile vs. Mint - anyone here tried both?
- Replies: 41
- Views: 5907
Re: US Mobile vs. Mint - anyone here tried both?
US mobile- $44 100 gb high speed data without any slowdown in congestion etc. I was with Verizon before and now US mobile Verizon..data speed is much much better. International roaming is free. I have visited paris, dubai and India in last one week and service is great.
I was in India and Qatar last month, and USM's $15 addon to TMobile service did not work for voice or data (both using LTE/5G) but did work for SMS (2G). When I complained, they said it might be a matter of manually selecting network operators. By then I was back in the US. I did not get my $15 back.
Come to think of it, I had difficulty when first getting USM---something I did with the APNs fixed the problem. So maybe USM is not for beginners.
If you have USM's Verizon ...
- Mon Dec 30, 2024 5:22 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Please help me right this ship, ugh
- Replies: 14
- Views: 2171
Re: Please help me right this ship, ugh
That's a problem. Step one: get away from them and simplify. They are just amusing themselves at your expense.Sab1ford wrote: Mon Dec 30, 2024 12:12 pm
Managed through Fidelity Wealth Management:
Taxable
I cannot possibly list all the individual holdings...
- Sat Dec 28, 2024 8:24 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Steam vs. Hot Water vs. Heat pump heating of townhome in Queens, NY
- Replies: 45
- Views: 2536
Re: Steam vs. Hot Water vs. Heat pump heating of townhome in Queens, NY
Hot water without pumps is known as a "gravity" system. The water circulates purely due to the density difference betwern hot and cold water . This requires larger pipes to the first floor than the second floor because gravity works better to the second floor. When converted to pumps, the first floor pipes will need reducers because pumps work equally well to all floors.
Steam and hot water are NOT more or less the same . With "outdoor reset" a hot water system can be silent and imperceptible, heating without those awful on/off too hot /too cold cycles. But one-pipe is a problem. Steam does humidify through being released into the house. Both hot water snd steam benefit from thermostatic radiator valves.
Old fashioned large cast iron ...
Steam and hot water are NOT more or less the same . With "outdoor reset" a hot water system can be silent and imperceptible, heating without those awful on/off too hot /too cold cycles. But one-pipe is a problem. Steam does humidify through being released into the house. Both hot water snd steam benefit from thermostatic radiator valves.
Old fashioned large cast iron ...
- Tue Dec 10, 2024 12:43 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: RMD/ Dividends Capital Gains
- Replies: 4
- Views: 453
Re: RMD/ Dividends Capital Gains
Not sure exactly what you are asking. Principal, dividends, capital gains, everything in your tIRA is just money. Any differences are mental accounting only.
You have to withdraw the RMD, which is a specific dollar amount. You can sell and withdraw cash and then buy something else (or not), or you can move mutual fund shares. The only issue with doing mutual funds in kind is that you don't know exactly how much you have withdrawn, until after you have withdrawn it (end of the day).
Edited to add: there is no real difference between (a) moving MF shares in kind, and (b) selling those shares, moving the cash, and buying shares of the same MF. There is a difference if there are significant price moves in the one day or so you might be out ...
You have to withdraw the RMD, which is a specific dollar amount. You can sell and withdraw cash and then buy something else (or not), or you can move mutual fund shares. The only issue with doing mutual funds in kind is that you don't know exactly how much you have withdrawn, until after you have withdrawn it (end of the day).
Edited to add: there is no real difference between (a) moving MF shares in kind, and (b) selling those shares, moving the cash, and buying shares of the same MF. There is a difference if there are significant price moves in the one day or so you might be out ...
- Mon Dec 09, 2024 8:58 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Comcast deletes comcast email
- Replies: 17
- Views: 1979
- Mon Dec 09, 2024 4:26 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Reason for me to have a taxable brokerage acct?
- Replies: 12
- Views: 1885
Re: Reason for me to have a taxable brokerage acct?
Every case is different, you have to do your own projections; but it is possible to defer too much in taxes and be stuck in an unnecessarily high tax bracket once RMDs and pension start. Current federal tax rates are low and it may be wise to adjust your taxable income to hit the top of the appropriate tax bracket. Plus, of course, it is always good to have some liquid assets for unexpected expenses, invested through a brokerage account but easily sold.
- Fri Dec 06, 2024 3:14 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: I feel like I should try to fill the 22% tax bracket with something
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1729
Re: I feel like I should try to fill the 22% tax bracket with something
Unlike the IRMAA cliff, where going into the next bracket makes a huge difference, the transition from 22% to 24% is incremental. It’s only 2% on the overage.
Your decision to create additional income should be based on more realistic factors.
I'm not sure I communicated my question to you well. I'm not worried about touching the 24% bracket next year, I just didn't want to waste the 22% bracket this year if there was anything I could easily fill it with. But after reading your response, especially the phrase "create additional [regular] income" I realized that is in fact the only way to fill the bracket and I can't do that so problem solved. I can stop thinking about it because there is nothing to do. Thanks.
I believe neilpilot's ...
- Thu Dec 05, 2024 1:28 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: GoogleFi cell service on iPhone? (2024)
- Replies: 16
- Views: 1654
Re: GoogleFi cell service on iPhone? (2024)
GV is great for foreign travel, but otherwise, $10/GB is exceptionally high.
- Wed Dec 04, 2024 1:54 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Best advice you have received
- Replies: 60
- Views: 6604
Re: Best advice you have received
"...Money don't come easy
No, you just have to wait
It's a game of give and take
You can't hurry growth
You gotta trust, give it time
No matter how long it takes..."
(apologies to Holland-Dozier-Holland)
No, you just have to wait
It's a game of give and take
You can't hurry growth
You gotta trust, give it time
No matter how long it takes..."
(apologies to Holland-Dozier-Holland)
- Mon Dec 02, 2024 12:21 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Update 1, Whole house humidifiers (e.g. Aprilaire) and hard water
- Replies: 16
- Views: 1429
Re: Whole house humidifiers (e.g. Aprilaire) and hard water
Not all "whole house" humidifiers are the same.
Steam humidifiers such as the Aprilaire 800 humidify the best. They require unsoftened water because they heat by sending current through the water and this benefits from more conductive water. They require cold water because they use that to temper the waste water that is drained out taking excess ions and some limescale with it. There are a number of threads here on steam humidifiers, search for "Aprilaire 800".
People who have evaporative (pad-based) humidifiers believe that these humidify the air significantly also. These humidifiers benefit from hot, softened water. They are typically wired to work only when the furnace is blowing hot air so they can't do as much in spring/fall. (They ...
Steam humidifiers such as the Aprilaire 800 humidify the best. They require unsoftened water because they heat by sending current through the water and this benefits from more conductive water. They require cold water because they use that to temper the waste water that is drained out taking excess ions and some limescale with it. There are a number of threads here on steam humidifiers, search for "Aprilaire 800".
People who have evaporative (pad-based) humidifiers believe that these humidify the air significantly also. These humidifiers benefit from hot, softened water. They are typically wired to work only when the furnace is blowing hot air so they can't do as much in spring/fall. (They ...
- Fri Nov 29, 2024 11:32 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: [Fear of risk of future political and economic events]: leaving equities (6 years from retirement)
- Replies: 152
- Views: 13908
Re: Tariff Fears: leaving equities (6 years from retirement)
...
I didn't touch that 15% stock I have in VTI (USA stock index) because I'd have to pay 15% capital gains.
QUESTION:
How much would the market need to drop to make selling it now and paying 15% in taxes worth it? e.g. if the market dropped 30%, would selling and paying the capital gains now have been a wise decision? Is the break-even for a market correction = to the capital gains tax rate of 15%?
BTW, feel free to share general reactions to my post (I won't get upset) but would like to hear any/all thoughts on this subject.
Thanks in advance,
Mike
It is not clear if you realize that
(a) you don't pay 15% CG tax on the entire amount, just on the capital gain (which you didn't specify)
(b) you do not have a choice between paying vs ...
I didn't touch that 15% stock I have in VTI (USA stock index) because I'd have to pay 15% capital gains.
QUESTION:
How much would the market need to drop to make selling it now and paying 15% in taxes worth it? e.g. if the market dropped 30%, would selling and paying the capital gains now have been a wise decision? Is the break-even for a market correction = to the capital gains tax rate of 15%?
BTW, feel free to share general reactions to my post (I won't get upset) but would like to hear any/all thoughts on this subject.
Thanks in advance,
Mike
It is not clear if you realize that
(a) you don't pay 15% CG tax on the entire amount, just on the capital gain (which you didn't specify)
(b) you do not have a choice between paying vs ...
- Mon Nov 25, 2024 12:56 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Question About Taking Our Capital Gains This Year.
- Replies: 5
- Views: 597
Re: Question About Taking Our Capital Gains This Year.
I think the real question I had and didn't ask very well is why when you reinvest either your dividends/cap gains does it not look like your fund has gone up by the amount you've just reinvested...When you go to the bank and make a $500 deposit your balance goes up by $500...In my mind, that's what should happen in our IRA when we reinvest but it doesn't, at least not immediately, and I think it should. Lol
If your fund holds stocks that increase in price, the value of your investment in the fund goes up. Say, over time, $10,000 goes to $10,500. If they sell those stocks, they have a realized capital gain; selling does not increase the value of your investment but it has increased previously. When they give you that $500 as a ...
- Fri Nov 22, 2024 12:41 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: best choice for submitting tax form 8621 electronically?
- Replies: 0
- Views: 386
best choice for submitting tax form 8621 electronically?
Form 8621 reports foreign investments. TT does not support this form; they want you to print out the return, add manually prepared 8621 forms to it, and mail. (Then the state return has to be mailed also.)
I see that TaxAct, H&R Block and eFile claim to include this form. But all the so-called reviews I am able to find seem to be lists of published features that the reviewers have not actually used.
Have you used any software to submit 8621 forms electronically? If so, any opinions/suggestions/preferences? Will these programs help me fill out the form correctly, or will they just let me figure it out myself?
[PS Yes, I know it is better, tax-paperwork-wise, not to have foreign investments at all. In this case it is an inheritance, so I ...
I see that TaxAct, H&R Block and eFile claim to include this form. But all the so-called reviews I am able to find seem to be lists of published features that the reviewers have not actually used.
Have you used any software to submit 8621 forms electronically? If so, any opinions/suggestions/preferences? Will these programs help me fill out the form correctly, or will they just let me figure it out myself?
[PS Yes, I know it is better, tax-paperwork-wise, not to have foreign investments at all. In this case it is an inheritance, so I ...
- Wed Nov 20, 2024 1:03 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Medigap or Medicare Advantage?
- Replies: 41
- Views: 4044
Re: Medigap or Medicare Advantage?
When you are younger and don't need much medical care, MA is great. They know many people won't switch back after the first year is over. Any issues that develop may be some years later.mikhailo2608il wrote: Mon Nov 18, 2024 10:38 pm ...They even offer to let me try the Advantage plan for a year to see if it is agreeable to me and if it is not agreeable then I can get back into a Medigap plan with no medical underwriting.
I cannot see how this can possibly be advantageous for United Healthcare to offer me this option. What am I missing.
If you're getting a lot of mail from a business, that tells you it must be a great deal. (For them, not for you.)
- Sun Nov 10, 2024 8:46 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Replacing a toilet: how to choose?
- Replies: 81
- Views: 5964
Re: Replacing a toilet: how to choose?
The point of MAP testing is specifically that it is NOT golfballs, cats (?), or other nonsense each manufacturer comes up with to use in their marketing materials specifically to look good without enabling comparisons between brands.
MAP testing uses uniform test samples specifically designed to replicate the consistency and common size of the real material, and apply the same test methods to all toilets. It was created by a consortium of US and Canadian government agencies, rather than the manufacturers. They give a score, which is simply the weight in grams of the greatest amount of test material the toilet reliably flushed, providing a very simple means of comparison... If this is true, seems to me that they are not testing for all ...
- Fri Nov 08, 2024 12:47 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: How to allocate a windfall for my mom (and get her out of Fisher Investments)
- Replies: 17
- Views: 2047
Re: How to allocate a windfall for my mom (and get her out of Fisher Investments)
Those rules are only for people who have significant taxable, IRA/401k and Roth balances and want to minimize future taxes by looking at the three types of money as a whole. In short, they do not apply to your mother.someonesson wrote: Fri Nov 08, 2024 11:23 amI've heard it's generally not the best to hold bonds in a taxable account, but (and here is where I think I may be misunderstanding some things) she only has 35k available in the IRA and a 44% bond allocation would be much larger than that.
- Fri Nov 08, 2024 11:02 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Tax loss question
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1316
Re: Tax loss question
You have a loss whether you sell or not. Selling and carrying the loss over (beyond the first $3000 which you can deduct) is the same, tax-wise, as not selling. There is no financial advantage to canceling the realized loss immediately by realizing a gain, only a potential psychological benefit.
Investment-wise, how can anyone answer a question about unnamed stocks? Indeed, even if you were to name the stock, how can anyone tell you what happens in future? If you get replies it will probably be on traditional BH lines "sell and buy index funds".
Investment-wise, how can anyone answer a question about unnamed stocks? Indeed, even if you were to name the stock, how can anyone tell you what happens in future? If you get replies it will probably be on traditional BH lines "sell and buy index funds".
- Thu Nov 07, 2024 11:59 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: How to deal with excess 401k ?
- Replies: 8
- Views: 875
Re: How to deal with excess 401k ?
In my experience (403b) changes made by around the 15th take effect in the same month at Fidelity.
Of course they will always stop automatically at the cap, but if you get a matching contribution from your employer, I don't know what happens to (say) the Dec match if you hit the limit in Nov. I don't think the OP has that problem though.
Of course they will always stop automatically at the cap, but if you get a matching contribution from your employer, I don't know what happens to (say) the Dec match if you hit the limit in Nov. I don't think the OP has that problem though.
- Thu Nov 07, 2024 2:17 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: [The Finance Buff] TFB: A Rich Life in Retirement
- Replies: 84
- Views: 8183
Re: TFB: A Rich Life in Retirement
You need a large cushion, especially as a couple, if you self insured for long term care. That is the primary threat that could derail my retirement and a reason for maintaining a large portfolio.
It helps knowing that if a significant balance remains untapped that it will pass to my daughters and granddaughters.
Yes. But there are other potential threats. People who think they have saved enough when they get to 25x are sticking their heads in the sand. Of course some people will not be able to do better than that and this is understandable, but is it safe? No. The future is never the same as the past, even though so many people here think it is.
Conscious or unconscious?
I don’t know about “most”, but it’s the effective goal of ...
- Sat Oct 26, 2024 12:58 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: RMDs in form of all QCDs plus some
- Replies: 4
- Views: 520
Re: RMDs in form of all QCDs plus some
QCD is not limited to the amount of RMD. For example, QCD is allowed starting at age 70.5 even if RMD starts at 73, 74 etc. It is, however, limited to $105K.
- Sun Oct 20, 2024 4:44 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Thoughts on Which tIRA Funds to Roth Convert
- Replies: 14
- Views: 1214
Re: Thoughts on Which tIRA Funds to Roth Convert
First step, remove all the duplication. Two S&P 500 funds, at least three income funds, what's the point?
Second, investing is not a physics problem, no one knows what is best. Just move whatever you want to Roth. People will say that funds with the greatest growth potential should be in Roth where there is no tax on that growth. But they might also lose money, in which case they should be in the tIRA. No one knows the future and it is a mistake to think someone here has a magic formula.
Second, investing is not a physics problem, no one knows what is best. Just move whatever you want to Roth. People will say that funds with the greatest growth potential should be in Roth where there is no tax on that growth. But they might also lose money, in which case they should be in the tIRA. No one knows the future and it is a mistake to think someone here has a magic formula.
- Fri Oct 18, 2024 6:06 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: "Non-standard" car insurance companies
- Replies: 6
- Views: 857
Re: "Non-standard" car insurance companies
If you have an old car, the usual recommendation even from insurance agents is to skip collision coverage to save on premium. If you get hit and are not at fault, the other driver's car insurance company is supposed to reimburse you for the repair cost. But if you get hit by a driver that is insured by a "non-standard" car insurance company, you may be out of luck getting that reimbursement. https://chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdogs/2024/10/18/nonstandard-car-insurance-consumer-complaints-american-alliance-first-chicago-insurance-united-equitable-american-heartland
OK.
But one should skip own-car coverage only if one can afford the loss ("self-insure"). In making the decision, always assume that the other driver will be uninsured or ...
- Fri Oct 18, 2024 2:12 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Fidelity removes foreign transaction fee on debit cards
- Replies: 14
- Views: 1635
Re: Fidelity removes foreign transaction fee on debit cards
Why do you prefer it over the Fidelity CMA debit card?Joyful wrote: Fri Oct 18, 2024 2:09 pm I prefer Schwab debit card - no foreign transaction fees and Schwab reimburses ATM fees from around the world.
- Fri Oct 18, 2024 2:11 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Fidelity removes foreign transaction fee on debit cards
- Replies: 14
- Views: 1635
Re: Fidelity removes foreign transaction fee on debit cards
I just got this alert in my Fidelity account: Fidelity is dropping the foreign transaction fee on its debit card. They already did that on their credit card a few months ago. I use both cards on my foreign trips, so this is certainly a good news.
Here are the details:
https://www.fidelity.com/spend-save/help-center/debit-card/get-started?selectTab=1
Your debit card is getting an upgrade—new look, no foreign transaction fees
Starting in September 2024, Fidelity will begin sending a free, upgraded replacement debit card to our Cash Management Account, Fidelity Account, and Youth Account customers.
Your new card will have all the same great features and security you already enjoy—now without foreign transaction fees.
Keep using your ...
- Fri Oct 18, 2024 1:29 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: pay estimated tax in retirement
- Replies: 28
- Views: 2082
Re: pay estimated tax in retirement
Once RMDs hit, you WILL have the option to have tax withheld.abner kravitz wrote: Thu Oct 17, 2024 3:27 pm I have no withholding. At tax time, I see my total tax owed and divide by 4 and plug it into EFTPS for next year's estimated quarterly tax. Once RMDs hit I will go to 110% of the tax.
One can then do it more simply by specifying a monthly withholding amount. Or, if interest rates remain high, one can make a few dollars (more likely a few hundred dollars, since in the 110% category) by having zero withholding for the first x months of the year and then close to 100% withholding for the remaining months.
- Sun Oct 13, 2024 9:02 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Loss of power to refrigerator: How to keep food from spoiling till Monday
- Replies: 66
- Views: 3707
Re: Loss of power to refrigerator: How to keep food from spoiling till Monday
Ice cools the surroundings primarily by melting---this absorbs latent heat.Sandtrap wrote: Fri Oct 11, 2024 1:29 pm blocks of ice from the local 7 11 or gas station.
Freezer and frig.
blocks will last longer than cubes.
j
Yes, a block of ice melts more slowly than cubes because it has smaller surface-to-volume ratio. But by the same token, it doesn't cool as well so it isn't a good idea in this application.
To take an extreme case, a block of cold rock (which never melts) will cool the fridge a bit, not anywhere near as much as melting ice.
- Sun Oct 13, 2024 8:48 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Transfer from one phone to another - My Experience Normal?
- Replies: 21
- Views: 1774
Re: Transfer from one phone to another - My Experience Normal?
Normal.
Samsung supplies software that does slightly better, but only for Samsungs. But there is nothing that copies everything perfectly. Having to log in to each app again is probably a good thing.
PS If you want to avoid moving to a new phone, it is not a bad idea to get the battery replaced once it is two or three years old or not holding charge as well. (In principle you can do it yourself also with an eBay kit.)
Samsung supplies software that does slightly better, but only for Samsungs. But there is nothing that copies everything perfectly. Having to log in to each app again is probably a good thing.
PS If you want to avoid moving to a new phone, it is not a bad idea to get the battery replaced once it is two or three years old or not holding charge as well. (In principle you can do it yourself also with an eBay kit.)
- Mon Sep 30, 2024 5:25 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Aprilaire 800 + Carrier Infinity
- Replies: 14
- Views: 1614
Re: Aprilaire 800 + Carrier Infinity
Still, a steam humidifier is a good buy---those passive (wet wick) humidifier thingys are just placebos. Cartridges are a major cost---I found the web-approved vinegar treatment destroys the cartridges rather than renewing them. You will also notice a significant increase in the electricity bill during the months when added humidity is needed.
If you are referring to a traditional bypass humidifier such as the Aprilaire 600 , then this makes no sense.
Water pads (which I think is what you mean by cartridge) cost $12, and I replace it once a year. Definitely the largest cost, but not a major one by any stretch.
Humidity in the home increases substantially if the unit is on, vs. if it is not. Ergo, not a placebo.
The only power it ...
- Mon Sep 30, 2024 3:14 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Aprilaire 800 + Carrier Infinity
- Replies: 14
- Views: 1614
Re: Aprilaire 800 + Carrier Infinity
The installer asked how many open spots were in the panel because he needed at least two. He said he’d be running new line to it just for the Aprilaire.
Interesting about airflow requirements. This is a variable speed furnace and tbh I have no idea about that stuff. Is this in a manual available in pdf I can view online?
I think I found it. So was the extra hole and plexiglass necessary? Which one of these in the chart did you determine applied to you? I guess I need to find the CFM range for my variable speed furnace…
New power line dedicated to Aprilaire is good.
My system is quite different so the specifics are not useful. But after they installed everything and left, I found water dripping from the seams in the ducts. The holes ...
- Mon Sep 30, 2024 1:10 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Aprilaire 800 + Carrier Infinity
- Replies: 14
- Views: 1614
Re: Aprilaire 800 + Carrier Infinity
If you have anything else on that line, it may not be adequate. If memory serves, the Aprilaire 800 needs a dedicated 25 amp circuit breaker and the corresponding gauge wires.
Also, watch out for condensation in the ducts. There are very specific requirements for air velocity and straight section---our installer was not aware. I had to read the manual and advocate for myself, including cutting two holes in the ducts and covering them with plexiglass so I could shine a flashlight through one and look through the other.
- Fri Sep 27, 2024 1:52 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: WiFi Mesh System
- Replies: 31
- Views: 2921
Re: WiFi Mesh System
The Deco PX50 does all the things other Decos do and has wifi6, but it has an additional backhaul method through the power lines. The G.hn powerline protocol is far superior and so reports of older experiences saying "powerline does not work" are likely not relevant. In any case, powerline backhaul is in addition to wifi backhaul.
Of course, if you have ethernet backhaul, powerline is unnecessary; but hardly anyone does. Decades ago (pre-good-wifi) I recall a few homes for sale saying they were wired for ethernet. For those who still have such wiring, it really helps with mesh systems.
Of course, if you have ethernet backhaul, powerline is unnecessary; but hardly anyone does. Decades ago (pre-good-wifi) I recall a few homes for sale saying they were wired for ethernet. For those who still have such wiring, it really helps with mesh systems.