Search found 449 matches

by NateW
Thu Oct 29, 2020 9:25 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Email from healthcare.gov about 2019 income
Replies: 21
Views: 2682

Re: Email from helathcare.gov about 2019 income

I received the same email yesterday and likewise was baffled. Same scenario, retired mid year 2019 with income over the limit for the subsidy, was on COBRA remainder of 2019 and during 2019 Open Enrollment applied for ACA insurance for 2020 for the first time. I actually though I received a phishing email (due to the clickable links and no use of my name), so I called Healthcare.gov. Person on the phone was not real sure what to make of the email, checked with a supervisor, and said they thought it was legitimate. She believed the reason I received it was my denying permission to access my tax records. I vaguely remember a question asking permission, but thought it was to help me figure out what I already knew, my 2020 income. I also knew a...
by NateW
Wed Mar 20, 2013 10:34 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Ending Advisor Relationship & Getting Cost Basis
Replies: 19
Views: 2481

Re: Ending Advisor Relationship & Getting Cost Basis

I was in this situation about five years ago. I simply sent the financial adviser a short, polite letter stating my wife and I decided to manage our own investments and therefore were ending our relationship with the financial advisor. I thanked the advisor for her services. My wife and I signed the letter. Our acounts with the adviser consisted of my wife's rollover IRA, small Roth IRAs and a $60,000 taxable acount, total assets were about $200,000. Decision to end the relationship was because we did not want to pay about 1.5% fund expene ratios AND a 1.5% asset management fee to the advisor. This was about a month after I began reading the Bogleheads forum :sharebeer I then contacted Vanguard and asked that they manage the collection of f...
by NateW
Thu Mar 14, 2013 3:21 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Hot water heater question
Replies: 34
Views: 3791

Re: Hot water heater question

Abe wrote:The hot water heater in one of my rentals went out recently. The renter is a licensed plumber. He said he charges $100.00 to replace water heaters and that is what he charged me. I bought a 40 gallon electric water heater at Lowes for $270.00 plus tax. Total cost was $370.00. One of the posters said that plumbers in his area charge $1,600.00 just to install a hot water heater. I don't know where he lives, but that sounds like a lot for installing a hot water heater.
That was me. Northern Virginia. Everything is expensive here.

--Nate
by NateW
Thu Mar 14, 2013 10:19 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Poll: Umbrella Insurance
Replies: 34
Views: 4516

Re: Poll: Umbrella Insurance

Now who would want to insure their umbrella? :shock: But seriously, I knew what this insurance was, but never gave it any thought until I read about its merits on the Forum last year and now have a 1 million umbrella insurance policy, which is over my net worth. My main concern is some pedestrian running out in front of my car while driving and me hitting them and maiming them for life. Even if it is their fault, it can be a real hassle. I live near Route 1 and the particular stretch I live near has the most pedestrian fatalites of all roads in Northern Virginia. Built-up area with many apartments with people who do not have cars with stores on the other side of Route 1, and few crosswalks. I've almost hit two so far in the last 10 years. W...
by NateW
Thu Mar 14, 2013 10:07 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Hot water heater question
Replies: 34
Views: 3791

Re: Hot water heater question

bluemarlin08 wrote:You can get a 50gal water heater for about 300. Installation is fairly easy, I am not a handyman put my last 2 in myself. You will pay about the same price for installation.
Dito on replacing it yourself. I replaced the one in our house with a GE natural gas 40 gallon one from Home Depot for about $450. In my location plumbers replace hot water heaters for about $1600. I did have to move the inlet and outlet water pipes a little and shorten the vent stack because the new one was about six inches taller than the old water heater. If you can't sweat solder copper pipe, it's easy to learn or you can use flexible (corregated) copper hook up pipes you can screw on.

--Nate
by NateW
Thu Mar 14, 2013 10:04 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Hot water heater question
Replies: 34
Views: 3791

Re: Hot water heater question

The urgency of replacing the water heater depends on whether or not the leak, if it gets bad, will damage the renter's property. If the water heater is in a drip pan with a drain, or next to a floor drain in a basement, I would not replace the waterheater unless it failed to work or the leak became so bad it used too much water and electricity/natural gas.

Otherwise, I'd replace it as economically as possible if the leak gets much worse.

--Nate
by NateW
Tue Mar 12, 2013 2:04 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Credit Cards [Bad Experience]
Replies: 40
Views: 5953

Re: Credit Cards [Bad Experience]

Nummerkins wrote:I love credit cards.

NFL Extra points card: Spend $1000, get $400. Check, x2
American Express Gold: Spend $1000, get $500. Check, x2
Chase Business Ink: Spend $5000, get $500. Check.

Total: $2300 for shuffling some money around.
Nice! :sharebeer I'll have to look for those. How do you find these deals?

--Nate
by NateW
Tue Mar 12, 2013 2:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Credit Cards [Bad Experience]
Replies: 40
Views: 5953

Re: Credit Cards [Bad Experience]

Sorry about your experiences. I had a similar experience a couple of times (card denied, fraud alert placed on it), but due to my buying pattern setting the alert in action. The same card, on another occassion, someone in Mexico did somehow charge $850 to my account for "auto repair" and the card company knew right after it happened. These things happen. Eventually, if you find the right card, this won't happen. Don't give up. Make the card work to your advantage, but I would not put up with this if you get no benefit from the card. My wife and I only use cash back cards with no annual fee. We use three because each one has a different category that fits our needs. The one we use the most is a 5% cash back card on gas, groceries, ...
by NateW
Wed Mar 06, 2013 6:59 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Virus: Win32.Downloader.gen
Replies: 27
Views: 5736

Re: Virus: Win32.Downloader.gen

If the virus is active, i.e., if the executable file is running, the AV software and Malwarebytes can't remove it. It must be stopped first. Simply stopping the process in Task Manager usually won't do it. You can run a freeware called "Rkill" to stop the process and then Malwarebytes can remove it.

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/rkill/

Lot's more great stuff here:

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/virus-removal/

And Autoruns (freeware) can tell you what is running on start-up and you can control what runs and not (don't change anything you are unsure of because you can prevent your computer from booting up):

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysi ... 63902.aspx

--Nate
by NateW
Fri Feb 15, 2013 9:14 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: May need new water heater
Replies: 46
Views: 6413

Re: May need new water heater

How handy are you? It's actually not that hard to replace the water heater yourself. I replaced the gas hot water heater in my home and the replacement was a GE (yes, they make a natural gas-fueled water heater) from Home Depot for $450 with a 9 year warranty. Truck rental was $20 to get the heater home. You'll probably have to sweat solder the pipes and may have to adjust the gas line and vent pipe, if the dimensions of the new heater is different (mine was), but it's pretty straight forward.

I have read in some states (Texas being one) that by law only a licensed plumber can replace a hot water heater. It's odd, but the same state will let a car owner replace their own brakes.

--Nate
by NateW
Fri Feb 01, 2013 11:34 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Microsoft Sec Essentials = Bad ??
Replies: 21
Views: 5431

Re: Microsoft Sec Essentials = Bad ??

Having used a variety of AV suites over the years, I'd say that Security Essentials is near the top of the pack overall. I have yet to get a virus using Security Essentials on two machines for three years. Security Essentials mixed with adblock extensions in Chrome/Firefox/IE and smart browsing/emailing habits will take care of 99.999% of the problems. The rest? No AV program will stop them. I just did. I use MS Security Essentials, but I do not blame Security Essentials for getting the virus. I was careless. No AV program fixes careless. I was visiting a web site to download a free CD ripper (Exact Audio Copy), a legitimate software, but positioned to be clicked on was prominent "Download Here" dayglow green button and after I c...
by NateW
Fri Feb 01, 2013 11:11 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do you pay your taxes/insurance separate from your mortgage?
Replies: 42
Views: 5257

Re: Do you pay your taxes/insurance separate from your mortg

I don't like escrowing with my mortgage company. When I did escrow, several years ago I finally got tired of the mortgage company's required escrow balance falling too low (according to them) and them increasing my mortgage payments a little to increase the escrow account balance to catch up. Happened every year. That, coupled with the fact the mortgage company was getting free use of my money until they pay my taxes and insurance made me switch. I simply asked my mortgage company to stop escrowing. I was prepared for a big fat "NO", but they agreed to stop escrowing. I was shocked. Later when I refinanced to a 15 year loan, in order to not escrow, I had to pay an up front fee equal to 1/4% of the loan amount (about $460), which I...
by NateW
Tue Jan 15, 2013 11:40 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Questions to ask when buying a used car
Replies: 12
Views: 1716

Re: Questions to ask when buying a used car

a clean carfax/autocheck should not be relied upon as an indication that the car has never been wrecked. there are plenty of cars out there (mine included) that were wrecked and have frame damage, but are not reported to the authorities polled by carfax. in the following case there would be no record for carfax to find: there is a single car accident.. owner takes it to his buddy mechanic or a cheapo body shop, who pieces is back together so it runs pretty much ok, then the owner sells it before the misaligned parts begin to vibrate and fall apart. there is buyback protection, but it is only good if carfax misses a public record and even then, the time constraints make it pretty useless. it does not cover you in the event the car was wreck...
by NateW
Mon Jan 07, 2013 6:14 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Healthcare Alliance Pharmacy Discount Card
Replies: 2
Views: 1037

Healthcare Alliance Pharmacy Discount Card

I just received in the mail what appears to junk mail (but with an attempt to look professional), sent "presorted standard" class from Healthcare Alliance, with the caption "Good News--You've Been Accepted". The letter is personalized and has two Pharmacy Discount Cards affixed with what appears to be policy type numbers (BIN, GRP, PCN initials appear before the numbers). The letter touts "You and your family are eligible for absolutely free pharmacy savings cards. Never pay 'no coverage' prices again". This looks like a gimmick. Anyone have any information on this? Anyone else receive these (I searched the Forum on "Healthcare Alliance Pharmacy Discount Card" and "Healthcare Alliance" and n...
by NateW
Mon Jan 07, 2013 5:51 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: For those of you who have kept your cars for a long time...
Replies: 95
Views: 8739

Re: For those of you who have kept your cars for a long time

My beloved '97 Nissan pickup was totalled by a hit & run driver very early in the morning on New Years, the first police report of 2013 in my city. I was sleeping, it was parked on the street in my residential neighborhood, and somebody hit it and took off. My car was totaled the same way (but not this week) by the Catholic Bishop of Pittsburgh. However, he had been taught well by nuns when he was young, so he left a note. It was in the middle of the day, so I don't think he was drunk, but I don't know how many Masses he had already said that day. My son's Honda Civic had a similar demise, after I repaired a lot of things on it--it was completely demolished in a an apartment parking lot one night. 25 MPH speed zone. Police estimate it ...
by NateW
Wed Nov 28, 2012 1:31 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Knowing when to invest?
Replies: 18
Views: 1900

Re: Knowing when to invest?

"My online broker charges $10/trade, so I would be looking at spending $30 each time if I DCA'd my way in." Why don't you move over to Vanguard, to the land of low-cost index funds and no-cost (in most cases) fund purchases. I can't advise you as to when to buy in, since I buy on a continual basis (monthly automatic withdrawal from my bank to my Vanguard Roth IRAs and bi-weekly through my 401k participation). As for bear markets, I think we only know after the fact. True, the definition of a bear is a 20% drop, or more, but is the fall done, or not? Or if you are in a bull market, like in the 1990s, lets say in 1993, do you not buy in because the market went up 40% If so, in that case, you missed out on at least quadrupling your m...
by NateW
Wed Nov 21, 2012 12:57 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Software to Automate Portfolio Rebalancing?
Replies: 16
Views: 2700

Re: Software to Automate Portfolio Rebalancing?

Thank you for your replies. I've been trying to simplyfy my portfolio. Recently I exchanged Vanguard's European, Pacific, and Emerging Market stock funds for their Total International Stock Market for a nice tax loss harvest in my taxable account:happy. The reason for the VG target date funds is my 401k (through private branding by Transamerica Insurance Co.) offers them, after tacking on a 1.5% ER. These are the least costly funds in crappy 401k and since we have my wife's rollover IRA and our Roth IRAs at Vanguard, we at least have one fund brand. Twice a year I like calculating the exact percentages of VG Total Stock Mkt., VG Small Cap Index, VG European Stock Index, VG Pacific Stock Index, VG Emerging Markets Index, Foreign small cap, a...
by NateW
Wed Nov 21, 2012 6:47 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Software to Automate Portfolio Rebalancing?
Replies: 16
Views: 2700

Software to Automate Portfolio Rebalancing?

Do any of you automate your portfolio rebalancing to get in line with your desired asset allocation? If so, what do you use? Ideally I am looking for a system where I download the data from each mutual fund account and I then get the allocation percentages and dollar amount by the fund categories of bonds, US, European, Pacific, emerging markets stocks, REIT, etc. Presently, I manually key the data into a Excel spreadsheet into each fund category and it is extremely cumbersome since me and my wife have several different Vanguard target date funds in different accounts. Before the data is keyed in, the target date fund balances are manually calculated into the eight or so different fund types in each account and then added to like types. We ...
by NateW
Mon Nov 19, 2012 10:24 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Water boiler replacement
Replies: 7
Views: 1591

Re: Water boiler replacement

Seven years seems to be a very short life for a boiler. My guess is they last 20 - 30 years, so I would question the need for relacement. If the firebox is sooted up, can it be cleaned and the burner adjusted? The melted electrical board and wiring appears to be a short, which may have caused the burner to incorrectly fire, or is unrelated to the carbonizing. Perhaps that could be replaced with the boiler cleaning and adjustment. How effecient is this boiler and is it sized correctly? If you can get a new one that is more effecient, especially if the current one is sized too big, it may make economic sense to replace the boiler if you plan to live in the house a while longer. Regardless of what you decide, a second opinion may be wise. --Nate
by NateW
Mon Nov 12, 2012 6:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Generator or No Generator
Replies: 82
Views: 21761

Re: Generator or No Generator

I was on the south side of Sandy's path, in Northern Virginia. I've been contemplating the same thing. About a week ago I bit the bullet and bought a Honda 2KW inverter generator, new. I could have bought one of several Chinese knock-offs for about half of what I paid, but after reading the reviews, I opted for dependable peace of mind. This was my second generator. About six months ago during what I thought was the first day without power due to a duratio, I bought an el cheapo 5.5 KW Chinese generator for about $550 at Home Depot. Although it worked well, ran two air conditioners and a refrigerator, a chest freezer, a TV and lights all at the same time, boy was it loud! It used about 8 gallons of gas in 12 hours. That was the extent of ou...
by NateW
Thu Nov 08, 2012 2:42 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is it time to install a whole-house generator?
Replies: 193
Views: 29805

Re: Is it time to install a whole-house generator?

Well, I found one alternative for about $230 power inverter that could run my 1/3 hp sump pump and/or 1/2 hp well pump from my car's cigarette lighter: http://www.powerbright.com/pw2300-12.html PW2300-12 2300 watts continuous/4600 watts peak An automible's electrical system can not supply the 2.3 KW inverter output. An automible alternator's maximum output is 14 volts at approximately 120 amps, which is 1680 watts maximum and some power is needed to run the car's electrics while the engine is running. This will also shorten the life of the car's alternator and necessitate an elevated engine RPM, above idle. Also, the wiring of an automobile's power plug will not suppport the load. Here is the wire sizing requirements from the instruction m...
by NateW
Thu Nov 08, 2012 2:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is it time to install a whole-house generator?
Replies: 193
Views: 29805

Re: Is it time to install a whole-house generator?

Used about 3 gallons of gas in the 21 hours - if I would've run out of my 5 gallons I had a siphon hose ready to tap the 34 gallons in our two cars - we made sure to fill up Monday night. On a side note, try to see if you can actually do that. I also had fuel in my car planned as a backup - except that the siphon tube was blocked when I inserted it inside the tank, no go. Our Buick has an anti-siphon device installed in the filler tube. I tried to siphon some gas out of it for the lawnmower once and I could not get the clear plastic hose to go down the filler to the gasoline level. I then noticed in the owner's manual it stated that there was an anti-siphon device installed. Even though I work on cars on a regular basis, I decided it was t...
by NateW
Thu Nov 08, 2012 7:39 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is it time to install a whole-house generator?
Replies: 193
Views: 29805

Re: Is it time to install a whole-house generator?

You have to maintain the generator, and that costs money, so figure those ongoing expenses into your "does it make financial sense" calculation. To me, the answer is "no." If one were to do their own maintenance, the cost is not significant. The unit should be self-starting on a set basis to ensure it is working properly (its probably programemd into the control unit), so other than an occassional oil change and possibly a new air filter once (it the generator will not see much use, hour wise), there should not be much to maintain. There is no gas or diesel that will go bad and have to be drained. This is a major hassle factor that you won't have with natural gas. Shure, the installer will ask that you sign a maintenanc...
by NateW
Thu Nov 08, 2012 7:24 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is it time to install a whole-house generator?
Replies: 193
Views: 29805

Re: Is it time to install a whole-house generator?

If I were to guess, from a pure financial standpoint, you probably will recoup little of the $20,000 cost when you sell the house, but it may make your house sell much easier among the competition, so in essence, you may get a good portion of your investment back in an indirect way. But in the big scheme of things, given the value of your house, its not a large cost outlay and having your and your wife's piece of mind is worth something.

If it were me, the length of time I planned to stay in the house would be a big factor as to whether or not I'd buy a whole house generator. I'd need to be there 10 years. Heck, it took me over 10 years to decide to buy a $1000 Honda invertor generator.

--Nate
by NateW
Wed Nov 07, 2012 2:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 401k: I messed up my employer match
Replies: 22
Views: 2951

Re: 401k: I messed up my employer match

My employer (match is per pay period and you must contribute to get the match) has the same procedure for its 2.5% measly match and it took me contributing too much, to early, to my 401k plan where I reached the maximum contribution limit and the contributions stopped about 9 months into the year and missed out on three months of the employer match to discover this. "For this reason, I calculate the exact amount of my withholding every year so that I hit the limit on the last paycheck I receive for the year." I sure do the above now. Also, since my 401k has supper high fund costs (Transamerica branded funds (an insurance company), I make sure I go a little under the maximum during the last pay period, but contribute enough to get ...
by NateW
Wed Nov 07, 2012 2:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Diesel vs Hybrid car?
Replies: 30
Views: 3402

Re: Diesel vs Hybrid car?

I take it you are keeping styling, drivability/handling, and options and features out of the equasion for now. I can speak from the diesel side, having owned and driven nothing but VW diesels since 1990. Present car is an '04 Jetta TDI. Diesel fuel presently averages around 10 - 20% more than the price of gasoline (on a volume basis) and the price difference is trending upwards, due to increased use of diesel as the prime mover of the world. There is global competition for diesel fuel and I anticipate the cost spread to grow further. The United States exports loads of diesel fuel, mainly to Europe. Diesel fuel does have about 15% higher BTU content (heating value) than gasoline, one of the factors leading to increased diesel MPG over a gaso...
by NateW
Wed Nov 07, 2012 10:55 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Another Generator Question [How to minimize gas consumption]
Replies: 28
Views: 4037

Re: Another Generator Question [How to minimize gas consumpt

Yes, keeping the refrigerator and freezer cold is top priority. I have the standard frost-free refrigerator/freezer combo and a 9 cubic upright manual defrost freezer. When I prepared for Sandy, I decided I would use generator sparingly. To do this I made copious amounts of ice ahead of time (beginning about three days before), about 80 pounds by filling with tap water empty soda cans and spring water bottles with caps and placing them in the freezer part of the refrigerator and in the upright freezer. I packed both freezers full with the ice cans and bottlers, along with the normal food. I mean completely full as I could. I then got 2-inch thick foam building insulation pannels (from Home Depot) and cut them to fit the outsides of the 9-fo...
by NateW
Sun Nov 04, 2012 6:34 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What is Needed to Get Free HD Channels on TV?
Replies: 23
Views: 2811

Re: What is Needed to Get Free HD Channels on TV?

Also, there is no such thing as a HDTV antenna. A pair of rabbit ears from the 70s would work just as well. The carrier frequencies have not changed since the early days of TV broadcasting. Channels are broadcast in the UHF and VHF range as they always have. Go to this website http://www.silicondust.com/support/channels/ and put in your zip code and it will tell you what channels you should be receiving in your market (make sure you select digital antenna and not a cable provider). Once the antenna is properly connected, you must do a channel scan so that your TV can find what frequencies your local TV stations are being broadcast at. This changes from market to market so look at the link I posted above so you can see what should be availa...
by NateW
Sun Nov 04, 2012 5:22 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What is Needed to Get Free HD Channels on TV?
Replies: 23
Views: 2811

Re: What is Needed to Get Free HD Channels on TV?

I don't have one and mine works just fine. It's necessary to have the TV scan for the available channels. Did you do that? Yes, I did the channel scan from the TV set-up menu and of course, 0 stations were found. I live in Washington, DC. I looked on Wikepedia under the acronym for the converter the Radio Shack antenna manual said was needed for HDTV (digital) reception and as I thought, it said, "The FCC has issued the following mandates for devices entering the US:[1][2][3] By July 1, 2005 all televisions with screen sizes over 36 inches (91 cm) must include a built-in ATSC DTV tuner By March 1, 2006 all televisions with screen sizes over 25 inches (64 cm) must include a built-in ATSC DTV tuner" No converter needed. These are n...
by NateW
Sun Nov 04, 2012 3:35 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What is Needed to Get Free HD Channels on TV?
Replies: 23
Views: 2811

What is Needed to Get Free HD Channels on TV?

I'd like to know what I have to buy in order to get over-the-air HD broadcasts. I live in a major metropolitan area (with fairly close stations) and have two new HD LCD TVs. I currently have cable. I'd like to be able to watch TV if there is a power/cable outage (I have an inverter generator). The reason I ask is because I thought I simply needed a HDTV antena. I bought one at Radio Shack and tried it today on both my TVs. I set the input on the TVs to "Antena", connected the antenna via its supplied coax cable and all I get is a "No Signal" on each TV. This is the antenna I bought: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3643548 I even tried a coax cable I had in case the supplied cable was defective. Same...
by NateW
Wed Oct 24, 2012 9:51 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: When is the Deadline for 401K Plans to Report Fees?
Replies: 9
Views: 1182

Re: When is the Deadline for 401K Plans to Report Fees?

Thanks for all your replies. My 401K plan uses branded TransAmerica funds with exorbitant ERs (upwards of 2%) and Paychex is the plan administrator (I think). The statements come from Paychex. I do know what the ER of my Vanguard (Transamerica branded) Retirement Date fund is (1.64%). This info comes from TransAmerica's informational sheets for "their" funds. This is the EXACT same fund Vanguard offers for an ER of about 0.2% :x I do not know if I pay administrative costs on top of this.

I do believe my plan is covered by the new regulations. I guess its time to give Paychex a call.

--Nate
by NateW
Wed Oct 24, 2012 8:51 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: When is the Deadline for 401K Plans to Report Fees?
Replies: 9
Views: 1182

When is the Deadline for 401K Plans to Report Fees?

I just received my 401K quarterly statement from my employer. It covers my investments for the period of 07/01/12 through 09/30/12. There is no mention of plan fees. This statement contains the exact same verbiage as my previous quarterly statement. It does not even mention any pending requirements to divulge plan fees. I was hoping my last quarterly statement would have the fees and I was sure by the time this statement came the fees would be reported. When do the new requirements take effect?

Thanks.

--Nate
by NateW
Fri Oct 19, 2012 6:53 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Celebrate the FSA
Replies: 69
Views: 15666

Re: Celebrate the FSA

One other thing I did not see mentioned yet. You ARE supposed to keep ALL documentation submitted to an FSA for as long as you are required to keep your tax returns in case of an IRS audit. I did not know about this and read it recently on something from my wife's FSA plan. I have not been keeping the receipts and submission documents past the point she was reimbursed. I can't imagine the IRS ever auditing someone. The claim amounts don't even appear on your tax returns.

--Nate
by NateW
Fri Oct 19, 2012 6:32 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Celebrate the FSA
Replies: 69
Views: 15666

Re: Celebrate the FSA

Don't pass this one up if you are offerted it. I am a big advocate of them. Back in the late '80s I worked for a trade association that had one (must have been around when they began) and my first wife and I had a young son and I maxed out the child care provisions and had a little put aside for medical expenses and it saved us a lot. I made very little money then. My wife has a FSA through her employer. It can be a hassle, but once you learn the system, the perticular administrator's rules and how to file, its pretty easy. As for estimating your medical expenses, don't go overboard. We estimate conservativly and have never had any forfitied funds. We fall short every year in funds set aside. Just discovered my wife's insurance co-pay for a...
by NateW
Thu Oct 18, 2012 2:53 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Honda extended warranty
Replies: 38
Views: 9860

Re: Honda extended warranty

I never buy extended warranties period (goes for all products). Half of the reason is I have read many studies that on average, you will never recoup the money. Also, if you have the money to cover an unexpected mechanical failure, more the reason not to buy extra warranty coverage. That's what emergency funds are for. Auto insurance covers accidental damage and the comprehensive part of that covers acts of God things like stones breaking your windshield while driving and hail (you mentioned your good driving record, but extended warranties won't be affected by this, unless you abuse the car and it can't be proven). Also, I have read that many extended warranties sometimes do not honor covered repairs. The other half of the reason I never g...
by NateW
Thu Oct 18, 2012 11:56 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: My Bank Put Someone Else's Money In My Account
Replies: 28
Views: 11939

Re: My Bank Put Someone Else's Money In My Account

I wouldn't have tried to go to my bank or call them, the first thing I'd do is look up the deposited check images when I logged in to my account online. What century is this? This is interesting. My credit union does not show me images of checks deposited into my account. I can only see the images of the check payments that I have made. Is it fairly common to have images of deposit items as well? There is a link to click on for this savings account deposit and when I do, no image shows and it simply says "customer deposit", so it could be anything. This is why I wanted to see the actual item. For my checking account, cleared checks are shown as an image. I think I'll just wait about half a year and if the money is still there, in...
by NateW
Wed Oct 17, 2012 6:16 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: My Bank Put Someone Else's Money In My Account
Replies: 28
Views: 11939

My Bank Put Someone Else's Money In My Account

I noticed a $120.77 deposit in our bank savings account that I believe neither me or my wife made. I first walk into the branch and thell them about it, but ask to see a picture of the item deposited just to make sure. The bank person can not get a copy and then tries to convince me I must have made a mistake and the money is ours. Not satisified, I make an online inquiry about the deposit, stating I am almost 100% positive the money is not mine or my wife's but I would like to see a picture of the item depositied. Get this, after being honest, I am told I have to pay for it! Here is the response I got: "RE:Transaction Inquiry Message: Dear Nat, I would be happy to mail a copy of the deposit for $120.77 made on 10/09/2012. There is a f...
by NateW
Thu Sep 27, 2012 11:32 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Stock Funds Losing Money in 2012, But S & P Up 15%?
Replies: 4
Views: 1134

Stock Funds Losing Money in 2012, But S & P Up 15%?

For weeks I have been seeing articles on Money.com about stock mutual funds bleeding cash. Today I read, "The week's retreat brings the 2012 outflow total to nearly $87 billion." But stocks have been a really great investment this year, on average. The S & P returned 15% year to date. What gives? My guess is all the reported outflows are meaningless in the big scheme of things.

--Nate
by NateW
Tue Sep 11, 2012 1:20 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Truly Disruptive Car Technology
Replies: 25
Views: 2961

Re: Truly Disruptive Car Technology

Man, I'd hate to get hit by a car while in that thing.

--Nate
by NateW
Tue Sep 11, 2012 1:18 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Space Heater Recommendations?
Replies: 31
Views: 3725

Re: Space Heater Recommendations?

Since its a rental, other than talking with the landlord to fix the existing heating system, or add insulation, I would not perform any building modifications.

As for a safe electric heater, we use the oil-filled radiator style and use it on cold nights. They don't get hot enough to start fires and work really well. Ours has three outputs: 600, 900, and 1500 watts.

Another option is to get an electric blanket. They work great and cost pennies a night to operate.

--Nate
by NateW
Thu Aug 16, 2012 8:04 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Have you received new 401K fee disclosures at your company?
Replies: 33
Views: 4553

Re: Have you received new 401K fee disclosures at your compa

danieljquirk wrote:Given the new regulations from the Department of Labor on fee disclosure for 401Ks set to go into effect this summer, for those of you still working and participating in plans, have you received communications or disclosure yet from your company?

My wife works at a big hospital in San Diego and participates in their 403B administered by Fidelity. So far there has been no communication regarding the new disclosures.

Anyone else get any info yet?
Nothing, nada, zippo. I've been wondering the same thing too. I even searched my 401k provider's web site and there is no info about the new disclosure rules whatsoever. If by the next statement nothing is mentioned, I wonder if I should contact the Department of Labor about it.

--Nate
by NateW
Sat Aug 11, 2012 6:33 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: FSA technical questions
Replies: 6
Views: 1042

Re: FSA technical questions

I find it very odd that your personel department can not answer your questions. Sometimes there is a company that administers the FSA that is seperate from your human resources department. If so, call them. This is the way I understand it, but please verify what I say, since its been a long time since I made changes to a FSA election due to a "change in circumstance". Since the FSA account is for a tax year (same as the calendar year), since you were allowed to set up the FSA (or increase contributions to it) due to the birth of your child (a change in circumstance), you should be able to pay birth related expenses and be reimbursed from the FSA, provided the birth was in 2012. Also, you can get reimbursed up to your yearly maximu...
by NateW
Fri Aug 10, 2012 6:31 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Is my 401k plan a total rip off?
Replies: 17
Views: 4114

Re: Is my 401k plan a total rip off?

It could be worse. My ER is 1.64% for a TransAmerica branded Vanguard 2050 fund. At least contribute enough to get the full company match (if any) and then into a Roth at Vanguard (if under the income limit) and then consider contributing more to your 401k. The tax advantage probably outweighs your high(er) ER, thus its probably more advantageous contributing to your 401k as opposed to a taxable account at Vanguard.

Remember this also: A crappy 401k makes an excellent rollover IRA when you leave your company. So if you have any plans on leaving in the near future, contribute all you can and close it out and roll it over to Vanguard when you leave.

--Nate
by NateW
Fri Aug 10, 2012 9:50 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Post-Spending Regret
Replies: 64
Views: 7187

Re: Post-Spending Regret

I look at it this way: Just remember "you can't take it with you when you die". So you might was well spend a little, within reason, and enjoy life. There may be a time when you can't. If you don't spend a little, when warranted (everyone deserves a nice vacation), you could end up with a sizable estate in the end if you are too frugal. Think of that bumper sticker on the motor home, "We are out spending our childrens' inheritance." I could be doing the same, given my situation (I used to somewhat). My wife and I are somewhat behind on saving for retirement (I am 52 and she is 56 and we have about $600,000 socked away, but got started late). But since we are now both maxing out our 401ks and buying Roth IRAs each year, I...
by NateW
Thu Aug 09, 2012 2:55 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What was Your Starting Salary Out of College?
Replies: 151
Views: 14372

Re: What was Your Starting Salary Out of College?

Year was 1985. Salary was $18,500/year, analyst for a DoD contractor in the Washington, DC area. Having a "secret" security clearance and working in the Pentagon was kind of neat, though.

--Nate
by NateW
Thu Aug 09, 2012 1:15 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Will gluing a penny to car battery make it last longer?
Replies: 46
Views: 23600

Re: Will gluing a penny to car battery make it last longer?

"I believe voltage regulators are much better and more reliable than they used to be, too. In Ye Old Days they were electromagnetic-relay-thingies that cut off and on, and were probably not all that accurate when they were new, and might fail with age and undercharge or overcharge the battery. " The lower frequency of undercharged automotive batteries, begining in the 1960s, was because of the switch from generators to alternators (the use of solid state voltage regulators occurred at the same time) for automotive electrical systems. Generators produce electricity in their armature and large brushes are needed to carry the power and charging is fairly innear and thus a fairly high engine RPM was needed for effective charging. In c...
by NateW
Thu Aug 09, 2012 12:14 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Clogged Pipes
Replies: 29
Views: 3514

Re: Clogged Pipes

After you get the clog removed, use some preventative measures. For our tub drain I use a drain screen (got it at Home Depot or Lowes for a couple of bucks). Its actually a fairly fine stainless steel screen in a round frame, meant for drains. It flows water better than the metal basket with holes types. Its amazing the hair it collects after my wife showers (and next to none when I shower), but guess who gets to clean the sceen after each use, hers and mine? Me. Anyways, this is great protection against tub clogs, especially if the drain pipe runs horizontally for a while. This looks to be the exact same one we have: http://www.amazon.com/Danco-88821-4-Inch-Strainer-Stainless/dp/B000DZGJX4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344532456&sr=8-1&a...
by NateW
Thu Aug 09, 2012 8:12 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Will gluing a penny to car battery make it last longer?
Replies: 46
Views: 23600

Re: Will gluing a penny to car battery make it last longer?

"Funny (but true) story. I drive a 1994 Buick, and the battery runs down periodically, since I drive (max) 15 miles/week. So I call AAA. Guy from AAA says I should drive at least every other day, and at least 100 miles/week, to keep the battery charged." Something else is wrong. Either your car has a slow electrical drain, the alternator is not charging properly, or the battery won't hold a charge. I have an '01 Buick (second car) and it gets driven about 2,500 miles a year and there are several three-week periods out of the year that it does not get driven at all, and its battery never runs down. I try to drive it weekly, and its for about 10 miles at a time when I do. The bulk of the yearly 2,500 miles is from the occassional ro...
by NateW
Thu Aug 09, 2012 8:08 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Will gluing a penny to car battery make it last longer?
Replies: 46
Views: 23600

Re: Will gluing a penny to car battery make it last longer?

nisiprius wrote:Too bad pennies aren't made of copper.
Pennies minted 1981 and before are 95% copper. You should be able to still find the copper ones in circulation.

I've been working on cars for 35 years and I've never heard of the copper penny trick to keep battery terminals corrosion free.

I can say that with the advent of the maintenance free batteries, terminal corrosion problems are almost non-existent now. The old-style batteries with vent caps (to allow the addition of water) provided an outlet for sulphuric acid, which coated the top of the batetry, leading to battery cable corrosion.

--Nate
by NateW
Tue Aug 07, 2012 1:46 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Are these refinance closing fees reasonable?
Replies: 26
Views: 4690

Re: Are these refinance closing fees reasonable?

As I understand it, "points" used to buy down (prepay) the interest are deductable over the live of the loan for tax purposes, but "points" (the loan servicing fee) is not a deductable expense.

I do not like having taxes and insurance escrowed. For the last refinance I opted out of escrow, but had to accept a quarter point more on the loan interest rate to do so.

--Nate