Search found 364 matches

by MichaelRpdx
Mon Feb 26, 2024 12:23 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: ROTH Conversion Requirements
Replies: 19
Views: 2245

Re: ROTH Conversion Requirements

Thank to all.
Now to decide.
by MichaelRpdx
Mon Feb 26, 2024 10:56 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: ROTH Conversion Requirements
Replies: 19
Views: 2245

ROTH Conversion Requirements

I am 66 with both traditional and ROTH IRAs at Vanguard.

What is required to make a conversion? Just a willingness to make the change, or are there...something I need to do first?
by MichaelRpdx
Thu Feb 22, 2024 12:51 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Combining Vangaurd Accounts
Replies: 9
Views: 844

Re: Combining Vangaurd Accounts

PaunchyPirate wrote: Thu Feb 22, 2024 12:41 pm It's stupid that Vanguard didn't do the assumption from the start unless they were mistakenly told otherwise. They should have asked if you wanted it "Inherited" or "Assumed/Merged/whatever they want to call it". At another broker, my Dad's IRA showed up merged into my Mom's IRA a day or two after asking it to be done. Easy peasy.
Amen brother, amen!
A couple of days? Wow, I wish.
by MichaelRpdx
Thu Feb 22, 2024 11:42 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Combining Vangaurd Accounts
Replies: 9
Views: 844

Re: Combining Vangaurd Accounts

Thanks to all responders.

I indeed need to "assume" the assets. This needs to be done via paper mail.

Why? It feeds into the IRS for tax documents. More paper for next year's tax returns.
by MichaelRpdx
Wed Feb 21, 2024 1:03 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Combining Vangaurd Accounts
Replies: 9
Views: 844

Re: Combining Vangaurd Accounts

Tighttailor wrote: Wed Feb 21, 2024 12:48 pm You need to elect with Vanguard to "assume" your wife's IRAs versus "inheriting" them. Vanguard's site says that you can do an "assumption" even after you have done an "inheritance". Once you have "assumed" them, they are yours and you should have no problem merging them.
Assuming them, I'm off to learn about this on Vanguard's site.
by MichaelRpdx
Wed Feb 21, 2024 1:00 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Combining Vangaurd Accounts
Replies: 9
Views: 844

Re: Combining Vangaurd Accounts

Rocinante Rider wrote: Wed Feb 21, 2024 12:05 pm Sorry about your lose.
There may be other considerations, and if it were me, I'd probably check any guidance from Vanguard with an accountant who's familiar with this issue.
Yes, that is the wait time I could not make it through. Sounds like I need a block of time and patience.
by MichaelRpdx
Wed Feb 21, 2024 12:41 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Combining Vangaurd Accounts
Replies: 9
Views: 844

Re: Combining Vangaurd Accounts

retiredjg wrote: Wed Feb 21, 2024 11:53 am Since you inherited the IRAs from your spouse, you have choices. One of the choices is to retitle the IRA in your own name instead of leaving it as an inherited IRA. My understanding is that is usually the better choice.

https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Inheriting_an_IRA

There is a similar page for Roth IRA.
We were both 66 at this time.
While the BH page makes sense ... does this mean I must roll over my inherited accounts?
by MichaelRpdx
Wed Feb 21, 2024 11:45 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Combining Vangaurd Accounts
Replies: 9
Views: 844

Combining Vangaurd Accounts

I have a traditional IRA and a ROTH IRA at Vanguard. My wife died and I am a beneficiary of the same account types.

Vanguard made the switch and I now have two additional accounts. Thety are named Inhearated (Account type).

I would like to combine the two IRA and the two ROTH IRAs - eliminate the two accounts and get back to the two account types.

HOW?

According to the web interface this in not doable. According to a Vanguard representative, it cannot be done. I cannot combine two ROTH accounts in my name into one. They suggested I talk with the Retirement group for information. Unfortunately, I could not be on hold for "60 to 80" minutes.

What light can you shed upon this issue?
by MichaelRpdx
Thu Jul 27, 2023 6:50 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Converting from her SS to my SS - still doable?
Replies: 5
Views: 694

Re: Converting from her SS to my SS - still doable?

Thank you for the replies.
To clarify,
The amounts given are ships sailed, it is what she gets and I will starting next month.

Due to health issues my wife will not benefit from my outliving her. The $3,000 / mo is sufficient for my living. So I started now.

She has reached FRA.

I am thinking that she can take spousal benefits and get $1,500 / month.

Right, wrong?
by MichaelRpdx
Tue Jul 25, 2023 1:51 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Converting from her SS to my SS - still doable?
Replies: 5
Views: 694

Converting from her SS to my SS - still doable?

Situation:
Wife and I are both 66
She started SS income a few years ago and is getting ~$1,000 / month
I will start SS in August, with an income of $3,000 / month

I *think* that she can take DW benefits. Or about $1,500 / month.

It that right? Doable? Any limits to watch out for?
by MichaelRpdx
Thu Jun 03, 2021 3:07 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Moving one spouse from ACA to Medicare (2021 vs 2018)
Replies: 38
Views: 5252

Re: Moving one spouse from ACA to Medicare (2021 vs 2018)

Following.
Thank you for the conversation.
by MichaelRpdx
Wed Jan 29, 2020 12:46 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: First time coffee roasting
Replies: 17
Views: 2113

Re: First time coffee roasting

JoeRetire wrote: Wed Jan 29, 2020 7:45 am
Theseus wrote: Tue Jan 28, 2020 6:01 pm A friend's friend is going to give me about 1/2 lbs of green coffee beans. And I am going to roast it for the first time. Is this something I can do without buying any new equipment?
My son experimented with a hair dryer (completely unsuccessful) and a hot air corn popper (somewhat successful).

He said it was fun but not worth doing twice.
Instead of a hairdryer, use a heat gun, what they use for peeling paint. A hairdryer doesn't put out enough heat to do the job.
by MichaelRpdx
Tue Jan 28, 2020 7:41 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: First time coffee roasting
Replies: 17
Views: 2113

Re: First time coffee roasting

I have followed an earlier thread about roasting your own coffee. A friend's friend is going to give me about 1/2 lbs of green coffee beans. And I am going to roast it for the first time. Is this something I can do without buying any new equipment? Other than a regular oven and a toaster oven I don't have anything else. I do want to get the best possible outcome (i.e. roast) so that I can get excited and buy necessary equipment. If I can use one of these ovens, what would be the process? To answer your question, yes, but no. You can roast in your oven or in a frying pan, like my friend in Cali, Columbia does, in his restaurant. Or another friend with a hot gun and a dog bowl. You can definitely get excited and buy equipment. Oh boy, can yo...
by MichaelRpdx
Sat Jan 18, 2020 9:07 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What frugal thing did you do today?
Replies: 4521
Views: 616929

Re: What frugal thing did you do today?

mindgap wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2020 12:01 am Learned how to make my own oat milk. Works perfectly and costs me $2 per Gallon compared to $10 when I buy it in the store.
Great stuff. Add me to the list of people making oat milk.
by MichaelRpdx
Mon Jan 13, 2020 9:14 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What frugal thing did you do today?
Replies: 4521
Views: 616929

Re: What frugal thing did you do today?

quantAndHold wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2020 6:39 pm I can top that. One day last week, we walked 13 miles round trip to the gym, with stops for coffee, lunch, the post office, and the mall. Since we had coffee and ate lunch out, it wasn't exactly frugal. We're training to walk the Camino, which is also not frugal. It took us all day.
The Camino can be a very frugal vacation. It is on my list of things to do.
by MichaelRpdx
Sat Jan 11, 2020 6:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What frugal thing did you do today?
Replies: 4521
Views: 616929

Re: What frugal thing did you do today?

quantAndHold wrote: Sat Jan 11, 2020 4:18 pm Got a $130 Smartwool sweater. Fits me perfectly and still has the tags on it. Paid $5.

That one’s my thrift store find of the decade.
What a great find! I hope to find something anywhere near that great.
Go quantAndHold!
by MichaelRpdx
Fri Jan 03, 2020 4:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What frugal thing did you do today?
Replies: 4521
Views: 616929

Re: What frugal thing did you do today?

Used WhatsApp to call my niece in Milan. We talked for 30 minutes. No charge.
We love WhatsApp.
by MichaelRpdx
Sat Dec 28, 2019 4:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Recommended physical fitness websites/books/apps?
Replies: 83
Views: 9306

Re: Recommended physical fitness websites/books/apps?

You Are Your Own Gym by Mark Lauren.

He was a military physical-training specialist for 15 years. You can do it. No equipment needed.
by MichaelRpdx
Tue Dec 24, 2019 7:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What frugal thing did you do today?
Replies: 4521
Views: 616929

Re: What frugal thing did you do today?

toofache32 wrote: Tue Dec 24, 2019 6:18 pm Just got a new family toothbrush. Last one lasted over 2 years among me, the wife and 2 kids.
Only two years?
by MichaelRpdx
Sun Dec 22, 2019 1:59 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What frugal thing did you do today?
Replies: 4521
Views: 616929

Re: What frugal thing did you do today?

Roasted coffee - it works out to about $7/pound for freshly roasted beans to my liking.

Baked another loaf of sourdough bread. That comes to about $2 a loaf with the best ingredients I can buy.
by MichaelRpdx
Sun Aug 25, 2019 7:20 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]
Replies: 5973
Views: 689640

Re: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]

A Kind of Murder
on Netflix,

It's a modern (2016) noir. Set in 1960, a writer wants to know more about a man who killed his wife. The cinematography is fantast
by MichaelRpdx
Mon Aug 27, 2018 4:44 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How often do you change your HVAC filters?
Replies: 57
Views: 4941

Re: How often do you change your HVAC filters?

Also in the Pacific Northwest, we have the same sized filter as you do and change them every six months.
We do see a build up of dust in ours. We also heat more than you do.
by MichaelRpdx
Mon Aug 27, 2018 4:39 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The Three-Fund Portfolio
Replies: 3895
Views: 2424202

Re: The Three-Fund Portfolio

Prior to finding Bogleheads, I was interviewing potential Financial Advisors. One of them provided me with their recommended Portfolio........a 56 page document !!!! 56 pages !!!! Might just have well been in a foreign language !!! And they wanted 1% to manage. Yes, I'm grateful I found you folks. The Bogleheads' Guide to the Three-Fund Portfolio is 112 pages. How did you make it through? :? I actually do not understand the question! I have learned much. While the Advisor's recommended Portfolio may (??) have had many issues, its 56 page length probably was not one of them. After all, the book is twice as long to explain something very simple. I was poking fun at the prior poster. If he couldn't get through a 56 page portfolio how did he ...
by MichaelRpdx
Thu Aug 23, 2018 11:55 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]
Replies: 5973
Views: 689640

Re: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]

BBQ Nut wrote: Thu Aug 23, 2018 11:21 am I'm now flip flopping back and forth between watching:
Father Brown
Midsomer Murders
With 20 Seasons of Midsomer Murders you'll be busy for awhile.

We've just started into season two of A Very Secret Service. French farce set in the inner workings of their secret service in the early 1950s. Very spoofy.
by MichaelRpdx
Thu Aug 23, 2018 11:48 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: I love my job but DW hates location and I'm underpaid
Replies: 28
Views: 3794

Re: I love my job but DW hates location and I'm underpaid

I guess I spoke too soon. What exactly does IT Security involve and how does it differ from other IT work? Just curious and sorry for being ignorant of that. Sounds like an interesting career choice. The foundation involves ensuring * Confidentiality * Integrity * Availability In essences, making sure only people with a need to know have access to information, that the information is secure from tampering, and is accessibe by authorized parties. Ensuring in this context includes verifying these conditions exist and have not been compromised. OP MikeZ works in Identity and Access Management. His group's role is to ensure people logging into systems are who they claim to be, that they're able to log in, and once logged in they can only acces...
by MichaelRpdx
Thu Aug 23, 2018 11:28 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The Three-Fund Portfolio
Replies: 3895
Views: 2424202

Re: The Three-Fund Portfolio

Kcr8n wrote: Thu Aug 23, 2018 10:27 am Prior to finding Bogleheads, I was interviewing potential Financial Advisors. One of them provided me with their recommended Portfolio........a 56 page document !!!! 56 pages !!!! Might just have well been in a foreign language !!!
And they wanted 1% to manage. Yes, I'm grateful I found you folks.
The Bogleheads' Guide to the Three-Fund Portfolio is 112 pages. How did you make it through? :?
by MichaelRpdx
Thu Aug 23, 2018 11:00 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Test your cognitive biases
Replies: 89
Views: 7137

Re: Test your cognitive biases

ResearchMed wrote: Wed Aug 22, 2018 7:39 pm Okay, so after all of these Supremely Wonderful Scores, who will 'fess up to a lesser score, or an outright "low" one?

Also, do the "confidence" scores actually factor in to the "result", or is that just for the research in some other way?

RM
me. I'm in the middle. I am also surprised.
by MichaelRpdx
Thu Aug 23, 2018 10:44 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: I love my job but DW hates location and I'm underpaid
Replies: 28
Views: 3794

Re: I love my job but DW hates location and I'm underpaid

rgs92 wrote: Thu Aug 23, 2018 10:34 am I know people in IT (development, systems user support) at Wells Fargo and TD Bank in the NY/Philly area with decades of experience and they are being paid in the low 90s. And the pressure I hear is crazy and the jobs tend to be insecure. One was fired after a couple of years.

So the OP should NOT jump if they like him there. It's hard to earn a good reputation. You don't want to be the newbie and go through the hell of having to prove yourself.
The OP is in security and security management. This is very different.
by MichaelRpdx
Thu Aug 23, 2018 10:22 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: I love my job but DW hates location and I'm underpaid
Replies: 28
Views: 3794

Re: I love my job but DW hates location and I'm underpaid

Your salary is pretty good. Big telecom is paying highly experienced developers $80K - $85K in HCOL areas. Less experienced IT people are paid in the $60K range, and raises are small and infrequent and the pressure is high. But there are tons of people lining up for these jobs since the competition from overseas workers being brought in to do the work is still intense and common. $95K in Florida? The more I think about it, that's downright excellent. You should hold on to your job like a precious gem IMHO. Once you start changing jobs in IT, which is an employment minefield, you have no idea what kind of terrible, pressured, insecure situation you will enter. My advice is to definitely stay put, no matter what. Financial services pay much ...
by MichaelRpdx
Thu Aug 23, 2018 10:18 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]
Replies: 5973
Views: 689640

Re: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]

LadyGeek wrote: Wed Aug 22, 2018 10:20 pm I just finished Season 6 of Orange is the new Black. It got somewhat better towards the end of the series, so it kept my interest.

On my Netflix list: Disenchantment, created by Matt Groening (the Simpsons). I would expect it to be similar to the Simpsons but set in medieval times. I don't see this show mentioned anywhere in the thread. The preview looked fun. I'll watch it when I want a change of pace.
Disenchantment is a treat! Pay attention as they slide lots of jokes through quickly. We experienced many moments of cliche cringe. There are so many great bits of surprise we're hoping for a season two.
by MichaelRpdx
Thu Aug 23, 2018 10:14 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]
Replies: 5973
Views: 689640

Re: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]

I just completed the entire Peaky Blinders series. Great suspense, fine characters, lots of mystery and surprises.

However, the closing scene is a bone chilling indictment of what raw power can do in our society.
by MichaelRpdx
Wed Aug 22, 2018 8:23 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: I love my job but DW hates location and I'm underpaid
Replies: 28
Views: 3794

Re: I love my job but DW hates location and I'm underpaid

MikeZ wrote: Wed Aug 22, 2018 1:59 pm I am a CISA and CISSP. I used to do audit and now do IAM. Honesly I'm more happy doing IAM than audit or policy stuff. I rather do stuff that deal with policy or the non-practical side of audit.
Go for the telecommute and start your job search.
Those credentials are in demand and telecommuting is becoming common.
by MichaelRpdx
Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:39 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Books - Your 3 Best - (Nonfiction, Fiction, Financial/Investing)
Replies: 48
Views: 8900

Re: Books - Your 3 Best - (Nonfiction, Fiction, Financial/Investing)

VictoriaF wrote: Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:34 am
MichaelRpdx wrote: Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:31 am I'm part of the crowd decrying "just three?" Qualifier: three today, they'll be a different three if I answer again.
"Just three" is a useful construct. You provide the three that you recite when you are awoken in the middle of the night, not the ones that are on your night table. Long and unlimited lists are almost useless.
Oh, I get it.
Life is full of choices.
Limiting it to three books makes me choose and gives lots pleasure in making the choices.
by MichaelRpdx
Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:31 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Books - Your 3 Best - (Nonfiction, Fiction, Financial/Investing)
Replies: 48
Views: 8900

Re: Books - Your 3 Best - (Nonfiction, Fiction, Financial/Investing)

I'm part of the crowd decrying "just three?" Qualifier: three today, they'll be a different three if I answer again.

Fiction:
If on a Winter's Night a Traveler
A Moveable Feast
Years of Rice and Salt

Non Fiction:
The Hero with a Thousand Faces
A Pattern Language
Let Us Now Praise Famous Men

Financial:
The Bogleheads' Guide to The Three-Fund Portfolio
If You Can: How Millennials Can Get Rich Slowly
Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds
by MichaelRpdx
Sun Aug 19, 2018 5:21 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]
Replies: 5973
Views: 689640

Re: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]

On Netflix, Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories is a warm hearted series of slice of life stories.
The Wikipedia article provides a reasonable summary.

Disclaimer: must be subtitle tolerant.
by MichaelRpdx
Sun Aug 19, 2018 12:45 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Taylor's New Book: The Bogleheads' Guide to The Three-Fund Portfolio
Replies: 238
Views: 54494

Re: Taylor's New Book: The Bogleheads' Guide to The Three-Fund Portfolio

My dear wife has never found an investing resource that didn't make her eyes glaze over.
Until now.

She read The Boglehead's Guide to the Three-Fund Portfolio. She now understands why and how our retirement funds are invested.

This is such a relief. Thank you so much.
by MichaelRpdx
Thu Jun 21, 2018 8:20 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The Three-Fund Portfolio
Replies: 3895
Views: 2424202

Re: The Three-Fund Portfolio

Amazon alerted me to expect my copy of the book on June 29. Yay!

Any of you get alerts?
by MichaelRpdx
Fri Apr 27, 2018 8:08 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How did you tell the boss you're leaving/retiring?
Replies: 129
Views: 20104

Re: How did you tell the boss you're leaving/retiring?

bantam222 wrote: Fri Apr 27, 2018 12:31 am If you respect your workspace you can give larger notice to help with burn down.

If you don’t care (which would be this case if you are worried about your bosses reaction) just give standard 2 weeks. You don’t need to tell them you are retiring.
What? Why?
If you don't care just leave. People are laid off with no notice. People die with no notice. The company can handle it.
by MichaelRpdx
Fri Apr 27, 2018 8:03 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: U.S. stocks in free fall
Replies: 36221
Views: 4651110

Re: U.S. stocks in freefall

Is the freefall here yet?
Part of my retirement planning was a big drop at some point. This wimpy recent volatility doesn't seem like a big deal. I'd be happy to be wrong.
by MichaelRpdx
Thu Apr 26, 2018 9:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How did you tell the boss you're leaving/retiring?
Replies: 129
Views: 20104

Re: How did you tell the boss you're leaving/retiring?

It was this time last year. On April 7 I'd been admitted to ER due to ... well the details aren't that important. Boss and I talked about it and I mentioned I'd been planning to retire in two or three years but I wanted to move the date up. He understood completely and we left the matter open. There was a project I wanted to see through to completion. When that occurred in June we discussed dates. I ended up giving three months official notice. This enabled him to post the open position and hire a replacement. Due to a higher up manager sitting on the approval my replacement wasn't hired until two weeks before my end date of September 15. When the question of extending my time was raised I replied "I'm kinda committed to my date."...
by MichaelRpdx
Thu Mar 29, 2018 2:09 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Total return vs dividends
Replies: 54
Views: 12431

Re: Total return vs dividends

galeno wrote: Wed Mar 28, 2018 10:37 pm A portfolio composed of 50% Intermediate term US treasuries + 50% FTSE all world equities generates a portfolio yield of 2.35%. An AWR (annual withdrawal rate) of 2.35%.

Assuming a term of 30 years most people want an AWR of 3 to 4%.
However the OP wrote:
freeat56 wrote:If my portfolio will generate enough dividends and interest to fund my day-to-day living expenses without having to sell any shares...
The dividend stream fully covers the spending need. freeat56 doesn't need to calculate a SWR. They already have it.
by MichaelRpdx
Wed Mar 28, 2018 11:50 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Computer Security
Replies: 62
Views: 6871

Re: Computer Security

Another explanation of why a Chromebook is a good idea.
https://www.cnet.com/news/how-google-ch ... y-experts/
by MichaelRpdx
Thu Mar 15, 2018 11:58 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]
Replies: 5973
Views: 689640

Re: Netflix, Your Current Favorite Show

We've started in on Four Seasons in Havana.
Set in Cuba in the late 1990s it is visually beautiful.
by MichaelRpdx
Fri Mar 02, 2018 8:47 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Google Pixel 2 Users-Experience So Far?
Replies: 37
Views: 4153

Re: Google Pixel 2 Users-Experience So Far?

Wow, what a list of problems. Reading it was like reading a novel - because they are so unfamiliar to me. I've had my Pixel 2XL since they first became available, having traded in my Nexus 6P for one. I did have a warranty exchange after the microphone quit working, though I could still plug in a headset via the USB-C.

Therefore my comment is: random people have had problems. Your chance of having a serious problem is present, but low. Support from Google is great. I'm also a Project Fi subscriber, so it's one stop shopping.

Disclaimer: I also have positive consumer experiences with United Airlines, so I seem to be something of a freak.
by MichaelRpdx
Thu Mar 01, 2018 7:08 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Question for older bicyclist, coming back from injury
Replies: 42
Views: 3809

Re: Question for older bicyclist, coming back from injury

How do you come back from that? How do I avoid the fear? What kind of things should I do to mitigate this kind of injury? My front tire slid out on a corner (oversteering? sand on the roadbed? hit some other trash?) I lost three teeth (despite helmet) and got generally banged up. As luck would have it I had an appointment with my doctor three days later. Sitting on the exam table I asked him about his strong encouragement to bicycle for my health. "Every treatment has adverse side effects. Yes, you're banged up now. Over the long term this is a net positive for your health." and "If exercise were a pill that had the negative side effects the come with it, we'd still prescribe it to every patient." Fear is not avoidable....
by MichaelRpdx
Sat Feb 24, 2018 9:21 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Expat Living
Replies: 58
Views: 9571

Re: Expat Living

FireProof wrote: Sat Feb 24, 2018 6:26 pm Spain, the top retirement destination, is much cheaper than the US. And, including healthcare, any of them is a good savings.
And Portugal is even cheaper.

For those interested in armchair exploring and searching:
The Earth Awaits by default allows you to specify and search on world region(s) of interest, budget, lifestyle (from very lean to opulent) and tolerable rates of crime, pollution, and dwelling size. It will then return a list of cities that meet your criteria.

Additional search criteria include quality of life threshold, racial discrimination, attitudes toward homosexuality, internet access speeds, temperature range, primary language, and "freedom score."

If nothing else, it's a hoot to explore.
by MichaelRpdx
Sat Feb 24, 2018 8:55 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What's your cash position
Replies: 155
Views: 30187

Re: What's your cash position

dogagility wrote: Sat Feb 24, 2018 6:45 am
grayparrot wrote: Sat Feb 24, 2018 12:48 am I also believe that one can have some ability to gauge relative performance among asset classes over the next decade, based on starting valuations and a tendency for mean reversion over such periods. So, as I see short term no-penalty CDs offering a return that in my view is a good 50% or more of what I can expect from stocks, and since I greatly value preservation of purchasing power and liquidity over increase in wealth, until risky assets are cheaper I like the conservative stance.
Sounds like market timing. :beer
Sounds like Asset Allocation from a very risk adverse investor.
by MichaelRpdx
Sat Feb 24, 2018 8:50 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]
Replies: 5973
Views: 689640

Re: Netflix, Your Current Favorite Show

An easy binge, as there are only two episodes so far, My Next Guest (Needs no Introduction) with David Letterman.
An informal interview show with Dave and one guest. Barack Obama and George Clooney are the guests on the first two shows.

Looks like there will be one a month.
by MichaelRpdx
Fri Feb 23, 2018 2:59 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What frugal thing did you do today?
Replies: 4521
Views: 616929

Re: What frugal thing did you do today?

SuperGrafx wrote: Fri Feb 23, 2018 10:54 am Some of the younger staff that I work with don't even value learning how to drive...they're perfectly content with just using a bike or uber, which blows my mind.

The world is changing, and not necessarily for the better.
Considering the high cost of car ownership and the huge health benefits of cycling it sounds like you work with some pretty bright younger staff.