Search found 1264 matches
- Sun Mar 27, 2016 8:16 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: 6% a year low-risk Canadian Corp. Bonds
- Replies: 12
- Views: 1514
Re: 6% a year low-risk Canadian Corp. Bonds
The above but it is also possible a broker is selling these bonds above par and the 6% is actually partially a return of principle. So, maybe you buy at 104, the broker takes a slice and you get back your own 3%. Allan Roth wrote about this maybe a year ago in ARUP. I am sure others have written abo...
- Sat Mar 26, 2016 8:14 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Withdrawal Strategies for Larger Purchases after Retiring
- Replies: 39
- Views: 3972
Re: Withdrawal Strategies for Larger Purchases after Retiring
I initially kept some funds in CDs for the immediate years after I retired, before starting pensions and SS. I use a short term corporate bond fund for stuff I anticipate for a few months to a few years ahead. I try to stay below the next higher tax bracket but I am close. If I am fortunate and the ...
- Tue Mar 22, 2016 8:07 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Strength of Pension Plan
- Replies: 6
- Views: 957
Re: Strength of Pension Plan
PBGC provides a lot of safety but not necessarily a 100% guarantee.
Some religious and maybe charitable institutions can opt out of PBGC. My last employer did this.
Government sources are likely the best.
Some religious and maybe charitable institutions can opt out of PBGC. My last employer did this.
Government sources are likely the best.
- Tue Mar 22, 2016 7:59 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: I generally invest in Roth accounts, but should I invest in a Traditional IRA?
- Replies: 57
- Views: 4059
Re: I generally invest in Roth accounts, but should I invest in a Traditional IRA?
Allan Roth has written about this. You can google him. He knows more about investing than me. He suggested in a blog posting having both. pretty simple. We do not know the future: our earnings, tax rates or tax policies re TIRA or Roths. Taxes rates and policies can be changed. The classic answer i...
- Tue Mar 22, 2016 7:53 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Brokered CDs - Different brokers?
- Replies: 15
- Views: 1707
Re: Brokered CDs - Different brokers?
I am no expert having used only Vanguard brokerage to buy CDs. I guess I just assumed that competitive pressures and Vanguard's ownership structure were safeguards enough. I do spend a few minutes checking out direct CD rates, but that is just a going through the motion. I would verify that whatever...
- Tue Mar 22, 2016 7:45 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: I generally invest in Roth accounts, but should I invest in a Traditional IRA?
- Replies: 57
- Views: 4059
Re: I generally invest in Roth accounts, but should I invest in a Traditional IRA?
Allan Roth has written about this. You can google him. He knows more about investing than me. He suggested in a blog posting having both. pretty simple. We do not know the future: our earnings, tax rates or tax policies re TIRA or Roths. Taxes rates and policies can be changed. The classic answer if...
- Tue Mar 22, 2016 7:29 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Consolidate nest egg at Vanguard?
- Replies: 29
- Views: 3392
Re: Consolidate nest egg at Vanguard?
I like Vanguard's ownership model that has resulted in cost savings for me and other Vanguard's investors but has likely driven down the cost for investors that use other companies. I am pretty sure there is a Boglehead Wiki article that addresses the issue of the need (or lack thereof) of splitting...
- Sun Mar 20, 2016 9:22 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Recommendations on 401k Funds
- Replies: 8
- Views: 989
Re: Recommendations on 401k Funds
Buy these: The Boglehead Guide to Investing and the B. Guide to Retirement. Both can be bought from Amazon as can this book: Larry Swedroe's book "The Only Guide You'll Ever Need for the Right Financial Plan: Managing Your Wealth, Risk, and Investments" . This book deals a lot with the need, ability...
- Sun Mar 13, 2016 7:36 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Don't Peek
- Replies: 33
- Views: 4950
Re: Don't Peek
I look as often as I want. I do not want to look very often when equities are heading down. But I do look at the S&P 500 index almost every day so I pretty much know if I am down by 5-10% without looking at my actual portfolio. I do not get pleasure from a 10% decrease in equities but it does not ca...
- Sun Mar 13, 2016 7:28 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Are CDs Becoming A Worse Investment?
- Replies: 40
- Views: 5900
Re: Are CDs Becoming A Worse Investment?
1-2 months ago I noticed the 10 year Treasury was yielding about 1.8%. This was down from around 2.2% -2.3% in the fairly recent past.
Brokered CDs in the 7-10 year range have followed this trend when I last looked. I would guess direct CDs are following the trend but maybe a bargain will be offered.
Brokered CDs in the 7-10 year range have followed this trend when I last looked. I would guess direct CDs are following the trend but maybe a bargain will be offered.
- Sat Mar 12, 2016 9:42 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Mattress Topper & Pillow Recommendations
- Replies: 16
- Views: 2190
Re: Mattress Topper & Pillow Recommendations
I have used both 3 and 4 inch high density memory foam. Higher density works best for me, thicker the better. Heat build up is a potential drawback but I have found I use less covers and lower the thermostat in winter. I have not used the foam with a layer of ????? to minimize the buildup but this i...
- Sat Mar 12, 2016 8:46 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Wait for 3k limit in IRA, or pick a TDF?
- Replies: 9
- Views: 664
Re: Wait for 3k limit in IRA, or pick a TDF?
Over a lifetime, delaying until you reach 3,000 will not matter. Keep it simple.
- Sat Mar 12, 2016 8:39 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Need advice on what to do with my 403b
- Replies: 3
- Views: 362
Re: Need advice on what to do with my 403b
I am with you sierra.... That is why having a plan that you can live with when equities crash and burn is important. Trying to time the market is a losing proposition. 3 books that could be helpful are the 2 Boglehead Guide to books: Investing and Retirement. Larry Swedroe's book "The Only Guide You...
- Sun Mar 06, 2016 11:31 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Seeking guidance on investment portfolio
- Replies: 15
- Views: 1473
Re: Seeking guidance on investment portfolio
A good place to start for anyone is the 2 Boglehead Guide to Retirement and Guide to Investing. You can get both at Amazon. There is a lot of free information on the Boglehead Wiki. If you read from start to finish you will learn a lot but the two books are just a lot easier to read because of the o...
- Thu Mar 03, 2016 9:25 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Freezing Credit at TransUnion
- Replies: 3
- Views: 689
Re: Freezing Credit at TransUnion
I think that the charge to freeze credit reporting info is up to each state. Some states prohibit charges for freezing and/or unfreezing based upon age or situation.
- Thu Mar 03, 2016 9:12 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: VG brokerage conversion - status
- Replies: 17
- Views: 1899
Re: VG brokerage conversion - status
In another thread I had indicated that I had a problem, after converting, that had to do with a slight difference in 1099s vs statement dividend income. I converted in early Dec 2015 I did not have any conversion problem. It was my mistake. I eventually realized the supposed discrepancy had to do fo...
- Wed Feb 24, 2016 11:36 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Don't understand nutrition and exercise
- Replies: 340
- Views: 35361
Re: Don't understand nutrition and exercise
I have found that just starting to work out helps. Sometimes I tell myself I will just do one exercise or one set or pedal the bike for 5 minutes. Then, I will stop if I want. I almost always do more. It is the starting that is hard. Cardiac stuff makes me feel better than weights. I do both in abou...
- Wed Feb 17, 2016 7:59 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: New investor here... need advice....
- Replies: 6
- Views: 672
Re: New investor here... need advice....
The boglehead Wiki has a lot of information. If you read everything and understand it all, then you will pretty much know all of the facts available. In a bit easier to read format are the 2 Boglehead Guide books ( to Investment and to Retirement), available maybe at your library but for sure via Am...
- Sun Feb 14, 2016 10:36 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Optimizing my Vanguard Portfolio (dump Kiplinger funds?)
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1623
Re: Optimizing my Vanguard Portfolio (dump Kiplinger funds?)
I would suggest you reconsider using Vanguard's financial advice or read the two Goglehead Guide books to Investing and the 2nd to Retirement.
- Sun Feb 14, 2016 10:30 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Could negative interest rates be the Black Swan?
- Replies: 31
- Views: 5239
Re: Could negative interest rates be the Black Swan?
The premise assumes a possible cause of financial distress is "negative interest rates".
Negative interest rates are a symptom of financial/economical distress, IMO.
Negative interest rates are a symptom of financial/economical distress, IMO.
- Sun Feb 14, 2016 10:18 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Should I invest anymore money- Theoretical Question
- Replies: 23
- Views: 3156
Re: Should I invest anymore money- Theoretical Question
Stuff happens.
What is the guarantee of getting 6%?
If you had TIPS in a liability matching portfolio to cover your retirement years your idea would have a solid foundation.
What is the guarantee of getting 6%?
If you had TIPS in a liability matching portfolio to cover your retirement years your idea would have a solid foundation.
- Sat Feb 13, 2016 9:00 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: This is Your Brain On Investing
- Replies: 18
- Views: 3469
Re: This is Your Brain On Investing
...Yes, investing in index funds is much less emotional if you do it right. However, studies show that even index fund investors are subject to chasing market performance and selling at the wrong time. ... It's not just index funds alone, but the relative simplicity of passive investing vs actively...
- Mon Feb 01, 2016 6:04 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: relationship Bonds an interest rate
- Replies: 4
- Views: 815
Re: relationship Bonds an interest rate
Suppose I bought $10000 of a bond index fund. If feds increase interest rate to 0.5%, what will happen to my yield and the price of each share? If feds decrease rate to 0%, what happens? If feds decrease to -.25%, what happens? Thanks. Maybe nothing will happen. this stuff is market driven for the ...
- Fri Jan 29, 2016 8:01 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Do you pay for exercise?
- Replies: 222
- Views: 19814
Re: Do you pay for exercise?
YMCA
Most/many facilities have weight machines, free weights, racquetball courts, basketball courts,cardio,pool, many different type of classes for all ages, child care and a welcoming attitude.
Most/many facilities have weight machines, free weights, racquetball courts, basketball courts,cardio,pool, many different type of classes for all ages, child care and a welcoming attitude.
- Thu Jan 28, 2016 11:44 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: How do I decide on Asset Allocation for a 3-fund portfolio
- Replies: 11
- Views: 2035
Re: How do I decide on Asset Allocation for a 3-fund portfolio
Maybe you are one of those people who need to take a lot of risk, are willing and have the ability to do. Many people think they are in this group, until they lose, what to them is a lot of money, over 6-12 months. the most rational way to approach this is need, ability and willingness to take risk....
- Thu Jan 28, 2016 11:25 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Treasury Direct is a waste of time
- Replies: 80
- Views: 18245
Re: Treasury Direct is a waste of time
I have never had a problem and appreciate the security imposed by TD.
People/companies/gov through out the world buy and sell T Bills/Bonds.
People/companies/gov through out the world buy and sell T Bills/Bonds.
- Mon Jan 25, 2016 4:44 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Rebalancing in Retirement.
- Replies: 35
- Views: 3935
Re: Rebalancing in Retirement.
I do not think much changes once one has retired. As one nears retirement I would hope that every one has got a pretty good grasp on need, ability and willingness to take risk and the marginal value of money and your own goals. I do think that if you have reached your goal, there is not a lot of rea...
- Fri Jan 22, 2016 2:21 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Example of why to favor Treasury-only bond funds
- Replies: 13
- Views: 2545
Re: Example of why to favor Treasury-only bond funds
I understand your point from a theoretical pov but a 1.5% increase in an intermediate type of treasury fund seems unimportant in the real world. I think the important case that can be made for fed gov backed bonds is illustrate by the doomsday scenario of another great depression like event. It is n...
- Sat Jan 02, 2016 6:04 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Is it Possible for the Stock Market Trend to Change
- Replies: 18
- Views: 1624
Re: Is it Possible for the Stock Market Trend to Change
Jezbro: the stock markets can go down and stay down for very long periods of time, 5-20 years. It is possible that, starting today, equity investors will lose money for the next ten years. It is much less risky to make and save more than counting on the stock markets. the lowest risk investments you...
- Sat Jan 02, 2016 5:45 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Why did TBM lag behind other bond funds this year?
- Replies: 19
- Views: 2532
Re: Why did TBM lag behind other bond funds this year?
If you are interested, the boglehead wiki has a good article on bonds and risks of bonds. You have to understand the risks associated with different types of bonds in order to understand performance.
jim
jim
- Fri Jan 01, 2016 6:13 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Why buy Corporate Bonds?
- Replies: 34
- Views: 3067
Re: Why buy Corporate Bonds?
You stated larry Swedoe's position re risk showing up at wrong time. He always supports his position with data and advises to take risk in stocks. I do not know. I am likely wrong in what I am doing. I am not concerned too much with a 2008/2009 scenario. I am not going to panic and sell equities and...
- Fri Jan 01, 2016 5:49 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: VPN Service, personal. suggestions.
- Replies: 23
- Views: 2980
Re: VPN Service, personal. suggestions.
thanks every one for sharing your knowledge.
Jim
Jim
- Thu Dec 31, 2015 11:33 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Avoiding "investment depression"
- Replies: 8
- Views: 2147
Re: Avoiding "investment depression"
Good advice.
Thanks for all of your contributions to this forum this past year.
Jim
Thanks for all of your contributions to this forum this past year.
Jim
- Thu Dec 31, 2015 10:51 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: VPN Service, personal. suggestions.
- Replies: 23
- Views: 2980
VPN Service, personal. suggestions.
I will be doing a lot of traveling over the next 2-3 months and have been reading about VPN. I could buy some hardware and get a data plan for cellular (Republic does not support a computer link to their phones/plans) but after the 2-3 months are up, hopefully not much traveling after that. So, I re...
- Tue Dec 29, 2015 12:19 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Why Correlation Doesn’t Matter Much
- Replies: 52
- Views: 6181
Re: Why Correlation Doesn’t Matter Much
Thanks for posting, nice website.
- Tue Dec 29, 2015 6:35 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: How much inflation in the US per year?
- Replies: 56
- Views: 5569
Re: How much inflation in the US per year?
The Federal Reserve targets 2% inflation per year. It may be higher or lower than that, but 2% is a good starting point. If the Fed's preferred measure, the Core Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index , which is calculated by the Bureau of Economic Analysis in the Department of Commerce, and...
- Sun Dec 27, 2015 7:26 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Vanguard Money Market in IRA
- Replies: 6
- Views: 1237
Re: Vanguard Money Market in IRA
I have run into this issue in the past even though I have MM accounts for a long time. It was never important enough for me to call/message Vanguard. I generally have distributions going to MM accounts in order to simplify any tax loss harvesting opportunities. I then invest the money to a MF of my ...
- Sun Dec 27, 2015 7:12 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Vanguard Account Upgrade BROKEN; wrong MMF
- Replies: 36
- Views: 3995
Re: Vanguard Account Upgrade BROKEN; wrong MMF
I upgraded last week. No problems.
I like the clarity and simplicity. I had brokerage accounts in roth, tira and taxable as well as MF in all three.
I like the clarity and simplicity. I had brokerage accounts in roth, tira and taxable as well as MF in all three.
- Sat Dec 26, 2015 7:45 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Individual Bonds vs Bond Funds
- Replies: 12
- Views: 1501
Re: Individual Bonds vs Bond Funds
Risk, cost and simplicity. If you buy anything other than fed gov backed bonds or insured CDs you are taking credit risk. The nice thing about a corporate bond fund is you get to choose how much credit risk you want (HY type vs investment grade type) and you are spreading the risks over a large numb...
- Sat Dec 26, 2015 7:27 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: TIPS Fund is Getting Hammered!
- Replies: 71
- Views: 10806
Re: TIPS Fund is Getting Hammered!
Sorry to ask a dumb question, but is there a difference between "unexpected" inflation and "expected" inflation? Is that something like, say, OPEC deciding overnight to cut production in half? I can see all sorts of terrible disaster scenarios for the world economy. But if it's a more gradual rise ...
- Fri Dec 25, 2015 9:12 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Large Energy stocks - why not?
- Replies: 158
- Views: 15529
Re: Large Energy stocks - why not?
Although I am a total market investor, XLE, the large oil companies stocks ETF looks very appealing for that portion of the money dedicated to opportunities (Don't we all have it in our blood?) Currently yielding close to 3% and with crude oil in the mid 30s, why would this not be a long term inves...
- Mon Dec 21, 2015 4:00 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Looking for a 1,2,3,4 year CD? buy the 5 year and take the penalty
- Replies: 14
- Views: 2693
Re: Looking for a 1,2,3,4 year CD? buy the 5 year and take the penalty
I do not see much point in buying CDs that are all but guaranteed to yield less than core inflation, even though I did this 3-4 years ago. As long as you know the risks, your are free to chose the risks you want to take. I much prefer secondary market brokered CDs for my Roth and TIRA because of sim...
- Thu Dec 17, 2015 8:43 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Portfolio Advice for Good Saver, Poor Investor
- Replies: 14
- Views: 1658
Re: Portfolio Advice for Good Saver, Poor Investor
FRT15, take your time. Do not be persuaded to take more risk than you can handle. Finding out that level of risk is very difficult. I do not have the link, but rick Ferri had a blog post about a year ago that resonated with me: his recommendation was to start with a low risk level then work your way...
- Thu Dec 17, 2015 8:14 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Fed raises FFR [Federal Funds Rate] 0.25% as expected
- Replies: 60
- Views: 7641
Re: Fed raises FFR 0.25% as expected
I found this interview interesting from Marketplace. What Larry Summers thinks about raising interest rates Do I understand Summers to be saying that interest rates are now so low that the Fed can't goose the economy out of a recession by lowering rates, therefore they can't risk anything that migh...
- Tue Dec 15, 2015 5:37 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Why are we not keeping up with the market?
- Replies: 19
- Views: 3177
Re: Why are we not keeping up with the market?
Not much going on this year in stocks, up 10% or so, then down 10% or so, up a few % depending on the day/week. The bond markets have also been pretty boring, thankfully. Yield bites but thankfully you are not holding a bunch of high yield junkiest bonds, just good old gov backed bonds with a bit of...
- Thu Dec 10, 2015 3:57 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Advantage to holding mutual fund accounts in brokerage account?
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1538
Re: Advantage to holding mutual fund accounts in brokerage account?
There are a few disadvantages. Distributions can either be funneled to settlement account or reinvested in the same fund that they came from. In the past I think you could have distributions reinvested in any Vanguard fund. I noticed another thing, when I set up a bond fund to auto reinvest dividen...
- Thu Dec 10, 2015 8:26 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Recession on the Horizon - Sensationalist Noise or Actionable Information?
- Replies: 36
- Views: 5244
Re: Recession on the Horizon - Sensationalist Noise or Actionable Information?
Cable news,opinion, entertainment needs viewers to make money.
Fear is used to keep us watching.
If CNBC focused on facts, they would not have viewers.
Fear is used to keep us watching.
If CNBC focused on facts, they would not have viewers.
- Thu Dec 10, 2015 8:17 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: effect of possible rate increase on annuities
- Replies: 6
- Views: 933
Re: effect of possible rate increase on annuities
If the fed does raise rates next week, say 25 basis points how much would that affect a 100k spia and when would the payout change take effect? should I wait? I agree with the above posts but I do not assume that interests rates 5 years from now will be higher than now and also do not assume that t...
- Wed Dec 09, 2015 6:00 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: What is your IRA CD strategy?
- Replies: 39
- Views: 4334
Re: What is your IRA CD strategy?
Hi All. I like the idea of allocating at least part of the fixed income portion of my IRA in CDs. I’ve been thinking about the best way to move forward with this strategy. I see four options – each with benefits and drawbacks. (1) Buy a ladder of brokered CDs through a brokerage account: It seems l...
- Wed Nov 11, 2015 7:20 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Buy Ladder CD's or wait
- Replies: 22
- Views: 2971
Re: Buy Ladder CD's or wait
My broker wants me to take $200K of cash and buy 5 ladder CD's, one for each of the next 5 years ($40K each), as safe component of my total investment portfolio of $900K. If interest rates go up in December, as presumed, should I now wait and then I could get more interest income for any ladder CD'...