Search found 274 matches

by Cb
Sat May 12, 2018 10:17 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Advice on building a timeless mens wardrobe?
Replies: 68
Views: 10211

Re: Advice on building a timeless mens wardrobe?

The Arthur Fonzarelli line works for me.
by Cb
Mon Mar 23, 2015 11:15 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard Ex-US Small Cap Value Petition
Replies: 24
Views: 5360

Re: Vanguard Ex-US Small Cap Value Petition

I'd welcome a Vanguard ISV fund, as well as a better ILV option than VTRIX.
by Cb
Fri Jan 30, 2015 3:58 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Would anyone go 100% bonds if...
Replies: 41
Views: 5820

Re: Would anyone go 100% bonds if...

[OT link removed by admin LadyGeek]
by Cb
Mon Sep 01, 2014 4:29 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Seeking wisdom and guidance
Replies: 10
Views: 1629

Re: Seeking wisdom and guidance

The advice you've gotten so far is very good, but I don't think it would do any harm to put a percent or so into blackface Fenders.
by Cb
Mon Mar 24, 2014 10:48 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Really confused by Bernstein
Replies: 168
Views: 20594

Re: Really confused by Bernstein

I'm pretty sure Dr. Bernstein said several years ago that he'd changed his mind about the ability of well-informed investors to manage their own portfolios adequately. I think watching investor behavior during the more recent downturn has made him even less hopeful about the prospects for DIY'ers, the result being that he is now more conservative in many of his recommendations.
by Cb
Sun Mar 02, 2014 10:05 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Wade Pfau feautured in latest Money magazine
Replies: 8
Views: 3107

Re: Wade Pfau feautured in latest Money magazine

Wade appears more confidence in how various market sectors will perform in the coming decades than I do.
by Cb
Thu Feb 27, 2014 10:25 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Bionic Beta! It's a 1970s thing made new with Smart Beta
Replies: 2
Views: 1015

Re: Bionic Beta! It's a 1970s thing made new with Smart Beta

nisiprius wrote:
...a May 1978 issue of Institutional Investor made Rosenberg a cult figure. The cover depicted him sitting in a pink robe on top of a mountain with hands lifted in the air, flowers around his neck and shoulders, and throngs of money manager giving praise to this disciple...
Google Images didn't find it for me. Oh, please, PLEASE somebody post it!
You're thinking Photoshop, aren't you? :wink:
by Cb
Tue Feb 25, 2014 11:36 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best Stereo Headphones under $100
Replies: 33
Views: 3765

Re: Best Stereo Headphones under $100

madbrain wrote:I love the AKG K240 Studio . These have a replaceable cord. The headphones sound great, very flat response, and should last a lifetime. The main thing that's likely to break on well-made headphones is the cord which can be replaced on this model.
Some time ago I bought Sennheiser HD280's, and while they sound great they sure are tight. I just bought AKG K240S's and they sound every bit as good and are very comfortable.
by Cb
Fri Feb 21, 2014 9:22 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Robert Merton-Meeting challenges of funding retirement
Replies: 1
Views: 680

Re: Robert Merton-Meeting challenges of funding retirement

Thanks for posting that...gonna watch it later.
by Cb
Sun Feb 02, 2014 11:57 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 22 multiple rule
Replies: 42
Views: 6339

Re: 22 multiple rule

midareff wrote:...AFAIK, you can follow the Pied Piper's and math wizards of 4% and higher inflation indexed withdrawals, but do so at your own risk understanding you are making the later golden year's cat food and life under the bridge bet...
This sort of thing turns up in most SWR threads. I wonder what % of the retired population lives under bridges, subsisting on a diet of cat food, and of that population, what % had entered their retirements with an investment portfolio of ~22 times their annual expenses.
by Cb
Thu Jan 02, 2014 12:21 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: [Poll] What was your 2013 return?
Replies: 209
Views: 18650

Re: What was your 2013 return?

This era of lower returns I've been reading about the past few years has been brutal.
by Cb
Sat Dec 21, 2013 5:02 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Commodities Funds: A Decade of Disaster
Replies: 196
Views: 26786

Re: Commodities Funds: A Decade of Disaster

I gave up and sold this disastrous asset class a while back, but unfortunately, piled the proceeds into the toxic, hazardous waste asset class instead.
by Cb
Mon Oct 14, 2013 11:42 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: When Bogleheads tell you it's different this time
Replies: 49
Views: 6768

Re: When Bogleheads tell you it's different this time

Grt2bOutdoors wrote:
louis c wrote:
I think those who are changing their stock allocation because they don't like current bond yields are making a mistake.
Experience can be a harsh taskmaster.
Indeed.

The past ~18 months haven't been so harsh though. If the market drops ~27% we'll be back to even.
by Cb
Mon Oct 14, 2013 9:00 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: When Bogleheads tell you it's different this time
Replies: 49
Views: 6768

Re: When Bogleheads tell you it's different this time

I think we're paying a high price for a dollar of earnings in bond markets these days. After reading Warren Buffett's Feb 2012 piece in Fortune magazine in which he mentioned bonds currently being priced to provide "return-free risk" I abandoned my plan to double our bond allocation upon my wife's retirement mid-year last year. Last winter I became convinced that there was probably little downside to switching to a short-term index rather than TBM.

I can't say I regret either decision.*

Cb
*yet
by Cb
Sun Oct 06, 2013 2:37 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: "Optimal Portfolios for the Long Run."
Replies: 65
Views: 11228

Re: "Optimal Portfolios for the Long Run."

pkcrafter wrote:Ned, funny you were thinking about a golf analogy, so was I. In this way...
In golf you need to keep your balance during the swing, same as in investing.
Paul
I think some Bogleheads just carry a sandwedge and a putter.
by Cb
Tue Oct 01, 2013 10:52 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Worried that I'm light in bonds
Replies: 51
Views: 7440

Re: Worried that I'm light in bonds

Fungus, you might want to review this thread: http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtop ... st=1816556
by Cb
Wed Sep 04, 2013 9:42 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Boxing (for fitness/workout)
Replies: 19
Views: 2336

Re: Boxing (for fitness/workout)

Seems like a high-impact method of exercising for a guitar player to consider.
by Cb
Mon Aug 05, 2013 2:04 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Variable Percentage Withdrawal (VPW)
Replies: 2256
Views: 605696

Re: Variable Percentage Withdrawal

longinvest wrote: I don't know if there's much interest for all this as nobody is commenting.
I'm keeping an eye on this thread. I welcome your work on variable withdrawals. I've previously modeled variable withdrawals using FIREcalc, simulating various degrees of % of remaining portfolio WD schemes by pumping up FIREcalc's Annual Portfolio Expense Ratio input field. I'd input a "normal" WD of say, 2.0%, then add another 2% to my Portfolio's ER to reflect the % of remaining portfolio portion.

Unfortunately, the current owner of the E-R board & FIREcalc is non-responsive to questions regarding FIREcalc, and all development and data updates seem to have halted a few years back.

So I'm looking fwd to what you wind with,

Cb 8-)
by Cb
Sun May 05, 2013 8:35 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: FIRECalc Question
Replies: 15
Views: 3424

Re: FIRECalc Question

Blues wrote:It would be great if there were some way that the baton could be passed to have FIRECalc be carried on into the future once the originator decides that he no longer has the time nor ability to continue with it.
The guy who created FIREcalc and found the associated Early Retirement forum ("Dory36") sold them several years ago to a guy who owns and runs a series of similar boards. He appears to be somewhat less responsive to FIREcalc feedback/issues/updates than Dory36 was.
by Cb
Sat May 04, 2013 10:39 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 4% rule and dying broke
Replies: 62
Views: 7976

Re: 4% rule and dying broke

bobcat2 wrote:I hate to be the bearer of sad tidings, but at today's super low real interest rates the 4% rule will have a very high failure rate. The studies of SWR's that have looked at past historical periods don't include extended periods where real LT interest rates are negative, as they are today. :( :(

BobK

Image

Source: http://www.lagunabeachbikini.com/index. ... est-rates/
by Cb
Fri Mar 15, 2013 11:56 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do we have enough to retire?
Replies: 108
Views: 25041

Re: Do we have enough to retire?

In view of their work backgrounds, if the market were to crater in the early years of their retirement they might still be able to find some sort of work, like delivering pizzas or mowing lawns to address any shortfall that might appear.

Cb :|
by Cb
Mon Feb 04, 2013 4:09 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: International Explorer vs the index fund
Replies: 10
Views: 1795

Re: International Explorer vs the index fund

Makes sense to me. I expect that Vanguard will lower the ER and reduce or eliminate the in & out fees at some point, but until then International Explorer looks like the better choice to me.
by Cb
Tue Jan 08, 2013 10:41 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Achieving a Higher Safe Withdrawal Rate
Replies: 109
Views: 10628

Re: Achieving a Higher Safe Withdrawal Rate

.... The issue is: 1) what is the most comfortable system for adjusting withdrawals? 2) If you're going to make flexible adjustments, what's the evidence that any set of numerical rules is going to work any better than Taylor Larimore's system : "We simply withdrew what we needed and kept an eye on our portfolio balance. Most years our balance went up and we spent the money on vacations, luxuries and charity. When our balance went down we tightened our belt and economized. This is what most people do and it works." Can you point me to any non-anecdotal evidence that that retirees as a group simply withdrawing whatever they feel they need while keeping an eye on their portfolio balance, etc is safer than "any set of numerical...
by Cb
Tue Aug 07, 2012 12:03 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Jeremy Grantham July Letter
Replies: 4
Views: 1258

Re: Jeremy Grantham July Letter

30 years ago my grandmother fell under the spell of a succession of newsletter writers, each more pessimistic/paranoid than the last. It drove my father bonkers back then.

For the past decade my father has done the same thing.

In the event that there is a dominant gene at play here, I'm going to make every effort to tune out gloom & doom guru's as I age.

You might find these links worthwhile before restructuring your investment portfolio based on a permabear's newsletter.

http://www.cxoadvisory.com/3200/individ ... -grantham/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f73A-HB-08M*

Cb
*thanks to wbern for mentioning Tetlock's work a few weeks back.
by Cb
Wed Aug 01, 2012 4:13 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Why does my bond allocation need to be so high?
Replies: 33
Views: 4375

Re: Why does my bond allocation need to be so high?

I think people's tolerance for risk varies MUCH more than you'd guess by reading this board. Some people are comfortable deriving their income from a small business, while others wouldn't dream of leaving a corporate gig to do that. Similarly, some people are comfortable scuba diving, flying private aircraft, rafting, and riding motorcycles and bicycles on roadways and others aren't.

I'd like to see data on the allocations of those who actually bail at the bottom to see what sort of correlation there is between equity allocations and selling out.

Cb
I ER'd at 46 and am roughly 80/20 today, expecting a non-indexed pension & SS to cover ~1/2 our expenses in the future
by Cb
Sun Jul 22, 2012 12:35 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Wiki: Asset Allocation - Update "Age in Bonds"?
Replies: 99
Views: 34022

Re: Wiki: Asset Allocation - Update "Age in Bonds"?

retiredjg wrote: ...I'm certainly not opposed to including it if that is what Jack actually means all the time - rather than a comment that might have applied to a situation or a comment about a way to do things as opposed to the way to do things. I'm just not convinced yet, but I'll keep an open mind.

I'm not at all opposed to including those comments as "this is Jack's opinion" if we can be pretty sure that is accurate...
I think that based on the Forbes & Scott Burns interviews linked above, and Taylor's quote from Bogle's most recent book, it's reasonable to assume he means it. Are you aware of an interview, speech, paper, or book in which he indicates otherwise?

Cb
by Cb
Sat Jul 21, 2012 5:50 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Wiki: Asset Allocation - Update "Age in Bonds"?
Replies: 99
Views: 34022

Re: Wiki: Asset Allocation - Update "Age in Bonds"?

I agree with Starboard...to intentionally omit a (rather significant) portion of Mr. Bogle's comments is a misrepresentation of his stated views.
by Cb
Sun Jul 15, 2012 4:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Verizon or other prepaid cell phone service?
Replies: 22
Views: 4308

Re: Verizon or other prepaid cell phone service?

jebmke wrote:I just bought a Tracfone. Mine uses AT&Ts network but they have phones that use Verizon.

Here is a site that will tell you how to figure out what phone to get based on which network you want to use.

http://www.prepaidphonenews.com/2011/12 ... aight.html

You might be able to get VZ to unlock your existing phone now that you have completed the contract.
What do you mean by "unlocking" my existing Verizon phone?

Cb
by Cb
Sun Jul 15, 2012 12:23 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Verizon or other prepaid cell phone service?
Replies: 22
Views: 4308

Verizon or other prepaid cell phone service?

We've used Verizon cell service for a single user for several years now and haven't had any complaints. Upon her retirement my wife had to surrender her company-paid Blackberry. We're looking over our expenses and have decided to let go of our land-line phone and get a second cell phone. We're out-of-contract with Verizon now, paying ~$45/mo for 450 minutes, no data, and rarely replying to a text at $.20 per text. That level of service has been more than adequate, and we've had no issues with connectivity around town or while traveling. Verizon quoted me at ~$80 to add a second phone, for a total of 750 minutes, and $.20 per text, no contract, if we supply the phone. I'd like to test the water with a bargain-basement pre-paid plan first, an...
by Cb
Tue Jun 26, 2012 10:21 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The riskiest day of the rest of your life
Replies: 50
Views: 7804

Re: The riskiest day of the rest of your life

To say that one has exhausted their human capital upon retirement is an exaggeration in most cases.

Cb
by Cb
Wed Jun 06, 2012 4:09 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Small value performance
Replies: 131
Views: 10966

Re: Small value performance

Beagler wrote:
yobria wrote: Then what point is Dr. Bernstein wrong about here?:
Will you concede that in the hard light of day, Dr. Bernstein still tilts his portfolios to small and value, even today (as has fairly recently been communicated through Mel)?
I think he's already found a quote he likes.
by Cb
Thu Apr 12, 2012 11:35 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Can a person have no risk tolerance?
Replies: 63
Views: 4255

Re: Can a person have no risk tolerance?

I found Warren Buffet's recent thoughts on equities vs bonds to be compelling:

http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2012/02/ ... er-letter/

Cb
by Cb
Sun Jan 29, 2012 4:13 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Future of Social Security: Boglehead View?
Replies: 60
Views: 5353

Re: Future of Social Security: Boglehead View?

You're already 54, and I think the likelihood of the government addressing SS funding challenges within the next 12 months is about zero.

Once you make 55 I think you can count on 100% of the SS projections, but it'd probably be reasonable for a middle-class couple to lop off a couple percent because SS taxation will likely increase in the future, even for those over 55.

Cb
by Cb
Thu Jan 12, 2012 2:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Can Adele Sing?
Replies: 56
Views: 6067

Re: Can Adele Sing?

I'd give up my Boglehead's book and maybe two Rick Ferri's to play in a band with a woman who could sing like Adele. She's a one in a million performer, IMO.

Some of y'all are kRaZIe.

Cb :annoyed
by Cb
Sat Dec 17, 2011 9:45 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Knee replacement surgery
Replies: 52
Views: 6953

Re: Knee replacement surgery

statsguy wrote:...Thanks again to everyone who replied. I would welcome more information.
I'm 52 and get Synvisc injections every 6 months trying to delay TKR until I'm 60 or so.

I found this series of Youtubes fascinating - these are the lectures from a UC-Berkely graduate bio-engineering course on the design & materials challenges facing artificial joint manufacturers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5YSTkBQBbs

Here's another Youtube on hip & knee replacement I found fascinating, by a very high volume doc at a high-volume facitility - UCSF, I believe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fsszk2iNAqg

Cb
by Cb
Thu Dec 15, 2011 9:59 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What musical instrument do you play
Replies: 33
Views: 2306

Re: What musical instrument do you play

Downright bass in 2 bands, electric guitar in another. I'm on bass in this one:

http://youtu.be/vYkP6nXu6Mk


Cb 8-)
by Cb
Wed Aug 24, 2011 10:48 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Test your feelings about "safe withdrawal" failure
Replies: 34
Views: 4720

A number of years ago as I was preparing to retire at 46 my little sister emailed me link to an article on the potential for runaway healthcare costs in the future laying waste to retirement plans, and asked if I was frightened about a scenario like that.

I replied saying that if things really went south for me in retirement, I might wind up alone, stashed away in a nasty little room with poor lighting and bad air, in a decrepit old building, and folks might come around every so often and bother me.

But that's about what I was doing for a living at that time (spending my days in a shabby little office block stuck on the side of an old defense plant), and I figured I'd take my chances and get out of the room for while.

Cb
by Cb
Thu May 26, 2011 4:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: undershirts
Replies: 40
Views: 6895

Costco's Kirkland Tee's for me, baby! They're long, medium weight, tagless, hold up well, and even come in gray and black for formal occasions.

Cb
by Cb
Wed May 18, 2011 2:31 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Did you consider the financial aspects of having children?
Replies: 151
Views: 16319

Nope, both times it was one of those "caught up in the moment" sort of things when my mind wasn't on finance.

Cb :P
by Cb
Wed Mar 16, 2011 10:41 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Simba's backtesting spreadsheet [a Bogleheads community project]
Replies: 1367
Views: 821207

Houston101 wrote:Simba this is indeed a gem, thank you very much.

Will it be correct to assume that the gains are calculated without taking into account dividends?
No...the returns include dividends, and have fund ER's deducted.
by Cb
Fri Mar 11, 2011 10:01 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: PIMCO Cuts Management Fees
Replies: 13
Views: 3741

Has anyone found a complete listing of the funds PIMCO has lowered fees on? They're not exactly shouting from the rooftops...

Cb
by Cb
Sun Mar 06, 2011 10:31 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is 100% equities really that risky for young investors?
Replies: 127
Views: 21331

...And you are thinking "Countrywide, WaMu, IndyMac, Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearns, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, AIG, Merrill Lynch... WTF? When does it end? Is this, seriously, the Big One?" Right now, people are talking about the possibility of hyperinflation, currency collapse, you name it. It doesn't seem too real to me. But something like 2008-2009 hits, and you have to seriously consider the possibility that you really are in the middle of an actual societal collapse. Not inevitably, not soon, but right now. Because they do happen. 2008-2009 wasn't one of them. But if there had been an actual collapse, 2008-2009 is what the start would have looked like... . Nisiprius, that was a remarkable passage. I remember having those kind ...
by Cb
Fri Mar 04, 2011 10:45 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Any guitar players here?
Replies: 30
Views: 4226

I started playing 17-18 years ago as an adult. When I was working I found lessons kind of stressful...I was working 50-60 hr weeks and often was anxious as lesson day approached when I hadn't practiced enough. Eventually I concluded that I'd be happier learning on my own via books & cassette packages (pre-internet). A short time later a coworker invited me to play bass with him and a buddy, saying that most of what I was playing on guitar was basslines anyway. That guy is a terrific (also self-taught) guitar player, and I've been in bands with him ever since. I'm playing bass in two bands doing mostly instrumental beatnik jazz and schmoove blues, and play guitar in another blues & classic rock cover band. As for gear - 2 strats, tel...