Search found 48449 matches

by Valuethinker
Wed Mar 27, 2024 9:54 am
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: Career break to maximise time with kids?
Replies: 40
Views: 2939

Re: Career break to maximise time with kids?

You are not mad. What does your typical work-day time breakdown look like? How many hours spent commuting and how many hours spent working? I prioritized family once my child (now graduated from college) arrived, but did so by Keeping my commute short (done before child arrived), and Working 40 hours/week (rather than, say, 60+) I got a few hours per weekday evening with my child and also had weekends. Thanks for your reply. Typical day would be leaving the house at 6am, 10 mins drive to the train station, arrive at the office ~7.20am (trains permitting). Work till 17.30, then back on the train and arrive home at ~7pm. 5 days a week. Weekends are 100% free from work. So yeah, my daily commute is the best part of 3 hours (I live in rural Ho...
by Valuethinker
Wed Mar 27, 2024 9:39 am
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: Short investment window and retiring soon
Replies: 7
Views: 503

Re: Short investment window and retiring soon

Is this a viable plan giving the short period left for compounding to take effect? Should I be allocating a portion of my investment to bonds right away? or keep it 100% stocks to get the most possible return for the small window left? Bonds are likely advisable. What is your age? Do you have any tax-advantaged retirement accounts like a 401k or IRA? If you just need 3-4%, something between 40% stocks and 60% bonds to 70% stocks and 30% bonds may be more reasonable than 100% stocks Keep in mind that while 100% stocks gives you the most upside for the next 3 years, it also gives you the most downside for the next 3 years. You could go into retirement with 500k instead of 1M This is good advice. Imagine if another respiratory virus broke out...
by Valuethinker
Wed Mar 27, 2024 9:28 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Help me choose a new heating and air system - NYC (HVAC)
Replies: 28
Views: 1888

Re: Help me choose a new heating and air system - NYC (HVAC)

When comparing gas furnace BTUs, you also need to know the efficiency of the furnace. It would be very typical to replace an old 80,000 BTU furnace that is 80% efficient with a modern 60,000 BTU furnace that is 95% efficient. I didn't know that efficiency was related to output; I thought it was only related to input (how much energy was necessary to produce the stated output)...? So I thought an 80kbtu 70% furnace would produce exactly the same output as an 80kbtu 95% furnace, but cost more for fuel while doing so. Whenever I had a choice, vendors would offer say an 80kbtu 80% furnace or an 80kbtu 95% furnace; vendors never changed the btu recommended, just the efficiency percentage (and the price.) That was my understanding, too. That the...
by Valuethinker
Wed Mar 27, 2024 9:26 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Help me choose a new heating and air system - NYC (HVAC)
Replies: 28
Views: 1888

Re: Help me choose a new heating and air system? (HVAC) - UPDATE

You haven't owned the house since the 50s, so it might've been up-insulated by a prior owner. Many furnaces are oversized, and this is usually undesirable. The easiest way to know your BTU requirements is to time your heating system cycling on and off during some cold weather. like with a stopwatch. If your 80 kBTU/h furnace is firing 40% of the time when its 20°F outside, your house needs 80k*0.4 = 32kBTU/h at that outdoor temp. Demand is almost linear in the temperature difference indoors and outdoors. So that 32kBTU/h for a 70-20°F = 50°F difference implies that a 60kBTU unit could heat you down to almost -25°F, for example. Add in some margin for wind. :) That sort of furnace cycling estimation is MUCH more reliable than a manual J in ...
by Valuethinker
Wed Mar 27, 2024 6:41 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Boeing (BA) stock: at some point it has to be a bargain
Replies: 195
Views: 19216

Re: Boeing (BA) stock: at some point it has to be a bargain

As an aeronautical engineer, I have a sentimental softness for Boeing, as a "stalwart" in the industry, and the developer of many fine technological advances, such as the B29 and other storied aircraft, the 747 and so on. Unfortunately that does not translate into any knowledge, actionable or even merely theoretical, into either its prospects as a business, or its vitality as a stock. As others noted, it is unlikely that Boeing would be "allowed" to outright fail, meaning that in dire situation, there would be a bailout. But again as others have noted, that is no balm for pained investors, and instead is likely a wipeout. I do hope that Boeing turns-around and succeeds, but can't justify devoting even just play-money, t...
by Valuethinker
Wed Mar 27, 2024 5:30 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Boeing (BA) stock: at some point it has to be a bargain
Replies: 195
Views: 19216

Re: Boeing (BA) stock: at some point it has to be a bargain

The background of the person, Stephanie Pope, just put in charge of the Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA) division speaks volume on the focus and what is important for the division. Her background is a bachelor's degree in accounting from Southwest Missouri State University (source https://www.boeing.com/company/bios/stephanie-pope). She is generally a niceish person, but woefully, woefully out of her depth when it comes to wrangling BCA's issues to resolution. Ask me how I know... (Hey, did I mention that I just recently "fired my employer" a month ago? A very large American aircraft manufacturer.) And yes, I'm astounded that they put a pure finance person in there. I suspect your (successful) financial position speaks volumes a...
by Valuethinker
Tue Mar 26, 2024 2:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Anyone use Windows OS on ARM?
Replies: 14
Views: 1128

Re: Anyone use windows arm?

Not recently... But I was an early adopter of a Surface RT device, which was an ARM based. Back then the "app store" was very immature. The only apps that would run were some of those in the "app store", which was very immature at the time (Windows 8 era). Not sure if they still sell it, but the Surface X was the "modern" equivalent (or more modern anyway). As the "app store" has improved, I think it's usefulness has improved as well. But invariably, you'll run into applications that won't run... I think it really depends on what apps you care about. If all of them are in the app store, believe it shows if they'll run on Arm (but been awhile since I've looked). If they aren't in the App store, likely...
by Valuethinker
Tue Mar 26, 2024 2:05 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Anyone use Windows OS on ARM?
Replies: 14
Views: 1128

Re: Anyone use windows arm?

gavinsiu wrote: Tue Mar 26, 2024 1:47 pm
MH2 wrote: Tue Mar 26, 2024 12:54 pm It’s not just power consumption. The hardware and software experience with MacOS is excellent. Everything just works.
That's more of the eye of the beholder. My wife thinks MacOS experience is terrible. This is mostly because she is so used to Windows that doing things the MacOS way feels wrong.
Also the MS Excel keyboard shortcuts are different on MAC OS than on Windows.

This really does matter if you are a frequent user of MS Excel
by Valuethinker
Tue Mar 26, 2024 11:15 am
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: Career break to maximise time with kids?
Replies: 40
Views: 2939

Re: Career break to maximise time with kids?

There are a lot of jobs out there that pay £50k pa (if that) and are 5+ days a week. Jobs where you have to manage 20 people, meet budgets, play politics, etc. Imagine being a manager in Asdas right now. Or running road repair crews. Remember how privileged you are to be able to even consider the possibility. In my experience (as an ex Finance person) most people in Finance have no clue what it's like outside of Finance. What counts as "normal". This is a country where the average household income is c. £38k pa and the average full time wage around £26k pa (without checking). A colleague's uncle was at Lehman, knows the royalty etc-- high flyer (corporate broker, I think). Never managed to find a good position again post Lehman, s...
by Valuethinker
Mon Mar 25, 2024 5:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Help me choose a new heating and air system - NYC (HVAC)
Replies: 28
Views: 1888

Re: Help me choose a new heating and air system? (HVAC)

Our almost 28 year Carrier Furnace started producing a "slightly sweet smell" coming out of the air ducts. We've had it diagnosed by two different companies as being a clogged heat exchanger with about a $5000 cost for parts and labor to replace the heat exchanger. The furnace is now not being used and it is cold - however - we are taking our time to evaluate our heating options. The choices: We live in the Northeast with cold winters. Current unit: 80,000 BTU Carrier Furnace, with a 3 ton, 8 Seer Carrier A/C Unit. - Trane or Lennox Furnace + Heat Pump + hard wired thermostat (prefer not having it connected to internet). 2-stage furnace. - Trane or Lennox Furnace + A/C Unit + hard wired thermostat (prefer not having it connected ...
by Valuethinker
Mon Mar 25, 2024 1:55 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Would you do a house upgrade?
Replies: 49
Views: 3545

Re: Would you do a house upgrade?

I don't have many people I can discuss financial matters with in my real life so I wanted to get some feedback from the wise BH community. We are considering a major upgrade in housing. I am retired and wife is SAHM. 2 kids with about 5-7 years before they are off to college. Current house: about 1.3mm (paid off) nice community with swimming pool, houses all on smaller lots with homes 750k-1.4mm. Potential house: 3.8mm - (agent thinks house should be list around 4.2-4.3mm but they want quick sell as they already bought another place) - parade home that is stunningly beautiful in a gated, golf course community with homes 2-10+mm We have no debt and the purchase would be all cash. It would still be only about 20% of NW. I know we can afford ...
by Valuethinker
Mon Mar 25, 2024 1:47 pm
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: What is the difference between VFAWF and VWRP
Replies: 18
Views: 1028

Re: What is the difference between VFAWF and VWRP

kyleplaytime15 wrote: Mon Mar 25, 2024 1:41 pm Any way to confirm?
Should be on the Key Investor Information Document. Or on the Factsheet.

I assume these are both Vanguard products? You've checked the descriptions on the website?
by Valuethinker
Mon Mar 25, 2024 1:28 pm
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: What is the difference between VFAWF and VWRP
Replies: 18
Views: 1028

Re: What is the difference between VFAWF and VWRP

kyleplaytime15 wrote: Mon Mar 25, 2024 10:37 am They both say "Vanguard FTSE All-World UCITS ETF USD Acc" so I can't figure out the difference.

I want to buy the Vanguard all world etf, but domiciled in ireland.

I live in the US but im a non-us resident
Currency?
by Valuethinker
Mon Mar 25, 2024 1:23 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Oxford UK and region - rent a car for vacation?
Replies: 20
Views: 1264

Re: Oxford UK and region - rent a car for vacation?

A couple of years ago, we rented a car out of Heathrow, and spent a week driving a loop from Dover in the southeast then west to Bath and northwest to the Cotswold's. In planning what to visit, we heavily relied on the UK National Trust website. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ From wikipedia: The Trust was founded in 1895 by Octavia Hill, Sir Robert Hunter and Hardwicke Rawnsley to "promote the permanent preservation for the benefit of the Nation of lands and tenements (including buildings) of beauty or historic interest". It was given statutory powers, starting with the National Trust Act 1907. Historically, the Trust acquired land by gift and sometimes by public subscription and appeal, but after World War II the loss of coun...
by Valuethinker
Mon Mar 25, 2024 9:28 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: just a general comment about "too conservative" investors here
Replies: 246
Views: 40552

Re: just a general comment about "too conservative" investors here

Interesting thoughts from both of you. Annette, I am glad you found this path that works for you. (It took me a minute or two but I figured out what QOL means...it probably helped that not that many words start with "Q".). The bottom line is to make money, but not let money make you. I think that is from an old Jerry Jeff Walker song. I wish I could take credit. Valuethinker....I'm surprised, actually, that London real estate is keeping up with inflation post-Brexit. It's a mad, mad, mad, mad world. From the actual date of "get Brexit done" as the then PM Boris J campaigned on (31/ Dec/ 2020 ?) I am not sure. Remember that this is GBP terms. But GBP has depreciated something like 20% against USD since 2016? So for the p...
by Valuethinker
Mon Mar 25, 2024 8:53 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do you setback thermostat on your electric heatpump?
Replies: 47
Views: 2733

Re: Do you setback thermostat on your electric heatpump?

I've heard tell that it uses less electricity to cool than to heat. For heat pumps (and air conditioners), cooling takes heat from inside the house and moves the heat outside, and house temps are normally in the 60-80 degree range. This is the sweet spot for most heat pump designs, so it takes a lot less energy to move the heat than the alternate where you are taking 30 degree outside temps and moving heat into the house. The efficiency of pump design is much higher at 60 degrees vs. 30 degrees. I am not sure how optimised US heat pumps are on absolute temperature? In principle 25F external to 45F internal should be pretty much the same amount of energy (heating) as 90 external down to 70 internal (cooling)? +20F either way. Of course to c...
by Valuethinker
Mon Mar 25, 2024 7:49 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Pension Protection: More or less Survivor Benefits?
Replies: 3
Views: 412

Re: Pension Protection: More or less Survivor Benefits?

[Split from Subject: Pension Protection: Life Insurance vs More Survivor Benefits? into its own thread by Moderator Misenplace] Good thread, as I am approaching 60 with retirement out there in 1 to ? years, and trying to be the financial planner in our 2 person family. Complicating factors are a larger age difference (my spouse is 13 years younger) and health difference (spouse may have less actuarial health left than the tables and reduction factors give indicate) and recent death of my brother in his 60's (wake up call to the max, but also different risk profile). To go 100% beneficiary will cost 18% from an unmodified pension. There is a 50% option as well that will cost 10%. The contract for one portion of my service results in a 10% s...
by Valuethinker
Mon Mar 25, 2024 6:46 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: just a general comment about "too conservative" investors here
Replies: 246
Views: 40552

Re: just a general comment about "too conservative" investors here

** My British spouse couldn't quite believe " Dudley Do-right of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police"*** Mr. Peabody and his pet boy, Sherman must have given her a good laugh. Some of my relations have ghastly puns. So it was wince-worthy for her. It's rare to see American TV take the mick of Canadians. Well there was Due South (about a Mountie in Chicago) but that was filmed in Toronto**. Indeed the number of America-set tv shows that are actually filmed in Toronto or Vancouver is legion... One episode of Star Trek: Strange New World s actually manages to admit to a Toronto location when they beam back into the 21st century outside the main downtown Toronto shopping mall ("What was once called Canada. You know. Maple syrup. I...
by Valuethinker
Mon Mar 25, 2024 6:45 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: just a general comment about "too conservative" investors here
Replies: 246
Views: 40552

Re: just a general comment about "too conservative" investors here

I think it’s very kind of the OP to acknowledge that those of us who are “too conservative” on this board have our reasons based on our life experience. When you have seen so many people, over and over again, go through the protracted, life altering anguish of losing it all, whether from fraud, poor stewardship, bad luck, a bad economy, naivete, hubris, miscalculation or whatever cause, you come away with the overwhelming feeling of (with apologies to Jimmy Stewart in the famous scene in Potter’s office) “well, it’s NOT going to be me!” That's a very good point. If one is financially secure, one does not need to take risks, because becoming a LOT richer probably won't buy more happiness. I am not incredibly rich. But I have enough to live ...
by Valuethinker
Mon Mar 25, 2024 6:36 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Unwanted Real Estate - can I transfer it to a Trust?
Replies: 8
Views: 1121

Re: Unwanted Real Estate - can I transfer it to a Trust?

Bogleheads, I own a property occupied by my mother. Unfortunately, she has cat-lady/hoarder tendencies and I need to throw in the towel and get out from under the liabilities created by her actions. Is it possible for me to transfer the property from my name into a Trust which is owned my kids, but which she administers? The idea would be that she can go nuts and racking-up legal bills and fines and what-not, but at the end of it all, my kids would receive the residual value after she passes. The state is California. Thanks for any advice on this Hail Mary idea. I can't see anything but trouble in this. If you want to free yourself of this situation, you could gift her the property? Otherwise I would consult an attorney. Tricky situation. ...
by Valuethinker
Mon Mar 25, 2024 6:30 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Emerging Markets Stocks have been a complete disaster
Replies: 175
Views: 17666

Re: Emerging Markets Stocks have been a complete disaster

Why would one want to entrust capital to an asset that consists of 47% Chinese and Taiwan common stocks? I realize that knee jerk Bogleheads aren’t supposed to think about things like this, but really? Taiwan there is geopolitical risk. The country itself is a rule of law democracy. The biggest stock in the Taiwanese market is Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (TSMC). From memory over 25% of the index. The world's largest semiconductor manufacturer and with the most advanced "fab" technology. Bigger than Samsung. Bigger than Intel. Certainly bigger than Nvidia. Why would one *not* want to hold this stock? I would say this. If there is a war over Taiwan, it is disastrous. But it's disastrous everywhere - not least for...
by Valuethinker
Mon Mar 25, 2024 5:56 am
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: Portfolio for move to UK
Replies: 29
Views: 5007

Re: Portfolio for move to UK

Thanks Blake. The non-domicile tax benefits never occurred to me! My domicile of birth is Republic of Ireland. I assume some capital gains and some dividends from VWRL are from UK based companies, and so are not classified as foreign income? Will Interactive Brokers break this down clearly for me? I understand current rules are that any foreign income I don’t plan to remit to UK is not taxable. So under current rules, once I simply don’t send any foreign income to my UK account, it is tax free? The new rules seem the same, only that this will only last for 4 years now? I suppose another cost basis reset at the end of the 4 year period could also be a consideration, as only the capital gain made on the UK based companies would be subject to...
by Valuethinker
Sun Mar 24, 2024 1:26 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: just a general comment about "too conservative" investors here
Replies: 246
Views: 40552

Re: just a general comment about "too conservative" investors here

Quite a few comments that posters here are "too conservative". Listen when we counsel many of the, often new, posters here, it's not because we are old fuddy duddies collecting our Social Security and talking about our glory days in the Luftwaffe together ... I absolutely love that image. Experience does count for something, among people who can learn and absorb. I think many of us learned the hard way. I made some very stupid investing decisions when I was young. Fortunately, I didn't have much money then, and I had a well-paying job, so, though it seemed painful at the time, the long-term effects were minimal. Career. Love. Finance. Made all the stupid decisions and mistakes. What is important, even as we get to our ages, is th...
by Valuethinker
Sun Mar 24, 2024 1:13 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Boeing (BA) stock: at some point it has to be a bargain
Replies: 195
Views: 19216

Re: Boeing (BA) stock: at some point it has to be a bargain

P.S. I personally lost an unimportant amount of money buying stock in Digital Equipment Corporation on what I thought was a dip, saying "Wall Street just doesn't understand. I've used DEC computers for years and I really know just how good they are." P.P.S. An retired airline pilot put me on to Juan Browne 'Blancolirio's' YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/@blancolirio . He's an airline pilot with American Airlines, which to me is an assurance that he's going to be quite careful to be factually accurate about what he says, and his simple byt detauked descriptions of the details of unfolding news like the door problem are interesting. He illustrates them with references to official reports, charts of the airspeed and altitud...
by Valuethinker
Sun Mar 24, 2024 1:09 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Do Russian stock holders in the west have any chance of recovery?
Replies: 11
Views: 1791

Re: Do Russian stock holders in the west have any chance of recovery?

No politics please. I (American) own ERUS ishares that stopped trading in 2022 when the conflict started. I have no problem holding the assets for ever or even let a Russian fiduciary hold it for me in "frozen" status until things settle down. Im sure in in 10+ years things will settle down and trading commence again. What I do not want however (which is currently happening) is Blackrock force liquidating, especially now where it cannot be traded, its essentially an almost 100% loss. So if had $100,000 invested your liquidation will be like $50. I would be okay with Blackrock dissolving but if they offered for example each holder gets a non-tradable right to their share of the proceeds that expires in the year 2099 or whenever th...
by Valuethinker
Sun Mar 24, 2024 12:59 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Oxford UK and region - rent a car for vacation?
Replies: 20
Views: 1264

Re: Oxford UK and region - rent a car for vacation?

Two bits of advice. Even if you're adept at driving stick shifts, remember that you'll be shifting with your left hand, not your right - while getting used to driving on the left and through roundabouts. We didn't reserve a more costly automatic, but the rental agency gave us one with no charge for the upgrade. Also, if you have a credit card that covers the collision damage waiver internationally, like the Costco Citi Visa, use it. The coverage came in very handy for us in 2018. Bon voyage. Thank you, esp. for the tip on the Costco Citi Visa. I do have that one (among others) and will confirm coverage. Definitely need to ensure that. Now, I don't want to toot my own horn too much about being adept with a stick shift, but from prior experi...
by Valuethinker
Sun Mar 24, 2024 12:47 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Oxford UK and region - rent a car for vacation?
Replies: 20
Views: 1264

Re: Oxford UK and region - rent a car for vacation?

So if you want to do Wales Wales has quite poor public transport in my experience. For example there's no north to south railway route within the country. Not sure about buses. Post 2012, local public transport, outside of London, has really been slashed. So North Wales, you will need to drive -and don't underestimate how long it will take. Just because Cardiff and Conwy are in the same country, doesn't mean they are at all close in travel times terms. You will need to drive unless you take a bus tour. I would caution you that minicabs seem to have gotten rarer and more expensive since Covid. I think a lot of the drivers either were worried about getting sick or they found jobs in distribution centres etc that were more reliable (there's a ...
by Valuethinker
Sun Mar 24, 2024 12:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do you setback thermostat on your electric heatpump?
Replies: 47
Views: 2733

Re: Do you setback thermostat on your electric heatpump?

We just (in December 2023) went from old gas furnace, circa 1982, to heat pump plus new efficient gas furnace backup for cold weather. I had no idea our thermostat settings for different times of day or different days of the week might be different, if we want efficiency and to not strain the system, from when we had gas furnace only. What the dickens is a heat strip? I guess I have some learning to do! And it might be good to have this learning before cooling season arrives, given that we have never had air conditioning until now. That was one of the main motivations for electric heat pump in the first place. Heat strip is just an auxiliary strip that kicks in if the outdoor temperature drops below a certain set temperature. It's usually ...
by Valuethinker
Sat Mar 23, 2024 2:43 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do you setback thermostat on your electric heatpump?
Replies: 47
Views: 2733

Re: Do you setback thermostat on your electric heatpump?

We just (in December 2023) went from old gas furnace, circa 1982, to heat pump plus new efficient gas furnace backup for cold weather. I had no idea our thermostat settings for different times of day or different days of the week might be different, if we want efficiency and to not strain the system, from when we had gas furnace only. What the dickens is a heat strip? I guess I have some learning to do! And it might be good to have this learning before cooling season arrives, given that we have never had air conditioning until now. That was one of the main motivations for electric heat pump in the first place. Heat strip is just an auxiliary strip that kicks in if the outdoor temperature drops below a certain set temperature. It's usually ...
by Valuethinker
Sat Mar 23, 2024 1:33 pm
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: New Investor here - Thoughts on this investment?
Replies: 11
Views: 1462

Re: New Investor here - Thoughts on this investment?

Hi! So I've been in conversation with a fund management firm. I've been looking for USD or USD-linked investments (I live outside of the US). On to the firm's fees: They charge 1.2% on portfolio per annum, if portfolio is in local currency (which has been depreciating significantly). 0.6% on portfolio if actual dollar portfolio, not just linked. Other fees: one-off 1-1.5% fee on value of trade for broker. $0.50 per month for'account subscription' (shrug) Investments They've offered a 7 year corporate bond, linked to the dollar, with 12% interest paid semi-annually. ( This could potentially work for me because of the returns, but planning to find out more about the company to make sure no risk of default). They've also offered to invest in ...
by Valuethinker
Fri Mar 22, 2024 4:44 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: London + ???
Replies: 12
Views: 1171

Re: London + ???

We spent a nice couple of days in Salisbury in 2011 or 2012 as a side-trip to London (and on our way to Jordan or Istanbul, can't remember which trip now). It's got the Salisbury Cathedral (gothic church) and Old Sarum (ruins of medieval castle and settlement), and Stonehenge is nearby. Easy train ride from London and can be part of a more extended trip west of London if you are so inclined. Nice place. I am afraid I am going to suggest you "just went to visit the Cathedral"? (This was the excuse proffered by Russian authorities as to why 2 men, identified to be agents of the GRU - Russian military intelligence, were visiting Salisbury on the day when a lethal nerve poison of Russian origin, Novichok, was smeared on the doorhandl...
by Valuethinker
Fri Mar 22, 2024 4:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Unwanted Real Estate - can I transfer it to a Trust?
Replies: 8
Views: 1121

Re: Unwanted Real Estate - can I transfer it to a Trust?

Bogleheads, I own a property occupied by my mother. Unfortunately, she has cat-lady/hoarder tendencies and I need to throw in the towel and get out from under the liabilities created by her actions. Is it possible for me to transfer the property from my name into a Trust which is owned my kids, but which she administers? The idea would be that she can go nuts and racking-up legal bills and fines and what-not, but at the end of it all, my kids would receive the residual value after she passes. The state is California. Thanks for any advice on this Hail Mary idea. I can't see anything but trouble in this. If you want to free yourself of this situation, you could gift her the property? Otherwise I would consult an attorney. Tricky situation.
by Valuethinker
Fri Mar 22, 2024 4:38 pm
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: New etf's - v cheap All Country and Dev ex USA
Replies: 4
Views: 944

Re: New etf's - v cheap All Country and Dev ex USA

Hi, Saw these 2 new etfs recently launched in Europe ( 1 on LSE 1 on XETRA at present - have emailed to ask if LSE inclusion coming) 1. 0.07% Amundi Prime All Country World UCITS ETF (WEBG) WEBG’s fee undercuts the Invesco FTSE All-World UCITS ETF (FWRA) which launched last year and carries a TER of 0.15%. It also undercuts State Street Global Advisors’ (SSGA) popular SPDR MSCI ACWI IMI UCITS ETF (SPYI), which has a 0.17% fee. WEBG physically replicates the Solactive GBS Global Markets Large & Mid Cap index of 3469 large and mid-cap companies from developed and emerging markets. The index captures the largest 85% of the free-float market capitalisation of global equities. Microsoft was the index’s top holding at 4.3%, followed by Apple...
by Valuethinker
Fri Mar 22, 2024 4:36 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Value of US dollar in different Asian countries
Replies: 23
Views: 1317

Re: Value of US dollar in different Asian countries

These are wonderful places you are traveling to. You will have a wonderful time for sure, especially the local FOODs. I am envious. :D I often hear other Bogleheads say they never or rarely needed cash in these countries. I don't know how they do it. We actually ended up using mostly cash on the food (street vendors) and local markets. The ATMs were very convenient and easy to find. We usually knew roughly how much we'd be needing each day. If any leftover bills, don't fret, leave them to the cleaning lady at the airport on the day you leave the country. I'm sure they'd appreciate it. China is the one where it may now be difficult to use cash - even at street vendors? Official policy is very much to discourage use of cash. When there was f...
by Valuethinker
Fri Mar 22, 2024 4:55 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Thoughts about using floaters for FI
Replies: 14
Views: 1256

Re: Thoughts about using floaters for FI

I'm trying to decide how I want to handle my FI allocation. I will be 80/20 and am looking for the FI portion to be as anti-equity and inert as possible. Nominal bonds failed spectacularly in 2022 and demonstrated their profound inability as being "ballast to equities". I know, many will say "bonds are fine - they worked as designed". Yeah, well, that's just your opinion, man. Also - have your bonds recovered yet BTW? Even the Great Investor specifically mentioned short-term treasuries - not bond funds. IMHO I look to my equities for returns - not FI. That said - I would prefer my FI at least keeps up with inflation (more or less) but that's about it. With that framing I was thinking 50/50 VGSH/TIPS but TIPS aren't as a...
by Valuethinker
Fri Mar 22, 2024 4:47 am
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: [UK] Should I put money into SIPP to avoid the 60% tax trap
Replies: 3
Views: 755

Re: [UK] Should I put money into SIPP to avoid the 60% tax trap

As the title - a bit of context here is that I am just about to have a annual salary that hits the 125k mark including company stocks. I have about 50k as emergency funds, if I put 25k into pension, that would make it less, in case I lose my job, etc etc. But I know the tax trap, should I still using pension to avoid the trap in this situation? Other information is that I am a home owner with a mortgage of 200k, and 5.5% interest rate. Thank you. Your accountant can work out the effective tax rate for you. Generally it is worth doing. If your mortgage is "open" ie free to repay that's quite a good use of cash-- guaranteed 5.5% rate of return after tax. Probably on balance, as it is less than 2x your income, I would favour pension...
by Valuethinker
Fri Mar 22, 2024 4:45 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: London + ???
Replies: 12
Views: 1171

Re: London + ???

I have been to London, but not for many many years. Think maybe I side-tripped to Oxford or Cambridge, but if so, don't remember it. Thinking DW & I, maybe 7-9 nights in Britain, 3-4 in London, and the rest ??? Would probably want to stay in Britain rather than Ireland or Northern France (though both of the latter appeal to me). Scotland? Lake District? Midlands? Oxbridge? Stonehenge? Southern coast of England? This is very early stage thinking and very flexible at this point - probably summer-ish (maybe 2025). DW & I are in our 50s - I'd be up for rambling/hiking across the countryside some but not sure DW would be so eager for that. Probably skip car rental and go with train, as needed, but again, flexible... I like history/museu...
by Valuethinker
Fri Mar 22, 2024 4:23 am
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: Investing in the UK
Replies: 10
Views: 1418

Re: Investing in the UK

superbrugha wrote: Tue Mar 19, 2024 4:20 pm Unfortunately UK account holders cannot buy ETFs on the Robinhood app.

I was very disappointed.
Why would anyone put their precious life savings with a company called "Robinhood"?

= Robbing Hood ?
by Valuethinker
Thu Mar 21, 2024 1:43 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Bond question / maturation
Replies: 7
Views: 488

Re: Bond question / maturation

As we're now about a year away from this bond's maturation, I wanted to ask what we can expect in terms of capital gains when it does mature. In etrade, it shows a cost basis of $4,879 and a current value of $19,111. I'm really not familiar with individual bonds, so this might be an extremely dumb question, but will it simply be $20k - $4,879 = approx. $15k in long term gains? Does the fact that it was a gift affect anything? On a separate note (and I've been meaning to contact etrade about this, but haven't yet done so), the current holdings on etrade show it having a loss of over $950k, as they seem to be off by a factor of 1,000 (or something like that), give or take. Shouldn't the loss by $20k - $19,111? Or perhaps it should show a gai...
by Valuethinker
Thu Mar 21, 2024 1:38 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Dangers of excessive optimism?
Replies: 86
Views: 6676

Re: Dangers of excessive optimism?

Pessimism sounds so sexy, but I bet a comprehensive search of forum posts would have found that you said stocks would only make something like 4% real going forward from 2010. Certainly if you didn't say it lots of smart people on this forum like Bernstein did. Yet what happened over the last 15 years? VTI made an annualized 13.86% nominal. Even those terrible funds that performance chasing Bogleheads think are so awful now that nobody should ever buy them again such as VXUS and VWO made 6.68% nominal and 1.86% nominal. Any sort of reasonable blend of those funds trounced the predictions being made for their future performance in 2009, 2010, 2011 etc. The optimists won again. Wouldn't surprise me if something similar happened over the next...
by Valuethinker
Thu Mar 21, 2024 10:30 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Basket of Stocks
Replies: 34
Views: 3047

Re: Basket of Stocks

anoop wrote: Thu Mar 21, 2024 2:05 am Some financial guru said only way to beat inflation is QQQ. S&P500 won't cut it either (assuming we're talking inflation as experienced, not as measured).

I have no idea how to keep up with inflation as I recently had a rude awakening that TIPS don't provide anywhere near the returns that match my rise in expenses.
"some financial guru" = some huckster

That is so risibly wrong analysis that I almost laughed out loud.
by Valuethinker
Thu Mar 21, 2024 10:28 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Basket of Stocks
Replies: 34
Views: 3047

Re: Basket of Stocks

If deflation occurs, businesses will have to start laying off workers, reducing pay, or reducing payments to shareholders or executives (and this option is unlikely). Deflation creates a domino effect where falling prices leads to lower revenue leads to layoffs leads to economic crisis. Basically, it would be hard for most companies to succeed in a deflationary environment. That's one possible consequence. Wikipedia claims deflation is generally a net positive for the economy. I know my expenses surely could use some deflation right now ! Particularly home/auto insurance rates. If you have debt at high fixed rates, though, deflation will suck for sure. Wikipedia entry obviously written by someone who has never heard of/ does not agree with...
by Valuethinker
Thu Mar 21, 2024 10:25 am
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: [US --> UK Expat] Portfolio seeking advice
Replies: 9
Views: 1916

Re: [US --> UK Expat] Portfolio seeking advice

This is a great thread -- many thanks to NewExpat23 for well-articulated questions, and to tubaleiter & Valuethinker for helpful answers. My own situation is uncannily similar. It would be very helpful to hear what you wound up doing, especially for UK investments where you were weighing various brokerages vs. putting some with a US-UK focused AUM fee manager. How have your plans turned out, and what have you learned? I would treat the US and UK arms of any broker or fund manager, such as Vanguard, as entirely distinct entities. The UK arms will not be willing to deal w US citizen customers. You might have more joy with private bank as an international wealth management client (but that is an expensive service). In essence, UK brokers ...
by Valuethinker
Thu Mar 21, 2024 9:09 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Career ending, getting fired. Can we FIRE ?
Replies: 161
Views: 26609

Re: Career ending, getting fired. Can we FIRE ?

And yes, I know Firecalc assumes a balanced portfolio, not 90/10. I can certainly change my asset allocation as needed. But Firecalc does not account for any income taxes on the traditional IRA, or capital gains, or any social security benefits. Study Firecalc a little more closely. There are tabs on the top of the page where many of the things that you mentioned Firecalc not having the ability to account for, are actually accountable for. The tabs on top include: -Other income/spending (this is where you can account for Social Security) -Not retired? -Spending models -Your portfolio -Portfolio changes -Investigate This. I was looking at this just yesterday. You can tailor your asset allocation to 90/10 or whatever else you want. And also ...
by Valuethinker
Thu Mar 21, 2024 6:00 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Used Tesla shoppers: Quality?
Replies: 48
Views: 3786

Re: Used Tesla shoppers: Quality?

Throttle House on YouTube recently posted a video showing what I would describe as awful quality for a 50k, 5 year old Tesla. Can you post the link to this video? I have looked on their channel and can't locate it. This is the video he's referencing: 2024 Tesla Model 3 vs The Cheapest Model 3 You Can Buy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fzvgc0N-gZQ It's a fun video and I like the hosts, but I am sure they picked a more junky Tesla on purpose to up the entertainment value. There have been a lot of car shows (Top Gear) that have tried to rubbish EVs, and have done things like driven them round the parking lot 100 times to drain down the battery so that they can then show them running out of charge. If one is a petrol-head, then an EV like Tes...
by Valuethinker
Thu Mar 21, 2024 5:48 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Used Tesla shoppers: Quality?
Replies: 48
Views: 3786

Re: Used Tesla shoppers: Quality?

I know dozens of people with Teslas (does everyone in CA who can afford it own a tesla as a 3rd car by now?) Definitely not:) Juat 2 cars here. The CEO's antics alone would rule out a Tesla :) Some of them have been total disasters, and 90% seem totally fine with almost zero issues. Yup. I know a lawyer who bought a Tesla with many issues. Can't remember which model. She had to sue Tesla to get the problems fixed. 10% of vehicles with issues seems like a pretty high rate. It may have been that drivers of an EV received automatic access to the High Occupancy Vehicle lanes? In California traffic that would be a major reason to drive an EV? I don't think is any longer the case? Teslas are great cars, there is no doubt. The quality is very muc...
by Valuethinker
Thu Mar 21, 2024 5:28 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: The best game-changing financial advice you ever received (or "discovered")
Replies: 219
Views: 25574

Re: The best game-changing financial advice you ever received (or "discovered")

gunny2 wrote: Thu Mar 14, 2024 9:28 pm
- PLAN your family and realize that kids cost a lot! It's great to want a family, but temper that with financial realities
I am not sure planning a family really means a lot.

At least, in these days when many of us don't marry until our 30s.

Sometimes kids happen. Sometimes they don't. Even adoption is a cr*pshoot (people seem to think it's something easily done: in my spouse's grandparents' time, babies were literally handed over on the top deck of London buses. Or arrived off a boat & train from Germany with a note written by some German Jewish parent "please take my child until I can come for them" (the Kindertransporter).
by Valuethinker
Thu Mar 21, 2024 5:21 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Dangers of excessive optimism?
Replies: 86
Views: 6676

Re: Dangers of excessive optimism?

It’s easy to believe that markets only go up when, well, they’re only going up! My question is: Does the risk of a pullback/reversion to the mean increase the more exuberance there is in the market? I’m not trying to market time … I’m just DCA’ing with every paycheck and not changing anything with my current AA … but I’m curious about how, technically, periods of excessive optimism correlated with market corrections. Can optimism go unchecked for a really long time? This market seems unstoppable but even saying that out loud makes me wonder about the impact of optimism/exuberance on the market. Is it a healthy market if it only goes up? And yes, I know it doesn’t matter in the long run, and I plan to stay invested for many, many years. Thi...
by Valuethinker
Thu Mar 21, 2024 3:49 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: London 3 days in June - Need recommendations
Replies: 23
Views: 1851

Re: London 3 days in June - Need recommendations

Thesaints wrote: Wed Mar 20, 2024 11:39 pm
Valuethinker wrote: Wed Mar 20, 2024 4:12 am Sky Garden might be in "the Walkie Talkie" and I don't remember the name of the building - by the Monument to the Fire of London.
That's the one! Reservations required for access. Free of charge, if I remember right.
Yes. Reservations and a security bag check at the ground floor. It is nice.

The curved walls on the building were so reflective they melted paint on cars parked. I think they fixed that.
by Valuethinker
Wed Mar 20, 2024 8:52 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: London 3 days in June - Need recommendations
Replies: 23
Views: 1851

Re: London 3 days in June - Need recommendations

Don't miss the Tower. Also make sure you see the British Museum, but have a plan before you walk in; it's big. If you need a place to unwind for a bit, Covent Garden is a good place to watch the world go by. The West End plays are wonderful, but getting tickets to what interests you might be difficult with such a short visit. The last time we were there, we bought tickets to the Tower from here, and walked past a long line at the ticket booth right up to the entrance. It was great. London Transport has a great app to help getting around. Unless it is a really big name star or has great reviews, you can usually find West End show tickets at the top seat prices quite late in the day (so I am thinking £150/seat or above). It's the cheap seats...