Search found 39 matches

by bynomial
Fri Feb 07, 2025 10:26 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Thoughts About Blue Cross Blue Shield Settlement - Class Action Antitrust Lawsuit
Replies: 108
Views: 35299

Re: Thoughts About Blue Cross Blue Shield Settlement - Class Action Antitrust Lawsuit

tj wrote: Fri Feb 07, 2025 9:37 am How did you get an ID and a pin?
It came via email. At first I thought it was a phishing email, with embedded links and all.
by bynomial
Fri Feb 07, 2025 7:52 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Thoughts About Blue Cross Blue Shield Settlement - Class Action Antitrust Lawsuit
Replies: 108
Views: 35299

Re: Thoughts About Blue Cross Blue Shield Settlement - Class Action Antitrust Lawsuit

snic wrote: Sun Feb 02, 2025 11:30 am You can enter your claim number (search your old emails for "blue cross settlement", assuming you submitted the claim online) here to find the status: https://secure.bcbssettlement.com/claimstatus

My claims say "in review".

mine showed "in review' also. But then I went to https://secure.bcbssettlement.com/determination , plugged in my ID & PIN and got the amount and the debit card checkbox. Mine is about ~$250 based on the numbers shown
by bynomial
Thu Feb 06, 2025 8:56 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help consolidating assets
Replies: 3
Views: 331

Re: Help consolidating assets

why not just transfer assets 'in-kind' ?
by bynomial
Tue Feb 04, 2025 7:26 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Social Security Online Benefits Calculator Questions
Replies: 5
Views: 502

Re: Social Security Online Benefits Calculator Questions

you can use ssa.gov calculator (after signing into your account) and use $0 for future earnings. Results are current dollars, you'd have to assume a discount rate for future dollars.

I will point out that it is the highest 35 indexed wages. Some of my biggest contributors were the 1990's because of indexing, even though I had a high salary towards the end.
by bynomial
Thu Jan 30, 2025 10:52 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Death of Florida resident; will drawn in another state
Replies: 6
Views: 1418

Re: Death of Florida resident; will drawn in another state

Sorry for your loss.

This should remind everyone to destroy old wills after completing a new one. My mom had two at the time she passed and caused some confusion in settling the estate...
by bynomial
Thu Jan 30, 2025 8:02 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Charting performance of portfolio
Replies: 6
Views: 1199

Re: Charting performance of portfolio

I can chart over 22 years, by year.

I can get monthly data over 22 years in a table, that can be exported in csv format

HTH
by bynomial
Wed Jan 29, 2025 3:36 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Long time reader, first time poster...Question on retirement
Replies: 45
Views: 6329

Re: Long time reader, first time poster...Question on retirement

DaEagles wrote: Wed Jan 29, 2025 1:46 pm SS looks to be for me (not sure on wife but would think more then this as she makes 5 times what I do) -

62 - $1450
67 - $2000
70 - $2500
Make sure they haven't extrapolated your current earnings into the future (that is the default when you first login).
by bynomial
Wed Jan 29, 2025 1:20 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Long time reader, first time poster...Question on retirement
Replies: 45
Views: 6329

Re: Long time reader, first time poster...Question on retirement

DaEagles wrote: Wed Jan 29, 2025 12:57 pm I am not sure how much we qualify for (no idea how to find out, used to get the estimate in the mail back in the day around birthday and don't get those anymore).
get an account on https://ssa.gov

your estimate can be found online as well as earnings records. To estimate future benefits, put in $0 earnings for each year after you end having earned income. Benefits are based on the averaged highest 35 years, so a bunch of zeros impacts that.
by bynomial
Tue Jan 28, 2025 4:04 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Structured withdrawals to minimize taxes in retirement
Replies: 9
Views: 1656

Re: Structured withdrawals to minimize taxes in retirement

I think that your post might belong under Personal Investments and I'm sure people will request more information (there is a template on that forum).

Holding a majority of taxable in one stock is risky, but diversifying will trigger cap gains, so must be done with a lot of planning.
by bynomial
Thu Jan 23, 2025 9:45 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Relationship between geometric/compound and simple average returns
Replies: 28
Views: 2578

Re: Relationship between geometric/compound and simple average returns

I thought approximations were:

1. gm = sqrt(mean^2-sd^2) or
2. gm = mean-sd^2/2

gives about 7.6-7.7%
by bynomial
Wed Jan 22, 2025 11:25 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Roth Conversion Strategy
Replies: 36
Views: 4857

Re: Roth Conversion Strategy

Seann wrote: Wed Jan 22, 2025 11:12 am this tool enforces the restriction that you cannot start RMDs after 73
RMDs are moving to 75 depending on age, just another complication...
by bynomial
Wed Jan 22, 2025 6:39 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Total Portfolio Allocation and Withdrawal (TPAW)
Replies: 1400
Views: 368881

Re: Total Portfolio Allocation and Withdrawal (TPAW)

idc wrote: Tue Jan 21, 2025 3:21 pm after watching Ben's podcast on Ben Felix's youtube channel.
can you share a link?
by bynomial
Tue Jan 21, 2025 12:50 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: success rate of a portfolio based on [Monte Carlo] simulation
Replies: 20
Views: 2322

Re: success rate of a portfolio based on [Monte Carlo] simulation

agree with vrr106, 500-1000 should be enough.

10,000 runs is probably giving a false sense of precision in the answer when there is probably limited precision in the input distributions
by bynomial
Tue Jan 21, 2025 10:32 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Best practices - transferring money from individual spouse savings to other spouse checking
Replies: 6
Views: 557

Re: Best practices - transferring money from individual spouse savings to other spouse checking

We did it in 2 ACH transfers. In retrospect, it would have been easier to do it via wire transfer at once.

Side note: After paying off the mortgage, the bank started charging fees for everything with the checking account, because we no longer qualified as 'elite' customers. So, we left the bank after being > 20 year customer
by bynomial
Tue Jan 21, 2025 6:32 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Total Portfolio Allocation and Withdrawal (TPAW)
Replies: 1400
Views: 368881

Re: Total Portfolio Allocation and Withdrawal (TPAW)

Raspberry-503 wrote: Tue Jan 21, 2025 12:25 am I don't mind the assumption TPAW makes that we are invested in VTI/BND
Actually, it's VT / BND not VTI
by bynomial
Mon Jan 20, 2025 8:28 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Favorite financial tools?
Replies: 24
Views: 2828

Re: Favorite financial tools?

https://tpawplanner.com/
Google sheets
python
by bynomial
Fri Jan 17, 2025 1:35 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Total Portfolio Allocation and Withdrawal (TPAW)
Replies: 1400
Views: 368881

Re: Total Portfolio Allocation and Withdrawal (TPAW)

I have a few scenarios saved as well, but my baseline is very basic with just SS and legacy goal and a small preference for early spending. Even though we don't have a strong legacy motivation (no kids), I view it as a margin of safety along with home equity. I also have a 'hands-off' case where it mirrored my baseline case back in July and doesn't get updated (by me), it just applies the withrawals and VT/BND updates. I think of it as kind of a forward test like the VPW forward test thread.

I came to TPAW after looking into Big ERN, VPW, 4%, Boldin, and Fidelity tools. I have always used amortization to project cash flows in retirement accounts, so the TPAW approach resonated with me.

I am not withdrawing as much as it says because I'm ...
by bynomial
Thu Jan 16, 2025 1:41 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: [Rational Reminder] Podcast: The Life Cycle Model vs Safe Withdrawal Rates
Replies: 9
Views: 1775

Re: Total Portfolio Allocation and Withdrawal (TPAW)

I enjoyed the discussion as well, always learning (or relearning) something new. I liked the discussion of how SWR methods defers risk until the end of the plan.

well done!
by bynomial
Thu Jan 16, 2025 6:23 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Please help me get to the finish line: Retire in 2028?
Replies: 26
Views: 3951

Re: Please help me get to the finish line: Retire in 2028?

dogagility wrote: Thu Jan 16, 2025 4:42 am You can use this tool to see how your financial situation might play out under different scenarios: tpawplanner.com
^
I recommend this as well
by bynomial
Wed Jan 15, 2025 9:05 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Feedback on my current 401K allocation, HSA, and re-balancing my taxable account
Replies: 23
Views: 1333

Re: Feedback on my current 401K allocation, HSA, and re-balancing my taxable account

with regard to your HSA: if you can, pay any medical expenses out of pocket instead of using HSA funds (but save the receipts). Let the funds grow and compound. In the future, you can reimburse yourself - there is no time limit. I wish I had done that instead of thinking the fund had to be used in the short term.
by bynomial
Wed Jan 15, 2025 8:54 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Please help me get to the finish line: Retire in 2028?
Replies: 26
Views: 3951

Re: Please help me get to the finish line: Retire in 2028?

brian2013 wrote: Wed Jan 15, 2025 8:39 am thank you for the reply. Any suggestions on what action to take to avoid unintentional wash sales? Should I sell VTSAX in taxable and what would I replace it with?
I wouldn't sell until there was a need. I don't use mutual funds, so maybe it's less of a concern there. I guess you could sell at the beginning of the year to fund that year's expenses, then any reinvestment would, I assume, be at the end of the year - so no wash sale concerns.
by bynomial
Wed Jan 15, 2025 8:22 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Please help me get to the finish line: Retire in 2028?
Replies: 26
Views: 3951

Re: Please help me get to the finish line: Retire in 2028?

you didn't mention when you and spouse are planning on taking social security. Opensocialsecurity.com is good resource.

Here are a couple of quick thoughts:
  • you are holding the same fund in taxable and tax deferred. Beware of unintentional wash sales
  • maybe you could benefit from Roth conversion ladders prior to 59-1/2?
by bynomial
Tue Jan 14, 2025 9:33 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Total Portfolio Allocation and Withdrawal (TPAW)
Replies: 1400
Views: 368881

Re: Total Portfolio Allocation and Withdrawal (TPAW)

Ben Mathew wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 11:49 pm Yes, risk tolerance is assumed to be linearly decreasing from y1 at age 20 to y2 at max age, where
y1 is the risk tolerance input
y2 is y1 minus the input in "Decrease Risk Tolerance With Age."
I somehow missed this fact. I just used the slider until I was 'comfortable' with spending. I was actually ok with a range of risks, but settled on 16 (aggressive). I was kinda bothered by the label, so I took some quizzes, thought about it - eventually just accepted it. (I did struggle a bit to refrain from dialing in my 'right' asset allocation)

'Aggressive' at age 20 seems more 'palatable'

Thanks to Ben and Jacob for this great tool.
by bynomial
Tue Jan 14, 2025 8:34 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: ACA (affordable care act) 2025 enrollment
Replies: 12
Views: 1669

Re: ACA (affordable care act) 2025 enrollment

teen persuasion wrote: Fri Nov 08, 2024 4:51 pm But when applying the state website first looks to see if we are eligible for Medicaid based on monthly income (ACA is based on annual income)
This happened to me, I thought being honest about November income ($0) was the thing to do. Then got funneled down the Medicaid rabbit hole. Lesson Learned for next year: average income for year and use for monthly regardless of what really occurs month-to-month :annoyed
by bynomial
Tue Jan 14, 2025 7:13 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Open Roth IRA or contribute to Spouse's or both
Replies: 5
Views: 1699

Re: Open Roth IRA or contribute to Spouse's or both

RyeBourbon wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 10:07 pm Although you have to add 8.5% for ACA.
Thanks, I'm not quite sure what the 8.5% means. Is it income + conversion = 94,300 + standard deduction - 8.5% ?
by bynomial
Mon Jan 13, 2025 12:56 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Open Roth IRA or contribute to Spouse's or both
Replies: 5
Views: 1699

Open Roth IRA or contribute to Spouse's or both

Seeking input on whether I should open a Roth IRA, contribute to DW's Roth IRA, or both, or do nothing - thanks in advance (this would be for tax year 2024)

Background
age: him 63 her 67
Retired in June 2024, contributed $18,300 in 2024 to 401k which was rolled into my traditional IRA in July. Money for contributions/opening would be coming from after tax brokerage, not conversions.
I've estimated our 2024 AGI at ~$110,000 (tax filing: MFJ, 12% bracket)
Fidelity's contributions calculator showed I'm eligible, but I wanted to double check here.

other info
I'm on ACA, not interested in conversions until I'm on Medicare. DW is already on Medicare and getting Social Security. I'm delaying social security until at least 67. We don't have ...
by bynomial
Sun Jan 12, 2025 11:17 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Share your net worth progression
Replies: 4867
Views: 1315810

Re: Share your net worth progression

some milestone highlights (liquid net worth):

Code: Select all

1984:     3,146. (age 23,single)
1992:    53,642.
1996:   100,834.
1997:   115,223. (married)
2003:   525,424.
2013: 1,103,447.
2020: 2,543,980.
2021: 3,087,398.
2024: 4,201,656. (retired)
by bynomial
Sun Jan 12, 2025 10:44 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: How often to rebalance retirement accounts?
Replies: 32
Views: 2498

Re: How often to rebalance retirement accounts?

Kbg wrote: Sun Jan 12, 2025 9:09 am I did some backtesting on annual rebalancing. It was interesting.

1 Nov, 1 Jan, 1 Apr were consistently the best months.
Interesting. April fool's day
by bynomial
Sat Jan 11, 2025 10:54 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What is the Worst Financial Decision/Mistake You Have Made?
Replies: 716
Views: 181300

Re: What is the Worst Financial Decision/Mistake You Have Made?

Buying a Macintosh IIci computer in the early 90's for about $8k (!) instead of apple stock :oops:
by bynomial
Fri Jan 10, 2025 10:13 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Need guidance, can’t find advice for what to do.
Replies: 9
Views: 1492

Re: Need guidance, can’t find advice for what to do.

I think you should also look into impacts to your government benefits. There may be income/asset thresholds to consider.
by bynomial
Fri Jan 10, 2025 9:40 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How to account for "high" standard deviation & small Sharpe ratio
Replies: 2
Views: 210

Re: How to account for "high" standard deviation & small Sharpe ratio

you can use a tool like https://tpawplanner.com/

if you don't like their default return assumptions, you can input your own. you could also use portfolio visualizer, be sure to check the 'statistical returns' option.

I don't know the details of their Monte Carlo, but I'd be surprised if they weren't using normal distribution. The assumptions made on returns, inflation, etc. will likely swamp the effects of using normal distribution
by bynomial
Fri Jan 03, 2025 1:50 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Total Portfolio Allocation and Withdrawal (TPAW)
Replies: 1400
Views: 368881

Re: Total Portfolio Allocation and Withdrawal (TPAW)

Ben Mathew wrote: Fri Jan 03, 2025 12:14 pm This has been fixed. Thanks for reporting this issue.
Thanks so much for this and the tool in general. Also, I'm happy to report that for me since the changeover described here : viewtopic.php?p=8162091#p8162091 the web site is much more stable.

Knowing compute and bandwidth are not free, count me in if you decide to put a 'donate' button on the site or similar
by bynomial
Fri Jan 03, 2025 9:35 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Total Portfolio Allocation and Withdrawal (TPAW)
Replies: 1400
Views: 368881

Re: Total Portfolio Allocation and Withdrawal (TPAW)

Anyone else getting an error on the website after pressing 'generate pdf'?

I wanted to save a copy for future reference :confused
by bynomial
Thu Jan 02, 2025 12:48 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The One-Fund Portfolio as a default suggestion
Replies: 1038
Views: 305382

Re: The One-Fund Portfolio as a default suggestion

I've read the comments about mirroring, but I'm considering AOM for tIRA (for retirement expenses) and AOA for Roth ( considered for legacy). Roth is ~10% of tIRA and most likely will not be used, so I have a higher risk tolerance and longer time frame for this account.

Am I fooling myself?
by bynomial
Wed Jan 01, 2025 12:00 pm
Forum: Bogleheads Community and Local Chapters
Topic: Roll Call for the Retirement Class of 2024!
Replies: 237
Views: 102977

Re: Roll Call for the Retirement Class of 2024!

Late to the party...
Retired: 6/30/2024
Age: 62

:)
by bynomial
Sun Dec 15, 2024 2:43 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Total Portfolio Allocation and Withdrawal (TPAW)
Replies: 1400
Views: 368881

Re: Total Portfolio Allocation and Withdrawal (TPAW)

Ben Mathew wrote: Fri Dec 13, 2024 4:57 pm
Solicitorious wrote: Fri Dec 13, 2024 3:10 pm

Thanks Ben. It would be useful to have that information displayed somewhere inside the planner, for the different expected return choices.
That makes sense. We'll try to display the CAGR of the different percentiles in the planner. I've added it to the list.

Thanks for the suggestion.
Along the same lines...would people find other percentiles (e.g. 80/20) helpful? Since the ending distribution is skewed, I'd like to know what the middle 50% or 60% looks like

PS - Thanks for the tool, I will not be renewing my subscription to New retirement :P