FYI, we are in the Utah 529 plan for our son for these exact reasons.joebruin77 wrote:6 years ago, when my first daughter was born, I chose the UTAH plan (UESP.org) and have been very pleased. Their expenses are rock bottom and they offer an all Vanguard portolio. Since California does not offer any tax deduction for contributions to 529 plans, there is no advantage to go with California over any other state.
Search found 31 matches
- Wed Oct 12, 2011 2:57 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: California 529 Plan Changes : Now managed by TIAA-CREF
- Replies: 8
- Views: 2070
- Wed Sep 21, 2011 6:06 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Recommend a Fee-only Advisor in San Francisco/Bay Area?
- Replies: 2
- Views: 897
Re: Recommend a Fee-only Advisor in San Francisco/Bay Area?
About 3 years ago I engaged a FA (long before I found this forum), mainly to help me develop an overall plan but also to assess my own plan for debt-reduction. I used Burgess Financial in SF: http://www.burgessfinancial.com/Market345 wrote:I'm looking to find a new financial advisor in the SF / bay area. Any recommendations of one that you've worked with directly?
I've found various lists online, but I'm looking for personal recommendations.
Thank you!
I was happy with the service and the plan he helped me with. I had one in-person meeting with him, as well as email conversations before & after.
Jim
- Fri Aug 19, 2011 12:10 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: New job, bad 401k with waiting period, help needed
- Replies: 11
- Views: 2379
Yep, that's what I'm attempting to do. In the next month or two, we should have: His Rollover IRA (Old 401k) Her 403b (just starting, but will max out over the course of the year) His & Her Roths (just starting) Then once the Roths are maxed, the taxable account will get started, basically as a place to put what would have been my 401k contributions. So, I sat down with a pencil and paper and played with some various fund placements. Part of what was giving me difficulty is initially the Rollover IRA is the bulk (100%) of the portfolio but the other accounts will be getting the new money. Here's what I came up with. Current portfolio: His Old 401k ($130k) - this is the only account currently in the portfolio 35% PIMCO Total Return D (P...
- Thu Aug 18, 2011 3:21 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: New job, bad 401k with waiting period, help needed
- Replies: 11
- Views: 2379
Yep, that's correct.Easy Rhino wrote:Am I correct that your effective management fees end up being over 2% in your 401k?
For #1, that's defintely what I'll do. Just enough to the get the match. AS to #2, there's supposed to be a general 401k company meeting in the next week or two. I can at least bring up the issue then.If so:
1) Only contribute 5%
2) Lobby your employer to improve the 401k management. If they're small, maybe they'll even volunteer you for the committee.
Thanks for the suggestions.If you find yourself wanting to save more tax advantaged money than the 16.5 + 5 + 5 combo, then consider a few things:
1) 529
2) Ibonds
3) Muni bonds
4) Purchasing additional CalSTRS service credit ('air time')
Jim
- Thu Aug 18, 2011 3:18 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: New job, bad 401k with waiting period, help needed
- Replies: 11
- Views: 2379
Re: Portfolio comments
* Your most important decision is your stock/bond allocation. 65% stocks/35% bonds appears reasonable if you feel your jobs are secure. Interesting - how would one change that if there was some job uncertainly? Increase your bond allocation. Mr. Bogle suggests as a rough rule that the percentage of bonds should equal our age. Ahh, right. Last year when I developed my AA I felt comfortable with 110-age in stocks, and with with recent events (national and personal), I'm still OK with it. Paul is one of the most knowledgeable and helpful contributors on this forum. His Roadmap for Investing Success will benefit nearly every investor. Thanks - I think I read it last year, but a good reminder to go back for a refresh. And since right now the Ro...
- Thu Aug 18, 2011 1:49 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: New job, bad 401k with waiting period, help needed
- Replies: 11
- Views: 2379
Re: Portfolio comments
Hi Jim: You are on the right track. Your reading paid-off and it shows. Thanks Taylor. I still struggle understanding some things, but I certainly feel more knowledgeable that before I joined. * You have not mentioned a mortgage which is often a better guaranteed investment being paid down than a risky taxable investment. We currently rent a house, and have no immediate desire to change the situation - good landlords, good location (schools, etc). I'd rather put our savings effort into retirement than trying to buy a house in the SF Bay Area :) * Your most important decision is your stock/bond allocation. 65% stocks/35% bonds appears reasonable if you feel your jobs are secure. Interesting - how would one change that if there was some job ...
- Thu Aug 18, 2011 11:47 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: New job, bad 401k with waiting period, help needed
- Replies: 11
- Views: 2379
When you said you had a bad 401k, you weren't kidding! What's different is the company has disclosed the additional fees that are usually hidden. Those fees are typical. The real problem is there are no low cost funds available, which tells me you are working for a non-profit company not subject to ERISA rules. Is that correct? Hi pkcrafter, no, not a non-profit. A Silicon Valley networking start up. As I understand it, it's a "safe harbor" plan due to the number of highly compensated employees. I don't know if that means they aren't subject to ERISA rules or not - those aspects are all new to me, so apologies if I'm a bit "fuzzy" in explaining. BTW, this 401k is through Nationwide. I would suggest you only invest up to...
- Thu Aug 18, 2011 8:53 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: New job, bad 401k with waiting period, help needed
- Replies: 11
- Views: 2379
- Wed Aug 17, 2011 2:24 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: New job, bad 401k with waiting period, help needed
- Replies: 11
- Views: 2379
New job, bad 401k with waiting period, help needed
Hi all, A couple of months ago I was subjected to a non-voluntary job change. Fortunately I was re-employed within a couple of weeks; unfortunately the new job seems to have a pretty bad 401k. In addition to poor choices & high fees (see below) it's also a "safe harbor" plan and requires a 1 year waiting period before participating. I've gotten very good info from you folks - both from my original thread ( http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=60580 ) and just from lurking/reading here and the recommended books - so I'm asking for your help again. Essentially everything mentioned from my previous thread is on-track - we'd be starting my wife's 403b in Sept (she's on a 10-month pay schedule from the school district) a...
- Fri Mar 11, 2011 5:46 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Job change and previous 401K
- Replies: 17
- Views: 2329
Re: Job change and previous 401K
Just a personal data point/anecdote: I've had about 6 employers (half of which were failed telecom equip start-ups in the early 2000s ), and all have accepted rollovers from the previous employer. Dunno if that qualifies as "common", but it sure has been convenient for me.dbr wrote:Such a rollover is allowed by law, but it is not required. So the question is how common is it that employer plans will accept rollovers from previous employers. I have had the impression that it isn't common, but I could be mistaken.
Cheers,
Jim
- Tue Nov 23, 2010 5:07 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Livesoft: Worst day?
- Replies: 64
- Views: 24285
- Fri Nov 05, 2010 2:18 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: "Roadmap for Investing Success"
- Replies: 8
- Views: 3444
This new Boglehead says "thanks" to Paul as well. It's been one of the many things I've read in the last month as I've been educating myself.Chuck T wrote:A special thanks to Paul for making this online book available. I have read it. It is excellent and should be must reading for all new investors.
So, thanks!
Jim
- Fri Oct 29, 2010 12:39 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: New Boglehead in need of advice & priority assessment
- Replies: 21
- Views: 3366
Hi folks, I thought I should post a follow-up, to provide a quick update as to where I'm at in the process (I'll also edit the original post where appropriate). - I've read the 2 books I ordered, plus Boglehead's Guide to Retirement and The Only Guide to a Winning Investment Strategy You’ll Ever Need . I need to pick up The Four Pillars of Investing from the library tomorrow. Apparently I'm going "all in" with my reading assignment. :D I've also been lurking/reading here almost daily. - Based on the above reading, as well as Rick Ferri's The Assest Allocation Question, I'm comfortable with my initial AA. Rick's paper was helpful for me - as an engineer, I'm more comfortable working with equations. :D - My task this weekend is to w...
- Fri Oct 29, 2010 12:19 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: More HDTV questions
- Replies: 31
- Views: 3748
A few folks have brought up cables, and I thought I should mention I get all my cables from Monoprice:
http://www.monoprice.com/home/index.asp
http://www.monoprice.com/home/index.asp
- Thu Oct 28, 2010 7:23 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: More HDTV questions
- Replies: 31
- Views: 3748
- Thu Oct 28, 2010 7:07 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: More HDTV questions
- Replies: 31
- Views: 3748
Re: More HDTV questions
Well, I'm a bit of a geek, so I hope it's OK if I reply :) I am in the market for a 47" HDTV. I just want a few questions answered from regular people and not salespeople or nerds on websites who would prefer to spend an extra $1,000 for a specification that the human eye can't see anyway. 1. What's the major difference in the picture between LED, LCD, and plasma? Each have their strong points and weak points, but in general LCD TVs (of which LED ones are a sub-set) tend to be brighter, but have less of a viewing angle. Plasmas may not be as bright (so may not look good in a well-lit room), but have a wider viewing angle. They can also be better for fast-motion, like sports. Again, big hand-waving generalizations - in many respects the...
- Wed Oct 13, 2010 12:05 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Creating and understanding my portfolio
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1452
I'll second what vesalius said - both books are very informative, but also fairly easy & enjoyable to read. I just finished reading both, and am working through getting my asset allocation set.
Also, if you have the time, try to read a few other "asset allocation" threads here. At least for me, seeing responses to other peoples questions helps me get a better feel for the ideas talked about.
Also, if you have the time, try to read a few other "asset allocation" threads here. At least for me, seeing responses to other peoples questions helps me get a better feel for the ideas talked about.
- Mon Oct 11, 2010 2:31 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Help re-structure current portfolio
- Replies: 36
- Views: 6281
Re: Help re-structure current portfolio
The Utah plan is all, or mostly, Vanguard funds as well. It was also one of the more highly-rated plans from the Morningstar articles I read when I researched this earlier this year - they did a "best and worst" article every year up to 2009.qilin wrote:I will take a look. Vanguard has a plan sponsored by Nevada.
Their plan info was clear and easy to find on their web site, setting up an account and transferring an existing account to them was easy as is managing to account via their web site.
It works for me; be sure to do your own research, YMMV, etc.
- Fri Oct 01, 2010 6:35 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Save for kid's college or not?
- Replies: 71
- Views: 8744
Heh, I covered 3 of those 4 categories all by myself, at various times during college.alec wrote:I can think of examples of fellow students who had jobs and did well, as well as others that had jobs and did poorly. Likewise, I can think of examples of fellow students that didn't have jobs and did well, as well as others that didn't have jobs and did poorly.
Finished up in the "had job, did well" category, so I feel like it all came good in the end.
Excellent point. And a good reminder, as our son is getting to the age where we can start, in a small way, teaching this.Good parents can also teach their children budgeting skills, etc. before the kids gets to or leaves college.
- Fri Oct 01, 2010 2:47 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Save for kid's college or not?
- Replies: 71
- Views: 8744
My thinking is similar to nisiprius' - although maybe not using such strong words as "evil" and "saddled".
Mainly due to my own experience - I had to attend college at less than full-time because I *had* to work (and had loans). I received zero support from my parents. I was the first person in my family to go to, and graduate, college and for various reasons I was pretty much had to do so on my own.
Our son will definitely get a job when he turns 15/16, and hopefully have summer jobs during his college years, but I hope to do better than my parents did for me and have him not *have* to work to get through college.
Mainly due to my own experience - I had to attend college at less than full-time because I *had* to work (and had loans). I received zero support from my parents. I was the first person in my family to go to, and graduate, college and for various reasons I was pretty much had to do so on my own.
Our son will definitely get a job when he turns 15/16, and hopefully have summer jobs during his college years, but I hope to do better than my parents did for me and have him not *have* to work to get through college.
- Thu Sep 30, 2010 4:28 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: The 3-Fund Portfolio
- Replies: 34
- Views: 5969
Re: The 3-Fund Portfolio
I'll second the "Thanks", and as a new Boglehead I'm in the process of listening (and reading). I'm getting there.Sunny Sarkar wrote:Thanks Taylor. We listened.Taylor Larimore wrote:I have long advocated this "New Construction" portfolio for most investors.
- Wed Sep 29, 2010 1:31 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Collective thoughts [investing mini-reference]
- Replies: 73
- Views: 335446
- Sat Sep 25, 2010 12:51 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: New Boglehead in need of advice & priority assessment
- Replies: 21
- Views: 3366
- Sat Sep 25, 2010 12:13 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: New Boglehead in need of advice & priority assessment
- Replies: 21
- Views: 3366
I just wanted to sort of wrap up this initial conversation. Again, I really appreciate the feedback, it's really helped me understand things better. I've got a much better idea of what to do going forward. Swapping out "contribute to Roth" for "pay off auto loan" was great feedback. Once I've read the books (and continued reading the Wiki & various threads here - I'm learning stuff just by reading other threads), get our AA nailed down and adjust my 401(k) to reflect that. Probably won't be able to fund the 403(b) and Roths until after the short-term stuff is addressed (April); if there's suggestions to do otherwise, I'm all ears. When they are funded, it'll be to the max. Main thing is I feel more confident going fo...
- Thu Sep 23, 2010 9:18 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: New Boglehead in need of advice & priority assessment
- Replies: 21
- Views: 3366
Much thanks to Chuck T, Ed 2 and ruralavalon for your recent replies, I really appreciate it. I hadn't really considered dealing with the auto loan, but what you say makes absolute sense. Consider it added to the short-term list. At the top. :) The normal priority for retirement investing is -- 1. 401k and 403b sufficient to get the entire match; 2. Roth IRAs to the maximum permitted; 3. 401k and 403b to the limit; 4. taxable investing. Yep, I'm currently maxed on my 401(k), but the 403b was new and that's what had me a bit confused, as I had been looking to do the Roths. So I felt kind of stuck in "no man's land" between 2 and 3. Do contribute to the 403b before opening the Roths, see the priority suggestion above. Thanks for the...
- Thu Sep 23, 2010 6:13 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: New Boglehead in need of advice & priority assessment
- Replies: 21
- Views: 3366
You appear to be a little upset because some of the other newbies questioned your furniture purchase. Yes, and I'm sorry about that. Clearly a case of "getting off on the wrong foot." Getting out of credit card debt is one of the most difficult thing for a young couple to accomplish. You have done so, keep it that way. You have ordered IMO 2 of the finest books you could have chosen as a young investor. Thanks Chuck T, these two statements made me laugh, in a good way. We've been married 17 years, and known each other for 22. It doesn't feel like we've been a "young couple" for quite a while. :) Especially with a 10-year-old son. (I realize "young" is a relative term, but still, you gave me a chuckle.) If it w...
- Thu Sep 23, 2010 6:00 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: New Boglehead in need of advice & priority assessment
- Replies: 21
- Views: 3366
Re: New Boglehead in need of advice & priority assessmen
Re: Schwab v Vanguard 500 - I suspect the vets will tell you there isn't much of a difference there, but I'll defer - M* link in case it helps: I guess I was looking at/comparing the ER of the two, that was the main thing that generated the question. Re: Vanguard Funds in His Account: if you're sold on Vanguard (which I am), I'd take a look at the Small Cap and Mid Cap index options you have. You'll find a lot of discussions on both around here and some useful info in the Wiki, as well as some people who have a particular love for the notoriously 'unloved' Mid Caps. Of course, this is all a question of your overall portfolio - just saying that might be one to look more closely at as you sort out your AA if you're interested in a slicey/dic...
- Thu Sep 23, 2010 5:39 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: New Boglehead in need of advice & priority assessment
- Replies: 21
- Views: 3366
Thanks chaz. I have read the wiki, and do have some general ideas from reading it. But, I thought the forum was a place to get some specific input and advice?chaz wrote:JimB66, get some ideas from the wiki on this forum.
It seems that even after reading the forum for a few weeks before joining hasn't educated me as to it's use or etiquette.
- Thu Sep 23, 2010 5:16 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: New Boglehead in need of advice & priority assessment
- Replies: 21
- Views: 3366
@therub: That's why the furniture purchase is coming out of savings/cash, I *have* learned my lesson (although, to be fair, much of that cc balance was due to nearly 2 years unemployed back in 2001 time-frame). As far as the Craigs List comments, appreciate them, but we're capable of buying new furniture *especially* a bed (no offense). The whole point of buying new is to NOT have something that's worn out, unsupportive and uncomfortable. We've been looking at RoyalPedic and Tempurpedic, and the wife has settled on Tempupedic. And I'm OK with the choice - and we have several friends who have Tempurpredics. @noobvetsor: Sorry, but we are WAAAAYYY beyond "$50 futons" - we're not in college anymore. I'm sorry if I offended those that...
- Thu Sep 23, 2010 4:06 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: New Boglehead in need of advice & priority assessment
- Replies: 21
- Views: 3366
- Thu Sep 23, 2010 3:39 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: New Boglehead in need of advice & priority assessment
- Replies: 21
- Views: 3366
New Boglehead in need of advice & priority assessment
Hi all, I'm new to the Bogleheads and have been doing a lot of reading here in the last few weeks. I've also got the Boglehead's Guide to Investing and Rick Ferri's Asset Allocation books on order. However, I think I have enough info to get my current investments setup based on the Boglehead philosophy, plus I've achieved a bit of a financial milestone and have additional funds to invest - I've completed a several-years journey of paying off what was $50K in credit card debt. Yay! In addition to the investing info, I have some short-term financial needs to take care of between now and April 2011, and wonder if there's any "prioritization" that might make sense. The short-term items: - Save ~$10K for taxes in April (result of past ...