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by Leesbro63
Sun Mar 17, 2024 9:36 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: The best game-changing financial advice you ever received (or "discovered")
Replies: 120
Views: 11108

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

PeninsulaPerson wrote: Sun Mar 17, 2024 6:35 am
White Coat Investor wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2024 1:08 pm
3) Doing your own financial planning and asset management is the best paying hobby/side gig available to most people. If the average advisor charges 1% and you've got a $3 million portfolio, that's a $30K side gig to be your own advisor. Seems worth spending a little time learning how to do it right eh?

This is brilliant.

Never seen this idea put better!
+2. Agreed this is a great point. It's a tax free side gig, too.
by Leesbro63
Sun Mar 17, 2024 8:58 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Primer on Paying Taxes With a Credit Card
Replies: 871
Views: 162106

Re: Primer on Paying Taxes With a Credit Card

spammagnet wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2024 10:48 pm
czaj wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2024 1:52 pmI have a different experience. I’ve made plenty of payments to both SSNs and the IRS “automatically” combines them each year without me doing anything.

I put automatically in quotes because it’s not clear if it’s actually automatic or if someone needs to manually combine; it’s possible it causes my return to take longer to process.
+1. Paid MFJ taxes with my SSN and DW's SSN. They were combined automatically. It's not immediate and I don't recall if they record it as of the payment date. I think so.
This is useful info. Thanks to both of you.
by Leesbro63
Sun Mar 17, 2024 8:30 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Theoretically, would VTI be an effective long term retirement investment, even when held in a taxable account ?
Replies: 30
Views: 2989

Re: Theoretically, would VTI be an effective long term retirement investment, even when held in a taxable account ?

That's interesting about BRK.B Did not know that there are no dividends. I'll look further in https://retireearlyhomepage.com/ For low income earners, I would hazard a guess that any possible dividends would still not trigger any capital gains tax. As for low income being " ...one unexpected expense from disaster." Agreed. It's a real problem. Doesn't an investment that can be liquidated at a lower capital gains rate seem to be a better investment than the ordinary income rate of money market, I Bonds or bank interest ? Thanks Berkshire Hathaway is not a substitute for VTI, and I would consider it a risky investment for a retirement account at this point considering Buffet's age. It is easy to imagine a lot of investors losing fa...
by Leesbro63
Sun Mar 17, 2024 8:28 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Theoretically, would VTI be an effective long term retirement investment, even when held in a taxable account ?
Replies: 30
Views: 2989

Re: Theoretically, would VTI be an effective long term retirement investment, even when held in a taxable account ?

Kumsajack wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2024 4:34 pm That's interesting about BRK.B Did not know that there are no dividends. I'll look further in https://retireearlyhomepage.com/

For low income earners, I would hazard a guess that any possible dividends would still not trigger any capital gains tax.

As for low income being " ...one unexpected expense from disaster." Agreed. It's a real problem.

Doesn't an investment that can be liquidated at a lower capital gains rate seem to be a better investment than the ordinary income rate of money market, I Bonds or bank interest ?

Thanks
And an extra benefit is that you may never need to liquidate the investment. Or hopefully only a little at a time.
by Leesbro63
Sat Mar 16, 2024 3:15 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Theoretically, would VTI be an effective long term retirement investment, even when held in a taxable account ?
Replies: 30
Views: 2989

Re: Theoretically, would VTI be an effective long term retirement investment, even when held in a taxable account ?

John Greaney, “Intercst” from the Retire Early Homepage, prefers BerkshireHathaway as a proxy for VTI because it pays no dividend. He can sell some as he needs it, thus controlling taxation.
by Leesbro63
Fri Mar 15, 2024 11:28 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 5M, probably enough to retire to a frugal lifestyle
Replies: 180
Views: 15187

Re: 5M, probably enough to retire to a frugal lifestyle

Cost of living is almost entirely dependent on house costs which you can estimate via similar rents - and California near the coast is $50-75k as table stakes. You can get in lower if you’re 30 years in a house and have prop 13 lot taxes. I want to underscore this very succinct and on-target comment. As a renter who has moved between a number of low-cost and high-cost areas of the country, currently in coastal California, I see this clearly. The sum of our rent and utilities, for roughly equivalent 3BR houses in neighborhoods of equivalent quality, adjusted for inflation, has varied between $1,200/month and $4,500/month. Our total spending outside of rent and utilities, adjusted for inflation and family size, has varied very little. The de...
by Leesbro63
Fri Mar 15, 2024 11:12 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 5M, probably enough to retire to a frugal lifestyle
Replies: 180
Views: 15187

Re: 5M, probably enough to retire to a frugal lifestyle

Most California homeowners could not afford to buy their own home from their earned income... The median income in Santa Barbara is under $100k... The median home price in Santa Barbara is $1.7M. People with the $100k median income could not afford to buy the median home... This strikes me as true and fascinating. Of course it's not just coastal California; it seems to be true of many cities around the world now. I wonder how this ends, and if anything like this has happened before in history. I suppose that if property wealth just passes down to subsequent generations, maybe it doesn't end? Among the coastal California natives that I've met so far, inheriting their parents' property seems to be a key part of the plan. Hasn’t it always bee...
by Leesbro63
Thu Mar 14, 2024 5:39 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 5M, probably enough to retire to a frugal lifestyle
Replies: 180
Views: 15187

Re: 5M, probably enough to retire to a frugal lifestyle

I'm older and retired and live in a much lower-cost-of-living area, and don't have as much as $5M. What I do have felt like a lot more when I retired in 2019 than it does now, even though due to various factors (especially COVID) I haven't spent much nearly as much as I'd anticipated on anything except income taxes and other related taxes. I guess it's a (reverse?) "wealth effect" phenomena related to very muted investment returns and unexpected inflation. So I can understand the $5M not seeming more than "sufficient" for someone younger. It's been a rocky investment ride since 2019, but a 50/50 portfolio (60/40 to 40/60) has done pretty well if measuring from 2019 through today, and ignoring the big dips in 2020 and 20...
by Leesbro63
Thu Mar 14, 2024 5:20 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 5M, probably enough to retire to a frugal lifestyle
Replies: 180
Views: 15187

Re: 5M, probably enough to retire to a frugal lifestyle

mikejuss wrote: Thu Mar 14, 2024 5:18 pm
KyleAAA wrote: Thu Mar 14, 2024 4:58 pm You may be underestimating just how expensive coastal California is. One will definitely need a strict budget to raise a family on $150-170k pre-tax there.
+1.
I know of a situation where someone became widowed recently in California. They were left a $400,000 IRA and an $800,000 paid-for (but needing updating/repairs) house and little else (including two junky 10+ year old cars). I said that the good news and the bad news is that "you're a California millionaire".
Which is still way better than being a California non-millionaire. But...
by Leesbro63
Thu Mar 14, 2024 5:17 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 5M, probably enough to retire to a frugal lifestyle
Replies: 180
Views: 15187

Re: 5M, probably enough to retire to a frugal lifestyle

the price increase after vs before covid is about 40%. (don't ask me where this number is coming coming from, just shop a house and get a hair cut and you will know, ask UAW worker why they insist a 40% pay raise). So today's 5M is about 3M or 2.5M in 2019. Go figure. I just ran the CPI numbers and it's 23% for the 5 1/12th years Jan 2019 thru Feb 2024. When I eat in restaurants it seems like much more. Same for auto repairs/maintenance and most other "services". And everyone's personal inflation is different, but I'm good with 23% is about the overall amount. So today's $5M is about $4M in 2019. Or 2019's $5M would require $6.25M. I think a 50/50 portfolio did keep up with that inflation through today, but it's been a scary ride...
by Leesbro63
Thu Mar 14, 2024 4:58 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 5M, probably enough to retire to a frugal lifestyle
Replies: 180
Views: 15187

Re: 5M, probably enough to retire to a frugal lifestyle

I'm older and retired and live in a much lower-cost-of-living area, and don't have as much as $5M. What I do have felt like a lot more when I retired in 2019 than it does now, even though due to various factors (especially COVID) I haven't spent much nearly as much as I'd anticipated on anything except income taxes and other related taxes. I guess it's a (reverse?) "wealth effect" phenomena related to very muted investment returns and unexpected inflation. So I can understand the $5M not seeming more than "sufficient" for someone younger. It's been a rocky investment ride since 2019, but a 50/50 portfolio (60/40 to 40/60) has done pretty well if measuring from 2019 through today, and ignoring the big dips in 2020 and 20...
by Leesbro63
Thu Mar 14, 2024 4:54 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: "Rich Man's Roth" / 7702
Replies: 37
Views: 5439

Re: "Rich Man's Roth" / 7702

WIth life insurance, you can give it away (or have your children or a trust buy it), and it will still get a basis step-up at death. With other assets, you have to choose between keeping them for the basis step-up at the cost of estate inclusion, or giving them away and giving up the basis step-up. I'm not sure that this benefit of life insurance is sufficient to overcome the transaction costs. If you give away other assets in trust rather than outright, assuming it's a grantor trust, you can swap assets, putting in high basis assets and taking out low basis assets. Excellent point, and a not insignificant one for me as I have moved a great deal of our assets into trust and given up the step up in basis at death to save on estate taxes. If...
by Leesbro63
Thu Mar 14, 2024 2:42 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Ran an analysis regarding the opportunity cost of investing in real estate. Curious what my takeaway should be?
Replies: 20
Views: 1647

Re: Ran an analysis regarding the opportunity cost of investing in real estate. Curious what my takeaway should be?

Sold my house in 2017 and added the bucks to my 55/45 portfolio. Rented a condo worth about $525k. Pittsburgh finally had a real estate jump before falling back. Condo now worth about $600k after being maybe worth $650k just before interest rates took off. Rent up less than inflation. 55/45 did better than condo or inflation. HOA and taxes keep condo appreciation limited.
by Leesbro63
Thu Mar 14, 2024 2:31 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 5M, probably enough to retire to a frugal lifestyle
Replies: 180
Views: 15187

Re: 5M, probably enough to retire to a frugal lifestyle

goodenyou wrote: Thu Mar 14, 2024 2:20 pm Gilligan's Island today would have to cast a "Billionaire and his Wife" to have the same impact it did 50 years ago.
Believe it or not, it’s 60 years ago!
by Leesbro63
Thu Mar 14, 2024 1:30 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: "Rich Man's Roth" / 7702
Replies: 37
Views: 5439

Re: "Rich Man's Roth" / 7702

... I'm not sure if there was a law change or it was just the life insurance "propaganda" machine, but at one time when the estate tax threshold was relatively low ($1 million) weren't giant life insurance policies being sold as a way to get large amounts of money outside the estate? Yes, though you could achieve the same result by giving away each year an amount equal to what you would have paid in premiums (assuming you live close to, to, or beyond life expectancy). I have to point out that I continue to be impressed that bsteiner usually tries to find the least complicated/least cost way to solve estate planning problems. Where needed, he'll tout "well crafted trusts", but often he'll advocate for a simpler solution....
by Leesbro63
Thu Mar 14, 2024 1:23 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Question about Language about Will
Replies: 10
Views: 798

Re: Question about Language about Will

Hopefully simple question. We're trying to determine if my MIL's will provides the ability for my wife and I to disclaim so that our part goes to our kids. The will reads" A. I give the rest, residue and remainder of my property of every kind and nature and wherever situated, whether real of personal, to in equal shares to my daughter Alice and my daughter Beth if they all survive me. B. If my daughter Alice, fails to survive me, then I give her equal share of my residuary estate to Alice's husband, my son-in-law, Carl, if he survives me. If both Alice and Dennis fail to survive me, then I give this equal share of my residuary estate to their surviving issue, per stirpes. C. If my daughter Beth, fails to survive me, then I give her eq...
by Leesbro63
Thu Mar 14, 2024 11:52 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Robinhood 3% IRA Match
Replies: 1459
Views: 110234

Re: Robinhood 3% IRA Match

I understand what you are saying. It's not clear to me that a current fee can't be changed in the future and it's not clear to me their cost of a transfer-out (ie., can they argue part of the cost is the bonus that they paid?). I hope I'm not coming off as someone just looking to pick a fight here. I'm really just trying to understand how they can offer an unlimited 3% match without some kind of protection from a mass exodus in the future. If you are going to be plagued by unfounded paranoia then you should probably pass on the offer. I guess that's a fair enough comment. But is it unfounded paranoia when a deal strikes you as "too good to be true" and I'm looking at any angle before transferring a third of my life savings there?...
by Leesbro63
Thu Mar 14, 2024 8:45 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Robinhood 3% IRA Match
Replies: 1459
Views: 110234

Re: Robinhood 3% IRA Match

I understand what you are saying. It's not clear to me that a current fee can't be changed in the future and it's not clear to me their cost of a transfer-out (ie., can they argue part of the cost is the bonus that they paid?). I hope I'm not coming off as someone just looking to pick a fight here. I'm really just trying to understand how they can offer an unlimited 3% match without some kind of protection from a mass exodus in the future. If you are going to be plagued by unfounded paranoia then you should probably pass on the offer. I guess that's a fair enough comment. But is it unfounded paranoia when a deal strikes you as "too good to be true" and I'm looking at any angle before transferring a third of my life savings there?...
by Leesbro63
Tue Mar 12, 2024 6:02 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards
Replies: 7041
Views: 878873

Re: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards

I've had the card for about 5 years. I always just convert my rewards points to a cash credit to the card. If I buy airline tickets through their portal, will it really be net cheaper than just buying through the airlines (Southwest or Delta) portals?
by Leesbro63
Tue Mar 12, 2024 5:23 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The Final, Definitive Thread on Brokerage Transfer Bonuses
Replies: 7737
Views: 1337674

Re: The Final, Definitive Thread on Brokerage Transfer Bonuses

tj wrote: Mon Mar 11, 2024 8:06 pm
calwatch wrote: Mon Mar 11, 2024 3:38 pm Streetheat is back, a 1.25% bonus at $100k, not including the $159 annual fee for them to do some AI mumbo jumbo on your money (which you can decline, although that doesn’t stop you from paying the fee):

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/streetbe ... age-bonus/

One year hold time on a small broker is not great though. And other brokers won’t use them as a competitive match because they are so new and untested.
Yeah, I'm passing on that.
$4000 for $500,000 (SIPC limit/my limit) for 12 months seems pretty darn good.
by Leesbro63
Thu Mar 07, 2024 5:20 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Your Original Medicare OR Advantage Experience: Nightmare or Sublime?
Replies: 156
Views: 9919

Re: Your Original Medicare Experience: Nightmare or Sublime?

I recently started a very similar thread. Perhaps yours should be merged into it. I learned a WHOLE lot about Medicare from the posters and thank everyone:

viewtopic.php?t=425637
by Leesbro63
Thu Mar 07, 2024 2:37 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Robinhood 3% IRA Match
Replies: 1459
Views: 110234

Re: Robinhood 3% IRA Match

ShaftoesSpreadsheet wrote: Thu Mar 07, 2024 2:31 pmhave had a history of platform bugs, security issues, etc.

This 3% bonus is an obvious and sad ploy to try and gain market share. Ask yourself who is going to pay for it? RobinHood's Investor, tax payers, or customers? Probably all three.
Maybe them. Maybe no one. Maybe they'll grow the Robinhood asset base to the point where they are attractive to one of the big boys for a buyout. I do agree that there is moral hazard here. Heads the Robinhood owners win, tails the SIPC (investment community) loses.
by Leesbro63
Wed Mar 06, 2024 6:28 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tax Question: Pennsylvania vs Federal
Replies: 1
Views: 263

Tax Question: Pennsylvania vs Federal

So today I got an corrected Etrade 1099-INT showing about $11,000 more U.S. Treasury bond interest than on the original 1099-INT sent about a month ago. I already filed my Pennsylvania return, but have not filed Federal yet. I should have waited on Pennsylvania. Anyway, the good news is that my Pennsylvania tax doesn't change, because it's U.S. Treasury bond interest. But because Pennsylvania uses the total interest reported on federal, then backs out the PA non-taxable amount, the numbers don't match what I'll file on my Federal return. Are there computers that match state to federal that will generate a nasty-gram? Even if so, I'll just explain what happened and that there is no tax due. On the other hand, I try to avoid nasty-grams where...
by Leesbro63
Wed Mar 06, 2024 4:26 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: AARP/UHC Medigap policies
Replies: 40
Views: 3175

Re: AARP/UHC Medigap policies

Excess Charges are not an issue to be concerned about. About 97% of physicians are participating Medicare providers, which means they accept the Medicare-approved amount as full payment. About 2% of physicians are non-participating Medicare providers, which means they can bill a 15% Excess Charge above the Medicare-approved rates. About 1% of physicians have opted out of the Medicare system entirely. For some reason, the largest specialty of this 1% that have opted out are psychiatrists. Excess Charges are rather uncommon. Aetna stated a few years ago that over 99.0% of the bills they processed did not have Excess Charges and, of the ones that did, the average charge was less than $20. Medigap Plans F and G cover Excess Charges, Plan N doe...
by Leesbro63
Wed Mar 06, 2024 4:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Lemon Law Question in Pennsylvania
Replies: 16
Views: 1067

Re: Lemon Law Question in Pennsylvania

1. I'd just charge with a cord. The camera bump on an iPhone is strange on many levels. Unfortunate design. I'm not a fan of wireless charging. I think it is hard on the battery life/health. 2. Can you flip to speaker if you are going to be on a long call? Wireless Apple Car Play is pretty new, so I assume they fix bugs all the time. Kid 1 has an iPhone 15. Not sure her Crosstrek has the wireless charging. But she does use Apple Car Play a lot. I will see if she has the same experience. I could use the in-phone speaker, maybe. I’ll try that next. Thanks for the tip. That being said, I won’t accept that as the final solution. The faulty wireless charger, by itself, would not be a Lemon Law issue for me, but even if they fix the infotainment...
by Leesbro63
Wed Mar 06, 2024 1:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Lemon Law Question in Pennsylvania
Replies: 16
Views: 1067

Re: Lemon Law Question in Pennsylvania

I would ask the dealer if you can try the Apple Car Play issue on a brand new Subaru on the lot. If it works on a new vehicle, ask for them to replace the infotainment system on yours under warranty. But it could be your specific phone. The charger issue is more Apple's fault then Subarus, imo. I'm not sure how Subaru really addresses it. Tried 3 different phones including brand new iPhone 15. Same problem. And the call drop/mute thing takes 10-15 minutes to happen. Not sure it would replicate on a brand new car unless I drove it for an hour, which isn’t gonna happen. I will push for replacement of the infotainment system before fully flexing Lemon options. All 3 of the phones mentioned above work and wirelessly charge flawlessly in my ‘23...
by Leesbro63
Wed Mar 06, 2024 1:23 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Lemon Law Question in Pennsylvania
Replies: 16
Views: 1067

Re: Lemon Law Question in Pennsylvania

bloom2708 wrote: Wed Mar 06, 2024 1:06 pm
Kid 1 has a 2 month old 2024 Subaru Crosstrek. 11.8" infotainment package on the new 2023-24 Crosstreks. No issues so far.
I think the '23 was the old set up and the new infotainment package is new for '24.
by Leesbro63
Wed Mar 06, 2024 1:19 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Lemon Law Question in Pennsylvania
Replies: 16
Views: 1067

Re: Lemon Law Question in Pennsylvania

I'm sure many are curious what the tech issues are on a 2 week old 2024 Subaru. Is it something a different car can fix or some incompatibility with your devices that changing cars won't fix? Kid 1 has a 2 month old 2024 Subaru Crosstrek. 11.8" infotainment package on the new 2023-24 Crosstreks. No issues so far. Two issues, the first is the "deal killer" and the second is less so. Calls go into a "mute" situation after about 10 minutes using AppleCarPlay. The person on the other end keeps saying "are you there, are you there". The only way to "fix" it is to hang up and call back. The dealer says "it looks like" there is a software download, but they can't get it to work on any car. An...
by Leesbro63
Wed Mar 06, 2024 1:02 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Lemon Law Question in Pennsylvania
Replies: 16
Views: 1067

Re: Lemon Law Question in Pennsylvania

neilpilot wrote: Wed Mar 06, 2024 12:55 pm Don't know about Subaru, but I'm aware of another manufacturer that will sometimes entertain a buyback if you tell them (Subaru, not the dealer) you are considering a Lemon Law claim. The customer typically gets their money back the same as if they initiated a claim, but it's quicker and easier. The manufacturer prefers a buy back since they can then fix & resell the car with a clear title.

PS - similar to what Valleyrock is saying.
Yes, I'll try to hit them with a wiffle ball bat before getting the wooden one out.
by Leesbro63
Wed Mar 06, 2024 12:43 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Lemon Law Question in Pennsylvania
Replies: 16
Views: 1067

Re: Lemon Law Question in Pennsylvania

2nd one in a google search looks legit… https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/protect-yourself/consumer-advisories/automobile-lemon-law/ I thought there'd just be a "click here" thing. But I guess you have to file suit and the Lemon Law is just a set of rules you can refer to when presenting your case. OP, please visit The Center for Auto Safety website. A family member found the center very helpful several years ago in addressing issues they had with a new Volvo they had bought. My recollection is that they basically got their money back to replace the car (they got another Volvo). (Full disclosure: I did some volunteer work there many years ago.) https://www.autosafety.org/lemon-laws/ Thanks for that info. I'm not there yet, but it's...
by Leesbro63
Wed Mar 06, 2024 12:17 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Lemon Law Question in Pennsylvania
Replies: 16
Views: 1067

Re: Lemon Law Question in Pennsylvania

MGBMartin wrote: Wed Mar 06, 2024 12:15 pm 2nd one in a google search looks legit…
https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/protect ... lemon-law/
I thought there'd just be a "click here" thing. But I guess you have to file suit and the Lemon Law is just a set of rules you can refer to when presenting your case.
by Leesbro63
Wed Mar 06, 2024 11:48 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Lemon Law Question in Pennsylvania
Replies: 16
Views: 1067

Lemon Law Question in Pennsylvania

We bought a new Subaru two weeks ago and there are tech issues that the dealer says they can't fix. We love the car and hopefully Subaru will rise to the occasion. But I'm trying to figure out how to file a Lemon Law claim in Pennsylvania. Googling this only brings up lawyer ads/sites. Surely you don't need a lawyer to file a lemon law claim in Pennsylvania. (?)
by Leesbro63
Wed Mar 06, 2024 11:43 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What are some of the things that improved YOUR quality of life?
Replies: 254
Views: 41954

Re: What are some of the things that improved YOUR quality of life?

jebmke wrote: Wed Mar 06, 2024 11:38 am
Leesbro63 wrote: Wed Mar 06, 2024 11:33 am What if you only run the dishwasher every few days? Leave that caked on food till then?
We have a very old dishwasher that is only run 1-2 times a week. I have pretty good idea of what sticks and what doesn't now. Most things come off. A few things stick on there if allowed to dry -- cat food, oddly seems to be one of them.
What about stuff that even if the dishwasher does clean, it's rotting, decaying food, putrefying and moldering in that dishwasher/germ incubator until wash day?
by Leesbro63
Wed Mar 06, 2024 11:41 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: AARP/UHC Medigap policies
Replies: 40
Views: 3175

Re: AARP/UHC Medigap policies

My wife and I have been on AARP/UHC Plan N since joining Medicare 7 years ago. The coverage has been great and the price has risen every year, but only by about $5. We pay $147 (wife) and $151 (me) a month. The main difference between Plan N and Plan G is that Plan N providers are allowed to bill you for "extra charges" which is 15% of the Medicare approved cost, not 15% of the retail cost of the procedure or visit. There are also office visit charges, $20 per office visit for Plan N, but none after the Part B deductible is reached on Plan . The Part B deductible is $240 per member in 2024. We live in a state where switching Medigap plans requires underwriting, which we have been told by consultants, neither of us would pass. If ...
by Leesbro63
Wed Mar 06, 2024 11:33 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What are some of the things that improved YOUR quality of life?
Replies: 254
Views: 41954

Re: What are some of the things that improved YOUR quality of life?

An interesting tweak for you, if you don't know this already: Rinsing the dishes first does not help, and it may make things worse. If you don't know that, you probably don't believe me. I wouldn't either. But humor me and research it. Then try it. You will be happy you did. Funny you should mention that … I knew it, and had a disagreement with my BIL and SIL about it at our house. I always want to load the dishwasher, and make that clear. I had to remind them, repeatedly, to please just put dishes in the sink, unrinsed, and that I would take care of it. I said some hand wavy thing about enzymes. I don’t know if they believed me, but I finally just said that since we are on well water, I would appreciate their leaving it to me. They remain...
by Leesbro63
Wed Mar 06, 2024 7:37 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Research on primary residence vs stock market+renting?
Replies: 51
Views: 5064

Re: Research on primary residence vs stock market+renting?

Curious if there's any academic research out there on the optimal choice between buying a typical primary residence versus investing in a broad index and renting. Especially curious if there's some sort of comparative formula one could use based on today's interest rates and overall market valuations. Yes. See Shelton, John P. “The Cost of Renting versus Owning a Home.” Land Economics 44, no. 1 (1968): 59–72. https://doi.org/10.2307/3159610. Available online with a free account from JSTOR: https://www.jstor.org/ Excerpt from the introduction: "The ambiguity and carefully hedged quality of most analyses of renting versus owning is understandable. In the first place it is difficult, if not impossible, to make an empirical study of the c...
by Leesbro63
Wed Mar 06, 2024 7:34 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Etrade 1099 issues again. [Incorrect, e.g. missing T-bill interest]
Replies: 58
Views: 5571

Tax Issue: Etrade 1099-INT Heads Up

[This thread has been merged into this on-going discussion. Moderator Pops1860]

Just a heads up for Etrade customers. I got an amended Etrade Form 1099-Consolidated. What changed is that I had a treasury bill that matured and the original 1099-INT forgot to include the that interest line 3 on the original 1099-INT subsection of 1099-Consolidated. 2023 was the year that Etrade migrated from their own platform to the Morgan Stanley platform, so we're getting two 1099-Consolidated forms. I suspect many other Bogleheads might have this, so I'm just throwing this out to double check for possible corrected Etrade tax forms.
by Leesbro63
Wed Mar 06, 2024 7:30 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Research on primary residence vs stock market+renting?
Replies: 51
Views: 5064

Re: Research on primary residence vs stock market+renting?

Curious if there's any academic research out there on the optimal choice between buying a typical primary residence versus investing in a broad index and renting. Especially curious if there's some sort of comparative formula one could use based on today's interest rates and overall market valuations. Yes. See Shelton, John P. “The Cost of Renting versus Owning a Home.” Land Economics 44, no. 1 (1968): 59–72. https://doi.org/10.2307/3159610. Available online with a free account from JSTOR: https://www.jstor.org/ Excerpt from the introduction: "The ambiguity and carefully hedged quality of most analyses of renting versus owning is understandable. In the first place it is difficult, if not impossible, to make an empirical study of the c...
by Leesbro63
Wed Mar 06, 2024 6:22 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Research on primary residence vs stock market+renting?
Replies: 51
Views: 5064

Re: Research on primary residence vs stock market+renting?

Curious if there's any academic research out there on the optimal choice between buying a typical primary residence versus investing in a broad index and renting. Especially curious if there's some sort of comparative formula one could use based on today's interest rates and overall market valuations. I'm not convinced a home is a good investment. Here is one data point. My house is in North Texas and it's value has gone up only 2.5% a year over the 30 years we've had it. I also know that you when we buy, we tend to buy more than what we need, more rooms, more yard and hence, we would pay higher operating and maintenance costs for the house; but when we rent, we only rent what we need. I believe renting would be better financially, but it'...
by Leesbro63
Tue Mar 05, 2024 9:14 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: The Franklin Life Insurance Company Policy from 1958
Replies: 5
Views: 477

Re: The Franklin Life Insurance Company Policy from 1958

barnaclebob wrote: Tue Mar 05, 2024 9:11 am
Anovice wrote: Tue Mar 05, 2024 9:02 am My brother found a $1,000 life insurance policy that my parents purchased in 1958. I am the name insured and they, who are deceased, are the beneficiaries. It was purchased from The Franklin Life Insurance Company of Springfield Illinois. They were liquidated in 1999 and after a few consolidations, I believe their policies are now with AIG. Might this policy have any cash surrender value?

Thank you.
It probably started pulling CT the premiums from the cash value at some point. But I would fire off a few emails and see if any info comes up. I doubt anything will but you never know...
Emails are too easy to ignore. I’d send a certified later to AIG
by Leesbro63
Tue Mar 05, 2024 6:52 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Research on primary residence vs stock market+renting?
Replies: 51
Views: 5064

Re: Research on primary residence vs stock market+renting?

Warren Buffett says the house he bought in 1957 for $31,000, now worth $1.3M, has cost him about 12M in lost opportunity cost.

https://www.fool.com/the-ascent/mortgag ... as-to-say/
by Leesbro63
Mon Mar 04, 2024 11:36 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Robinhood 3% IRA Match
Replies: 1459
Views: 110234

Re: Robinhood 3% IRA Match

Emptykeg wrote: Mon Mar 04, 2024 11:30 am I wonder if they are offering this high bonus so they can dramatically increase their assets for an eventual acquisition by a large firm in the next 5 years. Similar to what PE firms do.
That's what some of us are speculating. And hoping the acquirer can't or won't enforce the 5 year lock up.
by Leesbro63
Mon Mar 04, 2024 11:20 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The Final, Definitive Thread on Brokerage Transfer Bonuses
Replies: 7737
Views: 1337674

Re: The Final, Definitive Thread on Brokerage Transfer Bonuses

For all Bonus takers, how you manage your 1099 tax forms (and possible Trades) ? Given most of the bonus monies being paid into Brokerage accounts generating multiple-1099s each - how do you personally herd all these little/big tax-cats together ? (as sometimes the brokerages don't even generate 1099s timely, happened once with M1 and/or Public.coms iirc). Some houses don't send paper-copies (or make it helluva harder to opt for Paper tax-forms to be sent) Don't even imagine the complexity - if you make any amount of trades (we rarely trade ; simply buy and hold types -- still, some times, the dividends/cash need to get invested or do a little clean-up and such.. thus generating trades. I use a tool called Google Sheets that provides sprea...
by Leesbro63
Mon Mar 04, 2024 9:37 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Gifting Info by Bruce Steiner
Replies: 5
Views: 903

Gifting Info by Bruce Steiner

EDIT: As some of you have said in comments here, Bruce has been a generous donor of highly specialized expertise to this Bogleheads forum. Thank you, Bruce!

A shout out to Boglehead Bruce Steiner, quoted in today’s Wall Street Journal, with regard to a married couple splitting the giving of a gift:


“If the “moneyed” spouse transfers funds to the other and that person makes his or her own annual gifts, there typically wouldn’t be a filing requirement, says Bruce Steiner, an estate-tax specialist with Kleinberg Kaplan Wolff & Cohen.”


https://www.wsj.com/personal-finance/ta ... yURL_share
by Leesbro63
Mon Mar 04, 2024 6:52 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The Final, Definitive Thread on Brokerage Transfer Bonuses
Replies: 7737
Views: 1337674

Re: The Final, Definitive Thread on Brokerage Transfer Bonuses

EnjoyIt wrote: Mon Mar 04, 2024 4:39 am
NDB was my first discount broker back in the 90s. I think market orders back then were $14.75 and limit orders were $19.75.
Yes, they were an early discounter. I think it got absorbed by Brown & Company, which I think went into Etrade. But I'm not sure. Brokerage genealogy!
by Leesbro63
Mon Mar 04, 2024 4:09 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Robinhood 3% IRA Match
Replies: 1459
Views: 110234

Re: Robinhood 3% IRA Match

Everybody can decide what they're comfortable with. I'm staying under the SIPC limits myself. I don't even understand the concern because it's a public company in business since 2015 so if there were problems the share price would drop until it became a takeover target so where this concern that they abscond with the accounts came from I don't fathom. So you would have no issue moving 2.5 mm to Robinhood for 5 years? I would take that. That's $75k in free money, were I to be so blessed. At this point, a Robinhood failure would be on par to when Lehman failed, something that would be a huge structural issue in our financial system. They are regularly audited and have a defined source of potential revenue, unlike an Enron. I don't think so. ...
by Leesbro63
Mon Mar 04, 2024 4:06 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Medicare: 64 Year Old Eyeing 2025 Medicare
Replies: 168
Views: 11459

Re: Medicare: 64 Year Old Eyeing 2025 Medicare

So for the OP, what is critical is that you read the rules in YOUR state (and any other state where you might want to live in the future.) The OP is in Pennsylvania. The dead pool thread that I linked to is about Pennsylvania. It is possible to move to another state that allows you to switch Medigap plans without medical underwriting. However, that is a big change. It's better to select the right plan at age 65. It's no secret that I'm in Pennsylvania. Exactly. That’s why I’m trying to understand all of this way ahead of time. When I was doing my Medigap homework, I found this guy to offer the best and most realistic no-nonsense advice about choosing a company. He's also on YouTube. There's another guy on YouTube who is popular but actuall...
by Leesbro63
Sun Mar 03, 2024 5:18 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Medicare: 64 Year Old Eyeing 2025 Medicare
Replies: 168
Views: 11459

Re: Medicare: 64 Year Old Eyeing 2025 Medicare

talzara wrote: Sun Mar 03, 2024 3:44 pm
dodecahedron wrote: Sun Mar 03, 2024 11:05 am So for the OP, what is critical is that you read the rules in YOUR state (and any other state where you might want to live in the future.)
The OP is in Pennsylvania. The dead pool thread that I linked to is about Pennsylvania.

It is possible to move to another state that allows you to switch Medigap plans without medical underwriting. However, that is a big change. It's better to select the right plan at age 65.
Leesbro63 wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2024 7:10 am It's no secret that I'm in Pennsylvania.
Exactly. That’s why I’m trying to understand all of this way ahead of time.
by Leesbro63
Sun Mar 03, 2024 11:39 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The Final, Definitive Thread on Brokerage Transfer Bonuses
Replies: 7737
Views: 1337674

Re: The Final, Definitive Thread on Brokerage Transfer Bonuses

Now here is a brokerage product that's stood the test of time! The electric car makers should use whatever is in this 1997 mini light with the original, sealed-in-unit-battery!

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