Search found 146 matches

by alanf56
Mon Jun 11, 2012 12:38 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: New job or accept counter offer at old?
Replies: 33
Views: 4747

Re: New job or accept counter offer at old?

I would take the new job and not look back. From the description of the monetary problems of the current company and the fact they know you looked elsewhere I would not figure them to be loyal to you when things get tough. The commute won't be that big of deal and you will make new friends at the new job in no time. GO FOR IT!!!
by alanf56
Tue May 15, 2012 8:29 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Hair clippers? Any self-barbers out there?
Replies: 42
Views: 8515

Re: Hair clippers? Any self-barbers out there?

Petrocelli wrote:I shave off all my body hair every six months, although my wife has to take care of my back.

TMI
by alanf56
Wed May 09, 2012 11:17 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Does anyone own a Hyundai?
Replies: 71
Views: 9524

Re: Does anyone own a Hyundai?

LearningToSpend wrote:Genesis: $440,000 for a Hyundai ?
$440,000 seems a bit much for ANY car I would consider. :D
by alanf56
Tue Apr 24, 2012 7:03 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How does Capital One make money off of me?
Replies: 20
Views: 4674

Re: How does Capital One make money off of me?

Besides the customers they have that don't pay off the balance every month I think they count on some missing a payment and being able to charge the large fee for that. I guess it all adds up or they wouldn't be in business.
by alanf56
Thu Apr 12, 2012 8:17 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: prosper.com
Replies: 13
Views: 3592

Re: prosper.com

I put a small amount into this years ago and really didn't make out well. Even though I stuck to high rated risks there were still 4 defaults that brought down any amount of money to be made.
by alanf56
Thu Apr 12, 2012 7:29 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Why Traditional IRA?
Replies: 63
Views: 4678

Re: Why Traditional IRA?

The tax break you receive for opening it. Up to the 5000/6000 dollars you put in it all comes off of your income on your tax return,., Depending of course on your circumstances. If you don't get that then I don't see a huge advantage for you.
by alanf56
Mon Mar 26, 2012 8:34 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard funds prices at end of day
Replies: 5
Views: 1449

Re: Vanguard funds prices at end of day

There are a lot of calculations that need to be done. If a stock or bond didn't trade at all today, or if trading was halted mid-day and not resumed, then its price has to be estimated. If a fund holds stocks which trade on the Japanese market, the fund has to decide how much of a fair-value adjustment to make for the difference between the closing price hours ago in Japan and the current value in the US. Thanks David, I guess with all the computing capabilities we have in this world I expected almost instant computation. I guess I never realized all the manual computations that might go into a funds NAV. This also explains why it takes a little longer for the other services to get the updates I guess too. Vanguard seems to get this info e...
by alanf56
Mon Mar 26, 2012 4:17 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard funds prices at end of day
Replies: 5
Views: 1449

Vanguard funds prices at end of day

Does anyone know why it is not until 2 hours after the market closes that funds like VTSAX, VTIAX and VBTLX get updated? It isn't just on the Vanguard site it seems to be the case everywhere...
by alanf56
Sat Mar 24, 2012 11:28 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: vanguard video webcast March 8
Replies: 1
Views: 400

vanguard video webcast March 8

Did anyone catch the video webcast on what you may not know about Roth IRA's? I got the invite but wasn't able to catch it. Just wondered what I may have missed. There is another webcast this week on Keys to making your most important investing decision by the way. I guess these are by invitation only but I would think many customers get the invites.
by alanf56
Mon Mar 19, 2012 7:17 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Selling taxable stocks to move into Roth
Replies: 11
Views: 1122

Re: Selling taxable stocks to move into Roth

Why wouldn't a transfer of the stock be possible?
by alanf56
Sun Mar 11, 2012 8:18 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tire Warranties
Replies: 55
Views: 30604

Re: Tire Warranties

Recently I have been going with Douglas tires from Walmart and they are lasting MUCH better than any of the other brands tried in the past. I think the road noise is a bit more from them but the longevity has far outweighed that. On one car I used to have to change at least a pair of tires every time inspections came around but it has been two years now and the Douglas tires are still good. I still buy the expensive tires for my toy but only because Douglas doesn't make tires for the vette. :)
by alanf56
Wed Mar 07, 2012 7:10 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: too many Vanguard online ads!
Replies: 49
Views: 3309

Re: too many Vanguard ads!

I find that whatever I have surfed to recently like Vanguard pops up in the ads on certain other web pages. Big Brother IS watching. I guess I should use ad blockers. But it seems it is just reminding me of what I was looking at anyhow so no big deal.
by alanf56
Wed Feb 29, 2012 7:34 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What is T. Rowe Price getting at?
Replies: 9
Views: 1855

Re: What is T. Rowe Price getting at?

sscritic wrote: Since charts of the past tell us all we need to know for the future, we should adopt "Buy in May, Sell in August, Buy in September or October" This is the MASO rule for profits in election years.
Now this sounds like market timing and sure is tempting huh? But I think I'll pass.
by alanf56
Sun Feb 26, 2012 6:51 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: TaxAct 2011 Online for $8 (Till Feb 29th)
Replies: 7
Views: 1094

Re: TaxAct 2011 Online for $8 (Till Feb 29th)

bberris wrote: If you "print" your return to a pdf, store it on drive and back it up (many free online places) you can save yourself these bucks.
You can't do the state without paying something.
by alanf56
Wed Feb 22, 2012 9:00 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: New parent this July - Looking for investment advice
Replies: 22
Views: 2129

Re: New parent this July - Looking for investment advice

Spend it all now before the child arrives because once he/she arrives they will get it all for many years to come! :)
by alanf56
Thu Feb 16, 2012 1:22 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Basket case update!
Replies: 8
Views: 1231

Re: Basket case update!

Excellent and insightful post nisiprius. You really DO have to figure out what the tolerance for loss is and then stick with it and NEITHER is an easy thing to accomplish. Once the decision has been made though we should all make a strong effort to stick with the plan.
by alanf56
Thu Feb 16, 2012 10:45 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: VFIRX or VFSUX
Replies: 7
Views: 1330

Re: VFIRX or VFSUX

livesoft wrote:It doesn't matter which one you pick because it will be the wrong one. Just let me know which one you decide upon, so that I can use the other one. :)

Full disclosure: We used to own VFSUX, but now have VCSH. Also we own VBIRX in other accounts.

Yes but the good part is I most likely won't be able to figure out it was the wrong one either!!! :)
by alanf56
Thu Feb 16, 2012 10:35 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: VFIRX or VFSUX
Replies: 7
Views: 1330

Re: VFIRX or VFSUX

Which of the two VFIRX or VFSUX would you choose to put 50K into instead of a 5 to 7 year CD and why? Doesn't it depend on the need and timeframe for this money? If you needed your $50K around 12/8/2008, you wouldn't be very thrilled with VFSUX (the name actually made sense then :) ). In 5 months it went from $10.57 on 7/8/2008 to $9.57 ( —9% ). Yes it would depend on what the needs are for the money. I really would not need to touch it in the near term but my plans are to have that portion (50K) in a semi liquid mode. Instead of dumping it into a short term CD at low interest I have been looking at other alternatives but of course don't want to get carried away with risk on it either. Thanks for the input. Trying to sort out the many opti...
by alanf56
Thu Feb 16, 2012 9:36 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: VFIRX or VFSUX
Replies: 7
Views: 1330

Re: VFIRX or VFSUX

Yes I guess VBIRX would be an in between position to take on it. In the current environment I wonder which of the three would take less of a hit if the interest rates were to take off. Or would you think they are about the same with respect to that. I am still interested in the original post question as well.
by alanf56
Thu Feb 16, 2012 7:46 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: VFIRX or VFSUX
Replies: 7
Views: 1330

VFIRX or VFSUX

Which of the two VFIRX or VFSUX would you choose to put 50K into instead of a 5 to 7 year CD and why?
by alanf56
Wed Feb 15, 2012 5:19 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: SPIA. What am I missing in this quote?
Replies: 10
Views: 1295

Re: SPIA. What am I missing in this quote?

That is a bit strange. I went in and changed the male age to 56 and then the quote for Joint and Full Survivor (100%) comes out to be $421,940.93. I wonder what's up with that?
by alanf56
Mon Feb 13, 2012 11:35 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to best broach the I'm underpaid subject at work.
Replies: 67
Views: 6649

Re: How to best broach the I'm underpaid subject at work.

HongKonger wrote:What. People earn 170k and whinge about not getting a whopping payrise too. Sorry, that makes me want to puke. No-one NEEDS that kind of money.Its indecent.
It looks like your boss showed up quanta! :)
by alanf56
Mon Feb 13, 2012 11:32 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to best broach the I'm underpaid subject at work.
Replies: 67
Views: 6649

Re: How to best broach the I'm underpaid subject at work.

I would bring it up in your next 1:1 meeting (or schedule a mtg for it) to say that you feel like you are doing next level work and would like your boss' advice on what you need to do in order to earn and receive the promotion for next year. Then he can say you need to do X,Y,Z and you can go out and do X,Y and Z. I have seen that game played many times and people ending up with the middle of a doughnut. Sometimes it is just the company or the office politics that lead to promotions or not. I think if you are happy with the work then just make up your mind to keep at it and don't set too high of expectations of things to come. If you aren't happy and you want more then maybe it is time to start looking elsewhere. I just wouldn't play the g...
by alanf56
Mon Feb 13, 2012 6:52 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to best broach the I'm underpaid subject at work.
Replies: 67
Views: 6649

Re: How to best broach the I'm underpaid subject at work.

itypefast wrote:
If you felt that you were not being appropriately paid you would quit. You are not quiting. Therefore, you are being paid at the appropriate rate.
This is overly simplistic nonsense masquerading as capitalist philosophy.
+1
by alanf56
Sat Feb 11, 2012 1:13 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Has Buffett changed anyones mind
Replies: 65
Views: 6059

Re: Has Buffett changed anyones mind

I think Jimmy Buffett has the better plan... It just makes more sense to me! :)
by alanf56
Sat Feb 11, 2012 9:02 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Buying I-Bonds: Possible via VG or Fido?
Replies: 5
Views: 1452

Re: Buying I-Bonds: Possible via VG or Fido?

Saving$ wrote:I see on this board that people are apparently able to buy I-Bonds through their TD Ameritrade accounts. I have searched both the Vanguard and Fidelity websites, but did not find this feature. Do VG and Fido customers need to go through Treasury Direct, or is there some way to do it through the VG or Fido logon that I am missing?
You must be confusing TD (Treasury Direct) with TD Ameritrade.
by alanf56
Sat Feb 11, 2012 8:06 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: I'm a Basket Case...
Replies: 54
Views: 5216

Re: I'm a BASKET CASE...

livesoft wrote: Years ago, I changed my IPS so now it states that I must buy equities on a really bad day unless it is a Friday. This has served as a useful crutch because it has almost always resulted in significant gains. I am now inured to losses and do not suffer at all from loss aversion. Maybe one of the psychiatrists on the forum can comment about that?
Why not on a Friday???
by alanf56
Fri Feb 10, 2012 5:14 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Where to invest excess cash?
Replies: 10
Views: 2689

Re: Where to invest excess cash?

Liquid wrote:You could consider high yield checking accounts, 2% on unrestricted balances should be available, but you may have to do X number of debit card purchases, or other requirements.
I would like to find 2% on unrestricted balances. Everything I see has restrictions. Mostly around 25K
by alanf56
Thu Feb 09, 2012 10:44 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Insurance
Replies: 10
Views: 1142

Insurance

I am currently in the shopping stage for insurance for the vehicles and house. I was wondering if anyone here uses or has used Nationwide and what your experience was with them? Also Geico and All State and any others you might suggest. I believe I will be able to lower my premiums by quite a large amount but wonder if I compromise any reliability if I need to use it.
by alanf56
Wed Feb 08, 2012 10:00 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: vanguard total bond versus intermediate bond
Replies: 56
Views: 17002

Re: vanguard total bond versus intermediate bond

Imperabo wrote:The difference was fairly apparent in October, 2008. Still nothing like stocks, and they both recovered, but if you were counting on your bonds for safety you were happy to have total bond.

Image
Your chart is different than the one nisi showed because the VBIIX is below that of VBMFX in your chart and above it on his.

What's up with that???
by alanf56
Wed Feb 08, 2012 10:55 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Bubble Alert
Replies: 43
Views: 5134

Re: Bubble Alert

actor10 wrote:Ugh, didn't you predict the SP500 to hit 850 back in August 2011?
How's that working for you?
Indeed!! :) Only it was 950 predicted. http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtop ... 3#p1139993
by alanf56
Sun Feb 05, 2012 10:31 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: how often do u write checks?
Replies: 79
Views: 6319

Re: how often do u write checks?

tuckeverlasting wrote:Once a month to pay my rent, and only very occasionally for anything else. Less than 20 a year. I would like to give checks to my kids for birthdays etc. but they refuse to take any $ from me.
We can pretend I am your kid if you like and you can send as many checks as you like. I won't refuse them! :)
by alanf56
Sun Feb 05, 2012 10:26 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Question about VFSUX
Replies: 5
Views: 606

Re: Question about VFSUX

Oh... One more question please. Once you have invested the initial 50,000 can you buy more shares of VFSUX less than that amount?
by alanf56
Sun Feb 05, 2012 10:25 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Question about VFSUX
Replies: 5
Views: 606

Re: Question about VFSUX

sscritic wrote:And during that waiting period, you are still Admiral. Woo, free lunch!
And everyone always told me there was no free lunch!!! :)
by alanf56
Sun Feb 05, 2012 10:10 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Question about VFSUX
Replies: 5
Views: 606

Question about VFSUX

It takes 50,000 to buy the VFSUX fund admiral shares. If I was to do so for 50,000 does that mean I would not be able to take any of this money out of the fund? What happens if I do?
by alanf56
Sat Feb 04, 2012 6:51 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do I report 42 cents of tax-exempt money market income?
Replies: 25
Views: 6743

Re: Do I report 42 cents of tax-exempt money market income?

LadyGeek wrote:
tomd37 wrote:Just because you did not receive a tax document is not a valid reason for not reporting the income. :dollar
Agreed. All income must be reported.
alanf56 wrote:I assume the IRS would not mind if I over reported...
I think so, as it's a difference which must be reconciled. The issue is whether or not there's a penalty (or interest) involved, and in which direction (you to IRS or vice versa).
Um it seems that a difference would happen if I reported ANY amount on this since they will not receive anything from the bank telling them the little amount of interest that was made. Is that not the case???
by alanf56
Sat Feb 04, 2012 6:03 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do I report 42 cents of tax-exempt money market income?
Replies: 25
Views: 6743

Re: Do I report 42 cents of tax-exempt money market income?

Interesting question indeed. I just talked to one of my banks and they told me they are not sending a 1099 int on one of my closed accounts because it did not earn 10 dollars in interest. He didn't tell me how much it DID earn and said it won't be reported anyhow. So if I didn't report this I guess it would not be noticed??? To be on the safe side should I just report $9 and be done with it? I assume the IRS would not mind if I over reported...
by alanf56
Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:56 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: MSoft Excel and Yahoo Finance
Replies: 17
Views: 2433

Re: MSoft Excel and Yahoo Finance

For my excel (2007) I just use the data tab and select existing connections then MSN MoneyCentral Investor stock quotes then enter the stock symbols separated by a comma. This brings up a whole table of values for the stocks so I put them on a separate sheet within the workbook. Then I can simply reference it where I want in my main spreadsheet. Seems to work fine for me. It only has two digit results but I can live with that!
by alanf56
Wed Feb 01, 2012 10:11 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: New Savings bonds No interest ?
Replies: 5
Views: 698

Re: New Savings bonds No interest ?

I read on the TD site that the EE bond is guaranteed to double in 20 years. That is simple interest of 5%. That seems to be a no brainer for money you know you don't need for 20 years. Am I missing something here????
by alanf56
Wed Feb 01, 2012 3:21 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Buying Corporate Bonds in Vanguard account
Replies: 5
Views: 706

Re: Buying Corporate Bonds in Vanguard account

Thanks guys. I get the idea!! Looks like maybe a short/intermediate bond fund might suit my style a bit better. Or is that too much risk as well? I have seen some recent posts about VFSUX and VBILX. Either of those sound more like it?
by alanf56
Wed Feb 01, 2012 9:45 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Buying Corporate Bonds in Vanguard account
Replies: 5
Views: 706

Buying Corporate Bonds in Vanguard account

I have an IRA in Vanguard that is mostly invested in a four fund portfolio. I have some money that I was considering buying CD's with but now am looking at a bond offered by Goldman Sachs that matures on 02/15/2016 that has a 3.14% yield. This seems interesting to me but I am not bond savvy so I really want to know what the downside/risks are of getting into something like this. I know they aren't FDIC insured but just wonder what the worst case scenario might be and all of the risks involved. comments please.
by alanf56
Thu Jan 26, 2012 8:47 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: VTIAX vs VXUS
Replies: 6
Views: 3601

Re: VTIAX vs VXUS

I noticed yesterday that BND went up about 1.4 times what VBTLX did. I wonder why??? :)
by alanf56
Thu Jan 26, 2012 8:13 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: VTIAX vs VXUS
Replies: 6
Views: 3601

Re: VTIAX vs VXUS

I was thinking that the VXUS might have the advantage in that you can buy and see what the price is when you buy. This isn't that big of a deal I guess if it is just one purchase and the intent is to hold. I wonder if one can use the ETF to guestimate the price of the mutual fund at day's end? In other words if you look at the VXUS price and see it falling is that enough indication that VTIAX will be lower at the end of the day?
by alanf56
Thu Jan 26, 2012 7:18 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: VTIAX vs VXUS
Replies: 6
Views: 3601

VTIAX vs VXUS

I use a basic 4 fund approach at the moment and am going to add money to balance my International stock portion. Is there any advantage/disadvantage in using the ETF VXUS instead of adding to VTIAX?
by alanf56
Tue Jan 24, 2012 8:42 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Buying Vanguard Funds
Replies: 4
Views: 644

Re: Buying Vanguard Funds

The mutual fund. Sorry I didn't say that!
by alanf56
Tue Jan 24, 2012 8:39 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Buying Vanguard Funds
Replies: 4
Views: 644

Buying Vanguard Funds

I am trying to figure out when the transaction of buying for instance Total Stock Market Index happens and at what price. I see the price I get the shares at but it looks like it happens the day after I put the order in? In other words if today I put in an order I will get the price it is at tomorrow??? Or is it bought at the price it is currently at in today's market?
by alanf56
Tue Jan 24, 2012 7:39 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: I-bond purchase questions
Replies: 26
Views: 3193

Re: I-bond purchase questions

I can confirm that in my case the money came out of my bank account the next day and there were no "test" deposits for confirmation.