Search found 2186 matches

by guitarguy
Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:46 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Cost basis inherited shares - what date?
Replies: 19
Views: 2116

Re: Cost basis inherited shares - what date?

$25…?

If there are no zeros missing…why are we worried so much about $25? Take the easiest route and ignore the minuscule impact on everyone’s life.
by guitarguy
Fri Mar 15, 2024 1:01 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Compassion (refund) vs. Compromise vs. Upholding Contract
Replies: 5
Views: 557

Re: Compassion (refund) vs. Compromise vs. Upholding Contract

adamthesmythe wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 12:13 pm The loss to the company is very likely not as large as 2/3 of the contract value. It seems to me that a degree of compromise is warranted.
See my note above. The actual loss in terms of time invested and so forth...no. But potential loss in terms of turning away other inquiries due to having this date not available is at least the full contract value. I give it a pretty high certainty that we would've booked another client for this date if we were available.
by guitarguy
Fri Mar 15, 2024 12:58 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Compassion (refund) vs. Compromise vs. Upholding Contract
Replies: 5
Views: 557

Re: Compassion (refund) vs. Compromise vs. Upholding Contract

Your company has also turned down other business opportunities to uphold this agreement. ..... My initial thought is to not offer a refund, but to offer a fee-free reschedule instead with an extended amount of time to do so. If you have turned down the business and allow them to reschedule then you might need to turn down more business in the future when they eventually want you to do the work, or you might not have available time or resources then. A year from now there might also be things like price increases so it could be awkward if they expect you do to work at the same price. Carrying a credit on the books for future work will also complicate your accounting so be sure to also look into that. Carrying a credit for future work sounds...
by guitarguy
Fri Mar 15, 2024 9:43 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Compassion (refund) vs. Compromise vs. Upholding Contract
Replies: 5
Views: 557

Compassion (refund) vs. Compromise vs. Upholding Contract

Hey all, Looking for guidance, particularly from business owners but anyone's input is welcome. Your company is contracted for an agreement with a client. 2/3 installment payments have been collected. You're very well within the window that none of this money is refundable in the event of a cancellation which is abundantly clear in the signed contract. Your company has also turned down other business opportunities to uphold this agreement. A client reaches out with a serious personal situation that yields a great amount of empathy and compassion. In turn, they ask about the possibility of a refund if they decide to cancel their plans (no decision made yet). How do you respond? My initial thought is to not offer a refund, but to offer a fee-...
by guitarguy
Thu Mar 07, 2024 10:51 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Chase or BoA for personal and business checking, which would you choose?
Replies: 7
Views: 1306

Re: Chase or BoA for personal and business checking, which would you choose?

100% Chase hands down full stop.

I have used personal and business banking with Chase for over a decade (and personal banking by itself for much longer).

Frame of reference: I have BoA preferred rewards and have a checking account there too (required). It has $0.00 in it. BoA is mostly crap on all levels, but the rewards are quite nice so we deal with them for that.
by guitarguy
Mon Feb 19, 2024 7:19 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: PenFed Credit Card Autopay?
Replies: 4
Views: 618

Re: PenFed Credit Card Autopay?

Great, thanks for the points of reference.

Just wanted some kind of confirmation since it seems so odd. Not sure why they don't just set the autopay to take place on the due date! ha.
by guitarguy
Sat Feb 17, 2024 12:11 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: PenFed Credit Card Autopay?
Replies: 4
Views: 618

PenFed Credit Card Autopay?

Anyone use it?

I just started and setup autopay to pay the statement balance in full…and the scheduled payment date is the date the following statement is released.

The thing is, this date is like 4-5 days or something after my payment is due. I contacted PenFed and they responded that as long as the statement balance is paid in full and set to autopay there will be no interest charges or negative effects to credit. I suppose I shouldn’t be concerned? :confused

I’m already getting an annoying “your payment is due in 10 days” email as of this morning. Hopefully those won’t continue to harass me, tell me I’m late, etc.

Can anyone vouch for the PenFed credit card autopay?
by guitarguy
Sun Feb 11, 2024 12:29 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What is your HSA strategy?
Replies: 52
Views: 6648

Re: What is your HSA strategy?

I don’t see how saving receipts is anything painful at all. DW usually pays the med bills over the phone or online. Statement gets “delivered” to my office “inbox.” iPhone scan, airdrop to Mac, drag to folder, add quick line item in excel sheet. It literally takes all of 5 mins a month and I’m left with some folders of pdf docs organized by year and date. What’s so hard about that? :confused Let's suppose the more careful recordkeeping that I would want to do, were I not paying current bills from the HSA, takes an additional 5 minutes per month. That would be an hour per year. Above I estimated that our non-optimal use of the HSA costs us about $25 per year in additional taxes at this time. It's not worth an hour of my time to save $25. Of...
by guitarguy
Sun Feb 11, 2024 7:52 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What is your HSA strategy?
Replies: 52
Views: 6648

Re: What is your HSA strategy?

We fully invest HSA in SP500 index fund, aside from the minimum $500 in cash required by the plan. Max contribute family plan every year. All medical expenses paid out of pocket and receipts logged and saved. Started this in 2019 ish once we were able to max all retirement accounts. I don’t see how saving receipts is anything painful at all. DW usually pays the med bills over the phone or online. Statement gets “delivered” to my office “inbox.” iPhone scan, airdrop to Mac, drag to folder, add quick line item in excel sheet. It literally takes all of 5 mins a month and I’m left with some folders of pdf docs organized by year and date. What’s so hard about that? :confused Yes it takes a small amount of effort, but I feel like having that flex...
by guitarguy
Wed Dec 27, 2023 7:59 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: $2000 a year for $1M umbrella insurance
Replies: 73
Views: 9343

Re: $2000 a year for $1M umbrella insurance

Planner01 wrote: Wed Dec 27, 2023 5:52 pm
Rocky Mtn Man wrote: Wed Dec 27, 2023 5:41 pm
Planner01 wrote: Wed Dec 27, 2023 3:12 pm
We are paying $1000 a month for two cars 😢
You pay $12,000 a year for auto insurance???
Yeap. That’s the new premium for two cars and three drivers (including a teenage boy). I know, insane! I want to cry.
What was your premium just before he screwed things up by turning 16?

I have 2 boys - age 2 and 4 - and I want to cry picturing paying for insurance when they get older if premiums are going to increase that much. $12k is just nuts…curious what the % increase looked like. If you were paying $8k then well…it is what it is…but if you were paying $2200 then well holy crap.
by guitarguy
Wed Dec 27, 2023 7:52 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tax gain harvest or accelerate Inherited IRA distribution?
Replies: 8
Views: 767

Re: Tax gain harvest or accelerate Inherited IRA distribution?

I’d consider maxing out the 22% bracket with inherited IRA distributions.

Based on (potential) upcoming changes to federal tax brackets in a couple years, and especially if you plan to see increases in income over the next 10 years when the inherited IRA needs to be emptied, you may never get it out cheaper.
by guitarguy
Wed Dec 27, 2023 7:36 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: $2000 a year for $1M umbrella insurance
Replies: 73
Views: 9343

Re: $2000 a year for $1M umbrella insurance

watchnerd wrote: Wed Dec 27, 2023 6:04 pm Dang we have $3M in umbrella and only pay $354/year for it.
Sidebar…to this and the other poster who asked if $1m was enough…how does one gauge umbrella amount? Is there a good rule of thumb?
by guitarguy
Wed Dec 27, 2023 7:31 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: TurboTax 2023 offer
Replies: 282
Views: 50657

Re: TurboTax 2023 offer

jarjarM wrote: Wed Dec 27, 2023 5:40 pm Thanks the threads' reminder, bought my usual turbotax+GC combo from amazon as well.
+1!
by guitarguy
Mon Dec 25, 2023 11:10 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Pull-ups and Push-ups
Replies: 678
Views: 182153

Re: Pull-ups and Push-ups

This 10-minute bodyweight exercise routine provides a full-body workout and can be done at home with no equipment required. Remember to listen to your body and adjust the intensity as needed. You can also modify the exercises to make them easier or harder depending on your fitness level." Zhen, I like what you've posted--all seem like good exercises, and it's a nice, short, no-equipment routine, with smart advice. I'd say that what's missing is a "pull" exercise. The ideal pull routine is pull-ups. A similar pull workout can be done with a dumbbell and are called dumbbell bench pulls or rows (easy to find on Youtube). Other pull exercises can be done in a doorway or under a sturdy table, pulling yourself up. (WikiHow has an ...
by guitarguy
Fri Dec 22, 2023 4:34 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards
Replies: 7041
Views: 878947

Re: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards

Hmm...well the BoA account doesn't have enough funds to pay the cards. Just transfer some money in right? Go to link back my Chase account, can't complete your request. Ummm...OK. Well...CAN'T do that because I didn't open a debit card, which is (insanely) a requirement to do any ACH transfers with their stupid checking account. In or out...debit card needed to link external account. So, after talking to a second rep on the phone "in that department" that can help, at my demand, they are overnighting me a debit card which I begrudgingly got for the account in order to be able to ACH transfer. So I guess this 2-step "transfer money into the BoA checking account and pay the bill from there" plan is my backup in case the &...
by guitarguy
Fri Dec 22, 2023 7:44 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards
Replies: 7041
Views: 878947

Re: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards

Hmm...well the BoA account doesn't have enough funds to pay the cards. Just transfer some money in right? Go to link back my Chase account, can't complete your request. Ummm...OK. Well...CAN'T do that because I didn't open a debit card, which is (insanely) a requirement to do any ACH transfers with their stupid checking account. In or out...debit card needed to link external account. So, after talking to a second rep on the phone "in that department" that can help, at my demand, they are overnighting me a debit card which I begrudgingly got for the account in order to be able to ACH transfer. So I guess this 2-step "transfer money into the BoA checking account and pay the bill from there" plan is my backup in case the &...
by guitarguy
Tue Dec 19, 2023 2:24 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards
Replies: 7041
Views: 878947

Re: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards

erp wrote: Tue Dec 19, 2023 2:13 pm
guitarguy wrote: Tue Dec 19, 2023 1:59 pm Go to bill pay...MANUALLY (they can't add accounts from their own bank???) search "BoA credit card" in the bill payee search, MANUALLY type in the credit card account numbers (what am I a cave person???), and OK fine...both cards are now added as payees. Completely ridiculous, but done.
It seems like our species has degraded a bit in terms of putting up with adversity after 10000 years. :wink:
Being mauled by a bear like Leo in the Revenant might beat dealing with BoA. :mrgreen:
by guitarguy
Tue Dec 19, 2023 2:18 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards
Replies: 7041
Views: 878947

Re: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards

..... So you are in some weird set up loop because of the switch over I guess. Obviously not your fault and BofAs and very frustrating for sure. Once last question is whether you tried to link everything on the regular website and then back to the app. Yep. Very frustrating to say the least. Hence the rant! :D But yeah - I got off the app and onto the website as soon as I hit the first wall so I could have (assumed) further/max capability for adding accounts and doing this sort of stuff. Obviously still no dice. As I eventually found out on the phone, due to some sort of BoA nonsense behind the scenes that required me to order a debit card...oh...and the "account reset" on their end that should allow me to re-link the external ac...
by guitarguy
Tue Dec 19, 2023 2:02 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards
Replies: 7041
Views: 878947

Re: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards

lstone19 wrote: Tue Dec 19, 2023 10:49 am While not everything is obvious in the app or website, I'm thinking guitar guy headed down the wrong path in the app and got frustrated rather than backing up and trying something different or even doing a quick search to find out how to do it.
Ha...see my last post. I headed down all of the right paths and BoA has them all leading off a cliff.
by guitarguy
Tue Dec 19, 2023 1:59 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards
Replies: 7041
Views: 878947

Re: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards

First of all forgive the tone from my previous post friends...but if after dealing with BoA BS on the app, website, and finally on the phone for a total of 45+ minutes while I could've been doing other things...I was straight up pissed when that post was crafted! HA!! Can you be more specific? For me, I pay my BofA credit card from a linked Ally account, easy peasy. I can also pay it, and have on occasion, from my BofA checking. Note that I generally do not use the BofA Billpay system or autopay. I just click "pay bill" under the card account, specify the account to draw on (i have a few linked) and click the button. Update and more specifics on my earlier rant for you and anyone else interested... For several years, I also paid m...
by guitarguy
Tue Dec 19, 2023 7:45 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards
Replies: 7041
Views: 878947

Re: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards

Well...I have to say I'm in utter shock about how TERRIBLE BoA is...yet again. These cc rewards will be nice I guess but now I'm reminding myself why I HATE BoA with every fiber of my being. Before signing up for this crap, I had a BoA credit card. I was able to so quickly and easily pay my credit card bill via my Chase checking account. Since signing up for this, I go into the app and try to pay my bill...but oh wait...can't do that unless I MANUALLY type in all of the information in the BoA bill pay system? Search BoA credit card, type in my account number manually, and use the bill pay system. HUH??? Unbelievable...you can't link MY ACCOUNT that I have with YOUR bank? What a JOKE. Oh and by the way...can't even add my external account &q...
by guitarguy
Sun Dec 10, 2023 4:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards
Replies: 7041
Views: 878947

Re: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards

Question:

Are there any data points for the "online shopping" category working for gift cards from other cards, similar to using the method for the Costco cash cards as discussed here?

We have used up our Amex 6% grocery card for the year, and I know there are only a couple of weeks left...but wondering if we could use this same hack and purchase a couple of grocery store gift cards online the same way for a few extra cents back (and more importantly to know if this works in the future).
by guitarguy
Sat Dec 09, 2023 8:19 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Pirate Ship - Save Up to 89%
Replies: 32
Views: 6454

Re: Pirate Ship - Save Up to 89%

Darn. I was hoping this was a link to some kind of Lego or Little People pirate ship toy.

Those with young kids will understand.

Carry on.

LOL.
by guitarguy
Sat Dec 09, 2023 8:15 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Suggestions for a strange Macbook/mouse issue?
Replies: 22
Views: 1903

Re: Suggestions for a strange Macbook/mouse issue?

I've out of the blue started having problems with using *wired* mice with my 2 year old Macbook Air. I've tried everything - different mouse (I have 3, this happens with all of them) I've made sure all software updates are installed. The laptop is fully powered. I have tried restarting, shutting down, moving cables in and out, from port to port, in then out, etc. I am heading out soon to buy a wireless mouse to see if that makes a difference. The problem is intermittent. Sometimes the mouse freezes, then later it can be used again. Have any of you been through this same thing? what worked for you? MacAlley "wired" keyboard and "wired" mouse. Wireless is spotty and needs charging. https://www.amazon.com/Macally-USB-Wired...
by guitarguy
Sat Dec 09, 2023 7:29 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Which Mesh Router To Buy
Replies: 61
Views: 7017

Re: Which Mesh Router To Buy

+1 more for Eero. Pretty much flawless operation for several years running and in 2 different houses (we moved). Easy setup. Good app. Good price. We pay for 200mb internet, and get 220mb anywhere we test it (house, garage, shed, deck, etc). The setup is good up to speeds about 500mb from what I read. WiFi 6. Not sure about now but at my time of purchase, the Google setup didn’t offer WiFi 6. The only drawback I note, and I’m not sure if this is different on any other brand setup, is that you can’t force a device to connect to a specific Eero. I’ve really only noticed this after a power outage…but like the Apple TV connected to the Eero in the basement at the other end of the house with a lower signal strength because the basement Eero got...
by guitarguy
Sat Dec 09, 2023 7:25 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Electrical Question - 20 Amp Circuit Breaker with White Romex 14 Gauge Wiring
Replies: 20
Views: 2544

Re: Electrical Question - 20 Amp Circuit Breaker with White Romex 14 Gauge Wiring

Sounds like you have 12 gauge wire so the 20-amp breaker isn't a problem. If you are going to replace the receptacle, and the receptacle is accessible under the sink, replace it with a GFCI receptacle. Of course if the receptacle is behind the dishwasher, that won't work. In any case, you don't need a 20-amp receptacle for a dishwasher. A standard 15-amp is fine. You don’t need a GFCI receptacle if it’s a GFCI breaker. You also cannot have a single 15A receptacle on a 20A circuit. If there are multiple receptacles, then you can use 15A and/or 20A where needed. If there’s only 1 receptacle then it must be 20A. Code may vary by area on this…but such is the case where I leave. But they don't have a GFCI breaker so a GFCI receptacle will work ...
by guitarguy
Sat Dec 09, 2023 7:21 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Which Mesh Router To Buy
Replies: 61
Views: 7017

Re: Which Mesh Router To Buy

+1 more for Eero. Pretty much flawless operation for several years running and in 2 different houses (we moved). Easy setup. Good app. Good price. We pay for 200mb internet, and get 220mb anywhere we test it (house, garage, shed, deck, etc). The setup is good up to speeds about 500mb from what I read. WiFi 6. Not sure about now but at my time of purchase, the Google setup didn’t offer WiFi 6. The only drawback I note, and I’m not sure if this is different on any other brand setup, is that you can’t force a device to connect to a specific Eero. I’ve really only noticed this after a power outage…but like the Apple TV connected to the Eero in the basement at the other end of the house with a lower signal strength because the basement Eero got ...
by guitarguy
Fri Dec 08, 2023 7:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Electrical Question - 20 Amp Circuit Breaker with White Romex 14 Gauge Wiring
Replies: 20
Views: 2544

Re: Electrical Question - 20 Amp Circuit Breaker with White Romex 14 Gauge Wiring

Jack FFR1846 wrote: Fri Dec 08, 2023 6:34 pm Receptacle? Really? Our dishwasher is hard wired directly to it's electrical circuit. I've never heard of using a receptacle. Eliminating that will reduce circuit resistance, reducing (by a little) the current the dishwasher motor uses when it's starting up. How old is the circuit breaker? They do wear out over time. I've had several that have failed by opening at too low of a current.

With respect to the scamming electrician, find another one. I'm usually my own electrician as homeowners in my state can legally do their own wiring and I'm an EE whose best friend is an electrician.
Nowadays dishwashers need a disconnect and an easy way to do that is a receptacle instead of hardwire. Either method is acceptable generally.
by guitarguy
Fri Dec 08, 2023 7:20 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Electrical Question - 20 Amp Circuit Breaker with White Romex 14 Gauge Wiring
Replies: 20
Views: 2544

Re: Electrical Question - 20 Amp Circuit Breaker with White Romex 14 Gauge Wiring

billaster wrote: Fri Dec 08, 2023 6:48 pm Sounds like you have 12 gauge wire so the 20-amp breaker isn't a problem. If you are going to replace the receptacle, and the receptacle is accessible under the sink, replace it with a GFCI receptacle. Of course if the receptacle is behind the dishwasher, that won't work. In any case, you don't need a 20-amp receptacle for a dishwasher. A standard 15-amp is fine.
You don’t need a GFCI receptacle if it’s a GFCI breaker.

You also cannot have a single 15A receptacle on a 20A circuit. If there are multiple receptacles, then you can use 15A and/or 20A where needed. If there’s only 1 receptacle then it must be 20A. Code may vary by area on this…but such is the case where I leave.
by guitarguy
Fri Dec 08, 2023 5:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Is front-loading into pre-tax 401K allowed?
Replies: 7
Views: 1072

Re: Is front-loading into pre-tax 401K allowed?

I understand that. I mean in after-tax contribution my earnings (salary) will be taxed fully. Contribute as much as allowed before-tax (12% plus the entire $7500 before-tax catch-up) and as much of the remainder as you want after-tax. You will pay the same taxes whether you contribute after-tax and roll to a Roth or take it in taxable cash. Unless you need the cash, contribute for retirement. ^ This. On a side note…that kinda stinks that they limit you like that. Is that common for mega corps to do? I’m (luckily) able to contribute as much as I want to pre tax out of any given paycheck…and have done as much as 70% to load the 401k in months where I had super high side gig income. The only danger of this at my employer is if I don’t contrib...
by guitarguy
Mon Dec 04, 2023 5:42 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards
Replies: 7041
Views: 878947

Re: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards

Another question on this program: How does it work when spouses are involved? DW and I both have the BoA Unlimited Cash and Custom Cash cards. We would be using them in similar fashion with the PH rewards program. If both of our names are on the ME brokerage account and the BoA checking account, will both of our sets of cards be enrolled in the rewards program? In case anyone is interested, I had this question answered on the phone with Merrill today. As long as the accounts are both joint (BoA checking and ME brokerage), the benefits can be added to both individual account holders’ credit cards. Also FWIW, starting the transfer in kind (on the phone) and opening the checking account (online) and everything today was smooth. The gentleman ...
by guitarguy
Mon Dec 04, 2023 9:42 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: New Car Purchase: Loan vs. Cash -- am I thinking about this correctly?
Replies: 21
Views: 1872

Re: New Car Purchase: Loan vs. Cash -- am I thinking about this correctly?

RangersFan wrote: Mon Dec 04, 2023 9:35 am
You pay taxes on interest. The breakeven is not 2.79%, but 2.79% less your marginal tax %.
Our marginal tax rate is 0% and should remain there for the foreseeable future. 😃
Well then, it doesn’t seem like you’re missing anything to me! :beer
by guitarguy
Mon Dec 04, 2023 8:55 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards
Replies: 7041
Views: 878947

Re: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards

Another question on this program:

How does it work when spouses are involved?

DW and I both have the BoA Unlimited Cash and Custom Cash cards. We would be using them in similar fashion with the PH rewards program.

If both of our names are on the ME brokerage account and the BoA checking account, will both of our sets of cards be enrolled in the rewards program?
by guitarguy
Sun Dec 03, 2023 7:58 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: TurboTax 2023 offer
Replies: 282
Views: 50657

Re: TurboTax 2023 offer

In the meantime I've already done my planning and everything using last year's TT what if sheets with 2023 values. Pretty easy to do...no reason to buy it before the very end of the year to get the best (or equivalent to the best) deal. Maybe it's just me, but those what if sheets were not easy to find! I finally realized that the tool is under "forms" (TurboTax Premier 2022), but I had to enter "what if" in the search box to locate it. Not just you! I wondered if they got rid of it this year at first and was starting to get kinda PO’d, but eventually found it the same way. I still can't find it. Is this only in the Premier version? No, I have TT Deluxe. Desktop on Mac. You have to dig in somewhere and do a “search all ...
by guitarguy
Sun Dec 03, 2023 11:33 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards
Replies: 7041
Views: 878947

Re: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards

Merrill does provide 2 scenarios: https://www.bankofamerica.com/preferred-rewards/increasing-preferred-rewards-with-credit-cards/ You can satisfy the combined balance requirement for enrollment with either: a three-month combined average daily balance in your qualifying deposit and investment accounts, or a current combined balance, provided that you enroll at the time you open your first eligible personal checking account and satisfy the balance requirement at the end of at least one day within 30 days of opening that account. I think new customers in this thread have reported getting status much quicker than waiting the 3 months this way. So if I have no B of A or Merrill accounts, I would want to open the brokerage account first. Then w...
by guitarguy
Sun Dec 03, 2023 11:29 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: TurboTax 2023 offer
Replies: 282
Views: 50657

Re: TurboTax 2023 offer

CardinalRule wrote: Sun Dec 03, 2023 11:26 am
guitarguy wrote: Wed Nov 29, 2023 2:05 pm
In the meantime I've already done my planning and everything using last year's TT what if sheets with 2023 values. Pretty easy to do...no reason to buy it before the very end of the year to get the best (or equivalent to the best) deal.
Maybe it's just me, but those what if sheets were not easy to find! I finally realized that the tool is under "forms" (TurboTax Premier 2022), but I had to enter "what if" in the search box to locate it.
Not just you! I wondered if they got rid of it this year at first and was starting to get kinda PO’d, but eventually found it the same way.
by guitarguy
Sun Dec 03, 2023 7:59 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards
Replies: 7041
Views: 878947

Re: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards

I see. What if you didn’t have the checking with the low balance weighing down your average? Say… Open ME brokerage account 12/01 Open BoA checking 12/04 and apply for preferred rewards, supposedly you can fund the accounts within 30 days or something to qualify Transfer $100k to ME…12/07? (assuming a few days for an in kind transfer of an ETF). Are they really waiting until March to give me status?? Yes. You need to be patient. Not sure why you think your scenario is different. Merrill does provide 2 scenarios: https://www.bankofamerica.com/preferred-rewards/increasing-preferred-rewards-with-credit-cards/ You can satisfy the combined balance requirement for enrollment with either: a three-month combined average daily balance in your quali...
by guitarguy
Sat Dec 02, 2023 8:30 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards
Replies: 7041
Views: 878947

Re: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards

Also - if you transferred $225k in how would your 3 month average be only $22k? Wouldn’t it be $75k? It was transferred in on 12/21. So my average for December was less than $70K and almost $0 for October and November (I had a BofA checking account but it was not my primary checking account and had an average balance below $1K) so three month average well below $25K. I see. What if you didn’t have the checking with the low balance weighing down your average? Say… Open ME brokerage account 12/01 Open BoA checking 12/04 and apply for preferred rewards, supposedly you can fund the accounts within 30 days or something to qualify Transfer $100k to ME…12/07? (assuming a few days for an in kind transfer of an ETF). Are they really waiting until M...
by guitarguy
Sat Dec 02, 2023 7:24 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards
Replies: 7041
Views: 878947

Re: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards

Transferred $100k to qualify for Platinum Honors Preferred Rewards. I already have a BOA checking account & credit card. When will I become a Platinum Honors members and how do I check? Thanks! Usually it takes 3 months. 3 months with $100k there before the PH rewards bonus kicks in!!?? Well that’s umm…total crap if you ask me. Is that really the case? Each month shortly after the end of the month, they look back at the last three calendar months. Each calendar month is averaged separately and then the three are averaged without regards to number of days in each month (this overweights days in shorter months). What is your $100K invested in? If in securities and the decline in value, you may find you're not at $100K after three months....
by guitarguy
Sat Dec 02, 2023 6:49 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards
Replies: 7041
Views: 878947

Re: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards

tj wrote: Sat Dec 02, 2023 6:46 pm
salt_drummer wrote: Sat Dec 02, 2023 6:07 pm Transferred $100k to qualify for Platinum Honors Preferred Rewards. I already have a BOA checking account & credit card. When will I become a Platinum Honors members and how do I check? Thanks!
Usually it takes 3 months.
3 months with $100k there before the PH rewards bonus kicks in!!??

Well that’s umm…total crap if you ask me.

Is that really the case?
by guitarguy
Fri Dec 01, 2023 12:23 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: In Kind Transfer - Vanguard to Merrill - Question?
Replies: 8
Views: 915

Re: In Kind Transfer - Vanguard to Merrill - Question?

Hi All, I'm about to initiate an in kind transfer of my taxable portfolio from Vanguard to Merrill Edge to qualify for the platinum rewards from BoA. Question: when I complete the transfer in kind, will all of my spec id, cost basis, and gain/loss data carry over as well? The account transfer is simple: 100% of equity assets are in VV, which is available to hold at Merrill so should be all good there. I've been googling and seem to have found some horror stories about this data not being transferred, not being able to sell lots after the transfer, etc...and now a little nervous. Should I be concerned here? Are the success stories of all the data getting transferred correctly just not posted? :confused Most transfers are completed without i...
by guitarguy
Fri Dec 01, 2023 11:58 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: In Kind Transfer - Vanguard to Merrill - Question?
Replies: 8
Views: 915

Re: In Kind Transfer - Vanguard to Merrill - Question?

I just did this a month ago, but my situation may be less complicated than yours because I transferred (wired) 100K from my VG brokerage account. There was a bonus available at the time (https://www.merrilledge.com/offers/me750) to transfer 100K of new money to open a Merrill Edge CMA. I opened the ME CMA, and my plan was to transfer 100K from my Vanguard brokerage account. My Merrill rep recommended that I wire the money in order to avoid any hiccups with transfer and also to speed up the transfer. VG said they could not wire brokerage-to-brokerage. I contacted my ME rep. He said that since I was also wanting to be eligible for Preferred Rewards at the Platinum Honors level, which meant I had to open a BofA personal checking account, I sh...
by guitarguy
Fri Dec 01, 2023 9:16 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: In Kind Transfer - Vanguard to Merrill - Question?
Replies: 8
Views: 915

In Kind Transfer - Vanguard to Merrill - Question?

Hi All,

I'm about to initiate an in kind transfer of my taxable portfolio from Vanguard to Merrill Edge to qualify for the platinum rewards from BoA.

Question: when I complete the transfer in kind, will all of my spec id, cost basis, and gain/loss data carry over as well?

The account transfer is simple: 100% of equity assets are in VV, which is available to hold at Merrill so should be all good there. I've been googling and seem to have found some horror stories about this data not being transferred, not being able to sell lots after the transfer, etc...and now a little nervous. Should I be concerned here? Are the success stories of all the data getting transferred correctly just not posted? :confused
by guitarguy
Thu Nov 30, 2023 3:03 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards
Replies: 7041
Views: 878947

Re: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards

c. Open BoA checking account; what tier is recommended? The account will mostly sit unused with a $5 balance, so I suppose the lowest tier checking will be fine unless the higher tier offers some other advantages that might be useful at some point...? When I opened my checking, the lowest tier account did not qualify me for Preferred Rewards. I needed to open one in the next tier up. Do not know what the offerings are today as big banks seem to change their account line ups frequently. Good to know. Actually...maybe the best approach is just to open the highest tier...regardless the fee is waived with the platinum rewards status it looks like...so there really isn't a downside. Plus I'll earn $0.10 of interest per year on what I leave sitt...
by guitarguy
Thu Nov 30, 2023 2:10 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards
Replies: 7041
Views: 878947

Re: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards

Thanks all for the replies! Me and DW both have the BoA Custom Cash card and Unlimited Cash card. I think we will make the shift from Vanguard to Edge with our taxable account to be above $100k for platinum tier, and use the benefit of these cards plus the preferred rewards for most of our misc shopping going forward. Minimum of 2.625 cash back for all spending...it's a nice setup! Couple follow up questions, and does this make sense for the workflow? a. Open the Merrill Edge account and park $1000 in TTTXX to start and get the account open, check out the user interface, etc [EDIT]: Just completed this step and there's a $250 cash reward for opening the ME account and transferring at least $20k in within 45 days. Nice little bonus! b. Tran...
by guitarguy
Thu Nov 30, 2023 10:05 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards
Replies: 7041
Views: 878947

Re: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards

Thanks all for the replies! Me and DW both have the BoA Custom Cash card and Unlimited Cash card. I think we will make the shift from Vanguard to Edge with our taxable account to be above $100k for platinum tier, and use the benefit of these cards plus the preferred rewards for most of our misc shopping going forward. Minimum of 2.625 cash back for all spending...it's a nice setup! Couple follow up questions, and does this make sense for the workflow? a. Open the Merrill Edge account and park $1000 in TTTXX to start and get the account open, check out the user interface, etc [EDIT]: Just completed this step and there's a $250 cash reward for opening the ME account and transferring at least $20k in within 45 days. Nice little bonus! b. Trans...
by guitarguy
Thu Nov 30, 2023 9:37 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards
Replies: 7041
Views: 878947

Re: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards

Question: how does this affect the Executive membership at Costco? I assume you don't get the 2% back on Costco Cash Card purchases and so it would render keeping the executive membership moot...? Or do you still earn executive cash back when you check out and pay with a Cash Card? :confused <-- This would seem too good to be true. Executive cash back is earned when you spend the Shop card, but not when you purchase it. Whoa! That is a game changer right there. 1. Set BoA custom rewards card to online shopping 2. Use card to purchase Costco Cash Cards online - 5.25% cash back (3% plus 0.75 platinum tier bonus) 3. Shop at store with Costco Cash Cards + Exec Membership - another 2% cash back That is an AWESOME hack for heavy Costco shoppers.
by guitarguy
Wed Nov 29, 2023 3:04 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards
Replies: 7041
Views: 878947

Re: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards

For those that use the BoA credit cards and Merrill investment platform to meet the preferred rewards criteria: 1. Do I have to have a BoA checking account, or can we do a Merrill investment account only to satisfy the $100k balance for platinum tier? 2. At Merrill, do we have to use an advisor or anything like that? Or can we operate like we do at Vanguard and just stick the funds in the right investments ourselves? 3. In our brokerage account at Vanguard, we currently have a chunk of our e-fund in VMFXX (money market), and our taxable investments in VV (Large Cap ETF). Do they have equivalent funds at Merril Lynch? I googled this, and see that you can even hold Vanguard ETFs at Merrill EDGE , but is that the same as Merrill LYNCH which is...
by guitarguy
Wed Nov 29, 2023 2:45 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards
Replies: 7041
Views: 878947

Re: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards

I have not been following this discussion regarding costco e-card. there is a 5% savings to be made? I tried to read through of the threads and don't understand how the 5% saving is done. Can someone kindly explain (again)? You can buy CostCo Shop cards online, and that purchase gets coded as online. If your BofA card is "Customized Cash Rewards" card, and one of your categories is "online shopping", you will get 3% back on such purchase, or 5.25% if you hold Platinum Honors status with Bank of America (through 75% additional bonus). Oh I see. Thanks for this tip. That's nice. But the digital cards don't work on self checkout right? Do you have to pick either "online shopping" or "gas"? If so, the di...
by guitarguy
Wed Nov 29, 2023 2:05 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: TurboTax 2023 offer
Replies: 282
Views: 50657

Re: TurboTax 2023 offer

anon_investor wrote: Tue Nov 28, 2023 10:21 am
Cheez-It Guy wrote: Mon Nov 27, 2023 5:08 am Yes, perhaps. I was busy with family and travel and did not pull the trigger, thinking I had more time. Could be a $10 lesson.
I bet they have the same post Christmas deal they have had the past few years, which was around the same price last year.
I'm hoping for this myself...going to wait and see! It's not the $10...it's the good feeling of "winning" with the best price possible on the product that I think drives this thread every year! :D

In the meantime I've already done my planning and everything using last year's TT what if sheets with 2023 values. Pretty easy to do...no reason to buy it before the very end of the year to get the best (or equivalent to the best) deal.