Search found 200 matches

by H22
Sat Feb 17, 2024 10:19 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: ACA subsidies vs. Roth IRA conversions- how to decide?
Replies: 12
Views: 1405

ACA subsidies vs. Roth IRA conversions- how to decide?

Is there an available tool that considers ACA subsidies in the context of making Roth IRA conversions (or not)? Looking for guidance around whether it makes sense to adjust/curtail Roth IRA conversions if the income realized in so doing would cause a disproportionate increase in ACA plan premiums for those able to manage annual income such that it falls within the ACA subsidy qualifying range? There are probably short-term vs. long-term tradeoffs but would like to see those modeled if there is an available program/tool designed to assess.
by H22
Fri Feb 09, 2024 3:20 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cash App Taxes- any reason to switch?
Replies: 2
Views: 527

Cash App Taxes- any reason to switch?

I've used Cash App Taxes (originally Credit Karma Taxes) the past few years and haven't had any issues to date. I've read so many glowing reviews about FreeTaxUSA, however, I'm wondering if there is value in switching?

I know with Cash App Taxes capital losses from previous years get carried over automatically which is a nice feature. I'd assume manual input of that information from last year's Schedule D into the FreeTaxUSA program would be required.
by H22
Tue Jan 16, 2024 5:05 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Using Gmail with native Apple mail app?
Replies: 12
Views: 1751

Re: Using Gmail with native Apple mail app?

kleiner wrote: Tue Jan 16, 2024 9:57 am
muffins14 wrote: Tue Jan 16, 2024 4:07 am Have you tried an app called Mimestream?


https://techcrunch.com/2023/05/23/forme ... t-for-mac/

It might just be for Mac computer, not iPhone yet
I can also whole heartedly recommend Minestream. Works amazingly well on Macs and is very fast.
$50 per year?
by H22
Wed Jan 03, 2024 6:23 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Guide on decumulation spend?
Replies: 4
Views: 818

Guide on decumulation spend?

Giving thought to the future. With mandatory RMD age shifted to 75, for one who might have 15+ years before reaching that point, is there direction available concerning the potential of spending TIRA dollars before- or in concert with- taxable investments during the interim? Let's assume hypothetically one had $2M in TIRAs, $1.75M in taxable, and $300K in Roth money. If expenses were non-conservatively pegged at $150K/annually and a pension of $28K (non-COLA) were available at age 65 with SS starting at age 70 probably at least $40K (spouse's would add $30K to that), it seems that there could be huge RMD hit unless the TIRAs were utilized (albeit sacrificing ongoing appreciation). I understand Roth conversions are also an option and would f...
by H22
Wed Jul 26, 2023 8:38 am
Forum: Forum Issues and Administration
Topic: Server time off? [Member timezone setting changed]
Replies: 26
Views: 8305

Re: Server time off? [Member timezone setting changed]

prudent wrote: Wed Jul 26, 2023 7:49 am LadyGeek explained this upthread.
LadyGeek wrote: Sun Feb 05, 2023 2:09 pm When not logged in, the timezone will now be US Central time. Why? That's where the site owner lives. :)

The site home page also shows US Central time (logged in or not).
Got it! Thanks.
by H22
Wed Jul 26, 2023 7:42 am
Forum: Forum Issues and Administration
Topic: Server time off? [Member timezone setting changed]
Replies: 26
Views: 8305

Re: Server time off? [Member timezone setting changed]

I'd note that my local time is represented correctly for posts located within the various forums, but when I view what I call the "master" list of posts (i.e., here:https://www.bogleheads.org/index.php) all of these are associated with Central Time. This may be by design, I don't know.
by H22
Sat Jan 21, 2023 5:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Regarding TSA pre-check
Replies: 78
Views: 7721

Re: Regarding TSA pre-check

If TSA is staffing properly, it's worth it. They have done an excellent job marketing the service and there are many users.
by H22
Sun Jan 01, 2023 11:09 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Does the backdoor Roth IRA makes sense?
Replies: 4
Views: 1215

Does the backdoor Roth IRA makes sense?

I have ~$20K in a traditional IRA that was set up many, many moons ago. My understanding is if I converted to a Roth IRA I'd owe taxes on the entire amount as it was funded with deductible dollars? Assuming that to be true, and my tax obligation was in the neighborhood of ~$6K (don't know if this is high, low, or about right!), would it make sense to make such a move so I could then perform the annual exercise of funding a Roth IRA via this backdoor route since I'm ineligible otherwise? Possible derailment to this plan- I also have a Rollover IRA at a different institution that was formerly a 401(k) plan at a previous employer. Would this be viewed differently given its 401(k) beginnings or, for the purposes of backdoor Roth IRAs, would the...
by H22
Sun Jan 01, 2023 10:55 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard still for me, warts and all
Replies: 111
Views: 14979

Re: Vanguard still for me, warts and all

Wading Ashore wrote: Sun Jan 01, 2023 9:13 am I just called Fidelity (yes, on New Year's Day) about transferring my VG accounts. Reached a very polite representative who took my information and said she would refer me to the appropriate people. Watch this space.
I'd like to do the same but, unfortunately, money not in retirement funds would be subject to capital gains. I made the mistake of investing (through VG) in a few individual stocks a number of years ago and it wouldn't make sense- for me at this time- to pay taxes against the associated gains in order to move everything out of VG.
by H22
Fri Dec 23, 2022 8:26 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard still for me, warts and all
Replies: 111
Views: 14979

Re: Vanguard still for me, warts and all

jebmke wrote: Wed Dec 21, 2022 8:05 am
I agree. Switching costs (often mostly hassle and administration of the change) is such that until VG doesn't meet my simple needs, I have no need to leave - weird web site and service issues notwithstanding. If I were to start today, I might well not select them in an objective evaluation of alternatives.
Could have written the same summary. I'd add they've made a couple of errors handling recharacterization moves over the years which took them weeks and weeks to correct (I think) and weren't particularly interested in investing the time to handle their missteps until I escalated.
by H22
Fri Dec 02, 2022 7:38 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should one ever cancel personal disability insurance?
Replies: 12
Views: 820

Should one ever cancel personal disability insurance?

Wanted to hear thoughts concerning any examples of situations where one should consider- if ever- canceling personal disability insurance prior to a policy's coverage end date (payout to 65 years of age if needed) and, instead, pocket the premium dollars?

On a related note, if one were to retire at, say, age 55, could one typically keep a pre-existing individual policy from the likes of Guardian for, up to, ten years as protection against getting severely injured whereby payout dollars could be used to help offset associated medical expenses?

Thanks.
by H22
Fri Nov 25, 2022 10:52 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Thanksgiving Toilet Tank Hissing
Replies: 31
Views: 2776

Re: Thanksgiving Toilet Tank Hissing

sailaway wrote: Thu Nov 24, 2022 12:46 pm
Howie wrote: Thu Nov 24, 2022 12:39 pm And since we're on the topic, what about a "whining/whistling" sound when flushed? One of my toilets has started to exhibit this peculiar noise.

Thanks.
Sometimes this means the flow is being restricted somewhere between the faucet and the fill. Have you and any plumbing done recently that involved turning the water off and back on? This can flush sentiment thought the system and clog faucets and toilets.
Appreciate the response. No plumbing recently...
by H22
Thu Nov 24, 2022 12:39 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Thanksgiving Toilet Tank Hissing
Replies: 31
Views: 2776

Re: Thanksgiving Toilet Tank Hissing

And since we're on the topic, what about a "whining/whistling" sound when flushed? One of my toilets has started to exhibit this peculiar noise.

Thanks.
by H22
Sat Nov 05, 2022 5:08 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Streaming Challenges: Where's CBS?
Replies: 25
Views: 2089

Re: Streaming Challenges: Where's CBS?

Stinky wrote: Sat Nov 05, 2022 4:33 pm The Georgia Tennessee game is on CBS TV right now.

Streaming just fine on my YouTubeTV.
Same here. YouTubeTV is showing the game on the local CBS affiliate.
by H22
Sat Sep 24, 2022 6:46 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Daily contact lenses?
Replies: 27
Views: 4289

Re: Daily contact lenses?

Very coincidental I'd find this discussion at the top of my Bogleheads feed. I just visited my optometrist and was given a trial of daily contacts (I've been wearing 2-weeks for over 30 years). I wore them for the first time today and am reasonably pleased with the experience. Assuming I make the move, there will be changes necessary from a lifestyle perspective. Specifically, I'll need to stash readers in multiple places as these would be required if the contacts are being worn (being nearsighted I need to "correct" my "corrected" vision). I'll also have to make a decision concerning whether to keep a small inventory of Acuvue Oasys 2-week contacts around for those times I might wear contacts for a brief amount of time ...
by H22
Sat Apr 23, 2022 6:15 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Upcoming ireland/N. Ireland trip- which debit card for ATMs?
Replies: 12
Views: 995

Re: Upcoming ireland/N. Ireland trip- which debit card for ATMs?

Spiderv6 wrote: Sat Apr 23, 2022 7:59 am You will likely use a LOT less cash than you expect. In Europe it’s very much a cashless society. Tap and Go. Even for a 2 euro coffee, its card transactions.

Make sure you have a card with the tap and go logo and you will be covered for almost any situation.

People actually frown on using cash (who wants to touch that filthy infected object….!!)
It's a golf trip so tipping the caddies in cash will be required. Beyond that, I am expecting your assessment to be correct!
by H22
Sat Apr 23, 2022 6:14 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Upcoming ireland/N. Ireland trip- which debit card for ATMs?
Replies: 12
Views: 995

Re: Upcoming ireland/N. Ireland trip- which debit card for ATMs?

MGBMartin wrote: Sat Apr 23, 2022 6:59 am
Make sure you use ATMs at banks or affiliated with banks, in other words not in a convenience store etc.
Also, if the machine offers to process your transaction in $ instead of local currency do not choose this option as it will cost you maybe 7%. Look up Dynamic Currency Conversion to understand more. Same applies to using a credit card for purchases.
Great tip regarding having purchases processed in the local currency...
by H22
Sat Apr 23, 2022 6:57 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Upcoming ireland/N. Ireland trip- which debit card for ATMs?
Replies: 12
Views: 995

Re: Upcoming ireland/N. Ireland trip- which debit card for ATMs?

TheGreyingDuke wrote: Sat Apr 23, 2022 6:48 am The Fidelity debit card does this if connected to a Cash Management account.
Thank you. So the 1% foreign transaction fee Fidelity charges when using its debit card is for purchases only (ATM activity would be exempted)?
by H22
Fri Apr 22, 2022 10:00 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Upcoming ireland/N. Ireland trip- which debit card for ATMs?
Replies: 12
Views: 995

Upcoming ireland/N. Ireland trip- which debit card for ATMs?

I've narrowed the credit card list down to the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Citi Costco Visa for no foreign transaction fees, but would appreciate input around a debit/ATM card to use while in Ireland and Northern Ireland that wouldn't charge ATM or foreign transaction fees and would have a reasonable cap on daily withdrawals (say, $500 or even $1000).

Thanks.
by H22
Mon Nov 29, 2021 10:49 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Medicare or company insurance for a disabled spouse?
Replies: 15
Views: 1111

Re: Medicare or company insurance for a disabled spouse?

InMyDreams wrote: Mon Nov 29, 2021 10:04 am If this is a HDHP, there are rules about not allowing enrollment in Medicare and an HSA at the same time. Not sure how it works when a married couple has one on MCare and the other is not.
This is not an HDHP. Thanks to all thus far for the input...it's quite helpful.
by H22
Sun Nov 28, 2021 5:59 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Medicare or company insurance for a disabled spouse?
Replies: 15
Views: 1111

Re: Medicare or company insurance for a disabled spouse?

InMyDreams wrote: Sun Nov 28, 2021 5:55 pm How big is the company.

Talk to a SHIP counselor.
10,000+ employees...
by H22
Sun Nov 28, 2021 5:57 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Medicare or company insurance for a disabled spouse?
Replies: 15
Views: 1111

Re: Medicare or company insurance for a disabled spouse?

dbr wrote: Sun Nov 28, 2021 5:52 pm I would find out from my company insurance how they treat insured dependents that are Medicare qualified. It may be they are not qualified for employer coverage without taking the Medicare A and B coverage.

A possible situation is to sign up for Medicare and the company insurance becomes secondary to cover costs not included in Medicare. Generally a retired person who takes Medicare insurance buys a Medigap plan for additional coverage, which in some cases is the retiree insurance plan from the employer.
In this instance they are qualified even if Medicare B coverage isn't taken (Medicare A is automatic). Thanks.
by H22
Sun Nov 28, 2021 4:37 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Medicare or company insurance for a disabled spouse?
Replies: 15
Views: 1111

Medicare or company insurance for a disabled spouse?

High level question concerning a spouse (<65 years old) who has become disabled and now qualifies for Medicare. Generally speaking, is it a better move financially to keep him/her as a dependent on one's company health insurance or is Medicare a better choice (including range of procedures covered, drugs covered, etc.)?

Let's assume for the sake of this question a company health insurance program with a $1,200 deductible and $3,400 out of pocket maximum per individual.

Thanks for the input.
by H22
Sat Nov 06, 2021 5:30 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: [Pay mortgage off?]
Replies: 12
Views: 2093

Re: Pay it off?

Appreciate the responses including the several thought provoking questions...
by H22
Mon Nov 01, 2021 10:50 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: [Pay mortgage off?]
Replies: 12
Views: 2093

[Pay mortgage off?]

The mortgage question has been asked many times before but with inflation where it is and if one has, say, a <3% fixed rate….is it foolish to pay off a mortgage?

If not foolish, do the number of years remaining factor into the logic regarding? Amortization schedules show lots of interest early in the loan term and a smaller percentage (interest vs. principal) in each monthly payment as the years progress.

Thanks.
by H22
Tue Apr 06, 2021 7:00 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 0% LTCG vs Roth conversion under 22% bracket?
Replies: 26
Views: 2832

Re: 0% LTCG vs Roth conversion under 22% bracket?

I thought so, too, until I better understood how LTCG rates are determined. I can do Roth conversions and stay under the 22% ordinary bracket but still have to pay 15% on all of the LTCG. Marginal rates for ordinary income are determined independently of LTCG, but LTCG are stacked on top of ordinary income to determine LTCG rates. The lower margin for the 15% LTCG bracket is 80,800 of combined ordinary taxable income plus LTCG. Let's say I have 10K in LTCG. If I withdraw from my TIRA up to the 81,050 limit of the 12% ordinary bracket, all of the LTCG will be above the 80,800 lower limit, with the result of all LTCG being taxed at 15%. I have to keep ordinary income under 70,800 to keep the entire 10K of LTCG in the 0% LTCG bracket. If my o...
by H22
Fri Mar 26, 2021 2:56 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 401k/Roth IRA tax handling
Replies: 1
Views: 244

401k/Roth IRA tax handling

Question concerning withdrawals against one’s 401k or Traditional IRA- let’s say the value is $400K with $200K coming from contributions and $200K from gains/dividend reinvestment.

How are taxes handled? Is it one’s tax bracket % for the portion that is from actual contributions and the capital gains tax rate for the rest?

Same tax handling for conversions into a Roth IRA?

Thanks for the clarity.
by H22
Sun Mar 07, 2021 7:26 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: So what kind of raise did you guys get for 2021?
Replies: 251
Views: 27114

Re: So what kind of raise did you guys get for 2021?

3% base- lump sum due to being at top of Megacorp salary band. 16% bonus.
by H22
Wed Jan 27, 2021 11:04 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: [GameStop GME trading mega-thread]
Replies: 5086
Views: 400847

Re: GameStop GME: anyone joining?

Basically, Melvin borrowed shares of GME from someone (could be you, could be me- brokerages lend out shares in exchange for a small fee all the time), with a contract to return them. Typically shorts are reconciled overnight, but that might just mean that they put up more collateral if necessary and pay the small fee again, and sometimes they're for a longer period. They sold those shares to someone else, on the theory that GME's price is heading lower, and that they'll rebuy them at a lower price and then return them to the original holder. If the price does indeed go lower, Melvin pockets the difference between the price they sold at and the price they bought at, less the small fee they paid. That's why it's called "shorting"-...
by H22
Wed Jan 27, 2021 5:50 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: [GameStop GME trading mega-thread]
Replies: 5086
Views: 400847

Re: GameStop GME: anyone joining?

canadianbacon wrote: Wed Jan 27, 2021 5:42 pm WSB discord has been banned and the subreddit is not accessible (maybe taken private?)
Game (pun intended) over. At least via Reddit. Thinking this army will regather elsewhere and proceed?
by H22
Sun Jan 24, 2021 10:56 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: So you hit your number. Now what?
Replies: 75
Views: 9906

Re: So you hit your number. Now what?

So you've hit your number prior to your anticipated retirement age. From a positioning perspective, do you immediately shift to an ultra conservative strategy in an effort to stay at or above said number until you finally shut it down or do you continue to plow ahead with your current portfolio? I'm appealing to those who were/are relatively aggressive in their historical allocation (~85%+ equities). Thoughts? The answer to this question cannot be provided without identifying who this person is. Are they a young retiree who hit their number or older? What age? What is the plan for their money? Do they want to draw it down to $0 at passing or bequeath monies to children? First of all, thanks to all thus far with the input provided. It's bee...
by H22
Thu Jan 21, 2021 10:58 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: So you hit your number. Now what?
Replies: 75
Views: 9906

So you hit your number. Now what?

So you've hit your number prior to your anticipated retirement age. From a positioning perspective, do you immediately shift to an ultra conservative strategy in an effort to stay at or above said number until you finally shut it down or do you continue to plow ahead with your current portfolio?

I'm appealing to those who were/are relatively aggressive in their historical allocation (~85%+ equities).

Thoughts?
by H22
Sat Jan 09, 2021 6:03 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What are your Lean FIRE, FIRE, and Fat FIRE numbers?
Replies: 307
Views: 36437

Re: What are your Lean FIRE, FIRE, and Fat FIRE numbers?

am wrote: Sat Jan 09, 2021 2:33 pm You can list your yearly spend at lean, fire and fat fire, but there will be intense disagreements on what kind of nest egg you need. And no one knows because no one knows the future. Shoot for fat fire assuming 3.5-4% swr and adjust to fire or lean if things go bad is my approach.
I like this approach.
by H22
Wed Dec 16, 2020 6:40 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Can anyone reach Vanguard on the phone?
Replies: 244
Views: 32553

Re: Can anyone reach Vanguard on the phone?

illumination wrote: Wed Dec 16, 2020 5:50 pm Nobody should put up with service like that where you call for days and can't get through. Vote with your feet and leave. That's really beyond the pale.

And people seem to have this idea that any of the "other" places are just full of conartists that want to steal your money.
So what are the top 2 or 3 firms (excluding Fidelity) folks have successfully left VG for?
by H22
Wed Dec 16, 2020 6:38 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Can anyone reach Vanguard on the phone?
Replies: 244
Views: 32553

Re: Can anyone reach Vanguard on the phone?

rkhusky wrote: Wed Dec 16, 2020 5:26 pm
Howie wrote: Wed Dec 16, 2020 2:40 pm Currently on hold. Wait time has been advertised as 20-30 minutes.
Still on hold?
Nope. Hung up after 45 minutes.
by H22
Wed Dec 16, 2020 2:40 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Can anyone reach Vanguard on the phone?
Replies: 244
Views: 32553

Re: Can anyone reach Vanguard on the phone?

Currently on hold. Wait time has been advertised as 20-30 minutes.
by H22
Thu Nov 26, 2020 1:03 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How much money do you want to retire?
Replies: 1367
Views: 208793

Re: How much money do you want to retire?

This was a tweet from Rick Ferri a few month back Goals for Retirees based on 385 clients < $2M - not run out of money 2-5M - live comfy, travel, tax efficiency 5-10M -live, comfy, travel, tax eff, legacy for heirs, charity, low tax >10M - philanthropy, legacy for heirs and low tax when asked about Spending for these groups "Ironically I don't see much difference between the groups. Roughly $60K spending up to $2M and then maybe $100K to $10M. $150K beyond if you exclude gifting/charity. Rarely do I see spending over $250K" Countless words on this thread and this for me is the bottom line. Once you have 2 mil+ topped off with SS and payed off home, your set. Adding more is icing on the cake. Once you attain the $2M level do you t...
by H22
Thu Nov 12, 2020 11:31 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Google Photos
Replies: 56
Views: 5323

Re: Google Photos

dukeblue219 wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 12:15 pm Amazon has a pretty good cloud photo service as well for Prime members. Don’t forget it as an alternative.
I wonder if there is a way to easily get one’s collection of Google Photos transferred to Amazon Photos which doesn’t involve downloading to a hard drive and then uploading to the Amazon cloud?
by H22
Fri Jul 24, 2020 6:25 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Housing strategy in retirement?
Replies: 8
Views: 983

Housing strategy in retirement?

Reading the currently active thread on the pros and cons of owning a big home got me thinking about the couple who retires without children or other heirs. What’s the strategy to pursue concerning place of residence in retirement? Simply rent for the rest of ballgame? Buy a home and pursue a reverse mortgage? Something else?

Thanks.
by H22
Fri Jan 17, 2020 3:48 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Year 2000 retirees using the '4% rule' - Where are they now?
Replies: 1177
Views: 205666

Re: Year 2000 retirees using the '4% rule' - Where are they now?

HomerJ wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2020 3:17 pm
pop77 wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2020 2:09 pm If you have 25 times expenses without considering social security income that should give a good buffer, if you hit several years of down markets right? (Even if SS gets cut by 20% in the future)..
Absolutely.

Depends on your expenses of course... If you spend $300,000 a year, SS isn't going to help much.

If you spend $70,000 a year, a $20,000 SS check is a very nice buffer. If they are two of you, SS could be $40,000+.
And using a modeler such as FireCalc, IMO, weaves these types of assumptions nicely into the result algorithms.
by H22
Mon Nov 11, 2019 7:20 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: I think my friend is already financially independent (through a fantastic bitcoin investment), can you confirm?
Replies: 49
Views: 7788

Re: I think my friend is already financially independent (through a fantastic bitcoin investment), can you confirm?

What are the specifics behind $5K health care annually? My FIRE timing could be accelerated if this were the guaranteed max exposure of this expense.
by H22
Sat Nov 02, 2019 10:47 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Networking Equipment Question
Replies: 12
Views: 1194

Re: Networking Equipment Question

If I understand your setup correctly you would run an Ethernet cable from your Orbi router to a switch in the office from where your devices are located. I have a similar setup with the Google Wifi system and don’t require a second router.

Out of curiosity do the Orbi satellite units have backhaul capability? I’ve found better Wifi speeds when my access points are hardwired vs. wireless.
by H22
Thu Oct 24, 2019 1:49 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Sanity check on PPO vs HDHP
Replies: 32
Views: 4467

Re: Sanity check on PPO vs HDHP

jgalt133 wrote: Thu Oct 24, 2019 10:46 am
Howie wrote: Wed Oct 23, 2019 11:14 pm How do prescription drugs factor into both plans?
For the HDHP, prescription drugs count towards the deductible and out of pocket maximum. For the PPO, it's a separate deductible and out of pocket maximum.
You have a good plan then as many of the HSA Plans have a separate Out-of-Pocket Maximum for Pharmacy (prescription drugs) which dramatically increases one's exposure in a worst-case scenario. An example would be a plan which has a $5,000 family deductible for Medical and Pharmacy expenses that, once met, covers all Medical at 100% but prescription drugs would be subject to a higher Out-of-Pocket Maximum (say $12,000 for an additional $7,000 potential spend in a worst-case situation).
by H22
Wed Oct 23, 2019 11:14 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Sanity check on PPO vs HDHP
Replies: 32
Views: 4467

Re: Sanity check on PPO vs HDHP

How do prescription drugs factor into both plans?
by H22
Fri Aug 30, 2019 4:27 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Another round of annual LTD coverage increases?
Replies: 1
Views: 297

Another round of annual LTD coverage increases?

Six years ago I purchased a private LTD policy and annually there was an opportunity to increase the monthly coverage for a modest premium increase. This rider has expired and, in order, to re-initiate this rider for six more years I would need to again go through the application process. This includes another series of background checks (health, employment, credit, investigative consumer, etc.).

I'm unsure I want to go through the hassle involved for what would net out to be approximately a 19:1 ratio of coverage vs. premium increase (e.g., $300 coverage increase for $16/month).

Thoughts?

Thanks.
by H22
Wed Aug 07, 2019 11:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: wifi router, too many options!
Replies: 41
Views: 4069

Re: wifi router, too many options!

sk2101 wrote: Wed Aug 07, 2019 3:06 pm
ETA2: No VPN or wired connections (only 1 ethernet port on the main unit) though. You could configure your old router as a bridge and run the VPN and wired connections from there.
For Ethernet backhaul a switch behind the main Google Wifi router also works well.
by H22
Thu Aug 01, 2019 5:32 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Acura RDX vs Audi Q5
Replies: 98
Views: 13367

Re: Acura RDX vs Audi Q5

msi wrote: Sun Jul 21, 2019 1:59 am If you're planning to buy... the 2019 RDX has a 2/5 for reliability from Consumer Reports. Q5 gets a 3/5.

But in my experience with Acura, the repairs and maintenance are fairly cheap. Never owned an Audi.
Didn’t realize Honda’s quality had dropped off so far...
by H22
Sat Jun 08, 2019 4:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: iPad for notetaking with stylus
Replies: 10
Views: 1249

Re: iPad for notetaking with stylus

Evernote.
by H22
Sat May 18, 2019 10:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Guidance on choosing between UMich and Brown
Replies: 102
Views: 11711

Re: Guidance on choosing between UMich and Brown

psteinx wrote: Fri May 17, 2019 1:04 pm
Jags4186 wrote: Fri May 17, 2019 12:48 pm Could someone educate me on what the “lower Ivy League” schools are?
Brown, Cornell, Penn (outside of Business) and Dartmouth.
In the most recent WSJ college rankings, the Ivies placed seven of their eight institutions in the Top 11. Dartmouth was #17.
by H22
Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:40 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Where do you keep your emergency fund?
Replies: 99
Views: 15487

Re: Where do you keep your emergency fund?

Turbo29 wrote: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:24 pm
Howie wrote: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:18 pm
Afty wrote: Sat Jan 26, 2019 3:21 pm Capital One 360 MM account at 2% interest, FDIC insured.
The amount >$10K. The dollars below that threshold receive a lower rate.
They pay it on the entire balance so long as you have >=$10000
Thanks for the correction! Seems a decent rate for parking one's EF.