Search found 87 matches

by C319
Sun Nov 20, 2016 1:15 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Fountain Pens - Do you use one?
Replies: 104
Views: 14430

Re: Fountain Pens - Do you use one?

Lamy Safari is my daily "work" pen. I like it.
by C319
Mon Dec 08, 2014 6:50 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why have more US than Intl Market Index?
Replies: 65
Views: 6259

Re: Why have more US than Intl Market Index?

50:50 US/Intl here. The U.S. is a stable economy today and likely will remain so - with that said, the future is uncertain and foreign companies know how to make money too. In any case I prefer to avoid home country bias going forward. Who knows?
by C319
Mon Nov 17, 2014 6:53 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Paid off our Mortgage this evening!
Replies: 75
Views: 14190

Re: Paid off our Mortgage this evening!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Feels good, doesn't it?
by C319
Fri Nov 14, 2014 7:00 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Why own International at all?
Replies: 45
Views: 7087

Re: Why own International at all?

I keep the equity portion of my investment portfolio to 50% international because I figure:
a)It approximates the ratio of the global markets vice a home-country approach.
b)I can't predict the future so I hedge my bets.
by C319
Sun Oct 19, 2014 12:20 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should I (physician) get an MBA?
Replies: 31
Views: 6496

Re: Should I (physician) get an MBA?

Some great responses so far. As was already mentioned, I think you should give the MHA strong consideration. For some perspective, I'm a maxillofacial surgeon with 21 years hospital-based practice (fellowship in facial trauma reconstruction) and have an MHA from Baylor U (go Bears!). I have found the education tremendously valuable in my development as a clinician/administrator in a large healthcare system. As sambb said, excellence in administration comes at a cost to clinical practice but if you enjoy leadership, then it's totally worth it IMHO, after you have some more practice time under your belt, get board certified and establish your clinical expertise. Also make sure you're clear on your goals - while having another degree is alrigh...
by C319
Sun Mar 02, 2014 6:20 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Purchasing physical gold??
Replies: 71
Views: 14241

Re: Purchasing physical gold??

I've used bullion direct for about ten years with no issues so far.
by C319
Sun Mar 02, 2014 6:18 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cheap ammo
Replies: 32
Views: 5181

Re: Cheap ammo

I've had good experiences with both Widener's and LAX Ammo. You might want to try ammoseek meta-search as well
by C319
Mon Jan 13, 2014 3:30 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: High Earners - What's Your Profession?
Replies: 1217
Views: 222958

Re: High Earners - What's Your Profession?

Oral Surgeon
by C319
Thu Apr 11, 2013 6:59 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Time to celebrate? One goal met.
Replies: 48
Views: 7281

Re: Time to celebrate? One goal met.

Congratulations and thanks for sharing. It's amazing how it grows over time. Hopefully an inspiration to those just starting out.
:sharebeer
by C319
Sun Feb 10, 2013 8:21 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Car buying and financial ratios - what do Bogleheads do?
Replies: 100
Views: 12105

Re: Car buying and financial ratios - what do Bogleheads do?

Greetings AustenNut.
Cars roughly 4% of net worth was simply what I interpolated from Thomas Stanley's book "The Millionaire Next Door" where he discusses household spending patterns and car buying habits. It's remained part of my IPS since I read the book and have always used this figure when considering car purchases. I agree it may not fit all situations, but has been a good guide for me over the years.
by C319
Wed Feb 06, 2013 6:48 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Car buying and financial ratios - what do Bogleheads do?
Replies: 100
Views: 12105

Re: Car buying and financial ratios - 2013 UPDATE

Greetings Bogleheads. As the OP, I just wanted to update my post to fill in "the rest of the story" as hopefully it helps someone else. In June 2011 I pulled the trigger and sold my Toyota Avalon and paid cash for a gently used Lexus LS460. Beautiful car, but felt like too much (to me) to drive every day so I sold it and bought a used Prius which I'm very happy with. Paid off the mortgage in November 2011 and took my family on a really nice Caribbean vacation for Christmas. At 45, a net worth of $2.1M, two homes paid for and no debt feels good to me. I really enjoy my job and plan to keep working until age 62 (mandatory military retirement age). In the interim we've saved more aggressively and begun taking more frequent family vac...
by C319
Wed Feb 06, 2013 6:15 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Anybody purposely loading up on mortgage debt?
Replies: 107
Views: 14365

Re: Anybody purposely loading up on mortgage debt?

Paid off the mortgage in November 2011. No regrets. We're saving extra and are less stressed about cash flow.
by C319
Thu Nov 08, 2012 11:43 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Fess up, Bogleheads - what is your portfolio?
Replies: 78
Views: 9925

Re: Fess up, Bogleheads - what is your portfolio?

35% Total Stock Market Index
35% Total International Stock Index
15% Total Bond Market Index
15% TSP G-Fund
by C319
Sat Apr 21, 2012 3:12 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Where do we bogleheads Splurge?!
Replies: 138
Views: 14510

Re: Where do we bogleheads Splurge?!

Paid off the mortgage a few months ago. Don't know if it counts as a real splurge, but sure felt like one when I wrote the check.
No regrets.
by C319
Sat Jan 21, 2012 2:01 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What Percentage of your Gross Income for Housing & Auto?
Replies: 87
Views: 9874

Re: What Percentage of your Gross Income for Housing & Auto?

natureexplorer wrote:If one owns a place without a mortgage, should one still consider the cost of capital tied up in it? (There has to be some opportunity cost.) So I question those stating "no mortgage" and "no car note", whether their costs are really that low. And a car also has a depreciation cost - are you considering that?
Interesting idea about opportunity cost and depreciation. I've never thought of it that way and don't count cars as part of my net worth. I just know my expenses are low enough that I can survive just fine without an income. On this issue the peace of mind outweighs the math for me and my family. I'd be interested to know the views of others.
by C319
Sat Jan 21, 2012 6:31 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What Percentage of your Gross Income for Housing & Auto?
Replies: 87
Views: 9874

Re: What Percentage of your Gross Income for Housing & Auto?

Two homes, two cars, no debt. Expenses were about 6% last year.
by C319
Sun Jun 26, 2011 11:01 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What do you pay for house-cleaning services?
Replies: 82
Views: 21236

rustymutt wrote:Are they here legally?
Yes.
by C319
Fri Jun 24, 2011 11:25 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Keeping your car shiny
Replies: 23
Views: 3379

I have a mobile detail guy polish, wax & interior/exterior detail in April and October. Other than that just touchless drive-through to knock off the loose stuff once a month.
by C319
Wed Jun 22, 2011 10:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How much do Bogleheads pay for their cars?
Replies: 79
Views: 10814

Paid $41,000 cash yesterday for a used Lexus LS460. Am very happy with the purchase.
by C319
Sun Jun 19, 2011 9:25 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Military - buy or rent?
Replies: 27
Views: 2600

We did end up doing very well financially So, you made a lot of money in real estate? Why would you discourage someone from doing the same when they could avoid the risks you took? How did you dissolve your holdings? Did you just sell when you thought the market was high and paid the taxes? Everytime I run the figures for myself I don't see a better financial alternative. I'd sure like to hear yours. No, sorry...I meant that we did better AFTER we sold and became more diversified. My point is that we did well, but not because of real estate. The bulk of our nest egg came from saving 30% of pre-tax income, low expenses, no consumer or credit card debt, and investing in a diversified 80/20 portfolio through our 20s and 30s. We were able to b...
by C319
Sun Jun 19, 2011 7:49 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Military - buy or rent?
Replies: 27
Views: 2600

Honobob wrote:Sounds like Dollysods84 could learn from your mistakes. There is a learning curve and not repeating mistakes moves you further down the road to success. Probably more important than knowing what a successful person does.
Okay, will do. Funny thing is it worked out...barely. Even now I cringe when I think about how much risk we were taking without even realizing it. We did end up doing very well financially after we dumped the properties and diversified more. I've come to embrace simplicity in investing and life, because it just works.
by C319
Sun Jun 19, 2011 6:37 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Military - buy or rent?
Replies: 27
Views: 2600

BLUF: Rent, don't buy. I've been exactly where you are now as a serial property buyer. Early in my military career I had rentals in Hinesville GA, the DC area and Texas (10 houses total). Knowing what I know now I'd strongly suggest you not buy another house. In fact, I'd sell the first one when you move and put the money in your taxable investment portfolio. You are going to take on far more leverage and risk than you realize and the deal will only work if everything works as you plan it, which never happens. You are obviously a bright young man who has thought through the numbers but life is not linear, and stuff happens when we least expect it. If I were you I'd rent something nice and stick any RE investment money in REITs until the las...
by C319
Fri Jun 17, 2011 3:54 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What inspired your avatar?
Replies: 79
Views: 7484

I'm wearing my avatar. Go Army!
by C319
Mon May 23, 2011 6:01 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 20 or 30 year mortgage?
Replies: 21
Views: 3771

Refinanced 3 years ago to a 10-year. Although we could possibly make more investing the difference on a longer term, we are still saving 30% of our incomes and once the house is paid off we have the option of either continuing to invest the former mortgage payment or simply cut back/quit working. Sometimes I guess it's about math and sometimes about the heart. Good luck.
by C319
Sat May 14, 2011 1:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Your best non-financial investment?
Replies: 52
Views: 8136

Deciding on a career field very early in life (decided on healthcare at age 10) and sticking with it has paid off. Also not switching jobs has turned out to be a good "investment", although it would be an understatement to say that military life can be really tough on a family. That said, with seniority comes some nice privileges to accompany the increased responsibilities. Most of all I am proud to have the privilege of serving my country in a tangible way and yes, the pension is something to look forward to.
by C319
Thu May 12, 2011 5:08 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What's Your Monthly/Yearly Budget (as a %)
Replies: 17
Views: 3369

Our goal has been to keep living expenses to around 30% of household gross income. Basically our thought is 1/3rd to taxes, 1/3rd to live on and 1/3rd for savings and investments.
by C319
Thu May 12, 2011 1:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bird keeps attacking my window
Replies: 54
Views: 13983

Ruger Air Hawk .177
by C319
Thu May 12, 2011 12:37 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: The only wine a Boglehead should drink
Replies: 16
Views: 2244

When I first saw the thread title, I thought "free".
by C319
Thu May 12, 2011 9:54 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Young investor in need of help with post-deployment savings.
Replies: 18
Views: 3722

heytred,
First off, thanks for serving your country. I agree that you should do nothing until you read more and really understand and have internalized how investing works. Resist the urge to "do something" without first gathering wisdom. Custodial transfer from USAA to VG would probably be a good move, but you need to read more so you'll understand why.

Congrats on completing your operational tour with money in the bank. As a leader I always cringed when my folks would show up with expensive new cars post-deployment, but you can't regulate stupidity. Your future is bright.
by C319
Tue May 10, 2011 2:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How much do you really pay for your smartphone?
Replies: 70
Views: 10593

T-Mobile prepaid (no contract): unlimited talk/text/data: $70/mo.

Love my Dell Streak 5"
by C319
Mon May 09, 2011 3:08 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Annual Home Maintenance Expenses
Replies: 47
Views: 17808

I have always used 2% of "house value" meaning implied rebuild value of the structure with no premium for the area or land value.

This has worked well so far. Sometimes the account seems fat and then a large expense comes along and I'm glad the money is there. Home repairs and maintenance are not an emergency, so we budget for this separately from our emergency fund.
by C319
Mon May 09, 2011 2:49 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: How not to invest
Replies: 16
Views: 2966

Don't forget about alternative pharma sector funds:
(WEED) and (GNJA)

Never invested personally, but heard about 'em "on the street".
:wink:
by C319
Wed Apr 20, 2011 10:10 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: New home build...anything youd want/change/splurge on...
Replies: 95
Views: 15600

A garage ceiling tall enough to accomodate a parking/maintenance lift.
by C319
Sat Apr 09, 2011 11:16 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Emergency Fund Mess?
Replies: 8
Views: 2338

The combined ER of the portfolio you listed is 1.3672%, which is coming directly out of your returns each and every year. This is is 7x the cost of VG Intermediate Term Tax Exempt (VWITX) and 8x the cost of VG Tax Exempt MM (VMSXX).

As others have said, I think it's no question you'll do better long term by taking the one-time sales load hit and moving on.
by C319
Fri Apr 08, 2011 11:07 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Wanting to open a couple of credit cards; questions
Replies: 31
Views: 14082

To novastepp: What's your goal here? Please explain.

I am utterly confused as to the benefits of opening up credit card accounts in your situation. At 25 years of age, student loans and history of on-time lease payments should be more than enough to build a credit rating over time. Why on Earth does one need credit cards when you've barely started your adult life and are still in school with no steady income?

I haven't had a credit card in over 10 years and last time I checked, my FICO score was low 800s, so I reject the idea that one must have credit cards to build a credit rating. Again I ask, what is your goal? If your goal is to build wealth, credit cards won't do that in my opinion. Best of luck in your PhD program.
by C319
Thu Apr 07, 2011 8:49 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Tax Protected Accounts- How To Add Enough?
Replies: 11
Views: 2294

Re: Tax Protected Accounts- How To Add Enough?

Miskatonic wrote: As in...
Vanguard California Intermediate-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares (VCAIX)
or

Vanguard Intermediate-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares (VWITX)

...would be appropriate choices to be held in a taxable account until that time I've been able to build up my IRA holdings?
Those would certainly fit the bill. I use USAA Tax Exempt Intermediate-Term (USATX). Not crazy about the ER (0.47%) but it serves its purpose. It's convenient to transfer money from USAA checking and has very little AMT exposure.
by C319
Thu Apr 07, 2011 11:57 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Is my portfolio too conservative?
Replies: 20
Views: 3164

Your asset allocation appears okay. More importantly, what's your savings rate? At your current level of savings the amount you're putting aside probably matters more than how it's invested.
by C319
Thu Apr 07, 2011 9:57 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: So...how much should I spend on a used car?
Replies: 19
Views: 3293

My rule of thumb has been not to have more than 4% of household net worth in vehicles. Tough to stick with sometimes, but has served us well.
by C319
Wed Apr 06, 2011 10:06 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Tax Protected Accounts- How To Add Enough?
Replies: 11
Views: 2294

Re: Tax Protected Accounts- How To Add Enough?

Miskatonic wrote:In a bull market, people would be needing to furiously add Bonds or the like to maintain their AA, how do you do it, where do you put them?

thanks,
I use an intermediate muni bond fund for this purpose.
by C319
Sat Mar 26, 2011 3:48 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How big is big for a house and who cleans it?
Replies: 63
Views: 11157

4,000 sf main + 800 sf guest house, and is by far the smallest house in the neighborhood. We hire out housekeeping and yard maintenance. Absolutely love the home and area. Just us & one kid.
by C319
Sat Mar 26, 2011 2:45 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Not financing a car - Is it only me?
Replies: 100
Views: 14641

I'm not following your logic. Even if you pay cash for a car, wouldn't that money have also been accumulated with after tax wages? Sure, the taxes are always there but not the additional financial drag of interest payments or potential cash flow squeeze that may result from required future monthly loan payments. Also receiving, rather than paying interest means not having to save up as much to buy stuff. We use a short term tax-exempt bond fund (USSTX) to save for larger, longer-term discretionary purchases (car replacements, large remodeling projects, special vacations etc). For cars, $400 set aside monthly at a rounded 3.5% yield (current 10-yr avg for USSTX is 3.42%) would give $26,189 to spend on a replacement every 5 years ($24,000 co...
by C319
Fri Mar 25, 2011 12:14 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Not financing a car - Is it only me?
Replies: 100
Views: 14641

Maybe I'm financially unsophisticated, but I sincerely don't understand the virtues of debt arbitrage and of holding on to "low cost" debt for the stated purpose of building wealth faster. When I take on debt to buy something I pay back the loan using after tax wages - so my labor must generate something like $1.30 for every dollar owed, not including interest. So the way I see it, a loan at say, 5% is not really 5%, it seems more like 35% considering the extra hours of wages it takes to pay it off due to the tax drag. Yes...I would have had to pay taxes anyway but funky math aside, my larger point is that it seems like debts represent a much larger claim on one's future income stream than the interest rate alone would imply. Debt...
by C319
Wed Mar 23, 2011 8:43 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Financially unprepared parents in old age?
Replies: 40
Views: 7793

To C319 I'm facing this issue now with my own parents and it is really heartbreaking I copied your story for my wife to read. She said to tell you that your parents have a wonderful child....You!. And I agree. She would like to know how you obtained your values. You evidently did not inherit them. Jim Thanks for the compliment Jim. I always felt I was different (not superior, just different) from most of my family in that I am a natural saver and able to delay gratification. I started working and saving at age 5 and paid my own way through college and dental school, usually working at least two jobs. Residency was easy as it was the first time in my life I didn't have to work while in school. The discipline gained in military life hasn't h...
by C319
Wed Mar 23, 2011 4:19 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Financially unprepared parents in old age?
Replies: 40
Views: 7793

I think that for some people, especially older people with a relatively short life expectancy, it is rational to keep spending and not worry about their debt anymore, especially if people are willing to lend them more money. If you do not have the desire to leave an inheritance, when you are dead, it doesn't matter how much money you have, or how much debt you have. If you are 80 years old, and you have a pile of debt and no savings, it is probably counter-productive to your happiness in your remaining years to try and reverse a lifetime of spending habits and pay off debt that will probably never get paid off anyway. They should just keep doing what they are doing, and be happy. Sometimes we Bogleheads tend to get too judgmental. I kind o...
by C319
Wed Mar 23, 2011 12:06 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Financially unprepared parents in old age?
Replies: 40
Views: 7793

I'm facing this issue now with my own parents and it is really heartbreaking. My parents are very nice people who worked hard their whole lives but mismanaged their finances due to impulsive decision making. My father never believed in saving/investing and my mom knew better but wouldn't speak up. Not to be pejorative, but they are the kind of people who believe the lottery is the only way to get wealthy on an average income. I love them but they are financially ignorant. Smart in other ways, just not with money. I've always been a saver and have pleaded with them to change my whole adult life, but they refused to listen. They are now in their mid-80s. My mother has early stage Alzheimer's and is starting to need constant supervision. A few...
by C319
Mon Mar 21, 2011 8:03 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Do you have REITS taxable accounts?
Replies: 15
Views: 7823

Currently 10% of equities in the Vanguard Variable Annuity REIT Index (0.61% ER) .
by C319
Sun Mar 20, 2011 5:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Not financing a car - Is it only me?
Replies: 100
Views: 14641

I hate debt so I pay cash. I find that the pain of parting with cash makes me more thoughtful about car purchases. Financing is too easy because I don't feel like I'm spending "real" money and my choices end up being somewhat less rational. For example, I'd really like a Lexus LS460, (I posted about this a few months ago) but not as much as I like having the extra $40K cash in the bank and an old Avalon that still runs well.

Strangely I also find that having the cash saved up to buy something big (and knowing I can truly afford the thing) often diminishes my desire to spend and I become more satisfied with what I already have.
by C319
Tue Mar 01, 2011 5:07 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Dental School Planning
Replies: 6
Views: 1650

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon here. Congratulations and wish you the best of luck in your career as a dentist. More debt always equals more risk. Minimize your new debt as much as possible and focus your energy on getting good grades and enjoying life when you can. I would also submit that your life will look completely different a few years from now - stay flexible and be comfortable with ambiguity. As has already been said, you can't contribute to an IRA without earned income, and while in school I would use any earned income for current expenses. Focus on learning while you're in school, and focus more on investing after you graduate, pay off your loans and start making real money. You didn't ask for advice about this but I have to ask....
by C319
Wed Feb 23, 2011 4:43 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Variable Annuities Popular Again. Does this make sense?
Replies: 96
Views: 11661

Tramper Al wrote: Yes, and I only wish I had written something like that.
Yeah. Great minds think alike.