Search found 212 matches

by Lee Saage
Wed Dec 06, 2023 8:27 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Intuit's Mint App Shutting Down...Replacement Recommendations?
Replies: 754
Views: 141254

Re: Intuit's Mint App Shutting Down...Replacement Recommendations?

MileKing wrote: Tue Dec 05, 2023 2:32 pm For those who have moved to Monarch, if you add a new account, how far back does Monarch pull transactions? If I register for Monarch today and add a credit card account, will Monarch pull transactions only from today forward or will Monarch go back a set period of time (30 days, etc.) and pull those transactions as well?
Seems to depend upon the institution. When I created a Monarch account, it pulled checking account transactions for the past two years but with a credit card account from a different bank, Monarch only brought in transactions for the last two months.
by Lee Saage
Fri Nov 10, 2023 4:46 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Intuit's Mint App Shutting Down...Replacement Recommendations?
Replies: 754
Views: 141254

Re: Intuit's Mint App Shutting Down...Replacement Recommendations?

I've set up both Monarch and Simplifi and echo the generally positive comments posted earlier in this thread. One potentially important issue, however, is the availability of support. I attempted to import 3 Mint accounts into Monarch; two uploaded with no problem but the third, a credit card account, simply would not get uploaded. Monarch only provides support via email and is only available Monday through Friday, 9 to 5. I submitted a "ticket" concerning my issue, received a canned reply right away and now, more that a day later, silence. With Simplify, all three accounts uploaded with no issues. Simplify says they offer chat, phone, and community support. Support hours are seven days a week from 5 am - 5 pm PST. Simplifi contac...
by Lee Saage
Tue Dec 27, 2022 1:28 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: QCD From Vanguard IRA Question
Replies: 9
Views: 912

Re: QCD From Vanguard IRA Question

The check book for my IRA account indicates a minimum amount of $250.
by Lee Saage
Fri Dec 16, 2022 2:23 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Which Travelpro luggage?
Replies: 12
Views: 2359

Re: Which Travelpro luggage?

One of the things i like about Travelpro is that the wheels can be replaced with a screw driver. Wheels on most bags are riveted and if one fails or wears out, you toss the bag.
by Lee Saage
Sun May 29, 2022 11:31 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI
Replies: 7638
Views: 1712798

Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

And the hypercynical cross between Kurt Vonnegut and John LeCarre, in which everything, but everything, is bungled, incompetent, and meaningless is... too much. There's no heart to it, you don't care about any of the characters or what happens to them. I'm rereading the entire Slow Horses series and am about half way through this second go round. I think for about the first third of my first reading of the first book I had the same reaction. I did not care about any of these loser characters. As the series evolves, the characters acquire more depth and become more interesting. Don't become too attached to them, though. Herron has a habit of killing off a character just as he begins to settle into Slough House. If you do not think the depic...
by Lee Saage
Wed Mar 02, 2022 12:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 2021 Refund Times
Replies: 296
Views: 29855

Re: 2022 Tax refund status

Just for information, we e-filed on January 26, 2022 and received our refund via ACH on February 7, 2022.
by Lee Saage
Sun Dec 19, 2021 1:55 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Vanguard ads on their site--can they be stopped?
Replies: 35
Views: 3726

Re: Vanguard ads on their site--can they be stopped?

My ad blocker must be working. I do not get any Vanguard ads.
by Lee Saage
Fri Dec 17, 2021 11:10 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Not getting the situation with rate hikes and LTT
Replies: 12
Views: 1351

Re: Not getting the situation with rate hikes and LTT

nisiprius wrote: Thu Dec 16, 2021 11:50 am The Fed only controls overnight rates. (Phineas J. Whoopee has often told me that they don't literally control even that rate).

Intermediate and long-term rates are set by the market.
Maybe. If I'm reading the Federal Reserve Bank of New York website correctly, the Federal Reserve has been buying as much as 70% of treasury debt issuance. That seems awfully close to a monopsony situation in which one buyer effectively controls a market. If other market participants submit bids that demand interest rates much out of line with those offered by the Federal Reserve, they may not receive any of that issuance.
by Lee Saage
Tue Apr 13, 2021 11:00 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Zelle/Venmo/Cashapp?
Replies: 44
Views: 5999

Re: Zelle/Venmo/Cashapp?

Just a caution. I've used Zelle for small transactions with no problem. A while back I tried to send $2,000 to a niece and Zelle went ape. Chase locked our bank account and I had to trudge to a local branch office some 45 minutes away to get it reopened. Have not tried larger transactions since.
by Lee Saage
Sat Jan 16, 2021 7:23 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to view Austin-suburb housing market?
Replies: 96
Views: 9929

Re: How to view Austin-suburb housing market?

Seems the closer to downtown Austin, the hotter the market. We bought in Georgetown, about 30 miles north of Austin, in 2015 for $400,000. Zillow says our house is now worth about $450,000. That is a pretty modest rate of increase and reflects the fact that there is a lot of new housing in our area.
by Lee Saage
Wed Nov 11, 2020 6:08 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Taylor Sends His Best to Fellow Bogleheads
Replies: 334
Views: 34161

Re: Taylor Sends His Best to Fellow Bogleheads

Best wishes, sir, and happy Veterans Day.
by Lee Saage
Wed Nov 27, 2019 8:15 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What happens if you underestimate MAGI for current year in IRMAA appeal?
Replies: 4
Views: 1124

Re: What happens if you underestimate MAGI for current year in IRMAA appeal?

Not sure what Social Security will do but I can relate my personal experience. I submitted an SSA Form 44 in 2015 and Social Security calculated my IRMAA for 2016. They miscalculated it, discovered the error in 2017 and sent me a letter indicating I owed them money. The entire amount of the amount owed was deducted from my January 2018 Social Security deposit.
by Lee Saage
Tue Apr 17, 2018 3:02 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: underwater camera advice
Replies: 18
Views: 3146

Re: underwater camera advice

I wanted an inexpensive UW camera for a recent Hawaii dive trip and bought the Intova DUB on Amazon for $122. It is a small, very basic fixed-lens, point-and-shoot camera in a waterproof housing with no flash. I do believe the same company makes an UW camera with flash but have not tried it. Many inexpensive cameras claim to be water resistant but cannot really survive at any depth. I took my unit to >40 feet and it worked fine. It does both video (its default setting) and still shots. Couple of caveats: Any depth greater than about 10 feet, without flash, everything looks blue due to absorption. Also there is no way to actually see anything on the camera view screen while wearing a mask underwater. Best you can do is, literally, point it a...
by Lee Saage
Fri Jan 19, 2018 6:15 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to Minimize Your Emergency Care Expenses
Replies: 413
Views: 233093

Re: How to Minimize Your Emergency Care Expenses

I think I knew most of this but it's useful, if depressing, to see it summarized in one place. Thanks for doing so. As an example of what not to do, I made use of a convenient hospital emergency room a few years ago for a bad scalp laceration that resulted from a trip and fall (stupid throw rug). As luck would have it, my insurance had just kicked over to a new fiscal year so my deductible was reset just in time for me to eat about $5K in ER charges for sutures and a tetanus shot. I wisely chose to visit a local urgent care facility to have the sutures removed. The urgent care PA said they could have done the sutures and shot for maybe $150. One learns. And relearns. I have to say your summary certainly reinforces the truth of your #1 in th...
by Lee Saage
Tue Nov 28, 2017 2:14 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Luggage Update for Travel
Replies: 73
Views: 8052

Re: Luggage Update for Travel

I won't ever check a bag again. Me too. My spouse and I are frequent flyers and almost never check a bag. Our current luggage is Travelpro carry-on bags and we're very happy with them. Check the flight attendants carry-on bags, we notice they are often Travelpro bags. I'd also second the suggestion of Osprey backpacks, I'm very happy with our Osprey Escape 25L as a secondary bag for electronics etc. It makes a great day bag once you've arrived at your destination and are out and about. One nice thing about Travelpro luggage is the ease with which one can replace the wheels. Most luggage wheels are more or less permanently attached and getting new ones means either a visit to a luggage repair shop or new luggage. A web site that caters to a...
by Lee Saage
Tue Nov 28, 2017 12:47 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Vanguard Withholding
Replies: 5
Views: 1862

Re: Vanguard Withholding

About a year ago I established withholding on a personal, non-IRA Vanguard account. Mine is a mutual fund, not brokerage, so I suspect your notion of the account type being a constraint may be correct.
by Lee Saage
Sun Mar 06, 2016 12:59 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: First time consulting, tax question
Replies: 4
Views: 792

Re: First time consulting, tax question

I've done consulting for a lot of years and have never been audited. That is a sample of one, of course, but I think typical. Schedule C income is often of more interest to the IRS but mostly from businesses that deal with cash and unreported payments. If all of your income is supported by 1099s, and you and your payees all report the same amounts, that is unlikely to add to your audit risk. For what it is worth, I've used TurboTax for some twenty years of consulting income and each year the little "audit risk" graphic points to very low risk.
by Lee Saage
Fri Feb 26, 2016 12:37 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Comcast's Customer Service Reputation
Replies: 36
Views: 4491

Re: Comcast's Customer Service Reputation

It took me four months of relentless telephoning to successfully terminate my relationship with Comcast. We had both TV and internet service in San Francisco and wished to terminate service because of an out-of-state move. At each instance of interaction, whether in person or by telephone, whatever I had been told by a Comcast employee was repudiated by the next employee in the on-going chain of events. I could never see a reason for an employee to lie deliberately and am still a bit mystified with the series of assurances and succeeding repudiations. A really bizarre business strategy. Finally, after four months of effort, my account was correctly settled and I received a refund of the amount due. I am normally quite calm dealing with such...
by Lee Saage
Sat Feb 20, 2016 10:07 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Medicare Part B
Replies: 36
Views: 3609

Re: Medicare Part B

Prudence wrote:SS told me they can't start to enroll me in Part B until after my company certifies that my employment ended.
Based upon my experience, this is not true. I was still employed in May 2015 when I applied for Medicare Part B and my employer completed the form so indicating. My application was processed and I went on Part B as requested in August 2015.
by Lee Saage
Sat Nov 28, 2015 11:43 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Following the Bogleherd … scary!
Replies: 37
Views: 6140

Re: Following the Bogleherd … scary!

The herd evolved as a very effective mechanism for protecting grazing animals from predators. The outliers get picked off, of course, usually by attending time-share, insurance or broker-sponsored free dinners.
by Lee Saage
Wed Oct 28, 2015 11:36 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Changes to SS regulations in new funding bill...
Replies: 154
Views: 16554

Re: Changes to SS regulations in new funding bill...

I just wanted to say that I find this a useful and collegial discussion and I am grateful to the moderators for allowing it happen. A good example of thoughtful oversight.
by Lee Saage
Mon Oct 26, 2015 5:42 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tricare for life - anyone using it now?
Replies: 10
Views: 1626

Re: Tricare for life - anyone using it now?

I'm trying to use Medicare and Tricare-for-Life but without success so far. I retired in July and my employment-based health insurance ended in August, the same month Medicare Part B began. Medicare, however, refuses to acknowledge that I no longer have "third-party" health insurance despite assurances from my previous employer that Medicare has been so informed. Multiple calls to Medicare have only produced a declaration that once my previous employer so notifies Medicare, all will be well. Somehow the sending of the notice by my prior employer and the receiving and acknowledging of the notice by Medicare have not synced. Right now, none of my medical claims are being accepted or paid by anyone. I hope this is merely bureaucratic...
by Lee Saage
Sun Sep 13, 2015 5:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: McDonald's has good coffee: McDonalds has Senior Coffee
Replies: 92
Views: 31637

Re: MacDonald's has good coffee: MacDonalds has Senior Coffee

nisiprius wrote:I don't quite "get" Dunkin' Donuts--it's OK, but to me it has a kind of hamburger-flavor overtone, definitely beefy. Not fruity, chocolaty, nutty, earthy, or spicy--beefy.
I've always found both Starbucks and McDonalds coffees to be bland and possessed of one-note flavors. But I've really liked what I found to be a more complex flavor in Dunkin' Donuts coffee, a sort of something extra. Now I know why.
by Lee Saage
Sun Sep 13, 2015 1:30 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The random road to portfolio returns over your lifetime
Replies: 10
Views: 1779

Re: The random road to portfolio returns over your lifetime

Interesting set of charts and it made me go look. I've kept pretty good records since 1993 and through the end of 2014, almost exactly half of the increase in total investments came from savings and half from total return. And the return is almost equally divided between capital gain and dividends. I have (nearly) always had a pretty conservative allocation and I expect those with a heavier tilt to equities may have seen more from capital gains.

Still, at least in my case, diligent savings seems to have been at least as important as luck.
by Lee Saage
Fri Aug 07, 2015 12:30 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Congrats to Laura Dogu
Replies: 67
Views: 11900

Re: Congrats to Laura Dogu

Congratulations to the Honorable Laura Dogu. What an honor and what responsibility! You and your family can be so justly proud.
by Lee Saage
Sat May 16, 2015 7:25 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard's email "The case for a global portfolio"
Replies: 46
Views: 8009

Re: Vanguard's email "The case for a global portfolio"

nisiprius wrote:Do I truly, in my heart believe that U.S. businesses are just plain better than non-U.S. businesses? No.
I've heard the argument that, in the case of European stocks, "Eurosclerosis" prevents the European economy from performing as well as the U.S. economy. Even if that is true, it is not a secret and European stocks would reflect that condition. I think it not unusual that poor economies can produce superior stock market performance.
by Lee Saage
Sat May 16, 2015 7:17 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Consumer Complaint Issues
Replies: 5
Views: 1498

Re: Consumer Complaint Issues

This is exactly the technique I used recently in dealing with an issue with a Capital One credit card. (Well, almost; I used Word and printed both the letter and the envelop. My handwriting is terrible.) Four days after mailing a letter addressed by name to the CEO, I received a telephone call from someone who identified herself by name and gave her position as in the "office of the CEO". I suspect Capital One gets lots of these letters and probably has a large cadre of these folks. That said, she stated emphatically that she would resolve the matter I had written about, provided me her name and direct telephone extension and proceeded to conduct a thorough interview to make sure she fully understood my issue. She then caused it t...
by Lee Saage
Tue May 12, 2015 11:45 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Living in LA but working in SF
Replies: 12
Views: 3370

Re: Living in LA but working in SF

It's doable but you should think about how often and for how long you wish to be away from home. I lived in Huntington Beach and commuted to San Francisco for a number of years with no problem. I negotiated an arrangement that paid all travel-related expenses and I decided when I needed to be in the San Francisco office and when work could be done remotely. If you go forward with this arrangement, I would suggest getting a small apartment rather than having to find a hotel for each trip. I found it much more comfortable to spend my San Francisco nights in a familiar place with my (few) belongings and to be able to prepare my own meals. My wife came up from time to time and we made a fun trip out of her visit. A friend is currently doing som...
by Lee Saage
Thu Apr 09, 2015 4:27 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Advice on new CC and online bank (horrible exp with Cap One)
Replies: 19
Views: 3522

Re: Advice on new CC and online bank (horrible exp with Cap

I've had a similar problem with Capital One. Last Friday, Capital One restricted our credit card due to something in the system triggering a fraud alert. Was asked to upload a pdf of my drivers license to confirm my identity and was told it would take two days to lift restriction. It has now been nearly a week and the account is still restricted. No one at Capital One can explain why the account is still restricted or when or if the restriction will be lifted. This has been a hassle since we had this card linked to a number of automatic recurring payments. I've had to shift all of these payments to another card. In my view, the extended time to deal with this and utter lack of useful information from Capital One mark this borderline custome...
by Lee Saage
Sun Nov 23, 2014 2:20 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard Personal Performance History: 10 Years
Replies: 13
Views: 2991

Re: Vanguard Personal Performance History: 10 Years

nisiprius wrote:A correspondent suggests caution in interpreting these charts.

"The history Vanguard shows is not your history and the history of all your accounts, but only the history of your current accounts. At least that is my theory based on what I observe."
At least in my case, I'm pretty sure my 10-year history includes a fund I no longer own. In 2009 I sold all shares in the S&P 500 fund and purchased Total Stock Market. It is clear from the return numbers that my 10-year history continues to include returns from the S&P 500 fund.
by Lee Saage
Fri Oct 31, 2014 1:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Lincoln MKC - anyone tried this one out?
Replies: 12
Views: 2372

Re: Lincoln MKC - anyone tried this one out?

Browser wrote:
Cherokee8215 wrote:It's spiffed-up Ford Escape. It's good looking and all, but several thousand more than a fully-loaded Escape, though you can get a few better features/options. I personally can't get past paying $40k for a small SUV with a 4-cyl engine. I have yet to see a MKC on the road, though everyone and their brother seems to own the latest Escape where I live.
Kind of like saying that the Acura RDX is a spiffed up Honda CRV, or that a Lexus is a spiffed up Toyota Rav4. Do you have any facts, or is it just your opinion?
This from the Consumer Reports model summary:
The MKC adds luxury and high-tech features to the Ford Escape platform.
by Lee Saage
Wed Oct 29, 2014 3:44 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Possible Relocation to San Francisco - Advice?
Replies: 23
Views: 3291

Re: Possible Relocation to San Francisco - Advice?

San Francisco is a beautiful and vibrant city and a hotbed of progressive politics. For someone coming from Dallas, that could be either a relief or a concern. In any event, it's a great city and we find its residents to be, for the most part, friendly and open. There are great neighborhoods and not so great. With BART and Muni, the transit system is quite extensive though service on Muni can be spotty. For commuting by transit to the financial district, I'd look at a service map for Muni's light rail system as well as that for BART. Look at neighborhoods along either rail system and homes within a mile of a station (or whatever your comfortable walking distance might be). Neighborhoods along Muni's K, L and M lines include Twin Peaks, West...
by Lee Saage
Sat Oct 18, 2014 7:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Upgrading from Iphone 4s - 5s or 6?
Replies: 29
Views: 3855

Re: Upgrading from Iphone 4s - 5s or 6?

Louis Winthorpe III wrote:
Lee Saage wrote:I had a chance to play with both a 5S and 6 for several days. Initially I thought the 6 would be too big for comfort; I tend to wear the phone on my belt. After using both phones for a few days, I discovered that I really liked the larger screen and roomier keyboard. The size issue as a negative sort of went away. I'd go for the 6.
One comment I've read on the subject of 5s vs 6 is that the 5s allows you to use your phone with one hand, whereas the 6 really requires two. Is that a valid observation?

My hands are not small so I had no issues with using the 6 one-handed.
by Lee Saage
Sat Oct 18, 2014 6:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Upgrading from Iphone 4s - 5s or 6?
Replies: 29
Views: 3855

Re: Upgrading from Iphone 4s - 5s or 6?

I had a chance to play with both a 5S and 6 for several days. Initially I thought the 6 would be too big for comfort; I tend to wear the phone on my belt. After using both phones for a few days, I discovered that I really liked the larger screen and roomier keyboard. The size issue as a negative sort of went away. I'd go for the 6.
by Lee Saage
Wed Sep 17, 2014 1:53 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do you plan trips on your own or use a [travel agent]?
Replies: 36
Views: 5402

Re: Do you plan trips on your own or use a TA?

A travel agent was helpful to me with a specific need a couple of years ago. We booked a long Mediterranean cruise with a port of embarkation in Rome that terminated in the U.S. We needed one-way tickets from San Francisco to Rome. Doing my own research, one-way tickets were often more expensive than round trip. Our travel agent worked with a consolidator who, apparently, purchased bulk airline tickets and was able to disaggregate trip legs. Through the travel agent, we purchased one-way tickets at a substantial discount to what was available online or directly from airlines.
by Lee Saage
Wed Sep 10, 2014 7:55 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do you keep paper copies of your investment statements?
Replies: 33
Views: 4576

Re: Do you keep paper copies of your investment statements?

nisiprius wrote:Those of you who have a) electronic-only financial records, and b) have another person sharing your financial life with you...
Why, yes. I have prepared a document titled "Things to Do When I'm Gone" that, among other things, lists every account, logon, password and a recent summary of account balances. In addition it suggests specific actions to take in assuming management of our investments. In part because my much younger, and beautiful, wife has little interest in managing investments, we have an utterly simple portfolio. That helps.
by Lee Saage
Thu Jul 24, 2014 3:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Advice wanted on first computer purchase since 1982!
Replies: 107
Views: 13934

Re: Advice wanted on first computer purchase since 1982!

If you can wait a bit, Apple is reported to be planning to release a new laptop that combines the light-weight, slim features of the Macbook Air with the power of the Macbook Pro. Not sure if this will be a third Macbook category or if it will actually replace the Pro and MBA. Rumors vary on timing from late 2014 to mid 2015.
by Lee Saage
Fri Jun 13, 2014 9:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Selling a Rolex Watch
Replies: 8
Views: 2339

Re: Selling a Rolex Watch

I recently sold a vintage Rolex to H.Q. Milton in San Francisco and was very satisfied with the transaction.

http://www.hqmilton.com
by Lee Saage
Sat Apr 12, 2014 5:32 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why does Vanguard use average return iso compound annual?
Replies: 99
Views: 11118

Re: Why does Vanguard use average return iso compound annual

But harmonic mean? Seriously, who uses that? Pilots. At least transoceanic pilots, even if unconsciously. Pilots, or more likely their own-board flight management systems, calculate a position along any course that traverses areas without emergency landing fields available (oceans, great deserts, Texas) known as the Equal Time Point (ETP) or, more dramatically, the Point of No Return. Wikipedia defines it as "... the point in the flight where it would take the same time to continue flying straight, or track back to the departure aerodrome. The ETP is not dependent on fuel, but wind, giving a change in ground speed out from, and back to the departure aerodrome. In Nil wind conditions, the ETP is located halfway between the two aerodrom...
by Lee Saage
Mon Feb 03, 2014 12:49 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: John Bogle’s Epiphany Changes The World
Replies: 20
Views: 3145

Re: John Bogle’s Epiphany Changes The World

Nice article, Rick. Sort of reads like the abstract for a biography.
by Lee Saage
Sun Jan 12, 2014 11:11 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: High Earners - What's Your Profession?
Replies: 1217
Views: 222979

Re: High Earners - What's Your Profession?

Full-time civil engineer, part-time pilot.
by Lee Saage
Tue Dec 31, 2013 2:14 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: "Cheapskate of the Year"
Replies: 87
Views: 13286

Re: "Cheapskate of the Year"

Started bringing my lunch and a thermos of coffee to work each day, avoiding Arlequin and Peet's. Saving about $2,500 per year.
by Lee Saage
Thu Dec 26, 2013 12:31 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Stressless Recliners
Replies: 40
Views: 26741

Re: Stressless Recliners

I bought a new Stressless recliner with ottoman in 1985 and still sit in it as my primary nest every day. I had it recovered in new leather about six years ago. The frame and mechanicals are still in perfect condition. Several years ago I suffered a back and shoulder injury from a cycling accident. Over a period of several weeks, the Stressless was the only place I could sleep without pain. I love the thing. Purchased before I married, my wife loves it as well. We are now in the market to replace it with a matched pair. (Please, no mu mu/aloha shirts comments.) Rather than buying new ones, however, I would look online at eBay and Craigslist. Lightly used ones are dramatically less expensive than new. But I would definitely get a Stressless ...
by Lee Saage
Wed Oct 02, 2013 3:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: WSJ Wine anyone?
Replies: 21
Views: 31658

Re: WSJ Wine anyone?

I ordered a case when WSJ first began the promotion a few years ago. Never received the wine and much effort and time were required to get a refund, including filing a dispute with the credit card company.
by Lee Saage
Tue Sep 24, 2013 6:00 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Claim that 50/50 portfolio is not balanced?
Replies: 57
Views: 8262

Re: Claim that 50/50 portfolio is not balanced?

Rick Ferri has written:
My investment motto is: there is risk, there is return, and there are costs, all else is marketing.
Truth, that.
by Lee Saage
Thu Aug 08, 2013 12:46 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Cash Rewards Credit Cards
Replies: 76
Views: 156709

Re: Cash Rewards Credit Cards

danwhite77 wrote:I have used, and been extraordinarily happy with, CapitalOne cards for years and years. Their Quicksilver card is 1.5% cash back on everything. This is the highest overall (i.e., no rotating categories) reward rate that you can receive without opening a financial account at an institution (e.g., Fidelity). I'm exclusively a Vanguard investor and I don't want to open a Fidelity account, so I have avoided their 2% cards (which seem to be very popular on this board).
Well once again Bogleheads makes me some money. After seeing this post, I contacted Capital One and asked if I could just convert my existing 1% no-fee card to the 1.5% no-fee card. They did it in about 5 minutes via on-line chat. Thanks Dan!
by Lee Saage
Fri Jul 26, 2013 10:36 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Changing savings account in search for higher yield
Replies: 20
Views: 2602

Re: Changing savings account in search for higher yield

We have Amex high-yield savings and it's been fine. Easy funds transfer to and from the bank. There was a brief hiccup with Mint (if that is an issue) when Amex changed its online security protocol but was fixed in about a week. That in no way affected use of the account, just Mint's ability to include it in aggregations.
by Lee Saage
Tue Jul 09, 2013 10:25 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Help with purchasing Travel Insurance
Replies: 16
Views: 2874

Re: Help with purchasing Travel Insurance

We did an expense trip last year and purchased insurance through http://www.travelinsured.com . The trip cancellation part of the coverage can be pretty much whatever you have, or plan to have , invested: air fare, ground travel, non-refundable hotel deposits and such. The medical evacuation coverage thorough most of these companies is quite good with something like $100,000 in coverage, because, one expects, it is so rarely used. But really nice to have. The web sites of most insurers will more or less walk you through selecting coverage. In researching insurance providers I regularly encountered advice to not purchase trip insurance through the same agent who sold you the trip. While convenient, the convenience seems to add to the cost an...
by Lee Saage
Sat May 04, 2013 1:17 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What's a reasonable projection for ROI after inflation?
Replies: 7
Views: 900

Re: What's a reasonable projection for ROI after inflation?

Here's Rick's 30-year forecast for 2013. You can calculate an expected return based upon your particular portfolio mix.

http://www.rickferri.com/blog/investmen ... 3-edition/