I recently received a check issued by Health Equity, Inc. The check was in the low 4 figures and was deposited via my bank's mobile phone application. Two days later my bank reversed the transaction, debited my account in the amount of the check and added a $12 service charge.
My bank is unable to explain why the check "bounced," and suggested I contact Health Equity. After contacting Health Equity, they have opened a case and will let me know in a couple days why the check was rejected.
Has anyone run into this type of situation before?
Search found 54 matches
- Tue Aug 16, 2022 10:32 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Health Equity Inc Check Rejected by Bank
- Replies: 2
- Views: 397
- Thu Jun 23, 2022 12:12 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Cash from TLH. Reinvest in Taxable or Tax Exempt Bond Fund
- Replies: 3
- Views: 388
Cash from TLH. Reinvest in Taxable or Tax Exempt Bond Fund
It’s been a long time since I asked for portfolio advice. For those interested, here was the state of our investments back in 2011. https://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=987162#p987162 It’s been a long but financially productive journey since we fired our financial advisor and adopted a passive approach to investing. We recently sold 100% of our Vanguard Total Bond Market (VBTLX) in order to harvest capital losses and that cash is now in Vanguard Cash Reserves Federal Money Market Fund Admiral Shares (VRMXX) until mid-July at which point, we will rotate back into an appropriate bond fund. Here are the details: Emergency funds: None Debt: None Tax Filing Status: Married Filing Jointly Tax Rate: 22% Federal, 5% State State of Resid...
- Mon Jun 13, 2022 7:24 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Account locked at Treasury Direct and cannot get through on phone
- Replies: 255
- Views: 44645
Re: Account locked at Treasury Direct and cannot get through on phone
One must have the patience of an oyster to invest in IBonds.
- Wed Jun 08, 2022 11:21 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Account locked at Treasury Direct and cannot get through on phone
- Replies: 255
- Views: 44645
Re: Account locked at Treasury Direct and cannot get through on phone
You don’t have to fail a “security” question to lock the account. I was attempting to update my email address. It presented a security question. Not wanting to give a wrong answer, I logged out without answering it, opened my password safe to get the answers, and then logged back in to TD. When I then clicked the icon to edit info in my profile, the TD system said “Too many tries” and locked the account. I wish I had read your post prior to logging on to TD site just now and updating my personal information. Rather than hazard a wrong guess, I just canceled, hoping to cycle to a question I could confidently answer. I kept getting the same two questions. Unfortunately, after 4 attempts I was locked out. I think I may have the questions writ...
- Thu Jun 02, 2022 5:49 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Account locked at Treasury Direct and cannot get through on phone
- Replies: 255
- Views: 44645
Re: Account locked at Treasury Direct and cannot get through on phone
This places a bit of clarity to the term, "putting one's affairs in order."beyou wrote: ↑Thu Jun 02, 2022 3:04 am My retirement spending plan is to liquidate savings bonds before other bonds due to the onerous requirements and to simplify for my heirs. Of course AA will dictate equity reductions too, but when bond liquidation is called for, this is where it will come from (as long as I don’t get locked out).
- Wed Jun 01, 2022 5:18 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Account locked at Treasury Direct and cannot get through on phone
- Replies: 255
- Views: 44645
Re: Account locked at Treasury Direct and cannot get through on phone
You don’t have to fail a “security” question to lock the account. I was attempting to update my email address. It presented a security question. Not wanting to give a wrong answer, I logged out without answering it, opened my password safe to get the answers, and then logged back in to TD. When I then clicked the icon to edit info in my profile, the TD system said “Too many tries” and locked the account. I wish I had read your post prior to logging on to TD site just now and updating my personal information. Rather than hazard a wrong guess, I just canceled, hoping to cycle to a question I could confidently answer. I kept getting the same two questions. Unfortunately, after 4 attempts I was locked out. I think I may have the questions writ...
- Sun May 22, 2022 7:31 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: When stocks and bonds drop at the same time, what do you do?
- Replies: 98
- Views: 12716
Re: When stocks and bonds drop at the same time, what do you do?
Absolute best advice ever.
- Wed Aug 04, 2021 5:17 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: USAA Credit Card Transaction Detail Category Changes
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1100
Re: USAA Credit Card Transaction Detail Category Changes
Thanks. I was beginning to wonder if I was simply imagineering this issue. No one at USAA had any idea what I was talking about.I recall seeing something from USAA about category changes to occur "in the near future". Perhaps they are phasing the changes in and they've changed it for you but not yet for me.
In the end it's no big deal to update categories in Excel, it just adds one additional step to a process that wasn't yet broken. Sounds like USAA sourced the project out to some coders without letting them know about legacy Laptop users, or folks that paid attention to category spending.
- Wed Aug 04, 2021 10:44 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: USAA Credit Card Transaction Detail Category Changes
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1100
USAA Credit Card Transaction Detail Category Changes
Each month for the past 12 years, I've downloaded my USAA credit card transaction detail into an excel spreadsheet in order to track category spending. At one point I could edit the USAA suggested category and the software would remember the next time I visited the hardware store and know that the category should be home maintenance, for example. Several months ago, this feature changed and all the category descriptions were reset to some new default. I can no longer manually change the description as I monitor my account. The only option I have now is to download the transaction history to a spreadsheet and change the category description in excel. With this approach, however, I have to recreate the wheel so to speak every month. I am usin...
- Tue Jan 08, 2013 6:29 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: How do get payment from Craigslist if I need to ship.
- Replies: 53
- Views: 12823
Re: How do get payment from Craigslist if I need to ship.
Having sold over $30k worth of merchandise on Ebay and Craigslist over the past 5 years, my general policy is that if can or must ship, I go Ebay. Craigslist is for local pickup only, cash only transactions with merchandise exchanged in a well lit, public location, accompanied by a buddy. Scammers are prevalent on both sites. Folks have tried to scam us, but have not yet succeeded. There are reasonable controls on Ebay. None on Craiglist. Buyer and Seller beware. Fortunately, I'm on the back side of downsizing and my overall experience has been net positive.
- Sat May 19, 2012 6:47 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Asset Allocation in Retirement
- Replies: 15
- Views: 3002
Re: Asset Allocation in Retirement
I'm 51 and will likely retire before 55. I'm 50 equities, 50 bonds and don't count SS or real estate equity. Best guess is our SWR will be between 2-3%. I don't plan to change my AA. I sleep well.
- Sun Apr 01, 2012 6:43 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: [POLL] How many miles on your car?
- Replies: 141
- Views: 12484
Re: [POLL] How many miles on your car?
What is a "factory" car and how does this work? This is how I've always bought cars from private sellers, but the market is different this time around. The tranny on my wife's Taurus is dying faster than I thought and I'm within 2-3 weeks of replacing her vehicle. I cut this one too close. I'm intrigued.koolk2 wrote:I typically buy "factory" cars with 10,000 - 15,000 miles on it for $10K off the new price.
Redwing
- Sat Mar 31, 2012 7:52 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: [POLL] How many miles on your car?
- Replies: 141
- Views: 12484
Re: [POLL] How many miles on your car?
His: '98 Ford Expedition. 132,000 (8k when bought used in '99) Her: '99 Ford Taurus Station Wagon. 136,000 (bought new in '99) Son: '05 Honda Accord Coupe. 44,000 (27,000 bought used in '08) Wanted to give my wife the newer car but she wouldn't give up her Taurus. Plus we thought it best Son's car had the latest safety features. Son took the car to college his first two years and then surrendered it once he figured out owning a car is expensive. Actually getting him to this realization was the only reason we allowed him the car at college in the first place. :sharebeer Tranny on the Taurus is dying and is only used for trips around town. We'll likely replace it within the next six months. Plan to keep the Expedition a few more years, so we ...
- Wed Mar 21, 2012 8:23 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Apple Stock
- Replies: 54
- Views: 6255
Re: Apple Stock
I’ve been a customer and supplier to Apple. I’m familiar with its history, culture, organization, and business practices. I find everything about the company fascinating. Apple is truly an American industrial treasure. Read Job’s biography and it was inspirational. His intense focus on the details of his products, strategic vision, focus, and attention to detail on the operational aspects of the company has affected my approach to management. But, I don’t recall one mention in his biography that discussed his philosophy of succession planning, although there were hints regarding folks he admired. He did promote Tim Cook. I worked for a company that struggled after the founders passed. I am currently working for a company founded by folks wi...
- Mon Mar 19, 2012 7:40 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: What would you do if you were in my situation?
- Replies: 22
- Views: 2947
Re: What would you do if you were in my situation?
Keep doing what you're doing and follow the excellent advice on this forum for the next 3-5 years.gator15 wrote:We've saved close to $400k thus far. We try to save 60% of our salary each month. We have no debt.
Then structure your life in such a way that you are the primary influence on your son's development from around age 5/7-13 . Prior to age 5/7 Mom is the primary influence. After 12/13 his peers dominate. Around 25-30 his life mate is the primary influence. Your time to be the primary influence in his life is short. Invest wisely.gator15 wrote:Our child is 2 and has $7k in his 529. If you had the type of salary I have what would you do with it? Thanks
- Sun Jan 01, 2012 6:33 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: If you had to live somewhere beside USA, where would it be?
- Replies: 106
- Views: 9098
Re: If you had to live somewhere beside USA, where would it
Hong Kong, New Territories for now. Less crowded, cleaner air than Hong Kong Island or Kowloon or Mainland China. More nature.
Next stop Malaysia, Philippines or Indonesia.
Next stop Malaysia, Philippines or Indonesia.
- Tue Dec 27, 2011 4:56 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Boglehead house size
- Replies: 61
- Views: 6137
Re: Boglehead house size
Lived in an 800 sq ft house for 9 years through med school/residency/fellowship. By the end we had 4 kids so it was a bit tight. However, it was very well laid out and would have been comfortable for a family of 4...I strongly believe that a lot of people go for bigger houses to get the functionality they want because houses are designed so poorly. I think the houses are designed poorly because land is so relatively cheap. My home in the US might sell for maybe $150 per sq ft more or less. Based on what I see at the local real estate offices, apartments here are going for something north of $1,200 per sq ft. Just for kicks, I measured the sq ft of the kitchen in our 850 sq ft apartment in Asia. Can't be larger than 35 sq ft. It contains a ...
- Mon Dec 26, 2011 4:11 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Boglehead house size
- Replies: 61
- Views: 6137
Re: Boglehead house size
Our primary residence is roughly 3k sqf. Due to an extended business trip wife and I are living in an 800 sqf apartment in Asia and enjoying it, although it is a tad on the small side. We had been talking about selling the primary residence even before the assignment. Figure 1000-1500 sqf will be perfect.
Can't wait to free up that capital and lower our fixed expenses. Should get us in a position to fund our annual expenses at or around 2.5% SWR, giving us the initial cushion for world travel and then health expenses in our later years.
Can't wait to free up that capital and lower our fixed expenses. Should get us in a position to fund our annual expenses at or around 2.5% SWR, giving us the initial cushion for world travel and then health expenses in our later years.
- Sat Dec 24, 2011 6:48 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Bogleheads and forum mentioned in Washington Post
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1700
Re: Bogleheads and forum mentioned in Washington Post
First learned of this website in February this year through a google search: "Is my financial advisor ripping me off?" From there it was a pretty quick transition to VG. Just put the finishing touches on my portfolio this week. Best financial decision I ever made.
- Tue Nov 22, 2011 5:08 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: What was your very first job
- Replies: 103
- Views: 7850
Re: What was your very first job
Not a real job, but I caddied for my Dad most weekends from age 12 to 15 and got paid $.50 per birdie. At the time $.50 got me a ticket to the base movie theatre, a small popcorn and a soft drink. Learned the greatest game ever invented and once made $3.50 on a single loop. His playing partners never joked about my compensation after that round.
- Sat Nov 19, 2011 6:39 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: What was your very first job
- Replies: 103
- Views: 7850
Re: What was your very first job
When I was 8 or 9 years old an elderly lady approached my Mom and asked if I would be willing to plant and maintain a flower garden outside her apartment window. She lived on the first floor. Dad was serving a tour in Vietnam. I think I planted gardenia bulbs and tended the garden weekly.
Each week she gave me a dollar. Each week she told me the flowers were happy I had pulled out the weeds. In fact, they always seemed a little prettier a day or two after my job. I think it made her happy and I wanted to do my best every week.
Hadn’t thought about this in a very long time.
Each week she gave me a dollar. Each week she told me the flowers were happy I had pulled out the weeds. In fact, they always seemed a little prettier a day or two after my job. I think it made her happy and I wanted to do my best every week.
Hadn’t thought about this in a very long time.
- Sun Nov 06, 2011 6:12 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Is your portfolio at an all-time high?
- Replies: 82
- Views: 7590
Re: Is your portfolio at an all-time high?
I voted yes, but it was probably due to market timing. Transferred my entire portfolio from ML to VG in beginning in July. This spring, liquidated a large chunk of proprietary equity investments prior to the transfer and then reinvested in VG funds in August and September. Also, I'm paying substantially less in investment fees.
- Thu Sep 15, 2011 6:55 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Have You Ever Made an Trading "Typo"?
- Replies: 27
- Views: 4450
Boglenaut wrote: Have You Ever Made an Investing or Trading "Typo"? Thanks for starting this post. I voted yes. I recently exchanged our VG mutual funds to their corresponding ETFs to avoid the 60 day frequent trading rule and take immediate advantage of a significant TLH opportunity. Was so excited, I completely overlooked the timing of my earlier purchases and walked right into a wash sale. The good news is, I only traded a portion of one of the holdings in case I screwed up, which I did. Wasn’t quite sure of the implications at the time, but since have learned it’s no big deal, really just a minor annoyance. However, I didn’t realize it at the time and thought I had made a major financial blunder. The bad news is, I realized my...
- Thu Sep 08, 2011 7:23 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: College Student, No-debt, $20,000 Need Advice
- Replies: 14
- Views: 2359
Re: College Student, No-debt, $20,000 Need Advice
I am a 20-year old college student, with no debt, and I recently received $20k. My question to you is, if you were in my shoes what would you do with the money? I wish I were in your shoes, but there are no do-overs in life. But I do have a 20-year old college student with no debt that has recently accumulated half your windfall. This is the advice I would give him: First, stand there and do nothing. Keep the $20k in a savings account. Don't spend it, don't invest it, don't do anything. Keep it safe. In your spare time read the books recommended by livesoft. Consider enrolling in, or auditing a class in personal or corporate finance, or micro or macro economics, or engineering economics at your college. Look at the syllabus and seek out to...
- Thu Aug 25, 2011 7:24 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Need help with portfolio spring cleaning--Part II
- Replies: 4
- Views: 938
- Mon Aug 22, 2011 7:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Need help with portfolio spring cleaning--Part II
- Replies: 4
- Views: 938
I think you can convert those mutual funds to the ETF share class and then sell them to tax-loss harvest this week. That way you avoid the early redemption fee and do not need to wait until later. Just got off the phone with VBS. You absolutely can convert from MF to ETF. This is a nontaxable event and can be done via phone any trading day prior to 4pm. Shares are converted one-for-one based on the ratio of the MF NAV to the ETF NAV. There is a spread between the market price of the ETF and the ETF NAV that can work for or against you, depending on whether you sell the MF and then buy the ETF, versus doing an exchange. I'm sure this must be inconsequential, but I need to run the numbers to verify. While owning VT may be OK, I personally wo...
- Mon Aug 22, 2011 6:30 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Need help with portfolio spring cleaning--Part II
- Replies: 4
- Views: 938
Need help with portfolio spring cleaning--Part II
Hello: This is an update from an original post from March. We spent ten years at a full service high fee brokerage firm. After getting a ton of valuable advice here, we transferred 100% to VG. The asset transfer completed in July. Since then we’ve been concentrating on portfolio simplification, appropriate asset placement, jettisoning superfluous funds and monitoring taxable gains. We’ve currently reached a predetermined limit on realizable gains and are in a holding period before we make our next move. Our effective ER (including wrap fees) has declined from 1.6% to 0.25%. We’re now confident in our overall asset allocation, although there still remains a significant amount of overlap in the residual investments. The recent market volatili...
- Fri Aug 19, 2011 7:16 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Request for Portfolio Review for a fresh college graduate
- Replies: 47
- Views: 6329
With regard to ESPP shares: I believe that I can sell right away, but I'll make sure. In any case, I think I'd rather just take the extra ~$1,000/year from the immediate sale than hope that the stock doesn't drop more than 15% over the course of two years. From an investment perspective, flipping ESPP shares is the best course of action. No question. However, the ESPP program was established in order to enable employees (read management) to acquire shares cheaply in order to align management interests with those of the shareholders by having a stake in the company's stock performance. Based on your posts you may fall into the category of a high potential employee, someone on the "possible" list of making partner or beyond. Dependi...
- Sat Aug 13, 2011 7:34 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Poll: I didn't just stand there: I did something
- Replies: 81
- Views: 9799
I selected "I tax loss harvested and rebalanced". My main objective on the TLH wasn't TLH -- it was more a by product of simplififying my portfolio now that I could without tax consequences. I was in a similar situation. Late July, I transferred my entire portfolio from a high fee brokerage firm to VG. Beginning July 22, I began reestablishing my position in equities as it had fallen way down from my AA as a result of having to sell proprietary and exotic investments that would not transfer to VG. Over the last three weeks, my stock allocation increased from 35% to 50%, and as of this morning VG says I've achieved my target allocation. Hopefully, I can put this thing on cruise control for at least 61 days to do some serious TLH. ...
- Tue Aug 09, 2011 5:28 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: TLH Wash Sale Question
- Replies: 24
- Views: 2201
I know how you feel.I don't think I've ever been more proud.
On Sunday, my wife showed me an article in the Work and Money section of our local newspaper suggesting three MUST BUY stocks. I told her I was considering liquidating all our nest egg and investing in these three same stocks, but wasn't sure if that was consistent with Jack Bogle's Guide to Retirement, which she had read earlier this summer.
I asked her what she thought.
She paused for a second, and then told me that our portfolio would no longer be diversified.
A journey of a thousand miles, starts with a single step.
- Thu Jul 28, 2011 6:02 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: The time has come to fire the broker!
- Replies: 100
- Views: 13991
After the typical chit-chat.cenright0 wrote:Any words of wisdom how to lower the axe?
We have decided to take personal responsibility for managing our investments.
You will be receiving asset transfer paperwork from XYZ over the next several (days, weeks) I have given your name to XYZ as the individual responsible for ensuring the smooth transition and request that you do your utmost to ensure this process proceeds seamlessly.
(If interrupted, simply say: "Listen carefully. This is a one way conversation.") Pause.
I ask that you cease trading all investments on my behalf. I will give you written instructions on the disposition of any assets that cannot be transferred.
Thank you for your years of service.
- Sun Jul 17, 2011 7:00 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Too Simple? [lifecycle funds]
- Replies: 11
- Views: 2647
Is, it, by any chance, the "BlackRock Lifepath Index 2045" fund? If so, which share class is it-- LIHIX BlackRock Lifepath Index 2045 Instl LIHAX BlackRock Lifepath Index 2045 Investor A LIHKX BlackRock Lifepath Index 2045 K The two big things you need to find out about it are: a) Its expense ratio b) What percentage of it is allocated to stocks? I pay a lot of attention to "b" because, and this is strictly my personal opinion, most target-date retirement funds allocate too much to stocks given what I believe to be the risk tolerance of most workers who just want to invest prudently for retirement. So really, the most important thing is for you to decide how high a stock allocation you're comfortable with. If the total ...
- Sun Jul 17, 2011 7:28 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Need help with portfolio spring cleaning
- Replies: 44
- Views: 8976
Things are moving forward. Had my last meeting with ML in mid June and started the in kind asset transfer process. As previous posters noted, at the end of that day there was one well dressed but very disappointed banker. He wanted me to know he had never intentionally recommended an inappropriate investment. I assured him I thought he gave the best advice possible given the nature of his incentive system and his company’s goals. I originally wanted to do a good deal of the portfolio cleanup while still at ML, but decided to make the break rather than delay further. While it probably would have been less complicated since I’m very familiar with the ML website, it was important to get this behind me and move on. The assets were transferred i...
- Mon May 30, 2011 6:50 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: $29K-$120K [salary ranges of college degrees]
- Replies: 58
- Views: 8625
I'll sleep a little better tonight knowing that the best and the brightest of this generation are on the front line of the biggest threat facing our national security.mickeyd wrote:You are very observant.investnoob wrote:I don't want to overstep any boundaries, but in another thread the OP (mickeyd) has indicated that his son works for the USAF and is in cybersecurity.
Considering the job, 90k doesn't seem to be out of line.
mickeyd: Congratulations on raising a son with the character, intelligence and drive to earn this position.
- Mon May 30, 2011 7:55 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Good Job or Bad Job?
- Replies: 15
- Views: 2497
Hello JBM: Your post caught my interest as I found myself in a similar situation early in my ME career. We both entered the work force under similar poor economic conditions. When I told my college advisor that I had accepted the offer from my first employer, he just shook his head and said “you’ll be bitterly disappointed.” His prediction was fairly accurate initially. My problem was I had no other viable options. To put it into perspective my first job was at a 150 year old naval shipyard. The physical work environment was demanding. We worked 8 hour shifts with mandatory 30 minute pre and post shift meetings. It was not uncommon to work 14 days without a day off during critical testing phases. Sixteen hour shifts and the rare twenty-four...
- Fri May 20, 2011 5:24 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Need help with portfolio spring cleaning
- Replies: 44
- Views: 8976
Thought it was time to provide an update as promised. Today was a great day! Since my last post: His Reading Liar’s Poker —Michael Lewis The Big Shor t—Michael Lewis Too Big to Fail —Andrew Ross Sorkin (Still about 1/3 to go but know how it all ends) Her Reading Boglehead’s Guide to Retireme nt—40 Authors Attended a local BH chapter meeting last month Reviewed financial plan(s) from VG and selected immediate, intermediate and long term positions based on timing of ST to LT capital gains transitions Sold 3 proprietary positions at ML (hedge funds/structured products) and have plan to get out entirely within 60 days Completed 4 of 6 VG assets-in-kind transfer applications and obtained Medallion signature guarantees Next Steps: Schedule a face...
- Mon May 09, 2011 6:57 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Non-deductible traditional IRA contributions: Yay or nay
- Replies: 17
- Views: 2273
- Sat May 07, 2011 5:48 pm
- Forum: US Chapters
- Topic: RTP, NC Chapter Meeting Sat May 7, 2011
- Replies: 9
- Views: 4328
Hello Steve:
Thanks for hosting this quarter's event. I enjoyed the conversation and the chance to meet with the other attendees and look forward to the next meeting.
My suggested reading for the next meeting is: The next 100 years: A forecast for the 21st Century by George Friedman.
Spent the afternoon pouring over the paper that was discussed and am thinking about its implications. It convinced me that my overall equity allocation is appropriate. However, I'm reevaluating my AA with respect to International Developed, Emerging International and US Equity Small Cap & Value.
Thanks for hosting this quarter's event. I enjoyed the conversation and the chance to meet with the other attendees and look forward to the next meeting.
My suggested reading for the next meeting is: The next 100 years: A forecast for the 21st Century by George Friedman.
Spent the afternoon pouring over the paper that was discussed and am thinking about its implications. It convinced me that my overall equity allocation is appropriate. However, I'm reevaluating my AA with respect to International Developed, Emerging International and US Equity Small Cap & Value.
- Sat Apr 09, 2011 8:14 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Need help with portfolio spring cleaning
- Replies: 44
- Views: 8976
Thanks for your encouragement and advice on TLH. I really want my life back.livesoft wrote:I'm impressed.
Can't edit original post. What I meant to say is all mutual fund distributions are being directed to my sweep account and not reinvested.retiredjg wrote:
I'm impressed too! But remind me why you are doing this?
"Stopped all mutual fund distributions to our cash sweep account in taxable"
- Sat Apr 09, 2011 7:05 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Need help with portfolio spring cleaning
- Replies: 44
- Views: 8976
Thanks again for all the help! retiredjg: Have you realized you probably won't need an accountant when this is finished? Yes. Absolutely. In fact, reliance on paid services to the financial industry is what got me here in the first place. Some services should not be outsourced. If/when you actually pull this all off, I think you will be our all time winner for reducing the number of holdings in a cluttered portfolio. Your post has stuck in my head for nearly a month and I accept the challenge. Here’s a quick update. Since my last post, I’ve done the following: Finished Boglehead’s Guide to Retirement Completed our IPS Stopped all mutual fund distributions to our cash sweep account in taxable Consolidated his 401k to FBIDX Opened a VG broker...
- Wed Mar 16, 2011 5:59 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Need help with portfolio spring cleaning
- Replies: 44
- Views: 8976
Redwing, I too am happy to pile on. :wink: Taxable: 39% Total Stock Market ETF VTI 0.70% 15% Total International Stock ETF VXUS 0.20% 4% REIT ETF VNQ 0.13% <--- 16% Total Bond Market ETF BND 0.12% <--- 10% TBD Cash <--- Her IRA 3% TIPS Fund VIPSX 0.25% His IRA 5% TIPS Fund VIPSX 0.25% His 401k 9% Fidelity US Bond Index FBIDX 0.44% 1) REIT does not belong in a taxable account. My feeling is you should just drop the REIT entirely. The other option is to put it in one of the IRAs and put more bonds in taxable (realizing they will return less than holding bonds in taxable). However, understand that REIT is already contained in your total stock market so having extra, while considered a good thing by some, is not really necessary. 2) In your ta...
- Tue Mar 15, 2011 7:25 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Need help with portfolio spring cleaning
- Replies: 44
- Views: 8976
But what I don't get is why is it bad to allow ST gains to become LT gains? Did someone say that was bad? That was me. Sorry. I misunderstood your point. I really appreciate your participation in this post. If you had carryover ST losses and only LT gains, then those losses would offset the LT gains and you would not pay LT cap gains taxes. So if those gains are ST gains, you basically have the same situation. That is, selling for a short-term gain or waiting and selling for a long-term gain in this specific situation makes no difference tax-wise. Thus, if you want to reduce your expenses, you might as well sell even if it realizes a ST gain today. Of course, your situation is not this exact situation, so be careful with what you do. I sti...
- Tue Mar 15, 2011 6:58 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Need help with portfolio spring cleaning
- Replies: 44
- Views: 8976
- Tue Mar 15, 2011 6:58 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Need help with portfolio spring cleaning
- Replies: 44
- Views: 8976
This clean up could take a while and you need to mentally prepare yourself for the trip. Thanks Sidney. Other than the timing associated with maximizing a tax loss harvesting strategy and terminating a 10 year relationship is there anything else I should be considering? I went through a clean up -- not nearly as complex as yours but it was a fair amount of work. I kept putting it off because I had it in my head that I should do it all at once. It was so daunting. Once I decided to pace myself, it went quite quickly. Part of what freaked me out and caused me to move was that my holdings were so messy I wasn't sure what I had in terms of allocation, overlap etc. One thing I did was to take all my taxable holdings and calculate the % of value...
- Tue Mar 15, 2011 6:36 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Need help with portfolio spring cleaning
- Replies: 44
- Views: 8976
I've edited the OP as suggested. Here are the unrealized (losses) and gains in the taxable portion. ST Losses: (12,346) ST Gain: 49,839 LT Losses: (13,639) LT Gain: 126,614 Do you have carryover losses? Are they short term or long term? I have ST carryover losses of $16,452, no LT. In 2010, I had short term gains from the sale of a concentrated position in my company shares that will deplete this. You need to stay on top of this and be ready to move on TLH. Your primary goal should be to eliminate any ST gains. They are taxed at your marginal rate. With stock markets taking a dip the last few days, these numbers may change quickly. Since you have 69 individual Intl stocks, you should pay very close attention, especially to ST losses. Some ...
- Tue Mar 15, 2011 6:23 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Need help with portfolio spring cleaning
- Replies: 44
- Views: 8976
I have ST carryover losses of $16,452, no LT. In 2010, I had short term gains from the sale of a concentrated position in my company shares that will deplete this.bdpb wrote:Do you have carryover losses?Redwing wrote:I've edited the OP as suggested.
Here are the unrealized (losses) and gains in the taxable portion.
ST Losses: (12,346)
ST Gain: 49,839
LT Losses: (13,639)
LT Gain: 126,614
Are they short term or long term?
- Tue Mar 15, 2011 5:59 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Need help with portfolio spring cleaning
- Replies: 44
- Views: 8976
Redwing, welcome to the forum! We simply have a fundamental misalignment in incentives. This is one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time. Thanks retiredjg! I like your sense of humor. Here's a target portfolio I'm considering that uses the recommendations above and some VG ETF funds. Taxable: 39% Total Stock Market ETF VTI 0.70% 15% Total International Stock ETF VXUS 0.20% 4% REIT ETF VNQ 0.13% 16% Total Bond Market ETF BND 0.12% 10% TBD Cash Her IRA 3% TIPS Fund VIPSX 0.25% His IRA 5% TIPS Fund VIPSX 0.25% His 401k 9% Fidelity US Bond Index FBIDX 0.44% Once I have a concrete destination in mind, I can start the journey.
- Sun Mar 13, 2011 6:18 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Need help with portfolio spring cleaning
- Replies: 44
- Views: 8976
I would think that an expensive managed account like yours would not charge you any commissions at all, so perhaps an intermediate account like Merrill Edge is not needed at all. Livesoft. Thanks so much for your advice. Now that you mention it, I've never seen any commissions in my accounts related to trades with the exception of certificate fees related to the managed international account. I think these are stock certificate fees but they amount to "only" $500 per year. BTW. Both you and bdpb asked about capital loss carryover losses. I cannot find my 2009 Schedule D worksheets, but my recollection based on '02 and '08 activity is I should have a significant amount. However, I did sell a large concentrated position of my compa...
- Sun Mar 13, 2011 5:33 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Need help with portfolio spring cleaning
- Replies: 44
- Views: 8976
Thanks livesoft.Also get hardcopy for all the cost basis + date acquired of your taxable investments, so that filling out Schedule D is trivial. If you close the accounts, it may be tougher to get this info from ML. If you transfer the assets "in kind", the cost basis and date acquired should transfer as well if the ACAT is used. You never know though if they will screw it up or not.
So if I transfer the assets "in kind" from my current account to Merrill Edge then I'll have the schedule D info? Or do you mean, get the hard copies before I make the transfer within ML?
- Sun Mar 13, 2011 5:08 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Need help with portfolio spring cleaning
- Replies: 44
- Views: 8976
We are in very similar life situations and also hold the bulk of my investible assets with Merrill. I know many of the people on this forum are going to recommend moving your portfolio to Vanguard. Assuming you are looking to structure a solution primarily within Merrill, I would recommend the following Thanks amfox1 I originally considered this but the initial reaction from ML was not at all encouraging. We simply have a fundamental misalignment in incentives. I can't expect him to operate in a manner inconsistent with his company's goals. I hold no ill will against ML. ML provided excellent advice during my accumulation phase, particularly with respect to managing the risk associated with a concentrated, but "mandatory" positio...