Search found 161 matches

by fatlever
Fri Aug 04, 2023 5:38 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
Replies: 11151
Views: 2085798

Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?

Oppenheimer was the most overhyped movie for me in recent memory. We gain very little insight into Oppenheimer himself, there is not much about the science of the bomb, the scene of the trinity test looks nothing like a nuclear explosion, 3 hours of tedious rapid fire dialogue jumping between 3 different time frames about politics, communist red scare and trails one of which has nothing to do with Oppenheimer himself. And almost every critic has reviewed this like it was a masterpiece. Either people are getting paid off or it's a case of the emperor's new clothes. New Mission Impossible. Enjoyable action sequences in the MI mold and if you enjoyed the other MI this is somewhere in the middle of the pack. Guardians of the Galaxy III. I've be...
by fatlever
Thu Jan 05, 2023 12:50 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: My nephew was asking about getting a pre-nup
Replies: 126
Views: 12268

Re: My nephew was asking about getting a pre-nup

[Off-topic general comments removed.]
you just convinced me not to get married :shock:
by fatlever
Thu Jan 05, 2023 10:46 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What video games are you currently playing?
Replies: 529
Views: 88303

Re: What video games are you currently playing?

Red Dead Redemption 2 is probably the best video game I've ever played... Great western. Great gameplay. Great voice acting. Great story. Great side missions. Huge open world. I ran through the story once, had a blast, and then about a year later replayed it all again, and went for 100% completion. Just recently got that accomplishment... Took months. I quit my job in January 2022 and played this game for about 4 months full-time. All those things you said and this is by far the best game I've ever played. I actually quit playing it twice because I found it boring, the controls awkward and the first few missions scripted. But once I got the hang of it and started exploring the vast detailed open world, the array of fascinating characters a...
by fatlever
Sun Nov 21, 2021 7:38 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What did Housing Prices do during The Great Inflation (1965–1982)?
Replies: 38
Views: 7031

Re: What did Housing Prices do during The Great Inflation (1965–1982)?

Housing prices crash when interest rates go up. What is this based on? When interest rates kept surging during the inflationary period of the 1970s to 80s, home prices also keep increasing by a lot year over year. I keep on hearing about higher interest rates will drive down the demand for houses but historical data doesn't seem to support this. Inflation might drive interest rates up but it also seems to drive people to buy houses because it's an inflation hedge and/or the more wait, the more you will have to pay or you will get priced out. Year |%Increase Interest Rate 1971 | 6.69% | 7.54% 1972 | 14.51% | 7.38% 1973 | 16.44% | 8.04 1974 | 9.41% | 9.19% 1975 | 10.75% | 9.05% 1976 | 10.44% | 8.87% 1977 | 13.41% | 8.85% 1978 | 14.34% | 9.64...
by fatlever
Fri Feb 19, 2021 10:51 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Bitcoin: What is it, in Plain English
Replies: 313
Views: 45996

Re: Bitcoin: What is it, in Plain English

Adding this for the sake of posterity. 2020 is the year companies including a fintech giant, the first nation state, the 2nd largest bank in the world and hedge fund billionaires were investing and/or using the tulip craze called Bitcoin. Cash is trash, Microstrategy puts its $425 Million in cash reserves into Bitcoin https://www.wsj.com/articles/cash-is-trash-so-lets-bet-425-million-on-bitcoin-11604070071 Fintech payment company buys $50 Million in Bitcoin https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/08/square-buys-50-million-in-bitcoin-says-cryptocurrency-aligns-with-companys-purpose.html Iran to use bitcoin for import payments https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/iran-amends-law-to-allow-imports-to-be-funded-with-cryptocurrency-2020-10-29 China Construction...
by fatlever
Mon Feb 08, 2021 1:35 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Bitcoin: What is it, in Plain English
Replies: 313
Views: 45996

Re: Bitcoin: What is it, in Plain English

Adding this for the sake of posterity. 2020 is the year companies including a fintech giant, the first nation state, the 2nd largest bank in the world and hedge fund billionaires were investing and/or using the tulip craze called Bitcoin. Cash is trash, Microstrategy puts its $425 Million in cash reserves into Bitcoin https://www.wsj.com/articles/cash-is-trash-so-lets-bet-425-million-on-bitcoin-11604070071 Fintech payment company buys $50 Million in Bitcoin https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/08/square-buys-50-million-in-bitcoin-says-cryptocurrency-aligns-with-companys-purpose.html Iran to use bitcoin for import payments https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/iran-amends-law-to-allow-imports-to-be-funded-with-cryptocurrency-2020-10-29 China Construction...
by fatlever
Sun Dec 27, 2020 10:27 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Michael Saylor Discusses Bitcoin on Bloomberg's Odd Lots
Replies: 507
Views: 39110

Re: Michael Saylor Discusses Bitcoin on Bloomberg's Odd Lots

I was struck by how little evidence he offered for any of his claims, but I agree with Tracy's comment at the end: it's interesting to see the thinking for the head of a company that's not growing but still seeing profits increase thanks to lower costs. They also could have pressed him more on the non-answer to returning money to share-holders. He immediately jumped to the "if we returned all of our cash, we might become insolvent" straw-man despite the fact that he had just finished saying that they suddenly had much more cash than necessary. The role of corporate treasury is typically managing financial risks in service to the core business. Saylor has flipped this around -- borrowing against the core business and using the cor...
by fatlever
Wed Dec 16, 2020 8:11 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Bitcoin: What is it, in Plain English
Replies: 313
Views: 45996

Re: Bitcoin: What is it, in Plain English

Adding this for the sake of posterity. 2020 is the year companies including a fintech giant, the first nation state, the 2nd largest bank in the world and hedge fund billionaires were investing and/or using the tulip craze called Bitcoin. Cash is trash, Microstrategy puts its $425 Million in cash reserves into Bitcoin https://www.wsj.com/articles/cash-is-trash-so-lets-bet-425-million-on-bitcoin-11604070071 Fintech payment company buys $50 Million in Bitcoin https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/08/square-buys-50-million-in-bitcoin-says-cryptocurrency-aligns-with-companys-purpose.html Iran to use bitcoin for import payments https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/iran-amends-law-to-allow-imports-to-be-funded-with-cryptocurrency-2020-10-29 China Construction...
by fatlever
Wed Nov 11, 2020 9:05 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Bitcoin: What is it, in Plain English
Replies: 313
Views: 45996

Re: Bitcoin: What is it, in Plain English

Adding this for the sake of posterity. 2020 is the year companies including a fintech giant, the first nation state, the 2nd largest bank in the world and hedge fund billionaires were investing and/or using the tulip craze called Bitcoin. Cash is trash, Microstrategy puts its $425 Million in cash reserves into Bitcoin https://www.wsj.com/articles/cash-is-trash-so-lets-bet-425-million-on-bitcoin-11604070071 Fintech payment company buys $50 Million in Bitcoin https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/08/square-buys-50-million-in-bitcoin-says-cryptocurrency-aligns-with-companys-purpose.html Iran to use bitcoin for import payments https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/iran-amends-law-to-allow-imports-to-be-funded-with-cryptocurrency-2020-10-29 China Construction ...
by fatlever
Mon Aug 31, 2020 10:59 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard seems to have web online sign on problem
Replies: 145
Views: 10223

Re: Vanguard seems to have web online sign on problem

No issues for me with Fidelity, Schwab or Merrill Lynch. Can't even log in with Vanguard. Every time Vanguard has a problem which is often, we have people saying it's an issue with all brokerages and it's never the case for me. I am beginning to think people just make excuses for Vanguard saying that every place is having an issue. We've pretty much accepted that Vanguard has the worst tech as far as navigation, usability, performance and functionality. We've conceded their customer service gets worse every year. But now, their infrastructure seems to be falling apart too.
by fatlever
Tue Aug 18, 2020 1:40 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Bitcoin: What is it, in Plain English
Replies: 313
Views: 45996

Re: Bitcoin: What is it, in Plain English

You would think that a 9 year old thread and 1200x ROI would be enough evidence to make one alter their thesis on bitcoin :?: Have you read any of the Tesla threads here?! :mrgreen: Coincidence that the most famous Tesla bull Cathie Wood for ARK Invest calls Bitcoin "the most compelling asset of the century" for its "diversifier and appreciation potential?" What's more interesting is what bitcoin has accomplished in 10+ years, which is ... well, basically nothing . It's solved no real world problem that cannot be solved faster and easier with current tech. Bitcoin 10 years ago was an unknown digital token mined by a small number of enthusiasts, basically had no value and had no use case. You think Bitcoin is entirely us...
by fatlever
Mon Aug 17, 2020 1:25 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Bitcoin: What is it, in Plain English
Replies: 313
Views: 45996

Re: Bitcoin: What is it, in Plain English

FIREchief wrote: Mon Aug 17, 2020 1:17 pm
Holy thread-bump Batman! :twisted:

That's funny. That said, I can absolutely guarantee you that I will never own a single Bitcoin in my life. 8-)
This thread has kept been bumped up regularly from 2011 when Bitcoin was $8 and repeatedly has been called tulips and beanie babies throughout the years to today where it is gaining institutional adoption and advocated for a portfolio allocation by some well known fund managers. I hope this thread is still open in 10 years because it'll be interesting to see what value these tulips have after 20 years :D
by fatlever
Mon Aug 17, 2020 1:03 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Bitcoin: What is it, in Plain English
Replies: 313
Views: 45996

Re: Bitcoin: What is it, in Plain English

Apparently, at least one poster knows the future. I'm truly interested in hearing more about this! :P As I said... This thread as created when Bitcoin was $8. From $8 to $20,000, Bitcoin has been a tulip fever for most Bogleheads........I think most Bogleheads will continue to deride it but it'll become part of their portfolio at a much higher price in the future with institutional adoption :sharebeer ...bogleheads who deride Bitcoin will eventually be buying more expensive Bitcoin as a diversifier in their portfolio. A good example is Microstrategy CEO who basically called Bitcoin a fad like online gambling in 2013 but in 2020 his company has now bought 21,454 bitcoin as the "Primary Treasury Reserve Asset" https://ir.microstrat...
by fatlever
Wed Aug 05, 2020 11:10 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: How do the tech giants exceed expectations so consistently?
Replies: 25
Views: 2488

Re: How do the tech giants exceed expectations so consistently?

Working in technology, I thought it was better to have a portfolio that was tech sector heavy when I found this forum back in 2011. I am very thankful for everything I learned here because I was absolutely new to investing but one of the worst pieces of advice that was always reiterated here was don't tilt to sector, don't invest in tech heavy funds, remember the dot com bubble, etc. This advice came from OG bogleheads who still have PTSD from the dot com crash and failed to realize tech companies that are eating up the world with billions in revenue and massive growth every year are not the vaporware dot com companies of the late 1990s. Now, in all but one of my old 401Ks I am all-in on tech funds, ETFs and individual stocks and have been ...
by fatlever
Mon Jun 22, 2020 2:44 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: GMO: EM Value returns will exceed US large cap, 15% for 7 consecutive years
Replies: 20
Views: 1926

Re: GMO: EM Value returns will exceed US large cap, 15% for 7 consecutive years

GMO https://www.gmo.com/americas/research-library/gmo-7-year-asset-class-forecast-1q-2020/ Hasn't this clown been calling this for 10 years now? https://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=103945#p1509419 Grantham/GMO is again calling for EM to outperform ex-US developed, and both to outperform US. His valuations have led him to project 7-year returns roughly as follows: 0% for the US, 6% for emerging markets and 5% for developed ex-US. Now, to be fair, he was calling for similar a year ago, and the US has done well since then ... but that's short-term criticism of a longer-term view. https://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=140470#p2081408 GMO 7 year perdictions in Jan 2010 predictions Large caps 1.3 small caps .5% emergin 3....
by fatlever
Tue May 26, 2020 3:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: does anyone have a subscription to youtube tv?
Replies: 118
Views: 10597

Re: does anyone have a subscription to youtube tv?

I replaced cableTV with Sling a few years back. Then replaced Sling with YouTubeTV over a year ago and it's been an improvement with a better interface, options for saving shows, multiple accounts and a better selection for my tastes vs Sling Orange or Blue including the big networks, sports, and local news. The interface is not as good as Netflix but none of the streaming services are.
by fatlever
Sun May 03, 2020 2:58 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: When to sell low? Buffett sells entire airline stake
Replies: 81
Views: 12919

Re: When to sell low? Buffett sells entire airline stake

It seems he got greedy buying more of Delta on March 3 for $46 https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/warren-buffett-berkshire-hathaway-buy-delta-stock-coronavirus-hits-2020-3-1028959672 Warren Buffett famously advises investors to "be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful." The billionaire investor's Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate showcased that approach last week: It boosted its stake in Delta Air Lines during the massive market selloff fueled by coronavirus fears. Berkshire deployed about $45 million to buy nearly 980,000 shares in the airline last Thursday, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. The purchases raised its total holding to about 71.9 million shares, giv...
by fatlever
Mon Apr 06, 2020 3:37 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What Individual stocks are you buying?
Replies: 222
Views: 28558

Re: What Individual stocks are you buying?

Mostly AMZN and MSFT with a sprinkle of GOOGL. Only want to invest in my sphere of knowledge where I am confident.
by fatlever
Mon Apr 06, 2020 7:33 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Where's Warren Buffett During This Crisis?
Replies: 181
Views: 28969

Re: Where's Warren Buffett During This Crisis?

He is dumping airline stock, which will.need to be nationalized or go bankrupt. World travel and air travel will be very low for > 2 years until majority of world is vaccinated. He bought the dip snapping up Delta on March 3 for $46 https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/warren-buffett-berkshire-hathaway-buy-delta-stock-coronavirus-hits-2020-3-1028959672 Warren Buffett famously advises investors to "be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful." The billionaire investor's Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate showcased that approach last week: It boosted its stake in Delta Air Lines during the massive market selloff fueled by coronavirus fears. Berkshire deployed about $45 million to buy nearly 980,...
by fatlever
Fri Mar 27, 2020 6:30 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Effect of COVID19 on Real Estate
Replies: 42
Views: 7092

Re: Effect of COVID19 on Real Estate

Sounds like the landlord should have been a better landlord... Good landlords (you know, like the ones that are reasonable and have reasonable tenants) don't end up in situations like this. Well when people lose their jobs, struggle and are uncertain about the future, reasonable tenants priorities might change even if they have good landlords. I mean even businesses like Cheesecake Factory are saying they won't be able to pay rent next month. https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/26/business/cheesecake-factory-april-rent-coronavirus/index.html And just google "Keep your Rent" movement which appears like it's only in Canada but things like this are the last thing I'd want to even have on my mind in a health and economic crisis. https://i.im...
by fatlever
Thu Mar 26, 2020 7:03 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Effect of COVID19 on Real Estate
Replies: 42
Views: 7092

Re: Effect of COVID19 on Real Estate

I realize this is extreme but I am so glad I didn't dip my toes into this.

https://np.reddit.com/r/realestateinves ... re_saying/
PLEASE HELP. My tenants organized and are saying they won't pay rent this month. ALL OF THEM. What can I do?
by fatlever
Tue Mar 24, 2020 9:06 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Mohamed El-Erian interview by Jeff Ptak of Morningstar
Replies: 21
Views: 3905

Re: Mohamed El-Erian interview by Jeff Ptak of Morningstar

I keep playing back his "Don’t buy the dip during the coronavirus sell-off" warning in my head from the beginning of February which I ignored and kept pumping in money maxing IRA and trying to max out 401K at the beginning of the year like I always do, staying the course and ignoring "the noise." :oops: https://www.cnbc.com/video/2020/02/03/dont-buy-the-dip-during-the-coronavirus-sell-off-says-mohamed-el-erian.html The corona virus is big, it's going to paralyze China. It's going to cascade through the global economy and importantly it cannot be countered by central bank policies. I think we should pay more attention to this and we should try and resist our inclination to buy the dip....It paralyzes economic confidence. ...
by fatlever
Wed Mar 18, 2020 1:53 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: U.S. stocks in free fall
Replies: 36221
Views: 4684550

Re: U.S. stocks in free fall

I guess this is when you get absolutely **** for being a boglehead and staying the course. My Bitcoin is up significantly against the S&P 500 since 2017 and still up big but only like 5% of portfolio :oops:
by fatlever
Sun Mar 15, 2020 7:38 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: So yesterday I leveraged up
Replies: 75
Views: 9535

Re: So yesterday I leveraged up

Cipro wrote: Sat Mar 14, 2020 4:11 pm Ari,
Sort of crazy place to post this.
Good luck
Jack said 100% leveraged is the best long term strategy:
"Somebody is going to be 100% in equities which by definition is the best long term strategy. Ah and yet you may not be able to handle the bumps. Well let me correct myself, no 100% is not the best long term strategy. 100% EQUITIES LEVERAGED IS THE BEST LONG TERM STRATEGY. 2 to 1, 3 to 1. Just so long as you get someone to bail you out at the bottom. And you can pay them back later. This is not an easy thing to do."
https://youtu.be/oJynLAvzccc?t=624
by fatlever
Sat Mar 14, 2020 9:08 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Pay more on mortgage
Replies: 26
Views: 1720

Re: Pay more on mortgage

I have my mortgage paid off. I was regretting it last year with all the posts of keeping good debt and putting that money into a market that only goes up. Feeling much better about that choice now which allows me to put extra money into the market, savings and probably has reduced the stress I would have had about a potential job loss and covering expenses if the current situation were to get a lot worse. :sharebeer
by fatlever
Mon Feb 24, 2020 3:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Credit Card cancelled for non-use?
Replies: 25
Views: 3391

Re: Credit Card cancelled for non-use?

i try to use my cards twice a year just because of this. I've had 3 credit cards cancelled over the past few years though. I used them to build credit for mortgage but once I paid off the house, it's hard to find motivation to pull them out to use a couple times a year.
by fatlever
Mon Feb 17, 2020 10:07 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: We are in the 'ludicrous season'
Replies: 51
Views: 6573

Re: We are in the 'ludicrous season'

z3r0c00l wrote: Mon Feb 17, 2020 5:27 am If everything is in a bubble, maybe there isn't a bubble, just abnormally low interest rates.
Early last year Warren Buffet said stocks are ridiculously cheap if something that he considers impossible can continue: an environment where we have very low interest rate, keep printing money and have low inflation.
by fatlever
Tue Oct 22, 2019 12:45 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Time for a new car - Corolla or Civic...
Replies: 102
Views: 14516

Re: Time for a new car - Corolla or Civic...

This is an interesting thread. My grilfriend recently got a Honda because it was the nicer looking car but from everything I've read it appears Honda has slipped badly in terms of quality and reliability.

https://www.designnews.com/electronics- ... 1123260385
by fatlever
Sat May 11, 2019 10:13 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Bitcoin: What is it, in Plain English
Replies: 313
Views: 45996

Re: Re:

Alex Frakt wrote: Sun Sep 04, 2011 2:31 pm
LadyGeek wrote:It looks like the exchange rate is around 8 USD. Mt. Gox (USD/dwolla/SEPA)
So down around 50% since the thread was started.
This thread as created when Bitcoin was $8. From $8 to $20,000, Bitcoin has been a tulip fever for most Bogleheads. I ignored this for many years due to the Boglehead wisdom here so I was late to the game but it still paid off my mortgage and significantly boosted my portfolio in 2017. It's at the beginning of a new uptrend cycle which will likely peak in 2021. I think most Bogleheads will continue to deride it but it'll become part of their portfolio at a much higher price in the future with institutional adoption :sharebeer
by fatlever
Wed Nov 28, 2018 10:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How do you spend/kill time online?
Replies: 21
Views: 3095

Re: How do you spend/kill time online?

"How you you kill your time" is a really bad metaphor question. It pretty much is asking how you waste your life since time is the most precious thing we have in this life.

Of course I am guilty of it. I've been trying to pick learn things when online rather than mindless browsing. Even this forum which was invaluable when I first learned about investing, besides a few gems now is mostly time killed since it's mostly the same things discussed to death. Sorry if that offends anyone but anyone who's been here for a few months could do just as well without this forum by just keeping a simple portfolio of cheap index funds and being frugal.
by fatlever
Thu Jun 14, 2018 5:20 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Bitcoin Price Manipulation
Replies: 45
Views: 6761

Re: Bitcoin Price Manipulation

I agree with this take. I will say, though, that of these two explanations— 1. Bitcoin’s rapid and sustained rise is due to the fact that it satisfies a real economic need in an elegant way, and people have responded to that; or 2. Bitcoin’s rapid and sustained rise is due to a magical fountain of fake dollars that everyone just decided to treat as real dollars, and that can be used to manipulate its price any time it’s in danger of falling— the second is possibly more impressive. Like, creating billions of dollars’ worth of value by building a useful thing is relatively straightforward. Creating billions of dollars’ worth of value with a ridiculous perpetual-motion fake-dollar-printing machine is a real innovation. Interesting that the Sw...
by fatlever
Sun Apr 29, 2018 8:55 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Banking IT Infrastructure Meltdown - So have you diversified your Custodians and Banks?
Replies: 14
Views: 2753

Re: Banking IT Infrastructure Meltdown - So have you diversified your Custodians and Banks?

UpperNwGuy wrote: Sat Apr 28, 2018 8:56 pm This thread is starting to sound like doomsday preparations.

Didn't mean it as such. However unlikely you might think the scenario is, what happened to the UK Bank shows that it is a possibility. I've felt this way working in big banks and financial institutions and that only confirmed my fear. Diversifying who you choose to keep your investments/money with at least will lessen the stress and inconvenience if such a scenario were to occur.
by fatlever
Sat Apr 28, 2018 11:03 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Banking IT Infrastructure Meltdown - So have you diversified your Custodians and Banks?
Replies: 14
Views: 2753

Banking IT Infrastructure Meltdown - So have you diversified your Custodians and Banks?

Accounts locked out and vanishing, users with access to other users accounts, no records of transactions. Banking IT infrastructure in a complete meltdown. This is not Mr. Robot, this is real life: http://www.bbc.com/news/business-43923561 https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/apr/28/warning-signs-for-tsbs-it-meltdown-were-clear-a-year-ago-insider Working in IT in a Big 3 Bank and in a couple Financial Services companies managing trillions I've posted several times why I diversify my holdings across places. IT is massively complex and people are increasingly incompetent. People holding it in one place need to seriously consider diversifying instead of thinking just of convenience. https://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=234343 ...
by fatlever
Thu Apr 26, 2018 9:18 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is my computer obsolete?
Replies: 60
Views: 7699

Re: Is my computer obsolete?

Your computer is not obsolete. Your OS is not even obsolete.

I find most people upgrade their computers, phones and tablets at least 5 years too early.
by fatlever
Wed Apr 04, 2018 7:30 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Career Move: Please convince me why I should not work in tech
Replies: 74
Views: 11261

Re: Career Move: Please convince me why I should not work in tech

Working at several mega corps, my experience is that age is a non-issue if you have skills and expertise in data science, big data, data analytics, quant space, statistics, number crunching, etc combined with technology. Age becomes a problem when older workers get lazy and comfortable just collecting checks or get into management and don't keep up.
by fatlever
Tue Apr 03, 2018 9:52 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Buy
Replies: 199
Views: 39617

Re: Buying and Spending Bitcoin

The Bitcoin Lightning Network is now live beta. I configured a node and connected to a channel this morning. I bought a sticker during lunch and the payment took about a second to process :D Yes I know it's a sticker, there is no slick UI but gotta start somewhere. So, can you , having adopted Lighting Network, instantly buy things from any merchant that accepts Bitcoin? For example, can you make a Lightning Network purchase from overstock.com? Reporter Matt Weinberger lost $11 and got no Bitcoin from a Bitcoin ATM machine, because he couldn't pay the $40 fee. If he adopted Lightning Network, could he now withdraw Bitcoin instantly from that machine without paying that fee? Or do both parties to the transaction each need to adopt it before...
by fatlever
Wed Mar 21, 2018 12:48 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Buy
Replies: 199
Views: 39617

Re: Buying and Spending Bitcoin

Elsewhere, I wrote that bitcoin has slow transactions and high fees, making bitcoin practically useless for buying stuff. In other words, not a good medium of exchange. But how do I know this is actually true and not just a bunch of exaggeration? The fact is, I only know this second hand from other people saying it. So I decided to find out for myself and actually buy some bitcoin. There is a building nearby with some kind of cryptocurrency group uses for meetings. They have several conference rooms that they rent out by the hour or day, plus a coffee shop downstairs. The key is, you can only buy coffee and cake using bitcoin or Litecoin. They also have an ATM machine where you can buy bitcoin. So I headed to the coffee shop and tried to f...
by fatlever
Fri Mar 09, 2018 7:04 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]
Replies: 5993
Views: 699654

Re: Netflix, Your Current Favorite Show

Altered Carbon
Stranger Things
Love
Jessica Jones
Freaks and Geeks
by fatlever
Fri Mar 02, 2018 7:39 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Bitcoin in Freefall
Replies: 191
Views: 29665

Re: Bitcoin in Freefall

I found this a couple weeks ago...

Image
Valuethinker wrote: Fri Mar 02, 2018 4:06 am
It's very difficult to see how another currency could come to rival the USD. You'd need a country prepared to run a current account deficit for decades to increase the holdings of its currency in foreign hands.

There is talk of the Special Drawing Right, a composite money used between international financial institutions (Central Bank, IMF etc.).

Perhaps Bitcoin or descendant will take this on.
Found this interesting too...

https://medium.com/opacity/bitcoin-1537e616a074
by fatlever
Fri Feb 16, 2018 11:15 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Buy
Replies: 199
Views: 39617

Re: Buying and Spending Bitcoin

Bitcoin was designed and up to maybe 2015 universally presented as a practical payment system, not a base technology on which others could build a practical payment system someday. It was supposed to directly compete with credit cards and PayPal online. Actually if you dig down to the founder's comments and discussions, he always saw it as a great experiment and put in things like timeLocks, etc which might allow payment channel mechanisms to scale in the future because he knew the Blockchain model by itself could never scale if the network became widely used. All the proposed fixes are too new to judge, and Lightning Network is as centralized and trust-based as PayPal. Lightning Network is trustless just like the Bitcoin network itself. T...
by fatlever
Thu Feb 15, 2018 9:20 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Buy
Replies: 199
Views: 39617

Re: Buying and Spending Bitcoin

in_reality wrote: Thu Feb 15, 2018 7:55 pm If one purchases something with by using bitcoins that have appreciated in value since the bitcoins were obtained, is one supposed pay tax similar to capital gains?


Technically yes since the IRS treats it as property that you sell and then use those funds to purchase something. But when buying a something from Overstock.com or Microsoft, they are are not going to report this to the IRS and you're not getting a 1099. Also, the IRS isn't going to do an blockchain analysis of how much bitcoin you purchased and Coinbase and if that went to an overstock wallet. But if you bought a house for Bitcoin, you might want to be sure you report that.
by fatlever
Thu Feb 15, 2018 7:33 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Buy
Replies: 199
Views: 39617

Re: Buying and Spending Bitcoin

It sounds like Bitcoin needs the Lightning Network to become a useful payment system. But does the Lightning Network need Bitcoin? Lightning Network is actually live on the Bitcoin mainnet right now. There are 700+ nodes and about $48K worth of bitcoin in the open channels. You can explore the nodes and how they are interrconnected to each with the explorer: https://lnmainnet.gaben.win/ The work has been done with developers working on Bitcoin but Lightening Network is not exclusive to Bitcoin. Like everything in Bitcoin, all the cryptos will benefit from its research and development. Other cryptos can also be used in the Lightening Network and it'll be possible in the future to have exchanges between cryptos like Bitcoin and Lighcoin. The...
by fatlever
Tue Feb 06, 2018 9:16 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: "Bitcoin is my potential pension"
Replies: 54
Views: 10761

Re: "Bitcoin is my potential pension"

harvestbook wrote: Mon Feb 05, 2018 7:02 pm If you need any schadenfreude and also reassurance that the Bogle way is best, read some Bitcoin Reddit, particularly the Daily Discussion. Lots of people "buying this dip" or "selling at a loss to buy in cheaper" or "have to sell at a loss because I have to pay the money back in two weeks."

https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/
I don't think this is particular to cryptos. Check out WallStreetBets subreddit where some people have been maxing credit to buy 3X leveraged ETFs and option trade. High risk and play money is very different from responsible index investments. The problem becomes if this is the meat and potatoes of your portfolio.
by fatlever
Mon Feb 05, 2018 10:54 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: "Bitcoin is my potential pension"
Replies: 54
Views: 10761

Re: "Bitcoin is my potential pension"

ClevrChico wrote: Sun Feb 04, 2018 8:40 am The belly aching on Reddit about having to pay capital gains taxes on bitcoin has been amusing. I was very tempted to suggest muni bonds if they didn't want to pay taxes.
Accurately calculating how much taxes you own is actually an impossible task when you have thousands of transactions across 10-15 exchanges with dozens of cryptocurrencies. The biggest problem is you do not know how much you bought and sold something for in terms of dollars because the value of small-cap cryptocurrencies can fluctuate up to 20-40% DAILY and they are traded against Bitcoin and Ethereum which themselves can fluctuate 15-20% daily.
by fatlever
Fri Jan 26, 2018 9:23 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Still using a 5 year old iphone 5. Who's with me? No new phones!!!
Replies: 151
Views: 15335

Re: Still using a 5 year old iphone 5. Who's with me? No new phones!!!

randomizer wrote: Fri Jan 26, 2018 2:18 am As long as the battery still holds a charge, seems good to me.
I refuse to get a phone that doesn't allow you to swap batteries.

I've had a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 since 2013. It does everything I need it to and I use it heavily. Get a new battery for $10. It feels like I got a new phone.
by fatlever
Tue Jan 23, 2018 8:44 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: likely date for a bitcoin crash: does this make sense to you?
Replies: 148
Views: 20958

Re: likely date for a bitcoin crash: does this make sense to you?

“Cryptocurrency” (I even hate typing it) is literally the only thing in my life I ever extensively researched and then came away understanding less. FOMO might as well be it’s ticker symbol at this point The Blockchain quite simply is an innovation will allow you to carry out a transaction without relying on a 3rd party which may be a company or a government. That 3rd party might lose your data, misuse your data, steal your data, might prevent you from carrying out the transaction or could manipulate the transaction. Think about how this could really change things and may even shift power and control. At the very least, it will probably change how data is stored and transacted on in the future. Money is probably just the most obvious use c...
by fatlever
Thu Jan 18, 2018 5:20 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Lets talk about some favorite index funds?
Replies: 32
Views: 4490

Re: Lets talk about some favorite index funds?

jibantik wrote: Thu Jan 18, 2018 3:53 pm It is my GREAT honor to be the first one in this thread to say it: Vanguard Total World Stock Index Fund. The most Boglehead fund in existence. Enjoy my friends :sharebeer

I did the least Boglehead thing you could do making money in crypto and I've been pouring it into VT as an indulgence for my sins :sharebeer

100% VT (Vanguard Total World ETF) in Taxable
100% VASGX (Vanguard LifeStrategy Growth Fund) in Roth IRA
100% FFNOX (FID FOUR IN ONE IDX) in 401K and HSA

A few years ago I used to bounce around and re-allocate when I read another slice and dice article that made me change my mind. It's been years now and I love the simplicity.
by fatlever
Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:40 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to max out 401k
Replies: 19
Views: 3188

Re: How to max out 401k

bloom2708 wrote: Tue Jan 16, 2018 11:51 am Unless you work for a very small company, your 401k deduction will stop when you hit $18,500.
I wouldn't go with that assumption. This wasn't true at a LARGE company I worked at. I am now with one of the biggest financial services companies which handles retirement accounts for tons of companies. When I joined a few years ago I assumed I'd get a true up because I'd always did when maxed out early in other companies but I was really surprised and lost out on some free money when I found out they didn't.

My advice is to try to get close to the max as possible yourself - it doesn't matter if you're short by a few hundred. Also, find out if you have a true up and spread the matching till end of the year if you don't.
by fatlever
Fri Jan 05, 2018 4:47 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: If you could live off your taxable account is it wise to put all your work money in a 401k?
Replies: 18
Views: 2797

Re: If you could live off your taxable account is it wise to put all your work money in a 401k?

The maximum I've been allowed to contribute at any place I've worked is 50% of my income per paycheck. So I doubt you'd be able to max. You could check if you have a Roth and max the Roth if you really don't need your income at all. Putting it into a Roth 401K effectively allows you to contribute more.
by fatlever
Fri Jan 05, 2018 11:31 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Cryptocurrency Exit Strategy
Replies: 52
Views: 6983

Re: Cryptocurrency Exit Strategy

I would not fully exit. Fearing a crypto bear market, I took 50% out (pretty much all profits, DCA and no more real money invested since June), paid a big chunk of the mortgage and put it into VT Taxable. I felt even more comfortable taking a bigger gamble and put a few thousand into RaiBlocks (think Bitcoin but fast, without fees, without miners). In a few weeks that turned into almost $100K. I wouldn't fully exit until sentiment turns against cryptos. Right now the pro-crypto sentiment is higher than ever and if 2018 is anything like 2017 then you're missing out. I do agree that all signs of a speculative bubble are now there. Tons of new people throwing their money at Ripple thinking a sub $1 coin might be $10K like Bitcoin or tons of As...