Search found 4600 matches

by john94549
Sun Apr 03, 2016 6:06 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Question about taxes when terminating a trust
Replies: 14
Views: 2876

Re: Question about taxes when terminating a trust

I finally liquidated all the positions in the Trust. My CPA assures me I will receive a K-1 and will no doubt pay more in tax this year than most others. That said, I really and truly bailed, sold every stock.
by john94549
Sun Apr 03, 2016 5:42 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Need a new online bank for checking (Capital One 360, Ally?)
Replies: 22
Views: 5496

Re: Need a new online bank for checking (Capital One 360, Ally?)

Kosmo wrote: I was going to put in a plug for them also. I've been very happy.
Nice to hear others are happy as well.

Should one live in California, an absolutely, positively, great bank is First Republic. Insofar as brick and mortar banks go, it's hard to beat First Republic.
by john94549
Sun Apr 03, 2016 4:30 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: is foreign investing really worth it
Replies: 90
Views: 11646

Re: is foreign investing really worth it

I did the "15%" international with a tilt to emerging, I drank the Kool-Aid. I get it. At some point in time, one merely has to accept the fact that international did not pan out.

One merely needs to accept the fact that "international" ain't what it was.

"Pan out" is, itself, an interesting story. When miners had no success in their pans, during the gold rush, they would "pan out"
by john94549
Sun Apr 03, 2016 4:11 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: is foreign investing really worth it
Replies: 90
Views: 11646

Re: is foreign investing really worth it

Nedsaid, I bailed last week in my Trust Account, sold every last centavo. If it wasn't nailed down, it got sold. I have absolutely no faith in this market.

Riding into the sunset with a boat-load of cash, I am.
by john94549
Sun Apr 03, 2016 3:57 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: is foreign investing really worth it
Replies: 90
Views: 11646

Re: is foreign investing really worth it

whodidntante wrote:In my experience the best time to buy is when it feels really awful.
Remember March 9, 2009, the bottom of the abyss. All heck was breaking loose, folks had lost everything, and
you bought, just when everyone else was selling. Your wife is now convinced you are a financial genius. I never attempt to disabuse my wife from thinking I am a genius, financial or otherwise.
by john94549
Sun Apr 03, 2016 3:46 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: is foreign investing really worth it
Replies: 90
Views: 11646

Re: is foreign investing really worth it

While the recent results for "international" have been lackluster, at best, I try to look at the bright side. Back many years ago, I committed to merely 15% of stock assets in international. With a tad of a tilt to emerging.

One of these days, either I or my heirs, will appreciate. Investing is, as they say, for the "long term". But then, in the long term, we're all dead.
by john94549
Sun Apr 03, 2016 3:02 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Need a new online bank for checking (Capital One 360, Ally?)
Replies: 22
Views: 5496

Re: Need a new online bank for checking (Capital One 360, Ally?)

Check out Alliant Credit Union. I've been with them for quite some time. Interest on savings is competitive (1% or thereabouts), your first order of checks is free, no minimum balance, no "per check" charges, no gimmicks, as it were. Easy to join. And they actually offer monthly statements (does cost a buck a month; you can avoid the fee by going "paperless"). The website is quite user-friendly, and you can transfer funds from savings to checking immediately. Alliant also has reasonably-competitive CDs. They also answer the phone on the first ring and have pleasant customer service representatives. As a cranky retiree, I really hate "press one for an actual person, press two if you prefer a robot, press three if you...
by john94549
Sun Apr 03, 2016 11:57 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Emergency Visit Bill
Replies: 28
Views: 4804

Re: Emergency Visit Bill

dm200, Walnut Creek (CA) is my Kaiser facility. A five minute drive, unless traffic is heavy down Pleasant Hill Road. The worst part is the parking structure. I always seem to get lost trying to exit*. But I try to look at the bright side; parking is free, and I'm retired, so I don't get charged extra for meandering. For folks with extra cash, Kaiser actually has valet parking now. Valet parking at Kaiser! Who would have thought it? Same day appointments, a $25 co-pay, and valet parking. Seriously, what's not to like?

*My PCP, an internist, assures me it's the parking structure, not Alzheimers.
by john94549
Sun Apr 03, 2016 3:42 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Emergency Visit Bill
Replies: 28
Views: 4804

Kaiser/Medicare here, so a visit to the doctor is $25. Seriously, wrapping my arms around the concept of incurring a bill of $1400 to take your kid to the ER is somewhat mind-boggling. My co-pay (drum-beat) is two-five, as in twenty five, dollars.
by john94549
Sun Apr 03, 2016 1:01 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Real estate investing for retirement
Replies: 15
Views: 3291

Re: Real estate investing for retirement

FlamingoTime, you seem to have nailed it. You might want to check out Form 8582, however. Feel free to PM me.
by john94549
Sat Apr 02, 2016 10:56 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Real estate investing for retirement
Replies: 15
Views: 3291

Re: Real estate investing for retirement

OK where do I start? My wife and I bought our condo in Maui in 1990. It has zoomed both down and up in value. One thing which has remained constant, however, is that we have never, ever, paid a penny in tax on the gross rentals. Never. While the condo throws off a healthy positive cash flow, the depreciation wipes it all out. Wrap your arms around IRS Form 8582 and the concept of retirement. Keep your MAGI under $150K (remember, Social Security doesn't count), you're home free. Just love the negative on Form 1040, line 17. For the present, we still get a major tax break. As we plan to leave the condo in our estate, the kids will get a step-up in basis* and nobody will ever pay a dime in tax, while we get a "negative" on Line 17, y...
by john94549
Sat Apr 02, 2016 9:21 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Money From Heaven: Pension Rollover Question & More
Replies: 12
Views: 2668

Re: Money From Heaven: Pension Rollover Question & More

Another vote here for a rollover into a garden-variety TIRA (think 60/40 VBIAX). PS: it's not "money from heaven". Money from heaven is when you get a letter from the Department of the Treasury and there's a check inside, as opposed to a notice of a pending audit. Back when I actually worked for a living, unlike now, any time a client paid a bill, I'd cross myself and convert to Catholicism. Money from Heaven. Thinking back, I usually waited until the check cleared. Silliness aside, I'd look long and hard at the annuity option. Granted, it might have no inflation protection, but it's a check, month-in-month-out, until you die. Just a thought. My wife opted for an annuity, some years back. My Mom did the same, and she lived to 98 1...
by john94549
Sat Apr 02, 2016 6:55 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Dealer's Remorse at Schwab
Replies: 11
Views: 3140

Re: Dealer's Remorse at Schwab

I'd give it a pass. Schwab is basically reputable, and (all things considered) it's basically a hand-wash.
by john94549
Sat Apr 02, 2016 6:37 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Who needs Money Market accounts any more?
Replies: 55
Views: 9667

Re: Who needs Money Market accounts any more?

VMMXX is so last decade. Even we dinosaurs park our mad money at 1% plus. I moved my last centavo from VMMXX many years ago.
by john94549
Sat Apr 02, 2016 6:19 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: SF Bay Area Housing: Listing agent underpricing
Replies: 58
Views: 11564

Re: SF Bay Area Housing: Listing agent underpricing

EddyB, your PM and my reply must have hit by now.

Best wishes,

John in Lafayette (94549, our ZIP code).
by john94549
Sat Apr 02, 2016 4:02 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Thoughts On Preserving An Inheritance
Replies: 22
Views: 3757

Re: Thoughts On Preserving An Inheritance

Aside from the fact I don't have a clue what "preserve" means, does anyone have a clue?
by john94549
Sat Apr 02, 2016 3:21 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Thoughts On Preserving An Inheritance
Replies: 22
Views: 3757

Re: Thoughts On Preserving An Inheritance

Tee hee. I preserved the family Trust by selling, one position after the other. Sell is somewhat unambiguous. Trust me, I now have the funds in the bank. Now, THAT's how to preserve an inheritance.
!
by john94549
Sat Apr 02, 2016 2:51 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Thoughts On Preserving An Inheritance
Replies: 22
Views: 3757

Re: Thoughts On Preserving An Inheritance

Divide by two and we're right up there.

As a successor trustee, might I make a humble suggestion. Sell. The best way to preserve an inheritance is to sell.
by john94549
Sat Apr 02, 2016 2:25 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: SF Bay Area Housing: Listing agent underpricing
Replies: 58
Views: 11564

Re: SF Bay Area Housing: Listing agent underpricing

EddyB, my hypothetical assumes a willing seller, a willing buyer, a written listing price, and an offer (in writing) with no contingencies. Why do we not have a deal?
by john94549
Sat Apr 02, 2016 2:05 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: SF Bay Area Housing: Listing agent underpricing
Replies: 58
Views: 11564

Re: SF Bay Area Housing: Listing agent underpricing

An offer can actually capture all the elements of an acceptance, as it were.
Should I offer to sell you three widgets at a dollar per widget, and you proffer three bucks, why do we not have a deal? Statutes of Frauds aside, explain to me in plain English why we don't have a deal. I cannot understand bidding wars.
by john94549
Sat Apr 02, 2016 1:10 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: William Bernstein likes factor tilts?
Replies: 10
Views: 2876

Re: William Bernstein likes factor tilts?

The best ever quoted from Dr. Bernstein was "when you've won the game, stop playing". Thank you, Dr. Bill. Many Bogleheads have gotten less poor following your advice.
by john94549
Sat Apr 02, 2016 1:02 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: SF Bay Area Housing: Listing agent underpricing
Replies: 58
Views: 11564

Re: SF Bay Area Housing: Listing agent underpricing

OK, I just took a nap. I woke up. Did basic contract law change?

Mind you, as I am retired, I can adjust to changing things. That said, "pacta sunt servanda."
by john94549
Sat Apr 02, 2016 12:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: SF Bay Area Housing: Listing agent underpricing
Replies: 58
Views: 11564

Re: SF Bay Area Housing: Listing agent underpricing

You realtors need some serious fact-checking. Point one: if you offer a property at price A, and it's accepted at said price, in writing, you have (as they said in Stanford Law school) a "deal". Even the Menlo-Atherton listing agreements are clear on this.

I had to chuckle. Presumably, real estate sales offers could state, in the listing box, "make offer". I did just that.
by john94549
Sat Apr 02, 2016 10:49 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: SF Bay Area Housing: Listing agent underpricing
Replies: 58
Views: 11564

Re: SF Bay Area Housing: Listing agent underpricing

jfn111 wrote:
Afty wrote:I've always assumed that this underpricing is driven by real estate agents who want to sell as quickly as possible, while doing the least work.
You know what happens when you Assume.
I might disagree. It could also be driven by odd assumptions fueled by stranger people. But, then, I'm a retired lawyer, so what do I know? I do get the joke, however, assume = an ass out of you and me. One of the best "one liners" ever crafted.

Being retired, I was worried some might not have appreciated the "assume" joke.
by john94549
Sat Apr 02, 2016 10:37 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: SF Bay Area Housing: Listing agent underpricing
Replies: 58
Views: 11564

Re: SF Bay Area Housing: Listing agent underpricing

EddyB, last I checked, You (and you alone) sign a listing agreement. It's your offer, not your realtor's. The realtor does not own the property and has no right to sell it. The realtor also has no right to claim an "asking price".
by john94549
Sat Apr 02, 2016 9:42 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: SF Bay Area Housing: Listing agent underpricing
Replies: 58
Views: 11564

Re: SF Bay Area Housing: Listing agent underpricing

Boglesmind, OK, I'm retired. Maybe contract law has changed since 2009 (when I retired). However, last I checked, a "written" listing agreement accepted by a "written" offer passed the Statute of Frauds smell test. The "Judge Judy" in me thinks just two words: "specific performance". The form in the link submitted, crafted by the Menlo-Atherton folks, posits, in quite plain language, that one offers, "in writing" to buy a certain property at a certain price. A "listing agreement", by contrast, offers to "sell" a certain property. Now, you can leave the price in the listing agreement blank, or say "make offer". But, if you put in a price, that's the price. Now, i...
by john94549
Sat Apr 02, 2016 3:26 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: pulling the trigger
Replies: 29
Views: 5921

Re: pulling the trigger

In my Trust, I just sold. Frankly, were it I, I'd sell everything and buy CDs.
by john94549
Fri Apr 01, 2016 8:33 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Why I'm Bailing from my Bond Fund
Replies: 25
Views: 5800

Re: Why I'm Bailing from my Bond Fund

Lady Geek, I have "new information" as it were. My sale actually cleared today. I am no longer an owner of said bond fund. I am so happy. It's right up there with the joke about boat owners. As in, the best day is when you buy the boat. The next best day is when you sell it. The best day to sell a bond fund is the day before it goes sideways. Just a joke. I just checked into my on-line Trust accounts and found I am now the proud owner of "zero" shares. Computershare (SWK and NWL), Eaton Vance (EALCX), and Federated (FUSGX) are all now toast in the rear-view mirror. While I will never claim to have sold the Trust assets at the "top", I'm reasonably happy. Happy, of course, comes with a price. In California, 9.3%...
by john94549
Fri Apr 01, 2016 4:36 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Why I'm Bailing from my Bond Fund
Replies: 25
Views: 5800

Re: Bailed

At some point in time, I had to pull the trigger. I just finally "did it".
by john94549
Fri Apr 01, 2016 3:43 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Why I'm Bailing from my Bond Fund
Replies: 25
Views: 5800

Bailed

[Thread merged into here, see below. --admin LadyGeek]

Yes, friends and neighbors, I finally sold the last position in the family trust. Paying off the mortgage and keeping the balance to pay taxes.
by john94549
Fri Apr 01, 2016 12:34 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Why I'm Bailing from my Bond Fund
Replies: 25
Views: 5800

Re: pulling the trigger

[Post merged into here, see below. --admin LadyGeek]

I pulled the trigger this morning on the last asset in our family trust. It seems like this is the week to pull triggers. OMG, the boomers are selling! Head for the hills!

Seriously, I sold SWK, NWL, EALCX, and (this morning) FUSGX.

A selling frenzy, as it were. As one might say, "a willing buyer and a willing seller make a market". Boy howdy, was I a willing seller.
by john94549
Fri Apr 01, 2016 12:22 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: SF Bay Area Housing: Listing agent underpricing
Replies: 58
Views: 11564

Re: SF Bay Area Housing: Listing agent underpricing

Roymeo, I attempted to take all the contingencies "off the table", as it were, in my hypothetical. I'm still having a hard time understanding why a full cash offer, with no contingencies, with both the listing and the acceptance in writing, is but a "slam-dunk". Might I say, I sold my Mom's house back in early 2014 "as is" and "make best offer". Closed in a month.
by john94549
Fri Apr 01, 2016 10:22 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Why I'm Bailing from my Bond Fund
Replies: 25
Views: 5800

Re: pulling the trigger

[Post merged into here, see below. --admin LadyGeek]

POW! Just pulled the trigger this morning on the last Trust asset. One less position to worry about.

As I reach the RMD stage of life, I find it ever easier to push the "sell" button.
by john94549
Fri Apr 01, 2016 9:41 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: SF Bay Area Housing: Listing agent underpricing
Replies: 58
Views: 11564

Re: SF Bay Area Housing: Listing agent underpricing

Adamthesmythe, I did specify a "written" listing agreement, did not I? Even after all these years, I have a passing knowledge of the Statute of Frauds. Granted, one cannot stand on a street corner and shout out "my home's for sale, make an offer" and wait for the first person to walk up and say "yup, I'll give you "X", seems like a nice house". The point being, a "written" listing and a "written" acceptance both satisfy the Statute of Frauds quite nicely. I will never be able to wrap my feeble arms around bidding wars. Seriously, if somebody offers (in writing) their abode for sale at "X", and I offer (again, in writing) an acceptance, with no contingencies, why do we not...
by john94549
Fri Apr 01, 2016 5:24 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Which Engineering Discipline for the next 20+ years !!!
Replies: 168
Views: 21975

Re: Which Engineering Discipline for the next 20+ years !!!

Retired attorney here, who used to represent engineers and architects. Based on my limited experience, structural engineers make the most money, but civil engineers have the best job security. Think about it (but not too long). Civil engineers do dams (all of which are either old or failing), roads (ditto), bridges (major ditto), I could go on. You want a job for life? Become a civil engineer and go to work for the State of California. Nice salary, great pension, and you will never get fired.
by john94549
Fri Apr 01, 2016 4:51 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: pulling the trigger
Replies: 29
Views: 5921

Re: pulling the trigger

Dale, were I to have sold this fund, "flummoxed" would be a good word to have described my attempt to calculate my LTCG. Mind you, I always attempt to pay my fair share of taxes. Whether covered or uncovered, I calculate my LTCG and pay appropriately. However, there is a point in time where it gets ridiculous. I suspect the nice lady at Waddell thought likewise.
by john94549
Fri Apr 01, 2016 3:29 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: SF Bay Area Housing: Listing agent underpricing
Replies: 58
Views: 11564

Re: SF Bay Area Housing: Listing agent underpricing

Back many years ago, when I was in Law School, I took a course. I think it was called "Contracts". Two basic concepts: "offer" and "acceptance". If you can establish both, "pow" you have a contract. Statutes of frauds aside, you don't even need something in writing. Getting to the issue at hand, 1. A written listing agreement is an "offer", open and obvious to the world at large. It states, in plain language, "I will sell this house to you if you offer me my listing price". 2. Should a person walk up the next day and accept the listing price, with no contingencies, "pow", as we say. Offer and acceptance. Since a contract for the sale of real property usually requires an i...
by john94549
Thu Mar 31, 2016 10:23 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: SF Bay Area Housing: Listing agent underpricing
Replies: 58
Views: 11564

Re: SF Bay Area Housing: Listing agent underpricing

puma, I'm merely suggesting my angst. A person who "lists" a house at a certain price, said price accepted with no contingencies, should be sold to the person offering said price.
by john94549
Thu Mar 31, 2016 10:15 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: SF Bay Area Housing: Listing agent underpricing
Replies: 58
Views: 11564

Re: SF Bay Area Housing: Listing agent underpricing

Watty, the Bay Area housing market is so in a bubble. Seriously, a one bedroom one bath in San Francisco is $3500/mo plus. A three BR/2BA which would sell in Oklahoma City for $200,000, add a zero. $2 million hereabouts. It's nuts.

Folks don't recognize a bubble until it bursts. Well, folks in the Bay Area, it's nuts.
by john94549
Thu Mar 31, 2016 9:19 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Please explain "pocket-change prepayments" on a mortgage
Replies: 47
Views: 14331

Re: Please explain "pocket-change prepayments" on a mortgage

Unless you can "re-cast", your mortgage payment will continue. True, the interest portion will decrease and the principal increase, but the monthly payment will remain the same. We ran this by our lender, and got "nice try, no cigar". I don't understand this comment. If you pay off your mortgage (principal = $0) in half the stated term, the payments do cease at that point. Paying ahead doesn't allow you to skip payments at any point prior to the payoff, but I don't think anyone claimed that. We thought about paying down some, but not all, of our mortgage. Simply stated, the bank advised our monthly payment would click along as per usual. They could not "re-cast" the mortgage, as it were. They could "re-fi...
by john94549
Thu Mar 31, 2016 8:50 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: SF Bay Area Housing: Listing agent underpricing
Replies: 58
Views: 11564

Re: SF Bay Area Housing: Listing agent underpricing

In many areas of the bay area housing market, the house prices are at all time high. This late spring, I am going to take this opportunity to exit the bay area, selling my primary residence and a rental to move to another state. Prices could continue to go higher next year but I think I have enough of a good run. The excess equity will go into my portfolio. I have talked to a couple of agents who are vying to get my listings. They are all recommending to list at the lower end of perceived market value to get the crowds in. Good luck and may opportunities abound. Our kids and grandchildren are nearby, so I doubt we'll move. As to home prices, it's right up there with stock prices, once you sell. Murphy's Law: once you sell anything, it goes...
by john94549
Thu Mar 31, 2016 8:35 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: SF Bay Area Housing: Listing agent underpricing
Replies: 58
Views: 11564

Re: SF Bay Area Housing: Listing agent underpricing

Stan1, I can attest to the fact that selling an abode in a flyover state (Kansas in my case) is much more rational. A couple of months after my Mom died, I listed her house (open offer). Three bids the following week, best all cash offer accepted, closed in less than a month.
by john94549
Thu Mar 31, 2016 8:26 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: SF Bay Area Housing: Listing agent underpricing
Replies: 58
Views: 11564

Re: SF Bay Area Housing: Listing agent underpricing

jfn111 wrote: I'd love to know also. I hate it when I represent an all cash offer at full listing price and walk away empty handed. :oops:
Mind you, I can appreciate the difference between an offer with even a modest contingency (which is merely a counter, under contract law) and a blanket acceptance. The latter forms a contract. Period, end of discussion.
by john94549
Thu Mar 31, 2016 8:10 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: SF Bay Area Housing: Listing agent underpricing
Replies: 58
Views: 11564

Re: SF Bay Area Housing: Listing agent underpricing

As noted, listing prices are usually just the "open" offer these days in the Bay Area. Back when I was in Law School, they tended to maintain that when you "offered" something or other at "X", and it was accepted, you had a deal. In Bay Area real estate, all bets (and normal rules of contract law) are off. I suspect folks (read:realtors) list purposefully low to generate interest, knowing a bidding war will ensue. It's weird, I know. I have yet to understand why an "all cash" acceptance of a listing price is not an enforceable deal. Playing Judge Judy for the moment, if someone wandered into my courtroom with a listing saying "I'll sell you this house for "X"" and the other person ...
by john94549
Thu Mar 31, 2016 5:58 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Please explain "pocket-change prepayments" on a mortgage
Replies: 47
Views: 14331

Re: Please explain "pocket-change prepayments" on a mortgage

Unless you can "re-cast", your mortgage payment will continue. True, the interest portion will decrease and the principal increase, but the monthly payment will remain the same. We ran this by our lender, and got "nice try, no cigar".
by john94549
Thu Mar 31, 2016 5:51 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: my medicare drug plan charged me $ 370 per month
Replies: 26
Views: 4409

Re: my medicare drug plan charged me $ 370 per month

Totally weird. I pay a few bucks to Kaiser for my meds.
by john94549
Thu Mar 31, 2016 5:31 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: do you do airbnb ??
Replies: 64
Views: 8734

Re: do you do airbnb ??

Personally, I would not touch Air with any vacation involving air travel. Think about it. You spend a gazillion dollars getting there, only to find out the place is a wreck. I mean, seriously, you spend well into the five figures for plane tickets for you and the kids. Then, there's the car rental. Finally, you get to your AirBnb and it's a disaster.

You can: (a) sue AirBnb, (b) sue the lister, or (c) pay rack rate at the local hotel. Good luck with (a) or (b). Plan on option (c).
by john94549
Thu Mar 31, 2016 4:38 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: i need dental insurance company
Replies: 7
Views: 1672

Re: i need dental insurance company

As a retired person, I just budget dental as I would other expenses.
by john94549
Thu Mar 31, 2016 4:07 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: pulling the trigger
Replies: 29
Views: 5921

Re: pulling the trigger

John, this is not tax loss harvesting. It is selling both winning and losing stocks and investing the proceeds in a broad market fund. No capital gains tax will be due if the losses are equal to or greater than the gains. It is a very simple procedure. No deep thought is required. Dale Dale, have you ever tried to calculate LTCG on one stock held for over 40 years, much less many such stocks? Why do you imagine many folks just throw in the towel and leave it all to the kids? Step-up in basis is the best friend tax procrastinators ever had. For your joke of the day, several years back, I asked Waddell & Reed to help figure out what my capital gains might be on a fund held for some 40+ years (UNSCX). It took a very concerted effort by a ...
by john94549
Thu Mar 31, 2016 3:41 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: i need dental insurance company
Replies: 7
Views: 1672

Re: i need dental insurance company

By-and-large, dental insurance is just a joke waiting for a laugh. You basically pay (up front) for the maximum coverage for a year, divided by 12. My wife and I had (and have) dental insurance for these many years, and it always was a wash.

Bottom line: one crown, a couple of fillings, and "poof" the yearly insurance limit is exceeded. Your yearly premiums will hardly (if ever) exceed the maximum insurance payout. The best way to save money at the dentist: ask for a cash discount. The "going rate" discount hereabouts is 5%.