Search found 4793 matches
- Sat Mar 16, 2024 10:25 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Cash balance plan asset allocation
- Replies: 3
- Views: 612
Re: Cash balance plan asset allocation
It sounds inordinately complicated and unnecessary to me. What is magical about a 5% yield?
- Sat Mar 16, 2024 5:03 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: It seems that intermediate bond funds generate the lowest yield now
- Replies: 11
- Views: 2311
Re: It seems that intermediate bond funds generate the lowest yield now
Looking at the yield curve: https://fixedincome.fidelity.com/ftgw/fi/FILanding?bar=p#tbcurrent-yields|median-yield It seems that intermediate bond funds generate the lowest yield now compared with short-term and long-term bond funds. And the phenomenon has last for a while. Not sure when this will change. Anyone thinks that we should swap current intermediate bond funds with short-term and long-term bond funds while keeping the duration of the bond portfolio the same? It is impossible to always earn a maximum yield unless you are clairvoyant. Nobody can answer your question with anything other than a guess about the future. That is not a basis for changing one's allocation. Just accept that your bond yields can't be optimized. All they hav...
- Thu Mar 14, 2024 11:43 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Election spam texts
- Replies: 41
- Views: 2465
Re: Election spam texts
You should also be careful that the text isn't phishing. It may say "help us defeat X in November", but who knows where the link is pointing to.
- Tue Mar 12, 2024 11:29 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Taxes & Social Security calculation
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1283
Re: Taxes & Social Security calculation
What you take out of your solo business is your decision, but that's not what the OP is evaluating. How is he going to report more income?
- Tue Mar 12, 2024 6:59 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Taxes & Social Security calculation
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1283
Re: Taxes & Social Security calculation
For the record, discussions of dishonest behavior or bypassing the law is totally unacceptable . Taxes are based on US law. Intentionally filing a tax return that does not match your actual income (misreporting your income) is therefore illegal and is known as tax evasion . pearlmoon - What did you mean by "report" higher income? Do you mean working more to earn higher income which shows up on the SSA report? Is paying oneself illegal? People do this all the time, for example those that need to catch up on their social security points. They file a 1099-se and pay the proper tax. What’s wrong with increasing one’s salary? He's a sole proprietor. All of his income is reported as income, and he pays the payroll tax on net income. Th...
- Tue Mar 12, 2024 6:14 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: How many are holding cash right now?
- Replies: 203
- Views: 31071
Re: How many are holding cash right now?
If you bought bonds now, they will go up in price if rates drop. There is no law that says we can expect to earn 5% at all times.
- Mon Mar 11, 2024 4:42 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Your Original Medicare OR Advantage Experience: Nightmare or Sublime?
- Replies: 156
- Views: 9915
Re: Your Original Medicare OR Advantage Experience: Nightmare or Sublime?
I didn't know this, but Patients can change insurance only during end-of-year enrollment periods or at the time of “qualifying life events,” such as a divorce or job change. But insurers’ contracts with doctors, hospitals and pharmaceutical companies (or their middlemen, so-called pharmacy benefit managers) can change abruptly at any time. Source: How your in-network health coverage can vanish before you know it. I think that would apply to some Medicare Advantage plans. It would, but if you receive care from a provider who leaves the network, I believe that is a qualifying event for guaranteed issue of Medigap or to change to a different Advantage plan. Interesting. I had not heard that and would like to know more about that if it is true...
- Mon Mar 11, 2024 4:11 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Now that long TIPS yields are 60 bp off their highs I will…
- Replies: 2937
- Views: 611552
Re: Now that long TIPS yields are 60 bp off their highs I will…
Then TIPS still make sense, unless you want to take on more equity risk in the hope of beating your personal inflation.
- Mon Mar 11, 2024 3:05 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Now that long TIPS yields are 60 bp off their highs I will…
- Replies: 2937
- Views: 611552
Re: Now that long TIPS yields are 60 bp off their highs I will…
What is your alternative? Nominal bonds have no gurantee against inflation. Stocks are volatile.
- Sun Mar 10, 2024 4:11 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Not filing state return because of zero tax
- Replies: 15
- Views: 1152
Re: Not filing state return because of zero tax
No issues. Plenty of people only file Federal because they're under their state's income threshold. But, some states require it no matter what. Don't assume anything just because your tax is zero. What is your state's rule about who must file?
- Fri Mar 08, 2024 9:19 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: AARP/UHC Medigap policies
- Replies: 40
- Views: 3175
Re: AARP/UHC Medigap policies
We are in the process of signing up for Medicare. Living in NJ once we pick a plan we may be pretty much "stuck" on it for the rest of our lives. With the research I have done it seems that sticking to a larger Medigap insurance carrier is usually the way to go since they have more people in the plan to spread out expenses. I'm also aware that corporations need to make a profit to stay in business. The major insurance companies in NJ for Medigap are AARP/UHC, BC/BS, Cigna, Aetna, Humana and off in a distance is Mutual of Omaha (MOO). UHC is the largest by far, Cigna is selling (or sold) it's Advantage business, Aetna and Humana are very small in NJ and MOO seems to close plans every so often and reopen a new plan under one of it'...
- Fri Mar 08, 2024 8:59 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Switching from Medicare Advantage back to original Medicare
- Replies: 18
- Views: 2811
Re: Switching from Medicare Advantage back to original Medicare
According to georgia.gov:
"If you’re already in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can switch back to Original Medicare during Open Enrollment. "
https://georgia.gov/news/2020-10-16/med ... enrollment
However, if you also want a Medigap plan, you may be subject to medical underwriting. I would check with your state's SHIP office.
https://aging.georgia.gov/georgia-ship
"If you’re already in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can switch back to Original Medicare during Open Enrollment. "
https://georgia.gov/news/2020-10-16/med ... enrollment
However, if you also want a Medigap plan, you may be subject to medical underwriting. I would check with your state's SHIP office.
https://aging.georgia.gov/georgia-ship
- Thu Mar 07, 2024 5:17 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Your Original Medicare OR Advantage Experience: Nightmare or Sublime?
- Replies: 156
- Views: 9915
Re: Your Original Medicare Experience: Nightmare or Sublime?
I don't see how waiting for specialists and getting an appointment as a new patient is a problem specific to Medicare. That's an issue for everybody.
I have Medicare and Medigap. I have never had to lift a finger for any billing issue. And, I've had surgery. It is all seamless from my perspective. Having Medigap definitely helps, as tibbetts said.
Prescription drugs are based on your Part D plan, and that can be an issue. That said, I've paid next to nothing for a number of basic medications. My last antibiotic was free at Costco. I do have to take a specialty med soon, and that will cost me, but it would cost me even with private insurance.
I have Medicare and Medigap. I have never had to lift a finger for any billing issue. And, I've had surgery. It is all seamless from my perspective. Having Medigap definitely helps, as tibbetts said.
Prescription drugs are based on your Part D plan, and that can be an issue. That said, I've paid next to nothing for a number of basic medications. My last antibiotic was free at Costco. I do have to take a specialty med soon, and that will cost me, but it would cost me even with private insurance.
- Thu Mar 07, 2024 4:56 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Wordle [Anyone playing Wordle?]
- Replies: 393
- Views: 43395
Re: Wordle [Anyone playing Wordle?]
Literally my morning routine:AnnetteLouisan wrote: ↑Thu Mar 07, 2024 4:53 pm Love Wordle, spelling bee, etc. connections is my current favorite - it’s often the first thing I do when I wake up.
Feed cat (who starts meowing at 4:30 or so)
Make coffee
Do Connections, Wordle, Spelling Bee, Mini crossword, regular crossword
- Thu Mar 07, 2024 4:21 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: HELP! Need Credit Card Advice for Young Adult
- Replies: 14
- Views: 934
Re: HELP! Need Credit Card Advice for Young Adult
Hi -- I am a 21 year old looking for a new credit card. A few years ago, I opened one through my bank with little to no benefits to earn a high credit score and eventually transition to a better card. I am now looking for that card but am not sure where to start. There are a lot of options! I mostly use my current card for gas, rent, utilities, and groceries. All advice is welcome! I am new to BogleHeads and would love to learn from your wisdom. I would not play the credit card game at your age. You probably don’t have the expenses to spend enough to get significant bonuses or the income to ensure you always pay it to zero. You will increase your financial wellbeing more by budgeting and saving and improving your career, rather than spendi...
- Thu Mar 07, 2024 4:13 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Another Medicare Advantage Discussion - Let's have some facts
- Replies: 22
- Views: 1298
Re: Another Medicare Advantage Discussion - Let's have some facts
No question it is a maze. But again I would challenge one example. I would like to see more actual statistics. Might have to dig to find them and I know that some plans are better than others. The problem is that there is no way to tell what plan will be best/cheapest until you know your medical needs. If you never get sick, MA will be cheapest. After that, it's a question of what medical services you will be using. There is no one-size-fits-all answer. You really have to think of the "insurance" part of it, as protection against unforeseen events. It will be hard to figure out what you're getting for your money if you don't know your future health. I don't think it is true that MA is the cheapest "only" if you never ge...
- Thu Mar 07, 2024 1:55 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Another Medicare Advantage Discussion - Let's have some facts
- Replies: 22
- Views: 1298
Re: Another Medicare Advantage Discussion - Let's have some facts
The problem is that there is no way to tell what plan will be best/cheapest until you know your medical needs. If you never get sick, MA will be cheapest. After that, it's a question of what medical services you will be using. There is no one-size-fits-all answer. You really have to think of the "insurance" part of it, as protection against unforeseen events. It will be hard to figure out what you're getting for your money if you don't know your future health.
- Thu Mar 07, 2024 12:33 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Another Medicare Advantage Discussion - Let's have some facts
- Replies: 22
- Views: 1298
Re: Another Medicare Advantage Discussion - Let's have some facts
Many people simply can't afford Medicare, so I can see the allure of a dirt-cheap MA policy. There is another Forbes article, about why MA is so cheap: it's pay later vs. pay now. They gave the following as an example of how you can pay more with MA. It's a story from 2022, so the numbers would likely be higher now. A beneficiary in Chicago broke her hip. Her medical care included an emergency room visit, x-rays, an MRI, hospital admission, a skilled nursing facility stay, and outpatient physical therapy. With Original Medicare and Plan G, her total costs were capped at $1,637 (monthly premium of $117 plus $233). Copayments with a Medicare Advantage PPO (preferred provider organization) plan totaled $3,140. Another beneficiary living in New...
- Thu Mar 07, 2024 8:49 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Blackout shades for bedroom
- Replies: 30
- Views: 2152
Re: Blackout shades for bedroom
In my daughter's apartment, I installed a double curtain rod. The inner rod holds a light-filtering curtain (for when she wants light), and the outer rod holds a blackout curtain (for when she's asleep.) She opens up the blackout curtain during the day if she wants light.
- Thu Mar 07, 2024 4:47 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Laid off and want to downshift
- Replies: 30
- Views: 4761
Re: Laid off and want to downshift
Your assumptions might be overly optimistic.
People tend to underestimate their expenses. If you say you need $22.5 a year, that sounds almost too exact unless you know exactly what you spend. Also, there will be unexpected expenses. What if you need a new car? Or a new roof? What about college?
One other thing: if anything happens to your wife's income, you're in serious financial trouble.
It's fair to say that if you're 35 years old with a family, and you need to withdraw over $1000/month from your savings to pay the bills, you might be spending too much money.
People tend to underestimate their expenses. If you say you need $22.5 a year, that sounds almost too exact unless you know exactly what you spend. Also, there will be unexpected expenses. What if you need a new car? Or a new roof? What about college?
One other thing: if anything happens to your wife's income, you're in serious financial trouble.
It's fair to say that if you're 35 years old with a family, and you need to withdraw over $1000/month from your savings to pay the bills, you might be spending too much money.
- Wed Mar 06, 2024 3:38 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Plateaued with my 45 minute workout - Age 47
- Replies: 90
- Views: 7576
Re: Plateaued with my 45 minute workout - Age 47
If you want to run faster, you have to run longer and slower. Check out 80/20 workouts. I would be grateful if you had a link (or links!) to answer a specific question: Does zone 2 training help if you keep your workout TIME the same? To illustrate: If I can run (or elliptical or whatever) at, say, 6 miles per hour and my choices are: Run for one hour at 6 miles per hour (so 6 miles), or Run for one hour at 5 miles per hour (so 5 miles) Does running at 5 miles per hour "help"? or would I need to keep the *distance* the same and so increase my workout to 1 hour and 12 minutes? It APPEARS that one of the primary benefits of zone-2 training is that you can do a lot more of it. But if one isn't going to increase the time spent on exe...
- Wed Mar 06, 2024 9:33 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Plateaued with my 45 minute workout - Age 47
- Replies: 90
- Views: 7576
Re: Plateaued with my 45 minute workout - Age 47
+1. Many novice runners (and some others) don't understand the physiology of running and what makes you faster.
But as I said earlier, the OP needs to decide what purpose his running serves. Training for a 5K is very different than general fitness.
- Wed Mar 06, 2024 7:45 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Plateaued with my 45 minute workout - Age 47
- Replies: 90
- Views: 7576
Re: Plateaued with my 45 minute workout - Age 47
In a nutshell I alternate half mile of treadmill running at 8.5/9.0 mph with a set of bench press and pull ups. I feel exhausted at the end of the workout and I do the last half mile at a slower 8.0 mph. I am unable to do this every day as my legs feel tired and sore. If I do it everyday then I find I need to lower my speed. So I do this around three times a week. But the problem is I can't seem to increase the speed on the treadmill . I seem to have plateaued at this 8.5 mph speed. Is it due to age or wrong workout regiment? And if I take a week off then I come back quite slower, usually at 8.0/8.5 mph pace. Here's the exact workout: Run 0.5 miles on treadmill at 8.5 mph speed Do 1 set of bench press 10 repetitions Run 0.5 miles on treadm...
- Wed Mar 06, 2024 6:56 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: When do you tax-loss harvest?
- Replies: 15
- Views: 1499
When do you tax-loss harvest?
I'm curious about when people decide to tax-loss harvest. I'm contemplating my own plans should we have a market downturns this year. Do you wait until you have a $3000 loss? Less? Or even more, if you are carrying it over?
- Tue Mar 05, 2024 6:39 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Can I retire?
- Replies: 41
- Views: 4741
Re: Can I retire?
Apologies to the thread for my snarky comment. We get a few "can I retire" posts from people who have millions of dollars and clearly can retire... but I get that there are a lot of moving parts, and a transition is a transition no matter what. OP asked a sincere question. Mea culpa.
- Tue Mar 05, 2024 8:36 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Can I retire?
- Replies: 41
- Views: 4741
Re: Can I retire?
deleted
- Tue Mar 05, 2024 7:38 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Giving (unequal) money to adult children
- Replies: 90
- Views: 8259
Re: Giving (unequal) money to adult children
"a misadventure on my adult child's part" ?
I wouldn't give any more money. How can you even trust what you're being told?
I wouldn't give any more money. How can you even trust what you're being told?
- Tue Mar 05, 2024 7:07 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Can I retire?
- Replies: 41
- Views: 4741
Re: Can I retire?
deleted
- Mon Mar 04, 2024 11:36 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: How big (if at all) of a mistake would it be for me to go VT instead of VTI/VXUS in taxable?
- Replies: 67
- Views: 5530
Re: Strongly regretting my decision to separate into VTI/VXUS in taxable account instead of VT, unsure how to best proce
Here is the main problem with this level of tweaking: the tweaker never goes back to look at what the results would have been without any tweaking at all. They think that by doing something, they are improving the results.
- Mon Mar 04, 2024 10:14 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: How big (if at all) of a mistake would it be for me to go VT instead of VTI/VXUS in taxable?
- Replies: 67
- Views: 5530
Re: Strongly regretting my decision to separate into VTI/VXUS in taxable account instead of VT, unsure how to best proce
To quote yourself, you're making a big deal out of nothing and that the exact percentages don't really matter as long as it's close enough.
Seriously. You're concerned that one side might be $14K unbalanced? Out of millions? Not only are you overthinking this, you are WAY overthinking this. You are not going to improve your results by micromanaging your allocations on a daily basis, or a weekly basis, or even a monthly basis.
Seriously. You're concerned that one side might be $14K unbalanced? Out of millions? Not only are you overthinking this, you are WAY overthinking this. You are not going to improve your results by micromanaging your allocations on a daily basis, or a weekly basis, or even a monthly basis.
- Mon Mar 04, 2024 6:23 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Good or bad time to invest in S&P 500 for Roth IRA?
- Replies: 30
- Views: 3804
Re: Good or bad time to invest in S&P 500 for Roth IRA?
Are you thinking that it's possible to invest in stocks and never show a loss? If you know how to do that, you will be very wealthy.newinvestor345 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 04, 2024 3:41 am So, if I invest in these funds now that the markets are hot, would I not set myself up for losses as soon as the market cools down again?
Also, losses on paper aren't realized unless you sell. Think of the market as a roller coaster. The idea is to ride out the ups and downs along the way. If you are investing for 25 years, it doesn't matter where the market is today. Most likely, you won't even remember. Quick - what was the Dow in 1999?
(Answer: 10,481. Today it is around 38,000.)
- Sun Mar 03, 2024 6:32 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Medicare: 64 Year Old Eyeing 2025 Medicare
- Replies: 168
- Views: 11436
Re: Medicare: 64 Year Old Eyeing 2025 Medicare
So for the OP, what is critical is that you read the rules in YOUR state (and any other state where you might want to live in the future.) The OP is in Pennsylvania. The dead pool thread that I linked to is about Pennsylvania. It is possible to move to another state that allows you to switch Medigap plans without medical underwriting. However, that is a big change. It's better to select the right plan at age 65. It's no secret that I'm in Pennsylvania. Exactly. That’s why I’m trying to understand all of this way ahead of time. When I was doing my Medigap homework, I found this guy to offer the best and most realistic no-nonsense advice about choosing a company. He's also on YouTube. There's another guy on YouTube who is popular but actuall...
- Sun Mar 03, 2024 7:31 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: The Psychology of Retirement (Your thought and experience, please!)
- Replies: 38
- Views: 5042
Re: The Psychology of Retirement (Your thought and experience, please!)
+1Outer Marker wrote: ↑Sun Mar 03, 2024 6:48 am 100% WFH with 7-8 weeks paid leave and good comp sounds like a pretty sweet deal. Retiring at 56 with only $1M in investable assets does not sound like it would support a comfortable long retirement in a HCOL area, though your husband is working. Personally, I'd keep going and make the most of your generous time off with family. Bailing now will permantly reduce your standard of living for the rest of your life.
- Sat Mar 02, 2024 2:53 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]
- Replies: 5973
- Views: 689894
Re: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]
Rewatching the original Frasier . I had forgotten just how clever the writing was. Just finished a six-episode season of Funny Woman on PBS. British show about a free-spirited girl trying to make her way in comedy in 1960s London. It's cute, and the soundtrack brings back memories. We really enjoyed Funny Woman. We streamed it through our PBS Passport membership which didn't bleep any of the dialog. (It's not that I wanted to hear all the four letter words, but when watching it live/recorded on our local PBS channel, so many words were muted that it broke up the dialog too much.) I liked the soundtrack, the 60s clothing and that beautiful red Austin Healey. It will be back for a second season, in the form of four one-hour episodes.
- Sat Mar 02, 2024 2:52 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]
- Replies: 5973
- Views: 689894
Re: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]
Just started watching the remake of Shogun, on FX. I remember the original 1980 miniseries very well. Remake is very good; dialogue and cast seem more realistic.
- Sat Mar 02, 2024 8:04 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: I want to pay off car using money from Roth IRA
- Replies: 40
- Views: 4473
Re: I want to pay off car using money from Roth IRA
You're talking about spending 2.4% of your assets for a car. Just do it. You don't need to take an Uber or eat cat food.
- Sat Mar 02, 2024 7:36 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Invest cash when interest goes down
- Replies: 52
- Views: 5196
Re: Invest cash when interest goes down
The narrative that the Fed is definitely cutting rates this year has already been thrown out the window. It's far from certain, and in fact, one Fed manager even suggested that another hike might be necessary. My point is that you should not follow prevailing narratives (which may be old but continue to circulate as if they were facts.) For example, a number of people have set up CD ladders. That's certainly a valid approach. But, guess what happens if the Fed sticks with its "higher for longer" strategy? The people in CD ladders will be earning 4% while the MM fund continues to earn 5%. Or maybe the Fed cuts rates enough so that the MM fund earns 4% instead of 5%. That's no better or worse than the CD (where your money is tied up...
- Fri Mar 01, 2024 1:53 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: 529 - 2 years until High School Graduation - How Risky should I be?
- Replies: 28
- Views: 3524
Re: 529 - 2 years until High School Graduation - How Risky should I be?
This is all based on appetite for risk, but if it were me, I'd have zero in stocks (and zero in bond funds) if college is only two years away. I don't see the purpose in taking on risk for what will be a six-year investment timeframe (actually less than that, since senior year of college starts in fall 2029, and your final tuition payment would likely be paid by the end of December 2029.)
I don't see how past performance is a factor. Why in the world would I want to worry AT ALL about the tuition accounts?
I get that everyone has their own viewpoint, however.
I don't see how past performance is a factor. Why in the world would I want to worry AT ALL about the tuition accounts?
I get that everyone has their own viewpoint, however.
- Fri Mar 01, 2024 1:43 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Which pizza shop should I invest in?
- Replies: 19
- Views: 1464
Re: Which pizza shop should I invest in?
Neither. Pizza places are a dime a dozen. As for promises to "buy you out"... are you prepared to (1) get that in writing, and (2) sue them if they change their minds? Previous post said it best: don't do this with family members.
- Fri Mar 01, 2024 1:41 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Mortality etc...
- Replies: 16
- Views: 1986
Re: Mortality etc...
If you haven't yet done so, a meeting with an estate planning attorney will help you get a handle on everything you need to do to plan for the future. Even if it's years away, at least you'll get an idea of what to consider.
- Fri Mar 01, 2024 1:32 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: SS Delay Bridge - But how?
- Replies: 21
- Views: 2188
Re: SS Delay Bridge - But how?
This may not be the best place for this question (I can move it) but looking at that tipsladder.com tool and testing it, I have a few questions and possibly the OP would have similar ones. 1. There are 4 "rung" options and it wasn't clear to me how they affect things or what the desired selection would normally be. 2. I entered in data saying I would want $50K a year from 2026 to 2032 and the results were confusing. For example it showed that for 2032 that my net purchase cost would be $56,048 but my total income would only be $50,962. That has been confused. Not sure if this link will work https://www.tipsladder.com/build?incomeRequirementKind=Avg&firstYear=2026&income=50000&yearCount=7&bondChoiceForGap=NearestBo...
- Fri Mar 01, 2024 8:00 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: BND vs Treasury ladder
- Replies: 28
- Views: 3805
Re: BND vs Treasury ladder
What about using low ER bond funds instead of Treasury instruments directly? Wouldn't this have the same problem as other bond funds? i.e. the bond fund is constantly buying new stuff when money rolls in, then selling stuff when redemptions take place or if they decide otherwise etc. and you have no control over what is happening inside that black box and how it's affecting the money you've put in. I believe the duration on the Treasury funds is just the average duration, for example VFITX (Vanguard Intermediate Term Treasury Fund) is also holding some 30 year bonds in there. Yes, absolutely. If you need to sell from your bond fund, you could be losing money. The bond fund, of course, could also go up in price if rates fall. It depends on ...
- Fri Mar 01, 2024 7:39 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: PlanVision vs Maxifii/NewRetirement/ProjectionLab
- Replies: 30
- Views: 2406
Re: PlanVision vs Maxifii/NewRetirement/ProjectionLab
I don't like NewRetirement because although it allows you to model Roth conversions, it doesn't let you incorporate/save them into your plan. You're supposed to just make a note of them for the future! Ridiculously bad omission. I think I understand what you are saying, but I am not sure you are correct. NewRetirement has a separate module Roth Conversion Explorer that allows one to model Roth Conversions with different options, like maximize estate, maximize lowest lifetime income, etc., but does NOT allow one to then incorporate these into the plan by a simple click . But you can enter and save the suggested conversion under Money Flows in the regular plan. Go to Money Flows>>>>Roth Conversions>>>>>Model A Roth Conversions>>>>Source/Amou...
- Fri Mar 01, 2024 5:42 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Mid-career change to law?
- Replies: 127
- Views: 11686
Re: Mid-career change to law?
I’m a pretty happy lawyer. I’ve had a good career with interesting jobs and now have my own firm in niche area. I don’t think 40 is too old to go to law school. Mitchell Hamline school of law is filling up classes in mostly online program that attracts all sorts of people from around the country who want a legal education but don’t necessarily want to practice. Many of them already have second careers. A person can make a good living as a lawyer. But the vast majority of lawyers are not wealthy. It’s not clear where your impressions about the field come from. I think you should have lunch with at least a dozen lawyers in different types of practices and learn about what their experience has been. AI is not only going to change the practice...
- Fri Mar 01, 2024 5:34 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: PlanVision vs Maxifii/NewRetirement/ProjectionLab
- Replies: 30
- Views: 2406
Re: PlanVision vs Maxifii/NewRetirement/ProjectionLab
I don't like NewRetirement because although it allows you to model Roth conversions, it doesn't let you incorporate/save them into your plan. You're supposed to just make a note of them for the future! Ridiculously bad omission.
- Thu Feb 29, 2024 2:43 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: How can Medicare Part D be this cheap?
- Replies: 30
- Views: 5277
Re: How can Medicare Part D be this cheap?
One thing I learned about Wellcare this year is that their specialty pharmacy, AcariaHealth, is a nightmare to deal with.
- Thu Feb 29, 2024 2:41 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: BND vs Treasury ladder
- Replies: 28
- Views: 3805
Re: BND vs Treasury ladder
Does it show ask prices below 100 ?stocknoob4111 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 29, 2024 1:34 pmLooks like an original 5 year note on the secondary market? It has a 4.0 coupon and the current 5 year is yield 25 bps more. So, is there a discount to buying this one?RyeBourbon wrote: ↑Thu Feb 29, 2024 11:39 am I think there are notes maturing in 4 years, e.g. https://fixedincome.fidelity.com/ftgw/f ... =91282CGP0
Edit - nvm, I see the Bid/Ask on the price tab and the Yield to Ask is 4.32%
- Thu Feb 29, 2024 7:33 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Still trying to understand TIPS
- Replies: 42
- Views: 4675
Re: Still trying to understand TIPS
It's not a controversy because nobody other than you has multiple meanings of "return." Once you get a coupon a.k.a. cash, that's the end of the story. You can spend it, save it, burn it, whatever, but it no longer has anything to do with the original investment.jeffyscott wrote: ↑Thu Feb 29, 2024 6:53 am ^ Yes, but I was talking about the total return on the money, not the yield of the bond. In my example of the $10K par bond, the total return on that $10K over the 5 years is partly dependent on the returns on reinvested coupons.
So going back to the start of this controversy, it's total annualized return on $X over the term of the bond vs. the return (aka yield) of the bond. Two different meanings for "return".
- Thu Feb 29, 2024 5:21 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Credit card bonus eligibility
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1091
Credit card bonus eligibility
For those of you who like to gather credit card signup bonuses, are you eligible if you get a different type card from the same bank? Or do they consider you to be a current customer regardless of the type of card, and therefore ineligible for the bonus?
I had a Capital One travel rewards card this year that I recently closed. There's another Capital One card, not a travel card, that has a modest signup bonus. Would I be eligible for that? I can call and ask, but I'd like to know what your experience has been if you like to play this game.
I had a Capital One travel rewards card this year that I recently closed. There's another Capital One card, not a travel card, that has a modest signup bonus. Would I be eligible for that? I can call and ask, but I'd like to know what your experience has been if you like to play this game.
- Thu Feb 29, 2024 5:04 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: When to Sell T-Bill Position?
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1135
Re: When to Sell T-Bill Position?
I think the OP is misinterpreting what the "gain" actually means.
OP, you can demonstrate for yourself: pretend you sell the bond today. You have X. Then pretend you get money market interest on X for two weeks. What is the total amount you now have? How does it compare to the maturity value you will get if you don't sell?
OP, you can demonstrate for yourself: pretend you sell the bond today. You have X. Then pretend you get money market interest on X for two weeks. What is the total amount you now have? How does it compare to the maturity value you will get if you don't sell?