Search found 23 matches

by dguad4
Thu Feb 04, 2021 12:52 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: DO I renew Microsoft office 360 again?
Replies: 25
Views: 2446

Re: DO I renew Microsoft office 360 again?

You can buy Microsoft Office 2019 Personal / Student for around $80 bucks on sale. This comes with all the main office applications without the subscription fees.
by dguad4
Thu Jun 22, 2017 2:23 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Did I just get seriously ripped off?? (Car lease)
Replies: 54
Views: 10361

Re: Did I just get seriously ripped off?? (Car lease)

I don't know if you have it backwards or not, but according to the Edmunds lease forum, the residual should be 55% not 45%...

"Hello,

I'm looking for the MF, RV, and any incentives and rebates on a 2017 BMW 230i. 36 months and 15K a year. I'm in Texas if that makes a difference.

Thanks!


.00150 MF and 55% residual"
by dguad4
Fri Nov 06, 2015 1:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Citi Thank You Points Redemption
Replies: 8
Views: 1506

Re: Citi Thank You Points Redemption

I think the best use of TY points is on gift cards, especially when they have the 10% off sale. You can get Home Depot/ Lowes gift cards, $100 value for 9000 points. That's when I stocked up. Bed Bath Beyond gift cards that can be also be used at Buy Buy Baby.
I like this idea. thanks!

i generally don't fly too may places so I was most interested in using the points for hotels, but that doesn't seem like the best use for them as they are way overpriced.
by dguad4
Fri Nov 06, 2015 10:23 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Citi Thank You Points Redemption
Replies: 8
Views: 1506

Citi Thank You Points Redemption

Does anyone have experience using the Citi Thank You points travel center? I have the thank you premier card that gives you 1.25 per point. When I go to the travel center and look at hotels. I get the following result for one night...

33,136 Points Per Night
or $414.20

That same room / hotel booked on the official website is $279 per night. I difference of $135.

Is the travel center really that overpriced or am I overlooking something???

Derek
by dguad4
Fri Jul 10, 2015 10:14 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Leasing A Vehicle Tips
Replies: 13
Views: 5631

Re: Leasing A Vehicle Tips

In my opinion, I can't stress enough to Communicate /Negotiate through email only!!!

I've done both my lease and purchase through this method. You don't feel the pressure from the sales person and have the opportunity to think things through / run calculations before responding.
by dguad4
Thu May 28, 2015 12:49 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Health / Dental and Marriage
Replies: 0
Views: 951

Health / Dental and Marriage

Hi, I will be getting married in a few weeks time (spare the condolences :wink: ) and am really struggling with deciding health care options. I did do a few searches but could not find anything similar to my situation (and i may be over thinking this, who knows!) Healthcare: Me: No deductible BCBS HMO - Biweekly cost with dependent ~$190 Her: Low deductible Health Mate Coast to Coast - Biweekly cost with dependent ~$180 Overall from the benefits summaries her copays for visits and prescriptions are slightly lower. Coverage is similar (no red flags differences that i can tell). If SHE waives health care we will receive $3k. If I waive healthcare we get $0. Dental: Me: Delta Dental - Price similar Her: Delta Dental - Price similar Her dental ...
by dguad4
Wed Mar 11, 2015 12:57 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do you really need 2.5 million to retire well?
Replies: 267
Views: 74229

Re: Do you really need 2.5 million to retire well?

I'm 9 years into my working career and have barely eclipsed the 200k mark. I feel I am a longggg way from 2.5m ugh.
by dguad4
Fri Feb 06, 2015 8:44 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 4% rule with % of current value ceiling
Replies: 27
Views: 3754

Re: 4% rule with % of current value ceiling

There is a similar but more flexible approach: wiki:Variable Percentage Withdrawal (VPW) . I am aware of VPW. If I understand VPW correctly, it has you change your spending level every year, based on your portfolio value. My approach has you spending the same amount each year unless a reduction is needed, as signaled by the %-of-current-value test. I'm a long way to retirement and haven't researched this topic much but the first thing that comes to my head everytime I see the 4% rule is "wouldn't i want to spend more money in my first few years of retirement then scale back as I age?" I would think i would want to travel a bit when i first retire when i am still young and relatively healthy but once im older why would I want / ne...
by dguad4
Tue Jul 08, 2014 3:20 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Advice for how to fund my wedding
Replies: 54
Views: 4961

Re: Advice for how to fund my wedding

I would go with option 1.

If you are willing to wait the the 5 years before buying the house and can still put away $1500 a month will be sitting on ~150K of cash again (which in my opinion will be enough to put *20% down on a house and still have a sizable emergency fund).

*depending on how much you think you are going to spend on the house!

Either way, best of luck, I am also going through wedding process! :moneybag :moneybag :moneybag
by dguad4
Wed Jul 02, 2014 7:53 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Old Stock Certificate Question
Replies: 11
Views: 1549

Re: Old Stock Certificate Question

Thanks to everyone for all the information. I have passed on my research and your reponses to my Aunt.
by dguad4
Tue Jul 01, 2014 12:09 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Old Stock Certificate Question
Replies: 11
Views: 1549

Re: Old Stock Certificate Question

Thank you all for the replies, I do not have the certificates at work so I will have to double check when I get home. Any idea how long ago the original stock ( evidenced by the certificate) was purchased? Mid-80's Were the shares gifted (i.e. basis of the original purchaser) or were they purchased by the current owner. I believe they were gifted as part of an inheritance. Found a reference to Danaher buying the stock of Joslyn Corp (assuming that's the same company you are referring to) in 1995 for $34 a share.http://google.brand.edgar-online.com/EFX_dll/EDGARpro.dll?FetchFilingHtmlSection1?SectionID=403196-357074-359901&SessionID=xHKU6Hhot2LHFG7 Great thanks! If they were purchaseda at $34 a share does that mean the # of shares are ba...
by dguad4
Tue Jul 01, 2014 8:53 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Old Stock Certificate Question
Replies: 11
Views: 1549

Old Stock Certificate Question

I am doing some initial research for a family member who has found some old stock certificates. It is apparent they will have to take them in to a local broker but I did find some information and had a question for you knowledgeable bogleheads.

Orginal Name: Joslyn Mfg. and Supply Co
Location: Chicago, Illinois
CUSIP: 481070100

I searched the Illiois corporation website and found out after a number name changes / mergers, the lastest and active name is Joslyn Holding Company. This happens to be a subsidiary of Danaher Corp.

Stock price: DHR (NYSE) $78.73 0.00 (0.00%)

My question is how does old stock certificates / shares work for subs? Could it be possible that they are worth the full value of the Parent Co?
by dguad4
Thu Jan 26, 2012 7:59 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Do you hold your age in bonds?
Replies: 133
Views: 11328

Re: Do you hold your age in bonds?

28, 80/20 split.
by dguad4
Thu Jan 19, 2012 7:37 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The Three-Fund Portfolio
Replies: 3895
Views: 2424339

Re: The Three Fund Portfolio

Understanding that Cash should not be included in the AA for the Three Fund Portfolio should I not be including I-Bonds purchased for short term savings (3-5 years) in the AA? I originally included them in my bond allocation however I realized if I cash these in then it could drastically effect my 80/20 AA. I then thought I could just re-balance, however I may not be purchasing under performing assets at that time. Thoughts?
by dguad4
Wed Jan 18, 2012 2:17 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 25 y/o investor, new 401k advice
Replies: 10
Views: 1321

Re: 25 y/o investor, new 401k advice

*edited for incorrect statement.
by dguad4
Wed Jan 18, 2012 2:08 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Do you max out your 401k at the beginning of the year?
Replies: 55
Views: 10632

Re: Do you max out your 401k at the beginning of the year?

Like some mentioned previously, I defer as much as my bonus as possible in which I can still contribute 6% of my paycheck each pay period in order to get the company match.
by dguad4
Wed Jan 11, 2012 3:24 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: AA @ 28 years
Replies: 32
Views: 2738

Re: AA @ 28 years

All, I had some great advice over the last couple days and using some advice and continued research I've updated my plan below. Any thoughts or suggestions are welcome and appreciated. I would like to ensure that what I have placed together does not have any major gaps implementing the Three Fund Portfolio. 1) I will be paying off my 3k of student loan at 4.5% 2) I will be opening up a ROTH IRA and contributing 5k for 2011 & 2012. I chose 1 fund because the minimum is 3k so I don't see a way around that. 3) Selling my 1% ESOP as the investment is non impacting in the big picture. 4) Approximated the Total Stock Market index using Morning Star X-Ray. Emergency funds = 6 months of expenses (excluded from portfolio). Debt: School loan i:7k...
by dguad4
Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:43 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: AA @ 28 years
Replies: 32
Views: 2738

Re: AA @ 28 years

pkcrafter wrote:Here's a Wiki link to approximating total stock market..

http://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Approxim ... ock_Market

Paul
Thanks, I have checked this out which led me to the morningstar x-ray tool. I just want to ensure since I cannot find the tickers for my funds, using a substitute which follows the same index is an accurate method.

I chose two iShares funds which follow the S&P MidCap 400 Index and Russell 2000 Index. Changing the percentages of these three, I should be able to approximate the total stock market.

xx% SSgA S&P 500 Index Instl (SVSPX)
xx% iShares S&P MidCap 400 Index (IJH)
xx% iShares Russell 2000 Index (IWM)
by dguad4
Tue Jan 10, 2012 7:24 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: AA @ 28 years
Replies: 32
Views: 2738

Re: AA @ 28 years

Not at all. The books I've read recommend 20-40%. Some people avoid them entirely, while others go as high as 50% to index in proportion to the size of world markets (US equities are about 50% of the world's equity markets). It's really a matter of what you feel comfortable with. I'm about your age with a similar AA and portfolio size. I'm looking to bring my international allocation down; it's currently 37.6% of my stock allocation -- way too high for my liking. Rather than sell international, I'm buying more bonds and domestic stocks. After more research I'm actually looking more towards 25%-30% International That seems wise. In previous years, I've brought myself down a tax bracket by maxing out my contribution, which lowers my marginal...
by dguad4
Tue Jan 10, 2012 12:29 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: AA @ 28 years
Replies: 32
Views: 2738

Re: AA @ 28 years

After more research, I would like to simplify to the "Three Fund Portfolio" However, due to my limited to selection in my 401k I will need to approximate the total stock market between my S&P 500, mid-cap, and small-cap funds. I attempted to use the link the wiki to the MorningStar X-Ray feature, however I cannot seem to find my funds listed except for the SSgA S&P 500 Index Fund (SVSPX). Is there another way to approximate this? My AA thoughts are as follows... 80% Stocks/20% Bonds Stocks - Approx Total Stock Market US (60%) xx% SSgA S&P 500 Index Fund (0.01%) xx% SSgA S&P MidCap Index Fund (0.02%) Models S&P MidCap 400 Index xx% SSgA Russell Small Cap Index Fund (0.02%) Models Russell 2000® Index Internationa...
by dguad4
Tue Jan 10, 2012 7:58 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: AA @ 28 years
Replies: 32
Views: 2738

Re: AA @ 28 years

All,

Again your comments are great and very informative!

I would like to go back to question 1. My current situation, as shown in my original post, has me at a 90%/10% AA in an Age based fund. I am looking to adjust out of aged based and utilize my 401k fund options to an 80%/20% split. My question is how best to split the sub-allocations for stocks/bonds with my options for the best diversification. Any links to relevant posts would be welcome as well! I am sure I am overlooking a few good ones discussing this.
by dguad4
Mon Jan 09, 2012 8:09 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: AA @ 28 years
Replies: 32
Views: 2738

Re: AA @ 28 years

Thanks for all the replies thus far. I really appreciate your input. @zaboomafoozarg - Correct on the 401k. I would like to contribute the max (between paycheck withdrawal and bonus defer). My employer will throw in another 6%, which is great. As far as wanting to contribute more than the max, I need to evaluate that more. I would prob open a Roth IRA though as I also have no idea what my tax rate would be in ~35 years. - I took the fees right off the prospectus of the funds. They are Class I if that means anything. Also the funds are managed by my employer so maybe the fees are lower? - I will have to look further in to Intl allocation. @Bob's not my name - I have read about Roth IRA for the previous year. My struggle is how much to really...
by dguad4
Mon Jan 09, 2012 2:56 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: AA @ 28 years
Replies: 32
Views: 2738

AA @ 28 years

Hi All, Up to this point I have been quite lax with my finances. Fortunately, I have had some decent advice from my parents and at least have been contributing to my works 401k since I started in 2006 and have saved some cash as well. I've been a lurker on these forums for a while and finally just finished reading the Bogleheads Guide to Investing. I would like to take a firm hold on my finances starting this year. I would greatly appreciate any advice you all have! Emergency funds = 6 months of expenses (excluded from portfolio). Debt: School loan i:7k@2.625%, Student loan ii:3k@4.5% Tax Filing Status: Single Tax Rate: 28% Federal 5.3% State - Massachusetts Age: 28 Desired Asset allocation: (80% stocks/20% bonds) Intl allocation: 20% of st...