Search found 388 matches

by BHCadet
Fri Mar 17, 2017 1:04 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: $464.12 dinner bill last night. No regrets.
Replies: 78
Views: 13897

Re: $464.12 dinner bill last night. No regrets.

Great story.
Thanks for sharing...
by BHCadet
Tue Nov 22, 2016 12:44 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do you track your net worth? How long have you done so?
Replies: 110
Views: 16604

Re: Do you track your net worth? How long have you done so?

Yes, I track my net worth since 2000.
Quicken is doing it for me automatically.
by BHCadet
Tue Jul 12, 2016 3:21 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do you have any retiree healthcare benefit from your employer?
Replies: 76
Views: 9098

Re: Do you have any retiree healthcare benefit from your employer?

Yes, I have retiree healthcare benefit from my former employer as part of my retiree benefits.
It will cover me until I'm 65 when Medicare takeover.
My spouse will continue to be covered under the plan until she turns 65 also.
by BHCadet
Wed Mar 04, 2015 5:04 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What would you have done differently when retiring?
Replies: 116
Views: 17712

Re: What would you have done differently when retiring?

I retired in May 2014.
But, in retrospect, I should have retired sooner like in 2013.
The extra months staying on the job didn't really worth it.
by BHCadet
Wed Mar 04, 2015 5:00 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Wife tired of saving...
Replies: 203
Views: 33598

Re: Wife tired of saving...

OP... It is a good problem to have.
If I have met your savings goal and there is budget left, I would go for it.
However, I wouldn't let others to influence our spending decision.
by BHCadet
Wed Mar 04, 2015 4:46 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do you consider mortgage payments as savings?
Replies: 414
Views: 46567

Re: Do you consider mortgage payments as savings?

Before the house is payoff, the payments will increase my equity and net worth.
After the house is payoff and when I’m retired, the savings from not having a mortgage payment will decrease my withdrawal rate. Therefore, will affect the amount I need to save.
by BHCadet
Wed Mar 04, 2015 4:34 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Poll: Increasing international equities
Replies: 70
Views: 10353

Re: Poll: Increasing international equities

I am staying the course; keeping same AA.
However, for the last couple years, I’ve directed the capital gains and dividend distributions in my taxable account to the Vanguard Total International Stock Fund because its performance is lacking behind the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund. Otherwise, my International allocation will fall below my AA.
by BHCadet
Wed Jan 21, 2015 5:08 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Is my employer's 'retiree' practice common?
Replies: 16
Views: 3127

Re: Is my employer's 'retiree' practice common?

Alan, The reduced benefit I'd receive by taking the pension early isn't a problem. I don't have any plan to take the pension until 65. My concern is that I won't be considered a company "retiree" until I'm 65 and start drawing on the pension. In the intervening years I'll just be a "former employee". It's strictly a status issue. I'm curious if other companies treat early retirees the same way. Dennis If there is any retiree medical involved, it could be tied to starting the pension. You need to be sure you understand what any other implications there are between "former employee" and retiree. Any other benefits perhaps, something life group life benefit that only kicks in for retirees? I retired last year as ...
by BHCadet
Mon Jan 12, 2015 12:39 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Keeping CC Receipts
Replies: 45
Views: 6029

Re: Keeping CC Receipts

I use a shoe box to keep the CC receipts along with the deposit slips and check stubs from my Credit Union for several months.
And I reconciled the transactions in Quicken after they've downloaded every month.
by BHCadet
Mon Jan 12, 2015 12:29 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: TurboTax Premier now free (for some)
Replies: 20
Views: 5556

Re: TurboTax Premier now free (for some)

TurboTax Premier is still free.
As a flagship customer, I just downloaded it to my computer.
by BHCadet
Mon Jan 12, 2015 12:12 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Sanity check: turnover of my active management vs. Vanguard?
Replies: 11
Views: 2543

Re: Sanity check: turnover of my active management vs. Vangu

The market has been up since 2009, for a $5,300,000 account to have only a long term gain of $173,696 and a short term loss of $18,121, your portfolio either have a very high turnover rate or underperform significantly.
I would move the money to Vanguard ASAP to save the money.
by BHCadet
Sun Jan 04, 2015 1:37 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Bogleheads 2015 Hedge Fund Contest
Replies: 227
Views: 48742

Re: Bogleheads 2015 Hedge Fund Contest

Name: Direct Holding Partners
Long:
AAPL Apple Inc.
BA Boeing Co.
ORCL Oracle Corp.

Short:
CZR Caesars EntMt Corp
NSTG NanoString Technologies Inc
SAPE Sapient Corp
by BHCadet
Sun Jan 04, 2015 1:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Paper Statements
Replies: 68
Views: 6516

Re: Paper Statements

I keep electronic copies too.
But, I do keep the latest annual statements with my Trust documents together.
In case something happens to us, my succession trustee will have an easier time to locate my assets.
I'm thinking put a copy of my marriage certificate, the deed of the house, and the latest tax returns there too.
by BHCadet
Sun Nov 23, 2014 11:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: POLL: Do you personally own a cell phone?
Replies: 92
Views: 10469

Re: POLL: Do you personally own a cell phone?

I've a smart phone... But, I don't have the Data plan. However, I can access WiFi at home, library, coffee shop, etc. Just not on the street or in the car. What carrier do you use? I am under the impression that Verizon would not sell you a smart phone without a data plan. I have become so dependent on mine, I am keeping my data plan regardless. I am just curious. Actually, it was a flip phone originally. AT&T told us the same thing that they wouldn't sell us a smart phone without a data plan. So, the work around was... When my wife upgraded her phone to the latest iphone a year ago, I switched the SIM card from the old flip phone to her old iphone. But, switching will not work for the latest iphone because the new SIM card is different.
by BHCadet
Sat Nov 22, 2014 2:15 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: POLL: Do you personally own a cell phone?
Replies: 92
Views: 10469

Re: POLL: Do you personally own a cell phone?

I've a smart phone...
But, I don't have the Data plan.
However, I can access WiFi at home, library, coffee shop, etc.
Just not on the street or in the car.
by BHCadet
Fri Nov 21, 2014 2:19 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [What UN-frugal thing do you do? What do you splurge on?]
Replies: 785
Views: 82844

Re: What do you splurge on?

Paying for 100% of my daughter's college expense.
Paid for my son's car when he graduated last year.
Gifts to family members.
Travel...
by BHCadet
Tue Nov 18, 2014 8:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Apple Stores - do they try to be awful?
Replies: 41
Views: 8110

Re: Apple Stores - do they try to be awful?

vbdoug wrote:I am "all Apple" with an old iMac, an iPad and a couple of iPhones. The Genius bar has helped me many times without cost for products that are well out of warranty. I do wish to say that today a friend of mine went to the Apple store in Manhattan Beach. He saw a very long line and went to Fry's.
The line for the Apple store in Manhattan Village Mall is for buying IPhone 6 only.
For other products, you just go in.
by BHCadet
Tue Nov 11, 2014 3:16 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: If your net worth is over $3 million, how did you do it?
Replies: 913
Views: 239020

Re: If your networth is over $3 million, how did you do it?

Salaries - we both work (however, I've retired) with above average salaries.
LBYM - We could have lived in a more expensive neighborhood and changed cars every couple years. But, we didn't. Our cars are over 10 years old.
Invest and Stay the course - Contributed to the maximum in 401k with additional savings/investments in taxable. Didn't sale during market crash in '87, '00, and '08.
by BHCadet
Mon Oct 27, 2014 3:14 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Gross Yearly Income needed in Retirement (Speculation)
Replies: 194
Views: 28722

Re: Gross Yearly Income needed in Retirement (Speculation)

I just retired this year.
Income needed is fluctuated from year to year.
I estimated we need the followings after taxes:
...$70k base.
...$30K for travel.
...$20k for big ticket items/emergency.
...$35k for my child’s college.
Expenses for college will end in three years.
Travel and big ticket items could be optional.
If necessary, we can cut back on the base amount too.
by BHCadet
Mon Oct 27, 2014 3:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bogleheads.org equivalents for other areas of life?
Replies: 70
Views: 12546

Re: Bogleheads.org equivalents for other areas of life?

http://www.reddit.com/r/bodyweightfitness/

The language is sometime a little rough.
But, this is a great sub forum from reddit for body weight/Calisthenics workouts.
by BHCadet
Thu Oct 02, 2014 2:08 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Pull-ups and Push-ups
Replies: 678
Views: 182125

Re: Pull-ups and Push-ups

I'm currently workout five times a week as followed:
Run 15 minutes to warm-up.
7 to 8 sets of the followings:
...8 to 10 pull-ups.
...10 push-ups.
...L-sit - still working on getting one foot up.
...Lunges or Squats.
...Stretches.
Walk 15 minutes to cool-down.
by BHCadet
Wed Aug 20, 2014 9:51 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard - set up multiple new accounts, same type
Replies: 7
Views: 2149

Re: Vanguard - set up multiple new accounts, same type

We've three Trust accounts with Vanguard. One of them is a brokerage account.
The names of the two non-brokerage accounts are the same except for the date format. One uses '-' and the other one uses '/'
The brokerage account has the same name as the one of the non-brokerage accounts.
Initially, we were using multiple accounts to track different investments.
But, after everything is converted to a 5 funds portfolio (I tilt SV and REIT in my IRA accounts, also with Vanguard), the extra accounts are not needed anymore.
To this day, the trust brokerage account and the 2nd regular trust account are still sitting there with no money in it.
by BHCadet
Sun Aug 17, 2014 11:02 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Poll: Cash Reserve for Investments
Replies: 11
Views: 1301

Re: Poll: Cash Reserve for Investments

I do have over $100k in cash.
But, it is not earmarked for investment.
It is for my daughter's college expense.
by BHCadet
Sun Aug 17, 2014 10:54 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Vanguard Lost My Account
Replies: 95
Views: 18353

Re: Vanguard Lost My Account

Steelersfan wrote:
Bustoff wrote:Has anybody called Vanguard and asked them to disclose their protocol for compromised accounts, and/or, if that protocol is consistent with OP's experience ?
It's doubtful they would tell you with enough detail to be useful.

Doing so and getting it published on this message board would give the crooks too many good clues on how to evade their protocols.
Saw the following article dated Aug 6, 2014 from Vanguard with the subject line "Online risk: What Vanguard does, and what you can do."

https://personalp.vanguard.com/us/insig ... cript=true
by BHCadet
Mon Jul 21, 2014 9:58 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Poll - Do you use Quicken?
Replies: 85
Views: 10123

Re: Poll - Do you use Quicken?

Windows 7
by BHCadet
Wed Jul 16, 2014 3:29 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Nuts and bolts - In-Service After Tax Rollover to Roth IRA
Replies: 17
Views: 2307

Re: Nuts and bolts - In-Service After Tax Rollover to Roth I

I would also ask Vanguard send me envelopes for mailing the checks to them.
Also, would attach a letter to Vanguard telling them where to deposit the check.
by BHCadet
Wed Jul 16, 2014 3:24 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: POLL: Do you have a dedicated REIT allocation?
Replies: 123
Views: 13209

Re: POLL: Do you have a dedicated REIT allocation?

Including the amounts from Total Stock Market, Total Small Cap Value and Total International, REIT is about 10% of my equity allocation.
by BHCadet
Fri Jul 11, 2014 2:36 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What after-tax income could you live on today?
Replies: 48
Views: 7496

Re: What after-tax income could you live on today?

At the moment, our after-tax expense is way over 90K because of college expense of our kids.
It will be lower in several years.
by BHCadet
Mon Jul 07, 2014 10:34 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: When you retire you plan to?
Replies: 44
Views: 5352

Re: When you retire you plan to?

We're staying at our current house.
However, we may move in the future if our kids moved away after college.
by BHCadet
Sun Jul 06, 2014 9:34 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: California Intermediate-Term Tax-Exempt Fund
Replies: 9
Views: 1675

Re: California Intermediate-Term Tax-Exempt Fund

Approximately 10% of our bonds is VCADX in taxable.
The rest of our bonds is in our tax advantage accounts.
by BHCadet
Mon Jun 30, 2014 2:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: The Millionaire Next Door: Are You One?
Replies: 187
Views: 32600

Re: The Millionaire Next Door: Are You One?

Yes…
I recently retired, but my spouse is still working.
We're not business owner, but worked for mega corps, LBYM, and keep on saving and investing.
We have a modest house.
Our two cars are 10 and 15 years old.
by BHCadet
Mon Jun 30, 2014 2:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: do you lie about your finances to friends
Replies: 103
Views: 14337

Re: do you lie about your finances to friends

To me, not sharing personal finance info is not lying.
Just let people generally know you LBYM saving for retirement, college expense, etc, is sufficient.
by BHCadet
Sun Jun 29, 2014 11:19 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Who do you talk with about your financial goals?
Replies: 158
Views: 17057

Re: Who do you talk with about your financial goals?

My spouse.
But, also share some info with our kids.
by BHCadet
Wed Jun 18, 2014 12:04 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Early retirement gotchas
Replies: 28
Views: 7373

Re: Early retirement gotchas

Got bored...
by BHCadet
Wed Jun 18, 2014 12:02 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part V
Replies: 3372
Views: 1560702

Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part V

The Complete Book of Running by James Fixx, circa 1977.
by BHCadet
Fri Jun 13, 2014 10:59 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: I cannot make the jump and retire
Replies: 97
Views: 19814

Re: I cannot make the jump and retire

I could have retired at 55 two years ago.
But, it took me two years to pull the trigger.
by BHCadet
Wed May 21, 2014 12:29 am
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Roll Call for the Retirement Class of 2014!
Replies: 385
Views: 105055

Re: Roll Call for the Retirement Class of 2014!

Age 57...
by BHCadet
Wed May 14, 2014 6:05 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Pull-ups and Push-ups
Replies: 678
Views: 182125

Re: Pull-ups and Push-ups

When I first followed this thread in 11/2013, I couldn't do even 1 pull-ups and/or 10 push-ups.
But, reading this thread everyday keeps me focus.
It wasn't easy. My hands, arms, and shoulders were sore and hurt for too many nights.
I can do more now. But, I'm not done yet.
It isn't the same as when I was in my 20s and 30s.
But, I feel I'm in my best shape when age adjusted.
As I commented to my friend couple weeks ago, I realized I don't have back pain anymore.
by BHCadet
Tue May 13, 2014 9:47 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Roll Call for the Retirement Class of 2014!
Replies: 385
Views: 105055

Re: Roll Call for the Retirement Class of 2014!

My official last day is May 26th.
It was May 23rd.
I will continue to receive medical insurance coverage from my company including vision until 65, but no dental.
I don't have any major plan yet.
But, will take a short trip to Las Vegas or San Diego to take me out of work rhythm.
I was inspired by the push-ups and pull-ups thread.
http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtop ... 25752&f=11
I'm up to 5 sets of 8 pull-ups and 4 to 5 sets 20 to 30 push-ups.
by BHCadet
Tue May 06, 2014 11:42 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: RETIRING May 31! Any advice .....?
Replies: 87
Views: 11895

Re: RETIRING May 31! Any advice .....?

I too will retire this month on May 23. Financially, I plan to do the same as you. Rollover my 401k to TIRA, Roth Conversion, etc. I do keep a To Do list of things I want to do after retired. Exercises, places I want to visit, volunteer works I interested to do, etc. I retired just before the end of the month a few years back. I was given a pension estimate and assured by HR that it made no virtually no difference as to whether I waited til the end of the month since it was to their benefit if I left at the end of a pay period. A few months later I received a notice that since I had left prior to the month end, they would be reducing my pension something like $20 per month forever and clawing back some too. I viewed that as an expensive mi...
by BHCadet
Tue May 06, 2014 2:21 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: RETIRING May 31! Any advice .....?
Replies: 87
Views: 11895

Re: RETIRING May 31! Any advice .....?

I too will retire this month on May 23.
Financially, I plan to do the same as you. Rollover my 401k to TIRA, Roth Conversion, etc.
I do keep a To Do list of things I want to do after retired.
Exercises, places I want to visit, volunteer works I interested to do, etc.
by BHCadet
Wed Apr 30, 2014 3:40 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Did you tell anyone you paid off your mortgage?
Replies: 338
Views: 61764

Re: Did you tell anyone you paid off your mortgage?

Yes, we did...
But, only if asked.
by BHCadet
Sun Apr 27, 2014 5:22 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Trouble with Financial Engines Account?
Replies: 18
Views: 5170

Re: Trouble with Financial Engines Account?

I haven't used financial engines for a long time.
Just checked today from my Vanguard account, the last updated date of my investments including external assets was May 27, 2013.
Such a long time ago...
by BHCadet
Sat Apr 26, 2014 12:10 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Determining percentage of reits in portfolio
Replies: 5
Views: 1337

Re: Determining percentage of reits in portfolio

I struggled with the same question too...
Since Morningstar and Vanguard Portfolio Watch include REIT from all mutual funds when calculating the percentage, in my home spreadsheet for rebalancing, I add about 3% from VTSAX and VSMAX to my REIT allocation. And use the info for helping me to rebalance.
by BHCadet
Tue Apr 08, 2014 1:33 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do I take the separation package offer?
Replies: 52
Views: 8678

Re: Do I take the separation package offer?

Can you take unemployment benefits too?
by BHCadet
Fri Feb 28, 2014 6:23 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Meeting with Fidelity [Financial Advisor]
Replies: 42
Views: 9026

Re: Meeting with Fidelity [Financial Advisor]

We met with Fidelity account executive.
He tried to sale managing our investments, but we have nothing to do with it.
When we told him we rebalance in our tax deferred accounts only, he was shock to learn about it.
But, I did learn from him using Fidelity tools such as Fidelity Retirement Income Planner to go over our cash flow year by year in retirement.
by BHCadet
Sun Feb 16, 2014 11:23 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Total Int. Stock % allocation?
Replies: 46
Views: 4785

Re: Total Int. Stock % allocation?

I have 30% in Total Intl. in my equity portion of the allocation too.