Search found 291 matches
- Thu Feb 22, 2024 8:49 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Punctured tire on Model 3 - WWYD
- Replies: 16
- Views: 2070
Re: Punctured tire on Model 3 - WWYD
At 3/32 or 4/32, it’s time for four new tires unless you don’t drive in rain, like ever.
- Fri Aug 25, 2023 8:30 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Calling all Boglehead car mechanics
- Replies: 37
- Views: 3637
Re: Calling all Boglehead car mechanics
Also, old oxygen sensors can cause issues as soon as th car is warmed up. Until the sensors are warmed up, the car runs in open-loop mode without real-time stoichiometric adjustments to the air-fuel mix, and that can definitely cause misfire codes on individual cylinders.
- Fri Aug 25, 2023 8:28 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Calling all Boglehead car mechanics
- Replies: 37
- Views: 3637
Re: Calling all Boglehead car mechanics
Yes, and the mechanic can easily smoke test. Or check out “cigar intake leak test” on Youtube for another approach.
- Fri Aug 25, 2023 7:43 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Calling all Boglehead car mechanics
- Replies: 37
- Views: 3637
Re: Calling all Boglehead car mechanics
On any car this age those codes can easily indicate vacuum hose and or intake boot leaks. Rubber gets old and cracks. I would not get gummed up on which cylinder shows a misfire until you check for vacuum leaks. Clogged injectors will not wait to warm up to cause issues. Bad hoses / boots often do.
- Tue Apr 11, 2023 1:12 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Can I do a reverse IRA -> 401k rollover for ERISA immediately before a judgment?
- Replies: 6
- Views: 775
Re: Can I do a reverse IRA -> 401k rollover for ERISA immediately before a judgment?
Lawyer but probably not licensed in your state. Check out the concept of “fraudulent transfer.” Good advice above. The transfer may not be illegal, but it is subject to being undone by a court. So, best to do the transfer when it’s 100% defensible as not related to evading a judgment creditor. Keep in mind that IRAs often afford protection too, but check state law on that.
- Wed Feb 22, 2023 6:27 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Recurrent theft from locked Honda Odyssey
- Replies: 42
- Views: 5376
Re: Recurrent theft from locked Honda Odyssey
Car wash attendants, valets, teenagers, deal service techs…
- Tue Jan 31, 2023 8:51 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Yet another ‘What car should I get?’ question (older Porsche)
- Replies: 43
- Views: 3505
Re: Yet another ‘What car should I get?’ question (older Porsche)
E39 M5 is always the answer.
- Sun Jan 22, 2023 10:41 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Seeking Advice on Dealing with Pushy Matson Salesman
- Replies: 54
- Views: 4986
Re: Seeking Advice on Dealing with Pushy Matson Salesman
I’m a lawyer but don’t work in this practice area, but am generally familiar with it. Obviously this is no substitute for real legal advice.
It’s highly unusual for a lawyer to also be a fund salesman due to the inherent conflict. Most legitimate law firms don't allow this. I’d cite a conflict of interest here if you need to cite any reasons to change things. That said, is this guy also a trustee for a trust for your benefit? If so, need to find out what the trust docs say about making changes. It could be that he does not need to follow your instructions. However, he’d be wise to consider your preferences, especially given his conflict.
It’s highly unusual for a lawyer to also be a fund salesman due to the inherent conflict. Most legitimate law firms don't allow this. I’d cite a conflict of interest here if you need to cite any reasons to change things. That said, is this guy also a trustee for a trust for your benefit? If so, need to find out what the trust docs say about making changes. It could be that he does not need to follow your instructions. However, he’d be wise to consider your preferences, especially given his conflict.
- Mon Jan 16, 2023 3:42 pm
- Forum: Non-US Investing
- Topic: Can I (a non US resident) invest in index funds through an LLC?
- Replies: 6
- Views: 1391
Re: Can I (a non US resident) invest in index funds through an LLC?
Keep in mind that a one-owner LLC with a foreign owner is generally “transparent” for U.S. tax purposes, so you may wel need to report worldwide income to the U.S. If that’s not what you had in mind, I’d switch to a corporation or elect S-corporation treatment for the LLC. You’d ideally get tax advice in the U.S. and your home country but as a general rule, you’d not want an LLC here unless you’re already a U.S. taxpayer.
- Sat Jan 14, 2023 8:45 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Can TurboTax Meet My Needs? K-1 (1065)
- Replies: 15
- Views: 1996
Re: Can TurboTax Meet My Needs? K-1 (1065)
I’ve used TurboTax Premier (PC download) for years to handle partnership income from a law firm K-1 with UPEs, including brief typed UPE explanations. E-filed each time. No issues whatsoever.
- Tue Nov 29, 2022 10:58 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Bitten by Dogs; How to respond?
- Replies: 36
- Views: 5358
Re: Bitten by Dogs; How to respond?
File a police report. This is probably not the first time they’ve bitten someone, and maybe this will help have them put down.
- Sun Jul 17, 2022 10:26 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Mail Problems
- Replies: 70
- Views: 6725
Re: Mail Problems
Don’t use USPS for anything important.
- Tue Jan 11, 2022 9:13 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Gasoline smell in garage but I can not see it leaking from the car what other car part could it be coming from?
- Replies: 76
- Views: 13010
Re: Gasoline smell in garage but I can not see it leaking from the car what other car part could it be coming from?
The symptom of at first smelling only after a fill-up, but f you checked the gas cap already, suggests a leak in one of two places to me. First would be the gasket on top of the fuel tank, where the fuel pump attaches to the tank, and the other would be in the gas vapor recovery system (charcoal canister and related hoses). These get the most “stress” when the tank is full. No experience specific to this model, just 30 years of advanced diy car work! Working around the gas tank can be dangerous so if you don’t know what you’re doing, get a good independent mechanic. There could also be a small leak anywhere else in the fuel lines from the fuel pump to the fuel injectors. Not all gas leaks leave a puddle. Gas evaporates quickly and could be ...
- Sat Sep 11, 2021 9:55 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Where to transfer OTC penny stock to sell?
- Replies: 15
- Views: 3458
Re: Where to transfer OTC penny stock to sell?
I’d call the company and ask them who will handle their shares. They must get the question all the time.
- Wed May 26, 2021 11:06 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Saving wear & tear on car (brakes vs transmission)
- Replies: 80
- Views: 9492
Re: Saving wear & tear on car (brakes vs transmission)
What car? Newer auto transmission cars sometimes consider grade and sometimes even gps data in up or downshifting. Maybe that’s the basis for the mechanic’s advice. But engine braking is usually the best answer. The brakes will be there when you need an emergency stop.
- Fri Apr 30, 2021 7:59 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Rental Car Availability
- Replies: 37
- Views: 8691
Re: Rental Car Availability
Another option could be flying into a larger city with more rental cars such as Denver or Salt Lake City
- Fri Apr 30, 2021 7:57 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Rental Car Availability
- Replies: 37
- Views: 8691
Re: Rental Car Availability
Hmm. Carmax allows you to return your car within 30 days / 1,500 miles if you don’t like it.
- Sat Apr 24, 2021 11:46 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Costco Questions
- Replies: 44
- Views: 8451
Re: Costco Questions
It’s easy to check out the selection for yourself. Just walk in through the exit as if you were going to the customer service desk and then walk right into the store like a member.
- Sat Mar 20, 2021 11:12 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: REAL ID now set to be effective May 7, 2025 [Update]
- Replies: 243
- Views: 28132
Re: REAL ID still set to be effective Oct 1 2021
This requirement will get delayed for sure. Name any politician who wants to stop people from flying when they are ready to do so!
- Thu Mar 04, 2021 10:54 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Selling Property, $600-750k Capital Gain, tax help?
- Replies: 19
- Views: 2845
Re: Selling Property, $600-750k Capital Gain, tax help?
Installment sale treatment, allowing you to spread out recognition of income. There are some limitations. Learn more in IRS Publication 537.
- Sat Jan 30, 2021 10:09 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Direct deposit my salary into my wife's acct, does that protect against future lawsuits?
- Replies: 37
- Views: 4511
Re: Direct deposit my salary into my wife's acct, does that protect against future lawsuits?
Short answer is no.
Many physicians seems obsessed with asset protection, but in 20+ years of working as a lawyer with physician clients, I’ve rarely seen anyone have to come out of pocket for malpractice claims. That’s what insurance is for. Settlement at or below policy limits is the norm. Titling a bank account in the wife’s name alone is unlikely to do much, especially if both use funds from that account for loving expenses.
The more likely losses are in divorce, unsustainable spending and bad business deals promoted by charismatic folks who want to swindle docs with no time to keep track of their investment.
Obviously we are talking in generalities here and you should get local legal advice.
Many physicians seems obsessed with asset protection, but in 20+ years of working as a lawyer with physician clients, I’ve rarely seen anyone have to come out of pocket for malpractice claims. That’s what insurance is for. Settlement at or below policy limits is the norm. Titling a bank account in the wife’s name alone is unlikely to do much, especially if both use funds from that account for loving expenses.
The more likely losses are in divorce, unsustainable spending and bad business deals promoted by charismatic folks who want to swindle docs with no time to keep track of their investment.
Obviously we are talking in generalities here and you should get local legal advice.
- Mon Dec 21, 2020 4:59 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: convertible note for medical device investment
- Replies: 15
- Views: 907
Re: convertible note for medical device investment
There are some good questions and answers above, but as somebody who negotiates these things, I would like to point out a few quick observations in the form of questions and answers that I see all the time. Why is the company using a convertible note to raise money? The answer is that the company is early stage and does not have enough track record to credibly convince investors as to what it’s worth. So, the company and the investors are choosing to punt on the valuation question, and instead bring in money now as unsecured debt, and then in the future when a larger fundraising occurs in which the valuation of the company is clear, to have this loan automatically convert into equity of the type raised at that future offering. The future of...
- Sun Nov 01, 2020 4:30 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Accountants —- LLC Tax Return Required?
- Replies: 12
- Views: 806
Re: Accountants —- LLC Tax Return Required?
It’s best to file a zero return on Form 1065 than not to file when required. It starts the clock running on the audit period. Not filing is not a good idea.
- Thu Oct 29, 2020 7:09 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Shareholder/partner of LLC getting paid as an S-Corp
- Replies: 6
- Views: 618
Re: Shareholder/partner of LLC getting paid as an S-Corp
At 50 owners, I’d spend a few bucks with a reputable accounting firm or tax lawyer for some real advice on this. I’ve seen too many smart physicians screw this stuff up and then pay lots extra to fix later. Most good CPA/tax firms would love an opportunity to give you some free advice on these things.
- Mon Aug 31, 2020 10:11 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020
- Replies: 70
- Views: 9365
Re: Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020
We’ve been playing for a few days and it’s great. Very large download (100+ GB) and expect a lot of patches. Seems pretty realistic. I flew over a national park that I visited the week before and it looked pretty accurate. I recommend it but you need a joystick and relatively recent hardware to enjoy it. Mine is a 7th-gen i7, 32GB RAM, Nvidia 1060 6GB, and installed on an SSD. Using the Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog stick. Really a great sim.
- Sat Jul 25, 2020 12:46 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Family expanding - Time for a 3 row SUV
- Replies: 69
- Views: 5636
Re: Family expanding - Time for a 3 row SUV
VW Atlas has useable third row for all heights and has a slick feature to allow third row access with car seats in place in second row. Still, we chose not to deal with VW based on prior experience.
- Sat Jul 25, 2020 12:44 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Family expanding - Time for a 3 row SUV
- Replies: 69
- Views: 5636
Re: Family expanding - Time for a 3 row SUV
We have a 2020 Ascent and a 2010 Odyssey. We love the Ascwnt but the third row is no good for adults over about 5’ 9” and the cargo capacity is far lower than the Odyssey. With three kids and car seats, plus stroller(s) I’d have a hard time recommending the Ascent.
- Tue Jul 21, 2020 11:50 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Tax implications with dissolving farm LLC
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1750
Re: Tax implications with dissolving farm LLC
If any of this farmland is eligible for CRP payments from the USDA, please be sure to check on the implications of the changes that you consider making to the ownership structure. The USDA views some entities such as LLCs, that are normally passthrough entities, as a single owner, and in some cases allows you to have multiple owners receive multiple CRP payments if you use a partnership or alternatives instead. At least one of the professional advisors should be or get familiar with CRP whenever you are working with ownership transfers of farmland.
- Fri Apr 17, 2020 8:58 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Upgrade Computer Before Law School?
- Replies: 42
- Views: 3005
Re: Upgrade Computer Before Law School?
No need to worry about Mac compatibility. Macs are widespread in law school and no one installs legal research software locally. That’s pre-2000 advice. It’s all web/SaaS-based. You may want to wait until Fall as the law school May have discount programs. After law school, your employer will give you a laptop. Not a Mac!
- Tue Feb 04, 2020 3:36 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Latest Car Dealer Service Gotchya (Mini Cooper)
- Replies: 39
- Views: 2944
Re: Latest Car Dealer Service Gotchya (Mini Cooper)
I recommend learning how to change oil and filter it on this car. It’s easy. $30 in synthetic oil and filter from Amazon. Takes about 15 minutes on this car. And you can be a hero.
- Fri Jan 17, 2020 2:59 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: strong role model books for 8 YO girl
- Replies: 53
- Views: 4737
Re: strong role model books for 8 YO girl
Magic Tree House Books for sure.
- Sun Nov 24, 2019 1:15 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Am I Obligated To Pay Attorney Bill?
- Replies: 85
- Views: 7931
Re: Am I Obligated To Pay Attorney Bill?
Pay it. It’s the ethical thing to do. If that carries no weight for you, consider that you should have a cancelled check showing you consulted counsel on this. Finally, what is your time worth such that it makes sense to spend this much time on a $150 tax deductible expense?
- Sun Nov 17, 2019 4:28 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Toyota Highlander vs Subaru Ascent--Advice
- Replies: 36
- Views: 5133
Re: Toyota Highlander vs Subaru Ascent--Advice
We have about 3,000 miles on a 2020 Ascent Touring. We like the trunk space and better AWD system as compared to the Toyota, at least the outgoing generation. The turbo 4 has plenty of power and gets good MPG if driven gently.
- Mon Nov 11, 2019 10:29 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Los Angeles to San Francisco Roadtrip
- Replies: 29
- Views: 2802
Los Angeles to San Francisco Roadtrip
All, I have some business meetings in San Francisco early the week following Thanksgiving and see an opening to take the family (spouse plus kids 13, 10 and 7) on a vacation the week before. We are flying into L.A. around 11/22 and they will fly out of S.F. around 12/1. This is somewhat last minute, but we are nailing down the itinerary ASAP. We will likely largely stick to the Pacific Coast Highway, but happy to deviate for good stuff. Our interests include the outdoors, history, etc. We are not obsessed with Hollywood, celebrities, etc. The kids would love opportunities to go to the beach, see some tidepools, etc. It's OK that the water is cold and the air will be "cold". We're hardy midwesterners and might even have wetsuits in...
- Sat Oct 12, 2019 12:47 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Equity in S-Corp
- Replies: 7
- Views: 893
Re: Equity in S-Corp
Definitely see what your shareholders agreement says. You might be entitled to some formula price that you may or may not expect.
- Sat Oct 12, 2019 12:42 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Equity in S-Corp
- Replies: 7
- Views: 893
Re: Equity in S-Corp
Definitely see what your shareholders agreement says. You might be entitled to some formula price that you may or may not expect.
- Mon Sep 30, 2019 10:42 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Small Company Restricted Stock
- Replies: 2
- Views: 446
Re: Small Company Restricted Stock
Yes, in my job as a corporate lawyer I have dealt with this. Basically, the idea is that the securities laws are set up to make sure that if someone is going to offer and sell stock to the public, they need to register the offering (think IPO) or find an exemption from the registration requirements of the securities laws (think, offering only to accredited investors and meeting various other requirements). End runs around this system are discouraged. One way to end run it is to sell securities to someone in a private transaction and then have that someone turn around and sell them to the public. That's called acting as an underwriter and there are a lot of restrictions on it. In order to help people avoid situations in which they might be u...
- Wed Sep 25, 2019 4:54 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Suggestions for good leather shoe?
- Replies: 43
- Views: 6261
Re: Suggestions for good leather shoe?
You can find Allen Edmond at Nordstrom Rack in the Chicago area, often under $200.
- Sat Sep 14, 2019 4:47 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: HVAC isues - fix R22 system or replace?
- Replies: 14
- Views: 1416
Re: HVAC isues - fix R22 system or replace?
Thanks for all of the thoughtful responses. To answer a few questions: —Manual J calculations were apparently done well when the current system was installed. When it was -20F last winter, heat ran 50 minutes per hour and when +100 this summer, AC ran about the same. That 120 degree swing seems to cover us out to a couple of standard deviations. I don’t think the system specified is oversized. —The leak is now believed to be in the walls (lineset) so diagnosis seems not a great deal to pursue. I do not want to spend $1000 a year to put R22 into it and that sounds unfeasible very soon anyway. —Will be getting another quote or two. —Has anyone looked at Costco for this sort of work? I assume that having them as middleman costs something but a...
- Sat Sep 14, 2019 1:34 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: HVAC isues - fix R22 system or replace?
- Replies: 14
- Views: 1416
HVAC isues - fix R22 system or replace?
Hi all. I live in the Chicago area and it's still A/C season. One of our two A/C units is a 25-year old Rheem that has developed a pretty bad leak somewhere in the system, likely the A-coil. As in loss of 50% of R22 over a few days. The repair folks can top off with R22 refrigerant at $100 per pound, and it needs maybe five pounds. They warn that without expensive diagnosis and taking apart the evaporator side of the system, which is a restricted access area with four foot ceilings, the leak is likely difficult to track down. They also note that as soon as the R22 stuff is unobtainable, like next year, there will no real way to fix this system. So, the options seem to be to band-aid recharge it or to replace it since 25 years is a pretty lo...
- Wed Sep 11, 2019 7:59 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Lending to friend to India
- Replies: 54
- Views: 5430
Re: Lending to friend to India
Assuming that this is not some kind of tax avoidance scheme, but rather a legitimate arrangement, considering the amount involved, why not hire a reputable Indian lawyer to help you? He or she will probably tell you the collecting a judgment in India from abroad will be difficult. At least you’ll know what you’re getting into!
- Sat Aug 17, 2019 9:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Aliens have captured my husband [wants to buy a Porsche]
- Replies: 138
- Views: 14620
Re: Aliens have captured my husband [wants to buy a Porsche]
Go for it. You only live once and resale is OK if you don’t love it. You will love it.
- Tue Aug 06, 2019 12:53 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: ways to stay a little cleaner during diy car maintenance
- Replies: 39
- Views: 3238
Re: ways to stay a little cleaner during diy car maintenance
Nitrile disposable gloves, not latex which fail with oil on them. Fumoto valve on oil pan. Old jeans. Fast orange pumice soap!
- Tue Jul 02, 2019 1:19 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Traveling Overnight / Wife Near-Term / No Family In Town - how to handle
- Replies: 21
- Views: 2800
Re: Traveling Overnight / Wife Near-Term / No Family In Town - how to handle
Dad of three with high stake job says: Don’t travel. If there is a boss who can’t handle it, fib and say there is a medical condition makes it touch and go. I dare the boss to ask for details.
- Tue Jul 02, 2019 1:12 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Big Hospital Bill - Any way to negotiate ?
- Replies: 130
- Views: 11648
Re: Big Hospital Bill - Anyway to negociate ?
hospitals routinely permit payment plans without interest if that helps.
- Mon Jun 10, 2019 4:22 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Luxembourg--worth visiting?
- Replies: 31
- Views: 3465
Re: Luxembourg--worth visiting?
Yes! It’s a great mix of languages and cultures. Nice hiking in Mullerthal. Great castles like Vianden. I’d go based on your limited information.
- Fri May 17, 2019 9:46 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Multi owner property sale with missing owners
- Replies: 12
- Views: 2015
Re: Multi owner property sale with missing owners
See whether you have a tenant in common agreement. It may govern. Louisiana law is often different than other states. You need local legal advice!
- Wed Apr 24, 2019 9:15 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Collison Damage Waiver for Car Rental in Italy
- Replies: 17
- Views: 2266
Re: Collison Damage Waiver for Car Rental in Italy
I have driven a lot in Italy, including several days of side trips from Florence in the last few months. Keep in mind: --Rental car insurance provided by credit cards is not valid in Italy. Call it protectionism of local insurance companies, etc. but it's a sovereign country and can make its own rules. --You should buy the CDW even though in most other countries I decline and rely on the credit card coverage. --In Tuscany there are some incredibly narrow lanes that can result in scraped mirrors. With CDW you have more confidence to drive through them with a bit of fudge factor. --Drivers in Italy are by and large not reckless (like, say, China) but they do view stop signs as yield signs. There is more risk of accidents here than in, say, th...
- Tue Mar 05, 2019 12:41 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Accounting for a third car?
- Replies: 18
- Views: 2260
Re: Accounting for a third car?
This has been approved. Have a great time.
- Sat Feb 09, 2019 8:28 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Any experience with oberweis and delivery?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 592
Re: Any experience with oberweis and delivery?
We had service for three years ending two years ago. I don't remember anything like this. It was extremely flexible and there was no salesman, just the website. If it is now as described I'd pass.