Search found 97 matches

by solonseneca
Mon Nov 23, 2015 3:02 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: College Engineering Programs - how different are they?
Replies: 152
Views: 14765

Re: College Engineering Programs - how different are they?

http://www.nber.org/papers/w17159.pdf "We find that the return to college selectivity is sizeable for both cohorts in regression models that control for variables commonly observed by researchers, such as student high school GPA and SAT scores. However, when we adjust for unobserved student ability by controlling for the average SAT score of the colleges that students applied to, our estimates of the return to college selectivity fall substantially and are generally indistinguishable from zero. [Emphasis added] There were notable exceptions for certain subgroups. For black and Hispanic students and for students who come from less-educated families (in terms of their parents’ education), the estimates of the return to college selectivit...
by solonseneca
Tue May 13, 2014 2:26 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Germany!
Replies: 34
Views: 3380

Re: Germany!

The black forest per se isn't particularly impressive to any American hiker though beer tents at the end of a hike make up for a lot. Go on a volksmarch! They are organized 10k walks that end with a beer. I found them to be the perfect cure for jetlag.

The options are probably limited in July compared to spring/ early summer. The Stars and Strips used to print the schedule in English and there are websites with listings-- though most are in German.



Good luck.
by solonseneca
Thu Mar 20, 2014 9:23 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Higher Returns at Lower Risk - please comment
Replies: 59
Views: 9640

Re: Higher Returns at Lower Risk - please comment

It one thing to read others discuss Fama/French research and quite another to do what you did, which is to analyze data and confirm it for yourself.

Nice work.
by solonseneca
Thu Mar 20, 2014 9:18 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Counting equity in house in calculating retirement withdrawa
Replies: 41
Views: 3701

Re: Counting equity in house in calculating retirement withd

YDNAL wrote:
dkturner wrote:
That is one the silliest proposition I've read in the past few years.
You obviously don't have a subscription to Cosmopolitan. It's hard find a proposition in that magazine that isn't silly.

This thread reminds me of the Caine Mutiny. "Ahh, but the strawberries that's... that's where I had them. They laughed at me and made jokes but I proved beyond the shadow of a doubt and with... geometric logic... "

Come to think of it, that quote isn't apropos at all. Ah, well. Back to March Madness.

Best of luck.

P.S. I agree with everyone accept for that fellow who suggested the 4% rule is worth a darn in the first place.
by solonseneca
Thu Mar 20, 2014 4:30 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Counting equity in house in calculating retirement withdrawa
Replies: 41
Views: 3701

Re: Counting equity in house in calculating retirement withd

How does the house know who lives in it? :confused The NSA has been making sentient houses for years. Let's change the example: Suppose instead of saying he had a 700k to 800k house, he said he had 7 to 8 million free and clear in his primary residence. Would anybody seriously suggest he'd have a problem going over the 4% withdrawal rate? Or suppose he said his house was worth only 7 to 8k. Would anybody bless going higher than 4% (assuming one accepts the 4% rule.) I think the easiest way to end the debate is ask the OP to sell his house (splitting the proceeds among the various responders) and then live in a youth hostel in southern Spain where he'll enjoy his remaining years in sunny bliss while spending exactly 4%. Failing that, I reco...
by solonseneca
Wed Mar 19, 2014 6:57 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: advice requested from engineers
Replies: 85
Views: 8154

Re: advice requested from engineers

CMU is his other top 10 option, but for computing science. Since you recruit in CS and software engineering, your opinion would be very helpful here: do you think a CS degree from CMU is worth the $40K/year premium over a school like RIT? (I actually have no idea what RIT's ranking is for CS, apologies.) Do you think a CS degree from CMU is worth the $10K/year premium over UIUC? Thanks so much for your thoughts! Not in my experience. Don't get me wrong, CMU is a great school. But so is a UIUC CS degree. I retired last year as the COO/CTO of a software company with 700+ employess /8 offices across US, Canada and the UK. One of our offices was in Princeton where we've hired dozens of Princeton grads. Applying for a job in that office, you'd ...
by solonseneca
Wed Mar 19, 2014 2:59 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Professions that have the most/least psychopaths
Replies: 30
Views: 3083

Re: Professions that have the most/least psychopaths

Because of my dyslexia, after I got depressed I went to see a psychopath. Instead of getting a prescription for Zoloft, I wound being duck taped to a trash compactor in a K-mart parking lot. Later I found out the perpetrator had a day job of being a shrink. Go figure. So I guess it is best not go crazy in the first place.
by solonseneca
Wed Mar 19, 2014 2:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Professions that have the most/least psychopaths
Replies: 30
Views: 3083

Re: Professions that have the most/least psychopaths

This list is woefully incomplete. Obviously the author has never been to the DMV or the floor of the stock exchange.
by solonseneca
Wed Feb 12, 2014 2:09 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Expected Returns for the next 20 years?
Replies: 29
Views: 3903

Re: Expected Returns for the next 20 years?

swaption wrote:i have a somewhat involved publication from J.P. Morgan Asset Asset Management that indicates for a 10 - 15 year horizon, they project 7.50% for US Large cap. This is comprised of 3.00% dividend yield, 4.50% EPS growth, and 0 P/E multiple change. Global equity is 7.75% over same horizon.
Please note: I believe you are quoting the nominal returns (on page 9.) The report says real returns are projected to be 5.25%.

Cheers.
by solonseneca
Wed Feb 12, 2014 8:44 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Coming to terms with my awful track record
Replies: 20
Views: 2733

Re: Coming to terms with my awful track record

Back in 1999, I bought 100 shares of Apple for 11 bucks a share. After it went up 10%, I got nervous, so I sold it. Shrewd maneuver!

I suppose anyone who bought individual stocks has stories of wins and bonehead moves like mine above. I recall making a bet with a buddy that when the Nasdaq was at 2500 that it was going to fall 20%. After it hit 4000, I paid him the buck and shook his hand. "I told you so! You should have trusted me." Less than a year later, he admitted he was hardly prescient-- but he kept my dollar nonetheless.

Good luck.
by solonseneca
Mon Feb 10, 2014 10:29 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Expected Returns for the next 20 years?
Replies: 29
Views: 3903

Re: Expected Returns for the next 20 years?

Speaking of assness From: http://www.forbes.com/sites/steveschaefer/2012/12/13/aqrs-cliff-asness-says-investors-need-to-get-real/ "Looking past the fiscal cliff, Asness’ investment outlook carries a dose of reality for investors. Price is not the only thing that matters, but buying something cheap – either at a low multiple on the equity side or at rates that aren’t ultra-low in fixed income – tends to work out over the long term. Asness prefers to use a metric known as the Shiller PE, a look at 10-year average of earnings that smoothes out the ebbs and flows of corporate performance. He is a critic of earnings forecasts, which are “always wildly optimistic,” and thinks the 10-year look (or any longer-term look) lessens the noise in an...
by solonseneca
Mon Feb 10, 2014 2:45 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Expected Returns for the next 20 years?
Replies: 29
Views: 3903

Re: Expected Returns for the next 20 years?

http://www.investmenteurope.net/digital_assets/6305/2013_yearbook_final_web.pdf Credit Suisse 2013 yearbook (Elroy Dimson is the lead author.) Excerpt: "Likely returns in a low-return world We have seen that an investor with a 20–30 year horizon faces close to zero real returns on inflation- protected government bonds. Some countries offer higher yields, but only because of default and/or convertibility risk. The expected real return on conventional long bonds is expected to be a little higher, so the annualized real return on a rolling investment in cash is likely to be negative by as much as ½% over, say, 20 years, and close to zero over 30 years. Adding an equity premium of 3%–3½% to these negative/low real expected cash returns giv...
by solonseneca
Mon Feb 10, 2014 12:55 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Need a car vacuum, battery powered
Replies: 6
Views: 754

Re: Need a car vacuum, battery powered

Small battery powered vacuums suck. (Which is to say that they don't work well.)

Good luck.
by solonseneca
Fri Feb 07, 2014 3:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: I'm feeling old today
Replies: 97
Views: 10716

Re: I'm feeling old today

Lightweights.

I remember when Noah made of the mistake of putting two male dodo birds on the ark. Boy did Carson make fun of him for that.
by solonseneca
Fri Feb 07, 2014 3:01 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 100% Stocks?
Replies: 32
Views: 4825

Re: 100% Stocks?

If a 32 year old is 100% sure that he's not going to tap any of his retirement investments for 30 plus years, 100% stocks is probably ok for a decade or more. (But then if anybody is 100% sure of anything, then they are likely 90% nuts.)

Good luck.
by solonseneca
Thu Feb 06, 2014 8:38 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: $10+ M, age 49, seeking wisdom regarding retirement
Replies: 61
Views: 13878

Re: $10+ M, age 49, seeking wisdom regarding retirement

solonseneca: "Do what makes you happy. If you're happier, it is infectious for those around you. Seize the day" Still the hardest part for me seems to be actually making the decision. Very emotional to pull the plug and shut things down. I've made several transitions before. And each time I can remember feeling similarly uneasy. Usually there was a trigger point . . . wife had residency/fellowship in new city . . . time for me to go, etc. Seems like this time . . . I'll have to create the trigger myself. My business is stable, profitable (albeit small), just not interesting to me anymore. Your thoughts on my dilemma :?: I sat on my retirement decision for almost a year before I pulled the trigger. Right now I wish had that year b...
by solonseneca
Wed Feb 05, 2014 9:38 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: $10+ M, age 49, seeking wisdom regarding retirement
Replies: 61
Views: 13878

Re: $10+ M, age 49, seeking wisdom regarding retirement

Congratulations on a having this type of problem. I'm retired with a 9th and 12th grader. There is no role model issue in our family. Indeed, I have much more time to be engaged with my children and their school activities. My wife works from home part-time and she's also busy finishing up a PhD-- not because she has to but because she likes it. My retiring has added no stress whatsoever. Retiring reduces stress-- at least for us. I now do a much bigger share of the housework, cook a few good meals, and save my wife from carting the kids about, all of which is much appreciated. We too have a large nest egg and draw less than 2% a year. Being bored is also not an issue. I'm far more physically active, eat much better, have hobbies I love and...
by solonseneca
Thu Jan 23, 2014 4:22 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Young, rich, hopefully not dumb
Replies: 51
Views: 8682

Re: Young, rich, hopefully not dumb

I can assure you that you can create trusts that don't tie your hands whatsoever.
by solonseneca
Thu Jan 23, 2014 4:16 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Young, rich, hopefully not dumb
Replies: 51
Views: 8682

Re: Young, rich, hopefully not dumb

You are eminently collectable--meaning you should have an umbrella insurance policy of at least 1/2 your net worth. If you haven't set up trusts for you and your wife, you should.

Good luck.
by solonseneca
Thu Jan 23, 2014 8:58 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Garmin Nuvi equivalent ?
Replies: 32
Views: 3470

Re: Garmin Nuvi equivalent ?

https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... musa&hl=en

ALK's Copilot works on any decent smart phone; and since it downloads the maps during install, it also works when you're out of cell coverage. There is a free version and a pay version. In the US, it's the standard for trucks. In the UK, it's used by their postal services.

Good luck
by solonseneca
Wed Jan 22, 2014 10:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Dating - Best Way of Meeting People
Replies: 70
Views: 6835

Re: Dating - Best Way of Meeting People

You're barking mad if you think you'll get sage advice here.

Pick lines like "what's your asset allocation? Mine is 60/40" and "You're so hot. If your portfolio had any lower of an expense ratio, you'd start a fire in here" don't work very well at the Westchester dog show. Even the chocolate labs turn their noses at lines like that -- and they lick anything.

Good luck.
by solonseneca
Tue Jan 21, 2014 4:56 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: BRK go to for weird risks - NCAA bracket bet
Replies: 16
Views: 2218

Re: BRK go to for weird risks - NCAA bracket bet

" $1 billion prize offered "

Cash value is only half this. Then you have to take out taxes, accounting fees, shipping and handling, parking, undercoating, etc. What you have left is only sandwich money.

Cheers
by solonseneca
Tue Jan 14, 2014 7:36 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: How do you "Stay the Course"?
Replies: 78
Views: 12007

Re: How do you "Stay the Course"?

Pure thoughts and calisthenics. When that fails, vodka martinis.

I watch cnbc with the sound off and only read the wall street journals articles on celebrities and cooking tips.

Best of all is reading this forum. It keeps me on the straight and narrow.

Good luck.
by solonseneca
Tue Jan 14, 2014 1:56 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Doom and Gloom
Replies: 41
Views: 4898

Re: Doom and Gloom

These are bad times indeed. Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus are considered artists.

There have always been reasons to be gloomy in the past. The Cold War, high inflation, multiple recessions and of course Abba.

Cheer up.
by solonseneca
Sun Jan 12, 2014 11:26 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: I want to stay the course but....
Replies: 34
Views: 4628

Re: I want to stay the course but....

sambb wrote:Bonds crashed LAST year. Stay the course.
+1

Rub some dirt on it and get back in the game. Use shorter duration if it helps you sleep well at night.

Good luck.
by solonseneca
Sun Jan 12, 2014 11:17 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Constructive Criticism and Tough Love
Replies: 45
Views: 6083

Re: Constructive Criticism and Tough Love

Blue wrote:Who is John Galt?
“There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old’s life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged . One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs.”

― John Rogers
by solonseneca
Sun Jan 12, 2014 1:34 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: AA pre, at and post retirement
Replies: 17
Views: 1585

Re: AA pre, at and post retirement

If 100% of your expenses are covered by SS & pensions, then your investment portfolio's purpose is for something or someone else-- personal luxuries, your heirs, your favorite charities, etc. That being the case it might be appropriate to don the hat of the "other purpose" and make the allocation for "them". For example, if you're mainly investing for your grandkids retirement, go heavy on stocks.

Congratulations!
by solonseneca
Sun Jan 12, 2014 11:39 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: High Earners - What's Your Profession?
Replies: 1217
Views: 222981

Re: High Earners - What's Your Profession?

A bit dated, but this 2012 NY Times article answers "what percentage are you?"

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012 ... .html?_r=0

Enter 100k in household income for instance.

And this article has a graphic what professions are in the 1 percent.

http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/ne ... f=business
by solonseneca
Fri Jan 10, 2014 8:26 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Trouble trusting US healthcare
Replies: 70
Views: 5115

Re: Trouble trusting US healthcare

likegarden wrote: The OP is young and has dental insurance. I am over 65 and retired and only have dental insurance with a low cap. Prices increased significantly after I turned 65. Some offices also tried harder to push procedures on me because I am older. There is a general perception that older people are easy to sell things too.
Good point (and another reason not to get old.) I tried arguing with my dentist about a procedure he was doing but I lost the argument because of all the cotton in my mouth.

Best of luck.
by solonseneca
Fri Jan 10, 2014 8:21 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Investing with a Revalued American Dollar
Replies: 20
Views: 1756

Re: Investing with a Revalued American Dollar

I heard the same thing from an AM talk radio show host and he advises that you to buy gold from an outfit that gives you only 50 cents on the dollar as well recommends using sheep's bladders to predict earthquakes.

If there is one thing that is certain, super intelligent monkeys will one day rule the earth and they will use bananas as currency. That's why I'm buying bunches of them now.

Best of luck.
by solonseneca
Thu Jan 09, 2014 10:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Any Car Enthusiasts?
Replies: 47
Views: 5628

Re: Any Car Enthusiasts?

I own a 2006 Avalon and she's a beaut! When I drive my mom to the chiropodist, let me tell you we get a lot of turned heads. 100% chick magnet.
by solonseneca
Thu Jan 09, 2014 10:19 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Mortgage Options Question
Replies: 17
Views: 1669

Re: Mortgage Options Question

At a 450k target price consider you'll be buying a house that is less than 1x your salary and that it's your first home. If your income projections are true , you may be second guessing your first house purchase in a short period of time. You may want to buy less or even rent a home while you get your bearings-- or you may want to wait and go bigger.

With that said, if I were you and were intent on buying at this level, I'd finance the max amount they let you in order to give yourself more flexibility in furnishing and updating the place. I know most bogleheads will disagree with me given your debts, but your income level suggests that you'll be just fine.

Good luck.
by solonseneca
Thu Jan 09, 2014 2:32 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Trouble trusting US healthcare
Replies: 70
Views: 5115

Re: Trouble trusting US healthcare

My dentist always seems to find a cavity in mouth just before his BMW car payment is due. Coincidence, I think not.

Fee for service creates an incentive for some healthcare professionals to provide unnecessary services. As a consumer of these services, there is an asymmetry of information. You are ill equipped (pardon the pun) to argue.

All of this is why I'm rooting for Vanguard to get into the healthcare game. Imagine Jack Bogle himself giving you a colonoscopy! He'd fix your asset allocation at the same time as he's checking out your pipes.

Good Luck.
by solonseneca
Thu Jan 09, 2014 2:18 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Estate Planning/Market Timing/Portfolio question
Replies: 2
Views: 698

Re: Estate Planning/Market Timing/Portfolio question

Hello Bogleheads, I have an estate planning/investing puzzle which I am quite lucky to have. In March of 2009 our family made the very wise/lucky decision to put a low 7 figure equity account into a trust called a GRAT. The term was for 7 years and basically the bet is that the portfolio would perform better than a couple percent a year over that time. Each year the owner/donor of the GRAT is required to withdraw a % funds from it. At the end of the 7 year run whatever is left goes to the beneficiaries (my brother and I in this instance). Well, as you can imagine, it has been a very good 4.5 years. Currently the GRAT has about $1,844,000 in it and $863,000 still needs to be withdrawn. The dilemma I have is that we have hit such a grand sla...
by solonseneca
Wed Jan 08, 2014 12:24 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: In this case would you be done? Have you won?
Replies: 60
Views: 5987

Re: In this case would you be done? Have you won?

As a novice boglehead, take what I have to say with a grain of salt. Pop the cork! Live a little more! Take up an expensive hobby. Enjoy it while you're young. Order dessert. See the pyramids, the great wall and the barrier reef! Live large and love it. If SS & pensions have got you covered in retirement, then rest of the money should be used to increase your marginal happiness. If that means, charity or travel or children gifts or sports cars, so be it. If none of that floats your boat, then keep saving. Either way, don't worry, be happy -- Bobby McFerrin. I'd wager most folks in such a situation end up leaving sizable estates. If that's an important goal, by all means keep skimping. If not, relax and smell the roses. Best of luck.
by solonseneca
Tue Jan 07, 2014 3:47 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Surprises in 2014
Replies: 51
Views: 6777

Re: Surprises in 2014

Ged wrote:
EternalOptimist wrote:What one or two surprises do you expect in 2014 that might impact the way people invest?
Republican Senate.
A consortium from the Roslin Institute, Monsanto and Goldman Sachs will succeed in genetically engineering the first physical "money tree". Unfortunately a terrorist group loosely aligned with the bit-coin movement will cut it down shortly after it produces its first crop of 20 dollar bills. The newly elected Republican Senate will outlaw such genetic experiments so the affects on the investing public will be limited.
by solonseneca
Tue Jan 07, 2014 3:21 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Optimal allocation with a DFA portfolio
Replies: 15
Views: 7680

Re: Optimal allocation with a DFA portfolio

Awesome post. I take it you don't see any benefit in CCFs & Reits. Also, I assume you'd replace treasuries for munis of similar durations if taxes were an issue. Question: In respect to DFA funds, if one could avoid paying for access through an advisor, would you personally use DFA? Well I am not Robert T. Perhaps not as smart but much better looking. ;-) Let me answer a couple of the questions you ask since I pay pretty close attention to all these types of threads. The % (can be 1% or can be much, much, much, much less) that goes to an adviser is what generally has kept Robert T. from utilizing DFA BUT he does use it in a 529 plan which avoids adviser fees. On the munis/treasuries question it is important to make sure the munis are t...
by solonseneca
Tue Jan 07, 2014 2:15 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Optimal allocation with a DFA portfolio
Replies: 15
Views: 7680

Re: Optimal allocation with a DFA portfolio

. Here’s a random stream of consciousness … touching on some of the four points I raised earlier with some thoughts on ‘good’ rather than optimal portfolios. It turned out to be a longer post than expected. Each person seems to prefer a certain asset allocation for their own particular reasons (Larry, Rick, Bill Bernstein, Taylor, Mel etc). There is no right answer for everyone – and perhaps this is just as well. The commonalities seem to be passive, low cost funds. Rather than trying to give you the rationale for others choices and your own, I can only give you the rationale for my own FWIW. In point form. 75:25 stock:bond mix - Based on need to take risk (needed long-term 7.5% annualized return [4.5% real return]), and risk tolerance (to...
by solonseneca
Fri Jan 03, 2014 5:04 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: "Vanguard Dominates the Fund Industry Again in 2013"
Replies: 4
Views: 936

Re: "Vanguard Dominates the Fund Industry Again in 2013"

Based on this chart I suppose it would be wrong to suggest that if Vanguard were a stock that one should buy it....
by solonseneca
Wed Jan 01, 2014 8:47 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What Do You Make of This Chart?
Replies: 21
Views: 2923

Re: What Do You Make of This Chart?

While one should be skeptical that the data sources cited accurately sample their respective groups, I find it highly plausible that most index fund investors engage in market timing/performance chasing. An advisor, DFA affiliated or otherwise, who diligently and dispassionately rebalances should avoid this. I suspect even among this forum there are is fair number of folks who are not rebalancing per their plans after a 30% run up in stocks this year-- especially in light of the low bond yields.

Happy New Year!
by solonseneca
Tue Dec 31, 2013 5:25 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Desired portfolio size at retirement?
Replies: 41
Views: 5034

Re: Desired portfolio size at retirement?

I want my portfolio to be equal to exactly one million times Pi. But somebody told me that was irrational.

Happy New Year.
by solonseneca
Wed Dec 25, 2013 1:38 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Please Help a 36 Yr Old With $7m+ Portfolio
Replies: 83
Views: 17737

Re: Please Help a 36 Yr Old With $7m+ Portfolio

Congratulations. As someone who has paid for a fair amount of bad advice from polished, compelling and well-spoken advisors, I can assure you there is seemingly a low correlation between fees and great advice. But if you go the advisor route, know that the fee is often negotiable. I talked the first one down from .75 to .5. They then proceeded to give me advice that at "my vaulted level" that I should be constructing an pseudo index by buying individual stocks. Total nonsense. They then "helped" me buy individual muni through another famous firm so I could pay fee atop fee. Nothing was wrong with the munis. But I got to pay more than retail while they plied me with cappuccinos. When I fired those guys, I met several mult...
by solonseneca
Tue Dec 24, 2013 12:32 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Suggestions needed on $5M investing
Replies: 22
Views: 2842

Re: Suggestions needed on $5M investing

If you are really that concerned over the valuation issue, consider Larry Swedroe's Fat Tail portfolio (See http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=31166)

This portfolio is 70% short term bonds/treasuries/TIPs/Munis etc and 30% stocks, tilted to small value /EM, which are volatile but have higher expected returns. The downside risk is protected and yet you still get some decent upside potential.

Putting all 5m into this portfolio takes 70% off the table for serious risk and yet still gives you market exposure.

Good Luck.
by solonseneca
Tue Dec 24, 2013 11:33 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Women Better Investors Than Men?
Replies: 69
Views: 6150

Re: Women Better Investors Than Men?

Interesting thread.

I was going to tilt my portfolio more in an attempt to increase my returns but now I'm contemplating gender reassignment surgery instead.

Happy Holidays.
by solonseneca
Tue Dec 24, 2013 11:29 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Suggestions needed on $5M investing
Replies: 22
Views: 2842

Re: Suggestions needed on $5M investing

dimbmw wrote:
KyleAAA wrote:Seems like something approaching an old-school 50/50 portfolio would be appropriate here. By what measure is the S&P 500 p/e ratio crazily over-inflated? It is well within historical norms.
Shiller p/e is at 25.5 now while the historical average is 16.5
Source: http://www.gurufocus.com/shiller-PE.php

See this thread:

http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtop ... st=1893532

Happy Holidays.
by solonseneca
Tue Dec 24, 2013 10:41 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: is there a conspiracy to understate inflation?
Replies: 21
Views: 2720

Re: is there a conspiracy to understate inflation?

From Larry's piece I'm afraid one must conclude he's in on it too....
by solonseneca
Tue Dec 24, 2013 10:38 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Suggestions needed on $5M investing
Replies: 22
Views: 2842

Re: Suggestions needed on $5M investing

Hi DimBmw,

Why don't you just use the classic 3 fund portfolio? Say, you're not related to the poster SmartBmw, are you?

Happy Holidays!
by solonseneca
Wed Dec 18, 2013 2:54 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: investing $1,000,000 tax free windfall for 68 year old
Replies: 11
Views: 2001

Re: investing $1,000,000 tax free windfall for 68 year old

Congratulations.

I suggest you start with this wiki article: http://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Managing_a_windfall

It's hard to give you any cogent advice without first getting you grounded in basic concepts and knowing more about your other assets, goals, expenses etc.



Good Luck.
by solonseneca
Wed Dec 18, 2013 2:43 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Correlation Between Work, Happiness, and Investing
Replies: 25
Views: 3270

Re: Correlation Between Work, Happiness, and Investing

Grap,

First, congratulations. Good for you.

When I was younger, my goal was infinite bliss. When that didn't work out, I aimed for an equipoise betwixt my various neurosis. Nowadays, contentment works just fine for me-- that and a happy wife and kids. Money can't buy happiness. But it can buy you a wickedly fast tesla, which is pretty nice.

Good luck.