Search found 186 matches
- Sun Feb 18, 2024 12:56 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Am I overly paranoid? [Giving access to financial sites]
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1519
Am I overly paranoid? [Giving access to financial sites]
I’m reluctant to give access to my financial accounts to sites like Empower and to TurboTax so I manually enter information. My reluctance is obviously based on frequent notifications of information compromises from various sites. Am I unreasonably concerned?
- Sat Aug 26, 2023 9:31 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: 2022 Federal Income Taxes ... 6 months status still Pending
- Replies: 12
- Views: 964
Re: 2022 Federal Income Taxes ... 6 months status still Pending
Waited almost 2 years for my mother’s 2020 return to be processed. Finally called the local taxpayer advocate office (part of IRS) and it was immediately resolved. You can find the number on line.
- Mon Jul 24, 2023 8:32 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Withdrawing Cash and Trigger Audit?
- Replies: 23
- Views: 1977
Re: Withdrawing Cash and Trigger Audit?
We’ve paid “cash” for multiple houses, always with a wire. Cheap and fast. If you insist on using cash be sure and give the bank several days notice to ensure they have sufficient cash on hand.
- Sun Jul 23, 2023 9:21 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Maui or Scotland trip with kids?
- Replies: 72
- Views: 6120
Re: Maui or Scotland trip with kids?
As already mentioned, you could not have picked too more different vacations except maybe substituting Antarctica for Scotland. Unless the kids enjoy bleak landscapes and mostly very small towns, they will not like Scotland. Go to the beach, but you might look at the Caribbean or Mexico. You can find the same attractions with a shorter flight.TarHeel2002 wrote: ↑Sun Jul 23, 2023 8:17 am We just completed a Yellowstone/ Grand Tetons adventure with our 3 kids (12, 10 and 4) and are contemplating our next trip. I am considering Maui or Scotland as possibilities. Thoughts? Thanks!!
- Sun Jul 23, 2023 9:10 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Did I get fake HOKA shoes?
- Replies: 47
- Views: 5424
Re: Did I get fake HOKA shoes?
It could be counterfeit, but I am unaware of how a chargeback could be applied here. If you are unsatisfied, you should first reach out to the seller for a return. Right or wrong, you received the item at the agreed price. You may want to reach out to cardmember services for advice about suspected counterfeit items. A quick googling told me this: Most banks or credit card companies will allow you to dispute the charge and get your money back if you have purchased from a fake, fraudulent, or scam webstore. Surprised by the responses saying not to do a chargeback. Classic blame the victim Internet replies... Unless the website represented itself as the original manufacturer’s site you did not purchase from a fraudulent site. After all, you p...
- Mon Jul 10, 2023 9:26 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: New car purchase - finance or no?
- Replies: 16
- Views: 1444
Re: New car purchase - finance or no?
Be sure and check financing incentives (credit against purchase price). You can grab the incentive then just pay off the car on first monthly payment. We’ve done it many times with BMW and it’s saved us thousands.
- Fri Jun 23, 2023 8:17 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: senior living
- Replies: 32
- Views: 5193
Re: senior living
I think you mean “astute.”student wrote: ↑Fri Jun 23, 2023 7:48 amVery acute observation!!!!!!!Jack FFR1846 wrote: ↑Fri Jun 23, 2023 7:21 am Profit? I'm sure the corporation is making a boatload of money, otherwise, why would they spring up more places so fast? For you to ask for better, more expensive food from their profit isn't going to happen. If you want better food, the cost per month will have to go up by more than the added cost.
- Thu Apr 20, 2023 7:51 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Gated community - too much hassle?
- Replies: 68
- Views: 8516
Re: Gated community - too much hassle?
Our winter place is within a gated community and it really isn’t a problem. Interestingly, there are so many gated communities in our town (with an incredibly low crime rate) that traffic is an issue due to the cutting off of “back road” options pushing all the traffic to a few main roads.
Personally I’d be more concerned that the community is “55 plus.” This will significantly reduce your potential market for resale.
Personally I’d be more concerned that the community is “55 plus.” This will significantly reduce your potential market for resale.
- Tue Apr 04, 2023 9:16 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Global Entry Interview Challenge
- Replies: 106
- Views: 16127
Re: Global Entry Interview Challenge
I was referring to events/activities since our last renewal. Obviously one was male and the other female. Geez….pizzy wrote: ↑Sun Apr 02, 2023 9:17 pmNo two individuals have identical applications.dpm321 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 02, 2023 6:10 pm I had a similar experience, but even weirder. My wife and I both renewed our Global Entry. Her’s was approved and mine required a reinterview. Our applications were identical. I had to wait 9 months for an interview a 3 hour drive away. At the interview I asked the agent if she knew why I needed an interview and my wife didn’t since I have a Top Secret/SCI security clearance so my background was extensively investigated. She said the interview selection process was random and that their agency had no access to other agency’s security data. Your tax dollar at work.
- Tue Apr 04, 2023 9:14 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Should I pay off my mortgage and go uninsured?
- Replies: 81
- Views: 7654
Re: Should I pay off my mortgage and go uninsured?
We’re in Naples, about 300 yards from the water through mangroves. We pay about 1/8th of what you’re paying for insurance (not counting flood). You might want to shop around. A lot of people in this area thought nothing really bad would ever happen. Guess what? People just north of us in Bonita and Ft Meyers beach are finding that even with insurance they can’t afford to rebuild their totally destroyed homes so they are selling the land and making a killing. But that comes with a lot of emotional issues. You clearly have no emotional ties to your property so sure, skip the insurance and hope for a category 5!
- Sun Apr 02, 2023 6:10 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Global Entry Interview Challenge
- Replies: 106
- Views: 16127
Re: Global Entry Interview Challenge
I had a similar experience, but even weirder. My wife and I both renewed our Global Entry. Her’s was approved and mine required a reinterview. Our applications were identical. I had to wait 9 months for an interview a 3 hour drive away. At the interview I asked the agent if she knew why I needed an interview and my wife didn’t since I have a Top Secret/SCI security clearance so my background was extensively investigated. She said the interview selection process was random and that their agency had no access to other agency’s security data. Your tax dollar at work.
- Mon Mar 13, 2023 7:58 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: File complicated return by mail to reduce audit risk?
- Replies: 21
- Views: 2607
Re: File complicated return by mail to reduce audit risk?
I paper filed my 2020 return and I’m still waiting for IRS to process it. If you’re expecting any kind of refund I wouldn’t paper file. Also it won’t reduce your audit risk, it will just possibly delay your audit. Wow. Any idea why they haven't processed your 2020 return yet? I paper filed in 2020 and 2021, and both were processed in the fall of each year, if I remember correctly. So it did take about 5-6 months. This year I decided to efile for the first time ever, and my return was processed in a week! Anyway, just wondering if you've really not heard on your 2020 return, and what happened with your 2021 return. The 2020 return had an overpayment that was to be applied to the 2021 liability. Due to Covid, they somehow processed the 2021 ...
- Fri Mar 10, 2023 8:28 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: File complicated return by mail to reduce audit risk?
- Replies: 21
- Views: 2607
Re: File complicated return by mail to reduce audit risk?
I paper filed my 2020 return and I’m still waiting for IRS to process it. If you’re expecting any kind of refund I wouldn’t paper file. Also it won’t reduce your audit risk, it will just possibly delay your audit.
- Fri Mar 03, 2023 8:36 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Guided Tours in London and Paris
- Replies: 18
- Views: 1429
Re: Guided Tours in London and Paris
For Versailles book the Kings Apartment tour. You’ll see parts of the palace not open to the general public and you will not wait in any lines.
- Fri Mar 03, 2023 8:33 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How long did you wait for your tax refund this year?
- Replies: 165
- Views: 17993
Re: How long did you wait for your tax refund this year?
I’m still waiting for 2020 refund. IRS tells me monthly that it will be another 30 days.
- Fri Oct 21, 2022 8:17 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Treasury Direct I Bond strategy
- Replies: 20
- Views: 2756
Re: Treasury Direct I Bond strategy
Have you considered using the gift option for buying bonds over the annual limit? Buy as many bonds as you want as gifts but hold them in your account. They will not count against an annual limit until you actually gift them.
- Sun Mar 06, 2022 10:19 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: NH tax question
- Replies: 5
- Views: 837
Re: NH tax question
NH does not tax earned income. They do tax income from an LLC. If this income is from a W2 it does not need to be reported and you do not need to file unless you have other income they tax (like interest/dividends).
- Thu Feb 24, 2022 7:57 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Loan vs. Cash for New Car
- Replies: 26
- Views: 2161
Re: Loan vs. Cash for New Car
Don’t pay cash. We always buy our cars with cash but use manufacturer’s financing if offered. The dealer makes money on the financing and if he knows you’re paying cash your sales price will be higher. Use their financing and pay it off with the first or second payment. That’s what we have done for over 30 years. The only downside is that title delivery may be delayed because an extra transfer will be involved.
- Wed Feb 23, 2022 6:25 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: 1099s on trusts after death?
- Replies: 6
- Views: 721
Re: 1099s on trusts after death?
I was the trustee on all three accounts and previously had access. Schwab says they are mailing the 1099s to me but have not provided an explanation for what is going on. Thankfully none of my money is there.samsmith wrote: ↑Mon Feb 21, 2022 11:37 pm Income, if any, is not erased by death and needs to get picked on an appropriate return. Schwab’s system is automated and almost certainly they generated 1099s. So:
Are you sure there was income prior to her death?
If so, you might not have access to the appropriate 1099 with your Schwab login. Who was the trustees PRIOR to death? Who had access to the accounts prior to death? If you did not have access to the original accounts, then likely won’t see those 1099s with your login.
- Mon Feb 21, 2022 4:40 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: 1099s on trusts after death?
- Replies: 6
- Views: 721
Re: 1099s on trusts after death?
The revocable trust became irrevocable at her death, and gets an employer identification number (EIN), or a new EIN, upon her death. The income through her date of death is included on her final return. The income following her death is included on the trust's return (or on the estate's return if the executors of her estate and the trustees of the trust, or the trustees of the trust if there's no estate, make a Section 645 election to treat the trust as part of the estate. The revocable trust is included in her estate, and its assets get a new basis The irrevocable trusts might have been grantor trusts or might have been separate taxpayers. If they were grantor trusts, the income tax consequences would be the same as for the revocable trus...
- Mon Feb 21, 2022 1:49 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: 1099s on trusts after death?
- Replies: 6
- Views: 721
1099s on trusts after death?
My mother passed away in mid-August 2021. At the time of her death she was the beneficiary (and receiving income from) two irrevocable trusts. She also had a revocable trust in her name, all at Schwab. On her passing the two irrevocable trusts were closed and the proceeds passed to the final beneficiary. Her revocable trust was assigned to a new trust under a new TIN to represent her estate. This week I received word from Schwab that all 1099s were available online. The only 1099s available were one for my joint account and one for her estate. There were none for the irrevocable trusts or her revocable trust, pre-death. I understand that there is a step up in basis for all these accounts but I wasn’t aware that any tax obligations for incom...
- Mon Feb 21, 2022 7:43 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Florida home to snowbird: Buy now, or wait?
- Replies: 51
- Views: 7735
Re: Florida home to snowbird: Buy now, or wait?
We had been watching Naples for almost a year. Several friends own winter homes there and convinced us we should be there too. Last week we had an offer accepted for about 35% more than pricing January 2021. Now that I have bought you can get the market has topped out.
Personally I would wait. If you look at historical Florida real estate pricing, it roughly follows a sine wave. Florida prices in general are likely to be lower 18-24 months from now. That said, I believe areas like Naples are likely to be somewhat immune from price drops due to the concentration of wealth in the area. To the lion’s share of buyers here, price is not really a major concern.
Personally I would wait. If you look at historical Florida real estate pricing, it roughly follows a sine wave. Florida prices in general are likely to be lower 18-24 months from now. That said, I believe areas like Naples are likely to be somewhat immune from price drops due to the concentration of wealth in the area. To the lion’s share of buyers here, price is not really a major concern.
- Sun Oct 24, 2021 9:32 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Dealing with CPAP recall fiasco
- Replies: 55
- Views: 6924
Re: Dealing with CPAP recall fiasco
I returned my machine to Philips and got the email that a replacement would be awhile. I received a new machine in the mail about 2 months after I returned my unit.
- Mon Oct 12, 2020 7:52 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: V.A. Health Insurance
- Replies: 14
- Views: 1149
Re: V.A. Health Insurance
I assume when you say “VA Health Insurance” you mean that this person is qualified for VA medical care. The VA does not offer insurance. There are as many opinions of the quality of VA health care as there are patients. I’m qualified as a result of a service connected disability but choose to get my primary health care via other vehicles because the quality at the VA is variable. That said, it is free. The biggest issue that you may have is that the VA has what is referred to as “priority groups” that are used to ration or prioritize care when resources become limited. Because of that, depending upon your group, you run the risk of being denied care when needed. If you have other options I would recommend using the VA as a fallback.
- Thu Aug 27, 2020 5:07 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Recommendations for wheat beer
- Replies: 43
- Views: 3766
Re: Recommendations for wheat beer
Erdinger...none better.
- Thu Aug 27, 2020 5:04 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: "Hobby" Money: Planes, cars, boats etc...
- Replies: 114
- Views: 10178
Re: Costs to own a plane
Owning an airplane, like a boat, generally doesn’t make sense economically. It’s more of a vanity thing.You have to fly a lot to make it pay. Think fuel, oil, annual inspection, engine overhaul, hanger or tie-down rent, insurance...and on. Where I am in New England, around 200 hours a year is where it starts to make sense to own.
- Thu Jul 16, 2020 5:17 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Liability for Golf Ball Through Windshield
- Replies: 93
- Views: 9176
Re: Liability for Golf Ball Through Windshield
- Wed Jul 15, 2020 5:50 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Liability for Golf Ball Through Windshield
- Replies: 93
- Views: 9176
Re: Liability for Golf Ball Through Windshield
On every policy I’ve had there was/is no deductible for glass...just in case it happens again.
- Tue Jul 14, 2020 5:18 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Tesla becomes most valuable car company in the world
- Replies: 396
- Views: 44103
Re: Tesla becomes most valuable car company in the world
There’s a big difference between price and value or valuable.
- Sat Jul 11, 2020 8:15 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Tip Dental Hygienist for Teeth Cleaning? Thanks everyone.
- Replies: 72
- Views: 6968
Re: Tip Dental Hygienist for Teeth Cleaning? Thanks everyone.
Where does our “need” to tip end? Give me a break.
- Wed Jul 08, 2020 5:08 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Brooks Brothers Bankruptcy - Quality Issues
- Replies: 83
- Views: 9911
Re: Brooks Brothers Bankruptcy - Quality Issues
This will not be true for everything. They announced the permanent closure of a plant in Massachusetts.
- Sun Jun 21, 2020 9:08 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Tipping Tree Trimming
- Replies: 62
- Views: 8248
Re: Tipping Tree Trimming
Why do people think they need to tip everybody??
- Fri Jun 19, 2020 5:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Commercial Lease - Keep Paying?
- Replies: 5
- Views: 796
Re: Commercial Lease - Keep Paying?
Was your lease in any way tied to the development that did not occur? If not, and the developer didn’t violate any terms of the lease, I don’t see any reason why you would have a basis for stopping rent payment.
- Tue Jun 16, 2020 6:44 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How much umbrella insurance?
- Replies: 146
- Views: 10665
Re: How much umbrella insurance?
Given the litigious society we live in, how much are you willing to lose?
- Tue Jun 16, 2020 6:38 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Stimulus check odd situation
- Replies: 2
- Views: 586
Re: Stimulus check odd situation
Keep in mind that social security offices have been shut down so they weren’t processing checks. It looks like that’s starting to resolve...my mother got her check last week.Quirkz wrote: ↑Tue Jun 16, 2020 3:55 pm When were her 2019 taxes filed? If it was before Covid, they would have used them. They only would have used 2018 numbers if they didn't have 2019 available.
That said, I think it's 2020 income that really counts. Next year when her 2020 taxes are done, there will be a place to flag that she didn't receive the stimulus and claim it then. Unfortunately, I don't think there's a way to get it sooner, but it will eventually be made whole.
- Tue Jun 16, 2020 6:35 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Advice on Buying a Certified Pre-Owned BMW
- Replies: 53
- Views: 5128
Re: Advice on Buying a Certified Pre-Owned BMW
Car fax would have told you about that. Ask the dealer to show you the car fax.
- Thu Jun 11, 2020 5:25 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Luxury Vinyl Flooring
- Replies: 14
- Views: 2671
Re: Luxury Vinyl Flooring
Luxury vinyl sounds like an oxymoron. There are engineered waterproof hardwoods available at slightly higher cost than the higher quality vinyls you should look at if you haven’t already.
- Thu May 14, 2020 5:49 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Anyone booking flights for 2021 travel?
- Replies: 68
- Views: 6600
Re: Anyone booking flights for 2021 travel?
We have reservations for the Caribbean in November and Australia in January. Based on the train wreck going on here it will be interesting to see if foreign countries block Americans from entry. I wouldn’t be surprised at all.
- Thu May 14, 2020 5:47 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Anyone booking flights for 2021 travel?
- Replies: 68
- Views: 6600
Re: Anyone booking flights for 2021 travel?
Very...flyingaway wrote: ↑Thu May 14, 2020 5:29 pm I wonder how expensive the tickets will be if you really remove the middle seats.
- Sun May 03, 2020 5:28 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: When to sell low? Buffett sells entire airline stake
- Replies: 81
- Views: 12912
Re: When to sell low? Buffett sells entire airline stake
Nobody bats 1000....
- Wed Apr 15, 2020 4:57 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Cruise Deposit Refund
- Replies: 5
- Views: 533
Re: Cruise Deposit Refund
Celebrity (a RCL subsidiary) is giving full refunds if you cancel before the final payment date and future cruise credit for cancellations up to 48 hours before scheduled departure. We just cancelled an August cruise. Even if ships sail in August, most of the ports will be unlikely to allow them in. I’d suggest you cancel now rather than wait.
- Wed Apr 15, 2020 4:52 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Why is the market reacting poorly to plunging retail sales and manufacturing today?
- Replies: 32
- Views: 3029
Re: Why is the market reacting poorly to plunging retail sales and manufacturing today?
Actually it’s a bunch of Algos (machines).RayKeynes wrote: ↑Wed Apr 15, 2020 9:51 am"The Market", as you call it, consists of a bunch of greedy idiots who do not understand basic economic fundamentals.justsomeguy2018 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 15, 2020 9:45 am I don't understand it - I thought it was all priced in already! Did they really not expect this kind of bad news?
- Wed Apr 15, 2020 4:47 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Stimulus Charity?
- Replies: 28
- Views: 2069
Re: Stimulus Charity?
I would suggest a local food bank. Things are only going to get worse for those who are, or are becoming, food insecure.
- Sat Apr 11, 2020 5:25 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Does Airline industry operate paycheck 2 paycheck ?
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1185
Re: Does Airline industry operate paycheck 2 paycheck ?
They had lots of cash, unfortunately they chose to spend it on stock buybacks.
- Sat Apr 11, 2020 5:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Military retirement: Identifying a 2nd career
- Replies: 13
- Views: 1321
Re: Military retirement: Identifying a 2nd career
Retired Air Force O-6 here. I went through the transition quite some time ago, but remember well how difficult it was. Your biggest hurdle is going to be translating your military experience into civilian terms. Despite all the “thanks for your service” comments, most civilians have no idea what you do, let alone how it relates to civilian occupations. You are probably aware, but MOAA provides some useful information on how to do this effectively. It doesn’t sound like you are interested in pursuing this, but I think you should seriously consider focusing your search on defense contractors, companies like Raytheon and Lockheed Martin. They have a constant need for people with recent military experience for positions in program management. E...
- Wed Apr 08, 2020 4:37 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Outside of stocks, what else is a screaming good deal now?
- Replies: 66
- Views: 8878
- Sun Apr 05, 2020 6:07 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: The future of the housing market
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1345
Re: The future of the housing market
I was reading that the CARES Act puts in place a right to forbearance for homeowners with federally backed mortgages - which seems to be more protection than was put in place during the financial crisis. That coupled with generous unemployment benefits given by the newly approved stimulus packages makes another housing crash unlikely. Would you agree? I wouldn’t make that assumption. First, it only extends to federally backed mortgages. Second, it is not without a time limit. This time really is different. The world has never seen a time where the economy, around the world, was slammed to a stop. And this during a time when most Americans live from paycheck to paycheck with no money in the bank. Many of the people who have been laid off wi...
- Sun Apr 05, 2020 6:00 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Why does market keep rallying at end of day?
- Replies: 28
- Views: 3709
Re: Why does market keep rallying at end of day?
Last 15 minutes is lot more active because there is lot more liquidity at the end of day. Few reasons: 1. Stock order imbalance is published 15 minutes before the close, atleast few can make out where the market is leaning at the close. Google found me this link, brokers also publishes the imbalance on their platform. Big guys obviously have algo's trained on that report. https://marketchameleon.com/Reports/StockOrderImbalanceReport 2. Leveraged funds can exacerbate the flows because of the gamma effect. It is especially true if it is long trendy day with very high positive/negative returns for the day. They have to buy at the end of the day on a day with strong +ve return and sell at the close on a strong -ve return day. 3. Traders closin...
- Sat Apr 04, 2020 4:48 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Why does market keep rallying at end of day?
- Replies: 28
- Views: 3709
Re: Why does market keep rallying at end of day?
Plunge protection team at treasury buys at that time.
- Sat Apr 04, 2020 8:37 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Airline stocks, JETS, DAL, UAL
- Replies: 23
- Views: 3075
Re: Airline stocks, JETS, DAL, UAL
There is an old expression about airlines that definitely still applies...”the way to make a small fortune in the airline industry is to start with a large one.”