Search found 14956 matches

by arcticpineapplecorp.
Wed Mar 27, 2024 9:42 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help | 85 Year Old about to Lose Home
Replies: 25
Views: 1776

Re: Help | 85 Year Old about to Lose Home

Hello, Looking for options to help a 85-year-old family friend who is my spouse's second mother per se. Long story short at 72 took out debt on a $850K home (currently owes $375k) and has $40K plus of credit card debt. The interest rates have blown up on a variable and cannot make payments and she is about to lose her home. Vultures are hovering along with reverse mortgage companies, etc. what's her income and does she have no savings to speak of except the home equity? what was her plan? why did she not lock in rates at some point a few years ago when rates were at historic lows? Did she not think rates would go up. how much would an apartment cost and what part of savings would be used to supplement income (how long would the money last ...
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Wed Mar 27, 2024 7:59 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tax Preparation Fees
Replies: 8
Views: 675

Re: Tax Preparation Fees

I realize fees vary depending on the complexity of the tax return. We do our own. My sister pays $200 for hers which includes pension X 2, SS X 2, interest, dividends, capital gains, foreign taxes; not complex in my opinion. My niece who just started working last year went to a tax preparer (a friend of a friend) and he wants $350? For a W-2 and one interest bearing account. My DD's beau gets his prepared for $75. Your opinions? If your niece's income is under the limit (IRS says $64,000 or less) she could have it done for free by a VITA preparer (I'm one): https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers there's a tool at that link to find a site near you. hurry, tax season's quickly coming to an end!
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Wed Mar 27, 2024 7:49 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Got fired and I have question regarding resume.
Replies: 30
Views: 2672

Re: Got Laid off and I have question regarding resume.

don't be down on yourself. remember you had your last job for 5 years, not 5 months, so that's something to celebrate. Was it something about LTC/healthcare accounting that you don't like or could you try to get back into that? just because one employer didn't give you enough time to learn the job doesn't mean another company won't be thrilled to have you and give you more training than your most recent employer. Dr. Demming wrote about total quality management decades ago. One of his philosophies is that it's not that people don't want to do a good job, but rather that the systems in place don't help people do their best. So it's not all your fault. Your last employer didn't help you succeed and give you the tools to be your best. Not sure...
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Wed Mar 27, 2024 4:49 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Why does a discussion of Financial Planning almost always turns into buying Whole life insurance?
Replies: 51
Views: 2561

Re: Why does a discussion of Financial Planning almost always turns into buying Whole life insurance?

after you turn down the whole life insurance, watch them pivot and try to sell you an equity indexed annuity with a death benefit rider instead. :oops:

when the only tool in your toolbox is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

don't get nailed.
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Wed Mar 27, 2024 4:23 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Why does a discussion of Financial Planning almost always turns into buying Whole life insurance?
Replies: 51
Views: 2561

Re: Why does a discussion of Financial Planning almost always turns into buying Whole life insurance?

I get the whole commission aspect. And I am also willing to drop these guys and not waste my time with them. But can you offer me a better alternative? Because in their scenario, my heir gets over 4 or 5MM on a 2MM investment and all of that tax free. Of which only 50% was given to the Insurance company. I have not been able to find the flaw in that logic. I am sure its there in it, but I am not able to find it yet. whole life insurance is not an "investment". free from estate taxes? Your heirs get a step up in basis and if you're concerned about going over the estate limit, you'd set up a trust, not use life insurance. exotic investments don't necessarily translate into superior performance (for you. It probably does for them be...
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Wed Mar 27, 2024 4:13 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: VEU dividend payment different
Replies: 11
Views: 506

Re: VEU dividend payment different

I have held VEU in my taxable account with Merrill Edge for several years. They do a quarterly income projection, which is been very accurate every time. For some reason this quarter my dividend was cut by 2/3 from their projection. Seems odd. I don’t see any announcement of a dividend cut by VEU. What would cause this? Maybe a second payment is coming? guess you'd go back to Merrill and ask them why their projection was so incorrect this time. Or stop putting faith in others' projections. did you see on the distribution pages provided that the dividend paid by this fund in March 2024 was actually TWICE what it was in March 2023 and March 2022? $0.2153 March 2024 $0.1150 March 2023 $0.1060 March 2022 that's the framing piece: you're upset ...
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Wed Mar 27, 2024 2:16 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Does backtesting capture all the costs differences between funds ?
Replies: 8
Views: 436

Re: Does backtesting capture all the costs differences between funds ?

A friend had been advised from a brokerage to invest in American Funds Global Growth Portfolio Class C (GGPCX). It has an expense ratio of 1.56%, a distribution and/or service fee(12b-1) fee of 0.99% and a 1% deferred load. I thought it would be instructive to compare the GGPCX against a low-cost, passive index fund like Vanguard's 500 Index Fund ETF (VOO) Please note, that I understand that these are different fund categories. I'm only interested in comparing a low-cost fund with the GGPCX and am using VOO. My question is that when I'm running a backtest, are the results fully capturing all the expenses and costs ? If not, then what are the recommendations to sift out an accurate comparison ? Here's what I used for the comparison: https:/...
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Wed Mar 27, 2024 7:15 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Never selling shares
Replies: 57
Views: 4197

Re: Never selling shares

Being a Boglehead is great and it is a very rational approach. But my Dad never owned index funds, just individual stocks, and never owned international and things turned out well imo. I think there are many different feasible approaches to get to financial goals. he got lucky because what if instead all of his stock picks turned out like Lucent? good thing he has a paid off house, has low expenses in retirement and a frugal nature, right? getting back to your question, this reminds me of a recent conversation I had with a friend who had it as his goal to only "live off the dividends". I said to him if he planned to do that he might need to have twice as much money for retirement as he thought he would (assuming he would be drawi...
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Tue Mar 26, 2024 8:32 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Never selling shares
Replies: 57
Views: 4197

Re: Never selling shares

Being a Boglehead is great and it is a very rational approach. But my Dad never owned index funds, just individual stocks, and never owned international and things turned out well imo. I think there are many different feasible approaches to get to financial goals. he got lucky because what if instead all of his stock picks turned out like Lucent? good thing he has a paid off house, has low expenses in retirement and a frugal nature, right? getting back to your question, this reminds me of a recent conversation I had with a friend who had it as his goal to only "live off the dividends". I said to him if he planned to do that he might need to have twice as much money for retirement as he thought he would (assuming he would be drawi...
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Tue Mar 26, 2024 6:27 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Which line number in 1040 Tax form refers to my Tax Bracket ?
Replies: 8
Views: 842

Re: Which line number in 1040 Tax form refers to my Tax Bracket ?

the brackets are before the standard deduction. For instance if you look at the top of 12% bracket (for a single person) is $44,725 (source: https://www.irs.gov/filing/federal-income-tax-rates-and-brackets) but that's AFTER you have already subtracted out your standard deduction. Because notice it says "taxable income", right? So the standard deduction is the first part of your income that is not TAXABLE income. So say the standard deduction for a single person is $13,850. Then you can really earn $13,850 + $44,725 = $58,575 and be in the 12% bracket, even though you've earned more than $44,725 it says is the top of the 12% bracket, because it's $44,725 of TAXABLE income, while the rest ($13,850) is not taxable because it's the st...
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Tue Mar 26, 2024 10:16 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Which Bonds Fund To Buy
Replies: 12
Views: 1247

Re: Which Bonds Fund To Buy

when you say "non taxable" do you mean "pretax" rather than Nontax or are you talking about Roth (which has no tax in the account/growth or upon distribution, because the tax has been paid)? A traditional IRA is pretax which means RMDs will be required at a minimum when you reach the age and you will have to count those withdrawals as ordinary income. Whether you pay tax on that or not, depends upon your other income at the time withdrawals are made. But yes, bonds are better in pretax accounts (like trad IRA/pretax 401k) than taxable accounts or Roth. as for what bond funds to put there? generally a total bond index fund is recommended but you also have to determine what amount of money and when distributions will be ma...
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Tue Mar 26, 2024 10:01 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Those complimentary dinners for retirees by investment advisors
Replies: 137
Views: 10176

Re: Those complimentary dinners for retirees by investment advisors

At the Orlando timeshare, the doors were not locked. But, if we didn't stay here there entire time listening to their $%^$%$%^ we would not get free admission tickets to Disney. By the end she stated you think I am lying about all this (YES). How could of a future husband would I be to my friend (just a friend - though stated a girlfriend). No, they didn't have my car keys and no I kept my phone though I put it on vibrate. There is no free lunch in life. Everything has a cost or tradeoff. The "free" tickets to disney were not free at all. They came with a cost that you sit through the presentation. If you chose not to "spend" your time at the presentation, you cannot get the disney tickets because you didn't pay the cos...
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Tue Mar 26, 2024 9:59 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Received Life Insurance Estate mail.
Replies: 8
Views: 503

Re: Received Life Insurance Estate mail.

put return to sender on the envelope and pop it in the mail or give it to your mail carrier.
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Mon Mar 25, 2024 8:06 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Need advice
Replies: 9
Views: 952

Re: Need advice

cut bait with this insurance salesman. here's the thing, are you in the new SAVE program ? If not, get in it. It doesn't cost you. You don't need to pay someone to help you get in the best program available. After you're done with that program, it may be true you'll have to count the amount of debt forgiven as taxable income in the year it's forgiven. But you may also be able to pay less. At that time, look into making an offer in compromise with the IRS which lets you settle your tax debt for less, depending on your circumstances (income vs expenses) at that time. should probably ask, you're not working for a government or non-profit organization are you? Because if you are (you should be in PSLF) and then the debt forgiven is really forgi...
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Mon Mar 25, 2024 6:58 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How am I doing?
Replies: 25
Views: 2457

Re: How am I doing?

how much are you investing each year? Need to know that to run the numbers.

without new contributions (not suggesting you don't save, if you save you'll get there faster) you can get to a million in 12 years just growing at 5% CAGR. In excel:

=FV(.05,12,0,-591000)
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Mon Mar 25, 2024 6:54 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Custodial Roth IRA
Replies: 4
Views: 356

Re: Custodial Roth IRA

yeah, lots of posts:

https://www.google.com/search?sitesearc ... s+and+roth

let the search bar be your friend.
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Mon Mar 25, 2024 6:53 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Custodial Roth IRA
Replies: 4
Views: 356

Re: Custodial Roth IRA

i wouldn't do this if you're thinking of paying your child to do chores around the house.

if they did this for someone else and got paid for it, that's a different story.

but they have to report earned income in order to contribute to a Roth IRA. Paying taxes is another matter. But you have to report the income, otherwise, why would they be able to contribute to a Roth IRA?
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Mon Mar 25, 2024 5:04 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Viewing your portfolio vs viewing them as separate components
Replies: 14
Views: 1136

Re: Viewing your portfolio vs viewing them as separate components

here's a good example from just a few years ago but probably too long for people to remember. Back when interest rates were really low like 1% or lower there were many seniors (I knew of one such) who had switched from either their nominal bonds that were throwing off too little income to either high dividend paying stocks or the guy I knew bought a loaded, high expense ratio, less diversified high yield (junk) municipal bond fund. I remember thinking to myself this guy was chasing yield (and increasing risk with money he had earmarked for more safety), but if he had looked at the return of his overall portfolio at that time, his return was quite good (it was just that the main source of those returns at that time were stocks, not bonds). B...
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Mon Mar 25, 2024 3:44 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Viewing your portfolio vs viewing them as separate components
Replies: 14
Views: 1136

Re: Viewing your portfolio vs viewing them as separate components

i agree with you and think in terms of total return. I've seen too many people who want to change their portfolios because of the underlying components that have recently underperformed and have to wonder if they had a target date fund, would they really be switching and if so, to what?
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Mon Mar 25, 2024 3:40 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Is a check written from an estate account going to look like an inheritance rather than gift?
Replies: 7
Views: 1413

Re: Is a check written from an estate account going to look like an inheritance rather than gift?

i agree with you. the only reason you should be paid out of the estate account is: 1. if you were listed in the Will as a beneficiary of part of the estate 2. if you had loaned the deceased money while he was alive that was never paid back, and you're now being paid back out of proceeds of estate (like a creditor who's claiming they're owed, a reason why obituaries or some public notice of death is required, to notify creditors they can make a claim against the estate). If the estate owes inheritance taxes to the State, isn't that based on the amount in total in the estate at time of death (or maybe after executor fees, etc). How would payouts from the estate change the total value of the estate (upon which State inheritance tax would be ow...
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Mon Mar 25, 2024 1:08 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: SERIES E savings bonds
Replies: 11
Views: 788

Re: SERIES E savings bonds

Thanks! Looks like I'll get about $125. "$125.86 in Feb 2024 has the same buying power as $13.34 in Feb 1967. This bond has lost to inflation. It's worth less now than it was when it was purchased!" :oops: :oops: Maybe not worth the trip to the bank... and "I'm not familiar with bonds that old. I'd investigate what if any penalties might apply for not paying taxes to this point, and given how many years have passed I'm not even sure how'd you'd go about doing that." :confused Maybe I should just destroy them... so the lesson is know the maturity dates for any bonds you own and when they mature, roll them into a new bond at the current rate especially if the bond you're holding will no longer continue earning interest. d...
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Mon Mar 25, 2024 1:01 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Strange Tax Question - Bad EIN Ohio
Replies: 7
Views: 691

Re: Strange Tax Question - Bad EIN Ohio

Revisit the 1099-R section under income & earnings in the retirement and pensions section and review the payer EIN entered on the 1099-R. Update as necessary and resubmit the return. If it was entered correctly, the taxpayer should contact the issuer of the 1099-R for assistance.

https://www.olt.com/main/OLTFREE/Federalerrorcodes.php
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Mon Mar 25, 2024 12:44 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Those complimentary dinners for retirees by investment advisors
Replies: 137
Views: 10176

Re: Those complimentary dinners for retirees by investment advisors

You're not really trapped in a timeshare presentation unless you believe that you are. The mind can create limits at times that don't exist in reality. A common practice I have seen is bussing the group to see different properties which makes it tougher to leave early. When I was in my 20s and didn't have a lot of money, my girlfriend and I were offered 200 dollars to attend a time share presentation that was only supposed to take a couple hours. We were bussed 15 minutes away to the property. It ended up taking four hours and we felt trapped the entire time since we didn't get the money until the very end and we had no transportation. Since then, I've vowed to never attend something like that again. sorry to hear that. sounds like the mis...
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Mon Mar 25, 2024 12:40 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Those complimentary dinners for retirees by investment advisors
Replies: 137
Views: 10176

Re: Those complimentary dinners for retirees by investment advisors

articpineapplecorp- Have you ever been to a timeshare presentation? You literally are trapped for 90 minutes unless you want to refund Hilton, Westin, or Marriott Vacation clubs for the cost of your very discounted holiday. We've done 4 of these and it's 90 minutes of torture which I have vowed to never do again. But they're about 90 minutes as you say, and the question becomes where else can a retired person earn say $200/hr or more (in the case of a timeshare with discounted stay) for doing nothing but sitting for 90min? I don't believe anyone would consider that "torture." yeah, and i'd probably just listen to music or watch a movie on my phone while they talked (if I wasn't interested in buying), that is, unless they took you...
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Mon Mar 25, 2024 11:15 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: SERIES E savings bonds
Replies: 11
Views: 788

Re: SERIES E savings bonds

How to Cash (Redeem): Cash at any financial institution that cashes savings bonds. Also take proof of your identity and, if you’re a beneficiary, the bond owner’s certified death certificate.

source: https://www.treasurydirect.gov/savings- ... s-e-308426
How to Cash (Redeem): Cash at any financial institution that cashes savings bonds or mail the bonds and FS Form 1522, and any supporting documents* to Treasury Retail Securities Services, P.O. Box 9150, Minneapolis, MN 55480-9150.

source: https://www.google.com/search?client=fi ... +from+1967
also read more here: https://www.treasurydirect.gov/forms/sav0022.pdf
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Mon Mar 25, 2024 10:34 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Those complimentary dinners for retirees by investment advisors
Replies: 137
Views: 10176

Re: Those complimentary dinners for retirees by investment advisors

MnD wrote: Mon Mar 25, 2024 9:37 am But do they keep you there trapped like a timeshare presentation?
how does a timeshare presentation keep you trapped?

are the doors locked from the outside and you are being held hostage?

can you not get up and walk out?

have they taken the keys to your car so you can't get away?

did they take your phone so you can't call the police if you're being held hostage?

you see I'm using hyperbole because words matter. You're not really trapped in a timeshare presentation unless you believe that you are. The mind can create limits at times that don't exist in reality.
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Sun Mar 24, 2024 8:37 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Taxable account assets for pre-retirement
Replies: 8
Views: 912

Re: Taxable account assets for pre-retirement

vwiux is a muni bond fund. I understand you're looking for tax efficiency in a taxable account but usually if you're thinking about munis you should consider the tax equivalent yield compared to a non muni bond fund. but i think the main thing you're asking is what is "safer" to keep your money in taxable in case you need to draw it, and that's why you're thinking bonds and not stocks (less volatilty with the former). But you left out of the equation cash. Why? It's paying a goodly rate of return now (I know that won't always be true) and it is taxable (though might be exempt from state tax depending on where you live and what money market fund you might use), but here's an example from 2022 of vwiux vs cash (and total bond and vt...
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Sun Mar 24, 2024 8:05 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Fiduciary advisors vs not - how important do you think it is
Replies: 33
Views: 2270

Re: Fiduciary advisors vs not - how important do you think it is

What are the examples you've encountered? An example I have seen for someone else: "You don't need to make any Roth conversions even though the taxes to do so would be zero." That's an interesting example since in theory the usual complaint about reducing AUM (amounts and fees) wouldn't apply, so I wonder what the motivation was? I'm assuming this is a case where taxes would (assuming no changes in tax law etc.) always be zero regardless of a conversion. Could it just be ignorance (on the part of the adviser) of the advantage of a Roth conversion? Regards, That's a possibility I hadn't thought of. Hanlon's Razor states: never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by neglect, ignorance or incompetence.
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Sun Mar 24, 2024 7:57 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: unmarried with joint mortgage, can 1 deduct all interest?
Replies: 5
Views: 682

Re: unmarried with joint mortgage, can 1 deduct all interest?

Q: Is there a mortgage interest deduction unmarried couples can take? My partner and I bought a house together but we are not married. How do we split the home mortgage interest deduction? A: No. There is no specific mortgage interest deduction unmarried couples can take. A general rule of thumb is the person paying the expense gets to take the deduction. In your situation, each of you can only claim the interest that you actually paid. In order to claim the deduction you must have a legal ownership in the property and a responsibility to pay the mortgage. Generally, this means that you both are on the mortgage and responsible for paying the lending institution. However only one of you, typically the first person listed on the mortgage, wi...
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Sun Mar 24, 2024 8:50 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: It is really that simple to do it the Bogleheads way?
Replies: 87
Views: 8169

Re: It is really that simple to do it the Bogleheads way?

There is this idea that if you are 100% equities during your working years you might "sell at the wrong time" due to panic. That's not the only concern. There's also the possibility that you need to access the money (due to extreme circumstances) during a market crash. "In bear markets stocks return to their rightful owners." Their rightful owners are people who have no emergencies or bad luck? :D if you have sufficient emergency monies (and/or auto/medical/home/umbrella insurance to cover "extreme circumstances") to handle the bad luck that gets thrown your way, then you will be able to hold onto your stocks (and buy more when others are selling theirs because they don't have sufficient resources to handle th...
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Sat Mar 23, 2024 9:13 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Paying off 115K in Debt Using an IRA BDA - Should I Sell?
Replies: 14
Views: 907

Re: Paying off 115K in Debt Using an IRA BDA - Should I Sell?

Hello: I inherited an IRA BDA via Fidelity in August 2020 with an original value of $160,215. I made a withdrawal of $33,200 in December of 2022. Currently the account is at $178,534.00. It is split into the following funds: FRGRX (Fidelity Blue Chip Growth): 54% of the account - $96,581 FPURX (Fidelity Puritan): 21.66% of the account - $38,673 FGRIX (Fidelity Growth and Income): 17.89% of the account - $31,946 FOSFX (Fidelity Overseas): 6.34% of the account - $11,314 My other assets are $7,000 in a ROTH IRA and around $5,000 in a money market. My total estimated earnings for this 2024 will be around $30,000-$40,000. I am graduating from law school in May and have $95,000.00 in student loan debt (undergraduate and graduate) and $20,000.00 ...
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Sat Mar 23, 2024 8:54 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Vanguard mutual funds that pay monthly
Replies: 5
Views: 613

Re: Vanguard mutual funds that pay monthly

Caliscotsman wrote: Sat Mar 23, 2024 8:45 pm No. it's just that I wasn't aware...I've never really researched bond funds but will do now.

(Not so obvious to me.)
1. you want a nice monthly sum?
2. are receiving dividends better than selling shares (to create a monthly sum)?
3. are the dividends of bond funds more or less favorable taxwise than dividends from stock funds?
4. have you read up on the irrelevance of dividends?
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Sat Mar 23, 2024 8:47 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: It is really that simple to do it the Bogleheads way?
Replies: 87
Views: 8169

Re: It is really that simple to do it the Bogleheads way?

etfan wrote: Sat Mar 23, 2024 8:44 pm
firebirdparts wrote: Sat Mar 23, 2024 11:12 am There is this idea that if you are 100% equities during your working years you might "sell at the wrong time" due to panic.
That's not the only concern. There's also the possibility that you need to access the money (due to extreme circumstances) during a market crash.
"In bear markets stocks return to their rightful owners."
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Sat Mar 23, 2024 8:45 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Annuity Consideration: I'm the House
Replies: 19
Views: 1965

Re: Annuity Consideration: I'm the House

EricGold wrote: Sat Mar 23, 2024 8:34 pm
arcticpineapplecorp. wrote: Sat Mar 23, 2024 4:06 pm As Voltaire said:
"I advise you to go on living solely to enrage those who are paying your annuities."
:D

Is that really a Voltaire quote ? I'l add it to my list of favorites, including his opinions about lawyers and priests
it is a partial quote.

"I advise you to go on living, solely to enrage those who are paying your annuities. It is the only pleasure I have left."
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Sat Mar 23, 2024 8:38 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: It is really that simple to do it the Bogleheads way?
Replies: 87
Views: 8169

Re: It is really that simple to do it the Bogleheads way?

So is investing really as easy as buying and holding some recommended index funds? (I have a three-fund portfolio in mind) The projected returns are 8-9% PA, which is better than what my FA gives me, and does not seem unreasonable given Vanguard's performance. a three fund portfolio just tells you it's: 1. total US stock market index fund 2. total International stock market index fund 3. total US bond market index fund but just based on that, why would you think it would yield 8-9% PA without any other information? for instance, do you think these two portfolios will earn the same or different amounts? portfolio 1: 18% total US stock market index fund 12% total International stock market index fund 70% total US bond market index fund portf...
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Sat Mar 23, 2024 4:06 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Annuity Consideration: I'm the House
Replies: 19
Views: 1965

Re: Annuity Consideration: I'm the House

Taylor is 100 years old and he has had I think a couple (at least one) SPIA for a very long time, obviously longer then the insurance company thought. At his birthday party this year his son said the insurance company sends a letter every year asking him to basically verify he's still alive because they're tired of continuing to pay him. The insurance company lost on their bet with Taylor. There's probably some sage advice there, don't bet against Taylor! Anyway, they're going to get it wrong now and again but as long as they're more right than wrong, the company will continue to live another day (sounds like longevity is a concern for everyone, companies and people alike). I don't know if there's a way for you to game this. But if buying a...
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Sat Mar 23, 2024 11:31 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Pulled out of Target Fund 2045 to rebalance, more aggressive
Replies: 98
Views: 5644

Re: Pulled out of Target Fund 2045 to rebalance, more aggressive

I switched out the target for now because the admiral fund as been out performing the target fund. I am plan to stay the course and throw money at it. I also have 457 plan I've been throwing money at for the last 4 years. I was put into the default Target fund, I shifted from that into their index 500 fund and add international stock index fund. 85/15 I will have to ride the market. you're making an apples to apples comparison. saying the admiral fund (assuming by this you mean the ALL STOCK admiral fund, either total stock or S&P500 index fund because you mention both) has been outperforming the target fund is only true if stocks have done better than bonds over the period in which you're looking. Basically you're comparing 100% stock...
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Sat Mar 23, 2024 11:24 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Where can I learn about income tax brackets in Iowa?
Replies: 16
Views: 1526

Re: Where can I learn about income tax brackets in Iowa?

Vanguard will track the basis and report the sale price of lots sold, whether for a gain (relative to basis), loss and/or if wash sale was generated (because you bought something substantially identical within 30 days before or after the security you sold. They won't track your carryover losses. That's what your tax software is for, and/or your accountant's software. Don't know how simple your returns are or your income but there's ways to get your returns done for free: https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/get-help/filing-returns/vita-and-tce/ if you have low enough income you could use VITA and if not, you can use TCE if you're 60 or older (regardless of income). I'm a volunteer tax preparer with VITA and the software I use does hold inf...
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Sat Mar 23, 2024 9:42 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Pulled out of Target Fund 2045 to rebalance, more aggressive
Replies: 98
Views: 5644

Re: Pulled out of Target Fund 2045 to rebalance, more aggressive

welcome to the group. so you changed from 85/15 (the vanguard TD 2045 fund) to 100% stock. There's nothing in and of itself wrong with that (I was 100% equities until I turned 50) but you should think about a few things: 1. you could have stuck with a Target date fund, just switched to a 2050 or later fund. Anything from 2050 or later right now is 90/10. But maybe you don't want 10% in bonds. 2. You will have to determine when you want to start adding fixed income to reduce the overall volatility. Will that be when you're 50? 55? What date? So you will have to change your portfolio yet again (and possibly again, and again, as you eventually downshif the risk as you get closer to retirement), unlike a target date fund which will do that rej...
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Fri Mar 22, 2024 8:36 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Pulled out of Target Fund 2045 to rebalance, more aggressive
Replies: 98
Views: 5644

Re: Pulled out of Target Fund 2045 to rebalance, more aggressive

welcome to the group. so you changed from 85/15 (the vanguard TD 2045 fund) to 100% stock. There's nothing in and of itself wrong with that (I was 100% equities until I turned 50) but you should think about a few things: 1. you could have stuck with a Target date fund, just switched to a 2050 or later fund. Anything from 2050 or later right now is 90/10. But maybe you don't want 10% in bonds. 2. You will have to determine when you want to start adding fixed income to reduce the overall volatility. Will that be when you're 50? 55? What date? So you will have to change your portfolio yet again (and possibly again, and again, as you eventually downshif the risk as you get closer to retirement), unlike a target date fund which will do that reji...
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Fri Mar 22, 2024 7:43 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Capital gains loss carryover if you sell no stocks
Replies: 16
Views: 1258

Re: Capital gains loss carryover if you sell no stocks

you said you deducted $3000 in 2021 but this would have been for the 2020 tax return because you lost $20,000 in 2020.

So the next question is what did you do on your 2021-2023 tax returns with the remaining $17,000 in carryover losses?

Did you reduce your ordinary income by $3000 in each of those years (or did you offset capital gains occurring in those years)?

If not, you probably want to amend returns for 2021, 2022 and 2023 before 4/15/24 to reduce your ordinary income by $3000 in each of those years.
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Fri Mar 22, 2024 6:54 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Stan the Annuity Man is leading a webinar "Understanding the Pros and Cons of Annuities" Thursday, April 11 at 4:30PM
Replies: 2
Views: 592

Stan the Annuity Man is leading a webinar "Understanding the Pros and Cons of Annuities" Thursday, April 11 at 4:30PM

hopefully this is ok to post, if not, mods please delete:

Found a webinar on annuities from Merriman's email that Stan (Haithcock) The Annuity Man will be leading, explaining annuities (webinar is called "Understanding the Pros and Cons of Annuities" Thursday, April 11 at 4:30PM). If you care to register:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/registe ... gistration
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Fri Mar 22, 2024 6:33 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Equiy Indexed Annuity using retirement money
Replies: 28
Views: 1902

Re: Equiy Indexed Annuity using retirement money

Found a webinar on annuities from Merriman's email that Stan (Haithcock) The Annuity Man will be leading, explaining annuities (webinar is called "Understanding the Pros and Cons of Annuities" Thursday, April 11 at 4:30PM). If you care to register:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/registe ... gistration
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Fri Mar 22, 2024 3:21 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: consequences of working widow taking SSA spousal survivor benefits before her FRA
Replies: 15
Views: 1107

Re: consequences of working widow taking SSA spousal survivor benefits before her FRA

not an expert but looks like there is a reduction of benefits if the survivor claims prior to her FRA: Therefore, even if your wife starts drawing spousal benefits at age 62, if she's at least full retirement age (FRA) when you die then her survivor benefit rate would not be reduced for age. But, if your wife claims spousal benefits early and if you die before she reaches her FRA, her spousal benefit will automatically convert to a survivor benefit effective with your month of death. In that event, your wife's survivor rate would be reduced for age based on her age at the time you die. source: https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/if-my-wife-takes-spousal-benefits-early-will-reduction-age-carry-over-her-survivor-benefit and also her benefit ...
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Fri Mar 22, 2024 12:26 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Where can I learn about income tax brackets in Iowa?
Replies: 16
Views: 1526

Re: Where can I learn about income tax brackets in Iowa?

Im getting it, thanks to you. Exchange sounds better. I can only spend so much time researching finances before I get agitated and need to go outside. I really wish I had a tax preparer/adviser/retirement planner I could pay by the hour because I have more questions.. Im sure my tax lady would understand TLH.. She was a instructor at places like H&R block etc, so she has allot of experience preparing tax returns.. She's not a tax advisor , but I'll ask her again but this time offer to pay for her time. My guess is her clients don't have enough losses to worry about, sort of like me? Which circles me back around to a question I still have.. If I have all my taxable investments with vanguard, if I "exchange" shares with losses ...
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Fri Mar 22, 2024 12:14 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Retirement Plan Suggestions
Replies: 13
Views: 1432

Re: Retirement Plan Suggestions

you say they need $50k a year to live, but now get $36k/year from SS.

So unless I misunderstood something, they only need to take out $14k a year, so why would they take out $25k a year?

If they just take out the $14k needed it's a 2.2% withdrawal rate. good because that will go up if/when he dies and she loses income later.
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Thu Mar 21, 2024 7:16 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Where can I learn about income tax brackets in Iowa?
Replies: 16
Views: 1526

Re: Where can I learn about income tax brackets in Iowa?

Yes, makes sense how you explained it.. Thank you. But does this mean I should hold onto a under-performing MF just to TLH from? Because it feels counterintuitive to the buy low sell high philosophy Ive been taught.. My approach was always long term and never sell low, but apparently Im overpaying taxes if I don't TLH. Are we sure TLH is always beneficial? I understood the principles of TLHing a few years ago, but my tax lady wasn't familiar so that ended that.. But now Im wondering if my tax lady actually needs to figure anything, or does vanguard keep track on my statements? It was the record keeping that stopped me. Thanks again.. Oh by the way, I used a different tax preparer last year because Betty was sick.. And he had also never hea...
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Wed Mar 20, 2024 8:57 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Taking long term capital gain
Replies: 11
Views: 1136

Re: Taking long term capital gain

You may need to clarify or restate the question. Someone more knowledgeable should respond, but I don't see why one would benefit by selling for a long-term capital gain and then buying back right away. First, there's a risk you'll buy back at a higher price. Second, you will realize a taxable gain when instead you could defer until later, which is what most experts tend to recommend. I get that the tax rate could be favorable, but I just don't get the purpose of selling as stated in your question. only thing i could think of is s/he could be trying to reset his/her basis with no tax impact. not the worst thing if s/he's otherwise letting go of tax free space, but yeah, some risks involved like being out of the market or not properly calcu...
by arcticpineapplecorp.
Wed Mar 20, 2024 8:53 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Taking long term capital gain
Replies: 11
Views: 1136

Re: Taking long term capital gain

I was watching youtube shorts and heard that i can take capital gain tax free for the first 45k or so. Can I sell my stocks then re-purchase right after just for 40k profit every year? best to run the calculation to make sure you understand before selling things. depends on what other income you might have. Best not to just follow what someone on the internet says, but double check for yourself. Trust, but verify. just out of curiosity, what are these youtube shorts of which you speak? if it's really this below, i'd be careful getting investing information in 60 second (or less) soundbites: YouTube Shorts is the short-form section of the American video-sharing app YouTube. Shorts focuses on vertical videos at a maximum length of 60 seconds...