Bogleheads.org

Kilz Original oil-based.

Combine everything or don’t get married.

harikaried wrote: ↑Sun Mar 26, 2023 10:14 amWe've taken both our Teslas with friends on 1500+ mile road trips as it was much preferred over driving ICE.

I’ve heard tortured (and unconvincing) arguments that an EV is “as good” as ICE for a road trip, but preferable? By what stretch? This assertion needs a LOT of explanation. I’ve done dozens of ICE lengthy road trips. You hit the accelerator and quickly fill up as needed at endlessly available gas stations. How can that be improved on?

krafty81 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 25, 2023 6:43 pm So I inherited an IRA from my Dad in 2020. Wife inherited one this year. Both parents were over 80 years old. I have called Schwab and they are confused. My accountant says I have 10 years to withdraw both. I think I need to take a distribution this year for both. Schwab thinks I come under some type of lifetime rule but I do not think that applies here.

Question - what is the minimum amount I have to take out this year? 10%?

Thanks.

Good luck. When I inherited a second generation IRA, my CPA, the financial institution holding the IRA, and my lawyer all disagreed. IRS publications were no clearer than the Talmud. In the end we drew a line in the sand, and took a leap of faith.

bloom2708 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 22, 2023 8:21 amIf you have a Best Buy or Costco close by, I prefer that to shipping a TV.

I learned the hard way that Best Buy only has a 15 day return period. When my TV was installed there was a broken screen with no impact point. They refused to bend because it had been a little more than 15 days. That's a pretty small window. They won that battle but I've never darkened their door since.

TheGreyingDuke wrote: ↑Wed Mar 22, 2023 6:18 pmcautions investors to actively pick stocks

Sounds good! So which stocks do I pick? Am I going to have to start watching Jim Cramer?

It depends on why you have the property which you haven't told us.

I don't see the difference between giving a bartender a buck for getting a beer from the tap and handing it to me, and giving a buck to a barista at Starbucks for making me a latte. I don't tip at McDonald's or Taco Bell because I'm doing the ordering off of a confusing kiosk, they're just putting my order together assembly-line style for $15/hour, and they get my order wrong at least 50% of the time.

Time to leave this job and find a new one. Lots of them out there. You're too young to retire, especially with 2 kids to raise.

There is nothing in the Boglehead philosophy that says that money/wealth/finance is the most important thing in life. It does give guidelines on how best to manage finances for being able to attend to the things in life that one finds most important.

You can't time the house market You can't time the stock market Both can go down or up. Luck plays a bigger role then skill Buy a house when your fiscal situation and lifestyle aline for home ownership and ready to stay in one place at least 5 to 10 years. Until then rent. Buy index funds not individual stocks x infinity. In some markets housing prices are not cyclical but instead geometric. My parents bought their house for 36K and it sold decades later for almost 300K. It was a steady march upwards the whole time. But there is real estate near where I live that has gone just as steadily down due to many factors, none that could have been easily predicted. Nothing economic can be reliably timed. If it could, then everyone would be a milli...

Ependytis wrote: ↑Sun Mar 12, 2023 2:34 pm Trader Joe’s sells two buck chuck-it’s ~$2 per bottle. I never thought of it as being a great wine or a bad wine but smooth because it is a blended wine. I was shocked when I went into the store and saw a sign indicating the label won multiple blind taste contests. This is exactly why I don't buy high end wines, chocolates, or coffee's.

https://www.winebusiness.com/news/?go=g ... aId=118518

https://www.npr.org/templates/story/sto ... Id=1963794

https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/n ... mpetition/

I don't necessarily disagree with you but come on, those articles are really old, from 2004, 2007, 2013.

Thanks for the ideas. Every year Sirius/XM e-mails me a super clear subscription reminder with date, amount, and how to cancel if wanted. I guess I was expecting something like that. I can find no notations anywhere within my account, which in any case would not be them "sending" me a reminder which is the word that one of their blurbs uses. I guess that the moral of the story is to not use Amazon for subscriptions! I'll try the chat. Our experience with another teaser rate subscription service is similar. Thanks for the responses. This has nothing to do with a "teaser" rate; it's a mag I've subscribed to at regular rate that I am tired of and no longer want to receive. In one of those internet "black holes" I...

Thanks for the ideas. Every year Sirius/XM e-mails me a super clear subscription reminder with date, amount, and how to cancel if wanted. I guess I was expecting something like that. I can find no notations anywhere within my account, which in any case would not be them "sending" me a reminder which is the word that one of their blurbs uses. I guess that the moral of the story is to not use Amazon for subscriptions! I'll try the chat.

I subscribed to a maganine through Amazon that I no longer want. Under the "renewal terms" it is clearly stated that "Before it renews, you will receive a reminder notice that states the renewal rate and term then in effect." I never received any such reminder. It renewed yesterday as a "new order" and when I immediately tried to cancel, I got an e-mail that the order cannot be cancelled. They are clearly in the wrong. Best way to solve this?

I tried it for a couple of years but whatever outfit I hired always did a terrible job, going as fast as possible, running over any objects instead of picking them up, leaving patch marks, scalping areas, and coming every week whether needed or not, often charging me for doing a drag race on short dry grass. When I do it myself I cut when needed and take the care to do it right. And I've learned to enjoy the Zen of it.

You've inspired me to take a walk today. For me it has usually been an unwise decision between a hard worhout at the gym or nothing. Nothing usually wins. A 15 minute walk every day is something one can commit to.

You can only make a "rational" decision when the variables are certain or very near-certain. "Probabilities" aren't enough. Deciding to have a baby is never a "rational" decision since one can never know how it's going to go in the short-term or long term. Same with the variable of life expectency and the cold truth that unlike your 401(k) if you get hit by a bus your kids (assume grown) get zilch of your SS. It just goes up in a puff of smoke. My Dad paid into SS for decades but died before taking a penny. The only rational reason to not take SS at 62 is of course if one is still working, and therefore increasing future SS contributions, as well as continuing to fund tax-advantaged retirement accounts or just ...

TinyHouse wrote: ↑Sat Mar 04, 2023 5:06 pm Do they want your help? Are they comfortable with that? That’s the first question…

If they haven't specifically asked for your help I'd mind my own business. I'm not ever going to be interested any financial advice from my kids

1. What is the most you'd be comfortable paying for a car? (not necessarily what you can afford, but what you'd pay) Up to 40K 2. Do you buy new, used, or CPO? Why? New because we like new cars 3. How long do you keep your cars? Why? (i.e. until the wheels fall off, until your lease is up, or at a certain mileage) Usually about 10 years, and can still get good resale (Honda/Toyota) 4. Have/are you going to consider an electric car? If you don't have one yet, what will be the deciding factor for you to get one? Not in the near future. Maybe once range improves, and honest range numbers are given for my cold winter climate, there are as many charging stations as gas stations, I fully understand exactly how long the battery will last and how ...

inandrajog wrote: ↑Thu Mar 02, 2023 3:03 pmand pay more attention to asses allocation.

Now you've got my attention!

You can learn to live with critters. We love the wildlife; kids are really excited when they see a rabbit. Groundhogs only eat my weeds and they have never tunneled near the house. Possums do no damage that I have seen. Raccoons come and go. We see skunks but just at night. In the morning we put out critter food (corn mix) for the squirrels and chipmunks; they're fun to watch. And a bird feeder with sunlower seeds and suet. The lawn survives. The only criters we control are moles who can destroy everything and my kids trip on the holes and hills when playing in the yard.

We got an irrigation system about 15 years ago totally worth it. You can't see the sprinkler heads; they recede down into the ground. Cost maybe $100 twice a year to activate, blow out in the fall. You can activate yourself; I just don't bother and appreciate ther inspection because sometimes there are broken heads from our snow plow guy. I think it saves water because you run it early morning and it is precise, no water where you don't need it. Sometimes we just do the "hot spots" which get baked by sun. When I plant grass seed in bare areas we can run it 4x/day for 5 min to keep it wet. It really simplified my lawn care.

Local Comerica branch. Free checking with direct deposit; buy checks from WalMart 0nline. I like to have local place where I can deposit or cash the odd checks that pile up. Easy safe ATM. I know the officers. Sometimes have needed odd things like a medallion guarantee or to wire money.

I’m not at all a tea snob and I like bagged tea (Red Rose) glad you’ve found a ready breakfast drink and best wishes to you.

I’m all for “millionaire next door” choices but Wal-Mart tea over coffee to save a few Pennies? To me when you work hard you get to have some nice things. I don’t need a Lexus but a fine cup of coffee isn’t negotiable.

chrismckay wrote: ↑Tue Feb 21, 2023 11:38 pmAfter a rough period

One of the main parts of BH philosophy is to not tinker during "rough periods."
I'm about 60 with 60/40 AA. Fixed in 403(b) is all in TIAA TRAD; fixed in other accounts is in bond funds.
Only change I've made in last year is to rebalance into equities with new contributions to get back to my AA.
Best wishes!

mookie wrote: ↑Sat Feb 18, 2023 3:56 pm I have not panic-sold in the past, and I don't intend to in the future.

No one ever, ever, thinks that they will panic-sell in the future but many do.

Countless college professors for a very long time have used TRAD instead of bonds in their portfolio with excellent results. All of my 403(b) fixed is in TRAD; it's just reliable, simple, and a great part of my set-and-forget investment plan.

My wife's ICE Highlander is the best car we've ever owned. But good luck finding one.

Whether going to an elite school actually makes a difference has been hotly debated. In my education career I have not seen it to make a significant difference in where a student ends up later in life. The book "Where You Go is Not Who You'll Be" by Frank Bruni is a good discussion of the issue. This discussion can never be settled, because you can not run a controlled experiment, and statistics do not apply to individual cases. "Nobody knows nothing." Exactly! Also, see my signature;-) I appreciate your take. I'd just add that some private high schools do keep track of where alumni end up later in life and they do know who had a B average or an A average and who went to Dartmouth and who went to the local college. And ...

stoptothink wrote: ↑Thu Feb 16, 2023 5:50 pmThe upside of an Ivy undergrad is that it may give your child increased opportunity if they do not end up going to medical school (a distinct possibility). Up to you to decide if it is worth it.

Excellent point about kid switching mind about Med School. My wife did exactly that. Whether going to an elite school actually makes a difference has been hotly debated. In my education career I have not seen it to make a significant difference in where a student ends up later in life. The book "Where You Go is Not Who You'll Be" by Frank Bruni is a good discussion of the issue.

I have some TIAA Traditional (the illiquid version) and I'm getting out of it How is this possible if it is illiquid? StudentT answered that in the same sentence: I have some TIAA Traditional (the illiquid version) and I'm getting out of it ( my version takes 9 years and 1 day ). [emphasis added] "Illiquid" doesn't mean that the owner can never get the money... StudentT will apparently be able to take 10 approximately equal payments, over the 9 years and 1 day. During that time, each year, another portion will become available, until it's all paid out by the final payment. RM Thanks; poster said they were "getting out" of illiquid TRAD which is not possible. I know what "illiquid" means and I've been with T/C ...

Our high school student is interested in medical school. 1. Med schools look for GPA, MCAT, and some demonstrated interest in medicine through internships, shadowing programs, summer work in the field. Increasingly they are looking for majors outside of the usual suspects such as Bio. They also want Psych, English, Philosophy majors (who have taken the required courses as well of course.) 2. Med schools do not care about the prestige of your undergraduate school. A's and top MCAT from University of Toledo beats lesser metrics from an Ivy. 3. No one knows or cares where their doctor went to undergrad. So trying to get into a "top" undergrad in the pursuit of Med School is futile, And in any case these programs do not increase your...

SS has never been a big part of my retirement planning; whatever I get will be frosting on the cake.

StudentT wrote: ↑Wed Feb 15, 2023 6:34 pm I have some TIAA Traditional (the illiquid version) and I'm getting out of it

How is this possible if it is illiquid?

It's a great question because in very cold weather this is a real thing because range drops significantly and sometimes they just stop.

boxngit wrote: ↑Wed Feb 15, 2023 12:29 pmand VBTLX (total bond market index fund).

Look into and consider taking advantage of TIAA TRAD for your bond allocation.

2fund wrote: ↑Tue Feb 14, 2023 3:45 pmWhat are your thoughts, and/or perceived weaknesses with my strategy? Thank you in advance.

I have known many friends and colleagues and seen countless on this board who have a "high risk tolerance" who nevertheless crumbled and capitulated when the markets headed south. That's a potential weakness in a 100% strategy.

When I transferred from ML to VG I had VG handle everything. I never spoke to my ML "advisor" ever again and he never contacted me. He saw the writing on the wall.

HomeStretch wrote: ↑Wed Feb 08, 2023 6:09 pmyou and your spouse can gift to your daughter and your daughter’s spouse 4 x $17k or $68k/year.

Gifting over this amount only triggers a reporting requirement, not any tax. You have a lifetime limit of over $12MM. A few states have a gift tax but the threshold is also in the millions. But in any case throwing an expensive party is not a gift.

CC1E wrote: ↑Sat Feb 04, 2023 6:28 pm

windaar wrote: ↑Sat Feb 04, 2023 6:17 pm I write a check and walk out with the title, the bill of sale, and drive home in the car. Done.

Never heard of walking out with the title on a new car. They come with a manufacturer’s statement of origin which gets converted into a title by the state. Title comes in the mail once the state processes the paperwork. So there is some room for dealer shenanigans even with a cash sale.

Another reason direct manufacturer sales are superior (Tesla style). Large corporations don’t bother with these small-time scams.

You're right; my bad. Title sent by the state to my house. Main point is that my relationship with the dealer ends as I drive home.

I write a check and walk out with the title, the bill of sale, and drive home in the car. Done.

JupiterJones wrote: ↑Fri Feb 03, 2023 10:56 pmPeople still purchase watches?

Of course they do. I don't want to pull out my phone every time I want to check the time. People still buy fountain pens too. I read a print edition WSJ every morning. Not everyone wants to live in the metaverse.

If I have a nice watch on when travelling I put it in an inside zippered pocket in my carry-on before going through security. Regardless of what TSA say, my driver's license and credit cards are in my front pants pocket as I go through.

Cheaper if you get umbrella with same company as auto and house insurance. We insure up to our total net worth. The umbrella costs very little compared to what it protects. But also good to have a relationship with an attorney who is a phone call away. We stay close to the firm that did our wills and trusts. They have helped us with questions about property issues, etc. when needed. Sometimes we have not been billed for a quick question. When we are billed we are more than happy to pay. It is a litigious world and having allies is really important!

TRAD takes the place of bonds in my 403(b). It's a rock; it never goes down, only up. My Dad had it since the 1960s. Worked for him too. Back in the day lots of professors went 50/50 TRAD/CREF Stock by default. It was a great one-size-fits-all AA.

I know you probably mean well but I hope that when I'm in my 80s my kids aren't telling me what I need to do with my own money and property.

sailaway wrote: ↑Sat Jan 28, 2023 6:12 pm

ebeb wrote: ↑Sat Jan 28, 2023 6:09 pm So far equity market seems to be holding up well from the Sep 2022 lows and I have upped my AA from 55:45 to 65:35. Now I am thinking whether to up it further to 75:25 or stay put. The dark clouds of recession seem to be hanging over the horizon along with further fed rate rise concern. So what does the cognoscenti think about the future course of the market

Are you saying your plan is to always buy high?

Sounds like my pals at work who are always talking about their timing plans. When markets swoon they pull out; when markets go up the're all in.

Absolutely not. AI can manipulate existing info but can't predict future events when there are more than a few variables. For example it was once believed that with powerful enough computers we'd be able to accurately predict long-term weather but that never has and never will happen; chaos theory explains that. Same with stocks. AI will be able to crunch numbers but not know the future variables that will affect one particular stock or the whole market. Even if it could give some kind of "edge," everyone would have that same edge.