Search found 2678 matches

by climber2020
Fri Mar 08, 2024 8:59 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What would you have done differently if you could go back and restart your financial journey?
Replies: 68
Views: 5595

Re: What would you have done differently if you could go back and restart your financial journey?

Wouldn't have spent so much money on stuff/junk.

In hindsight, the money I spent traveling in my younger years was the best money I ever spent.

But I wish I could get back all the cash I wasted on video games (many of which I never played), electronics, and various unnecessary pieces of large & heavy furniture that I hauled around from apartment to apartment that I could have easily done without.
by climber2020
Fri Mar 08, 2024 7:22 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: feeling stuck with kid expenses and this phase of life
Replies: 61
Views: 7376

Re: feeling stuck with kid expenses and this phase of life

impala01 wrote: Thu Mar 07, 2024 8:25 pm Land payments on farm ground that I own with my brothers around 12,000 a year. This is fixed payment on inheritance ground we got a discount on a per acre basis when ground parents passed. 20 years left on the note.
Does this make any money for you, and if not is there any way to sell it?
by climber2020
Tue Mar 05, 2024 7:26 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: When to switch from dealer to independent for service
Replies: 52
Views: 4108

Re: When to switch from dealer to independent for service

As soon as the complimentary maintenance period expires (was 2 years for my current car). I've been fortunate to have a reliable independent shop nearby. Dealers will gouge you for money.
by climber2020
Mon Mar 04, 2024 11:20 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Aggressive savers: Reduce stocks % the closer you are to your target numbers?
Replies: 32
Views: 3574

Re: Aggressive savers: Reduce stocks % the closer you are to your target numbers?

My plan calls for going more conservative at certain net worth milestones.

I did some calculations a while back under several different hypothetical stock & bond returns with different asset allocations and found that once your portfolio gets large enough, there's minimal difference between something like 70/30 and 90/10 in reaching the final target (I think for me the difference was something like working an extra 2 months). Unless of course the stock market crashes right when you're about the hit your number; then the lower stock AA wins out.
by climber2020
Wed Feb 14, 2024 1:42 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: relying on interactive charts to make investment decisions
Replies: 12
Views: 1008

Re: relying on interactive charts to make investment decisions

What information are you looking for from an interactive chart to make investing decisions?

Nearly 9 years ago you got some good advice:
geranium wrote: Mon Mar 16, 2015 6:07 pm I'm not very knowledgeable about investing, despite having been in mutual funds almost three decades. I am retiring this year and realize that I should be switching from growth funds to income funds. What should I look for in an income fund? Does chart growth matter, or is it all about high yields or dividends, or what?
Johm221122 wrote: Tue Mar 17, 2015 4:42 am try getting started
http://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Getting_started

Welcome to forum
John
If you never actually read that link in 2015, it's a good place to begin.
by climber2020
Wed Feb 14, 2024 6:14 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Pay cleaning lady for snow day?
Replies: 119
Views: 10091

Re: Pay cleaning lady for snow day?

Opinika wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2024 7:56 pm "I see no reason to pay for a service you did not receive."

Too big of a power differential involved.

Pay up and be gracious about it.
We don't know this for sure. The person in question owns her own business.

I have a family friend who has her own cleaning business, and she makes more money than I do despite my fancy professional degree.
by climber2020
Wed Feb 14, 2024 6:11 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: I am Financially Ignorant and Seeking Guidance
Replies: 33
Views: 3704

Re: I am Financially Ignorant and Seeking Guidance

MagnusII wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2024 10:14 pm Debt: Mortgage: $230,000 @ 2.85%; 1. American Express CC: $15,000 @ 20.49%; 2. Bank of America MC: $6,750 @ 9.90%; 3. Personal Loan: $11,600 @ 9.49%
Other than the mortgage which is reasonable, can you provide some detail as to what you spent the credit card/loan money on?

This is potentially a much bigger problem than all the questions you asked. I'd address this first before you do anything else.
by climber2020
Tue Feb 13, 2024 2:05 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Pay cleaning lady for snow day?
Replies: 119
Views: 10091

Re: Pay cleaning lady for snow day?

I'm all for tipping generously and paying people well, but if this were me I probably wouldn't pay. You receive a service, you pay your money. You don't receive the service, what are you paying for?

My barber, who is awesome, has occasionally had to cancel on me for good reasons. I don't wire him cash for not cutting my hair.
by climber2020
Tue Feb 13, 2024 8:37 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How big (if at all) of a mistake would it be for me to go VT instead of VTI/VXUS in taxable?
Replies: 67
Views: 5529

Re: How big (if at all) of a mistake would it be for me to go VT instead of VTI/VXUS in taxable?

Vulcan wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2024 8:30 am
climber2020 wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2024 8:27 am I get an extra $1000 every year in my pocket from prior harvesting.
Not all of it is yours, though. You will owe more tax later.
climber2020 wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2024 8:27 am Some of the older bogleheads here have done such a good job harvesting losses over the years that they will likely never pay capital gains taxes again.
They lost more money than they will ever make?
Not necessarily. If you're not a big spender in retirement, it's my understanding that it's possible to avoid capital gains taxes for a very long time, especially if you harvested losses near the bottom of an event like 2008.

I'm thinking of Livesoft; I remember something about his situation where he's mentioned something to this effect.
by climber2020
Tue Feb 13, 2024 8:27 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How big (if at all) of a mistake would it be for me to go VT instead of VTI/VXUS in taxable?
Replies: 67
Views: 5529

Re: How big (if at all) of a mistake would it be for me to go VT instead of VTI/VXUS in taxable?

VartAndelay wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2024 7:41 am
climber2020 wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2024 7:40 am What's your plan for tax loss harvesting with VT? TLH is one of the best features of a taxable account.
I likely wouldn't tax loss harvest. I'm mostly looking for a set and forget type of approach.
Something you may want to revisit in the future. I get an extra $1000 every year in my pocket from prior harvesting.

Some of the older bogleheads here have done such a good job harvesting losses over the years that they will likely never pay capital gains taxes again.
by climber2020
Tue Feb 13, 2024 7:40 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How big (if at all) of a mistake would it be for me to go VT instead of VTI/VXUS in taxable?
Replies: 67
Views: 5529

Re: How big (if at all) of a mistake would it be for me to go VT instead of VTI/VXUS in taxable?

What's your plan for tax loss harvesting with VT? TLH is one of the best features of a taxable account.
by climber2020
Mon Feb 12, 2024 12:38 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: VTI, VXUS and I Bond? If you could buy unlimited I bonds...
Replies: 30
Views: 3486

Re: VTI, VXUS and I Bond? If you could buy unlimited I bonds...

I'd still have a healthy amount of regular bond funds for short notice rebalancing purposes.

The bonds I sold to buy stocks in March 2020 when stocks crashed 10% (give or take) in a single day, then again just a few days later were useful to have around. Couldn't have done that transaction with I Bonds.
by climber2020
Mon Feb 12, 2024 10:24 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Boulder CO in late September?
Replies: 22
Views: 1793

Re: Boulder CO in late September?

Every year is different, but mid-late September is usually great mountain climbing weather in Colorado with fewer crowds than summer months.
by climber2020
Sun Feb 11, 2024 11:51 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Supermarket pizza - any good ones? Any great ones?
Replies: 145
Views: 12479

Re: Supermarket pizza - any good ones? Any great ones?

Home Run Inn. Walmart and Publix both sell them.
by climber2020
Fri Feb 09, 2024 12:01 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 2 fund portfolio for 20k?
Replies: 10
Views: 1303

Re: 2 fund portfolio for 20k?

I previously had a 3 fund portfolio (VTSAX, VBTLX, VTIAX) for a few years, but really disliked how the international fund was doing (and how its doing now). Yeah, given this is taxable and I can withstand the ups and downs I am going to just move it all to VTI to keep it even more simple. These 2 statements are contradictory. If you could withstand the ups and downs, you would not be contemplating dumping the fund that has underperformed. You are performance chasing which is, more often than not, detrimental to the goal. Of course, but I've since done more reading and have "financially matured" if you will, so I am done chasing. That's good. If you don't already have one, write down an Investment Policy Statement. A hypothetical ...
by climber2020
Fri Feb 09, 2024 11:57 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What is your favorite book?
Replies: 186
Views: 19921

Re: What is your favorite book?

We should place an over/under on how many posts it takes for someone to say "The Bible".

The only fiction book in my permanent collection is The Little Prince. I first read it at age 7 and like to re-read it every few years.
by climber2020
Thu Feb 08, 2024 8:22 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 2 fund portfolio for 20k?
Replies: 10
Views: 1303

Re: 2 fund portfolio for 20k?

z91 wrote: Thu Feb 08, 2024 11:24 am I previously had a 3 fund portfolio (VTSAX, VBTLX, VTIAX) for a few years, but really disliked how the international fund was doing (and how its doing now).
z91 wrote: Thu Feb 08, 2024 7:39 pm Yeah, given this is taxable and I can withstand the ups and downs I am going to just move it all to VTI to keep it even more simple.
These 2 statements are contradictory. If you could withstand the ups and downs, you would not be contemplating dumping the fund that has underperformed. You are performance chasing which is, more often than not, detrimental to the goal.
by climber2020
Thu Feb 08, 2024 3:43 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Investing paralysis
Replies: 39
Views: 2809

Re: Investing paralysis

Use some of the money to buy bonds. If stocks crash, then use those bonds to buy stocks. Or buy a target date fund that does this automatically since many people waffle too much and miss their chance.
hurley21 wrote: Thu Feb 08, 2024 2:24 pm Since the S&P is at record highs
The S&P is usually at record highs more often than not. If that’s your metric, you’ll never get in.
by climber2020
Thu Feb 08, 2024 8:27 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Using whole life to pay off student loan debt?
Replies: 27
Views: 2196

Re: Using whole life to pay off student loan debt?

BanjoDonkey wrote: Wed Feb 07, 2024 8:23 pm A person in my extended family is considering using a specialized whole life insurance contract to pay off his student loans.
Or he could just use that same money and pay off the student loans directly without involving a middleman that robs him of an entire year of premiums as commission.
by climber2020
Wed Feb 07, 2024 8:21 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Recommendation for International Index Fund in taxable account
Replies: 14
Views: 1509

Re: Recommendation for International Index Fund in taxable account

I use the same 2 stock funds (total stock and total intl) in my Roth IRA, 401k, and taxable account. Avoiding wash sales has never been a problem.

Using the same funds for all accounts is a good option if you want to keep it simple. Just pay attention when you harvest losses.
by climber2020
Wed Feb 07, 2024 10:08 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: half high income physician, half financial illiterate
Replies: 95
Views: 12009

Re: half high income physician, half financial illiterate

Every recommendation you've been given, there's an excuse why you can't do it. What areas of your current spending are you actually willing to cut?
Bones_Jones wrote: Wed Feb 07, 2024 6:00 am I have this lingering feeling that I should have amassed a substantial fortune by now, yet I haven't. I started late. finished residency in 2016.
This has nothing to do with why your net worth is so low relative to your income. You're spending too much money. Had you taken care of your business the first few years out of training you could be spending freely by now, but you didn't, so you have to either cut back now or be okay with working until you're super old (I know plenty of these people and you don't want to be like them).
by climber2020
Wed Feb 07, 2024 8:15 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Getting rid of emergency fund, budgeting for yearly expenses, and handling larger "surprise" expenses?
Replies: 18
Views: 1802

Re: Getting rid of emergency fund, budgeting for yearly expenses, and handling larger "surprise" expenses?

My emergency fund used to be a bit larger than yours early on, but it's been less than half the original size for the better part of a decade. If I need a large amount of cash, which almost never happens, I sell some of my stock funds in the taxable account & use my carryover losses from tax loss harvesting to pay zero taxes on the short or long term capital gains if there are any. The first time I ever did this, it felt disconcerting, but a mental trick I started using is to look at the cost basis of the funds I purchased around the time I halved the emergency fund. Those funds, excluding dividend reinvestments, are up over 100%. That makes me feel a whole lot better than focusing on why I didn't hoard a bit more cash in the recent past.
by climber2020
Tue Feb 06, 2024 6:52 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Pre early retirement steps
Replies: 22
Views: 2743

Re: Pre early retirement steps

Watty wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 1:45 pm 2) In the taxable account set up any mutual funds to not automatically reinvest any dividends, interest, or capital gains distributions. You can reinvest these manually into something similar. This will mean that if you need to sell something in the taxable account any gains will be long term and taxed at a lower rate. When you retire you can use these to pay for your living expenses.
Does this make any practical difference in a taxable account? When I look at my dividends every quarter, each distribution is its own individual lot with its own cost basis. The original investments that are over a year old that are responsible for a portion of these distributions still show up as long term capital gains.
by climber2020
Tue Feb 06, 2024 8:59 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What's your allocation for International Stocks?
Replies: 101
Views: 6948

Re: What's your allocation for International Stocks?

I make new contributions every payday in a 3:1 ratio. 75% US, 25% International. Most of my assets and nearly all my International is in a taxable account, so I never rebalance it.
by climber2020
Mon Feb 05, 2024 2:09 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Accumulators, what's your response to inflation?
Replies: 146
Views: 12834

Re: Accumulators, what's your response to inflation?

Overall timeline hasn't changed because the 10 years prior to 2021 had such spectacular stock returns that more than made up for the inflation period that followed. Buying a house when they were still relatively cheap with a low interest mortgage also helped avoid some inflation costs.

If I were an accumulator starting now or in the last 2 years, the answer would be to work a few years longer.
by climber2020
Mon Feb 05, 2024 8:05 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Building a Taxable Portfolio
Replies: 11
Views: 1409

Re: Building a Taxable Portfolio

Keep your taxable account all stocks and put your entire bond allocation in your 401k (and fill the remaining space with stock funds). When stocks crash or boom, you can rebalance inside your 401k without any tax consequences. This depends on if your taxable account also has the same time horizon as your 401k. If it does, then this is a great strategy. If you are probably going to be selling from taxable for spending then I think it makes sense to keep shorter duration securities in taxable. Not sure if the tax benefit overcomes the volatility of 100% stocks. I don’t think that really matters, since you can always rebalance in your tax-deferred space. You just need to make sure the taxable is not so small that this would be a problem I wou...
by climber2020
Mon Feb 05, 2024 7:22 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Building a Taxable Portfolio
Replies: 11
Views: 1409

Re: Building a Taxable Portfolio

Keep your taxable account all stocks and put your entire bond allocation in your 401k (and fill the remaining space with stock funds).

When stocks crash or boom, you can rebalance inside your 401k without any tax consequences.
by climber2020
Sun Feb 04, 2024 12:27 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: When to drop disability insurance
Replies: 7
Views: 529

Re: When to drop disability insurance

KBR wrote: Sun Feb 04, 2024 12:12 pm Although if your disability were your back or your hands, you would probably still be able to take part in most of your leisure activities like travel, just not work. Which, of course would be terrible but if you had arthritis of your hands, I think you’re an anesthesiologist?, You would not be able to work, but would still be able to enjoy most of life. Except for enjoying work, of course!
I do eyeballs. The most likely scenario is something happens and I can’t operate anymore but can still do clinic. Even without disability, surgery is likely the first thing I’m going to consider giving up when I hit 30x.
by climber2020
Sun Feb 04, 2024 11:07 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: When to drop disability insurance
Replies: 7
Views: 529

Re: When to drop disability insurance

If you became totally and permanently disabled requiring assistance for some activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, etc), would your expenses be similar (i.e. spouse/family could assist you) or would your budget increase to account for paid in-home caregivers at least part time? I anticipate being able to drop life insurance prior to dropping disability insurance for this reason--dead, my family's fixed expenses should actually go down a bit. Disabled, family's fixed expenses go up. Not really sure. If it was that bad, I’d be getting disability from social security, and I probably wouldn’t be spending much money on travel which is currently my highest spending category. This situation could also come up after I early retire; at tha...
by climber2020
Sun Feb 04, 2024 10:41 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: When to drop disability insurance
Replies: 7
Views: 529

When to drop disability insurance

I have an own-occupation disability policy with a $300 a month premium and a $7500 per month benefit if I get disabled.

Current net worth, excluding my house, is a little over 26x projected expenses (including taxes, health insurance etc.), and approximately half of that number is for travel/leisure/charity.

Would now be a reasonable time to drop the disability insurance or should I hold onto it longer? I'm in my early-mid 40s, still enjoy my job (mostly), and plan to cut back my hours once I get closer to 30x expenses.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts!
by climber2020
Fri Feb 02, 2024 3:06 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Isn't rebalancing tax inefficient?
Replies: 40
Views: 3737

Re: Isn't rebalancing tax inefficient?

Most of my assets are in a taxable account so I ran into this problem early on.

My solution was to never rebalance the taxable account. It’s 100% stocks, a mix of international and US. I contribute each paycheck in a set ratio and leave it alone.

I do rebalance in my 401k (mostly bonds) due to no tax consequences and only adjust overall stock/bond ratio once every few years.
by climber2020
Wed Jan 31, 2024 8:09 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How much emergency cash is too much?
Replies: 32
Views: 3726

Re: How much emergency cash is too much?

How many multiples expenses do you have total, including cash? Mentioned lower, but I have 4x annual expenses in CDs right now. How big is your total portfolio size (either in terms of dollar amount or x-expenses)? You wrote above you have 900k, and and additional 4x expenses in cash. Using just those 2 bits of information, we can't deduce anything. How many years of expenses is the 900k? Hmm, perhaps I'm not understanding the question (I thought these were answered in the OP), but our expenses are about 7k/month (84k/year). I have ~350k in liquid savings (CDs, savings etc..) and 900k in retirement funds. My bad. I missed the 84k expenses a year part when I first read the question. So you have almost 15x expenses in your total portfolio. L...
by climber2020
Wed Jan 31, 2024 3:08 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How much emergency cash is too much?
Replies: 32
Views: 3726

Re: How much emergency cash is too much?

z91 wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2024 2:52 pm
climber2020 wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2024 2:51 pm How many multiples expenses do you have total, including cash?
Mentioned lower, but I have 4x annual expenses in CDs right now.
How big is your total portfolio size (either in terms of dollar amount or x-expenses)? You wrote above you have 900k, and and additional 4x expenses in cash. Using just those 2 bits of information, we can't deduce anything. How many years of expenses is the 900k?
by climber2020
Wed Jan 31, 2024 2:51 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How much emergency cash is too much?
Replies: 32
Views: 3726

Re: How much emergency cash is too much?

How many multiples expenses do you have total, including cash?
by climber2020
Wed Jan 31, 2024 7:26 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Skip emerging markets due to tax inefficiencies?
Replies: 26
Views: 2630

Re: Skip emerging markets due to tax inefficiencies?

hiddenpower wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2024 6:30 am Has anyone here justified a decision like this one way or the other?
Usually when I'm contemplating something like this, it invariably involves a fund that has underperformed recently compared to other funds I own. I come up with all sorts of legitimate sounding reasons for getting rid of the fund that doesn't specifically include performance chasing because that would highlight my behavioral bias and make me feel bad.

Then I reread my Investor Policy Statement that I wrote 10+ years ago, realize I'm being greedy, and I end up doing nothing.
by climber2020
Mon Jan 29, 2024 9:48 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Helping a family member: Need advice
Replies: 20
Views: 2622

Re: Helping a family member: Need advice

Either do nothing or move the money to the Lifestrategy fund that has an 80/20 split. If it's in an IRA, there won't be any tax consequences.
by climber2020
Sat Jan 27, 2024 7:46 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Getting the family more into camping, hiking and the great outdoors
Replies: 15
Views: 1577

Re: Getting the family more into camping, hiking and the great outdoors

ThankYouJack wrote: Sat Jan 27, 2024 6:41 pm What do you find most helpful for everyone to have a great time either hiking, camping or whatever else?
Find another person to do this stuff with. If your spouse hasn't taken to these activities by this point in life, it's probably not going to happen.

My spouse will join me on hikes up to a certain level. After that limit, it's a no go; we did one trip a few years back and it terrified her so I have a better sense of what she would enjoy and what she wouldn't.

Once or twice a year, I meet a childhood friend of mine in the mountains and we do these harder climbs together. It's a nice bonding activity. And I still do lower elevation, easier activities with the spouse. Everyone is happy.
by climber2020
Tue Jan 23, 2024 2:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Electrolux vs LG Washer/Dryer
Replies: 20
Views: 2163

Re: Electrolux vs LG Washer/Dryer

madbrain wrote: Tue Jan 23, 2024 1:53 pm
illumination wrote: Tue Jan 23, 2024 11:23 am LG has a terrible reputation when it comes to appliances. I just had a repair guy a few weeks ago for a washer/dryer of mine and when I asked him what appliances to buy or avoid, he said avoid LG. And that sentiment seems to be widespread. Samsung is also one people say to avoid.
Consumer reports rates some models of LG washer & dryers very highly. I bought the top rated ones (front loader, not top/stacked) a year ago. Nice connected machines. No problem so far.
What's the process they use to rate the appliances?

What I'm interested in is not how it performs right now or after a year; I want to know how it performs in 10 years. I'd think that an appliance repair person would be a good resource for that kind of information.
by climber2020
Mon Jan 08, 2024 9:18 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Two Fund Portfolio Asset Allocation
Replies: 11
Views: 2438

Re: Two Fund Portfolio Asset Allocation

mgp wrote: Mon Jan 08, 2024 6:55 am I created the document below as a guide to my immediate family members and close friends.
While well intentioned, no normal person is going to read this. I like this stuff and didn't make it past the first section.

Recommending a target date or lifestrategy fund plus increasing savings rate (if any desire to retire early) is probably good enough for most people.
by climber2020
Fri Jan 05, 2024 9:24 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: TIME = MONEY: strategies to **SAVE TIME** (even if it costs $)
Replies: 51
Views: 7485

Re: TIME = MONEY: strategies to **SAVE TIME** (even if it costs $)

bhzmark wrote: Fri Jan 05, 2024 7:26 am
What are your strategies?
1) Live in a small house with minimal upkeep and don't regularly buy anything other than food
2) Don't have kids

Do those 2 things and you'll have all the time in the world to do whatever you want.
by climber2020
Tue Jan 02, 2024 12:22 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Email confirmations for brokerage trades not working?
Replies: 13
Views: 1470

Re: Email confirmations for brokerage trades not working?

HenryPorter wrote: Tue Jan 02, 2024 11:51 am
climber2020 wrote: Tue Jan 02, 2024 11:42 am I didn't get one either for a transaction made last week.

Also the personal performance returns percentage is way off.
New year software glitch?

Also, noticed today my total account value has been fluctuating a lot even though the market has been not that volatile after the morning dip. When I refresh the account balance it shows unusual swings.
My account balance is accurate, but my 1 year return is showing a ridiculous 3 digit figure.
by climber2020
Tue Jan 02, 2024 11:42 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Email confirmations for brokerage trades not working?
Replies: 13
Views: 1470

Re: Email confirmations for brokerage trades not working?

I didn't get one either for a transaction made last week.

Also the personal performance returns percentage is way off.
by climber2020
Sun Dec 24, 2023 1:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Men's travel pants recommendation.
Replies: 76
Views: 8915

Re: Men's travel pants recommendation.

livesoft wrote: Sun Dec 24, 2023 1:27 pm
climber2020 wrote: Sat Dec 23, 2023 3:06 pm ... and doesn’t have a dozen goofy looking pockets all over the legs.
I'd like to a see a get link with some pants with "a dozen goofy looking pockets all over the legs." So far in this thread is seems that the pants recommended have only one or at most 2 more pockets than my Levi's jeans.
Here’s a $200 item from Kuhl that’s pretty tacky looking:

https://www.kuhl.com/kuhl/mens/pants/ms ... iftwood%20
by climber2020
Sat Dec 23, 2023 3:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Men's travel pants recommendation.
Replies: 76
Views: 8915

Re: Men's travel pants recommendation.

I’ve tried lots of different travel pants over the years and haven’t yet found a single one to my liking. A clothing company would make a killing if they could produce something that looks like jeans but dries a little faster and doesn’t have a dozen goofy looking pockets all over the legs. My travel pants are still a pair of regular jeans. The only time I’m wearing pants is either at night or when it’s cold outside and I’m less likely to sweat in either situation so I can wear the jeans several times before washing them. I like the Kuhl pants…comfortable, durable, no giant logos, slim zip pockets that fit a phone on thigh. Kuhl is the best brand I’ve tried so far, but I’d love something without all the random pockets. The material is a goo...
by climber2020
Fri Dec 22, 2023 7:34 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Battery Charging Frustration iPhone 15
Replies: 15
Views: 1255

Re: Battery Charging Frustration iPhone 15

delrinson wrote: Fri Dec 22, 2023 4:40 am Any ideas, settings-wise or otherwise?
Go to an Apple Store and return the phone while you're still in the 1 year warranty period. You got a lemon.

Document all the stuff you already tried, make sure your iOS software is at the latest version, and they should swap it out for a new one. I had an iPhone years ago that didn't function as expected; the replacement was perfect.
by climber2020
Mon Dec 18, 2023 2:12 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cancelling orders, subs: dark patterns, roach motels - worst?
Replies: 38
Views: 5138

Re: Cancelling orders, subs: dark patterns, roach motels - worst?

Hughesnet internet service cannot be cancelled without calling and talking to a rep. There is NO option for cancellation via email, website or any other means. When one calls to cancel, the rep runs through a long quiz about why including such questions as: How will you access the internet from now on? What company are you getting your internet service from if not Hughesnet? How much are you paying them? I refused to answer any of the questions and just kept repeating that I wanted to cancel the service and that the answers to any of those questions were none of Hughesnet's business. They finally agreed to cancel the service after expressing exasperation with my intransigence. I do not recommend Hughesnet as your internet service provider....
by climber2020
Wed Dec 13, 2023 9:08 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: build a solid finance foundation
Replies: 20
Views: 2137

Re: build a solid finance foundation

mymoney2022 wrote: Wed Dec 13, 2023 8:54 am I asked a friend who is a finance advisor.
If this is the advice the person gave you, it's not a friendship.

If the person recommends any type of life insurance other than term life (and I assure you they will not recommend term life), then the person is definitely not a friend.

The advice you are describing is exactly how I found my way to Bogleheads 10+ years ago, and I promptly fired my financial advisor once I realized he was trying to take my money.
by climber2020
Mon Dec 11, 2023 12:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Speed Queen Issues- not getting things clean??
Replies: 40
Views: 6676

Re: Speed Queen Issues- not getting things clean??

Have you peeked under the lid during the wash cycle to make sure the agitator is working? Toward the end of its life, my last washer sounded completely normal but I eventually discovered that the agitator wasn't rotating. No idea how long it had been broken for; I could have been wearing poorly washed clothes for a month or longer.

This shouldn't happen with a new washer, but it's always possible to get a lemon.
by climber2020
Sat Dec 09, 2023 5:36 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: VBTLX - Am I looking at this fund incorrectly for long term investing?
Replies: 60
Views: 8580

Re: VBTLX - Am I looking at this fund incorrectly for long term investing?

welderwannabe wrote: Sat Dec 09, 2023 4:33 pm Im still sticking with International, but I respect people who have decided to move on as a large case could be made that the S&P has enough foreign exposure already by the fact that most of the companies in it do business all over the world.
I'd respect the decision more if a person decided to dump international after a period like 2000 to 2008.

Someone who dumps a fund after it has done poorly is doing the usual human-instinctual-thing-to-do that, in the long term, will likely result in a worse outcome.
by climber2020
Sat Dec 09, 2023 9:55 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Bonds in Portfolio? Why...I am so confused
Replies: 388
Views: 88328

Re: Bonds in Portfolio? Why...I am so confused

Go with a 100% stock portfolio.

One of two things will happen at some point:

1) You realize that you’re a 100% stock person, that volatility does not phase you at all, and you’ll likely end up with a larger portfolio than one including bonds

Or

2) You will learn through direct experience why many people, especially the older and wiser bogleheads here, hold some bonds. Once you go through this, it’s unlikely you’ll ever ask this question again.