Search found 321 matches
- Thu Mar 21, 2024 9:02 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Merrill Edge Tax Statement Error
- Replies: 6
- Views: 611
- Thu Mar 21, 2024 5:48 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Travel (Canada and Eastern Europe): Dedicated phone for calling and texting
- Replies: 7
- Views: 553
- Thu Mar 21, 2024 5:24 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Travel (Canada and Eastern Europe): Dedicated phone for calling and texting
- Replies: 7
- Views: 553
Re: Travel (Canada and Eastern Europe): Dedicated phone for calling and texting
Thank you for the reply. I am looking for something, ideally, that I don't pay for when not traveling.
- Thu Mar 21, 2024 1:41 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Travel (Canada and Eastern Europe): Dedicated phone for calling and texting
- Replies: 7
- Views: 553
Travel (Canada and Eastern Europe): Dedicated phone for calling and texting
I don't know much about this topic so any suggestions are helpful. Other threads and articles on the web don't seem to address my specific needs. I would like to ask for advice on having a special travel phone. I don't want my main phone to travel with me internationally. Once a year or so, I will spend a week in Canada or Eastern Europe as a tourist. During those times I would like to have the ability to send and receive texts and phone calls. I will not call or correspond with people outside the country I am in. (For instance, if I'm in Canada, I will just communicate with Canadians within Canada.) I have a Pixel 3a phone that goes unused with no physical SIM card in it currently. Is that good enough or should I buy another (hopefully ine...
- Wed Mar 20, 2024 8:58 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Bitcoin Bubble Burst?
- Replies: 36
- Views: 7614
Re: Re:
With humility, one can raise an eyebrow, or give a friendly smirk, to those in this thread who suggested bitcoin is a bad investment.
So are you convinced bitcoin is a great thing or do you believe there's a significant chance that it's pretty worthless (despite currently owning some amount)?
- Wed Mar 20, 2024 8:52 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Taking long term capital gain
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1135
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.
- Wed Mar 20, 2024 8:46 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Bitcoin Bubble Burst?
- Replies: 36
- Views: 7614
- Wed Mar 20, 2024 8:43 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Headed to Montreal tomorrow! Need advice!
- Replies: 13
- Views: 1969
Re: Headed to Montreal tomorrow! Need advice!
Old topic but still very relevant. I am planning a trip and noticed there are at least two unlimited weekly fares: A and AB. I don't see exact numbers, but presumably AB is more expensive because it includes a larger outlying space in the metro region. So my question to veterans in the Montreal scene is whether it's worth it for a typical tourist to bother with AB. Any thoughts?s0me0nesmind1 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 07, 2017 12:03 pm If you are by yourself and not with other people, maybe the public transit would be decently cheaper.
- Wed Mar 20, 2024 8:38 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Basket of Stocks
- Replies: 34
- Views: 3047
Re: Basket of Stocks
Thanks for your comments. Just in case more clarity is called for, I wasn't thinking that a deflation- or disinflation-minded investment would lose money, or match the rate of change in consumer price, or anything like that. It would simply be more about bearing in mind macroeconomic conditions when selecting equities or equity funds, if such a thing matters. I don't think my remark was necessarily misunderstood anyway.nisiprius wrote: ↑Wed Mar 20, 2024 7:31 am I continue to be completely baffled as to why any functional investor considers deflation to be an investing problem. (A social problem, yes). An investment that matches deflation is functionally OK; it's only a problem for competitive investors because something else could have done better.
- Wed Mar 20, 2024 8:30 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: TurboTax enters California adjustment for Treasury interest on wrong line.
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1937
- Wed Mar 20, 2024 8:28 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Going to Canada, do I need cash?
- Replies: 93
- Views: 9813
Re: Going to Canada, do I need cash?
Okay, so not as good as I thought. I guess I'll leave my physical Global Entry card at home. Do Americans without Nexus take their shoes off?vinhodoporto wrote: ↑Wed Mar 20, 2024 12:26 am I travel to Canada once or twice a month for my work. The physical global entry card lets you use their version of the pre-check lanes for domestic flights between two Canadian cities.
If your flight is going to the US you’ll need Nexus to get in the express lanes for Canadian security.
- Tue Mar 19, 2024 10:14 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Going to Canada, do I need cash?
- Replies: 93
- Views: 9813
Re: Going to Canada, do I need cash?
And word on the web is that Global Entry will grant US citizens some privileges within Canada (if you want to go beyond just a basic passport). Those privileges require carrying the physical Global Entry card, apparently. Would love to know if anyone has actually tried this out.arcticpineapplecorp. wrote: ↑Mon Jul 24, 2023 6:21 pm Do you have a passport? I think you'll need one now to get into Canada. Things have changed that way since 2005. It takes awhile to get passports, even if you pay more for expedited service.
- Tue Mar 19, 2024 10:07 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: TurboTax enters California adjustment for Treasury interest on wrong line.
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1937
Re: TurboTax enters California adjustment for Treasury interest on wrong line.
Kudos for your attention to detail. I did federal and two states this year in TurboTax. California was the worst part of the whole process.
- Tue Mar 19, 2024 10:02 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Basket of Stocks
- Replies: 34
- Views: 3047
Re: Basket of Stocks
I'm really curious to know why inflation is such an important consideration in your question. What about finding companies that are protected from the opposite: deflation or disinflation? I'm not pushing one answer, just cautioning against being too caught up in the economic and financial news from the first part of this decade.
There is a conversation to be had, and it's so predictable that some will only answer with broad, passive indexing (sometimes sarcastically).copenhagen227 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 18, 2024 10:01 pm If you had a basket of stocks comprised of productive businesses that were relatively protected from the harmful effects of inflation
- Tue Mar 19, 2024 9:54 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Maintaining a new Global Entry membership (USA)
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1681
Re: Maintaining a new Global Entry membership (USA)
Do you mean no interview at all, not even a virtual or computer interview?
life in slices wrote: ↑Tue Mar 19, 2024 12:14 pm I’ve renewed it 3 or 4 times with no interview, but current renewal is still in pending status so will have to wait and see, but expect no interview
- Tue Mar 19, 2024 11:38 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Maintaining a new Global Entry membership (USA)
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1681
Re: Maintaining a new Global Entry membership (USA)
Just curious: Did your renewal involve an in-person interview, or remote interview?
life in slices wrote: ↑Tue Mar 19, 2024 11:21 am I just went through the renewal process last week and updated my info then (nothing changed other than DL expiry dates)
- Tue Mar 19, 2024 11:29 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Maintaining a new Global Entry membership (USA)
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1681
Re: Maintaining a new Global Entry membership (USA)
I tried that. There is no option for me to update employment information. Is it different for you? I can update other things, but not employment.life in slices wrote: ↑Tue Mar 19, 2024 11:21 am https://ttp.cbp.dhs.gov/dashboard
You can update your profile on a menu on the right side if needed.
- Tue Mar 19, 2024 11:15 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Lifelong renter looking to become first time (cash) homebuyer - do I need agent? Or only lawyer & inspector?
- Replies: 23
- Views: 2270
Re: Lifelong renter looking to become first time (cash) homebuyer - do I need agent? Or only lawyer & inspector?
My family is currently buying a condo in the Great Lakes built in the 1990s. I suggested an inspection, but my sister preferred not to have an inspection because it would turn off the seller. So we are paying asking price (cash) with no inspection. Bad idea?
- Tue Mar 19, 2024 11:09 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Maintaining a new Global Entry membership (USA)
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1681
Maintaining a new Global Entry membership (USA)
For any Global Entry members here, what does one have to do to keep one's account information up-to-date?
In my Global Entry interview, the officer specifically instructed me to keep my employment information up-to-date throughout my membership. However, I can't find where to update the information. I can only see where to view the information I entered in my application.
As of now, my employment information will be out-of-date when I show up at border control.
In my Global Entry interview, the officer specifically instructed me to keep my employment information up-to-date throughout my membership. However, I can't find where to update the information. I can only see where to view the information I entered in my application.
As of now, my employment information will be out-of-date when I show up at border control.
- Mon Mar 18, 2024 11:17 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Mega Thread on Speed of 2023 Tax Refunds
- Replies: 52
- Views: 6129
Re: Mega Thread on Speed of 2023 Tax Refunds
I filed using TurboTax in the past week. My estimated refund date is in early April.
- Mon Mar 18, 2024 11:09 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Global Entry or Passport renewal First?
- Replies: 7
- Views: 1136
Re: Global Entry or Passport renewal First?
In my Global Entry interview, the officer specifically instructed me to keep my employment information up-to-date throughout my membership. However, I can't find where to update the information. I can only see where to view the information I entered in my application. Any ideas?
- Mon Mar 18, 2024 11:03 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: NYC This Year or Wait? Has it sufficiently recovered from Covid?
- Replies: 54
- Views: 4713
Re: NYC This Year or Wait? Has it sufficiently recovered from Covid?
Have you compared crime to Chicago by chance?BrooklynInvest wrote: ↑Mon Mar 18, 2024 9:35 amDespite a lot of the nonsense spewed by one particular TV channel (oddly still headquartered in New York) life here is good and crime is still low compared to other US cities.
- Mon Mar 18, 2024 11:00 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Etrade (Morgan Stanley) 2 Tax Statements Question
- Replies: 33
- Views: 10894
Re: Etrade (Morgan Stanley) 2 Tax Statements Question
I did an import to TurboTax during the last week and it seemed to work well.
- Mon Mar 18, 2024 10:57 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: navigation system for car
- Replies: 64
- Views: 3366
Re: navigation system for car
For those of us who invested in a good phone, I'm not sure why we'd want to put so much wear and tear on its battery by using it for navigation. Not to mention whatever direct sun exposure it might get through the windshield. I'd rather keep the phone cool, hidden away in a protective case, and in airplane mode while an inexpensive Garmin unit does the hard work, and a better job of it.
- Thu Feb 22, 2024 7:37 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Etrade (Morgan Stanley) 2 Tax Statements Question
- Replies: 33
- Views: 10894
Re: Etrade (Morgan Stanley) 2 Tax Statements Question
Thanks for the update. I don't follow all the details, but overall it does not sound like a great situation.
- Wed Feb 21, 2024 10:09 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: No 1099-R after rollover/conversion -- consequences?
- Replies: 22
- Views: 2642
Re: No 1099-R after rollover/conversion -- consequences?
My rollover was from an employer 401(k) to a brokerage-held rollover IRA. So I think it's what you describe as a "usual employer plan to IRA direct rollover". Is it okay for me to ask a related question? I'm wondering if anyone has experience in dealing with a direct rollover-generated 1099-R via TurboTax. I just received a 1099-R with distribution code "G" (in box 7). Is TurboTax straightforward when it comes to reporting such a non-taxable event? For the usual employer plan to IRA direct rollover tax programs will report the G coded 1099R on lines 5a and 5b of Form 1040. But if your direct rollover happened to be an IRA>qualified plan rollover (also a G code), the rollover should be reported on lines 4a and 4b, but an ...
- Wed Feb 21, 2024 9:58 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Etrade (Morgan Stanley) 2 Tax Statements Question
- Replies: 33
- Views: 10894
Re: Etrade (Morgan Stanley) 2 Tax Statements Question
I'm going to try an auto-import from ETrade to TurboTax right now. That ought to be interesting :happy Edit: no I'm not. TurboTax says the documents aren't available yet (seems to be hard coded -- it didn't take my login info or anything) and I should wait another week. Of course I'm staring at the PDFs so that's not really true. Any updates? I can't decide if I should dread or look forward to seeing what happens when I try to import two tax documents with the same payer TIN into TurboTax. Edited to add: For what it's worth, I recall that I had the same experience of a delay last year -- just like StrangePenguin described in the quote above. After the documents are made available, TurboTax cannot access them immediately. TurboTax did notif...
- Thu Jan 25, 2024 8:30 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Vanguard Cash Plus Account
- Replies: 511
- Views: 69422
- Thu Jan 25, 2024 8:19 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: No 1099-R after rollover/conversion -- consequences?
- Replies: 22
- Views: 2642
Re: No 1099-R after rollover/conversion -- consequences?
Is it okay for me to ask a related question? I'm wondering if anyone has experience in dealing with a direct rollover-generated 1099-R via TurboTax. I just received a 1099-R with distribution code "G" (in box 7). Is TurboTax straightforward when it comes to reporting such a non-taxable event?
- Fri Dec 29, 2023 7:11 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Amex Savings login change
- Replies: 20
- Views: 2445
- Fri Dec 29, 2023 11:40 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Capital One Venture X [Credit Card]
- Replies: 10
- Views: 2061
Re: Capital One Venture X [Credit Card]
Does the portal use the same authentication (name and password) as the Capital One billing site?
- Fri Dec 29, 2023 11:35 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Best way to sign up for Uber as a new rider
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1450
Re: Best way to sign up for Uber as a new rider
I can't come even close to justifying a Platinum card, so I'm doing without that benefit. I would consider getting a Capital One card in the future. I don't know if the Venture X's annual credit can be used for Uber, but I doubt it.
- Fri Dec 29, 2023 11:29 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: USAA Claims Reputation
- Replies: 51
- Views: 5725
Re: USAA Claims Reputati
So basically you just keep your USAA name and password with no billing activity in the account?Parkinglotracer wrote: ↑Fri Dec 29, 2023 11:14 am Couple years later I got another quote and their rates were better, I switched back. No problems - people do it everyday. Usaa’s homeowners ins has always been the least expensive for me.
- Fri Dec 29, 2023 11:25 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Moral Issues with Credit Card Rewards
- Replies: 22
- Views: 1970
Re: Moral Issues with Credit Card Rewards
You asked about ESG investing. May I share an idea that will be unpopular? There is an argument to be made that the Nasdaq 100 is the best broad index out there. And my point in raising this is that QQMG might even be a better fund than QQQ or QQQM for the long term. (Is QQMG anything but passive? I'm honestly asking.) In my personal opinion, ESG investing might converge surprisingly well with investing for the best risk and return. I'm just trying to share one perspective here, which is that "index investing" and "ESG investing" need not be considered separate objectives. One might even consider the possibility that investments that make the world better will actually be the most profitable, overall, in our lifetimes. I...
- Fri Dec 29, 2023 11:12 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Migrating Entirely To The AMEX Ecosystem (Checking, Savings, Credit Cards)
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1938
Re: Migrating Entirely To The AMEX Ecosystem (Checking, Savings, Credit Cards)
I'm all for simple and minimal, but it's hard to think about going without bill pay in a checking account.
- Fri Dec 29, 2023 11:09 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Amex Savings login change
- Replies: 20
- Views: 2445
Re: Amex Savings login change
Though I like American Express a lot, I do miss the days when deposits and cards were completely separate.
- Fri Dec 29, 2023 11:04 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: USAA Claims Reputation
- Replies: 51
- Views: 5725
Re: USAA Claims Reputation
Does that mean you move in and out of USAA? How does USAA handle the "idle" time?
Parkinglotracer wrote: ↑Fri Dec 29, 2023 10:58 am have only moved my auto insurance when the difference was 20% or more.
- Thu Dec 28, 2023 2:21 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Best way to sign up for Uber as a new rider
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1450
- Thu Dec 28, 2023 2:04 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Best way to sign up for Uber as a new rider
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1450
Best way to sign up for Uber as a new rider
I am interested in creating an Uber account as a first-time rider, but I have no immediate or specific plan to use it yet. This question is for anyone who is familiar with Uber's various promotions:
Is there some optimal way to go about it that would maximize promotions, either for me or for someone referring me?
I have never used Uber (except for the rides given to me as a customer at at least one car dealership service department).
Is there some optimal way to go about it that would maximize promotions, either for me or for someone referring me?
I have never used Uber (except for the rides given to me as a customer at at least one car dealership service department).
- Thu Dec 28, 2023 1:39 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Netflix: subscribe directly or via Apple?
- Replies: 7
- Views: 850
Re: Netflix: subscribe directly or via Apple?
I don't have experience and can't answer the question directly. But just a thought: Maybe, all things being equal, it's better to keep accounts as separate as possible. I am willing to give up convenience to not have too many connections or dependencies. That's just how I do things and the inspiration for me came from Nassim Taleb's books.
- Thu Dec 28, 2023 1:29 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Mickey Mouse goes out of copyright in 2024
- Replies: 5
- Views: 1458
Re: Mickey Mouse goes out of copyright in 2024
I didn't quite read this, but is there any sign that Disney is fighting to extend the copyright?
- Thu Dec 28, 2023 1:27 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Capital One Venture X [Credit Card]
- Replies: 10
- Views: 2061
Re: Capital One Venture X [Credit Card]
Does the same user name and password access the travel portal and the Capital One billing interface? Or do people have to set up a separate password for each?
- Thu Dec 28, 2023 1:23 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: IRS forcing new Login
- Replies: 74
- Views: 14783
Re: IRS forcing new Login
Are you saying, in retrospect, it turned out to be unnecessary for you to sign up for ID.me?
Do you think the IRS may have another reason, stated or unstated, for not wanting Login.gov -- possibly separate from the question of IAL2?talzara wrote: ↑Tue Dec 26, 2023 5:48 pm The OMB report said that login.gov already complied with the spirit of IAL2 and just needed an anti-fraud program. The IRS wanted compliance with the letter of IAL2 and also wanted the anti-fraud tools. Login.gov is doing both, so the IRS won't be able to use those as excuses not to implement login.gov anymore.
- Tue Dec 26, 2023 5:00 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Credit card recommendation: one card to rule them all?
- Replies: 95
- Views: 14591
Re: Credit card recommendation: one card to rule them all?
I sense a lot of wisdom there.Contango1025 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 26, 2023 1:54 pm However, perhaps most importantly, I feel investing my time and energy in my career will provide a greater ROI given my current trajectory. I increasingly gravitate towards simplicity, which doesn't align well with chasing travel rewards and figuring out how to use them.
- Tue Dec 26, 2023 4:53 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Best book to convince someone investing isn't gambling
- Replies: 102
- Views: 119446
Re: Best book to convince someone investing isn't gambling
Where I live, people don't read books, let alone get persuaded by them. So I applaud you for trying.
- Tue Dec 26, 2023 4:49 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: IRS forcing new Login
- Replies: 74
- Views: 14783
Re: IRS forcing new Login
Is it up to the IRS to decide when Login.gov has met the criteria, or would another authority such as NIST make that determination?
Edit: It sounds like you're saying OMB gets to decide.talzara wrote: ↑Mon Dec 25, 2023 7:39 pm The OMB then conducted an assessment of login.gov that found it satisfied the spirit of IAL2, but not the letter of IAL2. It recommended establishing an anti-fraud program, but the GSA did not do so. The IRS used this as an excuse not to implement login.gov, saying that fraud controls were "not a substitute for" IAL2 compliance. The current IRS position is that there must be at least two login systems, one public and one private, and they must be IAL2 compliant.
- Tue Dec 26, 2023 4:39 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Cathie Wood - What's the story?
- Replies: 83
- Views: 14009
Re: Cathie Wood - What's the story?
Wood's "Big Ideas" content on YouTube can be pretty interesting.
- Mon Dec 25, 2023 3:09 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Does a SUV have more utility than a sedan?
- Replies: 297
- Views: 159294
Re: Does a SUV have more utility than a sedan?
Sounds like a Buick Regal, aka Opel Insignia B (but not the TourX mentioned by someone else). Wikipedia calls it a "fastback" or a "liftback".
- Mon Dec 25, 2023 3:00 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Third generation Prius engine problems: Should I sell?
- Replies: 14
- Views: 2347
Re: Third generation Prius engine problems: Should I sell?
I need to acknowledge all the helpful comments! After considering this for a good while, I decided to put the Prius on the market next year.
Merry Christmas, everyone, and thanks for the time you took to give me good ideas.
Merry Christmas, everyone, and thanks for the time you took to give me good ideas.
I was surprised by that and glad to see it pointed out.Fremdon Ferndock wrote: ↑Mon Jan 23, 2023 2:13 pm Carcomplaints has an "Avoid like the Plague" warning
- Mon Dec 25, 2023 2:48 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: IRS forcing new Login
- Replies: 74
- Views: 14783
Re: IRS forcing new Login
I might be reading this wrong, but here's what I'm seeing in articles on the web:
At issue is whether Login.gov complies with a NIST standard known as "identity assurance level 2". The General Services Administration was less than honest, on at least one occasion, by claiming Login.gov does comply. (The Administration's Inspector General found this to be the case. The Administration cited employee misconduct, seen in Appendix 2 of a redacted report available at the previous link.) The IRS might be waiting for Login.gov to meet the aforementioned standard.
At issue is whether Login.gov complies with a NIST standard known as "identity assurance level 2". The General Services Administration was less than honest, on at least one occasion, by claiming Login.gov does comply. (The Administration's Inspector General found this to be the case. The Administration cited employee misconduct, seen in Appendix 2 of a redacted report available at the previous link.) The IRS might be waiting for Login.gov to meet the aforementioned standard.