Search found 352 matches

by jej
Sun Apr 14, 2013 7:40 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Trustee for sister...Need help investing!
Replies: 11
Views: 1738

Re: Trustee for sister...Need help investing!

ORatz wrote:......
It's a difficult situation, since I do not plan on supporting her either when this runs out....but I have a feeling she thinks I am going to. ......
That is a serious bit of information.

You must tell her, if there is any hope that she will accept responsibility for her situation, which seems to be your goal.
by jej
Tue Mar 26, 2013 4:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Setting up my garden, first time.
Replies: 14
Views: 2239

Re: Setting up my garden, first time.

pennstater2005 wrote:I had a co worker who did a square foot garden and she really seemed to like it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Square_foot_gardening
We started this last year. It is great. We have three raised beds, each one three feet around, about 8 inches deep. It is amazing how much more productive this is than our native clay soil, and how much less work it is to make it all happen once you have built the beds.

OTOH, a couple of moves ago, we lived in a neighborhood that used to be a commercial citrus grove. Anything that you planted and watered would grow in abundance. If you already have great soil and weather, maybe you don't need the square foot garden beds.
by jej
Sun Mar 10, 2013 8:47 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Casual Wardrobe Advice Wanted
Replies: 65
Views: 15156

Re: Casual Wardrobe Advice Wanted

MM: I went through this. While I was still working at a coat-and-tie job, I lost well over 100#. Rapidly. Clothes were an issue. For the chinos - order online at LL Bean. http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/590?nav=gnro-hp#/llb/shop/502921?nav=ln-590&page=chinos I prefer their fit and comfort over any jeans. They have excellent customer service and return policies, especially if you have their credit card. Read the descriptions carefully as to fit.Try one pair to see how you like it. For me, these take care of all social situations outside of funerals. [Pants made of similar material with many pockets take care of the rest of life for me.] I always order by phone with LL Bean. Better service that way. BTW, all LL Bean pants seem to have 1.5 ...
by jej
Mon Feb 18, 2013 10:07 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Home improvement :Tankless hot water heaters
Replies: 3
Views: 946

Re: Home improvement :Tankless hot water heaters

Also:

If you are switching from a traditional tank water heater to a tankless, you must consider whether your gas and water pipes will handle the volume required by the tankless heater. If not, you need to upgrade. Or so said my plumber when I asked him the same question.
by jej
Thu Feb 07, 2013 5:42 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: A tax question [Filing status - Which is better]
Replies: 14
Views: 2686

Re: A tax question

jtelwood wrote:In which situations does it make sense to file married with separate returns rather than a joint return?

Thanks.

jte
If your spouse is going to commit tax fraud, you may want to file separately.
by jej
Mon Jan 21, 2013 11:11 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Your 2012 tax filing checklist
Replies: 13
Views: 2255

Re: Your 2012 tax filing checklist

I include some quality time with TurboTax reading all of the descriptions of all the credits and deductions. It takes a while, but I learn stuff. There are changes every year.

One year, I learned that legal fees for estate planning may have been deductible. This year, I learned that the "fiscal cliff" legislation revived an expired non-refundable credit for efficient residential furnaces, air conditioners, and other stuff. Surprise - I qualify, so I will be doing a form 5695.
by jej
Sun Jan 20, 2013 12:51 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: CA IT Tax-Exempt Fund- should I be afraid?
Replies: 20
Views: 2188

Re: CA IT Tax-Exempt Fund- should I be afraid?

..... Does the CA fund make anyone nervous? (Single state-CA-exposure...oooh!) It doesn't make ME nervous..but if you think I should be, I'd like to hear from you. ...... It would make me very nervous. Not for any reason that a financial analyst would credit. I spent almost all of my career as a lawyer in California working in and around state and local government. I have no confidence that city, county, or state government will do anything to manage the financial problems they all face. With the notable exceptions of San Diego and San Jose getting voter approval to take serious steps to reduce expenditures, I don't see any adults making responsible decisions. I hope you have good non-financial reason to remain in CA. You CA tax burden wou...
by jej
Mon Jan 07, 2013 2:31 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: part time self employed nurse...what retirement account?
Replies: 9
Views: 1581

Re: part time self employed nurse...what retirement account?

No one has responded to your Q about estimated tax payments: they are easy to manage. The IRS will send you forms, or you can generate them with TurboTax. Another thing - I don't know about nursing and malpractice, but since she is a contractor and not an employee, I wonder if she should be getting malpractice insurance? If so, it should be deductible. The funny thing about doing a schedule C the first time is that you will find so many places that you should have kept records so you can deduct legitimate expenses. License fees, professional subscriptions, insurance. Need a phone to keep in touch with clients? Need a credit card that has a fee, used only for business expenses? Want to attend a conference? Those are all deductions. As a prac...
by jej
Fri Dec 28, 2012 10:05 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Build "three fund" portfolio using ishares
Replies: 10
Views: 2090

Re: Build "three fund" portfolio using ishares

Why are you doing this?
by jej
Thu Dec 20, 2012 7:23 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Real reason to prefer munis over funds -- tax change fear?
Replies: 19
Views: 2342

Re: Real reason to prefer munis over funds -- tax change fea

longview wrote:.......

But now, in the case of munis, if one believes munis may lose their tax exempt status, isn't that actually a legitimate reason to prefer munis over muni funds?
.......
As others have made clear, no.

Besides, you must not lose track of the big picture.

My wife is almost certain to outlive me. If I die and leave her with a hundred individual muni bonds to track, trade, and ladder, she will kill me. It is a major PITA to manage such a mess. If you have a huge amount of money, and enough time and interest that you want to replicate a fund, have at it. Otherwise, no.
by jej
Tue Dec 18, 2012 2:47 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Best assets for an IRA
Replies: 13
Views: 1480

Re: Best assets for an IRA

I would not own any TIPS outside of a tax advantaged account due to the tax penalty.

In taxable accounts, I hold intermediate tax exempt fund, as I do not have enough room for my bond allocation in IRAs.

None of this is my invention, all is pretty much what you see in the three fund portfolio.

Some, less concerned with taxes and more concerned with security, might hold treasuries or a treasury fund in a taxable account. The tax penalty is high compared to tax exempts, but generally not as high as TIPS.
by jej
Tue Dec 18, 2012 11:43 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Best assets for an IRA
Replies: 13
Views: 1480

Re: Best assets for an IRA

I bonds are your taxable account alternative to TIPS funds or bonds.
by jej
Tue Dec 18, 2012 8:27 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Best assets for an IRA
Replies: 13
Views: 1480

Re: Best assets for an IRA

OP should read the forum wiki. Good idea, i read http://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Principles_of_Tax-Efficient_Fund_Placement and it says I've done OK thusfar. The first thing I put in the IRA was REITs and high yield bonds. As to the original question the wiki is open to interpretation. It lists "Value index funds" and "Low-yielding bonds" in the "efficient" category. I personally think Total Bond Fund today might well be characterized as a low-yielding bond. If we look at table 1 ("Table 1. Hypothetical tax costs"). It shows (in the 35%, no QDI column) a 1.05% for a large cap value ETF with 3% yield -- or about 0.98% cost with today's 2.8% yield, and a 1.05% cost for low-yielding bonds with a 3% yield...
by jej
Mon Dec 17, 2012 4:51 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Best assets for an IRA
Replies: 13
Views: 1480

Re: Best assets for an IRA

fl_retiree wrote:Quick background:

Asset Allocation is 50% stock / 50% bonds. 88% of assets are in taxable accounts. The bonds in the taxable account are 50% intermediate and long-term tax exempt and 50% inflation protected.

.......?
You have TIPS in a taxable account? Bad tax move. Put those in your IRA.
by jej
Thu Nov 15, 2012 6:49 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Small business video conferencing suggestions?
Replies: 13
Views: 1316

Re: Small business video conferencing suggestions?

Sorry, I had not factored in the role of the counterproductive boss.

Got to stay employed. Good luck with your new system.
by jej
Thu Nov 15, 2012 3:20 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Small business video conferencing suggestions?
Replies: 13
Views: 1316

Re: Small business video conferencing suggestions?

My suggestion is to avoid video conferencing entirely. Conference calls are more productive, much cheaper, less time wasting. Email the documents you want to discuss.
by jej
Thu Oct 18, 2012 8:06 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Tax exempt fund question
Replies: 4
Views: 789

Re: Tax exempt fund question

bogleblitz wrote:.........
During tax time, I don't even need to report it in my tax correct?

Thanks in advance
I think that is wrong, and that your tax exempt dividends get reported on US form 1040 line 8b. Reported, but not taxed. I think the amount reported can change the US tax rate on Social Security payments. I have no clue on what gets reported on your state return in your state.

Oh - and whether the cap gains are taxed by the feds depends on your tax bracket under current law, the same as any other cap gain. That is under current law. Its anyone's guess what happens next year.

jej
by jej
Sat Oct 13, 2012 9:29 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: $800 to burn on fitness related expense
Replies: 35
Views: 3043

Re: $800 to burn on fitness related expense

HGPennypacker wrote:What about a rowing machine? You get cardio, upper body, and lower body at the same time. A good quality rowing machine should be in your price allocation.
+1

The make to get is Concept 2. They hold up to commercial use, and have great after-sale customer service if you need parts or advice. Get it set up with a heart rate monitor.

I find I still need to do a couple things for the body parts it does not work to my satisfaction: some sort of press, overhead pull downs or chins, and light full squats for the stretch.

Oh - get a nice pair of headphones while you are at it. Books on tape will get you through a lot of rowing.
by jej
Tue Sep 18, 2012 8:09 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Which insurance company to go with?
Replies: 19
Views: 2388

Re: Which insurance company to go with?

I am surprised that you would have trouble finding what you want. I thought this was pretty much a standard package.

I have mine with State Farm and have had for decades. I like having a local agent and have had good service on my [rare] claims.

Is your issue the price? In the long run, there will be minor differences between competing companies, and all will do some sort of longevity incentive to keep your business. In the short run make sure you compare apples and apples. Decide if you want to have a local agent or a long distance one and comparison shop three companies of your choosing.
by jej
Sat Aug 11, 2012 8:23 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: On SSDI - rights regarding possible house inheritance
Replies: 10
Views: 2674

Re: On SSDI - rights regarding possible house inheritance

The executor is going to have to implement the will. Assuming the will calls for equal distribution of the estate to four siblings, that is what must happen. Distribution in kind or in cash is OK, assuming the will permits it. If the siblings want cash and the house must be sold to generate it, that is what the executor must do. All it takes is one of the siblings asking for cash to produce that result. It is axiomatic that there is never enough money to make all the beneficiaries happy, and all it takes is one greedy sibling who wants to others to gift their shares to the greedy one to turn probate into a battle that enriches the local lawyers more than it does the beneficiaries. Happens all the time. The only thing that causes more fights...
by jej
Thu Aug 09, 2012 10:04 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Have you ever Taught Part-Time at a Community College?
Replies: 16
Views: 3223

Re: Have you ever Taught Part-Time at a Community College?

I taught a class [Law and Ethics] for a couple years at a community college in San Bernardino, CA. The good: - I learned a great deal from my students and I enjoyed the first couple of classes a lot. Students [mostly older] were engaged in class. - The department gave me a classroom and left me alone to teach. - My class was required for a specific and popular program, so it was full, always. The bad: - Getting students to do the reading before coming into class was a struggle. - Student reading and writing skills and general literacy was lousy. I guess it comes with the community college turf. Having been at student at one way back when, things have not changed much. - The school was top heavy with administrators who were struggling with f...
by jej
Mon Aug 06, 2012 10:38 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Good fitness site in the spirit of Bogleheads?
Replies: 27
Views: 10379

Re: Good fitness site in the spirit of Bogleheads?

I like Dave Draper's web site, davedraper.com

It includes a good forum, much more mature than most, vast amounts of archived stuff, and active participation by Dan John, one of the top fitness guys on the planet.
by jej
Sat Jul 28, 2012 4:21 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What to add to 3 fund portfolio?
Replies: 27
Views: 4762

Re: What to add to 3 fund portfolio?

RyeWhiskey wrote:Probably the TIPS index at a 50/50 split with the TBM.........
+1 on 50/50 split with TIPS fund if you have room for it with Total Bond in your IRA.

If you lack space in your tax deferred accounts for all your bond fund money, then intermediate tax exempt bond fund instead of total bond or TIPS. Both TIPS and total bond are very tax inefficient, so are to be avoided for most folks outside of tax deferred accounts.
by jej
Mon Jul 09, 2012 9:10 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: WSJ
Replies: 27
Views: 3468

Re: We are letting our subscription lapse.

Taylor Larimore wrote:Bogleheads:

After many years, our subscription ran out last week. It is a great paper but I am not renewing at $500/year. .........

Best wishes.
Taylor
Ditto.

I look at the on line WSJ front page most days. A lot of content is not behind a firewall. Some is. My local library web site has the full content of the WSJ, as do many large public library systems. It is awkward, but sometimes worth the trouble to read an article. Fox Business on line covers the news end of the WSJ for me, and National Review Online covers the opinion end for me. Free is good.

jej
by jej
Tue Jul 03, 2012 7:48 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Basement flooring - laminate? Which brand?
Replies: 46
Views: 11034

Re: Basement flooring - laminate? Which brand?

I would not use wood or a wood laminate in a basement due to possible water damage. Vinyl tiles provide a nice floor that will not be ruined in the event of a flood. Area rugs can fill in for the chilly floor. +1 If there is ANY chance of flooding, there is an equal chance you will have to re-do the floor. Even without flooding, laminate and moisture are a bad combination. When I did a house in laminate 10 years ago, the manufacturer required serious moisture measuring to qualify for the warranty. It was in the fine print with my material, the part nobody reads. I guess most homeowners and many low end professionals skip that step. Personally, I would do something that is moisture tolerant in kitchen, bath, and basement areas. In ascending...
by jej
Tue Jun 26, 2012 8:01 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: moving from Massachusetts to Florida
Replies: 8
Views: 2687

Re: moving from Massachusetts to Florida

I used PODS for a 500 mile move 5 years ago. No complaints. It was nice that it was not, to my knowledge, weighed. The move included two large roll away tool boxes, very full, and a load of cast iron weights and dumbbells. I moved again 3 years ago, using Mayflower. I don't know that I saved any money using PODS, but I did have less stuff broken. Mayflower was bad news when it came to dealing with the breakage. Read the fine print, and realize that you are screwed if they screw up. They paid seventeen cents per pound for a destroyed antique office chair. Whatever else you do, if you care about cost, do all the packing yourself. Start collecting boxes now, and start packing now. It takes a lot of time to do it right. Paying a mover to do all...
by jej
Fri Jun 22, 2012 7:08 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Inground Pool
Replies: 42
Views: 8206

Re: Inground Pool

Do any of you have experience with copper ion cleaning system in place of chlorine or saline?
by jej
Thu Jun 07, 2012 6:35 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Any fix for botched inherited non-spousal IRA?
Replies: 54
Views: 16191

Re: Any fix for botched inherited non-spousal IRA?

......... Vanguard is acknowledging they should have caught it, as I said more than once in the (recorded) phone call that the funds were inherited; they are indicating they intend to "make me whole" but are not willing to pursue any steps that seem likely to do that. ....... I can't help with the original issue. Looks like others have. I wanted to comment on the statement quoted above. It looks like you are in California. If you are referring to Vanguard having recorded the call, that's fine, and I expect copies will be discoverable if you ever litigate. If you recorded the call, be advised that California law makes that problematic unless you get the permission of all parties. In advance. That's why Vanguard and others start ou...
by jej
Sun Jun 03, 2012 7:14 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Total Bond Market or TIPS
Replies: 18
Views: 2619

Re: Total Bond Market or TIPS

I do an approximate 50/50 total bond/tips fund split in my IRAs and use Vanguard intermediate muni in my taxable, since there is not enough room in my IRAs for all my bond allocation.

There is no Vanguard muni fund specific to my state. So, I get the national fund and pay my state's income tax of about 5%. Not a big deal.
by jej
Fri May 25, 2012 7:47 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: looking for help with taxable savings and saving for taxes
Replies: 1
Views: 456

Re: looking for help with taxable savings and saving for tax

1. Your intermediate term investing Q: Unless you can articulate a very good reason to do something else, follow the three fund approach set forth here. http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=88005 Some folks do articulate good reasons to do something else. Some of them might even be right, for them. You know this is for your entire portfolio, and your IRA is part of that portfolio, yes? ETF v. mutual fund in your IRA makes no difference if you have accounts at Vanguard - or so little difference that you cannot find it in the rounding. The toughest question you have to answer is what your asset allocation ought to be. Everything else follows from choosing the three fund portfolio. 2. Your tax Q: You know that at the end of...
by jej
Tue May 08, 2012 6:27 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Combining Total Bond Fund and TIPS
Replies: 11
Views: 1954

Re: Combining Total Bond Fund and TIPS

DA wrote:
The Welder wrote:Would it be prudent to combine equal portions of both bond funds to reach the recommended 33% for the bond portion of the portfolio?
Many people on this forum do exactly that ... 50% Vanguard Total Bond Market Index + 50% Vanguard Inflation Protected Securities.

It's a perfectly fine way to go.
Perfectly fine for your tax deferred accounts for most folks.

These are not tax efficient funds, particularly the tips fund. If you lack room in your tax deferred accounts for your bond allocation, a muni fund is in order for most of us.
by jej
Mon May 07, 2012 12:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: camper van vs. slide-in v. ???
Replies: 16
Views: 6421

Re: camper van vs. slide-in v. ???

Slide in campers depreciate a bunch. They ought to, too. Most are badly built and do not hold up well. I have been fairly impressed with Four Wheel brand. http://www.fourwheelcampers.com/ They have aluminum frames and canvas sides for the part that get exposed when the top is up. I read on the Turtle Expedition web site that they were not happy with theirs under conditions of Arctic cold, but otherwise liked it. A buddy of mine cracked the frame doing 4wd stuff in the Mojave desert, so they do have limits. It was not a big problem to repair it. OTOH, they are light and well thought out. I had an Alaskan slide in - its a hardwall slide in. Weighed a ton. I prefer the 4WD Popups. Both Alaskan and 4WD Popup tend to hold their value more than o...
by jej
Sun May 06, 2012 10:14 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: I just fired my broker - needing advice on allocation
Replies: 16
Views: 1498

Re: I just fired my broker - needing advice on allocation

No answers yet? Odd.

Start here

http://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Main_Page

and read "getting started" through "asset allocation." This will answer most of your Q and suggest many more issues for you to consider.

My short answer - unless you can articulate a very good reason to do something other than a three-fund portfolio and age-in-bonds, do that.
by jej
Sat Apr 14, 2012 10:35 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: At home exercise book
Replies: 7
Views: 1483

Re: At home exercise book

"Brother Iron, Sister Steel" by Dave Draper
http://www.davedraper.com/fitness_produ ... /BISS.html

Anything by Dan John

I like reference books, too, but have to tell you that you can get the info you want for free if you work at it just a bit.

Go here http://www.davedraper.com/index.html

and start reading. Don't be put off by the old time body builder angle. Expertise is where you find it.
by jej
Thu Apr 05, 2012 9:07 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Early retirement to Florida
Replies: 177
Views: 25810

Re: Early retirement to Florida

......... This comment from a poster on their forum: "The terrible real estate disaster is over in FL and prices are starting to climb in many areas, especially SW FL. FL is not for everyone but if you know for sure you want to buy and live there, waiting will cost you. The historic opportunity to steal homes will be over by the end of 2012. I've been negative on FL real estate for 6 years but look for growth for years to come." Anybody care to comment on that? ........ I have been hearing that same idiocy from real estate sales types all my adult life. Sometimes, it is even true. Mostly not. They get paid by commission and there is no commission if there is no sale, and there is no sale if they say something other than "wai...
by jej
Tue Mar 20, 2012 8:33 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Annuity Case Chills Insurance Agents
Replies: 30
Views: 3184

Re: Annuity Case Chills Insurance Agents

Nice to see. I'm not sure it should be a criminal case though. Like medical malpractice, it should be a civil case and his malpractice insurance company should pay out. He does carry malpractice coverage, right? In another life, I was a prosecutor in California. Unlike most medical malpractice, this is not a matter of alleged incompetence. It takes criminal intent to do [prohibited] harm to make the case stick. Easier, perhaps, in California with its strict elder abuse laws, but it is a very different matter. His insurance coverage, or lack of it, will matter more for the civil suit that should follow when the victim sues for damages in addition to the restitution that will have been ordered by the court. I personally never saw a criminal ...
by jej
Sun Mar 04, 2012 7:48 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Reading Glasses
Replies: 14
Views: 3238

Re: Reading Glasses

I use drugstore reading glasses with no problems.

You can get single Rx glasses from Zenni online for $6.95 plus shipping if you prefer. Bifocals are more. You will need to measure your pupillary distance to order. There are several Boglehead threads about Zenni.
by jej
Sun Feb 05, 2012 6:19 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: From Edward Jones To Vanguard
Replies: 27
Views: 2999

Re: From Edward Jones To Vanguard

KEP wrote:To lawman3966:
I had presumed, apparently mistakenly, that stopping direct re-investment would stop all fees to Edward Jones.
Can Vanguard arrange a transfer or would I have to go through Edward Jones?
You are much better off having VG pull the funds out of Edward Jones than asking Jones to do anything. VG will get it done with no hassle to you. I expect there will no charge, either. The only issue is if you want to transfer in kind or cash it all out first. Taht is a separate issue.
by jej
Wed Jan 25, 2012 2:15 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 1099-DIV Vanguard Interm Term Treasury Adm STCG
Replies: 6
Views: 535

Re: 1099-DIV Vanguard Interm Term Treasury Adm STCG

Thx again.

Good reading.
by jej
Wed Jan 25, 2012 1:41 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 1099-DIV Vanguard Interm Term Treasury Adm STCG
Replies: 6
Views: 535

Re: 1099-DIV Vanguard Interm Term Treasury Adm STCG

livesoft wrote:STCG from mutual funds is treated as an ordinary dividend. It's been this way for years as noted in the IRS publication and Schedule B instructions. So you do not need a corrected 1099DIV.
Thx.

How do you go about breaking out the STCG for separate reporting for capital gain sheltering reasons.
by jej
Wed Jan 25, 2012 1:22 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 1099-DIV Vanguard Interm Term Treasury Adm STCG
Replies: 6
Views: 535

1099-DIV Vanguard Interm Term Treasury Adm STCG

I received the 2011 1099-DIV for VG Intermediate Term Treasury Admiral. The fund had substantial STCG and LTCG distributions in 2011. VG included STCG as part of total ordinary dividends in box 1a and not with capital gains in box 2a. The capital gain distribution in box 2a includes only LTCG. Relying on the data in the 1099-DIV can make a material difference on federal taxes, since STCG can be sheltered behind losses. It also makes a difference on the state return where I live. It seems to me that the 1099 is wrong, and I need a corrected 1099-DIV, so I emailed VG asking for one and explaining why. To put it politely, VG was not interested in providing a corrected form. Am I wrong about needing a corrected 1099-DIV? Anyone else with a 1099...
by jej
Wed Jan 25, 2012 12:58 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: is there any reason NOT to do TLH ?
Replies: 50
Views: 4597

Re: is there any reason NOT to do TLH ?

Agent9 wrote:
SSSS wrote:If you have long-term capital gains in a year, you might want to wait & TLH another year when you could offset income instead of offsetting those low-rate gains.

Or you might want to wait if you have low income in a year & would be in a lower tax bracket than normal.
If you have carryover losses in a year and in the same year you have capital gains, are you required to offset the gains or can you opt to carryover to the following year?
Required.
by jej
Wed Jan 25, 2012 12:50 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: is there any reason NOT to do TLH ?
Replies: 50
Views: 4597

Re: is there any reason NOT to do TLH ?

No reason not to that I can see.

Saying it is forever is optimistic. It is only forever until the law is changed.
by jej
Tue Jan 24, 2012 4:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Reliable Inexpensive Home Blood Pressure Monitor
Replies: 11
Views: 3575

Re: Reliable Inexpensive Home Blood Pressure Monitor

I have an Omron. They are sold lots of places. Mine came from Sam's Club.

I checked the accuracy by taking it to my MD's office and comparing the reading to the one he got. I did this at his suggestion.

I'd suggest you do something similar to check the accuracy of yours - either your old one or your new one. I would not expect readings taken two minutes apart to be the same.
by jej
Mon Jan 09, 2012 8:23 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Supplements for Health
Replies: 56
Views: 5875

Re: Supplements for Health

AQ wrote:.........
I never give it a serious thought about this issue. My thought process is that if something is so good, why doesn't doctors / FDA recommend it and major media cover it. ......

Major news media - if you count on it for anything, you will be misinformed. Think about your financial experience if you doubt this.


Doctors - many do recommend some supplements. Medicine is not an exact science, and practitioners have different experience and perspectives and recommendations are all over the place. I expect individual needs are, as well. My primary care doctor recommended several supplements. My previous primary care guy had no interest in them at all.
by jej
Fri Jan 06, 2012 7:40 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: My Inheritence, Your Opinions
Replies: 50
Views: 5027

Re: My Inheritence, Your Opinions

YDNAL wrote:....... Being a landlord can be a full time job and you should think about this carefully - although a stay at home Mom could actually help in this endevour.
Is this a full time job you and your wife want to do? I would not. I don't much like sort of thing - dealing with tenants and toilets and the like.

Maybe more important - your portfolio is already dependent on your area's real estate market, in the form of your house. Do you want to be more dependent on that same market in the form of additional rental properties? I would not. I like diversification.
by jej
Wed Dec 21, 2011 6:21 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Concealed Carry
Replies: 56
Views: 5868

Re: Concealed Carry

bluemarlin08 wrote:Looking back on the incident, I wonder if I had a gun, when would I be justified in using it? .......
I posted above that you should do some reading at a link I provided. I will try to delete it.

On reading this - - are you a troll?

You cannot be serious with this question.
by jej
Wed Dec 21, 2011 2:36 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Concealed Carry
Replies: 56
Views: 5868

Re: Concealed Carry

deleted
by jej
Wed Dec 21, 2011 9:42 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Reinvesting Dividend in IRA Account
Replies: 13
Views: 1477

Re: Reinvesting Dividend in IRA Account

livesoft wrote:
angceejay wrote:.... Please spend some quality time reading that publication linked in the previous response.
Yes.

The OP is asking questions that point to a lack of understanding of the basic IRA rules. That can lead to mismanagement and serious tax liabilities.
by jej
Wed Dec 21, 2011 7:45 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Reinvesting Dividend in IRA Account
Replies: 13
Views: 1477

Re: Reinvesting Dividend in IRA Account

angceejay wrote:I tried to search for the web about this but I couldn't find any relevant information.

If I elected for my dividend to be reinvested in my IRA account, will that reinvested money be counted as part of the 5000 dollar annual limit?

And if I elect not to re-invest the dividend and capital gain distribution (e.g. have them mailed to me as check), will the money be taxed as my income? Are roth and traditional handled differently?

Thanks.

See IRS Publication 590 for your answers. http://www.irs.gov/publications/p590/ch01.html