Search found 1434 matches

by William4u
Wed Mar 13, 2024 10:13 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How to use Google 401k for 2-3 fund portfolio
Replies: 63
Views: 6207

Re: Google 401k choices shockingly bad

You have great choices. Just use these three funds with low ERs...
1. Vanguard Institutional Extended Market Index Trust
2. Vanguard Institutional 500 Index Trust
3. Vanguard Developed Markets Index Fund Institutional Plus Shares

80%/20% of the 500 Index/Extended Index combo gets you the equivalent of Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund (VTSAX).

And the Developed Market fund is very close to Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund (VTIAX), so just use that as a replacement.

Easy-peasy. Don't overthink it.

Or just use a Target Retirement Fund, which is also just a 3 fund portfolio.
by William4u
Tue Jan 16, 2024 2:05 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard Cash Plus Account
Replies: 457
Views: 61720

Re: Vanguard Cash Plus Account

czaj wrote: Fri Jan 12, 2024 12:54 pm Wake me up when money market fund auto-liquidation is available on withdrawals.

Until then, I’ll stick with Fidelity.

And I may stick with Fidelity anyway because FZDXX is close enough in yield, not to mention checkwriting, debit card, free wires, fast deposits, automatic purchase of SPAXX, customer service. Though I would prefer the government aspect of Vanguard’s money market funds.
↑ This is important for me as well (especially the MM auto-liquidation).
by William4u
Fri Dec 15, 2023 11:39 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard Cash Plus Account Pilot
Replies: 462
Views: 98956

Re: Vanguard Cash Plus Account Pilot

Confused. If I keep, say, $10,000 in the MM part of the Vanguard Plus account, and $10 in the FDIC part, will there be an automatic pull from the MM if I pay a large bill from the FDIC part?
by William4u
Thu Nov 16, 2023 8:38 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard Cash Plus Account Pilot
Replies: 462
Views: 98956

Re: Vanguard Cash Plus Account Pilot

I really miss the Vanguard Advantage account they closed. If the new Vanguard Cash Plus Account offering does not have any advantages over the Fidelity version of the Vanguard Advantage account, I do not see the point in opening a Vanguard Cash Plus Account. What made the Vanguard Advantage so good is that you got to keep Vanguard VMFXX MM essentially as a savings/checking account. The APY on that VMFXX MM account blew away every other checking and savings account on the market (and I didn't ever need to worry about transferring money from savings to checking). Fidelity does basically the same thing the old Vanguard Advantage Account did, but the Fidelity MM shaves off about 25 bp in fees. CashPlus now supports using VMFXX and a few other ...
by William4u
Sun Oct 22, 2023 1:40 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard Cash Plus Account Pilot
Replies: 462
Views: 98956

Re: Vanguard Cash Plus Account Pilot

I really miss the Vanguard Advantage account they closed. If the new Vanguard Cash Plus Account offering does not have any advantages over the Fidelity version of the Vanguard Advantage account, I do not see the point in opening a Vanguard Cash Plus Account.

What made the Vanguard Advantage so good is that you got to keep Vanguard VMFXX MM essentially as a savings/checking account. The APY on that VMFXX MM account blew away every other checking and savings account on the market (and I didn't ever need to worry about transferring money from savings to checking).

Fidelity does basically the same thing the old Vanguard Advantage Account did, but the Fidelity MM shaves off about 25 bp in fees.
by William4u
Sat Oct 14, 2023 6:24 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Fidelity as a one stop shop
Replies: 5973
Views: 1007615

Re: Fidelity as a one stop shop

Does it matter if I buy something like SGOV on margin vs nonmargin. I accidentally took the default and bought SGOV on margin. Does that mean I pay interest to Fidelity?
by William4u
Sat Oct 14, 2023 6:23 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Fidelity as a one stop shop
Replies: 5973
Views: 1007615

Re: Fidelity as a one stop shop

Does it matter if I buy something like SGOV on margin vs nonmargin. I accidentally took the default and bought SGOV on margin. Does that mean I pay interest to Fidelity?
by William4u
Mon Jul 17, 2023 6:29 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why are the minimum lot sizes on Treasuries so high today?
Replies: 62
Views: 8682

Re: Why are the minimum lot sizes on Treasuries so high today?

How do I filter and ONLY look at the (1)$1000 Treasuries for sale at Fidelity? I hate having to sift through all of them? Thanks.
by William4u
Wed May 17, 2023 9:53 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: I Bonds Mega Thread (I Bond Heads Rejoice!)
Replies: 6651
Views: 1201717

Re: I Bonds Mega Thread (I Bond Heads Rejoice!)

[Thread merged into here --admin LadyGeek]

Questions:
1. If I bought ibonds May 5 2022, and I want to get the full 9.62%, do I need to keep it 15 months until Aug 1?
2. If I keep the ibond a few more months after August (e.g., Sept, Oct, Nov), what effective interest rate will I get for those "extra" months?

Thanks
by William4u
Sun Feb 05, 2023 2:33 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Fidelity CDs
Replies: 17
Views: 3809

Re: Fidelity CDs

mongstradamus wrote: Thu Oct 06, 2022 5:40 pm
William4u wrote: Thu Oct 06, 2022 2:55 pm
mongstradamus wrote: Tue Oct 04, 2022 8:08 pm
William4u wrote: Tue Oct 04, 2022 7:18 pm As of today SPRXX Money Market fund pays 2.82%

https://institutional.fidelity.com/app/ ... s/454.html
My take on prime money market funds are they are no where near as safe as fdic insured cd or even mostly repo and treasury money market fund.
Yes, but the prime MM funds are the "third safest." Pretty darn safe, but not FDIC/Treasury safe (nothing else is).
Probably safe enough but I still am not comfortable with that rather get .2 percent less with Fzfxx,but it’s personal choice on if it’s safe enough or not.
Yes. You do get a bit more safety. Right now the difference is 0.32%.
by William4u
Sun Feb 05, 2023 2:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Need a DURABLE laptop / Chromebook suggestion
Replies: 33
Views: 2510

Re: Need a DURABLE laptop / Chromebook suggestion

galawdawg wrote: Sat Jan 28, 2023 12:29 pm I'd strongly recommend a Thinkpad T-series or X-series. For $400, you'll need to look on eBay or similar for refurbished or used models. But they are built like tanks.
This. Used x or t thinkpad on ebay = tank.
by William4u
Wed Oct 26, 2022 7:09 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Fidelity Investment Advisor Pitching Annuities
Replies: 60
Views: 7293

Re: Fidelity Investment Advisor Pitching Annuities

If a salesperson COMES TO YOU and tries to sell you an annuity when you DID NOT ASK for an annuity, that is a huge red flag not to buy it. Like other said, many annuities are bad, and most are down-right ugly.
by William4u
Thu Oct 06, 2022 2:55 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Fidelity CDs
Replies: 17
Views: 3809

Re: Fidelity CDs

mongstradamus wrote: Tue Oct 04, 2022 8:08 pm
William4u wrote: Tue Oct 04, 2022 7:18 pm As of today SPRXX Money Market fund pays 2.82%

https://institutional.fidelity.com/app/ ... s/454.html
My take on prime money market funds are they are no where near as safe as fdic insured cd or even mostly repo and treasury money market fund.
Yes, but the prime MM funds are the "third safest." Pretty darn safe, but not FDIC/Treasury safe (nothing else is).
by William4u
Wed Oct 05, 2022 9:36 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Fidelity Account Breached (and what I did about it)
Replies: 122
Views: 23480

Re: Fidelity Account Breached (and what I did about it)

You said "create new Google Voice account number only for financial accounts" Can you tell me why this is more secure than using your own phone number? At the end both numbers can be spoofed anyway I don't believe that is true. Google Voice numbers are not vulnerable to SIM swap attacks. Your biggest attack vector when using Google Voice is that someone can get access to your account, which you would protect using a Yubikey in this situation. So Google Voice is definitely going to be more secure than a carrier-issued phone number SMS. The downside though is not all bank accounts accept Google Voice. Fidelity does for now, but you never know if it would stop working in the future suddenly. Yeah, GV stopped working for me at Ally B...
by William4u
Tue Oct 04, 2022 7:18 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Fidelity CDs
Replies: 17
Views: 3809

Re: Fidelity CDs

As of today SPRXX Money Market fund pays 2.82%

https://institutional.fidelity.com/app/ ... s/454.html
by William4u
Sun Sep 11, 2022 8:52 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls
Replies: 93
Views: 10055

Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

A Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 or 5 will work well for her and her Samsung Phone. Either will work well for detecting falls, and a fall can auto call 911 and/or text family/friends.
https://www.androidpolice.com/samsung-g ... ic-review/
by William4u
Sat Sep 10, 2022 6:16 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Insure home with no mortgage
Replies: 108
Views: 8957

Re: Insure home with no mortage

The liability would be difficult to "self insure."
by William4u
Sat Aug 20, 2022 9:11 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Fidelity as a one stop shop
Replies: 5973
Views: 1007615

Re: Fidelity as a one stop shop

I bought SPRXX in my brokerage account with the cash over the course of a week in about 5 transactions (as money came into the account), but somehow it also bought $81 on margin. How do I get rid of the $81 on margin? And how do I prevent this in the future, but keep margin as an emergency backup for overdraft? Thanks.
by William4u
Mon Aug 15, 2022 6:48 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Boglehead SUV with >= 30 mpg
Replies: 39
Views: 4692

Re: Boglehead SUV with >= 30 mpg

quantAndHold wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 9:35 am Toyota Sienna gets 36 MPG and will be a lot more comfortable for road tripping than a SUV.
+1

Everyone I know with kids who went from SUV to a Sienna wished they had done so sooner. The room and the sliding doors are a game changer.
by William4u
Sat Aug 13, 2022 8:15 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Car dealer tried to penalize for paying in cash
Replies: 51
Views: 8222

Re: Car dealer tried to penalize for paying in cash

There are three ways to make money for a car dealership on the purchase of a car. 1. The car's price. Also, most dealerships will agree to one price and then add many (often unexpected) fees later. 2. The trade in. 3. The financing. Often dealerships will feel out a sucker and see if he/she is really interested in doing well on #1, #2, or #3. So, for example, a dealership might give a great trade in value and then make it up on the car price or the financing. Or they might give a really good deal on the car's price, but make it up in added fees and a poor trade in value with mediocre financing. Etc. Basically, they are going to get you, but also try to make you feel good about it. They way they make you feel good is that you can go to your ...
by William4u
Sat Aug 13, 2022 8:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Car dealer tried to penalize for paying in cash
Replies: 51
Views: 8222

Re: Car dealer tried to penalize for paying in cash

There are three ways to make money for a car dealership on the purchase of a car. 1. The car's price. Also, most dealerships will agree to one price and then add many (often unexpected) fees later. 2. The trade in. 3. The financing. Often dealerships will feel out a sucker and see if he/she is really interested in doing well on #1, #2, or #3. So, for example, a dealership might give a great trade in value and then make it up on the car price or the financing. Or they might give a really good deal on the car's price, but make it up in added fees and a poor trade in value. Etc. Basically, they are going to get you, but also try to make you feel good about it. They way they make you feel good is that you can go to your friends are brag about d...
by William4u
Mon Aug 08, 2022 7:27 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: VMFXX at 3.57% now as of 11/11/2022
Replies: 303
Views: 57563

Re: VMFXX at 2.08% now and keeps growing

Put together this table for me and thought I would share, Fidelity vs Schwab vs Vanguard as of 8/7/2022: Fund Provider Net Exp Ratio SEC 7-day yield Repurchase Agreements U.S. Gov't Obligatiois U.S. Treasury Bills Commercial Paper Other Notes VMFXX Vanguard 0.11% 2.10% 64.60% 32.10% 12.20% 0.00% 0.00% SNVXX Schwab 0.34% 1.82% 75% 11.50% 12.60% 0.60% 0.00% SNOXX Schwab 0.34% 1.12% 80.70% 0 19.30% 0 0.00% SPAXX Fidelity 0.10% 1.42% 66.23% 11.76% 9.35% 2.15% 0.00% gross ER=0.42% SPRXX Fidelity 0.18% 2.00% 32.57% 0.00% 0.00% 26.49% 40.94% gross ER=0.42% Wrench Great table. Where do you get the up-to-date 7-Day SEC Yield for these? The Fidelity website is still giving the yield from 7/31/2022. Vanguard's site is up-to-date, however. I've looked...
by William4u
Mon Aug 08, 2022 5:49 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: VMFXX at 3.57% now as of 11/11/2022
Replies: 303
Views: 57563

Re: VMFXX at 2.08% now and keeps growing

Put together this table for me and thought I would share, Fidelity vs Schwab vs Vanguard as of 8/7/2022: Fund Provider Net Exp Ratio SEC 7-day yield Repurchase Agreements U.S. Gov't Obligatiois U.S. Treasury Bills Commercial Paper Other Notes VMFXX Vanguard 0.11% 2.10% 64.60% 32.10% 12.20% 0.00% 0.00% SNVXX Schwab 0.34% 1.82% 75% 11.50% 12.60% 0.60% 0.00% SNOXX Schwab 0.34% 1.12% 80.70% 0 19.30% 0 0.00% SPAXX Fidelity 0.10% 1.42% 66.23% 11.76% 9.35% 2.15% 0.00% gross ER=0.42% SPRXX Fidelity 0.18% 2.00% 32.57% 0.00% 0.00% 26.49% 40.94% gross ER=0.42% Wrench Great table. Where do you get the up-to-date 7-Day SEC Yield for these? The Fidelity website is still giving the yield from 7/31/2022. Vanguard's site is up-to-date, however. I've looked...
by William4u
Mon Aug 08, 2022 5:41 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard Federal MM vs Ally Savings
Replies: 85
Views: 14332

Re: Vanguard Federal MM vs Ally Savings

Phinance wrote: Thu Aug 04, 2022 5:23 pm How do I compare Vanguard Federal MM (VMFXX - SEC 7 day yield 2.08%) to Ally Savings (currently 1.6%)? How do you compare the two percentages listed for highest yield on cash? (Bang for Buck) Saw VMFXX has a 0.11% expense ratio. Going to start savings for home deposit for purchase in the next few years. Thanks in advance.
It is actually even better than that to be in VMFXX. In addition to the higher yield, about 50% of VMFXX is excluded from state taxes. 100% of Ally interest is state taxed.
by William4u
Mon Aug 08, 2022 5:38 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Fidelity as a one stop shop
Replies: 5973
Views: 1007615

Re: Fidelity as a one stop shop

What kind of "compromise" are you concerned about? If someone gets access to your Fidelity account they would have access to all your accounts under that login. Stocks/bonds/mutual funds (other than money market) aren't vulnerable to cash withdrawals by debit card/ACH/check writing. Fraudulent ACH and checks (I know the debit card can be locked). A separate CMA means I can limit the balance to just my anticipated ACH bill payments. I do accumulate cash for upcoming larger bills (taxes, etc.). So a fraudulent ACH or check wouldn't drain thought. That is my thinking. OP here, I ended up doing exactly this, CMA acting as a checking account, while brokerage to separate large amount of money with no debit card or checks issued for it....
by William4u
Mon Aug 08, 2022 4:15 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Fidelity as a one stop shop
Replies: 5973
Views: 1007615

Re: Fidelity as a one stop shop

With the CMA, I have never been charged a foreign transaction fee for ATM withdrawals. I confirmed this by making an identical withdrawal transaction with a no foreign transaction fee Visa debit card from another bank at the same time, and confirmed the same amount was debited from both accounts. Thanks. I am strongly considering opening a CMA to use as a quasi checking account. I have a Fidelity brokerage account, but think I would want a separate account for that use, I want some separation between the 2 in case the CMA gets compromised. What kind of "compromise" are you concerned about? If someone gets access to your Fidelity account they would have access to all your accounts under that login. Stocks/bonds/mutual funds (other...
by William4u
Mon Aug 08, 2022 4:08 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Fidelity as a one stop shop
Replies: 5973
Views: 1007615

Re: Fidelity as a one stop shop

Another very helpful BH member helped me convert our Fidelity brokerage account SPAXX money market holdings to SPRXX to get the current 7-day SEC yield of 2.0%. How do you do that? Does it require $100k and a phone call? I don't think there are any minimums or trading fees involved but maybe I missed a flag on that. I just did this today as an initial test, following instructions that he included in a couple of his responses to my questions: --Downloaded the Fidelity app to my iPhone (he said you could do the same online) --Opened up the app and clicked on the dollar icon ($) to trade and enter SPRXX --It brought up the $13k we had in SPAXX as available funds to trade and I entered that exact amount as the amount I wanted to trade into SPR...
by William4u
Sun Aug 07, 2022 1:12 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Fidelity as a one stop shop
Replies: 5973
Views: 1007615

Re: Fidelity as a one stop shop

careerdata wrote: Sun Aug 07, 2022 12:37 pm Another very helpful BH member helped me convert our Fidelity brokerage account SPAXX money market holdings to SPRXX to get the current 7-day SEC yield of 2.0%.
How do you do that? Does it require $100k and a phone call?
by William4u
Thu Jul 14, 2022 11:11 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: DIY wooden car ramp for at-home maintenance
Replies: 43
Views: 3054

Re: DIY wooden car ramp for at-home maintenance

Or, you can just buy some Rhino Ramps.
https://amzn.to/3IAu68h
by William4u
Thu Jul 14, 2022 11:11 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: DIY wooden car ramp for at-home maintenance
Replies: 43
Views: 3054

Re: DIY wooden car ramp for at-home maintenance

Or, you can just buy some Rhino Ramps.
https://amzn.to/3IAu68h
by William4u
Mon Jul 04, 2022 6:15 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Any downside of replacing Ally with Fidelity for online banking?
Replies: 15
Views: 3180

Re: Any downside of replacing Ally with Fidelity for online banking?

Fidelity interest rates are close to Ally's 1% now... 0.69% for Fidelity CMA account, and 0.99% for Fidelity Government Money Market.
by William4u
Mon Jun 13, 2022 9:48 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Anyone successful in buying a new car in this environment?
Replies: 33
Views: 4536

Re: Anyone successful in buying a new car in this environment?

JoeRetire wrote: Mon Jun 13, 2022 9:16 am You'll likely have to visit a few dealerships to see what they have in inventory. One dealership that claimed to have a car I wanted in inventory was lying. When I got there, they claimed it was "sold yesterday" even though a few hours earlier, they claimed it was available. I don't buy from liars.

Stay as flexible as you can. Don't expect any deals.
Thanks. Last time I bought a car three dealerships said "I have it in stock now" and I went over and they said "We just sold it." It looks like physically visiting dealerships will be necessary.
by William4u
Mon Jun 13, 2022 9:09 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Anyone successful in buying a new car in this environment?
Replies: 33
Views: 4536

Anyone successful in buying a new car in this environment?

I am helping a family member get a new car in the next week or two. Her current car just died and fixing it would be difficult (the car is 15 years old, has 250k miles, and its manual transmission is completely trashed). She needs the car to drive for work and family reasons, about 3 hours a day. Normally I use the "Fighting Chance" method of competitive bidding, which presumes that there are plenty of a particular model with a particular package that are all exactly the same across many dealerships. This is not so right now, at least for the model I want to buy (a Toyota with good gas mileage). All the dealerships are quoting about $4k above MSRP, and seem to require $5k just to get on a 3-4 month waiting list. Is there anyone wh...
by William4u
Tue Apr 12, 2022 1:05 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Is it market timing if the Fed told us they're raising rates
Replies: 62
Views: 7488

Re: Is it market timing if the Fed told us they're raising rates

mptfan wrote: Tue Mar 15, 2022 3:20 pm
Scott S wrote: Tue Mar 15, 2022 3:12 pm What does your IPS say about your bond funds?
Maybe his IPS says he should ask the Bogleheads.
:D
1. Best joke I've seen in a while. I laughed a good bit.
2. A lot of people must have this in their IPS, since market timing questions are asked a lot.
by William4u
Sun Dec 12, 2021 6:38 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Does a fiduciary really have your best interest?
Replies: 25
Views: 2635

Re: Does a fiduciary really have your best interest?

Adding to the confusion about the word "fiduciary," a "financial advisor" can be BOTH a fiduciary for certain contexts and non-fiduciary for others for the same client. Take a look at this whole article, which is good. One upshot is that when acting as your CPA and giving tax advice, the person might be a fiduciary, and when acting as an investment advisor (recommending investments), the person is not a fiduciary. Adding to the confusion, many professionals are registered as both brokers and investment advisors, sometimes acting in a fiduciary capacity toward a client, othertimes not -- a practice known in the industry as "switching hats." https://www.fool.com/investing/general/2012/12/06/can-your-edward-jones-...
by William4u
Thu Nov 25, 2021 3:38 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Lowest cost lines of credit
Replies: 24
Views: 3617

Re: Lowest cost lines of credit

Alliant CU is 4% for a HELOC. A little high I think.
by William4u
Tue Nov 16, 2021 2:50 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Small Cap Value heads Rejoice !!!
Replies: 5577
Views: 618939

Re: Small Cap Value heads Rejoice !!!

The DFA small/mid cap fund in my 401(k) is changing to a "multi-manager" fund: The DFA Small/Mid Cap Value Account fund in the Plan has seen significant growth, and although it remains a highly-rated investment on its own, we’re taking this opportunity to create a multi-manager fund in this asset class. (By this, we mean a single fund made up of multiple underlying funds.) This follows the same model we have today for our International Growth and International Value Accounts in the Plan. Just like you may want to spread out your savings across different asset classes, in specific asset classes like Small/Mid Cap Value, combining complementary investment managers can also help you diversify. The new investment option will still in...
by William4u
Mon Nov 08, 2021 7:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What YouTube channels do you watch?
Replies: 112
Views: 16225

Re: What YouTube channels do you watch?

I concur with the recommendations of many of the channels already mentioned. One not mentioned, which is a great, positive channel about medicine...

Violin MD
by William4u
Tue Oct 12, 2021 3:15 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Road bike tire/tube recommendations
Replies: 38
Views: 3222

Re: Road bike tire/tube recommendations

I've been city commuting with 35mm 700c Panaracer Paselas at 45/35psi back/front for years with no punctures. If I get new one's, I'll get wider tires (maybe 40mm). They run smooth and last a long time.
by William4u
Tue Oct 12, 2021 3:15 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Road bike tire/tube recommendations
Replies: 38
Views: 3222

Re: Road bike tire/tube recommendations

I've been city commuting with 35mm 700c Panaracer Paselas at 45/35psi back/front for years with no punctures. If I get new one's, I'll get wider tires (maybe 40mm). They run smooth and last a long time.
by William4u
Mon Sep 20, 2021 10:25 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Am I paying too much for my Investment Advisor?
Replies: 98
Views: 11074

Re: Am I paying too much for my Investment Advisor?

Yes, you are. You could buy a Vanguard ETFs like VTI, with the small Vanguard ETF expense ratio (0.03% on VTI). An added 2% in fees, for example, over 40 years can take nearly 55% of your returns away... CUMULATIVE IMPACT OF FEES: ................................. Annual Fee (Expense Ratio) ............ .0.10% ....... 0.25% ..... 0.50% ..... 1.00% ..... 2.00% ..... 3.00% 3 years.....–0.3%......–0.7%......–1.5%.....–2.9%......–5.8%.....–8.5% 5 years.....–0.5%......–1.2%......–2.5%.....–4.9%......–9.4%....–13.7% 10 years...–1.0%.......–2.5%.....–4.9%.....–9.5%.....–18.0%....–25.6% 20 years...–2.0%.......–4.9%.....–9.5%....–18.0%.....–32.7%....–44.6% 30 years...–3.0%.......–7.2%....–13.9%....–25.8%.....–44.8%....–58.8% 40 years...–3.9%.......–...
by William4u
Sun Feb 07, 2021 6:10 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Rollover IRA - 1.25% Management fee too much?
Replies: 22
Views: 1689

Re: Rollover IRA - 1.25% Management fee too much?

This has been real helpful. Thanks to all! So I did get a quarterly report and under "Management Fees" it lists: Annual Percentage Billed = 1.25% and I don't pay my advisor directly, so I am assuming the total is 1.25%, where .53% is the expense ratio as it says online for this fund? Nevertheless, I will ask my financial advisor about this tomorrow. Regardless of how its billed, the cost is way too high. I would not talk with the advisor who will do all they can to convince you to stay put and keep paying them. Instead, talk to Vanguard and/or Fidelity about moving your account and setting up a low fee alternative. They will make it easy for you and you won't have to talk to your former salesman. So your real ER is more like 1.25...
by William4u
Sun Feb 07, 2021 3:15 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Rollover IRA - 1.25% Management fee too much?
Replies: 22
Views: 1689

Re: Rollover IRA - 1.25% Management fee too much?

Way too high. Just an extra 1% annual ER over 40 years can easily take 1/3rd of your retirement money. So, instead of $3 million, you would have only $2 million for no good reason. And these expensive money managers almost always lag the market. See this data from Vanguard... CUMULATIVE IMPACT OF FEES: ................................. Annual Fee ............ .0.10% ....... 0.25% ..... 0.50% ..... 1.00% ..... 2.00% ..... 3.00% 3 years.....–0.3%......–0.7%......–1.5%.....–2.9%......–5.8%.....–8.5% 5 years.....–0.5%......–1.2%......–2.5%.....–4.9%......–9.4%....–13.7% 10 years...–1.0%.......–2.5%.....–4.9%.....–9.5%.....–18.0%....–25.6% 20 years...–2.0%.......–4.9%.....–9.5%....–18.0%....–32.7%....–44.6% 30 years...–3.0%.......–7.2%....–13.9%...
by William4u
Tue Nov 24, 2020 4:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Replacing rear shocks and front lower control arms?
Replies: 32
Views: 2264

Re: Replacing rear shocks and front lower control arms?

It is common enough for these to fail at 50k for some cars (your car might be one of them). In my experience when an automative technician says you need new bushings and control arms, you really do.

If you have the time, it is a pretty easy DIY for those who know how to jack up a car and put it safely on jack stands. I've done it. There are plenty of youtube videos on how to do it. But most people lack the tools, time, and inclination.

Most the the cost, as you note, is labor. It is reasonable to pay good people to do the work if you can't do it yourself. They deserve what they get paid, assuming the person is a qualified, honest mechanic. A good independent mechanic is worth it when it is beyond your own skills.
by William4u
Sun Oct 25, 2020 2:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: All Season Tires wearing out too fast.
Replies: 65
Views: 4548

Re: All Season Tires wearing out too fast.

I had the same problem until I switched to Michelin Defenders. Michelin Defenders are warranted to 80k miles, but Consumer Reports found they lasted until 90k miles. They last that long for us. Michelin Defenders are also a CR top pick.
by William4u
Tue Oct 20, 2020 11:57 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Pilot, Highlander or CX-9
Replies: 73
Views: 9089

Re: Pilot, Highlander or CX-9

I have many friends with two kids who moved up from a Highlander/Pilot to a Sienna/Odyssey and are much, much happier with the minivan. The minivans are 10x better for families. Test drive one.
by William4u
Sat Oct 17, 2020 3:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Highlander Hybrid 2020 or 2021
Replies: 14
Views: 1923

Re: Highlander Hybrid 2020 or 2021

The 2021 model has TSS 2.5, which is a significant safety upgrade. I would pay extra for that for sure...
https://www.carsdirect.com/automotive-n ... highlander

Also, IMHO, whatever they say about cash back and MSRP is just smoke and mirrors. It means almost nothing nowadays. It is impossible to see all their incentives and the real prices. What matters is what they are willing to sell it for after you use the Fighting Chance method...
viewtopic.php?p=3543307#p3543307
viewtopic.php?p=3906948#p3906948
by William4u
Wed Sep 02, 2020 11:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Undergrad College List
Replies: 64
Views: 6042

Re: Undergrad College List

FYI the practice SAT score rarely matches the actual SAT score. The practice score is generally higher than reality.
by William4u
Thu Aug 06, 2020 8:22 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: College tuitions and how to help our daughter pay them
Replies: 85
Views: 5898

Re: College tuitions and how to help our daughter pay them

And others have mentioned, veterinary school is extremely competitive. Veterinary school is more competitive than MD programs. The people who get into veterinary school have to excel at a level beyond the average medical school student. That is quite exceptional.

https://education.seattlepi.com/vet-sch ... -2154.html

Also, after they graduate veterinarians have a lot of problems because there are more graduates than jobs even with the very restricted number of people they're accepting to veterinary school. The salaries tend to be lower in the jobs fewer than in the past. It's a little like the problem law graduates have nowadays.