Search found 6228 matches

by unclescrooge
Mon Mar 18, 2024 6:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: how to disable "See results closer to you?" - Chrome
Replies: 25
Views: 1966

Re: how to disable "See results closer to you?" - Chrome

zaplunken wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:33 pm
unclescrooge wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2024 4:31 pm
zaplunken wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2024 3:57 pm Thanks! Win 10, same instructions work. I am sick and tired of seeing that.
Can't you just agree to it?

The only thing worse than targeted ads is untargeted ads.
No! I never click on anything or agree to anything that I can avoid. I often copy a URL from Chrome and go to Brave to get away from a pop up that won't let me read something. I find myself using Brave more each passing month.
Why not just use Brave? Why do you need Chrome?
by unclescrooge
Sat Mar 16, 2024 4:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Furniture prices... is this normal?
Replies: 60
Views: 9470

Re: Furniture prices... is this normal?

But I returned it and choose a full grain leather sectional from Scandinavian designs. Apparently no one ever chooses full grain leather so it has to be custom ordered from Italy with a seven month wait. It is being delivered next week. It was 3 times the cost of the Costco sectional. Ive still got my dads full grain leather overstuffed couches that are probably 25 years old at this point and get daily use. Aside from the areas where the dog scratched at it to make a nest, They are in near new condition. Unfortunately, the 6 month old couch has not held up well. I have two dogs - 8 and 15 lbs each, and just their walking on it has left scratches. I'm not happy. 🤬 I guess dogs and leather furniture don't mix... I have two other much cheaper...
by unclescrooge
Sat Mar 16, 2024 4:31 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: how to disable "See results closer to you?" - Chrome
Replies: 25
Views: 1966

Re: how to disable "See results closer to you?" - Chrome

zaplunken wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2024 3:57 pm Thanks! Win 10, same instructions work. I am sick and tired of seeing that.
Can't you just agree to it?

The only thing worse than targeted ads is untargeted ads.
by unclescrooge
Tue Mar 12, 2024 8:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Furniture prices... is this normal?
Replies: 60
Views: 9470

Re: Furniture prices... is this normal?

barnaclebob wrote: Mon Mar 11, 2024 5:29 pm
unclescrooge wrote: Sat Jun 24, 2023 10:37 am
But I returned it and choose a full grain leather sectional from Scandinavian designs. Apparently no one ever chooses full grain leather so it has to be custom ordered from Italy with a seven month wait. It is being delivered next week.

It was 3 times the cost of the Costco sectional.
Ive still got my dads full grain leather overstuffed couches that are probably 25 years old at this point and get daily use. Aside from the areas where the dog scratched at it to make a nest, They are in near new condition.
Unfortunately, the 6 month old couch has not held up well.

I have two dogs - 8 and 15 lbs each, and just their walking on it has left scratches. I'm not happy. 🤬
by unclescrooge
Fri Mar 08, 2024 8:35 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Emerging Markets Stocks have been a complete disaster
Replies: 170
Views: 15838

Re: Emerging Markets Stocks have been a complete disaster

Charlie Munger, Ray Dalio, Vanguard, Fidelity You gave me names. Why do they think China is an excellent place to invest? What is their track record on this issue? Because it represents a dominant global GDP that’s likely or already has surpassed the US China hasn’t surpassed the US in GDP. The gap between the size of the US economy and China has actually increased since the GFC. Goldman Sachs estimates that no major country will catch up to the US in terms of GDP, GDP per capita, and size and depth of financial markets for the next several decades (if ever!). https://i.postimg.cc/fb94zgmp/IMG-8509.jpg https://privatewealth.goldmansachs.com/outlook/2024-isg-outlook.pdf Didn't GS predict in early 2000s that China would overtake US GDP by 20...
by unclescrooge
Tue Mar 05, 2024 11:32 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Financial coach as a side hustle?
Replies: 22
Views: 2214

Re: Financial coach as a side hustle?

Toons wrote: Tue Mar 05, 2024 6:56 pm Million Dollar Advice,
I couldn't sleep at night if I charged for it
Free- :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
Use Common Semse
Spend less than you make
Stay Away from debt.
Pay cash
Vanguard Balanced Index Fund(Reinvest)
Wear a Seat Belt
Don't Smoke
s
You forgot one:
Always wear sunscreen.
by unclescrooge
Tue Mar 05, 2024 11:21 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Vanguard just won't stop sending me paper mail
Replies: 36
Views: 3799

Re: Vanguard keeps mailing prospectuses

Mike Scott wrote: Tue Mar 05, 2024 9:06 pm Vanguard does not but Schwab keeps sending me random bits of paper mail.
Schwab likes to mail me a postcard informing me of my ability to download the prospectus online. 🤦
by unclescrooge
Tue Mar 05, 2024 9:57 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Question about Solar panels
Replies: 92
Views: 6284

Re: Question about Solar panels

madbrain wrote: Sat Mar 02, 2024 6:34 pm
vsk wrote: Sat Mar 02, 2024 1:32 pm In the end I ditch solar and probably will shop around for a battery ONLY backup which gets charged from the utility. This is expensive!!!
You are not allowed to charge a battery from the grid in California. Grid-tied batteries must charge from local renewable solar energy. So, this isn't an option.
This cannot be true. I have a friend in Orange county who just has Tesla batteries that he's charged at night from the grid.
by unclescrooge
Sun Feb 25, 2024 11:26 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: AlphaArchitect launches BOXX: 1-3 Month Box Spread ETF
Replies: 307
Views: 43525

Re: Boxx by Matt Levine

camillus24 wrote: Sat Feb 24, 2024 8:54 pm Thoughts on this moving money from Vanguard money market fund to this (BOXX)?

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... nd=premium

I see prior threads discussing this but difficult to tell where the community is landing on this, especially pros/cons for the median Bogleheads user (or even the less financially sophisticated ones like me)
I moved my emergency fund from t-bills into boxx last summer.

It's really complicated to understand and explain but after reading the box spread strategy post on this forum I became more comfortable with it.
by unclescrooge
Fri Feb 23, 2024 10:56 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Heavy Value Tilt Away from Mag 7 stocks
Replies: 221
Views: 13738

Re: Heavy Value Tilt Away from Mag 7 stocks

mnelson wrote: Fri Feb 23, 2024 9:28 pm Out of curiosity, how do you implement this strategy? I can’t think of a good way to invest in the S&P Other 493 short of setting up a synthetic index with a robo-broker that buys those 493 stocks.
Not the poster, but one way could be to short the MAGS ETF.
by unclescrooge
Fri Feb 23, 2024 10:56 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Heavy Value Tilt Away from Mag 7 stocks
Replies: 221
Views: 13738

Re: Heavy Value Tilt Away from Mag 7 stocks

mnelson wrote: Fri Feb 23, 2024 9:28 pm Out of curiosity, how do you implement this strategy? I can’t think of a good way to invest in the S&P Other 493 short of setting up a synthetic index with a robo-broker that buys those 493 stocks.
Not the poster, but one way could be to short the MAGS ETF.
by unclescrooge
Thu Feb 22, 2024 11:32 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: High Salary (>$500,000) careers
Replies: 244
Views: 28589

Re: High Salary (>$500,000) careers

Vulcan wrote: Thu Feb 22, 2024 12:06 pm
HawkeyePierce wrote: Thu Feb 22, 2024 10:49 am Software engineers can make that much at the staff level at large tech companies.
At highly-selective trading firms new grad SWEs (and traders) start at these levels.

https://www.levels.fyi/t/software-engin ... C&limit=50

Image
Highly doubt fresh graduates are getting paid these salaries.

Programmers at HFs need domain knowledge of markets, and highly specific technical knowledgeable for coding trading strategies.
by unclescrooge
Sat Feb 10, 2024 12:42 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Why BlackRock not used as much?
Replies: 45
Views: 5376

Re: Why BlackRock not used as much?

mbouck wrote: Fri Feb 09, 2024 2:35 pm Philosophically, I won't do business with BlackRock because I have a problem with permanent capital buying-up massive quantities of single family homes and turning the middle-class into permanent renters.
You are confusing BlackRock with BlackStone. They have very different business models.
by unclescrooge
Wed Jan 31, 2024 2:39 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: 2FA seems out of control; any way to make it better?
Replies: 39
Views: 3691

Re: 2FA seems out of control; any way to make it better?

heartwood wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 1:24 pm could my problem be connected to using a VPN? As I understand it a VPN masks my IP address.
For several months, the fact that I had a VPN software running was preventing the "do not ask again" function from working on Chrome/Windows. The software was running but I was not using a VPN. This was recently fixed.

There are also Chrome plugins that create similar issues.
by unclescrooge
Sun Jan 21, 2024 10:52 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: first time into Commercial Real Estate
Replies: 10
Views: 1600

Re: first time into Commercial Real Estate

atlanta_dad wrote: Sat Jan 20, 2024 8:44 pm Hi everyone! I'm interested in venturing into commercial real estate investment (forming an LLC with a couple of friends) and would love some guidance. We have some experience in residential real estate.
Why are you pursuing this?
Do you have some insider knowledge of your local CRE, or excess capital, or are you just bored?
by unclescrooge
Sat Jan 13, 2024 1:42 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Horrified by Schwab Platform -- Where to Next?
Replies: 71
Views: 11828

Re: Horrified by Schwab Platform -- Where to Next?

Small Savanna wrote: Sat Jan 13, 2024 12:45 am My brokerage account and IRAs are with Schwab, 401k and 403b are with Fidelity, and Inherited IRA is with Vanguard, so I get to experience all three of the major platforms. In my experience, Schwab is no worse than the other two.
Compared to TF Ameritrade they all sucked.

RIP TD!
by unclescrooge
Sat Jan 13, 2024 1:41 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Horrified by Schwab Platform -- Where to Next?
Replies: 71
Views: 11828

Re: Horrified by Schwab Platform -- Where to Next?

I was forced into Schwab back in November. I'd heard the UI is terrible, and that has been my experience since having the account forcibly transferred over. It's ridiculous, and nearly impossible to monitor investments in an organized or rational manner. I had considered pulling all my money before the switch to Schwab because it seemed like UI aside, most research indicated it was best for long-term investors (and they offered a de minimis retention bonus so I thought I'd give it a try). However, it's now at the point where I feel the need to use a third party platforms that allow me to better monitor my investments because I'm not able to accurately keep track of how my investments are doing easily through Schwab's app (I started out wit...
by unclescrooge
Sat Jan 13, 2024 12:44 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Short Term Rental investment in The Great Smoky Mountains!
Replies: 16
Views: 2908

Re: Short Term Rental investment in The Great Smoky Mountains!

jrk wrote: Mon Jan 08, 2024 9:07 am I am researching on AirDna and Mashvisor. Thanks all!
Mashadvisor data is crap.

Airdna is slightly better. The average nightly rate excludes cleaning, property management, TOT, utilities and maintenance.
by unclescrooge
Sat Jan 13, 2024 12:39 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Leaving home unattended for extended periods?
Replies: 37
Views: 4772

Re: Leaving home unattended for extended periods?

When I had a vacation house across the country I had a service that visited every couple of weeks. They checked things out, collected mail. In areas with many vacation houses there will be multiple services of this type. The real question for OP is what would happen with house insurance if there was a heating failure or water line break that went without notice for months. Insurance companies probably have exclusions for houses unoccupied for a significant time. 3 months is probably way too long. If your house is vacant for over 30 days and you don't have a rider, insurance will not pay anything. In 2018 there was a house on my street that was undergoing renovations for a couple of months. A homeless person broke in and set fire to it, bur...
by unclescrooge
Mon Jan 01, 2024 10:25 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 47yo looking to retire, $3.7MM, VHCOL (NYC)
Replies: 24
Views: 6704

Re: 47yo looking to retire, $3.7MM, VHCOL (NYC)

Watty wrote: Mon Jan 01, 2024 9:47 pm
nuyawkr wrote: Mon Jan 01, 2024 6:45 pm Non-discretionary Expenses: $55k/year after tax
....
Debt: Mortgage, $487k balance at 3.25%.
....
What have I overlooked?
Your expenses seem very low for having a mortgage payment, monthly coop fees, and property taxes.

If you retire your expenses could go up if you wanted to do things like travel.
Are your expenses low because your employer provides a travel per diem?
by unclescrooge
Mon Jan 01, 2024 9:09 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Short Term Rental investment in The Great Smoky Mountains!
Replies: 16
Views: 2908

Re: Short Term Rental investment in The Great Smoky Mountains!

I own 3 STRs in California wine country.

Wear and tear and utilities are higher, property management fees are high (25%), and transient occupancy tax absorbs excess profit (14%).

But I get a bit of personal use out of them.

The properties are slightly negative. I bought them because of a larger tax break that allowed me to get back almost my entire 20% down payment as a tax refund.

Negative carry is easier to swallow when the government subsidies your purchase by 20%.
by unclescrooge
Mon Dec 11, 2023 1:34 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tax help: real estate depreciation
Replies: 1
Views: 339

Tax help: real estate depreciation

I am selling two rentals I've owned since 2005 this month.

I am doing my 2022 tax returns (I'm late... Different issue) and I was trying to estimate actual capital gains owed on these sales.

I looked at IRS form 4562 and saw prior depreciation was set to zero!!!

I went through old returns and found the prior depreciation calculation stopped being recorded after 2016 for both properties .
The depreciation for one property has been correctly calculated as $3/yet and had been deducted.
But the depreciation for the second property changed from $2800/yr to $210/year when I refinanced the property in 2017.

Q1. What steps do I need to take to fix these issues?
Q2. How do I implement these changes in TurboTax.
by unclescrooge
Mon Dec 11, 2023 1:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: CA Solar Decision
Replies: 90
Views: 12004

Re: CA Solar Decision

krafty81 wrote: Sun Dec 10, 2023 10:45 am Anyone with experience adding a battery to their home to harness solar energy? I am looking at adding one and using it during peak hours instead of paying the high rates during that time. Looking for brand recommendations. Looking at putting it inside my garage to work with existing solar.
Telsa's app will ask for your peak and off-peak rates. Then you can choose whether to optimize for cost or self-generation and it will automatically switch between solar, grid and battery back up for you.

I have a friend in Orange county who has battery and NO solar and he showed me his cost savings. (He has an EV too).
by unclescrooge
Sat Dec 09, 2023 11:12 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Wine - Alcohol-free suggestions?
Replies: 25
Views: 2603

Re: Wine - Alcohol-free suggestions?

Why waste money. Just drink milk.
by unclescrooge
Thu Dec 07, 2023 2:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Private High School - worth it?
Replies: 164
Views: 27786

Re: Private High School - worth it?

JBTX wrote: Tue Dec 05, 2023 7:29 pm Generically, on average numerous studies have demonstrated that once you adjust for demographics, outcomes for any particular individual for public and private grade schools are comparable. Of course, that may or may not hold true to any one particular circumstance.

You could pay for a lot of extra tutoring if they went to public school.
Can't find the source, but I read that student outcomes are directly correlated to parents wealth & education levels.
by unclescrooge
Wed Nov 29, 2023 10:57 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Transitioning my Company's 401(k) - Trying to Decide Between Fidelity, Vanguard, Employee Fiduciary, and Ubiquity
Replies: 10
Views: 1668

Re: Transitioning my Company's 401(k) - Trying to Decide Between Fidelity, Vanguard, Employee Fiduciary, and Ubiquity

Have you looked at Betterment for business?

They are quite competitive on pricing.

But make sure you choose someone who integrates with your payroll software. I've heard this can be an administrative headache.
by unclescrooge
Tue Nov 28, 2023 5:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: CA Solar Decision
Replies: 90
Views: 12004

Re: CA Solar Decision

So I spent a very useful 30 minutes with Jonathan from SDGE. He was very helpful and here is what I figured out. My usage went from 4,416 KWh per year to 8,110 KWh this year. Panels working fine as they always have. The increase is almost totally due to a combo of increased rates and charging my EV. My commute changed in March from 8 miles per day to 23. Here is the other reason for my situation... I am NOT on TOU(bad) I am NEM1(good). Thus, I have been charging my EV at night paying over 50 cents per KWh! Dumb. They can change me to EVTOU5 and it will be .15/KWh. Big saving there, glad I have only had the new commute for six months! Other improvements - I can add up to one KW to my solar and stay on NEM1. I may do that (two panels). Add a...
by unclescrooge
Tue Nov 28, 2023 1:12 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: CA Solar Decision
Replies: 90
Views: 12004

Re: CA Solar Decision

Thanks for the thoughtful replies. I clearly have more work to do. I have scrutinized my SDGE bill over the last year and cannot figure out how my true up got so high. I think I need to talk to one of the "experts" on that. I also need to understand the difference between NEM 2.0 and 3.0. My solar guy told me, since I am always paying at true up time, that a move from 2.0 to 3.0 is not that big a deal. I'd discount the installers feedback. He is finally incentivized to sell you a system upgrade. Are you charging your car during the day? You shouldn't. Night time rates are not be 49 cents. Look into getting a battery without solar. You can pull from the grid during off peak hours to use during peak hours. Adding a battery also won...
by unclescrooge
Tue Nov 28, 2023 10:58 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: CA Solar Decision
Replies: 90
Views: 12004

Re: CA Solar Decision

Thanks for the thoughtful replies. I clearly have more work to do. I have scrutinized my SDGE bill over the last year and cannot figure out how my true up got so high. I think I need to talk to one of the "experts" on that. I also need to understand the difference between NEM 2.0 and 3.0. My solar guy told me, since I am always paying at true up time, that a move from 2.0 to 3.0 is not that big a deal. I'd discount the installers feedback. He is finally incentivized to sell you a system upgrade. Are you charging your car during the day? You shouldn't. Night time rates are not be 49 cents. Look into getting a battery without solar. You can pull from the grid during off peak hours to use during peak hours. Adding a battery also won...
by unclescrooge
Mon Nov 27, 2023 8:56 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: CA Solar Decision
Replies: 90
Views: 12004

Re: CA Solar Decision

Thanks for the thoughtful replies. I clearly have more work to do. I have scrutinized my SDGE bill over the last year and cannot figure out how my true up got so high. I think I need to talk to one of the "experts" on that. I also need to understand the difference between NEM 2.0 and 3.0. My solar guy told me, since I am always paying at true up time, that a move from 2.0 to 3.0 is not that big a deal. I'd discount the installers feedback. He is finally incentivized to sell you a system upgrade. Are you charging your car during the day? You shouldn't. Night time rates are not be 49 cents. Look into getting a battery without solar. You can pull from the grid during off peak hours to use during peak hours. Adding a battery also won...
by unclescrooge
Mon Nov 27, 2023 8:49 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: CA Solar Decision
Replies: 90
Views: 12004

Re: CA Solar Decision

My opinion? Forget it, rooftop solar is dead in California, it just doesn't know it yet. Still pending but almost guaranteed: Fees per kw of installed solar (last I saw, $8/month per kw installed was proposed) This was stripped out of NEM 3.0 but it is NOT dead. "income based" monthly fees - this is already approved by the legislature and must be finalized by April 2024. For high earners it will be something in the range of $75-100/month. It supposedly will come with reduced per kwh costs. That means there is even less incentive to have extra solar capacity, since you will be offsetting "cheaper" power and cannot offset the income fees. Frankly @ $5/gallon of gas, electric cars are starting to be non-viable at PG&E ...
by unclescrooge
Sat Nov 25, 2023 12:42 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for kids?
Replies: 51
Views: 4782

Re: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for kids?

Our boys were around 9 and 7 when they did about 1.5 years of BJJ. They enjoyed it, although I'm not convinced they learned enough to make any different in a real fight. At their age, there was no practice sparring or "real life" tests, other than slow motion "bad guy pretends to grab you". As we felt they were not really progressing further in the "kids" class (I think < 12 years old?), we decided to stop the classes. If they want to restart BJJ training, at what age do you think is more optimal to practice real life sparring, etc.? Maybe 16. Personally, I'd find a different gym. Your experience is totally different than that of our kids, then again they no longer attend the kids classes. Ditto. Sounds like i...
by unclescrooge
Sat Nov 18, 2023 10:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Electric SUVs in the pipeline
Replies: 119
Views: 11626

Re: Electric SUVs in the pipeline

windaar wrote: Sat Nov 18, 2023 9:23 pm
MCST wrote: Sat Nov 18, 2023 8:41 pmToyota are really banking on people continuing to buy hybrids and plug-in hybrids
PHEVs are the best of both worlds, and probably the best choice for many. Charge in your garage for an all-electric commute every day. If you take a road trip there is no range anxiety, just fill up with gas when you need and keep going.
That's what I originally thought, but isn't there twice as much complexity and things that can break?
by unclescrooge
Sat Nov 18, 2023 8:35 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is a panamera worth it?
Replies: 48
Views: 6784

Re: Is a panamera worth it?

Nekrotok wrote: Sat Nov 18, 2023 9:01 am
RichIn7Years wrote: Thu Nov 16, 2023 3:03 am I’ve always seen Porsches as 2 seaters, but the car itself looks nice. Is it worth getting? (Not asking this for myself)
For a porsche, "is it worth it (vs spending less)?" is the wrong question. Instead, the right question would be "If I spend $$$$$$, what is the best car?" The extra cost needs to be of no concern (because you have an abundance of wealth). Either that or you're an enthusiast that really wants that specific car for its particular characteristics.
Yes, what is the best car for around $100k, give or take $10k?

As a side note, I went to the dealer to test drive the Porsche Taycan. I'm 5'10 and 212lbs and I could barely fit in the car. I got claustrophobic and immediately got out.
by unclescrooge
Sat Nov 18, 2023 9:16 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is VXUS investing in China too Risky?
Replies: 71
Views: 6817

Re: Is VXUS investing in China too Risky?

China is around 17% of world GDP, but its stock market is only 3% of the world equity market. If they close that gap over the next few decades, buying in at market weight today is going to have huge returns. Personally, I feel like not investing in China is too risky. Put some numbers on that rhetoric, please. The math here is a little tricky--attributing thing with exponential growth is tricky--so do check my work as I might have screwed up. Results first, then details. .... Within that $100,000, we have 3% or $3,000 invested in China, it grew by 13.62% per year, or 24.62X, to $72,962. Without China, we would have invested only $100,000 - $3,000 = $97,000, and would have seen it grow to only $429,187 - $72,961 = $356,225. That is a compou...
by unclescrooge
Sat Nov 18, 2023 7:59 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should I Buy A House?
Replies: 79
Views: 8324

Re: Should I Buy A House?

Bb_cpa wrote: Fri Nov 17, 2023 1:03 pm... We currently rent at a below market average of $2,300/month.
I have been a landlord when I can generate positive cashflow from rentals, and I have been a renter when a landlord is willing to subsidize my rent. This is how I built a lot of wealth.

If you can rent a house for 1/4th the price of owning it, it would be financially illogical to buy it. That is not how one builds wealth.
by unclescrooge
Thu Nov 09, 2023 12:15 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Hard to Buy a House
Replies: 90
Views: 8773

Re: Hard to Buy a House

Thanks everyone. I do have my list and have been touring and researching for years, but it isn’t helping. Houses are consistently going for 200-300K over list price within a couple days, all cash , zero contingencies. And appreciating 200-300K per year for the last decade too. I just got outbid on a dump ; 7th in the queue for a total POS house. I have been living this nightmare for 10 years now, and am now at an age when most people are into their 3rd house with kids. But I’m stuck in an apartment with no kids and no hope of getting My first home. My dad keeps yelling at me that I’m a loser for not owning a house because “nothing has changed” since he bought his first house in 1970. A few things stick out at me. First, you can be a succes...
by unclescrooge
Thu Nov 09, 2023 11:46 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to determine gains on sale of rental property?
Replies: 0
Views: 1294

How to determine gains on sale of rental property?

I just sold of my rental properties.

It's been rented non-stop since 2005 and I want to invest the proceeds into QOZ funds.

How do I determine what the cost basis/depreciation recapture is?
by unclescrooge
Wed Nov 08, 2023 9:19 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: International Exposure without International Funds: Which Domestic Fund?
Replies: 34
Views: 3382

Re: International Exposure without International Funds: Which Domestic Fund?

Jack Bogle said you don’t need international funds and with my investing experience back to the late 80s I am becoming more and more convinced he is right. International used to be 40% of my equity exposure and over time that has become 20%. This seems to have been exacerbated since the wide adoption of ETFs. From day to day the performance of US equities seems to drive the price of US based international ETFs seemingly without great regard to what international markets did overnight. Intellectually I’m drawn to modern portfolio theory but emotionally I’m pretty disappointed with international funds. I get there is some recency bias there since US has been top dog for some time now. I guess that realization keeps the 20% in the portfolio f...
by unclescrooge
Wed Nov 08, 2023 7:22 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Hard to Buy a House
Replies: 90
Views: 8773

Re: Hard to Buy a House

When I buy a $100 pair of shoes, I do an hour of research. When I buy a $5,000 vacation, I do a week of research. When I buy a $25,000 car, I do a month of research. When a property hits the market, I have to act within a day (so limited opportunity to do advanced research), and then I’m given all of 30 minutes to tour a property and study its numerous details, condition, pros, cons, etc. all while a pushy talkative salesperson asks me annoying questions the whole time. And due to the climate, I then have to figure out if I’m going to make an offer within the following hour, and what that offer will look like exactly (price, terms, contingencies). And with bidding wars galore, the list price means nothing. People are tossing around 7 figur...
by unclescrooge
Wed Nov 08, 2023 6:37 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: SGOV dividend payment timing error?
Replies: 35
Views: 2317

Re: SGOV dividend payment timing error?

Well this sucks. So by them holding off on the monthly reinvestment for 1 day they are consistently short-changing me by 12 days of interest every year?! Shame on you Schwab! Duly noted in terms of future business. How do you think Schwab offsets the cost of commission-free trades? It's irritating that they pocket a couple of days worth of interest, but the investor today pays a lot less than the investor is 25 years ago. Fidelity offers zero commission trades and doesn’t pull this shenanigan. So it’s not like Schwab has to do this. 12 days isn’t a couple. When someone says “look at the happy couple”, they aren’t referring to 12 people. Comparing cost of investing today to 25 years ago is an irrelevant strawman argument to my grievance. Ma...
by unclescrooge
Wed Nov 08, 2023 3:52 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: SGOV dividend payment timing error?
Replies: 35
Views: 2317

Re: SGOV dividend payment timing error?

WhitePuma wrote: Wed Nov 08, 2023 3:05 pm Well this sucks. So by them holding off on the monthly reinvestment for 1 day they are consistently short-changing me by 12 days of interest every year?!

Shame on you Schwab! Duly noted in terms of future business.
How do you think Schwab offsets the cost of commission-free trades?

It's irritating that they pocket a couple of days worth of interest, but the investor today pays a lot less than the investor is 25 years ago.
by unclescrooge
Tue Oct 31, 2023 7:31 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Are there important long-term benefits of parking a car in the garage?
Replies: 130
Views: 12666

Re: Are there important long-term benefits of parking a car in the garage?

20cm wrote: Sun Oct 29, 2023 12:04 pm
Silverado wrote: Sun Oct 29, 2023 11:38 am Why is it so hard to park in garage?
Many homes in older neighborhoods have single garages that barely fit modern cars. It can be a tight squeeze to drive in through the door and/or to exit the car once inside.
For to earthquake retrofit, previous owner converted 2 car garage into two separate bays.
I tried parking my 2010 Acura tax (small Japanese sedan) in my garage and ended up dinging the mirror. The other bay is 6 inches smaller and could barely fit a golf cart.
Now our SUVs just live in the driveway in sunny socal.
My wife's 10 year old Hyundai Santa Fe looks just fine on the outside. Even the dashboard looks fine.
I take better care of my Acura rdx and after 4 years it looks fine too.
by unclescrooge
Sun Oct 22, 2023 12:40 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: If International, what specifically?
Replies: 98
Views: 11986

Re: If International, what specifically?

nedsaid wrote: Sun Oct 22, 2023 12:28 pm In any case, my post was from three years ago, things have probably changed since.
I'm a slow reader. 😁

Sorry, didn't realize it was an old post.
by unclescrooge
Sun Oct 22, 2023 12:23 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: If International, what specifically?
Replies: 98
Views: 11986

Re: If International, what specifically?

nedsaid wrote: Mon Aug 24, 2020 10:57 pm
Sigh! I was going to take some of my Emerging Markets money and flee to Avantis Emerging Markets Equity ETF (AVEM) and found that it was "only" 36.52% China. Then I checked Templeton Developing Markets A, which I have owned for many years, it has 28.28% China, that is a little more like it.
AVES is only 25% China.
by unclescrooge
Fri Oct 20, 2023 7:08 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Need Advice: Navigating Concerns with My CFP's Investment Strategy and Practices
Replies: 64
Views: 6044

Re: Need Advice: Navigating Concerns with My CFP's Investment Strategy and Practices

Stinky wrote: Fri Oct 20, 2023 11:06 am
Over time, I’d expect indexed annuities to underperform MYGAs, because indexed annuities generally pay higher commissions than MYGAs. There’s just 100 cents in every dollar, and money that is paid to the agent isn’t available to be paid to the policyholder.
Thanks, that makes sense.

Can the insurance company lower the guaranteed rate in the future?
by unclescrooge
Fri Oct 20, 2023 9:50 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Need Advice: Navigating Concerns with My CFP's Investment Strategy and Practices
Replies: 64
Views: 6044

Re: Need Advice: Navigating Concerns with My CFP's Investment Strategy and Practices

If you can't stomach the volatility of stocks, maybe you should consider a deferred index annuity. The max you'll ever get is probably 5-6% but you'll never have a down year. I disagree with the suggestion of an indexed annuity. Most Bogleheads aren't fans of indexed annuities. If you want guaranteed growth without the risk of loss, many Treasuries are yielding more than 5% right now. Also, multi-year guaranteed annuities (MYGAs) are paying more than 5%, and that can be locked in for +-7 years, with deferral of tax reporting until funds are withdrawn. But please don't go down the rabbit hole of buying an indexed annuity. Bonds can go down in value. In fact, they have. For three years in a row. If you stick to 90-day T bills you won't lose ...
by unclescrooge
Fri Oct 20, 2023 9:42 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Fast Money: Verizon $10/mo discount per line retention credit
Replies: 40
Views: 8890

Re: Fast Money: Verizon $10/mo discount per line retention credit

Are you sure it didn't unlock and phone and also not generate a pin?
by unclescrooge
Thu Oct 19, 2023 10:55 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Fast Money: Verizon $10/mo discount per line retention credit
Replies: 40
Views: 8890

Re: Fast Money: Verizon $10/mo discount per line retention credit

But wouldn't your number now be unlocked and open to potential fraud?
by unclescrooge
Thu Oct 19, 2023 10:37 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Need Advice: Navigating Concerns with My CFP's Investment Strategy and Practices
Replies: 64
Views: 6044

Re: Need Advice: Navigating Concerns with My CFP's Investment Strategy and Practices

[ I made it crystal clear on the first meeting what I needed - 5% return (I remember thinking the t-bill rates were under 4% at the end of last year, or start - not sure they actually were, and I wish they were a bit higher - but never expected them to be). They said - no problem we can get you a 7% return. I said I'd take a guaranteed 5% a year return, he kind of laughed it off and proceeded to assure me 7% was easy - showing me each of their prior returns vs some index, which they said reflected the global stock market. If you can't stomach the volatility of stocks, maybe you should consider a deferred index annuity. The max you'll ever get is probably 5-6% but you'll never have a down year. I disagree with the suggestion of an indexed a...