Search found 1337 matches

by cinghiale
Mon Mar 04, 2024 2:55 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Can I “upgrade” vintage on TIAA Traditional?
Replies: 69
Views: 6028

Re: Can I “upgrade” vintage on TIAA Traditional?

Looks like I communicated poorly by trying to keep things brief in today’s post. Should have written, “Was anyone watching” (past tense) rather than the way it read (more like present tense). That said, I moved out of my Traditional account and into the CREF money market account (QCMMIX) on November 9th, and am coming up to the 120 day mark for being able to switch back in at the new rate. (Scroll about ten postings up from here for my post on that event.) I was wondering if anyone else had done, or was contemplating doing, something similar. Since this thread originally ran through October into November, I wondered if any other readers had, as I did, discover the possibility of “interest bucket rate switching,” and had shifted into the mon...
by cinghiale
Mon Mar 04, 2024 8:59 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Can I “upgrade” vintage on TIAA Traditional?
Replies: 69
Views: 6028

Re: Can I “upgrade” vintage on TIAA Traditional?

Since this discussion tapered off in November, TIAA has done its March 1 reset of rates. Is anyone taking any “upgrade” action, or perhaps delaying taking any action, based on the new rates? The TIAA Traditional GSRA rate has dropped to 4.5%… certainly better than the long-time 3.25%-3.5% range, but a significant drop from the rates in 2023. Anyone else watching for where the recent reset of rates would settle?
by cinghiale
Thu Nov 09, 2023 9:06 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Can I “upgrade” vintage on TIAA Traditional?
Replies: 69
Views: 6028

Re: Can I “upgrade” vintage on TIAA Traditional?

Wow. This thread has turned out to be a significant find. ***I never would have known about this possibility and this option but for this thread.*** I just called TIAA and did the deed. The rep referred to the process as “interest rate bucket switching.” The “holding pen” CREF money market (QCMMIX) has a very nice current 5.18% yield. As has been discussed, the new TIAA Traditional rate that will come out on March 1, 2024 cannot be guessed at. That said, I strongly suspect it will be a better rate than the 3.81% I’m currently tied into. Thank you, fposte for initiating this thread, and to each who responded with the key information and important clarifications. Shoot-from-the-hip estimate? This could/should make a 12K or so difference for t...
by cinghiale
Thu Nov 09, 2023 6:54 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Can I “upgrade” vintage on TIAA Traditional?
Replies: 69
Views: 6028

Re: Can I “upgrade” vintage on TIAA Traditional?

Disregard the above^^^^

The plan code is GSRA.
by cinghiale
Thu Nov 09, 2023 6:50 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Can I “upgrade” vintage on TIAA Traditional?
Replies: 69
Views: 6028

Re: Can I “upgrade” vintage on TIAA Traditional?

My account has both a TIAA and CREF number. As a whole, it is a “_____ University Tax Deferred Annuity Plan.” Neither have an alphabetic code requested by crefwatch.

Each are called annuity contracts and one reads TIAA L******-* and the other CREF M******-*. I realize those are account numbers, not plan numbers, but a plan number is nowhere to be found on my statement.

I retired 8 years ago, have not touched the balance in this account, and have not annuitized it. Not sure if any of that is relevant.
by cinghiale
Thu Nov 09, 2023 12:55 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Can I “upgrade” vintage on TIAA Traditional?
Replies: 69
Views: 6028

Re: Can I “upgrade” vintage on TIAA Traditional?

Does anyone know whether TIAA Traditional held in a 403 retirement plan qualifies for this upgrade?

Has anyone currently holding TIAA Traditional in a 403 plan tried?
by cinghiale
Mon Aug 28, 2023 2:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Exotic Cruise recommendations
Replies: 52
Views: 4286

Re: Exotic Cruise recommendations

I would consider a cruise that embarks from, say, Oslo… visits some of the Norwegian coast, goes across to Iceland and Greenland, and finishes somewhere around New York. I did a cruise— a 32-day itinerary— that included those stops and found the scenery splendid and the ports of call memorable. Plus, given the cost of hotels and restaurants in those destinations, the cost of a cruise cabin by comparison is quite reasonable. I cruised with Oceania on Sirena, one of its 684 passenger (R-class) ships.
by cinghiale
Mon Aug 28, 2023 2:04 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Favorite Movies - Name Five
Replies: 277
Views: 23923

Re: Favorite Movies - Name Five

Cannot believe I just plowed through this entire thread, and not one mention of any of five of my all-time favorites:

— Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (seen it eight times)

— Richard Pryor Live in Concert (the 1979 classic filmed in Long Beach)

— Buckaroo Banzai (unique, crazed, memorable; what a shame there was never a sequel)

— The Road Warrior (had me pinned to my theater seat)

— Bread and Tulips (a favorite foreign film)
by cinghiale
Sun Aug 27, 2023 10:19 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Exotic Cruise recommendations
Replies: 52
Views: 4286

Re: Exotic Cruise recommendations

What is your preference for length of cruise? A week? Two weeks? A month? Two months? More?

That might help pare down the choices.
by cinghiale
Mon Jul 10, 2023 2:15 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Go go, slow go, no go years in retirement
Replies: 87
Views: 9813

Re: Go go, slow go, no go years in retirement

One’s decision on how to define and apply those terms are going to be quite subjective. But, I’ll give it a go. Now almost 8 years into (what I considered to be) early retirement at age 60. I would say these have been, and continue to be, “go-go” years. Still at a good weight, not on any medications, and benefitting from the Mediterranean diet. Oh, but there are certainly hints and intimations of the “go-go” season passing into a “slow-go” one, as injuries take longer to heal and the key markers of good health take more and more time and effort to maintain. Spending? I’m not worrying about withdrawal rates or percentages during these years, though I do keep track of expenses and realize that the markets have been good to those who retired i...
by cinghiale
Tue Jan 10, 2023 10:51 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Usernames and Online Security
Replies: 38
Views: 4718

Usernames and Online Security

I’d like to get a sense of the forum on the question of online security and some current talk about changing usernames as well as passwords. With the recent LastPass security scare, and are now reassessing all of the options available for tightening up our account access security. Has anyone made a move to depersonalize a username (so often one’s full name in whole or in part) and make it more anonymous? If yes, did you create a variety of unique usernames for high priority accounts? (That, I have to say, sounds like a recipe for great complication and confusion.) Or are all the surrounding measures— password managers, two-factor authentication, online authentication apps, virtual private networks (VPNs)— enough? All insights and accounts o...
by cinghiale
Wed Sep 28, 2022 10:28 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Cathie Wood's new fund gives small investors access to the VC market for just $500
Replies: 52
Views: 5892

Re: Cathie Wood's new fund gives small investors access to the VC market for just $500

This thread provides an opportunity to re-state some wise thoughts from Warren Buffett. "The wealthy are accustomed to feeling that it is their lot in life to get the best food, schooling, entertainment, housing, plastic surgery, sports ticket, you name it. Their money, they feel, should buy them something superior compared to what the masses receive. "In many aspects of life, indeed, wealth does command top-grade products or services. For that reason, the financial 'elites' -- wealthy individuals, pension funds, college endowments and the like -- have great trouble meekly signing up for a financial product or service that is available as well to people investing only a few thousand dollars. This reluctance of the rich normally pr...
by cinghiale
Thu Jul 28, 2022 1:36 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Classic Board Games
Replies: 62
Views: 5013

Re: Classic Board Games

Stratego for two players.

Risk for four to six players.

Truly classic games.

Anyone remember back to when both these games had wooden pieces??
by cinghiale
Thu Jun 23, 2022 12:34 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Happy Birthday To Mel Lindauer - June 22, 2022
Replies: 29
Views: 2567

Re: Happy Birthday To Mel Lindauer - June 22, 2022

What a great thread!

Feliz Cumpleaños to you, Mel, from this side of the Atlantic.

With much appreciation for all your contributions to the Boglehead community!
by cinghiale
Sun May 22, 2022 3:04 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What's the Largest Percentage of Your Portfolio You'd Have in An Active Fund??
Replies: 96
Views: 8762

Re: What's the Largest Percentage of Your Portfolio You'd Have in An Active Fund??

Interesting to not how many replies (thus far) reference Wellesley Income or Wellington. Wellesley is the cornerstone of my retirement holdings… around 20% of total financial assets (not including real estate values) and 33% of retirement assets. Agree with other posters that Wellesley works much better in a tax protected space. As I’ve mentioned many time in past threads, Wellesley keeps me honest. It’s not an ideal fund, or the ideal fund, but it allows me to ignore the “dividend strategy noise” and bypass the temptation to buy dividend stocks or ETFs. And, it’s a splendid “sleep at night” fund. It’s down 8.58% so far this year, which is a bit of an “ouch!”, but not nearly as “ouchy” as total stock’s -18.87% or total bond’s -9.27% YTD pe...
by cinghiale
Sun May 22, 2022 2:32 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What's the Largest Percentage of Your Portfolio You'd Have in An Active Fund??
Replies: 96
Views: 8762

Re: What's the Largest Percentage of Your Portfolio You'd Have in An Active Fund??

vineviz wrote: Sat May 21, 2022 3:41 pm
Bama12 wrote: Sat May 21, 2022 12:18 pm Are the bonds in Wellesley and Wellington the same?
More or less.

The bond portion of both funds resembles, in performance and overall characteristics at least, the iShares Aaa - A Rated Corporate Bond ETF (QLTA).

Wellington's equities resemble a 60% allocation to Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI).

Wellesley's equities resemble a 40% allocation to Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM).
Curious about this. I had thought that Wellesley’s equity component reflected a more value orientation, and could be tracked via the Vanguard Value fund (VTV). Any specifics on how/why the High Dividend Yield provides a better surrogate?
by cinghiale
Sat May 21, 2022 1:54 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What's the Largest Percentage of Your Portfolio You'd Have in An Active Fund??
Replies: 96
Views: 8762

Re: What's the Largest Percentage of Your Portfolio You'd Have in An Active Fund??

Interesting to not how many replies (thus far) reference Wellesley Income or Wellington. Wellesley is the cornerstone of my retirement holdings… around 20% of total financial assets (not including real estate values) and 33% of retirement assets. Agree with other posters that Wellesley works much better in a tax protected space. As I’ve mentioned many time in past threads, Wellesley keeps me honest. It’s not an ideal fund, or the ideal fund, but it allows me to ignore the “dividend strategy noise” and bypass the temptation to buy dividend stocks or ETFs. And, it’s a splendid “sleep at night” fund. It’s down 8.58% so far this year, which is a bit of an “ouch!”, but not nearly as “ouchy” as total stock’s -18.87% or total bond’s -9.27% YTD per...
by cinghiale
Sun Jan 30, 2022 7:35 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Jeremy Grantham (Jan 26, 2022) being asked a lot of tough questions about his super bubble call...
Replies: 601
Views: 72301

Re: Jeremy Grantham (Jan 26, 2022) being asked a lot of tough questions about his super bubble call...

Looks like it’s time to trot out the classic essay “Why Speculate?” It’s the transcript of a speech given by Michael Crichton in 2002. Some of the illustrations are dated, but the key points still resonate. “Some people still believe that the future can be known. They imagine two groups of people that may know the future, and therefore should be listened to. The first is pundits. Since they expound on the future all the time, they must know what they are talking about. Do they? The now-defunct magazine Brill's Content used to track the pundit's guesses, and while one or another had the occasional winning streak, over the long haul they did no better than chance. This is what you would expect. Because nobody knows the future.” Very much wort...
by cinghiale
Sun Jan 02, 2022 4:48 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Premium Italian Dried Pasta $$$
Replies: 59
Views: 8974

Re: Premium Italian Dried Pasta $$$

Somewhere along the line, try to procure Bigoli de Bassano Traditional Veneto pasta. I did a long-term, university-sponsored stay at the Ca’ Foscari in Venice a while back, and found (and fell in love with) this pasta. Rich, deeply golden, corpulenta, satisfying. Find a way to buy a kilo and try it with a few recipes.

So you can see what the package looks like:

https://caputos.com/product/bigoli-de-b ... eto-pasta/
by cinghiale
Sun Jan 02, 2022 4:32 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Store receipts - what's your process??
Replies: 54
Views: 4111

Re: Store receipts - what's your process??

I still request the receipts, keep them in an envelope, and then check through them when paying credit card bills at month’s end. It’s a habit. I’ve done it for a long time.

One thing that is pushing me toward changing this arrangement is the toxicity of the thermal receipt paper. It’s nasty stuff to begin with, and the nasty stuff absorbs at an alarmingly high rate through the skin when combined with antiseptic gels. Great. Lovely. Covid delivers another complicating factor.

(BTW, if anyone has evidence that the fears over the thermal paper are overblown, please chime in. I’d love this to be an urban myth.)

That said, old habits die hard. But, as poster egrets mentioned, the fraudulent charges tend to stick out.
by cinghiale
Sun Sep 05, 2021 1:56 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Paper: Does postponing retirement affect cognitive function? A counterfactual experiment
Replies: 55
Views: 4872

Re: Paper: Does postponing retirement affect cognitive function? A counterfactual experiment

All this assumes that work involves cognitive growth and stimulation. Puhleeeze… spare me. In so many cases work is repetitive drudgery. It saps cognitive energy. I’m six years into retirement and am constantly thankful that being free from work has unleashed an abundance of cognitive space. I read 73 books last year (granted, Covid restrictions allowed for extra reading time) and have read 38 this year. I take in podcasts and other intellectually challenging readings and videos. And, frankly, I’m better company and a better conversationalist than I was back in the days of 55 hour work weeks. Fine, one size does not fit all. Maybe some retire and go to seed intellectually. But let’s not pretend that work is some golden path to cognitive hea...
by cinghiale
Sun Jun 27, 2021 5:17 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Nick Murray's Five Funds
Replies: 22
Views: 3500

Re: Nick Murray's Five Funds

For $295.00 smackeroos per year, I’d say the OP is doing a fine job in helping keep Nick in the lifestyle to which he has become accustomed.
by cinghiale
Fri Apr 23, 2021 1:33 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Bank of America/Merrill Edge -Platinum honors for Mutual Funds
Replies: 8
Views: 1173

Re: Bank of America/Merrill Edge -Platinum honors for Mutual Funds

This is not meant as sarcasm... but why not ask your Merrill representative /financial advisor?
by cinghiale
Sun Apr 18, 2021 6:34 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What would Bogle think of Dogecoin?
Replies: 30
Views: 2827

Re: What would Bogle think of Dogecoin?

Dogecoin... sounds like the old currency of the Venetian Republic.

I think Mr. Bogle would caution against making pronouncements cemented into today’s news. An old quote, “Never assume the permanence of the present arrangement” comes to mind. Let’s revisit this in a month, in six months, in a year. Bitcoin and it’s buddies could double or increase ten-fold by then. Or not.

I think we have still yet to sort out what precise value is represented by the current valuations of crypto.
by cinghiale
Fri Apr 16, 2021 7:04 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Electric Toothbrush Replacement Recommendations?
Replies: 76
Views: 8902

Re: Electric Toothbrush Replacement Recommendations?

I have no interest in hijacking this thread, but I’m wondering if anyone here has purchased and used the USmile U1 Sonic electric toothbrush. I’ve never encountered a better toothbrush. It was an ideal device. And then the company that made it just seemed to disappear. I can’t find replacement toothbrush heads anywhere. Internet searches come up cold.

If it ever reappears, I would attempt a Hunt Brothers-like cornering of the market for the brush heads.

So, a) it’s my top recommendation to the OP’s question. And b) it’s a plea to the forum— anyone know of this product and have any avenue by way replacement brush heads may be purchased?
by cinghiale
Wed Mar 31, 2021 12:36 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How can my father see the light?
Replies: 56
Views: 8395

Re: How can my father see the light?

I’m quite sure you already know and have mentioned the following, but just in case...

Translate percentages into real Dollars with your Dad. It isn’t just 1.25% AUM fees with 0.75 expense ratios (which sound like small, abstract numbers), it’s $5000.00 a year. Dad is underwriting a very nice vacation for this guy each year. Or he’s paying for a new car for the guy every five years. I’m guessing that constitutes more than a full month of his living expenses. Put some flesh onto those percentages. Then ask, “if you can do just as well, if not better, paying $125.00 per year*, isn’t that net difference money that you, not he, needs and deserves?”



*Assuming a three fund-type portfolio with a total 0.05% expense ratio.
by cinghiale
Thu Mar 18, 2021 2:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What is the BEST thing you spent money on?
Replies: 461
Views: 69274

Re: What is the BEST thing you spent money on?

Two months living in Paris. A small comfortable flat right beside a well-connected Metro stop. Memberships to both the Louvre the Orsay which allowed us rapid, slide-right-by-the-endless-queue entry whenever we wanted. Visits as well to the Orangerie, Monet’s gardens in Giverny, Versailles, the Notre Dame, and a dozen other smaller museums. Long exploratory walks, great lunches, and tickets to see Paris St. Germain play football. And now, a storehouse of memories. Well, that, and a keen desire to do it again someday.
by cinghiale
Mon Mar 15, 2021 7:47 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Announcing the FOMO fund...
Replies: 34
Views: 4456

Re: Announcing the FOMO fund...

SlowMovingInvestor mentioned,
I think the fund should have been started on April 1st
Note that the article states the ETF is “in registration.” You may still get your wish.
by cinghiale
Mon Mar 15, 2021 7:26 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Announcing the FOMO fund...
Replies: 34
Views: 4456

Announcing the FOMO fund...

Just when you thought that every possible type of ETF had been conceived and launched, here comes the FOMO ETF. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/15/the-fear-of-missing-out-fund-shows-there-really-is-an-etf-for-everything.html From the description, Matthew Tuttle, the CEO of Tuttle Tactical Management and the man who runs the actively managed fund behind FOMO, says he is trying to answer a crying need in the market: “You have SPACs, you have Cathie Woods stuff, Gamestop stuff. If you are an average investor, you can try doing it yourself and look at many different products, but there is nothing that pulls it all together. We are going to be in social media, hedge funds, SPACs, ETFs, and stocks.” Yup, a crying need. It shouldn’t take that long be...
by cinghiale
Sat Mar 13, 2021 12:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Frederick Lewis Allen, "Only Yesterday," $1.99 Kindle sale
Replies: 4
Views: 990

Re: Frederick Lewis Allen, "Only Yesterday," $1.99 Kindle sale

Got it. Much thanks for the tip.

While on this topic, three of the four Kindle versions of the following titles of Thomas Costain’s four volume The Pageant of England are currently offered for $0.99. Look for:

Volume 2) The Magnificent Century
Volume 3) The Three Edwards
Volume 4) The Last Plantagenets

Be careful to scroll down past the above titles at higher prices.

These are wonderful, well-written histories. With some patience, Volume 1, The Conquering Family, should be offered at an attractive price sometime soon.
by cinghiale
Mon Mar 08, 2021 12:09 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why the disdain for managed funds like ARKK that destroy total market funds?
Replies: 1587
Views: 210442

Re: Why the disdain for managed funds like ARKK that destroy total market funds?

jay22 wrote: My point is, there's a lot of bias here for Vanguard active funds which doesn't really align with the bashing points for ARK made on this thread. “Bashing?” Just a little hyperbole to spice up the discussion, perhaps? C’mon. The thread title is bad enough with turbo words like “disdain” and “destroy” tossed over the trenches like so many hand grenades. Give the thread a careful and dispassionate look-over. Most every reply has ranged between “disinclined” (this isn’t something I would do,” to “disagreement” (“this doesn’t square with the principles that rescued me from confusing gambling with investing”). If you promote a new, untested, high-risk fund on a forum founded on the ideas and insights of John Bogle, you have to expe...
by cinghiale
Tue Feb 23, 2021 9:02 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why the disdain for managed funds like ARKK that destroy total market funds?
Replies: 1587
Views: 210442

Re: Why the disdain for managed funds like ARKK that destroy total market funds?

I’m waiting to hear from the OP today. I want to hear how the current ride is feeling.

Did you get that 30% portfolio position in ARKK? How you riding that bronco today? I hope you’re strapped in, feet solidly in the stirrups, clutching the horn for dear life, and waving your hat for all it’s worth.

Yippee-Ki-Yay, my friend.
by cinghiale
Mon Feb 15, 2021 4:30 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why the disdain for managed funds like ARKK that destroy total market funds?
Replies: 1587
Views: 210442

Re: Why the disdain for managed funds like ARKK that destroy total market funds?

This thread has reached “the frustration point.” It contains an impressive collection of well-crafted and smartly reasoned responses to the original question. But, face it, the OP is not going to change his/her mind. S/he is aware enough and dispassionate enough to spot the downturns and get out in time. And insightful enough to sign-on to the next big trend. Passive investing is, according to the OP , “defeatist.” That, all by itself, should allow posters to toss in the towel and move on to other threads. I note that ARKK, at last years nadir (on March 18th), hit $33.00 per share. This morning it’s sitting at $156.58. It has a good chance of quintupling before it hits the one year mark of its low. And now, now... , the OP is ready to grab ...
by cinghiale
Sat Feb 06, 2021 9:03 am
Forum: Spain
Topic: Retirement - Spain or Portugal?
Replies: 55
Views: 25726

Re: Retirement - Spain or Portugal?

Looks like mea culpa time. I need to both clarify a point and submit an apology.

We hold EU passports. Sorry, but as poster Curious1 asked about further upthread, I was mistaking what an EU citizen can do, Schengen-wise, and what a non-EU citizen can do. Once in the Schengen region for 90 days, a US citizen would need to be out of it for the next 90 days. Yes, one could spend time in the British Isles, Bulgaria, Romania, Macedonia, and beyond, but that is an aside to what I had asserted. For a US citizen, the “183 days in Spain Strategy” only works if the rest of the time is spent outside the Schengen region. Sorry for the confusion.
by cinghiale
Sat Feb 06, 2021 8:34 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Retirees: How typical am I?
Replies: 82
Views: 8713

Re: Retirees: How typical am I?

You don’t need to include specific numbers, but where are you now in terms of total investment assets as compared to 10 years ago when your retirement began? Around the same? Up somewhat? Up considerably? And what, more or less, has been your asset allocation? The last ten years were unusually good to investors of both stocks and bonds. And I can see how you have been able to spend as you wish, not keep track of the numbers, and still be doing well. I’m five years retired and now feel able to skip the details concerning spending. But each January 1st I do look over the year before’s net worth, the current net worth, and see how well the portfolio has covered the spending. So far, so good. My guess is that you’re a bit out of the ordinary fo...
by cinghiale
Tue Jan 26, 2021 1:34 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Good Enough!
Replies: 15
Views: 2864

Re: Good Enough!

Interesting to think about the parallels.

With all the ink spilled over diet and nutrition, has anything ever really improved on Michael Pollan’s “food rules,” delivered in a grand total of seven words?

Eat food.
Mostly plants.
Not too much.

And, with the billions in fees there for the taking in the financial “services” sector, and the intense and innovative efforts made to market “the next big thing” and capture those fees, is there any strategy or scheme that has improved on John Bogle’s “simple rules” tied to buying indices of entire markets and keeping expenses low?
by cinghiale
Tue Jan 05, 2021 6:06 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: International stocks will outperform US stocks in 2021
Replies: 174
Views: 24755

Re: International stocks will outperform US stocks in 2021

May the chart be with you.

https://www.fidelity.com/bin-public/060 ... hart_2.jpg

(If someone can actually post the image rather than the link, I would be grateful.)
by cinghiale
Sun Jan 03, 2021 6:58 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What meaningful activities are you doing in retirement today with your free time?
Replies: 68
Views: 8812

Re: What meaningful activities are you doing in retirement today with your free time?

heyyou wrote:
I retired into the best years of my life.
I’m not much in the mood to itemize my activities, but I am in the mood to second and “Amen” the above quote. With that attitude/outlook/perspective, all else is detail.
by cinghiale
Sat Dec 26, 2020 4:11 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tips for Frugal Living
Replies: 284
Views: 33035

Re: Tips for Frugal Living

Here’s an interesting essay from contributor Dennis Friedman writing in Jonathan Clements’ Humble Dollar letter:

https://humbledollar.com/2020/12/too-t ... ses-test_7

As a few people have already chimed in here, there’s a balance to be sought: frugality in matters that are not in line with your values and/or for items that do not bring you joy and fulfillment, but generosity to one’s self for those things that matter and that bring joy, depth, and meaning to life.
by cinghiale
Tue Dec 22, 2020 5:26 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Just pulled the trigger ...
Replies: 198
Views: 25487

Re: Just pulled the trigger ...

Just found my way to this revived thread and am finding it difficult to believe that the OP:

a) has been part of this forum for nearly two years and has nearly 800 posts,

b) has been consistently oblivious to the fact his/her investment decisions and actions made since March have been a masterclass in what not to do, and

c) seems perfectly able to either deflect or ignore other posters who have expressed concern over “b.”

If I was in Las Vegas right now and could place a bet on the future of this post, I’d slide a tall stack of chips onto the “this is not going to end well” square.
by cinghiale
Wed Dec 16, 2020 6:58 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How do bogleheads optimize credit card rewards?
Replies: 70
Views: 13841

Re: How do bogleheads optimize credit card rewards?

Dedicated Chase Sapphire Reserve card holder here. Note that my primary impetus in paying a large annual fee and accumulating points is to enhance travel. Period. I’m not juggling cash back calculations or other perks. If one books travel through the CSR portal the points are valued at 1.5 times their value. Usually there’s a good selection and wide range of hotel choices in key cities, so the points are always “usable.” Last year we stayed at splendid properties in Amsterdam, The Hague, Bruges, and Brussels— an 11 day run— for nearly nothing. Due to a reservation hiccup, we were upgraded in The Hague to the presidential suite. Memorable! Add in the travel insurance coverage and favorable exchange rate with no fees for foreign purchases, an...
by cinghiale
Tue Nov 24, 2020 10:15 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Does anyone use an accountant for personal taxes?
Replies: 146
Views: 11976

Re: Does anyone use an accountant for personal taxes?

snapvestor wrote, We use a CPA and have for about a decade now. As the complexity of our taxes has increased over the years even in the personal space, I do it for peace of mind and not having to deal with it i.e. my time. This ^^^^^^^^^^ And one other thing. For reasons I cannot itemize, much less fathom, the US tax code leaves me utterly confounded. I’ve got a good background in quantitative methods and statistics, and have no problem with managing my investments. But taxes? Something cognitively burps, hiccups, sputters, crashes when I try to slog through the incoherent sub-dialect that poses as IRS tax instructions. To the rescue: a solid, contentious, veteran CPA. Our CPA has done our taxes for 22 years, has never farmed us out to any...
by cinghiale
Sun Nov 15, 2020 12:38 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Preparing for the psychological aspects of retirement
Replies: 18
Views: 2928

Re: Preparing for the psychological aspects of retirement

As Miriam2 notes, there are numerous past threads on this topic. You might wish to peruse them. And as JDCarpenter reminds, This is an extremely individualized decision tree. Somewhere in the past discussions, it was suggested that one do a self-assessment in answering the question, “What am I going to do with my days and my hours in retirement?” It was also suggested that those who have established patterns and activities already in place are far more likely to be happy and engaged as retirees. Another poster encouraged that one try to have interests and involvement in four categories of life: social, intellectual, physical, and aesthetic/spiritual. These can combine and overlap, as a book club can capture the first two, a bicycle-riding g...
by cinghiale
Sun Nov 15, 2020 12:12 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: improving the 4% rule and solving the starting point paradox
Replies: 103
Views: 15107

Re: improving the 4% rule and solving the starting point paradox

Thank you, bobcat2 for re-posting what you contributed in 2007 to this perennial topic. Your illustration is like a parable of old— a clear and straightforward story that captures an essential truth. This post belongs in one of the “best of” listings.
by cinghiale
Fri Nov 13, 2020 11:58 am
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: [favorite] Boglehead quotes
Replies: 171
Views: 51967

Re: [favorite] Boglehead quotes

I think the following Warren Buffett quote (from his 2016 letter to shareholders) was posted here on the forum. If someone wishes to step in and take credit for posting it, please do. "The wealthy are accustomed to feeling that it is their lot in life to get the best food, schooling, entertainment, housing, plastic surgery, sports ticket, you name it. Their money, they feel, should buy them something superior compared to what the masses receive. In many aspects of life, indeed, wealth does command top-grade products or services. For that reason, the financial 'elites' -- wealthy individuals, pension funds, college endowments and the like -- have great trouble meekly signing up for a financial product or service that is available as wel...
by cinghiale
Sun Nov 08, 2020 2:05 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: improving the 4% rule and solving the starting point paradox
Replies: 103
Views: 15107

Re: improving the 4% rule and solving the starting point paradox

AlohaJoe wrote,
cinghiale wrote:
One key variable within any discussion on Safe Withdrawal Rates is the beginning point of the withdrawals and what market conditions (as measured by P/E ratio) exist at the time.
This is already discussed in the paper. I'm not sure why you imply it isn't?
Apologies for the misleading language. Yes, the starting P/E is mentioned with reference to Michael Kitce’s work and discussed in paragraph #10 of the posted essay by the OP. I wanted to add the Easterling essay to the discussion, as it points to greater validity and applicability of the beginning P/E point than the present essay concludes.
by cinghiale
Sun Nov 08, 2020 12:32 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: improving the 4% rule and solving the starting point paradox
Replies: 103
Views: 15107

Re: improving the 4% rule and solving the starting point paradox

One key variable within any discussion on Safe Withdrawal Rates is the beginning point of the withdrawals and what market conditions (as measured by P/E ratio) exist at the time. Ed Easterling’s mid-2000s essay on this is worth considering. “When we dig further to understand the success rate for a retir(ees)... we can dissect the past history into four sets, so-called quartiles. These sets are ranked from the highest to the lowest starting P/E ratios. The result is that the highest quartile (i.e. the top 25%) includes all thirty-year periods since 1900 that started with P/Es of 18.5 and higher. The second set (i.e. the second 25%) cuts-off at a P/E of 13.9; the third at 11.2; and the last at 5.3. “Why does this matter? Although the success ...
by cinghiale
Sat Oct 31, 2020 9:35 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Stable Value Fund as “bond” allocation
Replies: 32
Views: 3421

Re: Stable Value Fund as “bond” allocation

houseofnine asked,
BTW - are you still ex-US? How’s it going?
Kind of you to remember. Kind of you to ask.

Still in Europe. Just about to hit the five-year mark. All is well here, though we live in a country that is struggling with the pandemic. Lots of time spent beach walking is keeping us centered and upbeat.
by cinghiale
Sat Oct 31, 2020 8:05 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Stable Value Fund as “bond” allocation
Replies: 32
Views: 3421

Re: Stable Value Fund as “bond” allocation

Please clarify something, houseofnine ... You mention that “My AA is roughly 80/20, with the SVF representing 13% of the “bond” portion.” I assume that means the SVF makes up 13% of your total portfolio, rather than just 13% of the 20% that is in bonds, which would only constitute 2.6% of your total portfolio. Do I have that right? I have TIAA Traditional in my 403 plan and it also delivers around 3.15% per year. As previous posters have mentioned, that’s a sweet deal, and should stay sweet for a number of years to come. I certainly count it as part of my bond allocation. Whatever transitions or conversions you do in the near future, I would try to keep that SVF holding. It includes a combination of return and predictably that will be hard ...
by cinghiale
Thu Oct 29, 2020 9:33 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: is now a good time to go to cash in your portfolio?
Replies: 76
Views: 6358

Re: is now a good time to go to cash in your portfolio?

OP, I don’t see any question marks in your post. Are you inquiring or making statements? And no, I’m not trying to be snarky. Are you looking for affirmation or discussion?

Imbedded in your post is the assumption that you have an insight that most others lack. If pressed, I would argue the contrary. The markets, and the sum of all human action that pours into all buy and sell orders in the markets, is accounting for and has accounted for the current economic numbers, the pandemic, the various governmental responses, and prospects for the future. There may be a breathtaking drop in the S&P 500. Or, the markets may muddle along for months and months. Or...

You should be invested for the years to come, not for the months to come.