You might try the AARP site:
http://medicalert.systems/aarp-recommen ... t-systems/
I set my mom up with Medical Alert. It looks OK and the concept is good, but we've not had to test them.
Search found 3209 matches
- Mon Apr 23, 2018 4:41 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Medical alert "button"
- Replies: 34
- Views: 1799
- Mon Apr 23, 2018 4:34 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Yield Curves-Treasury, CD, AA/AAA muni
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1229
Re: Yield Curves-Treasury, CD, AA/AAA muni
Baird compiles data that you might be interested in if you haven't already looked at it; there is an analysis of treasuries and municipals which can be helpful. They publish their synopsis every other week.
http://content.rwbaird.com/RWB/Content/ ... entary.pdf
http://content.rwbaird.com/RWB/Content/ ... entary.pdf
- Wed Apr 18, 2018 7:50 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: 2-year AA Munis at Vanguard and Fidelity Today
- Replies: 100
- Views: 5811
Re: 2-year AA Munis at Vanguard and Fidelity Today
We are really dancing on the head of a pin here. I really have no doubt that your investments will be safe. We are having an extremely refined conversation about credit risk and taxation, and I appreciate the back-and-forth. For whatever reason, I have really enjoyed learning about fixed income inve...
- Tue Apr 17, 2018 8:44 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Is Los Angeles a good place long term to live financially?
- Replies: 166
- Views: 10756
Re: Is Los Angeles a good place long term to live financially?
I’m thinking of moving to LA and spending the rest of my life there, but I’m concerned about the cost. Is LA expensive? And would pursuing my goals be worth the cost of living there and are the costs worth the quality of life I would have there? Some of my goals are: 1. Get an MBA at a good busines...
- Tue Apr 17, 2018 5:38 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Relative Never Took RMDs on Inherited IRA From 2004
- Replies: 19
- Views: 2341
Re: Relative Never Took RMDs on Inherited IRA From 2004
You guys are great. Though I'm still unsure on if we need to do a separate 5329 for each year missed or if we can just do all in one. Spirit Rider and https://www.morningstar.com/news/glbnewscan/718181/damage-control-for-a-missed-rmd.print.html say separate, but the majority of others here say all ...
- Sun Apr 15, 2018 11:10 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: vanguard notice - retiring our old investment platform
- Replies: 50
- Views: 6142
- Sun Apr 15, 2018 5:53 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Backdoor Roth IRA as emergency fund [unique situation, for parents]
- Replies: 8
- Views: 581
Re: Backdoor Roth IRA as emergency fund [unique situation, for parents]
The Kitces article will give you all the information you need. However, it makes it easier if you get the terminology straightened out. Your parents are over 59-1/2 so the terminology is relatively moot; but for you, use the term "backdoor Roth conversion" and not "backdoor Roth contribution." In re...
- Sun Apr 15, 2018 4:53 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: 2-year AA Munis at Vanguard and Fidelity Today
- Replies: 100
- Views: 5811
Re: 2-year AA Munis at Vanguard and Fidelity Today
Kevin, You're getting closer to appreciating the complexities of a discount bond and its taxation. I am aware of the "discount of a discount" phenomenon (paying a discount on a bond that was sold at a discount). This is why I never buy municipal zeroes; the hassle factor is just too great and I don'...
- Sun Apr 15, 2018 3:18 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Capital Loss Carryover: Use it or save it?
- Replies: 35
- Views: 3602
Re: Capital Loss Carryover: Use it or save it?
Sperry, Thanks for bringing that 2013 post back to the present. Five years just flew by. In your situation, I'd have to think about the pros and cons because I'm not familiar with your details. I continue to play off those 2008-2009 capital losses so I share your reluctance to give them up. However,...
- Sat Apr 14, 2018 7:21 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: 2-year AA Munis at Vanguard and Fidelity Today
- Replies: 100
- Views: 5811
Re: 2-year AA Munis at Vanguard and Fidelity Today
I like: Yes, it was in response to the previous question. Bond ladders can have a place in some investors' portfolios, so don't feel as if your voice is being drowned out. Hudson: Your question is a fundamental fixed income question. The Wiki here can give you explanations regarding pricing and yiel...
- Sat Apr 14, 2018 6:54 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: 2-year AA Munis at Vanguard and Fidelity Today
- Replies: 100
- Views: 5811
Re: 2-year AA Munis at Vanguard and Fidelity Today
I got a guest account at Fidelity for 30 days...easy. The first NC muni I came to is here...you've got to have a Fidelity account or a guest account to follow this link I suspect... https://fixedincome.fidelity.com/ftgw/fi/FIBondDetails?requestType=&displayFormat=TABLE&cusip=65825PCA6&ordersystem=T...
- Sat Apr 14, 2018 6:21 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: 2-year AA Munis at Vanguard and Fidelity Today
- Replies: 100
- Views: 5811
Re: 2-year AA Munis at Vanguard and Fidelity Today
^ Absolutely. General obligationbonds can be state, county, city, town, village, etc. The credit rating can be extremely varied as well (between state, county, city, etc.). The one difference in the whole equation is that states cannot declare bankruptcy like non-state entities. However, that doesn'...
- Sat Apr 14, 2018 5:54 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: 2-year AA Munis at Vanguard and Fidelity Today
- Replies: 100
- Views: 5811
Re: 2-year AA Munis at Vanguard and Fidelity Today
^ Kevin: I think there's a misunderstanding. I was referring to the State of Illinois General Obligation bonds; the state has a BBB- credit rating. You're not going to find a State of Illinois General Obligation bond with an AA rating. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-illinois-ratings-fitch/illino...
- Sat Apr 14, 2018 5:31 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Lazy Portfolio - Using Fidelity ETF's Vs Vanguard ETF's
- Replies: 29
- Views: 2421
Re: Lazy Portfolio - Using Fidelity ETF's Vs Vanguard ETF's
I appreciate the feedback. To keep things simple I initially did not want to deal with the FTC but I think I need to revisit that because I think I would be leaving too much money on the table. I already thought about the wash sale rule and realizing I need to consider both accounts together and no...
- Sat Apr 14, 2018 4:30 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: 2-year AA Munis at Vanguard and Fidelity Today
- Replies: 100
- Views: 5811
Re: 2-year AA Munis at Vanguard and Fidelity Today
^ This will depend on your investment philosophy. Interest rates were very, very low for many years. Many of us learned during that time to "suck it up" and accept yields for what they were. That doesn't mean that we weren't hurt in the learning process because it's incredibly tempting to squeeze ev...
- Sat Apr 14, 2018 3:30 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: 2-year AA Munis at Vanguard and Fidelity Today
- Replies: 100
- Views: 5811
Re: 2-year AA Munis at Vanguard and Fidelity Today
^ I would strongly urge avoiding IL bonds. Even the state's general obligation bonds are rated BBB-, which is really getting down there. And a state cannot declare bankruptcy! It has been drilled into my head that bonds are for safety and the few bucks you're going to pick up with IL bonds are just ...
- Sat Apr 14, 2018 2:17 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: NJ passes law in response to SALT limits
- Replies: 9
- Views: 1970
Re: NJ passes law in response to SALT limits
Suz,
You're correct. To say that you cannot take a charitable contribution in its entirety "if you get something in return" is not true. California has had this program for several years and I'm not aware of any IRS challenge.
https://www.ftb.ca.gov/individuals/Coll ... edit.shtml
You're correct. To say that you cannot take a charitable contribution in its entirety "if you get something in return" is not true. California has had this program for several years and I'm not aware of any IRS challenge.
https://www.ftb.ca.gov/individuals/Coll ... edit.shtml
- Sat Apr 14, 2018 1:38 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: 2-year AA Munis at Vanguard and Fidelity Today
- Replies: 100
- Views: 5811
Re: 2-year AA Munis at Vanguard and Fidelity Today
When you're buying a municipal bond, you're going to want a premium bond or at least a discount de minimis bond. If your discount bond is beyond de minimis, you're going to pay regular income tax on the gain (not just a capital gain), so it's best to avoid them. I don't believe this is correct--at ...
- Fri Apr 13, 2018 8:06 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Anyone in high bracket switching to muni. Money market?
- Replies: 14
- Views: 1246
Re: Anyone in high bracket switching to muni. Money market?
NIIT is only applicable on your federal return. Your T-bill interest is part of your AGI on your federal return (but it's not included on the state return).BlackcatCA wrote: ↑Fri Apr 13, 2018 7:44 pmThanks for reminding about NIIT for TEY calculations. Does T-bill interest exempt from NIIT also?
- Fri Apr 13, 2018 8:04 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: 2-year AA Munis at Vanguard and Fidelity Today
- Replies: 100
- Views: 5811
Re: 2-year AA Munis at Vanguard and Fidelity Today
@Kevin Re: Kaiser bonds I hope you do realize that you bought the bonds above par, and upon maturity in a year, in total return, you will be losing money. He has bought a premium bond. He will get his money back in the forms of interest payments, and he'll amortize the bond accordingly. When you're...
- Fri Apr 13, 2018 5:37 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: 2-year AA Munis at Vanguard and Fidelity Today
- Replies: 100
- Views: 5811
Re: 2-year AA Munis at Vanguard and Fidelity Today
@Kevin Re: Kaiser bonds I hope you do realize that you bought the bonds above par, and upon maturity in a year, in total return, you will be losing money. He has bought a premium bond. He will get his money back in the forms of interest payments, and he'll amortize the bond accordingly. When you're...
- Fri Apr 13, 2018 5:32 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Anyone in high bracket switching to muni. Money market?
- Replies: 14
- Views: 1246
Re: Anyone in high bracket switching to muni. Money market?
There's a bit of a difference between money market funds and short-term (or limited-term) muni funds. Take a look at the duration of the bond funds; your short-term fund won't change much, although the limited-term fund could. But the OP is asking about the muni money market funds, which would defin...
- Thu Apr 12, 2018 8:40 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: 2-year AA Munis at Vanguard and Fidelity Today
- Replies: 100
- Views: 5811
Re: 2-year AA Munis at Vanguard and Fidelity Today
Kevin, I agree with your assessment on every level. I've bought munis for many years at both Vanguard and Fidelity, and Fidelity will often have a better selection. You can buy at auction with Fidelity as well, if you're every interested. Like you, Larry was extremely helpful in giving me confidence...
- Wed Apr 11, 2018 1:36 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: iShares ETFs - International Investing
- Replies: 5
- Views: 475
Re: iShares ETFs - International Investing
While most of my portfolio is at Vanguard, I have a substantial number of assets at Fidelity. Trading iShares is free at Fidelity so I started using IXUS years ago because I felt it provided a very reasonable array of broad international exposure. I don't think you need to tease out individual compo...
- Tue Apr 10, 2018 6:18 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Contribute to 401k or Roth IRA
- Replies: 8
- Views: 467
Re: Contribute to 401k or Roth IRA
My wife and I file taxes jointly and are squarely within the new 22% federal tax bracket, whether we contribute to my 401k or not. Currently, we fully contribute to our HSA and contribute the full $24,500 to my 401k. I am 52 and plan to retire at 62 to 65, not take SS until 70, and use the time bet...
- Tue Apr 10, 2018 4:23 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Wash Sale Question
- Replies: 5
- Views: 162
- Mon Apr 09, 2018 11:22 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Vangaurd Municipal Money Market VMSXX 1.39%
- Replies: 19
- Views: 2180
Re: Vangaurd Municipal Money Market VMSXX 1.39%
Just noticed that Vangaurd Municipal Money Market VMSXX is up to 1.39%. In the 35% tax bracket, that is a tax-equivalent yield of 2.14%! This significantly beats the high rate online savings accounts I have at 1.8% and 1.6%. Is VMSXX FDIC insured? If not, should I worry about that? Thanks in advanc...
- Mon Apr 09, 2018 1:47 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Post your TLH success / failures
- Replies: 6
- Views: 595
Re: Post your TLH success / failures
The 2008-2009 meltdown was brutal and, with the help of Bogleheads, I tax-loss harvested all the way to the bottom in March 2009. The carryover losses were pretty staggering, I have to admit. For the last 10 years, I've had a perpetual $3,000 loss on my federal and state income tax forms, and my cap...
- Thu Apr 05, 2018 9:13 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: State Muni Funds
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1175
Re: State Muni Funds
There has to be demand and there has to be bonds. But you'd also WANT diversification. The national intermediate muni fund has over 7500 bonds, just for perspective. The CA intermediate muni fund has nearly 3500 bonds. On the other hand, the OH, MA, and NJ long-term muni funds have about 500 bonds ...
- Wed Apr 04, 2018 4:41 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: VHCOL Home Buying Advice (Bay Area, where else?)
- Replies: 65
- Views: 4884
Re: VHCOL Home Buying Advice (Bay Area, where else?)
I wouldn't just look at the selling cost of the house; that will come later. I'd first figure out your monthly payment is going to be. It's your first house so it's not unusual to over-extend yourself in a VHCOLA. When we bought our first house, we had 80% financing plus 10% financing at a slightly ...
- Wed Apr 04, 2018 2:01 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: NY passes law to get around SALT limit
- Replies: 47
- Views: 5640
Re: NY passes law to get around SALT limit
They say that "timing is everything" although I'm still not clear how some tax relief could be thwarted by a well-crafted program. As I posted above, CA has been offering this program, which is different from the NY program but with a similar end result, since 2014. They have awarded up to nearly $1...
- Wed Apr 04, 2018 12:36 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: NY passes law to get around SALT limit
- Replies: 47
- Views: 5640
Re: NY passes law to get around SALT limit
This concept is not new although the details are varied. We have had this in California for several years: https://www.ftb.ca.gov/individuals/College_Access_Tax_Credit.shtml I think there is plenty of wiggle room when it comes to changing around the percentages, but I don't see how the IRS would arg...
- Wed Apr 04, 2018 11:46 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Large capital loss
- Replies: 14
- Views: 1025
Re: Large capital loss
Do you live in a high cost of living area? Has your real estate appreciated beyond the $250K/$500K limit? If so, that's your large capital gain if you'd like to sell.
- Tue Apr 03, 2018 4:50 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: State Muni Funds
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1175
Re: State Muni Funds
There has to be demand and there has to be bonds. But you'd also WANT diversification. The national intermediate muni fund has over 7500 bonds, just for perspective. The CA intermediate muni fund has nearly 3500 bonds. On the other hand, the OH, MA, and NJ long-term muni funds have about 500 bonds e...
- Tue Apr 03, 2018 4:22 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: William Bernstein: Retirement Investing and Spending in two easy steps
- Replies: 77
- Views: 9000
Re: William Bernstein: Retirement Investing and Spending in two easy steps
The “stop playing” meme came from an article I wrote for the WSJ a few years back. They only gave me 800 words, and that doesn’t leave a lot of room for nuance or detail. If they’d have given me 5,000 words, here’s what I’d have added: 1) All-TIPS is for the part of your portfolio that you need to ...
- Tue Apr 03, 2018 12:57 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Delaying HSA W/D as Long as Possible -- HSA funds on death?
- Replies: 9
- Views: 823
Re: Delaying HSA W/D as Long as Possible -- HSA funds on death?
^ I like this step-wise approach although I'd add that if you're charitably inclined, you can leave your HSA to a charity if there's no spouse. This is especially smart if you're going to leave something to a charity anyway, because leaving the HSA to that charity will allow funds elsewhere to be tr...
- Mon Apr 02, 2018 5:17 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Wash sale question- are ITOT and VTI Substantially Identical?
- Replies: 60
- Views: 3405
Re: Wash sale question- are ITOT and VTI Substantially Identical?
I will admit that I am not an IRS agent. I have always interpreted the wash sale "spirit of the law" as meaning that you may "get stuck" with something, meaning that there has been "risk" (i.e., "getting stuck" with the large cap fund). I had no way of knowing in March, 2009, that it was the nadir ...
- Sat Mar 31, 2018 4:39 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Wash sale question- are ITOT and VTI Substantially Identical?
- Replies: 60
- Views: 3405
Re: Wash sale question- are ITOT and VTI Substantially Identical?
No. During the 2008-2009 meltdown, I tax-loss harvested to a degree that I had never done before (or since). I wound up TLH-ing in early March, at the nadir, to the Large Cap Stock index. I was never really able to sell at a loss so I've kept it and gradually transferred it to my Donor Advised Fund...
- Fri Mar 30, 2018 8:29 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Fidelity Money Market Funds for everyday expenses
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1673
Re: Fidelity Money Market Funds for everyday expenses
If you can, the Fidelity Money Market Fund [Premium Class] has a current yield of 1.66%. It'll cost you to get in and there is a minimum balance, but you can easily spend down quickly after you open it, so you don't have to tie up large sums. In reality, unless you're talking about huge sums of mone...
- Fri Mar 30, 2018 8:20 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Wash sale question- are ITOT and VTI Substantially Identical?
- Replies: 60
- Views: 3405
Re: Wash sale question- are ITOT and VTI Substantially Identical?
Nobody knows. There is probably no issue but what's the point of sailing close to the wind? It's only for 31 days. How different can the returns for one month between Total Stock and an S&P 500 ETF like SPY or VOO possibly be? It can't possibly matter much--and yet surely there are substantially di...
- Fri Mar 30, 2018 5:28 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Max 401(k) before ROTH IRA?
- Replies: 12
- Views: 732
Re: Max 401(k) before ROTH IRA?
^ At the end of the day, you're going to want tax diversification. You're going to ideally have a taxable account, a tax-deferred account, a Roth, and an HSA. The whole idea is to pick and choose how you want to tap your resources later. It doesn't matter to me how you get those accounts, but you're...
- Fri Mar 30, 2018 5:23 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Wash sale question- are ITOT and VTI Substantially Identical?
- Replies: 60
- Views: 3405
Re: Wash sale question- are ITOT and VTI Substantially Identical?
Nobody knows. There is probably no issue but what's the point of sailing close to the wind? It's only for 31 days. How different can the returns for one month between Total Stock and an S&P 500 ETF like SPY or VOO possibly be? It can't possibly matter much--and yet surely there are substantially di...
- Fri Mar 30, 2018 12:14 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Max 401(k) before ROTH IRA?
- Replies: 12
- Views: 732
Re: Max 401(k) before ROTH IRA?
for most people they should max out their 401k before they max out their roth because they will likely retire at a lower income bracket than their working years. Not necessarily. The marginal tax brackets are very different now than they were a year ago, so I cannot agree with your comment. The OP'...
- Thu Mar 29, 2018 7:50 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Muni bonds and WSJ article.
- Replies: 12
- Views: 1488
Re: Muni bonds and WSJ article.
To summarize article in today’WSJ, more and more of city and state budgets are consumed by medicaid and pension obligations. States such as Illinois is bordering on bankruptcy and cities are receiving less funding from states in order to balance their budgets. Does this raise any concern by Bogelhe...
- Thu Mar 29, 2018 10:17 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: IRMAA and Roth Conversions
- Replies: 21
- Views: 1122
Re: IRMAA and Roth Conversions
There are plenty of articles helping you with this, but I've found that Kitces does a great synopsis: https://www.kitces.com/blog/irmaa-medicare-part-b-part-d-premium-surcharges-new-2018-magi-thresholds/ As others have mentioned, the IRMAA brackets are rigid so if you're over by $1, you're in the ne...
- Thu Mar 29, 2018 10:07 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Lowest Fees Donor Advised Fund?
- Replies: 11
- Views: 589
Re: Lowest Fees Donor Advised Fund?
I use Fidelity because it allows grants as small as $50. Yes - our choice as well If the amounts planned for a DAF are large enough, you could have both Vanguard and Fidelity. Use Vanguard for larger balances and grants, and Fidelity for lower ones. Yes. This is the best option for me as well (usin...
- Thu Mar 29, 2018 10:03 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Muni Money Market funds starting to look good!
- Replies: 111
- Views: 19068
Re: Muni Money Market funds starting to look good!
Pardon my ignorance, but is there any reason to hold Vanguard Municipal Money Market Fund over Vanguard California Municipal Money Market Fund (VCTXX)? I live in California. I presume if I held Vanguard Municipal Money Market Fund may owe some states taxes on dividends since pooled from different s...
- Wed Mar 28, 2018 9:23 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: If investor adjusts Cost Basis, then do brokerages flag that change to IRS?
- Replies: 5
- Views: 594
Re: If investor adjusts Cost Basis, then do brokerages flag that change to IRS?
You will be given a 1099-B for your brokerage account which will list your sales. This information will also be reported to the IRS. On your federal tax return, you'll be entering the trades on Form 8949. Each trade should match your 1099-B if the trade involved covered shares. If the numbers don't ...
- Wed Mar 28, 2018 9:15 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: HSA from taxable state to non-taxable state
- Replies: 5
- Views: 407
Re: HSA from taxable state to non-taxable state
As above, you'll need to sever all of your ties to CA. It would be the cleanest break if you have no property, your driver's license changes, your voter registration changes, and you have established a residence (preferably with your job) in another state. If you have property in CA that you're goin...
- Tue Mar 27, 2018 7:33 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: How to Determine Actual Muni Bond Return?
- Replies: 71
- Views: 4720
Re: How to Determine Actual Muni Bond Return?
Tread, You'll have to figure where your priorities are because there are some points which may be important and some not. First, think about individual bond traders this way, especially when it comes to munis. There are investors and there are dealers. There are experienced investors and there are i...