Search found 4832 matches

by Browser
Sat Oct 17, 2015 10:59 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Suggestions for 95-yr old MIL's new assisted living apartment
Replies: 56
Views: 7291

Re: Suggestions for 95-yr old MIL's new assisted living apartment

My mother is 98 and lives in an independent-living residence. Her apartment has a small kitchen and she likes to fix her own meals often, although there is a dining room with meals available also. Our major concerns for her have been these: 1) Falls - you have to do everything possible to minimize this risk. That includes grab bars and rails in bathroom and shower, removal of rugs that can slide or trip, a rail on her bed so she can get in and out more safely, provision of a cane, walker, and wheeled walker, proper shoes, etc. etc. A serious fall will end her up in a nursing home and if you think things are tough to deal with now... 2) Proper nutrition - if she wants her own food in her apartment she has to have what she needs. That means d...
by Browser
Sat Oct 17, 2015 10:23 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do you prefer pulling a trailer with your car, or a car with your RV?
Replies: 50
Views: 9586

Re: Do you prefer pulling a trailer with your car, or a car with your RV?

Isn't the diesel VW Toureg affected by the VW diesel scandal?
by Browser
Sat Oct 17, 2015 8:48 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do you prefer pulling a trailer with your car, or a car with your RV?
Replies: 50
Views: 9586

Re: Do you prefer pulling a trailer with your car, or a car with your RV?

midmoder wrote:
Browser wrote:BTW, I was looking at Airstream and they make a 16-foot trailer which, while rather pricey, is an Airstream. Base weight is 2860 lbs. Wonder what you think of that one and if a SUV tow-rated at 3500 lbs. is enough.
You're asking this on an investment forum? You might check out the Airstream forum (http://www.airforums.com/).
Thanks for the link. I've found so far that one owner pulls the Airstream Sport with a 2015 Jeep Cherokee, which is a small SUV rated at 4500 lbs. That's probably pretty much the minimum tow rating for the Sport, I'd guess. I'm assuming that something like the Scamp 16 could be towed by vehicles rated at 3500 lbs. which opens up a lot more buying possibilities for 5-passenger SUVs.
by Browser
Fri Oct 16, 2015 10:45 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 30-Year TIPS Auction October 22 2015
Replies: 51
Views: 6766

Re: 30-Year TIPS Auction October 22 2015

Just another quick question: is there any circumstance which could justify owning 30-year TIPs instead of an equivalent amount in I-Bonds? The only two I can think of are that you can't own I-Bonds inside your tax-deferred account, and you are limited to $10K purchase per year. The $10K might not be an issue if you only want to generate no more than $10K in inflation-adjusted annual income in retirement. And some folks might have the taxable funds to buy outside a tax-deferred account. I-Bonds have the distinct advantage of having no term risk, so you can liquidate them quite flexibly in any amount at any time while having the inflation protection.
by Browser
Fri Oct 16, 2015 10:32 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Can I justify converting $66K TIPS in TIRA to a Roth IRA?
Replies: 14
Views: 3148

Re: Can I justify converting $66K TIPS in TIRA to a Roth IRA?

You don't need to lose the inflation protection of the TIPS ladder with your RMDs. If you have to sell a TIPS in the IRA to take an RMD that you don't need for spending, you can buy the same TIPS in your taxable account, keeping the same ladder but split between two accounts. Are you always going to be in a 33% (or close) tax bracket? If so, then converting to a Roth is a good move; the IRS and state already own 33% of your IRA, and you are just paying the tax early, and getting more tax-deferred space because you own 100% of the Roth. But if you expect to be in a 15% tax bracket when these TIPS mature, then you want to keep the traditional IRA as long as possible. What makes it so tricky to figure is the sliding scale for taxation of SS b...
by Browser
Fri Oct 16, 2015 3:34 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 30-Year TIPS Auction October 22 2015
Replies: 51
Views: 6766

Re: 30-Year TIPS Auction October 22 2015

Something I have been pondering: The coupon rate of this TIPS is 0.750%. You can buy it at a 10-12% discount, and then you will collect 0.75% a year in interest on your accrued principal, which rises with inflation. That is 0.75% in cash flow, for 29 years, 4 months. The point is: The real yield of 1.2% above inflation is embedded in the discount you receive when you buy the TIPS. And then your principal rises with inflation. But that money remains with the TIPS until you sell it or it matures. Not a bad deal, but just pointing out the cash flow from this TIPS is not great. In February 2016 a new 30-year TIPS will be issued, and if yields then are higher than 1.25%, the coupon rate would be 1.25%. Better cash flow. Check me on this. The YT...
by Browser
Fri Oct 16, 2015 9:34 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do you prefer pulling a trailer with your car, or a car with your RV?
Replies: 50
Views: 9586

Re: Do you prefer pulling a trailer with your car, or a car with your RV?

What do these numbers mean in terms of figuring out the total tow weight of the Airstream Sport 16' trailer?
Hitch Weight (w/LP & w/o options, water & cargo) (lbs.) 350
Unit Base Weight (w/LP & w/o options, water & cargo) (lbs.) 2,860
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (lbs.) 3,500
Net Carrying Capacity (NCC=GVWR-UBW) (lbs.) 640
Is GVWR the total weight that you (should) have with the trailer loaded? Or can it be heavier than that?
by Browser
Fri Oct 16, 2015 8:29 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 30-Year TIPS Auction October 22 2015
Replies: 51
Views: 6766

Re: 30-Year TIPS Auction October 22 2015

As an alternative to buying the long nominal treasury (TLT or EDV) for portfolio diversification purposes, what do you think of buying the 30-year TIP? I'm worried about the inflation risk of the long nominals, but I realized the long TIP would also carry the interest rate risk of the nominal if one plans not to hold it until maturity.
by Browser
Fri Oct 16, 2015 8:22 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do you prefer pulling a trailer with your car, or a car with your RV?
Replies: 50
Views: 9586

Re: Do you prefer pulling a trailer with your car, or a car with your RV?

I'm in the market for a new SUV and am trying to decide whether to get something that can pull a small trailer. I want to stay as small and economical with the SUV as possible and mainly interested in 5-passenger models without the 3rd row. For the most part, these seem to have a tow capacity of 3500 lbs. I think the Jeep Grand Cherokee goes a little higher. What tow SUVs do folks recommend in this category? BTW, I was looking at Airstream and they make a 16-foot trailer which, while rather pricey, is an Airstream. Base weight is 2860 lbs. Wonder what you think of that one and if a SUV tow-rated at 3500 lbs. is enough. http://www.airstream.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/15-Sport16_740.jpg http://www.airstream.com/travel-trailers/sport/
by Browser
Thu Oct 15, 2015 2:54 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do you prefer pulling a trailer with your car, or a car with your RV?
Replies: 50
Views: 9586

Re: Do you prefer pulling a trailer with your car, or a car with your RV?

I like the looks of this rig: As mentioned upthread, we can highly recommend the small fiberglass travel trailers and SUV tow vehicle as providing the greatest flexibility when camping, either in remote areas or established campgrounds. The trailers are very durable and much lighter than the larger, stick-built travel trailers and consequently one's gas mileage is better. Plus, they are very easy to maneuver in and out of tight campsites, even with just one person. Adapting to living in the tight spaces of a small travel trailer does take some getting used to, but once it's set it up to meet one's needs, either for a couple or single person, the freedom of travel is wonderful. In the summer, we regularly travel and camp for weeks at a time...
by Browser
Thu Oct 15, 2015 8:25 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: [article on effect of missing 5 best or worst days of the year]
Replies: 30
Views: 3996

[article on effect of missing 5 best or worst days of the year]

Here's an interesting comparison of your stock market gains since 2000 with a lump sum investment if you had been able to miss the 5 worst days each year, missed the 5 best days, or simply done nothing. http://ei.marketwatch.com//Multimedia/2015/10/14/Photos/ZH/MW-DW421_timing_20151014135512_ZH.jpg?uuid=b7cca4f4-729c-11e5-9626-0015c588e0f6 http://www.marketwatch.com/story/risky-business-the-upside-and-downside-to-timing-the-stock-market-2015-10-14?dist=beforebell What I'd like to see is the returns if you had missed the 5 worst days and the 5 best days each year. Since the best days and the worst days tend to occur together during the same timeframe that might have been possible by using something like a moving average timing system.
by Browser
Thu Oct 15, 2015 8:12 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Can I justify converting $66K TIPS in TIRA to a Roth IRA?
Replies: 14
Views: 3148

Re: Can I justify converting $66K TIPS in TIRA to a Roth IRA?

The problem I have with selling one of the bonds to provide cash for the RMDs is that cash earns nada for me while it's sitting there to fund my RMDs. I can, of course, sell just a few bonds each year just enough to cover the RMD but that's the hassle I'd like to eliminate for myself as I grow older. #crunchers idea to sell enough bonds to cover RMDs and put the proceeds into a TIPs fund has the concern that the fund doesn't really provide the locked-down inflation and deflation protection that holding TIPs to maturity does. Frankly, it's the inflation "insurance" aspect of owning TIPs that is my main reason to own them at all.
by Browser
Wed Oct 14, 2015 4:45 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do you prefer pulling a trailer with your car, or a car with your RV?
Replies: 50
Views: 9586

Do you prefer pulling a trailer with your car, or a car with your RV?

I'd like to hear from recreational road warriors which they prefer and why: Pulling a travel trailer with your vehicle, or driving an RV and pulling a tow car? It would be nice to not have to worry about hitching two vehicles together, but I'm not sure I could get by with something like a Class B with no auxiliary vehicle for local get-arounds. But it would be nice to hear about that option too.
by Browser
Wed Oct 14, 2015 4:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: VW auto emissions problem - coming to your brand too?
Replies: 12
Views: 2275

Re: VW auto emissions problem - coming to your brand too?

telemark wrote:Coming to your brand, perhaps, but not to your car unless you live in Europe or the U.K. Volkswagen was the only brand selling diesel models in the U.S.
Of the brands mentioned, both Mercedes and Jeep sell diesels in the U.S. I'm thinking I'll be avoiding anything with diesel engines when I buy my next vehicle. I may also avoid any brand that sells them because if they get sucked into this emission scandal it's likely to affect the whole brand. Then there are the pickup trucks with diesel engines that I think all the major U.S. brands produce. What about those?
by Browser
Wed Oct 14, 2015 4:33 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can estimated tax be covered by withholding?
Replies: 7
Views: 1988

Re: Can estimated tax be covered by withholding?

When I found out about this, I stopped paying estimated taxes and have the amount needed to cover my taxes withheld from my retirement distribution at the end of each calendar year. However, my state wants estimated taxes to be paid. Since I wanted to get rid of the hassle, I just didn't do it and I pay my state tax when I file my return. I suppose they can get nasty about this, but so far I haven't had any trouble doing this for the last 3 years or so. But it's worth checking into.
by Browser
Wed Oct 14, 2015 10:58 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: VW auto emissions problem - coming to your brand too?
Replies: 12
Views: 2275

VW auto emissions problem - coming to your brand too?

So, it looks like the new emissions testing regime outside the lab is turning up more brands with the "issue." Wonder where this is going? Hopefully there is no deliberate deception, but who knows? Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Mazda and Mitsubishi are producing cars which emit far more pollution on the road than they do in a lab, according to new tests. The four car giants join Volkswagen on the growing list of companies whose diesel vehicles passed the EU's official regulatory test in a laboratory setting, but fail to meet them in realistic driving situations. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3266908/Mercedes-Honda-Mazda-Mitsubishi-latest-manufacturers-cars-emit-far-pollution-road-lab.html#ixzz3oYfLaeTi The Guardian revealed last...
by Browser
Tue Oct 13, 2015 9:40 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Can I justify converting $66K TIPS in TIRA to a Roth IRA?
Replies: 14
Views: 3148

Re: Can I justify converting $66K TIPS in TIRA to a Roth IRA?

I have only one TIRA. The bulk of my assets are in my TIAA 403(b) where I am currently earning between 3% - 4% in Traditional and have no wish to transfer anything to my TIRA and roll the dice over there. The TIRA has only the TIPS ladder. Before I started taking social security and was in a lower bracket I converted a good part of the TIRA to a Roth and paid the tax. The TIPS ladder is left. It would be great if I could pool the 403(b) and TIRA for purposes of paying the RMD, but that's not allowed. I could transfer the RMD amount every year from the 403(b) to the TIRA to cover the RMD, but the problem is that this just gets too complex when what I want to do is make things simpler for myself and anyone else who might be dealing with this.
by Browser
Tue Oct 13, 2015 1:19 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Can I justify converting $66K TIPS in TIRA to a Roth IRA?
Replies: 14
Views: 3148

Can I justify converting $66K TIPS in TIRA to a Roth IRA?

I presently have $66,000 in a 6-year TIPS ladder that mature annually from 2024-2029. Having them in a TIRA is a bit of a pain because I must take my RMDs from this account. The interest paid out by the TIPS isn't sufficient to cover the RMDs, so I would need to sell a small amount of the TIPS each year to generate the capital for the RMD. This sort of defeats the purpose of the TIPS ladder, which was to provide some inflation-protected income during the period in which they mature. I'd love to move these things to a Roth IRA. I've estimated the income tax I'd have to pay if I converted the entire TIRA this year and it would be about 33% of the $66K both Federal and State. I'd be able to pay the additional tax from other funds sitting aroun...
by Browser
Mon Oct 12, 2015 1:48 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: SUV recommendation
Replies: 55
Views: 10603

Re: SUV recommendation

I don't even want to image what TomatoTomahto is going to do with his Tesla -- but he probably never leaves the metro confines. :) There is a Tesla service shop within 3 miles of my house. i have not left the Northeast via auto in many years, and there are loads of service and charging opportunities in the Northeast. Additionally, there is less to go wrong without a complicated internal combustion engine, transmission, driveshaft, radiator, etc. involved. It's good that it is that close -- so you can push it in when it breaks down. :P BTW, I've been having a heck of a time with the website for 3 days now. It times out every time I try to post. I have to copy my posts before I try to submit them so I can redo it several times. Anybody else?...
by Browser
Mon Oct 12, 2015 12:32 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Snowbirds: how to deal with different mailing addresses
Replies: 8
Views: 4597

Re: Snowbirds: how to deal with different mailing addresses

I've run into the "no forwarding" problem with credit cards. It seems when new ones are mailed out they don't get forwarded from my winter address to my summer address - since I guess the financial institutions specify Do Not Forward on the letter. Hey, then I just found out it is a simple matter to go online with your accounts and change your mailing address there when you are expecting a mailing and then change it back later. Of course, that won't catch the unexpected mailings but might be good enough for the other 95%.
by Browser
Mon Oct 12, 2015 9:51 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: SUV recommendation
Replies: 55
Views: 10603

Re: SUV recommendation

yukonjack wrote:You seem to be leaning towards the Lexus so I would consider waiting for the redesigned RX350 that is due out at the end of 2015. It reportedly will have a third row of seats. It would certainly fit in the 50k to 60k range. Although given the RX's popularity you would probably be in for a wait. Also I would recommend researching CR rather than seeking anecdotal evidence from a small sampling of bogleheads.
Do you really want to be seen in THIS THING?

Image
by Browser
Mon Oct 12, 2015 9:42 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: SUV recommendation
Replies: 55
Views: 10603

Re: SUV recommendation

Perhaps you noticed that we finally "caved" and got an XC60, despite previous concerns and comments about the rough ride. We began to realize that with the streets here, including occasional major potholes, it was an exercise in futility to try to have "comfort over the nasty road areas" as such a key factor, because in reality, *nothing* was really doing a good job (nothing in our price range, including a pricey MB, which really was a surprise). Been shopping SUV's forever and the ride of the XC60 over rough roads has been the deal-breaker for me so far, but I still haven't found the one vehicle that checks all the boxes for me. The other nitpicky thing that bugged me was that there doesn't seem to be anyplace on the c...
by Browser
Mon Oct 12, 2015 9:16 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Anything bad to say about the Lexus RX-350?
Replies: 21
Views: 8364

Re: Anything bad to say about the Lexus RX-350?

Leesbro63 wrote:I just both one. The deals on the remaining 2015 are excellent. We also are unsure about the redesign which might be too big. You can't beat Lexus quality.
Just how good are those deals on the 2015? That's what I'd get because the restyled 2016 looks hideous with Toyota's new ugly front end grille treatment.
by Browser
Sun Oct 11, 2015 9:42 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is there a problem with glidepath (target date funds) for retirement savers?
Replies: 87
Views: 15024

Re: Is there a problem with glidepath (target date funds) for retirement savers?

Browser - I have highlighted the problem with your analysis. For simplicity, you have made a truly bogus assumption. If you invest over 30 years, you are compounding your early contributions for more years and your expected returns are also higher in the earlier years. By assuming zero growth you have overlooked both key factors, so the analysis is flawed. I was merely trying to give a simple illustration - not conduct a definitive analysis. I don't really understand your point. All I was illustrating is that the dollar-weighted allocation to Asset B will be higher than the average percentage allocation to Asset B if you are systematically shifting the allocation toward Asset B as the portfolio grows larger - whether that is from growth of...
by Browser
Sun Oct 11, 2015 9:11 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Anything bad to say about the Lexus RX-350?
Replies: 21
Views: 8364

Re: Anything bad to say about the Lexus RX-350?

knowledge wrote:The bad? It's boring and ubiquitous. Those are pretty tame negatives, and I wouldn't have gone wrong by concluding my crossover shopping with an RX. I feel as though about 50% of the cars I see on the road are RX'es (obvious exaggeration - though maybe not by much), so I ended up with a used Volvo XC60 - not a rare car by any means, and certainly no sports sedan, but it fit what I was looking for while being a bit different.
What year is your XC60 and how do you like the ride? I've been considering one but felt the ride was a little stiff over bumpy and rough road surfaces.
by Browser
Sun Oct 11, 2015 3:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Anything bad to say about the Lexus RX-350?
Replies: 21
Views: 8364

Anything bad to say about the Lexus RX-350?

Thought I'd take a look at one of these in my continuing quest for my ideal 5-passenger SUV. Before I get too crazy with this one I'm wondering what the warts are. Would love to hear from owners and others what they don't like about it and why it's not worth the upscale price.
by Browser
Sun Oct 11, 2015 11:50 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is there a problem with glidepath (target date funds) for retirement savers?
Replies: 87
Views: 15024

Re: "Automatic' Gains for Target-Date Investors"

I think the simple fact remains this : Target Date funds since their inception have failed to outperform ordinary static balanced allocations, either in terms of maximizing the real value of one's nestegg or in terms of reducing uncertainty about the prospective income one will have in retirement. I await data to the contrary. Browser: Read this: Automatic' Gains for Target-Date Investors Best wishes. Taylor Very important point about setting and forgetting one's portfolio allocation. And it is probably true that a lot of people simply take the default option in their company retirement plan and just stick with that, which presently is most likely going to be a TDF. And the hype around TDFs probably persuades people to do that. But I figur...
by Browser
Sun Oct 11, 2015 11:31 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is there a problem with glidepath (target date funds) for retirement savers?
Replies: 87
Views: 15024

Re: Is there a problem with glidepath (target date funds) for retirement savers?

The glidepath strategy holds out the promise of reducing the volatility and drawdown risks of one's retirement portfolio as one approaches retirement, thus providing more certainty about the income it can provide during retirement. I don't agree that the glidepath method actually does that effectively, since it isn't directed toward an income goal in the first place. But setting that point aside, that expectation would be most appealing to people who can least afford portfolio losses as this would put their income needs for retirement in peril, with a large consequent impact on their retirement plans. It seems to me, ironically, these are the very people who would be much better off not using a TDF, and instead following a "floor"...
by Browser
Sun Oct 11, 2015 10:57 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is there a problem with glidepath (target date funds) for retirement savers?
Replies: 87
Views: 15024

Re: Is there a problem with glidepath (target date funds) for retirement savers?

I think the simple fact remains this: Target Date funds since their inception have failed to outperform ordinary static balanced allocations, either in terms of maximizing the real value of one's nestegg or in terms of reducing uncertainty about the prospective income one will have in retirement. I await data to the contrary. Until then, I can see little merit in TDFs beyond the typical "set it and forget" it lazy portfolio strategies -- even for the bozos.
by Browser
Sat Oct 10, 2015 1:28 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is there a problem with glidepath (target date funds) for retirement savers?
Replies: 87
Views: 15024

Re: Is there a problem with glidepath (target date funds) for retirement savers?

It's worth noting that Arnott, et. al. found that, if you measure the success of glidepath in terms of ending portfolio value (higher being better), the range of ending portfolio values (smaller being better), or the downside ending portfolio value (higher being better) then a static allocation apparently beats a declining equity glidepath, and in turn is beaten by a rising equity allocation glidepath. Now I'm not sure I would actually want to increase my equity allocation over time, but I think I'd be comfortable simply holding a static allocation such as 50/50 or 60/40 and not using a declining equity glidepath. I've not seen any data to contradict Arnott's findings that you would probably be better off to do so. It seems shameful to me t...
by Browser
Fri Oct 09, 2015 3:35 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is there a problem with glidepath (target date funds) for retirement savers?
Replies: 87
Views: 15024

Re: Is there a problem with glidepath (target date funds) for retirement savers?

Browser - This is my understanding of Target Date Retirement Funds. I think Target Date Funds are especially important to the vast majority of workers who have no idea how to invest and have no interest in learning. Vanguard, Fidelity and T.Rowe Price designed their Target Date Funds for them, so these workers will not be left overly stock heavy in retirement - at chance of losing everything - or overly bond heavy during their working years - making very little headway. The funds are not perfect, but they are FAR superior to doing nothing. The average person often does nothing, and that is, unfortunately, what many secretaries and professionals in my office do - because they can't and don't learn the basics to invest and they see this long...
by Browser
Fri Oct 09, 2015 3:25 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is there a problem with glidepath (target date funds) for retirement savers?
Replies: 87
Views: 15024

Re: Is there a problem with glidepath (target date funds) for retirement savers?

Kosmo - I'm not sure a fully understand your point. In your second example, you show a series of allocations that violate the glidepath. The allocation to stocks goes from 80% to 20% and then back to 50%. This wouldn't be a glidepath allocation formula, which systematically lowers stock allocation over time while increasing the bond allocation. What we find is that the glidepath formula increases the bond allocation at the same time the portfolio is growing in value. The combination causes the dollar-weighted bond allocation to be higher than the average allocation to bonds over that timeframe. If I were to throw in an extra investment in stocks (as you did when inserting the 50% allocation) then, sure, that would increase the dollar-weight...
by Browser
Fri Oct 09, 2015 2:34 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is there a problem with glidepath (target date funds) for retirement savers?
Replies: 87
Views: 15024

Re: The best way to save yourself from a stock market crash?

Taylor Larimore wrote:
I'm not completely confident that they (target-date funds) are necessarily the best way to save yourself from a stock market crash

Browser:

What do you suggest is the "best way?"

Thank you and best wishes
Taylor
Well, let me say that the target date method seems to have lots of room for improvement if we go on the basis of past performance. I figure the experts are hard at work on it and I await their accomplishments. :)
by Browser
Fri Oct 09, 2015 1:59 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Has anyone tried to buy a new VW?
Replies: 14
Views: 3549

Re: Has anyone tried to buy a new VW?

Hope we don't turn this thread into another VW rant and have it locked. I'd really like to hear if someone has been shopping VW trying to get a discount price and if they've been successful. I might be interested in pursuing that route if it looks promising. I'd even buy a diesel if I thought the dealer would sell one to me at a big discount, but I'm assuming they can't sell them now.
by Browser
Fri Oct 09, 2015 1:55 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is there a problem with glidepath (target date funds) for retirement savers?
Replies: 87
Views: 15024

Re: Is there a problem with glidepath (target date funds) for retirement savers?

Browser: It is notable that experts in ALL major companies (including Vanguard) have designed similar target-date glide paths. To my knowledge, they ALL begin with a high allocation to stocks at younger ages and end with a high allocation to bonds in retirement. The primary reason is that most retirees cannot afford to lose their life-savings in a stock market crash. Target-date funds: Looking beyond the glide path in 2014 Best wishes. Taylor Thanks Taylor - Most people would generally agree that it's safer to have more money in bonds and I wouldn't disagree in general. But how much did TDFs actually help during the stock market "crash" that lasted from 11/07 to 3/09? Vanguard's target date fund designed for people who would reti...
by Browser
Fri Oct 09, 2015 12:48 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Has anyone tried to buy a new VW?
Replies: 14
Views: 3549

Has anyone tried to buy a new VW?

I keep reading articles about how the values of used VWs are down and customers for VWs, even the non-diesels, are cautious. Seems like a good time to try to buy one, but if I've thought of that the bozos probably have too and it won't work. Has anybody tried to get a good deal on a new one since the scandal, and how did it go?
by Browser
Fri Oct 09, 2015 12:20 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Made the phone carrier switch out of AT&T!
Replies: 19
Views: 5124

Re: Made the phone carrier switch out of AT&T!

aceoperations wrote:Google voice does not seem that cut and dry. Android seems to provide operation that is more seamless compared to iOS especially regarding outgoing calls. Unless you switch MVNOs that frequently, is it worth the extra hassle?
I just had my old number ported to Google Voice for $25 charge. You have to set up GV so it will forward calls to that number to your new cellphone number (whatever that is). Seemed pretty easy to me. If I change MVNOs and get a SIM with a new number, I just make the change in GV. Never have to have that number ported again. Also, I sort of liked the idea that my public phone number is not the actual number in the cellphone.
by Browser
Fri Oct 09, 2015 11:43 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Car Rear View Camera recommendations
Replies: 12
Views: 2418

Re: Car Rear View Camera recommendations

You'll get used to it and find it more useful over time. I too found my built-in one 'useless' at first, but after about 6-8 months, I've grown to find it a very valuable accessory. You'll still likely check over your shoulder, but it's really helpful for parallel parking. I absolutely agree that they are great for parking whether parallel or backing into a spot. There is no guessing as to if you are "inbetween the lines" anymore. Where I find them less useful is when I am backing up longer distances because the depth of view is so shallow. Because I mostly back up longer distance thanks to a long curved driveway, my view may be shaded towards them not being worth it. I parallel park maybe three or four times a year. Someone who ...
by Browser
Fri Oct 09, 2015 11:38 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is there a problem with glidepath (target date funds) for retirement savers?
Replies: 87
Views: 15024

Re: Is there a problem with glidepath (target date funds) for retirement savers?

no one knows what the right answer is until that last check is written to the funeral home.... 1. target date funds start with a high stock allocation and reduce it over time. 2. some people keep a 50-50 (or 60-40 or 40-60 or whatever) allocation thruout retirement. 3. and now some experts are advocating a U shaped glide path where you decrease your stock allocation to 20%-40% at retirement and then increase it 1% a year throughout retirement. To my way of thinking, the benchmark strategy should be a static fixed allocation with an allocation to stocks and bonds that represents the average allocation over time of the target date fund to which you are comparing. To simplify, if the target date fund slowly ramps down from 80% to 40% stocks i...
by Browser
Fri Oct 09, 2015 11:22 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Car Rear View Camera recommendations
Replies: 12
Views: 2418

Re: Car Rear View Camera recommendations

ddurrett896 wrote:I hate my backup camera and never use it.

I LOVEEE my backup sensors and always use them.
I've wondered about that. When I've test driven new cars with a backup cam, it seems really difficult to use the dang thing to actually back into a space. I'd much rather just be able to look backwards, but most SUVs I'm looking at have poor rearward visibility. I did find the rear corner and bumper sensors to be helpful though. On some cars you get a dash display that shows which sensors are activated so you know where the object is.
by Browser
Fri Oct 09, 2015 11:11 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is there a problem with glidepath (target date funds) for retirement savers?
Replies: 87
Views: 15024

Re: Is there a problem with glidepath (target date funds) for retirement savers?

Most retirement investors should have a much higher allocation to stocks than they think they have in their target date fund, based on correctly determining the allocation based on dollars invested in stocks instead of percentage invested. Don't target date funds rebalance their holdings (stocks to bonds, bonds to stock) so the amount in the portfolio equals the percentages of the glidepath? In which case, it's not how much you invest; isn't it how the fund invests what you send them? Not sure if this is what you are asking, but here's a simple example of dollar-weighted vs. percentage allocation. Let's say that you invest $1,000 at two different times. At Time 1, the fund allocation is set to 80% stocks, 20% bonds. At Time 2, the allocati...
by Browser
Fri Oct 09, 2015 8:58 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Car Rear View Camera recommendations
Replies: 12
Views: 2418

Re: Car Rear View Camera recommendations

You can buy a backup cam to use with some Garmin GPS units. I believe it is wireless but that you need to connect it with wire to a tail light in order to that to switch it on when you shift into reverse and for power. Don't know how well they work, but am going to look into it since I have a Garmin that can work with it.
by Browser
Fri Oct 09, 2015 8:50 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Made the phone carrier switch out of AT&T!
Replies: 19
Views: 5124

Re: Made the phone carrier switch out of AT&T!

rs899 wrote:Another idea would be to port your number to Google Voice or Ring.to. That way, if you are not happy with Airvoice, you can easilt switch to another AT&T MVNO, or even T-mo or one of their MVNOs without ever porting again.
That's what I did several years ago, and it has allowed me to switch between MVNOs as I see fit. Since rates are always changing, it's nice to be able to move to a lower-cost provider seamlessly by simply getting a new SIM. Started with AirVoice but have since wound up with Consumer Cellular.
by Browser
Fri Oct 09, 2015 8:41 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is there a problem with glidepath (target date funds) for retirement savers?
Replies: 87
Views: 15024

Is there a problem with glidepath (target date funds) for retirement savers?

Investors who own target date funds and make regular contributions may unknowingly be overinvested in bonds relative to stocks over time. The theory behind target date funds is systematically shift the allocation from riskier stocks to conservative bonds over time. The problem with this approach for those who invest periodically is that the fund is stock-heavy in the early years when the investor has not accumulated much principal, and it is bond heavy in later years when the fund principal is larger. This results in a much higher dollar-weighted allocation to bonds than the investor may be aware of. Here's a simple example to illustrate. Let's say that an investor put $1,000 (inflation adjusted) per year over the 25 year period 1990-2014 i...
by Browser
Tue Oct 06, 2015 11:38 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Aren't we overdoing electronic auto safety features?
Replies: 267
Views: 54930

Re: Aren't we overdoing electronic auto safety features?

When I was younger they used to sell small round domed shape mirrors that you could stick onto your existing outside mirror. I had some on my van for years. I also had some on a big truck (with only side view mirrors) I drive for a summer. They work great and increase what you can see a lot. You see similar setups on lots of big truck and big pickup mirrors now. There they offset the outside mirror at a different angle to get a second view. The key is improving your vision of stuff in your "blind spot. These special mirrors work much better. I guess you get used to it and look in two different places on the mirror: the inside portion is the "normal" view you are used to and the outside portion is a different view canted to t...
by Browser
Tue Oct 06, 2015 10:05 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Aren't we overdoing electronic auto safety features?
Replies: 267
Views: 54930

Re: Aren't we overdoing electronic auto safety features?

I noticed that the driver's side mirror on the Acura has the outer edge angled out differently from the rest of the mirror. The idea is to provide a wider field of vision outward. However, I found this to be quite distracting and didn't like it a bit when test driving the vehicle. None of the other vehicles I've driven have this. Maybe this is Acura's 25-cent substitute for radar approach warning. Does anyone have this type of mirror and what do you think of it? Is it something you can get used to?
by Browser
Mon Oct 05, 2015 6:11 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Aren't we overdoing electronic auto safety features?
Replies: 267
Views: 54930

Re: Aren't we overdoing electronic auto safety features?

One reason I bought the car I recently did is that I can actually see out the rear sides for merging. Not being able to do that eliminated all of my initial choices. My car also has blind spot detection. I will have to check again how far back it sees, but I think pretty far. The backing up cross traffic warning is also very effective. Note: According to the manufacturer the car has blind spot warning and lane change assist: http://www.subaru.com/why-subaru/articles/subaru-safety-technologyblindspotdetectionwithlanechangeassist.html The lane change assist described for the Subaru is an audible warning that occurs if a car is in your blind spot and you signal to change lanes in that direction when the visual alert is illuminated. Just about...
by Browser
Mon Oct 05, 2015 6:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Aren't we overdoing electronic auto safety features?
Replies: 267
Views: 54930

Re: Aren't we overdoing electronic auto safety features?

One reason I bought the car I recently did is that I can actually see out the rear sides for merging. Not being able to do that eliminated all of my initial choices. My car also has blind spot detection. I will have to check again how far back it sees, but I think pretty far. The backing up cross traffic warning is also very effective. Note: According to the manufacturer the car has blind spot warning and lane change assist: http://www.subaru.com/why-subaru/articles/subaru-safety-technologyblindspotdetectionwithlanechangeassist.html The lane change assist described for the Subaru is an audible warning that occurs if a car is in your blind spot and you signal to change lanes in that direction when the visual alert is illuminated. Just about...
by Browser
Mon Oct 05, 2015 10:15 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: U.S. stocks in free fall
Replies: 36221
Views: 4652218

Re: U.S. stocks in freefall

It goes up -- it goes down -- and it remains the same. The market to nowhere. :arrow: