Search found 651 matches

by EyeYield
Tue Sep 28, 2021 3:35 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Teen wants to trade stocks
Replies: 78
Views: 5839

Re: Teen wants to trade stocks

“I’m inclined to set him up with “something” that he can use to gain experience.”
That’s fine, but make him earn it!

Task him with reading a book from the Boglehead’s recommended reading list that touches on history and theory (and have him explain it to you). “The Four Pillars of Investing” comes to mind but there are many more.

All the experiences and lessons have already been had and learned - no need do them all over again first hand.

He and his friends are undoubtedly influenced by media noise and Robinhood news, so try to get ahead of it, as best you can, by interjecting some solid information to give him an educated starting point. First!
Emphasize the importance of investing over trading!

Good luck :happy
by EyeYield
Sun Jun 13, 2021 2:19 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Fence & Cameras - Anticipated conflict with neighbor - asking how you would handle this situation?
Replies: 20
Views: 1888

Re: Fence & Cameras - Anticipated conflict with neighbor - asking how you would handle this situation?

Bought our home in 2016 and at the time just replaced the fence at the same location. For years, it worked just fine with our little boat and trailer. Neighbors were nice but appear to be hoarders. We recently bought a bigger boat and trailer which doesn't fit through the existing backyard gate. We measured our property based on the Property Appraiser's information and found out we had an extra foot of property beyond the fence line. We discussed this new discovery with the adjoining neighbor and that we would be moving the fence line to reclaim that land. Neighbor has put a lot onto that strip of land. We asked them to remove it. They have removed some but not all. Neighbor believes that that the majority of that strip of land is theirs. ...
by EyeYield
Sat Feb 16, 2019 2:32 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Medicare Fraud?
Replies: 25
Views: 2502

Re: Medicare Fraud?

I suspect that a recent call to my wife may have been an attempt at Medicare fraud..... we mailed it off... Am I understanding this correctly? You suspected fraud, but sent them a saliva sample anyway? If I get a call where they are trying to take advantage of me I always make them regret it. So you sent them a saliva sample from one of your pets, right? I suspect that if you answer the phone from someone you don’t know and then follow their instructions, you’re more likely to go on a “responds to fraud” list which will lead to more calls. I turned off my bell and dialed my message volume to zero five years ago and found that legitimate callers will leave a message and if I have a false alarm I expect the alarm company will call, so I watc...
by EyeYield
Mon Feb 04, 2019 2:25 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: No longer can cash Savings bonds in bank branches?
Replies: 21
Views: 22143

Re: No longer can cash Savings bonds in bank branches?

One reason I’m leaving Bank of America is that they changed their policy and now will only redeem 7 EE Bonds at a time, which means unnecessarily waiting in line several times a year.

Chase will redeem as many as I want. Chase told me there are only 20 spaces for bonds per screen, but that opening multiple screens is not a problem.

I don’t know for sure, but I suspect that the restrictions we’re seeing at some banks is due to increasing fraud with paper bonds in some locations.
by EyeYield
Wed Jan 16, 2019 8:23 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: John Bogle has died at age 89
Replies: 856
Views: 81288

Re: John Bogle is dead at 89

There’s a giant hole in the universe today.

Thanks for everything Mr Bogle.

Rest In Peace.
by EyeYield
Wed Jan 16, 2019 9:23 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Swimming, do you? Advice sought.
Replies: 91
Views: 10976

Re: Swimming, do you? Advice sought.

I swim 4000 yards every other day and plank on my off days - life in the prone lane due to knee and back problems.

A few years ago I had a cervical spine injury and found that turning my head to breathe was a real pain in the neck.
Solution, snorkel. After some trial and error, I found that the Michael Phelps Focus snorkel worked best.
https://youtu.be/tqafSHAZDoQ

Not turning my head to breathe has allowed me to concentrate on my technique and my lap times have improved.

So maybe try a snorkel until you feel more comfortable with all the mechanics of technique and breathing.
by EyeYield
Wed Jan 09, 2019 7:55 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Fell in Love with Fidelity
Replies: 103
Views: 18416

Re: Fell in Love with Fidelity

It turns out you are right, there’s no way for an individual to set his or her own limits. The first rep I talked to was wrong; many apologies from Fidelity. I’m glad I followed up on this, so thanks. I went deep into this, having been connected to Elan Financial Services, whom Fidelity outsources the debit/ATM card. The good news, that works for me at least, is that I can place a voluntary restriction on the card so it can’t be used for anything. Then when I need cash from an ATM, I can call and remove the restriction for a two hour window to get what I need. Since I only withdraw $300 in cash about ten times a year, this won’t be a tremendous burden. Actually I might be motivated to withdraw more cash each time, so I’ll visit ATM’s less....
by EyeYield
Wed Jan 09, 2019 2:39 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Fell in Love with Fidelity
Replies: 103
Views: 18416

Re: Fell in Love with Fidelity

Fidelity has been great for me. So much that I'm moving my IRA's to Fidelity (moving Roth, rolling SEP into SE 401(k), moving wife's Roth/trad IRA for non-deductible contributions). Plan on opening an IRA for non-deductible contributions and Roth conversion mid-year. I've heard some so so things about their checking (cash management) account. I just opened one, but have yet to fund it. It's probably only going to be used for ATM withdrawals as Bank of America loves to charge for every ATM transaction. Just an FYI on the Fidelity cash management accounts (CMA). The debit card you will use at ATMs, the good news is Fidelity will reimburse the 3.00 charge and it happens within a couple business days. However you cannot turn off or reduce the ...
by EyeYield
Tue Jan 08, 2019 8:30 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Fell in Love with Fidelity
Replies: 103
Views: 18416

Re: Fell in Love with Fidelity

Fidelity has been great for me. So much that I'm moving my IRA's to Fidelity (moving Roth, rolling SEP into SE 401(k), moving wife's Roth/trad IRA for non-deductible contributions). Plan on opening an IRA for non-deductible contributions and Roth conversion mid-year. I've heard some so so things about their checking (cash management) account. I just opened one, but have yet to fund it. It's probably only going to be used for ATM withdrawals as Bank of America loves to charge for every ATM transaction. Just an FYI on the Fidelity cash management accounts (CMA). The debit card you will use at ATMs, the good news is Fidelity will reimburse the 3.00 charge and it happens within a couple business days. However you cannot turn off or reduce the ...
by EyeYield
Tue Nov 20, 2018 9:57 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: U.S. stocks in free fall
Replies: 36221
Views: 4652625

Re: U.S. stocks in freefall

Some perspective.

Two years ago the Dow was at 18,956.
Today’s close was 24,465.

That’s a 29% gain in two years.

If it drops another 15% we will have, oh dear me, a pretty close to normal 7% gain per year - plus dividends over the past two years.

To build wealth over the long term you WILL have to give some back along the way, but you knew that when you signed up.

I would be surprised to see another two year gain of 29% in my lifetime, so I adjust my AA to my comfort level as I age and accept what the market provides.

I believe it’s ok to peek, but for heaven’s sake stop staring - it’s impolite.
by EyeYield
Sat Nov 10, 2018 10:26 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: This man can predict when bubbles burst: time to time the market?
Replies: 145
Views: 13705

Re: This man can predict when bubbles burst: time to time the market?

Generally in life, you only need to be born right once in regards to high stakes financial stuff, and you're set. Get it right once, and you may stop right there. Unless of course, slugging away for 40 years as a hamster-on-a-wheel to then live on 70% of what you just got by on is preferable. Not tongue in cheek, totally serious. Those shmucks slugging away like hamsters on a wheel do the heavy lifting to keep the country running and create the value that enables a tiny fraction of the population to "be right once" and become fabulously wealthy (or fabulously poor). In my opinion, being right once is not a very good strategy. I don't disagree with the first part of your statement. That said, there is no nobility is "doing th...
by EyeYield
Wed Nov 07, 2018 8:19 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: This man can predict when bubbles burst: time to time the market?
Replies: 145
Views: 13705

Re: This man can predict when bubbles burst: time to time the market?

Maybe you could help me out and point me to anywhere that he mentions he ever invested a dime of his own money. That would bepertinent. he says it here, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jncWyx3I94 and adds that banks are using his forecasts, but does not go into details. He said, paraphrasing, “during the last six months (this was in 2011) he and his collaborators were putting their money on the table and he has a growing pot where they are now doing the operational implementation, which is to build a portfolio to use the information to show how it can be implemented.” Great, so how did that work out for them? Does he ever mention what is in that portfolio? Not in that video. Did he ever follow up on the implementation from 2011? Has there...
by EyeYield
Wed Nov 07, 2018 8:02 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: This man can predict when bubbles burst: time to time the market?
Replies: 145
Views: 13705

Re: This man can predict when bubbles burst: time to time the market?

Maybe you could help me out and point me to anywhere that he mentions he ever invested a dime of his own money. That would be pertinent. Science and your brain is one thing, but your money and your brain is quite another. I would be far more interested in how he behaves than in how he thinks - when in comes to money. Thanks for any links. First, making money based on a theory is not scientific proof of the theory. Second, if you listened to the Ted talk, you will see he is doing something that could lead to a scientific hypothesis test of the theory that he can predict when "bubbles" (as he formally defines them) crash. First, I didn’t say that. Second, he didn’t say that. He didn’t use the term could, maybe, if, possibly, might ...
by EyeYield
Wed Nov 07, 2018 10:08 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: This man can predict when bubbles burst: time to time the market?
Replies: 145
Views: 13705

Re: This man can predict when bubbles burst: time to time the market?

Contrary to Fama's postulate that bubbles do not exist because of EMH, Didier Sornette shows that they do, and he apparently can predict when they burst (in this video he says he predicted the time the stock market crashed in China): https://www.ted.com/talks/didier_sornette_how_we_can_predict_the_next_financial_crisis?language=en Unlike many people who appear in the media with this kind of claims and who are clearly frauds, Sornette is a Professor at ETH in Zurich, which is one of the top universities in Europe (at least I hope so as I am spending a fortune on my daughter's education at ETH, though not under Sornette) and is respected by people like NN Taleb. So why not time the market based on his predictions? Isn't the Bogleheads philos...
by EyeYield
Sun Nov 04, 2018 8:18 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Total cost of Vangaurd ETFs when buying from Fidelity
Replies: 25
Views: 1534

Re: Total cost of Vangaurd ETFs when buying from Fidelity

You can buy ETFs that correspond to Vanguard’s low cost index ETFs at Fidelity by using the commission free iShares from BlackRock.
https://www.fidelity.com/bin-public/060 ... e-ETFs.pdf
by EyeYield
Fri Oct 19, 2018 11:06 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why Did Morningstar Eliminate Money Market Ticker Symbols?
Replies: 5
Views: 561

Re: Morningstar Not Displaying Money Market Quotes?

Thanks for the verification. The quote pages used to be an easy way to compare 7 day yield’s between MM funds, but no more.
I wonder why just MM ticker symbols have been removed?
There are many other places to get that info, but I always trusted M* to be accurate and use it for other things anyway.
by EyeYield
Thu Oct 18, 2018 9:53 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why Did Morningstar Eliminate Money Market Ticker Symbols?
Replies: 5
Views: 561

Why Did Morningstar Eliminate Money Market Ticker Symbols?

Anybody know?

Enter a ticker symbol for a MM Fund and you’ll get this.
“Not Found
The requested URL /money-market/quote was not found on this server.”
by EyeYield
Wed Oct 17, 2018 5:50 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Where would you go for financial guidance if you win the Megamillions?
Replies: 187
Views: 22000

Re: Where would you go for financial guidance if you win the Megamillions?

I would have absolutely none of the problems imagined by the OP.

I have a plan in place for this type of windfall.

Call Jack Bogle and offer my proposal to build an educational system, from K-12 on up to a four year university and grad school, that incorporated the Bogle principles into all the other regular areas of study. Any money left over would be used for scholarships. You can call it EyeYield’s Folly.

Denied that, I would write a couple of checks to philanthropy organizations that I like. Done.

I suffer from non desire for material things syndrome, so I don’t dream about sparkly stuffs.
by EyeYield
Mon Oct 15, 2018 10:08 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Relocation to California
Replies: 49
Views: 5491

Re: Relocation to California

My wife recently met her biological family who lives in the San Fernando Valley. In order for her to be closer to them and get to know them, we are thinking of relocating from Dallas to that area of California in about a year. My wife works from home so she would easily be able to make such a move. However, I would need to quit my job in Dallas and find a new job in California. Any thoughts or suggestions on this move? Renting a place from far away, paying off debt vs accumulating savings, the least expensive way to move our stuff that far? Thanks! Have you considered accomplishing the “get to know them” first, before making such a big move? “Recently met” doesn’t sound like much of a foundation. Family dynamics can get complicated sometim...
by EyeYield
Mon Oct 08, 2018 9:20 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Investment grade bonds now made up of 50% BBB rated
Replies: 26
Views: 3696

Re: Total Bond Market fund not what it used to be

That article is not referring to the TBM, so you may want to change the subject title.

iShares iBoxx $ Invmt Grade Corp Bd ETF (LQD) is the fund referred to in the article.
by EyeYield
Mon Oct 01, 2018 8:38 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Should we stay in Crazytown because there's no where to run?
Replies: 148
Views: 22399

Re: Should we stay in Crazytown because there's no where to run?

OP, Since all your questions have already been answered, here’s a response not touched on by previous responders and it’s not meant to be cruel, funny, facetious or sarcastic. It’s sincere. One way to avoid the next coming downturn is to simply not live through it. By incessantly worrying about the future, you are undoubtedly stressing your mind, body and behaviors . The negative health effects of stress are well documented and may well lead to a shortened life span. With a shorter life span you will not need your money to last as long. Problem solved. So if you continue to stand firmly on the tracks and focus on the light coming at you, all the while flinching, you may not have to worry about the next coming downturn - or anything else! Wi...
by EyeYield
Sat Sep 22, 2018 8:57 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Pay taxes on EE bonds now or later?
Replies: 11
Views: 1463

Re: Pay taxes on EE bonds now or later?

Hello sages, SIL recently discovered he has ~20k in EE bonds from the early 1990s that are currently paying 4% each year with final maturity in the early 2020s, wondering if he and DD should start paying taxes on the interest this year and every year going forward. The pro would be they are in a low tax bracket for a couple more years before both graduate from their respective graduate programs. The con would be no longer getting to defer taxes and having to pay a large sum this year and smaller sums every year after that. Anyone have experience with this and/or know how to value the tax deferral aspect against the potential tax bracket arbitrage benefit? Early 1990(s)? That could be interpreted as plural, meaning multiple years, or do the...
by EyeYield
Fri Sep 21, 2018 6:11 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: CD Ladder
Replies: 8
Views: 2382

Re: CD Ladder

You’re not missing anything, just pick your durations and select whether you want them to automatically roll over or not.

Here are a few examples:
https://fixedincome.fidelity.com/ftgw/f ... -new-issue
by EyeYield
Thu Sep 20, 2018 8:44 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Are We Headed For A Passive Index Meltdown?
Replies: 60
Views: 10771

Re: Are We Headed For A Passive Index Meltdown?

If everybody got in their cars and drove at the same time, we would be headed for a transportation meltdown.
by EyeYield
Mon Sep 17, 2018 9:08 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: “Costly race to bottom on mutual fund fees”
Replies: 13
Views: 2217

Re: “Costly race to bottom on mutual fund fees”

Do you think that you might have been susceptible to an article such as this in your pre Boglehead days? EyeYield, I had given up reading a newspaper for any real serious news a long time ago. KlangFool Klang, Once upon a pre-internet time, for some of us older investors, the only source of information was newspapers, magazines, newsletters and charts at our brokers’ office. So we really had limited sources when we searched for information. I must admit to being influenced by some of it. If the author is the same Jared Dillian mentioned in this 2011 LA Times article, interesting background: "Former trader marks Lehman's collapse as a second chance" - articles.latimes.com, Sept.15, 2011 That article puts an interesting perspective...
by EyeYield
Mon Sep 17, 2018 8:55 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: “Costly race to bottom on mutual fund fees”
Replies: 13
Views: 2217

“Costly race to bottom on mutual fund fees”

I fume when I read articles like this when it’s not predicated with the word “Advertisement” or in the Opinion section. That this, known to Bogleheads, Bloomberg writer is being picked up by a major local paper is a, misleading to the general public, shame. http://enewspaper.latimes.com/infinity/article_share.aspx?guid=9bf5f79a-f8f5-4722-ab4a-fcc4b5fd7163 Quotes for face planting: “ Sometimes, such as with high commissions on stock trades, the sales loads ensure that investors are much less likely to churn their funds if they have to pay 2% to 5% each time they want to get in or out. ” Sounds like the rationale my old “full service” broker used to employ. “ With the exception of Warren Buffett, the evidence on buy-and-hold investing is some...
by EyeYield
Tue Sep 11, 2018 9:49 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: [A Boglehead explains the simplest way to manage your money - alternative viewpoint]
Replies: 45
Views: 5738

Re: A Boglehead explains the simplest way to manage your money

Here's the complete list of holdings. Basically the first three columns of the spreadsheet. I didn't try to align the third column, which expresses the type of account (TF == tax-free, TD == tax-deferred, TX == taxable). Other columns have the target percentage and dollar value, the actuals of those, the deltas between the target and actual, and a formula to apply the 5/25 rebalancing rule. The last is expressed as color-coded signals, like: INCREASE , IN RANGE , REDUCE . Domestic Equity Large Cap MGC TX IVV TX IVV TX IVV TX S&P 500 Index TD Large Value VTV TX VTV TX Small Cap Russell 2000 Index Fund TD IJR TX VB TX IWM TF Small Value IJS TX VBR TX VBR TF Real Estate VNQ TF VNQ TF International Equity Large Cap VPL TX VPL TX VEA TX VEA...
by EyeYield
Fri Aug 24, 2018 12:23 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: find Hvac contractor
Replies: 14
Views: 1632

Re: find Hvac contractor

Do you qualify for rebates through the California Energy Upgrade program?

I replaced my entire HVAC system - AC, furnace and ductwork, through SoCalGas and received almost $2k in rebates.

In San Jose, you’re probably with PG&E, so check their page for details.
https://www.pge.com/en_US/residential/s ... apply.page

For SoCalGas, they provided a searchable list of eligible contractors associated with the program. They are required to pull permits and submit the paperwork for the rebates.

I haven’t searched this, but it looks like a list for PG&E.
https://www.pge.com/en_US/residential/s ... ctors.page

Good luck,
by EyeYield
Tue Jul 10, 2018 10:13 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Temporary Tax Wall Scenario With EE Bonds - Roth Conversion of Little Help.
Replies: 1
Views: 325

Temporary Tax Wall Scenario With EE Bonds - Roth Conversion of Little Help.

I think I know my options, but perhaps the collective extra set of eyes will open mine. In 3 1/2 years I will start taking max benefit SS and my RMD's. I'm in my ninth year of unemployment, so no earned income. I almost started a Roth conversion last year, but after using a calculator (Schwab) it looked like I would pay $2250 in 2017 Federal taxes (not including state) by converting 15% to get an estimated future value of converted assets of $3116 benefit in 20 years. This would not have bumped me into a higher bracket last year and assumes I’ll be in a higher bracket in 20 years. 38.48% in 20 years sounds good, but even if I bought more EE bonds now with the tax money I could double my money before taxes in 20 years and after taxes should ...
by EyeYield
Fri Jul 06, 2018 6:50 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Fidelity cash position
Replies: 55
Views: 13445

Re: Fidelity cash position

And, although the minimum initial purchase is $100K, you only need to keep $10K in the fund to keep it open. Furthermore, if you happen to have Private Client status, you may be able to continue to hold the fund with even less than $10K in it. I was told by a Fidelity rep that as a Private Client, the fund minimums to keep a fund open do not apply, and have found that to be the case for SPRXX. I will find out soon for FZDXX, because with a trade I did yesterday, the amount I have in FZDXX dropped below $10K. Kevin Thanks for the info. I was unable to get anyone at Fidelity to confirm that when I asked last year - Private Client here. Interesting. I called when I got the warning when my SPRXX dropped below $2,500, and the rep told me, witho...
by EyeYield
Thu Jul 05, 2018 10:21 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Fidelity cash position
Replies: 55
Views: 13445

Re: Fidelity cash position

And, although the minimum initial purchase is $100K, you only need to keep $10K in the fund to keep it open. Furthermore, if you happen to have Private Client status, you may be able to continue to hold the fund with even less than $10K in it. I was told by a Fidelity rep that as a Private Client, the fund minimums to keep a fund open do not apply, and have found that to be the case for SPRXX. I will find out soon for FZDXX, because with a trade I did yesterday, the amount I have in FZDXX dropped below $10K. Kevin Thanks for the info. I was unable to get anyone at Fidelity to confirm that when I asked last year - Private Client here. Could you report back if Fidelity reacts to you being beneath $10k in FZDXX? I’m currently over the minimum...
by EyeYield
Thu Jul 05, 2018 8:54 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Morningstar: prepare for a lost decade for U.S. stocks
Replies: 198
Views: 22682

Re: Morningstar: prepare for a lost decade for U.S. stocks

The thread title triggered worries, but then I read “at the moment” and was somewhat relieved. From my experience, there will be another, different, moment along shortly.
by EyeYield
Mon Jun 18, 2018 9:01 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Very confused with the current market
Replies: 119
Views: 17680

Re: Very confused with the current market

Very confused with the current market
When were you not confused about the market? Let’s start there.

What’s confusing to me is why you’re confused now. The reasons you have given thus far don’t exist.
by EyeYield
Sun Jun 17, 2018 8:59 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: MD&P just purchased X / sold Y [md&pharmacist]
Replies: 198
Views: 19410

Re: MD&P just purchased X / sold Y [md&pharmacist]

longinvest wrote: Sat Jun 16, 2018 5:46 pm I've created a simple spreadsheet to keep track of total portfolio holdings from contributions, withdrawals, buy and sell transactions, distributions, and fees.
I understand that the OP will provide us with timely information in this thread to keep the "Transactions" sheet up to date.
I think I speak for many Bogleheads when I say, “thanks for your work”. This should be an interesting project.
by EyeYield
Thu Jun 14, 2018 7:09 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: MD&P just purchased X / sold Y [md&pharmacist]
Replies: 198
Views: 19410

Re: MD&P just purchased X / sold Y [md&pharmacist]

MD&P just purchased X / sold Y Ok, I just read the whole thread, because of the evocative title, and no where could I find what was just purchased. Can someone tell me if I missed it or if it was deleted? Thanks. If the market is open and I say, “at the same time I clicked on submit for this post, I clicked on submit for my order of FlyingZambonies (FZB) @$30, representing 5% of my taxable portfolio*”, I would expect my target audience to understand how I’m beating the market in real time when I also click submit for my sell order as I post the results. (Listing the totality of my portfolio would of course be a prerequisite.) Is there another/better way to keep myself honest that I’m missing? Thanks. *I know orders don’t post as quickl...
by EyeYield
Wed Jun 13, 2018 11:41 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Should I take possession of a certified mail?
Replies: 151
Views: 21473

Re: Should I take possession of a certified mail?

“Anyways, as many other have indicated, will go forward and take possession of the letter. Thanks.

Yeti,”
I admit to being intrigued by this mystery. Would you be willing to share the outcome?
by EyeYield
Wed Jun 13, 2018 9:09 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Please advise re:Guggenheim intermediate bond fund class p SIUPX
Replies: 17
Views: 1175

Re: Please advise re:Guggenheim intermediate bond fund class p SIUPX

Luckygirl wrote: Wed Jun 13, 2018 8:04 am Thanks for replies. I would prefer not to use etf. Does the Ishares Aggregate Fund come in a non etf fund?
Any low cost domestic total bond fund will get you there. As PlateVoltage mentioned FSITX, or if the 10k minimum is too high you can use FBIDX.
by EyeYield
Tue Jun 12, 2018 10:14 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Please advise re:Guggenheim intermediate bond fund class p SIUPX
Replies: 17
Views: 1175

Re: Please advise re:Guggenheim intermediate bond fund class p SIUPX

Are you allowed to use anything Fidelity offers? If so, then shame on your Fidelity Advisor!

At Fidelity: iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF  AGG, will fill that space nicely. ER .05% - SEC yield 3.01% and much less volatile than the Guggenheim fund - compare the two at Morningstar and see how they stack up during 2008-2009.
This ETF can be bought/sold commission free at Fidelity.

Oh, and welcome to the forum. :sharebeer
by EyeYield
Tue May 29, 2018 9:48 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Splurging on the NBA finals
Replies: 56
Views: 6894

Re: Splurging on the NBA finals

I have some experience traveling to out of state games and I would just add one piece of advice that hasn’t been mentioned yet. Book your flight a day early! Don’t leave the trip timing to forces beyond your control. When I lived in Boston a childhood friend of mine, who lived in Miami, was a big Larry Bird fan and would come up every year to see a game or two. One year his flight was delayed for eight hours and he only got to see the last two minutes of the game. He was beside himself with grief. He did get to talk to Bird one on one after the game and I took a picture of him alone in an alley on the side of the Garden with Bird which he blew up and hung on his wall, so the trip was salvageable as a good long term memory, but that was luck.
by EyeYield
Thu May 24, 2018 10:12 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is this a mistake or typo or something else by Fidelity?
Replies: 6
Views: 1611

Re: Is this a mistake or typo or something else by Fidelity?

They lead off with that claim on the second bullet point on that same May 9th page, using slightly different language.
“Waiting to claim Social Security until after your FRA comes with a hefty bonus: 8% additional monthly income per each year you wait.”
That would be factual if the word “monthly” were deleted.

I’m 5 months past FRA and I can assure you my benefits are not going up 8% per month, but maybe I can tell Fidelity that I waited due to their guidance and expect them to make up the difference. :moneybag

Fidelity is starting to grind my gears lately - in other ways, but that’s another topic.
by EyeYield
Mon May 21, 2018 10:21 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What's Your Credit Card Rewards Strategy?
Replies: 7203
Views: 1413670

Re: What's Your Credit Card Rewards Strategy?

State Farm Visa. Certainly not the best, but it works for me. I buy a lot of insurance, but admit I don’t try to play the rewards game like a lot of you. 3 points per $1 spent on insurance premium payments Up to $4,000 annually, 1 point per $1 thereafter. And 1 point per $1 for every thing else. No annual fee. They do add a premium at certain point intervals, but you have to put them all on a gift card or in a checking account to use them all. My agent accepts payment via SF gift card, so I just use it to pay my premiums. “Single redemptions to qualifying State Farm Bank Checking/Interest Checking accounts and State Farm Visa Gift Cards will earn a redemption premium as follows: Points Redeemed / Premium 0-24,999 points - No Premium 25,000 ...
by EyeYield
Tue May 15, 2018 7:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Free skin cancer screenings
Replies: 26
Views: 3368

Re: Free skin cancer screenings

VictoriaF wrote: Tue May 15, 2018 3:50 pm Dear all,

I was browsing the web and stumbled on an announcement that May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and the American Academy of Dermatology is providing free skin cancer screenings.

This site provides locations and dates: https://www.aad.org/public/spot-skin-ca ... -screening .

At the top of the page, there is a link to sign-up for email alerts, in case they offer free screenings before the next year's Skin Cancer Awareness Month.

Victoria
Thanks, this is timely for me. I had planned to call my dermatologist next week - probably still will, but there’s a screening in six weeks a few miles away. Now on my calendar.
by EyeYield
Fri May 11, 2018 8:58 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Savings Bond Wizard to be eliminated 5/18
Replies: 71
Views: 21479

Re: Savings Bond Wizard to be eliminated 5/18

I am confused as to what this is. I have loaded all my paper bonds into the website then I saved it (data only) using the instructions they provided. Then, when I click on the file saved the next month it automatically updates on the web. I then save under a different name and do that all over again every month. Is this the "savings bond wizard" or is this perhaps what they are pushing everyone to? I have never downloaded any software. All on the web. I assume just pulling up your electronic bonds will not change? I think you are using what people are calling the "savings bond calculator." The web page that looks like this: https://imgur.com/EN7pIHw.png The savings bond wizard is/was a Windows application (no versions f...
by EyeYield
Sun May 06, 2018 9:27 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: DRIP (Dividend Reinvestment Plan)
Replies: 30
Views: 4890

Re: DRIP (Dividend Reinvestment Plan)

I am thinking about buying stocks, and I was wondering if a DRIP plan is good. I've never bought stocks before. The stocks I'm thinking about buying would be from big companies, like Coca-Cola, Starbucks, ExxonMobil, etc. The DRIP plan sounds so good. It automatically reinvests your dividend payments to buy more stocks in the company. It sounds like an excellent way to build wealth. Over time, because of the additional stocks being bought automatically, it seems like you could eventually be making millions of dollars. It this as good as it sounds? Does anyone use DRIP? Should I use DRIP? Dividend Re Investment Plans were, once upon a time, the cheapest way to buy stocks. Back when brokers would charge $100 to buy a stock or fund -sometimes...
by EyeYield
Wed Apr 25, 2018 5:31 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What happened to the Dow Jones between 1966-1982?
Replies: 72
Views: 8928

Re: What happened to the Dow Jones between 1966-1982?

What happened to the Dow Jones between 1966-1982? It was the best time in history to start building a portfolio - if you were young. You got to buy at a discount for a long period of time, even if you didn’t realize it then. I bought my first shares of equities in 1964 - the DJIA closed that year at 874.13. I was 12. By the end of 1981 the DJIA closed at 875. After 17 years a whopping 87 cents gain. Three quarters, one dime and two pennies. Reinvested dividends were my only gain and I wondered why I was wasting my money in the stock market. The average dividend percentage was about 4.5% in 1964. So why are you wasting your money in the stock market when you know that after 17 years you may only end up with three quarters, one dime and two p...
by EyeYield
Wed Apr 18, 2018 10:23 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is Los Angeles a good place long term to live financially?
Replies: 198
Views: 33931

Re: Is Los Angeles a good place long term to live financially?

LarryAllen wrote: Wed Apr 18, 2018 9:09 pm
EyeYield wrote: Wed Apr 18, 2018 9:26 am
LarryAllen wrote: Tue Apr 17, 2018 3:55 pm I’m thinking ......
Keep thinking, thinking is good. Make a list of the things you need to do to get to #1.

Then, if you can get accepted to an MBA program and get through it successfully, you will be able to self-answer the rest of your questions.

Work on communication and language skills, those are key to accomplishing your goals.

You’ve got a lot of work to do just to get up to #1 on your list, good luck.
I'm thinking you quoted the wrong person.
You’re right; apologies. Sloppy editing on my part.
by EyeYield
Wed Apr 18, 2018 9:26 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is Los Angeles a good place long term to live financially?
Replies: 198
Views: 33931

Re: Is Los Angeles a good place long term to live financially?

LarryAllen wrote: Tue Apr 17, 2018 3:55 pm I’m thinking ......
Keep thinking, thinking is good. Make a list of the things you need to do to get to #1.

Then, if you can get accepted to an MBA program and get through it successfully, you will be able to self-answer the rest of your questions.

Work on communication and language skills, those are key to accomplishing your goals.

You’ve got a lot of work to do just to get up to #1 on your list, good luck.
by EyeYield
Fri Apr 13, 2018 10:29 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Question about Savings Bonds
Replies: 18
Views: 3986

Re: Question about Savings Bonds

1.) The $50 printed on the bond is basically a marketing gimmick by Uncle Sam, it just makes it look like you were given a bigger gift than you were. The official answer is that each EE bond has a guaranteed doubling period (currently 20 years, shorter for older bonds) so that is double the $25 purchase price for the math challenged. 2.) Your bank will record your SS number and current address when you redeem the bond and send you a 1099 at the beginning of the next year. If you continue to hold the bond after maturity (silly since it earns no more interest) then you are legally required to look up the interest yourself and report it for the year that the bond matured. If you forget to do this the bank will send you a 1099 for the year tha...
by EyeYield
Mon Apr 09, 2018 9:09 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Help Me Make The Case Against Online Trading Academy
Replies: 43
Views: 7655

Re: Help Me Make The Case Against Online Trading Academy

Online Trading Academy is a business that relies on dreamers and fools to stay solvent. Try to dissuade your co-worker, or is he a friend, by over encouraging him to go beyond simply learning how to trade, to teaching others how to do it. No trading experience necessary. The franchise requirements are few: Can your friend manage a SALES team? Does he have $250k in cash for a proven BUSINESS model? He’s qualified! https://www.tradingacademy.com/franchise/evaluation.aspx Not required: Character, integrity, ethics. Show him how he can blow the maximum amount of cash all at once and avoid the constant drip of pricey “education” segments by becoming a franchisee and learning the art of snake oil sales. Not only will he get all his lessons for fr...