Search found 2882 matches

by Calm Man
Sun Dec 28, 2014 3:49 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: ABLE ACT (529 for disabled) now law.
Replies: 13
Views: 3264

Re: ABLE ACT (529 for disabled) now law.

I read the whole bill and while admitting that I am typically suspicious when "the government comes to help us" I certainly was interested, as nothing seems to be free for those who pay taxes. And there, bingo, towards the end ---- whatever is left after all is said and done in the ABLE account -- guess what? Medicaid can and will recapture all that it spent on behalf of said person. That in and of itself may be good or bad depending on how you look at it. [political comment removed by Moderator Mel]
by Calm Man
Thu Dec 25, 2014 6:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best watch for around $5,000? [Archived]
Replies: 1479
Views: 347489

Re: I think I just got a $5,000 watch for Christmas

My watch is a Casio that costs $15. But it has a stop watch and timer that I use for running and an alarm clock on it as well as well as date and day of the week. The $5000 watches I have seen lack that functionality so I have avoided them.
by Calm Man
Thu Dec 25, 2014 6:20 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Christmas day ACA health insurance stress
Replies: 30
Views: 4871

Re: Christmas day ACA health insurance stress

Dodecahedron, It will all work out. I am certain this is simply typical beaurocratic messups that happen and adding a layer of governmental intervention simply complicates it. I am not in a situation needing ACA as I get retiree medical and will be on Medicare in 3 years. I know several people, who are not poor, who have had to get private or ACA insurance for one reason or other. I strongly suggested they simply go the private route and let the ACA mechanics and machinery involve itself with other people. If subsidies are needed, I supposed one has to decide on the worth of it. But this will cause aggravation but will be solved. I would go with VIctoria's endorsement. I would drive to that office and not leave until you were taken care of....
by Calm Man
Wed Dec 24, 2014 7:48 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Medical billing: wrong procedure
Replies: 28
Views: 3673

Re: Medical billing: wrong procedure

This is not at all uncommon. But you have had good fortune. You have discovered an unethical provider. I would simply avoid that provider in the future, as I would have no confidence on recommendations particularly if they involved surgical procedures. If the code you see clearly indicates 45 minutes, I would suggest you focus not on saving a few dollars as the first priority, but rather reporting this unethical billing to the insurance company and medical board of your state. But be sure you are correct in the 45 minutes vs 8 minutes first.

Good luck to you.
by Calm Man
Tue Dec 23, 2014 5:52 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Self employment - health ins deductible
Replies: 20
Views: 4490

Re: Self employment - health ins deductible

I don't think you can do it. The instructions are pretty clear for deducting it on page 1 of the 1040. The policy must be bought by the business. I do not believe an ACA policy can be bought by a business.
by Calm Man
Tue Dec 23, 2014 5:38 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: IRA contribution & withdrawal
Replies: 4
Views: 1266

Re: IRA contribution & withdrawal

I have an idea although it does not fit into one of my laws of thermodyanmics (I recently posted the 4th law). Do not loan, gift or meddle in your mother in law's IRA. A whole tadoo in this case to save her 5%.
by Calm Man
Tue Dec 23, 2014 5:35 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Issues selling our house
Replies: 14
Views: 3393

Re: Issues selling our house

I will adopt the use of your newly-coined word ["under-achievers" --admin LadyGeek]. It has been my experience when something goes on like this that there may have been clues early on that these people were [underachievers]. Was there? If so, you have learned a good lesson about knowing when to walk early in a transaction with [underachievers] or people who appear to be of a type that you do not want to deal with. However, it seems to me like there have been enough delays here and you do not have to grant them extensions forever. My suspicion is that they are looking elsewhere and will pull out soon. Maybe your lawyer can send a "time is of the essence" letter.
by Calm Man
Tue Dec 23, 2014 5:18 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Did we just get untaxed IRA money? Implications?
Replies: 7
Views: 1685

Re: Did we just get untaxed IRA money? Implications?

Calm Man's 4th law of thermodynamics: Avoid any possibility of falling into a situation where a recharacterization might possibly be necessary.

Corollary: do not make a ROTH contribution until you are absolutely certain that you will be not exceed the income limits -- ie., wait until after the last day of the year, and yes, suck it up and forego a whole year's potential earnings.

Corollary: ditto for tax deductible IRA.
by Calm Man
Mon Dec 22, 2014 4:09 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Are turbo tax state programs available yet
Replies: 5
Views: 1066

Re: Are turbo tax state programs available yet

Thank you friends. It sounds like some states at least are available. And it sounds like somebody downloaded the state right off the bat (was it offered right away?) and somebody else needed to enter the federal info first (and then how did you get the state?). I guess maybe even entering one word or number on federal would be sufficient as nothing is final yet in any way. I really do not want to do the federal because of NJ adjustments needed....
by Calm Man
Mon Dec 22, 2014 2:27 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Are turbo tax state programs available yet
Replies: 5
Views: 1066

Are turbo tax state programs available yet

I do want to go ahead and download TurboTax. (I need home and business, and I have read the thread about how to do it correctly.) I obviously have no tax forms yet, but I know exactly what I will be getting. Knowing myself, once I download the software and I am going to want to enter it. I have a number of adjustments I have to make for New Jersey so I do not want to "forget" if federal is now available and state will be delayed. I would like to do it on the same sitting. I ask my question because when I went through a test purchase of Ttax it seemed to not be offering up the state and there was an asterisk indicating that you first complete the state return and then download the state....So has anybody who has downloaded Ttax bee...
by Calm Man
Sun Dec 21, 2014 5:51 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How to make a long bet on Crude Oil
Replies: 28
Views: 5307

Re: How to make a long bet on Crude Oil

Yes, there are excellent options that are far cheaper than ETFs, stocks or funds. I used to know about them when I "played" awhile. It is simply going long in oil futures nexxt month or 2 months from now or a year from now. The costs are relatively low and it is marked to market every day so you can only lose what you have in your account. Again, the costs of trading are literally zero (something like $3 per contract), the liquidity is VERY high and the tax treatment is very favorable. The only issue is to get it right. Think or swim has a great platform and very low costs as does Interactive Brokers. Again, I do not do this anymore. If I were to do it, I would also go long in a future about a year out for oil.
by Calm Man
Sun Dec 21, 2014 5:35 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Using balanced funds to avoid rebalancing
Replies: 30
Views: 5223

Re: Using balanced funds to avoid rebalancing

VictoriaF wrote:
Calm Man wrote:Practically, I believe that people can manage this going forward by simply directing new contributions towards the underrepresented asset class. Or for those who are depleting their portfolio, by withdrawing from the underrepresented class.
You probably meant to write "Or for those who are depleting their portfolio, by withdrawing from the overrepresented class." In the distribution phase, it comes naturally. When the stocks are low, you don't want to sell them at a loss, and so you sell bonds. When the stocks are high, you sell them to reduce the portfolio risk.

Victoria
Thank you for the correction. At least one person read my post. It has been edited correctly.
by Calm Man
Sun Dec 21, 2014 4:22 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Using balanced funds to avoid rebalancing
Replies: 30
Views: 5223

Re: Using balanced funds to avoid rebalancing

It should also be noted that at the end of that period, not rebalancing at all would have left you with a stock/bond AA of 66/34. Not altogether too far off from where we started, considering 12 years passed. Very good thread. Toto, I am so happy you did your calculations and I would like to focus on your point that after 12 years, the balance has shifted from 60/40 to 66/34. Not too big a difference for 12 years. But here is where I think people are looking at the trees and not the forest. It is obvious to me without calculations that if you have an asset class of stocks and another of bonds and we make one assumption: that long term stocks will outperform bonds (if they wouldn't be likely to, we wouldn't buy them), then a non-rebalanced ...
by Calm Man
Sat Dec 20, 2014 1:56 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: When do dividends post to Vanguard accounts?
Replies: 13
Views: 2598

Re: When do dividends post to Vanguard accounts?

BBL wrote:
bertilak wrote:Getting cash is a one-step process; reinvesting a two-step process with getting the cash as the first step. I guess that is a naive way to look at it.
Think of that in reverse. The fund already has the cash; it is easier/faster for them to transform your proportionate share of that cash into more shares than it is to distrubute the cash to you.
This sounds good in theory. In practice, I take my dividends in cash, and they are in my money market this morning. It is absolutely remarkable to me how much the dividends have grown year to year and quarter to quarter in the TSM fund.
by Calm Man
Fri Dec 19, 2014 6:31 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Thoughts (2) on Vanguard distributions
Replies: 1
Views: 1222

Thoughts (2) on Vanguard distributions

1. Total stock market. Out of curiosity I looked at distributions over the last few years. All dividends. Each quarter exceeds the prior year's same quarter by over 10%. So the current "yield" of TSM Admiral is about 1.8% but if you add this year's total dividends and divide by the beginning year price, it is over 2%. I only point that out for those who obsess about tax planning (many of us) can maybe estimate 2% for next year. I have no real question here... 2. NJ long term bond fund - the "SEC yield" which is the only one shown normally is about 2.5%. The "distribution yield" has been between 1% and 1.5% more than the SEC yield (forever). I have been told here that it is because of declining interest rates an...
by Calm Man
Thu Dec 18, 2014 7:18 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard's economic and investment outlook [2015]
Replies: 21
Views: 4740

Re: Vanguard's economic and investment outlook [2015]

Interesting report. And if one asked the authors, I repeat THE AUTHORS: (sirs, what would you like me to do with the information?" -- what would they say?
by Calm Man
Thu Dec 18, 2014 6:22 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Downloading TurboTax - tips for an easy process
Replies: 20
Views: 6365

Re: Downloading TurboTax - tips for an easy process

Thank you for this outstanding post. Tell me if this makes sense as I have used TTax in the last several years. I had done it through the Vanguard portal. I have not done it yet through Vanguard for the 2014 tax year as I am waiting until things are "finalized" about Dec 25th or so.. So I logged onto TTax. It is showing me Premier for $9.99 + state additional. When I click on state additional, it has some number and it is crossed out and written as zero now. Do you think they "know" I am Vanguard Flagship? In any case, I assume you see the price before you pay and download it right?
by Calm Man
Tue Dec 16, 2014 7:33 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why would you invest in a bond fund?
Replies: 25
Views: 3746

Re: Why would you invest in a bond fund?

Pretty much everything. I suggest you read the wiki about asset allocation.
by Calm Man
Tue Dec 16, 2014 6:47 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 100% bonds in inherited IRA - does it make sense?
Replies: 4
Views: 1072

Re: 100% bonds in inherited IRA - does it make sense?

This is an issue I grapple with in many accounts. If you think about it level-headed, what if you KNEW it would grow more one way than the other, in which case the RMDs would be larger because you had more and thus the taxes were higher? Would you not want that to have lower taxes? I am not being facetious at all. I think not, right?
by Calm Man
Mon Dec 15, 2014 8:55 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: "Vanguard converting mutual fund accounts to brokerage?
Replies: 420
Views: 100440

Re: "Vanguard converting mutual fund accounts to brokerage?

I wouldn't mind merging them but haven't yet. I have a question that I cannot get an answer to from anybody. Right now, all of my mutual funds (actually only 2 in taxable and 2 in IRA) all have first the 2 or three digit fund # and then an IDENTICAL account # (something like 9777733333). If you move everything to brokerage do these mutual funds have #s anymore or are they just like positions in a brokerage account with no #? So my account would show: Calm Man (And then a listing of holdins - btw I do not own individual stocks): Google 100 shares Microsoft 100 shares Vanguard Total stock market 10000 shares? New Jersey Long Term Bond Fund 10000 shares? I always get nervous before making a permanent decision (except getting divorced twice).
by Calm Man
Mon Dec 15, 2014 8:49 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Are all computer printers now wireless?
Replies: 33
Views: 6217

Re: Are all computer printers now wireless?

I am asking whether things need to be set up again each time I turn the router on? Or will the printer always recognize the router (or vice versa) even if the power has been interrupted in between? One of the risks of powering everything down is that the IP address assigned to the printer may change on power up. Some computers and apps may not handle a change in printer IP address too well. I have had problems in WinXP when the printer was configured to talk to a printer at a specific IP address rather than by name. My printer at the time was not Airprint compatible and had to use a Brother Print and Scan app to print from an iPad. That version of the brother app didn't not handle a change in printer address. Modern operating systems may h...
by Calm Man
Mon Dec 15, 2014 8:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Should I buy house with a crack?
Replies: 29
Views: 4812

Re: Should I buy house with a crack?

financial.freedom wrote:Thank you for the replies. I think we will look for another home. This home has a great view and is in an excellent location, but I also "am chicken" as Calm Man mentioned above. So best not to spend my life worrying all the time about the foundation. Thanks!
freedom, revisiting this, I am happy you have made this decision. I was thinking that if you followed the good-intentioned advice of others and got the best structural engineer in the universe, and he/she said "it's OK", then at a minimum, you would not want a home with a 1/2 inch crack in it. And would then have to redo the whole floor and tile right? Walk away with a smile...... Good luck to you.
by Calm Man
Mon Dec 15, 2014 1:24 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Dilemma with Turbo Tax & NJ-Lady Geek, Grabiner, others?
Replies: 1
Views: 925

Dilemma with Turbo Tax & NJ-Lady Geek, Grabiner, others?

http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=111187&p=1616169 I refer to the above post from a year ago when Lady Geek and Grabiner provided good information about New Jersey. Something is happening this year for the NJ Long Term Bond fund, which is it is distributing short and long term capital gains. (Last year it also distributed long term capital gains.) I looked at the actual turbotax entries from last year (2013) and am also running through a dummy return right now using last year's software. New Jersey does not tax any income from the NJ bond fund no matter whether tax free interest or capital gains (and they do not distinguish between long term or short term gains). As I review last year's return (where there were lon...
by Calm Man
Mon Dec 15, 2014 12:39 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Are all computer printers now wireless?
Replies: 33
Views: 6217

Re: Are all computer printers now wireless?

Oh,,I see what you were asking now,,,,,No you do not have to go through the "set-up" again after you turn on the modem and router,once the wireless printer is initially set-up to the network,for lack of a better word it "remembers"the network. :happy Just curious ,if you don't mind ,why do you turn off the modem and router every day. Good question. I turn off a few things every night. One power strip has the computer, modem and router on it. I have always figured - why keep it on? When I turn the power strip on in the morning, it takes about 2 minutes for everything to get going, which is fine. A second power strip has the TV and Cable box attached. It takes about 30 seconds for the TV to work and about a minute for the...
by Calm Man
Mon Dec 15, 2014 12:28 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Are all computer printers now wireless?
Replies: 33
Views: 6217

Re: Are all computer printers now wireless?

This question is going to appear to be so dumb that I am embarrassed. But here goes. I assume that setting up a wireless printer involves utilizing the existing wireless router, right? I am somebody who turns off my modem and router and computer every night. Is that OK or does the ability of the router and printer to communicate wirelessly require continued contact? NO question is "dumb" asking questions is how we All learn :happy . 1.Yes your printer utilizes the wireless router to print wirelessly. 2.Your printer cannot print wirelessly if the router and modem are turned off.There is no wireless signal going from traveling from the modem to the router :happy Thank you Toons. Indeed I do not feel quite THAT dumb that my question...
by Calm Man
Mon Dec 15, 2014 12:19 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Should I buy house with a crack?
Replies: 29
Views: 4812

Re: Should I buy house with a crack?

I am a chicken. I don't buy houses with cracks on the floor extending all the way. I figure that if I see that, who knows what I (or an inspector) am not seeing ?
by Calm Man
Mon Dec 15, 2014 11:50 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Are all computer printers now wireless?
Replies: 33
Views: 6217

Re: Are all computer printers now wireless?

This question is going to appear to be so dumb that I am embarrassed. But here goes. I assume that setting up a wireless printer involves utilizing the existing wireless router, right? I am somebody who turns off my modem and router and computer every night. Is that OK or does the ability of the router and printer to communicate wirelessly require continued contact?
by Calm Man
Tue Dec 09, 2014 6:15 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Trying to Understand the ACA Reinbursement Process
Replies: 17
Views: 1700

Re: Trying to Understand the ACA Reinbursement Process

The whole implementation and roll out of this is something that is going to be unbelievable to watch. I cannot imagine and any planning is uncertain now as we have no idea what systems will be in place and how accurate everything is. I am awaiting stories and reports after the net tax filing season.
by Calm Man
Tue Dec 09, 2014 6:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Buying a casket
Replies: 19
Views: 4103

Re: Buying a casket

We had this situation with my father who died at 88+ in March. About 2 weeks before hand we went to the funeral home and did the whole thing in one package. Service, rabbi, limo for the mourners, hearse, casket. Also of course, pickup of the body from the nursing home. And my mother wanted a couple of "guards" called Shomer in Jewish with him at all time in the funeral home (that is to assure the body isn't swapped). Oh yes, make sure you have a funeral plot. Sorry for your loss but knowing that I had everything arranged in advance and that I only had to make a call to the funeral home made it easier. And it was easier - one call after his death. We paid in advance. It was about 10K. The casket we selected was a nice model, about ...
by Calm Man
Mon Dec 08, 2014 8:44 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: If you don't need the Soc Sec, when to start taking it?
Replies: 39
Views: 6716

Re: If you don't need the Soc Sec, when to start taking it?

Rita, Do not despair. You will have a secure retirement. If it is any comfort to you, many here would "kill" to have a combined effective tax rate of 15% on IRA withdrawals. Remember that you have had deferrals for many years and somehow the government needs to pay it's bills. And especially if you are the recipient of a public pension -- well somebody has to pay for it. For SS withdrawals -- if you don't need it and you don't have a health condition, I would wait until the last possible minute at age 70. Good luck. To the idea of moving to get a lower STATE tax rate? Often people with taxable incomes of retirement of 100K or less say things like this. So compared to a zero tax state, maybe that would be 4K or 5K a year. Is that a...
by Calm Man
Mon Dec 08, 2014 6:36 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: One $5,500 IRA purchase on New Year's 2015.
Replies: 3
Views: 1273

Re: One $5,500 IRA purchase on New Year's 2015.

I suggest doing what I have my daughter doing as you never know when you get hit by a bus or die because the Lord has decided when your time has come for some reason. Wait until you get the necessary earned income for a calendar year. Then go ahead and make the full contribution. Being wise and shrewd in this type of situation is fooling yourself. Good luck.
by Calm Man
Mon Dec 08, 2014 6:34 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Helping mom with SS
Replies: 7
Views: 1140

Re: Helping mom with SS

Good lord. You refer to ex-pouse and current spouse. I hope one is your father !!! This is a rare case of having her go in and praying she gets a competent representative in the social security office nearest you. It sounds like you know more than her (I wish that were my situation) and maybe you should accompany her. Good luck.
by Calm Man
Mon Dec 08, 2014 6:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Transferring files onto a new computer
Replies: 32
Views: 4054

Re: Transferring files onto a new computer

I have to do a major support for Dropbox or if I ever exceed a few G which I doubt something like google. Because I have used dropbox just for the "heck of it" for a few years but always did monthly backups on a flash drive. Somehow (impending senility I hope not) I was using File Manager and accidentally deleted all files on dropbox when I meant it to be the flash drive only to replace files. Frankly I don't know what I did. But I had a naked flash drive and an empty dropbox. I was able to recover everything because dropbox saves deleted files for a month. Lesson: if you use cloud storage, DO NOT use a flash or hard drive. Or, if you use a flash or hard drive, do it when you are not connected to the Internet. Or, do not get old.
by Calm Man
Mon Dec 08, 2014 5:58 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Vanguard Turbo Tax prices anounced
Replies: 92
Views: 22952

Re: Vanguard Turbo Tax prices anounced

I will use Turbo Tax again this year even though it is going to cost me over $100 (I MUST use Home & Business now) even with my Flagship discount. That said, I indeed remember that Bob M (I don't remember his last name) from TurboTax was courageous enough to respond to a thread on this site. I thought he was very arrogant however. And this year, good lord, the cost increases are dramatic and I see a lot of people at this site and by reading reviews at Amazon, elsewhere, are going to drop TurboTax after years of loyalty. I can rarely recollect such an example of inattention to customers and lack of understanding the marketplace. I recall one which I will share. It must have been 15 or more years ago. The VP at Chase Master Card institute...
by Calm Man
Sun Dec 07, 2014 8:14 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: High(ish) earner; spending too much?
Replies: 71
Views: 13632

Re: High(ish) earner; spending too much?

I notice that your post is full of comparisons to others and I suggest you examine that. Good luck to you.
by Calm Man
Sun Dec 07, 2014 6:30 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What's the logic behind the Roth IRA income limit
Replies: 12
Views: 2197

Re: What's the logic behind the Roth IRA income limit

It was logical in the sense that the government did not want higher earners to get tax-free deferral for life. Regardless of one's politics, at least it is understandable at some level. But then, the "back door Roth" was allowed. And now anybody can convert to a Roth. So it now makes no sense except for people filing a few extra tax forms. I am non-political, but it would make sense to drop the limits at some point in order to at least have anybody who is explaining the rationale for continuing the current discrepancies maintain a straight face. I am old enough to not just want to accept that "it's the government, so it is OK to no make sense".
by Calm Man
Sun Dec 07, 2014 12:52 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Holiday Meal Splurging (Wagyu beef)
Replies: 17
Views: 2857

Re: Holiday Meal Splurging (Wagyu beef)

You could try a vegetarian meal. That would be a nice Christmas gift to the animals !!
by Calm Man
Sun Dec 07, 2014 12:50 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How do brokerage accounts work?
Replies: 28
Views: 3025

Re: How do brokerage accounts work?

OP, are you actually going to buy 10 stocks for $100 each? When you put orders in, you usually have to specify a number of shares. So you will get somewhere between zero shares (google) and maybe 10 on a $10 stock. If this is just for fun, better to play a little online poker or go to the racetrack.
by Calm Man
Sat Dec 06, 2014 6:08 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Retirement Questions
Replies: 7
Views: 2144

Re: Retirement Questions

OP,
Can I suggest something to you.
The first is easy to say. It sounds like you have benefited a great deal from the people at this site. And you are further looking to get assistance here. It cost money to maintain the site. A donation would be very nice indeed.
by Calm Man
Sat Dec 06, 2014 5:02 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Better at making than investing
Replies: 17
Views: 2964

Re: Better at making than investing

Very interesting. So if there was little to no return, it wouldn't matter. You are willing to simply spend the 140K a year (let's assume zero return) and simply deplete the estate to zero. I assume you'd slow down in the later years and you do need to save some for potential nursing homes or catastrophes but that is easy. You are foregoing potential charities but if you don't care, well it might work.
by Calm Man
Fri Dec 05, 2014 5:42 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Vanguard Turbo Tax prices anounced
Replies: 92
Views: 22952

Re: Vanguard Turbo Tax prices anounced

They are sending me to the poorhouse :evil: Most here need the Deluxe and $9.99 for Flagship clients is great. I am a consultant and thus have to use Home and Business. So this goes straight up toe $79.99 with no difference for Flagship. Boo. Serious question though as I have usually used Desktop Download but would consider Online for various reasons. Does the online versions have all of the functionality of the desktop version, particularly the ability to look at the pdfs of the actual forms before it is finalized? I seem to remember maybe not.. I am curious as to your reasons for wanting to go with the online version? In the past the big difference in functionality was that you could actually go into the forms mode dynamically while in t...
by Calm Man
Fri Dec 05, 2014 5:36 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Bogle Advises Investing No More Than 20% Outside U.S.
Replies: 106
Views: 21721

Re: Bogle Advises Investing No More Than 20% Outside U.S.

Loyal opposition to the concensus here and a supporter of Jack's position. It just seems to me that with the increased cost and taxes of the international fund, one needs about 1/2% greater return with international to be even. I am essentially all in the Total stock market index. I just think markets will correlate very highly over time with the one wild card being currency fluctuations which can be avoided if you stick with the US. I admit that I might be wrong and I admit that if the US becomes the next Japan (and others don't simultaneously) I will be wrong. This is one area that I take the Keynes point of view, being that if information changes, my mind can.
by Calm Man
Fri Dec 05, 2014 4:22 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Vanguard Turbo Tax prices anounced
Replies: 92
Views: 22952

Re: Vanguard Turbo Tax prices anounced

They are sending me to the poorhouse :evil:

Most here need the Deluxe and $9.99 for Flagship clients is great. I am a consultant and thus have to use Home and Business. So this goes straight up toe $79.99 with no difference for Flagship. Boo.

Serious question though as I have usually used Desktop Download but would consider Online for various reasons. Does the online versions have all of the functionality of the desktop version, particularly the ability to look at the pdfs of the actual forms before it is finalized? I seem to remember maybe not..
by Calm Man
Wed Dec 03, 2014 6:11 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What's your take on International Bonds?
Replies: 9
Views: 1570

Re: What's your take on International Bonds?

I HATE international bonds, at least those available in the Vanguard fund. The yield is much lower than the Total Bond Market, with a longer duration and lower quality. So it makes no sense to me. I acted on this in that I recently got rid of my Life Strategy fund and replaced it with the stock index funds and the Intermediate Investment grade fund. (I like this better than Total bond market, which is heavily weighted to treasuries and yields about 1/2% less.)
by Calm Man
Wed Dec 03, 2014 5:58 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Close to retirement with this much money need thoughts!
Replies: 14
Views: 3564

Re: Close to retirement with this much money need thoughts!

Pearl,
You seem like a sharp, self-honest person and I admire that quality. You presumably have a teacher's license right? Aside from the divorce settlement, I don't see other assets or savings. Did you just get your license or if not, was there a reason you could not work all those years? I am trying to figure out something more you can do while still young enough to get another job (as you want to) so that you can live on more than 25K per year and build up some more savings.
by Calm Man
Mon Dec 01, 2014 4:41 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: First rental property question
Replies: 14
Views: 2393

Re: First rental property question

If your MIL is in decent financial shape, why not have her buy the property and live in it?
by Calm Man
Mon Dec 01, 2014 12:54 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: "2015 Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Other Updates
Replies: 13
Views: 3570

Re: "2015 Tax Brackets, Standard Deduction, and Other Update

ralph124cf wrote:Do the Medicare extra high income limits go up every year, or are they fixed like the amounts for the minimum tax?

Ralph
Ralph, very bad news here. The Medicare excess tax from the Obamacare law is fixed at 0.9% over 200K permanently. The 200K threshold is also used permanently for the 3.8% Net Investment Income Obamacare tax. I was rather disappointed that these taxes were not indexed for inflation unlike basically everything else in the tax code. I think even the AMT is now indexed to inflation because it began hitting the middle class, for whom it was not intended.
by Calm Man
Mon Dec 01, 2014 12:49 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: A simple coffee maker
Replies: 38
Views: 12112

Re: A simple coffee maker

Thank you so much to all of you for your comments. There is a great range of comments and ideas for me to consider..
by Calm Man
Sun Nov 30, 2014 7:44 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: A simple coffee maker
Replies: 38
Views: 12112

Re: A simple coffee maker

We have a Mr. Coffee TFX23GTF 12-cup maker, about 3 years old. Works fine, cost about $20 on sale at K-Mart. You can set it to brew at a certain time. We have a reusable mesh filter, do not use paper. I don't know if it has a timer to turn off the warmer. We turn it off after brewing and, if necessary, warm up the coffee later in a cup in the microwave. It replaced a string of expensive Cuisinart and other machines with built-in grinders and other bells and whistles that broke about two weeks after the warranty expired, or were too complicated to use. If you have people with different preferences, like decaf vs. regular, a pod machine may make (expensive) sense. Or, just buy a small (6-cup) machine with an extra his or hers pot. Of course,...
by Calm Man
Sun Nov 30, 2014 6:18 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: A simple coffee maker
Replies: 38
Views: 12112

A simple coffee maker

My next major acquisition is a drip coffee maker at home. I would like something that is easy to clean, reliable and without any bells and whistles except a switch to turn it on/off and an auto shutoff at 2 hours or so. I guess 12 cups (they call a cup I think 5 ounces) is about right. We must have many coffee drinkers here (I drink decaf btw). What say you? And do I give up and go the pod route and then what say you?