Search found 22 matches

by BoulderTrojan
Sun May 22, 2022 10:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Visiting India for tourism
Replies: 93
Views: 11106

Re: Visiting India for tourism

I visited India during October, November and December in 1984. It was my understanding at the time that during those months it is not malaria season. So I didn’t take any anti-malaria medicine. I got malaria. And dysentery. Lesson learned.
by BoulderTrojan
Wed Jul 08, 2020 9:42 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: VWEAX High-Yield Corporate - Question
Replies: 5
Views: 1593

Re: VWEAX High-Yield Corporate - Question

Thanks sycamore and grabiner. I appreciate you taking the time to reply. I will move VWEAX to an IRA if my taxable income ever gets up above the standard deduction. Plus I'll take a look at those other 2 ETFs.
by BoulderTrojan
Tue Jul 07, 2020 1:49 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: VWEAX High-Yield Corporate - Question
Replies: 5
Views: 1593

Re: VWEAX High-Yield Corporate - Question

Thanks sycamore.
by BoulderTrojan
Tue Jul 07, 2020 10:41 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: VWEAX High-Yield Corporate - Question
Replies: 5
Views: 1593

VWEAX High-Yield Corporate - Question

I like VWEAX Vanguard High-Yield Corporate Fund Admiral Shares. Yield 5.4% ER .13% Taxable is fine for me.

I would like to find a similar fund over at Fidelity. Can anyone point me to the Fidelity Fund that is closest to this yield and expense ratio?
by BoulderTrojan
Sun Jun 21, 2020 9:26 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Really hard to avoid "Keeping up with the Joneses"!
Replies: 313
Views: 37793

Re: Really hard to avoid "Keeping up with the Joneses"!

Replying to the original post: I didn't read all 6 pages of this thread but I wanted to respond. Maybe you aren't really annoyed by having to listen to your friends and family talk about their purchases. Maybe, in truth, you are annoyed by having listen to other people, period. For me, listening to other people is one of the most annoying things I can think of. Whether it is friends, family, or strangers it can be exasperating. And I am a really curious person. I love to learn and grow and help. But 95% of what people say is just valueless. I value the people, I value their happiness, but their words are mostly rubbish. In a social setting a prudent person has to spend way more time listening than speaking. So I go out of my way to get peop...
by BoulderTrojan
Tue Nov 05, 2019 7:41 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help me negotiate a lump sum payout.
Replies: 11
Views: 1586

Re: Help me negotiate a lump sum payout.

I am grateful for all of your replies.
by BoulderTrojan
Tue Nov 05, 2019 6:41 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help me negotiate a lump sum payout.
Replies: 11
Views: 1586

Re: Help me negotiate a lump sum payout.

I do not have to take the lump sum payout.
by BoulderTrojan
Tue Nov 05, 2019 5:33 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help me negotiate a lump sum payout.
Replies: 11
Views: 1586

Help me negotiate a lump sum payout.

I have received disability checks every month for the last 29 months. Soon The Hartford will send me a letter offering me a lump sum payout in lieu of the monthly payments they will be paying me for the next 8 years. My internet research suggests that the offer will be 65-75% of the value of the monthly payments. The Hartford settlement officer I spoke to on the phone said there would be some wiggle room between the number they offer me and a higher figure that I may be able to negotiate for. My question is: Does anyone on the board have personal experience negotiating a lump sum payout? All I can think of is running all the numbers and proving Hartford is getting a great deal and they are offering me a lousy deal. And then saying I need a ...
by BoulderTrojan
Mon Apr 01, 2019 9:20 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Boglehead Pilots...advice
Replies: 72
Views: 9614

Re: Boglehead Pilots...advice

I flight instructed for many years. I recommend completing the written exam asap, preferably before you start flying. Unfortunately most flight instructors aren't very good. Try to find the most experienced one you can provided you like his style/personality. Once you start flying you must fly 3 times a week minimum until solo (15-20 hours.) 3 times a week is necessary to build the necessary perceptions. Once you start doing landings LOOK AT THE FAR END OF THE RUNWAY when you begin to flare near the ground. You will waste hours trying to learn landings if you aren't disciplined with where you are looking. I can simplify the private pilot training to 8 words, LOOK AT THE FAR END OF THE RUNWAY. Have fun!
by BoulderTrojan
Mon Mar 19, 2018 10:32 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can I Retire at 38?
Replies: 118
Views: 17100

Re: Can I Retire at 38?

Retiring early is less about the size of your nest egg and more about understanding your expenses. My wife and I sat down to counsel with Mr Money Mustache to ask him if he thought we had enough to retire early. He asked what are your monthly expenses? I was embarrassed to admit that I didn't really know. My advice is for you and your wife to write down every penny or every dollar you spend for 3 straight months. If you haven't done this already it is the first place to start. Any family in the world could easily retire at any age with your $2.7 million if their monthly expenses were a few thousand a month.
by BoulderTrojan
Sat Feb 17, 2018 7:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What has been your most important skill in achieving financial independence?
Replies: 164
Views: 16524

Re: What has been your most important skill in achieving financial independence?

IMHO, If you saved 25X your annual expenses that would be more than enough to stop working. Cheers.
by BoulderTrojan
Sat Feb 17, 2018 5:22 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What has been your most important skill in achieving financial independence?
Replies: 164
Views: 16524

Re: What has been your most important skill in achieving financial independence?

When I was 40 yrs old my net worth was zero dollars. When I was 53 I was FI. So it took about 13 years to achieve FI. I don't see why it would take more than 15-20 years to be FI if that was one's goal. My tip would be to marry someone you get along with. And marry someone who spends less than you do. Cheers.


Woah that's fast. What industry are you in? Sounds like hitting FI that fast is largely dependent on income, since the money doesn't have long to mature.

Good advice on spouse - something I've thought about often.


My industry was being a pilot. The first 18 years of my career I made little money. The last 7 years I earned and saved enough to be FI. YMMV
by BoulderTrojan
Sat Feb 17, 2018 4:55 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What has been your most important skill in achieving financial independence?
Replies: 164
Views: 16524

Re: What has been your most important skill in achieving financial independence?

When I was 40 yrs old my net worth was zero dollars. When I was 53 I was FI. So it took about 13 years to achieve FI. I don't see why it would take more than 15-20 years to be FI if that was one's goal. My tip would be to marry someone you get along with. And marry someone who spends less than you do. Cheers.
by BoulderTrojan
Fri Nov 24, 2017 10:01 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 2 Comma Club and Other Goals Reached!
Replies: 19
Views: 5228

Re: 2 Comma Club and Other Goals Reached!

My wife & I reached the 2 comma club today! Thanks Bogleheads.

We retired 3 years ago with $853,000. It has grown steadily these past 3 years, thankfully.
by BoulderTrojan
Sun Mar 05, 2017 6:42 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Real estate loss and Roth Conversion?
Replies: 2
Views: 473

Real estate loss and Roth Conversion?

In 2005 I purchased a vacant lot for $100,000. It is currently worth about $10,000. If I sold it I would lose about $90,000.

Question: If I converted my Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA in the same calendar year that I sold the lot would I be able to offset any of the taxes I would owe for the Roth conversion with the $90,000 real estate loss?

Thank you.
by BoulderTrojan
Mon May 12, 2014 7:41 am
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Roll Call for the Retirement Class of 2014!
Replies: 385
Views: 105266

Re: Roll Call for the Retirement Class of 2014!

My last day of work was April 10, 2014. Age 53. My goal since age 18 has been to retire. I wasn't very focused on it considering it took me 35 years to do it. Although physically I am very active I love it sit around and think. I have always wanted time to think and now I have it! I also love to learn. My health is perfect and my wife's health is perfect. The world is our oyster.
by BoulderTrojan
Mon Apr 07, 2014 12:02 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Mr. Money Mustache: Hero or Foolish?
Replies: 452
Views: 125988

Re: Mr. Money Mustache: Hero or Foolish?

My wife and I had lunch with MMM and his wife last August. I asked him to counsel me about whether or not I had enough assets to retire. We found him to be an excellent listener and an extremely good communicator. He was patient, helpful, and generous with his time. Both he and his wife were very mellow and caring and fun. I read his blog a couple times a week. I think he is a HERO.
by BoulderTrojan
Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:09 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Serious Error in Turbo Tax
Replies: 18
Views: 3822

Re: Serious Error in Turbo Tax

You must have lived in the home for 2 of the last 5 years AND it has to CURRENTLY be your primary residence in order to qualify for the $250k deduction.
by BoulderTrojan
Mon Jan 14, 2013 8:27 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Real Estate Tax Question [Sale of Property]
Replies: 1
Views: 530

Real Estate Tax Question [Sale of Property]

I am currently doing my 2012 taxes. In 2012 I sold a rental property for a gain of $56K. In 2012 I also sold my primary residence for a loss of $40K. I was expecting to subtract the loss of $40K from the gain of $56K and pay taxes on the remainder of $16K. Then TurboTax informed me that one cannot deduct a loss from the sale of one's primary residence (personal losses are not deductible.) Oops! Any constructive ideas would be appreciated. Thank you.