Search found 12 matches

by KWu
Fri Jul 17, 2015 8:17 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Where to invest (deployed)
Replies: 14
Views: 2586

Re: Where to invest (deployed)

Congratulations on your decision! It reminds me of myself since that was exactly the same time I decided to get my act together regarding investing. Second, the any TSP contributions made while in the Middle East are tax free, but interest can still be taxed. The most that can be contributed is 16,500, with no matching for military members. Take a look at this again, for 2015 the TSP max is $18,000. You said you decided to go against the SDP, but perhaps this may sway you to reconsider. Interest can still accrue after you've redeployed for an additional 90 days, so that's an additional three months of interest you can collect to help bolster those savings as long as you don't need that money during that time period. Even though the interest...
by KWu
Thu Apr 23, 2015 10:23 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Motorcycles!
Replies: 36
Views: 5068

Re: Motorcycles!

I have a 2008 Ninja 500R in the garage that is more of a backup bike these days because I couldn't bring myself to part with my first bike. She has been particularly good to me through all the newbie errors and those bikes have a reputation for being tanks.

These days, I ride a 2015 Yamaha FZ07 as my every day bike. It has a good amount of low end torque making it a lot of fun for my inner hooligan as well as getting about 65 mpg when I'm just commuting. Plus there aren't any expensive plastics to replace should I ever drop her.
by KWu
Fri Mar 01, 2013 3:22 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help with asset management [Military]
Replies: 8
Views: 927

Re: Help with asset management [Military]

Thanks for the help, I took your advice and edited my original post to reflect this.
by KWu
Thu Feb 21, 2013 10:52 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What kind of car are you driving?
Replies: 368
Views: 45710

Re: What kind of car are you driving?

2011 Kia Optima EX Turbo with all the options which I bought new when my old car, 2000 Kia Sephia with well over 100k miles, started costing me more in repairs and maintenance than the car was worth. Not the most bogleheaded decision I made buying the car brand new, but I did manage to use USAA's car buying service and did not have to pay taxes on the purchase saving me nearly $9500 off the sticker price.

I'll be driving this car as long as it runs.
by KWu
Thu Feb 21, 2013 10:36 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What % of your income have you converted to wealth?
Replies: 141
Views: 25247

Re: What % of your income have you saved?

Using the formula of the OP, 31%.
Factoring in my savings and checking accounts, 98%.

My results may have been a little skewed since I'm 25 years old and 65% of my lifetime earnings occured last year. :wink:
by KWu
Thu Feb 21, 2013 8:46 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What credit/charge cards do you have in your wallet?
Replies: 114
Views: 71493

Re: What credit/charge cards do you have in your wallet?

Citi Divident Platinum MC
Military Star Card

I've had the Citi card ever since I turned 18 and enrolled into college. I've been accumulating cash back ever since and usually request the rewards checks when I hit $250 in cash back. I got the Military Star card to get $0.05 off the pump price on post, which is usually cheaper than buying gas off post.
by KWu
Sun Feb 17, 2013 2:07 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Convincing youngsters to save seriously
Replies: 12
Views: 1716

Re: Convincing youngsters to save seriously

I'm currently, trying to get my little sister to start investing while she's in college. She's a good saver, far better than I was at her age, but not as educated in the ways of investing. I got through to her by showing her my portfolio, the gains that I have made in the past year alone towards my retirement, and the possible gains that I could make using a retirement calculator. The message got through to her pretty quickly, and soon she'll be on her way to investing towards retirement herself.

My "solution" is heavily dependent on how comfortable you are with sharing your personal finance numbers with family though.
by KWu
Sun Feb 17, 2013 4:10 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How do things look to you young investors these days?
Replies: 87
Views: 11088

Re: How do things look to you young investors these days?

As a 25 year old college graduate with little debt in his 2nd year of employment, I'm feeling optimistic about the future for young investors. However, I think that the majority of my peers aren't young investors. They're just trying to get by and make ends meet.
by KWu
Sat Feb 16, 2013 8:36 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part V
Replies: 3372
Views: 1561279

Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part V

Being fairly new to investing and having a lot of free time in the next few months, I'm currently reading The Bogleheads' Guide to Investing and I have The Millionaire Next Door , and A Random Walk Down Wall Street in the queue.
by KWu
Sat Feb 09, 2013 1:46 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What % of your income are you saving for retirement?
Replies: 228
Views: 35131

Re: What % of your income are you saving for retirement?

In most years, I save between 20 and 25% of gross income. In the years that I'm deployed, closer to 80% of gross income. Got to have a little left over to play with when I get back home. :D
by KWu
Sun Feb 03, 2013 6:12 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help with asset management [Military]
Replies: 8
Views: 927

Re: Help with asset management [Military]

Thank you all for that reminder. I've completely forgot about my SDP. I set up an allotment for that once I got boots on ground. I should max it out before finishing out my deployment. It's one of those fire and forget type of savings.
by KWu
Sun Feb 03, 2013 2:38 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help with asset management [Military]
Replies: 8
Views: 927

Help with asset management [Military]

I've only recently begun investing within the last two years now and nearly all of my accounts are with USAA. To give you a little about my background, I am currently deployed in Afghanistan with the military so I am reaping some tax breaks and have been diligently investing that money away for both my retirement for wealth accumulation. As such, I am put in a unique situation so I am coming to you, the bogleheads, for advice. Investments Key Information Emergency funds: $6,500 @ Ally 0.9% interest Debt: $18,400 at 2.99% for an unsecured personal loan, $5,500 subsidized student loans between 4-6.5% Tax Filing Status: Single Tax Rate: 10% Federal, 5% State State of Residence: MS Age: 25 Retirement Assets TSP: 65% Common Stock Index Fund (0.0...