Search found 335 matches
- Sun Jan 24, 2021 8:37 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Costco Allstate Protection Plan for TVs
- Replies: 15
- Views: 1500
Re: Costco Allstate Protection Plan for TVs
Costco is selling at an additional cost extended warranty plans from Allstate. From Costco Website: Allstate Protection Plans FAQs Costco offers Allstate Protection Plans for a variety of products. Select a product below for more details: Cameras and Tablets Computers Televisions Appliances Cell Pho...
- Thu Jan 21, 2021 7:04 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Nonspousal Inherited IRA Distribution Code 4?
- Replies: 4
- Views: 324
Re: Nonspousal Inherited IRA Distribution Code 4?
If you use TurboTax to do your taxes, after you enter the Code 4, TT will then go through a different set of questions than if you entered Code 7. These questions ask if the IRA was inherited, when the original owner passed, and so on.
- Mon Jan 18, 2021 8:42 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Beyblades rivals burst
- Replies: 3
- Views: 703
Re: Beyblades rivals burst
I don't play this game, but most of these games have numerous Youtube video demonstrations showing how to play.
- Thu Jan 14, 2021 8:50 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Anyone here have Xfinity Streaming....
- Replies: 33
- Views: 1907
Re: Anyone here have Xfinity Streaming....
In some locations Comcast (Xfinity) has begun metering data with a 1.2TB cap and then additional charges for each additional 50MB....Just be aware....
- Thu Jan 14, 2021 8:39 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: QCD requirements and tax advantages
- Replies: 29
- Views: 1737
Re: QCD requirements and tax advantages
Schwab and other brokers offer checkwriting for a TIRA which can be used to make QCDs. You must have cash available in your TIRA and be over 70.5. Using this process you can send a QCD directly to a qualified charity without any brokerage involvement. When you get your 1099R these payments will be r...
- Wed Jan 06, 2021 7:49 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: W4 IRS calc | Why does it exclude health premiums?
- Replies: 5
- Views: 490
Re: W4 IRS calc | Why does it exclude health premiums?
Many employers offer a Section 125 plan which, among other things, pays health insurance with pre-tax dollars. Your HR department can tell you if your employer does this. If it does, then of course it would not affect w-4 calculations. If you are not part of such a plan, then you have the 7.5% thres...
- Wed Jan 06, 2021 6:56 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: W4 IRS calc | Why does it exclude health premiums?
- Replies: 5
- Views: 490
Re: W4 IRS calc | Why does it exclude health premiums?
Health insurance premiums are part of medical expenses....which are not deductible unless they exceed 7.5% of Adjusted Gross Income. So, not part of W4.
- Tue Jan 05, 2021 9:52 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Homeowner insurance
- Replies: 44
- Views: 2153
Re: Homeowner insurance
Rank Group/company Direct premiums written ($000) Market share 1 State Farm $1,604,187 17.6% 2 Farmers Insurance Group 1,408,290 15.4 3 Liberty Mutual 582,442 6.4 4 CSAA Insurance Exchange 574,938 6.3 5 Allstate Corp. 535,999 5.9 6 USAA Insurance Group 523,067 5.7 7 Auto Club Exchange Group 521,677 ...
- Wed Dec 30, 2020 7:33 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Insurance For Hacked Investment Accounts
- Replies: 16
- Views: 1380
Re: Insurance For Hacked Investment Accounts
There is an insurance organization called the SIPC which protects the accounts of member brokerages. In the event a broker goes bankrupt, the SIPC will reimburse up to $500k. $250k in cash and the balance in securities. Each account has protection. Most brokers belong to SIPC and pay for this protec...
- Mon Dec 28, 2020 8:52 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Buying a house with flood risk?
- Replies: 54
- Views: 3232
Re: Buying a house with flood risk?
I looked at Floodfactor for a house I have lived in for 40 years, which has no flood risk according to FEMA flood maps. From looking at what information the site is providing, their analysis of flood risk for my home is mainly based on future climate change. And while I think that climate change is ...
- Fri Dec 25, 2020 8:06 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Does a Small Roth Conversion Make Sense when tIRA is Growing?
- Replies: 45
- Views: 3110
Re: Does a Small Roth Conversion Make Sense when tIRA is Growing?
At the end of last year, I did a small $10k Roth conversion from my traditional IRA (tIRA) as sort of an "experiment" or as "practice" for larger Roth conversions later. I paid the tax due and all went well. The only "issue" was it really didn't make any sort of dent i...
- Tue Dec 22, 2020 7:47 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Pay Off Our Mortgage or Invest Heavily?
- Replies: 51
- Views: 5483
Re: Pay Off Our Mortgage or Invest Heavily?
If your children are under 10 years old, I would begin funding their college now by making substantial 529 contributions, say $30k each. With at least 8 years to go before college, these funds would have time for significant appreciation before need arrived. If you choose an age adjusted investment ...
- Tue Dec 22, 2020 7:17 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What can we do for Spouse's Retirement Contributions?
- Replies: 6
- Views: 753
Re: What can we do for Spouse's Retirement Contributions?
What are your approximate ages, and balances in tax deferred accounts. What is your hoped for retirement age? Before looking for more tax deferred, or Roth, it would be helpful for you to project what your tax deferred balance is likely to be at your desired retirement age with your current 401k add...
- Tue Dec 22, 2020 7:05 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Roth Conversion - How Much/Timeline?
- Replies: 25
- Views: 1836
Re: Roth Conversion - How Much/Timeline?
One more thing, where is the cash coming from to pay the income tax on the conversion each year? If she doesn't have cash in her taxable account to pay the tax, she will have to sell something in her taxable account to create the cash. This might create additional capital gains which would reduce th...
- Thu Dec 17, 2020 8:36 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What is my income in retirement?
- Replies: 24
- Views: 2599
Re: What is my income in retirement?
The nice thing about these credit card companies asking about income is that they don't define the term. If they asked for Taxable income that would be one number, a cash flow income would be another. There are many available definitions. You can use any definition of income that helps you report an...
- Wed Dec 16, 2020 7:55 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Flood insurance?
- Replies: 10
- Views: 611
Re: Flood insurance?
The documents you receive from the condo assoc. should tell you whether or not the condo is buying flood insurance on the structure. Then, with regard to your prospective purchase, is a portion on the ground floor, or is the entire condo on floor 2 or higher? You are only considering flood insurance...
- Sat Dec 12, 2020 9:00 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Talk me out of pre-tax savings! (RMDs/contrib types)
- Replies: 29
- Views: 1493
Re: Talk me out of pre-tax savings! (RMDs/contrib types)
I don't think there is a single right answer to this problem. If you retire at 55 with $1.3M in tax deferred less than a 5% compound growth rate will produce $3.5M by age 75. However, the future growth rate could be 3% or it could be 7%. This is the dilemma we all face. If we tilt the direction of s...
- Sat Dec 12, 2020 8:08 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Insurance agent/agency as a second career/side hustle?
- Replies: 12
- Views: 991
Re: Insurance agent/agency as a second career/side hustle?
One of my jobs, a long time ago, was to work with people who wanted to start a personal lines agency. Basically, it is a numbers game. You must, in effect, offer your business card to about 4000+ people to find enough who will allow you to offer a quote on their insurance. Many of these quotes will ...
- Sun Dec 06, 2020 9:15 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Request assistance with estimating personal 2021 marginal tax rate
- Replies: 3
- Views: 279
Re: Request assistance with estimating personal 2021 marginal tax rate
Not sure how you do your taxes each year.....TurboTax Deluxe offers a planning tool that would easily let you plan each year for the following year. In thinking about your overall situation, is it really desirable, long term, to put $120k each year into tax deferred plans? You don't mention your age...
- Sat Dec 05, 2020 7:37 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: 2 houses for living - how do you manage it?
- Replies: 63
- Views: 7741
Re: 2 houses for living - how do you manage it?
This is mainly a lifestyle choice. Once you begin trying to escape some aspect of living in your primary home for a substantial part of the year, the path at some point will lead to consideration of purchasing a 2nd residence. From my experience, it is less expensive to rent for 3 months or less. Fo...
- Tue Dec 01, 2020 8:28 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Best non-cotton undershirts that run long and stay tucked in?
- Replies: 9
- Views: 1201
Re: Best non-cotton undershirts that run long and stay tucked in?
I wear J C Penney undershirts. They have both 100% cotton, and blended cotton/poly. T shirts are available in tall, X-tall, and regular. They have regular sales, and the prices are reasonable. I am tall, and buy XL/XT shirts. They stay tucked in as they are quite long. After I have worn them for a c...
- Tue Dec 01, 2020 7:54 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: YouTube TV just dropped Tennis Channel...
- Replies: 50
- Views: 3849
Re: YouTube TV just dropped Tennis Channel...
DW is a dedicated tennis fan, and I have to listen to some of those players grunting as they hit the ball all the time. The problem is that ESPN has a contract with someone in the tennis world that gives them exclusive rights to broadcast the finals of the majors and the ATP 1000 events. So, you nee...
- Tue Dec 01, 2020 7:43 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Question For Bread Bakers About Wheat Flour
- Replies: 23
- Views: 1632
Re: Question For Bread Bakers About Wheat Flour
See: https://sciencing.com/difference-betwee ... 66495.html
To get a good rise when you bake bread you need high protein content and gluten. Soft wheat has neither. Soft wheat may be better for cakes etc than bread.
To get a good rise when you bake bread you need high protein content and gluten. Soft wheat has neither. Soft wheat may be better for cakes etc than bread.
- Thu Nov 26, 2020 8:07 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Insurance non-renewal
- Replies: 6
- Views: 698
Re: Insurance non-renewal
I'm sorry you have had this problem with your insurance. There are many insurance companies, and someone will issue a policy on your house. Look for an Independent agent in your area and he/she will assist you. Additionally, every state has a FAIR plan program to provide coverage for those who canno...
- Tue Nov 24, 2020 7:47 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: A month in Tucson?
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1715
Re: A month in Tucson?
Catalina State Park off Oracle Road, great hiking
Saguaro National Monument has area both the East and West of Tucson.
If you want to see both Western and Native American Art checkout Medicine Man Gallery at the corner of Kolb and Sunrise.
Saguaro National Monument has area both the East and West of Tucson.
If you want to see both Western and Native American Art checkout Medicine Man Gallery at the corner of Kolb and Sunrise.
- Tue Nov 24, 2020 7:22 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Clear Spring Health Prescription Drug Plans (Medicare Part D)
- Replies: 6
- Views: 642
Re: Clear Spring Health Prescription Drug Plans (Medicare Part D)
I don't have any info on 2020, we have signed up with them for 2021....I checked with mymedicare.gov today and it shows them as having accepted us for 2021. I haven't seen any initial enrollment stuff from them yet. Open enrollment ends 12-7, so I still have some time to change too a different provi...
- Sun Nov 22, 2020 7:52 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Pandemic reduced our spending by 30% - How about you?
- Replies: 118
- Views: 8009
Re: Pandemic reduced our spending by 30% - How about you?
We are on track to be down 33% from last year. Half of this because of not having to take RMD's and pay tax on them. The rest is due to covid hunkering down at home.
- Wed Nov 18, 2020 8:46 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Saddlebrooke Ranch in Oracle, Arizona
- Replies: 15
- Views: 2297
Re: Saddlebrooke Ranch in Oracle, Arizona
I have a Winter vacation home in Oro Valley which is 7 miles S of Saddlebrooke. We looked at it before getting the house we have now. Saddlebrooke is a planned community which will eventually have 10,000 dwellings. It is being constructed in a valley or bowl near the Catalina Mtns. I think that ther...
- Mon Nov 16, 2020 8:54 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Medicare Part D and moving in middle December
- Replies: 2
- Views: 251
Re: Medicare Part D and moving in middle December
One of the things you can check out at medicare.gov, when comparing Plan D offerings in your current state of residence, is whether the plan is offered by that company on a national basis. If it is, I believe you can easily change your address with that company after you move. It is possible that th...
- Sat Nov 07, 2020 8:02 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Supplements for Omega 3 Fatty Acids?
- Replies: 15
- Views: 951
Re: Supplements for Omega 3 Fatty Acids?
Another good source is Hemp Hearts (hemp seeds). Available via Costco or Amazon.
- Wed Oct 28, 2020 7:39 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: do doctors/hospitals HATE Medicare Advantage (as payers)
- Replies: 126
- Views: 10756
Re: do doctors/hospitals HATE Medicare Advantage (as payers)
We are fortunate to live in a state which has state-wide community rating for Medicare Supplements. So, there are no age bands and everyone in a plan pays the same (albeit not cheap) price. Plan G costs us $185/each per month. We chose the supplement route because we go to a warmer climate for the ...
- Wed Oct 28, 2020 7:12 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: do doctors/hospitals HATE Medicare Advantage (as payers)
- Replies: 126
- Views: 10756
Re: do doctors/hospitals HATE Medicare Advantage (as payers)
We are fortunate to live in a state which has state-wide community rating for Medicare Supplements. So, there are no age bands and everyone in a plan pays the same (albeit not cheap) price. Plan G costs us $185/each per month. We chose the supplement route because we go to a warmer climate for the ...
- Tue Oct 27, 2020 9:51 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: do doctors/hospitals HATE Medicare Advantage (as payers)
- Replies: 126
- Views: 10756
Re: do doctors/hospitals HATE Medicare Advantage (as payers)
We are fortunate to live in a state which has state-wide community rating for Medicare Supplements. So, there are no age bands and everyone in a plan pays the same (albeit not cheap) price. Plan G costs us $185/each per month. We chose the supplement route because we go to a warmer climate for the W...
- Tue Oct 27, 2020 8:38 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: When to turn a side hobby into a business/spp
- Replies: 7
- Views: 825
Re: When to turn a side hobby into a business/spp
For your hobby to be an actual side business where you get a business license, a tax id, etc, you must consistently make a profit 3 years out of 5. One of the keys to this decision is to have a business plan where you attempt to get as good a handle on costs as you can. These costs would include sel...
- Thu Oct 22, 2020 8:29 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Why does it take so long for a check to clear.
- Replies: 24
- Views: 1781
Re: Why does it take so long for a check to clear.
Suggest that you call a few credit unions.....when I retired, for a while I was receiving large 5 figure checks. My local branch of a national bank took me through that 5 day plus gradual hold nonsense a couple of times. I then checked around to see what other choices I might have. Turned out that B...
- Fri Oct 16, 2020 7:06 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Wellcare Pt D jump from 16.70 to $54
- Replies: 48
- Views: 4057
Re: Wellcare Pt D jump from 16.70 to $54
......................................................... Just went through MyMedicare.gov to see what 2021 has in store. Lots of other plans are available at a cost similar to what my costs are for 2020. However, every single plan has quantity limits on one or more drugs forcing monthly trips to t...
- Thu Oct 15, 2020 9:41 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Wellcare Pt D jump from 16.70 to $54
- Replies: 48
- Views: 4057
Re: Wellcare Pt D jump from 16.70 to $54
This year I am with Mutual of Omaha. This was their first year offering Plan D and I guess it wasn't good for them because they discontinued my plan. They do offer an alternative plan, but the total cost is more than double. Just went through MyMedicare.gov to see what 2021 has in store. Lots of oth...
- Thu Oct 15, 2020 8:47 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: TPMS(tire pressure monitoring system) lifespan
- Replies: 96
- Views: 6286
Re: TPMS(tire pressure monitoring system) lifespan
Day before yesterday, the TPMS light on my 2009 Subaru Forester started flashing when I started the car, and then turned on and stayed on. When I returned home, checked the tire pressure, and all tires were at 32psi. Owner's manual says check system...(ie, you have a bad sensor in a tire). This car...
- Wed Oct 14, 2020 8:53 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: TPMS(tire pressure monitoring system) lifespan
- Replies: 96
- Views: 6286
Re: TPMS(tire pressure monitoring system) lifespan
Day before yesterday, the TPMS light on my 2009 Subaru Forester started flashing when I started the car, and then turned on and stayed on. When I returned home, checked the tire pressure, and all tires were at 32psi. Owner's manual says check system...(ie, you have a bad sensor in a tire). This car ...
- Thu Oct 08, 2020 7:33 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: SS and Trust distributions problem
- Replies: 30
- Views: 1449
Re: SS and Trust distributions problem
https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10077.pdf
At the top of page 11, it says that there is no benefit paid for the month of death.
At the top of page 11, it says that there is no benefit paid for the month of death.
- Tue Oct 06, 2020 7:49 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Best 529 Plan in 2020 - NY/NV/OH/UT?
- Replies: 16
- Views: 1408
Re: Best 529 Plan in 2020 - NY/NV/OH/UT?
I have Utah plans for my grandkids. Granddaughter just started this fall at UNO. Typically, a request for withdrawal sent on Monday am results in an electronic deposit in her account on Tuesday. Utah website is easy to navigate.
- Fri Oct 02, 2020 7:45 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Olympic NP from Eastern WA
- Replies: 10
- Views: 862
Re: Olympic NP from Eastern WA
One of my friends has a place at Lake Coeur d'Alene. When I am returning to the Seattle area after visiting him there, it is about a 5 hour drive back on I90 to get home. If you travel during the week, you could arrive in the early afternoon for a nice ferry ride from Edmonds to Kingston. From there...
- Fri Oct 02, 2020 7:12 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: medicare advantage vs supplement
- Replies: 23
- Views: 1471
Re: medicare advantage vs supplement
We spend half the year away from our primary residence. So we have Supplement Plan G....we started with F but switched to G when plan F was closed to new entrants. If you travel much, MA doesn't work. Premiums for G are lower that F by more than the cost of the Plan B deductible.
- Sat Sep 19, 2020 7:31 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Not allowed to do testing/imaging outside hospital network
- Replies: 22
- Views: 2011
Re: Not allowed to do testing/imaging outside hospital network
This kind of thing can happen with HMO style plans especially when the plan is run by the clinic/hospital system. When the provider can provide all medical care, including labs, scans, primary care, specialist care, surgery etc., they are most efficient when everything stays within the system. When ...
- Sat Sep 19, 2020 7:10 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: YouTube in Background on iOS14
- Replies: 8
- Views: 720
Re: YouTube in Background on iOS14
Youtube restricts picture in picture to Premium on IOS14
From Google News: https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/09 ... on-tvos-14
From Google News: https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/09 ... on-tvos-14
- Sat Sep 12, 2020 7:44 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Cash App linked to Vanguard Brokerage to pay bills
- Replies: 19
- Views: 1425
Re: Cash App linked to Vanguard Brokerage to pay bills
I believe you can get a bill pay service at Schwab with just their brokerage account. No need for a Schwab Bank account. I have done it both ways and now use their bank version. You just have to be careful that you have cash in the brokerage account that has been their long enough.......
- Thu Sep 10, 2020 9:40 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Wood burning inserts
- Replies: 21
- Views: 1590
Re: Wood burning inserts
Whether gas or wood, a new insert will have to burn for a number of hours to get rid of the "new" smell. Perhaps 30 -40 hours. You want to get that done before you really need it to heat your house. Take a look at Lopi inserts as well.
- Thu Aug 27, 2020 8:42 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: password manager for a couple
- Replies: 16
- Views: 1227
Re: password manager for a couple
Have PC's Iphones, Ipads. I use Msecure. Pay for one version for one device and then all other versions are included. Your choice of synchronization via their cloud, or Dropbox. Uses military grade encryption so not available for export. Has easy way to create passwords of any length with your choic...
- Wed Jul 08, 2020 8:20 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Found a $10,000 Bond from 1987 sitting in my moms paperwork
- Replies: 16
- Views: 3549
Re: Found a $10,000 Bond from 1987 sitting in my moms paperwork
I had a somewhat similar experience when handling my FIL's affairs after he had a stroke. Whoever has the power of attorney for mom needs to take a copy of the POA and the bond to a brokerage office of say Charles Schwab or Merrill Lynch. If mom has a brokerage account he/she should go there. The br...
- Mon Apr 20, 2020 7:15 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Purchasing Vehicle Insurance
- Replies: 13
- Views: 1015
Re: Purchasing Vehicle Insurance
If you were to try to purchase a $5Million or $10Million umbrella, you would certainly get questions from the company underwriters about why you have a need for such high limits. These discussions would include wanting information on your net worth, and information about your activities to make sure...