Search found 2426 matches

by mkc
Wed Mar 27, 2024 6:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: help choosing between new hvac offers
Replies: 13
Views: 665

Re: help choosing between new hvac offers

Topic is now in Personal Consumer Issues - HVAC shopping. Thank you to the member who reported it and explained what was wrong. mod mkc
by mkc
Wed Mar 27, 2024 8:47 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Social Security Break-Even Calculator That Includes Opportunity Cost of Waiting?
Replies: 16
Views: 1516

Re: Social Security Break-Even Calculator That Includes Opportunity Cost of Waiting?

I've moved this topic to Personal Finance (Not Investing). Question is regarding Social Security claiming strategy and financial calculators to analyze.

mod mkc
by mkc
Wed Mar 27, 2024 8:29 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Dogs in a SUV: best way?
Replies: 19
Views: 1003

Re: Dogs in a SUV: best way?

We use Sleepypod seat belt harnesses. Sleepypod is one of the only manufacturers to crash test their harnesses. I just checked the GoPetFriendly article above and see there are other tested options available these days.
by mkc
Tue Mar 26, 2024 4:29 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Social Security Break-Even Calculator That Includes Opportunity Cost of Waiting?
Replies: 16
Views: 1516

Re: Social Security Break-Even Calculator That Includes Opportunity Cost of Waiting?

To some degree, you might be able to see this via Retiree Portfolio Model by looking at the details of balances as you vary the social security claiming age (and dial down further by going into the details and manually adjusting for partial year). You'll want to input a pretty solid estimate of your expenses, but I believe you'll see the impact on the taxable account balance. I haven't dug too far into Pralana Gold, but that might also show the cash flows out of the taxable account if you adjust the SS claiming age. I don't see that it allows the adjustment detail that RPM has (i.e. you can't model partial year SS) You mention the earliest claiming in 17 months. If you are on an ACA plan you'll want to consider premium tax credits as well. ...
by mkc
Tue Mar 26, 2024 4:16 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Does the IRS care if I report a basis of zero?
Replies: 21
Views: 3099

Re: Does the IRS care if I report a basis of zero?

Also look at the shareholder/investor relations section of each companies' website. You may find useful info there. For example, AT&T offers online calculators to determine the cost basis of "T" acquired via splits/mergers as well as WBD (Warner Brothers Discovery) AT&T Cost Basis worksheets You do need to know the acquisition date.
by mkc
Tue Mar 26, 2024 1:27 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The Evolutions of Indexes, new "Bogleheads on Investing" podcast with guest Rolf Agather
Replies: 12
Views: 1688

Re: The Evolutions of Indexes, new "Bogleheads on Investing" podcast with guest Rolf Agather

kleiner wrote: Mon Mar 25, 2024 1:06 pm In particular it was a bit startling to discover that that the buyers of an index (ie fund managers) can have a say in how an index is constituted.
I seem to recall there was an earlier BoI podcast that touched on this. Some of the discussion revolved around the different index providers for a Total Market index, but during the discussion there was mention that the buyers of the index would sometimes "tailor" the criteria in the request for an index.
by mkc
Sun Mar 24, 2024 8:36 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Age and probability of needing long term care?
Replies: 258
Views: 25889

Re: Age and probability of needing long term care?

A contentious exchange has been deleted. mod mkc
by mkc
Sun Mar 24, 2024 8:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: So what are you cooking
Replies: 972
Views: 111110

Re: So what are you cooking

Several off-topic/trolling posts have been removed. Please keep the lower threshold for removing posts/locking topics in Personal Consumer Issues in mind.

mod mkc
by mkc
Sat Mar 23, 2024 5:16 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Merrill Edge Introduces New Retirement Income Managed Strategy
Replies: 17
Views: 1134

Re: Merrill Edge Introduces New Retirement Income Managed Strategy

Second, I recently had the displeasure of being contacted several times by the Temecula Calif Merrill office after salespeople there decided I needed a managed account. These calls continued after I requested that they stop, and I had to email a complaint to both the office manager and Merrill's main office to eventually get a letter from an "AVP Supervision Manager" that the sales calls would stop. Based on this experience, if I were going to do something like this I wouldn't choose Merrill. The people calling me definitely didn't have my best interests as a priority. Merrill had a 90+ year old relative at 95% individual stocks, and churned often enough that IRMAA surcharges resulted for several years. Definitely not the definit...
by mkc
Sat Mar 23, 2024 1:52 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Merrill Edge Introduces New Retirement Income Managed Strategy
Replies: 17
Views: 1134

Re: Merrill Edge Introduces New Retirement Income Managed Strategy

hanyc2209 wrote: Sat Mar 23, 2024 12:45 pm It is available through Merrill's Guided Investing program
Which charges 0.45% AUM fees for self-guided/robo and 0.85% for advisor-added to the mix

Merrill Edge Guided Investing fees
by mkc
Fri Mar 22, 2024 7:10 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Retirement Planning courses
Replies: 7
Views: 833

Re: Retirement Planning courses

Not sure if it's those organizations or yet another one, but we get similar stuff in the mail all the time. The "Association" somehow teams up with local financial "advisors" (aka salespeople) for these "courses", basically to drum up new business for the salesperson. Lots of whole life, annuities, etc. proposed as solutions for the FUD they cultivate during the event.
by mkc
Fri Mar 22, 2024 4:51 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can a grandparent give me land? (legal question)
Replies: 6
Views: 648

Re: Can a grandparent give me land? (legal question)

Simple answer is YES they can give you the land...should they is a different question which the answer is circumstance dependent. 1. They can give you the land and complete a tax form removing it from their lifetime gift exemption, currently $13M +/-. So if unless they have >$13m estate, giving this now and documenting on IRS form 709 (I believe) will eliminate gift tax. 2. If they give you this land or add you to the existing deed as co-owner, opposed you inherit this land upon their death, you will NOT get a step up in basis. So whatever their current cost basis is will be yours, whereas through inheritance you would get market value on the day of their death as the new basis. Talking with a lawyer and possible a tax advisor would be a g...
by mkc
Thu Mar 21, 2024 9:47 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: VWIAX [Vanguard Wellesley Admiral Shares] for 80+ inlaws?
Replies: 16
Views: 1443

Re: VWIAX [Vanguard Wellesley Admiral Shares] for 80+ inlaws?

galabar,

I added clarification to your topic title. Most members do not have fund tickers memorized and it's preferred to include the investment name.

mod mkc
by mkc
Thu Mar 21, 2024 7:58 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Finding out your Power of Attorney is useless
Replies: 275
Views: 42187

Re: Finding out your Power of Attorney is useless

2/ Use the Fidelity interface to download their proprietary DPOA form, have her (personally) sign it along with me, notarized, with two witnesses. (She is competent to sign.) Send it to Fidelity through her account and link it to my existing personal Fidelity account (to serve as authorized agent). Fidelity's DPOA form does not require her signature or 2 witnesses. It's a form where you accept assignment of DPOA, your signature is notarized, and you attach a copy of her "standard" DPOA. 3/ Initiate an ACATS request from her current wealth manager (through her account). Initiate the ACATS request from her Fidelity account. You/she will need to provide recent statements with account numbers to Fidelity. Ask the local rep for a tran...
by mkc
Wed Mar 20, 2024 5:12 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Which typie of Fidelity account?
Replies: 26
Views: 1858

Re: Which typie of Fidelity account?

muffins14 wrote: Wed Mar 20, 2024 12:21 pm I imagine the YTD return on the FDIC-insured option in the CMA is not 2.69%, right? It's just that the yield is 2.69%?
That is correct - there is no YTD return reported for the FDIC-insured CMA option, just the rate (2.69%) and APY (2.72%) as I stated above.
by mkc
Wed Mar 20, 2024 11:09 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Which typie of Fidelity account?
Replies: 26
Views: 1858

Re: Which typie of Fidelity account?

GaryA505 wrote: Wed Mar 20, 2024 9:53 am How much is the FDIC-insured core position paying, compared to the MMF core of the brokerage account?
Fidelity CMA rates 2.69% (2.72% APY) for FDIC vs. 4.97% 7-day yield for SPAXX
by mkc
Mon Mar 18, 2024 9:47 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Oak kitchen/bath cabinet solutions?
Replies: 11
Views: 1005

Re: Oak kitchen/bath cabinet solutions?

Normchad wrote: Mon Mar 18, 2024 9:34 am I don’t like the style of my door fronts. So if I was going to do anything, I’d go online and order new shaker style doors in the color I want. They have sites that let you specify everything, size, hinge layout, full overlay or inlay etc. so I’d just need to refinish/paint the frames of the boxes, then install new doors.
I believe this is termed "refacing". It's a great way to keep the original cabinet boxes, especially if they're high quality. I'd also suggest looking locally for a source of custom doors. For each of our current home and a previous one, the boxes were made by one local cabinet shop and the doors were sourced (by those cabinet shops) from other local shops that only made cabinet doors.
by mkc
Sun Mar 17, 2024 8:05 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Aggregation of IRA Balances to Calculate RMD
Replies: 4
Views: 538

Re: Aggregation of IRA Balances to Calculate RMD

Topic is now in Personal Finance (Not Investing). Thank you to the member who reported it and explained what was wrong. mod mkc
by mkc
Sun Mar 17, 2024 5:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Hybrid Pillows exist?
Replies: 13
Views: 1872

Re: Hybrid Pillows exist?

Cuddledown has several chamber pillow options that are what you describe

Sleep solution pillows at Cuddledown

Their down pillows are pricey, but we have found they last 15 years or more. Our 2 summer-weight down comforters from their outlet are over 25 years old.
by mkc
Sat Mar 16, 2024 9:18 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Death of Joint Tenant/Owner
Replies: 20
Views: 1879

Re: Death of Joint Tenant/Owner

Big Dog wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2024 11:18 am ComputerShare has only one way of doing things: their way. Definitely ask about cost basis, which should be adjusted as of the date of death upon transferring of shares. Personally, I'd then ask for a check and close out the account.
ComputerShare also charges rather high fees for selling. One might consider opening the individual account, then transferring everything in-kind to Fidelity, Schwab, or Vanguard before selling.
by mkc
Sat Mar 16, 2024 9:12 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Full Time RV/travel pre-Medicare insurance
Replies: 6
Views: 925

Re: Full Time RV/travel pre-Medicare insurance

It used to be SD, FL, and TX as the big three. TX and FL still have decent plan options. Have the Livingston address options improved for ACA plans? It's been HMO-only for years, so no out-of-network coverage. FL BCBS has had Blue Card on their PPO. We selected SD before ACA came into the picture, so not sure how TX is doing with ACA. Someone else will be better to answer this. Texas options 2017 and later, at least through 2021 for ACA have been lousy for fulltimers. Escapees' Livingston zip code has had only a handful of options, none all that good. I had thought you'd looked at them recently hence my question. OP - TX ACA plans generally are HMO or narrow-network EPO with and don't include out of network or hospitals like MD Anderson. Y...
by mkc
Sat Mar 16, 2024 4:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: New Roof - Exterior Design Ideas
Replies: 9
Views: 1009

Re: New Roof - Exterior Design Ideas

Would you be opposed to also staining the Tudor wood accents to more of a brown? They read somewhat reddish to me

Tudor homes with dark roofs

Something in more of a dark slate color would also work

Houzz Help with Tudor-style exterior color renovation
by mkc
Sat Mar 16, 2024 9:45 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Full Time RV/travel pre-Medicare insurance
Replies: 6
Views: 925

Re: Full Time RV/travel pre-Medicare insurance

RoxieII wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 10:08 pm It used to be SD, FL, and TX as the big three. TX and FL still have decent plan options.
Have the Livingston address options improved for ACA plans? It's been HMO-only for years, so no out-of-network coverage. FL BCBS has had Blue Card on their PPO.
by mkc
Fri Mar 15, 2024 7:19 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Full Time RV/travel pre-Medicare insurance
Replies: 6
Views: 925

Re: Full Time RV/travel pre-Medicare insurance

Best place to research this is Escapees, an RV organization dedicated to RVers and providing many resources, including domicile info, to fulltimers. Their Xscapers sub-group is generally set up for the younger fulltimer.

You will need to choose your domicile zip code carefully. Escapees' Livingston, Texas option is generally not travel-friendly for ACA plans. A Florida domicile will more likely give you a PPO option (but again, zip code-dependent).

We've been members for 20 years.
by mkc
Fri Mar 15, 2024 11:15 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Check my work: Taking over management of my parent's portfolio
Replies: 23
Views: 3295

Re: Check my work: Taking over management of my parent's portfolio

texasdiver wrote: Thu Mar 14, 2024 10:42 pm
RickBoglehead wrote: Thu Mar 14, 2024 4:53 pm Now is the time to do the POA paperwork, and file it, when they are lucid.

Are you setup with Agent Authorization at Vanguard? If not, they will shut you down when they figure out that you are accessing from a different location than your parents.

Think about having statements showing their Petworth, in their living situation if care givers have access to their room.
I'm set up with limited authority which means that all their accounts show up on my vanguard page when I log into my own accounts and I can trade and manage their finances from within my own Vanguard login.
I believe you cannot change beneficiaries, addresses, or linked banks without Full Agent (Vanguard notarized form) Authorization.
by mkc
Thu Mar 14, 2024 2:19 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Create traditional or rollover IRA at Fidelity when transfering a rollover IRA?
Replies: 5
Views: 574

Re: Create traditional or rollover IRA at Fidelity when transfering a rollover IRA?

Definitely confirm with Fidelity, but when we moved rollover IRAs to Fido last year, we were told they could go into either traditional or rollover, but if we ever anticipated wanting to roll the accounts into employer 401k accounts in the future, we'd want rollover IRAs.
by mkc
Thu Mar 14, 2024 8:56 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Wisdom of cross-country, one-way RV rental (with a cat)
Replies: 37
Views: 3141

Re: Wisdom of cross-country, one-way RV rental (with a cat)

bombcar wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2024 9:39 pm Hang out on the Good Sam forums or whatever it was. Read up a bunch.
iRV2 Forums is the predominant RVing forum these days. GoodSam/RV.net is just about dead.
by mkc
Wed Mar 13, 2024 7:23 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard or Fidelity
Replies: 73
Views: 6848

Re: Vanguard or Fidelity

snic wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2024 7:18 pm
scwed wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2024 4:28 pm
avenger wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2024 3:10 pm
snic wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2024 10:07 am
tivattom wrote: Tue Mar 12, 2024 4:05 pm
Be sure to get the transfer bonuses from Fidelity if you go that route.
What transfer bonuses?

https://www.fidelity.com/go/special-offer
$1K per million transferred (to what limit I do not know). Got my $1k 60 days after I opened my account.
+1

We got $2,500 for $1M transferred a while back. They also offered smaller incentives for smaller amounts.
Unfortunately it seems they aren't offering any bonuses at all at the moment.
Fidelity doesn't advertise their transfer bonuses. You need to engage a "local" representative and inquire. Last fall, bonuses were on the order of $3500 for $1M, $5K for $2M but only available if a local rep tagged your account for them.
by mkc
Wed Mar 13, 2024 3:59 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Holding Fidelity fund at Vanguard
Replies: 4
Views: 645

Re: Holding Fidelity fund at Vanguard

It's currently setup as JTWROS at Fidelity and also has secondary beneficiary designations which is not allowed at Vanguard. Would this designation carry over when I hold it at Vanguard or would it be subject to Vanguard's restrictions which do not allow secondary beneficiaries on taxable accounts? These designations are set at the account level. The funds are held inside the account. Vanguard doesn't allow those kinds of designations, and that sets the policy for the assets held inside their accounts. Secondly, would I be correct in assuming that come tax time dividends, capital gains, etc for this fund would be part of the consolidated 1099 provided by Vanguard? Yes, that is correct. Have you verified that your particular Fidelity fund(s...
by mkc
Wed Mar 13, 2024 3:54 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard or Fidelity
Replies: 73
Views: 6848

Re: Vanguard or Fidelity

......Some Vanguard Admiral class balanced mutual funds such as Wellington Admiral and Wellesley Admiral are not available for purchase at Fidelity, and only the Investor class of these funds can be bought. However, the Admiral class funds can be bought at Vanguard and transferred to Fidelity in-kind. Note that subsequent purchases are not allowed, but for the retiree who is only selling and not buying, this doesn't matter. There is no charge for sales of Vanguard mutual funds at Fidelity, and recurring transfers or recurring RMD withdrawals can be setup for these funds. I would call this "the best of both worlds". If you get Wellington Admiral and Wellesley Admiral funds into a Fidelity account can dividends and capital gains be...
by mkc
Tue Mar 12, 2024 8:50 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Financial Advisor says my portfolio is akin to a retiree at age 34
Replies: 80
Views: 8325

Re: Financial Advisor says my portfolio is akin to a retiree at age 34

harsha1 wrote: Tue Mar 12, 2024 7:55 am

Yes, the FA was affiliated to a management firm. They came onto me after being referred to by a friend who uses their services.
The single session was for a fixed fee. If I chose to take up their services (I didn't want to) the fee was 2.0% AUM
I asked this person to critique my existing portfolio and tell me why they thought it wasn't good.
2% AUM (not including fund fees) is nearly half of your returns over 30 years

https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/How_muc ... y_years%3F

Add in the fund fees and it's even a greater percentage.
by mkc
Tue Mar 12, 2024 8:38 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Mouse nest in engine compartment after recent service
Replies: 27
Views: 2195

Re: Mouse nest in engine compartment after recent service

How do you prevent this? I don't know. In my sealed garage where the S2000 was attacked, I have a tray of anti freeze under my tool chest and it kills many mice. Some drown in it and some drink it and I find them dead in the middle of the garage. This will injur or kill any pet or child that inadvertently wanders into the area. "How do you prevent this?" - cats will deter mice - live traps will catch mice alive - mice/rat bait boxes will poison them - essential oils like mint dispersed where they enter/stay will deter them - glue type traps can be used in/near vehicles and machinery - 'snap' type traps are also effective but need to be cleared out and reset often Pick which ones are best applicable to your situation and goals. Bo...
by mkc
Mon Mar 11, 2024 8:54 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Wisdom of cross-country, one-way RV rental (with a cat)
Replies: 37
Views: 3141

Re: Wisdom of cross-country, one-way RV rental (with a cat)

[*] I could drive the RV with our two oldest kids and the cat being free to move around, use the litter box, etc. while my wife tails us in the minivan with our two younger kids (at least one of whom will be in a full carseat, which I think is problematic in an RV). Don't be fooled by the "house" appearance of the RV interior. It is a moving vehicle and everybody should be secured with seatbelts. I wouldn't want kids to be free to move around in a moving RV. I probably should have put a comma in there after "kids." I figured that the cat could move around, not them. Get under your feet near accelerator/brake? Jump on dash? Suddenly jump on your lap? Fall into entry stepwell? Become a projectile in a sudden stop? If you ...
by mkc
Mon Mar 11, 2024 5:20 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Wisdom of cross-country, one-way RV rental (with a cat)
Replies: 37
Views: 3141

Re: Wisdom of cross-country, one-way RV rental (with a cat)

This is great feedback. You might consider a class C with a cabover bunk and pull-out couch. Class C's are also easier to drive if you're not used to an RV. Ok, interesting, I just assumed that bigger would be better. Definitely not, especially if it's a front engine gasser class A with a long rear overhang. A class C will feel like driving a large pickup. Class A's, in particular diesel pushers, are usually "Drinks for 6, dinner for 4, sleeps 2". Class C's on an E450 van cab or one of the F450 truck cab chassis are more geared towards families. Speaking of which, moving freely while underway is not generally recommended for passengers. You will definitely feel the air pressure from 18 wheelers push the "house" around a...
by mkc
Mon Mar 11, 2024 2:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Wisdom of cross-country, one-way RV rental (with a cat)
Replies: 37
Views: 3141

Re: Wisdom of cross-country, one-way RV rental (with a cat)

bombcar wrote: Mon Mar 11, 2024 2:18 pm
If I were to do it, I'd buy a used RV (get someone who knows them to help you), tow the minivan, and then sell it afterwards.
Most minivans aren't towable 4-down, so it would need to be a front wheel drive model and OP would have to buy or rent a tow dolly.
by mkc
Mon Mar 11, 2024 1:02 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Wisdom of cross-country, one-way RV rental (with a cat)
Replies: 37
Views: 3141

Re: Wisdom of cross-country, one-way RV rental (with a cat)

A couple of things come to mind that I'd suggest you consider: 1) Large class A motorhomes don't typically have that many sleeping spaces. You might consider a class C with a cabover bunk and pull-out couch. Class C's are also easier to drive if you're not used to an RV. 2) Check to see if pets would even be allowed in the RV. Not sure rental companies permit it. Plus you're going to want to transport the cat in a carrier (and probably keep it in a carrier or on a harness/leash most of the time.) You do NOT want an animal loose in an RV while you're driving - they're a distraction and they can get in the wrong place at the wrong time. For their safety and yours, you need them secured. There are A LOT of small spaces in an RV that a cat (esp...
by mkc
Mon Mar 11, 2024 9:29 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How much Roth Conversion should I plan on?
Replies: 18
Views: 2571

Re: How much Roth Conversion should I plan on?

[Topic is now in Personal Finance (Not Investing). Thank you to the member who reported it and explained the issue - mod mkc]
by mkc
Sat Mar 09, 2024 8:54 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Electrical Outlet Covers
Replies: 48
Views: 3813

Re: Electrical Outlet Covers

bradinsky wrote: Sat Mar 09, 2024 6:03 pm
SVariance1 wrote: Sat Mar 09, 2024 5:57 pm
neilpilot wrote: Sat Mar 09, 2024 5:55 pm Mike,

Why do all your posts appear twice?
Why do my comments keep posting twice?

Yeah I don’t know. I click submit and then get directed to another submit
Don’t click the 2nd submit.
I cleaned up the duplicates - mod mkc
by mkc
Wed Mar 06, 2024 3:22 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: tax filing using PDF
Replies: 22
Views: 1468

Re: tax filing using PDF

[Topic is now in Personal Finance (Not Investing) - tax form/filing question - mod mkc]
by mkc
Wed Mar 06, 2024 8:55 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Please eval my mortgage
Replies: 20
Views: 2029

Re: Please eval my mortgage

[Topic is now in Personal Finance (Not Investing) - mortgage question. Thank you to the member who reported it and explained what was wrong - mod mkc]
by mkc
Tue Mar 05, 2024 11:25 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Helping mom with finances - how do I get access?
Replies: 48
Views: 4011

Re: Helping mom with finances - how do I get access?

arcticpineapplecorp. wrote: Sun Mar 03, 2024 8:54 pm get full agent authorization. That way you can access accounts, keep an eye on things and even transact on her behalf if she wishes and/or if she becomes incapacitated and act on her own. You may have POA (do you?) but that's not enough in some cases.
Getting financial firms to accept POA is often problematic. As noted, full agent authorization is often a required step

Finding out your Power of Attorney is Useless
by mkc
Mon Mar 04, 2024 2:26 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Treasury Bonds as a substitute for a portion of the overall bond fund allocation?
Replies: 2
Views: 491

Re: Treasury Bonds as a substitute for a portion of the overall bond fund allocation?

[Topic is now in Personal Investments. Thank you to the member who reported it and explained what was wrong. mod mkc]
by mkc
Sat Mar 02, 2024 3:55 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Dumb Tax Inputting Question
Replies: 16
Views: 858

Re: Dumb Tax Inputting Question

[Topic is now in Personal Finance (Not Investing) - tax return question - mod mkc]
by mkc
Sat Mar 02, 2024 9:18 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Does healthcare remain a significant concern for retirement before 65, even with a well-planned budget?
Replies: 66
Views: 6557

Re: Even with a well-planned budget, does healthcare remain a significant concern for retirement before 65?

DW and I, both in our mid-50s, are contemplating an early retirement soon before we hit 60. We have savings of about 30X estimated annual expenses, including budget for healthcare costs (premiums, copays, and deductibles up to the maximum out-of-pocket limit), based on information sourced from the ACA Health Insurance Marketplace available at https://www.healthcare.gov, for a PPO Gold plan with a family total out-of-pocket maximum of $13,000. 1. From your experience, do you find that health insurance plans available through the ACA marketplace, such as a Gold plan, offer comparable coverage, accessibility, and acceptance rates to those typically provided by employers? May depend on the state/region you are in, as the quality and cost of AC...
by mkc
Fri Mar 01, 2024 8:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Airline Miles and Hotel Points
Replies: 37
Views: 4525

Re: Airline Miles and Hotel Points

[Topic is now in Personal Consumer Issues - credit card rewards programs - mod mkc]
by mkc
Fri Mar 01, 2024 5:24 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: PlanVision vs Maxifii/NewRetirement/ProjectionLab
Replies: 30
Views: 2520

Re: PlanVision vs Maxifii/NewRetirement/ProjectionLab

One caution I would have on eMoney with any advisor is based on an experience with Fidelity FullView (which is a feature-limited version of eMoney). Fidelity owns eMoney.

I found the asset allocation numbers didn't match Morningstar XRay or Fidelity's own GPS (Guided Portfolio Solutions, which is what you see when you click "analyze"). FullView, for me, was more than 5% off on the high side for equity allocation and similarly low on the fixed income allocation as compared to the other 2 (which essentially matched each other).

I don't know if it impacts the advisor version of eMoney, but it's a caveat for anyone using FullView for rebalancing and worth double-checking values if using the advisor-level eMoney.
by mkc
Fri Mar 01, 2024 11:10 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: PlanVision vs Maxifii/NewRetirement/ProjectionLab
Replies: 30
Views: 2520

Re: PlanVision vs Maxifii/NewRetirement/ProjectionLab

I’ve been reviewing all the options in the title. PlanVision is advisor guided using the eMoney platform, which seems exclusively marketed to the professional advisor community. The other products in the thread title are DIY for the most part. Each of the DIY products seem to have strengths (Maxify for consumption smoothing, the others for projections). Has anyone used these products as well as PlanVision? If PlanVision’s eMoney platform can do everything these DIY products can, I’d rather pay the low fee of PlanVision to get it all in one. From my experience with PlanVision, the client does not have access to easily do modeling. I've had to ask Jason to run conversion scenarios for me, then he sends a PDF report. I prefer RPM (Retiree Por...
by mkc
Fri Mar 01, 2024 9:42 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard Announces CEO Retirement and Appointment of President
Replies: 372
Views: 36446

Re: Vanguard Announces CEO Retirement and Appointment of President

I love this quote from Jeff DeMaso's "Independent Vanguard Advisor" newsletter via RIAbiz article:
Bogle had a major impact on investing that became known as “The Bogle Way.”

It was a no-frills, common sense approach that was also reflected in the way he ran the company. It became known as “The Vanguard Way,” and his followers were known as “Bogleheads.”

Buckley's career contrasts with Bogle's in that way, DeMaso writes in his newsletter today.

"Buckley kept a steady hand on the wheel, but, well, let’s put it this way, while Bogleheads have endured, no one started a Buckleyheads group.
by mkc
Thu Feb 29, 2024 1:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Finding concierge physician?
Replies: 3
Views: 1511

Re: Finding concierge physician?

Hi all, I have an elderly (80YO) relative who lives alone in a relatively rural area (Hudson Valley, NY - in the vicinity of Millerton and Millbrook). On a recent visit she was complaining about the level of medical care she is able to get up there, having to drive a long distance to appointments, not having anyone she can just call about minor issues or questions, etc. It occurs to me that a concierge physician makes sense in this situation (cost is no object). Telehealth would be okay but some kind of affiliation with a local provider would be important so she can be seen when needed, either at an office or at home. How can I go about finding one for her (she's not good with this stuff)? The Google search is probably your best bet, unfor...