Bogleheads.org

Gecko10x

Portfolio Visualizer uses Vanguard's large cap value and growth funds for the asset class returns - the combined benchmark for that would be VLACX (Vanguard's large cap index) and not their S&P 500 fund - if you use that in the backtest I believe you will see the performance difference disappea...

Gecko10x

David Jay wrote:Did you notice "Note 1" on PV?

Really don't think this is necessary; of course I'm well aware. The entire thread is about backtesting.

Gecko10x

My original thought was that 50% Value / 50% growth holds the SAME assets as 100% of the market/sector/whatever. That's where I was coming from with my question. I suppose however, that if that isn't how value/growth is defined, then that would cause problems with the analysis. If value is defined a...

Gecko10x

David, the benchmark on my comparison is US Large Cap; I was only including 100% Value and 100% Growth for reference. Yes, the original article and thread was using the total market, vs my comparison is only with large cap, but it is the same question being asked. From what I can see in PV (even run...

Gecko10x

I'm going to resurrect this thread because it deals directly with my question: Does splitting value and growth give you a good way to hedge your bets? Rick's posted article says "No", but this backtest seems to say "Yes". Does anyone have any additional thoughts about this? Why d...

Gecko10x

What is the opinion of the following scenario: Let's say I have saved $100k and I have $100k left on my mortgage. I wish to sell my house in 5-10 years after I have saved another $200k and build a more expensive home. Would you pay off the mortgage to lower your fixed costs? Would that extra $100k c...

Gecko10x

Perfect.
Thanks for helping!

Gecko10x

Counting both my and my wife's assets:
2013 @ 33(me)/31(wife)

2 years later we are over $200k.

The first $100k certainly felt like forever!

Gecko10x

Can I ask if people considering moving to a single car live in an urban or suburban area. I can't imagine only having 1 car in the suburbs but I can see it being more workable in an urban environment. While I'm not the target of the thread (not retired), we've been a single car household for the la...

Gecko10x

I seem to have a choice of what to do with $11k, and am having a bit of trouble determining if there is an optimal decision. I have a loan @ 2.875% (I think). I have the funds to either pay this off by early 2017, or contribute $11k to two Roth accounts for 2016. I cannot do both. If I chose to put ...

Gecko10x

RevYoung- You're still making the same mistakes. Just because the backrest happens get similar returns doesn't mean you are taking on the same risks as international. Do you really want to ignore the majority of the market? If you want a higher risk portfolio, then increase your risky assets. BUT, y...

Gecko10x

While we're at it, how about 35% SCV, 15% REIT, 25% emerging markets, 20% long-term Treasuries, 5% gold ? You beat me to it :wink: I would do something more like that, with some caveats: I don't like gold, so I'd skip that. That's a big bet on EM and SV. So personally, I'd do something more like MV...

Gecko10x

pondering wrote: I'd like a read only login to my credit card accounts, so someone could create a report of spending by date.

My Discover card actually offers quite a nice auto-categorized spending report interface, and you can pick the dates.

I imagine Mint also offers something like this.

Gecko10x

As of 8/31/2015, -0.9%. I think. My 401k loan repayment might be skewing the numbers.

For comparison, AOM is -2.6%, and AOR is -3.0%.

Gecko10x

34 average age, 60/40.

Gecko10x

My wife makes and sells body products, most of which have no parabens. Look for handmade products with very little or no water. Products with significant amounts of water in them are basically impossible to make without antibacterial additives and have them last more than about a week. Feel free to ...

Gecko10x

Yes, I would for the added diversification.

Gecko10x

Can the iPad users who've reported compatibility issues please let me know if they see anything differently now? I've modified the upper right search box to remove the two links underneath the search box. IOW, I removed my customization and reverted back to the "stock" configuration. The ...

Gecko10x

Another +1 for YNAB.

We've been using it for a few years now, and it has done wonders for our cash flow and finances.

Gecko10x

IMO, nothing wrong with 50/50, especially since you don't know your tolerance yet. I won't rehash the advice above. If, however, you are swayed by those that think you are leaving too much on the table, you could read some Swedroe. You might then be swayed to increase the risk of your equities, whil...

Gecko10x

It will only matter in hindsight. I personally wouldn't eliminate an asset because of rounding though.

Gecko10x

I use "what I'd be doing otherwise", which for me is AOM and AOR.

Gecko10x

Just so that everyone can see what we are talking about:

Old look on top
New look on bottom

Edit: I guess there are many things being discussed. What my pic shows is the "big font" problem some iPad users are experiencing.

Gecko10x

Interestingly, if I go to the phpBB demo for Prosilver (which is the style currently being used, based on the page source code), it looks fine on my iPad. So, the issue we are all seeing with the huge fonts appears to be customization that has been done to our version of the style. Or maybe somethin...

Gecko10x

PBTech : Not bad. Like it better on iPad than the desktop. Simplicity : Eh, OK Elegance : Like this on both iPad and desktop. SE Square : Looks good on both iPad and desktop, and is very similar to what we currently have. Prosilver Special Edition : Lots of wasted space on desktop, but fine on iPad...

Gecko10x

Yes, thanks for splitting this off. I'll take a quick look at the other styles I didn't look at earlier and comment on them.

I also don't understand the hesitation (by the devs) to give users the ability to choose their preferred style, if that is possible. Choice is good.

Gecko10x

You can also use Portfolio Visualizer to get returns from 1972 on.

Edit: Nisi beat me!

Gecko10x

HongKonger wrote:I still use the Bialetti stove top moka pot I bought in Naples Italy nearly 30 years ago every day. It has travelled all over the world with me. It makes better espresso than anything else I have tried or tasted.

This is what we use as well. Love it. (Though ours are new).

Gecko10x

P.S. Silly question. If websites can maintain multiple versions (standard and mobile), why not also keep the last simple html version for older systems? Early adopters select forum version 3+, and users with older systems stay with forum version 2. (I tried Vanguard's then new mobile version, it wa...

Gecko10x

There is usually not a lot of room in IRA and it certainly would not hold all the stuff that needs to be there to accommodate this portfolio idea. This is likely true for both the group that can save in taxable and the group that can't. I don't understand this argument. Maybe 10 years ago when ETFs...

Gecko10x

We did the PMI prepayment. Make sure his loan officer shops around for the best prepayment rate; I've been told that sometimes they aren't very familiar with the prepayment options, and that, coupled with the fact that the best prepayment rate probably won't come from the lender with the best monthl...

Gecko10x

You didn't really ask about portfolio construction directly, but I think this Callan Paper is relevant in this discussion nonetheless. (And I am personally curious to others' opinions on the paper.) I'll post the conclusion here: While building purely factor-based portfolios is challenging and large...

Gecko10x

I somehow ran into this Callan Paper yesterday and found it interesting. Has it been discussed here before? If not, anyone care to comment?

I tried looking around for other books or papers along the same lines and couldn't really come up with much. Does anyone know of any?

Thanks

Gecko10x

Would anyone recommend a bond index fund? If so, which type and why? Maybe, although I'm of the opinion that straight bonds are actually more risky than something like 90/10 bond/stock. 5 years is generally considered too short a time frame to be taking any risk, but depending on how hard that end ...

Gecko10x

[Referral links removed by admin LadyGeek]

Gecko10x

You could check out something like Betterment.

Gecko10x

Thoughts on excluding world markets to get taxes down?

On one hand, I'd hate to give up all that diversification. OTOH, there's lots of diversification within the US market, and plenty of international exposure via LC. Plus, with a decreasing equity exposure, would it really matter much?

Gecko10x

I appreciate your thoughts, Livesoft. Also the "tax-cost ratio" or whatever one wants to call it really does depend on one's personal tax situation. One may have offsetting losses to help with long-term capital gains distributions or one may have qualified dividends taxed at 0% or whatever...

Gecko10x

Trying to calculate the tax drag could be very complicated in your situation. While you are in the 15% bracket (up to possibly $85-95k per year income), the taxes on cap gains and qualified dividends for the stock funds will be zero. So there will be no significant "tax drag" from those. ...

Gecko10x

If you are going to go the Vanguard route, consider a much more simplified portfolio that will be as effective or more. I would suggest the "Three Fund Portfolio" comprising of Total Stock Index, Total International Index, and Intermediate Term Tax Exempt. I'm not. But just for the argume...

Gecko10x

Tax Cost Ratio represents the percentage-point reduction in returns that results from Federal income taxes (before shares in the fund are sold, and assuming the highest Federal tax bracket). Example: if a fund has a 10% pre-tax return, and taxes reduce that return to 9%, then the tax cost ratio is ...

Gecko10x

Taylor, thanks for the advice. I agree; the reason for my waffling on the AA is that the timeline is going to be 10+ years... probably somewhere in the 11-15yr range. In addition, I don't have a problem waiting 1-3yrs for a recovery. So, for me that puts it just within the "stocks are OK" ...

Gecko10x

Taylor Larimore wrote:Gecko:

I doubt if anyone has memorized the ticker symbols. It will be helpful, and you will get more replies, if you edit your post to include the name of the funds. Use the "edit" button at the top of your window.

Thank you and best wishes.
Taylor

Added.

Gecko10x

This year I will probably start putting funds into a taxable account to be used for a future house. My basic question is: How much, if any, should I be concerned about the tax efficiency of my investments? We are currently in the 15% tax bracket, and will likely be there for 2015, but beyond that we...

Gecko10x

I think my overall weighted return was around 4%, which was significantly drug down by awful timing of new contributions, which made up a rather larger % of my total portfolio.

Gecko10x

I am in a similar situation, and am planning to pay it off as next priority after retirement savings.

I would say that if you cash flow is tight, or has competing priorities (daycare), pay it off. If not, no big deal to just make the monthly payment.

Gecko10x

Sounds like good advice above.

All I can add is that you can do all of Old San Juan, including a fort tour, in less than 1 day.

Gecko10x

After looking at all of those and more, I am using RPV for domestic large/mid value. My decision was based on a number of reasons, including cost, value exposure, and diversification. I'd love to know any other reasons you might have had. Also, what exactly are you referring to when you say "d...

Gecko10x

After looking at all of those and more, I am using RPV for domestic large/mid value. My decision was based on a number of reasons, including cost, value exposure, and diversification.

Take it for what it's worth. Nearly everyone will have a different opinion.

Gecko10x

300+ (trick or treating was last night)..... Okay, have to ask - Why last night? Especially with Halloween falling on a Friday this year, the perfect storm (no school next day) :?: I know. There's a "big" high school football game tonight, which was the reason for moving trick or treating...

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