Search found 3080 matches
- Mon Mar 20, 2023 1:45 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Riding Lawn Mower
- Replies: 20
- Views: 888
Re: Riding Lawn Mower
Don't buy a cheap one.
- Mon Mar 20, 2023 1:43 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: VG Wellesley In My Taxable Acct: What To Do About It?
- Replies: 10
- Views: 868
Re: VG Wellesley In My Taxable Acct: What To Do About It?
In addition to previous suggestions is the "use shares for donations to charity or setting up a DAF" instead of using cash.
- Mon Mar 20, 2023 1:31 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Growing family, should I buy a home?
- Replies: 29
- Views: 1343
Re: Growing family, should I buy a home?
Buying vs renting has a financial answer based on where you are and circumstances.
Buying vs renting is more than just a financial question.
Buying vs renting is more than just a financial question.
- Mon Mar 20, 2023 1:27 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Collecting social security - transitioning to nonresident alien with < 40 credits but lived > 10 yrs
- Replies: 4
- Views: 326
Re: Collecting social security - transitioning to nonresident alien with < 40 credits but lived > 10 yrs
Make an appointment and talk to your local SS office if you want a specific answer.
- Mon Mar 20, 2023 1:23 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Doing taxes each year is really hard, is it for you?
- Replies: 104
- Views: 7054
Re: Doing taxes each year is really hard, is it for you?
Don't forget that it's the same complexity which people complain about that also gives us the deductions and tax planning opportunities that we all love so much and use.
You can simplify your own taxes by reporting your income and paying the taxes. You don't have to take deductions and credits.
You can simplify your own taxes by reporting your income and paying the taxes. You don't have to take deductions and credits.
- Sun Mar 19, 2023 1:41 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How do you save copies of your tax forms and supporting docs?
- Replies: 33
- Views: 3689
Re: How do you save copies of your tax forms and supporting docs?
Electronic plus paper. I sometimes look at the paper copies for information but the electronic copies just collect digital dust bunnies.
- Sun Mar 19, 2023 1:28 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Doing taxes each year is really hard, is it for you?
- Replies: 104
- Views: 7054
Re: Doing taxes each year is really hard, is it for you?
I would rather spend the time to figure it out myself but there are plenty of professionals willing to help you if you want help.
- Sun Mar 19, 2023 12:51 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Any issue if baby’s last name is different from both parents’?
- Replies: 26
- Views: 3133
Re: Any issue if baby’s last name is different from both parents’?
Nobody cares what your name is as long as you have documents for that identity.
- Sun Mar 19, 2023 12:47 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: What to do with 30K from ROTH?
- Replies: 17
- Views: 1086
Re: What to do with 30K from ROTH?
You should look at the choices available in the Roth and see if any of them meet your needs or you can do a rollover to Vanguard and then do something more familiar.
- Sun Mar 19, 2023 12:16 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: 100% 75% 50% Pension Joint and Survivor Choice
- Replies: 25
- Views: 1902
Re: 100% 75% 50% Pension Joint and Survivor Choice
Since my pension will be our primary income for life after retirement, we have defaulted to the 100% survivor option. There would have to be a significant advantage to even consider one of the other options. The pension with survivor option does have a "pop up" feature but that is not part of the decision; just a happy little feature if spouse unexpectedly dies first.
- Sun Mar 19, 2023 11:59 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Which Index/Mutual Fund to choose thru my HSA?
- Replies: 2
- Views: 171
Re: Which Index/Mutual Fund to choose thru my HSA?
I like the Fidelity Zero funds in an HSA. You can mix/match two or three of them to make a "balanced" fund. You can also look at Fidelity Freedom Index funds for lower expense ratio balanced funds.
- Sun Mar 19, 2023 11:07 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Retirees: Which safe withdrawal rate allowed you to grow your portfolio?
- Replies: 52
- Views: 4502
Re: Retirees: Which safe withdrawal rate allowed you to grow your portfolio?
If you can figure out the future perpetual withdrawal rate (to your own satisfaction) then you only need to withdraw less than that. The idea of growing your portfolio in retirement sort of implies that you have a portfolio larger than needed to maintain your future budget. Most of the anxiety about future modeling around here is about how to avoid the portfolio going to 0 before you die. Most models plan and reality is that most people will have a declining portfolio in retirement.
- Sun Mar 19, 2023 10:53 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Market returns versus inflation
- Replies: 7
- Views: 607
Re: Market returns versus inflation
It would be nice to think 0 was the lowest possible net but negative numbers are certainly possible. I don't see much value in making such predictions about the future but you may as well plug in a wide range of numbers if you are doing the exercise.
- Sun Mar 19, 2023 9:40 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Diversify brokerage houses?
- Replies: 6
- Views: 558
Re: Diversify brokerage houses?
Some people see a risk in holding everything in one place. Some people see a risk in holding multiple accounts. Pick which ever one makes you feel better but don't make it more complicated than necessary.
- Sat Mar 18, 2023 10:42 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Is the US facing major EV home charging problems?
- Replies: 83
- Views: 3931
Re: Is the US facing major EV home charging problems?
The vast majority are not even thinking of buying an EV so it's hardly a crisis. Individuals may or may not need to upgrade their home service if they buy an EV but that's not a crisis either. The need to continue upgrading the infrastructure of a fairly fragile and patched together electric grid has been a thing "forever" so still not a crisis but it could turn into one if the infrastructure development does not happen.
- Thu Mar 16, 2023 8:22 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How long should I plan for it to take for money to go from Vanguard fund to my checking account?
- Replies: 25
- Views: 1261
Re: How long should I plan for it to take for money to go from Vanguard fund to my checking account?
It will take about 3 business days but I would allow a few more if you are trying to make a deadline.
- Thu Mar 16, 2023 7:29 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Should we put stay off the grass sign?
- Replies: 29
- Views: 2358
Re: Should we put stay off the grass sign? 🛑
sign is a waste of $; you want a fence or another walkway
- Wed Mar 15, 2023 8:46 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Trading in a car with a good interest rate loan
- Replies: 13
- Views: 949
Re: Trading in a car with a good interest rate loan
This would be a good time to keep the car you already have and avoid all the hassles and expense of the current car market.
- Wed Mar 15, 2023 10:25 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: You're in your 20's, just made 100k profit from your business, how do you scale your wealth?
- Replies: 35
- Views: 2584
Re: You're in your 20's, just made 100k profit from your business, how do you scale your wealth?
Generally, you would probably invest back into your business while it is still growing. If you want to reduce the risk concentrated on the business, you should also begin investing in index funds and/or real estate etc as you desire.
- Sun Mar 12, 2023 9:57 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Excess funds flowing in, unsure on strategy.
- Replies: 6
- Views: 672
Re: Excess funds flowing in, unsure on strategy.
Tax efficient funds in a brokerage account. Balance your desired AA across all accounts. You may get more specific advice if you post a full portfolio for review.
- Sat Mar 11, 2023 11:49 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Rough Estimate of 2023 Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund for 2023?
- Replies: 14
- Views: 1732
Re: Rough Estimate of 2023 Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund for 2023?
Look at 2022 or an average over past few years.
- Thu Mar 09, 2023 5:20 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: MUST LISTEN "Bogleheads on Investing" podcast with financial historian Edward Chancellor
- Replies: 144
- Views: 15057
Re: MUST LISTEN "Bogleheads on Investing" podcast with financial historian Edward Chancellor
The discussion/disagreement about how much inflation protected bonds to hold is nothing new.
- Thu Mar 09, 2023 10:59 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Bridge Building [income for the years before Social Security]
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1527
Re: Bridge Building [income for the years before Social Security]
If you have enough to buy the bridge now then you have choices to buy it all now, part of it or fund it with new money as you go. I am starting a bridge fund and it will be funded along the way as I get new funds.
- Wed Mar 08, 2023 9:39 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Parents Real Estate Deal - Say something?
- Replies: 130
- Views: 10226
Re: Parents Real Estate Deal - Say something?
You know your parents. Are they interested in talking about it?
In any case, what matters most is what is written into the contracts.
In the real world, what would happen to the agreements if they decided they wanted to get out?
Some of these groups are fine. The worst are scams and/or cults.
We seem to attract some of the crazy ones in our part of the world.
In any case, what matters most is what is written into the contracts.
In the real world, what would happen to the agreements if they decided they wanted to get out?
Some of these groups are fine. The worst are scams and/or cults.
We seem to attract some of the crazy ones in our part of the world.
- Tue Mar 07, 2023 8:44 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Help me decide between CD, MM, TBills, TIPS
- Replies: 14
- Views: 1803
Re: Help me decide between CD, MM, TBills, TIPS
I would keep some amount in a money market fund If this is your short term fund.
- Tue Mar 07, 2023 7:30 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: If not Vanguard, then who?
- Replies: 62
- Views: 4959
Re: If not Vanguard, then who?
I have accounts at all three. I prefer Vanguard but Fidelity would be the only one that offers all the services I use if I could pick only one. Fortunately, I don't have to pick just one.
- Tue Mar 07, 2023 6:13 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Is the Boglehead way of owning a car the best way?
- Replies: 58
- Views: 6304
Re: Is the Boglehead way of owning a car the best way?
Anything more than basic required transportation becomes a luxury with choices. Go basic or buy/lease whatever you want and can afford. Cars are expensive however you do it and some are more expensive than others.
- Tue Mar 07, 2023 5:54 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Sell VTSAX to avoid 6.5% Mortgage?
- Replies: 38
- Views: 3497
Re: Sell VTSAX to avoid 6.5% Mortgage?
Do you have any stock with losses or minimal gains? I would sell at least that much to reduce the mortgage by that amount with enough sold in total to get 20% or more down. I'm keeping my mortgage at 2.5% but at current rates, it would be tempting to pay the taxes and skip the mortgage. You can put the "mortgage payment" back into stocks every month.
- Tue Mar 07, 2023 5:42 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Squeaky floor -- new construction home
- Replies: 23
- Views: 2126
Re: Squeaky floor -- new construction home
Yes, if glue and screws don't work you need to take it apart and see the problem. Of course, after doing glue and screws, taking the drywall out from the ceiling under is the easiest to do and then fix. Obviously, something is moving and rubbing that should not be. Our stairs do this but not enough to do anything about it yet.
- Tue Mar 07, 2023 5:35 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Pension: to COLA or not to COLA?
- Replies: 5
- Views: 707
Re: Pension: to COLA or not to COLA?
There are online calculators for that and the Cola is going to win in a few years window in almost every circumstance.
- Tue Mar 07, 2023 10:51 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: How to buy a car when there are none
- Replies: 42
- Views: 5828
Re: How to buy a car when there are none
Last year I was looking for a specific model. I found two dealers in the state who were taking orders at MSRP and got on their wait lists. After a few months, I got a call which was basically a take it or leave it decision before the call ended. All the purchase agreements were exchanged by fax and I went and picked it up a couple of days later. Interestingly, the other dealer called a few days later with another one but they had plenty of people on their wait list who wanted it. I think inventory has increased a bit since then but there are still very few new Toyotas and Hondas sitting on the lot to purchase.
- Tue Mar 07, 2023 10:36 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Factoring in Inheritance to Financial Plans
- Replies: 125
- Views: 10085
Re: Factoring in Inheritance to Financial Plans
We have never expected any inheritance (other than some nostalgic items) and that continues to be a realistic expectation.
- Tue Mar 07, 2023 10:28 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Married file joint or separate
- Replies: 21
- Views: 1330
Re: Married file joint or separate
The best way to know is to fill out the full form set for both scenarios and then decide.
- Mon Mar 06, 2023 4:05 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Best Funeral you ever attended?
- Replies: 62
- Views: 6046
Re: Best Funeral you ever attended?
Funerals are for the living. Funerals have become the family reunion event for us during the last few decades. Everyone who can come tries to make it. The most recent was my father's funeral almost two years ago. Someone in the family hosts a family and friends potluck with way too much food at their house after the services are complete. People laugh and cry and talk and share pictures and gossip and kids do what kids do until people need to go home. There may be new tractors or whatever that need looking at. It's good to be outside if the weather is decent. We don't really do the full wake experience before the funeral because most of us don't drink that much and we are ready to go to bed much earlier than that. It's OK to be sad and happ...
- Sun Mar 05, 2023 5:39 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: How secure is self storage?
- Replies: 25
- Views: 2914
Re: How secure is self storage?
The local, rural self storage places seem to have a lot of theft, rodents and bugs. There is one climate controlled storage place in town that is probably more secure and clean but more expensive. Of course, these risks are what insurance is for. Same thing could happen if it was parked in your own drive or garage.
- Sun Mar 05, 2023 4:00 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Help me advise my wife regarding windfall
- Replies: 81
- Views: 8202
Re: Help me advise my wife regarding windfall
It could be earning 4-5% currently.
You could pay off the mortgage and save/invest the difference.
You could keep the mortgage and invest all of it.
You could save/invest the income from your part time jobs and live off the cash.
You can let it sit for a while and think about it.
You could pay off the mortgage and save/invest the difference.
You could keep the mortgage and invest all of it.
You could save/invest the income from your part time jobs and live off the cash.
You can let it sit for a while and think about it.
- Sun Mar 05, 2023 12:35 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Any bogleheads decide to outsource their lawn care?
- Replies: 58
- Views: 3726
Re: Any bogleheads decide to outsource their lawn care?
I enjoy mowing. It's also part of my general activity routine.
- Sun Mar 05, 2023 12:31 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Buffett in 2018: A 60/40 portfolio is "absurd" and "foolish"
- Replies: 162
- Views: 18494
Re: Buffett in 2018: A 60/40 portfolio is "absurd" and "foolish"
People continuing to take potshots at "60/40" only demonstrate that 60/40 has continuing relevance. It's OK to question if 60/40 works but there is much clickbait on the internet including this one.
- Fri Mar 03, 2023 5:25 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: What do you do with document management at home?
- Replies: 28
- Views: 2378
Re: What do you do with document management at home?
Filing cabinet. It's why they exist and you already have one.
- Tue Feb 28, 2023 9:50 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Take cap gains to reduce disbursements?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 370
Re: Take cap gains to reduce disbursements?
Are there any losses to offset gains? Are you reinvesting into the same funds or are you redirecting current gains and dividends to more tax efficient funds? More detail about the portfolio would be helpful in getting more specific answers.
- Tue Feb 28, 2023 9:42 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: My current tenants want to buy my condo - Advice on Owner Financing
- Replies: 35
- Views: 3617
Re: My current tenants want to buy my condo - Advice on Owner Financing
Do you want to sell the property? A lease - purchase agreement sounds like a better idea and is easier for both sides to get out of if something unexpected happens.
- Tue Feb 28, 2023 9:36 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Selling property in a far away state
- Replies: 29
- Views: 1919
Re: Selling property in a far away state
You need a local assessment. It really depends on the associated rights, access and location. Some property is extremely valuable but property with no access or water is worth nothing.
- Wed Feb 22, 2023 11:24 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Comments on Target Portfolio
- Replies: 6
- Views: 714
Re: Comments on Target Portfolio
In an IRA, I would suggest picking a single balanced fund at the AA and composition you desire. I'm more familiar with the range of Vanguard Life Strategy and Target Date funds but I think there are similar funds at most brokers.
- Tue Feb 21, 2023 10:36 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: How are you affected by Vanguard's unique ETF/mutual fund structure?
- Replies: 18
- Views: 1401
Re: How are you affected by Vanguard's unique ETF/mutual fund structure?
If I understand the broad sketches, it seems to get the benefits of the etf model but I can stay in mutual funds for the convenience factor at essentially the same cost.
- Mon Feb 20, 2023 11:41 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: "Predicting the Past" by OZARK
- Replies: 22
- Views: 1717
Re: "Predicting the Past" by OZARK
Embrace the uncertainty of the future. What other choice do you have?
- Mon Feb 20, 2023 9:10 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Taxable account newbies
- Replies: 26
- Views: 2548
Re: Taxable account newbies
Another vote for all the bonds in the TSP and only stocks in taxable. You can rebalance as needed in the Roth accounts and TSP.
- Sun Feb 19, 2023 1:39 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Is it worth the energy to manually reinvest dividends in taxable account? How can I most easily track my AA?
- Replies: 52
- Views: 4777
Re: Is it worth the energy to manually reinvest dividends in taxable account? How can I most easily track my AA?
If you do not plan to tax loss harvest, spend the $ or move it to a different fund it probably does not matter much either way.
I check accounts, reinvest or TLH in taxable accounts when I have the time and attention (approximately quarterly or when the market is noticeably up or down and specifically on Jan 1 each year to keep one consistent benchmark over time).
Most of our largest accounts are tax advantaged and each one holds a single balanced fund so the total AA stays on track without any real need for me to do anything most of the time. I use the Instant XRay tool to plug in fund tickers and balances. It takes a few minutes each time I check.
I check accounts, reinvest or TLH in taxable accounts when I have the time and attention (approximately quarterly or when the market is noticeably up or down and specifically on Jan 1 each year to keep one consistent benchmark over time).
Most of our largest accounts are tax advantaged and each one holds a single balanced fund so the total AA stays on track without any real need for me to do anything most of the time. I use the Instant XRay tool to plug in fund tickers and balances. It takes a few minutes each time I check.
- Sat Feb 18, 2023 4:51 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Guiding a Friend - Fidelity or Schwab but not Vanguard
- Replies: 5
- Views: 938
Re: Guiding a Friend - Fidelity or Schwab but not Vanguard
With nearby offices, they could interview advisors and look at costs at Fidelity and Schwab. I doubt that there is a lot of difference. I think Fidelity has the most complete set of services if you are trying to include banking and HSA along with investments and retirement accounts.
- Sat Feb 18, 2023 9:11 am
- Forum: Non-US Investing
- Topic: The gold boglehead [Andorra]
- Replies: 29
- Views: 2887
Re: The gold boglehead
Gold tends to bring out a variety of responses from full paranoia, people who enjoy having a bit of gold and everything in between.
Gold held in various forms is one of the slices in some of the sample/model portfolios that many people hold.
I don't think of gold as an investment but people get to pick their own allocations and reasons.
If you want strong support for holding a lot of gold instead of bonds, bogleheads is probably not the place.
Gold held in various forms is one of the slices in some of the sample/model portfolios that many people hold.
I don't think of gold as an investment but people get to pick their own allocations and reasons.
If you want strong support for holding a lot of gold instead of bonds, bogleheads is probably not the place.
- Fri Feb 17, 2023 7:14 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Melancholy Tale: Parents Had Pension, Social Security, SPIA & TIPS, but …
- Replies: 254
- Views: 33401
Re: Melancholy Tale: Parents Had Pension, Social Security, SPIA & TIPS, but …
Stereotypical people of that mindset would not do deficit spending. They would move or whatever to reduce costs. It's also not uncommon for family to help out. On the other hand, this sounds like a dream retirement for most Americans who often have even fewer resources and help and more health problems. Some of these decisions are really hard and financial literacy is rare.
Inflation and unpredictable expenses are some of the reasons I make plans for one or both of us living to 100 estimating inflation adjusted income forward about the same as our current real life budget. Will find out in a few decades if it worked or not.
Inflation and unpredictable expenses are some of the reasons I make plans for one or both of us living to 100 estimating inflation adjusted income forward about the same as our current real life budget. Will find out in a few decades if it worked or not.