Search found 3093 matches
- Sun Mar 26, 2023 10:17 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: help with math on new truck purchase
- Replies: 17
- Views: 987
Re: help with math on new truck purchase
You are paying some price to get a year of warranty extension. With a tax bite, insurance, registration, the hassles of doing another car deal, maybe financing? I don't think it would add up to $1000 net difference or be enough difference to bother. I happen to have a similar Toyota. I might consider doing a similar deal for $5000 but not for $1000.
- Sun Mar 26, 2023 9:54 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Is FIRE hokum?
- Replies: 66
- Views: 3297
Re: Is FIRE hokum?
Why do you care so much about the choices that other people make?
- Sun Mar 26, 2023 9:34 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: tracking net worth and asset allocation
- Replies: 51
- Views: 3814
Re: tracking net worth and asset allocation
I use some simple spreadsheets to track assets (plus the online instant xray tool), a very rough net worth estimate, a tax calculator and annual budget tracking with a view towards retirement planning. It could all be done on paper but it's convenient to use spreadsheets.
- Sat Mar 25, 2023 2:56 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: How much cash are you holding at sub-optimal interest rates?
- Replies: 39
- Views: 2710
Re: How much cash are you holding at sub-optimal interest rates?
A little bit here and there to keep certain accounts open.
- Sat Mar 25, 2023 2:53 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Multi state income and taxes? What to do?
- Replies: 4
- Views: 416
Re: Multi state income and taxes? What to do?
I helped one of my kids go through turbo tax for federal and a two state return a couple of weeks ago. They opted to pay the upcharge for one state and filled out the online form set for the other state. Next year we will get a new state to figure out. It's not usually that complicated. You can always visit a CPA if you can find one with a time slot open.
- Sat Mar 25, 2023 12:39 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Worth joining credit union just for car loan?
- Replies: 22
- Views: 1601
Re: Worth joining credit union just for car loan?
You need to do your own legwork on this to see what is available. Or don't. It's up to you.
- Sat Mar 25, 2023 12:28 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What does Schwab do better than Fidelity?
- Replies: 64
- Views: 4666
Re: What does Schwab do better than Fidelity?
I don't plan to ever consolidate to a single place but if I did, Fidelity is the only one that provides all of the the various financial services we are currently using (not including employer related accounts). Schwab is fine. Fidelity is fine. Vanguard is fine. Some of the others are fine. Pick the one you prefer for whatever reasons you have.
- Wed Mar 22, 2023 1:45 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: How many retirement accounts do I need?
- Replies: 19
- Views: 1896
Re: How many retirement accounts do I need?
Having a bank account somewhere with some cash in it may alleviate the concern about losing temporary access to your retirement account site. We have about 25 accounts across multiple sites now but will consolidate after retiring. At the moment, there are requirements as well as choices to have this many accounts. After retirement, we can probably eliminate half of these accounts almost immediately and then some of the rest of them over time. I can envision a final target out in the future of having only three bank accounts and two brokerage accounts.
None of this includes accounts solely involved in bank and credit card bonus strategies.
None of this includes accounts solely involved in bank and credit card bonus strategies.
- Wed Mar 22, 2023 12:38 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Owner Finance Offer - Too Good To Be True?
- Replies: 47
- Views: 4032
Re: Owner Finance Offer - Too Good To Be True?
It's the first offer in a proposed business deal. You can say no, yes or propose a different deal.
I would pay for some professional advice on something of this value before going any farther.
I would pay for some professional advice on something of this value before going any farther.
- Wed Mar 22, 2023 8:25 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Retirement incentive of one year lump sum pay in same year tax consequence - any options to reduce federal tax
- Replies: 14
- Views: 1081
Re: Retirement incentive of one year lump sum pay in same year tax consequence - any options to reduce federal tax
You say "our" so max everybody's pretax contributions and any catchup amounts in every type of account available to you. Bunching deductions if you can as well as future charitable contributions or a DAF. Take any tax loss harvest you can.
- Tue Mar 21, 2023 5:05 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Tax Efficiency of 60/40 Allocation
- Replies: 3
- Views: 659
Re: Tax Efficiency of 60/40 Allocation
Vanguard has a 50/50 Tax Managed Balanced Fund you might add to your list.
- Tue Mar 21, 2023 10:26 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Campervan, campershell/truck, camper trailers, etc
- Replies: 29
- Views: 1619
Re: Campervan, campershell/truck, camper trailers, etc
What about a small trailer in which to haul a "deluxe" level tent camping/bedding system. Popups are in your weight range but they are relatively expensive and have their own troubles.
- Tue Mar 21, 2023 10:19 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Is it ok to park some Emergency Fund in Vanguard VMFXX?
- Replies: 48
- Views: 5061
Re: Is it ok to park some Emergency Fund in Vanguard VMFXX?
There should be no difference in access. Plan on a minimum of two-three business days for transfers to your linked bank account which is pretty standard timing for transfers between any linked accounts.
- Mon Mar 20, 2023 1:45 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Riding Lawn Mower
- Replies: 35
- Views: 2422
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: 11
- Views: 1315
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: 30
- Views: 1717
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: 7
- Views: 736
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: 127
- Views: 9016
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: 3701
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: 127
- Views: 9016
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: 3173
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: 1113
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: 2033
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: 185
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: 77
- Views: 7310
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: 629
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: 581
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: 3970
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: 35
- Views: 2296
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: 2380
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: 953
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: 2618
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: 675
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: 1742
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: 148
- Views: 15917
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: 1544
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: 10297
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: 20
- Views: 2579
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: 5009
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: 6342
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: 3508
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: 2132
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: 713
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: 5876
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: 10113
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: 1338
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: 6067
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: 2919
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: 8231
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: 3734
Re: Any bogleheads decide to outsource their lawn care?
I enjoy mowing. It's also part of my general activity routine.