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irishguy

In Rick's book titled "All About Asset Allocation" he suggests an allocation as follows for mature retirees: 35% Aggregate Bond Index, 22% Vanguard Investment Grade Short Term (VFSTX), and 3% Money Markets. The book was copyright 2006 so maybe thinking has changed a little, but probably no...

irishguy

The airwaves seem to be flooded now with people promoting Roths and Roth conversions. I think we can generally agree that it makes sense for many people to convert their tax advantaged accounts to Roths if they are able to do so. But timing of when to do this appears to be critical and, one needs to...

irishguy

I'm in the process of pulling together some information to assist if DW and I sell our home in the future. As I understand, if the gain is $500K or more than what we paid for it we would need to pay a tax on the gain. But we can adjust the basis by improvements made to the home over the years. I rea...

irishguy

I'm wondering if anyone has explored purchasing coverage to help prevent someone from obtaining a quit claim deed (or the like?) for transfering ownership of a home residential property? I heard a radio commercial last night explaining how this can be somewhat easy for someone to accomplish. Not sur...

irishguy

I bought a 2014 Subaru Outback new after sitting in many mid-size SUV's with my 6'4" frame and size 15 feet. I get over 30 mpg freeway driving at 70-75 mph. I have been in a 2020 and they are quite similar. These cars are good for 200 to 300,000 miles.

irishguy

Thanks all for the comments. I've contacted the Costco kiosk desk to order an estimate. They assign our request to a local Shaw dealer and said I don't choose who that dealer is--they do. The one estimate I have so far is from someone who is also a Shaw dealer but the estimate I got from them earlie...

irishguy

We are interesting in having this installed in our basement. Need to cover about 850 square feet. They would be going over old sheet vinyl which is over the old asbestos tiles from the 60's so places like Home Depot or Lowes won't do for liability reasons. I could buy from them and have someone inst...

irishguy

I worked in the car rental business with one of the other majors and one of the employees asked me one day if I wanted a "Hertz donut". I thought I was getting something free and said "yes". He hauled off and whacked me on the arm and said hurts don't it!!

irishguy

My 2014 SUBY got run into by a deer (buck) in Montana at 80 mph. Frightening. Blew out 2 driver side windows and required new door skins, windshield, rear quarter, bumper, and bondo of front fender. I took to shop that repairs higher end cars and known for quality work. In our state you can go to wh...

irishguy

As Silk McCue says, the Wiki is correct, irishguy. Following is the section that you're referring to. I've italicized what you quoted. But I have also underlined "other income" in the previous line. Just mentally add "of other income" to "For every dollar" in your two ...

irishguy

I wanted to understand the marginal tax rates better and how it is calculated, so I consulted the Wiki. Under Taxation of Benefits for married couples, it says: "for every dollar between $12,000 and $24,000 an additional 50 cents becomes taxable". I believe the numbers here should be $32,0...

irishguy

I think it was Taylor Larimore who said: "stocks make you eat better and bonds make you sleep better". Wise indeed!!

irishguy

OP, does your CPA have $25 million in assets? I would doubt the CPA has that much, as he lives in a fairly modest two-story house. I think he was a wealthy person wannabe. I took a retirement class from him as part of the local community education and from that he gave students a complimentary one ...

irishguy

I saw an ad for someone promoting this and it brought to mind a comment a CPA made to me a couple of years ago when I was reviewing my investments and taxes with him. I asked him how he was invested and he said he was not in the stock market at all--just had cash value whole life insurance. I'm sure...

irishguy

MY mother and father both had trusts which I had to administer. When I met with an attorney to revise our will and other documents, I asked him if I was a candidate to have trusts set up for my wife and me. He said since we just had our primary residence it wasn't really necessary. I breathed a sigh...

irishguy

A friend of mine who travels extensively told me that they always use Gate 1 and have had absolutely great results. I want to try them in the future!

irishguy

VWIGX is having a lucky run, eventually it's luck will run out just like many other active funds. Just have a look at previous stalwarts such as Windsor, Windsor II, Selected Value, etc. They all eventually run out of steam and perform average or below average. Well, not sure there are many VG fund...

irishguy

What makes this fund outperform since inception nearly 40 years ago and recently as well? Average return since inception is over 10%. I noticed yesterday, which is not atypical, it was up nearly 1% whereas all other VG international funds (except one) were down!? Like many people here, for internati...

irishguy

Since DW and I are not obligated to take RMD's this year, it seems like a no brainer for us to do a Roth conversion. Because we are in a lower tax bracket now, we would most likely plan to draw from our IRA's to the upper limit of our tax bracket. I prefer to have federal taxes deducted from RMD's t...

irishguy

Hey Boglehaeads, Longtime lurker, infrequent poster here (more time now, though!). IRA's for wife and I are about 95% bonds as we need just RMD's to supplement social security for all expenses. We use only VG. Up to now, we have just had about 50% of IRA's in Total Bond Index, 30% in Total Int'l Bon...

irishguy

We had water in 5 of our basement window wells for the first time recently (over 40 years living here!) due to heavy rains one day. The ground was frozen with a couple of feet of snow (Minnesota). The rainwater ran right to our foundation on two sides of our house and over the top of our window well...

irishguy

1) Total Bond Index, S-T Investment Grade, Total Int'l Bond Index
2) Bonds are held in traditional IRA's
3) 55% Bonds, 5% Prime Money Market
4) Age-10%
5) May drop increase bonds to 65-70% as I approach 80

irishguy

Wondering if anyone out there has experience with artwork in terms of authentication, appraisal, and sales? Here's my story: My sisters and I inherited a painting that is on a wooden board and was supposedly done by a famous French painter, Charles Daubigney. It is basically a landscape scenery. Thi...

irishguy

You should check with your insurance agent or company to see if you're covered even though you don't have that on your policy. In Minnesota and some other states you would be and since its a comprehensive claim and no fault of your own, it shouldn't affect your premium. Just my two cents from being ...

irishguy

Thanks Alan S. I think your response was very insightful. As you say, the dollar amount of RMD is already fixed as of end of last year as my IRA is all tax deferred---and thus we have to report that entire amount as income to IRS. Tax implication is on taking it this year or next which I should clos...

irishguy

I turned 70 1/2 this past April and need to take these this year (don't want to have to double up by taking early next year and then next years, too). I have enough in our taxable account to cover living expenses so my thought is to transfer from equity fund in our Vanguard IRA to the same equity fu...

irishguy

My wife and I returned two weeks ago from a trip to England where I rented a Hertz car at Heathrow Airport. in checking my American Express online this week I noticed a charge from Hertz that was different than the rental charge which they had also already charged on my account. Not knowing what it ...

irishguy

Hi Bogleheads! Wondering if any of you have opted to use a credit card to cover the deductible collision coverage there or at other Hertz locations in Europe? My Delta Platinum AmEx card supposedly covers this for typical rental cars. I'm thinking of taking the "CDW" but not the "Supe...

irishguy

I was looking at Jim Otar's "The Retirement Myth" recently and he suggests two years spending over other income (SS, pensions, etc) when in distribution phase and three years worth of a short term bond fund.

irishguy

Wife and I are taking a Viking Cruise in June from Amsterdam to Switzerland and then traveling after that traveling to England and Northern Ireland where we will rent a car in both places. I have read some other posts on cell use there but am still a little confused. Our main interest is to be able ...

irishguy

trueblueky:

I am considering some long term gains, but don't think I'll do roth conversions. My tax guy doesn't feel pre-paying the government makes sense and I tend to agree with him. Break even period is too long IMO.

irishguy

Hello Bogleheads! My wife and I are in 15% bracket and I figure we'll need about $50K from our taxable account next three years to cover daily spending/travel beyond Social Security income and my 2016 RMD's. In 2019 she will also need to take RMD's and will also have age 70 SS (spousal now). At that...

irishguy

I would have an HVAC company out and give you a quote on an air to air exchanger. I have similar problem and dehumidifier does minimal good. We had radon mitigation installed 5 years ago and were told that might help but it hasn't. We may try a larger pump on the system to see if that help before do...

irishguy

I signed up for SS benefits last summer. I knew the exact amount I should get as received a printout from our local office showing what I would receive for the month I took it. My first deposit came and it was for the amount had I applied in January, 2014. I called the rep I had applied through and ...

irishguy

Appreciate the feedback from everyone! And interesting to hear from someone who has lived this problem on their own. We are going to sit down with her this week as she has unopened mail, possibly including notices from the irs and state. She has struggled with broken relationships over the last ten ...

irishguy

Quickfoot--Thanks for the comments. I am a bit sympathetic to her financial situation as she also has $60,000 in student loans she is paying at the rate of $430/month and also owes hospital bills totaling $3,000 from a 2013 injury. It might be that we can cover the state taxes for her and she can wo...

irishguy

I just found out our unmarried 31 year old daughter reported her 2013 income via turbo tax but did not make a federal or state payment and owes approximately $6,000 between the two. This was primarily due to her under withholding taxes from her part-time job (which she has since corrected: single-1 ...

irishguy

Livesoft, After some investigation, I don't plan on converting to roths. Thanks for the link I will check that out. How can you use TurboTax at this time of year for 2014 projections? I did find a guy locally to just advise on the tax part--you are right, most want to help with investments and every...

irishguy

I understand it is generally best to draw from taxable investments first to supplement social security, etc for living needs until RMD's must be taken. If that is true, I figure my wife and I have enough in taxable (hopefully) to sustain us until I have to take RMD's in 2016 and my wife in 2019. Unl...

irishguy

I just went to the social security office and they printed out a month-by-month benefit starting with the month I visited their office and up to age 70. I have reviewed my yearly amounts previously and agreed with what they had on file, so what I got from them on my visit should be accurate. When yo...

irishguy

My wife and I are interested in a compact suv and have narrowed our choices to the Subaru Forester and the Mazda CX-5. This is primarily because we are both tall and legroom seems to be best in these models. Both are highly rated but I am hearing that the Subaru 2.5 engine is prone to "burn&quo...

irishguy

Some good insight, Victoria. I basically agree with what you are saying and I know you are well respected for your posts so I appreciate your input. Just curious if you know, have there been any 15 year periods where a diversified portfolio (not sure how you would exactly define that, though) did no...

irishguy

I am 68 and 2 months and she is 65 and 5 months now. My PIA is $2030 and hers is $1496. It is my understanding if I don't file right now I could instead still file/suspend in August when she turns 66 and then she can claim spousal which would be $1015/month. If I take benefits right now I would have...

irishguy

Hey Bogleheads, I have read the many posts on timing for taking social security. It is for sure a very complicated process to analyze and I realize everyone's situation is different. I am probably guilty of overanalyzing this as is my usual way of doing things! I even bought "Social Security fo...

irishguy

My wife and I have a nearly identical investment situation to yours total dollar wise and what portion is not tax advantaged--although I don't know your ages. Last summer we decided my wife (age 65 and just retiring) should take the lump sum because her employer was transferring out her pension to a...

irishguy

For individuals in certain taxable income ranges, an additional dollar of earnings (for example an additional dollar of interest) results in $.85 of social security benefits being taxed. This is explained fairly well in the Wiki section regarding the taxation of SS benefits. So 15% tax on the one d...

irishguy

I was reading the WIKI on social security benefits and do not at all understand the method for calculating marginal tax rates. For married taxpayers the example lists a couple with an adjusted gross income of $40,850 having a 25.5% marginal tax rate even though they are well within the 15% tax brack...

irishguy

I have had numerous discussions with them in the last 6 months as my wife and I were retiring and trying to determine whether to take pension lump sum, social security timing and the like. I found them to be helpful but have decided not to go with them right now as we basically use the simple three ...

irishguy

Thanks for reponses. Would it be best to sell after distributions are made?

irishguy

Hi, Bogleheads: My wife and I retired recently and will be in the 15% bracket this year. Unless they change the bracket, we would likely not move up a bracket even after taking social security next year or in the future. The only investments we have in taxable accounts presently are two common stock...

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