Search found 9000 matches

by SmileyFace
Mon Mar 18, 2024 8:37 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Should one invest in gold? If so, how and how much?
Replies: 203
Views: 21669

Re: Should one invest in gold? If so, how and how much?

GRP wrote: Mon Mar 18, 2024 5:50 pm If you don't own gold, then you are not fully diversified.
Interesting.
How long is your list of investments and speculations to be considered fully diversified? I would be curious to know what else is on your list (and if one holds Silver must they also hold gold).
by SmileyFace
Mon Mar 18, 2024 8:28 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Hospital Bill - Negotiation strategies?
Replies: 17
Views: 991

Re: Hospital Bill - Negotiation strategies?

I never thought about this - how would they know? Good question. I wondered this myself. Sounds like there's extensive paperwork that unless the Insurance is paying out co-payments, perhaps nobody cares about. I'll see what happens. On a related note --- I was researching hospital billing codes just in case ... ER departments have billing codes for Levels 1- 5 (5 is most severe/ complicated and most expensive). I believe Level 5 -- is easiest to dispute, if you didn't have a battle axe sticking out of your back. It's a common "Upcode" nonetheless though. Level 4 --- I think as long a they do 2 diagnostic tests, they got you. Which includes extraneous covid tests (if you've already taken them). So .. yeah -- beware taking extraneo...
by SmileyFace
Mon Mar 18, 2024 8:17 pm
Forum: Forum Issues and Administration
Topic: Rule Against Disparaging a Post or Question?
Replies: 9
Views: 809

Re: Rule Against Disparaging a Post or Question?

I have never seen anyone here tell anyone that something is "not a good question".

I am guilty of pointing out that a search function exists that can be used before asking a question. The admins are very patient and do a great job of merging all the redundant posts/questions on things like grocery spending - a lot of that work could be avoided if folks take a second to do a search before asking.

I also don't understand why folks don't look at the wiki before posting a question - many answers are there as well.
by SmileyFace
Mon Mar 18, 2024 8:06 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Hospital Bill - Negotiation strategies?
Replies: 17
Views: 991

Re: Hospital Bill - Negotiation strategies?

$1850 seems reasonable to me for ER services and your deductible of 2000 is low per what I have and have seen so it gets your deductible nearly over with early in year.
That said - no harm in trying to negotiate.
Interestingly - if you are able to pay less - and if your insurance already thinks you are paying $1850 - will they credit you with having satisfied the 1850 towards your deductible versus how much you actually end up paying. I never thought about this - how would they know?
by SmileyFace
Mon Mar 18, 2024 6:39 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Two ETFs in one taxable account vs two?
Replies: 4
Views: 283

Re: Two ETFs in one taxable account vs two?

Two accounts = two tax statements instead of one.
No idea why you would want 2 accounts - at same brokerage or 2 different ones?
by SmileyFace
Mon Mar 18, 2024 3:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cameras, Binoculars and Jackets for Alaska Cruise
Replies: 21
Views: 1249

Re: Cameras, Binoculars and Jackets for Alaska Cruise

When we did the Alaskan Cruise I had a DSLR with a long lens which we all ended up using as our binoculars much of the time. We did have some cheaper binoculars but didn't end up using them all that much. We saw Eagles, Puffins, Seals, Whales, and even Bears all with the naked eye from our balcony (well - the Bear on shore was harder to see - binoculars/camera helped with that). We each had a couple of layers (rain coat for top layer BUT make sure it has enough room to fit a fleece jacket underneath - some days we would wear one or the other; sometimes we would wear both). On the camera - I enjoy photography so having the camera always strapped to my side was part of my vacation enjoyment. If you don't enjoy photography - not sure you would...
by SmileyFace
Mon Mar 18, 2024 2:23 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Any thoughts on sector rotation - March 2024?
Replies: 20
Views: 795

Re: Any thoughts on sector rotation - March 2024?

Most here don't do that.
"Investing Advice Inspired by Jack Bogle" it says at the top of the page.
Buy and hold the ENTIRE stock market is the philosophy.

That's the extent of my thoughts.
by SmileyFace
Mon Mar 18, 2024 2:09 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: TurboTax alternatives?
Replies: 15
Views: 1529

Re: TurboTax alternatives?

Just providing an update to my TT update issues. What was happening is when I opened TT, it wanted to update the software, but then the updates failed, causing me to uninstall, reinstall, etc. just to get back to my tax return. Today it happened again, was able to talk to a TT help desk person, who showed me that I could manually install the updates myself as a separate executable file. This worked flawlessly. One has to download the updates at https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/update-products/manually-update-turbotax-windows-software-basic/L3Wf9OPaf_US_en_US?uid=ltxb9goz Another issue I was having was that TT was saving my file to One Drive instead of to my personal PC, which often worked, but sometimes resulted ...
by SmileyFace
Mon Mar 18, 2024 2:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Lawn care for first time home buyer
Replies: 32
Views: 1426

Re: Lawn care for first time home buyer

It depends on your budget and ability. Battery Lawn mowers are nice and quiet and require less maintainance (e.g. EGO) but cost more. Gas powered lawn mowers are cheaper to buy but might require occasional maintenance. Then there is the type: - "Walk behind" lawn mowers are self-propelled - typically cut around 22" rows. - "Push" lawn mowers are not self propelled - same size as walk behind - if you have hills it could be tough and tiresome to push. - "Riding" lawn mowers cut larger rows so would be faster to get your yard down (provided you don't have any small spaces) but will cost quite a bit more. They won't give you the "exercise" that a smaller mower will give you. Take a look at Home Depot...
by SmileyFace
Mon Mar 18, 2024 9:58 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Realtor has ideas and a buyer
Replies: 23
Views: 1646

Re: Realtor has ideas and a buyer

what is your definition of a true seller's market? A seller's market in the Bay Area is certainly different than one in say, St. Louis. And doesn't it also depend on price? An inoperable bathroom is not gonna be too attractive in a $1.5m home. What if this was the only bathroom or the master? (another unknown) Gonna turn off a lot of potential buyers, which shrinks the bidding. What bidding? The agent is suggesting the friend sell to someone they know without putting the house on the market. The same agent that suggested the house get a remodeled bathroom doesn't want to list the house. How can this NOT be a huge red flag? In a true seller's market there are far more buyers than there is inventory. Everything is under contract quickly afte...
by SmileyFace
Mon Mar 18, 2024 9:45 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Realtor has ideas and a buyer
Replies: 23
Views: 1646

Re: Realtor has ideas and a buyer

Nothing "wrong" per se. This happens all the time. Perhaps the bathroom was dated? Sure, the seller may not get a 100% return on the BR investment, but it could help sell the place faster. Many RE agents have a buyer in their pocket already. It makes for a quick and easy sale. Does it mean that the buyer left some money on the table, sure, but again, quick and easy sale. Does the Agent make a quick buck? Yes, to that too. If it is really a "seller's market" - it is hard to imagine a bathroom remodel causing a house to sell faster. How long did the remodel take? Everyone I know in true sellers markets have done one open house and gotten multiple offers. It's like an incredible 2 week process or less to get under contract...
by SmileyFace
Mon Mar 18, 2024 9:30 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Realtor has ideas and a buyer
Replies: 23
Views: 1646

Re: Realtor has ideas and a buyer

I say it is a seller's market because my friend is also looking for a house (a bigger house in the same area) and everything they like has multiple offers or is under contract before they get there to see it. I don't really want to interfere but I'd put the house on the market and let the potential buyer make an offer just like everybody else. If his offer is the best, great. Is the realtor still charging your freind commissions? 100%? The only reason I can think of for NOT putting the house on the open market is to save on realtor commisions. When I was emptying my Dad's house out there was a contractor that stopped by and gave me his card with the "I will pay cash and you won't pay realtor commissions" pitch. Yes, she would sti...
by SmileyFace
Mon Mar 18, 2024 9:26 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Realtor has ideas and a buyer
Replies: 23
Views: 1646

Re: Realtor has ideas and a buyer

I say it is a seller's market because my friend is also looking for a house (a bigger house in the same area) and everything they like has multiple offers or is under contract before they get there to see it. I don't really want to interfere but I'd put the house on the market and let the potential buyer make an offer just like everybody else. If his offer is the best, great. Is the realtor still charging your freind commissions? 100%? The only reason I can think of for NOT putting the house on the open market is to save on realtor commisions. When I was emptying my Dad's house out there was a contractor that stopped by and gave me his card with the "I will pay cash and you won't pay realtor commissions" pitch. If the realtor isn...
by SmileyFace
Mon Mar 18, 2024 9:12 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Realtor has ideas and a buyer
Replies: 23
Views: 1646

Re: Realtor has ideas and a buyer

Nothing "wrong" per se. This happens all the time. Perhaps the bathroom was dated? Sure, the seller may not get a 100% return on the BR investment, but it could help sell the place faster. Many RE agents have a buyer in their pocket already. It makes for a quick and easy sale. Does it mean that the buyer left some money on the table, sure, but again, quick and easy sale. Does the Agent make a quick buck? Yes, to that too. If it is really a "seller's market" - it is hard to imagine a bathroom remodel causing a house to sell faster. How long did the remodel take? Everyone I know in true sellers markets have done one open house and gotten multiple offers. It's like an incredible 2 week process or less to get under contract...
by SmileyFace
Mon Mar 18, 2024 9:04 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Realtor has ideas and a buyer
Replies: 23
Views: 1646

Re: Realtor has ideas and a buyer

If it's a seller's market there should have been no need to remodel the bathroom. And a realtor that does not want to put the house on the market, do open houses, get a bidding war going, etc should be fired.

I helped my Dad sell his house in a sellers market. We put $0 in - one open house created a bidding war with offers far over ask - we picked one - and when, during a home inspection, the inspector mentioned that the buyer's mortgage company may complain about a couple of items during their due-dilliegence/appraisal the buyer offered to pay to fix the items (at my agent's suggestion). That is what happens in sellers market.

Maybe your freind really isn't in a sellers market.
by SmileyFace
Mon Mar 18, 2024 8:07 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: navigation system for car
Replies: 51
Views: 2168

Re: navigation system for car

Jack FFR1846 wrote: Mon Mar 18, 2024 8:00 am I've had Garman units that I use as backup for my iPhone running Google maps. I offroad in places around New England where there are zero bars and no input but the Garman keeps on giving me location information.
I use Google maps and download offline maps for areas where there may be no signal (although my phone seems to do it automatically now). It's a great feature.

I really don't see the need for Garmin. Although I have an Android phone - maybe google offline maps aren't available on iphone for some reason.
by SmileyFace
Sun Mar 17, 2024 9:01 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Nervous about giving out information
Replies: 22
Views: 1861

Re: Nervous about giving out information

Make sure your username is anonymous and has no relation to your real name or info.
In other words - if your real name is Cheryl Y and you were born in February 1979 you should change it. (
Go to your town clerk and have your name changed as well as your birth date. Alternatively change your username.
by SmileyFace
Sun Mar 17, 2024 10:29 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Furniture prices... is this normal?
Replies: 60
Views: 9463

Re: Furniture prices... is this normal?

RickBoglehead wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2024 5:00 pm Before reading this thread, I never heard of LoveSac...
I have seen advertisements on TV touting them - which can be one indication they are overpriced.
by SmileyFace
Sun Mar 17, 2024 10:19 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Confused about 1099-Q and 1098-T
Replies: 19
Views: 1424

Re: Confused about 1099-Q and 1099-T

sks wrote: Sun Mar 17, 2024 12:47 am My son is indicated as dependent in my return, does he needs to still file tax return?
This is a separate question I just noticed. (And not really related to the 1099T and Q directly).
Did he have income over $13,850? Check (or have him check) the IRS website and, if your state has income tax, your states website to see the cutoff on who needs to file.
Even if his income was lower than required he might still want to file if he had taxes taken out (did he get a W2?) that he can get back. He can file without claiming himself as a dependent since you did so.
by SmileyFace
Sun Mar 17, 2024 8:26 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Confused about 1099-Q and 1098-T
Replies: 19
Views: 1424

Re: Confused about 1099-Q and 1099-T

No, I am not claiming any credits. If this is the case - don't bother telling Turbotax anything about these. You don't need to enter them and provided you didn't withdraw more money from 529 than you spend on education expenses (which isn't all included and reported by the school - they only include tuition and some fees) you are all set. The T and Q rarely if ever match since they serve two different purposes (T is for tax credits, Q is total you got out of account which includes stuff in T BUT might also include room/boarding, laptop purchase, etc. And the timing of the two may not match to the year). I never bothered entering anything in TT - waste of time if you won't get credits. 529 withdrawls don't need to be reported if they are qu...
by SmileyFace
Sat Mar 16, 2024 7:36 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Am I Only One Who Hates Having Left Over Pennies
Replies: 53
Views: 4121

Re: Am I Only One Who Hates Having Left Over Pennies

I'm consolidating my accounts at Fidelity. I transferred one account from Vanguard that was 100% in VTI. Whole shares were transferred and partial shares liquidated to cash. So far so good. Today, I bought more VTI with the cash. Now I have $0.01 left in my settlement account. :annoyed Am I crazy for now wanting to sell all my VTI shares and buy the equivalent Fidelity mutual fund? It's tax advantaged account so no tax consequences. Various Fidelity mutual funds have no investment minimum. So you could continue to invest mostly in VTI, and throw the occasional spare change into a mutual fund like, say, FSKAX (Fidelity Total Market Index Fund). You could simply buy fractional shares of VTI at Fidelity as well to keep all your dollars in the...
by SmileyFace
Sat Mar 16, 2024 5:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: funeral preparations
Replies: 16
Views: 1573

Re: funeral preparations

cvn74n2 wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2024 4:56 pm I am looking at a no frills cremation but am concerned the funeral home would go out of business/change ownership in the next 20+ years (estimated life expectancy). Has anyone experienced problems with funeral pre-payment hassles along these lines?
Its state dependent.
In Massachusetts the money sits in an account OUTSIDE the funeral home so even if you have a irrevocable contract with a funeral home you can get your money back or transfer it to another funeral if the funeral home you have the contract with goes out of business.
Why prepay? If you want the money off the table before medicaid kicks in. (And, of course, others won't have to make arrangements for you.)
by SmileyFace
Sat Mar 16, 2024 4:07 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Am I Only One Who Hates Having Left Over Pennies
Replies: 53
Views: 4121

Re: Am I Only One Who Hates Having Left Over Pennies

I used Etrade back in the 90s and liquidated all my holdings there in the late 90s but somehow something had a distribution after I transfered all my money out and I have had 2 cents sitting there ever since.
by SmileyFace
Sat Mar 16, 2024 10:57 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Mega Thread on Speed of 2023 Tax Refunds
Replies: 43
Views: 5008

Re: Mega Thread on Speed of 2023 Tax Refunds

No refund for me. Kept my money up front.
by SmileyFace
Fri Mar 15, 2024 12:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Identity theft or something to ignore?
Replies: 18
Views: 1154

Re: Identity theft or something to ignore?

If I was certain I was calling the hospital billing office (e.g. - Don't trust a phone number in an email - look it up) I wouldn't be afraid to give them my name and birthdate to make sure someone isn't getting services using my identity.
I don't think there is much that can be done with email alone - otherwise we would all be in trouble (my spam folder is constantly full with various attempts to swindle me and I know my name and email made its way out onto Dark Web listings).
by SmileyFace
Fri Mar 15, 2024 7:27 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Buying iBonds with income tax refund
Replies: 8
Views: 486

Re: Buying iBonds with income tax refund

In general, buying ibonds with a tax refund seems less advantageous than it was a few years ago since now you could have made 5% (up to $250 on $5000) on that money had you not overpaid your taxes. You are starting in a hole with this strategy - if holding ibonds long term for all the other advantages they provide its not that you are doing something wrong but these days I just don't like the idea of having cash not making money for up to year (by lending it to the government interest free). I only lent the government the money for like a month. I made a payment through DirectPay (or whatever it's called) in February. Great strategy. I am still surprised by the number of people I know that get, and seem to greatly enjoy getting, a tax refu...
by SmileyFace
Fri Mar 15, 2024 7:17 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Buying iBonds with income tax refund
Replies: 8
Views: 486

Re: Buying iBonds with income tax refund

In general, buying ibonds with a tax refund seems less advantageous than it was a few years ago since now you could have made 5% (up to $250 on $5000) on that money had you not overpaid your taxes. You are starting in a hole with this strategy - if holding ibonds long term for all the other advantages they provide its not that you are doing something wrong but these days I just don't like the idea of having cash not making money for up to year (by lending it to the government interest free).
by SmileyFace
Thu Mar 14, 2024 8:47 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What is the appeal of Robinhood
Replies: 85
Views: 5881

Re: What is the appeal of Robinhood

billaster wrote: Thu Mar 14, 2024 8:44 pm
SmileyFace wrote: Thu Mar 14, 2024 6:13 pm Believe it or not - a name can sell.
Shouldn't it be called doohniboR. I mean they are actually taking from the poor and giving to rich fintech bros.

The average account at Robinhood is a naive investor with an account balance of less than $5,000. Robinhood's primary means of revenue is encouraging lots of trading by these unsophisticated investors. Almost half of their revenue is Payment for Order Flow -- the more you trade the more they make. It has been well established by numerous studies of individual investors that the more you trade the lower your return performance. So these guys are taking from the poor and giving to the rich.
Agreed - the naive are lured by the name.
by SmileyFace
Thu Mar 14, 2024 8:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Furniture prices... is this normal?
Replies: 60
Views: 9463

Re: Furniture prices... is this normal?

We have an Arhaus sofa that has held up exceptionally well. I was going to recommend but just looked at their current prices. Holly smokes. Yeah - what happened to furniture prices?!
Arhaus is still cheaper than LoveSac though
by SmileyFace
Thu Mar 14, 2024 6:13 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What is the appeal of Robinhood
Replies: 85
Views: 5881

Re: What is the appeal of Robinhood

For the younger crowd:
Fidelity, Vanguard, Schwab, etc. sound like old stodgey places. Geeze - places Dads and Grandads use.
Etrade sounds like the 90s - electronic-trade - yeah - that was new once upon a time.
Robinhood sounds cool and woke. Like someplace where I can win against the rich.
:wink:
Believe it or not - a name can sell.
by SmileyFace
Thu Mar 14, 2024 5:53 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Greenlight debit card for teenager.
Replies: 7
Views: 494

Re: Greenlight debit card for teenager.

We gave our kids credit cards as users on one of our accounts when they were early teens. It gave them great credit scores and when they started driving it made it easy for them to run errands for us. They also got their own debit cards with their accounts from a local regional bank.
by SmileyFace
Thu Mar 14, 2024 5:23 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Need Help Finding a Hobby
Replies: 76
Views: 5965

Re: Need Help Finding a Hobby

Music - learn an instrument. Get a guitar.
Photography- get a Mirrorless camera and fast lens to capture the dog in motion. Take it on short hikes and walks and see what you can capture. Learn the methods and Aperture/Shutter/ISO triad of creativity.
by SmileyFace
Thu Mar 14, 2024 5:17 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Quaker Oats Recall Coupons Pretty much Useless
Replies: 9
Views: 1032

Re: Quaker Oats Recall Coupons Pretty much Useless

Lob a complaint to QO about the process.
They may not give you your $12 but maybe more and better coupons :sharebeer
by SmileyFace
Thu Mar 14, 2024 11:06 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard or Fidelity
Replies: 73
Views: 6485

Re: Vanguard or Fidelity

Fidelity is considerably superior to Vanguard. At the most basic level, Fidelity employs competent, trained staff who take price in their customer service, answer the phone, and don't botch simple transactions. +1 +1 also. I was with both for 20+ years and recently consolidated to Fidelity. Vanguard will sell you PAS for advise - if you ask for advise - they want you to pay for it. Otherwise you are talking to someone that won't give advise but will simply help with logging in and such. Fidelity will give a certain amount of good quality advise for free (at least in my experience) without the need to sign up to have them take over (like you would have to do with Vanguard) provided you aren't looking for them to take over management of your...
by SmileyFace
Thu Mar 14, 2024 10:46 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Pub502 and Assisted Living Tax Deduction
Replies: 3
Views: 250

Re: Pub502 and Assisted Living Tax Deduction

During the last year before my father died I had a client one day whose father brought him in. Turned out the father was an IRS lawyer. While the son worked on his assignment we had some free time. We were chatting and I asked about assisted living deductions and such and if the IRS was very interested in who took the deductions and what documentation was required. He asked for my parents birth years. I said 1922 and 1924. He rolled his eyes and laughed as he shook his head no. YMMV. They are looking for people who want the care provided by the assisted living arrangement, but don't really need it and probably could live independently. And thanks for this story. I was thinking similarly - I can't imagine they would question/audit him at hi...
by SmileyFace
Thu Mar 14, 2024 10:43 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Pub502 and Assisted Living Tax Deduction
Replies: 3
Views: 250

Re: Pub502 and Assisted Living Tax Deduction

I thought LODGING had to do with deducting your hotel/motel lodging expenses while away from home for a procedure in a hospital. And your traveling companion, etc. "The amount you include in medical expenses for lodging can't be more than $50 for each night for each person. You can include lodging for a person traveling with the person receiving the medical care. For example, if a parent is traveling with a sick child, up to $100 per night can be included as a medical expense for lodging. Meals aren't included." Thanks. This was my initial read as well (that the Lodging $50 limit didn't apply to someone chronically ill and in full time care) but it wasn't clear - at least not to me - if it applies throughout. We sold his house an...
by SmileyFace
Thu Mar 14, 2024 10:14 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Pub502 and Assisted Living Tax Deduction
Replies: 3
Views: 250

Pub502 and Assisted Living Tax Deduction

I found an old thread on this (https://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=364335) but it didn't answer my question and I am finding some conflicting info online so curious if someone can answer this. Here is the questions: Given that one is able to claim a tax deduction for Assisted Living that includes NOT just medical expenses but also Room/Board since the person is "Chronically Ill" and the Principal reason they are living at the facility is for medical care - does the $50.00 Lodging limit apply or can the full Lodging/Food cost be reimbursed? I am trying to figure out if my Dad can deduct the FULL amount he is paying for Assisted Living or just Medical Services + $50/nightly for Lodging. Information from https://www.irs....
by SmileyFace
Mon Mar 11, 2024 10:41 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Ooma Phone Service
Replies: 40
Views: 3418

Re: Ooma Phone Service

I always ask people what their use case is for keeping a landline versus shutting it down and simply using Mobile all the time. - If the use case is a second number to give out so you aren't giving out your mobile - you can get a free Google number. - For my Dad, he didn't want to give up all his handsets that he had throughout the house that he was accustomed to using. He had a set of 5 wireless Panasonic handsets - wanted to answer from various rooms without having to carry his cell phone around with him. I looked at the set and noticed it supported blue-tooth so we connected his mobile to the system and he was able to answer both landline calls AND mobile calls from anywhere in the house on his existing phone handsets. Once he got used t...
by SmileyFace
Mon Mar 11, 2024 10:06 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What's your primary credit card?
Replies: 117
Views: 10238

Re: What's your primary credit card?

I had the Citi 2% back card but had issues with it so switched to Fidelity 2% back which has been great.
We use the Amazon card at Whole Foods and Amazon for 5% back.
by SmileyFace
Mon Mar 11, 2024 9:52 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: No contingency offer on land in 12 hours - how do they do it?
Replies: 22
Views: 2567

Re: No contingency offer on land in 12 hours - how do they do it?

it isn't always developers.
Some buyers who have the cash and have been trying for a while to buy a home in a very specific neighborhood are will to take the risk of doing a quick non-contingent offer to block out other buyers. They may have been looking for a year or more and have gotten frustrated with losing multiple bids so are ready to risk it when something in the right area with the right characteristics becomes available.
I also know that some real estate agents start showing homes before they hit the MLS giving their clients prior knowledge to be ready. Lastly - as prior poster mentioned - it could have started as a pocket listing before it was moved to MLS.
by SmileyFace
Mon Mar 11, 2024 9:06 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Fidelity advice
Replies: 67
Views: 8018

Re: Fidelity advice

I thought Fidelity was privately held, not publicly-traded. Yes, that's an error on my part, but Fidelity (and Schwab) are still for-profit companies with a different corporate structure than Vanguard . Still, all three are often recommended here and they're usually good as long as you stay off the radar of the advisors harpooning for whales at Fido and Schwab. Don't think I've heard of that problem at Van (although maybe if assets exceed $5M Van pesters you to join VPAS too). https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-fidelity-family/ https://www.barrons.com/articles/fidelity-2022-profit-worth-more-schwab-a35b8119 The three have different structures but all three are for-profit regardless of what Vanguard marketing may have l...
by SmileyFace
Mon Mar 11, 2024 7:56 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Fidelity advice
Replies: 67
Views: 8018

Re: Fidelity advice

I thought Fidelity was privately held, not publicly-traded. Yes, that's an error on my part, but Fidelity (and Schwab) are still for-profit companies with a different corporate structure than Vanguard . Still, all three are often recommended here and they're usually good as long as you stay off the radar of the advisors harpooning for whales at Fido and Schwab. Don't think I've heard of that problem at Van (although maybe if assets exceed $5M Van pesters you to join VPAS too). https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-fidelity-family/ https://www.barrons.com/articles/fidelity-2022-profit-worth-more-schwab-a35b8119 The three have different structures but all three are for-profit regardless of what Vanguard marketing may have l...
by SmileyFace
Sun Mar 10, 2024 8:44 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: new mid/upper range hotels
Replies: 7
Views: 1021

Re: new mid/upper range hotels

Aloft is also a Marriott property (like Courtyard) if you have been collecting points. They are kind of same tier as Courtyards - tend to have more modern type of furnishings versus the traditional furnishings at Courtyard.
If you want to move up a level you should look at full service hotels like Marriott hotels (Courtyard is the step down for them) or Hilton (owns Hampton Inns which is their step down) or Hyatt. If they exist near where you travel. Sheraton is another possibility (also now owned by Marriott) - small step up from Courtyard as is AC Hotels (also Marriott and step up from a courtyard)
by SmileyFace
Sun Mar 10, 2024 8:02 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How Much Cash Do You Keep In Your Home?
Replies: 207
Views: 14895

Re: How Much Cash Do You Keep In Your Home?

heartwood wrote: Sun Mar 10, 2024 6:03 pm Banks won't take coins unless wrapped.
This is not true everywhere. My bank has a change counting machine in the lobby. Dump in a bucket of change and it prints out a reciept that you hand to the teller to deposit.
by SmileyFace
Sun Mar 10, 2024 1:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank of America Outbound ACH Fee now zero!
Replies: 22
Views: 2005

Re: Bank of America Outbound ACH Fee now zero!

..................removed
by SmileyFace
Sun Mar 10, 2024 11:44 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Sharing why we went with Vanguard PAS
Replies: 69
Views: 6687

Re: Sharing why we went with Vanguard PAS

I am in about the same situation as Boomer543. In 2019 after years of managing my investments myself which followed about 12 years of UBS advisor management I went with Vanguard PAS. I'm a procrastinator and would tend to leave distributions in cash for too long. An inheritance in 2018 (mostly a large taxable account) helped me decide to turn most (not all) over to PAS to manage. Like Boomer, SS, pensions and RMDs are more than enough to cover expenses. I think that over the long run my advisor will do as well or better than I would do myself and I don't have to bother with the reinvesting. You could set your RMDs to be reivested in a taxable LifeStategy Fund and turn on other automatic dividend/cap-gains reinvestments to solve the problem...
by SmileyFace
Sun Mar 10, 2024 11:42 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Sharing why we went with Vanguard PAS
Replies: 69
Views: 6687

Re: Sharing why we went with Vanguard PAS

popoki wrote: Sun Mar 10, 2024 11:38 am
boomer543 wrote: Sat Mar 09, 2024 7:54 pm Yep. Extra slices but more to the point about Vanguard’s extensive market research is tilting the allocations and sectors over the years depending on their research outcomes.
Sounds like active investing (market timing) rather than passive investing.
It would be interesting to know whether the PAS portfolios beat Vaguard LifeStrategy or TargetDate funds over the years with similar AAs. (With PAS starting at a ~0.3% disadvatage).
by SmileyFace
Sat Mar 09, 2024 2:04 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: NJ “unsafe lane change” law
Replies: 14
Views: 1324

Re: NJ “unsafe lane change” law

Generally you shouldn't be cutting across multiple lanes at the same time - expecially if you follow that up with a turn. Sounds like that's what you did.
Your word against police on whether what you did was safe or not. Good luck.
"I had to.." there was no possibility of turning around and coming back? Was this an emergency?
by SmileyFace
Sat Mar 09, 2024 8:07 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Are white, red, blue and other bright colors safer [for cars] than other colors???
Replies: 45
Views: 3863

Re: Are white, red, blue and other bright colors safer [for cars] than other colors???

Turn on your lights in fog and rain. In Massachusetts its a law that your lights have to be on when your windshield wipers are (not everyone knows this). The fine is $5.00. How many cops are going make a traffic stop & get out of the police cruiser in a rainstorm to write a $5 ticket? It would be interesting to see how many $5 traffic tickets are written for not having headlights on during a rainstorm in Massachusetts. bill It's not the fine - It's the resulting insurance surcharges that will cost you. No idea how often enforced - but the law is working - I see far more people driving with lights on today than I did back before the law was passed. Back when the law was passed I remember a lot of folks saying "I never thought of th...
by SmileyFace
Fri Mar 08, 2024 12:09 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: When/Why would you need Trust over Will
Replies: 97
Views: 6409

Re: When/Why would you need Trust over Will

I still think words like "inevitably" are too strong. If I quote Murphy's Law in the future, I will be sure to properly qualify it. "Anything that can go wrong, will very probably go wrong." ;-) I appreciate all the lawyer input in these threads as I mentioned earlier. I do wonder, however, if there is some "lawyer-client case" bias in this thread. Multiple lawyers are jumping in and saying things like "the majority of the time" and "mistakes are often made" for their clients. Well - maybe there are many more cases whereby folks don't have to use a lawyer or only use them sparingly because everything is done correctly, simple enough, and there are no mistakes. I think that is the point some...