Search found 56 matches

by jsandra
Wed Oct 25, 2023 4:53 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Replace tires on car I’m about to sell?
Replies: 20
Views: 2664

Re: Replace tires on car I’m about to sell?

Thanks, bogleheads, for many useful suggestions!

Discount tire will replace the one tire, in my case, since the tread depths will be “just close enough” 10/32 on the new tire, vs. 7/32 on the old ones. 6/32 on my car and they would recommend four tire replacement. I did not inquire about used or shaved options. And I can get some $ back from the hazard warranty on the damaged tire.

Now, we’ll see if buyers notice or care.
by jsandra
Tue Oct 24, 2023 7:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Replace tires on car I’m about to sell?
Replies: 20
Views: 2664

Re: Replace tires on car I’m about to sell?

Jack FFR1846 wrote: Tue Oct 24, 2023 6:38 pm Have you measured the tread depth? Any auto parts shop will have cheap tools available to measure. I'd find that out first and compare it to the tread of a new tire. The Tire Rack shaving option seems to be a really good option.
I do not know the tread depth, but will check it tomorrow at Discount Tire. They are a preferred installer for TireRack, so I’ll ask about the shaved-tire option.
by jsandra
Tue Oct 24, 2023 6:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Replace tires on car I’m about to sell?
Replies: 20
Views: 2664

Re: Replace tires on car I’m about to sell?

Rocky Mtn Man wrote: Tue Oct 24, 2023 6:17 pm How old are the tires? If you look, there is a small 4 digit number on the sidewall, such as 3221. That means the tires were made in the 32nd week of 2021. If they are more than 6 or 7 years old it may warrant replacement of all 4. It's something I would note as a potential buyer, and argue for a $1000 discount, but others may not care. I doubt carmax would look.
0621, so the tires are less than 3 years old.
by jsandra
Tue Oct 24, 2023 6:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Replace tires on car I’m about to sell?
Replies: 20
Views: 2664

Replace tires on car I’m about to sell?

I have driven about 20k miles on my 60k mile-rated tires. I got a flat that is unrepairable. Given the wear, and since it is an AWD vehicle, my trusted tire shop recommends replacing all four tires. I see on an old thread that just buying one new tire, shaved to the appropriate depth by TireRack, may be an alternative option.

I would replace all four tires if I was keeping the car. But I was planning to sell it very soon. My usual method is to get quotes from CarMax, Carvana, and the like to use as a floor. Then post on Facebook marketplace and Craigslist.

What would you do? While I like cheaper options, it doesn’t feel quite right to sell a car I wouldn’t drive myself.
by jsandra
Mon Apr 10, 2023 8:38 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: In what career are you using your Economics degree?
Replies: 74
Views: 7397

Re: In what career are you using your Economics degree?

I went to a large state university, initially thinking I would major in accounting. Although I found one class interesting, I otherwise was not enthusiastic about it. So then I declared majors in finance and economics. I loved all areas in economics, and took courses in labor, economic history, econometrics, law and economics, and history of economic thought. I eventually dropped finance, which I thought of at the time as just one area of the much larger field of economics. I also took many math courses once it was clear I should go to graduate school. I’m an economics professor, and still love the field. The OP’s son should study whatever interests him most. If he really excels, there will be room at the top of the field. But the OP is als...
by jsandra
Mon Mar 06, 2023 1:07 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: VITA Tax Preparation Volunteers: Care To Answer A Question About The Program?
Replies: 10
Views: 833

Re: VITA Tax Preparation Volunteers: Care To Answer A Question About The Program?

Yes, the VITA site that I volunteer at will do previous years returns, as long as there are available preparers who were also certified to do taxes the prior year.

You may need to have two appointments (one for the 2022 return and another for 2021) if you intend to have VITA do both. In either case, it would be most helpful if you went with your brother for these appointments to help make sense of the records.
by jsandra
Fri Jan 13, 2023 8:49 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Sub-$500 Home Improvement Projects That Increased Quality of Life
Replies: 135
Views: 23331

Re: Sub-$500 Home Improvement Projects That Increased Quality of Life

Replace all your mismatched plastic and wire hangers with nice wood ones. Your closet will look fancier. As an added bonus, new hangers inspired me to avoid any “closet creep.” Whenever a new item goes into my closet an old item must go to Goodwill.
by jsandra
Thu Apr 14, 2022 2:50 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Selling a $32,000 car
Replies: 42
Views: 4561

Re: Selling a $32,000 car

Dealers also typically provide a certain comfort level to buyers of used cars. They do an initial inspection, some light repairs maybe, and a good detailing, and often back it up with SOME degree of warranty. A p.p. buyer gets ~none of that, and will calibrate offers accordingly. Put it this way, if you saw a Subaru going used for $32K at a dealer, with an identical Subaru being offered on Craigslist or the like, what would it take to get you to go for the latter? In my case, likely a significant price concession... I take the opposite approach when comparing cars offered by a dealer to private parties. Perhaps I've had particularly bad experiences with dealers, and unusually good ones with private parties. But a private party can sometime...
by jsandra
Wed Apr 13, 2022 7:54 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Buying a car off Craigslist
Replies: 13
Views: 2327

Re: Buying a car off Craigslist

If you have the time to wait, I recommend setting up Craigslist alerts for the models you want. You will get an email as soon as a car you want is listed. No need to constantly peruse listings. I watched my email for months until the right car, offered by a private party near me, came up in August. Got the VIN to check carfax and arranged to drive it that day. Gave the seller $300 on the spot as a deposit.

Like a hot real estate market, you have to be ready to act fast.
by jsandra
Tue Nov 16, 2021 9:58 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Accurate cost of living calculators? Iowa or WI?
Replies: 10
Views: 1419

Re: Accurate cost of living calculators? Iowa or WI?

I have lived in the Iowa Quad Cities for years. I think you can buy a lot of house here, but best way to tell is to do some online shopping. State taxes are a little steep, but property taxes lower than Illinois side. The traffic is light and it is family friendly. Weather is milder than Madison in winter.

We have some difficulty recruiting folks to join our employers. Mainly seems to be an issue with jobs for spouses.

I like Madison, and have family there. But don’t know particulars.
by jsandra
Thu Sep 09, 2021 9:47 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Car for teen
Replies: 121
Views: 7189

Re: Car for teen

I just bought a car last month for my teen, and my approach evolved as our needs and the market changed. First, we intended to give the teen our older car (2015 Acura) but it’s a little nicer than I thought it would be at this age since DH doesn’t drive much. He’s also happy to keep it, which is great considering he usually itches for a new car every three years or so. So I set out to buy a used small SUV. Having sold something similar three years ago, I thought I could find one about 10 years old, about 100K miles, for $10K. Those cars are listed at $12-15K now. I set Craigslist alerts for a few models, so I would get an email as soon as one in my area was listed privately. I watched, for months. But not in a hurry, I could have waited unt...
by jsandra
Sat Apr 17, 2021 6:50 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Shift some emergency funds to I bonds for 3.54% interest?
Replies: 20
Views: 3681

Re: Shift some emergency funds to I bonds for 3.54% interest?

This is mentioned in the TIPS Watch article at https://tipswatch.com/2021/04/15/i-bond ... til-later/. ...I’ve presented inflation-adjusted variable rate scenarios ranging from 0.0% to 3.0%, and one thing is very clear: Investing in May will out-perform investing in April in every scenario. Even if the inflation-adjusted variable rate drops to 0.0% for the second six months, the investor would get a return of 1.77% — and the three-month penalty would be zero, because no interest was earned in the last six months. The Buy-In-May scenarios outperform Buy-in-April scenarios in every case. Conclusion. If you are looking to invest in an I Bond as a safe place to store cash as an 11-month investment, wait until near the end of May 2021 to invest...
by jsandra
Sat Apr 17, 2021 5:17 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Shift some emergency funds to I bonds for 3.54% interest?
Replies: 20
Views: 3681

Shift some emergency funds to I bonds for 3.54% interest?

Due to a recent burst of inflation, it appears the interest rate on I bonds is going to reset to 3.54% in May.

https://tipswatch.com/

This is way better than the yield on my "high" yield savings and municipal bond funds. Any reason not to switch some funds over? Would you invest in the last few days in April or wait until May?
by jsandra
Sun Feb 14, 2021 8:21 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: FreeTaxUSA first-time user
Replies: 33
Views: 5817

Re: FreeTaxUSA first-time user

motiv8ed wrote: Sun Feb 14, 2021 6:19 pm Does anyone know if it's possible to create multiple Federal and/or state returns via a single FREETAXUSA account? I created one 2020 return for myself for the first time today (and FWIW it came out with the same :moneybag owed as TurboTax Premier calculated :happy), but I can't see how to create additional returns for my children in the same account. Would I need to create additional logins (one for each) :confused ?


motiv8ed
That is how I do my grandmother’s return, I have a separate login for her return. I never thought it was much of a burden.
by jsandra
Wed Jan 20, 2021 9:49 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Anyone not bother with Tax Loss Harvesting?
Replies: 129
Views: 13620

Re: Anyone not bother with Tax Loss Harvesting?

I think TLH is relatively advanced bogleheading. Intermediate-level, at least. It’s not for everyone.

For me, one of the best benefits is it helps me stay the course. I see the silver lining in the big corrections that inevitably occur. I don’t check my accounts often, but I keep up with the news enough to notice big TLH opportunities like 2008 and this March.
by jsandra
Mon Oct 21, 2019 12:38 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Selling used car experience (dealer vs online vs in person)
Replies: 28
Views: 4128

Re: Selling used car experience (dealer vs online vs in person)

I've sold two cars via CL in the past three years. My method: 1) List it using the CL anonymizer email system. 2) DO NOT include a phone number. 3) Post the listing with at least 10 clear pics: front of car, driver's side, rear bumper, passenger side, driver interior, back seat interior, trunk interior, engine bay, console, and odometer. (Of course, you've washed and waxed it first, so everything gleams, right?!) 4) Go to Edmunds, and copy their listing details of your car's trim level: include things such as wood shift knob, leather-wrapped dash, JBL speakers, sport suspension, whatever. Note any upgrades. 5) Get the private sale price ranges from Edmunds, Kelley, and NADA: list all three ranges in the ad. 6) Make sure the ad listing SUBJ...
by jsandra
Tue Mar 12, 2019 1:54 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Spouse wants to buy individual stocks
Replies: 77
Views: 7747

Re: Spouse wants to buy individual stocks

About 10-15 years ago, in our thirties, my spouse also wanted to take a few flyers on individual stocks, precious metals, and property investment. He made his bets with a small part of our portfolio. All three did poorly, especially the stock which tanked just one day after we bought it. Now he's convinced that he has the opposite of the Midas Touch. (The lead touch?) We have been on the same page ever since.
by jsandra
Sat Jun 02, 2018 1:46 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Interior painting - Sherwin Williams color recommendations
Replies: 28
Views: 3659

Re: Interior painting - Sherwin Williams color recommendations

[/quote]
I wanted blue gray. Apparently, it's a difficult color to pick. I bought about several samples and painted patches on several walls of the room. Everything that seemed blue gray was blue on my walls in my light.

+1

Thanks to my painter’s suggestion, I finally found SW “Mineral Deposit” which is the blue-gray I was looking for.
by jsandra
Mon Apr 23, 2018 2:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Anyone have a 2017/2018 Highlander Hybrid?
Replies: 15
Views: 2247

Re: Anyone have a 2017/2018 Highlander Hybrid?

I agree with fortfun, the 2009 Highlander Hybrid would not pay for itself. I bought it anyway because it was worth it to me. However, the 2018 version is only slightly more than the non-hybrid. It still might not pay for itself, but it is now much closer to the non-hybrid price Did you ever need to replace the battery in the 2009 Highlander Hybrid? We were very close to buying a used one, but the price of a new battery stopped us in our tracks. When we looked, they were about 6K to replace. No, I drove my 2009 for 105,000 miles and never had issues with the battery. There was a recall related to the batteries, though, that I had done at around 60,000 miles. I'm not sure if that could have extended the life beyond what one would otherwise e...
by jsandra
Mon Apr 23, 2018 2:19 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Anyone have a 2017/2018 Highlander Hybrid?
Replies: 15
Views: 2247

Re: Anyone have a 2017/2018 Highlander Hybrid?

I just bought a 2018 a few weeks ago. It replaces the 2009 Highlander Hybrid I had for nine trouble-free years. Like the OP, I bought the 2009 to replace a smaller Ford Escape once I had a second child. Now my kids are 9 and 11 years old, and it still fits our family well. I bought the new model to upgrade the new safety features, Bluetooth, and leather. It's a great car, and I had no trouble selling my old one (in one day, via Craigslist). I was also going to go for the top model, but chose the XLE instead. This was so we could get the second row bench seat, now that my kids are bigger it's more likely they'll have a friend sit with them in the middle of the second row, vs. the third row. They and their friends did use the third row when ...
by jsandra
Mon Apr 23, 2018 1:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Anyone have a 2017/2018 Highlander Hybrid?
Replies: 15
Views: 2247

Re: Anyone have a 2017/2018 Highlander Hybrid?

I agree with fortfun, the 2009 Highlander Hybrid would not pay for itself. I bought it anyway because it was worth it to me. However, the 2018 version is only slightly more than the non-hybrid. It still might not pay for itself, but it is now much closer to the non-hybrid price
by jsandra
Mon Apr 23, 2018 1:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Anyone have a 2017/2018 Highlander Hybrid?
Replies: 15
Views: 2247

Re: Anyone have a 2017/2018 Highlander Hybrid?

I just bought a 2018 a few weeks ago. It replaces the 2009 Highlander Hybrid I had for nine trouble-free years. Like the OP, I bought the 2009 to replace a smaller Ford Escape once I had a second child. Now my kids are 9 and 11 years old, and it still fits our family well. I bought the new model to upgrade the new safety features, Bluetooth, and leather. It's a great car, and I had no trouble selling my old one (in one day, via Craigslist). I was also going to go for the top model, but chose the XLE instead. This was so we could get the second row bench seat, now that my kids are bigger it's more likely they'll have a friend sit with them in the middle of the second row, vs. the third row. They and their friends did use the third row when t...
by jsandra
Sun Feb 05, 2017 8:11 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Craigslist vehicle sale worth the risk?
Replies: 30
Views: 4637

Re: Craigslist vehicle sale worth the risk?

I have sold two vehicles, at around 15K, on Craigslist. In both cases, I got some interest from dealers. Dealers are always looking for reasonably priced used cars. In one case (a Camry) I was able to use a written offer from the local dealer to get a little more from a (non-crazy) private buyer. In the other case (a car with a much smaller target market than the Camry) I sold to an out-of-state dealer who sent people to pick it up.
by jsandra
Fri Apr 08, 2016 9:45 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Mango prepaid card - 4.8% (effective) APY
Replies: 557
Views: 388260

Re: Mango prepaid card - 4.8% (effective) APY

I've just started this after reading another thread. After so many accounts, I think Ally limits ACH transfers to 6 per month.

With folks who have many accounts, do you use a different bank for ACH push/pulls?


I'm planning to set up staggered quarterly ACH pushes and pulls from my Discover Savings Account. I'll get card 1 soon, I'll set up a $5 quarterly push onto card 1 beginning in April, and another $5 quarterly pull beginning in May. When I get card 2, I'll set up a $5 quarterly push onto it in May, and out beginning in June. If you continue for 6 cards, there will be 4 cancelling transactions per month. Leaving two transactions per month that you can use for other needs.
by jsandra
Tue Mar 08, 2016 9:19 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Transferred from Vanguard--but money's still there
Replies: 6
Views: 700

Transferred from Vanguard--but money's still there

Hi Bogleheads,
Three weeks ago, I transferred some taxable mutual funds from Vanguard to Merrill Edge (to take advantage of a bonus offer). The funds reached Merrill on February 25. But they are also still in my Vanguard account.

I'm not sure what to do about this. What would you do?
1. Celebrate the doubling of my money :sharebeer
2. Wait longer, surely Vanguard will figure this out
3. Contact Vanguard to warn them they may have taken money from the wrong account

Thanks for your help!
by jsandra
Sun Feb 28, 2016 1:58 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Physician's loan, rent vs buy
Replies: 20
Views: 2961

Re: Physician's loan, rent vs buy

My husband's first job out of fellowship, which seemed so promising, did not work out. I wish we had rented for a year.
by jsandra
Mon Aug 10, 2015 1:32 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Buy a house that is registered under a sex offender[?]
Replies: 36
Views: 9647

Re: Buy a house that is registered under a sex offender[?]

Years ago, we purchased a home from a sex offender (or rather, from his wife--he was in jail). I think we had heard rumors that the owner was in jail, and for some reason, I thought it was for embezzlement or something like that. We did not have kids at the time and did not think to check the sex offender registry. We did get a decent discount since it was initially overpriced and sat on the market for a while. We chalked this up to the fact that the home had very dated and taste-specific decor. And with husband in jail, they needed to sell. A few years after we moved in, a neighbor finally told me about the previous owner when I asked her why she always walked her kids the short distance to and from the bus stop. I had a few strange dreams...
by jsandra
Mon Aug 03, 2015 9:44 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Are we super-savers enough to consider Roth contributions?
Replies: 3
Views: 1120

Re: Are we super-savers enough to consider Roth contributions?

Thanks so much furwut for providing the links. And thanks to Watty for the thoughtful analysis. Advantage: pretax contributions.
by jsandra
Mon Aug 03, 2015 7:10 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Are we super-savers enough to consider Roth contributions?
Replies: 3
Views: 1120

Are we super-savers enough to consider Roth contributions?

Age: 46 and 42 Tax rate: 28% (via AMT) + 9% state, married filing jointly Retirement plans: We can envision retiring in 13 years, at the earliest. Moving to a lower tax state is definitely a possibility. We max out contributions to a 401(k), a 403(b), and two backdoor Roths. We also sock away additional savings in taxable. The 403(b) has recently added the option of Roth contributions. I didn't think switching from pretax to Roth contributions would make sense for us. But then I read somewhere (WCI, perhaps?) that once your pretax investments reach $2-3M you're a supersaver and Roth contributions might make sense. Combined, our 401(k) and 403(b) recently surpassed $1M, so at the rate we're going those milestones seem pretty attainable. :sha...
by jsandra
Thu Apr 16, 2015 10:00 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Buy new Acura? Nearest dealer service is 125 miles away
Replies: 23
Views: 7790

Re: Buy new Acura? Nearest dealer service is 125 miles away

Last time I checked on this, Honda dealers could not do warranty work or recall work on Acuras. They can service the vehicle, but you'd have to pay for everything. Hey, those poor Acura garages have to make a little money. 8-) But I'd call your local Honda dealership to confirm. Maybe there is distance exception. Seriously, I live a small town with no "luxury" dealerships within 50 miles. I'd never buy a new car that did not have a local dealership due to the hassle of dealing with the inevitable warranty repairs and recalls. You might not necessarily be stuck paying for recalls or warranty work, or face the hassle of traveling some distance have it done. My closest Acura dealer, 90 miles away, has free pick up, loaner, and deliv...
by jsandra
Wed Mar 04, 2015 4:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Buy home in area with only good PK-8 public schools?
Replies: 44
Views: 5562

Re: Buy home in area with only good PK-8 public schools?

I was in about the same spot in 2010. Our options were to: (1) stay in a neighborhood good for K-6, but a bit dicey after that, where most families went with private schools; (2) move to a neighborhood with slightly longer commute, but very good for K-12 or (3) move to another neighborhood we liked with a similarly longer commute, but a little dicey for K-6, and good for 7-12. We nixed option number 1, which it sounds like you and your wife agree on. Plus we were ready to move for other reasons. Ultimately we went with option (2)--good for the long haul, but we looked at houses in both neighborhoods. Ultimately it comes down to a combination of things: the house and its affordability, the schools, the neighborhood feel, the commute, etc. I ...
by jsandra
Sat Feb 21, 2015 8:34 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: CarsDirect didn't lead to dealers responding with prices
Replies: 63
Views: 9571

Re: CarsDirect didn't lead to dealers responding with prices

I just played this game with five dealers, I was eager to put into practice denovo's advice for negotiating. I'm picking up my new Acura next week. True Car/Cars Direct would not provide a network price for my area, so I searched AutoTraders inventories for nearby dealers that have the car. All negotiation by e-mail. All five would provide a price, but only one (a) gave a very good price (by True Car standards) at the first opportunity, and (b) made it clear that the price included destination and fees as asked. Most would give an offer, but just vague enough that other dealers would argue it probably didn't really include everything and wouldn't match or beat. One ignored my first attempt to get them to beat a price. It may have helped in ...
by jsandra
Wed Dec 03, 2014 12:18 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do we have too much house?
Replies: 45
Views: 6464

Re: Do we have too much house?

If you switched to a traditional 401k, wouldn't you take home a bit more? Could that also possibly lower your income tax bill? Yes, definitely, but I think of using the Roth as increasing the amount I'm saving for retirement. I know this is also a never-ending debate. We currently have about 450K in retirement, of which 425K is in tax-deferred, so I'd like to balance that out a bit. I often remind my wife when we can't find the money in our budget for something that we are in a way pretending to have a lot less than we really have by saving as much as we can before the money comes home. I can understand pretending you have less money than you really do, as a mechanism for spending less. However, you have already shown you have the discipli...
by jsandra
Sun Aug 10, 2014 9:49 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help me allocate to new 403(b) options
Replies: 19
Views: 1361

Re: Help me allocate to new 403(b) options

A-ha! I think I finally get it now. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the day before I retire, I could transfer everything from the RCP contract from TIAA Traditional to another fund hence completely avoid the required distribution over seven years thing. Does that also apply to the RC contract? Not quite. For the RCP (as I read what I quoted), you can move it all in a day (and retirement has nothing to do with it); the RCP doesn't have a 84 month rule so you aren't avoiding what isn't there. For the RC contract, it takes 7 years (84 months). Again, this can be an internal move within your 403(b) or a move out of your 403(b) and into your checking account. Wherever you move the money, it will take 84 months. If you really want it all available ...
by jsandra
Sat Aug 09, 2014 2:38 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help me allocate to new 403(b) options
Replies: 19
Views: 1361

Re: Help me allocate to new 403(b) options

You have to know what the word out means. Out of Traditional could mean the Stock or Real Estate Account. Those destinations are out of Traditional, but not out of your 403(b). These transfers are not taxable and have nothing to do with your ability to do Roth conversions. A-ha! I think I finally get it now. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the day before I retire, I could transfer everything from the RCP contract from TIAA Traditional to another fund hence completely avoid the required distribution over seven years thing. Does that also apply to the RC contract? Note that you can do your Roth conversions straight from your 403(b). You can generally roll over tax free all or any part of a distribution from a 403(b) plan to a traditional IRA or...
by jsandra
Sat Aug 09, 2014 2:24 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help me allocate to new 403(b) options
Replies: 19
Views: 1361

Re: Help me allocate to new 403(b) options

pingo wrote:2. So Her 403b has a brokerage option, and His 401k does not? Is it through Fidelity? Schwab? Another provider?
jsandra wrote:It is through Merrill Lynch. The outside brokerage options are limited and expensive (something like $150 per transaction)
So…it won't allow the purchase of Exchange Traded Funds? ETFs trade like individual stocks, so the commissions for purchasing them would be the same as for individual stocks.[/quote]

I don't think so, but I'll check again on Monday. Unfortunately, every interaction with the Merrill Lynch rep, so far, has been less than helpful. :annoyed
by jsandra
Sat Aug 09, 2014 2:20 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help me allocate to new 403(b) options
Replies: 19
Views: 1361

Re: Help me allocate to new 403(b) options

pingo wrote:
jsandra wrote:Funds available in his old 401(k)
73 choices, mainly TIAA-CREF and some Vanguard favorites. (Small part of portfolio, I suspect it's not worth your time seeing all the options)
Perhaps, it's not worth it, but does it offer any duplicates of what's already offered in Her 403b? Does it happen to include the Vanguard REIT Index Fund?
Yes, his old 401k offers many duplicates of her 403b. There is no Vanguard REIT Index, but TIAA Real Estate is included in it. Other duplicates are:

TIAA Traditional, CREF Money Market, Vanguard Total Bond Market Index, PIMCO Total Return, CREF Social Choice, The TIAA-CREF Lifecycle Index Funds, CREF Stock Account, Vanguard Small-Cap Index, and T. Rowe Price Growth Stock Fund.
by jsandra
Sat Aug 09, 2014 1:34 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help me allocate to new 403(b) options
Replies: 19
Views: 1361

Re: Help me allocate to new 403(b) options

With regard to TIAA Traditional, it looks like I will be issued a Retirement Choice Plus (RCP) Contract for the employer-contribution portion; and a Retirement Choice (RC) Contract for my contributions. If I understand it correctly, the sure 3-3.5% returns for today's contributions are very tempting. However, so far I have avoided these because I am concerned about the required distributions over ten years. I thought this might mess with my plans to make Roth conversions each year from age 60 or so to age 70. That sounds like 10 years to me. It's a perfect fit! I guess I was thinking that putting a large portion of our bonds in Traditional would lead to distributions that are "too" large for those ten (or seven) years, leaving le...
by jsandra
Sat Aug 09, 2014 1:20 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help me allocate to new 403(b) options
Replies: 19
Views: 1361

Re: Help me allocate to new 403(b) options

pingo wrote:
jsandra wrote:His and Hers Roth IRAs at T. Rowe Price
2.28% Health Sciences (PRHSX) 0.79
And what's up with ^ ?

Okay, that sounded negative and there are people who allocate to Health Care. (I seem to recall HC is even included in The Bogleheads Guide.) Do you have strong feelings about the fund or about holding the Roths at T. Rowe Price? I have absolutely nothing against the firm, but it might help to know your mindset.
No offense taken! We have had these for years, they have had a good run, but I am ready to get out of small sector holdings (well...with the possible exception of REITs or Real Estate which I know some do not view as useful). I plan to transfer the Roths to Vanguard and put into Total Stock or REIT Index.
by jsandra
Sat Aug 09, 2014 11:03 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help me allocate to new 403(b) options
Replies: 19
Views: 1361

Re: Help me allocate to new 403(b) options

1. Does his 401k have the option to also make after-tax contributions? (I'm not referring to a Roth 401k option.) Some plans allow participants to also make after-tax contributions with the option each quarter to distribute the savings, if desired. Rather than distribute the savings, one can have the amounts rolled over directly into a Roth IRA and it becomes a Roth conversion for tax-free investing thereafter. One pays income tax on any earnings from the after-tax 401k, but it's a small price to pay a quarter's worth of earnings to expand the Roth IRA with the conversion. Here are 4 links talking about 401k after-tax contributions: here , here , here and here . I think that the max combined contributions for 401ks may now be $52,000. With...
by jsandra
Sat Aug 09, 2014 10:42 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help me allocate to new 403(b) options
Replies: 19
Views: 1361

Re: Help me allocate to new 403(b) options

dickenjb wrote:Solution is simple. Forget about the REITS. Your 403(b) is 25% of total portfolio, invest it 100% in TBM.

If His 401(k) grows faster than her 403(b), add to your VWIUX in taxable.

I would hold only TISM and VWIUX in taxable.

Overall your portfolio looks great. Why do you want to add REITS which take up valuable tax advantaged space?
Indeed, adding REITS makes it more complicated. Dropping them to simplify is definitely an option. However, I am inclined to keep them on the David Swensen rationale that they add something somewhat uncorrelated with stocks. One option that could make a little room is to move the Roth IRAs to Vanguard REIT Index.
by jsandra
Sat Aug 09, 2014 10:32 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help me allocate to new 403(b) options
Replies: 19
Views: 1361

Re: Help me allocate to new 403(b) options

I would search for threads on TIAA-CREF as a starter. There have been plenty of discussions of TIAA Traditional and the TIAA Real Estate Account, as well as TIAA-CREF in general. My choices won't be your choices, so I don't make recommendations. One question: which Traditional is available to you? In other words, what type of contract do you have? I have an RA and an SRA, as well as an IRA. The terms differ. With regard to TIAA Traditional, it looks like I will be issued a Retirement Choice Plus (RCP) Contract for the employer-contribution portion; and a Retirement Choice (RC) Contract for my contributions. If I understand it correctly, the sure 3-3.5% returns for today's contributions are very tempting. However, so far I have avoided thes...
by jsandra
Sat Aug 09, 2014 9:47 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help me allocate to new 403(b) options
Replies: 19
Views: 1361

Help me allocate to new 403(b) options

Hi Bogleheads, An overhaul to my 403(b) plan has motivated me to carefully reconsider my total portfolio. Thanks to my recent reading of the forum, a few recommended books, and the wiki I have recently added backdoor Roths and picked up many more useful pointers. Thank you! Now, I would very much appreciate more specific advice on my situation. The main difficulty is that his 401(k) has only one good (S&P 500) index option. I'm having trouble finding room elsewhere for small-caps, mid-caps, real estate, and bonds. Emergency funds: About three months expenses Debt: 187K mortgage at 3% Tax Filing Status: Married filing jointly Tax Rate: 28% (via AMT); 9% state State: Iowa Age: 45/41 Desired Asset allocation: 75% stocks/25% bonds Desired I...
by jsandra
Sun Aug 03, 2014 8:46 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Stop Passing Up This Great Deal - In Money Magazine
Replies: 80
Views: 17140

Re: Stop Passing Up This Great Deal - In Money Magazine

I read this article a few days ago and was quite confused by it.

Thanks, Brantley, for posing this question. And to the Bogleheads for your quick responses.
by jsandra
Wed Jul 09, 2014 4:46 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: List of Worst financial advice (what not to do):
Replies: 144
Views: 22579

Re: List of Worst financial advice (what not to do):

"When you sell, you'll get all the money back that you spent on the in-ground pool/extensive landscaping/remodeling/decor specific to your odd tastes."
by jsandra
Sat Jul 05, 2014 8:53 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: US Total Stock Market Index worth in today's dollars?
Replies: 8
Views: 2982

Re: US Total Stock Market Index worth in today's dollars?

You will have to do some work. As others have posted links for growth of $ 10,000 from 1976 to today or 1970 to today. It does not answer your specific question. Now you need to get from Uncle Sams website, inflation chart/numbers and superimpose the two. This should give you a figure you are looking for. For the inflation adjustment, I recommend the "comparators" on http://www.MeasuringWorth.com . Using the "Purchasing Power-US $" comparator, you just enter the amount, initial year (1970 or whatever), and desired year (2013, for as close as we can get to today's value). It calculates the CPI-adjusted value for you. Also fun for figuring out what your starting salary of $x in 19xx would be worth today. Depending on your...
by jsandra
Thu May 22, 2014 12:59 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Ready to jump - $500k to invest
Replies: 3
Views: 1697

Re: Ready to jump - $500k to invest

For tax efficiency, it's pretty hard to beat Vanguard Total Stock Market Index and Vanguard Total International Stock Market Index. You might also consider Vanguard Intermediate-Term Tax Exempt.
by jsandra
Sun May 11, 2014 9:32 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can I be a boglehead and join a golf club?
Replies: 70
Views: 8313

Re: Can I be a boglehead and join a golf club?

DH and I recently joined a golf club. We had an earlier experience with a club before we had kids. He enjoys it for many reasons: he loves golf and many people he knows through work (he's a physician) are members. He's gotten to know folks he otherwise only knew through phone calls and notes. And it's a nice outlet for him to vent with others about the hospital administration, etc. I hate it for many reasons: I like golf, but club courses tend to be too difficult (and hence, frustrating) for my skill level. I work as a teacher, so I never run into people I know from work. In general, it kind of makes me feel like a snob. And of course, there's no way you can play golf/swim enough to make it a good value. I'm giving it a second shot because ...
by jsandra
Sun May 04, 2014 10:28 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Boglehead 4wd Car (for family)?
Replies: 49
Views: 15569

Re: Boglehead 4wd Car (for family)?

For a slightly bigger car (but not quite minivan) you might consider Toyota Highlander.
by jsandra
Wed Apr 16, 2014 12:54 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: New to investing, looking for insights
Replies: 55
Views: 7221

Re: New to investing, looking for insights

I second (or third) the suggestion to read The White Coat Investor. You have made a few mistakes, we all have, but you are well on your way to an improved financial situation.