Bogleheads.org

oldzey wrote: ↑Tue Mar 21, 2023 7:24 am Here is an alternate TIAA forum that does not require a login: https://ybbpersonalfinance.proboards.co ... d/399/tiaa

Best,
oldzey

And here is yet another alternate TIAA forum with some discussion about the M* login issues: https://www.facebook.com/groups/871594667250126

Here is an alternate TIAA forum that does not require a login: https://ybbpersonalfinance.proboards.co ... d/399/tiaa

Best,
oldzey

Yeah, that's right, it's a CONTRACT. It is incorrect to pretend that you own a share of TIAA's "General Account", which has to be managed in a prudent way to honor the promises of the insurance company. A.M. Best has rated TIAA as "A++" for many years. But no, it's not like the U.S. Government's guarantee. Well, unless we have a government shutdown, I guess. I remember in the morningstar forum, either you or another poster posted links to the most up-to-date financial statement of the general account several times a few years ago. (I remember looking at them and was relieved to see that it has a surplus.) I am unable to access morningstar forum (error) and the only one that I can find using google is https://www.tiaa.or...

All, this is my first post, and I expect it has been covered in the past, but a search of this forum didn't turn up anything that seems to answer my question. I've done substantial reading as i approach retirement sometime in the next year, but I expect I still have much to learn. This forum has been an outstanding resource - thanks to all who have shared their hard-won knowledge. In my 403b account, i have long used TIAA Traditional in place of bond index funds (in my case, my options for low cost funds are VBMPX and VIPIX); my rationale is that the guaranteed 3% crediting rate is much more attractive than long term returns from the above funds. But - am i missing some advantage to bond funds? The quoted long term returns are in the 2 - 3...

I have recently decided to use a Yubikey with my key accounts. I now have my password manager, my email accounts, and bank account secured with Yubikey. In the set-up process to have the Yubikey to work with Vanguard I am asked to name the key (YubikeyRed). That's standard. I am then prompted with the following unusual query "You'll need to create a PIN for this security key" None of my other accounts have asked for a PIN for the Yubikey. Erring on the side of caution I canceled the Vanguard set-up. Can someone explain what this PIN will do? Will it apply to the other accounts I have on the Yubikey (i.e., is it something general to the Yubikey) or will this PIN just apply to the Vanguard account? Thanks in advance. The PIN will b...

Thank you, InvestorHowie!

Here's another useful resource for all things TIAA (including TIAA Traditional): https://ybbpersonalfinance.proboards.co ... d/399/tiaa

Best,
oldzey

I put pdfs of most of the old February 28th, 2023 rates in my TIAA Traditional archive: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/y08d3qbmvisa ... QrZIa?dl=0

Here's a link to the new rates as of March 1, 2023, for comparison: viewtopic.php?p=7096298#p7096298

Here's a page with links to all flavors of TIAA Traditional (except GSRA): https://ybbpersonalfinance.proboards.co ... rollTo=916

And here's the GSRA link: https://www.tiaa.org/public/investment- ... r=47933633

stlrick wrote: ↑Mon Feb 27, 2023 11:27 am It will be announced after the market closes on Feb 28. Sometimes, the annual adjustment takes a few hours longer than the monthly update announced after the last trading day of each month. The point is that it is not announced at a time when you can take advantage of knowing what it will be.

I've put the February 28th, 2023 rates in my TIAA Traditional archive: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/y08d3qbmvisa ... QrZIa?dl=0

We can compare any changes tomorrow.

crefwatch wrote: ↑Mon Feb 27, 2023 5:48 am Oldzey, if you are the owner of that cache of brochures, I thank you very much for creating it. I hope you will be able to preserve it for some time!

My pleasure, crefwatch. Thank you (and others) for sharing your knowledge about TIAA Traditional. It comprises about 35% of my portfolio.

Here's a link to some TIAA Traditional publications that might be of use to you: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/y08d3qbmvisa ... QrZIa?dl=0

Sagefemme wrote: ↑Sat Feb 25, 2023 11:06 am Years ago, when I was trying to understand this beast, I downloaded 4 TIAA documents from the internet (i.e., I did not have to be logged into TIAA to find these). Try googling TIAA Traditional White Paper or similar search terms, and you will likely get some documents that may be useful. For example this one:

https://fluenttech.tiaa.org/pdf/factshe ... -TIAAP.pdf

Sagefemme wrote: ↑Sat Feb 25, 2023 11:11 am Here's another:

https://www.tiaa.org/public/pdf/underst ... choice.pdf

Here's some more: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/y08d3qbmvisa ... QrZIa?dl=0

~55% for the past 7-8 years.

I found the Bogleheads.org forum nine years ago when I was 46, which helped me get serious about saving for retirement.

Unfortunately, I wasn't serious about it before that point, so I'll be working until I'm at least 70.

JustAnotherProf wrote: ↑Sun Feb 19, 2023 11:01 am

oldzey wrote: ↑Sun Feb 19, 2023 10:47 am Here's some reading material that I've collected over the years to browse through: TIAA Traditional Annuity Archive

Wonderful resource, oldzey. Thanks for sharing.

My pleasure, JustAnotherProf.

I am always on the lookout for useful material to add to this archive. I find TIAA Traditional (TRAD) interesting, especially the history of it, thus the impetus for my digital archive of TRAD documents. I also enjoy the advice, wisdom, and old stories from the longtime holders of TRAD on this and other forums. The TIAA Funds forum at Morningstar is a good resource for all things TIAA.

student wrote: ↑Sat Feb 18, 2023 6:02 pm I use TIAA Traditional for almost all my fixed income allocation as I do not want volatility. I think it behaves similar to total bond but smooth out the curve. http://collegeretirement.blogspot.com/2 ... -deal.html I think your current asset allocation is reasonable, though slightly aggressive but not unreasonable. My baseline is 120-age in stock or 115-age in stock.

I use student's AA as well (about 65% equities, 35% TIAA Traditional). I do have some TIAA Traditional that is liquid (GSRA) and some that is illiquid (RA).

Here's some reading material that I've collected over the years to browse through: TIAA Traditional Annuity Archive

Ed 2 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 17, 2023 1:55 pm Just found on YouTube this documentary and decided to share.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aYpZmOXZ0pY

Thanks for sharing!

“Trust no one. You've got to take responsibility for your own affairs.” –- Andrew Tobias, The Only Investment Guide You’ll Ever Need

Edit: This book is a part of Taylor Larimore's Investment Gems

bltn wrote: ↑Tue Feb 14, 2023 7:30 pm This thread has a lot of potential.

+1

Thank you, Taylor!

The recently upgraded Bogle Center website looks fantastic - thank you!

Happy 11th birthday, Bogle Center (and many more)!

AnnetteLouisan wrote: ↑Sun Feb 05, 2023 9:25 am I’m going to donate. Thank you for the reminder Rick!

+1

Thank you for sharing the thoughtful overview of the Center's mission and vision.

I'll add that the "Bogle Center Resources" page is quite handy - it's great to have all of those links on one page: https://boglecenter.net/resources/

I don't think it's a ponzi but there was basically a "just trust him" concept with Madoff also. Why can't TIAA come out and spell more of it out to people? I've tried to find returns on their general account but can't seem to find anything, I'm not well schooled in insurance companies and trying to learn. I agree that someone should avoid investing in products they don't understand. (I mean that as a Bogleheads quote, not as a lecture to you .... ) But vast numbers of people, for 100 years, have invested in TIAA Traditional. When I started teaching, in 1974, I was NOT PERMITTED to put more than half my salary-reduction into the one other investment OTHER than TIAA Traditional. That's because many Econ profs and skeptical faculty ...

TIAA Traditional uses historical cost accounting rather than mark-to-market accounting. In historical cost accounting, the institution is continuously buying bonds with different yields and holding them until maturity. The institution has a weighted average yield across these bonds that gives it a portfolio return that it can provide to its stakeholders. These institutions are at risk if there is significant volatility and stakeholders are allowed to withdraw or add money at the historical cost, so the institutions typically have gatekeeping rules that restrict transfers in some way. For example, if an institution buys $100 of bonds in year 1 at 5%, $100 of bonds in year 2 at 3%, and $100 of bonds in year 3 at 6%, then the portfolio rate g...

Raabe34 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 31, 2023 10:50 am Does anyone on here REALLY know how they are working it? Not the "they're crediting 6xx%" but how in the heck are they able to pay that out? Is this a possible ponzi scheme? It's backed by the general account of TIAA which is roughly 80% fixed income. We all know what those results were for 2022 yet they've come out and increased crediting rates.

I have a couple theories but I'm wondering if anyone on here really knows. Thanks,

You're not alone. If you figure it out, please let me know: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/y08d3qbmvisa ... QrZIa?dl=0

livesoft wrote: ↑Fri Aug 19, 2016 8:09 pm I would say the idea is to
1. Retire early and
2. Live off of taxable account while paying little to no taxes and
3. Doing 401(k)/IRA to Roth IRA conversions while in that low tax bracket every year until RMD age, so that
4. At RMD age, you can make QCDs and not
5. Have to pay any taxes while
6. Living off SS and your huge Roth IRA and any remaining taxable account assets and 401(k)/IRA assets.

This

+1

Dear Taylor,

Salutations on your 99th birthday!

Thank you for all you have done to make a positive difference in the lives of others!

Sincerely,
oldzey

You might also consider perusing the TIAA Funds Discussion Forum over at Morningstar. Many of the members there have significant knowledge and a great deal of experience specifically pertaining to TIAA financial products.

https://community.morningstar.com/s/top ... tiaa-funds

I use TRAD for my fixed income in my 403b.

I've tried to figure out the TRAD black box myself - clarity is not a word I would use to describe it.

If you figure it out - please let me know. Here's some light reading material about TRAD that I've collected over the years:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/y08d3qbmvisa ... QrZIa?dl=0

Cheers,
oldzey

Remembering John C. Bogle

Thank you, Jack!

Rest in Peace.

12/31/2014: $70,639
12/31/2015: $104,133
12/31/2016: $152,362
12/31/2017: $211,738
12/31/2018: $238,838
12/31/2019: $329,401
12/31/2020: $422,461
12/31/2021: $591,002
12/31/2022: $406,331

4,117

Merry Christmas, Taylor!

Thank you for helping protect the world.

Sincerely,
oldzey

Thank you!

Please explain what "graded" option is. I looked through the prospectus and it wasn't clear to me. You don't want your annuity payments to stay level, because of inflation. You'd like them to rise year by year to meet your increasing cost of living. The ideal would be for the payments to be directly indexed to the CPI, just like Social Security. TIAA doesn't offer this. Since 1982--for forty years!--they have instead offered the "graded" payment option, which involves a slightly incomprehensible calculation based on an "assumed interest rate" and the actual year-by-year mortality of your cohort. But it has the effect of starting off with smaller payments that increase annually. It does not match the CPI very w...

You down with RBD (Yeah you know me).

Well, at least May has not been boring so far.

pokebowl wrote: ↑Sun May 08, 2022 8:29 pm

abuss368 wrote: ↑Sun May 08, 2022 8:21 pm I think inflation readings are on deck for this week correct?

Best.
Tony

Yes, you can find it here on Wednesday at 8:30 A.M. Eastern Time.

Thank you for the link!

Life is full of its vicissitudes.

Looks like we may be on track for a bona fide livesoft RBD.

U.S. stocks are even better when they're on sale!

Good day - I'll take it!

FYI - here's a link to an archive of TIAA Traditional documents that I've collected over the years:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/y08d3qbmvisa ... QrZIa?dl=0

Note that some of these may be a bit outdated. However, nothing from 1969.

And here is the 1994-2022 annual meeting archive: https://buffett.cnbc.com/annual-meetings/

iamblessed wrote: ↑Mon May 02, 2022 6:46 am I missed the live stream but usually someone will put the whole meeting up on youtube in a few days.

The official recording was just posted - enjoy!

https://www.cnbc.com/video/2022/05/01/w ... eting.html

TheoLeo wrote: ↑Sat Apr 30, 2022 4:19 pm Any pearls of wisdom?

There were some amusing remarks pertaining to Bitcoin, especially from Charlie (who, along with Warren, is not a fan of it).

I liked this one, gleaned from https://www.bloombergquint.com/gadfly/o ... utlast-him

"Munger: Part of the trick is to correct your own mistakes.

Buffett: We’ve done better with the mistakes than with the good ideas.

Munger: It’s so easy to overvalue a good idea."

Here's a detailed rundown of the meeting: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/30/berkshi ... dates.html

JoMoney wrote: ↑Sat Apr 30, 2022 8:46 am Thanks for posting, I unfortunately made other plans today... but I hope to come back and review later

Have a fantastic day!