Search found 9731 matches

by HueyLD
Thu Mar 14, 2024 12:48 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Medicare and SS payment timing
Replies: 10
Views: 884

Re: Medicare and SS payment timing

I paid Medicare Part B premiums via EasyPay automatic ACH debits before starting SS at 70. I did not do anything to stop EasyPay explicitly. My final EasyPay debit for $174.70 was in January. My first SS payment was for January but was actually paid in February, with $174.70 withheld for Medicare. There was no EasyPay debit in February. A few days ago I received a paper check from the US Treasury for $174.70. Thank YOU. Your post is very helpful. So, your final EasyPay was made in January for Feb. premium and the social security payment you received in Feb. deducted Feb. premium again resulting in double payments. And SSA refunded the duplicate payment and stopped the EasyPay automatically without your intervention. That’s what I call effi...
by HueyLD
Thu Mar 14, 2024 11:09 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Medicare and SS payment timing
Replies: 10
Views: 884

Re: Medicare and SS payment timing

I am not trying to argue with anyone and I am not on social security yet but will be in the near future.

So, I don’t have any actual experience to fall back on and I cannot find any official guidance from either Medicare or SSA websites. Trying to call either is a multi-hour hold project and I don’t have time to be on hold for hours.

I guess I just have to wait until I am actually receiving SS benefits.
by HueyLD
Thu Mar 14, 2024 8:31 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Medicare and SS payment timing
Replies: 10
Views: 884

Re: Medicare and SS payment timing

The Medicare premium deducted from SS earned in April and paid in May pays your May Medicare premium. This is the same regardless of which Wednesday in May you receive the SS payment. Based on what Mary Beth Franklin (a well known SS expert) said in this article, the SS earned in April and paid in May pays June premium, not May premium. “ Medicare premiums and surcharges are paid in advance, but Social Security benefits are paid in arrears. For example, a Social Security benefit for August is received in September, but the Medicare premium and surcharges deducted from the September payment apply to October.” https://www.investmentnews.com/industry-news/opinion/on-retirement/getting-medicare-premiums-refunded-after-death-240719#:~:text=Medi...
by HueyLD
Thu Mar 14, 2024 8:00 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Medicare and SS payment timing
Replies: 10
Views: 884

Re: Medicare and SS payment timing

I have a question on OP’s timing to cancel the Medicare EZPay.

The EZPay made in late March will cover his April premium and the SS pay received in May (for SS benefit from April) will cover his May premium. Should he cancel his EZPay after Medicare premium is deducted from his bank account in late March so that he doesn’t double pay?
by HueyLD
Wed Mar 13, 2024 5:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cost of dental visit
Replies: 20
Views: 1363

Re: Cost of dental visit

Mayacallie wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2024 4:40 pm Just had cleaning, exam and bitewings $245 in Boulder, Co.
Dental insurance, if you are paying out of pocket, rarely makes sense.
You cannot make such a broad statement without knowing individual situations. If one needs a lot of dental work, dental insurance definitely makes sense, especially employer provided group insurance.
by HueyLD
Wed Mar 13, 2024 4:31 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cost of dental visit
Replies: 20
Views: 1363

Re: Cost of dental visit

tc101 wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2024 3:58 pm My last visit to the dentist I paid $312 for cleaning, exam and bitewing xrays. Am I paying too much or is this normal?
Do you have dental insurance? My dentist billed insurance for the three procedures for $276, the insurance allowed $136 and my copay was zero.
by HueyLD
Tue Mar 12, 2024 5:22 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Untangling Mom's finances - Non-Qualified Annuity
Replies: 13
Views: 1232

Re: Untangling Mom's finances - Non-Qualified Annuity

+1 for Stinky’s recommendation.
by HueyLD
Mon Mar 11, 2024 11:04 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: I Bonds Mega Thread (I Bond Heads Rejoice!)
Replies: 6651
Views: 1202723

Re: I Bonds Mega Thread (I Bond Heads Rejoice!)

DH died last month. His son is the beneficiary on two bonds (I have advised him to establish a TD account) and I am the beneficiary on some others. The TD website says "Electronic savings bonds. If the person who died has an online TreasuryDirect account, contact us. We will put a hold on the account and tell you what to do." I recall there is something an account holder can do to give a beneficiary access to the I bonds and this is the procedure I am looking for. Follow this blog by the financebuff. How To Grant Transact or View Right on Your I Bonds https://thefinancebuff.com/grant-transact-right-second-owner-treasurydirect.html#:~:text=Grant%20View%20or%20Transact%20Rights,-Select%20one%20of&text=You%20need%20to%20enter%20...
by HueyLD
Mon Mar 11, 2024 7:17 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Using Treasury Direct
Replies: 12
Views: 2269

Re: Using Treasury Direct

manlymatt83 wrote: Sun Mar 10, 2024 4:36 pm I now have $0 in Treasury Direct since I redeemed my I-Bonds and converted them to treasuries @ Fidelity. Would it be prudent to close my Treasury Direct account? I don't want to forget about it. Have others just generally left it empty if you have nothing in there?
Per Subpart B—General Provisions Governing Securities Held ...

“eCFR (.gov)
https://www.ecfr.gov › title-31 › subchapter-A › part-363

(c) Closing an account. If a TreasuryDirect primary account and all associated linked accounts have had no holdings and no activity for a period of two years.”
by HueyLD
Mon Mar 04, 2024 6:13 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Spouse Beneficary Step Up in Basis ??
Replies: 10
Views: 1384

Re: Spouse Beneficary Step Up in Basis ??

Rajsx wrote: Sun Mar 03, 2024 1:34 pm I & DW each have Revocable Trusts for our Brokerage Taxable accounts, & we both are Trustees on each other's trusts as well as first Beneficiaries.

When one of us passes away does the survivor get the step up in basis as the beneficiary ? OR does being a Trustee also on the account prevents that ?
The trust is the owner and gets a step up even if the assets are not distributed.

For example, if a house is in the trust, the trustee can sell the house without distributing the proceeds and the basis was reset at death.
by HueyLD
Sat Mar 02, 2024 10:36 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard Announces CEO Retirement and Appointment of President
Replies: 371
Views: 34666

Re: Vanguard Announces CEO Retirement and Appointment of President

Tubes wrote: Sat Mar 02, 2024 9:29 am Ha ha. Got your point. But you are missing one.

A website that works. It isn't just the UI and UX, it is the fact some of it is broken.
A broken website is a big problem. And pointing fingers at customers is an even bigger problem.
by HueyLD
Thu Feb 29, 2024 7:26 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard Announces CEO Retirement and Appointment of President
Replies: 371
Views: 34666

Re: Vanguard Announces CEO Retirement and Appointment of President

My hope is that “The House Jack Built” will go back to Jack’s vision and treat their customers with respect and courtesy.

And do not keep customers without online access to their own accounts for an extended period of time.
by HueyLD
Tue Feb 27, 2024 8:36 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What to buy if you had 0% capital gains tax?
Replies: 13
Views: 1552

Re: What to buy if you had 0% capital gains tax?

How about taxes you have to pay to PR?
by HueyLD
Sat Feb 24, 2024 7:37 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Buying CDs - Really this easy?
Replies: 23
Views: 3481

Re: Buying CDs - Really this easy?

Unless you have “margin” on your Fido accounts, you need to have enough money in your cash account for the purchase.
by HueyLD
Thu Feb 22, 2024 1:07 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Treasury Direct - Gift Box Question
Replies: 4
Views: 609

Re: Treasury Direct - Gift Box Question

JBTX wrote: Thu Feb 22, 2024 12:14 pm To piggy back on this question, I didn’t know this and in 2023 and this year gifted $10k but left the interest in the gift box. Is it too late to gift the interest and not interfere with the $10k limit for 2024?
I think you may want to call TD for this one. It is so unusual that a direct call to the source may be warranted.
by HueyLD
Thu Feb 22, 2024 11:18 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: received two corrected 1099 NECs
Replies: 8
Views: 649

Re: received two corrected 1099 NECs

To file a corrected 1099-NEC, an associated form 1096 also has to be filed and form 1096 is dated.
by HueyLD
Thu Feb 22, 2024 10:49 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: I Bonds Mega Thread (I Bond Heads Rejoice!)
Replies: 6651
Views: 1202723

Re: I Bonds Mega Thread (I Bond Heads Rejoice!)

Two business days. Weekends and holidays are not business days.
by HueyLD
Thu Feb 22, 2024 10:14 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: I Bonds Mega Thread (I Bond Heads Rejoice!)
Replies: 6651
Views: 1202723

Re: I Bonds Mega Thread (I Bond Heads Rejoice!)

Wait until 3/1/2024. So that you will earn one extra month of interest.
by HueyLD
Thu Feb 22, 2024 10:00 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Can't Log On to Vanguard / Stop running script msg
Replies: 129
Views: 12985

Re: Can't Log On to Vanguard / Stop running script msg

Of course no place is going to be perfect. Problems arise in the normal course of business and a company wanting to keep their customers addresses the problems in a reasonable timeframe. Vanguard appears to not care about small investors.
by HueyLD
Thu Feb 22, 2024 9:34 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Can't Log On to Vanguard / Stop running script msg
Replies: 129
Views: 12985

Re: Can't Log On to Vanguard / Stop running script msg

For someone not in AAPL tribe, it means that one will have to spend some money in order to access Vanguard? Goodness!!
by HueyLD
Thu Feb 22, 2024 8:07 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Can't Log On to Vanguard / Stop running script msg
Replies: 129
Views: 12985

Re: Can't Log On to Vanguard / Stop running script msg

rkhusky wrote: Thu Feb 22, 2024 7:58 am Anybody that lost cell service this morning ready to switch carriers?
For a short time, no.

For as long as VG has disallowed access, yes!

Most importantly, the dollar amount at stake is exponentially bigger at Vanguard.
by HueyLD
Thu Feb 22, 2024 7:47 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Treasury Direct - Gift Box Question
Replies: 4
Views: 609

Re: Treasury Direct - Gift Box Question

FootballFan5548 wrote: Thu Feb 22, 2024 7:33 am I set up a gift box account for my wife and contributed $10,000 during the course of last year. I know I can't transfer/gift more than 10k to her per year. She doesn't buy Ibonds on her own.

The original $10k I gifted now has some interest associated with it and is around $10,500 in value. Can I transfer/gift the full amount to her, with the interest which is over 10k, or do I need to break it into two years since with the interest it's greater than 10k total.

Does the question make sense?
TD maintains original principal separately from the interest earned. As long as you don’t transfer more than $10k in original principal, there is no problem with any amount of associated interest.
by HueyLD
Thu Feb 22, 2024 7:23 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Family instructions re: Medicare
Replies: 1
Views: 281

Re: Family instructions re: Medicare

Report the death of a Social Security or Medicare beneficiary: https://www.usa.gov/social-security-report-a-death “ The SSA handles death reports for both Social Security and Medicare recipients. To report a death, you can do one of the following: Provide the deceased person's Social Security number to the funeral director so they can report the death to the SSA. Look up and contact your local Social Security office. Or call the SSA's main number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to make the report. SSA only accepts reports of death by phone or in person. They do not accept reports by email or online. If you report the death to SSA yourself instead of through a funeral director, you may do so without the deceased person’s death certifi...
by HueyLD
Thu Feb 22, 2024 7:18 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Can't Log On to Vanguard / Stop running script msg
Replies: 129
Views: 12985

Re: Can't Log On to Vanguard / Stop running script msg

Yes, Mortimer Buckley must have received a ton of emails/snail mails complaining about Vanguard not allowing their customers account access. However, nothing has been done except pointing fingers at their customers.

Since they don’t value a small investor like me with less than $100M there, I have to do what’s best for myself, not to just hang around for the sake of blind loyalty to The House Jack Built.
by HueyLD
Wed Feb 21, 2024 8:41 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Can't Log On to Vanguard / Stop running script msg
Replies: 129
Views: 12985

Re: Can't Log On to Vanguard / Stop running script msg

I was having this same problem. Could not log in on my desktops. But could log in on the VG app on my cellphone. Also, I could log in using the Chrome app on my cell. Here is how I was able to remedy not being able to log in on my desktops. I logged in through the Chrome app on my cell. Click the 3 horizontal bars in the upper left corner. Scroll down and click Profile and account settings. Scroll down to where it says quick links. Click the 3 dots to the right of it. Then click security. Then click security code. Here find the frequency button that says "every time I log on" and click it. Now, when you go back to your desktop to log in you should be good. After your username and password are entered click the sign in button. Nex...
by HueyLD
Tue Feb 20, 2024 8:09 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Can't Log On to Vanguard / Stop running script msg
Replies: 129
Views: 12985

Re: Can't Log On to Vanguard / Stop running script msg

I don’t think Vanguard management cares about servicing customers at all. How can VG top management not consider it a high priority to fix customers inability to access VG accounts? If they don’t want to service us, they should just say so and we will be more than happy to go elsewhere. It is so sad for a loyal and very long term customer like me to want to leave Vanguard. But I am not willing to have no access to a big part of my money, nor do I want to wait hours to talk to a CSR on the phone so that I can perform a simple transaction on my account. Thank goodness I have accounts outside of Vanguard and can still access my money for food and shelter. If I had to wait for Vanguard to fix access problem, I would have already starved to deat...
by HueyLD
Tue Feb 20, 2024 4:45 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Can't Log On to Vanguard / Stop running script msg
Replies: 129
Views: 12985

Cannot log into Vanguard

Am I the only customer who kept getting the message of "You can't log in using a script" and I have cleared the cookies in MS Edge and FireFox.

Talked to a VG customer service but she could not fix the access problem after telling me to clear the cookies.

HELP. How are we supposed to do anything since we no longer receive paper statements from VG?

VERY FRUSTRATING!
by HueyLD
Mon Feb 19, 2024 9:11 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: VFWAX: 2023 1099-DIV reconciliation "increase to cost basis". what does this mean, exactly?
Replies: 30
Views: 4635

Re: VFWAX: 2023 1099-DIV reconciliation "increase to cost basis". what does this mean, exactly?

livesoft wrote: Sun Feb 18, 2024 6:44 pm I own VEU the ETF share class of VFWAX. I didn't see any hint of "increase to cost basis" in any of my tax documents for my VEU shares.
Fidelity 1099 supplemental section shows “addition to basis” for VEU.
by HueyLD
Sun Feb 18, 2024 8:55 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How to get my road paved
Replies: 77
Views: 5861

Re: How to get my road paved

Try to get elected to the city board.

In my area, board members have roads to their neighborhood well maintained and paved.
by HueyLD
Thu Feb 15, 2024 2:49 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Qualified eduction expenses for Lifetime Learning Credit?
Replies: 9
Views: 878

Re: Qualified eduction expenses for Lifetime Learning Credit?

It is a nonrefundable credit, meaning that your LLC is limited to your tax liability.

So, do you have any tax liability?
by HueyLD
Wed Feb 14, 2024 6:04 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Low-cost provider that's not Vanguard?
Replies: 47
Views: 3920

Re: Low-cost provider that's not Vanguard?

tomcam wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2024 5:29 pm
jebmke wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2024 5:22 pm Why would Vanguard vanish? Seems like the premise would be important inasmuch as the same premise might affect the other guy.
I... I don't know. One doesn't question a Chinese wife if one loves life.
You are so wise. She is very rational and appears to understand the risk of concentration.

Vanguard may or may not go belly up, but its website can crash and it may take hours before someone answers your phone call.

As others suggested, Fidelity and Schwab can be good choices for brokerage diversification.
by HueyLD
Tue Feb 13, 2024 8:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Swimwear for Tucson in March
Replies: 8
Views: 1157

Re: Swimwear for Tucson in March

We will visiting Tucson next month. I like to go swimming if at all possible. The place we're staying has a pool, but I don't know if it's heated. What I do know is that the average temperature for Tucson in March is the low 60s. That's sounds kind of chilly for swimming, but I'm wondering if there is some kind of swim shirt that offers a little insulation, but short of a full-blown wetsuit. I've looked around online, but so far haven't found anything. Any input or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. I suggest that you call the hotel and ask if their pool is heated during March. Even though the average high temps will be in the 70’s in March, it can be warmer than you think because the sun will be very intense. Cover up to...
by HueyLD
Mon Feb 12, 2024 2:02 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Using Treasury Direct
Replies: 12
Views: 2269

Re: Using Treasury Direct

I have an I-Bond which I purchased in August 2022. All the information is in Treasury Direct. Because of the way I report savings bond interest on my taxes, I need to know what the value of this bond was on December 31, 2023. Incredibly, I don't seem to be able to find that information on the site. I can see the original purchase price - $10,000 - and I can see the current value - $10,912 - but I can't see what the value was on December 31st nor is there - apparently - any history showing the interest that was added every six months or what the amounts were. If I had been thinking straight, I would have just looked it up on 12/31/2023 but I didn't think of it. Aside from making a spreadsheet and trying to recreate the steps of them applyin...
by HueyLD
Mon Feb 12, 2024 12:38 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Adding improvements to home basis that you didn't pay for
Replies: 2
Views: 381

Re: Adding improvements to home basis that you didn't pay for

When did her husband die? She can still claim $500k exclusion on home sale within two years of his death.

And yes the improvements paid by her late husband can be added to her basis.
by HueyLD
Mon Feb 12, 2024 12:06 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Trading Treasuries (nominal and TIPS)
Replies: 4107
Views: 455475

Re: Trading Treasuries (nominal and TIPS)

gavinsiu wrote: Mon Feb 12, 2024 11:23 am I just made my first trade on 3/28/2024 maturity date. The other 2 Tbill I view earlier are no longer available. I supposed if there were issues, the money would only be tied up until 3/28. How often do new bonds show up? Thanks!
https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/ ... hedule.pdf for upcoming treasury auctions.
by HueyLD
Mon Feb 12, 2024 8:07 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Arizona tax payers using QCD
Replies: 9
Views: 1104

Re: Arizona tax payers using QCD

Almost there wrote: Sun Feb 11, 2024 7:45 pm My federal income taxes are reduced because I had a QCD issued for $300 in 2023 for a valid 501c3 charity.

Can I use that same $300 for the same charity as an Arizona tax deduction also?
See this IRS instructions.

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/final-regu ... ax-credits
by HueyLD
Sun Feb 11, 2024 12:47 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Fidelity showing T-Bills as Capital Gains
Replies: 45
Views: 7260

Re: Fidelity showing T-Bills as Capital Gains

Fidelity reports your gains correctly on 1099-B.

See Form 8949 Instructions page 11 for adjustments needed to transfer appropriate amount to interest income.

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i8949.pdf
by HueyLD
Fri Feb 09, 2024 2:00 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: TurboTax not doing form 5695 (Residential Energy Credits) properly?
Replies: 4
Views: 752

Re: TurboTax not doing form 5695 (Residential Energy Credits) properly?

I installed a heat pump system (mini-split) at our vacation home last summer. I understood that I would be able to claim a Residential Energy Credit) for this. The form 5695 has a credit for Residential Energy Property Expenditures (lines 21 through 29), which does not require that the the energy property expenditure take place at your primary home - it only asks if the home located in the United States. But TurboTax in the interview process asks if the energy expenditure was at your main home. When I answer no, it says I am not eligible for the credit. If I override the cell on line 32 of form 5695 it says I can't file electronically. Anyone else run into this and have a solution? This form is somewhat complicated as some improvements are...
by HueyLD
Fri Feb 09, 2024 9:23 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Fidelity free Turbotax 2023
Replies: 435
Views: 154020

Re: Fidelity free Turbotax 2023

Leif wrote: Thu Feb 08, 2024 11:34 pm This afternoon I saw an offer for a free download of Turbotax Premium on the Fidelity main page. This evening it is gone. I wonder what is happening?

P.S. Just talked with Fidelity. They could not explain why I saw the offer, but insist that they cannot offer me a free TurboTax download. I need 120 trades/year, they tell me.
Whoever told you about 120 trades lied.
by HueyLD
Thu Feb 08, 2024 6:45 am
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: "Retired" Life Stage Virtual Chapter "Master Thread"
Replies: 130
Views: 53178

Re: "Retired" Life Stage Virtual Chapter "Master Thread"

dcabler wrote: Thu Feb 08, 2024 4:51 am
sleepysurf wrote: Wed Feb 07, 2024 8:05 am Bumping this as a reminder for tonight's meeting, following up on various Retirement topics from the BH Annual Conference panel discussion. Full details and Zoom link in post above.
Was the meeting recorded?
LadyGeek said last night that the meeting was recorded and will be published after personal identifying info is stripped out.
by HueyLD
Wed Feb 07, 2024 5:51 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Move from Washington to Oregon: financial preparations
Replies: 17
Views: 2658

Re: Move from Washington to Oregon: financial preparations

Kookaburra wrote: Mon Dec 19, 2022 5:24 pm At present we don’t have an estate plan, but we have accumulated significant assets in our joint taxable brokerage account. We would like to preserve the community property status of these assets once we move.
Oregon has adopted the Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act (the “Act”). The Act preserves each spouse’s rights in property that was community property before the move to a non-community property state, unless the married couple severed or altered their community property rights.

https://taxation.osbar.org/2019/08/15/p ... -property/
by HueyLD
Sat Feb 03, 2024 8:30 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to Deal With Error on Form 1099-R For SPIA
Replies: 20
Views: 1221

Re: How to Deal With Error on Form 1099-R For SPIA

The OP needs to call AIG for an explanation.

The amount shown in box 5 is for part of the premium paid that is recovered tax free for year 2023. This amount can change, especially for inflation adjusted nonqualified annuities.

Only AIG can answer your question.
by HueyLD
Fri Feb 02, 2024 6:16 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: VFWAX: 2023 1099-DIV reconciliation "increase to cost basis". what does this mean, exactly?
Replies: 30
Views: 4635

Re: VFWAX: 2023 1099-DIV reconciliation "increase to cost basis". what does this mean, exactly?

I have noticed such a small reconciling number every year on VFWAX between the statement value and the 1099 value.

I am not aware of another fund, domestic or international, where such a small difference exists.

Since the adjustments are so small and immaterial, just consider it a rounding error and let it go.
by HueyLD
Fri Feb 02, 2024 1:38 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: VFWAX: 2023 1099-DIV reconciliation "increase to cost basis". what does this mean, exactly?
Replies: 30
Views: 4635

Re: VFWAX: 2023 1099-DIV reconciliation "increase to cost basis". what does this mean, exactly?

Around this time every year, I reconcile my personal spreadsheet and the various tax forms I receive (W4, 1099s, etc) before I start doing my taxes. I usually turn up a typographical error or two (almost always on my part: the $6 discrepancy was because I typed a 7 instead of 1, for example). This year, there was a small difference between what I recorded for dividend distributions from VFWAX (Vanguard FTSE All-World Ex-US Admiral). When I look at the Vanguard 1099-DIV, there is a section on "Other Receipts and Reconciliations", where the 4 dividend dates of VFWAX are listed with a transaction type of "Increase to cost basis". Does anyone know what this means, exactly? I did not get any additional shares for this (small...
by HueyLD
Fri Feb 02, 2024 10:12 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Vanguard Mutual Fund 1099-DIV Not Available
Replies: 8
Views: 689

Vanguard Mutual Fund 1099-DIV Not Available

I attempted to download VG 1099-DIV for my legacy mutual fund accounts without success. TurboTax keeps coming back with the message that the form cannot be found.

Well, the form is definitely there and I have already printed that pdf file. And a call to VG acct rep was totally useless because he claimed that it was not Vanguard's problem.

Does anyone else who converted during year 2023 have trouble downloading the MF 1099-DIV into TurboTax?

I know I can manually enter the numbers, but it is unfortunate for VG not allowing MF 1099-DIV to be downloaded into a tax software.

p.s. I had no trouble downloading the brokerage 1099 into TT.
by HueyLD
Thu Feb 01, 2024 7:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Annuity and RMDs
Replies: 3
Views: 708

Re: Annuity and RMDs

Phonam wrote: Thu Feb 01, 2024 6:04 pm I need help to make an adequacy decision.
Are annuity payments from an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) count toward the Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) once you reach 73 year of age, the age when RMDs are required?
If yes, then how are they calculating?
SECURE 2.0 Act states that beginning in 2023, you can combine the value of both annuitized and non-annuitized IRA accounts and calculate your total RMD based on your life expectancy. Then, subtract the annual annuity payments from the total RMD. This change can result in significantly reduced RMDs.

However, obtaining a proper valuation of the annuity from the insurance company can be a challenge. Until IRS guidance is available, taking advantage of this rule might be tricky.
by HueyLD
Wed Jan 31, 2024 2:32 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Cash offer on home needing proof of funds
Replies: 39
Views: 3333

Re: Cash offer on home needing proof of funds

ElBarto wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2024 2:17 pm We have put in a cash offer on a home and the agent is asking for proof of funds. She said, get my financial advisor to write something. Being a good boglehead we do not use a financial advisor. What do we do? Do we send a brokerage account statement redacting the account number? I don't particularly like that idea because I don't want the sellers to know just how much money we have and that we could afford to pay more than we are actually offering on the house.

Can anyone offer advise?
Who is your broker? Vanguard, Fidelity, Schwab or someone else?

I think Fidelity and Schwab will be willing to provide a letter showing that your account balance is at least as much as the home price.
by HueyLD
Tue Jan 30, 2024 6:38 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Auto Insurance Increases in CA with Amica
Replies: 127
Views: 14802

Re: Auto Insurance Increases in CA with Amica

I have had insurance for my home, auto, etc. since the inflationary 70’s and has never experienced such crazy premium increases. I believe that the insurance industry just wants to squeeze the last drop of blood out of their customers. At his rate, more and more people may either opt out of having insurance or substantially cut back their insurance coverage. I don’t live in CA and my state is not known for natural disasters. However, premiums for homes, auto, etc. have also increased by 30-45% and companies seem to be in some sort of price fixing scheme together. On the Nextdoor.com website, many neighbors posted their premium increases and expressed their intention of either dropping or cutting back on their insurance. I guess it may get t...
by HueyLD
Mon Jan 29, 2024 7:13 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How has your Health Changed after Retirement; What are you doing to Stay Healthy?
Replies: 100
Views: 10092

Re: How has your Health Changed after Retirement; What are you doing to Stay Healthy?

Eat right and exercise for physical fitness.

Have a positive attitude and be optimistic for mental health.