Search found 699 matches

by SurferLife
Mon Mar 18, 2024 3:29 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Roth Conversion for TSP
Replies: 15
Views: 1164

Re: Roth Conversion for TSP

I'm in the process of doing this right now, but I had to move ALL my TSP traditional balance first because I had some tax-free combat zone pay I needed to extract. I was reminded that I needed to move most of it back to TSP by the end of 2024 because if I have a balance in my tIRA at year-end, then I'll have to deal with the pro-rata rule. Something to consider. I'd only move over the exact amount you want to convert every year. When I have done my Roth conversions from tsp to my vanguard Roth IRA the tsp sent me a separate check with the % / portion that was a tax free combat zone pay. Yes, they did that for me as well, but I had to zero-out my traditional TSP balance to get the full balance of combat pay sent to me at once, so I had them...
by SurferLife
Mon Mar 18, 2024 3:17 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Roth Conversion for TSP
Replies: 15
Views: 1164

Re: Roth Conversion for TSP

I'm in the process of doing this right now, but I had to move ALL my TSP traditional balance first because I had some tax-free combat zone pay I needed to extract. I was reminded that I needed to move most of it back to TSP by the end of 2024 because if I have a balance in my tIRA at year-end, then I'll have to deal with the pro-rata rule. Something to consider. I'd only move over the exact amount you want to convert every year.
by SurferLife
Thu Mar 14, 2024 3:08 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Quantify the Value of Military Retirement - Methodology Questions
Replies: 113
Views: 9717

Re: Quantify the Value of Military Retirement - Methodology Questions

The nice thing about reaching retirement is that you can go right into a high paying contractor job while receiving retirement pay. The most money I ever made was those 3 years after I retired.
by SurferLife
Wed Mar 13, 2024 10:22 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Quantify the Value of Military Retirement - Methodology Questions
Replies: 113
Views: 9717

Re: Quantify the Value of Military Retirement - Methodology Questions

I valued my military pension with an annuity calculator, and was shocked at how high it was. I appreciate the COLA adjustments as well, and in the 4 years since I retired, my pension increased $1500, so that's just shocking to me. While I was in I also greatly undervalued the potential for VA disability payments, and that has had an ENORMOUS and positive impact on our family; the longer you stay in, theoretically the higher that VA payment will be since few of us get healthier as we get older. I know that once I retired, I was then considered for "senior" contractor positions as opposed to regular or junior positions, and some contractor positions require that you previously held an active duty rank. I took a position that paid 20...
by SurferLife
Tue Mar 12, 2024 1:22 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Want to leave the California bay area. Where to live?
Replies: 63
Views: 5615

Re: Want to leave the California bay area. Where to live?

trojans10 wrote: Sun Mar 10, 2024 10:43 pm [Moved into a new thread from: Is Calif Really That Expensive - Or Am I Missing Something? --admin LadyGeek]

Not to take things off-topic but - if you were mid 30's with 200k income and wanted to leave the bay area - where would you live? The climate in the SF bay area is almost incomparable to any where in the world. Thoughts?
We chose the big island in Hawaii. The weather here is dependent upon your elevation, but I absolutely love only having to use a sweatshirt and a light rain jacket. I wore shoes last week for the first time in 2 months, otherwise it's 'slippahs' all the time.

I'm rural and just had my fiber line installed today, so there's great connectivity options for remote work.
by SurferLife
Sun Mar 10, 2024 7:14 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Any Azul Wells fans here?
Replies: 9
Views: 1092

Re: Any Azul Wells fans here?

I've only recently been watching a few Azul videos. I guess it's nice in that it kind of lines up with my beliefs, and he has a good message on retiring early, but I do find them repetitive and non-actionable (at least for me). I listen to him and say to myself that I'm glad I had a plan to get us where we're at. I do tend to zone-out when listening to him and wonder if I heard anything important. Often, his videos can be distracting because he does change up where he films, and no all environments are good for recording.
by SurferLife
Fri Mar 08, 2024 2:36 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: sauna or hot tub, which to get and why?
Replies: 51
Views: 4428

Re: sauna or hot tub, which to get and why?

For health reasons, it’s sauna everyday. There’s a multitude of research that shows enormous benefits that are easy to find on pubmed.

I remember my father having a hot tub and while it was enjoyable, it was a pain to maintain. I have a sauna now and after having had one for the last 4 years, I’ll never go without one again.

Our sauna came in really handy when we had a toxic exposure event and we conducted a sauna detox protocol. It really helped our family out A LOT.
by SurferLife
Thu Mar 07, 2024 12:18 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Taking Social Security Disability Temporarily
Replies: 14
Views: 959

Re: Taking Social Security Disability Temporarily

...So, when it comes to applying for disability, does one simply apply online or is it wise to use an attorney? There is likely little value gained with an attorney until the claim has been denied. The medical application process is relatively simple, just names and addresses of doctors and dates of treatment/evaluation and some questions about how the disability impacts you and limits your ability to work. The medical evaluators are primarily interested in medical records. Since attorney fees are often related to the amount of retroactive benefits awarded it is believed by some people that an attorney has no financial incentive to get benefits awarded quickly, they make more money the longer the case takes to progress through the appeals ...
by SurferLife
Thu Mar 07, 2024 1:29 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Taking Social Security Disability Temporarily
Replies: 14
Views: 959

Re: Taking Social Security Disability Temporarily

...So, when it comes to applying for disability, does one simply apply online or is it wise to use an attorney? There is likely little value gained with an attorney until the claim has been denied. The medical application process is relatively simple, just names and addresses of doctors and dates of treatment/evaluation and some questions about how the disability impacts you and limits your ability to work. The medical evaluators are primarily interested in medical records. Since attorney fees are often related to the amount of retroactive benefits awarded it is believed by some people that an attorney has no financial incentive to get benefits awarded quickly, they make more money the longer the case takes to progress through the appeals ...
by SurferLife
Thu Mar 07, 2024 12:11 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Taking Social Security Disability Temporarily
Replies: 14
Views: 959

Re: Taking Social Security Disability Temporarily

If you are eligible for disability benefits those benefits would automatically convert to retirement benefits at your FRA. Delayed retirement credits are applied for any month from your FRA that you are not paid a benefit for. So you could receive disability benefits up until your first potential month of retirement benefits (your FRA). You could request that SSA suspend payment of your retirement benefits and earn DRCs for each month till age 70. At age 70 you could request that the benefit payments be resumed. You would be billed for Medicare Part B premiums during the period benefit payments were suspended. Whether it is a good idea to suspend benefits for the sake of earning DRCs is a very individual decision. If an individual was prev...
by SurferLife
Wed Mar 06, 2024 11:38 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Taking Social Security Disability Temporarily
Replies: 14
Views: 959

Re: Taking Social Security Disability Temporarily

Valjean wrote: Wed Mar 06, 2024 11:34 pm Seems to me that one way to think about it is that if there was a penalty for going back to work after a period of disability, it would be a disincentive to going back to work at all. That would be terrible from a public policy perspective.
Yeah, that's true. I had considered that as well but I don't know much about social security other than what I can see on my account. It would seem like there's no downside to applying for disability, as long as you don't mind having zeros for future earnings, which we don't.
by SurferLife
Wed Mar 06, 2024 11:18 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Taking Social Security Disability Temporarily
Replies: 14
Views: 959

Re: Taking Social Security Disability Temporarily

You are not disadvantaged if you are eligible for Social Security disability benefits. The period in which you are eligible for disability is not used in the calculation of any future retirement benefits, that is why when individuals who receive disability benefits attain FRA they are transitioned to retirement benefits with no change in the benefit amount. An individual who has one, or more, periods of eligibility has those periods of disability dropped from the calculation of future retirement benefits. A person who medically recovers, or who demonstrates by their return to substantial work that they are no longer disabled, will have their period of disability ended and the future calculation of retirement benefits will be adjust accordi...
by SurferLife
Wed Mar 06, 2024 9:49 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Taking Social Security Disability Temporarily
Replies: 14
Views: 959

Re: Taking Social Security Disability Temporarily

Thank you for your input. I'm 52 and am already past the second bend point, so any future earnings at this point have minimal impact. If you have a social security online account, you can change some of the assumptions on future earnings to see the impact on your future benefits. I am not sure you can stop and restart using social security’s tool on the main account screen but I think there’s a tool that you can post your yearly earnings into and get more granular. I will say that when I was looking into retirement, the impact of zeroing out future earnings in my situation was minimal. I had 35 years of “career” / full time job post college earnings, so the impact of retiring at 58-1/2 instead of FRA was only decreased my PIA by $100/mo. I...
by SurferLife
Wed Mar 06, 2024 9:14 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Taking Social Security Disability Temporarily
Replies: 14
Views: 959

Re: Taking Social Security Disability Temporarily

The primary impact is that you will not receive benefit credits while you are on disability, so this would potentially impact being able to earn the 35 years of credits to avoid zeros in your benefit calculation as well as potentially limit your lifetime earnings. The positive news is that social security benefit calculations put a greater weight on lower earnings amount than higher, commonly referred to as bend points. It’s quite complex but here is an explanation of how the benefit is calculated: https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/Benefits.html#:~:text=Social%20Security%20benefits%20are%20typically,are%20paid%20to%20an%20individual. Thank you for your input. I'm 52 and am already past the second bend point, so any future earnings at this poin...
by SurferLife
Wed Mar 06, 2024 9:02 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Taking Social Security Disability Temporarily
Replies: 14
Views: 959

Taking Social Security Disability Temporarily

I've tried to google my question, but have been unable to find an answer, though I'm sure I'm just not wording it correctly. Any help is appreciated.

I'm in a situation where I'm medically unable to work, though I'm hoping that in a few years my issues will resolve. What I can't find an answer to is, if I claim social security disability and then in a few years I'm able to come off of it, how does that affect future benefits for me and my wife when she survives me? I do currently qualify for benefits.
by SurferLife
Fri Mar 01, 2024 4:01 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Mini Excavator Question: CAT vs Kubota
Replies: 25
Views: 2651

Re: Mini Excavator Question: CAT vs Kubota

We are going to chip the trees. We’ll also fill holes around the property and move around a lot of dirt. I have an island on the property so that will be modified as well. Lots of fun excavator If you're concerned about the fuel needs for a 43 hp mini excavator, then brace yourself for the chipper. A 24 hp chipper will likely have a 6x6 throat and comfortably chip about a 4" diameter branch, tops. You're looking at a minimum of 250 hp for a whole tree chipper. What is the plan for the roots? Roots are big and heavy, they're caked with dirt and rocks, and will destroy the blades on a chipper. I'm not asking questions to be critical, but to make you aware of the complexity and scale of this project. By the way, mini excavators are not a...
by SurferLife
Fri Mar 01, 2024 12:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Mini Excavator Question: CAT vs Kubota
Replies: 25
Views: 2651

Re: Mini Excavator Question: CAT vs Kubota

We are going to chip the trees. We’ll also fill holes around the property and move around a lot of dirt. I have an island on the property so that will be modified as well. Lots of fun excavator If you're concerned about the fuel needs for a 43 hp mini excavator, then brace yourself for the chipper. A 24 hp chipper will likely have a 6x6 throat and comfortably chip about a 4" diameter branch, tops. You're looking at a minimum of 250 hp for a whole tree chipper. What is the plan for the roots? Roots are big and heavy, they're caked with dirt and rocks, and will destroy the blades on a chipper. I'm not asking questions to be critical, but to make you aware of the complexity and scale of this project. By the way, mini excavators are not a...
by SurferLife
Fri Mar 01, 2024 10:36 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Mini Excavator Question: CAT vs Kubota
Replies: 25
Views: 2651

Re: Mini Excavator Question: CAT vs Kubota

I should also state that the 305.5 has a horsepower of about 24, while the next step up in excavator goes up significantly, 43 hp. With that step up in HP comes a doubling of diesel fuel operating costs, so that is a concern as well. The reason you see a lot of machines clustered just under 25 hp is because that's the threshold for needing advanced pollution control equipment on a diesel engine. There's a step function in capability after that point because it makes no sense to add just a few horsepower when you have to add a lot of extra complexity to satisfy regulations. Just for some perspective, here's the excavator the site crew uses on my land to clear trees (and they're just doing paths and surgical removal for structures, not clear...
by SurferLife
Thu Feb 29, 2024 5:35 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Mini Excavator Question: CAT vs Kubota
Replies: 25
Views: 2651

Re: Mini Excavator Question: CAT vs Kubota

I should also state that the 305.5 has a horsepower of about 24, while the next step up in excavator goes up significantly, 43 hp. With that step up in HP comes a doubling of diesel fuel operating costs, so that is a concern as well.
by SurferLife
Thu Feb 29, 2024 5:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Mini Excavator Question: CAT vs Kubota
Replies: 25
Views: 2651

Re: Mini Excavator Question: CAT vs Kubota

I've never operated a mini excavator by the way. .... We are removing 8 acres of trees and need to do earth works and remove concrete structures. This is way out of my area of expertise but you may be getting in over your head. It was a different situation but my son rented a small backhoe from a big box hardware store for some work in his yard. He got it stuck in the mud so bad that he had to call a tow truck to get it out. He got lucky and the tow truck driver had actually been a heavy equipment operator and thought that he could drive it out of the mud, no luck with that or the tow truck. In the end I think it took two tow trucks to get it out. Tipping it over is also a risk. The prior suggestion of renting similar equipment before you ...
by SurferLife
Thu Feb 29, 2024 5:23 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Mini Excavator Question: CAT vs Kubota
Replies: 25
Views: 2651

Re: Mini Excavator Question: CAT vs Kubota

You mention you're on an island so perhaps the availability of used isn't great. For what you're talking about doing, I'd seriously consider going used and possibly doing a large tractor with a bucket and rear mounted excavator. I looked at prices of a new 35-4 and only looked at one online and it was $54k. Locally, there was a used tractor with the bucket and excavator mentioned. It was from the 80's and either a Deere or Cat and they were looking for $10k for it. Much bigger than the 35-4. I'm another Kubota owner but just a little compact tractor with a bucket. They aren't rocket science built things. Quite simple, really. I'd think something old and used but really big would still be serviceable and do way more than that little 35-4 wo...
by SurferLife
Thu Feb 29, 2024 5:21 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Mini Excavator Question: CAT vs Kubota
Replies: 25
Views: 2651

Re: Mini Excavator Question: CAT vs Kubota

NCPE wrote: Thu Feb 29, 2024 4:04 pm As said above unless you have 8 acres of very small sapling size trees to remove the machines you are looking at are going to be undersized.

I highly recommend that you rent a mini ex the size you are looking at and try it for a few days to see if it can handle the tasks you are wanting to do before shelling out the $$$.
That's not a terrible idea, I'll think about it. Our friend said that that size would get most of what we're looking at. For the big big stuff, we could hire him. To go up to the size that would get everything, it'd be an extra 40k or so, so that seems unnecessary if we can hire him out for some things.
by SurferLife
Thu Feb 29, 2024 10:08 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Mini Excavator Question: CAT vs Kubota
Replies: 25
Views: 2651

Re: Mini Excavator Question: CAT vs Kubota

I can only comment on the Kubota. The company I manage purchased one a few years ago. (forget the model, but can find out if it helps). We've had nothing put problems out of it. Issue with the fuel pick-up or pump which wouldn't allow it to draw fuel once it reached half-tank. The grabber/thumb leaks off to the point of needed to be chained to the boom when not using it; Kubota says it's within spec. Numerous other small issues. Kubota is usually solid equipment. I personally own a Kubota tractor and love it, but all things being equal, I'd go with CAT. We have several of their LARGE generators and all have been stellar. CAT will cost a little more up front, but that's the way I'd go. Thank you. Sorry to hear about your kubota, that sounds...
by SurferLife
Wed Feb 28, 2024 9:35 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Mini Excavator Question: CAT vs Kubota
Replies: 25
Views: 2651

Re: Mini Excavator Question: CAT vs Kubota

Are you buying new or used? I think you should price out your local options as it isn't like everything in the catalog is always available, and the used market may be more limited...you may find a used deal there that is perfectly acceptable for that period of use. Also, having never operated one before, can you help us understand your use case? How many hours are you planning on putting on the machine for such a defined period of time? Buying new, and I've spoken to both salesmen. I'm not questioning if I need one, I absolutely do, it's the right tool for the work we are doing. We are removing 8 acres of trees and need to do earth works and remove concrete structures. Not sure how many hours we'll be putting on it, but for sure, a good 3 ...
by SurferLife
Wed Feb 28, 2024 8:58 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Mini Excavator Question: CAT vs Kubota
Replies: 25
Views: 2651

Mini Excavator Question: CAT vs Kubota

We are looking at a very large purchase in buying a mini excavator and were wondering if the benefits of going with a CAT are better than going with a Kubota. My neighbor who operates heavy machinery for a living has mentioned that we will pay a little more going with a CAT, because it is designed to take more abuse and will last longer, and as a result, has a higher resale value for when we do sell it in 3yrs or so. We are limited to those 2 brands because of the availability of service here on our island. I don't have the actual numbers in-hand, but from my recollection, the CAT was not so much more that I was shocked, it's doable, and if it has a higher resale value, then yeah, buying the CAT would be the better deal in the end. I have s...
by SurferLife
Fri Feb 23, 2024 7:22 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: FIRE vs Loving your work
Replies: 101
Views: 8364

Re: FIRE vs Loving your work

I think some people keep doing their job because they see it as a service to humanity and it helps others. Doctors might fall into this category. Last night I watched a documentary on the spacecraft Voyager, and there are now 11 folks who have been working that program for decades, and their experience is critical to keep that spacecraft flying and collecting information for science. Granted, that might be unique, but I think there are plenty of other jobs like it out there. I did not particularly enjoy my job in the military, but it wasn't awful. The military life sure is unique and I did enjoy that part, but it was always an avenue to get me to FIRE, and it was "good enough". I didn't have the luxury in my youth to pursue and ev...
by SurferLife
Mon Feb 19, 2024 11:51 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Prague Recommendations
Replies: 14
Views: 1340

Re: Prague Recommendations

We love Prague, it's such a great place. Like others said, do the public transport, it's really the best way to get around.

One thing I remember fondly was the black light theater; I've never seen that before anywhere else. At the time there were two theater companies that did that and one was okay while the other was simply great, but I can't remember which one was better. Not sure if it's still being done, but it was cool at the time and was a nice change from seeing another castle and old building which you see all over Europe....
by SurferLife
Sun Feb 11, 2024 3:14 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Supermarket pizza - any good ones? Any great ones?
Replies: 145
Views: 12483

Re: Supermarket pizza - any good ones? Any great ones?

jebmke wrote: Sun Feb 11, 2024 11:48 am Not for today but if you have a grill, they work well for pizza. I haven't done a pizza in the oven in many years. Always on the grill. We make our own dough but a pre-made dough should work also.
Do you use a pizza stone or do you just put it directly on the rack?
by SurferLife
Sun Feb 11, 2024 3:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Supermarket pizza - any good ones? Any great ones?
Replies: 145
Views: 12483

Re: Supermarket pizza - any good ones? Any great ones?

We buy the Freshsetta gluten free pepperoni pizzas and then put our own toppings on them. It’s not great, but very good. As for gluten free frozen pizza, I would say it’s the best available. I think you can really improve any grocery store frozen pizza by adding your own toppings.
by SurferLife
Sun Feb 11, 2024 12:23 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is it foolish to keep driving my old car?
Replies: 138
Views: 12253

Re: Is it foolish to keep driving my old car?

A few years ago I found myself in a very similar situation. I got tired of the maintenance of my 200k+ miles Toyota 4Runner, so I went out and bought a 4yr old 4Runner with 60k miles. What a great decision that was. The car is not only nicer and more comfortable, but I get all the time back that I was putting towards maintenance. I’d never recommend anyone buy a new car as it’s not a wise money move, though I will concede that there are probably a few exceptions to that.
by SurferLife
Sat Feb 10, 2024 1:18 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Furniture - It's glued, right?
Replies: 91
Views: 7542

Re: Furniture - It's glued, right?

Is removing the doors and drawers and then passing it through a window not possible? If it's a sliding window, sometimes you can remove both panes to double the opening.
by SurferLife
Fri Feb 09, 2024 12:26 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: 4runner vs. Highlander?
Replies: 109
Views: 27750

Re: 4runner vs. Highlander?

Checked out both today and continued to fall for the 4runner... 1. Rugged looks 2. Seems to be safer overall? E.g. better traction in rain/snow? 3. Ruggedness helps with occasional offroading & cali roads :) 4. More interior space 5. Both have third rows I haven't test driven them yet. I'm just looking & not in any rush. I have narrowed down my search to Toyota only SUV's. Thoughts my BH friends ??? Take Consumer Reports for what it's worth - the 4Runner ranks very low compared to others, whereas they love the Highlander. Having looked at SUVs a while ago, I really thought the 4Runner was clunky at best. Maybe they refreshed it since I last looked. I would be curious on the leg and headroom stats - I felt the 4Runner was very cramp...
by SurferLife
Thu Feb 08, 2024 3:42 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: going gluten-free
Replies: 55
Views: 4502

Re: going gluten-free

With celiac there is no 95% gluten free... sure some have worse effects than others when they take that gluten but damage occurs even if it doesn't show 'externally'. But the ONLY thing that works is 100% GF
This is absolutely true.
by SurferLife
Thu Feb 08, 2024 11:50 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: going gluten-free
Replies: 55
Views: 4502

Re: going gluten-free

Travel is pretty much restricted to the GF food you can take with you… When DW was in the hospital overnight, the dietician called and asked me to bring her food from home. The kitchen couldn't provide GF meals. Travel in Europe is pretty easy. Senza Gluten is all you need to say in Italy. They get it there as well as cross contamination. Hospitals are notoriously horrible when it comes to GF. I don't understand why. At least the dietician told you they couldn't provide food. When my husband was in the hospital for a planned procedure they gave him a meal that contained gluten. Celiac was noted on his chart and they were also were notified in advance. Yet they still gave him a 'normal' meal. I lived in Italy for 3 years and it was amazing ...
by SurferLife
Thu Feb 08, 2024 11:48 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: going gluten-free
Replies: 55
Views: 4502

Re: going gluten-free

DW just posted a few thoughts about GF. I would like to mention some lifestyle implications of celiac disease. Not being able to eat the same food as others drastically limits your social life because so much is food related - entertaining, restaurants with friends, etc. People are uncomfortable if you sit with them during a meal without eating. We are aging in place because there is no suitable CCRC or retirement facility that can provide GF food. If your church gives communion, you can only take consecrated wine, never a wheat host. Travel is pretty much restricted to the GF food you can take with you… When DW was in the hospital overnight, the dietician called and asked me to bring her food from home. The kitchen couldn't provide GF mea...
by SurferLife
Thu Feb 08, 2024 2:23 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: going gluten-free
Replies: 55
Views: 4502

Re: going gluten-free

rule of law guy wrote: Wed Feb 07, 2024 3:50 pm not our situation, but I could see the family going all gluten free in solidarity for the one with celiac. what I dont understand is going gluten free without celiac issues, but that is another thread.
Celiac disease is just one reason to go GF, but there are a host of other auto-immune diseases that respond well to a GF lifestyle like Hashimotos. Some kids with special needs also show improved behavior when put on a GF lifestyle. I know that for myself, I had migraines every week for 15 years like clockwork, but once I went GF, they stopped pretty much immediately and I haven't had one in years. If only I had known!!!
by SurferLife
Thu Feb 08, 2024 2:13 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: going gluten-free
Replies: 55
Views: 4502

Re: going gluten-free

I guess you have to decide if you are going to make the entire family GF or are you only going to do it for one person. We are a GF family due to medical issues, but it wasn't always that way. Before we all switched, we'd get a few products that had wheat like bread, but the main meal we fixed did not have gluten so that made it easy in preparing meals, but if they wanted their glutenous bread, they could fix it, themselves. At some point, we all just started to eat the gluten free bread by Costco, it's good, for GF anyway. We also had a concern for cross-contamination, so it was really good to eliminate gluten from the house entirely. It only takes a little gluten to sky rocket your thyroid antibodies for some folks, so we went that route ...
by SurferLife
Tue Feb 06, 2024 1:04 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Retired: Combine Rollover IRA and Traditional IRA Accounts and Pro Rata Rule Implications?
Replies: 15
Views: 1388

Re: Retired: Combine Rollover IRA and Traditional IRA Accounts and Pro Rata Rule Implications?

OP, Here's some questions for you to consider: Q1: Is your 2023 MAGI under $138K (Single) or $218K (MFJ)? If so, is there a reason you can't just make a contribution to your Roth IRA and call it a day? (Same question for your spouse if there is one). Q2: Will the TSP plan accept rollovers back to them, since you're no longer an employee? Q3: If you go through with the conversion of a non-deductible contribution this year, are you aware you should then keep all your IRAs emptied until next year, else the pro rata rule will apply? I just see too many ways for things to go wrong, unless #1 applies. . . . We are over the $218k for 2023. I do agree that there's a lot of room for things to go wrong. TSP does accept rollovers to them and I still ...
by SurferLife
Mon Feb 05, 2024 2:18 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Retired: Combine Rollover IRA and Traditional IRA Accounts and Pro Rata Rule Implications?
Replies: 15
Views: 1388

Re: Retired: Combine Rollover IRA and Traditional IRA Accounts and Pro Rata Rule Implications?

Okay, my Traditional and Rollover IRA do not have any post-tax money in them, so I'm good to do conversions in 2024. I'll still move some money back into TSP so that I can move over all my Roth TSP money though. How does this play out if I wanted to do a 2023 Backdoor Roth Contribution before I file my taxes? Also, is there any reason to not combine the Rollover and Traditional account? I would do a reverse rollover of both Trad IRA accounts to the TSP, but hold back enough pretax funds to fill up all (or some) of your new lower 2024 tax bracket with a Roth conversion. Assuming your DOD pension puts you in the 12% tax rate, figure out how much headroom you will have on top of your pension amount & keep that amount (or less) in 1 of you...
by SurferLife
Mon Feb 05, 2024 2:11 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Retired: Combine Rollover IRA and Traditional IRA Accounts and Pro Rata Rule Implications?
Replies: 15
Views: 1388

Re: Retired: Combine Rollover IRA and Traditional IRA Accounts and Pro Rata Rule Implications?

placeholder wrote: Mon Feb 05, 2024 1:11 am Understand that when you do backdoor roth it's the amount of pretax in the iras at the end of the year in which you convert that matters so to do a 2023/2024 backdoor the pretax money has to leave the iras before 12/31/2024.
This was my concern. Is this also the rule for doing a 2023 backdoor in 2024? If so, I think it's more of a headache than anything, so I'll probably just pass on it.
by SurferLife
Mon Feb 05, 2024 12:36 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Retired: Combine Rollover IRA and Traditional IRA Accounts and Pro Rata Rule Implications?
Replies: 15
Views: 1388

Re: Retired: Combine Rollover IRA and Traditional IRA Accounts and Pro Rata Rule Implications?

Okay, my Traditional and Rollover IRA do not have any post-tax money in them, so I'm good to do conversions in 2024. I'll still move some money back into TSP so that I can move over all my Roth TSP money though. How does this play out if I wanted to do a 2023 Backdoor Roth Contribution before I file my taxes? Also, is there any reason to not combine the Rollover and Traditional account? How are you going to put money into a tIRA for 2023 - so you can do a backdoor - and have that not be post-tax money? Or is your idea to move everything (deferred) out of your tIRA into your TSP employer plan, do the backdoor with the tIRA, and then move part of it back? That was my question but I guess you answered it somewhat. One of the things I'm wonder...
by SurferLife
Mon Feb 05, 2024 12:16 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Retired: Combine Rollover IRA and Traditional IRA Accounts and Pro Rata Rule Implications?
Replies: 15
Views: 1388

Re: Retired: Combine Rollover IRA and Traditional IRA Accounts and Pro Rata Rule Implications?

Okay, my Traditional and Rollover IRA do not have any post-tax money in them, so I'm good to do conversions in 2024. I'll still move some money back into TSP so that I can move over all my Roth TSP money though.

How does this play out if I wanted to do a 2023 Backdoor Roth Contribution before I file my taxes?

Also, is there any reason to not combine the Rollover and Traditional account?
by SurferLife
Sun Feb 04, 2024 11:29 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Retired: Combine Rollover IRA and Traditional IRA Accounts and Pro Rata Rule Implications?
Replies: 15
Views: 1388

Re: Retired: Combine Rollover IRA and Traditional IRA Accounts and Pro Rata Rule Implications?

Even though you just retired, you could still have 30 years of growth for money in a Roth IRA, so a backdoor Roth still has some value. Would I go through all this just for one last backdoor Roth? Probably not. Even though you are retired, backdoor Roth pro rata rules still apply. Regular roth conversions without non deductible ira contributions are not subject to pro rata rules. The main reason to keep the tsp is to maintain access to the g fund. As bonds are generally better in a trad retirement account than a Roth, moving some bond money to the trad tsp would be worthwhile. I would agree that if I can do roth conversion from here on out, then getting in one last 7k backdoor roth seems like a lot of work when I have such a large balance ...
by SurferLife
Sun Feb 04, 2024 9:50 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Retired: Combine Rollover IRA and Traditional IRA Accounts and Pro Rata Rule Implications?
Replies: 15
Views: 1388

Retired: Combine Rollover IRA and Traditional IRA Accounts and Pro Rata Rule Implications?

I retired in 2023, and I'm waiting on funds before I make my Traditional IRA contribution for 2023. In the past I did not have a traditional IRA balance and was able to execute the backdoor IRA without triggering the pro-rata rule. Since I retired in Dec 2023, in my effort to simplify things and pull out tax-free TSP combat contributions, I transferred my traditional TSP balance to Vanguard. That process worked and I was able to separate those funds into both Roth and Traditional IRA accounts, hooray! Also, my civilian 401k had me move the account so that one was rolled over to Vanguard and is in a Rollover IRA. My Vanguard Traditional IRA balance is around 500k My Vanguard Rollover IRA balance is around 100k I don't want to lose access to ...
by SurferLife
Sun Feb 04, 2024 10:25 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Buying a used car: what's your limit?
Replies: 65
Views: 6215

Re: Buying a user car: what's your limit?

As for mileage, I think it really depends on what kind of car you are buying. We only buy Toyotas and Honda's. When I bought my first 4Runner, it had 60k miles on it, but I didn't care because it was a 4Runner and you can drive them forever. I drove that car for 20 years and sold it at 220k miles with almost no problems. My second 4Runner I bought was 4 years old and also had 60k miles, and it doesn't bother me one bit. That car just hit 100k and we've had zero problems with it. We also just bought a 13yr old Tundra that had 65k miles, and I expect to be able to drive that for at least 10 more years, minimum!. Would I buy a Nissan or Kia that had that high of a mileage? I can't imagine I would.
by SurferLife
Sat Feb 03, 2024 10:49 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How has your Health Changed after Retirement; What are you doing to Stay Healthy?
Replies: 100
Views: 10095

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

retire57 wrote: Sat Feb 03, 2024 6:21 pm I switched to a Whole Food Plant-Based method of eating and have never had more energy. I'm 65.

I also walk at least every other day, do core exercises and stretching, and light weights for upper body strength.

It's amazing how well the body operates when given the right fuel.
Before I got married I tried a whole food plant based diet. It was tough but it was the best I’ve ever felt, and boy did I drop some weight. All my blood work was the best it had ever been. Now that I’m married with kids it’s too hard for the wife to maintain that, so we don’t, but I do wonder what would happen if I went back to that.
by SurferLife
Fri Feb 02, 2024 11:57 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Military FIRE Check-in: Hit $1M, 5yrs to FIRE
Replies: 23
Views: 2794

Re: Military FIRE Check-in: Hit $1M, 5yrs to FIRE

OP, what happens if you die? Is the "...up to 55%..." survivor benefit enough for your family to carry on? Do you have a lot of life insurance? I think you're plan looks fine, but I didn't hear a lot about what happens if you die. Is the plan built for that possibility? This is a good idea. I also purchased a term life insurance policy from USAA since all our income is linked to me. The wife appreciates the safety net. How did you determine the amount? Why USAA term life? In addition to SBP? I purchased SBP. Quite frankly, it's too cheap and too good of a benefit to pass up. My wife is 10 years younger than me, and since women live longer than men, she could be receiving that benefit for 20+ years after I'm gone. While I was acti...
by SurferLife
Fri Feb 02, 2024 11:49 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Military FIRE Check-in: Hit $1M, 5yrs to FIRE
Replies: 23
Views: 2794

Re: Military FIRE Check-in: Hit $1M, 5yrs to FIRE

Never knew about the 2 years on security clearance - thank you! If I do work post military, I think it will be in a much different sector, but good to keep options open if fecal matter ends up in the proverbial wind machine. Double check with your SSO but this is certainly something you want to know the details on. Just starting to look into medical - seems Tricare Select is the way to go, but need to do a deep dive. Would love any resources you found helpful - information overload out there! There are no resources for this, you just need to decide on who is going to be your primary care doctor and then find out if they take Tricare Select. My wife looked long and hard for a functional medicine doctor that took it but we finally found one,...
by SurferLife
Fri Feb 02, 2024 11:06 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Military FIRE Check-in: Hit $1M, 5yrs to FIRE
Replies: 23
Views: 2794

Re: Military FIRE Check-in: Hit $1M, 5yrs to FIRE

cjcerny wrote: Fri Feb 02, 2024 10:59 am OP, what happens if you die? Is the "...up to 55%..." survivor benefit enough for your family to carry on? Do you have a lot of life insurance? I think you're plan looks fine, but I didn't hear a lot about what happens if you die. Is the plan built for that possibility?
This is a good idea. I also purchased a term life insurance policy from USAA since all our income is linked to me. The wife appreciates the safety net.
by SurferLife
Fri Feb 02, 2024 3:19 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Military FIRE Check-in: Hit $1M, 5yrs to FIRE
Replies: 23
Views: 2794

Re: Military FIRE Check-in: Hit $1M, 5yrs to FIRE

I retired from the military 3 years ago. As someone else mentioned, I'd also recommend not forgetting about VA Disability Compensation. From here until retirement, focusing on that will likely yield the best return on your investment. Get everything looked at, get everything documented, to include a sleep study. If you have been seen off-base, you need to get those records into your military file; don't assume the military has them! Remember, the VA doesn't pay for pain, it pays for diagnoses. Get hard copies of all your records before they went digital, and then get a copy of the digital ones. Start working through your medical records diligently making notes in excel of what you can claim. Get familiar with 38 CFR Schedule of Ratings and ...