Search found 2755 matches

by Christine_NM
Sun Dec 12, 2021 2:27 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: VWIAX questions
Replies: 57
Views: 4862

Re: VWIAX questions

hoops777 wrote: Sat Dec 11, 2021 7:15 pm
How Will Wellesley perform going forward?
a) compared to what?

b) it's the future, who knows, nothing may be as good as the past, or everything may be better if the Fed keeps supporting the market, or anywhere in between.
by Christine_NM
Sat Dec 11, 2021 3:07 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: VWIAX questions
Replies: 57
Views: 4862

Re: VWIAX questions

Houdini - I started taking rmds of $30-40k in 2014 with $600k in vwiax, from a traditional IRA. I kept $100k in a stock fund for some extra growth, but that turned out to be unnecessary. Wellesley kept growing despite the rmds, and recently it hit $860k so I moved $200k of Wellesley to Total World Index (VT, VTWAX). Now Wellesley is almost balanced at $668k. I figured I did not need more than that just to take $40k a year. None of this is what you are doing, but I thought you might like to know that Wellesley seems to overcome low-bar annual withdrawals like 5% or less quite easily in the wild as well as in simulations. I am careful to withdraw the rmd to cash when Wellesley has a healthy NAV, not on some random future date when I actually ...
by Christine_NM
Thu May 06, 2021 7:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Anyone hate where they live primarily because of the weather?
Replies: 155
Views: 15659

Re: Anyone hate where they live primarily because of the weather?

The jet stream is getting wobbly. Ironically global warming is faster in the Arctic so the jet stream is weaker and there are more "Arctic express" cold events in middle latitudes. According to the weather channel, the northern US is in one for the next 10 days or so, then it gets warmer. I moved to NM from New England.
by Christine_NM
Tue Mar 16, 2021 4:17 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: This is a dumb idea....right?
Replies: 21
Views: 3574

Re: This is a dumb idea....right?

I don't think you are looking to simplify, you are looking to tinker. If you did this all-vbiax you would still want to tinker. Perhaps less often, but still..

My portfolio is half VBIAX in taxable. I could easily do all-vbiax with no tax consequences. But I like having a small Roth to do my tinkering in. My trad IRA is all-Wellesley and its RMDs pay my taxes.
by Christine_NM
Fri Mar 12, 2021 5:37 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Advice to give dad and mom
Replies: 21
Views: 3109

Re: Advice to give dad and mom

Gifting is a good thing to do every year, at least for the recipient. If you are gifted the maximum (still $15k?) then you can fund your own Roth with it, assuming you have a Roth. Some small amount like that may not seem like much, but it grows a lot. (My Mom gifted me $10k every year over 20 years so I got to invest it more aggressively than she would have.)
by Christine_NM
Wed Dec 30, 2020 2:58 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Advice for relatively Low Net Worth Retirement
Replies: 40
Views: 4352

Re: Advice for relatively Low Net Worth Retirement

Your numbers (pension, SS, portfolio) are very similar to mine at age 61 when I retired in 2005. I sold my house in 2009 and bought a new one for cash. It was not as expensive as your new house, but it cost twice what the old home sold for, so it set the portfolio back a bit.

Now portfolio is over 3m and I still have the pension, SS, but income from an annuity bought from the portfolio in about 2014.

My basic expenses are 40K; extras are 15K-30K. I think you are OK to buy but are you thinking the new house is more house than you need? I bought less new house than I wanted, but it turned out all right because now at age 77 this is as much as I can manage. Good luck.
by Christine_NM
Mon Nov 30, 2020 6:31 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: medicare without supplement
Replies: 47
Views: 5323

Re: medicare without supplement

Bad idea. I was fine until the lump showed up. A year and a hundred thou of MA later, I was fine (well, OK), again.
by Christine_NM
Fri Nov 27, 2020 8:20 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Is there any reason to not add an asset to a living revocable trust?
Replies: 11
Views: 1149

Re: Is there any reason to not add an asset to a living revocable trust?

Gill wrote: Fri Nov 27, 2020 8:10 pm
Christine_NM wrote: Fri Nov 27, 2020 8:07 pm
I think the OP's question was open-ended about any reasons to add or not add money. One of the reasons not to add might be if the money is held at an institution where it would be difficult for the executor to complete his duties.
There’s no executor involved. The question is about a revocable living trust.
Gill
The executor of the estate at the death of the owner of the revocable living trust has to liquidate the trust according to the terms of the will. That's my point, we tend to think only about the front end of putting assets in the trust, but crunch time is after the person's death. That's when service counts.
by Christine_NM
Fri Nov 27, 2020 8:07 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Is there any reason to not add an asset to a living revocable trust?
Replies: 11
Views: 1149

Re: Is there any reason to not add an asset to a living revocable trust?

I'd suggest looking at her broker's/banks'/other custodians' policies now on how a revocable trust is handled. Most are fine that I had to deal with, but one was a real stinker (TR Price). I followed Price's instructions and was told it was not sufficient. That went on for several rounds. Eventually I had my lawyer deal with Price. They even gave him a runaround. The final straw was when they wanted me to repeat the process my lawyer had already been paid to set up and finish to verify the trust. Thankfully the details are hazy now but it was a real mess that has made me reluctant to set up a trust for myself. Banks and Vanguard were fine just dealing with me over the phone once I sent in copies of first and last pages of the trust. Make s...
by Christine_NM
Fri Nov 27, 2020 3:52 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Is there any reason to not add an asset to a living revocable trust?
Replies: 11
Views: 1149

Re: Is there any reason to not add an asset to a living revocable trust?

I'd suggest looking at her broker's/banks'/other custodians' policies now on how a revocable trust is handled. Most are fine that I had to deal with, but one was a real stinker (TR Price). I followed Price's instructions and was told it was not sufficient. That went on for several rounds. Eventually I had my lawyer deal with Price. They even gave him a runaround. The final straw was when they wanted me to repeat the process my lawyer had already been paid to set up and finish to verify the trust. Thankfully the details are hazy now but it was a real mess that has made me reluctant to set up a trust for myself. Banks and Vanguard were fine just dealing with me over the phone once I sent in copies of first and last pages of the trust. Make su...
by Christine_NM
Mon Nov 23, 2020 9:06 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What charity are you donating to this Christmas season?
Replies: 145
Views: 8783

Re: What charity are you donating to this Christmas season?

Salvation Army Red Kettle monthly donation. Food and shelter.
by Christine_NM
Fri Nov 20, 2020 5:20 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: "Buy once, cry once"
Replies: 137
Views: 22626

Re: "Buy once, cry once"

Do you have pets? If you have kids, will they want pets? Divide furniture-years by dog-years.

I bought cheap-ish sofas until I was ready to live without pets. Then I bought a whole set of Stressless leather sofa & chairs. They look like new after 7 years. Probably will look new after I'm gone.
by Christine_NM
Fri Oct 23, 2020 1:18 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard Abandoning Ship, Developing ‘New Brand Image’ has removed its ship logo from corporate docum
Replies: 107
Views: 12034

Re: Vanguard Abandoning Ship, Developing ‘New Brand Image’ has removed its ship logo from corporate docum

Seems cowardly to keep the name of the ship for the company, because you need it for brand recognition, then dump the logo. No one at Vanguard could replicate what Jack did. Hmph.

ETA: Tall ships are still cool. Think of it as wind power.
by Christine_NM
Wed Oct 21, 2020 6:37 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Ideal City to live in?
Replies: 160
Views: 15556

Re: Ideal City to live in?

Temecula looks good. Also Palm Desert or Palm Springs in the same area.

I have to laugh at the first suggestion -- CO has tons of snow and the biggest mosquitos (when the snow melts) I've ever seen.

I don't think you would like ABQ or El Paso. I love it but judging from the OP you want something a bit fancier. Maybe you are in CA for a reason?

Good schools and mild weather? Maybe Virginia?
by Christine_NM
Thu Oct 15, 2020 8:48 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Most comfortable shoe: please recommend
Replies: 81
Views: 9641

Re: Most comfortable shoe: please recommend

Allbirds indoors, Saucony leather walking shoes outdoors.
by Christine_NM
Thu Sep 24, 2020 1:05 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should I Quit Hated Job And Take 80% Pay Cut?
Replies: 62
Views: 9572

Re: Should I Quit Hated Job And Take 80% Pay Cut?

Almost everyone I've known has chosen to do whatever seems best for the future of their children. If the job has no direct psychic rewards for you, but you can see advantages for your child, it would be tough to give it up. I don't think you have saved enough to take much risk on the job market. You have only been saving 25%? That's peanuts on this forum. Too bad about the ls creep. Get rid of that ASAP. Set a savings goal and don't quit till you meet it. Last, it would be easy to get paid $30k to do a job that is just as soul-numbing as the one you have. Most jobs are soul-numbing by definition. Everyone's first job seems fun and life is great for the first couple years till reality sets in. You cannot go back to those days regardless of h...
by Christine_NM
Sun Sep 13, 2020 12:52 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Asset Allocation-What have you learned about yourself?
Replies: 51
Views: 4434

Re: Asset Allocation-What have you learned about yourself?

I don't think my risk tolerance has changed since I was working -- I've always considered 20% of portfolio to be an acceptable loss, and if the loss is greater I'd have to look at my situation at the time to decide whether to change my allocation. The steady acceptable loss leads to a decreasing stock allocation as the dollar amounts increase. IOW, 20% of a 500k is 100k, that was my maximum acceptable loss in 2000-01, with about 80% stock. But now I have half that stock allocation and can lose 100k in a couple of days and it's only about 0.5% of the whole portfolio. What I'm trying to say is that the more money you have, the more risk you can take. You can lose a lot more dollars before it impacts your allocation. I guess everyone knows th...
by Christine_NM
Sat Sep 12, 2020 4:52 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Asset Allocation-What have you learned about yourself?
Replies: 51
Views: 4434

Re: Asset Allocation-What have you learned about yourself?

I don't think my risk tolerance has changed since I was working -- I've always considered 20% of portfolio to be an acceptable loss, and if the loss is greater I'd have to look at my situation at the time to decide whether to change my allocation. The steady acceptable loss leads to a decreasing stock allocation as the dollar amounts increase. IOW, 20% of a 500k is 100k, that was my maximum acceptable loss in 2000-01, with about 80% stock. But now I have half that stock allocation and can lose 100k in a couple of days and it's only about 0.5% of the whole portfolio. What I'm trying to say is that the more money you have, the more risk you can take. You can lose a lot more dollars before it impacts your allocation. I guess everyone knows tha...
by Christine_NM
Sat Sep 12, 2020 1:59 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Wellesley, "clones" and future prospects
Replies: 16
Views: 2614

Re: Wellesley, "clones" and future prospects

Portfolio 1 is two funds so you'd have to keep them perfectly balanced at all times to have outperformed W since 1985 by a rather tiny margin. A few really bad days over the years where you didn't rebalance at the right time and the margin would be gone.

Agree that W is not for an entire portfolio because of the narrow slice issue.
by Christine_NM
Thu Sep 03, 2020 1:21 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: College financial advice for undecided rising high school senior
Replies: 71
Views: 5161

Re: College financial advice for undecided rising high school senior

DD might discover she likes engineering of some sort, especially at Cornell. Sometimes if you add up several interests, the answer turns out to be engineering. If she has a masters, national laboratory may hire her and pay for doctorate. Just a thought, good luck. I would skip the ED because of so many uncertainties, unless she can change her mind.
by Christine_NM
Sun Aug 30, 2020 1:00 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard Global Credit Bond Fund VGCAX VGCIX thoughts?
Replies: 9
Views: 1578

Re: Vanguard Global Credit Bond Fund VGCAX VGCIX thoughts?

We seem doomed to low rates and if you want income, as I do, you have to go to places where you would not drink the water, never mind buy their bonds. I dont know why but that sentence really made me angry.... Looks like bond fund is ~50% US and rest Dev.+Emerging. Is this any different from combining BND with BNDX(Total Bond with Total World Bond) I think a ratio of what is recommended in 4 fund portfolio will fall pretty close in line with this funds allocation, and it will cost 1/4th The difference is index vs managed. If I were to buy into international bonds I'd want some management. Good point about cost, but I'd pay a few extra points, not many, for a manager in this asset class. The difference is much more significant that that, th...
by Christine_NM
Sun Aug 30, 2020 12:04 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard Global Credit Bond Fund VGCAX VGCIX thoughts?
Replies: 9
Views: 1578

Re: Vanguard Global Credit Bond Fund VGCAX VGCIX thoughts?

No, I didn't buy it. I have a small amount of Global Wellington and that will have to do for international bonds. I'm not buying anything now, just taking some income.
by Christine_NM
Thu Aug 06, 2020 8:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Silk or Satin pillowcase (smoothness important)
Replies: 17
Views: 1630

Re: Silk or Satin pillowcase (smoothness important)

For hair you want mulberry silk. I got mine from amazon. Fishers looks good, mine are cheaper but work well. Wash on gentle cycle in a lingerie mesh bag, dry flat. Cotton (sateen or percale) dries up hair.
by Christine_NM
Sat Aug 01, 2020 11:31 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is the fear of actually LIVING through inflation overblown?
Replies: 80
Views: 6391

Re: Is the fear of actually LIVING through inflation overblown?

Macro inflation rates don't tell you much about LIVING thru it. I remember the fifties, sixties and early seventies as a time when most items in a grocery store cost less than 59 cents. Meat was less than a dollar a pound. You could buy a house outright with a cash gift from an older relative's savings account. A new car cost $2000. Buying on time or layaway was for slackers. Once in 1974 I remember stocking a new apartment kitchen with all staples for $15 at KMart. (My 1974 salary was about $9000 a year.) There were no consumer electronics and cable TV so you didn't waste a lot of money on subscription services, duplicative devices, or other junk that wasted your time. Life was pretty simple and cheap. Jobs were full time, with a pension. ...
by Christine_NM
Fri Jul 17, 2020 3:39 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Stainless steel appliance cleaner - need recommendation
Replies: 42
Views: 2836

Re: Stainless steel appliance cleaner - need recommendation

I use Weimans spray once a week (just me, no kids). More frequent use on a clean fridge results in a buildup that you can smell as it offgasses. A little goes a long way if there are not many little hands involved.
by Christine_NM
Thu Jul 09, 2020 1:50 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Social Security extra earnings credit for military service
Replies: 28
Views: 2745

Re: Social Security extra earnings credit for military service

I recall that the initial application for SS benefits I filled out in 2005 includes a lot of questions about any military service the applicant may have. Maybe that is where you get any extra earnings credit, from info you provide on the application. It's fuzzy, because I skipped over those questions, and I couldn't tell if it would be a gift of more benefits or a ding on my PIA. Try looking at today's application.
by Christine_NM
Sat Jul 04, 2020 1:07 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What to do with all this MONEY ?
Replies: 201
Views: 24534

Re: What to do with all this MONEY ?

You are already generous with your family but be generous with others as well, perhaps you already are. Essentially what I mean is over tip, the lawn people, delivery people, waitstaff. Any one in any service industry, an extra $20, $50 or $100 would be amazing for many people who work their tails off daily. Hopefully that money goes directly into pockets to buy groceries for someone or gas or car repairs or into savings. These are just little ways that you could have a big impact on some people in addition to traditional donation. This. OP has people doing work around the house. Find out their situations and needs. I did this with just one person, and it opened my eyes to true need. Microgift is my word for it, like microloan. I don't don...
by Christine_NM
Thu Jul 02, 2020 1:10 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What is the best financial decision you ever made?
Replies: 212
Views: 21583

Re: What is the best financial decision you ever made?

Paying off 30 year mortgage in 15 years, having an employer with good retirement benefits, and using index funds. All 3 were equally important, can't pick just one.
by Christine_NM
Mon Jun 29, 2020 12:32 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Has Amazon ever called you to verify a purchase?
Replies: 28
Views: 2805

Re: Has Amazon ever called you to verify a purchase?

I got a phishing scam this spring -- every time I order, the next day an email not from amazon.com appears, saying there was a problem with payment contact us blah blah. I changed my password and it seems to have gone away. No calls.
by Christine_NM
Sun Jun 28, 2020 10:39 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: How do you avoid being lazy with 3-fund portfolio?
Replies: 36
Views: 4565

Re: How do you avoid being lazy with 3-fund portfolio?

The only financial news that's important for me is each year's tax changes. That's why I use an accountant, so I won't make stupid tax mistakes or waste time trying to find and understand the changes. I always did taxes by hand while working, but it's no way to spend retirement.
by Christine_NM
Thu Jun 25, 2020 8:39 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Warm slippers/ socks?
Replies: 21
Views: 1680

Re: Warm slippers/ socks?

Have you tried the ugg boots without socks? I find they are warmer without sox. The sheepskin lining needs to touch bare feet for max effect, like sheepskin slippers.
by Christine_NM
Thu Jun 25, 2020 6:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Warm slippers/ socks?
Replies: 21
Views: 1680

Re: Warm slippers/ socks?

If this is for outdoor wear, search mickey mouse boots on amazon. (I used them for winter mountaineering when I was younger, much younger, and my feet were never even chilled, much less cold). But these are not so good if the problem is poor circulation even when indoors.
by Christine_NM
Thu Jun 25, 2020 1:57 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How to locate safe, clean gas stations while traveling
Replies: 38
Views: 4911

Re: How to locate safe, clean gas stations while traveling

Can you plan your route around the covid cell phone maps from meat processing plants and other hot spots? I've seen these maps but don't know which is most up to date.

For example, I-40 intersects I-25 near where I live. I-40 is a major truck route from the Midwest thru TX to CA. The amount of truck traffic on I-40 has been huge for decades. Not so much on I-25. I-40 shows up as a heavy cell usage area all the way thru NM on these maps. It goes through Gallup NM, the source of our major hot spots. Needless to say, I avoid I-40 but will still drive I-25.

I'd still bring plenty of masks, gloves, and cleaning supplies. You really can't expect anyplace to be safe if you don't take your own precautions.
by Christine_NM
Sun Jun 21, 2020 2:23 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: A serious question from a senior about investing.
Replies: 42
Views: 3813

Re: A serious question from a senior about investing.

I'm a senior with a portfolio that will go to charity. My Vanguard funds all have a charity designated beneficiary. So my estate is just the local credit union account and the house. Without knowing your other sources of income besides your portfolio I can't make a recommendation but I will mention that in addition to avoiding cap gains through a DAF you can donate shares directly to a 501(c) org to create a charitable gift annuity. There's some paperwork and voila, your shares are gone and you start receiving quarterly income either immediately or at a time you and the charity agree upon (deferred annuity). No cap gains involved, and you get a large (not full) deduction of the value of your gift. If the gift deduction is larger than 30% of...
by Christine_NM
Mon Jun 15, 2020 4:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI
Replies: 7638
Views: 1712972

Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

The Great Influenza by John Barry. Audible version. I sprung for an Audible subscription last year and enjoy listening while doing puzzles. This is a fascinating account of the era as well as the pandemic. I imagine listening is a bit easier than slogging through the text. It's definitely for the lay person with an interest in general history. Reading this now. My grandfather’s parents both died in that epidemic, leaving him an orphan, so I’m reading it with that firmly in mind. The book covers the historical time period, the overflowing hospitals, the bodies everywhere, the race to fine a cure or a vaccine, and the political actions that made everything so much worse than they had to be, in sometimes excruciating detail. Things are bad no...
by Christine_NM
Thu Jun 11, 2020 9:21 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard Global Credit Bond Fund VGCAX VGCIX thoughts?
Replies: 9
Views: 1578

Re: Vanguard Global Credit Bond Fund VGCAX VGCIX thoughts?

annu wrote: Thu Jun 11, 2020 7:34 pm We seem doomed to low rates and if you want income, as I do, you have to go to places where you would not drink the water, never mind buy their bonds.

I dont know why but that sentence really made me angry....

Looks like bond fund is ~50% US and rest Dev.+Emerging. Is this any different from combining BND with BNDX(Total Bond with Total World Bond)
I think a ratio of what is recommended in 4 fund portfolio will fall pretty close in line with this funds allocation, and it will cost 1/4th
The difference is index vs managed. If I were to buy into international bonds I'd want some management. Good point about cost, but I'd pay a few extra points, not many, for a manager in this asset class.
by Christine_NM
Thu Jun 11, 2020 4:29 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard Global Credit Bond Fund VGCAX VGCIX thoughts?
Replies: 9
Views: 1578

Re: Vanguard Global Credit Bond Fund VGCAX VGCIX thoughts?

I'm interested in this fund also and see that little has been posted about it since the above. Over its brief life of 18 months it has matched Wellesley in performance. I want to keep mostly Wellesley in my IRA, say 85%, and maybe move 15% to VGCAX. That IRA is about a third of my total portfolio. I have all the stocks and US bonds I want. I am gradually getting converted to the idea of world bonds. Sounded stupid at first, but now... well, things have changed to put it mildly. We seem doomed to low rates and if you want income, as I do, you have to go to places where you would not drink the water, never mind buy their bonds. Would appreciate thoughts on a small allocation to emerging mkts bonds such as VGCAX holds. Oddly, Vanguard does not...
by Christine_NM
Thu Jun 04, 2020 10:45 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Nursing home has requirements for employees' private lives due to covid
Replies: 38
Views: 3419

Re: Nursing home has requirements for employees' private lives due to covid

cmr79 wrote: Thu Jun 04, 2020 8:03 pm I'd be curious what the article Christine_NM referenced based that speculation on--just hadn't heard this before and was surprised, though in retrospect it seems plausible.
It was part of a NYT article way back in March. Sorry no way I could find it again. It rang a bell because i was a nurse and know how it feels to leave work and feel normal. Nobody can do that anymore, though plenty of people are just taking their chances when outdoors. The cloth mask is only catching on where you are required to use it.
by Christine_NM
Thu Jun 04, 2020 7:42 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Nursing home has requirements for employees' private lives due to covid
Replies: 38
Views: 3419

Re: Nursing home has requirements for employees' private lives due to covid

Sorry to say that under the circumstances, these rules seem consistent with what guidelines we have. Don't think she has a legal case. Of course it is difficult, but there really are no private lives where a virus is concerned. Is everyone (residents and employees) getting tested reasonably often? If so, employer is living up to its end of the bargain and can require social distancing even outside the facility.. that is what most people are supposed to be doing anyway. Nobody wants to hug a grandkid and give him that pediatric inflammatory thing. A while back I read an interesting article that health workers were the last to catch on in NYC that you have to do social distancing in regular life, perhaps because they could only rely on PPE at...
by Christine_NM
Wed Jun 03, 2020 4:42 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Admiral shares for Financial Services Industry employees
Replies: 20
Views: 1184

Re: Admiral shares for Financial Services Industry employees

I was able to open an actively managed bond fund with admiral shares (VBILX??) at Fidelity by having a Fido broker call Vanguard, get permission, and then pay quite a commission to Fidelity to do so. But that was in 2008 and I'm not surprised that this is impossible now yet there are still admiral fund accounts that still exist in various brokerages.
by Christine_NM
Tue May 26, 2020 1:56 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What will you NOT buy online?
Replies: 96
Views: 8831

Re: What will you NOT buy online?

Prescription meds. Furniture that has a seat (see Oops below). Tables are OK if you measure carefully. Car for same reason -- how does the driver's seat feel? Never thought I'd buy shoes online, but once I find the right shoe online, I buy two or three more in case they go out of stock. Oops, thought of an exception. I bought an AmazonBasics zero gravity chair and it's great and less expensive than the brand names, and sturdier. It does not have a tray but a side table is better. I tried meds online but they kept sending the wrong thing (not Amazon, it was a mail-order pharmacy picked by my employer's health plan. I once was a nurse and distrust every med automatically until examined carefully -- nothing personal, that's what I learned to d...
by Christine_NM
Sat May 23, 2020 3:07 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Thoughts on Vanguard Global Wellington?
Replies: 15
Views: 2226

Re: Thoughts on Vanguard Global Wellington?

nix4me wrote: Sat May 23, 2020 3:01 pm Emerging markets is listed. Usually means China.
Usually, in international index funds. Looking at the VGWAX stock holdings, all 84 of them, I can't find anything controlled by the Chinese gov. I don't know all of them but certainly there is an insignificant amount, possibly zero, compared to VTIAX.
by Christine_NM
Sat May 23, 2020 2:59 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Thoughts on Vanguard Global Wellington?
Replies: 15
Views: 2226

Re: Thoughts on Vanguard Global Wellington?

nix4me wrote: Sat May 23, 2020 2:38 pm Wouldn’t touch it because it invests in China.
Can't find any Chinese holdings. One Taiwan, one HK. Where do you see China?
by Christine_NM
Wed May 13, 2020 9:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Dental estimate for a gold crown
Replies: 28
Views: 3070

Re: Dental estimate for a gold crown

I'd go for gold if I was still young. My first molar crown at about age 20 was gold, and it is still going strong at age 77. Dentists since then have stepped back in awe of an actual gold crown on first examination of my teeth. If you are over 55 or so, you may not live long enough to get the extra benefit of gold. There was no discussion of price back then, gold was still fixed at $34/oz.
by Christine_NM
Tue May 12, 2020 11:43 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Turning 30. Living 30s without regrets
Replies: 87
Views: 11875

Re: Turning 30. Living 30s without regrets

Don't expect to live without *any* regrets. Some are bound to creep in somewhere along the way. Be loving and forgiving.
by Christine_NM
Mon May 04, 2020 4:31 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Amazon Prime Membership Question [Considering to drop membership]
Replies: 136
Views: 15429

Re: Amazon Prime Membership Question

I use the $25 free shipping option, not Prime. Last month most things were on time or earlier than an estimated late date, one thing still hasn't shown up but it was estimated to arrive in May sometime. I like the discount points earned with an Amazon card, that makes Amazon my goto store. It's kind of touching, the way delivery time is set up as the most important measure of customer service, when none of the things I buy are very important or urgent.
by Christine_NM
Sun May 03, 2020 6:37 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Houses Are Not Edible
Replies: 21
Views: 3415

Re: Houses Are Not Edible

I've known smart people who believed they should carry as big a mortgage as they qualified for. So just because I disagree with you doesn't mean you are wrong or that i'm wrong. Housing finance tends to be a gut feeling based on when and how you grew up.

Houses are not edible, but you can't eat money or sleep in your safe deposit box either. Now we find out money doesn't always buy food. You need a place to live, you have a home with some equity, why screw that up.
by Christine_NM
Fri May 01, 2020 1:07 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Mother has only $85K to sustain her
Replies: 81
Views: 9519

Re: Mother has only $85K to sustain her

Utah has a moratorium on evictions from residences because of covid-19. This is not exactly a landlord/renter situation, but similar enough in spirit that she might be able to get a delay in the June 1 date as a public health measure. I'm approx. same age and would not give up a house for an apartment without a fight, especially now. An apartment would very unsuitable at this time, no better than a nursing home. I'd try to at least scare the kids with whatever the consequences of flouting the moratorium might be. I'd pay a very small token rent to be considered a tenant, though I'd choke on every penny. Best part would be no more responsibility for home maintenance. Agree the portfolio is bananas. Once the safe and almost-free housing is sq...