Search found 188 matches

by FreddieG
Thu Mar 14, 2024 5:32 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Switch 401k from VHYAX to SCHD?
Replies: 10
Views: 550

Re: Switch 401k from VHYAX to SCHD?

ruralavalon wrote: Thu Mar 14, 2024 10:16 am
FreddieG wrote: Thu Mar 14, 2024 10:12 am I have low 7 figures in a 401k in VHYAX. I am 67 and am on Social Security, have a defined benefit pension, and of course my 401k. So I am somewhat risk tolerant.

Would I be better off in SCHD instead of VHYAX? SCHD seems like it pays a higher dividend and higher overall return. I understand it has a higher turnover, but that isn't a concern since this is a 401k.

My goals are income more than capital growth.
With both Social Security benefits and a defined benefit pension why is your goal income rather than total return in your 401k?
Because I'm not going to live forever. it is a personal choice I've made.
by FreddieG
Thu Mar 14, 2024 10:12 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Switch 401k from VHYAX to SCHD?
Replies: 10
Views: 550

Switch 401k from VHYAX to SCHD?

I have low 7 figures in a 401k in VHYAX. I am 67 and am on Social Security, have a defined benefit pension, and of course my 401k. So I am somewhat risk tolerant.

Would I be better off in SCHD instead of VHYAX? SCHD seems like it pays a higher dividend and higher overall return. I understand it has a higher turnover, but that isn't a concern since this is a 401k.

My goals are income more than capital growth.
by FreddieG
Mon Jan 22, 2024 11:20 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: TurboTax security
Replies: 10
Views: 1116

Re: TurboTax security

[/quote]
There were numbers on the Vanguard 1099s that you could enter into TT. I just remember this being available for a year or two.
[/quote]

This is my recollection as well. That code will give TurboTax access to your 1099 data, but it’s otherwise fairly useless
by FreddieG
Fri Nov 10, 2023 8:54 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Storing in Power Tools in a Storage Unit
Replies: 6
Views: 1000

Storing in Power Tools in a Storage Unit

As part of listing and selling my home, I want to move my power tools from my mostly unheated garage (it never really gets below 45F) to a nearby storage unit, which won't be heated. I anticipate a few months of storage. Unfortunately, winter here in Colorado is coming.

Anyone see a problem with this? I know my lithium batteries shouldn't go, and I probably won't store my nail guns, but I want to store:

Contractor table saw
Miter saw
Tile saw
Air compressor
Sanders, corded drills, etc.

Obviously I will not use them until they're acclimated again. Thanks for any advice.
by FreddieG
Wed Oct 25, 2023 5:39 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How Far in Advance to Apply for Social Security
Replies: 56
Views: 11047

How Far in Advance to Apply for Social Security

I reach full retirement age on January 28, 2024. So my benefits begin in February, and my first check will be the 4th Wednesday of March.

SSA says: “You can apply for retirement benefits up to 4 months before you want to start receiving your benefits.”

How is this date counted? From the FRA date? Or one of the subsequent dates?

Thank you for your help.
by FreddieG
Thu Sep 28, 2023 6:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: One Week In Calgary and Banff
Replies: 31
Views: 2852

Re: One Week In Calgary and Banff

How fit are you? If you're fit, I'd recommend: * Hiking sulphur mountain. 7 miles. 2500 feet of vert. Save money on gondola. Spend a few bucks on the way down at the hot spring at the base. Bring a swimsuit or rent for a few bucks. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/alberta/sulphur-mountain-trail?u= * The Costco food court is amazing (Poutine is my heroin), and conveniently located within Calgary. Pay with a preloaded "Costco Shop" card to avoid their no-Visa shenanigans and also to get a very favorable exchange rate. Rumor has it that they make an exception for the Costco Visa, but I didn't try. That’s a moderate hike here in Colorado :) I’m not sure what you mean. Here in the States I have to use a Visa to shop at Costco. I...
by FreddieG
Thu Sep 28, 2023 10:36 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: One Week In Calgary and Banff
Replies: 31
Views: 2852

Re: One Week In Calgary and Banff

blueberrypi wrote: Thu Sep 28, 2023 9:09 am Following. We are headed up there on Saturday for a week. Planning two nights in Canmore plus five in Banff with a few day trips around the area. Hopefully the weather holds out for the longer hike days.
I'll be about 10 days behind you. A friend also recommended Canmore. May I ask why 2 in Canmore and 5 in Banff? I was thinking Canmore was the cheaper alternative to the high-priced Banff, and is fairly close.
by FreddieG
Thu Sep 28, 2023 8:20 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: One Week In Calgary and Banff
Replies: 31
Views: 2852

One Week In Calgary and Banff

I will be driving to Northern Montana in October, so I thought I'd pop across the border to Canada via car and spend some time in Calgary and Banff. Not very familiar with either area, so I'd love some input on where to go, where to stay, where to avoid etc. Looking forward to my first trip to Canada. I've never even had poutine.

Are there tolls on the way to Calgary? Will I need Canadian cash?

I know there are better times to visit, but this is what I have to work with :)

-Fred in Colorado
by FreddieG
Tue Aug 22, 2023 11:28 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Rethinking "Keep Your Car for Ten Years"
Replies: 466
Views: 48721

Re: Rethinking "Keep Your Car for Ten Years"

I do a lot of maintenance myself. Still young enough to crawl under the car up on 2 x 12” homemade ramps.

Sales tax here on a new vehicle is 8%. Not to mention annual registration fees, which is based on the value. So for me, it’s cheaper to hang onto a vehicle for as long as possible and put that money towards any repairs.

I just upgraded the radio in the truck to a nice Alpine with Apple CarPlay. I have everything the newer vehicles have :)
by FreddieG
Sat Jul 08, 2023 4:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Password managers [LastPass alternatives]
Replies: 180
Views: 17944

Re: Password managers [LastPass alternatives]

I have both a Mac and an iPhone. ICloud Keychain is free and syncs without a problem.

This method requires you to use Safari, but I’ve gotten used to it.

Hopefully passkeys will eventually replace passwords.

https://www.tomsguide.com/news/what-are-passkeys
by FreddieG
Thu Jul 06, 2023 4:04 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Will This Boost My Credit Score?
Replies: 11
Views: 799

Re: Will This Boost My Credit Score?

Lastrun wrote: Thu Jul 06, 2023 3:21 pm In the 800s, I agree unlikely to make a difference.

I am not a credit score guru, but there is a technique, I think called All Zero Except One that could help perhaps better than the debit card approach.
I'll have a look into that. Thanks for the tip.
by FreddieG
Thu Jul 06, 2023 4:04 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Will This Boost My Credit Score?
Replies: 11
Views: 799

Re: Will This Boost My Credit Score?

bob60014 wrote: Thu Jul 06, 2023 3:54 pm Never use a debit card for purchases!
Im guessing you mean for security reasons? Or that I have less recourse? I agree, I don't like using it either, and I am wondering if I want to continue.
by FreddieG
Thu Jul 06, 2023 2:52 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Will This Boost My Credit Score?
Replies: 11
Views: 799

Will This Boost My Credit Score?

Now that I'm an empty-nester, I am planning to purchase a smaller place probably later this year or early next.

My credit score is low 800s. If I get a mortgage, it will be for a relatively small ($150k) amount, and possibly fairly short-term.

I normally put most expenses on my American Airlines miles credit card, but am wondering - if I greatly reduce or eliminate almost all credit card purchases (and use a debit card instead) over the next few months or year, will this boost my credit score by a significant amount? Just wondering if all this change is worth it. And if a higher credit score will make getting a mortgage easier, and one with a good rate.

Thanks for any input.
by FreddieG
Sun Jul 02, 2023 10:27 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Will Vanguard Withhold Taxes from Your IRA (Post-59.5 Years Old)?
Replies: 22
Views: 2635

Re: Will Vanguard Withhold Taxes from Your IRA (Post-59.5 Years Old)?

I am 66, and they withhold any percentage amount I input. They don’t do state, though. Just federal. At least not my state.
by FreddieG
Sun Jul 02, 2023 10:24 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Where can I get help understanding options for Medicare?
Replies: 21
Views: 3206

Re: Where can I get help understanding options for Medicare?

I actually found the “Medicare For All” book, available as a PDF from medicare.gov as a pretty good source

I also attended song sales presentations at my local library that were fairly informative, and there was no obligation to buy anything.
by FreddieG
Sun Jul 02, 2023 10:21 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Where can I get help understanding options for Medicare?
Replies: 21
Views: 3206

Re: Where can I get help understanding options for Medicare?

TravelforFun wrote: Sun Jul 02, 2023 8:47 pm
nisiprius wrote: Sun Jul 02, 2023 8:13 pm The one point I would make is that there are two broad paths:

a) Traditional Medicare, which is operated by the Federal government, and

b) Medicare Advantage, which is private insurance subsidized and regulated by the Federal government.

And the options that need to be considered for Medicare Advantage are roughly ten times as complicated as for traditional Medicare.
Three broad paths including:

C) Medicare Supplement.

TravelforFun
I would classify the Supplement as being part of Traditional Medicare because that’s what it supplements. It’s not really a separate standalone path.
by FreddieG
Tue Jun 27, 2023 8:27 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to count a pension in net worth calculations
Replies: 68
Views: 10936

Re: How to count a pension in net worth calculations

If you were to die tomorrow, how much would your pension be worth to your heirs? For me, it’s zero. I don't count it as part of net worth, nor social security, just include them in speculative calculations about the income I will have in retirement. I do keep a separate spreadsheet for the pension under a range of scenarios (years x final average salary) and keep a list of SPIA prices today to achieve the same income, just for curiosity. For example one likely pension scenario for age 55 would cost me about $700,000 to replicate in an SPIA today. What will it actually be in 14 years and what will the SPIA cost then? Have no idea of course but that is a good ballpark number. Somewhere between $500K and a million most likely. If you knew you...
by FreddieG
Tue Jun 27, 2023 8:10 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to count a pension in net worth calculations
Replies: 68
Views: 10936

Re: How to count a pension in net worth calculations

If you were to die tomorrow, how much would your pension be worth to your heirs? For me, it’s zero.
by FreddieG
Mon Jun 26, 2023 10:20 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Online File Storage vs External HDD?
Replies: 47
Views: 3654

Re: Online File Storage vs External HDD?

You should use a longer password for your iPhone. And you should never enter it in plain sight of anyone. It’s called “shoulder surfing” . The Wall Street Journal covered this problem extensively last spring.

Also, look at Apple’s Advanced Data Protection.

These two steps will go along way towards securing your data.

https://www.wsj.com/video/series/joanna ... CDBB24715D

https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/revi ... y-feature/
by FreddieG
Mon Jun 26, 2023 10:12 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Opinions requested: Pixel 6A or Galaxy S22
Replies: 17
Views: 1123

Re: Opinions requested: Pixel 6A or Galaxy S22

My primary phone is an iPhone, but I have a Pixel 6A that I use in Mexico. It has a Telcel SIM. I get frequent updates, and it works as described. I understand it’s Android’s reference (standard) implementation.

I’m not a big fan of Android, but Pixels are the most tolerable Android that I have found.
by FreddieG
Mon Jun 26, 2023 8:59 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How many Retirees 65 y/o PLUS are going into Retirement with 70% - 80% PLUS in STOCKS??
Replies: 128
Views: 17192

Re: How many Retirees 65 y/o PLUS are going into Retirement with 70% - 80% PLUS in STOCKS??

I have Social Security and a safe pension. My AA on both my personal and tax-advantaged accounts is 100% equity. Most are large cap value stocks (VHYAX and VDADX). But I do have 15% in aggressive growth (VHCAX).

I sleep well at night.
by FreddieG
Sun Jun 25, 2023 10:43 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Anyone use Capital One 360? Looking to move from Alliant
Replies: 41
Views: 5439

Re: Anyone use Capital One 360? Looking to move from Alliant

I actually have both. I use Alliant checking and savings for my primary, and Capital One 360 checking ATM card when traveling outside the country. I don’t want to bring my primary Alliant debit card with me. I prefer to use an account that has a fixed amount of money that I refresh on a recurring basis, to limit my exposure to fraud. I get about 3.1% on Alliant savings, not enough of a difference to bother changing to Capital One for 4%. I have not had any problems with mobile deposits, nor accessing their site, so I otherwise can’t speak to your negative experience. I see Capital One as having two advantages over Alliant: 1) Zelle 2) The ability to deposit cash at any CVS Those factors might be important to you. I deposit cash maybe twice ...
by FreddieG
Tue Jan 04, 2022 12:56 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Divorced Spouse Social Security
Replies: 4
Views: 630

Divorced Spouse Social Security

I am 65 and about a year out from Full Retirement Age (66 1/2). SSA tells me I will receive about $2,750 per month then.

My ex wife is late 50's and SSA tells her she'll receive about $500 per month at her FRA. We were married for 19 years.

I know that she's entitled to a share of mine at some point. It is my understanding that because her benefit is much less than mine, I will only receive the higher of my amount ($2,750) vs my 50% of her amount($250), not the total ($3,000). Is my understanding correct?

It's not a huge deal, but I like to plan ahead.
by FreddieG
Mon Jan 03, 2022 10:12 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: bucket list ideas?
Replies: 77
Views: 7757

Re: bucket list ideas?

Two years ago I drove from Colorado to Argentina via the Pan American Hwy.

It took me six months. Unfortunately I had to suspend my trip because of Covid.

It’s not for everyone, but I had fun. Hoping to do the northern leg of the highway to Alaska at some point.

https://thepanamericanhighway.blogspot.com/?m=1
by FreddieG
Mon Sep 13, 2021 8:39 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Input on Patio Estimate
Replies: 11
Views: 1363

Re: Input on Patio Estimate

London wrote: Mon Sep 13, 2021 8:32 pm Without locations, this thread is meaningless. In India, it will be cheaper than New York.
Outside Denver.
by FreddieG
Mon Sep 13, 2021 6:54 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Input on Patio Estimate
Replies: 11
Views: 1363

Input on Patio Estimate

I am trying to get a 14' by 18' patio built off my kitchen. I was finally able to get someone to give me an estimate. It seems a bit high, but I don't have a lot of experience here. Would love to get input. The retaining wall referred here would be very approximatelu about 14' long and 1.5 high.

There would be some light excavation involved. Maybe about a foot deep at the far end of the patio where the retaining wall would go.

They want 10% at signing, 55% at start, and 35% at completion.

Please give me your thoughts on the price.

Image
by FreddieG
Fri Jun 11, 2021 7:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Ethical to Work with Two Realtors?
Replies: 31
Views: 4661

Ethical to Work with Two Realtors?

I am interested in down-sizing to a new house, now that my kids have flown the coop. Obviously, inventory is very tight now. I approached one local realtor, described what I was looking for, and asked her to keep her eyes out.

Are there any problems with asking another realtor to also be on the lookout for me? Or even a third realtor?

Would like to get feedback on this. Thanks.
by FreddieG
Mon Feb 08, 2021 4:01 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Men, Where do you Carry Your Cell phone?
Replies: 16
Views: 2167

Men, Where do you Carry Your Cell phone?

I’m curious. I used to have a belt case, but now I just carry it in my pocket.
by FreddieG
Sat Jan 30, 2021 4:35 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Help With Understanding Financial Aid Offer
Replies: 16
Views: 1233

Re: Help With Understanding Financial Aid Offer

momvesting wrote: Sat Jan 30, 2021 4:16 pm Also, if you are a Colorado resident, this is crazy expensive, or is this out of state?? If you live in Colorado and the kid has at least a 3.0 in high school, consider the University of Utah and using WUE. It is a really good school and will cost less than this even with no aid other than WUE.
I agree. I think we can do better. But I want to understand how it works so we can compare offers apples-to-apples.
by FreddieG
Sat Jan 30, 2021 3:47 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Help With Understanding Financial Aid Offer
Replies: 16
Views: 1233

Re: Help With Understanding Financial Aid Offer

Using just the fall 2021 numbers, it looks like the tuition plus room/board is a little over $22k. The books and the rest is highly variable, so lets just start with the $22k. The actual aid you are getting is: Founder's Grant, Pell Grant, and Bears Scholar. Those add up to a little under $5k. So you will pay about $17k-$18k, plus book and misc fees (lab fees, etc). You are free to cover this $17k-18k with the loans listed and/or work study. If your income is low enough to get that much Pell Grant money, you may want to consider private schools. We make too much to get a Pell Grant, but little enough that my kid qualifies to get about a 50% reduction at her super pricey private school, so I'm paying a little less than this for a school wit...
by FreddieG
Sat Jan 30, 2021 3:24 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Help With Understanding Financial Aid Offer
Replies: 16
Views: 1233

Help With Understanding Financial Aid Offer

My child applied to UNC (Colorado), and has received a financial aid offer. I am having trouble understanding it. In looking at the image of the offer, does this mean that our costs are the sum of the 3 Direct Loan (DL) items totaling $7,329 per semester?

I understand the $1,500 Work-study is something he'll have to earn on campus.

Thanks for any help in deciphering this.

Image
by FreddieG
Mon Sep 28, 2020 3:21 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Mutual Funds - Dividends Only, No Cap Gains
Replies: 7
Views: 965

Re: Mutual Funds - Dividends Only, No Cap Gains

rkhusky wrote: Mon Sep 28, 2020 3:12 pm Most, if not all, of Vanguard's index funds do not distribute capital gains.
I guess I have one of the few Vanguard funds that do distribute cap gains - Capital Opportunity Fund (VHCAX). Because I see year-end cap gains there, I started wondering why my other 2 funds never pay them. :)
by FreddieG
Mon Sep 28, 2020 2:49 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Mutual Funds - Dividends Only, No Cap Gains
Replies: 7
Views: 965

Re: Mutual Funds - Dividends Only, No Cap Gains

Wow, thank you for this. I never knew about "heartbeat trades" until today. I'll be sure to go to great lengths to avoid selling these funds, so I can continue to defer cap gains taxes.
by FreddieG
Mon Sep 28, 2020 2:00 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Mutual Funds - Dividends Only, No Cap Gains
Replies: 7
Views: 965

Mutual Funds - Dividends Only, No Cap Gains

I hold VDADX (Vanguard Dividend Appreciation) and VHYAX (Vanguard High Yield) mutual funds in a personal, non-tax advantaged account.

Over the last 3 years, I have only received dividends, never capital gains (or losses, of course).

I understand that gains/losses are realized when a stock is sold, and that a fund's turnover rate drives that. According to Morningstar, turnover (https://www.morningstar.com/funds/xnas/vdadx/quote) for VDADX is 14%. VHYAX turnover is 7%. I've skimmed the prospectus, and don't see anything except boilerplate about cap gains.

Any ideas why I've only received dividends so far?

I receive only dividends in my IRA, but of course that's a tax-advantaged account.
by FreddieG
Wed Jul 22, 2020 8:59 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Where is your fixed income invested?
Replies: 88
Views: 10389

Re: Where is your fixed income invested?

I am retired with a defined benefit pension. My 401k is 100% invested in Vanguard Wellington.

No regrets. I can stomach volatility.
by FreddieG
Thu May 21, 2020 7:09 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Junipers Growing Very Slowly
Replies: 8
Views: 675

Junipers Growing Very Slowly

I bought 28 Spartan Junipers 4 years ago to be used as a screen. At the time they were about 5’. They are now only about 6’

They get plenty of sun, and I water them when we have dry spells here in Colorado. I also do some very light pruning especially near the base. When I planted them, I was very certain to make a large enough hole, filled with peat moss and good topsoil. It took me three days to plant them all.

Anything else I can do to speed up the growth a little bit? They otherwise would look very full and healthy.
by FreddieG
Mon Jun 10, 2019 2:30 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Social Security and divorce
Replies: 3
Views: 864

Social Security and divorce

I just turned 62, and my ex-wife to whom I was married for 19 years is 42. According to SSA.gov, I am eligible to receive $2000 a month at age 62. Does this mean I will collect $2000 a month until such time that she turns 62, and then my benefit will be reduced by half?

Setting aside of course the question of whether I should wait until 66.

Thanks
by FreddieG
Mon Jul 16, 2018 4:21 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Books on Paying for College
Replies: 1
Views: 305

Books on Paying for College

I have twin boys in HS, and I am starting to think about some strategies for financing their college. Can anyone recommend an established, well-known book on the subject? I am looking for the Jane Bryant Quinn of college finance.

I've looked on amazon, and there are screaming titles, but I don't want to risk my money.

Thanks for any advice.
by FreddieG
Thu Jun 07, 2018 8:26 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tax Treatment of Divorce Settlement
Replies: 1
Views: 444

Tax Treatment of Divorce Settlement

I have reached a Settlement with my wife. I need to sell mutual funds worth $500k, incurring significant capital gains tax, and pay her those monies. Those mutual funds are held in a Revocable Trust, and I am the trustee.

My divorce attorney thought there may be special tax treatment since it was pursuant to a divorce settlement.

Is he right? Anyway to mitigate the tax?
by FreddieG
Sat Jul 22, 2017 6:07 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Roth 5 Year Rule
Replies: 3
Views: 811

Roth 5 Year Rule

I imagine this question has been asked before, but nothing popped up in the search. I've had a Roth IRA at Vanguard for at least 15 years. In that time, I've probably owned 3 different funds, one at a time, within the account. I currently have the Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth Index Fund since 2014.

When does the 5 years start, when I opened the account back 15 years ago, or when I bought the individual fund in the account?

I ask, because I want a little more income, and less risk, and am thinking of switching to a value or balanced fund.

I turn 60 next week, BTW.

Thanks.
by FreddieG
Sat Jun 17, 2017 10:24 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Forced to Convert 401k to IRA?
Replies: 17
Views: 2484

Forced to Convert 401k to IRA?

I am 60, and retired at 58 from a large corporation, where I worked for 32 years. I have a substantial 401k, and am contemplating starting to withdraw from it in the next year or two. The 401k is managed by Vanguard. I called Vanguard, and they said that in order to begin withdrawing, I'd have to convert the entire 401k to an IRA. My post-tax contributions would be put in a Roth IRA, and my pre-tax would go to a regular IRA. I thought I was pretty savvy financially, but this info floored me. I assumed all along it would stay in the 401k, and I would just draw it down. I know it doesn't really matter in the end. An account is an account, whether it says "401k" or "IRA", but it just took me by surprise. Is this arrangement...
by FreddieG
Sun May 21, 2017 7:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Mexican Pacific Beaches
Replies: 58
Views: 8242

Mexican Pacific Beaches

The wife wants to go to Mexico for a getaway (including our teenage boys). We're leaning towards the Pacific Coast, but I don't know much about Mazatlan vs Acapulco vs Cabo San Lucas, etc.

Can the members of this group give me some advice on what places they've liked there? A good beach would be nice, but wouldn't mind some historical or natural attraction sightseeing, if possible.

We live in Colorado, and the Denver airport is reasonably close.

Thanks.
by FreddieG
Sat Jan 07, 2017 9:59 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Virtual Machines for Finances, etc.
Replies: 22
Views: 2498

Re: Virtual Machines for Finances, etc.

I have Ubuntu but run Mac OSX virtually on VMWare. That's because I got sick of Quicken/Windows and wanted to convert to Banktivity. I will eventually convert to a physical Mac.

It works fine. Sometimes my Bluetooth mouse gets a little bit flaky.

I tried MoneyDance and GNUCash on Linux but settled on the Banktivity.

I have 16 GB of memory and allocate half to the virtual machine
by FreddieG
Sat Jan 07, 2017 9:52 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Ally Bank - Is this a safe/best place to stash some cash?
Replies: 108
Views: 43540

Re: Ally Bank - Is this a safe/best place to stash some cash?

I'm dumbfounded as to why she's concerned about a deposit insured by the FDIC, and well under the insured limit. Just because there is a physical Wells Fargo nearby, it doesn't mean that your money is physically there, either. All they do is push paper and give you free coffee there.
by FreddieG
Wed Dec 21, 2016 6:36 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: White Spot on TV - Caused by Router?
Replies: 22
Views: 3598

Re: White Spot on TV - Caused by Router?

DaftInvestor wrote:Maybe move the router to the far right or left and see if you end up with a problem there in 6 months - it would be a neat experiment.

Ha! The TV is toast anyway, so I think I will, in the interest of science, perform your experiment. I'll publish my findings next Spring :D
by FreddieG
Wed Dec 21, 2016 12:55 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: White Spot on TV - Caused by Router?
Replies: 22
Views: 3598

White Spot on TV - Caused by Router?

I have a Samsung LED TV, purchased about 4 years ago. Directly below the TV is my router. It is the row of LED lights in the picture below. In the past few months, I've noticed a white spot developing on the screen (also shown in pic), right above the router, on the TV.

I know it is difficult to pin the cause of the white spot as being the router, but I would be curious to know if these white spots are common on TVs. The router has been there for about 14 months. The white spot developed about 6 months ago.

If I purchase a new TV, I will probably move the router, out of caution. I probably won't place the router on my nightstand :D

Thanks.

https://s6.postimg.org/hcuednuht/IMG_3401.jpg
by FreddieG
Sun Dec 04, 2016 7:54 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: DNS services
Replies: 10
Views: 2067

Re: DNS services

Angelus359 wrote:Google does data mine it's DNS server, but DNS can't do anything but say you requested how to get to a specific domain.

If privacy is your ultimate concern, you have 2 real options

Run your own recursive DNS server using root hints
This is vulnerable to ISP level sniffing however
Use a guaranteed no log DNS server using dnscrypt
This is vulnerable to the provider lying about no logs

There is no way to have perfect privacy, so pick your poison
I subscribe to a VPN (Private Internet Access aka PIA) for $6 month. All DNS goes through them. They're famously no-log. I also periodically check for DNS leaks.
by FreddieG
Sun Nov 20, 2016 8:35 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Ethernet Question
Replies: 12
Views: 2709

Re: Ethernet Question

I would do some research on cat5 exposed to the elements. Pretty sure it is frowned upon for safety reasons e.g. Lightning
by FreddieG
Sun Nov 20, 2016 8:25 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: New Alliant CU mobile app
Replies: 3
Views: 1158

Re: New Alliant CU mobile app

icefr wrote:You're leaving me quite optimistic about the iOS app that will hopefully come out soon!
I'm confused. I use Alliant on my iPhone. Is this a different app?
by FreddieG
Sun Nov 20, 2016 8:22 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Online Banking Recommendations
Replies: 18
Views: 3699

Re: Online Banking Recommendations

I have Alliant for checking, savings, and HELOC. No complaints. What is your concern about the mobile app? I deposit checks from my iPhone.