Search found 9 matches

by Emergent_Order
Thu Jan 17, 2019 8:31 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: John Bogle has died at age 89
Replies: 856
Views: 82119

Re: John Bogle has died at age 89

My heartfelt condolences to the Bogle family. Jack Bogle was a man of great integrity and vision. I have learned so much from him and the Bogleheads over the years. I had the great fortune to meet Jack at one of the recent Bogleheads convention, and no surprise, he was one of the most friendly and sharp-witted individuals I have had the pleasure of meeting.

Jack Bogle worked tirelessly to advance the lot of individual investors, through his crusade to educate investors and promote simple, low-cost index funds. His most lasting monument isn't that nice statue of him on the Vanguard campus. It is the positive impact his legacy continues to have on the savings and investments of millions of families.

Rest in Peace
by Emergent_Order
Mon Mar 12, 2018 12:58 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: When your spouse’s risk tolerance differs from yours
Replies: 31
Views: 3586

Re: When your spouse’s risk tolerance differs from yours

This was something I spent some time thinking about when creating our investing plans. In a marriage there is usually a division of household tasks. In ours I handle the majority of the investment planning and DW is responsible for more of the day to day bills and purchases. Our risk tolerance is different, but not hugely so. I tend to be more comfortable with equity risk, as long as its in a broadly diversified, low-cost mutual fund. The way I approached it was crafting an Investment Policy Statement (IPS) and then discussing it with her, when the kids were asleep. I needed to do this anyway, so it was a good excuse to stop procrastinating. I put more detail in the IPS than was strictly necessary, but I wanted to include the rationale for ...
by Emergent_Order
Tue Jun 13, 2017 9:33 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Deck replacement- Composite material recommendations
Replies: 22
Views: 5970

Re: Deck replacement- Composite material recommendations

We have a 5-year old Azek Timbertech deck in Northeast US. This material is 100% PVC with no filler. It has held up really, really well. Our contractor countersunk the screws and then I pounded in thousands of little plugs to cover the holes. You can't even tell that they are there. The only maintenance is a powerwashing once per year to clean off pollen and dirt. I would highly recommend this material.
by Emergent_Order
Tue Jun 13, 2017 9:18 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Ok reasons for a 37 year old to have a 60/40 mix?
Replies: 82
Views: 18530

Re: Ok reasons for a 37 year old to have a 60/40 mix?

I think you gave excellent reasons why 60/40 is a good stock and bond mix for you. A small difference in exposure to equities would be absolutely dwarfed if you capitulated on a severe downturn and sold everything for cash. Just by having a good sense of your risk tolerance, you are so far ahead of most people. Good work. Don't change a thing. I couple years ago I was revisiting our asset allocation. At the time we were early 40's and had a 70/30 mix. I could tell my wife was a little uncomfortable with that mix, the more we talked about our plans. We agreed to lower it to 60/40 and hold a little more in our emergency fund. Our investments will likely grow slightly slower, but we both found a compromise that should still get us to our goals...
by Emergent_Order
Fri Jun 09, 2017 10:31 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard Total Internaational [VXUS] & All World ex-US [VEU]: Twins separated at birth?
Replies: 14
Views: 3779

Re: Vanguard Total Internaational [VXUS] & All World ex-US [VEU]: Twins separated at birth?

Agree with posters above. I suspect that one of the prime reasons for keeping it, rather than mere inertia, is that it is darn convenient for tax loss harvesting in a taxable account.
by Emergent_Order
Wed May 03, 2017 11:34 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do you know exactly what % of income you spend?
Replies: 48
Views: 5402

Re: Do you know exactly what % of income you spend?

I have been tracking our taxes, expenses and savings percentages for the past seventeen years, as much because this kind of thing interests me, as to develop a practical understanding of where our money goes. Taxes includes: federal, state, local, real estate, FICA, medicare, AMT (only last year). Savings includes: 401k contributions plus matching, dividends, capital gains,529 plans, principal mortgage payments and after tax savings. Year Taxes Expenses Savings 1999 27% 42% 31% 2000 28% 37% 35% 2001 28% 32% 40% 2002 29% 23% 48% 2003 29% 34% 37% 2004 31% 27% 42% 2005 29% 43% 28% 2006 22% 29% 50% 2007 26% 28% 46% 2008 26% 49% 25% 2009 26% 32% 42% 2010 27% 40% 32% 2011 25% 32% 43% 2012 27% 28% 45% 2013 26% 44% 30% 2014 26% 28% 45% 2015 25% 46%...
by Emergent_Order
Mon Oct 19, 2015 9:57 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 2008 Market Crash, Did You See It As Opportunity?
Replies: 60
Views: 7283

Re: 2008 Market Crash, Did You See It As Opportunity?

Intellectually I saw 2008/09 as a great investing opportunity. However, as others have posted, the actual experience was emotionally draining and not at all clear cut at the time. To begin with both myself and my wife's companies were going through multiple, substantial rounds of job cuts during this period. Many of my clients were in tough financial shape and not spending. Deciding to move cash into equities during the recession was a tough call for us with one young child, a mortgage payment and uncertain incomes. It helped that we have always been good savers. We basically did nothing through this period, except continue investing in our 401k's. Additional money that would have gone to taxable investing was instead held to provide a larg...
by Emergent_Order
Sat Feb 28, 2015 5:02 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 2015 BOGLEHEADS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT
Replies: 70
Views: 26434

Re: 2015 BOGLEHEADS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT

Just signed up for the 2015 conference. Looking forward to attending this great event for the first time.
by Emergent_Order
Mon Oct 13, 2014 3:29 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Master Thread for Philadelphia PA Area Bogleheads Chapter
Replies: 213
Views: 115534

Re: Master Thread for Philadelphia PA Area Bogleheads Chapte

Hello,

I am in the area and interested in learning about any upcoming Philly Bogleheads Chapter gatherings. I would PM you, but I just joined the Boggleheads forum and am prevented from PM'ing for some reason.

Thank you for your assistance,

Emergent_Order