Thank you each for replying.
Seems the big focus here is inflation and the fact that SPIAs are not adjusted.
Who woulda thunk it!? /s
I was hoping that, since I do not intend to purchase a SPIA, but instead remain invested (60/40), my chances of staying ahead of inflation would be fairly good. Also, the amount above our desired retirement income seems great enough that we should end the 15 year period with some amount left over when beginning the SS/pension combo.
Excellent replies all, thanks again!
Cheers,
Packet
Search found 835 matches
- Wed Aug 10, 2022 8:56 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Annuity as retirement readiness indicator
- Replies: 10
- Views: 933
- Wed Aug 10, 2022 8:21 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Annuity as retirement readiness indicator
- Replies: 10
- Views: 933
Annuity as retirement readiness indicator
At a very gross level, could an estimated SPIA payout indicate one’s readiness to retire? I’ll use me as an example, since that’s what prompts my question … :) I and my spouse are currently 54. When I go to https://www.immediateannuities.com/ and punch in our retirement balance with a start date of 1 year… It spits out an estimated, joint 15 year period certain, monthly payout well above our desired retirement income. I look at 15 year certain because we have 2 Social Security checks plus 1 small pension that can be taken at 70 which should cover expenses. The pension is not cost of living adjusted, however, even when estimating inflation and a 75% SS payment, the three should cover our current expenses. I do not intend to get a SPIA. I jus...
- Wed Jul 29, 2020 11:52 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: What is your overall portfolio weighted expense ratio
- Replies: 333
- Views: 43543
Re: What is your overall portfolio weighted expense ratio
- Tue Mar 10, 2020 1:35 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: U.S. stocks in free fall
- Replies: 36221
- Views: 4651293
Re: U.S. stocks in free fall
I'm not OP... but I use Google sheets to track all my savings/investments. I wrote a very small Google App script to check the sheet and send an alert if appropriate. The script is then triggered by time, daily (you can find this right in the script writing interface).
I'm am not a software developer, a coder, nor a script kiddy ... but i do have a background in IT and a loose grasp of such things.
Cheers,
packet
- Fri Feb 28, 2020 11:23 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: U.S. stocks in free fall
- Replies: 36221
- Views: 4651293
Re: U.S. stocks in free fall
All I know is I'm having an awfully hard time keeping up with this thread!
Thankfully, keeping up with my AA is much easier...
Stiff upper lip folks!
Cheers,
packet
Thankfully, keeping up with my AA is much easier...
Stiff upper lip folks!
Cheers,
packet
- Thu Jan 23, 2020 8:15 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: 400lbs, delivery or pick up?
- Replies: 71
- Views: 9660
Re: 400lbs, delivery or pick up?
Glad you enjoyed it!SocalLiving wrote: ↑Thu Jan 23, 2020 7:55 am Just read the entire thread over my morning coffee. Could not stop laughing as the thread evolved in the usual Boglehead way. Made my morning. You guys are awesome.
I always go to the store to get my cat litter because I feel guilty about getting it delivered. No more!
Thank you OP and Bogleheads
Going to be smiling all day today thinking about this thread.
I've since put the order on automatic, at a reduced count of 6 (240 lbs.) to get free shipping. Love the convenience, can't beat the price locally. Set it and forget it shopping, just like my investing.
Cheers,
packet
- Tue Jan 07, 2020 3:17 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: OFFICIAL REGISTRATION FOR THE 2020 BOGLEHEAD CONTEST
- Replies: 688
- Views: 36349
- Thu Dec 05, 2019 1:02 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: 10 Year Stock Picking Project, Beginning Dec 5 2019
- Replies: 28
- Views: 2751
Re: 10 Year Stock Picking Project, Beginning Dec 5 2019
Great idea!
I think a bunch of other Bogleheads should volunteer to take these randomized control groups on ... sorry, not me, I don't have that kind'a spare cash lying around that I'd be willing to "donate" to the cause.
Cheers,
packet
- Thu Dec 05, 2019 12:55 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: I don’t think I am a good Boglehead
- Replies: 80
- Views: 7278
Re: I don’t think I am a good Boglehead
There are many roads to Dublin.
I sincerely wish you the best of luck on your road (I'm sure you'll be fine).
Cheers,
packet
I sincerely wish you the best of luck on your road (I'm sure you'll be fine).
Cheers,
packet
- Sat Nov 16, 2019 7:33 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: "Beer Money" Methods
- Replies: 54
- Views: 8842
Re: "Beer Money" Methods
I use Paribus by CapitalONE and get some cash back from Amazon from time to time when they miss their delivery promise. They track other orders too, but i rarely shop elsewhere.
Cheers,
packet
Cheers,
packet
- Thu Nov 07, 2019 2:49 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: "Beer Money" Methods
- Replies: 54
- Views: 8842
- Fri Oct 25, 2019 2:15 pm
- Forum: US Chapters
- Topic: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here
- Replies: 3606
- Views: 562172
Re: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here
Nice! And two times the congratulations!
But... shhhh.... I'm sure you meant to say that your soon-to-be-wife contributed to her IRA (and has enough income to cover said deposit). Cause, well, you know... you can't donate to someone else's IRA after all ...
Cheers,
packet
- Fri Oct 25, 2019 2:12 pm
- Forum: US Chapters
- Topic: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here
- Replies: 3606
- Views: 562172
Re: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here
As wonderful as that is (Congrats!)... be sure you know how your company matches funds (if they do at all). For example, if I were to do the same, I would miss out on the matching funds for the remaining paychecks as my employer calculates the match each pay period, not per year... free money lost.
Hope that makes sense.
Cheers,
packet
- Fri Oct 18, 2019 10:19 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Controlling Discretionary Spending
- Replies: 44
- Views: 3951
Re: Controlling Discretionary Spending
Only 12 days in and it's been interesting. I have about $100 stacked up already (if today were purchase day, I'd likely only spend half of that). It really makes a difference seeing a total as opposed to the individual prices (these are all small). The extra time allows (forces) more thought around the question of whether it's a want or a need...
Cheers,
packet
Cheers,
packet
- Wed Oct 09, 2019 6:08 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Controlling Discretionary Spending
- Replies: 44
- Views: 3951
Re: Controlling Discretionary Spending
99.9% of the spending I'm struggling with is online, and the vast majority is at 1 re-seller (thankfully, I have their 5% off card, plus portions go to my favorite charity).Independent George wrote: ↑Tue Oct 08, 2019 10:14 pm ...pay in cash as much as possible, and keep that cash in separate envelopes...
How would DR's suggestion be translated for online transactions?
Just spit-balling here, but... maybe put equivalent amounts of cash in envelopes and mirror online activities? Would cause extra effort (would have to actually get up out of the recliner to get the envelopes) and more thoughtfulness... ?
Cheers,
packet
- Tue Oct 08, 2019 9:04 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Controlling Discretionary Spending
- Replies: 44
- Views: 3951
Re: Controlling Discretionary Spending
And that's why I'm here baring my soul to the Boglehead community (and myself)!cheese_breath wrote: ↑Tue Oct 08, 2019 9:00 am ...“Watch the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves,”
Thank you for your feedback.
Cheers,
packet
- Tue Oct 08, 2019 9:00 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Controlling Discretionary Spending
- Replies: 44
- Views: 3951
Re: Controlling Discretionary Spending
Good point. It is pretty easy today, I'll need to consider this more.
Point taken. We contribute (combined with matches etc.) almost 1 year's projected (in retirement) expenses per year. Not quite there, but, we could get much closer with a reduction in unneeded spending. Also, this doesn't include SS and a small pension waiting in the wings. Thus, I'm fairly comfortable with where we are.
Cheers,
packet
- Tue Oct 08, 2019 8:51 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Controlling Discretionary Spending
- Replies: 44
- Views: 3951
Re: Controlling Discretionary Spending
It's only been 1 day and...
Confessions:
1. Ordered 3, 20' cat 6 ethernet cables, $8.50 ea, total $25.50
2. Ordered 1 usb-c to rj45 adapter, $20
3. Ordered a SIM from Sprint, $29
Why didn't I wait wait?
I "need" the cables and adapter for a trip this weekend. They are to enhance a gaming session with my brother (we're both far too old to be gamers, but, whatever). Not needed, but cheap enough (plus the time pressure) pushed me to buy-it-now.
The SIM is for a test at home and there is a 100% money back guarantee. If it works the way I hope, it will save about $30 per month going forward. If it doesn't, I simply hope they honor the guarantee.
Hmm, bit of a rough start... :/
Cheers,
packet
Confessions:
1. Ordered 3, 20' cat 6 ethernet cables, $8.50 ea, total $25.50
2. Ordered 1 usb-c to rj45 adapter, $20
3. Ordered a SIM from Sprint, $29
Why didn't I wait wait?
I "need" the cables and adapter for a trip this weekend. They are to enhance a gaming session with my brother (we're both far too old to be gamers, but, whatever). Not needed, but cheap enough (plus the time pressure) pushed me to buy-it-now.
The SIM is for a test at home and there is a 100% money back guarantee. If it works the way I hope, it will save about $30 per month going forward. If it doesn't, I simply hope they honor the guarantee.
Hmm, bit of a rough start... :/
Cheers,
packet
- Tue Oct 08, 2019 8:38 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Controlling Discretionary Spending
- Replies: 44
- Views: 3951
- Tue Oct 08, 2019 8:36 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Controlling Discretionary Spending
- Replies: 44
- Views: 3951
Re: Controlling Discretionary Spending
Thank you all very much for the feedback. ...We have a firm rule (minor exceptions). If you buy something, you have to get rid of ... at least two things.... We don't have a rule per se, but we do purged once or twice a year where we donate to charitable yard sales. Will have to consider a more formal rule set. Give yourself an allowance... Pretty much this. ... Helps prioritize your wants - self discipline! Hmmm... how would i account for larger purchases. Carry unspent allowance over from month to month perhaps? ... Spending expands to the amount of cash available... I agree and this is precisely what i'm trying to put a stop to. We max all tax advantaged accounts yearly and have an adequate contingency fund. I'd like to go even further, ...
- Mon Oct 07, 2019 10:53 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Controlling Discretionary Spending
- Replies: 44
- Views: 3951
Controlling Discretionary Spending
So, I’m fairly good at tracking spending and good enough at living below my means, but … I know I spend too much on things. Things I just want, or think may be helpful, or may even have an argument for the need thereof. Not to mention all of the eating out and entertainment... ugg, a topic for another thread! Struggling to develop the discipline (which is the unavoidable root of my issue) to cut back, I had an idea to try out. It’s been suggested many times to wait before pulling the trigger, a day, a couple/few days, etc. What I’m going to attempt is to bundle purchases. Something to the effect that I can only order “things” on 1 day per month, say the first Monday. As the want comes up, I’ll record it in the same document that I track all...
- Fri Sep 20, 2019 10:59 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: What is your overall portfolio weighted expense ratio
- Replies: 333
- Views: 43543
Re: What is your overall portfolio weighted expense ratio
Talking to myself ... :/
Another good change to our plan. I'm now in Fidelity Zero funds.
0.0678%
Cheers,
packet
- Tue Sep 10, 2019 9:43 am
- Forum: US Chapters
- Topic: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here
- Replies: 3606
- Views: 562172
Re: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here
Congrats and color me envious ...Pigeye Brewster wrote: ↑Tue Sep 10, 2019 8:54 am After paying off our mortgage in July, we received a copy of the recorded release of mortgage yesterday.
Cheers,
packet
- Tue Sep 10, 2019 8:21 am
- Forum: US Chapters
- Topic: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here
- Replies: 3606
- Views: 562172
Re: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here
Weeee!fortfun wrote: ↑Mon Sep 09, 2019 7:30 pm With last month's automatic contributions, DW and I just reached 7 figures! It will only last until the next market dip but we will enjoy it for now. Thanks Bogleheads for all of your help and support over the past three years! What an amazing group of kind and helpful people!
Congrats!
Cheers,
packet
- Thu Aug 29, 2019 12:02 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Is now still a good time to buy VTSAX?
- Replies: 45
- Views: 5513
Re: Is now still a good time to buy VTSAX?
YES!
Cheers,
packet
Cheers,
packet
- Thu Aug 15, 2019 6:11 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: U.S. stocks in free fall
- Replies: 36221
- Views: 4651293
Re: U.S. stocks in free fall
Fixed that for you...
Cheers,
packet
- Tue Aug 13, 2019 1:37 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Domestic returns next 10 years
- Replies: 45
- Views: 4222
Re: Domestic returns next 10 years
I believe asif408 was referring to the "4.5%" in the OP ... not your much more accurate "prediction" ...CoastalWinds wrote: ↑Tue Aug 13, 2019 1:20 pmI agree, and it appears that my heavy sarcasm with decimal point predictions was taken seriously by others. Unbelievable.runner3081 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 13, 2019 1:11 pm These discussions crack me up. No one knows. Anyone who thinks they knows is full of themselves
Cheers
packet
- Wed Jul 10, 2019 11:27 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: U.S. stocks continue to soar!
- Replies: 22381
- Views: 2119472
- Thu Jun 13, 2019 11:26 am
- Forum: US Chapters
- Topic: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here
- Replies: 3606
- Views: 562172
Re: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here
Congrats!noco-hawkeye wrote: ↑Wed Jun 12, 2019 9:51 pm In cash + investments, hit the 2M mark. (We could have counted the house / cars to get to the 2M mark earlier, but my mental accounting thought that was cheating.)
We've still got a couple of kids to get launched, but otherwise things are looking good and I really appreciate all the great posts on this forum. Onward and upwards!
Cheers,
packet
- Thu Jun 06, 2019 11:31 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Convince me not to try to time the market
- Replies: 27
- Views: 3031
Re: Convince me not to try to time the market
Oh yeah, and...
Welcome to Bogleheads!
Cheers,
packet
Welcome to Bogleheads!
Cheers,
packet
- Thu Jun 06, 2019 11:28 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Convince me not to try to time the market
- Replies: 27
- Views: 3031
- Fri May 10, 2019 6:06 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: What is your U.S./ex-U.S. stock allocation?
- Replies: 210
- Views: 18090
Re: What is your U.S./ex-U.S. stock allocation?
25% of equities are x-us.
Cheers,
packet
Cheers,
packet
- Fri May 03, 2019 11:41 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Rarely used items that are worth having?
- Replies: 112
- Views: 15486
Re: Rarely used items that are worth having?
elliptical machine?
Cheers,
packet
Cheers,
packet
- Thu Apr 25, 2019 8:18 am
- Forum: US Chapters
- Topic: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here
- Replies: 3606
- Views: 562172
Re: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here
Congrats and keep it up!happyisland wrote: ↑Wed Apr 24, 2019 4:10 pm Nobody else to tell about this, so I'll post it here: today was the first day we had to use a second comma for our net worth! Woo hoo!
Cheers,
packet
- Tue Apr 23, 2019 8:14 am
- Forum: US Chapters
- Topic: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here
- Replies: 3606
- Views: 562172
Re: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here
Congrats!
Keep on focusing on saving!
Cheers,
packet
- Fri Mar 22, 2019 8:47 am
- Forum: US Chapters
- Topic: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here
- Replies: 3606
- Views: 562172
Re: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here
Sahweeet!barnaclebob wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2019 8:43 am First time posting a milestone. With yesterdays paycheck and the rise in the market, the wife and I crossed a net worth of 2 mil yesterday...
Congrats.
Cheers,
packet
- Fri Mar 22, 2019 8:44 am
- Forum: US Chapters
- Topic: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here
- Replies: 3606
- Views: 562172
Re: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here
Well done and congrats!PhillyPhan wrote: ↑Thu Mar 21, 2019 9:48 pm With the rise in the market today, I crossed the 500k net worth milestone.
Keep up the good work ...
Cheers,
packet
- Wed Mar 06, 2019 12:20 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: PGERS v. Wal-Mart Class Action
- Replies: 6
- Views: 782
Re: PGERS v. Wal-Mart Class Action
Well golly... maybe I'm wrong. I just peeked back at transactions within the window and see a couple dividend distributions from WalMart. I did own a very small number of individual stocks before becoming a true Boglehead (didn't even remember what they were or precisely when I had them).
This explains why I received a mailer.
Still not sure if holders of mutual funds etc. would be class members... IANAL!
Cheers,
packet
This explains why I received a mailer.
Still not sure if holders of mutual funds etc. would be class members... IANAL!
Cheers,
packet
- Wed Mar 06, 2019 12:12 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: PGERS v. Wal-Mart Class Action
- Replies: 6
- Views: 782
Re: PGERS v. Wal-Mart Class Action
I received the mailer, so my first assumption was that I was a class member. Reading the paper work, "The Class includes all Persons who purchased or otherwise acquired the publicly traded common stock of Walmart between December 8, 2011 and April 20, 2012, and who were allegedly damaged by Defendants’ alleged violations " I definitely, "Otherwise acquired the publicly traded common stock". I own the shares, even if only indirectly. Since they're settling, I would be claiming to be "damaged" by the "alleged violations". I think they are deserving of the penalty (had something to do with bribing Mexican authorities to build somewhere down there, and maybe other stuff too). I'm just not sure if pitching...
- Wed Mar 06, 2019 11:08 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: PGERS v. Wal-Mart Class Action
- Replies: 6
- Views: 782
PGERS v. Wal-Mart Class Action
I am, and I'm willing to bet everyone here is, a class member of this suit against WalMart . Is anyone going to go through the trouble of listing every transaction in the 5 month window, with precise numbers of shares purchased, for their mutual funds and/or ETFs? I hold a few mutual funds that, in turn, hold WalMart: VTSAX, VINIX, and VBIAX (x2). Each of which would have had purchases within the window due to reinvesting dividends/distributions and bi-weekly additions (one is in a 403b). I would have to determine the exact number of shares each transaction resulted in, which is doable, but a fair amount of research and a little math to figure out. The suit looks to settle at $160 Million (tho I don't think that's 100% yet). I wonder what m...
- Thu Feb 21, 2019 8:31 am
- Forum: US Chapters
- Topic: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here
- Replies: 3606
- Views: 562172
Re: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here
Congratulations to all the previous milestone posters. Finally, we get to post in here too! We've been flirting with the 2 comma club for a while now, the recent dip not withstanding. This morning, for no particular reason, I realized that we were already there. The number I fixate on in our tracking spreadsheet does not include all of our contingency funds (only the invested tiers, not the cash accounts). So, there it is... doesn't feel much different than yesterday. I txt'd my loving wife with the news/realization... got a couple happy gifs in reply, but it's mostly just a shrug by both of us. No retirement party just yet. Not that it really matters, but this is our nest egg number, not net worth (we don't track net worth, don't really ca...
- Wed Jan 16, 2019 6:57 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: John Bogle has died at age 89
- Replies: 856
- Views: 81245
Re: John Bogle is dead at 89
Rest in peace Mr. B, you will be missed.
packet
packet
- Tue Jan 01, 2019 4:20 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: REGISTRATION FOR 2019 BOGLEHEAD CONTEST [Entry deadline has passed]
- Replies: 701
- Views: 35030
- Wed Sep 26, 2018 11:29 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: When do you need a hearing aid
- Replies: 50
- Views: 4407
- Wed Sep 26, 2018 11:26 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: What is your overall portfolio weighted expense ratio
- Replies: 333
- Views: 43543
Re: What is your overall portfolio weighted expense ratio
0.0747 ... drifting, drifting, drifting down ... weeee!packet wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2017 9:45 amW00T!packet wrote:0.1036%packet wrote:0.1014
My ER is slowly drifting up towards 0.16 due to the S&P 500 fund in my 403b. It would be 0.0847 today and drifting downward, if not for my 403... :/
As promised, drifting up ...
Our 403b fund is switching out of the S&P 500 fund for VINIX (Vanguard Institutional Index Fund Institutional Shares) with an ER of .04!
My new weighted ER will be 0.0845 ... happy camper I am ...
Of course, it's not really that big of a difference... but it still makes me happy.
Cheers,
packet
- Thu Jun 21, 2018 11:38 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Does an IPS really need to be 5 pages long to be valuable?
- Replies: 64
- Views: 15865
- Fri Jun 01, 2018 2:15 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Top Shelf Liquor Overrated?
- Replies: 191
- Views: 25900
Re: Top Shelf Liquor Overrated?
IMHO... vodkas in mixed drinks won't make a big difference in taste (tho it is there, just not big). However, my personal measuring stick happens the next morning. For me, Grey Goose is smooth on the psyche the next morn...
Cheers,
packet
Cheers,
packet
- Sat Apr 28, 2018 8:00 pm
- Forum: US Chapters
- Topic: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here
- Replies: 3606
- Views: 562172
Re: Paid Off Mortgage Today
Congrats!
Small world, we made an extra principal payment today... someday we'll join you.
Cheers,
packet
- Sat Apr 28, 2018 6:12 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Anyone else use AmazonSmile?
- Replies: 31
- Views: 4129
Re: Anyone else use AmazonSmile?
Yes, to local SPCA.
Plus, I use the Amazon store card to get 5% back for myself...
Cheers,
packet
Plus, I use the Amazon store card to get 5% back for myself...
Cheers,
packet
- Sun Mar 11, 2018 4:56 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Boglehead Beer
- Replies: 1071
- Views: 202957
Re: Boglehead Beer
Dogfish Head, World Wide Stout.
Cheers,
packet
Cheers,
packet