Search found 583 matches

by TnGuy
Fri Mar 08, 2024 12:28 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Social security approval
Replies: 15
Views: 2042

Re: Social security approval

Mine took a total of 12 days from submitting online to receiving approval via email. As part of the online process you will need to set up a bank account for direct deposit.


David
by TnGuy
Fri Mar 01, 2024 10:12 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What are you up YTD? [Year To Date]
Replies: 5249
Views: 900003

Re: What are you up YTD? [Year To Date]

Portfolio YTD = 4.66% (returns only)


David
by TnGuy
Thu Jan 04, 2024 8:29 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Winter Road Trip Through the Southwest US
Replies: 16
Views: 1751

Re: Winter Road Trip Through the Southwest US

Chaco Canyon is one of the most significant pre-Columbian Native American sites in the US.

Mesa Verde is another.

There is, also, Bandelier National Monument.

As is, Walnunt Canyon National Monument.

Valles Caldera is immense - and beautiful.


David
by TnGuy
Sat Dec 30, 2023 12:21 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What are you up YTD? [Year To Date]
Replies: 5249
Views: 900003

Re: What are you up YTD? [Year To Date]

Portfolio was up 21.83% - returns only.


David
by TnGuy
Sun Dec 17, 2023 3:18 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Article: "Why "VT and Chill" Is Probably the Best ETF Investing Strategy Out There"
Replies: 69
Views: 18808

Re: Article: "Why "VT and Chill" Is Probably the Best ETF Investing Strategy Out There"

From Jonathan Clements' 12/16/23 article : " That brings me to a second small issue: putting my plan into action. As a first step, I need to swap out of my current index-fund holdings in my “pay for retirement” portfolio and into Vanguard Total World. Problem is, that means abandoning my portfolio’s overweighted positions in value stocks, smaller companies and emerging markets. These holdings fared well in the current century’s first decade, but not so well over the past dozen years—and that gives me pause. While I claim no crystal ball, I’m also loath to give up on these overweights at what feels like a bad time in the market cycle, so I plan to make the shift slowly over perhaps a handful of years. And, no, this isn’t a tax issue: Al...
by TnGuy
Sat Dec 09, 2023 9:35 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How to best protect a new Dogwood tree?
Replies: 15
Views: 1481

Re: How to best protect a new Dogwood tree?

Hopefully, the variety dogwood you have is resistant to dogwood anthracnose.


David
by TnGuy
Tue Dec 05, 2023 4:27 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Article: "Why "VT and Chill" Is Probably the Best ETF Investing Strategy Out There"
Replies: 69
Views: 18808

Re: Article: "Why "VT and Chill" Is Probably the Best ETF Investing Strategy Out There"

In this article by Jonathan Clements from 08/12/2023 he mentions that "THERE ARE CERTAIN things I did right during my financial journey, notably saving like crazy, tilting heavily toward stocks and favoring index funds. But if only all my doing had stopped there. Looking back over almost four decades of investing, what I see is far too much tinkering...........my favored strategy for retirement account investors is to buy Vanguard Total World Stock Index Fund, which is available as both a mutual fund (VTWAX) and an exchange-traded fund (VT), and then combine it with short-term government bonds to get the risk profile you want. Vanguard Total World offers the broadest possible stock market diversification. Whatever part of the global st...
by TnGuy
Fri Dec 01, 2023 2:57 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What are you up YTD? [Year To Date]
Replies: 5249
Views: 900003

Re: What are you up YTD? [Year To Date]

ruralavalon wrote: Fri Dec 01, 2023 11:09 amIs that returns or contributions or both?......Your asset allocation?
That's only on returns. AA =100% equities.


David
by TnGuy
Fri Dec 01, 2023 10:01 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What are you up YTD? [Year To Date]
Replies: 5249
Views: 900003

Re: What are you up YTD? [Year To Date]

Portfolio is up 15.74% YTD.


David
by TnGuy
Sun Oct 29, 2023 2:58 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Fast Money: Verizon $10/mo discount per line retention credit
Replies: 40
Views: 8890

Re: Fast Money: Verizon $10/mo discount per line retention credit

I did it 5 days ago ........ and, still no response from Verizon ...... :(


David
by TnGuy
Sun Sep 24, 2023 2:39 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Visiting Bentonville AR
Replies: 16
Views: 2658

Re: Visiting Bentonville AR

IF you are a fan of architecture, approx. 50 minutes away is Thorncrown Chapel by E. Fay Jones. It was named by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) as the fourth–best building of the twentieth century. And, it's free and open to the pubic.


David
by TnGuy
Sat Sep 23, 2023 11:26 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: TD Ameritrade to Schwab
Replies: 161
Views: 13591

Re: TD Ameritrade to Schwab transition - how was it for you?

Ours was smooth. Went off without a hitch.


David
by TnGuy
Sun Sep 17, 2023 2:57 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Sneakers - Brooks Beast 20, alternatives?
Replies: 41
Views: 2334

Re: Sneakers - Brooks Beast 20, alternatives?

Beast GTS 23

I just picked up a pair to replace my last set of Beast 20s. So far, I'm enjoying them. They are more lightweight, too.


David
by TnGuy
Fri Sep 01, 2023 2:39 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What are you up YTD? [Year To Date]
Replies: 5249
Views: 900003

Re: What are you up YTD? [Year To Date]

As of today (9/1) it's up 14.67%


David
by TnGuy
Tue Aug 29, 2023 4:59 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Car auto stop/start - actual savings vs. wear and tear on car?
Replies: 126
Views: 13639

Re: Car auto stop/start - actual savings vs. wear and tear on car?

billaster wrote: Tue Aug 29, 2023 1:36 pmThe option for removal of the start/stop feature on the F-150 was a temporary situation during 2021 and 2022 because of supply chain shortages of parts necessary to support the feature. They would even pay you $50 and have you sign a document indicating that the feature was not supported. That was so they could keep selling trucks that were not equipped to designed specifications. Going forward all F-150 trucks will have the feature.
Thanks for letting me know about this. I had no idea. Also, very sorry to hear that it's being forced down customers throats, once again. Glad I was able to slip in under the wire. Here's the link to the story: The 2023 Ford F-150 Lineup Regains Auto Start & Stop Feature


David
by TnGuy
Tue Aug 29, 2023 1:17 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Car auto stop/start - actual savings vs. wear and tear on car?
Replies: 126
Views: 13639

Re: Car auto stop/start - actual savings vs. wear and tear on car?

From personal experience: My wife ordered a 2022 Ford Edge in Nov. of 2021. It arrived in May of 2022. It was doing the Auto Start/Stop with no way to disable it. I searched online and found a device to hook up (exceptionally easy to do) that took care of the issue. I ordered a new F-150 in Feb. 2022 (it arrived in October of 2022). After experiencing the nightmare of Auto Start/Stop on my wife's car I asked the dealer if I could get my truck without it. He said: 'No worries. Ford has already allowed the dealers the option of NOT having it on the F-Series.' He went on to explain that Ford was finding too many cases of starters burning out after 30k - and, sometimes, even less. So, all truck orders that his dealership places make certain to ...
by TnGuy
Mon Aug 14, 2023 2:44 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: VT/VTWAX w/ or w/out added REITS?
Replies: 13
Views: 1364

Re: VT/VTWAX w/ or w/out added REITS?

asset_chaos wrote: Sun Aug 13, 2023 1:00 am Last I looked Vanguard said total world stock index fund listed about 4% in the GICS sector called real estate. And a quick look at the fund overlap site says that greater than 80% of the securities in VNQ and VNQI are also in VT. If you make total world your core stock holding, you're getting real estate securities at their market weight of the 98% of global market cap that FTSE says their index covers. I don't see any need to add REIT funds to total world except to deliberately overweight real estate securities in your portfolio. I don't want to do that, but others may.
Thank you very much for posting this. Very helpful.

And, thanks to all who have contributed to this thread.


David
by TnGuy
Sat Aug 12, 2023 11:08 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: VT/VTWAX w/ or w/out added REITS?
Replies: 13
Views: 1364

Re: VT/VTWAX w/ or w/out added REITS?

Thanks for the clarification. I guess what I am considering is VT/VTWAX REIT holdings in terms of comparison to REIT index funds (e.g. - VGSLX/VNQ (domestic) and VGRLX/VNQI (international) - how much or little overlap, etc?


David
by TnGuy
Sat Aug 12, 2023 10:23 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: VT/VTWAX w/ or w/out added REITS?
Replies: 13
Views: 1364

VT/VTWAX w/ or w/out added REITS?

I'm considering downsizing my holdings in a rollover IRA into having only VT/VTWAX. Do you know if they accurately reflect the overall weight of the REIT market holdings? If not, the what might be a good % to hold on to of REITs (I'm currently hovering around 9% domestic and 1% international)?

Thanks for all of your help and insight.


David
by TnGuy
Tue Jul 04, 2023 9:00 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What are you up YTD? [Year To Date]
Replies: 5249
Views: 900003

Re: What are you up YTD? [Year To Date]

YTD = 9.35%


David
by TnGuy
Mon Jun 12, 2023 1:08 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Pinot Noir on the lower end?
Replies: 96
Views: 10213

Re: Pinot Noir on the lower end?

Jess and Jules Pinot Noir Sonoma, 2018 ~ $27.00


David
by TnGuy
Sat Jun 03, 2023 5:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?
Replies: 2851
Views: 225834

Re: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?

Image

This afternoon, we had the pleasure of watching a Scarlet Tanager spending some time taking a bath in the birdbath on our deck.


David
by TnGuy
Wed May 31, 2023 11:38 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best resources for planning a trip to Iceland
Replies: 21
Views: 1836

Re: Best resources for planning a trip to Iceland

My wife and I did an 11-day trip around Iceland a few years back and found the "Iceland - Lonely Planet Travel Guide" to be of great assistance in both plannings ahead and laying out our journey, as well as using it as we did our travels in country.


David
by TnGuy
Tue May 23, 2023 2:53 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?
Replies: 2851
Views: 225834

Re: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?

Image

For the first time since we've lived in our current house (30 years), we now have a pair of Summer Tanagers sticking around and building a nest!


David
by TnGuy
Sun May 07, 2023 3:02 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?
Replies: 2851
Views: 225834

Re: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?

Image

Just saw one of these (Baltimore Oriole) taking a bath in a birdbath on our deck.


David
by TnGuy
Thu Apr 20, 2023 10:33 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?
Replies: 2851
Views: 225834

Re: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?

Image

What you may have been seeing is a Northern Mockingbird - also happens to be the state bird of Tennessee. They are famous 'dive-bombers' when protecting nests/territory.

Image

A Grey Catbird would be another possibility.


David
by TnGuy
Tue Apr 11, 2023 3:42 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?
Replies: 2851
Views: 225834

Re: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?

Image

Just watched a Cooper's Hawk (unsuccessfully) go after a Common Garter Snake in our backyard. The snake crawled into a shrub/underbrush and the Cooper's kept hopping around the outer edge trying to go in after it. But, in the end, patience paid off and the snake got to watch the hawk fly away.

Image


David
by TnGuy
Tue Apr 11, 2023 11:44 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?
Replies: 2851
Views: 225834

Re: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?

Image

Seeing: - Ruby-throated Hummingbirds

Image

Hearing: - Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Image

Seeing & Hearing: - Barred Owls


David
by TnGuy
Fri Feb 10, 2023 3:36 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Recommended World War I book
Replies: 56
Views: 7132

Re: Recommended World War I book

Not a book, but the documentary They Shall Not Grow Old was quite well done - showing the British side of the war.


David
by TnGuy
Thu Feb 02, 2023 12:26 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What are you up YTD? [Year To Date]
Replies: 5249
Views: 900003

Re: What are you up YTD? [Year To Date]

As of 2/1/23 - 10.03%


David
by TnGuy
Fri Jan 27, 2023 2:08 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Are you guys still maxing Roth IRA in January?
Replies: 139
Views: 18802

Re: Are you guys still maxing Roth IRA in January?

cshell2 wrote: Sat Jan 21, 2023 10:51 pmInvesting every January is still DCA, it's just annual instead of monthly or weekly or whatever you're doing.
That's been my thought and approach since Day 1 of my wife and my doing our ROTH IRA investing, staring many years back.


David
by TnGuy
Thu Jan 26, 2023 12:43 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What is your age and asset allocation ?
Replies: 1156
Views: 150776

Re: What is your age and asset allocation ?

Me = 64
Wife = 62

100% equities (have been for over 30 years)


David
by TnGuy
Sun Jan 15, 2023 4:53 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Neighbor noise issues
Replies: 80
Views: 8719

Re: Neighbor noise issues

TJat wrote: Fri Jan 13, 2023 6:10 pm If I was somehow stuck in this lease, I would soundproof (or deaden) my bedroom ceiling. It’s not particularly hard or expensive.
QuietRock

QuietSeal Pro

QuietPutty

Safe 'n' Sound Insulation


David
by TnGuy
Mon Jan 09, 2023 4:47 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Visiting Alaska this summer. Any "not miss" things/places we should check out?
Replies: 19
Views: 2583

Re: Visiting Alaska this summer. Any "not miss" things/places we should check out?

My wife and I were there this past September. Besides relishing our time in Denali , we enjoyed trips to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center , where you can see just about every native Alaskan large mammal short of Polar and Kodiak Bears. After a quick side trip to Whittier we went to Seward , stayed there and then did boat a boat tour into Kenai Fjords National Park . After that, we drove down the west side of the Kenia Peninsula , eventually making our way to Homer - where, among other things, we took a tour of the Kilcher Homestead Living Museum . You don't have to know of - or, be a fan of - the TV show to appreciate what those who lived the pioneer life in that part of Alaska did. Separately, during the trip, we took a flight over ...
by TnGuy
Tue Jan 03, 2023 5:18 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Premium Italian Dried Pasta $$$
Replies: 59
Views: 8974

Re: Premium Italian Dried Pasta $$$

cbs2002 wrote: Tue Jan 03, 2023 3:55 pmI can tell a marked difference between DeCecco and Barilla. The difference between DeCecco and mainstream American brands is enormous.
:thumbsup


David
by TnGuy
Tue Jan 03, 2023 11:57 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Premium Italian Dried Pasta $$$
Replies: 59
Views: 8974

Re: Premium Italian Dried Pasta $$$

We've found this pasta brand - Cipriani - at our local Fresh Market to be wonderful in texture and flavor. It's been priced at about $7.00/box at our local Fresh Market, but may have risen in recent weeks. We've had their Tagliarelle and Tagliolini, also. Wonderful quality pasta at a very good price.


David
by TnGuy
Sun Jan 01, 2023 4:46 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [Traveling to Palm Springs -- Recommendations?]
Replies: 20
Views: 1682

Re: [Traveling to Palm Springs -- Recommendations?]

Palm Springs is famous for its Modernist Architecture.

Along those same lines, it has a Modernism Museum.

And, from February 16th - 26th they are having their annual Modernism Week festival.


David
by TnGuy
Mon Dec 05, 2022 3:39 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?
Replies: 2851
Views: 225834

Re: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?

JAZZISCOOL wrote: Sun Dec 04, 2022 4:17 pm... Saw a pair of Northern Flickers the other day....
Image

Ahhh, the Norther Flicker, it's one of those bird species that looks as if it were 'hand-painted'!


David
by TnGuy
Sun Dec 04, 2022 2:48 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?
Replies: 2851
Views: 225834

Re: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?

Image

More proof that it's wintertime ....... 3 Dark-eyed Juncos out near our feeders today.


David
by TnGuy
Sat Dec 03, 2022 11:17 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?
Replies: 2851
Views: 225834

Re: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?

Image
[Image link fixed by admin LadyGeek]

It's wintertime and the White-Throated Sparrows are back, on schedule.


David
by TnGuy
Mon Oct 31, 2022 2:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Great Smokey Mountains questions
Replies: 29
Views: 3764

Re: Great Smokey Mountains questions

Another quiet side of the park is Townsend, TN. So much more peaceful than the Sevierville/Pidgeon Forge/Gatlinburg side.

The Cradle of Forestry Museum is a wonderful place to visit, in a great setting, too - on the North Carolina side of things.

Also on the North Carolina side of things is the Biltmore Estate. An amazing 'house' (America's largest) with a landscape (designed by Frederick Law Olmsted) to match.

Another interesting structure is the historic Grove Park Inn - in Ashville, NC. It's an Art's & Crafts-style hotel built at the turn of the last century.


David