Search found 827 matches

by Strayshot
Thu Mar 21, 2024 7:52 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: 40 Minutes to Connect in DFW
Replies: 61
Views: 4655

Re: 40 Minutes to Connect in DFW

I'd be fine with a 40 min connection time in DFW recognizing the following: - It's an A320, get a seat in the front before the exit rows (rows 4-9) so you can get off the plane fast. Rows 5-8 are all economy. If you are behind the exit rows you'll lose too much time waiting for others to deplane and the risk of not making it goes up a lot - If you're delayed at all leaving MDT you'll probably miss the connection. All of your options if you miss the connection are 2 hops mostly going through LAX, so get prepared to arrive at RDM at night. Good news is there are several, so you won't get stranded it'll just add 6+ hours to your arrival time - You're in good health and a reasonably fast walker. If you have mobility issues I wouldn't do it The ...
by Strayshot
Fri Oct 06, 2023 5:46 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Quicken 2019 and forward
Replies: 1062
Views: 115399

Re: Quicken 2019 and forward

I am a longtime Quicken user, advocate, and supporter, but the fact they have been unable to fix downloads into Quicken from NetBenefits (Fidelity as a 401k provider) for months has started to make me wonder about the level of support for the current product.
The fact their splash screen claims the connectivity is provided by Fidelity adds insult to injury…….
by Strayshot
Fri Sep 29, 2023 8:07 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: First Time Snowboarding..Should I?
Replies: 41
Views: 4887

Re: First Time Snowboarding..Should I?

Snowboarding for 3 decades by now. It takes a week of concentrated effort, grit, and a very sore butt for someone who doesn’t have background skateboarding/wakeboarding to become functional at balancing and turning the board. Back edge leafing (staying on back edge and staying balanced) comes in the first 2 days or so, the rest is about learning balance and weight transfer to control transitions to front edge. Also very important to determine forward foot (regular vs goofy). Lots of folks get a headache when learning edge transition because they will transition to front edge, not balance, and catch the back edge which smacks the back of their head downslope. I would not recommend a 1 day snowboarding experience, you are making the right cho...
by Strayshot
Fri Aug 11, 2023 7:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Portable travel hotel room, and travel, coffee making ideas?
Replies: 120
Views: 11063

Re: Portable travel hotel room, and travel, coffee making ideas?

If I'll be somewhere for a longer trip (i.e. I'm checking a bag) and don't trust the hotel to provide an in-room coffee maker, I just bring a Keurig K-Mini in my checked luggage with enough K-cups to get me through the trip (3/day or so). They're light and not a huge hassle to pack around.

If it's shorter than that, I'll use the in-room or just buy from the lobby (or the exec/concierge lounge).

If you inspect the in-room and have any doubts you have a few options:
- if there is in-room microwave, boil water and quickly dump it in the fill area, let it sit 5-10 min and then run a cycle through
- tell the hotel it is broken and you need a replacement, they usually keep new machines in-house as a backup and will give you a new one for the room
by Strayshot
Wed Aug 09, 2023 7:05 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: "Upgrading" a Subaru Forester to a Tesla Model Y?
Replies: 133
Views: 13459

Re: "Upgrading" a Subaru Forester to a Tesla Model Y?

OP, you want a new car, you don’t need a new car. You can afford the car. If the opportunity cost of your want is worth it to you (vs earlier retirement, a kitchen remodel, an expensive vacation, etc) then buy the new car.

The real question is why do you have 200k sitting in a low rate account? Too large for an emergency fund, what near term uncertainty or planned purchase are you holding that much “cash” for? Or as someone posted earlier is that burning a hole in your pocket?

Maybe work towards getting more fully invested, if you have already maxed tax advantaged space get it into taxable according to your desired asset allocation.
by Strayshot
Tue Aug 08, 2023 7:02 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Career Regrets
Replies: 114
Views: 15546

Re: Career Regrets

First, I would recommend reading Daniel Pink’s newest book “The Power of Regret”. It was great and will help you set an overarching framework for what you are thinking and feeling. If you want to serve, do it because that is your goal. Lots of good advice above about venues including special forces, guard, reserves, as well as policing options. Some friends in the state department tell me they have also had some unique experiences and lots of foreign travel opportunities if you are looking for geography. If you like to shoot, lots of good suggestions above as well for competitive venues. Shooting as a hobby is fun but takes money from a day job. If you have a research mindset and enjoy tinkering and experimenting/measuring reloading is also...
by Strayshot
Sat Aug 05, 2023 8:04 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Dual USA/Canadian citizen thinking of moving to Canada to start a family - soliciting feedback!
Replies: 56
Views: 5866

Re: Dual USA/Canadian citizen thinking of moving to Canada to start a family - soliciting feedback!

WarAdmiral wrote: Sat Aug 05, 2023 6:36 am 1. You have very high income in Bay area compared to Canada. Almost 3x more in US.
2. You have both sides of parents in Bay Area.

For these two reasons, you should stay in Bay Area. Everything else in secondary and be easily managed.
This is the right answer. You are 1% earners and if you keep it up nothing else will matter because having family around and being rich will fix whatever ails you.
by Strayshot
Sat Jul 01, 2023 9:07 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: State Farm auto vs. everybody else
Replies: 60
Views: 7465

Re: State Farm auto vs. everybody else

Another long term State Farm user. I have autos, home, and umbrella all with State Farm. Every time I shop around, the combination of my personal time to do the shopping and the competitiveness (low variance) between quotes has taught me its not worth the energy for what could be extremely minimal savings and the hassle to switch. Some companies I refuse to use (Geico). Amica is extremely picky (probably a good thing for new customers but questionable how that would reflect on existing customers) and after getting a quote they mentioned they couldn’t insure me (even via the Costco relationship) because of a comprehensive claim (keyed car $900) that had happened within the prior 2 years of the quote. Given my total for max auto plus home plu...
by Strayshot
Sat Jun 17, 2023 7:32 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: PSA for New Mexico folks on 529 Education accounts (good news!)
Replies: 0
Views: 248

PSA for New Mexico folks on 529 Education accounts (good news!)

Hi All,
For the New Mexicans out there, you will hopefully be as happy/excited as I was that NM legislature passed a bill to align our state rules about 529’s with the current federal rules as of yesterday (June 16 2023). This means that we can now use 10K/year towards K-12 private tuition (allowing the cycling of 10K through the account to save state income tax on that amount) as well as rollovers to Roth and ABLE accounts and several other great things that are in the current federal rules. New Mexico has an unlimited annual contribution amount (and associated state tax deduction) for 529 accounts.
by Strayshot
Mon Jun 05, 2023 7:10 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Financial Review for FI in 5-10 years
Replies: 23
Views: 3082

Re: Financial Review for FI in 5-10 years

stan1 wrote: Sun Jun 04, 2023 3:56 pm
Jsdi7873hd wrote: Sun Jun 04, 2023 3:41 pm No we aren’t having kids. I told myself the decision will be final when I hit 40, so I got a couple more years to change my mind. However, everytime I see my friend’s having kids, I’m glad I don’t. How do you plan for end of life without kids?
You pay more to have other people do a quality job helping you at what your kids would do for free.
There are good threads on this exact topic on here with some searching (elderly / long term care for the childless). Also, I wouldn’t assume that having kids necessarily solves the issue or that it would happen for “free”.
by Strayshot
Sun Jun 04, 2023 10:10 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Financial Review for FI in 5-10 years
Replies: 23
Views: 3082

Re: Financial Review for FI in 5-10 years

I can’t tell from your post how much you actually have. Do you have $2M in taxable and another 2.7M in tax advantaged or something else? Spending 150k a year needs ~4M in assets to handle the yearly drawdown. AA looks fine, most glide paths for target funds don’t start heavy shift to bonds until a few years out. You could start going more bond heavy from vtsax at 5-10% a year starting maybe 4 years out from retirement.
Keep the mortgage, go on autopilot, you will be fine and any inheritance will just be added safety. Good work!
by Strayshot
Thu Jun 01, 2023 1:56 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How much money to keep at home
Replies: 120
Views: 9599

Re: How much money to keep at home

I never know when a good “cash” deal might pop up and don’t count on being able to get to the bank so I usually have $10K in various denominations and also some petty cash in small bills (maybe a couple hundred) so I never have to go to the ATM. If I ever end up with cash I just put it in the petty cash and snag it later. I figure a couple hundred interest (then losing half of that to taxes) is a worthwhile opportunity cost to finding a deal and not being able to get cash from a bank. Bringing 6 different debit cards to an ATM so I can access a couple grand is also not my preference.
by Strayshot
Sun May 28, 2023 12:18 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Lifestyle inflation
Replies: 70
Views: 9725

Re: Lifestyle inflation

What is the point to making more money if not “lifestyle creep”, “lifestyle inflation”, “improved quality of life” or any other number of other terms that all mean the same thing? Once retirement is planned for, emergency funds/plans are in place, estate plans are in place, appropriate insurance is in place, etc why not expand lifestyle to enjoy the things you have earned in a smart way? We don’t have a complete picture of all the things above for this case, but if we assume they are I don’t see an issue with inflating housing and say go for it. If renting the old home is cash flow positive and they can afford the mortgage on the new home, no big deal. Lots of eggs in the real estate basket (concentrated risk) but if they manage that vs the...
by Strayshot
Fri May 19, 2023 7:41 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: "The case for financial literacy education" Planet Money article
Replies: 32
Views: 2809

Re: "The case for financial literacy education" Planet Money article

I’m shocked at the responses that this wouldn’t be valuable at the high school level. Perhaps folks don’t realize that for 1/3 of the US population over age 25 a high school (or less) education is all they got. That number approaches 50% if you include the people with “some college” who never got a degree. And all that assumes that the other 50% gained financial literacy in college as part of some core or common curriculum, maybe they got a business degree, or took stats, or something else. I don’t know what art and history majors are requiring, but it probably isn’t stats. Having basic financial literacy is important for everyone and giving that to the 91% who can make it through 12th grade is good for all of us. Many schools fail at teac...
by Strayshot
Thu May 18, 2023 7:27 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: "The case for financial literacy education" Planet Money article
Replies: 32
Views: 2809

Re: "The case for financial literacy education" Planet Money article

I’m shocked at the responses that this wouldn’t be valuable at the high school level. Perhaps folks don’t realize that for 1/3 of the US population over age 25 a high school (or less) education is all they got. That number approaches 50% if you include the people with “some college” who never got a degree. And all that assumes that the other 50% gained financial literacy in college as part of some core or common curriculum, maybe they got a business degree, or took stats, or something else. I don’t know what art and history majors are requiring, but it probably isn’t stats.

Having basic financial literacy is important for everyone and giving that to the 91% who can make it through 12th grade is good for all of us.
by Strayshot
Wed May 17, 2023 9:53 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Where do you bank and why? 2023 Edition
Replies: 306
Views: 39633

Re: Where do you bank and why? 2023 Edition

whodidntante wrote: Sun Feb 26, 2023 10:37 pm Fidelity is my old flame. I just can't stay away. But I bank at whatever crap popped up as having the highest bonus on doc. Sometimes even the worst bank in the world if the bonus is juicy enough, Citi. I'm a citizen of the world is the polite way to say it.
This x2

Plus a credit union for free redemption of physical bonds and on the off chance I will need to get a free cashiers check for the 2nd time in my life…..
by Strayshot
Wed May 10, 2023 9:21 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Workarounds for the loss of Xfinity cable box
Replies: 47
Views: 4455

Re: Workarounds for the loss of Xfinity cable box

The streaming app works great, no reason to have an xfinity box at $10/month anymore for each TV. The Roku devices work the best and I highly recommend. look for a deal on an ultra box but the stick will work but not as snappy. I have been using the app since they called it “beta” and no issues. The Roku is nice because if there is some hearing loss rather than the TV being on super loud you can use earbuds plugged into the remote for volume.
by Strayshot
Mon Apr 10, 2023 7:47 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Possible Parkinson’s diagnosis, how to prepare [finances and investments]
Replies: 30
Views: 4291

Re: Possible Parkinson’s diagnosis, how to prepare [finances and investments]

Dealing with the same issue so posting to make it easy to watch this thread.

I know very little about LTC insurance so probably time to get educated if it is still an option………also probably the time to start planning and making home modifications for mobility.
by Strayshot
Mon Mar 13, 2023 8:27 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Open Ear/Bone conducting headphones with MP3 player
Replies: 5
Views: 785

Re: Open Ear/Bone conducting headphones with MP3 player

I have an older pair of AfterShoks and love them. You can work out and hear music as well as ambient sounds and they don’t fall out. Highly recommend and worth the money.
by Strayshot
Wed Mar 08, 2023 10:04 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: J.P. Morgan Guide to Retirement 2023
Replies: 15
Views: 3567

Re: J.P. Morgan Guide to Retirement 2023

Thanks for posting! What a great free product from Chase. Good information and well-presented visuals.
by Strayshot
Fri Mar 03, 2023 7:13 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Disney World Vacation
Replies: 57
Views: 4386

Re: Disney World Vacation

I’m posting from WDW right now. Weather is perfect, I agree that spring and fall are best. If you come in Nov/Dec everything is Christmas’d up and really nice. Agree with others, don’t economize. Just plan for meals to be $60/person. Plan for tickets to be an extra $20 for genie plus and $11 for the lightning individual on popular rides. The transportation is terrible because busses dominate and are capacity constrained so you lose lots of time in transit and it is a miserable experience. If it were me, I would do 8 days, 2 days per park. Always buy genie plus. If you are portable, stay at a Disney property as close to the park as you can, walking distance preferred. Stay at the boardwalk for Epcot and enter through the international entran...
by Strayshot
Fri Oct 28, 2022 7:37 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Need a pep talk about how to advocate for myself after I was t-boned & car totaled by a possibly drunk red light-runner?
Replies: 41
Views: 3265

Re: Need a pep talk about how to advocate for myself after I was t-boned & car totaled by a possibly drunk red light-run

The value of your personal injury settlement will greatly exceed the value you will be arguing for your car. Get a lawyer. [Comment deleted.] Do not engage the other parties insurance. Go through your insurance and they will subrogate everything including your deductible, which you will eventually be paid back. First, they will use an “industry standard” analysis from a company with access to a massive database of sold vehicle prices to pick comps that will shortchange you on value. You can try to fight this with some of your own comps (find at least 3) and may or may not get them to raise the value a bit to a still unfair valuation. Then you can force them to call a few dealers and ask those dealers what they would be selling a like car fo...
by Strayshot
Fri Sep 30, 2022 7:53 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Acquired 500K and need help with it
Replies: 9
Views: 823

Re: Acquired 500K and need help with it

Seems you have plenty of cash flow from income, low rate debt, etc. from the income numbers I would expect more invested towards retirement than you have currently. I would lump sum the 500k into brokerage (taxable) and buy whatever low expense ratio total total market fund fits the bill (something like ITOT or similar).
by Strayshot
Tue Sep 20, 2022 7:29 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Credit Card "Churning" for Bonuses --- Can't You Just Run Out of Decent Cards to Get?
Replies: 124
Views: 15316

Re: Credit Card "Churning" for Bonuses --- Can't You Just Run Out of Decent Cards to Get?

This thread reminded me it was time for another card, so I pulled the trigger on the Venture. Likely I will just turn the 75k points into Avios at a 1:1 transfer and buy someone a global entry for the credit but a reasonable deal overall for $95. I am holding out on the Amex platinum for a 150k offer, I only had the normal 100k :oops: looked at the Venture X but didn’t want to hassle with the $300 credit and already have 4 priority pass memberships etc.
Wish there was an airline card I could get status through other than southwest!
by Strayshot
Thu Sep 15, 2022 8:17 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Credit Card "Churning" for Bonuses --- Can't You Just Run Out of Decent Cards to Get?
Replies: 124
Views: 15316

Re: Credit Card "Churning" for Bonuses --- Can't You Just Run Out of Decent Cards to Get?

whodidntante wrote: Thu Sep 15, 2022 7:20 pm I am willing to pay virtually any amount of annual fee. I've paid AmEx Platinum annual fees, for example. I consider it a cost of doing business. Why should I avoid a $700 fee if I am making $1,500-$2,000 on the deal?
Agreed, especially on the Amex platinum if card match gives you the 150k MR offer it’s a no brainer for roughly $3K of points!
by Strayshot
Wed Sep 14, 2022 8:53 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Recommend me a new wireless system
Replies: 29
Views: 2231

Re: Recommend me a new wireless system

I really like my Orbi mesh, dedicated backhaul on one of the 5ghz channels and the app is decent for folks who don’t want to mess with the web front end on the router itself. Firmware upgrades have been painless. Costco for the purchase on sale.
by Strayshot
Wed Sep 14, 2022 8:46 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Credit Card "Churning" for Bonuses --- Can't You Just Run Out of Decent Cards to Get?
Replies: 124
Views: 15316

Re: Credit Card "Churning" for Bonuses --- Can't You Just Run Out of Decent Cards to Get?

Chase has all the best cards so 5/24 really puts a damper on things. You are selling yourself short not considering all the cards with a big annual fee but big value. I keep the chase reserve for best in class benefits for $250 a year ($550 minus easy $300 credit) and combine the points with my ink business 5x categories. The Amex Hilton aspire is free after the $250 resort credit and $250 airline credit and gives you diamond status. Sign up bonus is just gravy on those. I’d get the IHG premier with chase if I could it’s a no brainer. The annual Hyatt free night is easily worth 2x+ over the $95 annual fee on the Hyatt card. Capital one came in strong with the venture X that will probably be my next one. And as someone already mentioned the...
by Strayshot
Mon Sep 12, 2022 9:45 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Credit Card "Churning" for Bonuses --- Can't You Just Run Out of Decent Cards to Get?
Replies: 124
Views: 15316

Re: Credit Card "Churning" for Bonuses --- Can't You Just Run Out of Decent Cards to Get?

Chase has all the best cards so 5/24 really puts a damper on things. You are selling yourself short not considering all the cards with a big annual fee but big value. I keep the chase reserve for best in class benefits for $250 a year ($550 minus easy $300 credit) and combine the points with my ink business 5x categories. The Amex Hilton aspire is free after the $250 resort credit and $250 airline credit and gives you diamond status. Sign up bonus is just gravy on those. I’d get the IHG premier with chase if I could it’s a no brainer. The annual Hyatt free night is easily worth 2x+ over the $95 annual fee on the Hyatt card. Capital one came in strong with the venture X that will probably be my next one. And as someone already mentioned the ...
by Strayshot
Mon Sep 12, 2022 9:32 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Chase as a One Stop Shop
Replies: 61
Views: 11778

Re: Chase as a One Stop Shop

One underrated option to consider is Citi. I started using them for generous relationship mortgage discounts. Their brokerage is done by a third party (but the assets count). Citi offers a decent interest savings rate, credit card discounts (primarily if you fly American). Please say more about the credit card discounts? Will they waive or discount the annual fee on the co branded American cards? I searched for info and couldn’t come up with anything……. I haven’t yet found a major bank who could compete on rates with the lenders who originate and sell like Cardinal, but maybe the relationship mortgage discounts would be worthwhile? I have debated initiating some accounts with Chase to get $300 ($600 minus taxes) and keeping a couple grand ...
by Strayshot
Sun Sep 11, 2022 1:26 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Investing by Conviction. New Index by Robinhood
Replies: 73
Views: 6664

Re: Investing by Conviction. New Index by Robinhood

...This times infinity. Robberhood is the Edward Jones of the 21st century……….new scam based in technology rather than door to door sales, but the same wolf... "Scam" is an interesting word here. (Quote clipped for length) Although it is, in literal terms, not a bucket shop and not a scam, I think Robinhood is best understood as "the bucket shop for the new millennium." Various definitions for scam exist, but my usage is based around the context that the act/behavior/portrayal is dishonest, deceptive, or fraudulent. Acts that are illegal are included, but legality (or illegality) is subject to the laws of the time and the ability to convict. EJ actions (either by the company or it’s trained/employed salesforce) may or m...
by Strayshot
Sun Sep 11, 2022 9:31 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Investing by Conviction. New Index by Robinhood
Replies: 73
Views: 6664

Re: Investing by Conviction. New Index by Robinhood

This times infinity. Robberhood is the Edward Jones of the 21st century……….new scam based in technology rather than door to door sales, but the same wolf. Edward Jones doesn't stop people from taking the initiative, opening a brokerage account, and buying index funds, but many people, perhaps a majority of the population, will not. Financial advisors and life insurance salesmen nudge people to people invest and insure and are paid for that service. In an ideal world of motivated and curious people, I wonder how many teachers and professors we would need. All the information is out there. In the real world I think schools and universities do provide a service (although MOOCs and forums like this are also valuable) and are not a scam. What m...
by Strayshot
Sat Sep 10, 2022 1:47 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Investing by Conviction. New Index by Robinhood
Replies: 73
Views: 6664

Re: Investing by Conviction. New Index by Robinhood

What is the benefit to Robinhood? When looking at Vanguard and Fidelity they both usually are so good it comes down to going with whatever your occupation has set up for retirement, or not wanting to deal with Vanguard's customer service. I always [hear] about negative things [about] Robinhood and can't understand the benefit. The "benefit" of Robinhood is all style. The "benefit" is that it appeals to younger investors because it is unintimidating and is made to feel like a game. The "benefit" is that it makes young investors feel good. All the old fogies tell younger investors to invest, not speculate; to build up an emergency fund before buying stocks; not to buy stocks on margin; to read the prospectus, or...
by Strayshot
Fri Sep 09, 2022 8:26 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: I am losing my house cause of my ignorance. Please advice.
Replies: 312
Views: 37357

Re: I am losing my house cause of my ignorance. Please advice.

If you like the house and want to own it, why not FSBO the house to yourself? Use a real estate attorney, order an appraisal, line up a mortgage, get a reissue rate on the title insurance but change the title to your name only. Seems pretty straightforward. On closing, your friend gets half the sale price minus half of the sum total of all mortgage payments you have made. Down payment is a wash because you both split it already. Friend makes an easy ~100k profit on the original 65k “investment” and goes away happy, you own the house with no partner but at a more expensive mortgage rate (so make sure you can afford the larger monthly payment).
What makes this so complicated?
by Strayshot
Fri Sep 09, 2022 8:12 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Investing by Conviction. New Index by Robinhood
Replies: 73
Views: 6664

Re: Investing by Conviction. New Index by Robinhood

"Investing by conviction?" It turns out that Robinhood is full of convictions. In 2022 Robinhood was convicted of money laundering with crypto and fined $30 million by the New York Department of Financial Services. In 2021 Robinhood was fined $70 million by FINRA, it's largest fine in history, for communicating false and misleading information to millions of its customers related to whether customers could place trades on margin, how much cash was in their accounts, how much buying power they had, the risk of loss customers faced in certain transactions, and whether customers faced margin calls. In 2020 Robinhood was fined $65 million by the SEC for misleading its stock market customers about how the company makes its revenue fro...
by Strayshot
Sun Aug 21, 2022 7:50 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: R&D Function lost 50% of FTE due to remit reduction
Replies: 6
Views: 991

Re: R&D Function lost 50% of FTE due to remit reduction

Do you like function B? Do you like being a manager? Sounds like you should do some planning around the merge opportunity and if A and B are recombined be ready to position yourself as the surviving manager of A+B. Reorgs like this happen all the time and if/when someone realizes it didn’t work out things go back to the prior structure. I would prepare for that eventuality. I am always unclear when people say “middle manager”, are you a manager of direct report individual contributors or are you a manager of direct report managers each with their own staff and teams? Usually middle managers are leaders of leaders as opposed to leaders of individual contributors. As others pointed out, who you work for is the #1 factor. If your boss is bad, ...
by Strayshot
Fri Aug 19, 2022 7:19 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Which Investment to Liquidate for Large RE Purchase
Replies: 15
Views: 1345

Re: Which Investment to Liquidate for Large RE Purchase

How does one assess which transactions would have the smallest tax impact? In each of your brokerage accounts you should have a setting that manages how the brokerage sells for each specific asset. One way is the manual (specific identification) method, where you control by “lot” and can specify for the trade exactly which lots you want to sell. If you have made many purchases, this can be cumbersome but gives the most control. Each purchase lot will show the corresponding overall gains above basis (or losses below basis) select lots from the biggest loss to the largest gain until you have the amount sold you need. A better method is to let the brokerage do this for you. On Fidelity at least there are several settings to tell the brokerage...
by Strayshot
Thu Aug 18, 2022 7:15 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Which Investment to Liquidate for Large RE Purchase
Replies: 15
Views: 1345

Re: Which Investment to Liquidate for Large RE Purchase

Your first and primary concern is tax impact. What kind of form are the assets in, and how much?

If it’s all in taxable and for a short timeframe, sell the stuff that creates the smallest tax impact (or maybe even some losses) and rebalance to your 50/50 asset allocation on reinvestment being cautious to avoid wash sale issues.
by Strayshot
Thu Aug 18, 2022 7:10 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What's in Rick Ferri's portfolio?
Replies: 132
Views: 34626

Re: What's in Rick Ferri's portfolio?

Great listen! :sharebeer

I wonder though how smart and educated these advisors really are that they are so afraid to sell their knowledge rather than unnecessary complexity. I would guess the smart ones are already in a new model selling their knowledge and the remaining 80% (random percentage I picked) are hanging on to the old model simply because they never had knowledge to sell in the first place and would starve (reference Upton Sinclair quote here, I’m looking at you Edward Jones and Raymond James)….

Anyways I’ll be back in an hour or so, need to tell my wife about the $5 bill I just found while cleaning the couch and posting on Bogleheads!
by Strayshot
Wed Aug 17, 2022 8:57 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Take Tesla 3 Long Range now or wait for possible $7500 incentive in 2023
Replies: 17
Views: 3367

Re: Take Tesla 3 Long Range now or wait for possible $7500 incentive in 2023

This isn’t relevant to the original question, but if $5K is “significant” to you I seriously question the need for a new -$60K vehicle.
by Strayshot
Tue Aug 16, 2022 7:48 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Diminished Value Car Accident Claim
Replies: 53
Views: 6497

Re: Diminished Value Car Accident Claim

Congratulations on fighting back and winning (and by winning I mean getting what the insurance company should have given you initially without a fight even necessary).

Insurance companies count on people not fighting. This works for them because most people are too stupid, busy, or unmotivated to fight. It’s highly predatory because the people who most need to fight are the ones least likely to fight.

As a “necessary evil” I understand the need for some types of insurance, but abhor insurance companies and most of the people who sell various forms of insurance products. I give you a :sharebeer and a :P to recognize your hard won victory!
by Strayshot
Sat Aug 13, 2022 7:17 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Dealing with a power disconnect/reconnect possibly spanning 24+ hours
Replies: 68
Views: 5117

Re: Dealing with a power disconnect/reconnect possibly spanning 24+ hours

I would use all of this as a good excuse to buy a generator. I got a firman 3200W dual fuel inverter from Costco, it ran my garage freezer, fridge, and networking equipment just fine on a 20lb propane tank for 12 hours straight overnight and there was a good amount left over. For a $500 generator and $50 of propane and tank plus $40 of 12 gauge extension cords it was a good investment in my mind for my panel upgrade.
by Strayshot
Sat Aug 13, 2022 8:45 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: I'm 22 and unable to work anymore, how much can I get from my $690k portfolio?
Replies: 68
Views: 12573

Re: I'm 22 and unable to work anymore, how much can I get from my $690k portfolio?

Lots of folks with a sad understanding of mental health issues. OP, suggest you watch the Netflix series “How to change your mind” or read the book of the same name by M. Pollan. Not medical advice, just a suggestion for fun. The money could very well be from an inheritance, who knows. OP you are setting yourself up for a very austere and very risky long term plan where any number of factors could destroy your planning, you are also making some generous assumptions about where the market has been and where it is heading. You are heavily into small cap value which is not appropriate for your portfolio, I would suggest something more like 70/30 total market/total bond and rebalance annually. Lots of different opinions on international, I avoi...
by Strayshot
Wed Aug 10, 2022 9:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Electric Scooters
Replies: 39
Views: 4363

Re: Electric Scooters

Wear a helmet Get solid tires (non pneumatic) That’s about it. I have a Segway ES4 and love it. Either that or the free ride mosquito would be my pick for a foldable commuter scooter with range and power. Did you ride like a bike on the side of the road. What about intersections? Can you do hand signals on a scooter? I don’t do hand signals on my scooter or my bike, I can’t think of the last time I ever saw someone on either signal a turn. Most people on bikes these days can barely be troubled to stop at lights or signs if they think there is no cross traffic. Intersections I follow lights just like a car would. If there are sidewalks, I ride those on the scooter and follow pedestrian signals. If it is crowded I walk the scooter on crossin...
by Strayshot
Wed Aug 10, 2022 3:21 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Electric Scooters
Replies: 39
Views: 4363

Re: Electric Scooters

Wear a helmet
Get solid tires (non pneumatic)

That’s about it. I have a Segway ES4 and love it. Either that or the free ride mosquito would be my pick for a foldable commuter scooter with range and power.
by Strayshot
Sat Aug 06, 2022 1:04 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Keep as rental vs. renovate and move back to childhood home
Replies: 21
Views: 2052

Re: Keep as rental vs. renovate and move back to childhood home

Money is fungible, simplify the problem first.

Lets say the duplex is worth $1M and renovations would be 100k.

If you were spending 1.1M, would you buy this renovated duplex or something else?

That’s the first decision, everything else is details……..
by Strayshot
Fri Aug 05, 2022 7:53 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Productivity/career for DW
Replies: 22
Views: 2130

Re: Productivity/career for DW

Her net worth is about 100k, mine 1.9m. She has a strong work ethic (does not want to live off me) and is smart, but no specific qualifications that direct her towards what to do. With a family potentially on the way, I wonder is there something relatively obvious that I could invest in, that would 1. Increase my expected returns 2. Require 10-40 hours work weekly? How do you have different net worth if you are married? DW is “dear wife” right? Reading this post makes me think the first and best investment you need to make is in some relationship counseling, so that gets my vote. If your question is “my wife and I have a net worth of $2M and are looking at options she can pursue for work or education that can better our position prior to h...
by Strayshot
Wed Aug 03, 2022 7:33 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Productivity/career for DW
Replies: 22
Views: 2130

Re: Productivity/career for DW

Her net worth is about 100k, mine 1.9m. She has a strong work ethic (does not want to live off me) and is smart, but no specific qualifications that direct her towards what to do. With a family potentially on the way, I wonder is there something relatively obvious that I could invest in, that would 1. Increase my expected returns 2. Require 10-40 hours work weekly? How do you have different net worth if you are married? DW is “dear wife” right? Reading this post makes me think the first and best investment you need to make is in some relationship counseling, so that gets my vote. If your question is “my wife and I have a net worth of $2M and are looking at options she can pursue for work or education that can better our position prior to h...
by Strayshot
Tue Aug 02, 2022 7:39 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Kicking Betterment and Recalibrating Asset Allocation
Replies: 9
Views: 2099

Re: Kicking Betterment and Recalibrating Asset Allocation

Research of your username sent me into a rabbithole, so congrats on that! Your age, income, and investments look like a physician out of residency for a year or few, or maybe just out of a fellowship? 1) the earlier you unwind out of betterment the easier your life will be, you are right in making the switch now. If you think 10% is a “big hit” you should start recalibrating the word big! 2) it is simple to find equivalent index or ETF representations from fidelity, Schwab, etc depending who you’d like to hold your taxable brokerage account. I would go that path if needed. 3) at 10% representation a bond component has a negligible impact on your AA. I would go a different path and for simplicity ignore bonds entirely for now or (if the anal...
by Strayshot
Tue Aug 02, 2022 7:15 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: investing when having a federal pension
Replies: 16
Views: 2686

Re: investing when having a federal pension

If your pensions cover your expenses, why are you taking SS so early? If you don’t have indicators in genetics or current health issues leading you to think you’ll kick the bucket early, the additional 8% for waiting beyond FRA (or beyond the first year in your spouses case) is a significant value. Either that or plan it so that at least one of you delays and the other takes the spousal benefit until hitting the max at 70. If you want to have more play money, spend from your investments to offset what you would have received from the early SS claim/s. The existential question (one that I and many others on this forum grapple with) is: “what are you going to do with your money”? When the fixed income part of your portfolio covers your life a...
by Strayshot
Sat Jul 30, 2022 10:41 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Please Advise on Significant Debt
Replies: 49
Views: 6037

Re: Please Advise on Significant Debt

Ok OP you had a week or so to mull it over, inquiring minds want a follow up on any decisions you have made :sharebeer
Read back through and didn’t see it mentioned, but with the smaller emergency fund and depending on equity in home it may be prudent to originate a HELOC as a pseudo-EF. Shouldn’t be any out of pocket costs.