Search found 24 matches

by stedmakr
Mon Jun 11, 2018 4:19 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Investing Help for my Mom - She's 86
Replies: 10
Views: 1228

Re: Investing Help for my Mom - She's 86

I'd like to thank everyone who took the time to help my decision process. The responses confirmed my original thought of staying the course with a conservative philosophy that does not take additional and unnecessary risk. I also appreciate the confirmation that the financial advisor is just too expensive, especially for a conservative allocation.

again thanks,

Keith
by stedmakr
Sun Jun 10, 2018 10:43 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Investing Help for my Mom - She's 86
Replies: 10
Views: 1228

Investing Help for my Mom - She's 86

Two questions for the group, 1) how to invest, 2) how much to pay for an investment advisor. My father passed away in January. My mom was not involved in their finances. She is 86 and is in fair physical health and has excellent mental clarity. She is a little afraid of the computer and is having a hard time understanding finance and making financial decisions. She owns the house valued at around $200K. It's too big for her and she will downsize within the next year or so. She has a good medical supplement. She does not have long term care insurance. She receives monthly income from a portion of my dad's retirement, a smaller retirement that she earned and social security. My dad's retirement income and social security are indexed for infla...
by stedmakr
Thu Jan 04, 2018 5:53 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do you have a antivirus for you Android phone?
Replies: 20
Views: 2256

Re: Do you have a antivirus for you Android phone?

I use Bitdefender for my windows computer and all my android devices. There is a version for mobile security. I believe Bitdefender is the best antivirus program available.
by stedmakr
Sat Jul 08, 2017 8:37 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Retirement Investment Withdrawal Strategy
Replies: 5
Views: 1557

Retirement Investment Withdrawal Strategy

My wife and I are close to retirement and the beginning of the drawdown phase of our financial assets. I'm in the learning phase of how to manage investments during retirement. The strategy below is based in part on the belief that the TSP will provide more flexible withdrawal options. My desire is to get thoughts from this group and to determine if the logic below is flawed, sub-optimal or on target. Basic Demographics: I am 62 and will retire in a couple of years. My wife is 60 and retired. My current salary plus military retirement is in excess of $200K per year (a recent event) At retirement I expect to receive a pension of $120K per year with an inflation adjustment. If I pass before my wife, she will receive a pension of around $50K p...
by stedmakr
Tue Mar 03, 2015 8:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tourists in Manhattan
Replies: 53
Views: 9166

Re: Tourists in Manhattan

Stay in the Radio City Apartments in downtown NYC (google the URL). The cost is less than $300 per night and rated 4 stars by trip advisor. You are about a block and a half from Times Square, a block from Rockefeller Center and 2 to 4 blocks from various theaters in the theater district and walking distance (about 8 blocks) from Central Park. You are also next to two subway stations. I think the hotel is the best kept lodging secret in the city. You are in the middle of everything.
by stedmakr
Sun Mar 01, 2015 11:46 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Approaching 50...What to expect?
Replies: 113
Views: 20632

Re: Approaching 50...What to expect?

I just turned 60. At 50 you have to make a concerted effort to take care of yourself, be especially careful about how much you put in your mouth. I'f you've been active be careful about your joints. The biggest mistake I made was to continue to run after 50. Before its all over I'll need new knees. Eyes and memory both begin to go. In our family, the 50s were the years where our kids moved out of our daily life. Invest more in your marriage and develop/enhance a circle of friends. Financially, I think the 50s are the make or break decade. It may be the last chance to set yourself for retirement. Final thought is the realization that you aren't immortal or invincible. There are things that you can't do physically anymore and you will encount...
by stedmakr
Sun Mar 01, 2015 11:16 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to find a spouse who wants financial independence
Replies: 51
Views: 12140

Re: How to find a spouse who wants financial independence

I'm don't think this is a difficult question to answer. Find out how she spends her money? Does she earn it before she spends it? Does she spend an excessive amount on clothes. Does she have a $300 hand bag or purse? Does she lease a car? Is she impulsive financially? Does she go out to eat 5 or more times a week? etc

Fiscal incompatibility is almost always a deal breaker for any long term relationship. You should have this all figured out before making a long term relationship. Its one of the keys to happiness in a relationship

Good luck!!!
by stedmakr
Sat Jun 07, 2014 1:06 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: DFA withdrawals when changing/dropping advisors
Replies: 5
Views: 689

DFA withdrawals when changing/dropping advisors

I've had a good relationship with a financial advisor for the last 5 years. Out of the blue the adviser nearly doubled his fee (fixed, like a retainer) and I'm thinking about pulling out. I'm a true buy and hold investor. The only portfolio changes we have made is when I've added funding or the annual rebalance. I can't imagine that he spends more the 2 hours a year on my accounts. The portfolio is in the low seven figures with a third of the balance in DFA funds. Almost everything else is an ETF or index funds. My concern is that while not happy with the additional fee, its cost is dwarfed by the tax consequences if I have to sell the DFA funds. Since these funds have to be purchased through an advisor it is my understanding that if I drop...
by stedmakr
Tue Apr 16, 2013 11:49 am
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: Any Canadian Investors out there?
Replies: 12
Views: 1151

Any Canadian Investors out there?

My daughter lives in Vancouver, BC and at 30 yrs old is ready to embark on a long term investing plan. She has a good job with a high tech company and may be able to invest as much as $25K per year. Her company offers a 401K type plan with a company called Manulife. I looked it up and Manulife is an insurance company. One of the funds has a front end 5% load and a 1.2% backend load. I haven't seen the prospectus but my fear is that she will end up getting killed by expenses. I'm not sure what to tell her about this investment if it is her only 401k alternative. Her company matches. Outside of whatever she does for retirement investing, are there solid no load/small fee fund families in Canada that are suitable for $1 to 2K per month dollar ...
by stedmakr
Wed Apr 03, 2013 11:53 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Brokerage accounts identity theft and life savings
Replies: 18
Views: 2937

Brokerage accounts identity theft and life savings

I'm starting to lose a little bit of sleep about the security of my life savings. I have a brokerage account that includes multiple funds. When I access the account via the internet to see the current value, I occasionaly have a moment of anxiety after I put in the password and the account information hits the screen. The fear is that someone has hacked my account or my identity and the account has been drawn to zero. I'm not paranoid but it is something I think about. I have increased the strength of my password but don't know what else I can do. Most of us have large investment accounts that can be accessed (and funds withdrawn) electronically. Are there other techniques besides a strong password that you employ to protect your funds? Tha...
by stedmakr
Sat Jun 23, 2012 7:48 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Inground Pool
Replies: 42
Views: 8204

Re: Inground Pool

We bought a house 10 years ago that has an inground pool. We didn't want the pool but it came with the house. We don't have children. It seems like every year we realize that we can get by with less and less maintenance. The opening at the beginning of the year takes place over a weekend but after that I don't spend more than 10 or 15 minutes a week on maintenance. The main thing is to make sure that there are chlorine tabs in the skimmers. Maintenance is not a problem. We live in Virginia and have a short season that lasts from early June to mid-September. We cover the pool once the leaves start falling in October and uncover it in mid to late April. A covered pool is not very attractive. The season is to short in Virginia and in our case ...
by stedmakr
Fri Mar 23, 2012 5:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Law school
Replies: 78
Views: 6410

Re: Law school

My son just graduated from one of the top schools out west. He did well in school but accumulated $120K+ debt and was on top of the world when after months of looking he was offered a $50K job. I believe its a simple supply and demand situation.
by stedmakr
Wed Sep 14, 2011 7:08 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Military Investing
Replies: 125
Views: 65496

Thought's on EmergDoc's original post

I retired from the Army after serving 30 years. One of the things that I learned at war college (the 22 year point) was that many of my contemporaries hadn't saved any money. Their savings were minimal. I was surprised about the number of officers that were living pay check to pay check. EmerDoc's post is excellent. If I were to add a point it would be to emphasize the need for military personnel to become informed investors and to learn that importance of passive investing. A couple of comments. I bought and sold 4 houses when I was in the Army. 3 were losers and I came out ahead 1 time. When I was assigned to a new duty station I sought out the best schools and it was often difficult to find a rental so I bought. The best schools were alw...
by stedmakr
Tue Sep 13, 2011 3:20 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: [Should I go to] Law School
Replies: 77
Views: 13523

The current market for attorneys

My son just graduated from a law school that ranks 15th in the nation. Half of his class is still looking for a job. He believes that many/most of the students that have jobs are making a lot less than what they thought they should make after graduation. Its a tough job market right now.

My son was one of the lucky ones who found employment. He will start working at $50K per year. In January he starts paying back $110K in loans.

Good luck with your decision process.
by stedmakr
Fri Mar 18, 2011 6:02 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: "The Number" by Lee Eisenberg (book)
Replies: 13
Views: 3506

I read the book shortly after it came out a few years ago. If I recall correctly it received a bunch of media hype. Initially I was disappointed because there was very little about "the number", certainly nothing new. The title is sort of misleading. The book focused on qualitative aspects of preparing for retirement. Its a quick read and I'd check it out from the library vice purchasing.
by stedmakr
Wed Mar 02, 2011 7:31 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Mid Life Crisis?
Replies: 60
Views: 7858

I bought an aquarium

In my mid forties I bought a 120 gallon aquarium. My wife said it was a cheap mid life crises. I have a couple of close friends who (with kids out of college) divorced their wives and later remarried to much younger women.

No commentary - that is what happened.
by stedmakr
Sun Jan 16, 2011 7:16 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How healthy is running?
Replies: 69
Views: 8446

Another Data Point

I'm retired from the Army. I ran 4 miles a day for most of the 30 years I was in the Army. I also did my share of forced Marches. I loved running. I wasn't fast enough to run competitively but enjoyed it so much that in addition to the required runs during the week I'd take a long run on the weekend.

I'm 56 and my legs are shot. I have arthritis in both knees. I've also had miniscus revetment on each knee. I tried doing the 10,000 steps a day routine but my knees won't cooperate. Basically my knees are worn out. At some point they will have to get replaced.

My experience s that there is a physical cost to running, especially when you continue to run in your late 40s and early 50s.
by stedmakr
Fri Dec 04, 2009 10:48 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Evanson vs. Cardiff Park, revisited
Replies: 15
Views: 5195

I feel compelled to mention that I have received excellent support from Cardiff Park over the last 3 years. The fees are low, the service is high and John Gorlow is an excellent listener. I couldn't be more pleased with the investment guidance and results that I have received at Cardiff Park.
by stedmakr
Thu Dec 03, 2009 1:53 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Total bond allocation Index or Inflation Protected Bonds
Replies: 19
Views: 3271

Thanks for the responses

I feel much more comfortable and knowledgeable as I sort through this decision process.
by stedmakr
Thu Dec 03, 2009 9:18 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Total bond allocation Index or Inflation Protected Bonds
Replies: 19
Views: 3271

Total bond allocation Index or Inflation Protected Bonds

I have my bond allocation heavily weighted in the Vanguard Total Bond Market Index fund. It is my belief that inflation will increase in the near term. I'm considering reweighting my bond allocation and shift most or all of my bond allocation to the Vanguard Inflation Protected Bond fund.

Is this a reasonable strategy when inflation is increasing? Is there a recommended split in allocation.

Thanks,
Keith
by stedmakr
Fri Oct 23, 2009 1:09 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Any military folks on here making a career or retired
Replies: 46
Views: 7323

A happy retiree

I spent 30 years in the Army and would do it again if I had the opportunity. In my experience, military personnel have great values, a great work ethic and are committed to their mission. The duty however is hard, extremely stressful and can be very dangerous. We made 21 moves in 30 years. From a purely financial point of view it may have been more profitable to to get out at 20 and start a new career; however the last 10 years were the best for both myself and the family. For the original poster, if you don't enjoy getting up in the morning and going to work then find a job that will put a :D on your face. Please don't hang around 10 or 12 years to get a pension. In my mind that would be a waste of a decade. Retirement is not a prize. Reti...
by stedmakr
Fri Jun 19, 2009 11:22 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Overtime Tax Argument with Co-Worker
Replies: 28
Views: 4280

One other consideration

The other issue that comes into play in the comp time vice overtime discussion is the value of accumulating comp time and then actually having additional days off. For many folks time off is more important than money.

Another issue that should be considered is that after a year comp time reverts to cash. I've always used comp time but many employees cash out with comp time.

So, by taking comp time you can benefit by having additional time off but still have the flexibility of cashing in the comp time.

Keith
by stedmakr
Sat Feb 21, 2009 7:29 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Bond allocation question - retirement portfolio
Replies: 4
Views: 1578

Bond allocation question - retirement portfolio

I believe many elderly individuals are faced with a similar decision. In the current economic environment does it make sense for a retired elderly person to reduce their bond exposure and flee to the safety of CDs, money market funds, etc. The portfolio is for an elderly single person. It is presently adequate for the individual's current and future needs. The allocation is: Bonds 52% (most in admiral shares vanguard total bond market index) Cash 36% (or equivalents) Stocks 13% (index funds) The propose allocation would be: Bonds 26% Cash 61% Stocks 13% The bond allocation is reduced in half. The driver for the change in allocation is a fear that the bond market may collapse like the stock market. Any input (thoughts) would be helpful. Pres...
by stedmakr
Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:48 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What Exactly is the Robt C. Byrd Honors College Scholarship?
Replies: 12
Views: 2932

Byrd Scholarship

My son received this scholarship 4 years ago and received $3000 per year for each year in college. I'm pretty sure that the scholarship is allocated to one student per high school each year. To the best of my knowledge it is fully merit based. I don't know the criteria for award but he was initially nominated for it by his civics teacher.

The nice thing about a merit based scholarship is the student can feel it is something that she has EARNED for all of her hard work in high school.

Wish her the best of luck.

Keith