Search found 746 matches

by Buysider
Sat Feb 24, 2024 1:45 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Self directed ira - disqualified person?
Replies: 13
Views: 1079

Re: Self directed ira - disqualified person?

As someone suggested - you need to first find a self-directed IRA custodian and find out if they will approve it or not. It doesn't matter if it is allowed or not allowed, unless you have an IRA custodian willing to hold the note, you can't do it.

The shadier the IRA custodian, the more you should expect to pay, but the more lenient they will be in all manner of rules and regulations, including their own. Just google a few and you'll see a lot of fraud. That being said a private note is hard to steal, so I wouldn't worry about it.
by Buysider
Tue Feb 06, 2024 8:54 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Calculating a "true" SAT average admissions score
Replies: 67
Views: 5697

Re: Calculating a "true" SAT average admissions score

More data transparency has been helpful, with programs like Naviance. I can see for my child's school every applicant for every college for the past 7 years, with GPA and SAT and their admission results. Not 100% accurate but pretty close.

I discouraged my kids from applying to a lot of schools. Fortunately both so far were able to find a school that admitted them either Early or rolling early. I dislike the supposed "signal" that a 5% acceptance sends vs. an 8% or 2% - much of it is bad data and as noted about, some schools play with their reported data (cough, cough Northeastern).
by Buysider
Thu Jan 18, 2024 10:59 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: convert iBonds from paper --- how long is too long?
Replies: 67
Views: 8239

Re: convert iBonds from paper --- how long is too long?

Also to give people a balanced view, I submitted a stack of paper bonds on January 4th and they were posted to my account yesterday! Not bad from a time perspective. Perhaps they got jammed last year, but I was pretty please and will probably be sending them another stack later this month.
by Buysider
Thu Nov 09, 2023 5:37 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Low ball offer: do I counter or walk away? [IM Physician]
Replies: 44
Views: 6553

Re: Low ball offer: do I counter or walk away? [IM Physician]

You can also share the data with them. Perhaps they have a reason why their offer is what it is? Charity, education, government, medicaid mix of patients, I have no idea. But generally employers don't want their employees to feel low balled, ask them how they came up with that number and how they think they compare to other employers in the community?
by Buysider
Mon Oct 09, 2023 7:51 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Can't log on [to Vanguard website]
Replies: 242
Views: 21766

Re: Can't log on [to Vanguard website]

I got in within an hour. Reset the account login. I hung up on the CSA after the login was complete. My bad. One of my accounts is completely missing. Back in the queue! I don't think it was stolen, because there is no record of it at all on my account page.
by Buysider
Mon Oct 09, 2023 7:03 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Can't log on [to Vanguard website]
Replies: 242
Views: 21766

Re: Can't log on [to Vanguard website]

Had it on auto-dial, they didn't open the queue until 8AM sharp. After entering my info, I was placed on hold "with an estimated wait time greater than one hour".

I'll see how it goes. Vanguard is open 12 hours today - if I don't get a pick-up today (like Friday), I'll be very disappointed
by Buysider
Mon Oct 09, 2023 5:25 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Can't log on [to Vanguard website]
Replies: 242
Views: 21766

Re: Can't log on [to Vanguard website]

It's Columbus Day, so may not get anywhere on Monday.
It is a Federal holiday, but the stock market is open, so is Vanguard. I imagine they will be slammed again on the phone today.

Pro-tip, you can start dialing in 10-15 minutes before 8AM EST and sometimes they pick-up early.

Good luck, I rearranged my work for I can have the hold music playing while I do work today ...
by Buysider
Sat Oct 07, 2023 7:18 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Can't log on [to Vanguard website]
Replies: 242
Views: 21766

Re: Can't log on [to Vanguard website]

I guess I am really disappointed that Vanguard hasn't posted any communication on their website or social media sites at least giving instructions, something like:

1) A number of accounts were locked.
2) If your account is locked, you will need to speak to someone in our research department to reset
3) There are a large volume of calls, wait times averaged 3.5 hours on Friday and will likely remain elevated over the next 1-2 weeks as accounts are re-set.

A little communication will go a long way...
by Buysider
Fri Oct 06, 2023 10:12 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Can't log on [to Vanguard website]
Replies: 242
Views: 21766

Re: can't log on [to Vanguard website]

Vanguard did a software update to key in on fraud risks last night. It was supposed to flag a small number of accounts. Apparently it flagged a lot more than they expected and each one needs to be manually unlocked. The poor "research" group within customer service is absolutely swamped. Also bad that it happened overnight on a Thursday, crew staffing is short today (Friday weekend).

If you're one of the folks who lost access, it was likely due to the software update, not any attempted logins.

Good luck - I'm 1 hour 34 minutes on hold with the "research group".

If I hear this music ever again in the wild ....
by Buysider
Tue Sep 26, 2023 7:47 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Any insights into Vanguard service re: Educational/Coverdell IRA?
Replies: 2
Views: 681

Re: Any insights into Vanguard service re: Educational/Coverdell IRA?

Just searched pages for old threads, and have to share how AWFUL Vanguard is with Coverdell ESAs. I understand 529 benefits and have 529 for all my kids. Back when my kids were first born I put money in Coverdell accounts because I thought they might have benefits over 529. That went away and now I'm left with smaller Coverdell accounts and larger 529s fir each kid. I got a nice letter from Vanguard suggesting I roll the accounts into the 529s. Makes sense? Unfortunately not to Vanguard. I had a nice call with Vanguard, but crazily, to roll a Vanguard Coverdell ESA into a Vanguard 529 is considered an "external transfer", not an internal transfer. It literally would have been easier to have the ESA account at Fidelity than Vanguar...
by Buysider
Tue Sep 05, 2023 8:07 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: $5 million un/underinsured motorist coverage
Replies: 19
Views: 2709

Re: $5 million un/underinsured motorist coverage

[Response to removed content removed by moderator oldcomputerguy]

I personally can't think of ways an under/un insured driver could get to $5 million. I'm sure you can, but having been involved with two uninsured accidents in my life, your health and disability will kick in if your un/under insured driver limits are hit. So why are you looking for auto insurance to cover health or income replacement? In my experience, under/un you are fighting not the other driver but your own insurance company. Other than Chubb and Amica, none care about their reputation, only their prices.
by Buysider
Thu Feb 23, 2023 1:59 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Any Sports Media professionals here?
Replies: 19
Views: 2358

Re: Any Sports Media professionals here?

i would second mega's suggestion. That is an industry where there are also a lot of opportunities for unpaid or poorly paid internships to learn the industry. If you live near a major professional sports team, there are lot of positions there.

In terms of other majors/minors, the industry has a large technology / media component. Learning how to use social media from a professional standpoint is a helpful skill that touches on data analytics, creative, and computer programming. Good luck!
by Buysider
Sun Feb 05, 2023 4:39 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Is the “millionaire next door” dying?
Replies: 7
Views: 2966

Re: Is the “millionaire next door” dying?

There is one part of the comment I would expand on - the rise of Private Equity. Historically it was very hard for those small family-owned businesses to sell for cash - easier to pass it to the children. Now Private Equity funds are everywhere trying to roll-up ever industry under the sun (vets, dentists, HVAC, etc.). Those folks are more likely to sell now and get a pile of cash and then work for the PE firm for a few years. The value of these private businesses was a lot, lot higher than their owners could have ever known or realized at the time. Nice to live through an era of near zero interest rates to bring out the animal spirits. I know a half dozen contemporaries who started businesses and were able to flip to a PE firm. The interne...
by Buysider
Thu Aug 18, 2022 7:49 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: multi family syndicates - experiencw
Replies: 8
Views: 1530

Re: multi family syndicates - experiencw

Always been there, a nice asset class, but a lot of risks and a lot of bad deals out there.

1) 7-10% cash on cash is very high for an existing property
2) if it is a new development, the 7-10% is probably 2+ years out, watch out for construction risk - things are going over budget and taking longer than pre-Covid.
by Buysider
Mon Feb 07, 2022 8:54 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tesla QC issues
Replies: 153
Views: 17780

Re: Tesla QC issues

Model S owner, +60k miles so far. Almost zero issues, and far, far lower than I had with my previous ICE Volvo and BMW. The only thing that wears out are tires and windshield wipers.

I'll never buy an ICE again, all my future vehicles will be electric, all will be Tesla (for now) as the fossil automobile companies are too conflicted with their dealer networks' need for repair revenue vs. the potential of almost zero maintenance EVs.
by Buysider
Tue Feb 23, 2021 4:44 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Mutual Fund Closes Amid Scrutiny - Infinity Q
Replies: 26
Views: 4084

Mutual Fund Closes Amid Scrutiny - Infinity Q

[2021 thread bumped in 2022 --admin LadyGeek]

Interesting to see how this plays out. The risks of people playing games with NAVs related to price-to-model securities seems high. When prices are unobserved, there is a big conflict on how those assets are priced. I am hoping this fund didn't lose a lot of money, and I hope the SEC is able to figure out how the PM was able to manipulate the fund without the auditor, custodian, and fund administrator (let along all the other employees at the firm) without someone noticing it:

https://www.bloombergquint.com/markets/ ... edemptions
by Buysider
Thu Dec 10, 2020 4:55 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard Annuity Transition to Transamerica
Replies: 266
Views: 33955

Re: Vanguard Annuity Transition to Transamerica

A procrastinated moving the Variable Annuity to Fidelity, so it got moved to Transamerica before Fidelity could finish the transfer. It is an awful website, straight out of the 1990s without much updating in the interim. I will never complain about Vanguard's web infrastructure again!
by Buysider
Fri Jul 10, 2020 1:22 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Family Member Approached by Solar Company to Lease Land for Solar Panels
Replies: 18
Views: 2215

Re: Family Member Approached by Solar Company to Lease Land for Solar Panels

Only thing I can add is make sure you understand their rights on the land. In Massachusetts, the regulations changed, and suddenly battery storage was worth a lot more, and a lot of solar fields added industrial-sized batteries. I was surprised, so were able to do that without paying additional fees to the landowner (or the municipality for that matter). I think storage has some long-term value, so don't give it away for free!
by Buysider
Thu Jun 11, 2020 8:51 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Int'l Index Investing: Does inclusion of state-owned enterprises or their equivalent limit gains in current circ's?
Replies: 2
Views: 280

Re: Int'l Index Investing: Does inclusion of state-owned enterprises or their equivalent limit gains in current circ's?

I don't worry about it. If you can point to the article, I could see what they said, but state owned enterprises have advantages too, they generally borrow at interest rates close to the sovereign credit.

American Airlines, GM, and many banks have also taken significant capital from the US government and I don't worry about those limiting the returns for them, or the index.
by Buysider
Tue Apr 14, 2020 6:18 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Flying in September, think it will be safe?
Replies: 73
Views: 5088

Re: Flying in September, think it will be safe?

Common sense also suggests that for some time, flying is going to be riskier than not traveling. But sometimes, you just have to go. I had to move a relative out of an apartment almost on the other side of the country. Looked at driving, but figured the number of public contacts between here and there (gas, food, 2 nights hotels) was far more risky (let alone driving solo +1,800 miles) than a 4 hour plane ride. I flew 10 days ago. There were 10 people on my flight (an Airbus 32x). Of them, 4 were staff of the airline repositioning. Everyone had 2-3 rows to themselves. No service, and they assured us the plane was sanitized between legs. No one at the airport either. I seriously run into more people at my local grocery store for my once-a-w...
by Buysider
Sun Mar 22, 2020 9:20 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 100-Year Crisis Every Decade?
Replies: 22
Views: 2023

Re: 100-Year Crisis Every Decade?

So far with the 2020 pandemic crisis, real estate has not been crushed...yet.
I think the REIT Index is down 37%, I think that reflects something close to mark-to-market.
by Buysider
Thu Mar 19, 2020 6:19 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard Closing? [Malvern office due to PA Governor shut down order]
Replies: 19
Views: 2229

Vanguard Closing? [Malvern office due to PA Governor shut down order]

As I read the Governor of Pennsylvania's order:

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronav ... 00319.html

Vanguard should close tomorrow. unless someone can point out an exception that I'm missing, I assume they will have to shut tomorrow. I don't know what it is like in AZ where the other customer offices are, but what would this mean practically? Can on line transactions work without employees?
by Buysider
Sun Mar 15, 2020 6:46 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: vanguard prime money market [FDIC insured alternatives?]
Replies: 26
Views: 2492

Re: vanguard prime money market [FDIC insured alternatives?]

Which seems to me that there is SIPC protection, which is up to 500k, if I am reading this right.
SIPC protection has nothing to do with the value of a money market fund or mutual fund, it only protects in case the brokerage goes bust and can't find your investments.
by Buysider
Sat Mar 14, 2020 7:47 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Need advice on car accident and subsequent insurance company bankruptcy
Replies: 13
Views: 922

Re: Need advice on car accident and subsequent insurance company bankruptcy

I'd start with your State's Insurance office. Our state had one bankruptcy that I can remember, and I believe the State set-up a phone line and other things to make the wind down "orderly". Sorry for what you have to deal with, but I would expect most or all of the claim to eventually be honored, just may take some time and energy on your part.
by Buysider
Fri Mar 06, 2020 2:35 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: fraudulent checking accounts opened in my name - to what end?
Replies: 8
Views: 1582

Re: fraudulent checking accounts opened in my name - to what end?

If bad people control "good" accounts, they can wash money through it. Think fake money orders, rebate checks, etc. All get swept into "your" account. From there easier to send to a third world country or taken out in cash without connecting the crooks names to the fraud.
by Buysider
Wed Feb 05, 2020 7:55 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Venture Capital and Boglehead Principles
Replies: 9
Views: 805

Re: Venture Capital and Boglehead Principles

Before or after fees? Only before fees matter in this case. How the alpha is distributed among VC and investors is a different issue. Exactly, I would say if you work in VC or PE, it is the job to maximize the income of the GP, which can come out of the returns of the LP. I dabble in VC and find it shares a lot of the worst aspects of behavioral finance flaws. Who else is in the deal? The Fear Of Missing Out. What is hot now? What are "elite" VCs doing, etc. etc. Almost all my public market exposure is vanguard passive products, the only exceptional is exits where I am locked up. Private is a different story, though I have real fears, perhaps I'll put in a different thread, about Vanguard's potential to enter the Private Equity m...
by Buysider
Mon Jan 13, 2020 3:59 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Has anyone sold a home to Zillow?
Replies: 32
Views: 7219

Re: Has anyone sold a home to Zillow?

I've been watching Zillow, Offerpad, and Opendoor. It is an experiment to change the ways homes are sold for a small % of US homes. People are willing to pay for speed and convenience in other industries, home sales is no different. Some people have thrown out crazy numbers (1/3 off), the market won't work if they pay 1/3 less than market. But 5-10%? Yes, especially if you need to move in a hurry and don't have the time to supervise the light renovations and touch ups that most homes need. I'm sure a BH purist would say do-it-yourself, but like changing the oil in your car (if you still drive a gasoline powered one), cutting your own hair, or wiring your home electric system yourself, sometimes you might not be saving as much money as you t...
by Buysider
Mon Jan 06, 2020 12:32 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Renting without income
Replies: 31
Views: 4400

Re: Renting without income

Yes, don't recommend setting off red flags. Had one person I knew in grad school who thought it would help if he offered to pay in cash, because, well, that's how it is done in his country. Didn't get the reaction he thought it would, people assumed he was selling drugs or managing prostitutes...
by Buysider
Fri Nov 15, 2019 11:34 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Hands-on investing (RE, Angel investing, etc.)
Replies: 2
Views: 389

Re: Hands-on investing (RE, Angel investing, etc.)

Tax liens, depending on your state can provide some good returns with a controlled risk (especially if you can visit the property), and as a bonus, you're helping your local community, etc.

Other avenue, which I will start by emphasizing that I'm only talking about the legal market, is cannabis.

I generally wouldn't touch equity investing, but since the legal industry is effectively prohibited from traditional banking services, they have to pay very high rates to borrow money. +20% interest rates with loan to values of 50% or less are not unheard of. Like any high risk investment, YMMV, but like tax liens, if you feel you can get a good understanding of the collateral, the returns are quite "high"
by Buysider
Fri Oct 11, 2019 6:42 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: [Deleted]
Replies: 16
Views: 2282

Re: Private Equity ownership proposition

Dyal is a division of NB. It really isn't private equity, last I looked most of their GP interests were hedge funds. Neuberger Berman uses Dyal to provide hedge fund managers access to their earnings on an accelerated basis and in a tax efficient manner. Happy to run through whatever deal they are selling, but remember they are selling you something that the pe/hedge fund managers want to sell.
by Buysider
Fri Oct 11, 2019 11:01 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: [Deleted]
Replies: 16
Views: 2282

Re: Private Equity ownership proposition

I assume this a Dyal deal?
by Buysider
Fri Oct 11, 2019 6:59 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Engine to Household Ratio Planning
Replies: 9
Views: 823

Re: Engine to Household Ratio Planning

I've pushed very hard the last few years and have finally gotten to zero (well, one is a hybrid):

Tesla
Leaf
Hybrid SUV
Electric Mower
Electric trimmer
Battery Weed wacker
and a lot of rakes (my kids still earn it the hard way)
by Buysider
Tue Sep 10, 2019 11:32 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Rich people are hoarding cash
Replies: 233
Views: 38742

Re: Rich people are hoarding cash

I use that because several trusts that preen themselves on offering white-glove service to “the rich” name $30 million as the minimum. Bessemer Trust is an example.
Bessemer's average account size is well below that minimum. The allure of a special service is enough to get some people to pay more or really want to be "invited" to join.

Everything in financial services is negotiable, especially fees and "minimums".
by Buysider
Thu Aug 08, 2019 10:04 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Renting a car in Boston (Logan Airport)
Replies: 9
Views: 703

Re: Renting a car in Boston (Logan Airport)

In Mass, every toll is either ezPass or pay-by-plate, so doesn't really matter.

Big difference in prices between Avis/Hertz and the other brands. I actually like renting at Logan (except the price), it has its own rental center on the bus line and has easy access to the tunnels.

You'll pay about $10/gallon to fill up if you return less than full.
by Buysider
Sat Jul 13, 2019 10:12 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Got robbed in London...Phone stolen...what else do I need to do?
Replies: 56
Views: 10189

Re: Got mugged in London...Phone stolen...what else do I need to do?

5. Change passwords to miscellaneous sites ...probably about 200 of them (such a bogleheads).
If a guy on a motorcycle steals your iphone and starts posting on bogleheads using your ID and password, I'd think that was a positive thing, no? I'm not sure many phone thieves use buy-and-hold portfolios, but I'd love to be asked the question!
by Buysider
Mon Jun 24, 2019 7:18 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard Variable Annuity - Transitioning to Access Only Through Transamerica
Replies: 85
Views: 13590

Re: Vanguard Variable Annuity - Transitioning to Access Only Through Transamerica

Really annoying.

I probably won't come out ahead on my VA. I was convinced having additional tax deferred space would be worth something, probably a push since capital gains rates went down.

That being said, I have consolidated all my assets at Vanguard. This is almost 20% of my retirement assets, and now I'll have to move them somewhere else. I am going to seriously look at consolidating at Fidelity (where I was 20 years ago before consolidating at Vanguard).

I'm sorry Vanguard didn't have enough scale to play in this industry, but closing the VA business makes me move 20% of my funds ... I hate multiple logins to check, and will more likely than not move to a consolidated location. Darn.
by Buysider
Sat Mar 30, 2019 5:19 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Paying someone in Australia...
Replies: 2
Views: 454

Re: Paying someone in Australia...

I've heard they take payment in sheep, but I heard that from a Kiwi.
by Buysider
Fri Jan 18, 2019 2:58 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Jack Bogle's Obituary From The Family
Replies: 48
Views: 20078

Re: Jack Bogle's Obituary From The Family

Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church has updated their website to accommodate all the people who want to give on line in memory of Jack. You can give directly through their website here:

https://public.serviceu.com/PaymentForm ... b379bbefb1
by Buysider
Thu Jan 17, 2019 4:41 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Variable Annuity - mortality and expense risk fee?
Replies: 1
Views: 370

Re: Variable Annuity - mortality and expense risk fee?

Insurance products are expensive. Vanguard can’t issue them, they need to hire an insurance company to do that. The M&E fee reflects the insurance company’s fees.
by Buysider
Thu Aug 23, 2018 11:00 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Variable Annuity- Alternative Investments
Replies: 11
Views: 923

Re: Variable Annuity- Alternative Investments

You would want to look up "private placement life insurance". Like self-directed IRAs, but not as flexible. If you are US based, all the big life insurance companies offer it. You will find a lot of "alternate investments" within a PPLI structure ... even Vanguard annuity portfolios!

That being said mezz lending to real estate developers is a 1, 1, 1, -20, 1, 1, 1 return profile. You might have been lucky on the timing, but when it goes wrong, as a mezz inverstor, you frequently get a goose egg.

Be careful, and certainly doesn't sound appropriate for someone with $400k in a VA.
by Buysider
Fri Aug 17, 2018 7:53 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Why the Yale Endowment Hate? [Request for portfolio help]
Replies: 112
Views: 11329

Re: Why the Yale Endowment Hate?

Inside story here, most endowment managers are very performance oriented only relative to their peers institutions. Several times a year, most of the CIOs from the top endowments and foundations gather and meet, to ensure everyone's portfolios are somewhat identical (and to complain that CIO pay is too low). Like the Japanese proverb, the nail that sticks out shall be hammered down", most endowments strive to be like their peers, with small differences along the margin. I wish I was joking, but since I've been in this industry, pay has gone up exponential at most of the top endowments, and performance hasn't materially changed. Some schools manage to do the same as everyone else with a staff of 30 and a million dollar per year CIO, oth...
by Buysider
Wed Aug 15, 2018 8:29 am
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: Index Fund Investing in Sweden, for Swede's
Replies: 17
Views: 4205

Re: Index Fund Investing in Sweden, for Swede's

A lot of folks use Investor AB as a sort of Berkshire Hathaway in Sweden. They own stakes in a wide swath of Sweden's large companies, but not quite as diversified as Berkshire. I don't own Berkshire, so don't recommend Investor AB, but people do equate the two in Sweden.
by Buysider
Wed Jul 25, 2018 7:33 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Investing with a Developer
Replies: 48
Views: 4788

Re: Investing with a Developer

Not enough information to evaluate, and if the developer expects you to make a decision based on that information, that is probably enough to walk away.

For folks complaining about a 15% fee, what if I offered you the deal for free, but raised the price of each lot by 15%? No one asked about the price of the lot, and I'm sure the developer is only selling them for what they're worth... No upfront fee, but raise the price has the same impact, but apparently some investors would feel better about it. Behavioral finance is funny.
by Buysider
Tue Jul 24, 2018 7:31 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Invest in Tesla?
Replies: 330
Views: 35995

Re: Invest in Tesla?

Of the 1 Billion cars sold worldwide last year, Tesla produced 100k. Now, my silly graduate engineering and math classes must have failed me here because somehow, I can't figure out where that's 10% or has any hope of every being 10%. Forgive my snark, but you may want to check your math classes. No way 1 billion cars were sold last year, the real number is well under 100 million. You're off by an order of magnitude. In any event, if you looked at the market share of the Apple iPhone in 2007, it was about the same as Tesla'ss share of the car market today. 11 years later, Blackberry and Nokia are out of the business, and Apple is doing very well. Predicting the future is hard/impossible, just ask Steve Ballmer (CEO MSFT) on his thoughts of...
by Buysider
Wed May 02, 2018 7:31 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Why are two almost identical value ETFs (MGV and VTV) priced so differently?
Replies: 20
Views: 5324

Re: Why are two almost identical value ETFs (MGV and VTV) priced so differently?

The price of a mutual fund/ETF is just the total assets of the fund divided by the number of shares outstanding. There is no information gleaned from the price of the fund, it is just the math of dividing assets by # of shares.

Vanguard could change the price by doing a split (ie the assets of the fund stay the same, but everyone gets two shares for every share they own today). The NAV/price of the mutual fund would go down by half. The assets are the same, but the denominator has doubled.
by Buysider
Mon Apr 02, 2018 6:42 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: To take or not to take delivery of Tesla 3
Replies: 1326
Views: 159003

Re: To take or not to take delivery of Tesla 3

About brake pads and EVs, this is not universal. My 2012 Leaf had brake problems from year 1 . I think it had to do with the steep hill I live in, and starting every drive downhill with a full battery, which means it couldn't benefit from renegerative braking. No such problems on Volt and Bolt so far.
Glad I returned that leased Leaf.
Yikes, charged to 100% every day? That'll kill the brakes and the battery. FWIW, I had original brakes for +50k milies, and kept all 12 bars. YMMV.
by Buysider
Sun Apr 01, 2018 1:39 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: To take or not to take delivery of Tesla 3
Replies: 1326
Views: 159003

Re: To take or not to take delivery of Tesla 3

The LEAF is available locally at this time. We have test-driven it. Need to spend some time this weekend thinking about configuration and leasing vs. buying. The market/technology is evolving so fast that a three year lease may just be the right thing for us at this point. Perhaps at that point we could downsize to one vehicle that replaces the Subie and the LEAF. I just turned in my 5 year old Leaf with +50k miles on it. Loved the vehicle, hated the dealer and the sales process. I leased the car, have done 3 of Nissan's lease renewals as the 2018 model kept getting pushed back. Finally Nissan said no more extensions. I tried 7 dealers within 30 miles of my house, starting with an email asking about the Leafs that I could see in stock. Hor...
by Buysider
Tue Mar 06, 2018 7:19 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why don't 401K managers fight on our behalf?
Replies: 28
Views: 5100

Re: Why don't 401K managers fight on our behalf?

"raditional pension funds have also brought almost all of the most successful shareholder lawsuits, from the suits against Enron and Worldcom to the one against Wells Fargo." Successful? That's a laugh. Most class action securities lawsuits involve one set of shareholders suing another set of shareholders. If they win, the company pays cash out of its pocket, less a third to the lawyers, to a set of former shareholders. The current shareholders pay the bill. There is no punishment in class action securities litigation, it is merely an expensive way to move cash between shareholders who bought at "inflated" prices and the poor shareholders holding the bag when this litigation is settled. There is no free lunch with this l...
by Buysider
Sat Feb 24, 2018 10:54 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: The CFA Designation
Replies: 32
Views: 5536

Re: The CFA Designation

I did CFA Level 1 & 2, but dropped out as career and family responsibilities grew. Still a member of the local CFA society. Absolutely hated a few of the reading sections. There was an article one year about "technical analysis" that was not a de-bunking article. I had no interest in learning what a head & shoulders with a shrug pattern was supposed to mean, but the wizards of Charlotte thought every CFA should. Similar with ethics, where some of the ethical guidelines that weren't common sense were set-up in a way to justify companies taking money from their investors in ways I wasn't comfortable with. Just my two cents. As the degree has exploded, I've been amazed how many sales reps and customer service folks have the d...