Search found 58 matches
- Thu Jan 21, 2021 2:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Engagement Ring
- Replies: 140
- Views: 7915
Re: Engagement Ring
Have ever considered asking your future wife what she wants? When I was planning for engagement, my wife specifically requires not to buy any fancy brand or large diamond. We spent less than 2K in total for the engagement ring and wedding bands for both of us. Go with what your future wife values, i...
- Thu Dec 31, 2020 11:27 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Year End Expense Summary, Suggestion?
- Replies: 2
- Views: 291
Year End Expense Summary, Suggestion?
Hi, BH fellows, We just did a year end expense summary, here are the details. Can you pls critique? Total expense $108,275.01 . Just noted we had our first child this year, kiddos expense is new to us. We felt it is a reasonable expense so far. The home expense includes a 13K remodel cost. Auto&...
- Thu Dec 03, 2020 2:33 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: What are you getting your s/o for the holidays?
- Replies: 123
- Views: 9270
Re: What are you getting your s/o for the holidays?
nothing, we generally buy things when we need them. No need to wait for special occasion
- Thu Nov 26, 2020 4:27 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Withdrawal rate for an early retirement
- Replies: 428
- Views: 25402
Re: Withdrawal rate for an early retirement
I believe the sub 3% people are going way overboard. It’s one thing to retire at retirement age and then figuring out you can comfortably live on 2.5% withdrawals. Retirement age doesn't matter. If OP can hit 4M by 45 and figure out they can comfortably live on 2% (80K/yr) then nothing wrong with 2...
- Tue Nov 24, 2020 11:32 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Withdrawal rate for an early retirement
- Replies: 428
- Views: 25402
Re: Withdrawal rate for an early retirement
Here's a data point for you.... When most people were perfectly comfortable with a SWR of 4% + inflation rate I retired early using a 3% guideline with no inflation adjustment (for the then foreseeable future). We were also prepared to pull in our horns should a black swan event occur, which happen...
- Tue Nov 24, 2020 11:10 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Withdrawal rate for an early retirement
- Replies: 428
- Views: 25402
Re: Withdrawal rate for an early retirement
Similar situation here, my approach would simply be 2~2.5% "constant-percentage." I'm not a big fan of SWR + inflation because (imo) it's nonsensical to withdraw the same amount after a year like 2008. Constant-percentage would automatically adjust for such events. My wife wants keep it s...
- Tue Nov 24, 2020 11:07 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Withdrawal rate for an early retirement
- Replies: 428
- Views: 25402
Re: Withdrawal rate for an early retirement
Personally, the methods I like to us is 1 divided your expected life expectancy A life expectancy table would suggest a 45 yo has 38.8 years https://www.fidelity.com/content/apps/moneymovement/rdc/14.05.1.0/pdf/Single-Life-Expectancy-Table.pdf 1/38.8 = 2.57% Without expecting to earn anything on th...
- Tue Nov 17, 2020 9:58 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Withdrawal rate for an early retirement
- Replies: 428
- Views: 25402
Withdrawal rate for an early retirement
I am doing some planning/simulation regarding early retirement say 45 years old. What would be a safe withdrawal rate for a bogleheads portfolio with an allocation of 70% (US and Intl stocks) and 30% (Bonds)? I am targeting 4 MM portfolio size with a 2% withdrawal rate yielding 80K of income each ye...
- Thu Oct 01, 2020 11:23 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: how do you make your home smell good?
- Replies: 84
- Views: 6912
Re: how do you make your home smell good?
indoor plants, open windows, keep the house clean
- Wed Sep 30, 2020 10:02 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: So what are you cooking
- Replies: 461
- Views: 36298
Re: So what are you cooking
homemade tortilla, pumpkin bread, potato bread, spring roll, homemade pasta, dumpling, buns, sushi, bagel, pizza and etc. We tried to eat less processed food and tried to make food at home as much as possible
- Mon Aug 31, 2020 2:43 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Vanguard seems to have web online sign on problem
- Replies: 145
- Views: 6885
Re: Vanguard seems to have web online sign on problem
Seems to be working for me now, where it previously wasn't this morning. Was able to place a buy order as well.
- Mon Aug 31, 2020 1:08 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Vanguard seems to have web online sign on problem
- Replies: 145
- Views: 6885
Re: Vanguard seems to have web online sign on problem
I'm logged into my Fidelity account and have this message on my portfolio page: Due to high volume, you are temporarily seeing a simplified version of your summary page. Impressive, as that means there is indeed a large volume today. However, Fidelity knows how to handle it. Anyone know why there w...
- Mon Aug 31, 2020 9:37 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Vanguard seems to have web online sign on problem
- Replies: 145
- Views: 6885
Re: Vanguard seems to have web online sign on problem
I am also experiencing issues this morning. Aka can't login.
- Sun Aug 16, 2020 4:28 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Matcha green tea
- Replies: 13
- Views: 1259
Re: Matcha green tea
You can get it from Asian markets such as H-Mart or 99 Ranch, they have good price and variety to choose. For quality, I would recommend choose the products from Japan or Taiwan.
- Fri Aug 14, 2020 1:30 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Refinance Mega Thread
- Replies: 10213
- Views: 733874
Re: Refinance Mega Thread
Just got a quote from a local lender(TX), here are the details: 30 yrs fixed rate @2.625% no cost 3700 credits are given to cover all the cost loan remaining amount 440K current mortgage 15 yrs fixed rate @2.875% loan starts at 469K My ideal target rate is 2.5%, worth to wait for a bit? Which lende...
- Fri Aug 07, 2020 8:31 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Refinance Mega Thread
- Replies: 10213
- Views: 733874
Re: Refinance Mega Thread
Just got a quote from a local lender(TX), here are the details: 30 yrs fixed rate @2.625% no cost 3700 credits are given to cover all the cost loan remaining amount 440K current mortgage 15 yrs fixed rate @2.875% loan starts at 469K My ideal target rate is 2.5%, worth to wait for a bit?
- Fri Jul 17, 2020 9:48 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Optimal way to fund a 529 account a with taxable account
- Replies: 5
- Views: 520
Re: Optimal way to fund a 529 account a with taxable account
Thanks for the responses you all. Yes, it seems a bit overkill. I'll likely redirect future contributions to the 529 on a monthly basis like a typical account.
- Thu Jul 16, 2020 7:41 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Optimal way to fund a 529 account a with taxable account
- Replies: 5
- Views: 520
Optimal way to fund a 529 account a with taxable account
Hi, Just had a newborn and thinking about the optimal way to fund a 529 account when we also have a sizable taxable account. The taxable account is a standard 3 fund portfolio at Vanguard say ~300K. My thinking is to take advantage of the tax treatment one can sell from the taxable account in market...
- Thu May 21, 2020 9:53 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Simplest way to gift shares at Vanguard
- Replies: 22
- Views: 2236
Re: Simplest way to gift shares at Vanguard
Out of curiosity of how this works. Is the childs account a UTMA account that the gift is going to?
- Sat May 16, 2020 4:25 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Portfolio Question: can we achieve our FIRE goal by age 40?
- Replies: 26
- Views: 1946
Re: Portfolio Question: can we achieve our FIRE goal by age 40?
So two things: 1) convert 401k from old employers to TIRA. No. You're using confusing terminology. If you're talking about the current Traditional IRAs (his with VTI and VXUS and hers with VXUS) either roll them into the current 401k plans or convert them to Roth IRAs. Since her TIRA is $300 conver...
- Fri May 15, 2020 11:58 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Portfolio Question: can we achieve our FIRE goal by age 40?
- Replies: 26
- Views: 1946
Re: Portfolio Question: can we achieve our FIRE goal by age 40?
Hi, bogleheads users, We are here to seek some sincere advice regarding our current financial situation. Are we on track of achieving our FIRE goal by age 40? Here is our Portfolio: Emergency funds: 20K in checking, 72K in vanguard money market account Debt: mortgage 450K at 15 yrs 2.875% interest ...
- Fri May 15, 2020 11:23 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Portfolio Question: can we achieve our FIRE goal by age 40?
- Replies: 26
- Views: 1946
Re: Portfolio Question: can we achieve our FIRE goal by age 40?
Hi, bogleheads users, We are here to seek some sincere advice regarding our current financial situation. Are we on track of achieving our FIRE goal by age 40? Here is our Portfolio: Emergency funds: 20K in checking, 72K in vanguard money market account Debt: mortgage 450K at 15 yrs 2.875% interest ...
- Fri May 15, 2020 10:41 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Portfolio Question: can we achieve our FIRE goal by age 40?
- Replies: 26
- Views: 1946
Re: Portfolio Question: can we achieve our FIRE goal by age 40?
Are the TIRAs rollovers from prior employers' 401(k) plans? Why not transfer to your current 401(k)s, as they seem to have good choices (unless there are high non-MF fees)? Your wife's TIRA balance is so low, I would just go ahead and convert it into Roth. Maybe same for you, but it might be better...
- Fri May 15, 2020 10:24 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Portfolio Question: can we achieve our FIRE goal by age 40?
- Replies: 26
- Views: 1946
Re: Portfolio Question: can we achieve our FIRE goal by age 40?
Regarding FIRE, a lot depends on your current spending and your FIRE plans. You certainly have more than we had 30 and we will likely FIRE before 40, but we have pretty low expenses and no mortgage to offset most of our net worth. As for whether or not to invest in rental property, that depends on ...
- Fri May 15, 2020 10:22 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Portfolio Question: can we achieve our FIRE goal by age 40?
- Replies: 26
- Views: 1946
Re: Portfolio Question: can we achieve our FIRE goal by age 40?
I do not think FI by 40 (10 years) with a $450k mortgage and 2-3 kids is really possible. Not trying to burst your bubble. You have great incomes. If you could save $100k/year for 10 years, that is $1 million+. That would give you ~$25k for 35-40 years. Not enough really. $2 million. $3 million? Bi...
- Fri May 15, 2020 10:19 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Portfolio Question: can we achieve our FIRE goal by age 40?
- Replies: 26
- Views: 1946
Re: Portfolio Question: can we achieve our FIRE goal by age 40?
Hi, bogleheads users, We are here to seek some sincere advice regarding our current financial situation. Are we on track of achieving our FIRE goal by age 40? ... Questions What could we do better for our assessment allocation? Wife wants to invest in a rental property, should we consider this opti...
- Fri May 15, 2020 10:12 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Portfolio Question: can we achieve our FIRE goal by age 40?
- Replies: 26
- Views: 1946
Re: Portfolio Question: can we achieve our FIRE goal by age 40?
Are the TIRAs rollovers from prior employers' 401(k) plans? Why not transfer to your current 401(k)s, as they seem to have good choices (unless there are high non-MF fees)? Your wife's TIRA balance is so low, I would just go ahead and convert it into Roth. Maybe same for you, but it might be better...
- Fri May 15, 2020 9:43 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Portfolio Question: can we achieve our FIRE goal by age 40?
- Replies: 26
- Views: 1946
Portfolio Question: can we achieve our FIRE goal by age 40?
Hi, bogleheads users, We are here to seek some sincere advice regarding our current financial situation. Are we on track of achieving our FIRE goal by age 40? Here is our Portfolio: Emergency funds: 20K in checking, 72K in vanguard money market account Debt: mortgage 450K at 15 yrs 2.875% interest r...
- Sun Mar 29, 2020 6:29 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Optimal allocation amongst account types?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 242
Re: Optimal allocation amongst account types?
This has been asked a million times, and there isn't one answer. It depends on how much you have, current and future income, what your goals are for that money, when you retire, and probably dozens of other factors, some of which cannot be known with certainty (e.g., future tax rates). Unless you p...
- Sun Mar 29, 2020 6:08 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Optimal allocation amongst account types?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 242
Optimal allocation amongst account types?
What would be the optimal allocation amongst account types? Yes, nobody knows what the optimal allocation will be, but what do you all think is optimal? To clarify, for example my allocation amongst account types currently while accumulating is: 46.8% Taxable Brokerage 26.2% Roth IRA 23.4% Tradition...
- Sat Mar 28, 2020 9:28 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Does anyone use a one fund portfolio?
- Replies: 34
- Views: 4892
Re: Does anyone use a one fund portfolio?
Do it if you have access to your desired fund in all of your accounts. I wouldn't think twice. So I have access to it in my Taxable and IRAs that are with Vanguard. My 401k will not have this option, but should be able to do something comparable. I do make sure to rollover my 401k whenever I switch...
- Sat Mar 28, 2020 9:21 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Does anyone use a one fund portfolio?
- Replies: 34
- Views: 4892
Does anyone use a one fund portfolio?
The market swings have me thinking, does anyone use a one fund portfolio? I am thinking about simplifying from my current three fund portfolio. This may help simplify things like dealing with rebalancing, tax loss harvesting, and some mental games regarding tilting your allocations. For example http...
- Fri Dec 27, 2019 4:37 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Contribute to 529 or ROTH via After tax 401k
- Replies: 8
- Views: 412
Re: Contribute to 529 or ROTH via After tax 401k
I should clarify this is for both my wife and I, so it's not just 50K it's 50K for me and another 50K for her. So in total 100K. We had been saving what additional we had in a taxable account as well, so will have to look at things closer. Our mortgage is 15 years as well. Regarding state tax deduct...
- Fri Dec 27, 2019 2:40 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Contribute to 529 or ROTH via After tax 401k
- Replies: 8
- Views: 412
Re: Contribute to 529 or ROTH via After tax 401k
Regarding state tax deduction we are in Texas, so not a factor. Regarding either/or question; It would be tight to cashflow our expenses; mortgage, daycare, etc...while maxing out the after tax portion of the 401ks for wife and I and 529s So I am mainly asking what do you think I should prioritize m...
- Fri Dec 27, 2019 11:41 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Contribute to 529 or ROTH via After tax 401k
- Replies: 8
- Views: 412
Contribute to 529 or ROTH via After tax 401k
Hello, Soon to be new parent. I am faced with the following choice assuming I can continue to invest this much money when the baby comes: My employer offers an after tax 401k that I can contribute to and roll over to my vanguard IRA. Should I continue to invest the 20% (following 57K limit) of my sa...
- Mon Dec 02, 2019 7:26 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Need Advice for Cheap Wireless Plans
- Replies: 23
- Views: 2209
Re: Need Advice for Cheap Wireless Plans
I have been using https://fi.google.com/about/plans/ and have found it be very good. Also if you ever find yourselves traveling overseas your service works like normal no extra sim card and data is the same price.
- Wed Dec 27, 2017 8:43 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: What frugal thing did you do today?
- Replies: 1503
- Views: 178851
Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
How did you come into this opportunity? Seems pretty unique. Can you describe more?
- Sun Jan 29, 2017 1:37 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: HSA/Health Care saving for one in their 20s
- Replies: 6
- Views: 1075
HSA/Health Care saving for one in their 20s
Hello, I am in my mid 20's and lucky enough to be able to max out my HSA each year. I have accumulated about 10K at this point and invest around 90% in a fidelity index fund. I understand the HSA is a special vehicle regarding tax advantages, so I am definitely going to continue taking advantage of ...
- Thu Sep 22, 2016 7:11 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Please assess my situation/If I can afford my first house
- Replies: 22
- Views: 2921
Re: Please assess my situation/If I can afford my first house
Thanks again everyone for all the advice. This forum is truly an awesome place to get a real unbiased second opinion. I have decided to continue renting for at least the next year and reassess later.
- Thu Sep 22, 2016 7:09 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Please assess my situation/If I can afford my first house
- Replies: 22
- Views: 2921
Re: Please assess my situation/If I can afford my first house
Side note- How do you have so much in your ROTH IRA if contribution limits have been $5,500 per annum the last several years? I had two summer internships in college and maxed the ROTH IRA then. So I have been maxing it each year starting when I was 20. I also utilize the back door method. Meaning ...
- Sat Sep 17, 2016 8:36 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Please assess my situation/If I can afford my first house
- Replies: 22
- Views: 2921
Re: Please assess my situation/If I can afford my first house
Thanks for the responses everybody!
I am still deciding, but am leaning towards waiting it out a few more years to save more/mature personally as well.
Hopefully the market in my area will cool down a bit as this is a significant factor as well.
I am still deciding, but am leaning towards waiting it out a few more years to save more/mature personally as well.
Hopefully the market in my area will cool down a bit as this is a significant factor as well.
- Sat Sep 17, 2016 3:03 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Please assess my situation/If I can afford my first house
- Replies: 22
- Views: 2921
Re: Please assess my situation/If I can afford my first house
What is the PITI on this new house? Why were you using a Roth 401k? The PITI estimate is around $2,500. I am using a ROTH 401k on the basis that I was young 22-25 during that time and my income has been increasing. I plan on next year transitioning to a traditional account. I would hope this thread...
- Sat Sep 17, 2016 2:26 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Please assess my situation/If I can afford my first house
- Replies: 22
- Views: 2921
Re: Please assess my situation/If I can afford my first house
What is the PITI on this new house? Why were you using a Roth 401k? The PITI estimate is around $2,500. I am using a ROTH 401k on the basis that I was young 22-25 during that time and my income has been increasing. I plan on next year transitioning to a traditional account. I would hope this thread...
- Sat Sep 17, 2016 2:13 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Please assess my situation/If I can afford my first house
- Replies: 22
- Views: 2921
Please assess my situation/If I can afford my first house
Below I have tried to give the most information I can in hopes of getting the most accurate answers. Thank you for taking the time to look this over, I really appreciate it! Personal: 25 Financial Stats: Gross income 95K (salaried employee pretty stable). ROTH 401k - 59K Fidelity s&p 500 fund; R...
- Tue Dec 29, 2015 9:40 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Jack Bogle on Bloomberg TV (12-29-15)
- Replies: 20
- Views: 2545
Jack Bogle's Guide to a Winning Strategy
[Thread merged into here, see below. --admin LadyGeek] Great interview with Jack Bogle on Bloomberg http://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2015-12-29/jack-bogle-s-guide-to-a-winning-strategy . I like his take on interest rates with regards to inflation. Additionally, he closes out strong noting the g...
- Sun Oct 11, 2015 4:26 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Optimal way to fund IRA?
- Replies: 7
- Views: 736
Re: Optimal way to fund IRA?
Thanks. I get the the drift of what you are saying now.
I do not have emergency cash reserves. I am in my 20's in a strong industry/job market. I have chosen at this point in my life to have more of an aggressive approach while keeping ~6 months reserve in a total bond fund.
I do not have emergency cash reserves. I am in my 20's in a strong industry/job market. I have chosen at this point in my life to have more of an aggressive approach while keeping ~6 months reserve in a total bond fund.
- Sun Oct 11, 2015 3:58 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Optimal way to fund IRA?
- Replies: 7
- Views: 736
Re: Optimal way to fund IRA?
Thanks for the input. The notion "if I could fund it the first day of the year I would" is still not clear. You can then make the point that you should not just have money sitting on the sidelines accumulating cash for ~3 month before January. During the ~3 months before January I would be...
- Sun Oct 11, 2015 2:24 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Optimal way to fund IRA?
- Replies: 7
- Views: 736
Optimal way to fund IRA?
What is the optimal way to fund ones IRA? The way I see it my options are: (Note I making the assumption that all accounts are funded and I have room for after tax investing) * Start diverting money away from taxable investing in say August of each year into a money market fund/cash, so that you can...
- Sat Oct 03, 2015 6:16 pm
- Forum: US Chapters
- Topic: Master Thread for Austin Texas area Bogleheads
- Replies: 83
- Views: 40044
Re: Master Thread for Austin Texas area Bogleheads
Posting to follow for the next meeting as well.
- Sat Aug 29, 2015 2:41 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: What ETF to use to harvest VXUS losses?
- Replies: 4
- Views: 1166
What ETF to use to harvest VXUS losses?
This will be my first time tax loss harvesting. To confirm my strategy will be: Sell my entire position in VXUS and buy VEU then wait 30 days and swap back. When is the right time to swap back? If VEU rises and I swap i'll just have the losses offset by the gains. The ideal situation seems to be to ...