Search found 58 matches

by cashinstinct
Wed Jan 04, 2017 2:02 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Whats your number to walk away?
Replies: 360
Views: 64134

Re: Whats your number to walk away?

I am 31.

Considering I have DB pension plan at work, I plan to walk away at 55 (if nothing changes, which would be surprising).

If you leave out DB pension plan out of equation, I guess I would want to have around 3 million in investments now to walk away (right away!).

I don't plan accumulating 3 million in investments though, will max out retirement accounts (Canada) and it should be good to retire at 55 with my work DB pension plan.
by cashinstinct
Thu Sep 03, 2015 2:48 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Please help review 67 yr old mom's portfolio
Replies: 16
Views: 1927

Re: Please help review 67 yr old mom's portfolio

To help with undecisions, as said, pay credit card + HELOC. 9% cash ($47,000) in taxable account Vs $48,000 two HELOC's approx. 5% and 8% $10,000 car loan 2% $356/mo = 20 months to go $8,000 credit card 10% $275/mo Clear the $8,000 credit card for sure, save $275 a month and 10% interest is way too high when having $47,000 cash in taxable account. For the HELOC, see what portion costs 8%, pay that portion first. You won't find an investment with guaranteed 8%. The car loan at 2% could be OK. I understand to keep some $$$, but considering the interest rates on debt, it's too much in my opinion. ____ If her current expenses match the monthly income, why $8,000 in credit card debt? why have 2 HELOC's? I think you need her to do a realistic bud...
by cashinstinct
Wed Aug 26, 2015 11:00 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Individual Stocks Does it Ever Make Sense?
Replies: 81
Views: 12342

Re: Individual Stocks Does it Ever Make Sense?

I fear that if I invest in some individual stocks and...:
- if they do better than the index for a couple of years, I will regret not going all in.
- if they do worse than the index, will regret that I did not stick with my index funds.

5% Play money for example? It would be 5% regret money...
by cashinstinct
Wed Aug 26, 2015 9:16 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Janus Bond Fund down almost 3% yesterday
Replies: 13
Views: 2553

Re: Janus Bond Fund down almost 3% yesterday

ERguy101 wrote:Bond... Janus Bond.
I really thought it said "James Bond" when I clicked to read this thread.

Our brains are not perfect :oops:

I thought it might be a fund specialized in cars / guns / alcohol :sharebeer
by cashinstinct
Sun Aug 23, 2015 7:49 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Kind of getting excited about energy stocks
Replies: 50
Views: 6204

Re: Kind of getting excited about energy stocks

I have 1/3 of my stocks in Canadian index, being Canadian (1/3 Canada, 1/3 US, 1/3 International/emerging).

That's close to having a big position in energy stocks :oops:
by cashinstinct
Sat Aug 22, 2015 7:22 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Should I want the market to go up or down?
Replies: 35
Views: 5218

Re: Should I want the market to go up or down?

I would like markets to go sideways (not much variation) : - I can accumulate weekly with my automatic low-funds purchases (from savings from current job, not much money on sidelines). - no regret that I should have waited before purchase / should have sold/ should have blablabla. The market can start climbing when I am done accumulating :moneybag :moneybag ____ Many of my friends (25-30 years old) are traumatized because of 2008-2009 market drop. They don't realize that all losses were recovered by people who hold on stocks. All they remember are the media headlines and the frenzy. They did not hold stocks themselves, they read the news (and/or were told by their family that stocks are bad). They don't want to invest in stocks, they are af...
by cashinstinct
Sun Aug 16, 2015 8:00 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How much to send to set someone up in an apt (Vegas)?
Replies: 8
Views: 2313

Re: How much to send to set someone up in an apt (Vegas)?

order on amazon and put their Address as shipping destination.
by cashinstinct
Tue Aug 11, 2015 1:47 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Buffett: Stocks Will Be Much Higher
Replies: 25
Views: 6240

Re: Buffett: Stocks Will Be Much Higher

Brk just spent 23 billion cash this week.

the company has to keep $$$ for its insurance business.
by cashinstinct
Tue Jul 28, 2015 9:48 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why is stock market so reactionary to news on daily basis?
Replies: 46
Views: 5223

Re: Why is stock market so reactionary to news on daily basis?

The "reasons" given in the media are theories. They don't know for sure.

One reason why stocks have a better return over the long-run typically is the volatility.... if they always climbed, who would buy bonds / GIC / etc?
by cashinstinct
Thu Jul 16, 2015 3:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tipping in a buffet
Replies: 26
Views: 4773

Re: Tipping in a buffet

sawhorse wrote: Yes, I would tip less in California. Just like I tip less in Canada because of that, although I was told yesterday that there are some restaurants exempt from the minimum wage requirement.
In some provinces of Canada, there is a lower minimum wage level for employees with tipping, such as waiters in restaurants, still above $9 an hour.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimum_wage_in_Canada

The cultural norm in Canada is typically around 15% tipping.

For buffets, no idea...
by cashinstinct
Thu Jul 16, 2015 2:43 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Jack Bogle in this Month's Money Magazine
Replies: 80
Views: 12755

Re: Jack Bogle in this Month's Money Magazine

gks wrote:Actually, US stocks have outperformed international stocks over 1 month, 3 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years, 10 years, 19 years, and 21 years.

Greg
so it's time to buy International :mrgreen: :moneybag !!!
by cashinstinct
Wed Jul 15, 2015 8:49 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Trip to Montreal Canada
Replies: 21
Views: 6158

Re: Trip to Montreal Canada

Disclaimer: I am from Montréal.

Underground city (btw nobody local will call that a city) is simply some stores underground, and some tunnels that go from one place to another. It can be convenient to go from one place to another underground in winter / when it rains. Is it something wonderful to see? Think not.

Many good suggestions in the thread, enjoy your stay.

To enjoy more, I would suggest no car, stay in Montréal, think about Québec for another trip unless you want to rush.
by cashinstinct
Thu Jul 09, 2015 8:57 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How much to save?
Replies: 55
Views: 13879

Re: How much to save?

Go Blue 99 wrote:You also need to decide if you want all of your savings to go into retirement accounts only. There are often other shorter term items to save for also, such as home down payments, renovations, kids' college, big vacations, etc.
I would argue it's not something that should be part of "how much to save", it's delayed consumption.
by cashinstinct
Tue Jun 23, 2015 10:24 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What was the 2008 crash like in real time?
Replies: 221
Views: 56891

Re: What was the 2008 crash like in real time?

I just started in 2006 investing (I was 21). I did get many lump sum scholarships I did not need in 2005-2009, so I invested some in 2006, in 2007 and late 2008.

Late 2008 was scary, I look back and I invested many thousands a month in these months, much more than before. You could not know if it was the "bottom" or not. I did not need the money, so I invested late 2008...

I did some tax-selling and repurchase, but "net" was buying.

I did not invest much more in 2009-2011 though (except a small monthly automatic DCA that I kept), but no more big lump sums... no selling either. I did concentrade instead in savings for my downpayment for first home.
by cashinstinct
Mon Jun 22, 2015 11:50 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The 'Monday Effect'?
Replies: 50
Views: 11284

Re: The 'Monday Effect'?

Don't look for the effect this week.
by cashinstinct
Thu Jun 04, 2015 1:32 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What to do with future house down payment
Replies: 5
Views: 848

Re: What to do with future house down payment

If you need money in 2 years, stocks are not an option. They are not safe for a short period of time.

I would also argue that bonds are not an option either. If interest rates rise, their value will drop.
by cashinstinct
Thu Jun 04, 2015 11:26 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can we afford to buy a home?
Replies: 48
Views: 6208

Re: Can we afford to buy a home?

In my opinion, if someone wonders if they can afford something, it means they can't afford it.

They may be able to buy it, but no buffer / no comfort...
by cashinstinct
Wed May 27, 2015 6:46 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: At what point would you want "capped" indices?
Replies: 17
Views: 2254

Re: At what point would you want "capped" indices?

In Canada, TSX 60 had such issue

At its highs, Nortel represented more than 40 per cent of the S&P/TSX 60 index.

They have changed methodology now, and many ETFS in Canada are capped because of this story
by cashinstinct
Tue Oct 14, 2014 1:58 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Relatively new here. What did you do in 2008/09
Replies: 130
Views: 15435

Re: Relatively new here. What did you do in 2008/09

I stayed the course mostly.

I did keep my stock investments (started in 2006 while I was in University) and I kept adding $X per week, same pace... I did some extra purchases in 2009 with scholarship money.

I did some tax-loss harvesting, but I did overall keep my stock allocation. What I sold was to purchase similar index at a lower cost-base.

In insight, I probably did not invest "enough" based on my increased income in 2009 compared to years before, but I kept money for future cashdown on house so I did not know how much I should invest in markets Vs keep for cashdown.
by cashinstinct
Mon Oct 13, 2014 6:00 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Too much cash - portfolio allocation help
Replies: 9
Views: 1505

Re: Too much cash - portfolio allocation help

I have no idea why you have so much cash outside IRA with 7.2% student loans.... (and +1 on why pay more mortgage instead of more on student loans).
by cashinstinct
Sat Oct 11, 2014 6:20 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What's Your up to the minute AA?
Replies: 110
Views: 15252

Re: What's Your up to the minute AA?

Cash 27% (including emergency fund, next car fund...)
Pension fund 9%
Stocks 34%
House (net of mortgage) 30%

Receivables (tax, jobs) 7%
Long-term payable taxes on retirement investment -7% net worth
by cashinstinct
Wed Oct 08, 2014 2:53 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: It's a good day to be in Stocks - 10-08-2014.........
Replies: 24
Views: 4341

Re: It's a good day to be in Stocks - 10-08-2014.........

abyan wrote:Well, domestic stocks ;)
Some Vanguard International ETFS:

Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (VEA) -NYSEArca  Watchlist

39.09 Up 0.62(1.61%) 3:52PM EDT - Nasdaq Real Time Price


Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO) -NYSEArca  Watchlist


42.56 Up 0.73(1.75%) 3:53PM EDT - Nasdaq Real Time Price


US:

Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) -NYSEArca  Watchlist


100.99 Up 1.67(1.68%) 3:53PM EDT - Nasdaq Real Time Price


What is the problem with international stocks today?
by cashinstinct
Fri Oct 03, 2014 2:21 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Leaving a legacy
Replies: 63
Views: 7387

Re: Leaving a legacy

technovelist wrote:So I have given up, but I'm still not happy about it. :annoyed
Your mom did teach you that life is not fair. She left you something already.
by cashinstinct
Fri Oct 03, 2014 1:17 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why not 100% Stocks?
Replies: 293
Views: 40330

Re: Why not 100% Stocks?

[quote="technovelist"I imagine that's fairly easy to say if one is a billionaire. :annoyed[/quote]

it seemed easier to me to see my 23-year old stocks fall in 2008 compared to now... because I hold way more in $ value now.

Losing billions in actual $ value on a statement is easy? sure.

If you are not ready to see your stocks drop 50%, you hold too much.
by cashinstinct
Wed Oct 01, 2014 2:53 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Buying more when markets are down
Replies: 61
Views: 7400

Re: Buying more when markets are down

The advantage of a small business is you don't get quotes every minute about the value of the business going up or down.

Small business people would be like stock market investors if they got such "information" every minute / every day / etc...
by cashinstinct
Wed Oct 01, 2014 2:51 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: When should someone "not stay the course"?
Replies: 43
Views: 4657

Re: When should someone "not stay the course"?

Might be time to make sure you have the % in International your asset allocation suggests.

I am a little discouraged by the lack of International performance in my portfolio last couple of years when compared to US... but that's short-term thinking.

International stocks can certainly increase more than US stocks in the next couple of years... why not ?
by cashinstinct
Wed Oct 01, 2014 2:23 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should I include [banked vacation days] in my net worth?
Replies: 40
Views: 5244

Re: Should I include this in my net worth?

sherwink wrote:I'd imagine that less than three months salary is pretty much in the rounding error category for the total scheme of things in life.
It depends of your current age.

My net worth is going up mostly because of salary these days! :)
by cashinstinct
Wed Oct 01, 2014 2:20 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Buying more when markets are down
Replies: 61
Views: 7400

Re: Buying more when markets are down

You are buying more when markets are down if you use dollar-cost averaging (DCA). (From new savings generated by my jobs, I pay myself first before being able to spend... I am currently invested. I have $ on the side that is mostly emergency funds + future car fund).

I invest $150 per week in equity index funds: $50 Canadian, $50 US, $50 International (I am Canadian so my 33%-33%-33% split).

If the markets are down, I am buying more units. If the markets are up, I am buying less units....
by cashinstinct
Mon Sep 29, 2014 7:20 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should I pay off my sisters student loans?
Replies: 49
Views: 7522

Re: Should I pay off my sisters student loans?

Do you have received windfall yet? I would wait to make sure you really get the windfall (in 2015?). Don't spend your own money based on a windfall you don't have yet. That's my philosophy. Also related to the windfall, your sister will not get a share of this windfall herself ? Since we don't know the details on the source of the windfall, I would guess she has a share too, but maybe not. When you get the windfall : - will other family members be jealous ? will they all require a 168k payment each? how many payments could you be expected to make? If you can limit the expectations of others, paying 168k to help your sister on 25 M$ total seems reasonable. I would suggest reading stories of lottery winners (not your case, but similar effect ...
by cashinstinct
Mon Sep 29, 2014 7:12 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Will you invest in Bill Gross's new bond fund?
Replies: 51
Views: 4868

Re: Will you invest in Bill Gross's new bond fund?

No
Why would I ?

I don't invest in bonds... if I did, I would index.
(I have a defined benefit pension plan, I am 28 and I have a large emergency savings in HISA account).
by cashinstinct
Wed Sep 24, 2014 10:39 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What's your one big takeaway from the Crash of 2008?
Replies: 380
Views: 72745

Re: What's your one big takeaway from the Crash of 2008?

My lesson: Make purchases automatic $X per period (month, week, quarter, whatever).

I did not touch my investments in crash of 2008. I continued to invest $X per week in index funds no matter the news.

I did some buying in 2009 outside my weekly investments, but otherwise, I was too scared of timing ... not touching my automatic purchases did allow me to get gains.

I maybe should have invested more, but I was also saving for a downpayment on 1st home, so I mixed both...
by cashinstinct
Thu Sep 18, 2014 7:59 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Need for International Investing ?
Replies: 56
Views: 5905

Re: Need for International Investing ?

Sure.

Dropping International investing because US market did better in the last couple of years...

Market timing, anyone?
by cashinstinct
Mon Sep 15, 2014 3:19 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Good hobby for a bright/obsessive 9 year old?
Replies: 73
Views: 10928

Re: Good hobby for a bright/obsessive 9 year old?

Guitar would be a good idea as a social long-term investment.
by cashinstinct
Mon Sep 08, 2014 7:45 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: If you won the lottery, does boglehead thinking still work?
Replies: 39
Views: 4550

Re: If you won the lottery, does boglehead thinking still wo

I think you need Bogleheads thinking even more if you win the lottery.

You need to think long-term, make sure not to lose this windfall, not spend it quickly...

One needs discipline, so many people will be after your money...
by cashinstinct
Sun Sep 07, 2014 8:23 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Role of Non-Vanguard Index funds in your portfolio
Replies: 15
Views: 1595

Re: Role of Non-Vanguard Index funds in your portfolio

The title suggests we should apologize if we don't use Vanguard :o

In Canada, Vanguard Canada has good products but they are not always the cheapest... iShares dropped their MER lower than Vanguard on many products.
by cashinstinct
Tue Sep 02, 2014 7:43 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Once your house appreciates +$250k, sell it?
Replies: 42
Views: 6786

Re: Once your house appreciates +$250k, sell it?

Why would the new house appreciate more than your current home?

If your current home is a good fit for your family and your job location(s), why move?

Possible cons:
1) There are fees associated to moving.
2) You might end up in a area you don't like ... it's not easy to know in advance sometimes.
3) You might be tempted to buy a BIGGER home.

You are tempted to do a move for tax reasons, is it a good reason?
by cashinstinct
Sat Aug 30, 2014 6:51 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: My husband's " WILL", $ left for me to live on....
Replies: 258
Views: 26967

Re: My husband's " WILL", $ left for me to live on....

In my view, it should be open books:
- here are all the properties I own with information about price paid / when it was bought / and consider asking third-party fair value market assessment
- here all all the mortgage statements related to rental properties.

What is "fair" is open for debate, but without this information, you cannot judge whether his new offer is fair or not.

I am happy for you that he seems more open to give you and your child more, but it does not change the fact you need more information sharing in your couple. It's an emotional rollercoaster, but it must happen.

It's not only the will, it's also about sharing of current expenses in YOUR house.
by cashinstinct
Thu Aug 28, 2014 1:49 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: My husband's " WILL", $ left for me to live on....
Replies: 258
Views: 26967

Re: My husband's " WILL", $ left for me to live on....

He talks about government assistance for you and your child that you had together ... with his 7 M$ net worth ?

+1 on marital counseling / frank discussion.
by cashinstinct
Thu Aug 28, 2014 10:33 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: If you had an extra $100,000
Replies: 68
Views: 10355

Re: If you had an extra $100,000

Canadian for the acronyms: 1) Fully fund TFSA (equivalent of Roth IRA?): around $20,000 2) Fully fund RRSP (equivalent of 401k?): around $20,000 3) Pay back some of my mortgage : around $20,000 3) Invest in RESP plan (school savings tax-deferred, equivalent to 501?): around $15,000 5) Buy a used car $25,000 (I currently have the savings for it, fully saved $, but I defer this project because I don't enjoy spending on cars... current car is OK but start to break down sometimes, if I was given an extra $100,000, I would take some of it to buy the car, and then have no idea what to do with my current savings :) ) The "funny" thing is that I currently have $ on the sidelines, trying to figure out how much is enough in emergency funds ...
by cashinstinct
Thu Aug 21, 2014 2:03 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Should I use margin to buy a balanced fund?
Replies: 944
Views: 300118

Re: Should I use margin to buy a balanced fund?

I have no idea how using margin to buy bonds make sense....

I understand to buy stocks.

But getting into debt, by borrowing money on margin, and lend this money after via bonds ... are you a bank ?
by cashinstinct
Tue Aug 19, 2014 9:54 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Rebalancing After a Correction
Replies: 13
Views: 1991

Re: Rebalancing After a Correction

It dépends how much :moneybag you have, your family situation, your lifestyle/expenses...

You are doing market timing.
by cashinstinct
Mon Aug 18, 2014 8:38 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Your biggest "Missed Money" event that still kills you?
Replies: 102
Views: 14197

Re: Your biggest "Missed Money" event that still kills you?

In insight, I probably kept too much $ on the sidelines, not invested in the market , from 2009 to 2014 more or less. From 2006 to 2009, I was studying at University, living at home. I received around 50k total in scholarships and school was not costing a lot (around 3k a year in Québec Canada), so I had extra $ available to invest. I did start to invest in 2007, but kept a lot of $ on sidelines. Was pretty happy end of 2008 when it crashed not to have invested all, I continued to invest in indexes (some lump sum, some DCA).... Today, I look at my cash balances from 2009 (starting in appartment with gf) to 2012 (saved for downpayment) and I see missed opportunities in investing more in the market.... I received $$$ from ex-employer in 2012 ...
by cashinstinct
Sat Oct 18, 2008 2:23 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Buffett buys US stock in his personal portfolio-open letter
Replies: 65
Views: 14049

Let's be 100% clear that Buffett was not really 100% bonds. After all, he owns a substantiel % of Berkshire Hathaway. His personal portfolio is not that big compared to his net worth. Staying the course, for him, is keeping his shares of Berkshire (or giving them to charity). His personal portfolio (+- 1% of his portfolio I read somewhere, don't remember the source exactly) = play money for him. He plays the game, and he tells you: now I play with US equity. It does not mean to go from 30% equities to 90% equities (example) overnight. It would be market timing. To me, the meanings of Buffett's letter: - do not be affraid of stock market - rebalance as needed - do not think cash is a safe long-term way to reach your goals. Each can interpret...
by cashinstinct
Fri Oct 17, 2008 10:53 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Buffett buys US stock in his personal portfolio-open letter
Replies: 65
Views: 14049

I'm in mid twenties, still studying, I do have about 33% equities, I was planning on getting 70%-80% equities (investment plan). I was buying slowly into the market from 2006-2008 (from 0% equity to 33% equity)... I guess it will go up faster now.