Search found 10730 matches

by student
Thu Mar 28, 2024 10:40 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: AMEX Platinum and Marroitt Gold Elite
Replies: 0
Views: 54

AMEX Platinum and Marroitt Gold Elite

I usually use Hilton but will book at Marriott occasionally if the location is more convenient. I don't want the Marriott points to expire, so I plan to get the no fee Marriott card from Chase, which comes with Silver Elite.

My AMEX Platinum already gives me Gold Elite. I assume getting Chase will not mess up my Gold Elite status, correct? Thanks.
by student
Thu Mar 28, 2024 7:01 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Fidelity customer service: odd interaction re transaction fees; is this normal?
Replies: 10
Views: 703

Re: Fidelity customer service: odd interaction re transaction fees; is this normal?

Yes, normal and listed right on the Fidelity site for the fund. Vanguard has always had a fee as they are in the Fidelity list of no fee funds. https://fundresearch.fidelity.com/mutual-funds/summary/922908728 That being said, they should hopefully refund the fee if the amount you transferred in was large enough — they have what the rep said recorded and should stand by it. Also, this was not an exchange, it was a sale. You can’t “exchange” between fund families for completely different companies. You have to look at the footnote. It explicitly says that the fee applies only when buying the fund. If the OP was selling then there should be no fee. I've done this before without issue at fidelity online. However, it was just a sell. Not sure i...
by student
Thu Mar 28, 2024 6:59 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Thoughts on Dave Ramsey's Investments
Replies: 26
Views: 1909

Re: Thoughts on Dave Ramsey's Investments

AllMostThere wrote: Thu Mar 28, 2024 6:04 am Dave Ramsey is okay for getting and staying out of debt. His show will give you great examples on what not to do regarding incurring debt. Don't listen to him regarding investing theory nor get involved with is recommended advisors as they will put you in high ER cost mutual funds. BH input is vastly superior with our Index low-cost investing methods. Plus, we are free!! :beer
+1.
by student
Wed Mar 27, 2024 1:34 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Robinhood 3% Rewards Visa Card
Replies: 20
Views: 1718

Re: Robinhood 3% Rewards Visa Card

Leesbro63 wrote: Wed Mar 27, 2024 7:29 am So I put myself on the waiting list. In addition to my original questions, I now wonder what and why a waiting list. 🤷🏻‍♂️
To create the illusion of exclusivity. If you get 10 other to sign up, you get a "real" "gold" card.
by student
Wed Mar 27, 2024 12:54 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Those complimentary dinners for retirees by investment advisors
Replies: 143
Views: 10462

Re: Those complimentary dinners for retirees by investment advisors

OOH OOH OHH!! I just got my most recent invitation for a complimentary dinner in the mail today. A meal at Fleming's Steakhouse (a pretty upscale place for a Boglehead). The title of the presentation is "Essential Strategies for Retirement Planning in Today's Volatile Economy". It's being presented by a seasoned "financial planning specialist" who worked for 10 years for New York Life before he struck out on his own. And even better - he played for one of the local BIG COLLEGE FOOTBALL teams, in the Southeastern Conference. Instant credibility in the football-crazed South! One of the things he'll discuss is "how to design your portfolio to protect yourself against future drops in the market without sacrificing sign...
by student
Wed Mar 27, 2024 12:52 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Those complimentary dinners for retirees by investment advisors
Replies: 143
Views: 10462

Re: Those complimentary dinners for retirees by investment advisors

OOH OOH OHH!! I just got my most recent invitation for a complimentary dinner in the mail today. A meal at Fleming's Steakhouse (a pretty upscale place for a Boglehead). The title of the presentation is "Essential Strategies for Retirement Planning in Today's Volatile Economy". It's being presented by a seasoned "financial planning specialist" who worked for 10 years for New York Life before he struck out on his own. And even better - he played for one of the local BIG COLLEGE FOOTBALL teams, in the Southeastern Conference. Instant credibility in the football-crazed South! One of the things he'll discuss is "how to design your portfolio to protect yourself against future drops in the market without sacrificing sign...
by student
Wed Mar 27, 2024 8:46 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Does the IRS care if I report a basis of zero?
Replies: 21
Views: 3156

Re: Does the IRS care if I report a basis of zero?

almostretired1965 wrote: Mon Mar 25, 2024 10:35 pm If you can't figure it out, the IRS won't be able to either. 0 is certainly defensible if you ever get audited. It would seem counter productive for them to flag your return for doing something that is flagrantly in the government's favor.
Yes. Long time ago, I called IRS asking whether I needed to file an amended return to fix an issue. I would get more money back but it is so small that it is not worth my time. The agent said they don't care if it is in their favor if I do not fix it.
by student
Mon Mar 25, 2024 7:43 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 10% cash position excessive?
Replies: 27
Views: 2690

Re: 10% cash position excessive?

I also like to have a portion of my portfolio in cash and I am not currently retired. My target is 60/35/5 (stock/bond/cash) and currently at 62/31/7.
by student
Mon Mar 25, 2024 7:18 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Humidifier recommendations?
Replies: 15
Views: 1062

Re: Humidifier recommendations?

Years ago I bought a ultrasonic humidifier from Honeywell. They get filthy at breakneck speed and I became genuinely worried what sort of gunk gets vaporized into the air. So I stopped using it. A few months ago my wife complained the low humidity and we went out and bought a humidifier which works mechanical with creating an extra large surface and blabla very expensive at 300 USD... long story short, it was expensive but same problem, even with distilled water. After a few days we had red mold in it... I am done with humidification. Have you tried something like https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08H4ZWCXC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Not much hidden area to clean. At under $25, it maybe worth a try. Right now, if ...
by student
Mon Mar 25, 2024 7:10 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Walmart Plus Feels Like A Scam
Replies: 53
Views: 5992

Re: Walmart Plus Feels Like A Scam

I chose shipping for a $6.97 Walmart+ order. It was delivered from a local store which was unexpected. This happens all the time and then you feel obligated to tip 5.00 for a 6.97 order that you didn't even need the same. How do you tip the person? Physically give it to the person? Personally, if I choose delivery, I will tip; otherwise I don't tip because I did not chose that option. I tip them cash if i am home when they deliver .The drivers have a tendency to let you know they have arrived like pulling up in driveway,sitting in the car an extra minute or talking on the cellphone as they approach my porch .Now that i think about it i don't think they text me when it's an unexpected delivery.I was reading a thread about this on Reddit and...
by student
Sun Mar 24, 2024 9:42 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Walmart Plus Feels Like A Scam
Replies: 53
Views: 5992

Re: Walmart Plus Feels Like A Scam

cashmoney wrote: Sun Mar 24, 2024 11:48 am
Nyc10036 wrote: Sun Mar 24, 2024 11:20 am I chose shipping for a $6.97 Walmart+ order.
It was delivered from a local store which was unexpected.
This happens all the time and then you feel obligated to tip 5.00 for a 6.97 order that you didn't even need the same.
How do you tip the person? Physically give it to the person? Personally, if I choose delivery, I will tip; otherwise I don't tip because I did not chose that option.
by student
Sat Mar 23, 2024 9:38 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tar smell from new dishwasher
Replies: 4
Views: 653

Re: Tar smell from new dishwasher

valleyrock wrote: Sat Mar 23, 2024 9:27 am Run it a few times empty, using the hottest water setting. That should help dissolve away whatever is causing the odor.
Thanks. Doing it right now. It is disappointing that the manufacturer says it takes 4-6 weeks (a long time).
by student
Sat Mar 23, 2024 9:11 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tar smell from new dishwasher
Replies: 4
Views: 653

Re: Tar smell from new dishwasher

gotoparks wrote: Fri Mar 22, 2024 11:46 pm My mom lives in a senior apartment. One of her neighbors recently got a new dish washer. The other night the neighbor had an unusual smell in her apartment. She is a high-strung lady and other neighbors told her to call 911 and she did. My mom watched the firemen enter her apartment from the outside on ladders. I told my mom that new plastic things sometimes emit smells, but they will go away. It is normal.
Thanks for the info.
by student
Sat Mar 23, 2024 9:10 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Talk me into/out of TIAA Traditional (and Real Estate)
Replies: 19
Views: 1507

Re: Talk me into/out of TIAA Traditional (and Real Estate)

dknightd wrote: Sat Mar 23, 2024 8:42 am
student wrote: Sat Mar 23, 2024 8:24 am Interesting. It is an option for you. For us, we have to switch to RC/RCP for future contributions.
I'm retired. Will no longer be making contributions. What I have is what we have. I think it is enough. I'm not chasing extra pennies. I think I'll keep with the plan.
Yes. Near-optimal solution is often enough.
by student
Sat Mar 23, 2024 8:24 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Talk me into/out of TIAA Traditional (and Real Estate)
Replies: 19
Views: 1507

Re: Talk me into/out of TIAA Traditional (and Real Estate)

dknightd wrote: Sat Mar 23, 2024 7:56 am A shiny coin. I got offered the same option. For now I'm happy with 3% guaranteed.
Interesting. It is an option for you. For us, we have to switch to RC/RCP for future contributions.
by student
Sat Mar 23, 2024 7:59 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Any downsides to the Fidelity CMA?
Replies: 25
Views: 2033

Re: Any downsides to the Fidelity CMA?

but I found it embarrassing to have a payment bounce. Won’t happen again. I have a worse embarrassing story. I has a check bounced once. At the time, I had two checking accounts that I write checks, one for every day use with small checks (a sandbox account) and one as the main account that is linked to all investment accounts and for big checks. One year I wrote the property tax check from the sandbox account instead of the main account. I got a notification from the sandbox account that I do not have enough money in it, and the check was bounced. I called the bank right away to see whether I can quickly put money in it but it was too late. I had to call the property tax office letting them know the check will bounce......., stating that ...
by student
Sat Mar 23, 2024 7:31 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Any downsides to the Fidelity CMA?
Replies: 25
Views: 2033

Re: Any downsides to the Fidelity CMA?

but I found it embarrassing to have a payment bounce. Won’t happen again. I have a worse embarrassing story. I has a check bounced once. At the time, I had two checking accounts that I write checks, one for every day use with small checks (a sandbox account) and one as the main account that is linked to all investment accounts and for big checks. One year I wrote the property tax check from the sandbox account instead of the main account. I got a notification from the sandbox account that I do not have enough money in it, and the check was bounced. I called the bank right away to see whether I can quickly put money in it but it was too late. I had to call the property tax office letting them know the check will bounce......., stating that ...
by student
Sat Mar 23, 2024 7:19 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Talk me into/out of TIAA Traditional (and Real Estate)
Replies: 19
Views: 1507

Re: Talk me into/out of TIAA Traditional (and Real Estate)

I won't talk you into/out of these investments but I will give you some info on how I use them. 1) TIAA Real Estate is a unique investment. I used to treat it like a REIT but I was told it does not have a large leverage ratio like REITs. Nevertheless, it is still like investing with just one company. In any case, I invested in it as diversification and expected it to provide some stability during market downturn. It did not happen in 2008, and I sold it to invest in equity index instead. 2) I am a big fan of TIAA Traditional. Almost all my fixed income are in TIAA Traditional. However, I limit my illiquid version to 1/3 of total TIAA Traditional pot. My rationale is I will take the volatility in equity and I want my fixed income to be stabl...
by student
Fri Mar 22, 2024 9:09 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tar smell from new dishwasher
Replies: 4
Views: 653

Tar smell from new dishwasher

Got a new dishwasher installed today. It smelled bad when I opened the door after a wash. Maytag/Whirlpool/KitchenAid (same company) says it is normal. https://producthelp.maytag.com/Dishwashers/Dishwasher/Other/Cleaning_and_Odor/Odors/Hot_tar_or_Petroleum_Like_Odor_-_Dishwasher https://producthelp.whirlpool.com/Dishwashers/Product_Info/Dishwasher_Cleaning_and_Care/Removing_Odors_in_your_Dishwasher#:~:text=Is%20there%20a%20petroleum%20smell,dissipate%20in%204%2D6%20weeks. https://www.kitchenaid.com/pinch-of-help/major-appliances/why-does-my-dishwasher-smell.html The installer also mistakenly left a plastic bag of sample cleaning tablets in the dishwasher during the first quick wash. I don't think this is a contributing factor. What are your...
by student
Fri Mar 22, 2024 4:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Walmart Plus Feels Like A Scam
Replies: 53
Views: 5992

Re: Walmart Plus Feels Like A Scam

After playing around a bit more, I realize that there are three options--Pickup, Shipping and Delivery. I see that for the TheraTears order, there is no extra charge if I choose either of the first two options but the small order charge applies if I choose the latter. Odd thing is that with either Shipping or Delivery, I get the item quickly. Maybe tomorrow versus late tonight. Go figure. Some items that I put into my cart do not have the Shipping option though. Toothpaste, for example. Maybe it is considered a grocery item. Here is what I understand. 1) For shipping, no minimum. Free. 2) For delivery, usually from local store, there is a minimum required if you do not want to pay a fee. However, they use third party workers so they ask yo...
by student
Fri Mar 22, 2024 1:57 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Walmart Plus Feels Like A Scam
Replies: 53
Views: 5992

Re: Walmart Plus Feels Like A Scam

My past Walmart.com orders of $35 or more have shipped free. Having dropped Amazon Prime recently, I decided to try Walmart Plus which is advertised to give free shipping on all orders. The first three small orders went well. The total cost was the cost of the item(s) plus tax. Delivery was made quickly, sometimes from the local store only a couple of miles away. I was sold. Impressed even. Then, within days, I went to make the fourth order and a new $6.99 charge was added because the order was below $35. Shipping was still listed as free. It feels like the Walmart Plus account is about worthless since I am reduced to trying to stick with larger orders, just like before. Maybe an error. I just did an experiment by adding something to the c...
by student
Fri Mar 22, 2024 1:54 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do you tip hotel staff when checking out?
Replies: 145
Views: 6929

Re: Do you tip hotel staff when checking out?

This is such a well-reasoned and balanced response that I thought it worth repeating. Once you understand the issue as explained above, it becomes clearer that if you aren't tipping a "tipped employee", like hotel housekeepers, you are just stiffing them. I was in Japan recently, a no tip culture country, and it was great. I did not tip and did not have to feel bad about it (or think about it, much). In the US, I tip. I'm going to go out on a limb here, and suggest that the leftover slice of pizza someone up thread left as a tip is equivalent to stiffing the housekeepers. Even if the one leaving it was feeling especially benevolent and included a partially consumed dark chocolate bar. Tipped restaurant employees can be paid a min...
by student
Fri Mar 22, 2024 1:31 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Calling All Academics - What's Next
Replies: 35
Views: 3861

Re: Calling All Academics - What's Next

Hi All, I work at a R1 AAU university and am close to receiving promotion to Associate Professor w/ Tenure. It has been a long road towards promotion & tenure and am excited that I am almost at that point. However, over the last few years finances have been more difficult with inflation, increases in family costs w/ 3 kids (all 5 & under), and only modest increases in salary (typical for a university position). My wife works and commonly mentions how she'd like to stay home with our kids. I have been interested in industry jobs which may greatly increase my overall compensation but it may also sacrifice my work-life balance and professional independence. Right now, my work-life balance is excellent and I can basically do what I ple...
by student
Fri Mar 22, 2024 1:26 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do you tip hotel staff when checking out?
Replies: 145
Views: 6929

Re: Do you tip hotel staff when checking out?

I am 99.9% sure that no supermarket employee is a "tipped employee," so you don't need to tip them. Ditto cooks and dishwashers in restaurants. The tradition is that hotel housekeepers and waitstaff are tipped, SO they get paid less... SO they need tips. The system sucks, and in the US it has an ugly backstory. The fiction that tips are extraordinary rewards for extraordinary performance doesn't fit reality. In the case of hotel housekeepers, the level of service is pretty standardized. If it's a well-run hotel the chances of below-par service is small. The chances that a housekeeper will have the opportunity to perform outstanding above-and-beyond service is also small. So does a housekeeper "deserve" a tip for "j...
by student
Fri Mar 22, 2024 1:22 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do you tip hotel staff when checking out?
Replies: 145
Views: 6929

Re: Do you tip hotel staff when checking out?

I am 99.9% sure that no supermarket employee is a "tipped employee," so you don't need to tip them. Ditto cooks and dishwashers in restaurants. The tradition is that hotel housekeepers and waitstaff are tipped, SO they get paid less... SO they need tips. The system sucks, and in the US it has an ugly backstory. The fiction that tips are extraordinary rewards for extraordinary performance doesn't fit reality. In the case of hotel housekeepers, the level of service is pretty standardized. If it's a well-run hotel the chances of below-par service is small. The chances that a housekeeper will have the opportunity to perform outstanding above-and-beyond service is also small. So does a housekeeper "deserve" a tip for "j...
by student
Fri Mar 22, 2024 10:02 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do you tip hotel staff when checking out?
Replies: 145
Views: 6929

Re: Do you tip hotel staff when checking out?

No, not worried about that at all, just figure it's easier to have one there. We stay in 5 star suites typically. We try pretty hard not to piss anyone off and to be decent people, but you never know. Our friend staying with us at a 5 star hotel once walked in on the housekeeping staff using his toothbrush to clean the sink - and god knows what else she cleaned with it before he walked in. I don't get why everyone finds this so outrageous - all these posts, lol. The bogleheads are some bored people. Did you talk to the management about the incident? We were with our friend when he did. You know, the whole "we're so sorry, that's not right, we'll fix it in the future BS. They took note of which staff member it was and promised to take ...
by student
Fri Mar 22, 2024 9:26 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do you tip hotel staff when checking out?
Replies: 145
Views: 6929

Re: Do you tip hotel staff when checking out?

funyun wrote: Fri Mar 22, 2024 9:19 am No, not worried about that at all, just figure it's easier to have one there. We stay in 5 star suites typically. We try pretty hard not to piss anyone off and to be decent people, but you never know. Our friend staying with us at a 5 star hotel once walked in on the housekeeping staff using his toothbrush to clean the sink - and god knows what else she cleaned with it before he walked in. I don't get why everyone finds this so outrageous - all these posts, lol. The bogleheads are some bored people.
Did you talk to the management about the incident?
by student
Fri Mar 22, 2024 8:30 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Calling All Academics - What's Next
Replies: 35
Views: 3861

Re: Calling All Academics - What's Next

Some meandering thoughts: If you are close to promotion, then you should consider waiting for your promotion before leaving your position. Tenure is a significant achievement that you can be proud of, and at least for some is a valuable credential in the future. For some, promotion to Professor is a similar achievement worth pursuing. For some, the same would go with being a Chair or a Dean. I'm not sure one can place a financial value on any of these accomplishments, but certainly I am happy that I achieved some of these before leaving academics myself. Finances are very situational. Salary is very different between different Universities, and within a given University between different schools and departments. Hence, it is hard to give a...
by student
Fri Mar 22, 2024 8:30 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Calling All Academics - What's Next
Replies: 35
Views: 3861

Re: Calling All Academics - What's Next

Afty wrote: Fri Mar 22, 2024 12:07 am My PhD advisor (computer science) recently left his tenured academic job for industry. He told me that he now works less and gets paid more and wonders why he didn’t do this sooner.

I work in industry research and love it. I don’t know what field you’re in, but in comp sci the pay difference can be staggering, and often the work is more interesting as well, in AI for example where academics don’t have the resources to train large models.
At our school, the CS department has a lot of trouble keeping faculty.
by student
Fri Mar 22, 2024 7:20 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do you tip hotel staff when checking out?
Replies: 145
Views: 6929

Re: Do you tip hotel staff when checking out?

bradinsky wrote: Fri Mar 22, 2024 6:36 am
funyun wrote: Thu Mar 21, 2024 7:00 pm
bradinsky wrote: Thu Mar 21, 2024 6:59 pm
funyun wrote: Thu Mar 21, 2024 6:15 pm Yep, during the stay and when checking out. First, it's the right thing to do. Second, I assume if you tip, there's less chance they'll do vile things to your toiletries. I actually travel with a decoy toothbrush after hearing some horror stories from travel companions.
Seriously?
Yup - just google what hotel staff do to toothbrushes.
Good point. I always believe EVERYTHING I read on the internet. 😂
While this is not about toothbrushes, you can decide whether you believe this article. https://www.today.com/money/hotel-maids ... 1d80287464
by student
Thu Mar 21, 2024 10:32 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do you tip hotel staff when checking out?
Replies: 145
Views: 6929

Re: Do you tip hotel staff when checking out?

stocknoob4111 wrote: Thu Mar 21, 2024 10:29 pm The toothbrush thing I have never heard before.. but that thought has crossed my mind on occasion but I thought it was borderline ocd to think along those lines. I don't know anyone who hides their toothbrush. I have an electric one that has a cap on the brush head.. but you got me thinking now lol 😆
I usually put the toothbrush in my locked luggage.
by student
Thu Mar 21, 2024 10:24 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do you tip hotel staff when checking out?
Replies: 145
Views: 6929

Re: Do you tip hotel staff when checking out?

When in doubt, I suggest using Emily Post Tipping guide as a starting point. https://emilypost.com/advice/general-tipping-guide For hotel, I do tip a couple of dollars. I thought about not tipping at Vegas as they are unionized. https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/ ... n-2910727/ But I tipped anyway because that's what I am accustomed to. (But no tipping at coffee shops and grocery stores.)
by student
Thu Mar 21, 2024 9:44 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Calling All Academics - What's Next
Replies: 35
Views: 3861

Re: Calling All Academics - What's Next

The pension would be nice though. Take the starting pension and divide it by approx .04 or .05 and that is a rough market value of the inflation pension annuity. So a 50k pension would be worth $1 to 1.25 million. Actually many universities no longer have pension. I don't. I have 403b and 457b. According to https://finance.yahoo.com/news/10-jobs-still-offer-traditional-174644999.html 59% of colleges and universities offer pensions. Even without pensions, many universities have very generous retirement plans with a high match eg 5-12%, and the ability to have 2 or even 3 pretax or after tax plans. I am able to save almost 100K pretax including the match, eg. This is a major benefit. Vacation and sick leave tends to be much more generous. Eg...
by student
Thu Mar 21, 2024 9:04 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Calling All Academics - What's Next
Replies: 35
Views: 3861

Re: Calling All Academics - What's Next

JBTX wrote: Thu Mar 21, 2024 5:05 pm The pension would be nice though. Take the starting pension and divide it by approx .04 or .05 and that is a rough market value of the inflation pension annuity. So a 50k pension would be worth $1 to 1.25 million.
Actually many universities no longer have pension. I don't. I have 403b and 457b. According to https://finance.yahoo.com/news/10-jobs- ... 44999.html 59% of colleges and universities offer pensions.
by student
Thu Mar 21, 2024 9:03 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Calling All Academics - What's Next
Replies: 35
Views: 3861

Re: Calling All Academics - What's Next

livesoft wrote: Thu Mar 21, 2024 3:48 pm Also if your academic research has no benefit to mankind, then why are you doing it and who is paying for it?
But the thing is sometimes it is not clear right away whether something has benefit to mankind. My standard example is that no one knew many years ago that the problem of the factorization of integers (seems to be a difficult problem) has an application to cryptography.
by student
Thu Mar 21, 2024 2:23 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Calling All Academics - What's Next
Replies: 35
Views: 3861

Re: Calling All Academics - What's Next

I had job offers from industry and academia many years ago, and I chose academia because I did not want someone to tell me what type of research I should do. I also chose to be single so I only have myself to support. Overall I am satisfied but the salary difference between industry and academia is getting larger, I am not sure that I would make the same decision as I did almost 30 years ago in today's market. Over the years, about 50% of my Ph.D. students went to academia.

One option for you is to do consulting. Do you have grant support to pay your summer salary? (I assume you do as you are in a R1 AAU place.)
by student
Thu Mar 21, 2024 10:39 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How much should I leave to nieces/nephews vs. siblings vs. charity I'm passionate about?
Replies: 66
Views: 5587

Re: How much should I leave to nieces/nephews vs. siblings vs. charity I'm passionate about?

Just don't do what my uncle did - which is leave all of his assets to one nephew and nothing to the many other nieces and nephews. Is your uncle particularly close to that one nephew? He's the nephew that lives with my parents upstairs from my uncle. But still, we all grew-up together in one big house and the nieces and nephews left out do feel upset somewhat - not so much about the money but about the perceived meaning of the gesture. Understanding the feeling is easier if you think about parents leaving their estate to only one of several children. Whether the left-out children need the money or not, they are likely to feel hurt unless the parents explain the reasoning. But this particular nephew (who is sole beneficiary) has an abusive ...
by student
Thu Mar 21, 2024 8:48 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How much should I leave to nieces/nephews vs. siblings vs. charity I'm passionate about?
Replies: 66
Views: 5587

Re: How much should I leave to nieces/nephews vs. siblings vs. charity I'm passionate about?

Just don't do what my uncle did - which is leave all of his assets to one nephew and nothing to the many other nieces and nephews. Is your uncle particularly close to that one nephew? He's the nephew that lives with my parents upstairs from my uncle. But still, we all grew-up together in one big house and the nieces and nephews left out do feel upset somewhat - not so much about the money but about the perceived meaning of the gesture. Understanding the feeling is easier if you think about parents leaving their estate to only one of several children. Whether the left-out children need the money or not, they are likely to feel hurt unless the parents explain the reasoning. But this particular nephew (who is sole beneficiary) has an abusive ...
by student
Wed Mar 20, 2024 1:46 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Restaurant / takeout food orders - "mechanics"
Replies: 16
Views: 1254

Re: Restaurant / takeout food orders - "mechanics"

HomeStretch wrote: Wed Mar 20, 2024 12:32 pm Uber Eats, Door Dash and Grub Hub mark up the restaurant prices ~25% in my area + charge a delivery fee (subject to sales tax) + expect a driver tip. Ordering food from one of these services in my area is ~40% more than calling the restaurant/going in person to order and bringing home the takeout order myself.
25%. That's a lot. In my area, it is about 15%.
by student
Wed Mar 20, 2024 1:43 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Restaurant / takeout food orders - "mechanics"
Replies: 16
Views: 1254

Re: Restaurant / takeout food orders - "mechanics"

rjbraun wrote: Wed Mar 20, 2024 12:29 pm
student wrote: Wed Mar 20, 2024 11:34 am
02nz wrote: Wed Mar 20, 2024 11:32 am Delivery fees aside, if you do a pickup order through an app like Uber Eats, you're often (though not always) paying higher prices than if you ordered directly from the restaurant. The platform gets a cut, of course.
Yes. This is my experience as well.
I had such a bad experience with Uber Eats a couple of years ago that I must instinctively just eliminate them from consideration. They are not even on my radar screen as a possibility (that I didn't even realize their omission in my OP list). (Admittedly, I might reconsider this stance if I didn't have other options, in my particular circumstance / geographic locale.)
I only use UberEats for the AMEX credit and order through them when there is a BOGO offer.
by student
Wed Mar 20, 2024 11:34 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Restaurant / takeout food orders - "mechanics"
Replies: 16
Views: 1254

Re: Restaurant / takeout food orders - "mechanics"

02nz wrote: Wed Mar 20, 2024 11:32 am Delivery fees aside, if you do a pickup order through an app like Uber Eats, you're often (though not always) paying higher prices than if you ordered directly from the restaurant. The platform gets a cut, of course.
Yes. This is my experience as well.
by student
Tue Mar 19, 2024 8:29 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Fidelity: using brokerage for cash savings or open separate account?
Replies: 7
Views: 936

Re: Fidelity: using brokerage for cash savings or open separate account?

I don't think it matters but note that CMA cash in settlement account has lower yield.
by student
Mon Mar 18, 2024 7:41 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Can I retire with $1.75M at age 43?
Replies: 169
Views: 12560

Re: Can I retire with $1.75M at age 43?

OP you seem to have covered all aspects and the numbers say you can retire. I don't know whether you have considered the possibility of having a family and kids.
by student
Fri Mar 15, 2024 7:43 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Older jobless sibling with a daughter and an inheritance - thoughts on managing it
Replies: 31
Views: 2869

Re: Older jobless sibling with a daughter and an inheritance - thoughts on managing it

IRAs are only available to those with earned income, so they aren’t an option. And they are just a way to hold investments, they are not investments themselves. Not true. I dump money into my IRA every year straight from the bank, money which my brokerage has no clue if it was "earned" or not. And they absolutely are (or can be) investments. With the money I dump in, I buy mutual funds/ETFs. That said, and the more I think about it, I don't think I would suggest anything more than a CD or high-yield savings account....perhaps a simple Index fund at most. Banks do not check whether you are eligible, it is between you and the IRS. The IRS webpage https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc451 says "To contribute to a traditional IRA, you...
by student
Fri Mar 15, 2024 4:30 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Older jobless sibling with a daughter and an inheritance - thoughts on managing it
Replies: 31
Views: 2869

Re: Older jobless sibling with a daughter and an inheritance - thoughts on managing it

It doesn't look like a good situation to get involved in but to answer your question, it depends on how much risk one is willing to take. The conventional wisdom for money that one plans to use in a few year is to put the money in MM/CD.
by student
Fri Mar 15, 2024 2:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tricare Retired Reserve: wow it sucks wth?
Replies: 25
Views: 2471

Re: Tricare for Life: wow it sucks wth?

gunny2 wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 2:14 pm $585/mo with a $4400 max out of pocket?? I could get cheaper insurance on my own to put it mildly.

Side note, their web site is horrific too. And shocker, there's no "Contact Us" option. Fed govt strikes again...
Is this the site? https://www.tricare.mil/Plans/HealthPlans/TFL I see Contact Us at the bottom.
by student
Fri Mar 15, 2024 1:39 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 5M, probably enough to retire to a frugal lifestyle
Replies: 180
Views: 15738

Re: 5M, probably enough to retire to a frugal lifestyle

People that are being critical of the person referenced in this article are taking the use of the word "frugal" -- which was the author's word and not something the subject was quoted saying -- out of context, and completely missing the point of the larger piece. The article is about people that were successful in their careers and, rather than retired, have taken their foot off the gas and are continuing to work without chasing the almight dollar because they've made enough money. This "frugal" person in particular is basically saying that he wants to continue to live in the VHCOL area of Coastal California, and acknowledging that retiring with $5mm in that area at age 44 would mean scaling back spending. So instead he...
by student
Fri Mar 15, 2024 9:54 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How much should I leave to nieces/nephews vs. siblings vs. charity I'm passionate about?
Replies: 66
Views: 5587

Re: How much should I leave to nieces/nephews vs. siblings vs. charity I'm passionate about?

TomatoTomahto wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 9:44 am I advise against gifting if there’s a doubt (okay, a reasonable non-apocalyptic doubt) that your assets will be sufficient. Standard “put your facemask on first” warning.
This would be my advice too.