Search found 1354 matches

by zaplunken
Sun Mar 17, 2024 3:20 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: how to disable "See results closer to you?" - Chrome
Replies: 25
Views: 1947

Re: how to disable "See results closer to you?" - Chrome

I set that setting in Chrome the other day. I just went to 7 fast food sites and not one opened the window about seeing results closer to me.
by zaplunken
Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: how to disable "See results closer to you?" - Chrome
Replies: 25
Views: 1947

Re: how to disable "See results closer to you?" - Chrome

unclescrooge wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2024 4:31 pm
zaplunken wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2024 3:57 pm Thanks! Win 10, same instructions work. I am sick and tired of seeing that.
Can't you just agree to it?

The only thing worse than targeted ads is untargeted ads.
No! I never click on anything or agree to anything that I can avoid. I often copy a URL from Chrome and go to Brave to get away from a pop up that won't let me read something. I find myself using Brave more each passing month.
by zaplunken
Sat Mar 16, 2024 3:57 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: how to disable "See results closer to you?" - Chrome
Replies: 25
Views: 1947

Re: how to disable "See results closer to you?" - Chrome

Thanks! Win 10, same instructions work. I am sick and tired of seeing that.
by zaplunken
Sat Mar 16, 2024 3:41 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: 🎁 🎉Happy 100th Birthday to Taylor Larimore 🎊🎂
Replies: 429
Views: 41902

Re: 🎁 🎉Happy 100th Birthday to Taylor Larimore 🎊🎂

Wow! 100! 9 pages, too much to wade through so I'll just say Happy Birthday Taylor! Psst, what is the secret? :D
by zaplunken
Wed Mar 13, 2024 11:04 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Can I sell part of a lot when using spec id?
Replies: 8
Views: 567

Re: Can I sell part of a lot when using spec id?

Thanks, I figured I could but never having done it I was curious. I really did not want to try doing it because I couldn't be sure if it would flag it as a problem right away or until I actually hit the sell. If it was allowed then I sold something, even $1, that I didn't want to. I only sold shares in my trust account 15 years ago to pay off my mortgage and 2 years ago when I dumped a bond fund that was doing down faster than the Titanic and I've used those LTCL to offset income. I don't buy and sell hardly anything in my trust account, however, with RMDs now occurring I have a lot of money that I want to get into equity. If I had to sell entire lots, then purchasing tens of thousands of dollars of the TSMI could create problems if I had t...
by zaplunken
Wed Mar 13, 2024 8:53 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Can I sell part of a lot when using spec id?
Replies: 8
Views: 567

Re: Can I sell part of a lot when using spec id?

Living Free wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2024 8:43 am Try it. Either a certain number of shares or a dollar amount.
Yeah I thought of that but I am sure people here have done this and know the answer. I could call Vanguard too.
by zaplunken
Wed Mar 13, 2024 8:41 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Can I sell part of a lot when using spec id?
Replies: 8
Views: 567

Can I sell part of a lot when using spec id?

My taxable account is owned by my revocable living trust so Vanguard calls it a trust account. I don't think this matters but I thought I would mention it just in case.

My 2 purchases of the Total Stock Market Index were about $35k each time. If I wanted to sell any dollar amount from either lot using spec id can I sell part of the lot or do I have to sell the entire lot?

I suspect I can sell part of any lot but I never did this so I want to know.

Thanks
by zaplunken
Sun Feb 04, 2024 1:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Vanguard website succumbs to "Fisher-Price" UI design
Replies: 843
Views: 112291

Re: Why is Vanguard's web site so awful?

stan1 wrote: Sun Feb 04, 2024 9:42 am ...
I use the website on a desktop computer with a large monitor so I configured my browser to Zoom In to 80% or 90% which helps remediate some of the over sized font and excessive white space annoyances I have.
I never thought of that. I just went to my link for the SF and reduced the size of the display 4 times (easier to press Ctrl and the minus sign than search for where zoom is) and it looks a LOT better! :beer
by zaplunken
Sun Feb 04, 2024 7:17 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Vanguard website succumbs to "Fisher-Price" UI design
Replies: 843
Views: 112291

Re: Vanguard website succumbs to "Fisher-Price" UI design

I have no idea why people want "security" to be easy - if it is easy for you then it is easy for the bad guys. If you use a password safe, some will autofill your user name and password and press the enter key and then I get the 2FA code.

I have found when using Chrome if I am logged in and want to buy treasuries I get a white screen so I now always use a private window for anything I do because that works OK and I don't know what else might be missing on other pages using a regular window. I have told Vanguard about this, they say they are aware of it but it's been many months if not a year and nothing has been fixed. :annoyed
by zaplunken
Sat Jan 20, 2024 8:27 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Always Turn Off Taxable Dividend Reinvestment In Retirement?
Replies: 73
Views: 11110

Re: Always Turn Off Taxable Dividend Reinvestment In Retirement?

Thanks. I looked at my 2022 return and I was surprised I paid $1403 at the 15% rate. I guess the RMDs are causing me to be to rich! I expect the same thing will happen this year too.
by zaplunken
Fri Jan 19, 2024 5:06 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Always Turn Off Taxable Dividend Reinvestment In Retirement?
Replies: 73
Views: 11110

Re: Always Turn Off Taxable Dividend Reinvestment In Retirement?

My head is spinning! I just put dividends into my SF and decide when appropriate to buy a T bill or a fund when it goes down. I rarely need funds from taxable for anything as RMDs now generate a lot of money for big expenses. I am confused. Is a dividend taxed as ordinary income? Seems there is no cap gain unless you have a cost basis which you wouldn't with a dividend. Qualified dividends are taxed at the capital gains rate. Non-qualified at ordinary rates. VTI tends to run about 95-99% qualified. Thank you. So qualified dividends receive better treatment than ordinary income cuz they could be taxed at 0% if you are below the threshold where they are taxed at 15%. For a single filer is there an actual $ amount where you stay below the 15%...
by zaplunken
Fri Jan 19, 2024 4:38 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Always Turn Off Taxable Dividend Reinvestment In Retirement?
Replies: 73
Views: 11110

Re: Always Turn Off Taxable Dividend Reinvestment In Retirement?

My head is spinning! I just put dividends into my SF and decide when appropriate to buy a T bill or a fund when it goes down. I rarely need funds from taxable for anything as RMDs now generate a lot of money for big expenses.

I am confused. Is a dividend taxed as ordinary income? Seems there is no cap gain unless you have a cost basis which you wouldn't with a dividend.
by zaplunken
Tue Jan 16, 2024 7:22 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Always Turn Off Taxable Dividend Reinvestment In Retirement?
Replies: 73
Views: 11110

Re: Always Turn Off Taxable Dividend Reinvestment In Retirement?

I had never really thought about not reinvesting in taxable funds. How does one stop reinvesting in taxable Vanguard funds? Log into your account and start clicking on drop down menus. IIRC there is a screen that says something to the effect to not reinvest dividends and where to direct them but that probably applies to each account you hold. Sometimes you may want to reinvest so you could specify for certain funds to reinvest and for others to not reinvest. In an IRA or Roth other than running afoul of the wash sale rule, it wouldn't matter. However, for a fund held in a taxable account where you want to tax loss harvest and you have that same fund in another account so you'd need to stop reinvesting dividends in all accounts for that tax...
by zaplunken
Mon Jan 08, 2024 6:20 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Where is the Munchkin Man?
Replies: 71
Views: 26782

Re: Where is the Munchkin Man?

FeralCat wrote: Mon Jan 08, 2024 4:44 pm I think an even more intriguing question is: What happened to the OP of this thread (frugalhen)? It says this user no longer exists.
Munchkin Man appeared in frugalhen's dreams and took frugelhen with him.
by zaplunken
Thu Jan 04, 2024 1:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Vanguard website succumbs to "Fisher-Price" UI design
Replies: 843
Views: 112291

Re: Vanguard website succumbs to "Fisher-Price" UI design

When explaining where to find something, would it be helpful to state whether you are using a phone vs a computer and whether it is for a mutual fund or an ETF? I read different explanations and it makes me wonder or maybe there are different routes to find something.
by zaplunken
Wed Jan 03, 2024 7:24 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Vanguard website succumbs to "Fisher-Price" UI design
Replies: 843
Views: 112291

Re: Vanguard website succumbs to "Fisher-Price" UI design

I check my AA mid month and month end. When the December statements are ready I am going to recheck the amounts per fund per account.
by zaplunken
Mon Jan 01, 2024 8:15 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Is there a 2023 version of this?
Replies: 10
Views: 1626

Re: Is there a 2023 version of this?

sycamore wrote: Mon Jan 01, 2024 8:11 pm
zaplunken wrote: Mon Jan 01, 2024 7:56 pm Thanks. Would it safe to assume that when it is available that 2024 will be in the URL ie same URL just 2024 vs 2023? I have no idea how to find this, it was in a post in a thread on another site.
According to Vanguard Tax Center calendar, the US obligations information document for tax year 2023 will be available Jan. 16, 2024.

Just point your browser at https://advisors.vanguard.com/tax-cente ... nformation on that date and look for the document.

Note: the URLs I provided are from Vanguard's "advisor" site. The same info shows up on their "investor" site as well.
Thanks I bookmarked that. :sharebeer
by zaplunken
Mon Jan 01, 2024 7:56 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Is there a 2023 version of this?
Replies: 10
Views: 1626

Re: Is there a 2023 version of this?

Thanks. Would it safe to assume that when it is available that 2024 will be in the URL ie same URL just 2024 vs 2023? I have no idea how to find this, it was in a post in a thread on another site.
by zaplunken
Mon Jan 01, 2024 7:39 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Is there a 2023 version of this?
Replies: 10
Views: 1626

Is there a 2023 version of this?

The URL has "2023" in it but the text in the pdf says "Important tax information for 2022", does this document apply to the 2023 tax year?

https://personal1.vanguard.com/pdf/USGOIN_2023.pdf
by zaplunken
Wed Dec 20, 2023 7:49 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: VTSAX vs VTI
Replies: 40
Views: 6449

Re: VTSAX vs VTI

tibbitts wrote: Wed Dec 20, 2023 7:47 pm
zaplunken wrote: Wed Dec 20, 2023 7:42 pm Having the same fund or ETF in different accounts, whether at Vanguard or anywhere, is not a TLH problem so long as you don't reinvest dividends and capital gains, just put them into your settlement fund or some other fund/ETF. 1 bp savings? Do you shut off your car at a stop sign or traffic light to save gas? If so then yes switch that mutal fund to an ETF and retire 4 hours earlier.
Actually that's not the best example since almost everyone's ICE vehicle shuts off when stopped now.
Almost everyone's? I doubt that, some, not most. I think it was a fine example of saving next to nothing. :sharebeer
by zaplunken
Wed Dec 20, 2023 7:42 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: VTSAX vs VTI
Replies: 40
Views: 6449

Re: VTSAX vs VTI

Having the same fund or ETF in different accounts, whether at Vanguard or anywhere, is not a TLH problem so long as you don't reinvest dividends and capital gains, just put them into your settlement fund or some other fund/ETF. 1 bp savings? Do you shut off your car at a stop sign or traffic light to save gas? If so then yes switch that mutal fund to an ETF and retire 4 hours earlier.
by zaplunken
Tue Dec 12, 2023 9:13 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Heating oil; fix or cap?
Replies: 26
Views: 3110

Re: Heating oil; fix or cap?

The way I understand the plans, but it may vary from oil company to oil company, you locked in a price for the season. How oil prices fluctuate has no bearing on what you pay. Locking in can be great if prices go up but can be bad if prices drop. We have been in a declining crude price environment for weeks and from what I gather on the financial networks, prices seem to be in this upper 60 to lower 70 dollar range and are not expected to go back into the 80-90+ range. If OPEC decided to cut and shrink oil output I'm not sure it would matter for a while because there is a glut of oil and with Iran selling oil I doubt that inventories will drop anytime soon. I filled my tank at what was the low for $3.37 9/10 about 5 weeks ago and prices ros...
by zaplunken
Thu Dec 07, 2023 6:55 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Question about a callable CD
Replies: 9
Views: 1056

Re: Question about a callable CD

Thanks! I did that and the next call date is 1/12/24. I never looked at the CUSIP details, learn something new every day. I wonder if the call dates adjust every 3 months? I bought it 4/12, 1st call date was 7/12, and 1/12/24 is 3 months before it matures. I hope they do call it, it is $66 short of the $50k value though I'd lose 3 months of interest. I'm fine with that as I can get a T bill for a better rate. Thanks again! You won't "lose" 3 months of interest, just forego 3 months of interest b/c you can reinvest in something else. True. When I said I would lose it, I meant that I would not earn interest for those 3 months not that they would take 3 months interest from my proceeds. At this point I'd be happy if they call the CD...
by zaplunken
Wed Dec 06, 2023 6:42 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Question about a callable CD
Replies: 9
Views: 1056

Re: Question about a callable CD

The CD was issued 4/12/23, if it was callable every 6 months wouldn't that mean the 1st call date would be 10/12/23 not the 7/12/23 date? The next call date is 1/12/24, 3 months before maturity.
by zaplunken
Wed Dec 06, 2023 6:07 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Question about a callable CD
Replies: 9
Views: 1056

Re: Question about a callable CD

Dumb questions but I never had a callable CD. In April 2023 I bought a 1 year callable CD, new issue at Vanguard. The call date is 7/14/2023. First question, I assume the call date is the earliest the CD can be called? Of course we're well past that and the CD was not called. Second question, I also assume that the CD can be called any time after the call date until maturity? I doubt the call date means it can only be called on 7/14/2023? If you click on the CUSIP in your Vanguard account, you will see the CD details, including the next call date. Thanks! I did that and the next call date is 1/12/24. I never looked at the CUSIP details, learn something new every day. I wonder if the call dates adjust every 3 months? I bought it 4/12, 1st c...
by zaplunken
Wed Dec 06, 2023 1:57 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Question about a callable CD
Replies: 9
Views: 1056

Re: Question about a callable CD

I knew it was callable when I bought it, that was declared on the screen where Vanguard listed new auction CDs. I figured that at the time the rate was good at 5.1%. Yesterday at https://home.treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/TextView?type=daily_treasury_bill_rates&field_tdr_date_value_month=202312 a 52 week bill is 5.06%, a 17 week T bill is 5.41%. Right now at Vanguard the secondary market shows a T bill maturing on the same day as my CD as 5.42/5.39 I assume that is the bid/ask rate. Secondary market CDs that mature within a week of my CD are 6+/5.5 bid/ask. Just using those numbers, it seems the bank would not call this CD unless rates drop a bit more if I understand this. If it is called, I can buy a 4 m...
by zaplunken
Wed Dec 06, 2023 1:29 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Question about a callable CD
Replies: 9
Views: 1056

Question about a callable CD

Dumb questions but I never had a callable CD.

In April 2023 I bought a 1 year callable CD, new issue at Vanguard. The call date is 7/14/2023.

First question, I assume the call date is the earliest the CD can be called? Of course we're well past that and the CD was not called.

Second question, I also assume that the CD can be called any time after the call date until maturity?

I doubt the call date means it can only be called on 7/14/2023?
by zaplunken
Sun Nov 26, 2023 7:39 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Gift tax
Replies: 13
Views: 1177

Re: Gift tax

Thanks for the replies. I'll never need to worry about this!
by zaplunken
Sun Nov 26, 2023 7:12 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Gift tax
Replies: 13
Views: 1177

Re: Gift tax

If you or the recipient are married, the gift exclusion applies to each donor/donee pair. So a married couple can give another married couple 2 x 2 x $17K = $68K this year ($72K next year). If you exceed the exclusion amount, you would use Form 709 to document the gift so it can be deducted from your lifetime estate exclusion. So you only have to claim the amount gifted that is above the "no tax" level ($17k for 2023) and that portion that is above is applied to a lifetime amount and when you exceed that lifetime amount then you pay tax on the amount above the lifetime amount? If that is correct, it seems only a very wealthy person/couple would ever pay any taxes. See I thought you had to pay tax on the amount above $17k (2023 am...
by zaplunken
Sun Nov 26, 2023 4:11 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Gift tax
Replies: 13
Views: 1177

Gift tax

[Topic is now in Personal Finance (Not Investing) - mod mkc]

I know the limit for 2023 is $17k and next year it is $18k, above that you owe gift taxes. I'm going to go to the $17k limit this year but not over it. I wouldn't try to do anything illegal on the 1040 form but just how does the IRS know whether I gave someone $17,000 or $17,001 or $25,000? Seems like this is an honor type of reporting.
by zaplunken
Sun Oct 29, 2023 4:07 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard Email looks like spam (but isnt)
Replies: 19
Views: 2710

Re: Vanguard Email looks like spam (but isnt)

If you think about it clicking on the link will require you to log in so why not just use your bookmark for Vanguard and log in where you can look at confirmations or statements. I get the exact same verbiage when I buy a T bill:
Dear Investor,

Your brokerage confirmation for the transaction made on 10/26/2023, is available at vanguard.com.

Visit vanguard.com or contact us to learn more.

Thank you for investing with Vanguard.


I know I bought a T bill on 10/26 so I know what the email is referring to.
by zaplunken
Tue Sep 26, 2023 9:12 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Heating oil; fix or cap?
Replies: 26
Views: 3110

Re: Heating oil; fix or cap?

newbie003 wrote: Tue Sep 26, 2023 8:35 am
zaplunken wrote: Sun Sep 24, 2023 1:59 pm OP - you don't say where in CT you are. I have my boiler serviced by a local company that does not sell oil, they service heating and cooling systems. I buy oil for an oil company. My point is you don't have to buy oil and have your boiler serviced by the same place. You can PM me if you want.
Thanks. I'm in FFC. There is only 1 company that I know of that offers service contracts (i.e. a 'gold plan') that doesn't sell oil, but I had a less than great experience with them several years ago. I know there is at least 1 other company (probably more) that will do a tune up, and other service if needed, but don't offer a coverage plan. I really want a plan.
I see, I'm in Litchfield County so you're outside this area.
by zaplunken
Mon Sep 25, 2023 8:19 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Tax Loss Harvesting question
Replies: 21
Views: 1615

Re: Tax Loss Harvesting question

Now I have another question and it is probably a silly question but I know little to nothing about taxes so don't laugh. :( Rarely have I ever sold any mutual fund holdings in my trust account, however, when I need to pay a large expense (like LTC policy premium) I take the money from the settlement fund. Can the interest from the settlement fund be used as income to offset capital losses? This would be a long term capital loss being offset by a short term gain. I assume you have to sell an investment for TLH and I suspect the settlement fund would not qualify. I suspect the answer is no but I want to ask. The settlement fund is a money market fund, so there are no capital gains or losses. It is all (non qualified) dividend income, which i...
by zaplunken
Mon Sep 25, 2023 7:49 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Tax Loss Harvesting question
Replies: 21
Views: 1615

Re: Tax Loss Harvesting question

Now I have another question and it is probably a silly question but I know little to nothing about taxes so don't laugh. :( Rarely have I ever sold any mutual fund holdings in my trust account, however, when I need to pay a large expense (like LTC policy premium) I take the money from the settlement fund. Can the interest from the settlement fund be used as income to offset capital losses? This would be a long term capital loss being offset by a short term gain. I assume you have to sell an investment for TLH and I suspect the settlement fund would not qualify. I suspect the answer is no but I want to ask. The settlement fund is a money market fund, so there are no capital gains or losses. It is all (non qualified) dividend income, which i...
by zaplunken
Mon Sep 25, 2023 7:05 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Tax Loss Harvesting question
Replies: 21
Views: 1615

Re: Tax Loss Harvesting question

Now I have another question and it is probably a silly question but I know little to nothing about taxes so don't laugh. :(

Rarely have I ever sold any mutual fund holdings in my trust account, however, when I need to pay a large expense (like LTC policy premium) I take the money from the settlement fund. Can the interest from the settlement fund be used as income to offset capital losses? This would be a long term capital loss being offset by a short term gain. I assume you have to sell an investment for TLH and I suspect the settlement fund would not qualify. I suspect the answer is no but I want to ask.
by zaplunken
Mon Sep 25, 2023 6:52 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Tax Loss Harvesting question
Replies: 21
Views: 1615

Re: Tax Loss Harvesting question

rkhusky wrote: Sun Sep 24, 2023 10:18 pm
zaplunken wrote: Sun Sep 24, 2023 6:42 pm So I don't see that anyone has answered the question "Can you do both in the same tax year or is it one or the other but not both?".
Yes you can. If you have $13K in losses and $10K in gains, then $10K of the losses will be used against the gains and the remaining $3K will be applied against income.

And there is no choice - losses are applied against gains first, if there are losses left, up to $3K is applied against income, if there are losses left, they are carried over to the next year.
Thank you. :sharebeer
by zaplunken
Sun Sep 24, 2023 6:42 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Tax Loss Harvesting question
Replies: 21
Views: 1615

Re: Tax Loss Harvesting question

So I don't see that anyone has answered the question "Can you do both in the same tax year or is it one or the other but not both?".
by zaplunken
Sun Sep 24, 2023 5:03 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Tax Loss Harvesting question
Replies: 21
Views: 1615

Re: Tax Loss Harvesting question

I have always reinvested cap gains and dividends in my 3 Vanguard accounts for many years so I have dozens of small purchases in the Vanguard Total Stock Market and Total International Stock Market indexes in my Trust account. I stopped reinvesting dividends and cap gains 4-5 weeks ago in all 3 Vanguard accounts sending them to the settlement fund now. This was to not cause issues if I wanted to TLH, I use spec id. I don't use the dividends or cap gains for income as my pension and SS more than cover my expenses. I'd like to have just purchases of those 2 mutual funds in the Trust account be the substantial purchases vs the $10 and $50 and $100 reinvestment purchases that litter the cost basis page.
by zaplunken
Sun Sep 24, 2023 4:24 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Tax Loss Harvesting question
Replies: 21
Views: 1615

Re: Tax Loss Harvesting question

jebmke wrote: Sun Sep 24, 2023 4:06 pm You can harvest as much loss as you want, irrespective of gains etc.
Yes but not against income only. When TLH against income there is a limit of $3k of losses per tax year.

I'd like to use up all the losses in the 2023 tax year. This would require selling some shares to generate a capital gain to use up the losses left over (I started this in 2022 TLH just $3k against $3k of income) after TLHing against income for 2022 and 2023.
by zaplunken
Sun Sep 24, 2023 4:17 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Has Edward Jones changed its practices?
Replies: 40
Views: 7348

Re: Has Edward Jones changed its practices?

Charles Joseph wrote: Thu Sep 21, 2023 3:44 pm Among the things that arise in my mind when I think of Edward Jones are "charlatans," "snake-oil salesmen," and "thieves."

A starting 1.35% fee is supportive of my assumptions.
Boilermaker82 wrote: Fri Sep 22, 2023 12:16 pm I got my mother out of EJ about 8 months ago. She has a pretty nice retirement nest egg and they had her in 28 (2-8!) different mutual funds, some of them front loaded, all high fee. I've since gotten her transferred to a simple 50/50 index 3-funder at Fidelity. Pretty disgusting tactics - will never trust EJ.
Oh but isn't it glorious when they knock on your door with a bean pie? Now that's service! :oops:
by zaplunken
Sun Sep 24, 2023 4:03 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Tax Loss Harvesting question
Replies: 21
Views: 1615

Tax Loss Harvesting question

I know you can TLH a capital loss against up to $3,000 of income (pension in my case) per year.

I know you can TLH $X of capital losses against $X of capital gains in a year where the $X is the same amount for the loss/gain.

Can you do both in the same tax year or is it one or the other but not both?

I ask cuz I have LT capital losses that will take a few years to use when using them with the $3k restriction re income.

All losses are long term and all gains would be long term. I would not be running afoul of the wash sale rule in all those scenarios.
by zaplunken
Sun Sep 24, 2023 1:59 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Heating oil; fix or cap?
Replies: 26
Views: 3110

Re: Heating oil; fix or cap?

OP - you don't say where in CT you are. I have my boiler serviced by a local company that does not sell oil, they service heating and cooling systems. I buy oil for an oil company. My point is you don't have to buy oil and have your boiler serviced by the same place. You can PM me if you want.
by zaplunken
Sun Aug 13, 2023 7:21 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Always Turn Off Taxable Dividend Reinvestment In Retirement?
Replies: 73
Views: 11110

Re: Always Turn Off Taxable Dividend Reinvestment In Retirement?

Jack FFR1846 wrote: Sun Aug 13, 2023 7:12 pm If you were to hold only non-dividend paying investments in taxable, the tax problem goes away until you decide you want to sell and are willing to pay the tax to do so.
I was under the impression that the Total Stock Market and Total International Stock Market Indexes are the most tax efficient mutual funds and therefore a good if not the best choice in a taxable account.
by zaplunken
Sun Aug 13, 2023 6:47 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Always Turn Off Taxable Dividend Reinvestment In Retirement?
Replies: 73
Views: 11110

Re: Always Turn Off Taxable Dividend Reinvestment In Retirement?

I have always reinvested dividends and capital gains in all 3 of my Vanguard accounts. I specified specific id for cost basis in my taxable account. Needless to say, I have a lot of purchases of small dollar amounts most of which have been done over about 15-18 years so they would generate capital gains when sold. I don't need the money for living expenses, my pension and SS more than cover those so the extra from them each month is going to the taxable account's settlement fund. If the nav of the Total Stock Market and Total International Stock Market dropped I would buy some with that extra monthly money but typically the money gets a good return in the SF and I can use it to buy T bills. Now with RMDs I have even more money going into my...
by zaplunken
Mon Jun 26, 2023 5:52 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [How do I clear browser cookies added by Vanguard?]
Replies: 9
Views: 714

Re: Wiki: Old Vanguard website links no longer work; misleads investors

Not to hijack the thread, but how does one "clear Vanguard cookies" and not any other cookies? I know how to "clear cookies" but it logs me out of all forums and resets some settings, it is a PITA to say the least. With Windows/Chrome, here's what I do. I attached a screenshot below to help. 1. Browse to the Vanguard investor.vanguard.com site. 2. Open the browser debugger. With Windows/Chrome, press the F12 key. 3. Click on the Application tab (see green circle in screenshot) 4. Click on the Cookies section (see red circle) 5. Right-click on the investor.vanguard.com row and select Clear. 6. Do the same for the Local Storage section (see brown circle) and Session Store (see blue circle). https://i.postimg.cc/nzkvb5bY/i...
by zaplunken
Mon Jun 26, 2023 4:04 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [How do I clear browser cookies added by Vanguard?]
Replies: 9
Views: 714

[How do I clear browser cookies added by Vanguard?]

[Moved into a new thread from: Wiki: Old Vanguard website links no longer work; misleads investors --admin LadyGeek]

Not to hijack the thread, but how does one "clear Vanguard cookies" and not any other cookies? I know how to "clear cookies" but it logs me out of all forums and resets some settings, it is a PITA to say the least.
by zaplunken
Sun Jun 25, 2023 3:34 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Wiki: Old Vanguard website links no longer work; misleads investors
Replies: 39
Views: 5461

Re: Wiki: Old Vanguard website links no longer work; misleads investors

Hats off to the BH Wiki staff for what sounds like a real PITA! Shame on Vanguard.
by zaplunken
Thu Jun 15, 2023 12:02 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Does it really help to turn off automatic div reinvestment
Replies: 30
Views: 5254

Re: Does it really help to turn off automatic div reinvestment

My problem is not having it on dividend reinvestment is a "gateway drug" for me to start market timing. I think for me (and most investors) that's a bigger issue than potentially causing a wash sale. Even if you don't set it for auto reinvestment, at what date do you decide it's "okay" to invest so you won't have a potential wash sale? At year end? I always find the 30 day window after a purchase to be the one that can make things tricky. Even with automatic dividend reinvestment, I'm able to harvest losses during downturns. I might have to set a reminder on my phone, but it's not much of a problem. Why would the 30 day after window make things tricky? If it's declined within 30 days, that purchase will be down and you ...
by zaplunken
Sat Jun 03, 2023 2:01 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Ally Online Savings/Money Market Rate Increases
Replies: 745
Views: 124427

Re: Ally Online Savings/Money Market Rate Increases

You might want to also consider VUSXX Vanguard Treasury Money Market Fund vs the settlement fund. Today the TMM 7 day SEC yield is 5.05% which is 1 bp higher than the Federal MM in the SF but that is unusual as the TMM has typically been a little lower than the other fund. An added reason to use the TMM is if the TMM holds less than 50% repros then the interest earned is state tax free if you are in a state with a state income tax. Either are a good option but you can't get an over night transfer from those funds to your local bank like you can with Ally so for that reason I keep a small amount at Ally ($500) for an emergency. The requirement that at least 50% of holdings at the end of each quarter are USGO is only for CA, CT and NY. The M...
by zaplunken
Thu Jun 01, 2023 6:52 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Ally Online Savings/Money Market Rate Increases
Replies: 745
Views: 124427

Re: Ally Online Savings/Money Market Rate Increases

You might want to also consider VUSXX Vanguard Treasury Money Market Fund vs the settlement fund. Today the TMM 7 day SEC yield is 5.05% which is 1 bp higher than the Federal MM in the SF but that is unusual as the TMM has typically been a little lower than the other fund. An added reason to use the TMM is if the TMM holds less than 50% repros then the interest earned is state tax free if you are in a state with a state income tax. Either are a good option but you can't get an over night transfer from those funds to your local bank like you can with Ally so for that reason I keep a small amount at Ally ($500) for an emergency.