Search found 2044 matches

by ncbill
Sun Mar 17, 2024 1:47 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Should one invest in gold? If so, how and how much?
Replies: 203
Views: 21754

Re: Should one invest in gold? If so, how and how much?

I always wonder what kind of "gold" is being used in these backtests?

Here in the USA individuals could only own a trivial amount of gold bullion for 40 years!

Conservative newsletters recommended proxies like gold mining stocks but those never did very well, IIRC.

Paper gold like GLD is a relatively recent invention.
by ncbill
Sat Mar 16, 2024 9:02 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Utilities cost?
Replies: 57
Views: 4081

Re: Utilities cost?

If I didn't like water/sewer bills, especially the fixed charges (~$40/bi-monthly in my city), I'd move to a home with a well & septic tank. Here electricity is inexpensive ($0.10/kWh all-in) so the amount used to pump water out of the ground would be less than paying the above. There are periodic expenses for well & septic, of course. Plus, my aunt had a seasonal place in the mountains here and her well pump was stolen more than once. Depending on how deep your well is and how often the pump needs servicing it can be fairly expensive. In our area $30-50K to get the well drilled and online, $5-10k for a pump replacement. If I irrigate a lot in the summer I can use >$500/mo in electricity. Well, that's why you buy a home with both a...
by ncbill
Sat Mar 16, 2024 9:00 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Termite Quotes & Repair vs Damage warranty
Replies: 33
Views: 1888

Re: Termite Quotes & Repair vs Damage warranty

NewishBog wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 9:17 am In testing, Termidor was 100% effective in killing termites. It's poured in a trench around the home and the trench is filled back in with dirt. Holes are drilled in non-permeable areas like the driveway. No spraying, certainly not inside. I would have that done and forget the warranty. Warranties like that are almost worthless. Have the treatment done every 10 years.
Got rid of the glass jug of Chlordane grandaddy had up at the mountain cabin which I think he used in much the same way.

So I buy Thermidor & do the same up there?

Where do I inspect for damage in a wooden cabin built over a crawl space?
by ncbill
Sat Mar 16, 2024 8:43 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: “Bellys” on sewer scope for new house
Replies: 41
Views: 2346

Re: HVAC 30 years old on house under contract

Mayacallie wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2024 5:34 am We just went under contract for a 30 year old house in north Scottsdale. Inspection showed 2 working HVAC units, one 2 years old, the second 30 years old. When we toured the house, the agent said one was new, the other was”older.”
Should we push for credits? Maybe half the cost? It’s a 4 ton American Standard unit.
As another posted, the 30 year old unit may outlast the 2 year old one.

RS-44b (~$30/lb) is a direct replacement for the original R-22 used by the older unit, so if that one requires service don't let anyone rip you off with an inflated price (several hundred bucks per lb) for R-22.
by ncbill
Sat Mar 16, 2024 8:35 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Utilities cost?
Replies: 57
Views: 4081

Re: Utilities cost?

If I didn't like water/sewer bills, especially the fixed charges (~$40/bi-monthly in my city), I'd move to a home with a well & septic tank.

Here electricity is inexpensive ($0.10/kWh all-in) so the amount used to pump water out of the ground would be less than paying the above.

There are periodic expenses for well & septic, of course.

Plus, my aunt had a seasonal place in the mountains here and her well pump was stolen more than once.
by ncbill
Fri Mar 15, 2024 9:34 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How much should I leave to nieces/nephews vs. siblings vs. charity I'm passionate about?
Replies: 58
Views: 4232

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

Whatever you do be sure to name the beneficiaries.

My spouse had a childless aunt & uncle...aunt in poor health, already in nursing home.

Everyone expected she'd die first so of course hubby died first.

By that time aunt was not competent which resulted in an expensive, contested guardianship.

After that ended & she died just a few years later her will just specified "nieces & nephews" as beneficiaries.

Given the value of the estate (made public via probate, another reason to use a trust instead) all manner of claimants appeared.

Resulting in more time & expense to the estate to verify if they qualify.

So I joke with spouse that would have been a 5 figure inheritance has now become 3 figures...
by ncbill
Thu Mar 14, 2024 9:09 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Reducing Large Inherited Holding of a Single Stock
Replies: 18
Views: 1988

Re: Reducing Large Inherited Holding of a Single Stock

I have had the good fortune to inherit a large number of shares in a single company that has done well over the past several decades and am seeking advice for reducing my position, as it accounts for some 65% of my taxable account and I am increasingly uncomfortable with risk that comes with such a large holding. I've sold some shares in the past couple of years and have been able to offset some of the gains with losses on other, much smaller holdings, but at this point, I am essentially out of losses. I am in the lowest bracket for long-term capital gains tax. I recently changed jobs and moved from Vanguard to Fidelity, and my rep is pushing their specially managed account - taking over all of my inherited holdings (mostly small positions...
by ncbill
Wed Mar 13, 2024 8:29 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Removing "managing" from Fidelity account
Replies: 8
Views: 1230

Re: Removing "managing" from Fidelity account

How was she "tricked"? P I initially had my accounts at Fidelity and after a few years came to the conclusion that I had been "tricked" into their PAS service because of my ignorance. I had recently retired and had my 401k there, so I merged my lump sum retirement and my 401k into an IRA. I was assigned an advisor that increased to two advisors after they assured me they could make me more money by letting them manage my account for 1% AUM. I went on to another job at age 56 for another 7 years before permanently retiring, so I wasn't taking any withdrawals. They assessed my risk tolerance as low, even though I told them I was open to risk, and they put half of my money into a Ginnie Mae. The other half was put in 20 fu...
by ncbill
Mon Mar 11, 2024 2:07 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Quantify the Value of Military Retirement - Methodology Questions
Replies: 113
Views: 9702

Re: Quantify the Value of Military Retirement - Methodology Questions

Did you take into account the "buy-down" in retirement age for active duty deployments? My kid in the National Guard plans on doing the above to military retire mid-50s, plus a LEO pension then. Once you think about that buy down you realize the utter insanity of how the pension works. It treats two people doing exactly the same thing very differently. A few moments thought and one realizes that a person should either get 20 years active, or go straight into some version of the reserve component and do 20 years that way. The worst way to do it is a lot of active duty years, followed by a transfer to the reserve component and a reserve retirement Another kid is thinking about doing that for higher compensation as a civilian for th...
by ncbill
Mon Mar 11, 2024 2:04 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Career ending, getting fired. Can we FIRE ?
Replies: 149
Views: 21777

Re: Career ending, getting fired. Can we FIRE ?

>>his social security : have not run the numbers, but not likely to be much as he has worked fewer years than I have at low wages. He should be able to claim on your record. Give opensocialsecurity.com a try to understand amount. OK, so we just sat together and look at ssa.gov. If he never worked again, he would get $857/month at age 62, $1217/month at age 67, and $1509 at age 70. If he kept working for $35k/year, he would get $1026 age age 62, $1566 at age 67, and $1992 at age 70. SSDI would be $1403/month for him if he ever became disabled. For me, if I never work again, I would get $2359 at 62, $3350 at 67 and $4154 at 70. I did not make projections on further work. SSDI would be $3870 if I became eligible. I input our birthdates (in 19...
by ncbill
Mon Mar 11, 2024 12:43 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Quantify the Value of Military Retirement - Methodology Questions
Replies: 113
Views: 9702

Re: Quantify the Value of Military Retirement - Methodology Questions

I don’t have a good sense of how to calculate the value of the contributions being made in years 0 to 19. Obviously you aren’t vested in the pension money until year 20, so there is a dramatic cliff at year 20, but “behind the scenes” it must be plausible to think about how much from the paycheck is being invested in this retirement benefit account. On the specific question above, the way I modeled the value of years 0-19 when I did a similar analysis a few years ago was to calculate the value of a reserve retirement at age 60 , discount it back to age 42 and then spread that as a % of earnings over each year in the career. It came out to a lot smaller number than the 50% + you calculated. Then there’s a big jump at 20 once you vest in the...
by ncbill
Sat Mar 09, 2024 6:08 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Home phone (copper) solution for parents
Replies: 26
Views: 2493

Re: Home phone (copper) solution for parents

I am helping my elderly parents reel-in excessive home phone costs. For the past 40+ years, they have had 2 phone lines at their home, one is a "voice" line and the other is a dedicated fax line, used largely to fax business documents. They are paying about $80/month for these 2 lines. After discussing, they are fine to drop the 2nd line, as the need to fax documents is only very irregular now and figure out a way to send this through other means - however they are both relatively technophobes. They currently have Fios for Internet service and I am checking costs here as well. I began researching services like Ooma for them - does anyone have feedback on this and how well it works? Secondly - what is the easiest way nowadays to s...
by ncbill
Thu Mar 07, 2024 5:30 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Career ending, getting fired. Can we FIRE ?
Replies: 149
Views: 21777

Re: Career ending, getting fired. Can we FIRE ?

>>his social security : have not run the numbers, but not likely to be much as he has worked fewer years than I have at low wages. He should be able to claim on your record. Give opensocialsecurity.com a try to understand amount. Thanks. I will look at it. It seems like qualifying for ssdi will help quite a bit, I’d try to prioritize understanding and getting through this process. My sil’s work disability insurance helped her through it, not sure if that’s a possibility for you. Yes, SSDI would help a fair bit. I have done a lot of reading about it. As far as my group disability insurance company, once I apply for LTD I believe they will ask me to also apply for SSDI, because the benefits are offset by government benefits. From what I have...
by ncbill
Wed Mar 06, 2024 5:26 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Undersizing whole house generator?
Replies: 62
Views: 4816

Re: Undersizing whole house generator?

Teague wrote: Wed Mar 06, 2024 10:10 am OP, can you confirm or refute that you do indeed have 3-phase service? If you do, is it 240V, or 480V? The breaker you linked to suggests that you do, but perhaps that's not the exact breaker you have. Three-phase service to a residence is not common. For sure 480V is unusual. If 480V three phase, do you perchance have a monorail or other theme park ride on the property?
Unlikely the OP has TWO THOUSAND amp service even with all the fun stuff they listed, but could easily be 400A.

And who here in the USA has 3-phase power at their home unless they're running a machine shop?

As another poster mentioned, OP should choose a whole-house generator that supports load-shedding.
by ncbill
Wed Mar 06, 2024 4:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Question about Solar panels
Replies: 92
Views: 6287

Re: Question about Solar panels

OP could still just buy one of the battery/inverter package kits designed for off-grid systems which would allow them to run critical circuits off a sub-panel but doesn't offer grid-tie functions. OP is in CA, which will not allow a battery to be charged from the grid. It has to be charged from local solar PV, if grid-tied. A battery-only grid tie system is not allowed. An off-grid (not grid tied) battery is allowed, but you would have to figure out a way to charge it somehow, with a generator or from an EV. If that's not kosher for a permanently-installed system, then move the critical loads to a sub-panel & use a "portable" system, like one of these: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gxYnsi84ho Biggest downside is that you'r...
by ncbill
Mon Mar 04, 2024 11:15 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Question about Solar panels
Replies: 92
Views: 6287

Re: Question about Solar panels

In the end I ditch solar and probably will shop around for a battery ONLY backup which gets charged from the utility. This is expensive!!! You are not allowed to charge a battery from the grid in California. Grid-tied batteries must charge from local renewable solar energy. So, this isn't an option. What do these regulators think an EV does? So you can't get a fixed battery backup that charges from the grid, but you can buy an F-150 Lighting that can feed power back to your house in the event of an outage? :oops: I think the reasoning is that they don’t want the incentives to go to time-of-day arbitrage. My batteries, for example, only charge via solar except when a storm alert is broadcast, in which case they load to 100% from whatever so...
by ncbill
Sat Mar 02, 2024 10:38 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Flaunt Your High-Mileage Car
Replies: 945
Views: 150283

Re: Flaunt Your High-Mileage Car

Rudedog wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2024 5:13 pm 1989 Toyota Camry. 155,000 miles. The car is 35 years old and runs great ! Just put a new battery in it. air conditioner quit several years ago. I drove this car as my daily driver all of last spring and cooler summer days.
I bow to your superior Toyota-fu.

I thought I was up there driving a >25-year-old Camry for the last several years until I donated it and started driving a >20-year-old Avalon.

But just remember: https://www.theonion.com/toyota-recalls ... 1819577805
by ncbill
Wed Feb 28, 2024 2:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best < $100 purchase?
Replies: 299
Views: 55798

Re: Best < $100 purchase?

Tablo Over the Air DVR with 128GB internal storage. $99 It records TV shows we like so we can watch later, and not be tied to a TV schedule. After the recording is done, when I watch later, I can skip through commercials. I can watch on my phone or iPad as long as I'm on our house wireless. That's not a big restriction for me. Question. Tablo's EPG (electronic program guide), is it extracted from OTA program information, or is an internet connection required? I ask because I've been curious about making my life easier by adding a DVR ...but don't have home internet . My current EPG is one channel at a time---current channel, only---by using an attached digital converter box*. (* Digital Stream converter box: ~12hrs of current/future progra...
by ncbill
Sat Feb 17, 2024 8:49 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: the psychological value of "paycheck replacement." Any role for annuities or TIPS ladders?
Replies: 54
Views: 6399

Re: the psychological value of "paycheck replacement." Any role for annuities or TIPS ladders?

As even OP notes both they are too young for a SPIA's purchasing power not to be lost to inflation over their expected remaining lifespan.

So, a TIPS ladder or MYGA?
by ncbill
Sat Feb 17, 2024 8:43 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Caz Investments via Tony Robbins
Replies: 45
Views: 5449

Re: Caz Investments via Tony Robbins

Tony Robbins has a new book out. It evidently deals with "alternative" investments. On TV just a few minutes ago, he waxed poetic about a company called Caz Investments. I did a bit of research. From what I can tell, they pool investors' money and invest in private equity. Sounds too good to be true given the returns Robbins quoted. A bit of background: Many, many years ago a shyster accountant put my 401K in a limited real estate partnership that he called "a sure thing." Needless to say, I lost pretty much all my money, while the people managing the partnership siphoned off steep fees year after year . So I'm quite cynical about these "alternatives." Wondering if Caz is on the up and up. That's the problem w...
by ncbill
Wed Feb 14, 2024 9:33 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Need a Suit - Recommendations?
Replies: 23
Views: 2080

Re: Need a Suit - Recommendations?

Last year I went with Ralph Lauren suit separates from Macy's.

Poly/wool blend since this was for summertime & I live in a hot climate.
by ncbill
Sun Feb 11, 2024 1:52 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cleaning mold on water bottle gaskets
Replies: 25
Views: 2253

Re: Cleaning mold on water bottle gaskets

Buy better water bottles?

I don't have a mold issue with any of ours.
by ncbill
Thu Jan 25, 2024 5:31 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: It's possible to do worse than 10th percentile in Monte Carlo?
Replies: 21
Views: 2478

Re: It's possible to do worse than 10th percentile in Monte Carlo?

Monte Carlo analysis tends to produce extreme left & right tails that have never been seen in real life.

So I ignore both of those extremes.
by ncbill
Thu Jan 25, 2024 5:22 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What to do with old but active whole life policy
Replies: 15
Views: 1620

Re: What to do with old but active whole life policy

I'm keeping my whole life policy taken out back when I was a minor.

Premium is reasonable for the coverage, though dividends are low & only offset a fraction of the annual premium.

I did let a much larger term policy expire without renewing.

For a $350 annual premium which will decrease, eventually vanishing, I'd tell the OP to keep that policy.
by ncbill
Mon Jan 22, 2024 7:19 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Under-insured primary home?
Replies: 14
Views: 1618

Re: Under-insured primary home?

No replacement coverage here but a rider...50% kicker on the home's coverage limit.
by ncbill
Fri Jan 19, 2024 8:10 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What men's perfume do you recommend as a favorite
Replies: 63
Views: 5917

Re: What men's perfume do you recommend as a favorite

Dad loved Obsession.

I can still smell it occasionally in the vehicle I inherited from him.

On the rare occasions I apply a cologne I prefer Royall Lyme.
by ncbill
Wed Jan 17, 2024 10:41 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Portfolio review $7.7M- Age 54, First post
Replies: 50
Views: 13537

Re: Portfolio review $7.7M- Age 54, First post

At your level of net worth, consider hiring a fee only financial advisor (ie one that is a fiduciary, will not manage your money or sell you anything, and just charges an hourly rate) to kick around ideas for an hour or two. Rick Ferri offers a portfolio review for $995 and is well regarded, but there’s a ton of fee-only advisors out there. Thank you. I am going to do what u suggested. I looked up Rick Ferri, had not heard of him before. From his website I happened to find this site https://adviceonlynetwork.com/#advisors which has several fee-only advisors. I have submitted a request for Rick's $995 consultation, lets see how that goes. You should pony up the $200 for a year's access to this database of RIA firms & check with a few of...
by ncbill
Mon Jan 15, 2024 1:26 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Electric Heat Pump / Mini Split vs Natural Gas Furnace in Cold Weather
Replies: 68
Views: 8130

Re: Electric Heat Pump / Mini Split vs Natural Gas Furnace in Cold Weather

This is an entirely different problem to me. I`ve spoken with maybe 3-4-5 HVAC companies around here about fixing my current system or installing any type of new one and without a single exception their game is to just answer "this is $20,000" regardless what I ask of. And if it´s not $20,000 they´re not interested. I know I am not even remotely close to having all my ducks in a row, but I am seriously considering doing the bulk of it myself as these contractors are in the business of making 20k a day and if they cant they´d much rather stay at home, is my impression at least. How do they get $20k for simply replacing a central gas furnace? A new furnace is likely under $2k and a competent crew could probably have 2 guys that sta...
by ncbill
Mon Jan 08, 2024 6:51 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: $700k Tax Bill
Replies: 80
Views: 17176

Re: $700k Tax Bill

If you want passive Boglehead style investing, you'll probably pay a lot of income tax on your earned income. If you're willing to learn some new strategies (that don't necessarily have to involve work), there are a couple of books that are worth reading: "Tax-Free Wealth" and "Win-Win Wealth Strategy", both by Tom Wheelwright. The government incentivizes (through the tax code) investors to make certain investments... think of providing housing to people, or exploring for oil and gas as examples. Unfortunately for us, the government does not incentivize passive index fund investing. The downside to a lot of these strategies is they may not line up with your investment strategies. Pick your poison. Looking at it here: Ta...
by ncbill
Mon Jan 08, 2024 1:45 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Car rentals - collision damage waiver (CDW)
Replies: 50
Views: 5654

Re: Car rentals - collision damage waiver (CDW)

"If you rent more than twice in a year, the best deal may be the Chase Sapphire Preferred. It has a $95 AF, but comes with a $50 hotel credit, so effectively $45 for the primary CDW + loss of use for the year . If you would get value out of the 3% on dining, or use the Chase portal for travel booking (5%, plus 1.25x multiplier for redemptions), you may be able to offset the entire annual fee. It does cover international rentals in many countries, but you'd want to check the list of covered countries before relying on it. The main drawback is that you only get 1% on the rental itself, so the cost is really $45 + the difference between your alternative card and 1% of all rentals in a year." THIS! It is primary coverage which avoids ...
by ncbill
Fri Jan 05, 2024 12:14 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: CCRC return of % of entrance fee tax treatment
Replies: 11
Views: 1330

Re: CCRC return of % of entrance fee tax treatment

Hillview wrote: Thu Jan 04, 2024 5:17 pm We are moving my mother into a CCRC. The entrance fee is 75% refundable when she is no longer living (there). We are funding her CCRC buy in. Does anyone know what the tax treatment is of the returned 75% when she is no longer living there.

Details
Cost is 700k
return will be 525k
how will the 525k be treated in terms of taxes
You do understand the CCRC might not be able to refund you after she is no longer living there?

Entrance fees paid are available for use for whatever purpose the CCRC decides.
by ncbill
Wed Dec 27, 2023 7:36 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: $2000 a year for $1M umbrella insurance
Replies: 73
Views: 9342

Re: $2000 a year for $1M umbrella insurance

Olemiss540 wrote: Wed Dec 27, 2023 6:02 pm
Planner01 wrote: Wed Dec 27, 2023 5:52 pm
Rocky Mtn Man wrote: Wed Dec 27, 2023 5:41 pm
Planner01 wrote: Wed Dec 27, 2023 3:12 pm
We are paying $1000 a month for two cars 😢
You pay $12,000 a year for auto insurance???
Yeap. That’s the new premium for two cars and three drivers (including a teenage boy). I know, insane! I want to cry.
If you are in a situation where you NEED $1M umbrella, that should mean you are in a situation to have liability insurance for your paid off vehicles. Have you quoted liability only car insurance?
OP should try to get a $1 million coverage auto quote as another poster mentioned.
by ncbill
Wed Dec 27, 2023 7:25 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Turbo Tax Business for an Estate Income Tax Return - State Support?
Replies: 21
Views: 1488

Re: Turbo Tax Business for an Estate Income Tax Return - State Support?

Fortitude wrote: Wed Dec 27, 2023 5:05 pm I used Turbo Tax Business for 15 years to file the federal and state tax returns for our consulting practice.

Purchase the software for the federal return and you’ll be able to purchase the software for the state return for an additional cost when you’re in the software for the federal return.
Only if they offer it for your state.

I used TT Business for years to file federal trust returns but it didn't have my state so I did that by hand based on the 1041.

I tried the cheaper H&R Block product but couldn't make heads or tails of their approach to the 1041 so I switched back to TT Business.
by ncbill
Wed Dec 27, 2023 8:18 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What does Fiduciary Duty Mean (get you) in Practice?
Replies: 40
Views: 4221

Re: What does Fiduciary Duty Mean (get you) in Practice?

Sandi_k wrote: Tue Dec 26, 2023 7:52 pm Because the Fiduciary Rule with teeth was never passed, it's the Wild West - anyone can call themselves a fiduciary.

We have recommended that friends look for CFPs, and explicitly ask them how they are typically compensated. If it's AUM or commissions, look eslewhere.

I recommend that folks look at https://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/ or https://www.garrettplanningnetwork.com/
Harry Sit also offers a paid database of RIA firms:

https://adviceonlyfinancial.com/how-to-find-advice-only
by ncbill
Tue Dec 26, 2023 12:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: New Car buyer: Toyota RAV-4 XLE vs Mazda CX-5 Carbon
Replies: 44
Views: 5624

Re: New Car buyer: Toyota RAV-4 XLE vs Mazda CX-5 Carbon

Hello, This will be my first time buying a car of my own - after a lot of research, I am currently between the Toyota RAV-4 XLE and Mazda CX-5. I have had a Toyota for at least a decade now, so there is familiarity with the brand, and the RAV-4 XLE has all the features that I want (AWD, up-to-date safety features, large cabin space). Despite this, the Mazda CX-5 0% APR financing special is very enticing, as I will most likely finance whatever car I buy instead of paying up front. I drive less than 10,000 miles in a year and only use my car to commute to and from work (so no off-road trips). Does anyone have any advice as to which car may be a better long-term purchase? Toyota for the long-term. Buy the hybrid if at all possible...plenty of...
by ncbill
Sun Dec 24, 2023 2:09 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Low Voltage System for entire home
Replies: 17
Views: 2316

Re: Low Voltage System for entire home

Stick with 120VAC here in the USA.

Even low-power DC (under 50V) requires more expensive breakers, switches, etc. versus standard 120VAC components.
by ncbill
Sun Dec 24, 2023 8:05 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How to effectively liquidate stocks for home purchase
Replies: 18
Views: 2827

Re: How to effectively liquidate stocks for home purchase

Congrats on your savings to date. If I have money I am going to need to spend in the next 3 or so years on a house or any need, I don’t have those funds invested in the stock market so that I can count on them being there when I need them. Vanguard mm account is a good place for those funds. Letting those funds ride in equities means they can ride up and down. I would come up with a couple / few year tax plan to sell what I need to raise that cash. Like you said pick the low tax fruit to pick. You can identify the highest cost shares of a particular stock to Sell to minimize your capital gains. Stay away from selling assets you have held less than a year as gains there are taxed at regular income rates (if you have a high regular tax rate)...
by ncbill
Fri Dec 22, 2023 10:58 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: CA Solar Decision
Replies: 90
Views: 12008

Re: CA Solar Decision

There is really an obscene markup on most home batteries when you consider that commodity LFP batteries are selling at $130/kWh. If I were putting in a system today I'd be looking at the newly CA-approved EG4 PowerPro, which is $265/kWh. You can get 28.6 kWh of batteries, plus the EG4 12KW inverter, for $13,300 (equipment only). The challenge is probably finding someone to install it for you, but even budgeting $5K for installation, it is enormously cheaper per kWh than anything else I've seen. If you have no net metering, or very bad net metering a la CA NEM 3.0, even expensive batteries can have a decent ROI if you cycle them daily. On the other hand, IMO it is hard for a battery to make financial sense if you have net metering at retail...
by ncbill
Fri Dec 22, 2023 6:29 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: 2024 Subaru Forrester Touring vs 2024 Lexus RX 350H
Replies: 47
Views: 4650

Re: 2024 Subaru Forrester Touring vs 2024 Lexus RX 350H

Subaru's mechanically-coupled AWD is hard on the drivetrain.

E.g., wheel bearing replacements will happen much more often that with a FWD-only vehicle.

I also wouldn't buy anything with a Jatco-inspired CVT w/o buying the Subaru OEM powertrain extended warranty.

The Subarus I owned were older models with conventional automatic transmissions but old enough to have the head gasket issues.

Looks like that problem is now starting on the one I currently have with the last of the EJ-series engines.

If I wanted to buy a new one I'd wait for a hybrid w/o a turbo or conventional CVT.
by ncbill
Fri Dec 22, 2023 6:17 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Home Insurance is Increasing 60% This Year
Replies: 70
Views: 8978

Re: Home Insurance is Increasing 60% This Year

Our neighborhood was hit by a hail storm a few years ago, golf ball sized hail, and there were many claims, ours included, to replace roofs. That's the problem. On the one hand, you pay for the coverage so you should be able to use it, but on the other hand, insurers can't afford to keep putting new roofs on houses every time there is a hail storm (and these storms are becoming more severe and more frequent). Plus, there are a lot of shady roofing contractors out there who game the system, which puts everyone at a disadvantage. That's why insurers are moving to these huge deductibles in areas that have a lot of hail and wind. that's why they're now making you replace it after purchase. if you buy a pre-owned home with asphalt shingles coun...
by ncbill
Tue Dec 19, 2023 10:43 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Pros and Cons of "Do Not Resuscitate"
Replies: 209
Views: 49701

Re: Pros and Cons of "Do Not Resuscitate"

Completed my visit to my primary to discuss DNR and POLST. As it turns out, in Iowa the only thing available is called an IPOST. This is a checklist form that is completed by you and signed by a physician. It includes a section which is a DNR (CPR if no pulse and not breathing): Yes or No. Then it includes sections for (B) Medical Interventions (person has a pulse and/or is breathing), (C) Artificially Administered Nutrition, and (D) Who makes medical decisions for you. If a section is not completed, then the medical people will default to full stop. It is a pink sheet that should be posted prominently in your residence. There is no option for a DNR bracelet or any other notification. Iowa will not honor any DNR or DNR bracelets from anoth...
by ncbill
Thu Dec 14, 2023 6:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: bank won't correctly write check to decedent estate
Replies: 13
Views: 1854

Re: bank won't correctly write check to decedent estate

Has anyone heard of this? Not quite the same but a life insurance company refused to issue the check under the decedent's estate and instead had it written in each beneficiary's name and mailed to them directly. That required all three of us beneficiaries to receive the check, endorse it, and then mail it to the person handling the estate. I protested about having to endorse a large check and send it via mail but was offered no recourse. Fortunately all the checks made it, were deposited and then deposited in our accounts upon settlement of the estate. If there are named beneficiaries then insurance proceeds go to them directly, not to the estate. No named beneficiaries, proceeds should have gone to the estate. But the insurance company in...
by ncbill
Thu Dec 14, 2023 6:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Pros and Cons of "Do Not Resuscitate"
Replies: 209
Views: 49701

Re: Pros and Cons of "Do Not Resuscitate"

This, from the Dementia Directive: To receive comfort-focused care only. (Including DNR and Do Not Intubate) I would only want medical care to relieve symptoms such as pain, anxiety, or breathlessness. I would not want care to keep me alive longer. It would be important to me to avoid sending me to a hospital or ER, unless that was the only way to keep me more comfortable, because trips to the hospital when someone has dementia can be quite traumatic. Typically, a person needs to be on hospice in order to receive comfort care only. If a person is not on hospice, as is most frequently the case for someone with dementia, the care facility they're in will have to follow legally authorized practices. That will include the administration of pre...
by ncbill
Fri Dec 08, 2023 12:54 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: T5 engineering school or in-state T35 with full-ride?
Replies: 285
Views: 40122

Re: T5 engineering school or in-state T35 with full-ride?

Very interesting thread. Female engineer here of 40+years. I went to a state school for undergrad but went to the best school/program for my graduate degree. I did not become a VP or make the amount of money some here are touting with their name school degrees. I went a different route - ROTC scholarship, another scholarship for my graduate program, 30+ year active and reserve in the military and working at some of the better organizations for my graduate degree (biomedical-clinical engineering). A female engineering student candidate is still highly sought after and she may be able to parlay another scholarship or some type of TA position while at her chosen school. If she is a very good student Tau Beta Pi offers amazing scholarships. So...
by ncbill
Fri Dec 08, 2023 12:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tesla savings vs used ICE cars
Replies: 360
Views: 84146

Re: Tesla savings vs used ICE cars

"California just announced a massive shift for its electric car owners - they no longer have to pay annual vehicle registration fees."

https://energy5.com/how-californias-mov ... the-state#
by ncbill
Fri Dec 08, 2023 12:19 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What do you think about YieldMax™ Option Income Strategy ETFs?
Replies: 15
Views: 2069

Re: What do you think about YieldMax™ Option Income Strategy ETFs?

My personal gut reaction is that the underlying for TSLY and CONY are sows' ears, and no amount of financial engineering magic can make them into silk purses. Thank you for chiming in. Well, I guess, this, as many other opinions here, is debatable and depends on both the investors' long-term perspective and the companies' future performance. I'm bullish on Tesla in the long term and recently invested in it in my tax-exempt accounts, expecting a solid long-term performance and being fine with near-term volatility (though Elon's antics, mostly on X/Twitter, do bother me quite a bit). As for Coinbase, I think the company can significantly benefit from expected ETFs approval by SEC due to being named a potential custodian for most of relevant ...
by ncbill
Mon Dec 04, 2023 8:19 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Protection Against Lawsuits
Replies: 38
Views: 5537

Re: Protection Against Lawsuits

I just had a similar conversation with our estate attorney, when we were having our trust done and putting our house in a trust. They said your 401k money can't be touched by a lawsuit, which is a good reason not to rollover your 401k into your own IRA when you retire. You can't protect your house but you can have an umbrella policy. We increased our policy from one million to two million a couple of years ago. It is relatively inexpensive for what it helps protects you from. IRAs funded by a roll-over from a 401k account retain federal creditor protections. As long as that money is kept separate, i.e. don't add new funds to that particular IRA. Good to know. Thank you I'm not sure if this is correct or not. Many seem to believe that it is...
by ncbill
Mon Dec 04, 2023 5:41 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Protection Against Lawsuits
Replies: 38
Views: 5537

Re: Protection Against Lawsuits

ROIGuy wrote: Mon Dec 04, 2023 4:11 am I just had a similar conversation with our estate attorney, when we were having our trust done and putting our house in a trust. They said your 401k money can't be touched by a lawsuit, which is a good reason not to rollover your 401k into your own IRA when you retire. You can't protect your house but you can have an umbrella policy. We increased our policy from one million to two million a couple of years ago. It is relatively inexpensive for what it helps protects you from.
IRAs funded by a roll-over from a 401k account retain federal creditor protections.

As long as that money is kept separate, i.e. don't add new funds to that particular IRA.