Search found 15324 matches
- Thu Mar 28, 2024 3:02 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Does ERISA *really* provide 401k asset protection?
- Replies: 76
- Views: 7146
Re: Does ERISA *really* provide 401k asset protection?
It's more about understanding (fully) what you are giving up when you transfer out of an ERISA plan into an IRA. The less comprehensive protection (in the IRA) is one factor that should be taken into account, and how to weigh it depends upon just how bullet-proof the protection of ERISA is. Insurance is important, but insurance plus other protections (e.g., qualified accounts, homestead, etc) is even better. Since the ERISA protection follows the money from the employer plan to the IRA, you would not be losing any protection. Isnt the entire point of this thread that that isn't true? See page 13 in the pages linked below: https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/EBSA/about-ebsa/our-activities/resource-center/faqs/retirement-plans-and-erisa-f...
- Thu Mar 28, 2024 2:08 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Dedicated Financial Computer Master Thread
- Replies: 206
- Views: 9381
Re: Dedicated Financial Computer Master Thread
Let's say a company or corporation has a super-duper powerful computer with unlimited disk space. Should they put Operations on this computer along with Corporate Treasury, Corporate Finance, and Investment Banking? Are there any security risks in doing it that way? Or would it be better to have the financial departments on different computers? This is why security starts with your threat model. Your personal finances do not share the same threat model as a large corporation. Yes. Spend time and energy on the threats that matter. But a large centralized computer or database server can in fact host disparate applications and/or databases if it supports a robust model of permissions and security features. Lots of large corporations have syst...
- Thu Mar 28, 2024 2:01 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Dedicated Financial Computer Master Thread
- Replies: 206
- Views: 9381
Re: Dedicated Financial Computer Master Thread
Well, if you start counting from zero (certainly not the conventional terminology), a login name and password is two factors. Adding "2FA" gets you to three factors but not everyone does that. So why doesn't utilizing a not-well-known or obvious email address (vs. for example an email address you publish on public forums) improve security of an account, simply by making it more difficult for someone to supply one of the "factors"? The three factors are something you know, something you have and something you are. A username and password are both something you know. They're the same factor. The correct description of the three factors would be something only you know, something only you have, and something only you are. ...
- Thu Mar 28, 2024 1:26 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
- Replies: 131
- Views: 8309
Re: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
The OP has access to the TSP G fund, which I believe is a stable value fund with no credit risk or term (interest rate) risk. Unlike a cash investment, rates are more sticky. I think it would be difficult to match the risk-adjusted return of this investment with some a fixed income fund of any duration. The OP has a fairly aggressive stance based on age with 70% stocks. We could discuss if that is appropriate, but the OP seems to understand the risk of stocks and seems to be comfortable with it. Moreover, the OP has not asked for input on this. If I were in my late 50's holding 70% stock, I would want a substantial portion of bonds in intermediate treasuries to protect against the risk of a disinflationary recession. Because treasuries hav...
- Thu Mar 28, 2024 1:13 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
- Replies: 131
- Views: 8309
Re: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
If I understood the OP, the TSP account is 9% of the portfolio and the desired bond allocation is 30%. It is important to gather information before making a recommendation. There is a template for asking portfolio questions, but the thread was already a bit lengthy to ask for that.If OP has access to TSP G why have any int treasury funds at all?
- Thu Mar 28, 2024 12:14 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Recommendation of Biology Major. UW\UCSD\UCDavis\CaseWestern
- Replies: 42
- Views: 2303
Re: Recommendation of Biology Major. UW\UCSD\UCDavis\CaseWestern
Academically, UWash is similar to a Big10 school like Wisconsin, Michigan, or UIUC-- large university, rigorous programs, strong research programs.gfirero wrote: ↑Wed Mar 27, 2024 6:51 pmCan you please elaborate? My daughter is considering UW and I went to a Big 10 school. Would like to hear your insights on the differences between the college experience.KBR wrote: ↑Wed Mar 27, 2024 3:25 pmMy daughter goes there. It is definitely much more of an urban college experience rather than like a big 10 college experience.fasteddie911 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 27, 2024 12:19 pm No big difference for med school purposes, where does she want to live or attend school overall? I spent some time at UW and the campus is pretty incredible and Seattle is wonderful.
- Wed Mar 27, 2024 6:07 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Recommendation of Biology Major. UW\UCSD\UCDavis\CaseWestern
- Replies: 42
- Views: 2303
Re: Recommendation of Biology Major. UW\UCSD\UCDavis\CaseWestern
I think UCSD and UW in Seattle are likely ranked higher than UC-Davis or Case Western in biological sciences, Never seen that rank list. Can you share it? I'm basing it on research reputation. For an undergrad degree, that is not the end-all criterion which is why I said that all 4 schools are excellent choices for an undergrad degree. That is an academic assessment. The social atmosphere and travel time from home will also vary unless the OP happens to live about halfway between Cleveland and Davis. Here is a ranking of research expenditures in the biological sciences, which offers some objective support to the research reputations. https://ncsesdata.nsf.gov/profiles/site?method=rankingBySource&ds=herd That data also includes med scho...
- Wed Mar 27, 2024 5:56 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
- Replies: 131
- Views: 8309
Re: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
The OP has access to the TSP G fund, which I believe is a stable value fund with no credit risk or term (interest rate) risk. Unlike a cash investment, rates are more sticky. I think it would be difficult to match the risk-adjusted return of this investment with some a fixed income fund of any duration. The OP has a fairly aggressive stance based on age with 70% stocks. We could discuss if that is appropriate, but the OP seems to understand the risk of stocks and seems to be comfortable with it. Moreover, the OP has not asked for input on this. If I were in my late 50's holding 70% stock, I would want a substantial portion of bonds in intermediate treasuries to protect against the risk of a disinflationary recession. Because treasuries have...
- Wed Mar 27, 2024 2:30 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Recommendation of Biology Major. UW\UCSD\UCDavis\CaseWestern
- Replies: 42
- Views: 2303
Re: Recommendation of Biology Major. UW\UCSD\UCDavis\CaseWestern
Congrats to your daughter. That is reflective of excellent achievement. I think UCSD and UW in Seattle are likely ranked higher than UC-Davis or Case Western in biological sciences, but for an undergrad degree, I think all four are excellent choices. Case Western likely will offer more undergrad classes taught by tenured or tenure-track faculty, smaller class sizes, and more student-faculty interaction, but you should assess that independently if it is a decider.
Can you visit the campuses?
Can you visit the campuses?
- Tue Mar 26, 2024 6:49 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
- Replies: 131
- Views: 8309
Re: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
The next time I see advice to invest in a Total Bond fund without the risks being explained, I will be sure to drop you a PM to give you a chance, so you can educate the poster before I jump in with my "safety first" advice. Deal? Are you prepared to agree to discuss risks other than preservation of original principal as market value of holdings in your postings? But to answer your question, no, I'm not here to correct any posting you disagree with on demand. There are many postings on BH I disagree with, including many that recommend a total bond market index portfolio without considering the investor's full situation. I can already say that I do not recommend total bond for the OP. 70% stocks is an aggressive stance for an age ...
- Tue Mar 26, 2024 6:09 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Horrified by Schwab Platform -- Where to Next?
- Replies: 94
- Views: 15624
Re: Horrified by Schwab Platform -- Where to Next?
Some Bogleheads strongly recommend that portfolio. But I agree that if any of the major platforms don't support one's portfolio management, then too much complexity and/or too much trading are the more likely issues.123 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 11, 2024 12:59 am If you've got a simple portfolio than just about any broker platform will work. Perhaps you need to simplify your portfolio. Bogleheads strongly recommends the three fund portfolio https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Three-fund_portfolio
Can track day to day movements of a portfolio without logging in to one's account. Example:
https://finance.yahoo.com/quotes//vti,v ... px/view/v1
- Tue Mar 26, 2024 4:54 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Dedicated Financial Computer Master Thread
- Replies: 206
- Views: 9381
Re: Dedicated Financial Computer Master Thread
To answer the question I emboldened, because security by obscurity is a weak form of security, I don't spend time on such techniques unless they have the property of buying time to intervene if there is an actual attack. Your time and energy is better spent maintaining stronger forms of security. And your secret email address most likely ultimately will leak out.H-Town wrote: ↑Tue Mar 26, 2024 4:25 pm
To a certain degree. When you use your regular email with third party vendors, social media, public forum, etc. it get exposed to the public. There is a higher chance for a bad actor to obtain your email address in those public places if they target you. It's not hard. You can lookup people address, phone number and email address on people lookup website. Why don't you try it?
- Tue Mar 26, 2024 4:26 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
- Replies: 131
- Views: 8309
Re: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
The next time I see advice to invest in a Total Bond fund without the risks being explained, I will be sure to drop you a PM to give you a chance, so you can educate the poster before I jump in with my "safety first" advice. Deal? Are you prepared to agree to discuss risks other than preservation of original principal as market value of holdings in your postings? But to answer your question, no, I'm not here to correct any posting you disagree with on demand. There are many postings on BH I disagree with, including many that recommend a total bond market index portfolio without considering the investor's full situation. I can already say that I do not recommend total bond for the OP. 70% stocks is an aggressive stance for an age ...
- Tue Mar 26, 2024 4:17 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Dedicated Financial Computer Master Thread
- Replies: 206
- Views: 9381
Re: Dedicated Financial Computer Master Thread
Neither a dedicated computer nor dedicated email will improve your security posture. A dedicated email address for financial accounts does improve security. It’s a well-meaning attempt to solve a solved problem. Password managers and 2FA address every concern supposedly handled by a separate email account without relying on a human to be infallible. It reduces the risk of bad actor trying to take over your email. They can use Forget Password to send the link to reset password to that email address. If 2FA uses that email address as well, you're out of luck. That applies whether the email address is dedicated or non-dedicated. The most important thing is having your email account locked down properly. Of lesser importance, but still benefic...
- Tue Mar 26, 2024 4:12 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Wired $25,000 to Vanguard without "Further credit" info - is it lost? [Update: Funds Recovered!]
- Replies: 7
- Views: 1533
Re: Wired $25,000 to Vanguard without "Further credit" info - is it lost? [Update: Funds Recovered!]
My belief is that ACH is safer than a wire transfer.
- Tue Mar 26, 2024 2:11 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Dedicated Financial Computer Master Thread
- Replies: 206
- Views: 9381
Re: Dedicated Financial Computer Master Thread
Neither a dedicated computer nor dedicated email will improve your security posture. Password manager. 2FA. Automatic software updates. For the vast majority of people that is all you need. Everything else discussed in this thread is a pointless feel-good measure. There are tradeoffs between usability and security. Segregation of security domains allows for different security policies in different domains, and partitioning use cases across the domains allows some domains to be hardened to a higher standard than others without compromising usability for the particular use cases. Having a dedicated machine for financial accounts is an attempt at such a strategy. A problem is that when people without training or background in information secu...
- Tue Mar 26, 2024 1:18 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
- Replies: 131
- Views: 8309
Re: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
What percentage of your portfolio is in all of these tax-deferred accounts in aggregate?Jimsad wrote: Paychex and tsp -15% each (actively contributing to both - me and spouse) and 70% in vanguard IRA(roll over IRA)
Paychex 401k has access to vanguard funds
- Tue Mar 26, 2024 1:14 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
- Replies: 131
- Views: 8309
Re: Please hep me organise the fixed income part of my portfolio
Often, yes.lakpr wrote: ↑Tue Mar 26, 2024 6:09 amWere these tradeoffs spelt out exactly when recommending bond funds?Northern Flicker wrote: ↑Tue Mar 26, 2024 2:32 am There are many tradeoffs to consider. Cash investments have reinvestment risk.
Because focusing solely on safety of principal can expose you to other risks that you likely are not considering. Safety of principal matters, but so do other risks.lakpr wrote: Why am I being taken to task to suggest be mindful of the safety of the principal?
- Tue Mar 26, 2024 2:32 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
- Replies: 131
- Views: 8309
Re: Please hep me organise the fixed income part of my portfolio
There are many tradeoffs to consider. Cash investments have reinvestment risk.lakpr wrote: ↑Tue Mar 26, 2024 1:31 amRecommending investment in any bond fund without even discussing the risks of such funds is not a sound advice either. The one common feature of all bond funds is they are subject to interest rate risk, and no guarantees that they will keep the principal safe. Is it really bad advice to suggest looking for alternatives that keep principal safe?Northern Flicker wrote: ↑Mon Mar 25, 2024 10:11 pm I'm not confusing anything here. Recommending that someone eschew all bond funds because you were unhappy with the performance of a total bond index fund is not helpful or sound advice.
- Mon Mar 25, 2024 10:28 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Dedicated Financial Computer Master Thread
- Replies: 206
- Views: 9381
- Mon Mar 25, 2024 10:16 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
- Replies: 131
- Views: 8309
Re: Please hep me organise the fixed income part of my portfolio
My EF is about 8 months expenses It is in taxable account - half in ultra short term tax exempt (to avoid taxable interest) and half in money market No state tax; top federal tax bracket Can you locate bonds in a tax-deferred account? What percentages of the portfolio live in taxable, tax-deferred, and Roth accounts? Yes. I can locate all bonds in tax deferred Presently taxable and Roth are 85% in stocks and tax deferred is about 55: 45 stocks and fixed income Trying to get to 70:30 overall Then I would locate bonds in tax-deferred space, taking munis off the table. Here is some info about asset location planning: https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Tax-efficient_fund_placement Where are your tax-deferred accounts (401K, IRAs etc.)? This is to...
- Mon Mar 25, 2024 10:11 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
- Replies: 131
- Views: 8309
Re: Please hep me organise the fixed income part of my portfolio
I'm not confusing anything here. Recommending that someone eschew all bond funds because you were unhappy with the performance of a total bond index fund is not helpful or sound advice.lakpr wrote: ↑Mon Mar 25, 2024 1:53 pmI think you are confusing the cause and symptom. The symptom (me rejecting bond funds) came about because of Total Bond Fund being peddled as one-size-fits-all for more than 13 years I have been on this forum (cause), and my annoyance began only in 2022, and progressed to distaste only in 2023.Northern Flicker wrote: ↑Mon Mar 25, 2024 1:50 pm While it is an error to recommend total bond as a 1-size-fits-all bond portfolio, it is at least as significant of an error to say that one needs a 7-year horizon to invest in any bond fund, regardless of duration.
- Mon Mar 25, 2024 10:05 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Those complimentary dinners for retirees by investment advisors
- Replies: 137
- Views: 10169
Re: Those complimentary dinners for retirees by investment advisors
I would gladly pay to have the presenter go away so we can enjoy our dinner. Oh wait, we already can have that experience at a restaurant we choose.
- Mon Mar 25, 2024 5:07 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Viewing your portfolio vs viewing them as separate components
- Replies: 14
- Views: 1132
Re: Viewing your portfolio vs viewing them as separate components
Portfolio return is what matters. I consider liquidity and tax-efficiency of individual assets. I do look at individual asset returns, but that does not make it beneficial to do so. Often, it will just be a source of emotional churn, as in, "If we had been holding bond fund B instead of bond fund A our return would have been a little higher".
- Mon Mar 25, 2024 1:50 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
- Replies: 131
- Views: 8309
Re: Please hep me organise the fixed income part of my portfolio
While it is an error to recommend total bond as a 1-size-fits-all bond portfolio, it is as significant of an error to say that one needs a 7-year horizon to invest in any bond fund, regardless of duration.lakpr wrote: ↑Mon Mar 25, 2024 5:23 amBecause the Total Bond Fund is being proselytized on this forum. Take just this thread and see how many mentions of VBTLX are madeNorthern Flicker wrote: ↑Mon Mar 25, 2024 2:56 amBond funds are available in a wide range of durations, so I don't know why you have a constant 7 years as the required investment horizon.
- Mon Mar 25, 2024 1:45 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
- Replies: 131
- Views: 8309
Re: Please hep me organise the fixed income part of my portfolio
My aim is to have about 30% of my portfolio in fixed income. Presently I have - 16% in vanguard money market 2 % in I bonds 5% in vanguard total bond fund 2.5% in limited term tax exempt 2.5 % in VIPSX- inflation protected securities 2% in treasuries Should I move about 10% from money market to VIPSX? Is it a good time to buy that ? Or should I buy more of VBTLX instead? Or dump whole fixed income n VBTLX or VIPSX? The above is separate from my EF. How large is your EF? In what account types (taxable, trad IRA, Roth etc.) will the assets be located? If in a taxable account, what are your Federal and State marginal brackets? My EF is about 8 months expenses It is in taxable account - half in ultra short term tax exempt (to avoid taxable int...
- Mon Mar 25, 2024 3:00 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
- Replies: 131
- Views: 8309
Re: Please hep me organise the fixed income part of my portfolio
My aim is to have about 30% of my portfolio in fixed income. Presently I have - 16% in vanguard money market 2 % in I bonds 5% in vanguard total bond fund 2.5% in limited term tax exempt 2.5 % in VIPSX- inflation protected securities 2% in treasuries Should I move about 10% from money market to VIPSX? Is it a good time to buy that ? Or should I buy more of VBTLX instead? Or dump whole fixed income n VBTLX or VIPSX? The above is separate from my EF. How large is your EF? In what account types (taxable, trad IRA, Roth etc.) will the assets be located? If in a taxable account, what are your Federal and State marginal brackets? My EF is about 8 months expenses It is in taxable account - half in ultra short term tax exempt (to avoid taxable int...
- Mon Mar 25, 2024 2:56 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
- Replies: 131
- Views: 8309
Re: Please hep me organise the fixed income part of my portfolio
Bond funds are available in a wide range of durations, so I don't know why you have a constant 7 years as the required investment horizon.
But that applies to assets where you are spending principal. For bond assets that are generating income via interest, a short duration bond fund or money market is exposed to the risk of a considerable drop in interest rates and concomitant falloff in income. This could lead to spending principal whereas a somewhat longer duration would have provided for stability of income.
- Mon Mar 25, 2024 2:41 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Gotchas when selling real estate (Primary residence)
- Replies: 4
- Views: 956
Re: Gotchas when selling real estate (Primary residence)
Hello, I am about to put my house in NoCal (Bay area) on the market. I lived in that house for 4 years, till the end of 2022 and renting it out for the last 1 year or so. I believe I will make somewhere around 300K-500K in gains. I know that I won't have to pay any capital gains up to 500k because this house was my primary residence. A married couple filing jointly gets a $500K exclusion as long as other criteria are met. A single person only gets a $250K exclusion. You have to have lived in the house for at least 24 of the previous 60 months (the lookback is from the date of closing), and there are other criteria. I believe you still will have to recapture as regular income the property depreciation that lowered the property basis. I woul...
- Sun Mar 24, 2024 10:33 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Bond choices in 401k
- Replies: 35
- Views: 3316
Re: Bond choices in 401k
Hi, I am probably overthinking this, but my 401k has two low cost bond funds available, and I am wondering if it makes any difference which one should I choose. Currently all of our bonds are in Option 2 (FIPDX). Option 1: State Street U.S. Bond Index Securities Lending Series Fund Class XIV Gross Expense ratio: 0.022% Benchmark: Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index Duration: 6.13 years It holds about 44% Treasuries, 28% Mortgage backed securities, 25% corporate bonds Option 2: Fidelity Inflation-Protected Bond Index Fund (FIPDX) Gross Expense ratio: 0.05% Benchmark: Bloomberg US TIPS Index Duration: 6.46 years It holds 100% US Treasuries Other context: We are a 48/52 year old couple, planning to retire in 4 years, and currently our portfolio...
- Sun Mar 24, 2024 5:04 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Dedicated Financial Computer Master Thread
- Replies: 206
- Views: 9381
Re: Dedicated Financial Computer Master Thread
Using a single computer for everything is not the only alternative to having a dedicated computer for financial access.Halicar wrote: ↑Sun Mar 24, 2024 9:27 am These threads always have lots of anecdotes, but as far as I can tell, no one provides any actual evidence that there is a benefit to having a dedicated computer, or a detriment to not having one. Given that, I'll continue to use a single computer for everything.
- Sun Mar 24, 2024 4:25 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
- Replies: 131
- Views: 8309
Re: Please hep me organise the fixed income part of my portfolio
How large is your EF? In what account types (taxable, trad IRA, Roth etc.) will the assets be located? If in a taxable account, what are your Federal and State marginal brackets?Jimsad wrote: ↑Sat Mar 23, 2024 5:08 pm My aim is to have about 30% of my portfolio in fixed income.
Presently I have -
16% in vanguard money market
2 % in I bonds
5% in vanguard total bond fund
2.5% in limited term tax exempt
2.5 % in VIPSX- inflation protected securities
2% in treasuries
Should I move about 10% from money market to VIPSX? Is it a good time to buy that ?
Or should I buy more of VBTLX instead?
Or dump whole fixed income n VBTLX or VIPSX?
The above is separate from my EF.
- Sun Mar 24, 2024 2:34 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: How to avoid getting ripped off on urgent home repairs?
- Replies: 47
- Views: 3567
Re: How to avoid getting ripped off on urgent home repairs?
We always obtain and use referrals from friends and family, for reputable handymen. I also have a home warranty contract I use for covered systems under the contract. I have heard that home equipment warranty companies are generally rip-offs. In one case, the buyer of a home bought a warranty for their home for the first year after the sale, in case something broke that wasn't caught during inspection. Sure enough a few months later, the A/C started leaking. The warranty company said fixing it wasn't in the scope of the contract as the leak was outside the walls of the house and they covered only equipment within, according to the fine print. The other scam is saying that you only pay $75 for a service call and the issue is addressed. Then...
- Sun Mar 24, 2024 2:28 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: How to avoid getting ripped off on urgent home repairs?
- Replies: 47
- Views: 3567
Re: How to avoid getting ripped off on urgent home repairs?
If a permit is required, there should be an inspection to determine if the permitted work meets code. Try to find out if a permit is needed and ask the contractor if they will be pulling the required permits. I agree with Big Dog. We have a plumber, electrician, roofer, and HVAC contractor each that we've hired before and trust. But that does not guarantee availability in an emergency. That's my problem. I used to have a great plumber, but he is in high demand and doesn't work weekends, so he's not a good resource for emergencies. I know now that a lot of the work I'd previously had done was not up to code and not permitted. Lesson learned. It’s pretty rare that a repair would ever require a permit. Total replacement of one of your mechani...
- Sun Mar 24, 2024 2:20 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: How to avoid getting ripped off on urgent home repairs?
- Replies: 47
- Views: 3567
Re: How to avoid getting ripped off on urgent home repairs?
How well the permitting process functions varies regionally. You can open a permit where I live in 5-10 minutes online. Inspections can be scheduled with 48 hrs lead time. Inspectors only inspect the work covered by the permit. If they see other things that are not up to code during the inspection, they will mention the issues, but not flag them. That is to encourage the use of permits.mikejuss wrote: ↑Sat Mar 23, 2024 7:38 pmA fine idea, but permits take a while to pull--sometimes months.Northern Flicker wrote: ↑Sat Mar 23, 2024 7:30 pm If a permit is required, there should be an inspection to determine if the permitted work meets code. Try to find out if a permit is needed and ask the contractor if they will be pulling the required permits.
- Sun Mar 24, 2024 1:55 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: short term munis acceptable?
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1401
Re: short term munis acceptable?
Single entity risk can be diversified away, but muni spreads can widen in response to macroeconomic events.
We may compare the after-tax yields of duration-matched munis and treasuries, but munis are not treasuries:
https://www.portfoliovisualizer.com/bac ... kY7IBPrXt5
We may compare the after-tax yields of duration-matched munis and treasuries, but munis are not treasuries:
https://www.portfoliovisualizer.com/bac ... kY7IBPrXt5
- Sat Mar 23, 2024 7:35 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: short term munis acceptable?
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1401
Re: short term munis acceptable?
As I understand it, most people's concern with munis is primarily default risk and, to a lesser extent, the callability of munis. Regarding callability, that risk does exist, but it's known to the fund managers and is factored in to their strategy. It's also factored into the average stated duration of the fund so you don't have to do the calculations yourself. As for default risk, it's negligible in a national bond fund. There have been rare instances of individual municipalities defaulting, but it's never happened on anything like a nation-wide scale. Regarding short term vs. other durations, I don't think it makes any difference when it comes to these two risks. Default risk also includes the default risk increasing leading to the risk ...
- Sat Mar 23, 2024 7:30 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: How to avoid getting ripped off on urgent home repairs?
- Replies: 47
- Views: 3567
Re: How to avoid getting ripped off on urgent home repairs?
If a permit is required, there should be an inspection to determine if the permitted work meets code. Try to find out if a permit is needed and ask the contractor if they will be pulling the required permits.
I agree with Big Dog. We have a plumber, electrician, roofer, and HVAC contractor each that we've hired before and trust. But that does not guarantee availability in an emergency.
I agree with Big Dog. We have a plumber, electrician, roofer, and HVAC contractor each that we've hired before and trust. But that does not guarantee availability in an emergency.
- Sat Mar 23, 2024 4:34 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: short term munis acceptable?
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1401
Re: short term munis acceptable?
Right.boglebrain wrote: ↑Sat Mar 23, 2024 2:16 pm Yes, my net worth is high and my income is high from taxable qualified dividends. If I buy regular bonds I’ll start climbing tax ladders.
If I buy munis I can move $100k over from a traditional 401k to Roth and do it mostly at <22% tax rate.
retired@50 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 23, 2024 1:50 pm Can you clarify...
You say you won't be earning income for 2-4 years, so why municipal bonds?
Typically munis are suitable for high income folks.
The correct way to evaluate munis is by comparing their after-tax yield for one's bracket with that of other bonds, not by evaluating the tax bracket.
Treasuries are exempt from state income tax if you pay that.
- Sat Mar 23, 2024 1:55 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Medigappers: which plan do you have and why
- Replies: 89
- Views: 5031
Re: Medigappers: which plan do you have and why
An insurance broker who specializes in medicare policies told someone I know that United American offers many (or all) of their G-HD customers an 1-time opportunity to upgrade to a G plan after 2 years on their G-HD plan. I don't know if that is true for all customers or all states or even if true at all, but it is interesting etc. Even if they do their regular g plans in my area are over $300 per month so it would make no sense at all. Yes, United American does offer holders of G-HD policies a one-time opportunity to switch to Plan G without underwriting at the two year mark. In my zip code the rate for their Plan G is slightly over $200 a month, which is a little high but not outrageous. The G plan premium partly covers having the G plan...
- Sat Mar 23, 2024 1:37 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Dedicated Financial Computer Master Thread
- Replies: 206
- Views: 9381
Re: Dedicated Financial Computer Master Thread
I can see the arguments for using a separate dedicated computer, but think it would be overkill if you do the following. (partial list for comments below) Use unique, long passwords Use a different username for each financial account Use a dedicated email address for financial accounts Install anti-malware (e.g., Malwarebytes) on your computer Long unique passwords are a great idea, but that does not mitigate the risk of a machine being compromised, which is what having a dedicated machine attempts to address. Using different and/or random usernames for each account does not provide much. Having as much of the entropy for the combined username and password as possible in the password is more secure as it should be stored securely at the se...
- Sat Mar 23, 2024 2:04 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: HSA reimbursement for first 7.5% of AGI
- Replies: 9
- Views: 841
Re: HSA reimbursement for first 7.5% of AGI
I believe that the answer is no. From: https://www.irs.gov/publications/p502#en_US_2022_publink1000179059 This publication explains the itemized deduction for medical and dental expenses that you claim on Schedule A (Form 1040). It discusses what expenses, and whose expenses, you can and can't include in figuring the deduction. and You can’t include expenses you pay for with a tax-free distribution from your health savings account. and You must reduce your total medical expenses for the year by all reimbursements for medical expenses that you receive from insurance or other sources during the year. My interpretation is that you cannot include expenses reimbursed by an HSA distribution in the process for determining your deductible medical e...
- Sat Mar 23, 2024 12:11 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Medigappers: which plan do you have and why
- Replies: 89
- Views: 5031
Re: Medigappers: which plan do you have and why
An insurance broker who specializes in medicare policies told someone I know that United American offers many (or all) of their G-HD customers an 1-time opportunity to upgrade to a G plan after 2 years on their G-HD plan.
I don't know if that is true for all customers or all states or even if true at all, but it is interesting.
I don't know if that is true for all customers or all states or even if true at all, but it is interesting.
- Sat Mar 23, 2024 12:04 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Feeling Lost with 529s
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1902
Re: Feeling Lost with 529s
In NJ, your first $750 contributed is matched with $750 from the state. This is free money. After that, up to $10K/yr of contribution can be deducted from income for state tax purposes.
https://www.njbest.com/why-njbest/njbest-benefits
Withdrawals are not taxed if spent on eligible educational expenses (tuition, fees, room & board not to exceed the cost of a standard dorm room and standard dorm meal plan, books, required supplies).
The main risk is overfunding it or student not attending a college or university, and the unused funds being subject to tax plus penalty on withdrawal.
https://www.njbest.com/why-njbest/njbest-benefits
Withdrawals are not taxed if spent on eligible educational expenses (tuition, fees, room & board not to exceed the cost of a standard dorm room and standard dorm meal plan, books, required supplies).
The main risk is overfunding it or student not attending a college or university, and the unused funds being subject to tax plus penalty on withdrawal.
- Fri Mar 22, 2024 10:33 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Do you hold Canada fund because it is missing in your international stock fund?
- Replies: 21
- Views: 1814
Re: Do you hold Canada fund because it is missing in your international stock fund?
You are assuming that source of revenue is the only reason for diversifying internationally.Jack FFR1846 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 6:54 amDoes it make sense? Yes it does. Tell me....where is most of the "good old boy" Texas Instruments business.ScubaHogg wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 6:24 amThis never made a lick of sense. This would be like not investing in California companies like Apple because Walmart has stores in California. Does that strike you as sensible?Jack FFR1846 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 21, 2024 9:55 pm I hold what Jack Bogle held. US Stock and US Bond. Name a US company that doesn't do any business internationally. That was Jack's explanation and I completely agree.
The point isn’t to have access to revenue in those countries, it to have access to the earnings of the companies in those countries
- Fri Mar 22, 2024 6:41 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Umbrella Policy: Multiple Insurers, One Coverage?
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1020
Re: Umbrella Policy: Multiple Insurers, One Coverage?
I have been thinking about an umbrella policy for a while, but I finally want to pull the trigger now. I have 1 question regarding coverage. Do all the home and auto policies need to be from the same insurer where I'll get the umbrella policy? Context - We have a single-family home (primary residence), a rental (another single family) and a car. Our rental (landlord insurance) and car are covered by State Farm. Our primary residence (homeowner's insurance) is covered by Geico since State Farm's quote was > 2x Geico's. If I get an umbrella policy with State Farm, will it also cover any liabilities at our primary residence? Or would I need to move my homeowner's insurance to State Farm to get coverage for all 3? Ask your State Farm agent.
- Fri Mar 22, 2024 2:16 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Active fund for international equity allocation?
- Replies: 34
- Views: 2605
Re: Active fund for international equity allocation?
Another extreme example is Japan. Japan's stock market used to account for half of the global stock market. If you had bought international stock index fund at that time (assume it existed), it would take you 30 years to recover the loss. Are you saying that active international management would have avoided Japan toward the peak of valuations? I don't know but did that actually occur? I don't know because I don't have data at that time. Some international stock funds (truly ex-US instead of Developed Markets) did avoid China such as GSIHX and PWJZX. A number of funds were overweight Russian equity at the start of the war with Ukraine. You are confusing hindsight with foresight. Sure, once we know that Chinese equities underperformed in th...
- Fri Mar 22, 2024 1:56 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Dividend warning when buying
- Replies: 19
- Views: 2342
Re: Dividend warning when buying
Vanguard gave me a warning yesterday that I was about to buy VTSAX before a dividend and that got me all worried that I might be buying at the wrong time so I decided not to buy it. I’m going to wait until Tuesday now, but is this really something I should be worried about and may lose money buying at the wrong time around a dividend? The dividend distribution will be taxable. The dividends have accumulated in the fund since the previous distribution. If you buy the fund say the day before or day that it goes ex-dividend, the dividend distribution is de facto just returning some of your principal back to you as a taxable event. (You got about 1 day of return on the investment of those funds). It is not a disaster, but it may cost you 10-20...
- Fri Mar 22, 2024 12:47 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Active fund for international equity allocation?
- Replies: 34
- Views: 2605
Re: Active fund for international equity allocation?
As I mentioned, one of the problems of actively managed international stock funds is high expense ratios. I would like to see the results "before" expense ratios. That's why I suggest those active funds can try to reduce expense ratios like just buying single country ETFs. Single country ETFs that I'm aware of are not particularly inexpensive. But it would be very difficult to overperform by just picking countries-- I think harder even than by picking stocks. As an example, the crackdown on Chinese megacaps was not predictable a priori. And I doubt you would have predicted that India, Mexico, and Turkey would be top performing EM equity markets moving forward from the COVID bottom in 3/2020: https://www.portfoliovisualizer.com/ba...
- Thu Mar 21, 2024 8:14 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Active fund for international equity allocation?
- Replies: 34
- Views: 2605
Re: Active fund for international equity allocation?
And if they overweighted them, they would have underperformed with ease.henryphseven wrote: If an active international stock fund had excluded Russia and China from its portfolio, its performance would have outperformed VTIAX or VXUS with ease.