Search found 15330 matches

by Northern Flicker
Thu Mar 28, 2024 2:55 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can Medical provider “mess up” bill like that?
Replies: 35
Views: 1887

Re: Can Medical provider “mess up” bill like that?

Cocoa Beach Bum wrote: Thu Mar 28, 2024 9:35 am Maybe OP is experiencing the situation described in this recent Mar 25, 2024 WSJ article?

Hospitals Are Adding Billions in ‘Facility’ Fees for Routine Care
"Unsuspecting patients find themselves at the mercy of institutions tacking on the bills"
This is abuse of the hideous opacity of cost of health care. Providers and insurers are equally responsible for the lack of cost transparency.
by Northern Flicker
Thu Mar 28, 2024 2:44 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can Medical provider “mess up” bill like that?
Replies: 35
Views: 1887

Re: Can Medical provider “mess up” bill like that?

No, you have the doctor file an appeal for the denial of pre-approval.
by Northern Flicker
Thu Mar 28, 2024 1:56 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
Replies: 141
Views: 8920

Re: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio

If the full 30% allocation to fixed income were available as TSP G that is likely what I would do, possibly exchanging back and forth with Vanguard Treasury MMF, holding whichever has the higher yield at a given point in time. The govt is basically absorbing the term risk of intermediate treasuries at no charge, which is a free lunch.
by Northern Flicker
Thu Mar 28, 2024 1:30 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
Replies: 141
Views: 8920

Re: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio

The info above was that space in the TSP is limited. Holding cash or short-term instruments is based on being able to exchange them at the portfolio level for TSP G (which has stickier rates than cash) to ameliorate reinvestment risk. If the OP did not have the TSP G available, I would recommend the Swensen bond portfolio of 1/2 int-treasuries and 1/2 int-tips, shortening duration as the OP and spouse age.
by Northern Flicker
Thu Mar 28, 2024 12:47 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
Replies: 141
Views: 8920

Re: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio

TSP G vs MM or very short-term treasuries – pick the one with the better rate at the moment. It would be reasonable to hold intermediate treasuries and Vanguard Treasury MM when the MM rate is higher and intermediate treasuries and TSP G when the TSP rate is higher. The problem with a cash investment is the rapid reset of rates. TSP G is more sticky, and the option to switch to it ameliorates the reinvestment risk of a cash investment. When rates are rising, a MM fund will reset to higher rates faster than TSP G, and when rates are falling, the TSP G will reset to lower rates more slowly. Having the ability to switch between them at the portfolio level harvests the benefit on both sides. Achieving the equivalent duration with a MM fund and...
by Northern Flicker
Thu Mar 28, 2024 12:35 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Dedicated Financial Computer Master Thread
Replies: 209
Views: 9784

Re: Dedicated Financial Computer Master Thread

The correct description of the three factors would be something only you know, something only you have, and something only you are. In that scenario, a username is not something only you know, even if randomized. It will be stored as cleartext at the service for which one is authenticating. It is not a robust authentication factor. That paradigm is more useful for explaining 2FA to non-technical people than for engineering a robust authentication protocol. 2FA should satisfy requirements like: 1. Factors are robust. 2. Factors do not have correlated failure modes. The compromise of one factor should not weaken the other. 3. In combination, 2FA should not be susceptible to replay attacks. An authentication session should not be a replay of ...
by Northern Flicker
Thu Mar 28, 2024 3:02 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Does ERISA *really* provide 401k asset protection?
Replies: 76
Views: 7227

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...
by Northern Flicker
Thu Mar 28, 2024 2:08 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Dedicated Financial Computer Master Thread
Replies: 209
Views: 9784

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...
by Northern Flicker
Thu Mar 28, 2024 2:01 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Dedicated Financial Computer Master Thread
Replies: 209
Views: 9784

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. ...
by Northern Flicker
Thu Mar 28, 2024 1:26 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
Replies: 141
Views: 8920

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...
by Northern Flicker
Thu Mar 28, 2024 1:13 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
Replies: 141
Views: 8920

Re: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio

If OP has access to TSP G why have any int treasury funds at all?
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.
by Northern Flicker
Thu Mar 28, 2024 12:14 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Recommendation of Biology Major. UW\UCSD\UCDavis\CaseWestern
Replies: 48
Views: 2740

Re: Recommendation of Biology Major. UW\UCSD\UCDavis\CaseWestern

gfirero wrote: Wed Mar 27, 2024 6:51 pm
KBR wrote: Wed Mar 27, 2024 3:25 pm
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.
My daughter goes there. It is definitely much more of an urban college experience rather than like a big 10 college experience.
Can 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.
Academically, UWash is similar to a Big10 school like Wisconsin, Michigan, or UIUC-- large university, rigorous programs, strong research programs.
by Northern Flicker
Wed Mar 27, 2024 6:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Recommendation of Biology Major. UW\UCSD\UCDavis\CaseWestern
Replies: 48
Views: 2740

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...
by Northern Flicker
Wed Mar 27, 2024 5:56 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
Replies: 141
Views: 8920

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...
by Northern Flicker
Wed Mar 27, 2024 2:30 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Recommendation of Biology Major. UW\UCSD\UCDavis\CaseWestern
Replies: 48
Views: 2740

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?
by Northern Flicker
Tue Mar 26, 2024 6:49 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
Replies: 141
Views: 8920

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 ...
by Northern Flicker
Tue Mar 26, 2024 6:09 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Horrified by Schwab Platform -- Where to Next?
Replies: 94
Views: 15653

Re: Horrified by Schwab Platform -- Where to Next?

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
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.

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
by Northern Flicker
Tue Mar 26, 2024 4:54 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Dedicated Financial Computer Master Thread
Replies: 209
Views: 9784

Re: Dedicated Financial Computer Master Thread

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?
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.
by Northern Flicker
Tue Mar 26, 2024 4:26 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
Replies: 141
Views: 8920

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 ...
by Northern Flicker
Tue Mar 26, 2024 4:17 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Dedicated Financial Computer Master Thread
Replies: 209
Views: 9784

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...
by Northern Flicker
Tue Mar 26, 2024 2:11 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Dedicated Financial Computer Master Thread
Replies: 209
Views: 9784

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...
by Northern Flicker
Tue Mar 26, 2024 1:18 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
Replies: 141
Views: 8920

Re: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio

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
What percentage of your portfolio is in all of these tax-deferred accounts in aggregate?
by Northern Flicker
Tue Mar 26, 2024 1:14 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
Replies: 141
Views: 8920

Re: Please hep me organise the fixed income part of my portfolio

lakpr wrote: Tue Mar 26, 2024 6:09 am
Northern Flicker wrote: Tue Mar 26, 2024 2:32 am There are many tradeoffs to consider. Cash investments have reinvestment risk.
Were these tradeoffs spelt out exactly when recommending bond funds?
Often, yes.
lakpr wrote: Why am I being taken to task to suggest be mindful of the safety of the principal?
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.
by Northern Flicker
Tue Mar 26, 2024 2:32 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
Replies: 141
Views: 8920

Re: Please hep me organise the fixed income part of my portfolio

lakpr wrote: Tue Mar 26, 2024 1:31 am
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.
Recommending 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?
There are many tradeoffs to consider. Cash investments have reinvestment risk.
by Northern Flicker
Mon Mar 25, 2024 10:28 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Dedicated Financial Computer Master Thread
Replies: 209
Views: 9784

Re: Dedicated Financial Computer Master Thread

H-Town wrote: Mon Mar 25, 2024 6:21 pm 2) Password changes every week.
If you would not need to login other than to do the weekly password change, having the process of doing that weekly for the password change will weaken the security of your password(s).
by Northern Flicker
Mon Mar 25, 2024 10:16 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
Replies: 141
Views: 8920

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...
by Northern Flicker
Mon Mar 25, 2024 10:11 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
Replies: 141
Views: 8920

Re: Please hep me organise the fixed income part of my portfolio

lakpr wrote: Mon Mar 25, 2024 1:53 pm
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.
I 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.
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.
by Northern Flicker
Mon Mar 25, 2024 10:05 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Those complimentary dinners for retirees by investment advisors
Replies: 143
Views: 10554

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.
by Northern Flicker
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: 1146

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".
by Northern Flicker
Mon Mar 25, 2024 1:50 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
Replies: 141
Views: 8920

Re: Please hep me organise the fixed income part of my portfolio

lakpr wrote: Mon Mar 25, 2024 5:23 am
Northern Flicker wrote: Mon Mar 25, 2024 2:56 am
lakpr wrote: Sun Mar 24, 2024 5:48 pm
Jimsad wrote: Sun Mar 24, 2024 5:42 pm So are you saying no retirees should have any bond funds in their portfolios ?
Right. No. Not unless they are willing to wait for 7 years to "make up" any adverse impact to their bond funds.
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.
Because the Total Bond Fund is being proselytized on this forum. Take just this thread and see how many mentions of VBTLX are made
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.
by Northern Flicker
Mon Mar 25, 2024 1:45 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
Replies: 141
Views: 8920

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...
by Northern Flicker
Mon Mar 25, 2024 3:00 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
Replies: 141
Views: 8920

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...
by Northern Flicker
Mon Mar 25, 2024 2:56 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
Replies: 141
Views: 8920

Re: Please hep me organise the fixed income part of my portfolio

lakpr wrote: Sun Mar 24, 2024 5:48 pm
Jimsad wrote: Sun Mar 24, 2024 5:42 pm So are you saying no retirees should have any bond funds in their portfolios ?
Right. No. Not unless they are willing to wait for 7 years to "make up" any adverse impact to their bond funds.
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.
by Northern Flicker
Mon Mar 25, 2024 2:41 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Gotchas when selling real estate (Primary residence)
Replies: 4
Views: 962

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...
by Northern Flicker
Sun Mar 24, 2024 10:33 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Bond choices in 401k
Replies: 35
Views: 3317

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...
by Northern Flicker
Sun Mar 24, 2024 5:04 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Dedicated Financial Computer Master Thread
Replies: 209
Views: 9784

Re: Dedicated Financial Computer Master Thread

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.
Using a single computer for everything is not the only alternative to having a dedicated computer for financial access.
by Northern Flicker
Sun Mar 24, 2024 4:25 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Please help me organize the fixed income part of my portfolio
Replies: 141
Views: 8920

Re: Please hep me organise the fixed income part of my portfolio

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.
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?
by Northern Flicker
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: 3581

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...
by Northern Flicker
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: 3581

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...
by Northern Flicker
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: 3581

Re: How to avoid getting ripped off on urgent home repairs?

mikejuss wrote: Sat Mar 23, 2024 7:38 pm
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.
A fine idea, but permits take a while to pull--sometimes months.
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.
by Northern Flicker
Sun Mar 24, 2024 1:55 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: short term munis acceptable?
Replies: 20
Views: 1405

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
by Northern Flicker
Sat Mar 23, 2024 7:35 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: short term munis acceptable?
Replies: 20
Views: 1405

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 ...
by Northern Flicker
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: 3581

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.
by Northern Flicker
Sat Mar 23, 2024 4:34 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: short term munis acceptable?
Replies: 20
Views: 1405

Re: short term munis acceptable?

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.
Right.

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.
by Northern Flicker
Sat Mar 23, 2024 1:55 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Medigappers: which plan do you have and why
Replies: 89
Views: 5055

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...
by Northern Flicker
Sat Mar 23, 2024 1:37 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Dedicated Financial Computer Master Thread
Replies: 209
Views: 9784

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...
by Northern Flicker
Sat Mar 23, 2024 2:04 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: HSA reimbursement for first 7.5% of AGI
Replies: 9
Views: 842

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...
by Northern Flicker
Sat Mar 23, 2024 12:11 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Medigappers: which plan do you have and why
Replies: 89
Views: 5055

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.
by Northern Flicker
Sat Mar 23, 2024 12:04 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Feeling Lost with 529s
Replies: 20
Views: 1904

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.