Search found 2504 matches

by Index Fan
Fri Jan 19, 2024 10:30 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What motivated you to save money?
Replies: 232
Views: 27992

Re: What motivated you to save money?

Age ~30. Got married.
by Index Fan
Fri Jan 19, 2024 10:28 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: To rebalance or not rebalance?
Replies: 53
Views: 6430

Re: To rebalance or not rebalance?

I remember reading in one of WIlliam Bernstein's books he thought that rebalancing once every two or three years was optimal.
by Index Fan
Mon Dec 18, 2023 8:01 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Treasury Must Issue 1.4T in New Debt Between Now and Year End
Replies: 56
Views: 7601

Re: Treasury Must Issue 1.4T in New Debt Between Now and Year End

Portfolio insurance is always a reasonable idea (5-10% in gold).
by Index Fan
Wed Jun 21, 2023 7:21 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Bob Brinker's newsletter Market Timer is shutting down
Replies: 191
Views: 53069

Re: Bob Brinker's newsletter Market Timer is shutting down

Wow, I had no idea it was still going. Enjoy your retirement, Bob.

Yeah, Brinker introduced me to the world of Vanguard's low-cost index funds, and for that I will always be grateful.
by Index Fan
Sat Feb 04, 2023 10:12 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What is your age and asset allocation ?
Replies: 1156
Views: 150756

Re: What is your age and asset allocation ?

60

40% equities 55% fixed income 5% cash
by Index Fan
Sun Nov 01, 2020 7:55 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: If retired, what's your allocation to fixed income?
Replies: 119
Views: 14066

Re: If retired, what's your allocation to fixed income?

With a pension, my AA is 50/50. Enough equities for some growth, enough fixed income to keep from worrying about bear markets.
by Index Fan
Mon Aug 24, 2020 8:43 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do you talk to your friends/family/coworkers about this stuff?
Replies: 210
Views: 20750

Re: Do you talk to your friends/family/coworkers about this stuff?

At one time, I tried talking to people about investing. I bought all of my family and my best friend The Boglehead's Guide to Investing . I seriously doubt anyone read the books. My best friend lost 95% of his money in the Dot-Bomb collapse. He'd told me 'this time it's different.' A family member bought an annuity that she had no idea she couldn't touch for 10 years because 'I saw the company name on the back of a golf pro I like'. People and money are very strange. Personalities see money a certain way and it is very very hard to talk facts about it. So I no longer talk to people about money. There's little point in it. A couple times people asked me about investing. I was happy to tell them what I do and about the Boglehead philosophy an...
by Index Fan
Wed Jul 29, 2020 9:28 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Poor service at Vanguard making me re-think my decision
Replies: 310
Views: 39232

Re: Poor service at Vanguard making me re-think my decision

Sorry to hear of your bad experience.

It's been my experience over the decades that good businesses sooner or later stop being good.

I can't think of much left to believe in in this 'race to the bottom' world we find ourselves in.

Best of luck to us all :)
by Index Fan
Tue Jul 21, 2020 7:01 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Any logic to picking multiple target date funds?
Replies: 27
Views: 5594

Re: Any logic to picking multiple target date funds?

The Wizard wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2018 9:32 pm Vanguard's target date funds transition to their Retirement Income fund (whatever it's called) at some point when the target year is reached.
7 years after the target year is reached, the TD fund becomes TD Income. It gradually shifts to the 30/70 AA of TD Income between those two dates.
by Index Fan
Wed Jul 15, 2020 9:11 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Holding Gold as "Doomsday Fund"
Replies: 164
Views: 11558

Re: Holding Gold as "Doomsday Fund"

Swivelguy wrote: Wed Apr 29, 2020 3:27 pm
Index Fan wrote: Wed Apr 29, 2020 9:11 am During the Argentine fiscal/currency collapse in the early 2000s, gold and silver came in handy in barter situations. Looking at a small amount of PMs as portfolio insurance makes sense.
I'm very curious in the specifics of this. Do you have any articles or firsthand accounts of in what way PMs were used?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/9870563457
by Index Fan
Wed Apr 29, 2020 9:11 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Holding Gold as "Doomsday Fund"
Replies: 164
Views: 11558

Re: Holding Gold as "Doomsday Fund"

During the Argentine fiscal/currency collapse in the early 2000s, gold and silver came in handy in barter situations. Looking at a small amount of PMs as portfolio insurance makes sense.
by Index Fan
Tue Apr 07, 2020 5:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How do you maximize enjoyment after achieving FI?
Replies: 164
Views: 11882

Re: How do you maximize enjoyment after achieving FI?

Develop a hobby or hobbies independent from investing and personal finance. Enjoy.
by Index Fan
Sun Mar 22, 2020 7:26 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Coronavirus and the market
Replies: 4089
Views: 392189

Re: Coronavirus and the market

When 'Stay The Course' is scorned on this board, you know things are hysterical.

It's fascinating to watch all of this.
by Index Fan
Wed Mar 18, 2020 5:57 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Stay the course in Lifestrategy Moderate?
Replies: 5
Views: 688

Re: Stay the course in Lifestrategy Moderate?

Stay the course in Lifestrategy Moderate?

I would.
by Index Fan
Thu Mar 12, 2020 7:44 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Okay, now when you do buy back in?
Replies: 230
Views: 25054

Re: Okay, now when you do buy back in?

Okay, now when you do buy back in?

That's always been the real trick- it's too easy to miss rebounds. I'm staying the course.
by Index Fan
Thu Jan 23, 2020 7:37 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Biggest Investment Mistake
Replies: 276
Views: 34928

Re: Biggest Investment Mistake

Not starting investing until age 30.
by Index Fan
Sat Aug 24, 2019 10:13 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Anybody else's Fidelity accounts zeroed out?
Replies: 44
Views: 6714

Re: Anybody else's Fidelity accounts zeroed out?

This isn't a feather in the cap for Fidelity, to say the least.

This is a good reason to save statements showing you in fact do have money there :shock:
by Index Fan
Sat Aug 24, 2019 10:11 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: No Vanguard Customer Support on weekends
Replies: 76
Views: 13894

Re: No Vanguard Customer Support on weekends

I have been helped by Fidelity on many occasions on the weekends.
In over a quarter century of investing, I've never needed any help from any financial institution that I couldn't do online. Surprised to hear others have had a very different experience.
by Index Fan
Thu Jun 20, 2019 7:35 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Bob Brinker Retirement
Replies: 37
Views: 9533

Re: Bob Brinker Retirement

I too was brought to low-cost indexing via Bob Brinker. He had a lot to say about that subject.

I always thought that Bob gave good investing advice, and did his market timing newsletter to make most of his money because that's how most people make money in the biz.
by Index Fan
Tue Jun 18, 2019 9:02 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What percentage of total portfolio in REIT's do you have? Why? . . Why not?
Replies: 240
Views: 27346

Re: What percentage of total portfolio in REIT's do you have? Why?

I hold 10% of my portfolio in the Vanguard REIT Index.

I'm basically a lumper (most investments in Total Stock Market Index, Total International Index, Total Bond Index), but my position in the REIT Index is a nod to 'spicing up' my boring Boglehead portfolio. Over the ~20 years I have owned the fund, it has diversified and augmented my portfolio returns.
by Index Fan
Tue Apr 30, 2019 7:45 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What happened to GE?
Replies: 48
Views: 7199

Re: What happened to GE?

GE used to be a no-brainer buy and hold stock.

GE is no longer that.

GE is a stellar example of why I own the Total Stock Market Index and sleep well.
by Index Fan
Fri Mar 15, 2019 10:26 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Most people wish they invested more and sooner. Any of you wish they invested less?
Replies: 38
Views: 5647

Re: Most people wish they invested more and sooner. Any of you wish they invested less?

People who died young may wish they had invested less and lived it up more, but they are not around to say so.
by Index Fan
Fri Mar 15, 2019 10:23 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What role do bonds play in your portfolio?
Replies: 79
Views: 10055

Re: What role do bonds play in your portfolio?

Stability.

As I get older, I need my finances to be more stable.
by Index Fan
Sun Jan 20, 2019 11:34 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Bogle "5% Gold"
Replies: 248
Views: 38915

Re: Bogle "5% Gold"

There have been plenty of currency crises worldwide where gold and silver were treated as currency. Argentina in the early 2000s is one example.
by Index Fan
Sun Jan 20, 2019 9:38 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Bogle "5% Gold"
Replies: 248
Views: 38915

Re: Bogle "5% Gold"

Interesting. :D
by Index Fan
Sun Jan 20, 2019 9:34 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: John Bogle has died at age 89
Replies: 856
Views: 81243

Re: John Bogle has died at age 89

Mr. Bogle left the world a significantly better place than he found it.

Rest in peace.
by Index Fan
Wed Nov 28, 2018 8:16 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: How much international stock? A suggestion.
Replies: 754
Views: 163441

Re: How much international stock? A suggestion.

fortyofforty wrote: Sun Nov 25, 2018 10:07 pm Almost nobody owns a cap weighted balance between bonds and stocks, because we're all gambling that stocks will tend to provide a higher long-term return versus bonds that provide more stability. All of these choices away from true market neutrality are neither wrong nor right; wisdom is only known in hindsight.
Thread-winner.
by Index Fan
Sat Nov 24, 2018 11:12 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What is your allocation to U.S. and International?
Replies: 241
Views: 34460

Re: What is your allocation to U.S. and International?

25% of equities are int'l. Used to be 33% but I haven't rebalanced and haven't felt the need to do so.
by Index Fan
Sat Nov 24, 2018 11:09 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: HSBC online savings; comments?
Replies: 14
Views: 2133

Re: HSBC online savings; comments?

Stopped using them when they were exposed as an alleged international money laundering front.
by Index Fan
Sat Nov 24, 2018 11:04 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What financial information do you share with your family and relatives?
Replies: 112
Views: 12158

Re: What financial information do you share with your family and relatives?

I learned the hard way not to reveal financial info to relatives. To put it briefly, if they think you have more than them, relatives will sometimes ask you to bail them out of situations they created for themselves. Even when they make more money (but have obviously saved far less).
by Index Fan
Mon Oct 15, 2018 7:24 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Maturing out of Target 2015 fund
Replies: 8
Views: 1169

Re: Maturing out of Target 2015 fund

If I remember correctly, TR 2015 is on target to become TR Income (asset allocation wise) by 2022.
by Index Fan
Mon Oct 01, 2018 8:09 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: [Deleted]
Replies: 153
Views: 16981

Re: Barron's Making the Case for Gold

I see gold, in small amounts, as portfolio insurance against black swan events.

Diversification is good.
by Index Fan
Tue Sep 18, 2018 1:12 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Chase Bank used to be more customer focused
Replies: 46
Views: 7320

Re: Chase Bank is the Devil

Over my life, I've noticed a pattern- over time, good businesses I patronize end up not so good, even bad. Things change. They get bought out. New people get in charge. They decide the bottom dollar is more important than customer retention and good word of mouth referrals.

So I stopped expecting anything.

Expect nothing, and you will not be disappointed.
by Index Fan
Sat Sep 08, 2018 7:45 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Taylor's new book is #1
Replies: 31
Views: 7067

Re: Taylor's new book is #1

Congratulations, Taylor- a brief and excellent read!
by Index Fan
Mon Aug 27, 2018 5:35 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Man...opening a savings account with Ally is an arduous process.
Replies: 32
Views: 8526

Re: Man...opening a savings account with Ally is an arduous process.

Thegame14 wrote: Mon Aug 27, 2018 12:17 pm Don't you just go onto their website sign up, link their account to your primary checking account, they send two small deposits to your primary checking, then you log onto Ally and verify those two deposits and you are then good to go. Couldn't be any simpler....
That was my experience.
by Index Fan
Sat Aug 25, 2018 10:05 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Investing in a Broadway show production
Replies: 38
Views: 4681

Re: Investing in a Broadway show production

Assume that you could lose 100% of your investment. Good luck.
by Index Fan
Sat Aug 25, 2018 10:02 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Is Treasury Direct worth the hassle?
Replies: 52
Views: 10908

Re: Is Treasury Direct worth the hassle?

Too much of a hassle for me. Very user-unfriendly, would be a nightmare for heirs. Good luck!
by Index Fan
Fri Aug 10, 2018 9:53 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should I tell my family/friend that they are making a financial mistake?
Replies: 87
Views: 9497

Re: Should I tell my family/friend that they are making a financial mistake?

I have a reputation as being smart with money. Yet no one has ever asked me for financial advice. Friends and Family members have made grave financial mistakes. Money is an odd force in people's lives, meshed into their personality and experiences. I find it much better for peace of mind to not worry about others and to focus on my own finances.

I gave my friends and family members a copy of The Boglehead's Guide to Investing. I doubt any read it.
by Index Fan
Wed Jul 25, 2018 7:08 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: If financial markets shut down, temporarily...
Replies: 42
Views: 4123

Re: If financial markets shut down, temporarily...

I think it is perfectly reasonable to have a plan that includes such black-swan events as the disruption of the financial system. Having some cash and PMs at home along with an amount of food, water purification, means of self-defense etc. for emergencies ranging from natural disasters to societal collapse goes beyond the topics typically dealt with on this site, but there are plenty of other resources out there to check out.

For instance, here's a book about a man whose family survived the 2001 Argentinian Financial Collapse. YMMV.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/9870563457
by Index Fan
Wed Jul 25, 2018 1:29 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: "Money Talk" Radio Program with Bob Brinker
Replies: 33
Views: 5610

Re: "Money Talk" Radio Program with Bob Brinker

Like some other posters in this thread, Bob Brinker helped lead me to no-load mutual funds, Vanguard funds in particular. When I listened to his show in the 90s, he'd have interesting things to say regarding investing and money. His market timing is about the same as flipping a coin, so I wouldn't recommend that part of his advice. Overall, if you are a Boglehead, nothing to see here. But if you aren't quite there yet, take his advice about no-load mutual funds, Vanguard funds, and controlling costs.
by Index Fan
Wed Jul 11, 2018 4:29 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Six stocks make up 98% of S&P 500 gains in 2018
Replies: 100
Views: 19262

Re: Six stocks make up 98% of S&P 500 gains in 2018

jminv wrote: Tue Jul 10, 2018 4:15 pm Historically, the majority of gains come from a small number of stocks so this isn't surprising. In addition, gains occur on a small number of days. Combined, that's a good reason to hold the market index and forget.
Excellent observation. Wish I could upvote this.
by Index Fan
Wed Jul 11, 2018 4:27 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The value of international stocks, in pictures
Replies: 81
Views: 21201

Re: The value of international stocks, in pictures

pokebowl wrote: Wed Jul 11, 2018 8:03 am I've learned (from reading the hundreds of circular debates on this forum) the decision to either add or not add international equity comes down to personal investor bias.
Actually, if diversification is a virtue (and it is always upheld by Bogleheads as such), one can say that less diversification isn't as good as more. This is a quantifiable, not a judgemental, factor.

Alright, didn't mean to get so serious :) Let the debate begin again!
by Index Fan
Wed Jul 11, 2018 4:23 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: In Pursuit of the Perfect Portfolio: John C. Bogle
Replies: 4
Views: 1746

Re: In Pursuit of the Perfect Portfolio: John C. Bogle

My first thought upon seeing the title of this video was, "the perfect is the enemy of the good."
by Index Fan
Wed Jul 11, 2018 10:17 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: looking for a new (online) savings account home
Replies: 23
Views: 3004

Re: looking for a new (online) savings account home

I'm done rate chasing with online savings. Unless you have a LOT of money in them, small differences in rates don't matter that much to me.

Currently at Ally, earning 1.75%.
by Index Fan
Wed Jul 11, 2018 10:15 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: [Considering the Vanguard LifeStrategy Fund]
Replies: 66
Views: 9492

Re: [Considering the Vanguard LifeStrategy Fund]

Vanguard LifeStrategy Growth was my first Vanguard fund back in the 90s.

Good funds.
by Index Fan
Wed Jul 11, 2018 10:13 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Fidelity charges to close accounts!
Replies: 81
Views: 36367

Re: Fidelity charges to close accounts!

Companies that charge me $ when I stop doing business with them are companies I'd be suspicious of.
by Index Fan
Tue Jul 10, 2018 8:35 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Where do you keep your Emergency Fund?
Replies: 81
Views: 18080

Re: Where do you keep your Emergency Fund?

Ally Bank. I used to use the Vanguard MM Fund and that's fine, but online savings accounts are FDIC insured which is a bit of an advantage for money that's supposed to be 'safe'.
by Index Fan
Sat Jul 07, 2018 1:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Ultrasonic pest repellent - do they work?
Replies: 6
Views: 1112

Re: Ultrasonic pest repellent - do they work?

My mother said this worked for mice in her garage.