Search found 559 matches

by renter
Sun Mar 24, 2024 10:09 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Medical insurance question
Replies: 4
Views: 523

Medical insurance question

I had a minor surgery last year, went fine. Insurance covered it. Now I received a letter in the mail from the insurance company/subrogation company asking me to certify it was really me that had the procedure and asking questions. I would rather not bother with this. I had already put it out of my mind and don't want to think about it. Can this be ignored, or is it typical and I should respond?
by renter
Fri Feb 16, 2024 11:54 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 14%+ Used Car Loan
Replies: 44
Views: 3542

Re: 14%+ Used Car Loan

If there's a Hertz car sales nearby, he should be able to find a decent car for less than 15k, not as nice and higher miles but maybe good enough. I would lean that way before going into debt at 14%.
by renter
Mon Feb 12, 2024 10:06 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: should i pay off a car at 1.9% or invest in a cd at 5.5%
Replies: 67
Views: 6385

Re: should i pay off a car at 1.9% or invest in a cd at 5.5%

The CD interest in a taxable account will be taxable so need to factor that in when you compare. Personally I would just pay off the car and not have to think about it any more.
by renter
Sat Feb 10, 2024 10:02 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Should my 21-year old nephew fire his financial advisor?
Replies: 99
Views: 10825

Re: Should my 21-year old nephew fire his financial advisor?

OP said the current balance is $294,000. It would be interesting to know the starting date and amount of this inheritance (before this thief got involved).
by renter
Sat Feb 10, 2024 9:43 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Ashwath Damodaran on the S&P 500
Replies: 15
Views: 3537

Re: Ashwath Damodaran on the S&P 500

Nobody knows nothin'. (But I enjoyed hearing his presentation.) I have confidence that my stock index funds will capture the next magnificent companies in the coming years.
by renter
Fri Feb 09, 2024 12:08 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Both spouses taking Social Security at 62
Replies: 9
Views: 2566

Both spouses taking Social Security at 62

If we assume two spouses are same age;

Spouse A worked many years in US, but Spouse B did not work in the US at all, nor pay into Social Security;

Social Security website says Spouse A's payout would be $2000 per month if Spouse A claims at 62;

If Spouse A claims at 62, could Spouse B also claim at 62 (same year), and if so, how much could Spouse B receive? Under these assumptions, would it be 50% of Spouse A, i.e., $1,000?

Neither A nor B wishes to claim later than 62
by renter
Sun Feb 04, 2024 1:53 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Recently laid off from FAANG, should I go work for a non-profit or try to stay?
Replies: 65
Views: 9320

Re: Recently laid off from FAANG, should I go work for a non-profit or try to stay?

Keep aiming for FAANG while you still can. The non profit jobs will be there later.
by renter
Fri Feb 02, 2024 10:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Emergency minivan replacement
Replies: 29
Views: 2899

Re: Emergency minivan replacement

I keep cars a long time too, but in this case I would get a new one and take great care of it. Your family will get great use of it.
by renter
Tue Jan 30, 2024 7:37 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Changing I bond registration in gift box
Replies: 6
Views: 922

Re: Changing I bond registration in gift box

RubyTuesday wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 6:59 am
renter wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 12:55 am
RyeBourbon wrote: Mon Jan 29, 2024 11:02 pm I believe you need to create a new registration, then assign it to the bonds.
Thanks. I have created a new registration. How do I assign the gift to the new registration? Can it be done online?
You cannot change registration of bonds in gift box. The registration can be changed by the owner AFTER delivery of the gift.

Hopefully the future recipient will be amenable to changing the beneficiary!
Thanks for confirming what I had suspected. It will be ok.
by renter
Tue Jan 30, 2024 12:55 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Changing I bond registration in gift box
Replies: 6
Views: 922

Re: Changing I bond registration in gift box

RyeBourbon wrote: Mon Jan 29, 2024 11:02 pm I believe you need to create a new registration, then assign it to the bonds.
Thanks. I have created a new registration. How do I assign the gift to the new registration? Can it be done online?
by renter
Tue Jan 30, 2024 12:31 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can I afford $2 million house?
Replies: 32
Views: 3638

Re: Can I afford $2 million house?

Is expanding and improving your current house, rather than buying a new house, out of the question?
by renter
Mon Jan 29, 2024 9:41 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Changing I bond registration in gift box
Replies: 6
Views: 922

Changing I bond registration in gift box

For the first time, I purchased an I bond through the gift box. However, in my month end haste, I failed to add the POD to the registration. Is there a way to change the registration to add the POD while the bond is in the gift box and before delivery?
by renter
Fri Jan 26, 2024 9:10 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Conflicted about 529
Replies: 31
Views: 2744

Re: Conflicted about 529

Yesterdaysnews wrote: Fri Jan 26, 2024 8:55 pm You can take $10k out per kid for K-12 private school.
But might still be taxable + penalty at the state level, depending on the state.
by renter
Fri Jan 26, 2024 8:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: If you could only listen to one podcast...
Replies: 185
Views: 24347

Re: If you could only listen to one podcast...

Joe Rogan Experience
by renter
Mon Jan 22, 2024 12:39 am
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: 🎁 🎉Happy 100th Birthday to Taylor Larimore 🎊🎂
Replies: 429
Views: 43297

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

Happy Birthday, Mr. Larimore!
by renter
Sun Jan 21, 2024 12:22 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Pay off student loan even if employer contributes?
Replies: 5
Views: 685

Re: Pay off student loan even if employer contributes?

The dollars involved aren't huge, I would do #3, and hang on to cash cushion.
by renter
Sat Jan 20, 2024 12:21 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Are car washes necessary?
Replies: 116
Views: 12795

Re: Are car washes necessary?

machineboy wrote: Sat Jan 20, 2024 12:02 am Our local car wash allows us to be members for $30 a month. This gets you unlimited trips through the car wash. This includes rinsing the under carriage. For another $15 a month we can add a second car. So, for $22.50 a month per car both my wife and I can have clean cars. If a bird poops on the car, go through the car wash. If it snows, go through the car wash. Back window dirty? Car wash…
How long does each visit take?
by renter
Wed Jan 17, 2024 10:06 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard: "Important: We've been unable to reach you by email"
Replies: 129
Views: 15245

Re: Vanguard: "Important: We've been unable to reach you by email"

Got the infamous Vanguard email problem letter today. Not one, but four identical letters. Went to check the accounts and email address on the accounts was indeed correct, and was different from the one in the letter (an email address I hadn't used in ages). Weird.
by renter
Mon Jan 15, 2024 12:27 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: what to put in a time capsule that will be valuable in 50 or 100 years?
Replies: 65
Views: 6399

Re: what to put in a time capsule that will be valuable in 50 or 100 years?

Assortment of individually packaged candy bars
A few cans of soft drinks
Maga hat
by renter
Sat Jan 06, 2024 1:37 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Finding witnesses for a trust document
Replies: 35
Views: 12529

Re: Finding witnesses for a trust document

tj-longterm wrote: Fri Aug 08, 2014 7:42 am My wife and I need to amend some trust documents and we're supposed to have two witnesses sign off on them. However, we're very private about our finances and would rather not have friends or co-workers be witnesses to the legal documents. For various reasons, we've been advised that family members should not be witnesses. The involved lawyers are also out of state, and so we can't just use witnesses from their offices.

What do people usually do in a situation like this to get reliable witnesses without compromising their privacy?
The folks working in my estate planning attorney's office: attorneys, paralegals.
by renter
Mon Jan 01, 2024 5:37 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 2024 Hedge Fund contest
Replies: 156
Views: 28344

Re: 2024 Hedge Fund contest

Fleeceroni Fellas Fund

Long: MRVI
Short: ACIC
by renter
Mon Jan 01, 2024 3:04 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Fidelity Advisor
Replies: 14
Views: 2433

Re: Fidelity Advisor

Why not have the call, then report back?
by renter
Thu Dec 28, 2023 8:16 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: $700k Tax Bill
Replies: 80
Views: 17588

Re: $700k Tax Bill

Woodworker2 wrote: Thu Dec 28, 2023 5:41 pm Consider a defined benefit plan. I obtained one from Schwab and contributed more than 50% on gross income of 600K. The cost was low 1-4k over 5 years with no AUM load etc and used Schwab SP500 index at 0.02%. The max amount to contribute depends highly on age.
^^ this if you have no employees to have to contribute for. Depending on your age you can put a great deal into this on a tax deductible basis (but like a traditional 401k or IRA, you will be subject to tax on withdrawals). Maybe aim to keep it open for 5 years or so, them terminate and roll into your existing 401k. I think the Schwab plan is an off the shelf plan.
by renter
Wed Dec 20, 2023 11:48 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Selling car and using a rental a few times a year
Replies: 34
Views: 2524

Re: Selling car and using a rental a few times a year

As a minimalist, perhaps drop car and motorcycle altogether and bike around, and use Uber for times you need to go beyond bike range.
by renter
Sun Dec 17, 2023 9:49 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Telling our children about your net worth - pros and cons?
Replies: 181
Views: 27851

Re: Telling our children about your net worth - pros and cons?

jebmke wrote: Sun Dec 17, 2023 5:31 pm Why not start by handing over management of her own money to her first.
+1

Plus suggest a few good personal finance books, and of course, this forum to help if questions.
by renter
Sun Dec 17, 2023 9:09 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: [2023 TurboTax Desktop now requires account login to activate]
Replies: 126
Views: 67712

Re: [2023 TurboTax Desktop now requires account login to activate]

I bought from somewhere else not intuit. After downloading, I couldn't get past where it insisted on me logging in and verifying my identity. I was quite putoff and frustrated. I dont remember ever jumping through such hoops (and i have been using TurboTax for well over a decade). I already returned the product for a refund. I will try other tax software this season.
by renter
Sun Dec 17, 2023 4:08 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: [2023 TurboTax Desktop now requires account login to activate]
Replies: 126
Views: 67712

Re: [2023 TurboTax Desktop now requires account login to activate]

Just purchased 2023 TurboTax and I can't even login to activate, won't let me sign in even after using the alternative emailed verification code, won't let me change password without giving then my SSN, when click customer support, it just takes me to a website where all I can do is loop back into the original steps. So I am now officiallt done with TurnoTax.
by renter
Mon Dec 04, 2023 7:06 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Paper I bonds from the IRS
Replies: 28
Views: 3010

Re: Paper I bonds from the IRS

My credit union handles paper I bonds. For me at least, another reason to use credit union over bank.
by renter
Mon Dec 04, 2023 12:24 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Post your Financial Milestone Announcements Here
Replies: 3617
Views: 568492

Re: Technically today I am a millionaire!

Nice job!
by renter
Fri Nov 24, 2023 11:38 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: what to use on leaking aluminum car port
Replies: 13
Views: 1505

Re: what to use on leaking aluminum car port

If you are applying from the top, would aluminum hvac tape work good enough for this?
by renter
Sun Nov 19, 2023 3:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Gym and Personal Trainer switch-a-roo issue
Replies: 28
Views: 4159

Re: Gym and Personal Trainer switch-a-roo issue

Try to track down the trainer that you liked, see if you can continue with her wherever she's at now if convenient.
by renter
Sat Nov 18, 2023 3:19 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Called to the Principals office [401(k) investment choices questioned]
Replies: 107
Views: 14312

Re: Called to the Principals office

I would tell him to mind his own business. And why is poking around your confidential info and initiating contact. I would be annoyed.
by renter
Sat Nov 18, 2023 1:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: ChatGPT just wrote me a POA that is better than the attorney's
Replies: 150
Views: 21325

Re: ChatGPT just wrote me a POA that is better than the attorney's

RationalWalk wrote: Fri Nov 17, 2023 3:45 pm I've been fencing with an attorney for about a month now trying to get "
This sounds very strange to me.
by renter
Sat Nov 11, 2023 7:09 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Getting paid after quitting. glitch in the system
Replies: 70
Views: 6556

Re: Getting paid after quitting. glitch in the system

The mistake will eventually be discovered, and they will go after her. I suspect a lot of people will find out and talk. I assume she will have to pay back the gross, and be left figuring out how to get the paid taxes back. Finders keepers doesn't work in this context.
by renter
Sat Nov 11, 2023 7:01 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Prepaying alimony
Replies: 32
Views: 3833

Re: Prepaying alimony

You could open a new separate account at a bank or credit union, that charges no fees and pays interest, and lump sum the deposit, and set up monthly autopay, then go about your life. Calculate it so that the money runs out in the last month after the installment is paid. Consider it done.
by renter
Sat Nov 11, 2023 12:51 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Doorstop for angled front door
Replies: 5
Views: 588

Re: Doorstop for angled front door

Cut a very small block of wood (smallest that will work) with dimensions that will correct the angle, attach to wall, then attach doorstop to the small block.
by renter
Fri Sep 22, 2023 10:17 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Allstate sold their life ins. business, now wants me to buy new policies to replace the prev. ones?
Replies: 17
Views: 2572

Re: Allstate sold their life ins. business, now wants me to buy new policies to replace the prev. ones?

Kinkajou82 wrote: Fri Sep 22, 2023 9:38 pm
BUT recently I received an email from the allstate agent/office I bought these from originally intimating that I drop my 30 year term insurance
Can't you just decline the sales pitch and keep what you already have?
by renter
Fri Sep 22, 2023 3:47 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Quitting a high paying job and retiring early
Replies: 118
Views: 16538

Re: Quitting a high paying job and retiring early

AnnetteLouisan wrote: Fri Sep 22, 2023 1:25 pm You’re 49.
You “absolutely hate it.”
It’s destroying “all aspects of your life.”’
You have $3.5M.
You can’t change the hours.
You’ve done it for 3 years.
Set a June 30, 2024 end date, which will be here before you know it, discuss with your family, and evaluate on March 15th.
Test your theory that you could not find anything making six figures for less time and travel.
I like the above. Just having an end date in less than a year should help de-stress the situation.
by renter
Fri Sep 01, 2023 12:00 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to pay for a new vehicle with cash?
Replies: 80
Views: 7288

Re: How to pay for a new vehicle with cash?

the_wiki wrote: Fri Sep 01, 2023 11:50 am I could have paid cash, but the dealer gave me a better price to take a loan. Was easier to just get the car out the door that way, aside from signing a dozen documents. I then paid off the loan in a few months.
I have heard this, but never tried it before. But maybe I will next time. I am just curious: how much did you save? Was there any hassle involved, for example a trip to DMV to remove the lien, payment to DMV to change the title, or dealing with / waiting on the lienholder to sign something for you to confirm pay off? I am genuinely curious, not challenging.
by renter
Wed Aug 30, 2023 6:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Legal process server trying to find someone
Replies: 12
Views: 1432

Re: Legal process server trying to find someone

Did the friend call the UPS store to verify that there was in fact someone attempting to drop off papers for him?
by renter
Fri Aug 18, 2023 12:12 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: California 529 Plan
Replies: 6
Views: 1249

Re: California 529 Plan

stilllurking wrote: Thu Aug 17, 2023 3:02 pm I use it because it’s got one of the cheapest US equity funds. 0.06%. If you stay with index funds, you can’t go wrong with CA.

^this. Last time I checked (more than a year ago), i couldn't find another plan that was cheaper for a stock index fund.
by renter
Sat Aug 12, 2023 7:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Shoe quality?
Replies: 55
Views: 5273

Re: Shoe quality?

Mephisto. I think all the pairs i have now were made in France. Pricey but long lasting and comfortable.

Edited to add:

I checked. I was mistaken. 2 pair were made in France. One pair made in Portugal, and the other pair made in Bosnia. All have held up great.
by renter
Wed Aug 09, 2023 9:06 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard would like your input
Replies: 13
Views: 2645

Re: Vanguard would like your input

Seems like a waste of time to fill out.
by renter
Sun Aug 06, 2023 3:31 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Recording financial conversations
Replies: 12
Views: 1342

Re: Recording financial conversations

I think if they say they are recording it, or that the call may be recorded, it is fair game for you to do the same as well. But no harm in parotting back exactly what they. "Yes, you to are on a recorded line, and how are you today?"
by renter
Mon Jul 31, 2023 1:31 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Advise on selling a house, strategy and what’s within the law
Replies: 19
Views: 2576

Re: Advise on selling a house, strategy and what’s within the law

cchrissyy wrote: Sun Jul 30, 2023 2:09 am Yes it's legal to list for $499 but then reject an offer at that price
This might not be true in every state. Check on your state law before doing this.
by renter
Sat Jul 29, 2023 10:15 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Wife's inheritance money in Japan
Replies: 42
Views: 5670

Re: Wife's inheritance money in Japan

The more I think about this, is it that ridiculous to consider just getting some or all of the money converted to USD on our next trip there, bring it back to the USA in cash (being sure to follow all reporting and declaration requirements), and then depositing it in my bank here in the US? The only fee I see with this is the currency exchange fee in Japan. If she will physically go to Japan anyway, she should be able to go to her bank and wire it to her US bank account or have the bank issue her a US dollar check that can be deposited in the US. The former would be ideal, as she could log into her US account online and verify the wire receipt while still over there. If it will make the transaction smoother, and if her Japanese bank has a ...