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loves2read

There is a tax form that has to be filled out to show that you are paying a multiple of the one year tax free gift-- For us it is really 75/2 for 5 yrs...so we each gave 7500 x 5...which frees us to either add more into the 529 or give tax-free directly to grandson. It really only matters if one of ...

loves2read

My husband and I saw our FA yesterday and let a check for a 75K contribution to our grandson's Utah 529 account, waiting for that to post. Grandson in 6--and in kindergarten. His birthday is July 31 and our daughter who teaches elementary school decided early on to hold him back a year for variety o...

loves2read

My husband believes it is time to buy a new car-- He has a Tahoe LST 2015, bought in 2014. For some of you I know that is just about a "new" car... It has close to 70k on it--yes, I know that is not a high number to some car owners/drivers... It is in very good shape mechanically (serviced by dealer...

loves2read

Ask yourself how you would feel if your wife was in an accident and there were physical injuries that might have been prevented by having a newer car you could afford... I think that is the only question really that needs to be asked... As a grandmother and a mom, I would definitely vote for a newer...

loves2read

I use audible.com mainly to listen to when I am walking my dog via Bluetooth headphones w/my phone I admit I could save money going to the library but haven't checked the Audible books my library buys so don't know if what I would want to listen to is available there I allow my Audible credits to bu...

loves2read

FWIW--smaller dents like hail damage or for various reasons can sometimes be repaired fairly easily using dry ice-- I thought maybe this dent of that type Dry ice is used by repair shops at times -- you just have to protect the surface of the car/paint from direct contact with the ice but apparently...

loves2read

Looking for some advice. We have 2 large Plasma Tvs that work just fine, but they are not smart TVs. Right now we have dish/dvr to watch TV (plan to get rid of that as well perhaps). We are just casual TV watchers... Have a Samsung Smart plasma. Seems they put VERY little effort into maintaining th...

loves2read

My husband and I are both 68, retired. Before the election we were very distrustful and fearful of a Trump presidency-- Not looking for a political discussion--just explaining our motivation.... Although we had cash for several years of living experience, we decided to go to cash in 4 of our managed...

loves2read

Though Costco rental (used Avis) cost seemed low, the following charges were added at the rental counter. This was at the airport rental, so not sure if the fees/taxes would be any lower if rented at a non-airport rental place. The charges with asterisk, I believe, are airport related charges. VEH....

loves2read

I am not kind of traveler that has lots of points with rental car company. This fall I was in FL, south of Sarasota, while a remodel project was done on our vacation house. I needed rental car some of that time. I used Costco--much cheaper since that was getting into "season" in that area. I thought...

loves2read

We have friends with twin daughters===fraternal---which I think is more unusual than m/f twins... They were graduated from high school last year, just finishing their first year of college currently. They were very "joined at the hip" when they were small, as much from their mother's protective natu...

loves2read

And water is going to be an even larger issue in the growth dynamics since Austin and San Antonio depend on the Edwards Aquafer ground water which is being sucked out faster than any replenishing can ever happen... It took thousands of years to put that water in there and it is coming out faster tha...

loves2read

Wow. Great information from everyone! We are going to adjust our upcoming trip to the Carolinas based on your feedback (nix Columbia, spend some more time in NC). As far as TEXAS, we are attracted to two areas so far: 1. Hill Country/San Antonio/Austin 2. Houston area Just how bad is the traffic? I...

loves2read

jay22 wrote:I like TRW funds. Been thinking of investing 5% of my portfolio in their Media & Telecom fund, PRMTX, which has performed superbly since inception.

I have that in my Roth and bought more during the Jan drop...
Have been very pleased with it for past 8-9 years...

loves2read

I understand how the process normally works. We have had our premiums change every year we have been enrolled because our income/MAGI has gone up/down significantly each year. But I don't want to pay all of 2016's high premiums if we qualify for a reduced premium now. You don't get any excess premiu...

loves2read

I have the form and read that in certain circumstances you can just provide statement that you partially or fully stopped working if you lack the other forms of documentation. I just find it difficult to believe it is that easy to claim you are no longer paying yourself a salary when it's your S-Cor...

loves2read

Does anyone know how someone would document retiring from self-employment from an S-Corp that is still in existence-- but does not pay a salary? My husband retired from one salaried position with company in 2013 but we still had income/salary from his self-employment S-Corp. My husband had it for 20...

loves2read

We also have RX coverage included with our secondary insurance that comes through my teacher's pension... It is a qualified plan so if we leave it in the future we qualify to move to Plan D Medicare w/o a penalty for late enrollment. We have been on Medicare w/o SS for couple of years and never asse...

loves2read

Thank you-- Our income now that the S-Corp income has dropped is probably less than 50K a year from taxable sources after deductions. I recently started spousal SS benefits after my husband was able to file/suspend--about 13K a year. I also draw a teacher's pension under 15K a year. The S-Corp will ...

loves2read

My husband has a defined benefit plan he has funded though his S-Corp as the sole employee. The income from the S-Corp has dropped significantly in past 18 mo. In 2015 he paid himself less than 30K. He has met the guidelines to close the Defined Benefit plan and roll the assets into an IRA. He got t...

loves2read

FWIW---our son and DIL have put home on market in area north of Dallas, TX---very active area with over-ask pricing... They stayed in our house ---about 30 min away--the first few days listing went active so they could just stage and leave it neat w/o worrying about having to clean or leave for show...

loves2read

In our home area--DFW TX--I find that HD will track a purchase by using your phone number--so that the transaction can be called up if a return is necessary and you might not have the receipt--maybe Lowe's does the same thing--can't remember We still have a land line and give that number--letting al...

loves2read

I read the entry from Marks and thought it was good perspective, especially bringing in the recent past market situation
Passed it along to my husband...

This is Larry Swedroe's latest blog

http://www.etf.com/sections/index-inves ... nopaging=1

loves2read

http://www.etf.com/sections/index-investor-corner/swedroe-keep-calm-and-step-forward?nopaging=1 I was on another website's investing forum and saw similar instances where past threads echoed the same sentiments about not responding emotionally to market situations like this month's... Swedroe's colu...

loves2read

Last paragraph of the article the link goes to--re the RBS's Cassandra-like warning (if proven true)--- .RBS believes China suffered a massive outflow of capital in December — perhaps as much as $170 billion — with much of that money going straight into the dollar. A chart showing Chinese outflows i...

loves2read

Sorry if my post was confusing. I mean to ask if Kevin (an earlier poster who is grandfathered by age into some of current provisions) is able to file now for his PIA (reduced or not) and then suspend his PIA benefit and file for spousal only when his wife files for her reduced PIA a few months late...

loves2read

So would this plan work under changed system. Kevin's wife files at 62 and receives a reduced PIA for filing early. Because of the grandfathered aspect, Kevin is eligible to file restricted application for only spousal benefit on her reduced PIA. They receive those until he turns 70. At that time he...

loves2read

I am past FRA and so is my husband. We have delayed filing because of MAGI. Husband is larger earner by far. So we are grandfathered in for doing file/suspend and restricted applications within next 180 days I believe. And we will in next few weeks. Am I still eligible to request past 6 months of sp...

loves2read

[OT comments removed by admin LadyGeek]

loves2read

Read the Kitces's edited blog entry Think it is accurate as to the passed legislation One mistake he made though, I think as to how SS amount is calculated if you are eligible for self and spousal pensions-- You don't get the larger of the two as he wrote You always pull from YOUR earned SSA if ther...

loves2read

Thanks Mike . If I understand you and tfb then I won't have to repay any meals. We expect to do a file and suspend and a spousal benefit at FRA in a few months then one of us will not be cut off and both can earn credits until age 70. I think timing is important for claiming under that strategy Thi...

loves2read

The last link I posted illustrates the problem with eliminating filing/suspending in toto across the board when there might be reasons outside the spousal aspect it might be warranted...

Thanks for the response to my personal query

loves2read

Ok-- Just because you are quicker and likely as accurate as calling SS I am over FRA -- my spouse is also over FRA I am eligible for personal SSA as well as spousal SSA but have not filed because of taxation of benefits Does my husband --higher earner--- need to file for his personal benefit still f...

loves2read

Ok
I stand corrected on numbers that might object
There r other sections that might make more lower income recipients care
Will restrict a caregiver of child over 16 to ineligible I think vs 18
So impacts parent of kids in high school vs those out

loves2read

Link to bill's language Section on closing loopholes is SS applicable http://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20151026/BILLS-114hr-PIH-BUDGET.pdf This is summary link in layman terms http://docs.house.gov/meetings/RU/RU00/CPRT-114-RU00-D001.pdf This section seems to illustrate changes are meant to preve...

loves2read

I have Roku stick for bedroom use (blu-Ray DVD used for biggest, non-smart flatscreen) and took it with me to Florida vacation house to use in extra bedroom there... Was pleased that it just needed the new wi-fi code to start up. The stick does have a dedicated remote but they can become unconnected...

loves2read

Has anyone read about the language to amend SS regulations for file-and-suspend and other aspects of SS program? Will it be retroactive to current recipients who have done file and suspend to start spousal benefits for one partner while the other's benefit amount grows or only effect new filers who ...

loves2read

Unfortunately we require K1s before can file a completed return. The company providing them waits the max time allowed by law. We didnt file our 2014 completed return showing the sale of assets until this month. We wont file 2015 return until late 2016----that is just how they do business and we can...

loves2read

The difficulty comes when/if there are delays on part of the person/firm providing the K-1s We have o/g income and always have to file a delayed return because K-1's are never provided until about two days before the deadline... very frustrating for us and likely our CPA/tax agents but the company d...

loves2read

Has anyone appealed the MAGI amount Medicare uses to set premiums for higher-income couples? We have seen a significant reduction in income in 2015 from my husband's S-corp earnings. We are FRA but have not applied for SS because of our past income levels. The reduction started in 2014 when there wa...

loves2read

Our daughter/wife works but as teacher--pay about 1/3 of his salary and they have 3 yr old son

loves2read

DireWolf wrote:You could always buy real estate and then sell each property to your children for $1.

That would be a red flag to IRS and doubt it would pass scrutiny--IMO

loves2read

Our son in law has been terminated from his current employment. He receives salary/benefits through June--just 30 days notice. It will likely take him considerable time to find job commensurate w/skills, experience, salary history because they do not want to relocate--for various reasons. I just won...

loves2read

My guess is a radiation/nuclear bomb fall-out shelter which was a popular add on in the Cuban missile crisis days. Since hurricanes can easily dump a foot of water or more underground is the last place I would want to be, or have any valuable stuff stored. I'd make sure it is securely locked up to ...

loves2read

Yes--thought that was one of better movies/scripts at explaining past/future time travel

loves2read

I guess movies are our thing because we go at least once a week-- have seen all the movies recently posted except for the SyFy Ex Machina one-- just didn't care for previews Agree that "Bosch" on Amazon Prime is very well done detective series-- Titus Welliver did overcome my initial reservations ab...

loves2read

thanks for the info--
our son-in-law is likely going to be terminated w/o job prospect end of month
he has himself and their toddler on his insurance
daughter has ins through her employer but very expensive for family--
this formula gives them something to consider in comparing costs

loves2read

I know that most of the people on this forum would not consider buying a business is "an investment" because there is too high a % that you will not get return on your money and various other reasons. But many of you I think have owned/operated a business--past or present. I have read published stor...

loves2read

might check in your area for independent phone-fixer stores
they might have some people brought in and traded for
I think some repair stores sell used phones

loves2read

Few (if any) of the people posting on this thread are CPAs-- just because they confuse rules for investing in IRAs and Roths, I don't think you can elevate your argument to equate them with CPAs in general... I think most CPAs would be chagrinned to think a tax-filing CPA would do what this one did....

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