Search found 2299 matches

by Sandi_k
Thu Mar 28, 2024 12:43 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Outdoor Kitchen Island Equipment Suggestions
Replies: 10
Views: 889

Re: Outdoor Kitchen Island Equipment Suggestions

Thanks. I have not used BGE/Kamado type grill yet. However, I have heard good things about them. Looking to design/build something simple and effective for mostly 2 people use. I have spoken with Lions Grill/BBQguys and they provide a free 3d design service. That will help me save time taking to the mason/countertop guys. Thanks! Here is ours: note the dropped niche for the BGE. All in all, it's about 13' long. Our only regret is that we should have added even more drawers on the left, for pizza stones. ;) https://i.ibb.co/qmFg3fF/BBQ-Island-with-top.jpg Thanks for sharing picture. That's a very clever design to hold BGE at the same height as grill. I plan to design the same way. :sharebeer Note that ours is an XL, so that works in terms o...
by Sandi_k
Thu Mar 28, 2024 12:33 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Toys Have You Bought That Have Been Worth it?
Replies: 252
Views: 18164

Re: What Toys Have You Bought That Have Been Worth it?

familythriftmd wrote: Wed Mar 27, 2024 5:24 pm
meadowrue wrote: Fri Mar 22, 2024 7:19 am A really nice set of Denby Pottery dinnerware. I love to cook and serving meals on high quality dinnerware makes it that much better.
We have Denby Blue Jetty. Very nice dishware.
Ha! We have Denby Azure Coast. My Christmas present last year from DH. I love it. 8-)
by Sandi_k
Thu Mar 28, 2024 12:12 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Father Has Passed; Do we need an Appraisal?
Replies: 24
Views: 2518

Re: Father Has Passed; Do we need an Appraisal?

I'm not sure you understand what a B trust is. It's short for bypass. It was common in the 90's, but today, most couples opt for the disclaimer trust. The survivor's trust is what a joint trust becomes without the bypass trust being funded. It has other names too. But the second basis adjustment relies upon mom having the general power to appoint. Am I correct in that assets in a B trust do not receive an additional step up in basis at the death of the surviving spouse? Most of the time, but if the lawyer was good, they could have given an independent trustee the discretion to give the spouse a general testamentary power of appointment over the assets allowing a second adjustment. But that's fairly rare IME. I haven't seen one outside of m...
by Sandi_k
Wed Mar 27, 2024 12:09 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Father Has Passed; Do we need an Appraisal?
Replies: 24
Views: 2518

Re: Father Has Passed; Do we need an Appraisal?

The lawyer who's doing the estate tax return should be able to recommend how best to determine the value of the property. If it's community property, and you want to divide the assets non pro rata to get all of the house into the credit shelter trust, are there enough other assets to give to your mother? Ben, we don't have one yet. We won't be filing an estate tax return until next year, correct? But the appraisal should be done this year, I assume. And yes, she has enough cash for herself and living expenses. We're not dividing anything for anyone else - just establishing the value of the property upon death. As community property, wasn't the pro rata 50/50? And it will now move to 100/0, and 100% stepped up with his passing? If you are p...
by Sandi_k
Wed Mar 27, 2024 11:38 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Father Has Passed; Do we need an Appraisal?
Replies: 24
Views: 2518

Re: Father Has Passed; Do we need an Appraisal?

bsteiner wrote: Tue Mar 26, 2024 9:58 pm The lawyer who's doing the estate tax return should be able to recommend how best to determine the value of the property.

If it's community property, and you want to divide the assets non pro rata to get all of the house into the credit shelter trust, are there enough other assets to give to your mother?
Ben, we don't have one yet. We won't be filing an estate tax return until next year, correct? But the appraisal should be done this year, I assume.

And yes, she has enough cash for herself and living expenses. We're not dividing anything for anyone else - just establishing the value of the property upon death.

As community property, wasn't the pro rata 50/50? And it will now move to 100/0, and 100% stepped up with his passing?
by Sandi_k
Tue Mar 26, 2024 7:49 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Outdoor Kitchen Island Equipment Suggestions
Replies: 10
Views: 889

Re: Outdoor Kitchen Island Equipment Suggestions

AKBTX14 wrote: Tue Mar 26, 2024 3:54 pm Thanks. I have not used BGE/Kamado type grill yet. However, I have heard good things about them. Looking to design/build something simple and effective for mostly 2 people use.

I have spoken with Lions Grill/BBQguys and they provide a free 3d design service. That will help me save time taking to the mason/countertop guys. Thanks!
Here is ours: note the dropped niche for the BGE. All in all, it's about 13' long. Our only regret is that we should have added even more drawers on the left, for pizza stones. ;)

Image
by Sandi_k
Tue Mar 26, 2024 2:10 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Home Purchase with Undetermined Timeline
Replies: 21
Views: 1164

Re: Home Purchase with Undetermined Timeline

Cash accounts at Fidelity (FDRXX and SPAXX) are paying more than 4.5% these days - I'd move the cash into something like that, so you're not losing so much to inflation.

Rumor has it that the Fed will start lowering rates in May; we'll see. I hope your crossover point of savings and interest rates is soon!
by Sandi_k
Tue Mar 26, 2024 2:06 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Father Has Passed; Do we need an Appraisal?
Replies: 24
Views: 2518

Re: Father Has Passed; Do we need an Appraisal?

Thanks for the replies thus far.

Yes, we know of filing to preserve Father's estate tax amounts - and we will need it if the TCJRA sunsets as it currently is planned to. This is an unusual property, in CA, with some agricultural aspects.

Appraisal it is. ;)
by Sandi_k
Tue Mar 26, 2024 12:21 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Outdoor Kitchen Island Equipment Suggestions
Replies: 10
Views: 889

Re: Outdoor Kitchen Island Equipment Suggestions

We built our own, and have a Lion gas grill head, with a Big Green Egg as well. We added drawers and a fridge - no sink, since it's steps away from the kitchen.

Since we launched ours 10 years ago, several relatives have also bought a BGE. We love ours - we rarely eat dinner out now, as the fancy steakhouses cannot be relied upon to present us with something as good as we can make ourselves.
by Sandi_k
Tue Mar 26, 2024 12:34 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Father Has Passed; Do we need an Appraisal?
Replies: 24
Views: 2518

Father Has Passed; Do we need an Appraisal?

So, mom & dad have had a classic A/B Trust, in CA. Father has now passed. Mother is now the successor trustee, and the house is in the trust. I assume we need to file paperwork with the County to change the property title into the B Trust. Since they have the house in the trust, and CA is Community Property, this means that mom now has a fully stepped-up basis on the house. She intends to stay in this house until *she* passes, which would give 100% step-up basis for the kids. Given that - is there any reason to pay for an appraisal of the property? The only reason I can think of is if she needs to sell the property for long-term care, and needs to document the value now to determine her future hypothetical capital gains. Any other reaso...
by Sandi_k
Wed Mar 20, 2024 3:42 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bought a new Lexus - can't get a second key for 3-5 months???
Replies: 54
Views: 6116

Re: Bought a new Lexus - can't get a second key for 3-5 months???

Do they still have a "credit card wallet key" as an option? I bought one for my DH when I bought my RX350 in 2009 - he didn't like the fob, as he constantly locked and unlocked the car accidentally.

If so, it can be programmed at the dealership. Maybe your dealership would be willing to go halfsies on one for you, given the delay in your "free" fob?
by Sandi_k
Wed Mar 20, 2024 1:29 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Intuit's Mint App Shutting Down...Replacement Recommendations?
Replies: 773
Views: 146541

Re: Intuit's Mint App Shutting Down...Replacement Recommendations?

shashi wrote: Tue Mar 19, 2024 3:16 pm I am in the same boat but for migrating to Credit Karma, I need to enter my SSN. This was a no go for me. Tried Fidelity and Empower. Not happy with either. Nothing comes close to Mint. Still looking.
If you're a spreadsheet nerd, Tiller is a good choice. I am liking it so far:

https://www.tillerhq.com
by Sandi_k
Sat Mar 16, 2024 7:51 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Estimating RMD Taxes for Retirement Planning
Replies: 15
Views: 1884

Re: Estimating RMD Taxes for Retirement Planning

I use a rough estimate of RMD taxes in calculators like FIRECalc. As I approach retirement I realize that unlike inflation and market growth, RMD withdrawals follow a unique math. How should I estimate RMD taxes when figuring out my expenses? Let's say I simplify and assume 7% market growth. Is there a preferred way of estimating the taxes? Should I plug in a fixed number for retirement planning? Should I plug in a higher than normal inflation rate as a workaround? Is there an advanced feature in the retirement planning tools? I assume 5.5% returns, and 2% inflation, for a real return of 3.5%. I modeled out retirement taxes for Year One estimates, and was stunned to realize that we'll pay MORE in taxes in retirement, as all of our pre-tax ...
by Sandi_k
Sat Mar 16, 2024 7:32 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Caribbean island in January/February
Replies: 19
Views: 1713

Re: Caribbean island in January/February

afr wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2024 3:33 pm Hi,

My wife and I are planning travel to the Caribbean for next January/February from Philadelphia. Any recommendations for an island and hotel that is not so crowded that you have to wake up at 5am in order to reserve beach chairs?
Scrub Island Resort

Peter Island Resort

Bitter End Yacht Club

Little Dix Bay in Virgin Gorda

The Buccaneer, St. Croix

Galley Bay, Antigua
by Sandi_k
Sat Mar 16, 2024 1:12 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: The best game-changing financial advice you ever received (or "discovered")
Replies: 219
Views: 25594

Re: The best game-changing financial advice you ever received (or "discovered")

- Turn annual costs into a monthly savings plan, so you're not "surprised" by the bill. Would you mind expanding on that? It’s too early and I’m too dumb to fully understand it, but would like to. Thanks in advance. Sure. We pay our own escrow accounts - taxes and insurance - for our house. So each month, I transfer $800 into our "self-directed escrow savings account", so that when the taxes are due, I can write a check. Ditto for home insurance. We've done something similar for car maintenance/repair, vet bills, birthday/Xmas gifts, and vacations. By setting aside these annual costs on a monthly basis, it has eliminated "emergencies" that were simply failures to plan for expenses that we KNOW we'll have at so...
by Sandi_k
Sat Mar 16, 2024 12:33 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: The best game-changing financial advice you ever received (or "discovered")
Replies: 219
Views: 25594

Re: The best game-changing financial advice you ever received (or "discovered")

- Create a written budget every month.

- Turn annual costs into a monthly savings plan, so you're not "surprised" by the bill.

- Keep your NEEDS at 50% of your gross salary; your savings at 30%; and your wants at 20%.

- Save half of every raise.

- Automate.

- Only refinance your mortgage if you can lower the current rate AND the current term. Too many refi back to a 30 year term, and repeat the early years of a mortgage where 90%+ is going to pay interest instead of paying down the principal.
by Sandi_k
Sat Mar 16, 2024 12:07 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Mental health or Money: navigating the OMY question
Replies: 48
Views: 4968

Re: Mental health or Money: navigating the OMY question

Now it’s only 51 more weeks! Many thanks for all of the shared perspectives. With the prospect of a change in role, I have been in a better headspace over the last week, and I have decided to play out that string a little, and just take one day at a time. In truth, I hold a good hand of cards, b/c I do have the wherewithal to just walk away at any time that I feel like I need to. At the same time, I have made it this far, and it would be helpful to finish things out on the timeline that unlocks meaningful financial benefits. I think my strategy needs to be that on any day I feel myself in a real downward spiral, I just call in sick and let others deal with it. What are they going to do, fire me? If you should happen to be a UC employee, no...
by Sandi_k
Mon Mar 11, 2024 12:20 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can We Accelerate Retirement to June 2024? Case Study
Replies: 11
Views: 2566

Re: Can We Accelerate Retirement to June 2024? Case Study

What would you say to a 3rd party who asked you to evaluate their ability to retire, given the above facts? I'd tell them they need another 15 months of income to get to age 60 and 62. :D Why? What expenses would you need the extra income to cover? House renovations. If I retire now, we'd likely need to delay the deck replacement and kitchen updates until DH or I inherit some funds from the parents. I'll try the same "pretend you were the advice columnist" tactic as delamer, but summarizing your post slightly differently. If I understand your post right, it seems that: You are confident that you can maintain your current lifestyle on $160k per year, including taxes. You are confident about this figure because you have been tracki...
by Sandi_k
Mon Mar 11, 2024 12:15 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
Replies: 11149
Views: 2085537

Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?

BrooklynInvest wrote: Mon Mar 11, 2024 11:49 am
KBR wrote: Sun Mar 03, 2024 12:09 am
bandoba wrote: Sat Mar 02, 2024 10:27 pm
ruralavalon wrote: Sat Mar 02, 2024 9:09 am Mr. Holmes, on Amazon Prime.

This is a mystery set in rural Sussex in 1947. Sherlock Holmes has been retired 30 years and lives in a farmhouse with a housekeeper and her young son. Holmes keeps bees to occupy his time. He struggles to reconstruct his last case (shown in flashbacks). His mind is deteriorating.

Recommended.
I watched it and really liked it. Very different perspective on Mr Holmes.
I saw it a long time ago and thought it was fantastic.
Yep.

The books by Laurie King have the same "post-Watson" construct and do a great job of balancing Conan Doyle's style with new territory.
And she has a new one in the series, out this past month!
by Sandi_k
Sun Mar 10, 2024 12:44 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can We Accelerate Retirement to June 2024? Case Study
Replies: 11
Views: 2566

Re: Can We Accelerate Retirement to June 2024? Case Study

Are you thinking you need to retire this year instead of next year because of the pension plan changes? Do you know the specifics of the changes or when they’d be effective? Or do you just want to stop working sooner than originally planned? As I said, this is all pushed forward to imminent changes in retiree benefits. If I retire *before* July 1, my spouse's 100% survivor benefits are calculated at the old rate (I am presuming a more generous calculation, as this change is to make the plan have more reserves over time). I won't have access to the new calculator telling me the difference between Old Plan and New Plan until April 1. I had planned to retire in late 2025, as I would then achieve the highest multiplier of the plan, based on Ag...
by Sandi_k
Sun Mar 10, 2024 12:35 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
Replies: 11149
Views: 2085537

Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?

Dune, Part Two, at an IMAX theater.

Awesome interpretation of one of my all-time favorite books.
by Sandi_k
Sun Mar 10, 2024 11:59 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can We Accelerate Retirement to June 2024? Case Study
Replies: 11
Views: 2566

Re: Can We Accelerate Retirement to June 2024? Case Study

If you retire in June, your expenses will be $160,000 and pension plus 3% SWR will be $200,000. So the difference covers your taxes. The $160k figure includes state and Federal taxes, estimated at $40k, since I hope to continue doing some Roth conversions. You both will be eligible for Social Security within the next decade, plus your house will be paid off. Those are the salient facts; the rest is just doing some optimization. What would you say to a 3rd party who asked you to evaluate their ability to retire, given the above facts? I'd tell them they need another 15 months of income to get to age 60 and 62. :D (Anything, of course, can happen over the next few years but you are not likely to become immoblie at ages 64 & 66 barring a ...
by Sandi_k
Sun Mar 10, 2024 11:56 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can We Accelerate Retirement to June 2024? Case Study
Replies: 11
Views: 2566

Re: Can We Accelerate Retirement to June 2024? Case Study

Sandi, Yours is a very long post but I'll make a start. Hey - just following the required format! :-) Your HI is covered until Medicare. You seem to have a goodly amount of pension income (and at 100% survivor) and then the spousal SS coming online in a couple of years. If the pension income doesn't have a COLA this might prove to be an issue in the future, but the total amount of SS, along with your waiting until 70 to take yours means you will have reasonably large COL adjustments after that time. The pension is COLA-adjusted, along with the two SocSec incomes. Along with a substantial amount of retirement accounts invested 80/20 which will hopefully keep up with inflation. It appears your income is large enough to have some wiggle room....
by Sandi_k
Sun Mar 10, 2024 11:48 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can We Accelerate Retirement to June 2024? Case Study
Replies: 11
Views: 2566

Re: Can We Accelerate Retirement to June 2024? Case Study

4) Use the following formula to estimate your annual expense Gross Income = Annual savings + Annual expense + taxes. I already addressed this. As I noted, I have $50k in current paycheck deductions that will no longer be true when I quit. It's not just taxes and savings: it's things like mandatory pension contributions, voluntary retirement contributions, parking costs, ST disability premiums, LT disability premiums, Life Insurance premiums, group legal premiums, and flexible spending account contributions. And those expenses will disappear when I retire. Gross income is $200k. The retirement budget is very much similar to what we spend now, minus retirement savings and those charges detailed above: - $40,000 for Fed and state taxes - $47k...
by Sandi_k
Sat Mar 09, 2024 2:16 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: UBS Won't Issue a Corrected 1099
Replies: 14
Views: 1429

Re: UBS Won't Issue a Corrected 1099

Skyway wrote: Sat Mar 09, 2024 2:10 am As todd said the 5498 is not part of the return. The 1099 should have the w/d amount and the taxes withheld. Then the amount that was rolled back into her IRA is what is non-taxable. That should be able to be found from a UBS statement. If she only put back the net from the distribution, then the difference (what was tax w/h) is taxable. Certainly waiting for a 5498 is not necessary.
I understand it is not necessary.

But given the fact that we are dealing with this remotely, and MIL is losing her cognitive skills, BIL would prefer to wait until he has the 5498. There is no downside to waiting, since withholding has already occurred, when the distribution was made.
by Sandi_k
Sat Mar 09, 2024 2:09 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can We Accelerate Retirement to June 2024? Case Study
Replies: 11
Views: 2566

Can We Accelerate Retirement to June 2024? Case Study

I just discovered that the survivor benefit calculations for my pension are changing – and I cannot imagine the changes would be to our benefit (currently, my spouse and I would have only a 7% decrease in the monthly pension, with 100% survivor benefits). So I am now confronting the thought that I need to retire in June 2024, instead of Sept. 2025, as I’ve been planning for. I am therefore laying out our plan to see – do we have enough in place to pull the plug in June? Please advise.... Note that spouse is already age 60; I turn 59.5 next March, but both my 403(b) and my 457(b) allow distributions prior to age 59.5 without penalty. Here we go! Emergency funds: Eight+ months of expenses Debt: 1 – Mortgage. Balance $195k, house value $1.2M. ...
by Sandi_k
Fri Mar 08, 2024 11:51 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: UBS Won't Issue a Corrected 1099
Replies: 14
Views: 1429

Re: UBS Won't Issue a Corrected 1099

This seems ridiculous to me - how can they blithely send out a tax document so blatantly wrong? Don't they have an obligation to correct it? Has anyone every had this situation, and DIDN'T get audited? I am distressed, but it's not my money, and not my mo There's nothing wrong with the 1099, it's correct. You just haven't received the corresponding 5498 showing the rollover deposit yet, that should be coming sometime in May. In the meantime just treat it as a rollover on her 1040. Thank you - we came to this conclusion earlier this week, once we talked to our tax accountant. So since the ILs have overpaid taxes at this point, they will file for an extension, await the 5498, and file once they have that document. Thanks for the reassurance!...
by Sandi_k
Fri Mar 08, 2024 11:49 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: University California reducing pension payout for contingent annuitants
Replies: 19
Views: 3796

Re: University California reducing pension payout for contingent annuitants

Thanks for posting this - it's the first I've heard of the changes to the calculations.

I sent out a note to the faculty and staff in my unit, to alert them. Very much appreciated!
by Sandi_k
Fri Mar 08, 2024 11:35 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: UBS Won't Issue a Corrected 1099
Replies: 14
Views: 1429

Re: UBS Won't Issue a Corrected 1099

This seems ridiculous to me - how can they blithely send out a tax document so blatantly wrong? Don't they have an obligation to correct it? Has anyone every had this situation, and DIDN'T get audited? I am distressed, but it's not my money, and not my mo There's nothing wrong with the 1099, it's correct. You just haven't received the corresponding 5498 showing the rollover deposit yet, that should be coming sometime in May. In the meantime just treat it as a rollover on her 1040. Thank you - we came to this conclusion earlier this week, once we talked to our tax accountant. So since the ILs have overpaid taxes at this point, they will file for an extension, await the 5498, and file once they have that document. Thanks for the reassurance!...
by Sandi_k
Thu Mar 07, 2024 10:42 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: UBS Won't Issue a Corrected 1099
Replies: 14
Views: 1429

UBS Won't Issue a Corrected 1099

So...my MIL took a chunk of money out of an IRA in mid-October 2023. We realized it over Thanksgiving weekend, and arranged for her to re-deposit the funds at UBS within the 60 day window. UBS has now issued a 1099-R, showing the withdrawal - and with the ENTIRE amount in the taxable box! Which triggers a 6-figure tax bill. We called to discuss issuing a corrected 1099-R, and the rep said that they would not issue a corrected 1099; instead, they will mail my MIL the account statements, showing the withdrawal, and the re-deposit, within the 60 day window. This seems ridiculous to me - how can they blithely send out a tax document so blatantly wrong? Don't they have an obligation to correct it? Has anyone every had this situation, and DIDN'T ...
by Sandi_k
Mon Mar 04, 2024 11:48 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Update in Last Post - What To Do When Kids Can't Find the Trust Documents?
Replies: 48
Views: 6719

Re: What To Do When Kids Can't Find the Trust Documents?

Another update: WE FOUND THE TRUST DOCUMENT! So, we went down to visit MIL last Friday, making sure to arrive during business hours. We placed a call to an attorney who updated the POAs for finances and medical decisions in 2012, thinking perhaps he had a copy of the 1996 trust. We left a message. MIL, once again unclear as to what we were attempting, was informed of the search for the trust. Given the scans I had discovered in DFIL's email, I noted that it was apparently encased in a spiral binding. So MIL then popped into her office, and reappeared shortly thereafter with the trust document - "Is this what you mean?" Um, yes. Yes, it is. ;) The bank then refused to take the complete trust document, saying that they would only ad...
by Sandi_k
Sun Feb 25, 2024 11:21 am
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Sad news: ObliviousInvestor's mother has passed away
Replies: 8
Views: 4336

Re: "Open Social Security" calculator: feature requests, bug reports, etc.

Mike, my condolences. We have a family member currently in hospice, and family focus is important. May your mother's memory be a blessing to you all.
by Sandi_k
Sun Feb 25, 2024 10:48 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What got you out of poverty?
Replies: 111
Views: 13087

Re: What got you out of poverty?

College degree, work ethic, political acumen, and a willingness to invest in my "good enough" career. College degree: I went the "JC and transfer to a 4 year college" route. My grades and SATs were really good, so I got into (what I didn't understand was) a top tier university. I picked it based on likelihood of being admitted to my preferred major, not prestige. Work ethic: in my 20's, many friends were out the door the minute it was 5 pm. I have always worked to a "rational conclusion of the task at hand", which meant I usually left at 5:30 or later. I eventually gave up carpooling, because it annoyed the person I was carpooling with (for free - she didn't pay for gas or anything, just a close friend). I was ...
by Sandi_k
Sat Feb 24, 2024 10:31 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What is your favorite book?
Replies: 187
Views: 20506

Re: What is your favorite book?

Memory by Lois McMaster Bujold.

You have to read the previous books in the series to be quite so invested in the characters. But it's a story of love, loss, respect, family, family of choice, and grief.
by Sandi_k
Sat Feb 24, 2024 9:30 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Handling Inheritance In A Marriage
Replies: 49
Views: 5652

Re: Handling Inheritance In A Marriage

You haven't sat with my wife while she makes her annual IRA contribution. It is excruciating! If I can reduce that by even a little it will be well worth it to me (and her). In this case we are talking about multiple inheritances, so at least two additional accounts that could all go in the family pot. Get agency authorization on the account. My DH granted me that access on his accounts, and I manage contributions, conversions and investments for him. So we're both pleased. :P We discussed that possibility, but as painful as it is, we decided it is in her best interest to keep at least minimally involved in the finances, so she does all her own transactions and logs into her accounts at least once a year while I sit there to make sure she ...
by Sandi_k
Sat Feb 24, 2024 12:04 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Handling Inheritance In A Marriage
Replies: 49
Views: 5652

Re: Handling Inheritance In A Marriage

aristotelian wrote: Sat Feb 24, 2024 11:45 am
You haven't sat with my wife while she makes her annual IRA contribution. It is excruciating! If I can reduce that by even a little it will be well worth it to me (and her). In this case we are talking about multiple inheritances, so at least two additional accounts that could all go in the family pot.
Get agency authorization on the account. My DH granted me that access on his accounts, and I manage contributions, conversions and investments for him. So we're both pleased. :P
by Sandi_k
Mon Feb 19, 2024 1:36 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Estimating Cash Flow Needs for Retirement
Replies: 25
Views: 3854

Re: Estimating Cash Flow Needs for Retirement

One thing that might be helpful to note:

We are expecting to pay MORE in taxes once retired, because we will no longer have large amounts of pre-tax expenditures. No more pre-tax retirement contributions, pre-tax healthcare premiums, no more pre-tax FSA for glasses and dental work.

So be aware that this might actually mean your taxable income is higher in retirement than when working.
by Sandi_k
Mon Feb 19, 2024 1:11 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Online Tax Software for 25 year old.
Replies: 31
Views: 2516

Re: Online Tax Software for 25 year old.

I have been asked to recommend an online tax software program for a 25 year old with wage, interest, and a small amount dividends and capital gains. Total income about $55,000. Never done their own taxes. I will assist them this year but they are hoping to do without assistance in future. My top three options are OLT, Taxslayer via myfreetaxes, and FreetaxUSA. Leaning towards the United Way site. Opinions or features I am not considering? OLT: Free federal and state for income under $73k. Seems complete and accurate. Not really a user friendly interface for someone who has never done their own taxes. Myfreetaxes.com: Sponsored by United Way. Free federal and state for income under $73,000. Uses TaxSlayer. Good interface for first return. F...
by Sandi_k
Sun Feb 18, 2024 6:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Happy Valentine’s Day! What’s your love song?
Replies: 88
Views: 4587

Re: Happy Valentine’s Day! What’s your love song?

The Beach Boys, Wouldn't It Be Nice? We started dating when I was 16, and DH was just shy of his 18th birthday. We got married on that dating anniversary years later, even though it fell on a Monday that year. 8-) 8-) Excellent Beach Boys songs (among their many excellent songs). Saw them twice. Once in 1974 (Springfield, MA with Roger McGuinn of the Byrds opening). July 4, 1986 at Yankee Stadium. After the game was over they had fireworks and them, and Jerry Lew Lewis, and maybe another act I am forgetting. I saw them at the Washington Monument July 4th concert, in 1985. If seeing them in that crowd even counts, LOL. I seem to remember that as being a quite famous show? So, I ended up seeing them exactly a year later. I cannot remember ho...
by Sandi_k
Sun Feb 18, 2024 6:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Happy Valentine’s Day! What’s your love song?
Replies: 88
Views: 4587

Re: Happy Valentine’s Day! What’s your love song?

vnatale wrote: Sun Feb 18, 2024 6:12 pm
Sandi_k wrote: Sun Feb 18, 2024 6:10 pm The Beach Boys, Wouldn't It Be Nice?

We started dating when I was 16, and DH was just shy of his 18th birthday. We got married on that dating anniversary years later, even though it fell on a Monday that year. 8-) 8-)

Excellent Beach Boys songs (among their many excellent songs).

Saw them twice. Once in 1974 (Springfield, MA with Roger McGuinn of the Byrds opening).

July 4, 1986 at Yankee Stadium. After the game was over they had fireworks and them, and Jerry Lew Lewis, and maybe another act I am forgetting.
I saw them at the Washington Monument July 4th concert, in 1985. If seeing them in that crowd even counts, LOL.
by Sandi_k
Sun Feb 18, 2024 6:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Happy Valentine’s Day! What’s your love song?
Replies: 88
Views: 4587

Re: Happy Valentine’s Day! What’s your love song?

The Beach Boys, Wouldn't It Be Nice? We started dating when I was 16, and DH was just shy of his 18th birthday. We got married on that dating anniversary years later, even though it fell on a Monday that year. 8-) 8-) https://youtu.be/h53Cnpb5hsM Wouldn't it be nice if we were older? Then we wouldn't have to wait so long And wouldn't it be nice to live together In the kind of world where we belong? You know it's gonna make it that much better When we can say goodnight and stay together Wouldn't it be nice if we could wake up In the morning when the day is new? And after having spent the day together Hold each other close the whole night through Happy times together we've been spending I wish that every kiss was never ending Oh, wouldn't it ...
by Sandi_k
Mon Feb 12, 2024 11:11 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Edward Jones New Low
Replies: 110
Views: 19916

Re: Edward Jones New Low

Well done. So glad it's finally resolved, and your sister knows she can depend on you.
by Sandi_k
Sat Feb 03, 2024 2:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Rob Berger interviews Mike Piper
Replies: 46
Views: 6001

Re: Rob Berger interviews Mike Piper

. It seems that a healthy person in their 60s should consider delaying social security to age 70 for the following reasons: Lower taxes on social security (max 85% taxable) compared to taxable or traditional IRA accounts (100% taxable). Here is another reason most people in their 60s should consider delaying social security to age 70. In most states with state income taxes there is no tax on social security benefits compared to taxable or traditional IRA accounts (100% state taxable) and most states have state income taxes. So for most of the elderly over 79 state income taxes go away or practically go away because so much of their income comes from social security. BobK BobK - I think you mean "over 69" in this paragraph, not &q...
by Sandi_k
Sat Feb 03, 2024 1:52 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How do you budget?
Replies: 59
Views: 5891

Re: How do you budget?

I've used Excel or Google sheets for many, many years. It allowed us to set "do not exceed" spending targets for the discretionary or variable spend, which in turn allowed us to direct much of our income to retirement savings. It's a virtuous cycle. Now, we're planning on retirement in less than two years. So I've subscribed to Tiller, which is a spreadsheet-based budgeting tool, and allows for substantial customization of the budget. It's been a pretty seamless move for me, unlike YNAB, which seemed to have much more effort required. Even better, Tiller has reports, rollups, and other data scraping tools that allow me to have real conversations with my spouse - so that we're ready and prepared with REAL spending numbers prior to ...
by Sandi_k
Thu Feb 01, 2024 10:39 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best towns with great schools, weather, outdoor activities
Replies: 74
Views: 7088

Re: Best towns with great schools, weather, outdoor activities

Not everyone rates the outdoors the same. That said Coastal California indeed ticks off every box. Assuming the HCOL element is not a dealbreaker I would scrap some of the suggestions listed here. Sacramento is terrible sprawl with terrible heat. Inland Contra Costa… meh. Paolo Alto, Mountain View etc in Silicon Valley while VVVHCOL and excellent schools it is (in my opinion) nowhere near the beauty of Marin. See? Extreme bias from posters like me :). That said, I challenge anyone to compete with Mt Tamalpais, Pt Reyes and the open space of West Marin. Immediate access to ocean and bay. Close to SF, Napa, Sonoma and Tahoe. Couple of international airports nearby and excellent universities in the region (Berkeley, Stanford, OP said they wan...
by Sandi_k
Wed Jan 31, 2024 11:47 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best towns with great schools, weather, outdoor activities
Replies: 74
Views: 7088

Re: Best towns with great schools, weather, outdoor activities

I live in the tri-valley (Pleasanton/San Ramon) area of the Bay Area. It’s located inland so summers are fairly warm but winters stay mild (it never snows around here). Schools are highly ranked (8-10 out of 10) and the area is safe (low crime and you don’t see much homelessness around here). There are lots of hiking trails and rolling green hills in the vicinity. Just about everywhere you go has plenty of parking. It’s a great place for families. If you want shopping, Pleasanton has a fairly good mall and nice little downtown area. Walnut Creek has a good outdoor shopping area too and is only about 20 minutes away. Beaches (such as in Half Moon Bay, Capitlo, and Santa Cruz) are 60-75 minutes away. Wineries are very close by with several l...
by Sandi_k
Tue Jan 30, 2024 12:22 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Delay Filing an LTCI Claim?
Replies: 94
Views: 6041

Re: Delay Filing an LTCI Claim?

Please note that with my FIL, the LTCI provider tried to evade payment, because they said my MIL wasn't someone who "owned" FIL's policy (and could thus claim on it).

It was a very good thing that the ILs had both a POA for finances, *and* for health care that we could provide to Genworth.

If your person doesn't have those documents, get them completed ASAP.
by Sandi_k
Mon Jan 29, 2024 11:44 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What have you baked recently?
Replies: 538
Views: 82895

Re: What have you baked recently?

Lemon Pudding cake with lemon drizzle icing. Brownies. Banana bread. Could you share the recipe for the "Lemon Pudding Cake"? Does this end up with a pudding layer, or does the pudding make it more moist in general... or? Thanks! RM RM, the pudding mix is added to the dry cake mix; it made a really good, moist cake. Even after a week, the ends didn't dry out much, making for a long-lasting cake that was still excellent in the long term. The recipe is here: https://www.9onadime.com/lemon-pudding-bundt-cake/ The only issue is that I couldn't get Instant Lemon pudding in a 5 oz box - just 3.4 oz boxes were in stock, at two different grocery stores. So I bought three small boxes, and added 1.5 boxes to the cake mix to approximate tha...
by Sandi_k
Sat Jan 27, 2024 11:42 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to distribute inheritance cash with siblings
Replies: 21
Views: 3203

Re: How to distribute inheritance cash with siblings

Before my mother died, she added my sister, who is also executor, to her checking account as "Joint with survivorship". My sister wants to distribute that money equally between the three of us children, as my mother wished. Since my sister tecnically is the owner of the account, how does she do this? She thinks she can only "gift" my other sister and me $18k per year "tax free", which would take many years. Can she simply write us each a check for the entire third? Yes, she can write you a check for the entire amount without taxes being paid by her, or by you. She will need to file Form 709 with her 2024 taxes. https://www.investopedia.com/form-709-united-states-gift-and-generation-skipping-transfer-tax-return...
by Sandi_k
Sat Jan 27, 2024 2:35 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: how to find a good financial advisor
Replies: 7
Views: 1117

Re: how to find a good financial advisor

The XY Planning Network (started by Michael Kitces, a respected CFP):

https://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/

And Garrett Planning Network:

https://www.garrettplanningnetwork.com/

If you're a diehard DIY'er, PlanVision is also worth considering. You do all the data entry, and they plug it into eMoney for cash flow projects, etc. It's $239 for the first year, and $8 per month thereafter.

https://www.planvisionclients.com/