Search found 544 matches

by Cheyenne
Sat Feb 17, 2024 2:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [On-going Scams - Post them here]
Replies: 1372
Views: 165413

Re: [On-going Scams - Post them here]

This might have been mentioned before, but someone who works for META told my friend that one should never say "yes" on the phone when speaking to a stranger, and also don't use a real photo of yourself on any site. That's a bit of an old urban legend. If scammers are going to spoof your voice to say you consented to something your didn't or to fool the voice verification on another system, they don't need to record you saying the specific word "yes" anymore. They can just use deepfake software. And it's pretty much impossible to keep a picture of yourself offline if you socialize with others, because they can post group photos that contain your image. Again, that's enough for deepfake software. Rather than waste mental...
by Cheyenne
Sat Feb 17, 2024 1:23 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [On-going Scams - Post them here]
Replies: 1372
Views: 165413

Re: [On-going Scams - Post them here]

This might have been mentioned before, but someone who works for META told my friend that one should never say "yes" on the phone when speaking to a stranger, and also don't use a real photo of yourself on any site.
by Cheyenne
Wed Jan 31, 2024 2:46 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard PAS vs. Schwab Intelligent Portfolio vs Fidelity Go
Replies: 6
Views: 952

Re: Vanguard PAS vs. Schwab Intelligent Portfolio vs Fidelity Go

We opened a Schwab brokerage account about 10 months ago and part of our holdings are in the Schwab Intelligent Portfolio with the Premium service. We had one phone session with the advisor. She went over the features of the website, and discussed our goals etc. We didn't ask her any complicated questions but I have heard that they will provide answers to most questions. One thing she did do was tried to persuade us to move all of our investments to Schwab. That was disappointing but not surprising.
by Cheyenne
Fri Jan 19, 2024 10:54 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 2nd Career working for an airline?
Replies: 19
Views: 3016

Re: 2nd Career working for an airline?

My wife and I are both HS teachers - I am 5 years from retirement, she is 9. We have 3 children ages 15, 12 and 7. We earn very good salaries, anticipate very good pensions and have substantial savings as a result of living below our means and investing. In anticipation of retirement with my wife still working and our youngest still being in school, I find myself brainstorming how I can manage those years productively and with an element of fun. One thought is to work for an airline as a ticket or customer service agent. We live near a major airport. My experiences as a teacher have supplied me with great comfort in helping others and managing stressful situations - and the concept of free or minimal air travel as compensation really excit...
by Cheyenne
Thu Jan 11, 2024 5:28 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Horrified by Schwab Platform -- Where to Next?
Replies: 71
Views: 11846

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

soretired wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2024 11:59 pm I've had NO issues with the Schwab website.
+1
by Cheyenne
Wed Nov 15, 2023 1:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What are you listening to now
Replies: 5802
Views: 575186

Re: What are you listening to now

My wife playing "Frosty the Snowman" on the harp.
by Cheyenne
Sun Nov 12, 2023 2:32 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do you clean/disinfect your phone? How?
Replies: 23
Views: 1635

Re: Do you clean/disinfect your phone? How?

mrmass wrote: Sun Nov 12, 2023 11:20 am 91% alcohol when I feel dirty.
I was surprised to learn that 70% isopropyl alcohol disinfects better than 91%.
https://www.webmd.com/first-aid/ss/rubbing-alcohol-uses
by Cheyenne
Wed Nov 08, 2023 4:00 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Now that long TIPS yields are 60 bp off their highs I will…
Replies: 2937
Views: 611845

Re: Now that long TIPS have pushed past 2.50% I will…

Wrench wrote: Wed Nov 08, 2023 3:42 pm
TheTimeLord wrote: Wed Nov 08, 2023 2:42 pm 30 year TIPS below 2.2% according to Bloomberg.
Is that good news or bad news? :happy For those who already bought, at least recently, it's good news because that means the value of their bonds have gone up. For those who waited in the hopes of higher rates, it's bad news, at least for now. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?

Wrench
What does it mean for returns? Would 2.20% return more or less than 2.30%?
by Cheyenne
Sat Nov 04, 2023 1:13 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: I-bonds at 1.3% fixed or TIPS at 2,4% plus....
Replies: 25
Views: 8242

Re: I-bonds at 1.3% fixed or TIPS at 2,4% plus....

I'm in the process of building a 19-year TIPS ladder, and am thinking of using I-Bonds for the missing years. But, I was wondering how the I-Bond years would affect the total income during the earlier years due to missing income from the missing TIPS. Am I correct about that? Would the substitution of I-Bonds in the missing years upset the TIPS ladder? Yes, you are but thats a good problem to have as its due to the IBonds interest being tax deferred. However keep in mind that after 5 years you can cash out iBonds w/o any penalty, and even in amounts as small as $25. Many people think you have to cash out a whole IBond at once, but thats not the case, you can cash out just a piece. So in theory you could withdraw the interest every year if ...
by Cheyenne
Thu Nov 02, 2023 4:26 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: I-bonds at 1.3% fixed or TIPS at 2,4% plus....
Replies: 25
Views: 8242

Re: I-bonds at 1.3% fixed or TIPS at 2,4% plus....

welderwannabe wrote: Thu Nov 02, 2023 3:56 pm I helped my folks do a tips ladder. For the missing years, they are using IBonds. They didn't like the idea of 1 giant slug of TIPS maturing the year before the missing year and then having to meter the money out. It was far easier for them to know to just cash in a certain number of iBonds in those years...
I'm in the process of building a 19-year TIPS ladder, and am thinking of using I-Bonds for the missing years. But, I was wondering how the I-Bond years would affect the total income during the earlier years due to missing income from the missing TIPS. Am I correct about that? Would the substitution of I-Bonds in the missing years upset the TIPS ladder?
by Cheyenne
Mon Oct 30, 2023 1:28 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: TIPS Ladders
Replies: 29
Views: 6140

Re: TIPS Ladders

Svensk Anga wrote: Mon Oct 30, 2023 12:50 pm You will be getting twice per year interest payments from every bond in the ladder. In the first year of a long ladder the interest payments will be fairly significant, depending on the coupon rates of the bonds you choose for the ladder. The larger the coupon payments you get in any of the earlier years, the fewer bonds you would need to mature that year. The best ladder building technique will take into account the interest income when sizing the earlier ladder rungs. You need to know the later rung coupon rates before you can size the first rungs. There is a pretty broad span of coupon rates on existing TIPS, from 0.125% (many issues) to 3.875% (April 2029)
Thank you for that explanation.
by Cheyenne
Mon Oct 30, 2023 1:26 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: TIPS Ladders
Replies: 29
Views: 6140

Re: TIPS Ladders

Prokofiev wrote: Mon Oct 30, 2023 12:44 pm What "instructions" are you referring to?
The Kaesler Tips Ladder, tipsladder (dot) com.

That's for the reply. It was very informative.
by Cheyenne
Mon Oct 30, 2023 12:13 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: TIPS Ladders
Replies: 29
Views: 6140

TIPS Ladders

I was wondering if someone could answer this question for me. I have been unable to find an answer.

With a 30-year TIPS ladder, instructions state that the 30-year bonds should be purchased first, then one should work forward to year 1. Why is that significant? What would be the result of starting the ladder with the 1st-year bonds and working backwards to the 30-year?

Thanks in advance.
by Cheyenne
Mon Oct 30, 2023 10:09 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Anyone still favor Vanguard?
Replies: 359
Views: 48432

Re: Anyone still favor Vanguard?

jebmke wrote: Mon Oct 30, 2023 8:59 am
Cheyenne wrote: Mon Oct 30, 2023 7:00 am I have accounts at Fidelity, Schwab and Vanguard. Last week I started buying TIPS, and buying through Vanguard has been the easiest and best experience.
Thanks for the input. Can you elaborate on what obstacles or issues you faced buying TIPS through Schwab and Fidelity?
With Schwab the bond I wanted showed a minimum quantity purchase requirement of 5, and with Fidelity I was charged a $30.00 fee for the quantity of one. Vanguard had neither. I bought more with Vanguard this morning.
by Cheyenne
Mon Oct 30, 2023 7:00 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Anyone still favor Vanguard?
Replies: 359
Views: 48432

Re: Anyone still favor Vanguard?

I have accounts at Fidelity, Schwab and Vanguard. Last week I started buying TIPS, and buying through Vanguard has been the easiest and best experience.
by Cheyenne
Mon Oct 23, 2023 2:57 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Another TIPS ladder vs fund question - leaning toward a fund
Replies: 142
Views: 13723

Re: Another TIPS ladder vs fund question - leaning toward a fund

I've been following this thread with great interest. I wonder if someone could answer a few basic questions: 1. DW and I have IRAs at 3 different brokerages, and we want to build a 20-year TIPS ladder. Could we purchase the required bonds for the first third of the ladder (7 years) at brokerage A, 7 years at Brokerage B, and 6 years at brokerage C? 2. Also, can we do this over time or is there a risk of the rates changing before we complete the ladder? Thanks in advance. Yes, you can definitely spread your ladder across different brokerages. I have some of my TIPS at Vanguard, some at Fidelity. Rates are always changing so, yes, the rates could change (for better or worse) before you complete the ladder. The more spread out over time your ...
by Cheyenne
Mon Oct 23, 2023 12:12 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Another TIPS ladder vs fund question - leaning toward a fund
Replies: 142
Views: 13723

Re: Another TIPS ladder vs fund question - leaning toward a fund

I've been following this thread with great interest. I wonder if someone could answer a few basic questions:

1. DW and I have IRAs at 3 different brokerages, and we want to build a 20-year TIPS ladder. Could we purchase the required bonds for the first third of the ladder (7 years) at brokerage A, 7 years at Brokerage B, and 6 years at brokerage C?

2. Also, can we do this over time or is there a risk of the rates changing before we complete the ladder?

Thanks in advance.
by Cheyenne
Mon Oct 23, 2023 4:05 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: High TIPS Yields are a Retiree's Best Friend - John Reckenthaler
Replies: 62
Views: 9947

Re: High TIPS Yields are a Retiree's Best Friend - John Reckenthaler

I have a couple of basic questions about building a TIPS ladder that I was hoping someone could answer. 1. The sample charts at https://www.tipsladder.com state that anywhere from 4 to 11 bonds need to be purchased each year. Why not just 1 bond each year? Do they have a maximum value or something? Each TIPS has a par value of $1000; you can only buy and sell whole bonds. If you want to buy $10,000 worth of newly issued TIPS, you need to buy 10 of them. If you want to buy $10,000 worth of old TIPS which are currently worth $1111 each (because of inflation adjustments and price changed), you need to buy 9 of them. This is also why the ladder rounds the numbers to the nearest bond; if you want to buy $10,000 of bonds worth $1040, you buy 10 ...
by Cheyenne
Sun Oct 22, 2023 3:56 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: High TIPS Yields are a Retiree's Best Friend - John Reckenthaler
Replies: 62
Views: 9947

Re: High TIPS Yields are a Retiree's Best Friend - John Reckenthaler

What would a systematic analysis look like? With a 30 year TIPS ladder you can be guaranteed a 30 year inflation adjusted 4% cash flow. At current rates, that would leave approximately 15% of your portfolio left over for stocks or whatever due to the 4.7% withdrawal rate https://www.tipsladder.com/build?incomeRequirementKind=Avg&firstYear=2024&income=10000&yearCount=30&bondChoiceForGap=NearestBond&bondChoiceWithinYear=BestYield. 4.0/4.7 is 85% in the ladder, leaving 15%. As noted, under typical analyses, that 15% should grow nicely in 30 years and cover additional years, legacy, etc. If not, it was unlikely the usual stock/bond probabilistic portfolio would have worked. [ quote fixed by admin LadyGeek] I have a couple o...
by Cheyenne
Sat Oct 07, 2023 12:24 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Gnucash - how do you setup brokerage accounts and houses
Replies: 29
Views: 3859

Re: Gnucash - how do you setup brokerage accounts and houses

rkhusky wrote: Sat Oct 07, 2023 11:06 am
Cheyenne wrote: Sat Oct 07, 2023 8:59 am Slightly off topic, but would anyone be able to tell me where I can find the master data file in GnuCash (on a Mac)? I would like to save a backup of that file apart from my normal backup routine. Thanks.
You choose the location when you set up the account. Search for files that end in “.gnucash”. Might be in Documents. I keep mine in an encrypted disk image, along with backups. Backups also end with “.gnucash”.
Apparently it doesn't overwrite, because there are literally hundreds of files ending in .gnucash. I'll just save the most recent one.
Thanks for the reply.
by Cheyenne
Sat Oct 07, 2023 8:59 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Gnucash - how do you setup brokerage accounts and houses
Replies: 29
Views: 3859

Re: Gnucash - how do you setup brokerage accounts and houses

Slightly off topic, but would anyone be able to tell me where I can find the master data file in GnuCash (on a Mac)? I would like to save a backup of that file apart from my normal backup routine. Thanks.
by Cheyenne
Mon Oct 02, 2023 5:51 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Medicare Part D Choices for 2024 available
Replies: 123
Views: 17951

Re: Medicare Part D Choices for 2024 available

vnatale wrote: Fri Sep 29, 2023 6:18 pm I am fairly certain that I am also on SilverScript.

I always chose whatever has the lowest premium since I still am not taking any prescriptions and only get one every few years to take care of a one-time thing.
We do the same thing. We have SilverScript and pay $5.20 per month each this year. DW doesn't take any meds, and I order all mine from Canada and India at about a 75% savings.
by Cheyenne
Sun Sep 17, 2023 7:12 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: "3 Of the Best Robo-Advisors--and One of the Worst"
Replies: 56
Views: 8541

Re: "3 Of the Best Robo-Advisors--and One of the Worst"

bradinsky wrote: Sat Sep 16, 2023 7:35 pm ...Schwab Intelligent Portfolios. It is U.S. focused & moderately conservative and we are up 6.06% year to date.
That's interesting because we opened a Schwab Intelligent Portfolio account in March (6 months ago) with a U.S. focused "Moderate" allocation (50% stocks), and Schwab reports our performance over that period to be 3.24%. It seems like it should be higher than that. Maybe I'm reading it wrong or something.
by Cheyenne
Fri Sep 15, 2023 9:29 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Schwab Intelligent Portfolio vs Boglehead 3 fund
Replies: 14
Views: 2947

Re: Schwab Intelligent Portfolio vs Boglehead 3 fund

bogleschwabber wrote: Thu Sep 14, 2023 7:01 pm I had the intelligent portfolio and the Schwab 529 account and I think both have the same portfolios depending on the level of risk that you have. I don’t know if the underlying holdings are listed for the intelligent portfolio but they are listed for the 529 account. It’s basically the sp500, developed international, and small cap if you go for the most aggressive.
The Schwab Intelligent Portfolio is said to have a value tilt with significant positions in "fundamental" stock funds. The underlying holdings are listed, and two of the fundamental funds have an expense ratio of .39%, and the other two are .25% and .11%.
by Cheyenne
Thu Sep 14, 2023 4:33 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Schwab Intelligent Portfolio vs Boglehead 3 fund
Replies: 14
Views: 2947

Re: Schwab Intelligent Portfolio vs Boglehead 3 fund

I opened a Schwab Intelligent Portfolio account in March of this year, mostly out of curiosity. The cash portion is held in SWGXX and the 7-day yield on 9/13/23 was 4.96% There is a $5,000 minimum to open, and there are no fees with the basic version. The Schwab Intelligent Portfolio Premium (which includes access to a human advisor) requires a minimum investment of $25,000. There is a one time fee of $300, and then $30/mo. or $360/yr. going forward. The Premium option may be canceled at anytime. The $360/yr. advisory fee is the same for small and large portfolios. We have never consulted with a financial advisor before, and found Schwab's advisor to be knowledgeable and helpful with planning and trying to reach our goals. She didn't try to...
by Cheyenne
Thu Jul 27, 2023 1:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Password Manager Safety [vs. manual entry]
Replies: 34
Views: 2755

Re: Password Manager Safety

mrb09 wrote: Thu Jul 27, 2023 9:56 am Also, if any of those have "what city were you born in" questions, I make up the values, so those get stored in my password manager as well.
+1
by Cheyenne
Thu Jul 27, 2023 12:24 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Bond Advice
Replies: 18
Views: 1819

Re: Bond Advice

Thanks.
by Cheyenne
Thu Jul 27, 2023 10:57 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Bond Advice
Replies: 18
Views: 1819

Re: Bond Advice

I've been trying to understand bonds more as well. I have a small position in Schwab's robo advisor (SIP) with about 50% in bonds. This is what the SIP came up with for bonds:

VANGUARD MORTGAGE BACKED SEC ETF (VMBS) 35.00%
SCHWAB INTERMEDIATE TERM US TREASURY ETF (SCHR) 18.00%
SCHWAB US TIPS ETF (SCHP) 5.00%
SPDR BLOOMBG EMG MRK SMALL BOND (EBND) 8.00%
XTRACKERS USD HIGH YIELD CORP BOND ETF (HYLB) 2.00%
SCHWAB 5-10 YEAR CORPORATE BOND ETF (SCHI) 32.00%

Is that the SIP's way of diversifying? Would it make sense to mirror that in the bond portion of a 3-fund portfolio, or would a total bond fund be better?

Thanks in advance.
by Cheyenne
Thu May 11, 2023 1:25 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Hold Placed on Check from Ally Bank
Replies: 11
Views: 1934

Hold Placed on Check from Ally Bank

I deposited a check drawn on my Ally Bank Savings Account, into my local bank checking account to the amount of $4k. Then my local bank called me and sent me a letter stating that they are putting a hold on the check for 5 days for this reason: "We believe a check you deposited will not be paid for the following reasons: We have confidential information that indicates that the check may not be paid." I have no problem with them holding a check in the interest of safety, but I'm curious what would trigger that. Ally is a much larger bank. Is this normal in banking?
by Cheyenne
Sun Mar 26, 2023 3:43 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: WSJ article on retiring with less than $1 million
Replies: 217
Views: 28223

Re: WSJ article on retiring with less than $1 million

That's nothing. Try the plains of north India. Temperature over 115, high dusty winds, electricity for maybe 12 hours during the day so fans don't work most of the day and no air-conditioning. 85 to 95 during the night. How do people live? They just do. Human body and mind adjusts to whatever is available but it shapes you. I always think that living in cold may be easier at least you can put on a layer. That reminds me of something Mark Twain said, and he’d been to India. He’d heard it said that it was so hot there that brass doorknobs melted. He said it wasn’t true, they only get mushy. A few years back we installed mini-splits in our house. An Indian man that I know was visiting and he said they are common in India. I asked if they were...
by Cheyenne
Wed Mar 01, 2023 9:31 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Did you take Social Security before 70 and not regret the decision?
Replies: 160
Views: 12304

Re: Did you take Social Security before 70 and not regret the decision?

With us the lower earner filed for SS at about age 64 just to get the ball rolling. The other collected spousal benefits until filing for delayed benefits last year at age 69. We calculated that by filing at age 69 we would be ahead for approx. the next 10 years. It was a calculated risk. Plus, due to the effects of the pandemic we needed the money at that time. No regrets.
by Cheyenne
Sat Feb 25, 2023 5:07 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Fidelity & Community Property accounts
Replies: 24
Views: 3739

Re: Fidelity & Community Property accounts

zeugmite wrote: Sat Feb 25, 2023 4:45 am
nalor511 wrote: Mon Jun 06, 2022 12:29 pm Fidelity has JTWROS and MarriedWROS... probably you want that last one. Start the account opening (or registration change) process, and you can see all the options
There is no such thing as MarriedWROS, especially on Fidelity. That's very misleading.
We opened a Fidelity CMS yesterday and it's called a "Joint WROS" account.
by Cheyenne
Mon Jan 30, 2023 7:25 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Could someone help me understand exactly how GoodRX works?
Replies: 143
Views: 13598

Re: Could someone help me understand exactly how GoodRX works?

HomeStretch wrote: Wed Jan 25, 2023 9:29 am Also check your RX prices at Walmart and Mark Cuban’s drug company:
https://costplusdrugs.com/
The best prices I've found are from alldaychemist (dot) com. The costs of my meds from them are about 60% less than local pharmacies.
by Cheyenne
Sun Jul 24, 2022 11:11 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Spare tire?
Replies: 148
Views: 10302

Re: Spare tire?

I just cant buy a car without a spare tire. In the past week I have stopped 3 times with people along the road and offered to help them change a tire and all three had no spare and two of the three had tire pump and repairs kits which were not gonna fix the issue anyway..I live in Michigan and our roads do stink but wow...I just dont get it...all for saving a few miles per gallon per 1000 miles...SMH...no spare owners whats your plan for a flat? All three of these folks ended up gettin a flat bed tow truck and I will bet ya dollars to doughnuts that cost em plenty. Would you buy a car without a spare tire and why? I bought a used Chevy Bolt that I discovered didn't have a spare. I called the dealer and they said that's the way they come. T...
by Cheyenne
Sun Jul 24, 2022 9:28 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Any Boglehead musicians out there?
Replies: 284
Views: 21814

Re: Any Boglehead musicians out there?

So do you guitarists and bass players read music or do the tab thing? I admit I don’t understand tab. I assume it’s some kind of finger location representation? Somebody on a violin forum asked about learning to play violin using tab and it wasn’t well received. I'm a guitarist/guitar teacher and I teach my students how to read music. I feel I would be derelict in my duties if I did not. But I will show them how to read TAB if they ask. I also read TAB if that's the only version of a piece available. One major drawback to reading only TAB though is that....one can read only TAB. It's extremely limiting. Sometimes there is a piece of music that I'd like to (or need to) play, and I can only locate a piano or cello version, or a lead sheet. A...
by Cheyenne
Thu Jun 30, 2022 7:44 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Any Boglehead musicians out there?
Replies: 284
Views: 21814

Re: Any Boglehead musicians out there?

I've been a professional classical guitarist for 50 years. My first paying gig was at age 15. While I'm not really a jazz musician, I played in a trio at resort hotels as a teenager, and worked as a studio guitarist. I was admitted to a music conservatory on a full scholarship and dropped out after two years as I was always a terrible student (probably have ADD or something) but later was invited to join the faculty of a major university college of music. I've toured internationally and have recordings on Apple Music, etc. The pandemic pretty much ended live music for the past two years so at this time I have a few students and accept occasional casual gigs at country clubs, etc. I might return to the concert stage at some point but that me...
by Cheyenne
Wed Apr 06, 2022 4:49 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Social Security Benefit Discrepancy
Replies: 10
Views: 1480

Re: Social Security Benefit Discrepancy

By any chance did your wife download her Social Security statement earlier this year? On the first page under "Personalized Monthly Retirement Benefit Estimates (Depending on the Age You Start)" there is a bar graph showing the benefit amount at various ages. The first bar on her statement should be labeled "68 and 9 months" and would show her monthly benefit amount for 2022, regardless of which month she starts her benefit. As David Jay explained, it includes credit for all Delayed Retirement Credits earned through December 2021, but not any earned in 2022. Does that match the amount she is receiving, once you subtract out Medicare payments (including IRMAA for Part B and Part D if she is subject to that) and any tax w...
by Cheyenne
Wed Apr 06, 2022 4:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Social Security Benefit Discrepancy
Replies: 10
Views: 1480

Re: Social Security Benefit Discrepancy

Oct. 20, 2001
That's my typo. The correct date is Oct. 20, 2021.
Sounds reasonable if the hospital did not contribute to SS. Did they start up another retirement plan instead, which they wanted people to contribute to (regardless if she contributed)?
I don't believe so because she has a record of earnings with SS for every year except the two in question. I've never been able to determine what bearing the two missing years have on her PIA if any.
by Cheyenne
Wed Apr 06, 2022 12:09 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Social Security Benefit Discrepancy
Replies: 10
Views: 1480

Re: Social Security Benefit Discrepancy

Oh, that makes sense. Thank you.
by Cheyenne
Wed Apr 06, 2022 11:08 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Social Security Benefit Discrepancy
Replies: 10
Views: 1480

Social Security Benefit Discrepancy

Hello, I was hoping that someone might be able to offer some insight into two Social Security issues that DW has. The second issue is more historical in nature and probably not to be resolved, but the first is of current interest. 1. DW spoke with a SS rep. on Oct. 20, 2001 to find out what her delayed benefit amount would be if she were to take SS on Apr. 6th of this year (her 69th birthday). She submitted the application in Jan. and received approval and confirmation today. But the stated benefit amount is about 2% less than what had been quoted to her in Oct. That's after applying the 5.9% COLA from January. She hasn't started the appeal process yet but we were wondering if anyone had any idea why the amounts are different. Her 2020 tax ...
by Cheyenne
Tue Nov 02, 2021 7:07 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Switching to Prepaid Plans?
Replies: 42
Views: 3473

Re: Switching to Prepaid Plans?

I switched from Verizon monthly plan to its prepaid plan about 3-4 years ago with no issues or noticeable change in service. The main differences are you don't get a refund if you cancel in the middle of the month, and you are not eligible for Verizon rewards (so no free Starbucks for me this past summer). Also I don't think you can make monthly payments on a new phone. However, the loyalty discount (being a plan holder for at least 9 months) and autopay discounts do apply. I went from paying $80 per month to $28 per month (including taxes, after discounts). That gets me 5 gig of data which is more than enough for me. I think unlimited is $10-15 more. + We pay $54.56/mo. for 2 lines. You just have to buy extra data if needed. Also, make su...
by Cheyenne
Sat Oct 09, 2021 12:30 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Having issue with Vanguard online access
Replies: 27
Views: 2663

Re: Having issue with Vanguard online access

No issue here. Last week I set-up login with a Yubikey and logged in yesterday without a problem.
by Cheyenne
Mon Sep 27, 2021 10:20 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Learning to play the guitar as an adult - possible?
Replies: 45
Views: 5249

Re: Learning to play the guitar as an adult - possible?

You said you like to play the guitar. Did you receive instruction or did you teach yourself? Your past success or lack of success with that would be the best indicator of how well you would do learning classical guitar.

I would recommend finding a good teacher and committing to about four lessons to see how it goes.

Note: I've been a professional classical guitarist and teacher for 50 years, and have taught students of all ages and levels from young beginners up through professionals at the university level. If you have any other questions I'll try and answer them for you.
by Cheyenne
Thu Sep 23, 2021 4:30 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Electric Auto Question[s - considering a purchase]
Replies: 96
Views: 9908

Re: Electric Auto Question[s - considering a purchase]

Would you return to gas powered vehicles? No
How have you managed "range anxiety" when traveling, with passage of time owning vehicle? We haven't taken any long trips yet but it can be done and will be much easier in the future.
Did you install charging adaptor at home? Yes
by Cheyenne
Mon Jan 25, 2021 7:18 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Soc Sec Question-I'll be 70 in 6 weeks
Replies: 11
Views: 1594

Re: Soc Sec Question-I'll be 70 in 6 weeks

Here is some advice I gleaned from this forum sometime ago, about when and how to file for Delayed benefits. File for Delayed SS benefits 3 months prior to your 70th birthday. Advise them that you want to start taking your retirement benefits, and be specific (in the remarks section) as to when the benefits should actually begin. You need to specify the start date. Here's what could happen if you don't. Imagine if you file in the month of say April prior to your 70th birthday in June, Social Security might retroactively go back 6 months and start payments which means your would loose eight months of credits! Use the remarks section to specifically state that you want benefits to begin consistent with your 70th birthday, but in no case befor...
by Cheyenne
Sat Aug 15, 2020 6:48 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Driving Boston to Nashville
Replies: 51
Views: 4454

Re: Driving Boston to Nashville

The app: "Waze" alters routes based upon real-time reports of traffic and road conditions.
by Cheyenne
Thu Aug 06, 2020 1:22 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help my Aunt decide on Edward Jones or somewhere else
Replies: 55
Views: 4236

Re: Help my Aunt decide on Edward Jones or somewhere else

I am by no means a financial expert. But after reading the posts on this forum for several years I can tell the OP that the words "Edward Jones" are usually used in jest.