Search found 562 matches

by MNGopher
Wed Feb 07, 2024 4:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How old were you when you hit the "No-Go Years?"
Replies: 77
Views: 13604

Re: How old were you when you hit the "No-Go Years?"

My parents are 87 and although relatively healthy and living independently on a hobby farm, they lost the desire to travel or go anywhere overnight, about 10 years ago. They did a lot of traveling in there 50s and 60s, and I think enough was enough and they just like being at home better.
by MNGopher
Wed Jan 24, 2024 1:18 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Pets - how much would you spend at the end?
Replies: 127
Views: 20047

Re: Pets - how much would you spend at the end?

My recently departed pet was family and keeping him as comfortable as possible at the end was never a price issue. However there comes a time when you look in their eyes and you realize their quality of life isn't worth a bunch of extreme treatments just to delay the inevitable by a few days or weeks.
by MNGopher
Tue Jan 23, 2024 6:07 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 403B fees worth it?
Replies: 20
Views: 1224

Re: 403B fees worth it?

NostraHistoria wrote: Tue Jan 23, 2024 6:01 pm Here is what 403Wise.org has for my school: https://403bwise.org/advocacy/district_ ... 09/1732910

Which company would be better?
Those are all bad, with likely 1-2% fees. I would use a taxable brokerage account after you have maxed out your IRA. Also, research 457 plans in your state. They have the same tax deferred benefits of a 403b.
by MNGopher
Tue Jan 23, 2024 5:32 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 403B fees worth it?
Replies: 20
Views: 1224

Re: 403B fees worth it?

Equitable is a terrible company for a 403b. They recently had a 50 million dollar penalty for lying about their fees.
https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2022-124

As others have said, 403bwise.org and their Facebook group have lots of information.
by MNGopher
Thu Jan 18, 2024 1:53 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What to do with savings
Replies: 11
Views: 1177

Re: What to do with savings

I paid my house off early, but back then my interest rate was around 7%
I don't know why someone would pay off a 2.99% mortgage early when a Vanguard MM fund is paying 5.29%
by MNGopher
Thu Dec 21, 2023 2:39 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How much Xmas gift money is appropriate for teachers?
Replies: 104
Views: 13742

Re: How much Xmas gift money is appropriate for teachers?

Recently retired public middle school teacher here. I never received or expected a cash gift. About 5% of kids will give something in the $10 range, gift cards, mugs, snacks, etc. Honestly, a nice card or thank you note were the best gifts.
by MNGopher
Wed Dec 20, 2023 7:39 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Pension Question
Replies: 14
Views: 1587

Re: Pension Question

A pension is a future income stream, rather than an asset. It's nice to have but you can't spend it now, unless they offer a lump sum option. I wouldn't count it as part of your net worth, but it definitely reduces the amount you will need to withdraw from your portfolio. I am in a similar situation, having retired from teaching last year.
by MNGopher
Wed Dec 13, 2023 4:07 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What are you up YTD? [Year To Date]
Replies: 5249
Views: 900227

Re: What are you up YTD? [Year To Date]

If I actively manage myself, I generally do better, weeding out the losers that funds don't catch.
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You may have done better in the past during certain time periods, but even the best fund managers and stock pickers are not able to beat the indexes consistently.
by MNGopher
Mon Sep 04, 2023 2:01 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Substitute Teaching in Retirement?
Replies: 22
Views: 4202

Re: Substitute Teaching in Retirement?

I retired from full time teaching one year ago and have substituted once in a while since then. At my district it starts at about $170/day but quickly moves up to $200/day. This is for 5 or 6 class periods of about 50 minutes (you may or may not get a free prep period) and you need to get there a little early to login to computer and read over plans. For me, it is a 7:15 - 2:20 type of day. Pros: Totally flexible schedule, so just don't answer the phone/text if you don't want to work. Minimal planning time needed. Often lessons are on the computer with students using headphones, so pretty easy. Pretty high demand currently. Cons: Sometimes you may not get as much work as you want, but by going to different districts, I'm sure you can fill m...
by MNGopher
Thu Aug 17, 2023 10:43 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Crash predicted - should I temporarily reduce contributions to 403b?
Replies: 99
Views: 11552

Re: Crash predicted - should I temporarily reduce contributions to 403b?

Far more money has been lost by investors in preparing for corrections, or anticipating corrections, then has been lost in corrections themselves. -Peter Lynch.

Stock prices go up about 70% of the time. If you reduce contributions every time someone predicts a correction, you are going to lose out more often than not.
by MNGopher
Wed Aug 02, 2023 4:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: If you could wake up anywhere tomorrow morning, where would it be?
Replies: 140
Views: 15964

Re: If you could wake up anywhere tomorrow morning, where would it be?

Glacier National Park. I don't care for the drive through the Dakotas to get there, but if I could teleport instantly that would be the place.
by MNGopher
Wed Jul 05, 2023 1:15 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Aldi supermarket?
Replies: 106
Views: 11164

Re: Aldi supermarket?

It's not my main grocery store and I've never got a full carts worth of food. I just stop in about once a week and just get a bag full of stuff that I prefer over the larger stores. This is mainly produce. Their avocadoes are usually 65 cents compared to $1-$2 at my other store.
by MNGopher
Thu Jun 01, 2023 2:48 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]
Replies: 5973
Views: 690172

Re: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]

Just finished watching Fatal Attraction on Paramount+ (1 season, 8 episodes). I had low expectations starting out, but it was actually a pretty good suspenseful mystery series. Loosely based on the 80's movie, but quite a bit different from what I remember of it.
by MNGopher
Tue Mar 14, 2023 8:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Spring road trip Washington to Yosemite
Replies: 11
Views: 1086

Re: Spring road trip Washington to Yosemite

Thanks for the great replies! Yosemite is the main destination and I have 3 nights camping reserved there. Anything else on the way is just gravy. I would like to see the coast for at least part of the drive, but realize that would add more time than staying on I-5. The Columbia River gorge, Crater Lake, Lassen volcano, Mt Hood, are all things I have considered for at least a quick stop, but will probably have to eliminate some of those.
by MNGopher
Tue Mar 14, 2023 5:12 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Spring road trip Washington to Yosemite
Replies: 11
Views: 1086

Spring road trip Washington to Yosemite

As part of a longer cross-country road trip in early May, I am looking for things to see as I drive through Southern Washington, Oregon, and Northern California. I have 2.5 days allocated to get from the Tacoma, WA area to Yosemite NP. I am more interested in scenery, parks, landmarks, etc. and not so much the urban areas. I will be camping out of my vehicle and/or roadside motels. I have never been through Oregon and only to the big cities in California. Any suggestions for lodging, dining, scenic routes, or landmarks would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
by MNGopher
Thu Feb 09, 2023 8:16 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Lump sum right now???
Replies: 51
Views: 5737

Re: Lump sum right now???

Lump sum will be better most of the time. If you don't feel comfortable doing that right away, at least try to get most or all of it in before the end of the 1st Quarter. That way you are receiving all your quarterly dividends and interest into your tax-free account. It doesn't look like much for just one year, but over a career it will be a lot.
by MNGopher
Thu Jan 26, 2023 4:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]
Replies: 5973
Views: 690172

Re: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]

Stumbled on to "The Watcher" on Netflix (1 season / 7 or 8 episodes) and wasn't expecting much. It's a who-done-it, suspenseful drama that will leave you guessing at who the stalker, known as The Watcher, really is until the very end.
by MNGopher
Sun Jan 08, 2023 10:55 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 24, New Teacher - Portfolio Review
Replies: 32
Views: 3439

Re: 24, New Teacher - Portfolio Review

I second the recommendation of using the 403bwise website and joining their Facebook group.
https://403bwise.org/
They have articles about how to get out of Equitable, a notoriously bad 403b provider.
You may also consider a 457b if you don't have any better 403b options.
by MNGopher
Fri Dec 02, 2022 3:20 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Moving 403B to rollover IRA at Vanguard
Replies: 7
Views: 924

Re: Moving 403B to rollover IRA at Vanguard

Following up on this post from a few months ago, because I'm about to do the same...

I'm doing a Vanguard (Newport Group) 403b direct rollover to a Vanguard IRA, and am wondering how long my money will be out of the market. Will it be quicker than normal because it is Vanguard to Vanguard, or doesn't that matter? I can't do the rollover until Dec. 15, 2022, because that is when I get my last severance payment into my 403b from my previous employer (I've been retired for a few months). I'm a little worried about being out of the market for an extended time in what might be a year-end rally. Maybe better to wait until Q1 2023?
by MNGopher
Sat Jun 11, 2022 3:21 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Roll Call for the Retirement Class of 2022!
Replies: 393
Views: 71240

Re: Roll Call for the Retirement Class of 2022!

Official retirement date is 9/12/22.
Age 57.
32.6 years as a middle school teacher.
by MNGopher
Sat Apr 16, 2022 9:08 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Roth IRA investment advice
Replies: 7
Views: 992

Re: Roth IRA investment advice

cocoamocoamomma wrote: Fri Apr 15, 2022 10:33 pm Hi, won't it be tax free in my Roth IRA or will I pay tax on the dividends?
Yes, it will be tax free once in it's your Roth IRA. I thought you were asking where to put investment in addition to your existing Roth that you could no longer contribute to.
by MNGopher
Fri Apr 15, 2022 9:11 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Roth IRA investment advice
Replies: 7
Views: 992

Re: Roth IRA investment advice

Do you have employer retirement plans available, like a 401k or 403b? You want to use tax advantaged accounts whenever possible, especially if you are going to be buying high dividend funds.
by MNGopher
Tue Mar 15, 2022 9:07 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Great new podcast about predatory 403(b)s sold to teachers.
Replies: 46
Views: 4944

Re: Great new podcast about predatory 403(b)s sold to teachers.

My school district has 2 good choices available (Vanguard & Fidelity) for 403Bs and about 25 insurance companies that sell their annuities. Most of the teachers still buy the annuities because those are the companies that send reps out to the schools.
Covid has been terrible for the education system, but if there is a silver lining to the pandemic, at least it has kept the annuity salesmen out of the teacher's lounge.
by MNGopher
Sun Feb 13, 2022 2:45 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Roth vs tIRA
Replies: 17
Views: 1708

Re: Roth vs tIRA

Roth conversions are very common practice in early retirement or any time when your income is a little lower than normal. I don't think this would significantly change his AUM fees.
by MNGopher
Sat Jan 22, 2022 9:43 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Can I Keep all of my Roth IRA in a Money Market Fund?
Replies: 22
Views: 3336

Re: Can I Keep all of my Roth IRA in a Money Market Fund?

Roth "space" is valuable. You should place funds with the highest expected risk/return in your Roth IRA, because they are sheltered from taxes and capital gains. If you want to increase your cash holdings, just do that in a bank.
by MNGopher
Thu Jan 20, 2022 7:04 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do people still wear ties and belts?
Replies: 222
Views: 18565

Re: Do people still wear ties and belts?

I'm a K-12 teacher and no one at my work ever wears a tie to work. About a decade ago I had a part time weekend job at a liquor store, which required me to wear a tie. I found it very odd that my professional job didn't require it, but the job selling booze did.
by MNGopher
Sat Dec 25, 2021 2:49 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 403(b) investment options, please advise!
Replies: 23
Views: 2137

Re: 403(b) investment options, please advise!

Variable annuities should be avoided as a means of investing, especially during the accumulation phase of your life. There are all kinds of hidden fees, with no real advantages.
403bwise is a great website to learn about 403b investing.
https://403bwise.org/
by MNGopher
Fri Dec 24, 2021 5:27 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 403b vs. Taxable
Replies: 16
Views: 1359

Re: 403b vs. Taxable

I was in a similar situation a few years ago (saving for a new house that got postponed). I decided I didn't want 6 figures just sitting in the bank until I was ready to move, so I started maxing out my 403b while investing the rest in a 3-fund portfolio in a taxable brokerage account over the course of about a year. So, I guess what I did was kind of like your hybrid approach. The way the market has gone the last few years, I'm really glad that I got it invested.
by MNGopher
Thu Dec 23, 2021 9:00 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How much is too much tax deferred?
Replies: 115
Views: 14389

Re: How much is too much tax deferred?

If it's close, I would rather err by having too much in tax deferred than too much in Roth. The solution to having too much in traditional is to retire a little sooner and either spend the money or do Roth conversions. You can't undo the taxes you already paid by doing a Roth.
by MNGopher
Sun Dec 19, 2021 3:06 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Do I need a taxable account? Why?
Replies: 60
Views: 6739

Re: Do I need a taxable account? Why?

mtwhmemn, A person could have too much in Roth when they contribute to Roth 401K instead of Trad 401K. KlangFool How can you have too much in a Roth? Are you saying contribution limits are a combo of Roth & Roth 401K? I don't have a Roth 401k and don't know how they may be "connected". You can have too much in a Roth account if you paid too much to get it into that account. For example, Let's say you are working and in the 22% tax bracket, and contributing to a Roth account. You then retire and are in the 12% bracket (temporarily or permanently). You have too much in the Roth, and should have deferred more, because you would only be paying 12% instead of the 22% you already paid. This has become a silly discussion. If the que...
by MNGopher
Sun Dec 19, 2021 2:48 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Do I need a taxable account? Why?
Replies: 60
Views: 6739

Re: Do I need a taxable account? Why?

I write all this to ask how you could have too much in Roth. My understanding is you can never have too much in Roth unless there are rule changes!?! mtwhmemn, A person could have too much in Roth when they contribute to Roth 401K instead of Trad 401K. KlangFool How can you have too much in a Roth? Are you saying contribution limits are a combo of Roth & Roth 401K? I don't have a Roth 401k and don't know how they may be "connected". You can have too much in a Roth account if you paid too much to get it into that account. For example, Let's say you are working and in the 22% tax bracket, and contributing to a Roth account. You then retire and are in the 12% bracket (temporarily or permanently). You have too much in the Roth, a...
by MNGopher
Fri Dec 10, 2021 7:52 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Prioritize 403b or T-IRA?
Replies: 16
Views: 1287

Re: Prioritize 403b or T-IRA?

A traditional 403b and a Roth IRA is a great combination for people in the 22% tax bracket (as most teachers would be).
by MNGopher
Mon Jul 12, 2021 3:04 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: U.S. stocks continue to soar!
Replies: 22381
Views: 2121012

Re: U.S. stocks continue to soar!

DOW 35,000 :sharebeer
Well almost :x
by MNGopher
Sat Apr 24, 2021 9:47 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Find the Dividend: Can You Identify Where a Dividend Payment Affected Equity Price?
Replies: 101
Views: 8527

Re: Find the Dividend: Can You Identify Where a Dividend Payment Affected Equity Price?

So let's assume that you are correct and the dividend payment has no effect on the equity share price. Don't you still have a forced distribution that may increase your taxes?
by MNGopher
Sun Jan 03, 2021 7:23 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Summer 2021 travel?
Replies: 81
Views: 6627

Re: Summer 2021 travel?

I booked lodging at Glacier National Park for June. I may or may not be vaccinated by then. My bigger concern is if the Going to the Sun road will be open yet (snow). I'm ready to do some hiking! I suggest you bring snow shoes! We were there at the end of June, a few years ago, and the road was only cleared up to the visitor center. They were actively working on clearing the road but it was still probably 20' deep where the trucks were working. We did get to watch a grizzly, and her two cubs, traverse a snow covered mountain side, just above the visitor center. Yeah, I'm definitely rolling the dice. I checked the historic opening dates for the last 30 years, and only two thirds of the time the Sun Road has been open on the day I arrive (Ju...
by MNGopher
Sun Jan 03, 2021 3:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Summer 2021 travel?
Replies: 81
Views: 6627

Re: Summer 2021 travel?

I booked lodging at Glacier National Park for June. I may or may not be vaccinated by then. My bigger concern is if the Going to the Sun road will be open yet (snow). I'm ready to do some hiking!
by MNGopher
Wed Dec 30, 2020 7:21 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: New Paradigm Possible?
Replies: 9
Views: 911

Re: New Paradigm Possible?

I'm still hoping my tulip bulbs and baseball cards make a comeback!
by MNGopher
Tue Dec 29, 2020 4:02 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Inheritance Help
Replies: 29
Views: 2454

Re: Inheritance Help

I agree to use the inheritance as supplemental income--or what I think they mean. Take your 70k a year and put max into 401k, HSA, Roth. Live off what's left. Put the inheritance into a taxable account 80-90% stock and 10-20% bonds and try to not touch it. You've got a huge safety net--don't mess it up. And no need in a financial advisor. I wont be able to put my inheritance all into a taxable account and max out my 401k and HSA and still be able to live off my paycheck. At least not comfortably I don't think. I may put a chunk of the inheritance into my savings account and pull from that when I need to if I am maxing all of those accounts out via my paycheck. Yeah, just put enough in your savings account to make up the deficit to your cur...
by MNGopher
Tue Dec 29, 2020 10:32 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Review: Mark Zoril - Planvisionmn
Replies: 75
Views: 15761

Re: Review: Mark Zoril - Planvisionmn

I'm not currently a customer but my interest is piqued. He was interviewed by Rob Berger on the Dough Roller podcast recently. He seems Boglehead-ish and mentions the work of Larry Swedroe and Rick Ferri, and recommends the use of Vanguard index funds. I have also heard good things about the eMoney customer portal that he apparently uses.
by MNGopher
Tue Dec 22, 2020 6:29 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard Total Bond fund (VBTLX) flat
Replies: 11
Views: 2206

Vanguard Total Bond fund (VBTLX) flat

It appears that the Vanguard Total Bond fund (VBTLX) has been totally flat for 5 days. I don't check this fund that often, so maybe this is not that unusual, but it seems a bit odd that the price has not changed at all in 5 days. Weird coincidence or is something else going on here?
by MNGopher
Fri Dec 11, 2020 7:47 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Roth 401k vs Roth IRA?
Replies: 7
Views: 967

Re: Roth 401k vs Roth IRA?

Do you have excellent fund choices in your workplace Roth 401K? In a Roth IRA you could probably find better fund choices because you can open it with whichever company you want.
by MNGopher
Sun Nov 29, 2020 1:39 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: How does the stock market return 7%?
Replies: 62
Views: 7235

Re: How does the stock market return 7%?

Hi Firemenot, I have reported the twenty years and 10 months of this century, which is a considerable amount of time and the latest data. A period where there have been two bull markets and two bear markets. BTW the stock market crash of 2000-2002 started in late March of 2000. The market was up sharply thru March 24 of 2000. One would have to pick and choose data points very carefully to get to 7%, that's for sure. :D I believe we can all agree that stock market returns are very good, if we exclude returns in bear markets. :wink: BobK If you use more than that one period, you have to try a bit harder to miss... MStar link to Inflation Adjusted Stock Total Returns chart 10/31/1980 to 10/31/2000 : 12.49% 10/31/1981 to 10/31/2001 : 11.50% 10...
by MNGopher
Thu Nov 26, 2020 5:41 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Silliest Investment Mistakes?
Replies: 176
Views: 21063

Re: Silliest Investment Mistakes?

Like many teachers, I fell prey to the variable annuity salesmen that frequented the teachers lounge bringing donuts and trinkets to lure their unsuspecting victims into awful investment products.
by MNGopher
Tue Nov 24, 2020 8:47 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Will the Dow ever see 29500 again?
Replies: 156
Views: 21581

Re: Will the Dow ever see 29500 again?

This has to be one of the fastest recoveries ever. It's amazing to me how fast it's been considering the virus is still around and businesses are still facing shutdowns.
by MNGopher
Thu Nov 12, 2020 7:36 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Reasonable Administrative Fees for 403(b)
Replies: 7
Views: 882

Re: Reasonable Administrative Fees for 403(b)

100 bp's is very high for administrative fees. For my Vanguard 403b I pay only $60/year in administrative fees.
by MNGopher
Sun Nov 01, 2020 11:47 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What to do with old 403b?
Replies: 3
Views: 283

Re: What to do with old 403b?

If you can't get it into the TSP, a rollover to an IRA at a company of your choice would likely be better than leaving it at Prudential.
by MNGopher
Sat Oct 31, 2020 9:49 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Have 22k to invest should I do it now or after election?
Replies: 14
Views: 2187

Re: Have 22k to invest should I do it now or after election?

I would expect a decent amount of volatility over the next few months, but that doesn't mean wait. Volatile times are often good times to invest. Maybe 2K on Monday and about the same every week for the next 3 months.
by MNGopher
Wed Oct 21, 2020 5:24 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Going “all in” on paying mortgage
Replies: 178
Views: 17653

Re: Going “all in” on paying mortgage

Back in the mid 90s thru mid 2000s I paid extra on my mortgage rather than investing much. I ended up paying off my 30 year mortgage in about 12 years. Interest rates were around 7% then, and I only had crummy annuity products through my work 403b at that time with 2% fees, so it seemed like a good decision at the time. I think mathematically it probably worked out about the same for me, but in most time periods I might not have been as lucky.
by MNGopher
Sun Oct 18, 2020 3:57 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 403b rollover: Vanguard asking earnings & fees split by employer v employee contribution
Replies: 15
Views: 1113

Re: 403b rollover: Vanguard asking earnings & fees split by employer v employee contribution

This would be an exchange rather than a rollover, right? You are switching from a 403b at one company to a 403b at another company (not an IRA).

When I had my 403b at VALIC they kept separate accounts with different account numbers for the employee and employer contributions. They were always listed separately on my account statements and I never understood why. I exchanged both of these accounts to a Vanguard 403b in two different years (2015, 2017) to avoid surrender charges. Vanguard/Newport Group never kept the accounts separate like VALIC did. In fact even my new contributions are pooled into the same account with no distinction between employee and employer.