Search found 10686 matches

by student
Sat Mar 02, 2024 8:07 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: TIAA vs Fidelity Brokerage in Retirement Account
Replies: 17
Views: 1739

Re: TIAA vs Fidelity Brokerage in Retirement Account

On the plus side you'll perhaps have access to Vanguard Institutional funds, assuming NC has structured for that. And as others have alluded to, the "brokerage window" is clunky to utilize tho it works eventually. If you've read other threads, you know that their reps can be inconsistent - more so than most places. Also that the liquidity of their "Traditional" varies among account types. You'll probably be put into a particular type of account (RA, RC, RCP, etc) and perhaps even more than one. Our state sys mandates the matching funds go into one (RA), while optional additional contributions go into a different one (RCP). The rules in each those will be consequential, with RA and RC being more restrictive about eventua...
by student
Sat Mar 02, 2024 7:19 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: TIAA vs Fidelity Brokerage in Retirement Account
Replies: 17
Views: 1739

Re: TIAA vs Fidelity Brokerage in Retirement Account

Thanks for the replies everyone. They haven't moved over our Fidelity accounts yet, so I currently have no money in Brokerage. When I called TIAA last night, the representative couldn't even help me direct FUTURE contributions to Brokerage, likely because I need to establish a position first. He seems confused about this which was surprising to me. The Fidelity reps were always amazing when I talked to them. I think I'm just going to sit tight until the migration happens late this month/early April, and then revisit everything then. But based on everyone's replies here, I am hopeful and it's possible the rep I spoke to just didn't understand much. One thing to note is that TIAA brokerage accounts are carried by Pershing, a subsidiary of Th...
by student
Sat Mar 02, 2024 7:05 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: TIAA Traditional GSRA rate
Replies: 36
Views: 2787

Re: TIAA Traditional GSRA rate

Can you please post a link to the new GSRA rates? Thank you. New GSRA Rates: https://www.tiaa.org/public/investment-performance/investment/profile?ticker=47933633 New GRA Rates: https://www.tiaa.org/public/investment-performance/investment/profile?ticker=47933632 New RA Rates: https://www.tiaa.org/public/investment-performance/investment/profile?ticker=47933630 New SRA Rates: https://www.tiaa.org/public/investment-performance/investment/profile?ticker=47933631 Thanks. Very disappointing. Down .44% from last year - have to think about alternatives. TIAA has become less and less appealing. Yes. It is disappointing but not a big shock. There is no free lunch. In the long run, I don't expect TIAA to beat the standard TBM, it just smooths out t...
by student
Fri Mar 01, 2024 9:09 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: TIAA Traditional GSRA rate
Replies: 36
Views: 2787

Re: TIAA Traditional GSRA rate

anonenigma wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2024 8:59 pm Can you please post a link to the new GSRA rates? Thank you.
The links given above by oldzey are working.
by student
Fri Mar 01, 2024 7:42 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: TIAA vs Fidelity Brokerage in Retirement Account
Replies: 17
Views: 1739

Re: TIAA vs Fidelity Brokerage in Retirement Account

This month our first contributions have hit TIAA, so I called up their Brokerage department to learn about how things work at TIAA. And I'm really worried. According to the rep I spoke to, there is NO WAY to have employee contributions automatically invested in Brokerage accounts. He told me EVERY MONTH I will have to manually transfer my contributions over to the Brokerage money market account, and then place a buy order. The thought of having to do this every single month until retirement (versus never at all at Fidelity) is really bumming me out. For those of you with TIAA experience - is this accurate? Seems crazy to me that there is no way to automatically do this. Thanks! I have the option to do it, but only for the funds I had previ...
by student
Fri Mar 01, 2024 7:07 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: TIAA Traditional and Bond Fund Questions
Replies: 24
Views: 2179

Re: TIAA Traditional and Bond Fund Questions

Curb Fan wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2024 6:42 pm flapjacks,
Thanks for posting this, I was waiting for the rates update. It's a drop but it looks great to me. The RC contract basically has a 2-2.5% real return on new money, at least in the short term, in return for some illiquidity. I'll take that deal for money I don't need right now.
It has been updated. Justanotherprof mentioned it in another post. This for the RC contract. https://www.tiaa.org/public/investment- ... r=47933637
by student
Fri Mar 01, 2024 6:02 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: TIAA vs Fidelity Brokerage in Retirement Account
Replies: 17
Views: 1739

Re: TIAA vs Fidelity Brokerage in Retirement Account

As part of the UNC system, I'm being forced to move my retirement accounts from Fidelity to TIAA. I loved the Fidelity Brokeragelink, which allowed me to have my employee contributions directly invested in whatever funds I desired automatically every month (AQR normally). This month our first contributions have hit TIAA, so I called up their Brokerage department to learn about how things work at TIAA. And I'm really worried. According to the rep I spoke to, there is NO WAY to have employee contributions automatically invested in Brokerage accounts. He told me EVERY MONTH I will have to manually transfer my contributions over to the Brokerage money market account, and then place a buy order. The thought of having to do this every single mon...
by student
Fri Mar 01, 2024 6:25 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: file taxes, knowing I'll amend later?
Replies: 6
Views: 1048

Re: file taxes, knowing I'll amend later?

rocketman2 wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2024 1:17 am You can also file a tax return now with the child tax credit + a generously overestimated income amount from the forthcoming K-1, and then amend to true-up the actual K-1 amounts later. I believe I’ve read this is allowed if you don’t get tax forms in time.
Doesn't the statement "I believe I’ve read this is allowed if you don’t get tax forms in time" means that OP need to wait until just about April 14 to meet the requirement?
by student
Thu Feb 29, 2024 10:02 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: file taxes, knowing I'll amend later?
Replies: 6
Views: 1048

Re: file taxes, knowing I'll amend later?

Technically when you file, you sign the return saying that to the best of your knowledge it is accurate and complete.
by student
Thu Feb 29, 2024 9:43 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cloud based backup options for sensitive files
Replies: 92
Views: 7401

Re: Cloud based backup options for sensitive files

beyou wrote: Thu Feb 29, 2024 8:12 pm I encrypt critical files with Veracrypt.
Even in your hard drive, in theory files could be accessed.
If your laptop is stolen, or possibly some type of hack to your desktop. Best to protect sensitive data no matter where it is stored. Then having a copy on the cloud is no big deal, good as a backup or to share if you have multiple computers.
Same. Veracrypt is great. I encrypt my entire drive on my windows machine using it. For mac, I use Filevault. I also have no problem sharing folder encrypted with Veracrypt or Filevault.
by student
Thu Feb 29, 2024 4:40 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: TIAA interview questions
Replies: 3
Views: 463

Re: TIAA interview questions

I came across this YouTube channel and it has many useful information on TIAA. https://www.youtube.com/@higheredretire4534 The most recent video talks about TIAA Traditional liquidation options.
by student
Thu Feb 29, 2024 4:25 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: TIAA Traditional and Bond Fund Questions
Replies: 24
Views: 2179

Re: TIAA Traditional and Bond Fund Questions

I use TIAA Traditional for almost all my fixed income but I limit the illiquid version to about 30% of the total TIAA traditional. I think it behaves similar to Total Bond but smooth out the curve but long term return slightly below Total Bond. http://collegeretirement.blogspot.com/2 ... -deal.html I like the fact that it is "stable" so it never goes down in value (assuming TIAA does not go bankrupt).
by student
Thu Feb 29, 2024 12:53 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Trust account at Morgan Stanley, move to FIDO?
Replies: 2
Views: 399

Re: Trust account at Morgan Stanley, move to FIDO?

You may find this thread informative. viewtopic.php?t=406263 Personally I would get away from MS due to its high cost.
by student
Thu Feb 29, 2024 10:01 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Concierge Medicine
Replies: 79
Views: 12097

Re: Medical Concierge Services - Worth It?

Thranduil wrote: Thu Feb 29, 2024 10:00 am Specialist visits - they get me in same day, nearly always. Blood draws and such - they send someone to my house.
Wow.
by student
Thu Feb 29, 2024 9:55 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Neighbor Got Burglarized, How To Prevent
Replies: 74
Views: 8333

Re: Neighbor Got Burglarized, How To Prevent

lthenderson wrote: Thu Feb 29, 2024 9:54 am Don't let mail pile up outside, leave a light on or otherwise some sign that someone might be there when you are gone.
This is good advice. If possible, use a timer/smart plug to turn lights on and off.
by student
Thu Feb 29, 2024 9:52 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Concierge Medicine
Replies: 79
Views: 12097

Re: Medical Concierge Services - Worth It?

You may find this recent thread informative. viewtopic.php?t=420092
by student
Thu Feb 29, 2024 9:49 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Workplace Retirement Match
Replies: 2
Views: 672

Re: Workplace Retirement Match

terran wrote: Thu Feb 29, 2024 6:47 am No, you don't need to reduce your 457(b) contribution to account for the match. Those limits are per account type. Even if you were contributing to a 401(k) or 403(b) with a match paid to the same account the $23k salary deferral limit would be separate from the match and would only need to be adjusted if you were going to hit the total plan limit of $66k (I might be a little off on that number, but it's around there).
I agree. That's my understanding.

OP: Here is an old thread that you may find informative. viewtopic.php?p=2541552
by student
Thu Feb 29, 2024 9:44 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Credit card bonus eligibility
Replies: 8
Views: 1091

Re: Credit card bonus eligibility

In general, yes. Some have extra rules. For example, AMEX just started a new rule that once you have a better card, you cannot get bonus for a lower tier card in the same lineup for bonus. In particular, getting a bonus for AMEX green, and then apply for AMEX gold for bonus is fine. But if you have AMEX gold and applying for AMEX green, then no bonus.
by student
Thu Feb 29, 2024 9:09 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: ACATS from Merrill Edge issue
Replies: 15
Views: 1897

Re: ACATS from Merrill Edge issue

Thanks OP for posting this. I am about to request a partial transfer from Merrill Edge (the self service one). Were you able to speak with someone at Merrill about this? Merrill site seems to be quite glitchy. I set up a buy trade last night but wanted to cancel today. The item has an active “Cancel” button but when I pressed it, it kept giving me an error that the trading system was down. It was around 3:30 pm EST, market closing time. 2 hrs later, I logged on and the trade was executed. Fortunately I have the funds… I wouldnt use Merrill but sadly it is the only way to keep BofA Platinum Honors status. No, I have not talked to anyone yet. But this has become stranger. Schwab late this afternoon showed receipt of the shares. So as of righ...
by student
Wed Feb 28, 2024 8:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: college decision: UIUC or UF for ECE?
Replies: 339
Views: 31722

Re: college decision: UIUC or UF for ECE?

I am following what is happening? There are a few variables still left but we just got several good news that pretty much sealed the deal in favor of UF. (It finally tilted the wife's preference.) 1. Last week, she got accepted to UF (which was expected). 2. Yesterday, I took my daughter to UF to meet with professors/advisor/several club leaders and see the dorm. One computer engineering professor even told DD to work in his robotics lab starting this Fall. Every student we met was so positive. All the juniors/seniors had internship/jobs secured. I can picture my daughter will grow and succeed in that peer environment. 3. Finally, a few hours ago, she received the merit scholarship email from UF. The total package with the already eligible...
by student
Wed Feb 28, 2024 4:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Suggestions for best recordng device for college classroom
Replies: 12
Views: 1496

Re: Suggestions for best recordng device for college classroom

Thank you for the responses. I appreciate the suggestions about talking to the disability office and/or the professor, but he won't do it. My question here is more practical and to the point. Which recorder would be the most efficient for his needs in the lecture hall setting? He may have no choice but to contact the professor if he is in a two-party state. Even if it is a one-party state, there may be some copyright issues, if he does not ask for permission. My old practice even with a disability office letter is to require the student to sign a form (provided by the disability office) stating that the recordings are for own personal use for this semester only. These days, I record all my lectures, I no longer have to accommodate this. Pl...
by student
Wed Feb 28, 2024 3:24 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Recommendations for a fee based advisor?
Replies: 3
Views: 656

Re: Recommendations for a fee based advisor?

LetsTalkMoney wrote: Wed Feb 28, 2024 3:21 pm Does anyone have any recommendations for a one-time, fee-based advisor? I'm helping my senior mom balance her portfolio and feeling overwhelmed. Any suggestions or personal recommendations? Thank you for any advice.
You may find this thread interesting. viewtopic.php?t=425349
by student
Wed Feb 28, 2024 11:14 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Can we talk about reusing packaging? Bubble wrap…
Replies: 10
Views: 968

Re: Can we talk about reusing packaging? Bubble wrap…

I think Target takes it. https://help.target.com/help/targetgues ... er+service

"Target stores have a guest recycling station located in the front of each store. The station is available for bottle and can recycling (aluminum, glass and plastic beverage containers), plastic film (high and low density such as plastic bags and bubble wrap), and small device electronics recycling (think MP3 players, GPS devices and ink cartridges)."
by student
Wed Feb 28, 2024 9:10 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Want to leave timeshare.
Replies: 111
Views: 12040

Re: Want to leave timeshare.

diy60 wrote: Wed Feb 28, 2024 9:02 am
student wrote: Wed Feb 28, 2024 8:57 am Interesting. The following is a joke: Maybe need to leave the timeshares to these companies as their "inheritance."
Yeah, it's an incredible racket. I don't pretend to know all the details but based on my conversations with my family member the problem is the contract liability (usually yearly maintenance fees) falls back onto the estate if no one steps up to accept the inherited timeshare. From my understanding is was impossible for my family member to settle the estate until the liability was addressed. The one that took the longest was from one for big name timeshares (I won't name it).
Scary.
by student
Wed Feb 28, 2024 8:57 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Want to leave timeshare.
Replies: 111
Views: 12040

Re: Want to leave timeshare.

Thanks for your responses. I read through previous conversations about gifting it and gifting is not a logical solution. I will look at the Timeshare Users groups but am leaning towards paying the fee. Noticed no one suggested just walking away. We are retired and don't think we'll ever need to use our credit score for anything but it would leave a gray cloud over our heads. So just pay and walk away without regrets. Walking away could be frustrating for whomever deals with your estate. This. A family member inherited 4 timeshares after a death in the family. Even though they declined the inheritance, it took well over 3 years and about $5K in legal fees to get out from under and close the estate. I don't know all of the details but I do k...
by student
Wed Feb 28, 2024 8:48 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Want to leave timeshare.
Replies: 111
Views: 12040

Re: Want to leave timeshare.

PoppyA wrote: Wed Feb 28, 2024 7:41 am IMHO if it only cost you $1,500 to get out of it completely it is worth it!
Yes!!!!!!!!!!!
by student
Tue Feb 27, 2024 10:07 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to deal with/spend too much money?
Replies: 91
Views: 8903

Re: How to deal with/spend too much money?

Agree with TNWoods. As always the BH misers come out of the woodwork. As I have already said, I would not have responded if TNWoods made an explicit reference to 65 year-old women. In my second reply, I was pointing out that the assumption that workers at small Asian cuisine places need charity is presumptuous. As I have said, some are family owned. I actually became personal friends with a couple of owners when I was a graduate/postdoc student, and they lived in nice houses, as I had been their guests. BTW, my current residence is not as nice as theirs. Charity giving is personal, I prefer to give to universities to support scholarships. Not giving money the way that you do does not make us misers. Fair enough. I interpreted your comment ...
by student
Tue Feb 27, 2024 5:57 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to deal with/spend too much money?
Replies: 91
Views: 8903

Re: How to deal with/spend too much money?

One thing I have been doing for a while is finding small independent restaurants, like the typical Asian cuisine places you find in a small strip mall, and tipping $100 on a $20 check for a banh mi sandwich and gyoza. Same at Waffle House or Denny's when I have a late night cup of coffee or burger. The serving staff at places like these are not making bank, and a $100 tip is significant to them, but insignificant to me. And those servers aren't working at their dream jobs. They are working hard at a job they could get. They may even be working a second job out of necessity. Most of the time I am out the door before they see the tip, so it's not some vanity thing. But at the Asian place the other day the server rushed out to make sure I had...
by student
Tue Feb 27, 2024 5:30 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to deal with/spend too much money?
Replies: 91
Views: 8903

Re: How to deal with/spend too much money?

How do you expand? How do you help family/friends? How do you justify spending more money? What do you spend on? What values or mores influence your decisions? As we get older, we have significantly given more back to our community. That brings me a lot of pleasure when I can see my impact versus just donating it to some random charity. You mentioned family in your original post and I try to steer clear of giving money to family when I wasn't asked first by the one in need. Money is the root of many family disagreements. But if someone asks, I have given money to family members but always as a gift, never a loan and I never ask about how they spent it, never. Once it is out of my hands, I forget about it unless they bring it up. Consider e...
by student
Tue Feb 27, 2024 2:52 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to deal with/spend too much money?
Replies: 91
Views: 8903

Re: How to deal with/spend too much money?

One thing I have been doing for a while is finding small independent restaurants, like the typical Asian cuisine places you find in a small strip mall, and tipping $100 on a $20 check for a banh mi sandwich and gyoza. Same at Waffle House or Denny's when I have a late night cup of coffee or burger. The serving staff at places like these are not making bank, and a $100 tip is significant to them, but insignificant to me. And those servers aren't working at their dream jobs. They are working hard at a job they could get. They may even be working a second job out of necessity. Most of the time I am out the door before they see the tip, so it's not some vanity thing. But at the Asian place the other day the server rushed out to make sure I had...
by student
Tue Feb 27, 2024 10:38 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: UNC System Fidleity to TIAA Conversion
Replies: 25
Views: 2715

Re: UNC System Fidleity to TIAA Conversion

tarheel wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2024 10:29 am Anyone else worried about the plan migration? Really unfortunate that it seems like for an entire month we're going to go all blackout. And I'm not at all looking forward to having to learn about the TIAA Brokerage window.

One thing I'm holding out hope for - at Fidelity, even though I've been with the university for over 15 years and am fully vested, I was never able to move "University Contribution" money to the brokerage side. Curious to see if that will be possible with the migration.

Fingers crossed with the whole thing.
My institution is also migrating, here is a thread about one specific feature of the TIAA brokerage window. viewtopic.php?p=7699829
by student
Mon Feb 26, 2024 10:16 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: tipping shuttle driver ?
Replies: 34
Views: 3966

Re: tipping shuttle driver ?

I assume this is a shuttle provided by the hotel, and the driver just pushes a button to open and close the door. $0 or $1.
by student
Sun Feb 25, 2024 10:08 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Financial advisor recommendation--beyond the usual suspects?
Replies: 58
Views: 5224

Re: Financial advisor recommendation--beyond the usual suspects?

tibbitts wrote: Sun Feb 25, 2024 9:56 pm
student wrote: Sun Feb 25, 2024 8:46 pm My main concern is companies such as Fidelity will view this as "sharing" password, so I prefer to be on the conservative side.
Even if you use Fidelity's own aggregation service?
I have accounts with other companies such as Etrade and Merrill Edge, so I do not want to use Fidelity's aggregator to pull info from them as they may also view the action as "sharing" password. So matter which company's aggregator I use, I have the same concern.
by student
Sun Feb 25, 2024 8:46 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Financial advisor recommendation--beyond the usual suspects?
Replies: 58
Views: 5224

Re: Financial advisor recommendation--beyond the usual suspects?

Wouldn't any platform have to allow you to do that? Realistically almost everyone probably has some investments that can't be imported, no? Obviously if you could have 100% (successful) automated importing, that would be awesome, because you could effortlessly monitor all your accounts every day. I am uncomfortable using aggregators so I did manual input at Fidelity, PlanVision and Empower, and update it at least quarterly. That's a lot of work quarterly, especially because you still have to monitor the accounts daily or as near to daily as you can to make sure everything is okay. You mean monitoring for fraud? For that, I have signed up for alerts. For portfolio, quarterly update is quite good enough. I have free monitoring services but w...
by student
Sun Feb 25, 2024 7:30 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Financial advisor recommendation--beyond the usual suspects?
Replies: 58
Views: 5224

Re: Financial advisor recommendation--beyond the usual suspects?

I've been exploring newretirement.com for about a month now, and I highly recommend it. It is designed for DIY planning, but you can also pay one of their CFPs flat fees to help you if you like. Rob Berger recommends newretirement as a planning resource. Jon Luskin did a podcast interview with founder Steven Chen: Bogleheads On Investing Podcast , Episode 62: Steve Chen on DIY Retirement Planning Tech. Steven is a Boglehead. The free version is limited but lets you kick the tires. I use the PlannerPlus version -- $120/year. I think it is money well spent. Does newretirement PlannerPlus version allow you to manually enter investments? Thanks. Wouldn't any platform have to allow you to do that? Realistically almost everyone probably has some...
by student
Sun Feb 25, 2024 4:54 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Financial advisor recommendation--beyond the usual suspects?
Replies: 58
Views: 5224

Re: Financial advisor recommendation--beyond the usual suspects?

I've been exploring newretirement.com for about a month now, and I highly recommend it. It is designed for DIY planning, but you can also pay one of their CFPs flat fees to help you if you like. Rob Berger recommends newretirement as a planning resource. Jon Luskin did a podcast interview with founder Steven Chen: Bogleheads On Investing Podcast , Episode 62: Steve Chen on DIY Retirement Planning Tech. Steven is a Boglehead. The free version is limited but lets you kick the tires. I use the PlannerPlus version -- $120/year. I think it is money well spent. Does newretirement PlannerPlus version allow you to manually enter investments? Thanks. Wouldn't any platform have to allow you to do that? Realistically almost everyone probably has some...
by student
Sun Feb 25, 2024 4:29 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Financial advisor recommendation--beyond the usual suspects?
Replies: 58
Views: 5224

Re: Financial advisor recommendation--beyond the usual suspects?

I've been exploring newretirement.com for about a month now, and I highly recommend it. It is designed for DIY planning, but you can also pay one of their CFPs flat fees to help you if you like. Rob Berger recommends newretirement as a planning resource. Jon Luskin did a podcast interview with founder Steven Chen: Bogleheads On Investing Podcast , Episode 62: Steve Chen on DIY Retirement Planning Tech. Steven is a Boglehead. The free version is limited but lets you kick the tires. I use the PlannerPlus version -- $120/year. I think it is money well spent. Does newretirement PlannerPlus version allow you to manually enter investments? Thanks. Yes. You don't have to link accounts. In fact, you really don't need to specify specific investment...
by student
Sun Feb 25, 2024 2:13 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Accounting for fees when using the 4% rule
Replies: 19
Views: 2136

Re: Accounting for fees when using the 4% rule

bsteiner wrote: Sat Feb 24, 2024 10:38 pm In addition to the 1% fee for the "manager" and the 1% expenses of the funds, there could be another 1% for taxes, leaving the investor using the 4% rule with only 1% a year remaining.
Yes. One for you, one for him, one for her and one for me..........
by student
Sun Feb 25, 2024 7:30 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Financial advisor recommendation--beyond the usual suspects?
Replies: 58
Views: 5224

Re: Financial advisor recommendation--beyond the usual suspects?

connor wrote: Sun Feb 25, 2024 5:52 am I've been exploring newretirement.com for about a month now, and I highly recommend it. It is designed for DIY planning, but you can also pay one of their CFPs flat fees to help you if you like. Rob Berger recommends newretirement as a planning resource. Jon Luskin did a podcast interview with founder Steven Chen: Bogleheads On Investing Podcast, Episode 62: Steve Chen on DIY Retirement Planning Tech.
Steven is a Boglehead. The free version is limited but lets you kick the tires. I use the PlannerPlus version -- $120/year. I think it is money well spent.
Does newretirement PlannerPlus version allow you to manually enter investments? Thanks.
by student
Sun Feb 25, 2024 6:53 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Why Emergency Fund?
Replies: 80
Views: 8445

Re: Why Emergency Fund?

I don't have a emergency fund per se but in effect has one as my target asset allocation has 5% in cash. In your example of "Ok fine, I save up the 6 months emergency fund, but what if I instead save up 12 months or more in a taxable brokerage, and invest the entire thing in the market (VT - Total World Market). Even if this fund crashed 50%, I would still be at 6 months emergency fund. Not to mention, the more this fund grows, the more money I would have even after the 50% crash" it is absolutely fine as long as you can stomach the loss.
by student
Sat Feb 24, 2024 11:10 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can a employer-covered 401(k) charge be charged to me?
Replies: 27
Views: 1998

Re: Can a employer-covered 401(k) charge be charged to me?

If the plan requires your employer to pay all plan expenses, the onus is on your employer to pay the custodian and to instruct the custodian to reimburse all the participant accounts. Could there be fees outside of the ones specified in the Fee Disclosure that participants would have assumed the employer covered but doesn't? I would think the Fee Disclosure would have to be complete. The only fees it specifies (other than expense ratio of funds chosen) that participants pay are: - Non-periodic distribution fee - Force out administration fee - Hardship distribution fee - Overnight delivery fee - QDRO calculation fee - RMD calculation fee - Wire fee To be fair, the last 3 appear to be grouped under the "plan and individual expenses that...
by student
Sat Feb 24, 2024 10:38 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Pay the penalty estimated by H&R Block or let IRS bill me
Replies: 13
Views: 1331

Re: Pay the penalty estimated by H&R Block or let IRS bill me

tibbitts wrote: Sat Feb 24, 2024 10:25 am Question that doesn't matter for me but might for someone: does the decision affect your ability to have a portion of a refund in savings bonds?

I'm assuming someone made a large estimated payment in Q4 which included enough to pay the entire taxes due with penalties plus buy a savings bond. But penalties still applied due to lack of timely payments.
No. I did not intend to buy any savings bonds right now. Thanks for the reminder that one can buy savings bonds in this manner.
by student
Sat Feb 24, 2024 10:09 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Pay the penalty estimated by H&R Block or let IRS bill me
Replies: 13
Views: 1331

Re: Pay the penalty estimated by H&R Block or let IRS bill me

Thanks for all the replies. I will let IRS bill me and I will also increase my withholding from my paycheck to try to avoid this next year.
by student
Sat Feb 24, 2024 10:08 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Pay the penalty estimated by H&R Block or let IRS bill me
Replies: 13
Views: 1331

Re: Pay the penalty estimated by H&R Block or let IRS bill me

Just finished entering info in H&R Block. Due to my own mistakes in estimating interests/dividends/capital gains, I end up owing more than I expected, resulting in a penalty of under $30, as estimated by H&R Block. I believe this is only the second time in about 30 years. (If I remember correctly, last time was under $5.) I understand I could pay the estimate now or let IRS bill me. Which is the better approach? (When it was under $5 last time, I chose to let them bill me but I never received a bill.) Thanks. So, you did not meet safe harbor 100% (or 110%) of last years liability or (less than $1000 owed or 90% of this years tax withholding) by withholding. If you made estimated payments, you may not have make payments in a timely ...
by student
Sat Feb 24, 2024 9:41 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Meeting with "fiduciary" CFP results
Replies: 57
Views: 4904

Re: Meeting with "fiduciary" CFP results

alex_686 wrote: Sat Feb 24, 2024 8:50 am
student wrote: Sat Feb 24, 2024 8:07 am Is the word "can't" in your statement "A fiduciary can’t earn a commission" by law? I understand what you have described is the typical arrangement.
By regulation advisors (which a fiduciary is) can’t charge a commission. A broker could. Sometimes a person can wear both hats.

I probably have a lower opinion of fiduciaries than the average Bogglehead. It isn’t some type of magic bullet that resolves all conflicts of interests. The required standards are fairly high which means the advisor must check all of the boxes. As such they have to offer a Cadillac level of service. It is almost impossible to offer a Honda value model to the middle market.
Thanks for the explanation.
by student
Sat Feb 24, 2024 8:19 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Pay the penalty estimated by H&R Block or let IRS bill me
Replies: 13
Views: 1331

Pay the penalty estimated by H&R Block or let IRS bill me

Just finished entering info in H&R Block. Due to my own mistakes in estimating interests/dividends/capital gains, I end up owing more than I expected, resulting in a penalty of under $30, as estimated by H&R Block. I believe this is only the second time in about 30 years. (If I remember correctly, last time was under $5.) I understand I could pay the estimate now or let IRS bill me. Which is the better approach? (When it was under $5 last time, I chose to let them bill me but I never received a bill.)

Thanks.
by student
Sat Feb 24, 2024 8:07 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Meeting with "fiduciary" CFP results
Replies: 57
Views: 4904

Re: Meeting with "fiduciary" CFP results

Fiduciary or not, these people probably earn a commission or get incentives so they will sell what makes them the most money. Isn't this what a fiduciary not suppose to do? I agree that if these people earn a commission, then there is a conflict of interest. I vaguely remember that a fiduciary needs to make recommendations that are best for the clients whereas others only need to recommend suitable investments. I know what is best is debatable. I think that's why some recommend asking any potential advisor that one plans to hire a number of questions including "how are you being compensated and do you work on commission?" A fiduciary can’t earn a commission. As such they tend to be paid as a percentage of AUM or on a fee schedule...
by student
Sat Feb 24, 2024 7:31 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Meeting with "fiduciary" CFP results
Replies: 57
Views: 4904

Re: Meeting with "fiduciary" CFP results

gotoparks wrote: Sat Feb 24, 2024 12:47 am Fiduciary or not, these people probably earn a commission or get incentives so they will sell what makes them the most money.
Isn't this what a fiduciary not suppose to do? I agree that if these people earn a commission, then there is a conflict of interest. I vaguely remember that a fiduciary needs to make recommendations that are best for the clients whereas others only need to recommend suitable investments. I know what is best is debatable. I think that's why some recommend asking any potential advisor that one plans to hire a number of questions including "how are you being compensated and do you work on commission?"
by student
Sat Feb 24, 2024 7:21 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Where to manage a low touch portfolio
Replies: 41
Views: 3118

Re: Where to manage a low touch portfolio

I will give my experience of various brokerages. 1) Fidelity. Currently my favorite. 24/7 CS, local branch (even though I think I might have been in there once in the past 10 years but it is good that it is available). 2) Schwab. As good as Fidelity in general, with two comments. It does not use a good MM fund as settlement fund. However, I found its telephone CS agents "better." (The sample size is small. I call maybe once a year on average but one time a CS agent really went above and beyond.) 3) Merrill Edge. Nothing special, in general, accept Preferred Reward is really good. 4) Chase Self-Direct. Nothing special. 5) Etrade: Nothing special. And they have messed up my 1099 forms two years in a row. 6) Vanguard: It was fine exc...