Search found 263 matches
- Mon Jun 11, 2007 9:45 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Can you beat (or come very close to) 5.36 APY Money Market?
- Replies: 17
- Views: 5467
- Sun Jun 10, 2007 5:31 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: AA critique please~
- Replies: 9
- Views: 2504
Re: AA critique please~
JoeJo,JoeJo wrote: 20K personal loans
What are the loans? School loans that are deferred, so no interest payments?
If these are credit cards or other high interest rate loans I would pay them off first.
OR are they loans that you have made to others and that is why they are listed with investments?
- Sun Jun 10, 2007 5:19 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Stable Value Funds vs. TIPS
- Replies: 40
- Views: 18321
Helot,
I was given some great info on stable funds in this post...
http://www.diehards.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2410
I was given some great info on stable funds in this post...
http://www.diehards.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2410
- Sat Jun 09, 2007 12:53 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Way, Way OT-Heat pump problems
- Replies: 13
- Views: 4249
Sorry I was not clear. The coil I was indicating here is the coil of wire that forms an electromagnet which actuates the reversing valve. They sometimes become open or intermittent although it is much more likely it is the valve itself.winterescape wrote:The reversing valve could be a bad coil, which is cheep & easy to replace, or the valve, which is not, and of course requires evacuate & recharge.
- Sat Jun 09, 2007 10:05 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Father Needs Asset Allocation Help
- Replies: 7
- Views: 2255
- Fri Jun 08, 2007 8:39 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Way, Way OT-Heat pump problems
- Replies: 13
- Views: 4249
Are you sure it is the aux elect heat? Otherwise I would tend to agree with noelesor that the reversing valve is sticking. A common trick is to rap on it with the plastic end of a screwdriver and see if the system suddenly starts cooling.
If the electric assist heat is on a separate breaker from the heat pump then you can turn it off to take it out of the picture. My heat pump has a double 30 amp breaker (220V) for the heat pump and a double 60 Amp breaker for the aux heat. Just turn off the larger amp size breaker.
The reversing valve could be a bad coil, which is cheep & easy to replace, or the valve, which is not, and of course requires evacuate & recharge.
If the electric assist heat is on a separate breaker from the heat pump then you can turn it off to take it out of the picture. My heat pump has a double 30 amp breaker (220V) for the heat pump and a double 60 Amp breaker for the aux heat. Just turn off the larger amp size breaker.
The reversing valve could be a bad coil, which is cheep & easy to replace, or the valve, which is not, and of course requires evacuate & recharge.
- Fri Jun 08, 2007 8:43 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Father Needs Asset Allocation Help
- Replies: 7
- Views: 2255
I agree with Laura, more information & better information = better advise.
However, with what you have provided so far, I would suggest you look closely at the Wellesley income fund or the target retirement income fund. Wellesley fund is very close to the asset allocation you mention, in a single fund. The target retirement Income fund has a slightly higher allocation to bonds than you mention but both would be good starting points.
I agree that holding some allocation of stocks in retirement is a smart way to add inflation protection to a portfolio.
However, with what you have provided so far, I would suggest you look closely at the Wellesley income fund or the target retirement income fund. Wellesley fund is very close to the asset allocation you mention, in a single fund. The target retirement Income fund has a slightly higher allocation to bonds than you mention but both would be good starting points.
I agree that holding some allocation of stocks in retirement is a smart way to add inflation protection to a portfolio.
- Sun Jun 03, 2007 9:54 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Pennsylvania Teachers Retirement Options
- Replies: 14
- Views: 7050
Re: Pennsylvania Teachers Retirement Options
For others, what is the best way to go about analyzing these types of choices? How do you compare different pension plan options? How do you decide between a pension option and a 403b type option? The two state retirement plans are similar in that they determine the retirement benefit from a fixed formula that takes into consideration years of service, age, and final average salary . The retirement benefit is 100% vested once an employee has five years of credited service. The ARP works very differently... Employee and employer contributions are paid to the employee's account. If the investments perform well, the employee can earn a higher benefit. If they perform poorly, the benefit would be lower. The employee accepts any risk associated...
- Fri Jun 01, 2007 7:38 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Asset Allocation Analysis Please
- Replies: 19
- Views: 5276
"What would you change?? I'm not really thinking about Bonds until 10 years until retirement. Of course my thinking could be all goofed up. Any ideas are certainly welcome. "
You say mid 40s and retire at 65ish, I would look at the Vanguard target retirement 2030 fund for asset allocation guidance. The vanguard site currently shows it at 13% bonds. You could just add the etf BND for the vanguard total market bond index fund.
Other than that I like your selection...
You say mid 40s and retire at 65ish, I would look at the Vanguard target retirement 2030 fund for asset allocation guidance. The vanguard site currently shows it at 13% bonds. You could just add the etf BND for the vanguard total market bond index fund.
Other than that I like your selection...
- Thu May 31, 2007 3:07 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Parents' Retirement
- Replies: 21
- Views: 7072
They have 3 annuities, 2 of which are IRA's. ...... They have surrender fees for 10 years, starting at 10% and decreasing by 1% per year. They are less than a year old. Evaluate the back end loads and balance the cost of getting out VS the high annual expenses of staying in the annuity. Get the prospectus out and add the annuity cost to the expense ratio of the holdings in the account. You will most likely find that the cost of staying in is higher than the cost of getting out. Make sure to add all charges to find the total yearly cost. You will most likely discover that the yearly costs are higher than 1% per year, which is your cost to get out. Do a “trustee to trustee” transfer, for the two VA held in the IRA, which still holds the abil...
- Thu May 31, 2007 2:43 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Parents' Retirement
- Replies: 21
- Views: 7072
cce wrote:My mother will inherit approximately $21,000 from my grandfather's IRA
"If, on the other hand, the IRA owner was receiving distributions over his own single life expectancy (whether or not recalculated), the IRS has ruled that you can take distributions over your own life expectancy."
http://www.fool.com/Taxes/2000/taxes000804.htm
remember your mother need not take all out of the inherited IRA in a single tax year.
- Tue May 29, 2007 12:15 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Need advice, mother-in-law, IRA in VA
- Replies: 4
- Views: 1610
- Tue May 29, 2007 8:50 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Best Online Brokerage?
- Replies: 47
- Views: 25274
The JD power ranking of investment firms
http://www.jdpower.com/finance/ratings/ ... /index.asp
http://www.jdpower.com/finance/ratings/ ... /index.asp
- Mon May 28, 2007 8:44 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Refinance or not to refinace...
- Replies: 7
- Views: 2821
- Thu May 24, 2007 8:18 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: What to sell? Newbie question
- Replies: 13
- Views: 3822
- Wed May 23, 2007 12:14 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: 529 questions for our niece
- Replies: 17
- Views: 4663
Re: 529 ownership?
I am unsure if you can own a 529 account for your nieces/nephews. You most definitely can open 529 plans for grandchildren, a niece or nephew, remember you are the owner of the funds with the child as the beneficiary. check out: http://www.savingforcollege.com/ Joe Hurley wrote the book “The Best Way to Save for College – A Complete Guide to 529 Plans” you can get it at your local library. This book, as well as his web site, compares all of the 529 plans. If you do not want to get deep into this nick22 has already given you a couple of good examples of states with low cost plans that offer Vanguard funds in the previous replies. It sounds like you have no state tax issue. Remember that you or your wife open the plans with your niece as the...
- Tue May 22, 2007 8:34 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: VBINX in taxable account?
- Replies: 8
- Views: 3879
VBINX = Vanguard Balanced Index
It all depends on your tax bracket and your options. Vanguard Balanced Index is just 60% total stock market, which is very tax efficient and would be a good choice for taxable investment and 40% total bond market, which is throwing off taxable income. If someone has the opportunity I would put the bonds in a tax deferred account, but if you have very low or zero tax liability then who cares?
It all depends on your tax bracket and your options. Vanguard Balanced Index is just 60% total stock market, which is very tax efficient and would be a good choice for taxable investment and 40% total bond market, which is throwing off taxable income. If someone has the opportunity I would put the bonds in a tax deferred account, but if you have very low or zero tax liability then who cares?
- Tue May 22, 2007 1:29 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: New Member with 2 AA Questions
- Replies: 4
- Views: 1507
- Tue May 22, 2007 8:46 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Roth rollover: Target Retirement or start from scratch?
- Replies: 13
- Views: 4594
Start with the 2040, the target funds give you excellent diversification and auto rebalancing with very low expenses.
Nothing is fixed in stone, if after further review you wish to change funds, after you take all your assets into account and review your combined asset allocation, it is easy to do on the web or over the phone, no big deal…
Nothing is fixed in stone, if after further review you wish to change funds, after you take all your assets into account and review your combined asset allocation, it is easy to do on the web or over the phone, no big deal…
- Mon May 21, 2007 9:33 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Your opinions on a pension choice I have.
- Replies: 15
- Views: 4434
Re: Your opinions on a pension choice I have.
Dan, I know you have reduced it to two choices from a longer list of options but sometimes it is more advantageous to take the higher payment without survivor benefit and purchase a term life policy on yourself with your wife as the beneficiary.dandetour wrote:and there are many, but I am really only
considering two.
Congratulations on your pending retirement!
- Fri May 18, 2007 2:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Draw down taxable account
- Replies: 15
- Views: 3925
- Fri May 18, 2007 11:52 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Draw down taxable account
- Replies: 15
- Views: 3925
Andy, Lets continue to refine your example. “In summary, the first guy saved $2750 today and paid $7000 in ten years” So the $2750 that was saved was also invested the same way giving you $5500 in ten years and he paid a total of $1500 in tax in 2017 dollars. The second guy paid $2250 in 2017 dollars. So the first guy is ahead by $750 correct? The after tax fund distributions over the 10 years, assume they were invested in VTSMX, which currently has a 1.6% dividend yield, are taxed each year and have been neglected in all assumptions listed so far. You would need to reduce the growth rate of the after tax funds to allow for funds to pay the taxes each year. This point was made in the original posters question. So many assumptions… We each a...
- Thu May 17, 2007 9:55 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Draw down taxable account
- Replies: 15
- Views: 3925
What I do not see pointed out here is that each dollar contributed to your 401K is a dollar not taxed at your marginal tax rate. Your adjusted gross income is reduced by each dollar contributed to a 401K… So even if you realize Cap gains, the current maximum long term cap gain rate is 15%. As long as your income puts you in a marginal tax rate greater than 15% (Over $31,850 single return or $63,700 on a joint return) you are saving taxes today.Wagnerjb wrote:
b) How much are you paying in capital gains taxes? If you have a $5000 investment with a $500 capital gain it may be worth it. I would think long and hard before I sold a $5000 asset with a $3500 capital gain.
- Thu May 17, 2007 3:44 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: AMT tax harvesting, getting rid of stock, converting to TSM
- Replies: 8
- Views: 2427
This might help you out; you can input last year’s numbers and then include your tax lost harvesting …
http://www.hrblock.com/taxes/tools/2005 ... c/main.jsp
http://www.hrblock.com/taxes/tools/2005 ... c/main.jsp
- Mon May 14, 2007 12:34 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Confusing Financial Plan
- Replies: 10
- Views: 3348
Re: plan
Any info?suzibee wrote:Thank all of you for the feedback.
I will be talking with Vanguard on Friday, and will certainly post anything of value.
Wish me luck!
Susan
- Sun May 13, 2007 10:08 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Share Your Personal Investing History and Lessons Learned
- Replies: 5
- Views: 2133
Back some 19 years ago, when we were about to get married, my soon to be wife quit her job and we were unsure what to do with her 401K. My Father said, “go see my guy” who promptly put her tax deferred savings into a high cost annuity.
Not a big mistake in dollar terms but I should have known better, and yes the funds were subsequently transferred to a Vanguard IRA.
I also dabbled in individual stocks, some did well, some not so well, but when I compared there performance to that of my diversified mutual fund holdings I realized that I was wasting my time. I haven’t held individual stocks in over 15 years…
Not a big mistake in dollar terms but I should have known better, and yes the funds were subsequently transferred to a Vanguard IRA.
I also dabbled in individual stocks, some did well, some not so well, but when I compared there performance to that of my diversified mutual fund holdings I realized that I was wasting my time. I haven’t held individual stocks in over 15 years…
- Sat May 12, 2007 6:44 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Market Timing of 500 Index Funds
- Replies: 13
- Views: 5296
- Sat May 12, 2007 2:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Stable Value fund replacement?
- Replies: 32
- Views: 13015
Just posted the part of the annual report for this 401K that covers this stable value fund…
Most of the generous 7% contracts expire this year..
http://home.rochester.rr.com/ebay342/20 ... e_fund.pdf
Most of the generous 7% contracts expire this year..
http://home.rochester.rr.com/ebay342/20 ... e_fund.pdf
- Sat May 12, 2007 1:38 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: My plan
- Replies: 23
- Views: 6875
Oh, yeah, SpaceMonkey your plan looks very sound, I would commend you on doing a great job of investing, you are well down the learning curve, and this prevents you from being taken advantage of by “investment advisors” in the future.
As others have mentioned, I would consolidate your cash accounts, but it is no big deal if you do not mind having several accounts to keep track of….
Read the recommended books mentioned in the link below, start helping your peers, keep up the great work…
http://www.diehards.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=172
As others have mentioned, I would consolidate your cash accounts, but it is no big deal if you do not mind having several accounts to keep track of….
Read the recommended books mentioned in the link below, start helping your peers, keep up the great work…
http://www.diehards.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=172
- Sat May 12, 2007 1:23 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: My plan
- Replies: 23
- Views: 6875
Are there minimum requirements for Vanguard MMF? Yes $3000 to open Can I empty out the vanguard fund to like 200 dollars and leave it there for a while? No idea, never tried Is it easy to move funds in and out of it, can I link it to a checking account say for easy transfer? It is easy to move funds in and out of, I do so all the time, free electronic bank transfers and I have my paycheck direct deposited Basically, the Vanguard MMF cannot be used like ING and ED can be used correct? Not sure exactly what this means, Vanguard mmF is liquid reserves, you get a check book, you can set up a link to your other bank accounts and move money in /out every day for free. The only possible issue is that a paper check must be for $250.00 or greater, ...
- Thu May 10, 2007 9:44 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Asset allocation for my little sister
- Replies: 50
- Views: 18848
- Wed May 09, 2007 8:22 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Stable Value fund replacement?
- Replies: 32
- Views: 13015
LT bonds have returned around 2% more per year than T-bills. If you expect say a 0.5% "free lunch" from the stable value fund, then you need to increase equities enough to compensate for the lost 1.5% in return. http://socialize.morningstar.com/NewSocialize/asp/FullConv.asp?forumId=F100000015&convId=189032 "A study on stable-value funds, covering the twenty-year period ending in 2003, found that stable-value funds outperformed thirty-day Treasury bills by 3.2 percent per annum." If LT bonds have returned around 2% more per year than T-bills, and as Larry stated above, stable-value funds outperformed thirty-day Treasury bills by 3.2 percent per annum. It sounds like stable value funds outperformed LT bonds over the t...
- Wed May 09, 2007 5:40 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Simplifying my allocation - comments solicitied
- Replies: 3
- Views: 1670
Re: Simplifying my allocation - comments solicitied
somehow I missed this, nevermind...Phil wrote: Light on international, but I have more than enough international exposure (my job, and EPP).
- Wed May 09, 2007 5:35 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Simplifying my allocation - comments solicitied
- Replies: 3
- Views: 1670
I will second that recommendation of simplification to your existing asset allocationzhiwiller wrote: At the very least you should combine 500, TSM and Small Cap into just TSM.
I also would point out your low international exposure, is this intentional?
You could add something like VGTSX to this mix if you chose to keep it
I like the target retirement funds but as already pointed out you would need to weight the changes:
Simplification
Costs or expense ratio
Additional international exposure
Auto shifting asset allocation, autopilot, feature of 2015
Change of bond holdings from TIPS to TBM
No more Windsor fund
- Wed May 09, 2007 2:42 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Stable Value fund replacement?
- Replies: 32
- Views: 13015
Thanks to everyone for the replies so far! Brian, That is a very informative link, I am still trying to digest all the details. I have been viewing the stable value fund as a replacement for 100% of my bond allocation. I understand why most see it as a replacement for short-term bond funds but why not a replacement for longer term bond holdings? If the default risk is removed by the insurance wrapper, and the yield is higher than what one is rewarded for taking on the duration risk of the long term bond funds why would I not use it as a replacement for all of my bond holdings? The current yield on the Vanguard long-term bond index (VBLTX) is 5.36% with a 11 Year duration. The Stable Value Yield is currently 5.5% Secondly, as I understand t...
- Wed May 09, 2007 10:31 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: What is your age and AA?
- Replies: 219
- Views: 73405
- Wed May 09, 2007 9:50 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Stable Value fund replacement?
- Replies: 32
- Views: 13015
We've discussed stable value funds quite a bit (Larry S. was quite helpful, I might note). The bottomline, as I see it, is that stable value funds can offer a better risk-adjusted deal than other fixed income funds as a result of the fact that they are not available on the open market (and often have trading restrictions as well). Accordingly, there is essentially no way for something like a Vanguard IRA to offer a competing product, because necessarily that product would be available on the open market. So, the basic logic of stable value funds suggests that you have to be in some sort of access-restricted plan (like a 401K) in order to get one. Brian, Searching the forums I was able to find this note of thanks you posted to Larry but was...
- Tue May 08, 2007 9:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Stable Value fund replacement?
- Replies: 32
- Views: 13015
Stable Value fund replacement?
I have an old 401K that I have never rolled over to an IRA because of the availability of one investment option. This 401K offers a “fixed income” stable value fund that is comprised of GICs and synthetic GICs and returned 5.64% for CY 2006. The expense ratio is 0.01% and the underlying yield as of 1/2/07 was 5.5%.
Can anyone make a compelling argument as to why I might consider rolling this to a Vanguard IRA and which bond funds would replace this option?
Can anyone make a compelling argument as to why I might consider rolling this to a Vanguard IRA and which bond funds would replace this option?
- Tue May 08, 2007 3:31 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Confusing Financial Plan
- Replies: 10
- Views: 3348
The total international fund VS the FTSE all world is much more subtle. I hold the total international fund in my taxable holdings. They might comment on the 0.25% purchase fee for the FTSE fund. I don't think the difference between Total International and FTSE All World fund is all that subtle when held in a taxable account. Total International does not qualify for the foreign tax credit, whereas FTSE does. Over time, the tax savings more than offsets the purchase fee. I do think the consensus favors the FTSE all world over the total international, I am not disputing this. I also do not think that Vanguard starts new funds without a good reason so they must feel that there are compelling differences that differentiate FTSE from Total inte...
- Tue May 08, 2007 1:18 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Confusing Financial Plan
- Replies: 10
- Views: 3348
Susan, I too have used Vanguard financial planning service a couple of times. It is great place to start if you are not interested in learning about investing or want a professional opinion of your investment strategy. The price is right. In my case Vanguard made some assumptions, which were not correct, that generated less than perfect results. When I questioned some of the results they just “adjusted” or re-did the plan. I would agree that holding a bond fund in an after tax account is less than ideal IF you have room to place all of your bond holdings in tax deferred accounts. It is not clear from your note what your desired asset allocation is. The total international fund VS the FTSE all world is much more subtle. I hold the total inte...
- Mon May 07, 2007 12:00 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Automobile TCO
- Replies: 13
- Views: 5095
The Consumer Reports annual auto issue has lots of data. I used to be a big fan of Consumer Reports but then I took a statistics course. Consumer reports gets the data from the folks that return the surveys, which are a subset of the subscribers. The subscribers presumably read the magazine. What you end up with is not a random sample of the population but what can be called positive feedback. For example, you read that xyz is very reliable so in answering the question “did you have any serious issues with the transmission of your xyz car this year?” You answer NO, because although the transmission did fail it was replaced under warranty. Take a look at JD powers for a random sample, many discrepancies between the JD powers data and the co...
- Mon May 07, 2007 10:16 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Automobile TCO
- Replies: 13
- Views: 5095
There is a book published by http://www.intellichoice.com/ called the “The Complete Car Cost Guide” that tries to take all ownership costs into account. Our local library has the book in the reference section and most of the info is available on line at the above link. On issue to watch for is retained value. Intellichoice assumes that the vehicle is sold after five years to calculate the capital loss. This skews the results. I tend to purchase a car and then use it up by driving it for 10 years. I therefore look only at the purchase price, insurance cost, fuel economy, and maintenance cost. I have ended up with GM sedans and been quite happy with the total value proposition of them as well as the “fun to drive” factor. Toyota and Honda hav...
- Sun May 06, 2007 4:14 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: What is your fall-back strategy?
- Replies: 17
- Views: 5799
I like your plan, sounds like a solid one. My wife is more interested in our investments and investment strategy. That said, my simple backup plan that I communicated to her was to put half in Vanguard GNMA and the other half in Vanguard total mkt index.
It would be great if the tax deferred half was the half that ended up in the GNMA fund…
It would be great if the tax deferred half was the half that ended up in the GNMA fund…
- Sun May 06, 2007 9:43 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: FYI: WSJ's Clements on fundamental indexing
- Replies: 13
- Views: 5134
I thought that any time inefficiency in the market was made public the market would work in such a way as to close the gap? Is fundamental indexing not just another example in the long list of things that worked well until they became well known?
Dogs of the Dow, December effect, etc, etc…won’t any supposed benefit get arbitraged away???
Dogs of the Dow, December effect, etc, etc…won’t any supposed benefit get arbitraged away???
- Sat May 05, 2007 10:50 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: High fee 401(k) vs tax-efficiency
- Replies: 13
- Views: 3350
Umm yeah but…
Please think about that 2%. Theses are all made up numbers just for the point of the discussion…
If you are not eligible for ROTHS than lets guess that you each make $90K /yr and you each max out 401K contributions putting your AGI close to the ROTH AGI limit.
If she has saved $50K so far in the 401K then the real expenses per year are $1K/Year
If she gets 2% match then we are talking an employer contribution of $1,800/year.
So the match more than covers the expenses and you are still getting some match and all the benefit of the 401K. If on the other hand she has saved something like 500K than I really feel for you…
Please think about that 2%. Theses are all made up numbers just for the point of the discussion…
If you are not eligible for ROTHS than lets guess that you each make $90K /yr and you each max out 401K contributions putting your AGI close to the ROTH AGI limit.
If she has saved $50K so far in the 401K then the real expenses per year are $1K/Year
If she gets 2% match then we are talking an employer contribution of $1,800/year.
So the match more than covers the expenses and you are still getting some match and all the benefit of the 401K. If on the other hand she has saved something like 500K than I really feel for you…
- Sat May 05, 2007 10:12 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: High fee 401(k) vs tax-efficiency
- Replies: 13
- Views: 3350
1) Is there any employer match 2) Is your Adjusted Gross Income below the threshold for full participation in a ROTH IRA? If the answer to the above questions are “no” then you might consider a traditional IRA. Many folks consider the interpretation of the tax code to be that if you do not participate in an employer sponsored plan, even though you may be eligible , you are good to take the tax deductibility of the IRA contributions. Make sure you do not do both the 401K and the IRA in the same calendar year. If there is an employer match look at it this way. The employer match is paying the outrageous expense of the plan, approx 2%, and you are getting tax-deferred growth while reducing your Adjusted Gross Income and your current tax liabil...
- Fri May 04, 2007 2:21 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Total Return Charts
- Replies: 24
- Views: 19788
Msn
http://moneycentral.msn.com/investor/ch ... mbol=vtsmx
It is not just price it is total return, if you are lacking the advanced charts just reload it...
http://moneycentral.msn.com/investor/ch ... mbol=vtsmx
It is not just price it is total return, if you are lacking the advanced charts just reload it...
- Thu May 03, 2007 10:08 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: My Financial Plan - Welcome Any & All Comments!
- Replies: 10
- Views: 3730
Helot,
Thanks for the link, interesting article.
Congratulations on being expectant parents! Also, congrats on being debt free, I feel that is a big psychological issue and a great accomplishment.
The funds and placement look sound.
You might consider new after tax money going into Total market index as opposed to S&P 500 but no need to cause any tax issues by moving existing investments.
Your investments look fairly simple to manage, which I feel is important. I personally would have a target closer to 70/30 stock/bond but as already mentioned it depends on how you count your cash, you could already be close.
Thanks for the link, interesting article.
Congratulations on being expectant parents! Also, congrats on being debt free, I feel that is a big psychological issue and a great accomplishment.
The funds and placement look sound.
You might consider new after tax money going into Total market index as opposed to S&P 500 but no need to cause any tax issues by moving existing investments.
Your investments look fairly simple to manage, which I feel is important. I personally would have a target closer to 70/30 stock/bond but as already mentioned it depends on how you count your cash, you could already be close.
- Tue May 01, 2007 9:58 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: My Financial Plan - Welcome Any & All Comments!
- Replies: 10
- Views: 3730
Re: My Financial Plan - Welcome Any & All Comments!
An interesting graph that was recently posted on the topic of housing prices…Helot wrote: Leave it to me to wait till the end of a historic run up in home prices to consider purchasing a home.
http://www.speculativebubble.com/images/homevalues1.gif
- Tue May 01, 2007 9:10 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: 529 Education Savings
- Replies: 5
- Views: 2237
Without the tax advantage you are wide open, check out:
http://www.savingforcollege.com/
Joe Hurley wrote the book “The Best Way to Save for College – A Complete Guide to 529 Plans” you can get it at your local library. This book, as well as the web site, compares all of the 529 plans …
http://www.savingforcollege.com/
Joe Hurley wrote the book “The Best Way to Save for College – A Complete Guide to 529 Plans” you can get it at your local library. This book, as well as the web site, compares all of the 529 plans …