Search found 280 matches

by TinkerPDX
Sun May 21, 2017 9:07 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Automatic Reinvestment: To "check" or not to "check" (the box) . . that is the question?
Replies: 52
Views: 6710

Re: Automatic Reinvestment: To "check" or not to "check" (the box) . . that is the question?

Lieutenant.Columbo wrote:
WallStreetPhysician wrote:I automatically reinvest dividends
goingup wrote:...Automatic dividend reinvestment is efficient and eliminates decision making (dithering).
Toons wrote:Reinvestment =Compounding growth of investment.
I latched on and never looked back.
Via reinvestment,Compounding will do the heavy lifting of the portfolio.
TinkerPDX wrote:I do now
aren't you concerned automatically reinvesting dividends/income in Taxable could mess up Tax Loss Harvesting when/if needed??
All in tax-deferred or Roth, so wouldn't be an issue even if that was an issue.

I guess your potential problem (or inconvenience) would just be all those small lots, adding complexity/administrative burden?
by TinkerPDX
Sun May 21, 2017 9:01 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Lawyers charging for asking about fees
Replies: 65
Views: 12612

Re: Lawyers charging for asking about fees

There are plenty of wonderful lawyers in this world. But, broadly, lawyers have earned their reputation. No sense in arguing. One strategy: "Of course, I'm happy to pay your bill, in full and on time. As soon as I receive it, I'll leave a review for you online." 8-) Best site for advice about legal fees: http://devilsadvocate.com Be sure to review their sample retainer agreement. Once lawyers know that you're savvy about billing, they're less likely to hustle you. Same deal if you're a hobby car enthusiast; you're less likely to get ripped off by a mechanic. Website appears to have been made in 1993 when the organization was founded, and their civilian's guide to lawyers blog appears to be inactive. Interesting concept though - h...
by TinkerPDX
Sun May 21, 2017 9:00 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Lawyers charging for asking about fees
Replies: 65
Views: 12612

Re: Lawyers charging for asking about fees

I bill for time spent solving client problems/advancing client objectives at a client's request. Whether this lawyer was doing that can't be said from the limited information you provided.
by TinkerPDX
Sat Apr 29, 2017 9:39 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Benefits and methods for Gradual Rebalancing
Replies: 57
Views: 6363

Re: Benefits and methods for Gradual Rebalancing

smesman wrote: We do smaller transactions and as such pay less percentage based transaction costs.
Some possible disadvantages:
Sounds to me like more transaction costs. If you're paying a %, there's no benefit to more transactions. If you're paying a per-trade fee, more transactions = less fees.

Best to have all funds in something with no transaction cost (ie Vanguard at Vanguard, all the once source options at Schwab, etc.) if you're doing rebalancing/purchasing/selling with any frequency (unless your assets are so large that those little fees are meaningless).

Personally, as I'm accumulating, I just buy at each paycheck the things that are most below target allocation.
by TinkerPDX
Thu Apr 27, 2017 12:44 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Negotiating commercial lease- advice
Replies: 12
Views: 1671

Re: Negotiating commercial lease- advice

Everything is negotiable.

Likely worth engaging a broker and/or attorney.
by TinkerPDX
Fri Apr 14, 2017 4:09 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: The Fool Price
Replies: 8
Views: 2069

Re: The Fool Price

DW and I go back and forth on this. I think that price is an important factor in whether to make any purchase, and sales/discounts change the price, so should therefore impact the decision. DW doesn't think you should ever buy anything because it's on sale/discounted--which to me means you shouldn't factor price into the purchase. I think that really, we are both right: price matters, but low price alone shouldn't be a reason to buy. I think within that framework, a low-er price could still tip the scales and make something worth buying, or make it worth buying more of something. Another perspective, my uncle, who has operated a Birkenstock store for decades, says something along the lines of "the bitterness of poor quality long outlas...
by TinkerPDX
Wed Apr 05, 2017 10:40 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: High Earners - What's Your Profession?
Replies: 1217
Views: 224011

Re: High Earners - What's Your Profession?

Lawyer in a mid-size firm (middle-market city equivalent to big law).
by TinkerPDX
Tue Apr 04, 2017 12:23 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Law school-most cost efficient, yet quality, way to get Real Estate law degree?
Replies: 37
Views: 4117

Re: Law school-most cost efficient, yet quality, way to get Real Estate law degree?

Gill wrote:
Boglemama wrote:
Leemiller wrote:What is your career goal here and how did you decide on it?
I had a rental property and really enjoyed going over the contracts involved. Sales contracts, rental contracts, etc. I love rules and laws. The order of them makes chaos into manageable bits.

I would like to help people with contracts and with real estate transactions.
You don't need a law degree for that. Maybe take a few paralegal courses.
Gill
Unless you want to practice law, law school may not be worth the trouble. Getting licensed as a broker or property manager may make sense.

If you do want to practice law, do your diligence on the cost of getting the degree and the job market. It had been a very bad deal for many (though certainly not all) of late.
by TinkerPDX
Sat Apr 01, 2017 10:48 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Not opting for 529... anyone else?
Replies: 175
Views: 16344

Re: Not opting for 529... anyone else?

Key questions for me: 1) are you maxing other tax-advantaged space, which is more flexible; 2) does your state offer any kind of tax incentive. For us, that means when 1) is yes, since 2) is also, it's worth maxing the deductible portion.
by TinkerPDX
Fri Mar 31, 2017 10:06 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Currently have $700,000 at 26 years old get $100,000 a year
Replies: 165
Views: 34934

Re: Currently have $700,000 at 26 years old get $100,000 a year

You are set.

Focus on what you can do to help those who are less lucky.
by TinkerPDX
Thu Mar 30, 2017 11:59 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is a Fidelity VISA 2% cashback contribution to a Roth IRA tax-free?
Replies: 32
Views: 8425

Re: Is a Fidelity VISA 2% cashback contribution to a Roth IRA tax-free?

Great question! I'd never thought of it since we put our Fidelity cash-back into the brokerage account, not directly into the Roth. Seems like it must be reported as a contribution to the Roth by Fidelity, so you've got to report it on your return, and therefore have to pay taxes on it as income, right? But then cash-back is not considered "income" for tax purposes...so this is quite the pickle! Interested to hear what better-informed BHs have to say. Seems there's at least an argument that you've already paid taxes on that cash-back, since it's really just a return of other post-tax income, and therefore, plunking it into the Roth shouldn't require paying tax on it again.
by TinkerPDX
Wed Mar 29, 2017 7:13 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: anyone factor in future inheritance?
Replies: 78
Views: 8389

Re: anyone factor in future inheritance?

I do not. DW's folks will likely leave her something, maybe even six figures. But it's not a certainty, and I'd rather have it "surprise on the upside" then incorporate it into our plans and not have it materialize. On top of that, on my side, my guess is it's more likely we'll be supporting family members in the final phase than it is that there will be any inheritance for me.

Now, if and when we do actually receive an inheritance, it will certainly be invested per our AA, and it will move us closer towards our "number." I am hopeful that will happen, but certainly not planning on it.
by TinkerPDX
Mon Mar 27, 2017 12:37 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Weathering sell-off days like today
Replies: 107
Views: 10561

Re: Weathering sell-off days like today

1) Try to get better at not looking; it doesn't do any good.

2) If you must, look at anything that's up and think "great, it's up," and look at anything that's down and think "great, I can't wait to buy more next [regular investment period, rebalancing date/threshold/etc.]!"
by TinkerPDX
Sun Mar 26, 2017 5:08 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Opinions on my investing strategy
Replies: 32
Views: 4040

Re: Opinions on my investing strategy

AA and plans for saving are great.

Skeptical you can retire in 10-15 years with this plan without exceptionally frugal living - but if you can do it, great!
by TinkerPDX
Sun Mar 26, 2017 11:02 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Justification for Adding REITs
Replies: 78
Views: 13253

Re: Justification for Adding REITs

I can't get my head around what the numerical equivalent would be between rebalancing at band X% and twice-monthly purchases of Y% of total assets. You'll be more likely to get it into your head when you are withdrawing not accumulating. Sure; I suppose the point is that this will involve selling (relatively) high once i'm withdrawing to maintain my AA... I guess the question then is whether one can effectively capture the volatility with buying into and selling out of an AA, as opposed to rebalancing static assets. It should make no difference other than minor timing differences? I suppose I'm just trying to get to the conclusion that I should stay my course, meaning... 1) livesoft is right about best-capturing volatility premium with reb...
by TinkerPDX
Sun Mar 26, 2017 10:05 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Justification for Adding REITs
Replies: 78
Views: 13253

Re: Justification for Adding REITs

Doc wrote:
TinkerPDX wrote:I can't get my head around what the numerical equivalent would be between rebalancing at band X% and twice-monthly purchases of Y% of total assets.
You'll be more likely to get it into your head when you are withdrawing not accumulating.
Sure; I suppose the point is that this will involve selling (relatively) high once i'm withdrawing to maintain my AA... I guess the question then is whether one can effectively capture the volatility with buying into and selling out of an AA, as opposed to rebalancing static assets.
by TinkerPDX
Sun Mar 26, 2017 9:51 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Does your asset allocation derate tax-deferred holdings to account for future tax liability?
Replies: 163
Views: 13431

Re: Does your asset allocation derate tax-deferred holdings to account for future tax liability?

Bogleheads, Does your asset allocation derate tax-deferred holdings to account for future tax liability? What are your arguments for or against doing so? I think I recently saw it written that of course nobody would do something like that because it's too complex, but I have it built in to my asset allocation spreadsheet. Other than complexity, are there good arguments against such a practice? I think it's a great idea if you've solved it accurately. A similar thing I'm trying to figure out is how to compare a dollar of income today (subject to today's taxes and saving rate) to a dollar of income in retirement (subject to different tax rate, plus some roth/some deferred, and not subject to any savings rate). Plus inflation on top of that. ...
by TinkerPDX
Sun Mar 26, 2017 9:44 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: How Would Factor Investing Have Done In Japan
Replies: 10
Views: 1996

Re: How Would Factor Investing Have Done In Japan

larryswedroe wrote:just to add that if you have strong value premium, as is the case in Japan, then should expect weak MOM premium because they are negatively correlated. And that's why they are good diversifiers of each other. Those with heavy value exposure should add MOM and vice versa
Isn't the market MOM-heavy already? So if I have extra value exposure, don't I get the growth/MOM exposure in my total market space?

(Related question: how fair is it to consider growth/MOM as at least similar and somewhat interchangeable?)
by TinkerPDX
Sun Mar 26, 2017 9:42 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Justification for Adding REITs
Replies: 78
Views: 13253

Re: Justification for Adding REITs

I think the justification is that REITs are less correlated to TSM than some other things, so that REITs can be up or down whether they are found in TSM or not. That means, one can rebalance into them when they are low and rebalance out of them when they are high. Either way, one can make some money. So if you are just going to buy a REIT fund and let it sit, then there is no justification for owning a REIT fund [separately]. We've seen this comment a few times from you lately - maybe with respect to small value. Would you agree that the basic concept works in the accumulation phase as well, as long as one buys according to AA, which in turn means buying less of what's up and more of what's down each time one buys? I can't get my head arou...
by TinkerPDX
Wed Mar 22, 2017 11:01 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Vehicles as a percentage of net worth
Replies: 130
Views: 18943

Re: Vehicles as a percentage of net worth

Tangentially (and since, agreed, this is an expense, not an asset), I think a more interesting number is how much do you spend on transportation (fuel, insurance, car payment if applicable, maintenance, bus fare, bike maintenance -- everything transportation that isn't associated with travel out of town) as a percent of income? For us, it looks like over the last year, it's about 6.5%. That includes loan payment on a 2015 car, our insurance, car maintenance, bike maintenance, and my occasional bus fare. Also, is borrowing for a car purchase, even if it's a depreciating asset, really undesirable relative to paying cash if you can get great financing? As I see it, better to borrow for the car at 2% (1 or even 0 for some...) if I can pay off t...
by TinkerPDX
Sat Mar 18, 2017 9:06 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 15% International Small-Cap vs 30% Total International
Replies: 47
Views: 6713

Re: 15% International Small-Cap vs 30% Total International

rollsound wrote:thanks Larry Swedroe. I agree, waiting for a intl Vanguard SCV index fund to appear...
FNDC, kinda.. higher ER, but if you have a Schwab account, at least there's no transaction fee.

Curious what Larry thinks of it (and"fundamental" indexes generally - Schwab has a few funds based on these that approximate int scv (fndc), emg value (fnde), and int value (fndf))
by TinkerPDX
Sat Mar 18, 2017 7:29 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Investing in - WATER - thoughts
Replies: 57
Views: 6724

Re: Investing in - WATER - thoughts

Just watched the NatGeo special on the California water crisis - http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/water-and-power-a-california-heist/ As a friend pointed out - the wild west has always had its battles around water rights, and now it has been ramped up between the various modern day players. BTW - I saw the Stella Artois (Matt Damon) TV water commercial - and bought 2 goblets and sent them to our son in California.... even though the proceeds help the rest of the world. Like the story presented, I think that water will become a fought over commodity - just like oil. And most folks think that cutting back on your personal water usage will help - but it is NOT water usage by people, it is the 80% used by the tree nut farmers and other ag...
by TinkerPDX
Mon Mar 13, 2017 3:02 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How Do You Share Expenses?
Replies: 52
Views: 6110

Re: How Do You Share Expenses?

We're now a one-income family, so not much splitting. But even before that, most of our accounts were shared. We actually bought our first home in her name only before we were married because of credit issues. We don't budget much, other than making sure we're saving on target, and discussing major purchases. The credit card we actually use is shared. We do have an interim cost-sharing situation while we share a house with DMIL and DFIL, while they build their granny-flat in the back yard. We track all grocery and utility expenses in a spreadsheet, and each month when we pay them rent, we adjust it to reconcile sharing of the household expenses. If your wife owns the house you live in, why are you paying your in-laws rent? Shouldn't they b...
by TinkerPDX
Sat Mar 11, 2017 4:19 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How Do You Share Expenses?
Replies: 52
Views: 6110

Re: How Do You Share Expenses?

We're now a one-income family, so not much splitting. But even before that, most of our accounts were shared. We actually bought our first home in her name only before we were married because of credit issues. We don't budget much, other than making sure we're saving on target, and discussing major purchases. The credit card we actually use is shared.

We do have an interim cost-sharing situation while we share a house with DMIL and DFIL, while they build their granny-flat in the back yard. We track all grocery and utility expenses in a spreadsheet, and each month when we pay them rent, we adjust it to reconcile sharing of the household expenses.
by TinkerPDX
Fri Mar 10, 2017 12:08 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Investing when market is peaking
Replies: 49
Views: 8213

Re: Investing when market is peaking

lack_ey wrote:Of course you're trying to time. Which would be a good thing if you have knowledge that the market is peaking, rather than it just being at or around a high.

Could well be later, much later, not necessarily sooner.

Regardless, 30 years from now you're not going to be wondering about that $10,000 today that might have been $12,000 instead somehow with some prescient timing.
+1

Feels like a lot now, but in the long-run, it's not as big a deal as it seems.

If you have the short-term stomach, it's definitely better long term, statistically/probabilistically, to put it in now.

If you don't, then DCA in. Search for some good posts on that elsewhere on forum, if I recall, from livesoft.
by TinkerPDX
Thu Mar 02, 2017 11:33 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Keep Financial Advisor or move to 3 Fund Portfolio?
Replies: 48
Views: 6695

Re: Keep Financial Advisor or move to 3 Fund Portfolio?

Ditch the advisor.

All those folks who use him and are doing well are most likely doing well because they earn and save a lot of money--enough to do well in spite of the advisor putting them into high-cost funds, not because of it. You're all paying a high price for underperformance.

Unless you want to save for his retirement, his kids' college, etc., then definitely go for the 3-fund. You'll be more diversified, and over the course of your career, you'll save a whole lot more.
by TinkerPDX
Wed Mar 01, 2017 9:51 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Possibly Financially Independent and Feeling Miserable
Replies: 154
Views: 26070

Re: Possibly Financially Independent and Feeling Miserable

There is a middle ground - you don't have to stop earning altogether and commit to 100% retirement; instead, you can start ramping up leisure time and taking more time off of work. (I am assuming if you have saved this much, you are in a profession where you have some control over work volume.) I find that even just a few days really "off" helps me re-connect with priorities (work/career is a means, family/friends/travel/whatever-you-enjoy is the end). And a few weeks really does it. So I suggest taking the longest vacation (/sabbatical?) available to you to think about what life would be like if you had a lot more free time (what I think of as "consuming" life), and a lot less obligation to work for money, and see if yo...
by TinkerPDX
Tue Feb 28, 2017 9:46 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: saving for european vacay in 2055
Replies: 31
Views: 4800

Re: saving for european vacay in 2055

If you're not going to touch it for the next thirty-odd years, then go for the appropriate Target Fund. Personally, I would just invest the $2000 as part of my overall asset allocation, and not have a separate bucket for this. Don't forget to enjoy life "in the here and now" with your wife :happy :happy The way I see it, about 1 in 4 dollars (and their earnings) I put into the retirement account is for vacations, or if things go well, maybe more like 1 in 2. I would instead think of the marginal value of money you put into the account whenever you're considering it - retiring a day/week/month earlier, a first-class upgrade, a whole vacation, a nice meal, or whatever other consumption items you would like to have during your retir...
by TinkerPDX
Sat Feb 25, 2017 12:35 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What is your overall portfolio weighted expense ratio
Replies: 333
Views: 43873

Re: What is your overall portfolio weighted expense ratio

0.23%

Includes a 401k (about 1/4 total value)
by TinkerPDX
Fri Feb 24, 2017 3:55 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Rebalancing -> Market Crash and rebalancing
Replies: 63
Views: 6749

Re: Rebalancing -> Market Crash and rebalancing

livesoft wrote:These 50% crash in one days would be spectacular buying opportunities if I was still alive to place an order and if network infrastructure was still working to place orders.
Good reminder that a really, really RBD could mean that bonds and stocks are equally worthless... then the well-armed preppers take over and our diligent, prudent, low-cost index fund-based investment plans won't really be worth a damn :oops:

There are only so many contingencies one can effectively prepare for.
by TinkerPDX
Fri Feb 24, 2017 3:51 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Rebalancing -> Market Crash and rebalancing
Replies: 63
Views: 6749

Re: Rebalancing -> Market Crash and rebalancing

My IPS does not have a limit on rebalancing, though the idea of setting a minimum value of "safe" assets seems worth considering.

As for why, I'm early in the accumulation phase, and the difference between having x or 2x or 3x in safe assets now is not nearly as relevant to what my ability to retire (20+ years from now) will look like as it is for someone planning to do it much sooner.
by TinkerPDX
Fri Feb 24, 2017 12:02 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: S&P at 22 times multiple
Replies: 40
Views: 6291

Re: S&P at 22 times multiple

Price = Earnings*(1+g) / (k-g) where g is the growth rate and k is the required rate of return. So P/E is (1+g) /(k-g) You'll note that in a zero growth company, P/E is simply 1/k . So, if we make some assumption that the required rate of return on an equity security today is, say, double the 10 year treasury rate of about 2 1/2% then the appropriate P/E for a no-growth equity would be 20x. If you then do some fiddling around with various numbers, you'll find that the appropriate p/e for a company with even modest single digit growth is quite a bit higher than 20. So, this point is this: its true that a 20x range for the S&P p/e is on the higher side, historically, but.....the current level of interest rates is also on the very low sid...
by TinkerPDX
Thu Feb 23, 2017 12:17 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Master Thread for Portland, Oregon
Replies: 161
Views: 94370

Re: Master Thread for Portland, Oregon

CynthiaCPdx wrote:Yes, my husband and I have volunteered to coordinate this year and are hoping to provide a speaker. See you in March.
Thanks for taking it on Cynthia. Hoping I can make it to one of these gatherings soon!
by TinkerPDX
Thu Feb 23, 2017 11:41 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Credit card: Cash versus Flight Miles
Replies: 62
Views: 12279

Re: Credit card: Cash versus Flight Miles

I recently got the travel bug and I've read some threads on how to use/churn cads but I don't think that I've ever seen anyone ask the question about whether, dollar for dollar, is someone better off using a cash back card (like AMEX Blue Preferred) and then using the cash to fly or whether using a flight miles card is superior? I have seen this hinted at in other threads and forums, but has someone actually taken a close look at the comparison? I spend a few thousand a month on my AMEX Blue preferred, on various things, and in the future some will be on flights. I've often wished for a definitive answer, but unfortunately I don't think there is one. All of the posts above help shed light. My conclusion has been that at 2% cash back, cash ...
by TinkerPDX
Wed Feb 22, 2017 3:17 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What are they trying to sell me here?
Replies: 27
Views: 4327

Re: What are they trying to sell me here?

Thank you all for the insightful responses. I figured something was fishy and the wording does make it sound like some type of whole life policy. No thanks. I'm going to continue to stay the course. Nisiprius's comment is making me feel like I should just avoid the event all together. Glad I can trust all of you guys! I vote for going and reporting back. Definitely don't even consider buying anything they're selling - it is apparent that it's probably something that's bad for everyone, and in any event something you don't need. But hey, a nice meal and a game (I assume great seats) with your colleagues? Seems worth enduring the pitch, especially if you're curious. Time is scarce and valuable, of course, so I get that it's not worth going t...
by TinkerPDX
Wed Feb 22, 2017 11:54 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Negotiate lowball offer? (new job)
Replies: 47
Views: 6111

Re: Negotiate lowball offer? (new job)

I wouldn't utter a peep about wanting/deserving a raise until you've confirmed what you could get elsewhere. Your assertion that you could make 50% more doesn't square with your choice to take $42k at the temp gig to begin with. If you really want to negotiate a higher salary, you need to prove you have a credible option for getting it elsewhere if they won't pay it to you. Also, the all-in cost for an employee and temp aren't apples-to-apples comparisons. Now that you're an employee, they are subject to all sorts of potential liability in addition to the cost of benefits/fully-loaded comp. Before, the temp agency ate that cost. Also, how certain are you of what other employees with identical roles that weren't hired through the agency are ...
by TinkerPDX
Wed Feb 22, 2017 9:26 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: "High conviction investing"
Replies: 26
Views: 4106

Re: "High conviction investing"

More broadly I would say standard Boglehead 3-fund portfolio kind of allocation can be said to be relatively high conviction on broad stock and bond performance (market beta, term risk, etc.), relatively low conviction or outright skepticism on relative stockpicking, discretionary active, maybe other factors, and so on. that's a good point, and i certainly have high convictions about the basic indexing strategy. it seems to me (and maybe i'm reading too much into this) that they're attaching some ineffectual/effeminate quality to passive indexers. like: "hey! don't be a sissy! roll the dice!" A nice complement to the series of ads with humanoid "robot" advisors. Don't remember who it was from, just that they were terrib...
by TinkerPDX
Tue Feb 21, 2017 10:38 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Is 60/40 too conservative for 31 year old?
Replies: 69
Views: 11797

Re: Is 60/40 too conservative for 31 year old?

Tom1320 wrote:Have you played with any Monte Carlo simulations to see what the historical differences of your AA changes would be? Might be a useful exercise to see how they would have worked out in the past.
Agreed. OP, in my experience, what you'll find is that the biggest impact on the portfolio "success" rate with these is how much you save and how much you spend, while the AA has less impact. So if you're saving a lot, it's probably going to work out. AA should be based on need, ability, and willingness to take risk. You probably have a high ability to take risk, but little need, and at least one of you has less willingness. So 60/40 sounds great.
by TinkerPDX
Tue Feb 21, 2017 5:36 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Extreme Valuations, and why you should reconsider
Replies: 307
Views: 32864

Re: Extreme Valuations, and why you should reconsider

dcarste, it seems as though it is definitely right for you to take more "off the table" by reducing your exposure to equities, since articles like this one give you pause. for me, and I think for bogleheads generally, the approach is to have an AA that is right for us regardless of what this commentator or others are predicting.

good luck.
by TinkerPDX
Sun Feb 19, 2017 10:24 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Good strategy? [Roth IRA fund selection]
Replies: 21
Views: 2086

Re: Good strategy?

Two questions. 1. I have a roth with the following. ISHARES CORE S&P U.S. GROWTH ETF (IUSG) ISHARES MSCI EMERGING MARKETS ETF (EEM) ISHARES RUSSELL MID-CAP GROWTH ETF (IWP) ISHARES RUSSELL 1000 GROWTH ETF (IWF) ISHARES RUSSELL 1000 VALUE ETF (IWD) ISHARES RUSSELL 2000 GROWTH ETF (IWO) SPDR S&P 500 ETF TR (SPY) VANGUARD TOTAL WORLD STK ETF (VT) While some are preforming well others aren't. I'm thinking of selling them all and either repositioning it all into vtsax or buying vanguard admiral positions in 3 areas: large, medium, and small caps. What do you think? 2. I have a brokerage account with stocks not producing. Am thinking of repositioning into vtsax. Is this a good idea? Any thoughts on tax strategy (I'm confused.) Maybe what...
by TinkerPDX
Sun Feb 19, 2017 10:14 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Student Debt
Replies: 26
Views: 3758

Re: Student Debt

For those going into BigLaw, I'd recommend a year emergency fund. Depending on your practice, you can find yourself on the outside looking in for a very long time if you lose your job, the firm goes under, or the partner you work for leaves. And the government isn't hiring. BigLaw is big money but it has also become big risk. How much exactly is a year emergency fund? I find it hard to believe that one can go from like a top 10 or 25 law firm to being unemployed for a year. While you wont make as much money as you did in big law, maxing out savings is probably worth it before starting on a year long emergency fund. Re EFs: 1) agreed that someone in big law, if a real emergency hits, is probably able to get *some* employment; 2) important t...
by TinkerPDX
Sun Feb 19, 2017 12:09 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How long do you keep your kitchen sponge?
Replies: 55
Views: 8612

Re: How long do you keep your kitchen sponge?

Until DW throws it away (or presently, while we are sharing the new house with MIL and FIL while they build the granny flat in the back yard, when MIL throws it away, which is even earlier than DW!).
by TinkerPDX
Sat Feb 18, 2017 10:38 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 1.3 million dollars in debt
Replies: 36
Views: 10603

Re: 1.3 million dollars in debt

Thank you all for the quick replies. Paying off the high interest student loan debt definitely seems like a no brainer. That being said, I know I can get 4 or 4.5% fixed if I refinance the student loans with a private institution. My worry is this; the second I do that, the bubble will burst and federal student loans will be partially or fully forgiven and I'll be stuck on the outside crying. Would you refinance given my exceptional balance AND the looming student loan bubble? Even if there is some great student loan forgiveness (which seems less likely now than it did pre-election, IMO), I doubt it would include grad/prof. school loans, so I wouldn't worry about that aspect. And even at 4.5%, it's a pretty good "return" to pay i...
by TinkerPDX
Sat Feb 18, 2017 10:33 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to Split $10K Fed Tax Bill Between Husband and Wife
Replies: 38
Views: 4419

Re: How to Split $10K Fed Tax Bill Between Husband and Wife

I would pay pro rata based on your respective shares of the income, rather than worrying about the particular rate on particular income. You benefit from MFJ tax treatment from Uncle Sam--part of that is treating it all as one lump of household income, no matter the sources--so it would seem to make sense for you two to treat it hte same way.
by TinkerPDX
Thu Feb 16, 2017 10:16 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Advice Please - Am I Doing This Right or Do I Need an Advisor Like All My Friends?
Replies: 20
Views: 3871

Re: Advice Please - Am I Doing This Right or Do I Need an Advisor Like All My Friends?

If you want to KISS put your age in a TBM ETF/fund (BND, AGG, SCHZ) and the rest into a total world equity ETF/fund (VT) and be done with it. What would be the real world difference in using Vanguard Total World Stock Index Fund (VTWSX) as your equities portion instead of some combination of Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund (VTSMX) and Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund (VGTSX), besides simplicity? At least one difference: the total world fund will maintain world market cap weight, whereas using a total US + total international gives you the ability to maintain a specific US/ex-US allocation, which could be different than total world market weight. Also, once you're in the withdraw phase, having separate funds allows you t...
by TinkerPDX
Thu Feb 16, 2017 1:02 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Physician contract restrictive covenant
Replies: 24
Views: 3111

Re: Physician contract restrictive covenant

A competent lawyer in your state could quickly tell you whether this would be enforceable, and whether it gets "Blue- penciled" or disappears altogether if it isn't.

That analysis may mean it isn't worth pushing too hard on.
by TinkerPDX
Wed Feb 15, 2017 11:06 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Please list value funds you currently use
Replies: 62
Views: 9057

Re: Please list value funds you currently use

US large value: SCHV, VTV
US mid value: VOE
US small value: VBR
ex-US large value: VTRIX, FNDF
ex-US small value: FNDC
emerging value: FNDE