Search found 398 matches
- Fri Aug 31, 2012 9:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Understanding my 401k fees
- Replies: 16
- Views: 3170
Re: Understanding my 401k fees
Many people make the mistake of going to the website of the financial institution to look at fund fees and other fund information. You should not need to do that, the website for your 401k should have all the information available (as well as the info your were given when you first signed up for the 401k). If you poke around there, you'll probably find you can download information about all the funds and what their fees are. This is not an edge case, almost every 401k charges more for the same funds you can buy at retail.
- Wed Aug 29, 2012 11:48 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Purchasing a telescope for my wife for Christmas
- Replies: 22
- Views: 2636
Re: Purchasing a telescope for my wife for Christmas
I can't provide any specific recommendations, but I can let you know that back yard telescopes have come a long way. You can now get telescopes that are motorized and can be hooked up to your laptop. You then run star/planet tracking software on the laptop. I believe you do something like orient your telescope to the north and put in your longitude and latitude. Then, the computer controls the movement of the telescope, compensating automatically for the earth's rotation. It will track the object in the sky so you don't have too. If you want to look at Saturn that day, just tell the software. It will automatically position the telescope for you. Its like having your own semi-professional observatory. I have no idea what telescopes like that...
- Wed Aug 29, 2012 4:09 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Do monthly SS payments change when you retire?
- Replies: 8
- Views: 993
Re: Do monthly SS payments change when you retire?
Nope, you shouldn't expect any changes in the amount except for the deduction for part B from what she is currently receiving.
- Wed Aug 29, 2012 8:32 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Why is VG recommending so little in bonds?
- Replies: 22
- Views: 3251
Re: Why is VG recommending so little in bonds?
Hover your mouse over the pie chart and you should ge a popup box with the number and text in it.sscritic wrote:I might be in the wrong place. On my front page there is a pie chart with no numbers attached. That's all I see. Maybe we see a different vanguard page.my husband's vanguard page
- Tue Aug 28, 2012 10:39 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: dental digital xrays can't be emailed--advice?
- Replies: 24
- Views: 7818
Re: dental digital xrays can't be emailed--advice?
I don't know if dentists fall under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). If they do, emailing them would be against the law. Any information about you must be transmitted in a secure fashion. Email is not a secure transmission medium.
- Fri Aug 24, 2012 9:01 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Case for NOT maxing out 401k/403b?
- Replies: 19
- Views: 2748
Re: Case for NOT maxing out 401k/403b?
The general advice posted on the wiki is to multiply the number of years you plan to be at the company by the expense ratio. If it is less than thirty, you are still better off investing in the tax deferred account. Don't forget you get the tax savings too.
- Thu Aug 23, 2012 10:30 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Should I move out of my copper mining stock? (FCX)
- Replies: 9
- Views: 1269
Re: Should I move out of my copper mining stock? (FCX)
I would think that if your uncle was able to tell you the right time to get in, he should be able to tell you if it is the right time to get out. What does he say about it?
- Tue Aug 21, 2012 11:34 am
- Forum: Forum Issues and Administration
- Topic: ISP blocked on Bogleheads?
- Replies: 8
- Views: 2878
Re: ISP blocked on Bogleheads?
What URL are you trying to login to? I never get a captcha when logging in to the forums.
- Fri Aug 17, 2012 5:00 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Any reason to keep IRA transfers in separate accounts?
- Replies: 8
- Views: 2495
Re: Any reason to keep IRA transfers in separate accounts?
@kaneohe:
Thanks for that link. It was very insightful as to how they treat multiple Roth IRA accounts. I would have never expected they would be treated as one giant Roth IRA.
@The Wizard:
Yes, Vanguard told me today that you can have multiple Roth IRA accounts open at the same time. Whether or not there is a limit, I don't know.
@TheGreyingDuke:
Based on some additional reading I did (http://www.obliviousinvestor.com/roth-i ... wal-rules/), and the fact that they treat all your Roth's as one giant one, once you've waited a 5 year period on one of your IRAs, you're considered to have waited it on all of them.
Thanks for that link. It was very insightful as to how they treat multiple Roth IRA accounts. I would have never expected they would be treated as one giant Roth IRA.
@The Wizard:
Yes, Vanguard told me today that you can have multiple Roth IRA accounts open at the same time. Whether or not there is a limit, I don't know.
@TheGreyingDuke:
Based on some additional reading I did (http://www.obliviousinvestor.com/roth-i ... wal-rules/), and the fact that they treat all your Roth's as one giant one, once you've waited a 5 year period on one of your IRAs, you're considered to have waited it on all of them.
- Fri Aug 17, 2012 10:45 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Furniture "protection plans'
- Replies: 10
- Views: 6207
Re: Furniture "protection plans'
I would only consider this if you are buying couches from Ikea. I have heard numerous stories of their couches breaking down the middle. It probably has something to do with overweight Americans and the furniture not being designed for that weight. Americans also like to flop down on their couches, putting greater stress on them. If it doesn't have any kind of middle support, you may want to consider a plan if you have people in your house that treat furniture that way.
- Fri Aug 17, 2012 8:26 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Any reason to keep IRA transfers in separate accounts?
- Replies: 8
- Views: 2495
Any reason to keep IRA transfers in separate accounts?
I currently have two Roth IRAs at Fidelity. The first one was created when I did an initial conversion of my traditional IRA to a Roth. When it came time to invest more money in a Roth, I decided (for possible unknown future implications) to open a second Roth so as not to contaminate that first pool of money with non-converted funds. Now, I'd like to transfer that second Roth to Vanguard. I also plan to contribute more money to the Roth once it is at Vanguard. Is there any reason why I'd want to do what I did so many years ago; keep the transferred funds in one bucket and make new contributions to another bucket? With a transfer, how does the new institution get information about your original contributions, or don't they care? I'd think t...
- Wed Aug 15, 2012 7:51 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Recorded financial seminar for our interns
- Replies: 11
- Views: 2445
Re: Recorded financial seminar for our interns
You did a really good job of staying neutral; I commend you for that. I did like the first half better than the last half. I agree that it might be better to break it up into multiple sections so you could go into more detail on each topic and people could watch the ones that pertained to them. Here are some notes I took during the presentation and some things you might also want to touch on. Some of these are things I often cover with people I work with when talking about finances and investing. Some of these can only be gone into if the presentation is split into multiple videos. You mention in the presentation that some states don't have income tax but you don't explain that they tend to have higher property or sales tax to make up for t...
- Tue Aug 14, 2012 2:29 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Boston trip - suggestions?
- Replies: 21
- Views: 2437
Re: Boston trip - suggestions?
I also recommend the globe thingy at the Christian Science Monitor complex (in left building when facing the church from Mass. Ave.). When I went, you didn't have to wait for a tour, you could walk in the building and room anytime you wanted. Be sure to position yourself at one of the the walkway and someone else at the other end. Have one person speak in a whisper and the other person will hear it as though they are talking in a normal voice right beside them (quite freaky). Edit: Also, the science museum and the OMNI theater (especially the OMNI theater). It is by far the best IMAX theater I have ever been to. The screen wraps around you and the sound system encompasses you. I believe they also have custom films that are only shown in suc...
- Sun Aug 12, 2012 4:09 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: 'Target retirement 2050" beating my index funds?
- Replies: 13
- Views: 5243
Re: 'Target retirement 2050" beating my index funds?
Something is definitely wrong with how you are doing the analysis. Go to
http://performance.morningstar.com/fund ... ture=en-US
and compare it to VFIFX. Are you by chance comparing dollars gained and mistakenly including your contributions as gains?
http://performance.morningstar.com/fund ... ture=en-US
and compare it to VFIFX. Are you by chance comparing dollars gained and mistakenly including your contributions as gains?
- Sun Aug 12, 2012 7:47 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Need advice on purchasing a gas trimmer
- Replies: 21
- Views: 4348
Re: Need advice on purchasing a gas trimmer
I like my Troy Bilt. They take regular gas so there is no need to have separate gas cans for the mower and trimmer. What I like about it is you can purchase different attachments for them. The attachments seem to appear to be standard. I had a 10+ year old trimmer die, and when I bought the new one, it could still use my old attachments.
In addition, they have added a new feature that allows you to start the trimmer via a drill or a little accessory they sell. This can be important if your pull string ever breaks; you wouldn't have to buy a whole new trimmer or try and get the old one repaired.
In addition, they have added a new feature that allows you to start the trimmer via a drill or a little accessory they sell. This can be important if your pull string ever breaks; you wouldn't have to buy a whole new trimmer or try and get the old one repaired.
- Sun Aug 12, 2012 7:32 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: computer died?
- Replies: 34
- Views: 4394
Re: computer died?
Usually, if you hear a pop you have a power issue. You should remove anything that is plugged into the unit (mice, monitors, etc). You should first try running it just on battery. If that doesn't work, remove the battery and plug it in and see if it works. If that fails, then you have to decide if it is worth it to fix it. Like other have said, you can remove the drive from the laptop and connect it to another PC via a USB cable. It will show up as a new drive letter on the second PC. I always recommend a product like this: http://www.amazon.com/DekCell-SATA-Cable-Power-Adapter/dp/B000QV5ZQC over a hard drive enclosure. It achieves the same results, but it is like the difference between buying a tool that can only do one thing, and a tool t...
- Sat Aug 11, 2012 8:26 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Representative Payee - Office of Personnel Mgt
- Replies: 9
- Views: 1801
Re: Representative Payee - Office of Personnel Mgt
As far as I know, I am the representative payee for my mom's disability checks. Filling out the initial paperwork was easy and we didn't run into any issues. The money goes directly into my Mom's bank accounts, which I have joint access to.
I'm kind of surprised people are saying they file information with the government. My understanding was that I don't have to file anything with them. However, they can ask me for the information at any time and I have to provide it. So it is my responsibility to keep good records as to where her money goes. I've never had a request for the information.
I'm kind of surprised people are saying they file information with the government. My understanding was that I don't have to file anything with them. However, they can ask me for the information at any time and I have to provide it. So it is my responsibility to keep good records as to where her money goes. I've never had a request for the information.
- Sat Aug 11, 2012 8:08 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: 529 and grandparents
- Replies: 34
- Views: 3304
Re: 529 and grandparents
sscritic is correct. It is best to wait to give the child the money after their last round of financial aid is obtained for their senior year. That way the distribution can't be ever counted against them.
Vanguard recently did a College 101 piece with a lot of good information. They mention this same issue. You can find it here:
https://personal.vanguard.com/us/insigh ... ngs-062012
Vanguard recently did a College 101 piece with a lot of good information. They mention this same issue. You can find it here:
https://personal.vanguard.com/us/insigh ... ngs-062012
- Fri Aug 10, 2012 3:25 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Poll: When did you 1st learn about a Roth IRA?
- Replies: 54
- Views: 8882
Re: Poll: When did you 1st learn about a Roth IRA?
I found out about them back when they were first released. I converted all of my traditional IRAs to Roths. However, I didn't fully appreciate them until I started reading these boards a few months ago. Like a lot of people that aren't into investing, I didn't realize that you should be putting money in them every year, even if you have a 401k. Like many, once I had a 401k, I stopped putting money into IRAs. I still invested, however, it all went into taxable. I've missed out on a good ten years of Roths. One of my relatives used to tell me he put money in a Roth every year but we never had discussions as to why that was such a good idea. Now, when I talk to others, I mention Roths and why people should invest in them. It seems like almost ...
- Wed Aug 08, 2012 9:00 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: ESPP-Is it worth doing?
- Replies: 20
- Views: 3991
Re: ESPP-Is it worth doing?
I agree with the people that say to do it only if you get a discount and can sell it immediately. I made the mistake of holding onto my company's stock for too long and lost over 60% of the money I invested in it.
- Fri Aug 03, 2012 8:40 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Grocery card and privacy - any concerns?
- Replies: 11
- Views: 2208
Re: Grocery card and privacy - any concerns?
Too me, being scared of reward cards is kind of silly if you don't use cash all the time. Your credit card is a reward card, it is trivial for them to link you to what you buy through your credit cards. From there, they can get all kinds of information about you. My feeling on reward cards is it is for them to capture additional information on the people that don't use credit.
- Mon Jul 30, 2012 10:28 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: How do I get out of mutual fund?
- Replies: 24
- Views: 3260
Re: How do I get out of mutual fund?
I don't think that is what you really want. All the in kind transfer does is move your funds to Vanguard. You still own the same fund, it is just with Vanguard now. See: http://www.abcsofinvesting.net/transfer-in-kind/Cucumbers wrote:Does anyone have info or experience doing this? It would be great to transfer this money to Vanguard. What are the logistics of that kind of transfer? Does it prevent all capital gains?
Your original posted seemed to indicate that you want to take the money invested in those funds and invest them in other funds. If that is the case, then you don't want to do an in-kind transfer.
And no, there is no way to avoid the capital gains if you want to get out of the existing fund(s), the government wouldn't like that.
- Thu Jul 26, 2012 8:09 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: 45 Years Old and Would Like to Retire in 15 Years
- Replies: 19
- Views: 3774
Re: 45 Years Old and Would Like to Retire in 15 Years
No need to be ashamed of your Fidelity funds, you picked a couple of winners. Contrafund and Low Priced Stock are good funds. I've owned both since the mid-90's, and my internal rate of return on both is about 9.5%. LPS hasn't been as hot lately, but it is doing okay for its category. Just be aware that the star manager took a leave of absence last year to write a book and mentor some people to eventually take the fund over from him (he is about 52 right now). As of September of last year, about 6 new managers were given 5% of the fund's assets to manage. He still manages the other 95%. Who knows how much longer he'll stay there. Just be ready to jump ship if he leaves. Is your 49K pension in today's dollars or in retirement dollars? If it ...
- Thu Jul 26, 2012 1:05 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Why not a Target Fund?
- Replies: 24
- Views: 4989
Re: Why not a Target Fund?
The management fees on the Target Retirement funds are a bit higher, but if you feel that having them take care of the re-allocations for you is worth the extra fee, there really isn't any reason not to. It frees you up to worry about other things.
They aren't the best solution for taxable accounts since you'll be holding bonds in taxable. Normally, you should try to keep bonds in your tax-advantaged accounts if possible.
Personally, I use them because I think the extra fee to have someone else handle the re-allocations is worth it to me.
They aren't the best solution for taxable accounts since you'll be holding bonds in taxable. Normally, you should try to keep bonds in your tax-advantaged accounts if possible.
Personally, I use them because I think the extra fee to have someone else handle the re-allocations is worth it to me.
- Wed Jul 25, 2012 4:26 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Fine Tuning Bond Investment
- Replies: 7
- Views: 2360
Re: Fine Tuning Bond Investment
Although people on here like to bad mouth actively managed funds, PTTRX is a great fund to own (even at those expense ratios). Although it had a large hiccup late last year, in less than 6 months it has made up almost all of the difference. I keep an old 401K active just so I can get access to that fund ($1M min to invest).
- Wed Jul 25, 2012 5:53 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: highest cd rates?
- Replies: 19
- Views: 4401
Re: highest cd rates?
Interesting link, but I'm not sure how up to date that information is. My credit union currently offers 2.13-2.28 APY on 5 year CDs. However, that site lists them as 1.70 APY still. The lower number puts them down on page 5, but the rates they show on their website right now put them at 5th or 6th on the entire list.SSSS wrote:https://www.google.com/advisor/uscd
- Mon Jul 23, 2012 10:52 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Home teeth Whitening kits?
- Replies: 20
- Views: 3726
Re: Home teeth Whitening kits?
I'd be interested to hear from those that use the store bought stuff. How well does it work, how often do you have to use them to keep the whitening going, and what is your cost per year?
I had my teeth professionally whitened in a dentists office for about $700. If I recall, I went from a A4 to a B1 and I have since backed off to an A2. (http://www.pearldentalclinic.co.uk/shade-guide.html)
My dentist has a program where if you get checkups and cleanings every six months, he gives you free bleach that you use for two weeks after your cleaning. This is supposed to maintain your current color. If you could find a dentist like this, it might be cheaper than buying strips.
I had my teeth professionally whitened in a dentists office for about $700. If I recall, I went from a A4 to a B1 and I have since backed off to an A2. (http://www.pearldentalclinic.co.uk/shade-guide.html)
My dentist has a program where if you get checkups and cleanings every six months, he gives you free bleach that you use for two weeks after your cleaning. This is supposed to maintain your current color. If you could find a dentist like this, it might be cheaper than buying strips.
- Sun Jul 22, 2012 8:49 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: River Cruising
- Replies: 12
- Views: 3715
Re: River Cruising
What timing. The August 2012 edition of Conde Nast Traveler is all about cruising. They have several pages dedicated river cruises. They review some of the vessels and talk about the general atmosphere of river cruises and how they differ from other cruises. However, the best place I have found for getting reviews about cruising is:
http://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/
The site contains reviews by people like you and me that actually take the cruises. You get reviews by people that love cruises and have sailed on multiple vessels and can compare and contrast them.
http://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/
The site contains reviews by people like you and me that actually take the cruises. You get reviews by people that love cruises and have sailed on multiple vessels and can compare and contrast them.
- Sun Jul 22, 2012 8:16 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: The risk of retiring when interest rates are low
- Replies: 12
- Views: 3200
Re: The risk of retiring when interest rates are low
What I find interesting is that if you treat Social Security (SS) like they say, as an annuity, the smart thing to do seems to be to delay it for only one year. After that, the annuity rate starts to fall off. It seems I see a lot of advice on here telling people to delay SS until 70 if they can.
- Sat Jul 21, 2012 11:13 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: PIMCO Total Return share class - how to ask a question
- Replies: 14
- Views: 2831
Re: PIMCO Total Return share class - how to ask a question
It is not uncommon for 401Ks to contain funds that normally have a load. However, as stated previously, many 401k plans don't require you to pay the loads. If you log into the 401K website, you should be able to find a link to download what is known as the Summary Plan Description. I believe all plans, by law, are required to have one. In that document any fees should be spelled out. Both of my 401Ks have these documents available on their websites. I have a 401K that contains funds that have loads, however, the Summary Plan Description clearly states that no such loads will be charged: WHAT FEES ARE CHARGED BY THE INVESTMENT FUNDS HELD IN YOUR ACCOUNT? The investments in the Plan do not charge you commissions or sales loads for purchasing ...
- Fri Jul 20, 2012 4:49 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Wiki: Asset Allocation - Update "Age in Bonds"?
- Replies: 99
- Views: 34039
Re: Wiki: Asset Allocation - Update "Age in Bonds"?
I find this discussion interesting because I have always had trouble with comprehending why the "age in bonds issue" doesn't seem to apply to the Vanguard targeted retirement funds. I understand it could be a competitive business decision, but perhaps they take into account SS and pensions like Jack mentioned in the article linked.
- Fri Jul 20, 2012 2:42 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Wiki: Asset Allocation - Update "Age in Bonds"?
- Replies: 99
- Views: 34039
Re: Wiki: Asset Allocation - Update "Age in Bonds"?
In putting the new quote in there, there should also be instructions on how to capitalize it. It will be nontrivial for most people and having a formula would be great.
- Fri Jul 20, 2012 12:03 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Sending dividends and CG to Money Market
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1494
Re: Sending dividends and CG to Money Market
I have to agree with everything Taylor said.
- Fri Jul 20, 2012 9:04 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: PIMCO's misleadingly named "Total Return ETF"
- Replies: 28
- Views: 4715
Re: PIMCO's misleadingly named "Total Return ETF"
It will be interesting to see, if over time this new ETF strategy has better results than the mutual fund strategy, will the mutual fund strategy morph to match the ETF strategy.
PTTRX is the reason I have not rolled over an 401K from an old employer. Access to the institutional shares has been great.
PTTRX is the reason I have not rolled over an 401K from an old employer. Access to the institutional shares has been great.
- Wed Jul 11, 2012 7:48 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Admiral Conversion = Cost Basis Reset?
- Replies: 15
- Views: 5185
Re: Admiral Conversion = Cost Basis Reset?
I guess I'll have to wait and see too. When I went to try and sell, it tried to force me to choose my cost basis method and I don't want to choose at this time.
- Wed Jul 11, 2012 4:31 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Admiral Conversion = Cost Basis Reset?
- Replies: 15
- Views: 5185
Re: Admiral Conversion = Cost Basis Reset?
I was entering all of my old transactions into a spreadsheet to calculate my internal rate of return when I came across this scenario. Rather than start a new thread about the same issue, I figured I'd post here since the subject matter is similar.
While I can understand the arguments presented about the lots and cost basis not resetting, I didn't see anyone address that the shares in and shares out during the conversion process are not the same. I managed to lose 0.037 shares during the conversion process.
How should the loss of shares be handled for tax purposes? Should they have been reported on my tax forms in the year the conversion happened? What lot do they come from?
While I can understand the arguments presented about the lots and cost basis not resetting, I didn't see anyone address that the shares in and shares out during the conversion process are not the same. I managed to lose 0.037 shares during the conversion process.
How should the loss of shares be handled for tax purposes? Should they have been reported on my tax forms in the year the conversion happened? What lot do they come from?
- Tue Jul 10, 2012 1:34 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Vanguard target dated funds asset allocation
- Replies: 5
- Views: 1075
Re: Vanguard target dated funds asset allocation
https://personal.vanguard.com/us/funds/ ... rgetAnchor
You can play with your age in the "Decide which fund is right for you" to see each of the different funds and their projected allocations.
You can play with your age in the "Decide which fund is right for you" to see each of the different funds and their projected allocations.
- Tue Jul 10, 2012 1:14 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Medicare
- Replies: 6
- Views: 832
Re: Medicare
You could always let it go to collections. I've had to do this with a hospital in the past; although my situation was a bit different. When the collection agency contacted me, I told them that I was glad to finally hear from them. I told them that I had been waiting for the bill to go to collections since the hospital had been unresponsive. Instead of dealing with the first level caller, I asked to speak to a supervisor. I explained the situation and told her that I hoped she'd have better luck dealing with the hospital since they had a business relationship. The supervisor personally handled our case. She found them to be as unresponsive as I had found them and she wrote off our debt. Nothing ever showed up on our credit reports. If you ta...
- Mon Jul 09, 2012 9:04 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Question about rate of return on investment at Vanguard
- Replies: 13
- Views: 2405
Re: Question about rate of return on investment at Vanguard
Is there a way to import 5 years worth of transactions into excel and then use the XIRR function? Even better, is there a program out there that can do this? You don't need any program to do this. Excel can import your data (or you can enter it by hand). You'll need the date of each of your deposits/withdrawals and the dollar amount. You'll also need your current balance (and the date that balance was obtained). You aren't interested in the dividend reinvestment dates and dollar values, but if they are part of the data you are importing don't worry. Then, follow the instructions at this site: http://www.experiglot.com/2006/10/17/how-to-use-xirr-in-excel-to-calculate-annualized-returns/ If, you do have dividends in your data, you can just z...
- Fri Jun 29, 2012 7:17 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: New Job, Awful 401k with The Hartford
- Replies: 27
- Views: 6801
Re: New Job, Awful 401k with The Hartford
My company's plan also has rather high fees. I'm in the process of trying to put together information to approach management with. ... If that exceeds 30%, then you might consider a taxable account in preference to unmatched 401(k) investments. I've read that on the wiki, but I haven't seen anything that backs it up. Is there someplace I can find an analysis that comes to that conclusion? Right now, it seems like something someone pulled out of the air. If you lose 1.7% a year for 20 years, 1.7% times 20 is 34%, and actually, with compounding, your loss will be 29%. Can you please explain (with numbers/formulas) how you got from 34% to 29%? But if you invest in a taxable stock fund with a 2% yield, you'll pay taxes of at least 0.3% (if qual...
- Thu Jun 28, 2012 6:25 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Car Dealership Repair Suggestions: Take Seriously or Not?
- Replies: 43
- Views: 7390
Re: Car Dealership Repair Suggestions: Take Seriously or Not
My experiences with dealerships have been less than stellar. You'd think they would tell the truth more in the hopes you'd buy another car from them in the future.
I've had car dealerships tell me I need new brakes but when I took them to a brake specialist, they told me I still had over 20,000 miles on my brakes.
I've had a car dealership tell me it would cost $500 to repair the motor for my driver's side window. Another shop did it for $200.
For a job that large, I'd get a second opinion. You can offer to pay them for the evaluation with the understanding that they wont get the work out of it (at least this time).
I've had car dealerships tell me I need new brakes but when I took them to a brake specialist, they told me I still had over 20,000 miles on my brakes.
I've had a car dealership tell me it would cost $500 to repair the motor for my driver's side window. Another shop did it for $200.
For a job that large, I'd get a second opinion. You can offer to pay them for the evaluation with the understanding that they wont get the work out of it (at least this time).
- Fri Jun 22, 2012 5:15 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Appliances purchase
- Replies: 17
- Views: 2758
Re: Appliances purchase
I'm not sure you are going to get high end for $5,000. A friend just purchased a fridge and dishwasher for $4,000.
I'll pass along some advice on dishwashers though. I'd never buy another one again without taking one of each type of plate, bowl, glass, coffee mug, and cutting board (and any other special things you wash a lot) with me to the store. I hate our replacement dishwasher, even though it is a higher end one than our old one. Glasses don't fit in all the same places anymore, bowls tip over if you push the drawer in an out too fast (because the stays don't conform to the shape of our bowls), some cutting boards are too tall and get in the way of the wash heads. Never again.
I'll pass along some advice on dishwashers though. I'd never buy another one again without taking one of each type of plate, bowl, glass, coffee mug, and cutting board (and any other special things you wash a lot) with me to the store. I hate our replacement dishwasher, even though it is a higher end one than our old one. Glasses don't fit in all the same places anymore, bowls tip over if you push the drawer in an out too fast (because the stays don't conform to the shape of our bowls), some cutting boards are too tall and get in the way of the wash heads. Never again.
- Thu Jun 21, 2012 8:32 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Fidelity Contrafund?
- Replies: 12
- Views: 2270
Re: Fidelity Contrafund?
When Morningstar puts it in the category "Large growth" does that mean that it has been in that category continuously since inception, or just that it's in that category now ? I should probably look closely at the website, and see whether Morningstar explains this anywhere. As far as I know, Morningstar only gives you that information for the last 10 years, for free. See the Performance Tab, then select Expanded View. The fund switched from Large Balanced to Large Growth sometime between 2003 and 2004. I've been in the fund for just under 20 years. It was the first money I ever invested. I opened it before I knew anything about indexing. I've never had the urge to sell it and put the money in an index. It is a small enough part o...
- Wed Jun 20, 2012 9:29 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: SS question - Is there...
- Replies: 2
- Views: 530
Re: SS question - Is there...
As far as I know, they don't keep that kind of rolling information for you. As the other poster pointed out, once a year you get a document in the mail that spells out your benefit and the amounts they are deducting from it. At the end of the year, you'll get a SSA-1099 for doing your taxes that will have all of the numbers rolled up.
We don't use their website, but there might be more info in some of these links for you:
http://www.ssa.gov/pgm/getservices-change.htm
We don't use their website, but there might be more info in some of these links for you:
http://www.ssa.gov/pgm/getservices-change.htm
- Mon Jun 18, 2012 12:57 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: 26, new job, help with new 401k
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1092
Re: 26, new job, help with new 401k
When you say you need to roll your old 401k over, are they making you? The reason I ask is you have access to an absolutely great fund in there, PTTRX. I have kept a 401k at an old employer, just for access to that fund. The minimum entry into that fund is $1M.
Edit:
I guess I took too long to compose my post. I'd leave the money in the old 401k too.
Edit:
I guess I took too long to compose my post. I'd leave the money in the old 401k too.
- Thu Jun 14, 2012 4:35 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Microsoft Excel question
- Replies: 7
- Views: 1216
Re: Microsoft Excell question
And if you want to get really fancy, you can paste the formatting first and then paste the rest as a link (assuming the 2004 version can do it). That way, when you update the source worksheets, your printable worksheet will update to match the two source tables.
You can tell you did it right when the cells on your printable worksheet reference the source worksheet's cells (e.g. ='Sheet1'!A1).
You can tell you did it right when the cells on your printable worksheet reference the source worksheet's cells (e.g. ='Sheet1'!A1).
- Thu Jun 14, 2012 4:18 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Microsoft Excel question
- Replies: 7
- Views: 1216
Re: Microsoft Excell question
No. Your best bet is to create a new worksheet, copy and paste the tables into the new worksheet, and print the new worksheet.
- Wed Jun 13, 2012 3:51 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Morningstar premium worth it?
- Replies: 34
- Views: 5923
Re: Morningstar premium worth it?
I think you were already there and just didn't see it. On the bottom of the Portfolio tab, in the World Regions header, there is a link to see the breakdown buy country. However, you have to be a subscriber, or use the free 14 day trial.xerty24 wrote:Does M* premium give you country level breakdown? All I see under the Portfolio details is their "World Region" classification, which can't tell Spain from Germany as far as I can tell.