Search found 480 matches

by leonidas
Wed Jan 14, 2015 7:36 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: which Brokerage do you use...why?
Replies: 48
Views: 7622

Re: which Brokerage do you use...why?

Wells Fargo is my primary broker. With the PMA package everything is commission free. Unfortunately, this is closed to new investors.
I also have a Schwab account for my IRAs. They have a great list of commission free ETFs that I can choose from.
by leonidas
Tue Jan 13, 2015 2:32 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Buying Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE)??
Replies: 4
Views: 1075

Re: Buying Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE)??

So whats the plan? Looking for a quick turnaround on the expected bounce or is this long term and you think the energy sector will outperform the market. Does this change your AA from what your IPS states? I have 5% dedicated to speculation myself. Just be careful since the blades of a falling knife can be sharp. BTW, I was looking into IXC myself but decided against it since I am not comfortable making a call on energy at the moment.
by leonidas
Fri Jan 09, 2015 6:17 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: rebalancingact.com
Replies: 5
Views: 1148

Re: rebalancingact.com

They offered a free trial last year and I gave it a shot. I did not find it very useful at all. It was so basic as to be just better than pen and paper. I wrote up an e-mail stating 4 reasons I wont be paying for their services. I tried looking for it but I must have deleted it. If it went under there is no big loss.
by leonidas
Thu Jan 08, 2015 1:27 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Best online checking account
Replies: 59
Views: 13200

Re: Best online checking account

I use Schwab Investor Checking. Had it for about 6 or 7 years. Free everything including checks and ATM rebates. The rebate comes at the end of the month.
I just love it.
by leonidas
Tue Jan 06, 2015 5:52 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: REIT predictions for 2015
Replies: 12
Views: 2048

Re: REIT predictions for 2015

I don't have a separate REIT allocation so from a disinterested party I will say down 7.5% + or - 15%....
by leonidas
Mon Jan 05, 2015 1:55 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: U.S. stocks in free fall
Replies: 36221
Views: 4652940

Re: U.S. stocks in freefall

This is why I also own bonds and Gold.
by leonidas
Fri Jan 02, 2015 2:07 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: [Poll] Why do you use indexing? (select multiple)
Replies: 26
Views: 2372

Re: [Poll] Why do you use indexing? (select multiple)

I guess I got tired of under-performing the averages. I always used Index funds but never 100%. The research presented pretty much made a clear cut case to me that this was the best route. Now I am 85% index and happier for it. I also no longer go nuts looking for the next big thing. For a while I was a fund "collector".
by leonidas
Tue Dec 30, 2014 9:55 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Facebook is Outrageous
Replies: 78
Views: 13902

Re: Facebook is Outrageous

I stopped using FB about 1 hour after my wife created an account for me. I am not sure what the heck its really for besides wasting time with mindless chatter or bad games. Then again its probably not geared towards me anyway.

I have no real opinion on its valuation either. Seems to me every cycle has its share of stocks that seem to be priced on some ethereal valuation concept. Some crash and burn like INet stocks from the 1990's and others like AMZN recover and succeed. FB provides nothing anyone else can provide. Reminds me to remove my My Space account.
by leonidas
Sun Dec 28, 2014 10:37 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do you usually order (not-free) beverage at restaurants?
Replies: 89
Views: 11557

Re: Do you usually order beverage at restaurants?

I always have a beverage with every meal every time, be it coffee, water or alcohol. I honestly have never in my life seen someone eat a meal without a beverage. I see at this juncture 16 people have responded no and wonder why is this so. Just out of curiosity.

Small, edit...I almost never order desserts for myself. The kids do about half the time.
by leonidas
Thu Dec 25, 2014 3:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Dentist Bill from 2011
Replies: 62
Views: 7052

Re: Dentist Bill from 2011

Family dental coverage through my employer is pretty cheap. I pay 36 a month. So maybe 420 a year. Either way, I get 8 cleanings a year (2 per person) for no charge. So that's a slight benefit for us. This year oldest son had braces. Plan paid out 2500 I paid out the rest. Now that was a great help. Over the last 4 years there's been at least one person that needed other dental work so for us so far it does provide some benefit. Remember, it only takes one root canal for you to curse that you didn't have insurance.
by leonidas
Thu Dec 25, 2014 11:50 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Dentist Bill from 2011
Replies: 62
Views: 7052

Re: Dentist Bill from 2011

Of course, if my insurance co was at fault I would provide any assistance or documentation needed. What I take away from this thread is the money owed is not the OP responsibility, but a mix up btw dentist and insurance that took a few years to be reconciled. Always pay what you owe but your not obligated to pay for others.
by leonidas
Thu Dec 25, 2014 11:46 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Do I-Bonds Count (as part of your bond allocation)?
Replies: 24
Views: 3922

Re: Do I-Bonds Count (as part of your bond allocation)?

They do for me as well as CDs.
by leonidas
Thu Dec 25, 2014 9:59 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Dentist Bill from 2011
Replies: 62
Views: 7052

Re: Dentist Bill from 2011

I go to the dentist and they require a copay upfront which I make. Then they submit their charges to my insurance. After that its up to them to get paid by insurance. My responsibility stops. If the dentist messed that up then its no skin off your nose. Now, if that 300 is part of your responsibility that was somehow not made through some error then it is only proper that you pay it. I am sure that if It is not paid it may end up in collections and that could be costlier in the future.
by leonidas
Mon Dec 22, 2014 9:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
Replies: 11037
Views: 2066784

Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?

Just finished Guardians of the Galaxy. I actually enjoyed it while wifey, pretty much just rolled her eyes.
by leonidas
Fri Dec 19, 2014 6:02 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Having my year end review with my manager, what to expect?
Replies: 30
Views: 4056

Re: Having my year end review with my manager, what to expec

I'm in IT and this year I got a 2% raise and 8% bonus. Same as last year. Unless they gave you some indication that your starting salary was to be adjusted upwards based on some erformance metric I would say you did ok. I would not be against looking around at other companies to see what the pay scales are for similar jobs.
by leonidas
Thu Dec 18, 2014 7:34 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: On average, how often do you check your investment balances?
Replies: 53
Views: 5333

Re: On average, how often do you check your investment balan

I pretty much check everyday after the market closes. I realize I don't do much with that information. Every 6 months or so I do a detailed check just in case the allocation is out of whack and then I redirect deposits to the areas that are short.
by leonidas
Mon Dec 15, 2014 10:36 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What are your 2015 Financial Goals?
Replies: 102
Views: 13123

Re: What are your 2015 Financial Goals?

Mine is to increase our savings rate. We have been stuck at around 15-16% for a few years and I have always felt that is should be closer to 20.
by leonidas
Fri Dec 12, 2014 3:16 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: VXUS [Vanguard Total International Stock Index]
Replies: 15
Views: 2554

Re: VXUS [Vanguard Total International Stock Index]

My Equity position is 50/50 US/Intl. If Intl is down I switch my contributions to get back in balance. Or are you having second thoughts on Intl investing overall. Like the previous poster said, write down your IPS in a way that you are comfortable and stick with it.
by leonidas
Fri Dec 12, 2014 6:51 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Where to place International REIT?
Replies: 9
Views: 1584

Re: Where to place International REIT?

zaboomafoozarg wrote:I invest in VNQI in my rollover IRA, because that's where I have the space to do it. Dividends are mostly unqualified, so not going to buy in my taxable account.
Are there any significant issues with the lack of the Foreign tax credit?
by leonidas
Fri Dec 12, 2014 6:26 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Where to place International REIT?
Replies: 9
Views: 1584

Where to place International REIT?

I have my portfolio in FutureAdvisors free service where they rate certain aspects of your portfolio and give you recommendations. One of the areas is diversification where I rated a 'C'. My two biggest deficiencies were lack of Small Cap Value and International REITs. I have no interest in tilting to small cap value at this juncture but was wondering about the value of the International REIT. I have read that most of its dividends are Non-Qualified so its better in a Tax advantaged space but then you would lose the Foreign tax credit. So my 3 questions are is it worth it to diversify into International REITs, by how much (FA says 5%) and if so where would you locate it?

Thanks!
by leonidas
Sat Dec 06, 2014 6:41 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Who Paid for the wedding?
Replies: 94
Views: 12737

Re: Who Paid for the wedding?

The reception, church, limo, photagraphers and flowers ran us 20k in 1999. I paid for it out of my pocket. We made about 16k in wedding money so net about 4k cost to me. Both of our parents were on the poorer side.
by leonidas
Fri Dec 05, 2014 1:58 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: TIPs, Total Bond Market, or Both?
Replies: 35
Views: 6613

Re: TIPs, Total Bond Market, or Both?

I use only total bond in my 401k and an Intermediate term Muni in taxable. Used to have a sizable TIPS fund but I sold in 2013 and put it all in total bond
by leonidas
Thu Dec 04, 2014 9:19 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Stanley Kubrick's 2001 a space odyssey
Replies: 154
Views: 23928

Re: Stanley Kubrick's 2001 a space odyssey

While parts of it were visually stunning, overall it bored me to tears. That's 2 hours of my life I will never get back
by leonidas
Mon Dec 01, 2014 6:55 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Why is Dave Ramsey wrong?
Replies: 180
Views: 52280

Re: Why is Dave Ramsey wrong?

I used to listen to dave on long car rides but I haven't found him on any local stations recently. Some people can't get over his political and religious view, but we seem in sync with those. When we got into a bit of debt during my wifes unemployment his show was a small motivator for us. Now, not as much. Didn't like his attitude with his callers but some people just needed a verbal beat down.
by leonidas
Fri Nov 28, 2014 6:15 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Recommendations for online bank?
Replies: 25
Views: 4971

Re: Recommendations for online bank?

Schwab Investor Checking. Free everything including paper checks and all ATM fees refunded at the end of the month.
by leonidas
Wed Nov 19, 2014 5:10 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Best way to track / monitor all your accounts
Replies: 12
Views: 2511

Re: Best way to track / monitor all your accounts

I get calls from personal capital about every other month. I don't bother answering the call.
by leonidas
Wed Nov 19, 2014 2:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Poll: Net cost of your checking account annually?
Replies: 44
Views: 6078

Re: Poll: Net cost of your checking account annually?

Schwab Investor Checking. Free everything including paper checks. All ATM charges reimbursed without limit. No over draft fees.
by leonidas
Wed Nov 19, 2014 8:17 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What financial tools/software do you use?
Replies: 35
Views: 4389

Re: What financial tools/software do you use?

I use personal capital and mint.
by leonidas
Sat Nov 15, 2014 3:35 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: TurboTax '14 Deluxe (Desktop) Excludes Schedule D
Replies: 223
Views: 63594

Re: TurboTax '14 Deluxe (Desktop) Excludes Schedule D

Gave up on quicken years ago and now on turbo tax. So what's the next best package?
by leonidas
Sat Nov 15, 2014 7:39 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Who is mailing Holiday Cards this year?
Replies: 52
Views: 7168

Re: Who is mailing Holiday Cards this year?

We send photo chriistmas cards every year. This time we are dressing up as santa, mrs claus, a couple of elves and a reindeer.
by leonidas
Mon Nov 10, 2014 8:16 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Local bank without any checking account fees?
Replies: 31
Views: 5209

Re: Local bank without any checking account fees?

Schwab Investor checking. No Fees, all free.
by leonidas
Mon Nov 10, 2014 8:14 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Savings rate of -2% for those under 35 - WSJ
Replies: 69
Views: 7320

Re: Savings rate of -2% for those under 35 - WSJ

I Ride on NJ transit with people in all stages of their lives. We sometimes talk the economics of living in the garden state and so many have opened up about the inability to save money due to the costs of getting by especially housing and college costs. I know so many people who don't put any money in their 401k's to even get the match and charge on credit to make it to the end of the month.
by leonidas
Sun Oct 19, 2014 6:50 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: FutureAdvisor Portfolio Review
Replies: 19
Views: 2395

Re: FutureAdvisor Portfolio Review

I get a D for divercification too. According to them I have no REITs, no TIPs, no small value so I get dinged. So it seems that even though I have 25% of portfolio in TSM, they don recognize that it contains the above, minus the TIPs. Its funny that in the middle of the page they mention that their portfolio can increase my expected returns by 0.0%. It also doesn't have a good way to define my ibonds so they are stated as cash.
by leonidas
Fri Oct 10, 2014 7:03 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Headed for a 300+ point loss today?
Replies: 464
Views: 64706

Re: Headed for a 300+ point loss today?

Markets experience 10% corrections very frequently. Sometimes we get there in drips and drabs and other times in huge whacks. I would not be too surprised if we see this market (DOW) at 15k. I currently have almost a 50/50 split so in that case I would re-balance. If these gyrations are too much for people, you may be too equity heavy.

Good luck!
by leonidas
Wed Oct 08, 2014 5:30 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: IMF Global Growth Forecast Revised Downward
Replies: 2
Views: 392

Re: IMF Global Growth Forecast Revised Downward

It would be interesting to see a history of the IMFs forcasts and gauge their accuracy. I would just guess they are as accurate as flipping a coin. Even if they were spot on would it benefit you to change your investment course?
by leonidas
Fri Sep 26, 2014 11:35 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Why not 100% CD's?
Replies: 73
Views: 7987

Re: Why not 100% CD's?

In the 80's and 90's CD's did have a positive real return and your case for 100% CDs would have been stronger even though I do believe that for true inflation protection having a bit of Equities in your portfolio is prudent.
by leonidas
Fri Sep 26, 2014 6:49 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Is Now a Good time to Buy Bonds ???
Replies: 19
Views: 3185

Re: Is Now a Good time to Buy Bonds ???

I DCA through my 401k every two weeks and maintain a 50/50 balance. When I created my IPS years ago I tried to find a percentage that I was comfortable with and would still to it. There always seems to be a portion of a portfolio that concerns me. Either stocks are too high or bond rates are too low. This can lead to a paralysis where you wait for the right moment to invest. When that moment comes you will see rates rising and say "hey, rates are rising so I will wait till they get another percentage point up". I say just stick to your plan. Good Luck.
by leonidas
Thu Sep 25, 2014 4:44 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: [S&P is down 1.3%, thus] We're all going to die!!!
Replies: 58
Views: 7662

Re: [S&P is down 1.3% !!!]

I don't get too worked up over 1-2% daily moves. If these days make you nervous you may want to re-evalutes your equity position.
If the market moves another 3 or 4% will move a bit of bond money over but will try to keep my head.
by leonidas
Thu Sep 25, 2014 7:04 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Suggestions for Portfolio Tracker
Replies: 15
Views: 2119

Re: Suggestions for Portfolio Tracker

Gecko10x wrote: They just added this! I've been waiting for it for quite a while.
Thanks for the update! I just went in and changed the asset classes. Now the information is much more useful.
by leonidas
Thu Sep 25, 2014 5:26 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Suggestions for Portfolio Tracker
Replies: 15
Views: 2119

Re: Suggestions for Portfolio Tracker

I like personal capital for this but many of the funds in my 401k do not have tickers and PC cant determine the allocation correctly. I made a request to have the ability to manually set the asset class but that is still in the works. There is a less fancy site that I also have tried called nextcapital.com. Does a good job with displaying the big picture and drilling down to a more granular level. I would give it a shot. You can also manually change the asset classes.
by leonidas
Tue Sep 23, 2014 11:10 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Individual Stocks
Replies: 46
Views: 7221

Re: Individual Stocks

I am about 90% indexed and own 8 individual issues. Usually large cap div payers. ABBV, ABT, CBOE..I had Heinz but Buffet bough tit from me at a hefty premium. I do still look for distressed value plays but have become very selective in what I buy. The last stock I bought was in 2010.
by leonidas
Wed Sep 10, 2014 4:56 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Anyone moved from NY?
Replies: 43
Views: 5014

Re: Anyone moved from NY?

Yes I did but not far enough as I ended up in south jersey. Next hop is out of this leftist tax purgatory to somehwere down south.Looking at you Texas!
by leonidas
Sun Aug 31, 2014 12:59 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Does your employer still offer pensions to new hires?
Replies: 54
Views: 9691

Re: Does your employer still offer pensions to new hires?

I work for the Fed and we still have a pretty sweet pension. Not sure about all the specifics but many of my friends who retired and come back to visit say it provides quite a big benefit and they aren't hurting for cash. The Fed also has retiree health benefits for those who work at least ten years after they are 45.
by leonidas
Mon Aug 25, 2014 9:56 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: International allocation
Replies: 81
Views: 9178

Re: International allocation

Right now I am about 35% of total stock holdings. Of that 35% its nearly a 50/50 split between Developed and Emerging Markets.
by leonidas
Tue Aug 12, 2014 7:46 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: I got my invitation to open a wisebanyan account
Replies: 7
Views: 2649

Re: I got my invitation to open a wisebanyan account

nisiprius wrote:Free, for how long? Forever? For a year? For some undefined length of time?
From their web site, no times are stated which most likely means "until we realize our business model is not maintainable or our funding runs out". I don't see any account closing fees so transferring out when the charges come would be my first response. This is one reason for my reluctance to commit. It may be instructive to open a small account and see what the wizard has hidden behind the curtain.
by leonidas
Tue Aug 12, 2014 7:34 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Most Hated Brokerage Firm? [or one that you love]
Replies: 95
Views: 17506

Re: Most Hated Brokerage Firm? [or one that you love]

I now use 2 brokerages. Schwab has my IRA and Wells Fargo (PMA account with the 100 free trades) has my taxable. I have both for about 7 years and they are very good. Schwab has more bells and whistles and better research and a lot of free ETF's. WF is all free. ETF's, stocks, mutual funds..100 a year free. I only used 6 trades in the last 8 months so 100 is more than enough. I say I love them both.
by leonidas
Tue Aug 12, 2014 7:29 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: I got my invitation to open a wisebanyan account
Replies: 7
Views: 2649

I got my invitation to open a wisebanyan account

A while back wisebanyan was offering to construct and maintain a portfolio of ETF's for free. All you needed to do was sign up for a place in line and wait for them to admit you. Well, after all these months I got the e-mail that they are ready for me to open an account. I am not sure I am interested in that now. I have a Wells Fargo PMA account with the 100 free yearly trades so my costs are already just the ERs of the funds I chose. I guess when I initially read about them the idea of a ready made portfolio appealed to me. Since then, in my taxable account I have been slowly switching to VT (vanguards total world) and ITM (int muni) and just leaving it at that. Any others out here go invites to wisebnyan and taken the plunge? Care to shar...
by leonidas
Fri Aug 08, 2014 5:21 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Drastic pay cut-Crack CD (w/penalty) to payoff mortgage?
Replies: 26
Views: 2188

Re: Drastic pay cut-Crack CD (w/penalty) to payoff mortgage?

I would sell the house and rent. That seems like a lot of housing for one person living as a pauper.
by leonidas
Sun Aug 03, 2014 2:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: High School Reunions--Have you attended?
Replies: 79
Views: 9063

Re: High School Reunions--Have you attended?

I never went to any of my reunions. I always planned to go to the 25th but let it pass too. I did go to my wifes 20th so she could show her trophy husband off.