Search found 2392 matches

by bberris
Fri Jun 30, 2023 6:37 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How about a 100-Year CD?
Replies: 61
Views: 7348

Re: How about a 100-Year CD?

The modified duration (response to interest rate changes) is 21 years. The UK used to and maybe still does sell bonds with no maturity. Think of these as annuities.
by bberris
Thu Jun 29, 2023 9:19 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Europe eSIMs
Replies: 79
Views: 7164

Re: Europe eSIMs

stocknoob4111 wrote: Thu Jun 29, 2023 9:13 am Looks like Airalo seems to be the most used and popular.
seawolf21 wrote: Wed Jun 28, 2023 8:45 pm US mobile also offers $20 10GB eSIM which covers the following countries
This looks rather interesting! But I believe this is only for US Mobile customers and not ala carte?
Anyone can buy the esim. But I see some very bad reviews. Anyone have real life experience with US Mobile?
If I were a nomad I would buy one short term and then buy a local sim.
by bberris
Wed Jun 28, 2023 12:00 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: T-bills vs. T-bill ETF - seeking thoughts on pros and cons
Replies: 46
Views: 13031

Re: T-bills vs. T-bill ETF - seeking thoughts on pros and cons

XHLF has heavy enough trading. I guess I was looking too early in the trading day.
by bberris
Wed Jun 28, 2023 8:42 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: T-bills vs. T-bill ETF - seeking thoughts on pros and cons
Replies: 46
Views: 13031

Re: T-bills vs. T-bill ETF - seeking thoughts on pros and cons

Bumping this thread back as recently discovered the new(ish) BondBloxx Treasury ETFs. https://bondbloxxetf.com/products/ Presently I have a rolling ladder of Individual Bills with no plans to spend it. It is essentially my break glass option in case of job loss. XLF (6mo Treasury ETF) and XONE (1yr Treasury ETF) at ER's of .03% I have found very tempting to switch my ladder. My pros for the ETF: -Easier to add smaller amounts vs waiting to load up to buy a full $1,000 bond - Slightly simpler to manage -Easier on heirs should something happen to me -Very low ER at .03 is essentially $3 per $10K. -Don't have to wait for auctions, or pay spread on secondary market -.01 spreads My cons: -New -Low volume -Still a cost vs free to buy myself -If ...
by bberris
Mon Jun 26, 2023 9:49 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 6.35% fixed rate or cash offer?
Replies: 51
Views: 4860

Re: 6.35% fixed rate or cash offer?

beardsicles wrote: Mon Jun 26, 2023 9:45 am Paying cash takes away your future opportunity to refinance down. If that matters to you. But your income is so high relative to the home cost, I don’t think it really matters what you do here. I personally would take the loan.
No, you can get a mortgage any time on a paid off house, income and equity permitting. That would save the transaction cost of the purchase mortgage.
by bberris
Mon Jun 26, 2023 9:26 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 6.35% fixed rate or cash offer?
Replies: 51
Views: 4860

Re: 6.35% fixed rate or cash offer?

Paying cash gives you a 6 % return tax free and risk free. You will have to pay capital gains taxes on your stock holdings at some point anyway, unless you die before selling.
by bberris
Mon Jun 26, 2023 8:11 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Summer Heat Escape US Destinations?
Replies: 48
Views: 4190

Re: Summer Heat Escape US Destinations?

Lots of West Coast places are temperate all summer long. Bring a jacket.
by bberris
Mon Jun 26, 2023 5:42 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Interest rate increases
Replies: 139
Views: 12209

Re: Interest rate increases

I'm guessing rates will rise for a few months so that there will be elbow room to lower them in the months leading up to the election. Call me cynical.
by bberris
Sat Jun 24, 2023 4:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Iphone vs Android
Replies: 181
Views: 11086

Re: Iphone vs Android

bluegill wrote: Sat Jun 24, 2023 10:33 am Why do people buy expensive iphone when androids work just fine and cost less ?
You might as well ask people why they have their particular religion.
by bberris
Fri Jun 23, 2023 6:35 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: TEMU - Consumer Site?
Replies: 30
Views: 3864

Re: TEMU - Consumer Site?

Cheez-It Guy wrote: Fri Jun 23, 2023 6:26 am Temu: Risk popular website sells forced labour goods

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-65990529
US lawmakers are warning of an "extremely high risk" that products sold on the Chinese online shopping site Temu have been made with forced labour.
And Amazon does not? Who does the due diligence to visit China manufacturing sites?
by bberris
Thu Jun 22, 2023 6:37 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: FRNs superior to t-bills?
Replies: 5
Views: 782

Re: FRNs superior to t-bills?

A floating rate note benefits from rising rates, but does not get the benefit of falling rates. So yes, the market believes interest rates will be lower in the future; the yield curve being inverted. Usually long rates are higher than short, because of the risk of interest rate changes, but this is not the case right now.
by bberris
Wed Jun 21, 2023 5:39 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why I wouldn't worry about >4% SWR FIRE
Replies: 40
Views: 6957

Re: Why I wouldn't worry about >4% SWR FIRE

The 4% "rule" isn't something you apply to your entire projected retirement income. Just to the portion that investments need to cover. I agree that it applies just to the portion that investments need to cover. My point was, if you have SS kicking in at 70, then that portion is no longer fixed. So the expenses that your investments need to cover is bigger before 70 then after 70. The 4% rule is based on expenses being the same in real terms every year, but if you take SS at 70, you have a cliff in expenses that are covered by investments. I'm reminded of the old Cutthroat thread about Spending More by delaying social security. Yes, you can go a little big by buying that social security annuity. https://www.bogleheads.org/forum/v...
by bberris
Tue Jun 20, 2023 8:42 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Advice re flying Boston/Logan to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Replies: 32
Views: 2483

Re: Advice re flying Boston/Logan to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

On United, 24 hours before the flight (when you check in), you can sometimes find good deals on business upgrades for the long flights. I paid $800 for IAD to MUC on a ticket bought with miles.

Otherwise try to find empty flights and get a row to yourself in coach.
by bberris
Tue Jun 20, 2023 6:56 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Medicaid and Joint Savings Account with Parent
Replies: 21
Views: 2034

Re: Medicaid and Joint Savings Account with Parent

No one takes your money while you are alive. You pay for nursing home care until Medicaid kicks in as assets are depleted. After death, Medicaid generally recovers their spending from the estate to the extent possible; this is when the "taking" happens.
by bberris
Mon Jun 19, 2023 12:39 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Tell me again, why dividends are not useful ?
Replies: 1156
Views: 90646

Re: Tell me again, why dividends are not useful ?

I wondered since buybacks are becoming much more prevalent and returning dividends less so, then a dividend-focused index ETF would become more and more concentrated in either fewer companies or would have to expand the companies included in whatever types of rules-based sort it is using (i.e. including companies it normally wouldn't). If we think decades out, as an accumulator, what effect could that have on a dividend fund holding? If buybacks tend to be concentrated in certain sectors, then you could see more heavy concentration in certain sectors in the index beyond what was the case in the past due to their exclusion. Some "fundamental" indecises sort by shareholder yield and would seem to avoid this problem. There was a rec...
by bberris
Sun Jun 18, 2023 6:29 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Tell me again, why dividends are not useful ?
Replies: 1156
Views: 90646

Re: Tell me again, why dividends are not useful ?

As someone who doesn't like to sell shares i find dividends are extremely useful. Don't tell me to sell shares to generate income. If i know when its profitable for me to participate in company buyback then i might even know how to market time profitably. Selling shares because you need to fund retirement is not market timing. The timing is set by the need for spending, not by predicting the direction of the market. The ultimate buyer for a share buyback is the company and therefore the management. Why would they buy shares if it's not profitable for them. If you are at the poker table and you don't know who the fish are then it just means that you are the fish. I don't like to get scammed and I do that by not playing the game. And yet the...
by bberris
Sat Jun 17, 2023 7:50 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Tell me again, why dividends are not useful ?
Replies: 1156
Views: 90646

Re: Tell me again, why dividends are not useful ?

SB1234 wrote: Thu Jun 15, 2023 9:29 pm As someone who doesn't like to sell shares i find dividends are extremely useful. Don't tell me to sell shares to generate income.
If i know when its profitable for me to participate in company buyback then i might even know how to market time profitably.
Selling shares because you need to fund retirement is not market timing. The timing is set by the need for spending, not by predicting the direction of the market.
by bberris
Sat Jun 17, 2023 7:32 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help me dump my reddit stocks
Replies: 28
Views: 4527

Re: Help me dump my reddit stocks

miamivice wrote: Wed Jun 14, 2023 9:52 am Hold on.

Had he bought Vanguard Total Stock Market Index 2 years ago (November 2021), it would be showing losses as well. Would all of you suggest he sell Vanguard Total Stock Market Index? That is simply taking unrealized losses and converting them to real losses.

I would need to know the names of the companies that he is invested in and the date of acqusition before providing real advice as to whether to sell today or wait until the stock market is doing better before selling.
The stock-picking, market-timing, anchoring-fallacy trifecta post!
by bberris
Fri Jun 16, 2023 9:33 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: low BMI = higher life insurance premium
Replies: 45
Views: 5479

Re: low BMI = higher life insurance premium

Yes, they pull your credit, and your credit rating matters.
The BMI thing is truly bizarre. Coincidentally, medical consensus is moving away from BMI to assess health, and rightly so. You could be overweight by BMI just from being muscly.
Try another insurance company. Was this an online application? Did you talk to a person?
by bberris
Wed Jun 14, 2023 4:53 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to submit a 2021 amended tax return
Replies: 11
Views: 679

Re: How to submit a 2021 amended tax return

Yes those terms are ridiculous re HR block. I just printed a 2020 amended return from OLT at no cost.
by bberris
Wed Jun 14, 2023 1:35 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Low Cost Mobile Phone Plan Options
Replies: 37
Views: 5766

Re: Low Cost Mobile Phone Plan Options

I pay about $5 per month, using Google voice and MobileX. No voice minutes, google voice uses data for calls.
by bberris
Tue Jun 13, 2023 1:25 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: HSA or 401k for early retirement?
Replies: 14
Views: 1439

Re: HSA or 401k for early retirement?

You'll have no trouble using up your HSA tax-free for medical and dental expenses. Speaking as a 67 year old.
I paid most medical expenses out of pocket to allow the HSA to accumulate. You can reimburse your future self for expenses incurred 30 years ago.

You can afford to max out both assuming that brokerage account is taxable. If your income is low, you might consider a Roth 401k.
by bberris
Fri Jun 09, 2023 6:09 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Zurich hotel location recommendations
Replies: 32
Views: 2381

Re: Zurich hotel location recommendations

Another alternative to the Swiss multiday pass is the Saver day pass. These are great for a hiking holiday, when the only trains I use is to and from Zurich airport. The advantage over an advance ticket is that it is good on any train (except some mountain rails), so if the flight is delayed I don't lose it. The price increases as you get closer to the date, so buy in advance. You may have noticed that train tickets in Switzerland are among the worlds most expensive. On the other hand, they are clean, frequent, and on time. The price you see at the SBB app or website is for holders of a 1/2 price pass, so you will pay twice that. It's unlikely that a 1/2 price pass will work out for you on a short visit. It's not a big deal to use any other...
by bberris
Wed Jun 07, 2023 9:43 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How to use delta miles reward ticket(s) when traveling as a group
Replies: 6
Views: 491

Re: How to use delta miles reward ticket(s) when traveling as a group

ivk5 wrote: Wed Jun 07, 2023 9:19 am In this situation I just book some tickets with miles and others with cash.

It’s not uncommon to have people traveling together on different record locators, easy to explain to airlines if needed (seat changes etc), happens all the time for other reasons- record split by upgrade requests, work trip with self-paid companion, friends paying separately, etc etc.
A potential problem with separate tickets is a change of equipment or cancellation in which case the passengers on separate records could be moved to different flights.
by bberris
Mon Jun 05, 2023 10:45 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: List with a realtor vs FSBO?
Replies: 58
Views: 5229

Re: List with a realtor vs FSBO?

clydewolf wrote: Sat Jun 03, 2023 11:43 am There is more to selling real estate than knowing the market.
There are many legal items, and how to attract the right prospective buyers.

The real estate agent deals with these items daily. You deal with these issues maybe a few times a lifetime.
A real estate agent can't or shouldn't give legal advice. A lawyer is cheaper.

The only buyers who won't find your house for sale without an agent are those corporate relocates.
by bberris
Fri Jun 02, 2023 6:21 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Defense against the dark arts - Pickpockets!
Replies: 123
Views: 12925

Re: Defense against the dark arts - Pickpockets!

If a friend were to recant a story of their vacation, I would much rather hear about their pickpocket story than visiting museum x. Add a little chase scene and I'm all ears. Then maybe this one is for you. A few weeks ago in Palermo, a guy bumped me twice walking on the sidewalk and unzipped the fanny pack, but didn't find anything of value to him, or maybe he just left because I was looking at him. Later that same day, two guys on a motorbike tried to take my phone out of my hand, but I held on. Fighting back is the natural instinct but I recall reading a blogger was in a country and felt something and instinctively resisted and the guy had a knife and cut his hand. Fortunately not severely but enough to get stitches in the local hospita...
by bberris
Thu Jun 01, 2023 9:57 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Defense against the dark arts - Pickpockets!
Replies: 123
Views: 12925

Re: Defense against the dark arts - Pickpockets!

sunsetting101 wrote: Thu Jun 01, 2023 3:35 am If a friend were to recant a story of their vacation, I would much rather hear about their pickpocket story than visiting museum x. Add a little chase scene and I'm all ears.
Then maybe this one is for you.

A few weeks ago in Palermo, a guy bumped me twice walking on the sidewalk and unzipped the fanny pack, but didn't find anything of value to him, or maybe he just left because I was looking at him. Later that same day, two guys on a motorbike tried to take my phone out of my hand, but I held on.
by bberris
Mon May 29, 2023 5:08 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Red Pocket Data Top Ups
Replies: 25
Views: 2154

Re: Red Pocket Data Top Ups

I mean I used the Ookla speed checker instead of whatever random one I tried first.
by bberris
Sun May 28, 2023 2:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Red Pocket Data Top Ups
Replies: 25
Views: 2154

Re: Red Pocket Data Top Ups

Deleted
by bberris
Sun May 28, 2023 2:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Red Pocket Data Top Ups
Replies: 25
Views: 2154

Re: Red Pocket Data Top Ups

I tried a different tester and got faster DL.
by bberris
Sun May 28, 2023 2:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Red Pocket Data Top Ups
Replies: 25
Views: 2154

Re: Red Pocket Data Top Ups

:moneybag
LifeIsGood wrote: Fri May 26, 2023 6:37 am Looks like Mobil X or US Mobil are my best bets. Thanks jayjayc and bberris ! I read about one complaint with US Mobil is that unless you're on one of their "Unlimited" plans the 5G speed is throttled. Anyone have any experience with that?
I'm getting 48mB per sec on 5g. I'm on Mobil x limited plan. They will throttle your speed on an "unlimited" plan after a high consumption.
by bberris
Sun May 28, 2023 7:25 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Red Pocket Data Top Ups
Replies: 25
Views: 2154

Re: Red Pocket Data Top Ups

You can use MobilX or any other sim as a supplemental data without changing plans assuming your phone supports two sims. The Pixel 6 allows one hard sim and one esim to run together. You just turn off one sim's mobile data (the one with the phone number.)
by bberris
Wed May 24, 2023 8:08 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tracking balance on private note
Replies: 4
Views: 384

Re: Tracking balance on private note

If by tracking you mean proving you made payments, write a check.
by bberris
Wed May 24, 2023 7:42 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: [Debt ceiling discussion mega-thread]
Replies: 1286
Views: 128378

Re: [Debt ceiling discussion mega-thread]

H-Town wrote: Tue May 23, 2023 3:35 pm
Beensabu wrote: Tue May 23, 2023 2:11 pm
H-Town wrote: Tue May 23, 2023 1:45 pm Wheee….. it’s happening. Stocks skydiving
They are not. It's just one day and ~1%. That happens fairly frequently.
Remember today is the day I almost correctly called the freefall.

Meanwhile I bought 1-month treasuries that has 6.106% yield. It's one way to cope with 1% stock drop. Being greedy while others are fearful, or something like that.
I like it. I have to believe that even if the payoff is late, you will get an extra interest payment. Even the IRS pays interest on late refunds.
by bberris
Wed May 24, 2023 7:35 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Red Pocket Data Top Ups
Replies: 25
Views: 2154

Re: Red Pocket Data Top Ups

I just switched to Mobile X. I use a data only plan but they also have unlimited minutes. Uses the Verizon network and good pricing. Service so far so good, but I've only used it 10 days.

The app tries to predict your usage but you can add data at any time. Data is $2.10 per Gb, with a $2.00 flat monthly charge + taxes. Unlimited minutes I think 4.50.
by bberris
Wed May 24, 2023 7:13 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Unstable Value Fund
Replies: 12
Views: 1494

Re: Unstable Value Fund

The usual fix for an underwater SVF is to reduce future distributions. Of course, that may cause excessive withdrawals, and then reducing future distributions won't fix it. Another possibility is to limit withdrawals, along with smaller distributions.

One thing that won't happen: the insurance company backing the SVF paying off the shortage. Maybe the employer itself will pay it.

It's dangerous to be in an SVF during a transition. This lets the insurance company off the hook.
by bberris
Sun May 21, 2023 10:04 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: VOIP telephone quality
Replies: 12
Views: 730

Re: VOIP telephone quality

jebmke wrote: Sun May 21, 2023 9:21 am
bob60014 wrote: Sun May 21, 2023 9:14 am As long as the service is good, just use the cell phone. We dropped our landline/voip services years ago and haven't looked back.
and maybe add a Google Voice line just in case the cell service glitches.

Our problem here is that our ISP is not reliable and cell service is virtually non-existent (a text message will go through on a good day but that is pretty much it).
Google Voice is VOIP. I have it as my sole service on my mobile, no land line. Most of my calls are at home over wifi. I subscribe to a data only plan for 4-7 $ per month. I don't have any dropouts.
by bberris
Fri May 19, 2023 6:13 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best options for calling/data plan for European travel
Replies: 23
Views: 1956

Re: Best options for calling/data plan for European travel

With phones that don't take esims your options are pretty limited.
Are you phones compatible with google Fi?
by bberris
Thu May 18, 2023 9:13 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How does anyone fly on points anymore? (United especially)
Replies: 115
Views: 12796

Re: How does anyone fly on points anymore? (United especially)

United just jumped coach minimums to Europe one way to 40,000. Just a few weeks ago I flew to Sicily on United from MSP RT for 63000 miles. And then upgraded to Business one way for $800.

But it doesn't seem to make much sense now. I'm seeing fall fares to Switzerland for $650 RT or so.
by bberris
Wed May 17, 2023 5:06 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: does anyone disagree with this article that argues real estate is less risky and more profitable?
Replies: 169
Views: 12885

Re: does anyone disagree with this article that argues real estate is less risky and more profitable?

I haven't read the article.
But usually real estate touts ignore some costs and risks: vacancy, damage, rent control, squatters, eviction costs, and maintenance. Then there's the big one, either you put in the work yourself or pay a manager.
by bberris
Sun May 14, 2023 4:59 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Deferred Annuity to Cover Difference in SS Monthly Payment
Replies: 11
Views: 1331

Re: Deferred Annuity to Cover Difference in SS Monthly Payment

This seems backward to me. I would use an annuity to provide income to 70, delaying SS claiming. That is, I would be willing to buy a time limited (not life) annuity for the 5 years.

Two reasons: Social security has an unlimited COLA. It is taxed less than the income from a private annuity.
by bberris
Thu May 11, 2023 5:32 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Need few sentence rationale for why people should avoid financial advisors
Replies: 187
Views: 15822

Re: Need few sentence rationale for why people should avoid financial advisors

If you pay a 1 % AUM fee your safe withdrawal rate is 3% instead of 4. So you pay a 25 % tax to your advisor.
by bberris
Wed May 10, 2023 8:02 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: New key fob for 2011 Lexus rx 350
Replies: 15
Views: 1511

Re: New key fob for 2011 Lexus rx 350

Look for aftermarket products. You may be able to program it yourself, or have a locksmith do it for less than the dealer would charge.
by bberris
Sat May 06, 2023 12:47 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should I share my plan to retire with my boss?
Replies: 91
Views: 11498

Re: Should I share my plan to retire with my boss?

If you stay quiet, maybe they'll make you an severance offer since you seem to be of the "right" age. Just give the required notice.
by bberris
Sat May 06, 2023 4:59 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Are Fixed Indexed Annuities worth considering?
Replies: 35
Views: 4839

Re: Are Fixed Indexed Annuities worth considering?

You don't have to be an insurance company to play the FIA game. Just buy bonds and use the interest to buy index call options. You never lose money and participate in market gains, just like the FIA guys advertise, but you haven't paid fees.
by bberris
Wed May 03, 2023 6:46 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Someone using my address
Replies: 18
Views: 2924

Re: Someone using my address

I'd have to say being a participant in a fraud carries some risk.
by bberris
Tue May 02, 2023 2:05 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should I purchase a Medicare supplement?
Replies: 202
Views: 16350

Re: Should I purchase a Medicare supplement?

Depending on your state, you can get an MSA plan for free with a $3000 deductible. I don't know if free qualifies it as a purchase. MSA plans are Advantage plans. Most states also have non-MSA Advantage plans with no premium above part B. Right, but there is a catch with those. You may have a restricted network, and you may need approval for procedures. Not so with an MSA plan, where your only restriction is to services that accept medicare in full. Yes, but even though you do not have a restricted network with an MSA, MSA plans do have right to require prior authorization for procedures and services, which can result in delays and hassles and stress for you and your providers. Your providers will not be billing Medicare, they will be bill...
by bberris
Mon May 01, 2023 6:57 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: why do people deposit more than the fdic limit?
Replies: 64
Views: 6837

Re: why do people deposit more than the fdic limit?

In the two most recent failures, all accounts of any size were protected. There seems to be an implicit guarantee of all accounts against bank failure, at least for banks of any size. This has almost always happened by FDIC arranging an assisted takeover of the failed bank, so it is almost invisible to a depositor.
by bberris
Sun Apr 30, 2023 5:43 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Anyone ever bought a closed end fund?
Replies: 36
Views: 3756

Re: Anyone ever bought a closed end fund?

Opinika wrote: Sat Apr 29, 2023 10:07 am I owned Blackrock's BTZ for a number of years. Sold it in December of 2022 because of, well you know...

Currently selling at a 20% discount to NAV and yielding around 9.4%. Have found myself checking its price lately.

This, like many CEFs, is a leveraged fund. "Don't use leverage, don't chase yield," I always say.

But, sometimes I don't listen to myself.
BTZ is at a 9 % discount now. It hasn't traded at more than 20 % discount since 2008. Many CEFs were at huge discounts then.
by bberris
Sat Apr 29, 2023 4:03 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should I purchase a Medicare supplement?
Replies: 202
Views: 16350

Re: Should I purchase a Medicare supplement?

Northern Flicker wrote: Sat Apr 29, 2023 12:38 pm
bberris wrote: Sat Apr 29, 2023 6:19 am Depending on your state, you can get an MSA plan for free with a $3000 deductible. I don't know if free qualifies it as a purchase.
MSA plans are Advantage plans. Most states also have non-MSA Advantage plans with no premium above part B.
Right, but there is a catch with those. You may have a restricted network, and you may need approval for procedures. Not so with an MSA plan, where your only restriction is to services that accept medicare in full.