Personal Investments • Re: How to "correctly" use backtesting
Wondering if you are familiar with Flexible Retirement Planner?No, the models I know best are the ones I typically link (e.g., PortfolioVisualizer, FiCalc, TPAW, FireCalc). I'm aware of Boldin and...
View ArticlePersonal Finance (Not Investing) • Re: Social Security Survivor’s Benefit:...
My experience after DW passed in 2023 (YMMV):Initially I did nothing as I assumed I would not be entitled to additional benefits.Several months after she passed I received a call purporting to be from...
View ArticlePersonal Consumer Issues • Re: Is Costco worth the $120 membership?
I think Costco is a great deal. I use them for a few key purchases. Their contact lenses are cheaper than anywhere else, even the supposedly discount sites. Their maple syrup is great and affordable....
View ArticleInvesting - Theory, News & General • Re: US stocks at most expensive...
For me, I have already done a reduction of stocks to the lowest point I feel comfortable with; it is a great time to assess emotions.Statistics: Posted by secondopinion — Tue Jan 28, 2025 5:07 pm
View ArticlePersonal Finance (Not Investing) • Re: How to handle TurboTax exempting New...
I have the income totals and breakdown. Forget the mutual funds. In the brokerage account, if the NJ amount is less than 80% the tax exempt total, what does one do.Statistics: Posted by Good Listener...
View ArticlePersonal Finance (Not Investing) • Re: Schwab Amex Platinum annual bonus 1099?
I was wrong in my previous post. I received a 1099-MISC today for the $1,000 statement credit I received a few months ago. The 1099 was issued by Amex, not Schwab.Statistics: Posted by plmd — Wed Jan...
View ArticlePersonal Investments • Re: Can I retire in 2 years
You didn't mention if you have a paid or house of if you will get substantial Social Security but I would suspect that you have both.I very rough back of the envelope calculation is that with the lump...
View ArticlePersonal Investments • Re: Is VAIPX better than BND?
The best "apples to apples" way to compare bond funds is the 30 day SEC yield. That number for BND is currently 4.60% nominal and for VAIPX 2.17% real. The difference between those two types of quotes...
View ArticlePersonal Consumer Issues • Re: What's the latest method of setting up a new...
At least with Windows Pro, at the screen where you enter or make a Microsoft account, there is a text link about not having an online account. That allows the creation of a local account with no...
View ArticlePersonal Finance (Not Investing) • Re: Retiree Portfolio Model
Feel the need to once again thank everyone involved in this piece of work. I've spent way too much time looking at how everything is calculated and found quite a few shortcomings in the set of spread...
View ArticleInvesting - Theory, News & General • Re: Healthy Life Expectancy and...
...UConn has something like what you wanted. It does include some health and lifestyle inputs as well.https://apps.goldensoncenter.uconn.edu/HLEC/Having an estimate of how long you have left ,...
View ArticlePersonal Investments • Re: Gifting ETFs or Cash?
[...]I have the ability to report income at the 0% cap gains bracket (up to $94,050) and 12% income tax bracket (up to $96,950). This gives me the opportunity to “top-off” these brackets by selling...
View ArticlePersonal Finance (Not Investing) • better.com, amerisave, rocket mortgage all...
Hi,I am looking to refinance for the first time. I am trying to see what the rates are now, all websites are asking for soft pull and some are asking for credit unfreeze to even show their rates.Is it...
View ArticlePersonal Finance (Not Investing) • Re: 529 to Roth IRA conversion
So, I did a 529 to Roth conversion in 2024 for my son, and we both live in California.From federal standpoint, I agree with others that we wouldnt need to enter anything, as there is no tax...
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Personal Finance (Not Investing) • Re: Paid for a non-medical expense with my...
My 1099-SA HSA form from 2023 includes the following statement:"You may repay a mistaken distribution from an HSA no later than April 15 following the first year you knew or should have known the...
View ArticlePersonal Investments • Re: Current advisor ghosted me
The key to the 3 fund portfolio is that it uses all INDEX funds. These funds don't require expensive, gambling management. They simply follow an index. You're not going to beat the market by 100% or...
View ArticlePersonal Investments • Re: Recreating TSM inside TSP?
Does 80% C and 20% S sound most accurate?From the wiki page related to the Thrift Savings Plan...Replicating total stock marketSee also: Approximating total stock marketMany TSP investors wish to use...
View ArticlePersonal Consumer Issues • Re: What are you listening to now
Marianne Faithfull - As Tears Go By (1964)R.I.P.Statistics: Posted by LadyGeek — Thu Jan 30, 2025 5:18 pm
View ArticlePersonal Consumer Issues • Re: Photoshop element alteratives?
I’ve tried them all. Affinity Photo is probably what she wants. It’s very reasonably priced, high quality software. Everything else is either more expensive, buggy, or bloated with ads. And she is...
View ArticleInvesting - Theory, News & General • Re: The Final, Definitive Thread on...
FYI - on an eTrade RETENTION Promo.I was calling up today to follow up getting added as a POA to my wife's brokerage account. Immediately after handling the business, he offered me a Retention Bonus....
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