Personal Investments • Re: Struggling with BND
Hi--I am new here and trying to figure out what to do with the large amount of money we have invested in Vanguard BND and BNDX. We are in our 60s and retired and purchased these back in 2018. They are...
View ArticlePersonal Finance (Not Investing) • Re: Paying Down Mortgage (or not)
What is your marginal tax rate? Your rate of return on paying off the mortgage early is roughly 5.375%. If you alternatively put the money in a money market fund your rate of return would be say 4.96%...
View ArticlePersonal Finance (Not Investing) • Re: Estate Planning Attorney and SLAT -...
Thanks for all the input Bruce, Lee, Jim. I need all the help I can get - this is like anything else complex, the more you know the more you know you don't know!Bruce, I met with one attorney who...
View ArticleInvesting - Theory, News & General • Re: CD Rollover Surprise
Marcus by Goldman Sacks lets you cash out CDs without rolling over. You pick that option when establishing the CD. Lots of banks will roll you over at crappy rates if you do nothing. I had my mom cash...
View ArticlePersonal Consumer Issues • Re: Hotel stay. 60K Chase UR points vs. 102K IHG...
I agree with the above point valuations and that is what I use to estimate my bank value. 60K UR = $1200 and 102K IHG = $510.Not knowing the hotels, location, duration of stay and cash price it is...
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Investing - Theory, News & General • Re: Is pre-tax 401k the asymmetric bet?
Roth came out in 1998 and I was already over the income limit by a few grand. I have been in nothing but a 401k/IRA since which I have no issue with and certainly like the deductions now. I am pretty...
View ArticleInvesting - Theory, News & General • Re: New Vanguard Fees?
There is this thing called inflation. and another one called progress. That's how we went from stock market transaction fees of maybe $35 (~1995 dollars to be sure) to $0 now.Vanguard is not improving...
View ArticleInvesting - Theory, News & General • Re: The Final, Definitive Thread on...
If you don't want to transfer the money market fund, I would assume it's a partial transfer with the specified securities.I dont have money in the money market fund, just the settlement fund, but they...
View ArticlePersonal Consumer Issues • Re: Exercise balls as chairs
I’ve been using one as my exclusive computer “chair” for 8+ hours per day for about 10 years. When I say “one,” I literally mean the exact same ball for all that time. Hasn’t leaked yet. Duraball Pro....
View ArticlePersonal Investments • Re: About to liquidate 0% I Bonds and rebuy in gift box
Since you don't need the money within the next year it makes perfect sense. The breakeven time from 0% to 1.3% is about 9 months for anything you bought less than 5 years ago (3 month interest...
View ArticlePersonal Finance (Not Investing) • Re: Budget for healthcare
OP: Sorry to be late to the conversation, but based on our history with ACA and healthcare in retirement, I would do at least 3 things before trying to set numbers to a budget:1)Determine whether the...
View ArticlePersonal Finance (Not Investing) • Re: Advantages of having an American...
The focus demographic according to the CEO on recent business show (this week after earnings report) was the “millennials” who “value” the added benefits and prestige.I have considered the platinum as...
View ArticlePersonal Consumer Issues • Re: Did Hertz deceptively make me sign up for...
This is standard for them unfortunately. I remember the last time I rented from enterprise it went like this. Employee: Okay we have your car all ready, do you want basic coverage or full coverage.Me:...
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Investing - Theory, News & General • Re: 5% portfolio withdrawal rate: 5+...
It stands to reason that as long as markets are up, and greater than your withdrawal rate you are going to be fine, no surprise there. Even Dave Ramsey’s 8% is probably holding up ok last 5 years.This...
View ArticleInvesting - Theory, News & General • Re: Vanguard to Exit Individual...
Use the same sequence # when amending your plan from Vanguard to Schwab. Consider calling Schwab to correct this. “CYCLE 3” is not the sequence #. That means that your plan agreement is from IRS CYCLE...
View ArticlePersonal Consumer Issues • Re: Best TV streaming service for 79 year-old father
Another recommendation for the DirectTV Stream service with their Osprey/Gemini box. I think it was specifically designed for the elderly as it comes with an excellent old-school TV remote that should...
View ArticlePersonal Investments • Re: Too much cash–what to do with it?
If you have your cash needs met, I'd first do #6.Then after you have maxed out your tax advantaged accounts, invest the remainder in a low cost index fund in a taxable brokerage account. Consider that...
View ArticleInvesting - Theory, News & General • Re: Has cash had better returns than...
OP - 99% not the reply you were looking for but....I treat Ibonds as if I were one of those squirrels that I’ve observed out my window during the autumn months. I tuck those ibond acorns away for a...
View ArticlePersonal Consumer Issues • Re: Dental - large expenses
I’ve looked at other countries, even spoke to my local dentists about it. For implants seems like the process to build up bone and implant needs months, so it’s at least two visits (second is the...
View ArticlePersonal Finance (Not Investing) • Re: Share Your Financial Advisor Pearls
I do yearly review with FA.He went over emergency, retirement and college goals.Ensured I was maximising all contributions.Suggested MM fund for emergency than FDIC to get better interest rate which I...
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