Personal Consumer Issues • Landlord wants open house while we are still renting
It’s no different than if you owned the home and were selling it. We bought and sold five in the past 35 years.Some markets were good and some not. The tough markets had 60 to 90 days worth of...
View ArticleInvesting - Theory, News & General • Roth Conversion Strategies -...
Mike Piper offers an interesting take on Roth Conversion strategies in today's edition of his typically excellent (and no cost) Oblivious Investor blog:https://obliviousinvestor.com/what-roth ......
View ArticlePersonal Investments • Should I stop 529 contributions?
I would personally stop contributing, yes. I have saved enough in the 529s to pay for the flagship state college (for me, UC Berkeley). If either or both of my kids go to more expensive colleges, I...
View ArticlePersonal Consumer Issues • Weighing credit card/lounge access options
[Amex Platinum:]As far as lounges, in addition to the Priority Pass membership, I'd also have access to Centurion Lounges, and there are Centurion Lounges in Seattle and Dallas, the places where I'm...
View ArticlePersonal Consumer Issues • Car buying? Factory installed accessories
Toyota/Lexus dealers CAN NOT order direct from the factory. They get allocations and can then trade with other dealers or “sell back” allocations to the manufacturer but you can’t go in an order a car...
View ArticleInvesting - Theory, News & General • Now that long TIPS yields have...
It just seems to be more complicated than necessary, but it is the government, so...I am not sure if this is why, but here is my speculation: When the 1099 reporting rules for bonds were originally...
View ArticlePersonal Investments • Wells Fargo disaster
Transfer your account "in kind" to another custodian. No big deal.Statistics: Posted by aristotelian — Tue Jun 04, 2024 8:59 pm — Replies 4 — Views 364
View ArticlePersonal Consumer Issues • How many Forever stamps to buy?
If you make QCD donations, mailing an envelope is usually required, unless you want to deliver the check in person.True for me. I also send birthday / chanukah / anniversary cards to the kids and...
View ArticlePersonal Investments • Delay taking social security past 70
The scenario that has my attention would be if I stopped working at 70 for income. I then did 3 years of ROTH conversions up to age 73 and forgo social security until 73. This would drop my total...
View ArticlePersonal Finance (Not Investing) • Small Business Accounting Software
Definitely use QuickBooks. Companies like Oracle will bombard you with advertisements for NetSuite, their small business accounting software, but you just don't need it. Even if you end up doing a lot...
View ArticlePersonal Investments • Best way to liquidate large inherited IRA ($4.1 million)
My father passed away approx 2 years ago with an IRA balance of $4.1 million. Both myself and my wife are primarily W2 employees with a combined income of approx $180-$200k. We’re both nurses so...
View ArticlePersonal Finance (Not Investing) • VUL “keep it or lose it” advice needed
Universal life has the option to add the cash value to the initial death benefit. If one were to die after a cash value has accumulated, then the beneficiary would receive the initial DB plus the cash...
View ArticlePersonal Investments • Retirement plan checkin
4) We calculate after paying off mortgage and 6% real estate fee that we currently have $600k in equity which is our budget for the new home. Jeepguy,Which means you have to pay property tax and...
View ArticlePersonal Consumer Issues • does anyone have a sunscreen shirt that they like?
I just use normal shirts that I like, for the most part. I do try to avoid the being in the direct sun from 11am-3pm. I think that matters more than the SPF rating of my shirt.Statistics: Posted by...
View ArticlePersonal Finance (Not Investing) • What life stage was most expensive?
My spouse and I both work full time from home with 2 boys (2.5yo and 3mo). I find we’re both better parents and partners when we have help and support. We don’t have family that live close by or that...
View ArticleInvesting - Theory, News & General • Can vanguard force transition to...
I'm curious how all this might affect other brokerages that let you own Vanguard mutual funds in a brokerage account.For example I own a Vanguard mutual fund VTSAX in my Schwab brokerage account.I...
View ArticleInvesting - Theory, News & General • AlphaArchitect launches BOXX: 1-3...
352 posts? It surely will be nice if there is a summary of the consensus.The consensus appears to be that BOXX has overall returns similarly to buying box spreads, offering returns roughly equivalent...
View ArticlePersonal Investments • Social security Question
WEP (Windfall Elimination Provision) can reduce your Social Security by 1/2 the amount of the pension earned in a non-SS job. With only 15 years paying into SS, likely you'll get nothing. This is not...
View ArticlePersonal Consumer Issues • How do you find a payphone today if you needed...
here's what wikihow says about how to find a payphone anywhere in the world:https://www.wikihow.com/Find-a-Pay-PhoneStatistics: Posted by arcticpineapplecorp. — Wed Jun 05, 2024 9:01 pm — Replies 25 —...
View ArticlePersonal Finance (Not Investing) • Realtor fees
I suspected as much. Can’t go in that direction. Lesson learned.ThanksStatistics: Posted by hvaclorax — Wed Jun 05, 2024 9:03 pm — Replies 25 — Views 4280
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