Bogleheads.org

sbaywriter

California is a big state. Not everywhere is vulnerable to fire evacuations. If you decide you want to stay, maybe look for place less vulnerable. The link is to a map showing risks: https://projects.sfchronicle.com/2019/california-danger-zones/ I moved but for my own reasons and I knew pretty well ...

sbaywriter

If you are considering inland towns not too far from Watsonville, Morgan Hill might be a possibility - lived there for about 10 years. Nice little town, good amenities except no hospital - have to go either to Gilroy or San Jose for hospital. Gets hot (90s) in the summer but cools off at night becau...

sbaywriter

Finished Lanny Budd novels volume 1 (first 3 books of the 11 book series) by Upton Sinclair. He won the Pulitzer for book 3, Dragon's teeth in the 1940s. Wow, can’t believe I never discovered these before, and that they were out of print for years and only republished in ebook form. I am finding the...

sbaywriter

This 2016 article I just googled says yes you do have to take the RMD for the year first and explains it's because of IRS rollover rules:

https://www.marottaonmoney.com/roth-con ... out-first/

Maybe an actual expert can chime in to corroborate.

sbaywriter

Something about your description of the property makes it sound like a proposed new housing development/subdivision. I live in Florida (recently) but know nothing about the area you are talking about. But your description reminded me of the fascinating book I just read about the Florida real estate ...

sbaywriter

My county mandates that mobile home and manufactured home residents evacuate during hurricanes/hurricane watches/hurricane warnings. That's regardless of whether they are in surge zone. That ruled out mobile homes for me.

sbaywriter

Everyone seems to like the dark stuff. The darker the world looks to me, the more I prefer some kind of escape. Tonight I watched, on PBS (passport, show aired 2019, expires 4/13) - really enjoyed this, learned things I didn't know, love the passion about music and aesthetics: Great performances: No...

sbaywriter

I was considering setting up something like that but worked it out with a sibling that we exchange a simple text each morning. It is important to have some support system in place. Some cities have "wellness check" type services. If you have some local office on aging you could check on th...

sbaywriter

I'm staying calm because although I'm a natural worrier, at this stage in my life (70s), I've learned what I need to do to stay calm. Among them: never watch TV news, spend minimal time on Internet news. Focus on productive activities. Try to think of ways to help others stay calm versus pass on you...

sbaywriter

The key factors seem to be 1) the new job turned out bad and your husband wants out as quickly as possible but 2) he’s concerned about taking a pay cut, in terms of how it would affect future job prospects. But from what you and others have said, if you look at overall cost of living maybe it’s not ...

sbaywriter

OP - first off, congratulations on completing 2 degrees - that shows persistence and has got to be worth something even if you are finding the degrees aren't worth much in terms of an immediately high paying salary. I don't know anything about insurance sales but it seems like a random choice for yo...

sbaywriter

Just to clarify that the age requirement for QCD is 70.5, not 70.

But if the goal is to reduce AGI by taking the QCD "in place of" an RMD, so that all or part of the RMD does not count as income, you would need to wait until the year you turn 72.

sbaywriter

Happy holidays! OP I think you have the right idea when you say: I think these holidays, I'll just be grateful for gifts that I receive, feel blessed for all that I already have and most importantly cherish the time that I get to spend with family and friends. And your ideas for how to deal with it ...

sbaywriter

OP – just want to say, you sound mature beyond your years, and articulate, and smart. I think some of the previous posters are being a bit hard on you – give him a chance, guys, he just got here. Spend some time reading around on the wiki and reading some of the recommended books and reading the for...

sbaywriter

That link posted above from ssa.gov is really helpful - unless you are mathematically challenged like I am in which case your eyes still glaze over. So just wanted to point out that I know from personal experience that in some cases you can claim widow benefits before FRA while working and come out ...

sbaywriter

No you were given incorrect information. What the phone rep said applies to spousal benefits, not to widow (survivor) benefits. See this AARP article which confirms your original plan:
https://www.aarp.org/retirement/social- ... tions.html

sbaywriter

I liked them. I got used to them quickly and found they worked fine in most cases - not perfect but good enough. I used glasses over contacts while working at the computer for long stretches of time. Otherwise I could do without. Until eventually I had to return to glasses because eyes got too dry f...

sbaywriter

I found a URL that seems to clarify the question of whether the charity needs to receive/cash the checks before the end of the year for the QCD to be considered to be taken in that year. Or at least clarifies one scenario. https://www.financial-planning.com/news/charitable-contributions-from-an-ira-...

sbaywriter

Regarding the house, another thing to be considered is long-term incapacity versus death. I would check with the lawyer that the financial POA gives the authority to sell the real estate, if it is not under a lady bird deed or trust.

sbaywriter

Florida does not have TOD for a house but they do have something called a "lady bird deed" which may be applicable in your case.

sbaywriter

If outdoor activities and moderate temperatures are high on your list and you are considering Santa Barbara (pricy), you might also consider Ventura, one of my favorite places in terms of physical environment. But little going on culturally - there is a community college but um.... But you can do a ...

sbaywriter

Re the Roth:

The 5 year wait period for Roth withdrawal applies only to the earnings on the amount contributed, not to the contribution. Regular Contributions can be withdrawn at any time with no tax and no penalty.

sbaywriter

Sorry to bring back bad memories, yes, can't get much grimmer than Nevil Shute's On the Beach. Don't worry, almost all his other books are the opposite, obstacles are there but are overcome, people face adversity but win through, etc, uplifting.

sbaywriter

I second Ngaio Marsh. More modern style: Kerry Greenwood's mysteries featuring Phryne Fisher, set in Australia in the 1920s, the TV series is also great Also not mystery/police procedural but good novelist who wrote many novels, some set in Australia: Nevil Shute, pen name of Nevil Shute Norway, Eng...

sbaywriter

I'm surprised no one has suggested dollar cost averaging back in. Choose an equity allocation per the many good suggestions above, then invest 10 percent a month or something like that. Although it's possible you want to pause a while in the months leading up to the next election so that you won't b...

sbaywriter

I like the smaller size phone for my uses.I've been using SE for 3 years but this is second one - the first one I got 16gb which wasn't quite enough and then I dropped it and cracked the screen and the replacement screen never worked as well. Then I switched to consumer cellular last year and they w...

sbaywriter

I moved to hurricane country. I am sticking with laptop so I can take it with me easily should I need to evacuate. I use it just like desktop otherwise - use external monitor and external keyboard/mouse.

sbaywriter

If I am understanding you, the following is not correct: I think this means that if you cash out the month before it compounds you do NOT receive the interest. I believe the semi-annual compounding refers to changing the principal amount on which interest will be paid by adding to it the interest fo...

sbaywriter

I pay around 5k in interest, property tax payment, which is around 60k expense yearly. If i sell the house in 5 years, it has to go upto to 2 mn for me to break even (300k interest+prop tax, transaction costs). If you are not paying this 60k yearly in mortage etc, you would be paying rent, so you w...

sbaywriter

Also, there is Medicare Part D.

sbaywriter

I don't think any one has mentioned the possible "perceived as too old" issue. Is it possible that they are looking for younger candidates in some cases so they kind of write you off at the beginning of the interview but don't say anything because legally they are not supposed to consider ...

sbaywriter

Another non-connoisseur here. I upgraded from years of drinking instant coffee to old drip type Cuisinart 4 cup machine. No recommendations on the expresso options, but on the beans, I couldn't tell much difference between buying a small bag of pre-ground and buying beans and grinding my own in a ch...

sbaywriter

No comments on individual communities but as a general statement: For hurricanes there are 3 main factors: storm surge, inland flooding, and winds. The maps seem to show they are far enough inland so you don't have to worry about storm surge, so that leaves inland flooding and winds. I would think t...

sbaywriter

I would suggest doing as much online research as possible on the types of lenses and so on. I have visited 3 cataract surgeons and none of them provided me useful information - I had to find it all out on my own. My optometrist was far more helpful in explaining to me what was occurring. There are s...

sbaywriter

Ok, you lost money from buying high and selling low – but I think you were right to sell – it was a rational response to recognizing that you had taken on an inappropriate risk with that money. So you should pat yourself on the back for being rational and recognizing that mistake. As many mentioned ...

sbaywriter

I just finished Circe by Madeline Miller, which I enjoyed tremendously - I've read a lot of junk recently, because I'm lazy and so read a lot of junky novels, but this was fascinating and original and also easy to read. Although it draws heavily on Greek mythology, particularly the stories in the Od...

sbaywriter

I have not found Vanguard customer service horrible - just some long wait times on the phone occasionally. But these days, I can do everything online anyhow. I have IRA accounts only, and at Vanguard, mutual funds only, old mutual fund "platform", have not converted to the brokerage platfo...

sbaywriter

It might help her to read the section in the wiki on getting a windfall, which will encourage her to take her time and not rush into doing anything with the money - in a way she is in a similar position of someone who suddenly has a lot of money and has to figure out what to do with it, and I think ...

sbaywriter

It probably dug out under the fence. Happens to our dogs all the time. I'd try the local shelter first, and if that doesn't work they can post some flyers around where it went missing. I just checked and it's not in our yard, and my neighbor says he hasn't seen it either. I did see a small tan and ...

sbaywriter

Option #5 Pretend the situation was reversed. What would you do if you were her boss? How would you want her to act toward you ? You might find you can reverse your present negative point of view. Perhaps you might want to congratulate her and let her know you will be doing your best to continue you...

sbaywriter

I think it was mostly that people upgraded without realizing what they were getting into - they were not just switching to a different web site - it was a different account type and if they had not had a brokerage account before, there were things that worked differently. For example, the settlement...

sbaywriter

Someone posted this link on a similar ongoing discussion - it's a good summary, especially the comparison table, and may answer all your questions:

Vanguard brokerage https://www.vanguard.com/pdf/vbafqm.pdf

sbaywriter

Regarding the Rule of 55 mentioned above - since you say the 401k was from former employer the Rule of 55 does not seem to apply according to an article I found on the web, which says: The Rule of 55 only applies to assets in your current 401(k) or 403(b )—the one you invested in while you were at t...

sbaywriter

I know nothing really, no hiring experience. But seems like this could be validly included as part of a functional resume versus chronological resume. Also, if there are opportunities for taking on your desired new role within company, that might be easier that external transistion. And maybe you co...

sbaywriter

I think they ran a bit late - got mine beginning of Feb. Once I got the paper copy I was also able to track it down a PDF download on the soc sec website - wasn't showing up before then.

sbaywriter

I retired to Clearwater recently. If you are thinking of Clearwater as a location that might work for commuting to both Tampa and St Pete - I think you might end up with 2 brutal commutes - maybe just go to St Pete so that at least one of you doesn't have the long commute. I guess suburban sprawl de...

sbaywriter

I spent hours in stores test driving mattresses a couple years ago. Finally bought at a big half price sale at Macy's after spending over an hour trying them out. The salesperson warned me that the mattress as delivered would not feel the same as the mattress in the store - it wouldn't be as soft. W...

sbaywriter

My CITI card makes it clear that if I schedule a payment before the autopay date, they adjust the autopay amount accordingly. For example right now I have a payment of $700 scheduled for next week and less than that is due on the autopay the following week, so their web site shows the statement: You...

sbaywriter

Nothing is perfect - you made the best decision you could at the time For an older house there will always be things that show up that need fixing after you buy. Usually you can prioritize and fix them over several years. Maybe making a list and identifying priorities to start working on would help....

sbaywriter

I only worked briefly in Fremont so don't know the parks there. I lived near Shoreline Park in Mountain View (near Googleplex), has some nice areas for families I think. When I lived in Sunnyvale I used to hike Rancho San Antonio park in Los Altos - it has beautiful hiking trails (heavily used these...

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