Search found 171 matches

by Hubris
Sun Mar 24, 2024 10:00 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?
Replies: 2857
Views: 230267

Re: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?

Sandhill Cranes are back here in western MT as of about a week ago. In our yard over the last week…Robins, Red-winged Blackbirds, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Juncos, a pair of Gray Partridges, and approximately 75 Bohemian Waxwings this morning.
by Hubris
Fri Mar 22, 2024 8:32 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What are you listening to now
Replies: 5832
Views: 590807

Re: What are you listening to now

William Elliott Whitmore in advance of seeing him at a 50 seat listening room in June.

Roots!!! Banjo!!!
by Hubris
Mon Jan 15, 2024 9:20 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Private investment opportunity
Replies: 37
Views: 4177

Re: Private investment opportunity

Be sure you understand the impact on your income tax preparation…I would want to know how many K-1’s I would be receiving, the timing of receiving them (you’ll almost certainly end up extending your returns during the duration of the investments) and if you’ll need to file returns in additional states based on where the companies representing the investments are located. And, then discuss potential additional tax prep fees with your preparer if you use one. Yeah, I think I would receive a K-1 for each investment that is made. I'm investing at the deal level not fund level so this could end up being 10-15 different K-1s. A lot of the investments lately have been overseas too, not sure if you have experience with that from a tax perspective....
by Hubris
Mon Jan 15, 2024 7:09 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Private investment opportunity
Replies: 37
Views: 4177

Re: Private investment opportunity

Be sure you understand the impact on your income tax preparation…I would want to know how many K-1’s I would be receiving, the timing of receiving them (you’ll almost certainly end up extending your returns during the duration of the investments) and if you’ll need to file returns in additional states based on where the companies representing the investments are located. And, then discuss potential additional tax prep fees with your preparer if you use one.
by Hubris
Mon Jan 15, 2024 7:09 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Private investment opportunity
Replies: 37
Views: 4177

Re: Private investment opportunity

Be sure you understand the impact on your income tax preparation…I would want to know how many K-1’s I would be receiving, the timing of receiving them (you’ll almost certainly end up extending your returns during the duration of the investments) and if you’ll need to file returns in additional states based on where the companies representing the investments are located. And, then discuss potential additional tax prep fees with your preparer if you use one.
by Hubris
Wed Jan 03, 2024 3:51 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: When does Vanguard update its RMD calculations?
Replies: 24
Views: 3968

Re: When does Vanguard update its RMD calculations?

MIL’s 2024 RMD amount was visible on Vanguard yesterday (1/2/24)
by Hubris
Thu Dec 28, 2023 12:18 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Optimal Bond Choice in our Taxable Account
Replies: 9
Views: 1084

Re: Optimal Bond Choice in our Taxable Account

Grabiner: I knew the risk issue would be raised, thank you for the reinforcement

Stan1: intermediate term (10-15 yrs) hence looking for “medium duration”, thanks for the suggestion

Outer Marker: thanks however I’m actually in the process of moving away from iBonds and liquidating our existing holdings as part of a simplification plan. I’ve appreciate returns on the shorter duration instruments but am looking to intermediate term as consistent with our IPS. Am content to let the AA drift but am not going to intentionally change our AA through new equity purchases

Much appreciated.
by Hubris
Thu Dec 28, 2023 9:41 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Optimal Bond Choice in our Taxable Account
Replies: 9
Views: 1084

Re: Optimal Bond Choice in our Taxable Account

whodidntante wrote: Wed Dec 27, 2023 9:23 pm If you're open to reconsidering your target allocation, I suggest equity index ETFs rather than bonds. Bonds have poor expected returns and are taxed heavily in the USA.
Thanks whodidntante, but no thanks, satisfied with our allocation and not sure where you get the “poor expected returns”(?)…I’m satisfied with the returns that I’m expected returns of the asset class and returns going forward for the next few years are very likely expected to be substantially better than last couple of years. Anyhow, the positioning we’re doing is based on asset allocation and not on timing of returns.

Thanks retired@50…exactly what I was looking for!
by Hubris
Wed Dec 27, 2023 9:16 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Optimal Bond Choice in our Taxable Account
Replies: 9
Views: 1084

Re: Optimal Bond Choice in our Taxable Account

Thanks but none of those: Montana
by Hubris
Wed Dec 27, 2023 8:11 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Optimal Bond Choice in our Taxable Account
Replies: 9
Views: 1084

Optimal Bond Choice in our Taxable Account

Hi all, I’m trying to figure out if there is a clearly optimal choice for our bond holdings in a taxable account. Our IRA’s are completely in TIPS (combo of medium & long duration), and we still need to hold quite a bit of medium term fixed income in our taxable account to achieve our target allocation. The funds for this are currently in T-bills maturing in 2024, in order to manage our taxable income in 2023. Normally, I think this would be a simple exercise in tax equivalent yields (TEY) and maybe still is. The specifics: We’re considering mostly Treasuries (individual bonds or funds) vs Muni’s(funds), with a medium term duration, and not inclined to hold TIPS (funds or individual bonds) in taxable although not completely opposed to i...
by Hubris
Sun Dec 17, 2023 7:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to afford vet school for sophomore kid?
Replies: 106
Views: 14559

Re: How to afford vet school for sophomore kid?

veggivet wrote: Sun Dec 17, 2023 6:19 pm The veterinary profession has many more female practitioners, and females are in the majority in all US veterinary schools, frequently by large margins.
+1

My class at Ohio State in 1986 was the last class at Ohio State to be more than 50% male at about 51%. Women make up about 80-90% of most graduating classes and have for a long time.
by Hubris
Thu Dec 14, 2023 9:35 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to afford vet school for sophomore kid?
Replies: 106
Views: 14559

Re: How to afford vet school for sophomore kid?

As a veterinarian myself I can tell you it’s a career of the heart there was no roi being considered. Students set on it will persevere through all manner of hurdles. I’ve loved every bit of it- a few late calls excepted- and happy in my career of almost 30 years. Demand is high and starting pay has jumped considerably for new vets. If she stays serious consider her gaining residency in a state with a program or with reciprocity to another state so that she pays in-state. Military another good option. The profession has been aware of the education costs and Univ of AZ has a new accelerated program to get thru quicker and cheaper for example. Probably more of this will be in place by the time she’s ready. Keep her volunteering and exposed t...
by Hubris
Tue Nov 28, 2023 9:41 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?
Replies: 2857
Views: 230267

Re: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?

Sandtrap wrote: Tue Nov 28, 2023 8:23 am
Hubris wrote: Mon Nov 27, 2023 9:15 pm Flock of approximately 100 Bohemian Waxwings swarmed into the shrubs and trees in the yard for a few minutes today!
i think its called a "murmuration" when they do that
we get that in northern arizona
fascinating to see

j🌺
Yes, sort of…it’s a murmuration when they’re flying in a swirling pattern in the sky. In this case, they just flew in and occupied most of the branches of the trees and shrubs in a part of our yard.
by Hubris
Mon Nov 27, 2023 9:15 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?
Replies: 2857
Views: 230267

Re: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?

Flock of approximately 100 Bohemian Waxwings swarmed into the shrubs and trees in the yard for a few minutes today!
by Hubris
Fri Nov 03, 2023 7:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?
Replies: 2857
Views: 230267

Re: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?

Red Crossbills at our feeders the last 2 days: highest count was 9, with 6 males & 3 females
by Hubris
Tue Oct 31, 2023 8:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Books that Really Changed/Helped You/Your Perspective and Why?
Replies: 75
Views: 10873

Re: Books that Really Changed/Helped You/Your Perspective and Why?

+1 for Being Mortal.

How We Die by Sherwin Nuland
Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond
Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey (and any/all of his essays)
by Hubris
Sat Oct 28, 2023 1:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?
Replies: 2857
Views: 230267

Re: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?

Snowing for last 4 days here in Bozeman: 5 Tundra Swans flew by this morning
by Hubris
Mon Sep 04, 2023 7:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What are you listening to now
Replies: 5832
Views: 590807

Re: What are you listening to now

The Rumble featuring Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr, an excellent New Orleans funk band that opened for Tab Benoit at his recent show we attended. Not to be confused with Link Wray’s seminal song “Rumble”!!
by Hubris
Sat Aug 26, 2023 8:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What are you listening to now
Replies: 5832
Views: 590807

Re: What are you listening to now

Horologium wrote: Fri Aug 25, 2023 11:46 am
vnatale wrote: Thu Aug 24, 2023 1:27 pm Over 50 years ago when listening to that iconic Allman Brothers double Live at the Fillmore record, I used to be able tell who was playing a solo - Betts or Allman. But, lost that ability somewhere along the way.
Duane Allman's untimely death was a terrible loss to the music world. The amount of great music he produced in his too short career is amazing. My personal favorite is "Loan Me a Dime" with Boz Scaggs.
Duane Allman, an all time great. Listening to Duane Allman Anthologies 1 & II are a staple of my listening, always.

Currently listening to Tab Benoit in preparation for seeing him on Monday night for about the 6th time in several decades. Check him out if you like blues on the Telecaster.
by Hubris
Sun Aug 13, 2023 7:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?
Replies: 2857
Views: 230267

Re: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?

Two separate sightings of Olive-sided Flycatcher in the past 3 days as well as an American Dipper feeding a fledgling.
by Hubris
Sun May 14, 2023 10:55 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?
Replies: 2857
Views: 230267

Re: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?

99 species of birds observed at Point Pelee National Park in Ontario May 5-9 as well as a brief stop at Magee Marsh in OH.
by Hubris
Sat Apr 29, 2023 3:01 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Big Bend National Park
Replies: 15
Views: 2249

Re: Big Bend National Park

I lived there (Alpine) for 2 years about 20 yrs ago and loved it then, and still do when we go back once in a while. Great place to just poke around, take pictures, hike, bird, etc depending on time of the year. Super hot in the summer except at elevation in Chisos or Davis mountains. A few additional highlights outside BBNP. Fort Davis: good for history (the old fort), MacDonald’s Observatory (go to a star party) and Fort Davis State Park Marfa: Minimalist art at the Judd Foundation and great atmosphere overall, see the Marfa Lights (between Marfa & Alpine) Terlingua: stay in one of the restored stone cottages, walk through the cemetery Alpine: Museum of the Big Bend at Sul Ross State University Marathon: Post Park (birding) Balmorhea ...
by Hubris
Tue Mar 28, 2023 9:34 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Northern Lights are on fire 3/28/23
Replies: 4
Views: 954

Re: Northern Lights are on fire 3/28/23

Definitely more vivid with the camera but the visuals became more pronounced as we were our longer, I think as our eyes adjusted. The “plume” was amazing, as were the pulsing waves that weren’t captured with these images.
by Hubris
Tue Mar 28, 2023 9:16 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Northern Lights are on fire 3/28/23
Replies: 4
Views: 954

Re: Northern Lights are on fire 3/28/23

We had good looks at them last week…

Image

Image
by Hubris
Wed Mar 22, 2023 8:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What are you listening to now
Replies: 5832
Views: 590807

Re: What are you listening to now

We saw a great duo live last week in a local 50 seat venue: Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley. Stellar musicianship on dobro and acoustic guitar. Www.robandtrey.com
by Hubris
Fri Mar 17, 2023 2:19 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?
Replies: 2857
Views: 230267

Re: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?

Cassin’s Finch numbers grew over the last week with our incoming snow, reaching a high of 23. Just saw a Rough-legged Hawk dark morph fly by, These are common hawks here in winter but the dark morphs aren’t that common.
by Hubris
Sun Mar 05, 2023 10:10 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Are you buying EE bonds in 2023?
Replies: 157
Views: 17172

Re: Are you buying EE bonds in 2023?

We just wrapped up selling off our EE bonds, all acquired over the last 3 yrs and are permanently abandoning our “DIY annuity” plan. Due to the overall changes in the interest rate environment, a substantial positive and unexpected financial event and only being 3 yrs into the 10 yr purchase plan. And, while we didn’t make any meaningful returns in the 3 yrs, we also got 100% of principal back (along with a trivial amount of interest.)
by Hubris
Thu Feb 23, 2023 6:28 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?
Replies: 2857
Views: 230267

Re: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?

Bitter cold here has brought Cassin’s Finches: ranging from 3 a few days ago to 8 today.
by Hubris
Mon Feb 20, 2023 1:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?
Replies: 2857
Views: 230267

Re: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?

Brief glimpse of a Northern Goshawk in the neighborhood last week.
by Hubris
Sun Feb 12, 2023 8:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What are you listening to now
Replies: 5832
Views: 590807

Re: What are you listening to now

Some guitar music after seeing a great show this past week, International Guitar Night with flamenco (1), classical(1) and jazz guitarists (2)… https://internationalguitarnight.com/

Saturday Night in San Francisco - Di Meola, McLaughlin, de Lucia (follow up to Friday Night in San Francisco)
by Hubris
Thu Feb 09, 2023 10:05 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?
Replies: 2857
Views: 230267

Re: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?

Half a dozen Sharp-tailed Grouse came by for about 20 minutes. We had a pair show up daily for about 2 weeks last winter. This is unusual in our neighborhood.
by Hubris
Thu Feb 09, 2023 10:03 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Transfer HSA from Optum to Fidelity
Replies: 33
Views: 7126

Re: Transfer HSA from Optum to Fidelity

As an update to this topic, my wife just tried to rollover her HSA from former employer at Optum to Fidelity by initiating the request at Fidelity. 30 days later, she gets a notice (online) from Fidelity that Optum only allows requests to come directly from the account holder and not from other institutions. This seems different from when we did something similar a couple of years ago with my HSA and from what I’ve read here at BH. We’ll now go through Optum.
by Hubris
Thu Feb 02, 2023 6:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?
Replies: 2857
Views: 230267

Re: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?

Evening Grosbeaks

Image

Image

Image
by Hubris
Sun Jan 01, 2023 7:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?
Replies: 2857
Views: 230267

Re: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?

Flocks of Bohemian Waxwings performing murmurations over the neighborhood. Latest flock numbers ~125
by Hubris
Tue Dec 27, 2022 9:31 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How do you find (original) art to hang on your walls?
Replies: 33
Views: 4019

Re: How do you find (original) art to hang on your walls?

SR II wrote: Tue Dec 27, 2022 2:30 am
Hubris wrote: Mon Dec 26, 2022 12:15 pm Check out our neighbor, Stella Nall at https://stellanall.com/
I like her style!
She’s a really great young woman who already has one of her works in the Smithsonian at the Museum of the American Indian. We’ve got 4 of her prints in our home.
by Hubris
Tue Dec 20, 2022 11:02 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: $480k in debt
Replies: 75
Views: 11787

Re: $480k in debt

Re: using the spouse’s taxable brokerage account to pay off the OP’s student loan debt, just a note of caution to check in with spouse about how they want their taxable brokerage account used and/or about whether there is a marital contract or prenup. Lower earning spouse putting the physician through med training via household and financial support then later marriage dissolves (and lower earner isn’t made whole) is a real thing that occurs with some frequency.

I’m all for a married couple being “all in, all together” but life experience suggests that caution is needed in this area.
by Hubris
Wed Nov 23, 2022 6:42 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?
Replies: 2857
Views: 230267

Re: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?

American Tree Sparrow…just one at the feeder.
by Hubris
Mon Oct 31, 2022 5:44 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?
Replies: 2857
Views: 230267

Re: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?

Grey Partridges (aka Hungarian Partridges or “Huns”) are back, flock of about a dozen. We also had a Ruffed Grouse die in a window strike.
by Hubris
Fri Jul 15, 2022 9:08 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Solar Users - did your energy use change?
Replies: 24
Views: 2498

Re: Solar Users - did your energy use change?

Garage and workshop heaters, hot tub, mini split AC x2; but we would have done all of these regardless
by Hubris
Tue Jul 12, 2022 11:23 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: About to buy a Subaru Ascent
Replies: 19
Views: 2632

Re: About to buy a Subaru Ascent

Toyota Highlander Hybrid was our preference in March, over Ascent. We test drove a 1 yr old Ascent as the new ones were all waiting for a chip of some sort so couldn’t be driven. 2nd row seating in the Highlander seemed better than the Ascent. Our other car is a Subaru Forester (2015) so we had a pro-Subaru bias. We did need to wait about 6 weeks for the Highlander to be built but were already driving a rental due to the Forester being in the shop after an accident.
by Hubris
Wed Jun 08, 2022 1:51 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?
Replies: 2857
Views: 230267

Re: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?

Lazuli Bunting, Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, Spotted Towhee…all gorgeous, and at our feeders recently. Also, birding this past weekend, there must have been a “fallout” of a migrating flock of Western Tanagers and Eastern Kingbirds…easily 300 of the former and 100 of the latter in a 3 mile stretch along a local lake.
by Hubris
Sat Apr 30, 2022 3:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?
Replies: 2857
Views: 230267

Re: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?

Cassin’s Finches
by Hubris
Mon Apr 25, 2022 10:51 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?
Replies: 2857
Views: 230267

Re: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?

Black Rosy-finch yesterday, mixed in with the Gray-crowned Rosy-finches!
by Hubris
Thu Apr 14, 2022 12:15 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?
Replies: 2857
Views: 230267

Re: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?

Spring winter storm a few days ago blew in about 15 Gray-crowned Rosy-finches…my first time seeing them and a real treat.
by Hubris
Tue Apr 12, 2022 5:01 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Excess Contribution in Roth- What do I do now?
Replies: 11
Views: 1522

Re: Excess Contribution in Roth- What do I do now?

OP, same thing happened to my MIL who is also with Vanguard. She chose to withdraw the excess contribution also, and just emailed VG from their messaging function “inside” their platform (once logged in) and they sent her back instructions about how to do it online (again through their platform).Instructions we’re very simple, used DocuSign for signi;g and all was completed within 72 hrs of her initiating from their instructions.
by Hubris
Sun Apr 03, 2022 2:46 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: liquidity as happiness
Replies: 135
Views: 14358

Re: liquidity as happiness

Lack of liquidity when needed is incredibly stressful. If one hasn’t ever experienced a liquidity crisis (personally or in business), it’s hard to convey the magnitude of the stress involved. A wise mentor once told me the following which I relay to my consulting clients: “Everything works better when the money works.”
by Hubris
Fri Mar 25, 2022 10:29 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?
Replies: 2857
Views: 230267

Re: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?

Spring migrants trickling in…Sandhill Cranes, Robins, Red-winged Blackbirds, and a Western Meadowlark. While we still have a few Common Redpolls and the covey of “Huns” (Gray Partridges) is down to 1 pair, as they’ve paired up and dispersed.