Search found 126 matches

by Edward Joseph
Tue Feb 06, 2024 7:57 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Why Different Yields for Vanguard Short-Term Munis VMLUX vs VTES
Replies: 4
Views: 622

Re: Why Different Yields for Vanguard Short-Term Munis VMLUX vs VTES

It's not JUST duration. Look at the credit quality of the holdings.
The credit quality of the underlying bonds is slightly worse for VMLUX earning them it a slightly higher yield.

VMLUX - mostly AA and A
VTES - mostly AAA and AA
by Edward Joseph
Sun Aug 20, 2023 1:38 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Should I care about market cap in portfolio allocation?
Replies: 14
Views: 1963

Re: Should I care about market cap in portfolio allocation?

Just a note, there is not a universally agreed upon threshold of what exact market cap size makes a company a Large, Mid or Small company. Some are obvious, but there typically is a range. It's not surprising to me that different places measure your portfolio differently.

The majority here opt for a Total Market fund (e.g. VTI) to round out the domestic equity exposure. This is the easiest way to allocate because it will manage to "market weight" automatically versus slicing and dicing.
by Edward Joseph
Wed Aug 02, 2023 2:38 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Is the Boglehead 3 fund portfolio suitable for a 50+ year horizon?
Replies: 15
Views: 1676

Re: Is the Boglehead 3 fund portfolio suitable for a 50+ year horizon?

You only need a 1-fund portfolio for this.

VT/VTWAX for a 50+ year time frame.

(You can start adding Total Bond when they're in their 50's.)
by Edward Joseph
Thu Jul 27, 2023 4:45 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: SPIA needed or not for 91 year old mother? Where is breakeven (long post)
Replies: 47
Views: 4498

Re: SPIA needed or not for 91 year old mother? Where is breakeven (long post)

I'll only speak to the SPIA. At age 91 you are very unlikely to find one with a "life pay" or "life with Cash Refund" payment. The best you can do is a Term Certain only pay. Five years, 10 years, etc. Of course you still run the risk of outliving the money with this option. A 10 yr Term Certain SPIA at a major carrier right now pays out about 12.07% per year for 10 years (with a 3.97% IRR) and then it's exhausted.
by Edward Joseph
Wed Jun 21, 2023 5:37 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How much time for the second million?
Replies: 57
Views: 13311

Re: How much time for the second million?

If you're holding your 2 funds at a global market cap weight (60:40), then Vanguard projects about a 6.30% nominal return over next 10 years. (link below)

From there it's a simple time value of money calculation. (Someone can check my math.)

950k PV
$2m FV
120 periods
6.30% annual return

Solve for = $1,316 monthly payments needed

Vanguard Assumptions:
https://corporate.vanguard.com/content/ ... -2023.html
by Edward Joseph
Sat Feb 25, 2023 9:00 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: VMSXX
Replies: 3
Views: 980

Re: VMSXX

The best measure is the 7-day SEC yield. As of yesterday it is 3.43%.
by Edward Joseph
Mon Feb 06, 2023 5:09 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Understanding annuity... I thought it could be considered fixed income?
Replies: 34
Views: 2901

Re: Understanding annuity... I thought it could be considered fixed income?

To be clear, the guarantees and benefits I mentioned are backed by whatever Insurance company partnered with Fidelity to underwrite this. The high M&E fees that most VAs incur, typically provide a minimum death benefit and/or other benefits. There is most likely an arrangement to split fees between Fidelity and the insurance company. Makes sense. But the death benefit doesn't do much given her gains are so much higher than her principal. My understanding is the death benefit likely only plays a roll when the total account value drops below the principal. Unless there's been some guarantee increases over the years (she's going to ask). Yes, you’re thinking is correct. If there’s solid growth in the contract value over time, then the min...
by Edward Joseph
Mon Feb 06, 2023 5:09 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Understanding annuity... I thought it could be considered fixed income?
Replies: 34
Views: 2901

Re: Understanding annuity... I thought it could be considered fixed income?

To be clear, the guarantees and benefits I mentioned are backed by whatever Insurance company partnered with Fidelity to underwrite this. The high M&E fees that most VAs incur, typically provide a minimum death benefit and/or other benefits. There is most likely an arrangement to split fees between Fidelity and the insurance company. Makes sense. But the death benefit doesn't do much given her gains are so much higher than her principal. My understanding is the death benefit likely only plays a roll when the total account value drops below the principal. Unless there's been some guarantee increases over the years (she's going to ask). Yes, you’re thinking is correct. If there’s solid growth in the contract value over time, then the min...
by Edward Joseph
Mon Feb 06, 2023 12:13 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Understanding annuity... I thought it could be considered fixed income?
Replies: 34
Views: 2901

Re: Understanding annuity... I thought it could be considered fixed income?

It sounds like she has the Fidelity variable annuity. And, since it was set up by her family, it’s also likely a “taxable” (that is, not an IRA). Are both of those statements correct? If so, someone picked those funds for her. Fidelity may have a listing of available funds and even suggested portfolios for certain risk profiles and tilts, but some human (not Fidelity) picked those funds. In the Fidelity variable annuity, all gains and losses in the underlying mutual funds flow directly to the policyholder. Fidelity is not taking any “market risk” on this annuity. She can certainly surrender it and reinvest the proceeds at Schwab or any other broker. But be aware of the tax consequences of the annuity surrender. Presuming it’s in a taxable ...
by Edward Joseph
Mon Feb 06, 2023 11:52 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Understanding annuity... I thought it could be considered fixed income?
Replies: 34
Views: 2901

Re: Understanding annuity... I thought it could be considered fixed income?

It sounds like she has the Fidelity variable annuity. And, since it was set up by her family, it’s also likely a “taxable” (that is, not an IRA). Are both of those statements correct? If so, someone picked those funds for her. Fidelity may have a listing of available funds and even suggested portfolios for certain risk profiles and tilts, but some human (not Fidelity) picked those funds. In the Fidelity variable annuity, all gains and losses in the underlying mutual funds flow directly to the policyholder. Fidelity is not taking any “market risk” on this annuity. She can certainly surrender it and reinvest the proceeds at Schwab or any other broker. But be aware of the tax consequences of the annuity surrender. Presuming it’s in a taxable ...
by Edward Joseph
Wed Dec 22, 2021 6:13 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: looking for a different way to view my international investments
Replies: 22
Views: 1797

Re: looking for a different way to view my international investments

tcrez wrote: Tue Dec 21, 2021 11:25 pm im thinking this might make holding VXUS psychologically less painful
This is why I invest in Total World. (VT/VTWAX) As long as I believe in that allocation long term (30yrs), I remain perfectly balanced and I don't need to visually see one of the components lag the other like I would if I held them separately.

P.S. I don't care about the foreign tax credit or saving a few basis points holding them individually. Staying balanced correctly at all times will be more important in my opinion over the long term.
by Edward Joseph
Mon Nov 22, 2021 8:49 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: JPM annuity for 89 yr old Grandmother?
Replies: 26
Views: 1967

Re: JPM annuity for 89 yr old Grandmother?

Thank you all for the replies thus far as this confirms my suspicions. I will speak with my family to get specific details regarding what annuity was being offered (will consider MYGA based on comments). Perhaps the most concerning thing was that my mother repeatedly told me he was very nice and she would give me the guy’s business card…I told her that I don’t want to speak with him and I want to see the contract details :D Also mentioned that I’d be really nice too if I were banking on a huge commission. Cheers, Humility101 Op, ignore the fact that everyone’s first response here is to freak out as soon as they hear the word “annuity”. At age 89 it is definitely not going to be a Variable Annuity. You know…the ‘really bad kind’ with all th...
by Edward Joseph
Fri Oct 29, 2021 6:59 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: vti + vxus or vt
Replies: 20
Views: 3595

Re: vti + vxus or vt

I vote for VTWAX/VT. (I also own it.) If you truly want to be global market weight, the single fund takes the psychological aspect out of it. Yes you can can save a couple basis points and there is a possible foreign tax credit, but knowing that you’re always balanced I feel is the top priority.

If one component is underperforming for a decade (like last decade) will you have the fortitude and mentality to continuously rebalance into the under performer or to keep contributing to the under performer if you’re making subpays? If you want to be global market weight, keeping it simple is the way to go in my opinion.
by Edward Joseph
Fri Oct 22, 2021 11:49 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Can I break my apartment lease for this?
Replies: 43
Views: 3862

Re: Can I break my apartment lease for this?

1) Ask to relocate to a different unit. Offer to pay the small maintenance fee to re-paint and clean your existing unit to be ready to put back on the market. I can't imagine this wouldn't work.

2) Not sure your financial situation, but at my age (43) a good night sleep means everything to me and I would seriously consider breaking the lease and leaving.

As a possible short term remedy, they sell noise and light dampening drapes. Maybe buy and install a set. Also, try and stick small cotton balls in your ears. They're more comfortable than actual ear plugs to sleep in and it's helped me with city noise at times.
by Edward Joseph
Wed Oct 20, 2021 5:32 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What are the tax advantages of VTI+VXUS instead of holding just VT?
Replies: 12
Views: 3044

Re: What are the tax advantages of VTI+VXUS instead of holding just VT?

Everything everyone mentioned about holding the components separately is correct.

However, I still prefer to hold VT/VTWAX due to psychological and behavioral issues. To me, if someone wants to maintain global weightings it would have been difficult investing into or rebalancing into the underperforming International side over the past 10 years.

I hold VTWAX in taxable. I haven't ran the math but I feel (or hope) like the small tax savings I can sometimes earn by separating them is compensated for by eliminating any behavioral risks by holding the single fund.
by Edward Joseph
Fri Oct 08, 2021 6:24 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Bond Investing[: How to get started?]
Replies: 14
Views: 1976

Re: Bond Investing[: How to get started?]

It sounds like you want to set up the 3-fund (or 2 fund) portfolio. Most here will agree it's a great strategy.

The default answer is to simply use the Total Bond Market Fund (VBTLX) or the etf version BND.

Since it's in a taxable account you may instead consider a Municipal Bond fund if you're in a high tax bracket. One of the most widely used ones is VWIUX (Intermediate Term Tax Exempt) or you can consider a state specific Municipal Fund if Vanguard has one for your state.

If you read the wiki for the 3-fund portfolio it will give insights on the bond holdings most often paired.
https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Three-fund_portfolio
by Edward Joseph
Mon Jun 07, 2021 9:30 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Are payments from a SPIA taxed?
Replies: 24
Views: 2906

Re: Are payments from a SPIA taxed?

Some people want to use their tax-deferred IRA money for a SPIA. In that case, the payments would be taxed. I don't know how it works for a SPIA bought with a taxable account. It will be interesting to learn. I would imagine that it's like a pension, the already-taxed part is a return of principal, eventually you will use it all up and the payment will be fully taxed. Could SPIA-annuitizing your IRA potentially have an effect on RMD's ? Annuitizing IRA assets removes that asset from your RMD calculation. The income from an IRA-SPIA does not satisfy your overall RMDs unfortunately. If this was true, why would my insurance company report to the IRS the value of my IRA-funded SPIA every year? I'm not at RMD age yet but will face it a couple o...
by Edward Joseph
Mon Jun 07, 2021 6:05 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Are payments from a SPIA taxed?
Replies: 24
Views: 2906

Re: Are payments from a SPIA taxed?

Thanks for the replies, very informative. For the taxable account scenario, it seems like the risk profile is skewed against the individual in the sense that payouts after one’s life expectancy are fully taxed, but if one doesn’t reach their life expectancy the lost capital can’t be used as a capital loss. Most SPIAs are sold with a Cash Refund or Term Certain provision so that if the annuitant doesn't live to their full life expectancy, a lump sum of unpaid principal is passed to a beneficiary or their estate. A life with a Term Certain payout can also continue the income upon death to a named beneficiary for the extent of the term. (The reduction in income to add these provisions versus Life Only are surprisingly not that expensive. They...
by Edward Joseph
Mon Jun 07, 2021 4:06 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Are payments from a SPIA taxed?
Replies: 24
Views: 2906

Re: Are payments from a SPIA taxed?

Thanks for the replies, very informative. For the taxable account scenario, it seems like the risk profile is skewed against the individual in the sense that payouts after one’s life expectancy are fully taxed, but if one doesn’t reach their life expectancy the lost capital can’t be used as a capital loss. Most SPIAs are sold with a Cash Refund or Term Certain provision so that if the annuitant doesn't live to their full life expectancy, a lump sum of unpaid principal is passed to a beneficiary or their estate. A life with a Term Certain payout can also continue the income upon death to a named beneficiary for the extent of the term. (The reduction in income to add these provisions versus Life Only are surprisingly not that expensive. They...
by Edward Joseph
Mon Jun 07, 2021 3:55 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Are payments from a SPIA taxed?
Replies: 24
Views: 2906

Re: Are payments from a SPIA taxed?

tj wrote: Mon Jun 07, 2021 3:32 pm
retiredjg wrote: Mon Jun 07, 2021 3:00 pm Some people want to use their tax-deferred IRA money for a SPIA. In that case, the payments would be taxed.

I don't know how it works for a SPIA bought with a taxable account. It will be interesting to learn.
I would imagine that it's like a pension, the already-taxed part is a return of principal, eventually you will use it all up and the payment will be fully taxed.


Could SPIA-annuitizing your IRA potentially have an effect on RMD's ?
Annuitizing IRA assets removes that asset from your RMD calculation. The income from an IRA-SPIA does not satisfy your overall RMDs unfortunately.
by Edward Joseph
Mon Jun 07, 2021 3:51 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Are payments from a SPIA taxed?
Replies: 24
Views: 2906

Re: Are payments from a SPIA taxed?

SPIA income is a lot more tax efficient than normal deferred annuity income. The exclusion ratio mentioned above for a SPIA is correct. If you invest $100k (taxable account) and your life expectancy is 10 years, the insurance company may plan on paying you a total of $110k back (assuming you'll die in 10 years). The $10k in gains they are planning on paying you will be spread out evenly over those first 10 years and each year you'll have a steady proportion of return of principal and interest as income. Each year about 90% of the income will be considered tax free return of capital. If you live beyond 10 years, the income keeps coming, but now its 100% taxable. The same is true if you have a Term Certain only SPIA. It's calculation will be ...
by Edward Joseph
Sat May 15, 2021 10:08 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Splitting out a target date index fund
Replies: 41
Views: 4636

Re: Splitting out a target date index fund

You may save a few basis points, but like others have mentioned, ‘investor BEHAVIOR’ is probably the biggest determinant of investing success.

Using the packaged model keeps you appropriately balanced based on your risk tolerance, prevents you from tinkering too much and from chasing returns.

Yes, you cannot place assets in certain accounts for optimal tax efficiency or tax loss harvest as easily but removing behavioral decisions typically wins out for most investors.
by Edward Joseph
Tue May 04, 2021 6:39 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Saved for downpayment but realized that I don't have any desire to be a house owner.
Replies: 63
Views: 6360

Re: Saved for downpayment but realized that I don't have any desire to be a house owner.

samsoes wrote: Tue May 04, 2021 3:57 pm I'm going to buck the trend of the replies this far and strongly recommend that you buy, if not a free-standing house, then a townhouse. I've never rented in my life and wouldn't have it any other way.

(I don't mean to sound harsh, but you're 10 years past the "have a roommate" stage of life.)
I’m kinda curious. How have you “never rented in (your) life”? Did you live with your parents until you saved a down payment? If so, until what age? Military possibly?
by Edward Joseph
Sun Dec 13, 2020 9:45 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Anyone tried JEPI etf
Replies: 24
Views: 6040

Re: Anyone tried JEPI etf

I've been using it for a few months and it has done pretty much performed how I've expected it to perform. It has a very specific use in my short/intermediate term portfolio. It's actually my most aggressive position in this portfolio and I'm ok sacrificing some upside for the income. I'm pretty familiar with selling covered calls. Along with JEPI, I also use NUSI which tracks the NASDAQ (as opposed to JEPI which tracks S&P 500). NUSI is more expensive and yields less income because it also buy protective puts. (I wouldn't use it for long term growth.) Can you elaborate on your "most aggressive" comment? I am under the impression that the covered calls give you extra income thus limiting the impact of drawdowns. I just mean t...
by Edward Joseph
Sun Dec 13, 2020 5:53 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Anyone tried JEPI etf
Replies: 24
Views: 6040

Re: Anyone tried JEPI etf

I've been using it for a few months and it has done pretty much performed how I've expected it to perform.

It has a very specific use in my short/intermediate term portfolio. It's actually my most aggressive position in this portfolio and I'm ok sacrificing some upside for the income. I'm pretty familiar with selling covered calls.

Along with JEPI, I also use NUSI which tracks the NASDAQ (as opposed to JEPI which tracks S&P 500). NUSI is more expensive and yields less income because it also buy protective puts.

(I wouldn't use it for long term growth.)
by Edward Joseph
Fri Aug 28, 2020 3:53 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Winklevoss: The Case for $500,000 Bitcoin
Replies: 349
Views: 29208

Re: Winklevoss: The Case for $500,000 Bitcoin

drk wrote: Fri Aug 28, 2020 2:14 pm
arcticpineapplecorp. wrote: Fri Aug 28, 2020 1:18 pm why not $1 million:
"A million dollars isn't cool. You know what's cool? A billion dollars."
Lol! “Drop the the. It’s cleaner.”
by Edward Joseph
Tue Jun 30, 2020 6:18 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: HSA and Asset Allocation
Replies: 6
Views: 1582

Re: HSA and Asset Allocation

Inside my HSA, I keep about 1 year’s worth of my max out-of-pocket medical expenses in cash or something reasonably safe. The rest I allocate like I would my 401k.
by Edward Joseph
Mon Apr 13, 2020 12:16 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Where to park a house fund?
Replies: 21
Views: 2369

Re: Where to park a house fund?

As someone whose been in a similar position, please don't reach for more return. Especially since you have a specific goal-even if the short timeline is now a little unclear.

Trust me- the PAIN of losing a little principal (for your home purchase) is so much greater than than the JOY of squeezing out a few 10th's of a percentage points of possible return. (Stay in FDIC HY savings, CD's or MM.)
by Edward Joseph
Mon Apr 13, 2020 7:16 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: How come an immediate annuity can pay a 60 year old 5.2% but if he had a 60/40 portfolio he can only take out 4% a year?
Replies: 60
Views: 4513

Re: How come an immediate annuity can pay a 60 year old 5.2% but if he had a 60/40 portfolio he can only take out 4% a y

Read up a bit on risk pooling and mortality credits. An insurance company can play on ‘both sides of the fence’.

When they sell you Life Insurance and customers live long, it’s good for them but conversely bad for them if you own a SPIA and live beyond your life expectancy.

If they sell you a SPIA and you die soon it’s good for the insurance company, but bad for them if they also sold you life insurance.

The risk on both sides from thousands of clients is pooled together and priced based on current interest rates and many other things and hedged.
by Edward Joseph
Mon Apr 13, 2020 7:16 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: How come an immediate annuity can pay a 60 year old 5.2% but if he had a 60/40 portfolio he can only take out 4% a year?
Replies: 60
Views: 4513

Re: How come an immediate annuity can pay a 60 year old 5.2% but if he had a 60/40 portfolio he can only take out 4% a y

Read up a bit on risk pooling and mortality credits. An insurance company can play on ‘both sides of the fence’.

When they sell you Life Insurance and customers live long, it’s good for them but conversely bad for them if you own a SPIA and live beyond your life expectancy.

If they sell you a SPIA and you die soon it’s good for the insurance company, but bad for them if they also sold you life insurance.

The risk on both sides from thousands of clients is pooled together and priced based on current interest rates and many other things and hedged.
by Edward Joseph
Sat Apr 11, 2020 5:15 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Blackrock vs Market Portfolios ?
Replies: 6
Views: 1153

Re: Why Blackrock is outperforming Bogleheads ?

These aren’t perfectly even comparisons. In a highly volatile year, there’s also only 1-2% difference in the returns.
Click in the “exposures” tab. Scroll down to look at all the pie charts and you’ll see the differences in all 3 portfolios that account for the performance difference.

Notably, portfolio #1 only has 25% international which explains its outperformance over the past 3 years.
by Edward Joseph
Sat Apr 11, 2020 9:01 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Had trouble finding an easy-to-use Spending/Investment Tracking software. What's your favorite?
Replies: 19
Views: 1537

Re: Had trouble finding an easy-to-use Spending/Investment Tracking software. What's your favorite?

I’ve used Mint for over 10 years. Couldn’t live without it. It’ll automatically recognize spending and categorize it appropriately once you establish patterns and rules. Very little work goes into it once it’s up and running.
(I just used it to easily investigate how much I spent on a laptop in 2015 in just minutes.)
I use it mostly to track and categorize spending, monitor cash flow & track net worth. I lightly use it for budgeting and goal setting.
It tracks investments fairly well but I’ll go back to Vanguard if I want to view detailed things like cost basis, net return information, etc.
by Edward Joseph
Thu Apr 09, 2020 9:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How to get Toilet Paper ? seriously.
Replies: 684
Views: 67481

Re: How to get Toilet Paper ? seriously.

Just figured this trick out 90 minutes ago. Go to the grocery store right before close. At my Giant Eagle, all the TP shelves were empty but they had some unopened cartons sitting out prepped for them to restock some shelves overnight. I opened the box myself and grabbed a 6 pack of Quilted Northern.

Suppose it may work also if you want to be there right when the open in the am.
by Edward Joseph
Wed Apr 01, 2020 1:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Online / Gun Dealer Recommendations
Replies: 101
Views: 11647

Re: Online / Gun Dealer Recommendations

This is all good advice. I'll just add, good luck finding quality home defense ammunition.

I own some lower-quality rounds that I use for the range but I wanted to buy some better-quality home defense ammunition for my Glock 19 I was out of. Not that I searched extensively, but some of the more typical places are out out of the premium ammunition.
by Edward Joseph
Wed Mar 25, 2020 2:22 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help with Variable Annuity and M&E costs
Replies: 5
Views: 306

Re: Help with Variable Annuity and M&E costs

Yes, the M&E costs will still apply. They typically won’t be listed on the quarterly statement. You’ll have to call the insurance carrier and attain a copy of the contract package or a summary page. The Advisor may also able to provide this to you as well.
by Edward Joseph
Wed Mar 11, 2020 4:05 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Unmarried home ownership, joining his preexisting purchase
Replies: 72
Views: 4828

Re: Unmarried home ownership, joining his preexisting purchase

I’ve cohabitated with a significant other before. I owned the place while she paid me “rent”. As others suggested DO NOT legally tie yourself to this without being married. In my situation, she was legally a tenant and paid me about 1/3 the rent what she would pay on her own place. Plus, we split the utilities. It is so much simpler this way.

Let him use the rent payments he pays you to handle his own renovations.
by Edward Joseph
Wed Jan 22, 2020 5:46 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Jack Bogle - Two Fund Portfolio
Replies: 2645
Views: 322201

Re: Jack Bogle - Two Fund Portfolio

Jack Bogle's Words of Wisdom: "Never think you know more than the market. Nobody does." -- "In my view, owning the market and holding it forever is the ultimate strategy for winners." Unless that "market" is called the All World Cap Index and includes Nestle as one of it's biggest holding. But we don't want to invest in that because it happens to be domiciled in Switzerland even though it gets 30% of its revenue from the United States. :wink: I'm a Boglehead Two-Fund-guy myself. It just happens to be Total World Stock & Bond. Congratulations on a great decade being in US only. Perhaps in this new decade International will beat US like it did in the 1980's & 2000's.We shall see. I'm 41 and have decades ...
by Edward Joseph
Sun Oct 20, 2019 9:53 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Wallets [Do you carry a wallet?]
Replies: 109
Views: 18498

Re: Wallets [Do you carry a wallet?]

Winston19 wrote: Sat Oct 19, 2019 7:35 pm I use a slim wallet - Tom Bihn Nik's wallet. Perfect for carrying a few cards and a little cash.

https://www.tombihn.com/products/minimalist-wallets
You should ask for a commission. I've been looking for a new minimalist wallet and I just picked one of these up. (Version 3 in Black.) Thanks for sharing.
by Edward Joseph
Sun Oct 20, 2019 9:13 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Wallets [Do you carry a wallet?]
Replies: 109
Views: 18498

Re: Wallets [Do you carry a wallet?]

Remember that the wallet is the purse for the man. It is a convenient place to store everything you could possibly need. Driving license SS card Amex Visa MC Diners card Discover Chevron Shell Costco AAA AARP Work badge Health insurance Prescription med card Grocery club cards for Kroger,Costco, etc Parking tags for gym and office Spare key for house Cash - both paper in many denominations and some coins, occasionally some foreign currency notes Couple blank checks Assorted receipts and memos, souvenir ballgame tickets, etc. Family photo I try to keep mine down to an inch thick. Requires a rubber band and can be a pain to sit on.i sometimes level myself out with a wad of napkins in the other pocket. Why would you need all of that on a dail...
by Edward Joseph
Tue Oct 15, 2019 2:52 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: House centipedes in an apartment
Replies: 20
Views: 3421

Re: House centipedes in an apartment

Are you on the first floor? Go buy some insect-barrier spray at Home Depot or Lowe's and spray all along the edges of the exterior of your unit AND the interior floors of your unit. (If you have a pet, make sure its pet friendly.) This will definitely help. If it doesn't help and you want to spend a few more bucks you can have a professional come and spray (assuming your landlord won't pay). Does insect barrier spray work? I live in a first floor apartment and I have big issues with mosquitoes and other small flying bugs. Occasionally, I'll find some longer looking bugs, but they are not house centipedes. These are black longer bugs. I had the landlord re-seal my front door, which helped some, but the bug catcher device I bought that catch...
by Edward Joseph
Tue Oct 15, 2019 2:50 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: A friend was offered an annuity by Chase
Replies: 31
Views: 3222

Re: A friend was offered an annuity by Chase

Ok, cool. So an annuity is not necessarily a terrible thing. I will just ask him what the fee is and maybe google to see if it is competitive. They are going to tell him, there is no fee. But that is not exactly true. The return on the annuity will be affected by the fees the annuity company charges and what it will pay to Chase to sell that annuity to its "mark" (your friend). There is no free lunch. Ask your friend instead, what does the offering prospectus for the annuity say about fees and expenses. Have him show you that page, then report back here. Your friend is likely being offered anything BUT a single premium immediate annuity (SPIA) because they offer the highest commissions to Chase. This is not entirely true either. ...
by Edward Joseph
Mon Sep 16, 2019 7:23 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: House centipedes in an apartment
Replies: 20
Views: 3421

Re: House centipedes in an apartment

Are you on the first floor? Go buy some insect-barrier spray at Home Depot or Lowe's and spray all along the edges of the exterior of your unit AND the interior floors of your unit. (If you have a pet, make sure its pet friendly.) This will definitely help.

If it doesn't help and you want to spend a few more bucks you can have a professional come and spray (assuming your landlord won't pay).
by Edward Joseph
Fri Sep 13, 2019 11:34 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Whistleblowing / Going Rogue at Work
Replies: 122
Views: 9523

Re: Whistleblowing / Going Rogue at Work

greg24 wrote: Fri Sep 13, 2019 11:05 am 50% chance of promotion
50% chance of firing

are you feeling lucky?
I respectfully disagree. The way I see it...
5% Promotion
45% Status Quo (but wants to put a face to the email)
50% Steps to remove/fire

I really don't see any big upside in meeting.
by Edward Joseph
Tue Aug 06, 2019 7:55 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Up State New York speeding ticket for a non-New York resident.
Replies: 27
Views: 4758

Re: Up State New York speeding ticket for a non-New York resident.

This happened to me. I received a ticket outside of Buffalo. I remember calling the court in the jurisdiction that the ticket was in. The clerk just verbally told me what the fine would be. I could have sworn the phone number was on the ticket. If not, I may have just google searched the court's phone number. I got a clerk on the phone and he filled me in. I can't remember if I mailed a money order in with my guilty ticket or if I waited to hear back from them officially regarding the fine.

If you don't want to call upfront, simply check "guilty" on the ticket, mail it in and wait to hear from them.
by Edward Joseph
Sat Aug 03, 2019 7:46 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: If I have HSA at work can I open a separate HSA through Fidelity?
Replies: 10
Views: 1494

Re: If I have HSA at work can I open a separate HSA through Fidelity?

Yes. I did this earlier this year. My work has an HSA from another company but I also opened a fidelity HSA and funded it at tax time so that my total contributions for 2018 were maxed out. As pointed out, you can only fund them in aggregate by the total allowable amount for the year. Also, there is an additional tax benefit to have the contributions come from your payroll department to reduce FICA as opposed to after-tax contributions. One other important note, I did a Qualified Transfer from my employer’s HSA into my new Fidelity one but it accidentally closed down my employer’s. It was a bit of a headache to get that back open working with payroll. I may do this annually going forward, however I now know to just do partial transfers to a...
by Edward Joseph
Wed Jul 17, 2019 11:15 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Would you pay that much for parking?
Replies: 26
Views: 2572

Re: Would you pay that much for parking?

I've always lived in snowy areas. I also got to a point in my life when I decided I was too old to scrape ice and brush snow off my car before work in the mornings. (Especially in dress clothes.) I'd pay it. Non-covered parking is a deal breaker for me at this point in my life.
by Edward Joseph
Sun Jul 07, 2019 11:24 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Prenuptial for future son-in-law - RESOLVED
Replies: 46
Views: 3668

Re: Prenuptial for future son-in-law

I think this will be very strange. What exactly are you trying to protect with the prenup? The way I understand it, if he incurs the student loan debt before the marriage (this situation) it is not considered marital debt. If they divorce all the student loan debt stays with him. From a practical standpoint, I think this is very awkward.I can't remember what the early 20's version of myself would do as the male in this situation but if i was approached with this now, i would turn away all financial assistance from my in-laws out of principle and go at it alone. At the very most, the conversation to him should flow through your daughter and not from you. (Side note- I know in America there are many different cultures from certain ethnic back...
by Edward Joseph
Fri Jun 28, 2019 12:50 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Managing Debt - Tracking & Analysis
Replies: 20
Views: 2173

Re: Managing Debt - Tracking & Analysis

I don't have any debt but I use mint.com. It's a great tool for a number things personal finance related including debt analysis. Its sort of an aggregation tool to view your debts at banks, finance companies, etc. However, it won't show you an amortization schedule or help with early payoff options if that's what you use your spreadsheet for.
by Edward Joseph
Tue Jun 18, 2019 6:26 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Waiting to prepay mortgage until you can pay the whole thing off?
Replies: 28
Views: 4127

Re: Waiting to prepay mortgage until you can pay the whole thing off?

somekevinguy wrote: Tue Jun 18, 2019 12:46 am 1) This actually results in immediate cash flow benefits (whereas steadily prepaying your mortgage does not until the mortgage is paid off)
You can possibly recast the mortgage after making a large principal payment and without changing any terms of the loan, lower your P&I payment going forward. I'm not sure how often you can do it or the fees attached but it is one way around this point.
by Edward Joseph
Mon May 27, 2019 8:13 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Determining how I rank relative to my Metro Area? (Net Worth, Income)
Replies: 8
Views: 2205

Determining how I rank relative to my Metro Area? (Net Worth, Income)

Are there any resources out there that help me determine how my income or net worth ranks compared to my specific metro area or city? I live in a city which has a price index of about 90 (USA average is 100). I looked at the Bureau of Labor statistics site but didn't have any luck. I know I can easily see if my income puts me in the top 1%, 10%, etc of earners in the whole country. Can I see this for my specific city though? The same question holds true for Net Worth? Is there a database that somehow shows average net worth for a particular Metro? The website MINT used to do all of this many years ago but got away from it at some point. I want to see how my financial picture ranks relative to my particular Metro area-not necessarily with th...