Search found 24 matches

by Broszy
Sat Aug 26, 2023 7:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Learning Mandolin
Replies: 12
Views: 1586

Re: Learning Mandolin

I play a lot of mandolin. I would get the first album of “The bluegrass album band”, start at the beginning and learn all the songs and solos exactly.

This will lay the foundation for playing pretty much anything on the instrument.
by Broszy
Sat Apr 01, 2023 8:20 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to look up PPP loan info (fraud suspected)
Replies: 20
Views: 2434

Re: How to look up PPP loan info (fraud suspected)

The Wall Street journal did a thing saying no one has been prosecuted for anything but massive fraud in this ppp scandal. So, depending on scale it may be ignored.

That being said, I can’t stand fraudsters and hope you do report it.
by Broszy
Fri Feb 18, 2022 5:08 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Any idea as to which book I am referring to or suggestions ?
Replies: 2
Views: 533

Re: Any idea as to which book I am referring to or suggestions ?

While not the book you describe, “The richest man in Babylon” is an engaging fictional story that teaches financial principles.
by Broszy
Wed Feb 16, 2022 3:58 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Windfall from selling business. Need advice.
Replies: 27
Views: 4622

Re: Windfall from selling business. Need advice.

gips wrote: Wed Feb 16, 2022 12:44 am (we paid $250k-$275k per year per kid for top schools)
Wow, that’s a lot. How did you manage to spend that much? I pray you meant total per kid, not yearly.
by Broszy
Sun May 02, 2021 7:46 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: pricing our house?
Replies: 155
Views: 23082

Re: pricing our house?

I did a thing where I looked at all the sales in my area for the past year for similar sized houses and made a list of all seller real estate agents. Then I compared the sell price with the zestimate and found 2 seller agents that consistently sold properties above the estimate. I interviewed 2, chose 1, and we made a killing. The real estate agent got us way more than our estimate. She had a lot of connections with people that made videos, did staging, etc...
I came away from that exercise convinced that you need an extremely talented real estate agent, and they will perform.
by Broszy
Wed Apr 14, 2021 11:24 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Lawn care question
Replies: 38
Views: 3748

Re: Lawn care question

Next year, put down a pre-emergent like prodiamine in February before the the weeds take hold. Every other solution is likely more expensive and more effort.
by Broszy
Sun Mar 07, 2021 7:49 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Retirement Orientation
Replies: 8
Views: 1099

Re: Retirement Orientation

My parents recently retired and put everything in all in one funds.

The issue with the all in one was that they had to sell some assets and ended up selling stocks along with bonds.

I was like, “why did you sell low?” They were like, “it’s all in one”
by Broszy
Mon Mar 01, 2021 2:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Airpods Pro vs competitors?
Replies: 20
Views: 2171

Re: Airpods Pro vs competitors?

I heavily researched earbuds, and bought AirPod pros for my wife. She basically can’t hear anything else when she wears them around the house. It’s glorious, for me and our kids.
by Broszy
Thu Feb 11, 2021 10:27 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Boglehead bathroom repair
Replies: 36
Views: 3664

Re: Boglehead bathroom repair

From my experience, going all in during house repairs can set you up for a “wow” factor that can bring a premium during the sale. But, we never did anything extensive such as a floor repair, so I don’t know.

But, a lot of stars have to align for the payback- your real estate agent has to be excellent, and your home has to be top notch for your area.

If your house is kinda outdated anyway, I would just leave it alone.
by Broszy
Wed Jan 27, 2021 5:39 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What are your DIY Home and Hobby Projects to Save $$$ and/or Have Fun?
Replies: 103
Views: 10332

Re: What are your DIY Home and Hobby Projects to Save $$$ and/or Have Fun?

I do a lot of insulation projects to save money. We have an older house and when we moved in heating oil was one of our biggest expenses. So adding insulation around the thermal envelope creates many projects and reduces oil use.
by Broszy
Sun Jan 24, 2021 7:45 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: strange email: what to do?
Replies: 15
Views: 2621

Re: strange email: what to do?

If you ever invested through wisebanyan (a few bogleheads did for the zero fees), they were bought by Axos
by Broszy
Mon Jan 18, 2021 6:30 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Family support for an artist
Replies: 188
Views: 14017

Re: Family support for an artist

My artistic brother is in the middle of a Kickstarter campaign to raise money for studio time, musician time, etc... for his first album. He spread the word on social media and raised a couple thousand from friends and family so far in exchange for future music. Seemed like a good angle to me.
by Broszy
Fri Dec 11, 2020 5:36 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: When are annual bonuses usually paid?
Replies: 42
Views: 8671

Re: When are annual bonuses usually paid?

We received our bonuses ~17march2020, the lowest point of the stock market this year. It was glorious, as most of mine went to stocks.
by Broszy
Mon Dec 07, 2020 1:19 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Why is my pension so terrible?
Replies: 57
Views: 6377

Re: Why is my pension so terrible?

Just checked my pension — my company contributes about $3.90 per working hour (that’s my estimate, not sure if there’s another formula they use)

But yes, our pension is measly, so any real retirement investing is done through my 401k and ira avenues.

I actually ignore our pension for retirement purposes. I work at a mega Corp.
by Broszy
Fri Dec 04, 2020 2:45 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: I Should Listen to Grandma More - Possible Efficient Market Hypothesis Failure
Replies: 33
Views: 3589

Re: I Should Listen to Grandma More - Possible Efficient Market Hypothesis Failure

Did you also listen to tips from a millennial?
Or a teen with the finger on the pulse of the next technology?
Or a friend that knew about an asset class?
How did they do?

My point is, it sounds like cherry picking when you talk about your grandma’s tips, but you probably get tips from all over. Next year it will be someone else in your life who is giving solid advice.

If you fully invested in all the advice you are getting from all your contacts, you’ll end up with average returns.

In short, just buy the index
by Broszy
Fri Oct 23, 2020 6:58 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Stationary Indoor Bikes
Replies: 33
Views: 3730

Re: Stationary Indoor Bikes

I just heavily researched this topic, and we went with a spinner l1.

For context, my wife does spin classes, but can’t because of COVID. She uses this along with a subscription on the peloton app.
by Broszy
Sun Sep 20, 2020 6:40 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Microwave keeps tripping circuit breaker
Replies: 34
Views: 7631

Re: Microwave keeps tripping circuit breaker

I agree with inbox788's diagnosis

This happened to my microwave at the beginning of covid. I took off the front cover and pushed on each of the 3 door switches. One was clearly broken (didn't make a loud click sound) and so I ordered a new switch for a couple bucks. I popped it in, problem solved.
by Broszy
Tue Sep 15, 2020 5:36 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Ally Bank Not Reliable
Replies: 74
Views: 10497

Re: Ally Bank Not Reliable

The ally app gives an error when I schedule a bill pay. It says , service temporarily not available.

I tried on my phone and my wife’s phone. Super frustrating.

I got around this issue by using bill pay on a laptop. But, wth ally!?! I agree they are unreliable.
by Broszy
Sat Jul 04, 2020 8:35 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is Axos Invest in violation of False advertisement Laws?
Replies: 13
Views: 1445

Re: Is Axos Invest in violation of False advertisement Laws?

I’m curious about this as well. I pulled my money out of Axos because of this switch.
by Broszy
Thu Jul 02, 2020 4:39 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Axos (previously wisebanyan) no longer free - now charging 0.24% fee
Replies: 9
Views: 1215

Re: Axos (previously wisebanyan) no longer free - now charging 0.24% fee

Yes I did initiate a withdrawal to change platforms.

I feel like I acted a bit too hasty, but I’m going through with the change anyway.

I use Axos as my side pot of money for paying off the mortgage and vacations, so I could have stuck it out for the 7 or so more years it would take to payoff our mortgage.

But I calculated that they would take about $480 each year. No thanks!!!
by Broszy
Tue Jun 30, 2020 11:01 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Axos (previously wisebanyan) no longer free - now charging 0.24% fee
Replies: 9
Views: 1215

Re: Axos (previously wisebanyan) now charging fees?

Edit: updated info in op. Below post is no longer current. I guess customer service was not up to date with this change to fee structure ***

Previous text: I too emailed customer support. They said fees do not apply to my account.
It appears wisebanyan / axos is still free. Woohoo!

"Thanks for reaching out!

This fee does not apply to your account since your account is held at Apex Clearing.

Let us know if you need anything further. "
by Broszy
Mon Jun 29, 2020 8:52 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Axos (previously wisebanyan) no longer free - now charging 0.24% fee
Replies: 9
Views: 1215

Axos (previously wisebanyan) no longer free - now charging 0.24% fee

Hi group, I'm a long time investor in wisebanyan, the free roboinvestment service that was bought by axos. They have been great about providing automatic investments in a diversified portfolio without charging fees. But since the company has changed hands I'm on the lookout for a sneaky change in policy about free investing. I received a vague email from axos today (form CRS and adv 2a) about their fee structure. I never signed up for a premium package, but it sounds like "legacy clients" may be subject to a 0.5% aum fee. So I'm curious if this once free robo investing service is still free? Edit: (Deleted) Edit 2: so another email from axos today says their previously free service now has a 0.24% fee. I knew something was fishy! ...
by Broszy
Mon Jan 28, 2019 5:36 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Quote for new boiler and AC
Replies: 7
Views: 1028

Re: Quote for new boiler and AC

Sounds right to me. Earlier this month, we gathered quotes from 3 hvac installers in a hcol area for replacement furnace/ac systems and were quoted prices of 9k, 10k, 12k, and 16k for a 2700 sq ft house.

So 9k would fall at the bottom of the going rate in our area.