Search found 115 matches

by Thranduil
Thu Mar 14, 2024 6:05 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Need Help Finding a Hobby
Replies: 76
Views: 5968

Re: Need Help Finding a Hobby

artvandelay7 wrote: Thu Mar 14, 2024 12:52 pm
I also enjoy making coffee
You could try roasting your own coffee. Super fun, rewarding, and you can put a little bit of time/money into it.....or a lot.
by Thranduil
Tue Mar 12, 2024 3:15 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Advice on Chubb and Pure, and excess liability insurance in general for my situation?
Replies: 17
Views: 1611

Re: Advice on Chubb and Pure, and excess liability insurance in general for my situation?

alexcr wrote: Sun Mar 10, 2024 8:46 am

Open to any other advice and guidance that folks have! Thanks.
We use a broker, and each year we have that broker shop our group of policies to both Chubb and Pure. Competition works. :D

Yes, it is cheaper, overall, in my experience, to keep all of your policies with one or the other. We have auto, homeowners, homeowners/renters on another house we own and rent out, a jewelry policy, and our umbrella, all with Pure. The only insurance we do not have with Pure is our health insurance and some horse-related policies, which Pure does not offer.

To answer your other question, in 2024 we pay $3,867 for the $20M umbrella.

Good luck.
by Thranduil
Tue Mar 12, 2024 10:51 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: SanFran - Redwoods - Henry Cowell? - Recent Info?
Replies: 4
Views: 821

Re: SanFran - Redwoods - Henry Cowell? - Recent Info?

Many options - and you don't have to drive as far south as Big Sur (unless you want to).

Two good options closer to SF, both of which I have hiked within the past week or so:

https://www.openspace.org/preserves/pur ... k-redwoods

https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=539

We've had plenty of rain recently, so both are brimming with spring growth.....flowers, etc.
by Thranduil
Sun Mar 03, 2024 4:38 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: The Retirement Rookies
Replies: 4
Views: 1289

Re: The Retirement Rookies

That's a good series the WSJ is running. I hope it continues.
by Thranduil
Sat Mar 02, 2024 9:11 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Favorite calculator(s) to estimate how many years portfolio will potentially last...
Replies: 51
Views: 8681

Re: Favorite calculator(s) to estimate how many years portfolio will potentially last...

I found this guide to using the Fidelity Retirement Planner (from Harry Sit) helpful, and I like the simple way he suggests dealing with expenses over the years.
by Thranduil
Sat Mar 02, 2024 8:56 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Concierge Medicine
Replies: 79
Views: 12087

Re: Medical Concierge Services - Worth It?

stan1 wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2024 9:26 am
It also means there are plenty of people who can afford to pay it. If someone has $5M or more that's growing and earning dividends, why not spend $300K of it over lifetime to get the best possible health care instead of leaving it to heirs? Middle class and upper middle class are now just experiencing what people with lower incomes and in medically underserved areas have encountered all along. The health care that many of us grew up with is only going to be available to people who can pay extra to get it.
Agreed. I have never regretted the $$$ I spend on access to the concierge practice.
by Thranduil
Sat Mar 02, 2024 8:51 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cloud based backup options for sensitive files
Replies: 92
Views: 7383

Re: Cloud based backup options for sensitive files

There is always tension between convenience and security. I turn on Advanced Data Protection encryption and store everything in iCloud. I sleep well.
by Thranduil
Sat Mar 02, 2024 8:34 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: From stunned, to appalled and terrorized. [Looking for financial advisor]
Replies: 23
Views: 4742

Re: From stunned, to appalled and terrorized. [Looking for financial advisor]

White Coat Investor wrote: Sun Feb 25, 2024 7:25 pm I think you need a good, fee-only, fiduciary financial advisor. While they are a minority of those who call themselves financial advisors, there are still a lot of them out there. Between this forum and your daughter who is smart enough to send you here, I think we can help you find one in your area. I would propose that this is where efforts ought to be focused in this thread.

Are you willing to tell us where you live? If so, I think we can make a few suggestions.
My advice is to take a few deep breaths, and then pay attention to this post I quoted.
by Thranduil
Fri Mar 01, 2024 2:57 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Favorite calculator(s) to estimate how many years portfolio will potentially last...
Replies: 51
Views: 8681

Re: Favorite calculator(s) to estimate how many years portfolio will potentially last...

mhc wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2024 2:18 pm
Expand "Retirement Expenses"
Click "Detailed Expenses"
Click "Edit Details"
Click "Custom Expenses"

Hopefully, this will get you there.
OK, I'm an idiot. :oops: :oops: :oops:

Thanks very much.
by Thranduil
Fri Mar 01, 2024 11:44 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Blocking callers on Iphone
Replies: 22
Views: 2142

Re: Blocking callers on Iphone

Dregob wrote: Wed Feb 28, 2024 9:53 am On an iPhone:

Go to settings
Scroll down to phone
Click on phone
scroll down to Silence Unknown Callers and turn it on

Works great and any legitimate missed calls can still leave a voice message.
This is the answer.
by Thranduil
Fri Mar 01, 2024 11:32 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Favorite calculator(s) to estimate how many years portfolio will potentially last...
Replies: 51
Views: 8681

Re: Favorite calculator(s) to estimate how many years portfolio will potentially last...

The Fidelity calculator does handle spending changes. It is in the spending tab. Ah, interesting. Maybe I have missed it or am looking in the wrong place. I don't see a "Spending Tab," I do see the "Retirement Expenses" tab, under which I have two options: "Estimated Dollars" and "Detailed Expenses." The difference between the two options is the level of detail -- "Estimated Dollars" is just two numbers I enter ("Essential" and "Discretionary"), while "Detailed" gives me a dozen or so categories. Under neither do I see an option to reduce (or increase) spending over the years. The fine print at the bottom says Fidelity increases medical spending by 4.9% per yea...
by Thranduil
Fri Mar 01, 2024 9:21 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Concierge Medicine
Replies: 79
Views: 12087

Re: Medical Concierge Services - Worth It?

stan1 wrote: Thu Feb 29, 2024 12:57 pm
$12,000 per year is high even by concierge standards! Also in a VHCOL area but fees are around $6,000-8,000 for two.
Indeed. Yet, the practice is full and currently has a waiting list. It would seem the sorry state of US healthcare/insurance/customer service is a great marketing tool for concierge practices. Unfortunately.
by Thranduil
Fri Mar 01, 2024 9:20 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Concierge Medicine
Replies: 79
Views: 12087

Re: Medical Concierge Services - Worth It?

Delete Me.
by Thranduil
Fri Mar 01, 2024 9:18 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Which tax exempt bonds for CA
Replies: 37
Views: 3965

Re: Which tax exempt bonds for CA

sf_tech_saver wrote: Thu Feb 29, 2024 11:03 am Then in a Fidelity cash management account (highly recommend) I back it with FTEXX. This balances out the duration risk I take with VCLAX, and, like VTMFX, it isn't state-specific.
Just curious why you prefer FTEXX over FSPXX? FTEXX buys non-California munis, so you prefer the increased diversification to the 100% Ca tax-free income of FSPXX?
by Thranduil
Fri Mar 01, 2024 8:48 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Favorite calculator(s) to estimate how many years portfolio will potentially last...
Replies: 51
Views: 8681

Re: Favorite calculator(s) to estimate how many years portfolio will potentially last...

I use New Retirement, Maxifi, and the free one on Fidelity (based on eMoney). If I had to pick one it would be New Retirement. The customer support is excellent. I tired Pralana but but couldn't get the hang of it. It has a long user manual but I'm too lazy to read it. KISS is really important to me, so I stick with the Fidelity calculator, since my data is mostly already in Fidelity. I do wish Fidelity let you specify the basis, and also enter expected changes to overall spending over time. I also find it humorous that Fidelity gives you only three options for market predictions: Average, Below Average, and Substantially Below Average. There are no options for Above Average or Substantially Above Average. Come on Fidelity, don't be so pes...
by Thranduil
Thu Feb 29, 2024 10:53 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Which tax exempt bonds for CA
Replies: 37
Views: 3965

Re: Which tax exempt bonds for CA

Late to this thread...... We are in the top federal and Ca tax brackets, so generating tax-free or tax-reduced income is important to our plan. We currently use FSPXX for our "cash to spend over the next year or so." It is paying about 6% tax equivalent yield. But, obviously, that yield will go down when/if interest rates are cut. To try to prolong the current environment's tax savings, we took a portion of our bond allocation and had Fidelity buy individual muni bonds for us. It's not really a ladder, it's just a pile of muni bond investments. Nearly every one is callable, but most of them not for 4-5 years. So, we have at least 4-5 years of 5% bond dividends that are free from both state and Federal tax. Maybe longer. Yes, the d...
by Thranduil
Thu Feb 29, 2024 10:24 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Retirees: at what age...?
Replies: 48
Views: 5168

Re: Retirees: at what age...?

I have been retired for two years, and I do not feel like I have "shackles" on spending. We have a specific budget, which is below 4% of our overall investments, and we stick to it. So far, two years in, I feel like we have plenty of money to fund needs/wants/wishes. Our plan does not include increasing spending at some point, although we, obviously, can change our plan at any time. Whatever is left over when the 2nd of us to die dies, our kids get it.
by Thranduil
Thu Feb 29, 2024 10:17 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Concierge Medicine
Replies: 79
Views: 12087

Re: Medical Concierge Services - Worth It?

stan1 wrote: Thu Feb 29, 2024 10:09 am
$500/month for one person or two people?

Are the specialists in the same large medical group as the concierge physician?
$500/month for one person. My wife is also part of the practice, we pay $1000 total per month. They are raising prices and we will soon pay $1100 per month, for the two of us.

Yes on specialists. The concierge practice is part of a large medical group.
by Thranduil
Thu Feb 29, 2024 10:00 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Concierge Medicine
Replies: 79
Views: 12087

Re: Medical Concierge Services - Worth It?

Mine is $500/month, plus they bill insurance.

Best part is I text my Doc 24/7, and he responds, quickly. Have an earache? I just text him and then we figure out what makes sense. Could be a phone call, could be a Zoom chat, could be an office visit, could be he comes to my house. His panel is limited to 300 patients.

Specialist visits - they get me in same day, nearly always. Blood draws and such - they send someone to my house.

The one time I went to the ER, we texted him and he met us there and made sure everything went smoothly.

This is some of the best money I spend. Obviously, YMMV depending on the practice and doc.
by Thranduil
Wed Feb 07, 2024 6:45 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Law School Debt: Is It Worth It?
Replies: 115
Views: 10471

Re: Law School Debt: Is It Worth It?

I was general counsel of a Fortune 50 company for a decade, and before that a partner in a Big Law firm. I say that only to provide context for my opinion -- I have hired thousands of lawyers over the years:

Go to the best school you can get into. If that means debt, then go into debt (student debt is cheap, anyway). It's not even debatable.

Good luck.
by Thranduil
Fri Jan 26, 2024 7:46 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Good Modern Science Fiction
Replies: 760
Views: 149448

Re: Good Modern Science Fiction

It turns out that my late husband had downloaded several of the Culture series in 2012. I've never read them. I downloaded the remaining available books and have started with the first book of the series, Consider Phlebas . Even though I just started, the plot and writing style got my interest. It's yet another series that I can't put down. Culture -- my absolute favorite series (maybe with the exception of the original Foundation books). Yes, you can read the books in any order -- the books are independent of each other, with an overarching society (well, an overarching "culture") but no overarching plot, characters, or even timeline. That said, although most fans suggest, I think, reading them in publication order, starting, ye...
by Thranduil
Thu Jan 25, 2024 10:24 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What are some of the things that improved YOUR quality of life?
Replies: 254
Views: 41938

Re: What are some of the things that improved YOUR quality of life?

Yoga and stretching. Free, but oh so impactful.
by Thranduil
Mon Jan 22, 2024 5:16 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: College counselor/consultant
Replies: 65
Views: 4579

Re: College counselor/consultant

As the kid starts high school this year , I have some questions and hope the group would help 1: what year you should seek help ? Freshman , junior etc 2 : is it worth it ? 3: how much it usually costs ? 4: Did you use one and any recommendations? Any other advice ? Thank you . My son is a senior in high school. I was surprised by the entire "college counselor" concept at first, but I am glad we hired one, especially as my son is interested in out-of-state schools that his high school counsellors know nothing about. His high school counsellors are well intentioned, but there are (I think) 4 of them for 800 seniors in his high school? No way they can provide the level of "service" I wanted. And, when I went to college I ...
by Thranduil
Mon Jan 22, 2024 5:09 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Return My New Apple Watch?
Replies: 83
Views: 6304

Re: Return My New Apple Watch?

Small Law Survivor wrote: Mon Jan 22, 2024 7:40 am Apart from exercise and health features, it doesn't do anything the phone doesn't do
This part of your comment answers your own question -- exercise and health features. I go for long walks with my watch and without my phone. The watch tracks all of the health data I want, plus streams audiobooks to my headphones. Could I carry my phone instead? Yep. Do I want to do that? Nope.
by Thranduil
Sun Jan 21, 2024 7:28 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Digitizing old photographs
Replies: 15
Views: 1602

Re: Digitizing old photographs

WillyMcG wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2024 5:40 am I have a couple dozen photographs I'd like to digitize to share the memories with old friends and on some hobby forums. In the past I would take a picture with my iPhone but that always ended up with glare or weird angles. Do places that print color photos typically offer this kind of service?
If you haven't already, give the Google Photoscan app a try (available on both Android and iPhone) before you pay for anything. It's free, and on my old photographs has done a bang up job without any glare etc.
by Thranduil
Sat Jan 20, 2024 12:28 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI
Replies: 7638
Views: 1712498

Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

Thranduil wrote: Mon Dec 18, 2023 10:59 am
heartwood wrote: Fri Dec 15, 2023 2:53 pm Starter Villain by John Scalzi of Old Man's War fame.

Both Goodreads and Amazon say it's science fiction. Perhaps it is. It's an easy read and a light hearted story. Think of some of the Ian Fleming James Bond setups, but with smart cats.

I was initially put off by the jacket picture, but the good reviews got me started. I enjoyed it for what it is!
Thanks, I will check it out (I too was put off by the cat). Love me some Scalzi.
I finally got to Starter Villain on my to read list. About 40% in -- I will probably finish it, but the main character's 100% sarcasm is really off-putting. Scalzi's other books always had some, but this is just over the top and not (for me, so far) enjoyable. Hope it gets better.
by Thranduil
Fri Jan 12, 2024 8:34 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Favorite Boglehead-ish Podcasts?
Replies: 45
Views: 7493

Re: Favorite Boglehead-ish Podcasts?

He is not an avowed Boglehead, although he follows many of the concepts......check out Retirement Answer Man. He spends a fair amount of time on non-financial topics, which I like.

https://www.rogerwhitney.com/
by Thranduil
Sat Dec 23, 2023 7:58 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What are you listening to now
Replies: 5802
Views: 574403

Re: What are you listening to now

vnatale wrote: Tue Dec 19, 2023 10:42 pm Deacon Blues
Steely Dan

Aja

1977
My dog Aja appreciates this. :D :D
by Thranduil
Thu Dec 21, 2023 8:48 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Anyone Bored in Retirement ??
Replies: 131
Views: 30089

Re: Anyone Bored in Retirement ??

Parkinglotracer wrote: Wed Dec 20, 2023 8:25 pm Buying a bond or CD ladder can prevent one from even caring about the minutiae of bond funds. 5 year treasury ladder. At age 62 in retirement when a rung matures we either spend it, buy another bond, or rebalance it into equities. No interest rate drama.

Love love love this.
by Thranduil
Wed Dec 20, 2023 5:16 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 85% of my bonds in Muni's. 15% in BND. Is too much Muni's bad?
Replies: 25
Views: 3050

Re: 85% of my bonds in Muni's. 15% in BND. Is too much Muni's bad?

Bernstein wrote this in his updated book, "The Four Pillars of Investing." "Don’t let the tax tail wag your asset allocation dog. If you feel compelled to own municipal bonds, limit them to no more than one-third of your fixed-income assets. Do not concentrate their risk by owning only single-state vehicles. The downside potential of a default in your home state is not worth a few dozen basis points of after-tax yield." (p. 398) Bernstein forgets more about investing in a week than I will ever know. That said, I do not think he necessarily intended this advice for someone in the highest Fed and CA tax brackets. It does not seem surprising to me that someone in those brackets would have a different bond strategy than oth...
by Thranduil
Wed Dec 20, 2023 7:24 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: WHere to hold Cash for short term
Replies: 5
Views: 817

Re: WHere to hold Cash for short term

I am in the top Fed and CA brackets, and for short term (< 1 year) cash I use FSPXX, FIDELITY CA MUNI MONEY MKT PREMIUM CL, current tax equivalent yield is 6%.

Objective
Seeks as high a level of current income, exempt from federal income tax and California state personal income tax, as is consistent with preservation of capital.
by Thranduil
Wed Dec 20, 2023 12:15 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 85% of my bonds in Muni's. 15% in BND. Is too much Muni's bad?
Replies: 25
Views: 3050

Re: 85% of my bonds in Muni's. 15% in BND. Is too much Muni's bad?

Startled Cat wrote: Tue Dec 19, 2023 11:51 pm
Thranduil wrote: Tue Dec 19, 2023 7:33 pm Probably depends on your tax situation. I am in the top Federal and California tax brackets, and have nearly my entire bond portfolio (40% of total investments) in Ca munis at this point, either directly purchased bonds or Ca muni bond fund FSPXX.

Yes muni's (can) have higher risk, but that in my view small incremental risk is, currently, vastly outweighed by the roughly 5% double tax free income.
FSPXX's current yield is 2.78%...
Tax equivalent yield is 6.04%...
by Thranduil
Tue Dec 19, 2023 7:49 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Anyone Bored in Retirement ??
Replies: 131
Views: 30089

Re: Anyone Bored in Retirement ??

Retired 22 months ago. I have not been bored, but I have recently felt myself moving into what Riley Moynes ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMHMOQ_054U ) calls Phase 2 of retirement -- Loss -- characterized by a general feeling of uncertainty about the future. To get out of Phase 2 and into Phases 3 and 4, I sat down the other day and wrote out a document that has four sections that I plan to use to focus my time and energy; those sections are: Retirement Goals (things like "be healthy as measured by keeping cholesterol and blood sugar in the normal ranges"). My Areas of Focus and Responsibility (things like "manage our money to achieve our financial goals" and invest time with family and friends). Enjoy How I Spend My...
by Thranduil
Tue Dec 19, 2023 7:33 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 85% of my bonds in Muni's. 15% in BND. Is too much Muni's bad?
Replies: 25
Views: 3050

Re: 85% of my bonds in Muni's. 15% in BND. Is too much Muni's bad?

Probably depends on your tax situation. I am in the top Federal and California tax brackets, and have nearly my entire bond portfolio (40% of total investments) in Ca munis at this point, either directly purchased bonds or Ca muni bond fund FSPXX.

Yes muni's (can) have higher risk, but that in my view small incremental risk is, currently, vastly outweighed by the roughly 5% double tax free income.
by Thranduil
Mon Dec 18, 2023 10:59 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI
Replies: 7638
Views: 1712498

Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

heartwood wrote: Fri Dec 15, 2023 2:53 pm Starter Villain by John Scalzi of Old Man's War fame.

Both Goodreads and Amazon say it's science fiction. Perhaps it is. It's an easy read and a light hearted story. Think of some of the Ian Fleming James Bond setups, but with smart cats.

I was initially put off by the jacket picture, but the good reviews got me started. I enjoyed it for what it is!
Thanks, I will check it out (I too was put off by the cat). Love me some Scalzi.
by Thranduil
Sat Dec 09, 2023 6:35 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Good Modern Science Fiction
Replies: 760
Views: 149448

Re: Good Modern Science Fiction

placeholder wrote: Sat Dec 09, 2023 5:36 pm
Thranduil wrote: Sat Dec 09, 2023 5:30 pm
placeholder wrote: Sat Nov 25, 2023 5:06 pm I was in the middle of a reread of The Hydrogen Sonata by Iain M. Banks . . . .
Love that book, and all of the Culture novels.
I'm now rereading Excession by Iain M. Banks another culture novel and probably the one with the most ship mind interaction even more that the one above.
"I never did tell you my whole name, did I?"

Heh heh.
I won't mention the nickname the other ships give GCU Grey Matter because that would not be allowed.
Excession is great, and includes two of my three favorite Culture ships.....won't say more than that to avoid spoilers.

The whole culture series is just wonderful.
by Thranduil
Sat Dec 09, 2023 5:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Good Modern Science Fiction
Replies: 760
Views: 149448

Re: Good Modern Science Fiction

placeholder wrote: Sat Nov 25, 2023 5:06 pm I was in the middle of a reread of The Hydrogen Sonata by Iain M. Banks . . . .
Love that book, and all of the Culture novels.

"I never did tell you my whole name, did I?"

Heh heh.
by Thranduil
Sat Dec 09, 2023 5:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Peter Attia podcast alternative?
Replies: 41
Views: 5364

Re: Peter Attia podcast alternative?

Huberman Lab is good, if you can stand 3-4 hour episodes.

I stopped listening to Peter Attia after I got tired of hearing about his sauna in nearly every episode (only half joking).

Maintenance Phase is pretty good and (so far) not annoying. https://www.maintenancephase.com
by Thranduil
Sat Dec 09, 2023 5:21 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: How do you retirees monitor withdrawal rate (SWR) vs portfolio size?
Replies: 49
Views: 7667

Re: How do you retirees monitor withdrawal rate (SWR) vs portfolio size?

Like others who have replied, I use a simple spreadsheet, in my case updated quarterly to produce a simple income statement and balance sheet. The income statement compares our spending to 3.5% of our retirement accounts.

When I first retired, I had a much more complex and time-consuming process. Now, I keep it simple -- takes just minutes each quarter.
by Thranduil
Sat Dec 09, 2023 5:16 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What are the Benefits and Perks of Fidelity Private Client Group?
Replies: 33
Views: 4884

Re: What are the Benefits and Perks of Fidelity Private Client Group?

WhitePuma wrote: Sat Dec 09, 2023 12:24 pm What are the benefits and perks of being a member in Fidelity's Private Client Group?

Does this give me a singular assigned representative, whom I can reach out to for questions and/or brokerage transfer bonuses?

Does this give me free TurboTax?

Other?
Yes, you get a single point of contact, which is helpful to avoid dealing with the Fidelity bureaucracy. But, beyond that, not much help, in my experience. I view my contact as more a Fidelity salesperson than anything else.
by Thranduil
Wed Nov 29, 2023 10:56 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Seeking Advice: Sister died intestate in CA
Replies: 8
Views: 1584

Re: Seeking Advice: Sister died intestate in CA

The California Bar certifies specialists in various areas, including estate planning, trust and probate law: https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Attorneys/Legal-Specialization/Legal-Specialty-Areas. No doubt there are excellent lawyers with this certification and excellent lawyers who don't have this certification; and other lawyers who have this certification and who don't have this certification. In any event, I would suggest working with a good trusts and estates lawyer. Thanks to all for your input. Based upon the comments, it seems prudent to work with a Trust and Estates Lawyer. The lawyer that originally setup the Trust has retired. But his Son in Law was his partner and continues the practice. I actually talked to him while my Sister was sti...
by Thranduil
Mon Nov 27, 2023 1:22 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Intuit's Mint App Shutting Down...Replacement Recommendations?
Replies: 754
Views: 141155

Re: Intuit's Mint App Shutting Down...Replacement Recommendations?

OatmealAddict wrote: Mon Nov 27, 2023 12:33 pm

And yes, I took a look at Fidelity's new Full View product. It's close to being usable, but not quite there yet in my opinion.
Full View seems to be going backwards. The "improved" version they released last week removed the function to have custom budget categories -- you now have to use Fidelity's hard-wired budget categories.
by Thranduil
Mon Nov 27, 2023 12:21 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Intuit's Mint App Shutting Down...Replacement Recommendations?
Replies: 754
Views: 141155

Re: Intuit's Mint App Shutting Down...Replacement Recommendations?

Yes, I tested it, it would work, so long as the income you want to track is from a non-investment-type account that is synced into Monarch. This is a screenshot from the "Budget" window of a fake Monarch account I set up just to test stuff. The "income" number is generated by Monarch from my non-investment-type accounts (in this case, one transaction from a synced Wells Fargo checking account), and the "expenses" number is generated by Monarch from expenses in synced accounts -- again, the transactions are fake, but that doesn't change the conclusion).

https://imgur.com/a/exGf0TM
by Thranduil
Mon Nov 27, 2023 12:14 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Intuit's Mint App Shutting Down...Replacement Recommendations?
Replies: 754
Views: 141155

Re: Intuit's Mint App Shutting Down...Replacement Recommendations?

What I really want is a simple spending tracker I guess. I want to connect all my accounts and I simply want to know how much I spent that month and have that subtracted that from my income from that month to tell me how much I have left over. I plan to use Monarch simply as a spending tracker, as you describe. I will just leave the budget amounts at zero, and ignore the net worth, etc. stuff. So far, I think it will serve this purpose well. On your "subtracted that from income" want, I think whether Monarch can do that for you will depend on the source of your income. If the source is investment accounts, I don't think Monarch can do that (because it does not update investment account transactions, although they say they are wor...
by Thranduil
Sat Nov 25, 2023 11:17 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: "In general, bonds add little or no value to the portfolio of ordinary long-term investors"
Replies: 262
Views: 47894

Re: "In general, bonds add little or no value to the portfolio of ordinary long-term investors"

I think I am going to stop reading bond threads on this forum......they make my head hurt. :happy :happy
by Thranduil
Thu Nov 23, 2023 9:46 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Concierge Medicine
Replies: 79
Views: 12087

Re: Concierge Medicine

I joined a concierge practice in 2016 and my experience has been entirely positive. My favorite benefits: 1. When I want to talk to my doctor/feel sick/etc., I just text or call his cell phone. He almost always answers immediately, we talk and figure out what is going on and next steps. Often he deals with the issue on that initial (unscheduled) call. 2. Office appointments, when I need them, are one hour. 3. A dedicated and effective person in the office to deal with insurance issues, prior auths, etc. I have never had to communicate with my insurance company myself. 4. Priority service for specialist appointments -- they make the appointments and get me in quickly. 5. For labs, they will send someone to my house to draw blood if I want. ...
by Thranduil
Wed Nov 22, 2023 1:23 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Intuit's Mint App Shutting Down...Replacement Recommendations?
Replies: 754
Views: 141155

Re: Intuit's Mint App Shutting Down...Replacement Recommendations?

. . . . Fidelity doesn't work all that well as it isn't showing my individual transactions, just the account totals and what investments I have, which isn't good enough as I'm using Fidelity as a bank account with their cash management product so I need to see the bill payments coming out of the cash management account. (I'll update if it starts showing transactions later in the week . EDIT; Manually changing the account to "cash management" an waiting 24 hours seems to have cleared up the issue ) At any rate I made the account so I'll try it for 30 days, the 30 day trial link is on their reddit. I am trying Monarch as well. On the issue I quoted, it seems that, with Monarch, you can have either transactions (if you select a non-...
by Thranduil
Mon Nov 20, 2023 11:05 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Intuit's Mint App Shutting Down...Replacement Recommendations?
Replies: 754
Views: 141155

Re: Intuit Mint app going away Jan. '24 other options?

[Thread merged into here --admin LadyGeek] What other apps are ppl using? I've used Mint as an aggregator and track big picture trends. We have a semi budget put together and are doing everything we need to according to our age and stage in life. I find Mint helpful as monitoring cashflows. I've used Quicken before but I recall it being way too detailed which I don't have time. Some have recommended "personal capital". Interesting to hear how the majority here track finances rather than logging in to 10-15 accounts randomly etc. Fidelity Full View. https://thefinancebuff.com/fidelity-full-view-gps-track-portfolio.html My only beef with Full View is the lack of spousal features -- there is no way for my wife to have an identical v...
by Thranduil
Mon Nov 20, 2023 8:17 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Real world experiences with Fidelity Rewards Card?
Replies: 34
Views: 5102

Re: Real world experiences with Fidelity Rewards Card?

I like Fidelity's Reward card, it's a good basic 2% rebate on everything card (if you have other accounts with Fidelity.) I like that I don't need any other logins or "apps" to access the card features. I would probably consolidate to using just that card if it offered some form of car rental CDW. It used to, but they dropped it, and it's something offered by other cards - many of which have category rewards that work better for my spending habits than 2% on everything. I haven't had any issues with fraud or the card being locked. The only issue I've had was the card getting slightly warped over time and called to get a replacement card, no issues with that. I'm not sure what the "no preset spending limits" is about. Th...