Search found 495 matches

by Samosa22
Mon Jan 15, 2024 1:37 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Primer on Paying Taxes With a Credit Card
Replies: 874
Views: 164620

Re: Primer on Paying Taxes With a Credit Card

Hi Folks, I would like to overpay my federal taxes for year 2023 by approximately $5k so I can request paper I-bonds with 2023 return. My understanding is that I have the following two options: 1. Overpay Q4 estimated taxes by tomorrow 01/16/2023. The problem is I haven't gathered all my documents yet and don't know how much I actually owe or have already overpaid in taxes. 2. In Mid April file for extension and make an estimated tax payment with extension. But I don't want to file extension and hope to prepare and file my taxes around mid February. Is there a third option? i.e., Is there a way to make an over-payment sometime after Q4 deadline but before April 15 filing deadline, lets say a week or so prior to filing my return in February...
by Samosa22
Mon Jan 15, 2024 1:16 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Primer on Paying Taxes With a Credit Card
Replies: 874
Views: 164620

Re: Primer on Paying Taxes With a Credit Card

Hi Folks, I would like to overpay my federal taxes for year 2023 by approximately $5k so I can request paper I-bonds with 2023 return. My understanding is that I have the following two options: 1. Overpay Q4 estimated taxes by tomorrow 01/16/2023. The problem is I haven't gathered all my documents yet and don't know how much I actually owe or have already overpaid in taxes. 2. In Mid April file for extension and make an estimated tax payment with extension. But I don't want to file extension and hope to prepare and file my taxes around mid February. Is there a third option? i.e., Is there a way to make an over-payment sometime after Q4 deadline but before April 15 filing deadline, lets say a week or so prior to filing my return in February?...
by Samosa22
Thu Dec 21, 2023 1:35 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 10% Per Year "Safe" Strategy
Replies: 54
Views: 6123

Re: 10% Per Year "Safe" Strategy

Shorty wrote: Thu Dec 21, 2023 10:33 am US gov’t Savings Deposit Program. $10k limit for service members deployed to combat zones.

https://militarypay.defense.gov/Benefit ... t-Program/
The funds will be safe but no such guarantee for the investor himself/herself.
by Samosa22
Sun Dec 03, 2023 4:49 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can you give stock to younger kid who has no income to save taxes
Replies: 32
Views: 3961

Re: Can you give stock to younger kid who has no income to save taxes

jebmke wrote: Sun Dec 03, 2023 4:48 pm
livesoft wrote: Sun Dec 03, 2023 4:47 pm Yes, you can. Younger kid does not even need to sell the stock you give them.
and it doesn't even have to be your kid
and it doesn't even have to be your stock?
by Samosa22
Tue Nov 28, 2023 5:32 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Coastfire opinion.
Replies: 38
Views: 6726

Re: Coastfire opinion.

Every time I see this post I misread it as "Ceasefire opinion".
I know its on me, but I found it funny enough to share.
by Samosa22
Tue Nov 28, 2023 5:27 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do they run credit reports when you create a bank account
Replies: 28
Views: 3777

Re: Do they run credit reports when you create a bank account

It varies from institution to institution. Some do hard credit checks (affects credit score) while others do soft check. Some run the applicant's profile through the ChexSystems, some through Early Warnings Signs, and so on and so forth.

Doctor Of Credit keeps a good list of which banks check which consumer reporting agency. Also make sure to read comments to get latest datapoints
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/bank-acc ... pull/#Ally

For Ally, there are mixed datapoints (soft vs hard credit pull):
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/ally-ban ... ing-bonus/
by Samosa22
Sun Nov 26, 2023 7:58 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Frustrating Experience with Capital One (Bonus)
Replies: 18
Views: 2287

Re: Frustrating Experience with Capital One (Bonus)

OP, I understand your frustration, but as a regular bank bonus churner I am inclined to say that Cap1 is right in this case. And I suspect that in the bank bonus churning world you may not find many allies in this particular situation.
by Samosa22
Sun Nov 26, 2023 12:42 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Is it safe to link 401k and borkerage accounts to aggregators like Empower?
Replies: 14
Views: 3006

Re: Is it safe to link 401k and borkerage accounts to aggregators like Empower?

student wrote: Sun Nov 26, 2023 10:12 am I personally would not do it. I enter the data myself and update it at least once a quarter.
Manual entries are fine for determining asset allocation, net worth progression etc but they don't address the issue of monitoring multiple accounts. The biggest advantage (for me at least) for using aggregators is that all transactions across multiple accounts can be monitored at a single place which increases the odds of quickly catching a fraudulent activity.
by Samosa22
Sun Nov 26, 2023 11:10 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: TurboTax 2023 offer
Replies: 282
Views: 51745

Re: TurboTax 2023 offer

anon_investor wrote: Sun Nov 26, 2023 10:56 am
oktax wrote: Sun Nov 26, 2023 9:36 am Costco’s deal appears better, with Deluxe Fed and State for $46 and inclusive of a $10 in product credit, which you can use to offset cost of e filing a state return.
How so? $45.99 including a $10 Amazon GC seems better to me, since the $10 is more flexible.
I believe amazon deal for $45.99 including a $10 Amazon GC is gone. Now it is $55.99 including a $10 Amazon GC.
But Costco deal for $45.99 including a $10 product credit is till available.
by Samosa22
Sun Nov 26, 2023 10:22 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: TurboTax 2023 offer
Replies: 282
Views: 51745

Re: TurboTax 2023 offer

Looks like Cyber Monday deal is dead even before the actual Monday? The price now seems to be $55.99 for Deluxe + $10 amazon gift card.
by Samosa22
Sun Nov 26, 2023 10:03 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Is it safe to link 401k and borkerage accounts to aggregators like Empower?
Replies: 14
Views: 3006

Re: Dear Online Security Experts: Is it safe to link 401k and borkerage accounts to Empower?

bendix wrote: Sat Nov 25, 2023 4:38 pm It´s a risk. It´s a low risk, but it´s a risk. And what´s the benefit, really? Wouldnt it be easier to just consolidate your accounts?
I think some of these cannot be consolidated.For example, employer provided 401k, Treasury direct, and Fidelity.
by Samosa22
Sat Nov 25, 2023 2:47 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Is it safe to link 401k and borkerage accounts to aggregators like Empower?
Replies: 14
Views: 3006

Is it safe to link 401k and borkerage accounts to aggregators like Empower?

Dear security experts, I have already linked my credit card accounts and bank accounts (not much money in banks) with Empower which uses Yodlee as an aggregator. In order to get full financial picture and monitor all accounts in one place, I am also thinking of linking my 401k account (with Insperity) and my taxable brokerage accounts with Fidelity and Vanguard. - To link my Fidelity accounts, looks like Empower takes me to fidelity's website, so I provide my login credentials to Fidelity, not to Empower or Yodlee, which makes it relatively safe, correct? - To link my 401k account (Insperity), I have to provide login credentials on Empower's website so they/Yodlee have access to my log in credentials. I am thinking if nefarious actors try t...
by Samosa22
Sat Nov 25, 2023 8:17 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: TurboTax 2023 offer
Replies: 282
Views: 51745

Re: TurboTax 2023 offer

A few questions for folks who regularly use TT

1. I sold stocks/bonds/crypto and did back door Roth. Can Deluxe handle these situations? TT recommends buying premier version, but they obviously have an incentive to up sell.

2. Amazon deal is for federal e-file + 1 State via download. Can one buy via this deal and later upgrade to State e-file (by paying extra of course)? I have to file with 2 States so would need to later add a State anyways.

3. If we buy TT now and later they release software updates/bug fixes etc, I assume there would be an option to update our copies too?

Thanks.
by Samosa22
Tue Nov 21, 2023 8:35 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Quicken 2019 and forward
Replies: 1062
Views: 115435

Re: Quicken 2019 and forward

I have never used Quicken but now that mint is shutting down I am thinking of give Quicken a try. One question for folks who use it: Is it possible to connect bank accounts and credit cards to quicken (Mac) so that it automatically imports all transactions? Or is it manual download from bank side to manual upload to Quicken? thanks
by Samosa22
Tue Nov 21, 2023 7:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Where do Bogleheads find the most value in Quicken?
Replies: 9
Views: 1431

Re: Where do Bogleheads find the most value in Quicken?

Can one connect their bank accounts and credit cards to quicken (Mac) so that it automatically imports all transactions? Thx.
by Samosa22
Thu Nov 16, 2023 7:58 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Intuit's Mint App Shutting Down...Replacement Recommendations?
Replies: 773
Views: 146560

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

Just a few days ago I signed up for Simplifi (by Quicken). Its ok, automatic connections to banks and CC are good.
Compared to Mint, the biggest thing Simplifi is lacking (or at least I can't find) is that it doesn't connect with most State offered 529 accounts via "third party aggregator" sharing. I had connected the following with Mint, but cannot connect them with Simplifi.

- CA's Scholarshare
- Michigan's MESP
- Oklahoma 529
- Wisconsin's EDVEST

There was an option "Send a request to Simplifi", a few days ago I submitted request to add the above accounts, haven't received any response yet.
by Samosa22
Mon Nov 13, 2023 6:09 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: US Bank Altitude Reserve: Can a single card simultaneously be used in two apple wallets?
Replies: 33
Views: 2485

Re: US Bank Altitude Reserve: Can a single card simultaneously be used in two apple wallets?

the_wiki wrote: Mon Nov 13, 2023 6:07 pm You should be able to get an additional card for an authorized user on your account. That’s the way to do it.
Would that make the authorized user ineligible for getting their own sign-up bonus for this card? Thanks.
by Samosa22
Mon Nov 13, 2023 6:00 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: US Bank Altitude Reserve: Can a single card simultaneously be used in two apple wallets?
Replies: 33
Views: 2485

US Bank Altitude Reserve: Can a single card simultaneously be used in two apple wallets?

Dear Boogleheads,
A question for those who have US Bank Altitude Reserve credit card in their wallet. Recently I signed up for this card since it gives 3% cashback on purchases using digital wallets (effectively 4.5% when redeemed for travel). I have already added it to my apple wallet. I am wondering whether it can also be added to my spouse's apple wallet at the same time (so same card being used in two different wallets)? We have done it with other cards (Discover, Amex etc) without any problems, but just not sure whether or not US bank has any issues with it. Looking for some real life data points. Thanks.
best,
Samosa
by Samosa22
Sat Nov 11, 2023 9:14 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is Vanguard the ethical choice, or am I living in the past?
Replies: 241
Views: 19194

Re: Is Vanguard the ethical choice, or am I living in the past?

And just like that, on one fine morning everyone using a brokerage other than Vanguard became unethical.
by Samosa22
Mon Nov 06, 2023 3:17 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What's Your Credit Card Rewards Strategy?
Replies: 7203
Views: 1421784

Re: What's Your Credit Card Rewards Strategy?

SpaethCo wrote: Sun Nov 05, 2023 3:21 pm
..our collective return is around 4.2% assuming minimum points redemption values of 1.3c for MR (transferred to Delta) or 1.25c for UR (Delta flight booked through portal then canceled for eCredit).
Can you please elaborate on the Delta flight canceled for eCredit strategy? I recently signed up for Chase Ink card and have collected approximately 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points, would love to redeem them for 1.25c if possible. Thanks.
by Samosa22
Sun Nov 05, 2023 6:45 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Where to buy gold with cash without getting ripped off?
Replies: 41
Views: 5621

Re: Where to buy gold with cash without getting ripped off?

suemarkp wrote: Sun Nov 05, 2023 5:59 pm
quantAndHold wrote: Sun Nov 05, 2023 5:50 pm Your friend probably doesn’t want to know that cash purchases and sales of bullion at coin shops are reportable to the IRS.

https://sdbullion.com/irs-gold-buying-r ... ng-privacy
So buy or sell less than $10K at a time. And put a few days between transactions and preferably more. And the CTR doesn't go to the IRS, but to FINCEN.
"Structuring is where a person deliberately splits cash transactions to avoid a single large transaction being reported in threshold transaction reports".
I believe structuring in itself is a crime, even if the cash involved was legally gained.
by Samosa22
Sat Oct 28, 2023 1:21 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Did the bank just file suspicious activity report (SAR) on me for depositing ~$500 cash?
Replies: 106
Views: 11990

Did the bank just file suspicious activity report (SAR) on me for depositing ~$500 cash?

Dear Bogleheads, I had approximately five hundred dollars cash at home. Normally I don’t use cash so I decided to deposit in one of my rarely used checking accounts. So, I went to the bank, gave cash to the cashier along with my driver’s license to find my account (I didn’t have my debit card with me). The cashier asked me for SSN to lookup my account, which I provided. They deposited the cash and gave me the receipt, but held on to my DL, and started typing something into bank’s computer. A few moments later I see the cashier adding my DL information into bank’s computer. Our conversation went like this: Me: Is everything ok? Cashier: Oh yeh, all good. I just need to enter some information. Me: What type of information? Cashier: it’s a for...
by Samosa22
Thu Oct 19, 2023 6:58 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to e-file “State Only” tax return for Tax year 2021?
Replies: 10
Views: 1110

Re: How to e-file “State Only” tax return for Tax year 2021?

Any other ideas how to handle this situation? Fill out this "enhanced fill-in form" w/ the info from your printed e-file form: https://www.tax.ny.gov/pit/ads/2021/efile_addit203-2d.htm Plug, print, and sign. Thank you! This is fantastic! One more question if I may: All my NYS sourced income is W-2 income, and I am filing as a non-resident. Although I had capital gains and losses, none of them were from New York sources. I reported these gains/losses on schedule D (Capital Gains and Losses) and Form 8949 (Sales and Other Dispositions of Capital Assets) to the IRS and my state of residence (NJ). However, TurboTax also attached schedule D and Form 8949 to the NYS return, but I don’t understand why I need to include them on my NYS re...
by Samosa22
Thu Oct 19, 2023 6:47 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to e-file “State Only” tax return for Tax year 2021?
Replies: 10
Views: 1110

Re: How to e-file “State Only” tax return for Tax year 2021?

Thanks everyone, this is very helpful! have a follow up question which I am going to post below.
by Samosa22
Wed Oct 18, 2023 5:04 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to e-file “State Only” tax return for Tax year 2021?
Replies: 10
Views: 1110

How to e-file “State Only” tax return for Tax year 2021?

Dear Bogleheads, I file taxes with 3 authorities: IRS, NJ (resident), and NY (non-resident). For Tax year 2021, I missed the October 2022 extended deadline and prepared my taxes in 2023 using TurboTax (TT) desktop version. TT told me that “e-filing was closed for the tax season on October 17, 2022, you can file by mail.” So, I printed my returns and mailed them to IRS and NJ. However, for NY return TT printed this statement: “New York State law requires income tax returns prepared using software to be e-filed. Because this New York State tax return was prepared using software, you MUST file it electronically.” Since I cannot mail this return prepared with TT, does anyone know a software which will let me prepare and e-file “State only” taxe...
by Samosa22
Mon Oct 16, 2023 6:46 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Help me avoid double taxation by NJ on backdoor Roth
Replies: 4
Views: 809

Help me avoid double taxation by NJ on backdoor Roth

Dear Bogleheads, I did my first ever back door Roth in 2022 and also cleaned up an old IRA account to avoid pro-rata rules for future conversions). In summary, In Calendar year 2022 IRA account#1 : The entire balance of $1,500 converted to Roth. IRA account# 2 : Non-deductible contributions = $6,000. Two days later I also converted this entire balance to Roth. Now I am preparing State return (NJ resident) for 2022 using TurboTax. It is asking me the following questions for both accounts, and I am not sure how to answer “$XX” and “$YY” in the following two questions. TT asking the following question for account# 1: "Enter the following information to determine the NJ taxable amount of your Roth conversion. IRA account# 1 Total distribut...
by Samosa22
Wed Oct 04, 2023 8:29 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Paying college tuition by credit card, is it a "purchase" or "cash advance"?
Replies: 22
Views: 3396

Re: Paying college tuition by credit card, is it a "purchase" or "cash advance"?

snapvestor wrote: Wed Oct 04, 2023 8:25 pm Paid college tuition on CC and got cash back for each semester.
Thanks for sharing your data-point? Any way to minimize the 2.7% CC fee charged by the college? I did you ended up paying the fee? thanks.
by Samosa22
Wed Oct 04, 2023 8:22 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Paying college tuition by credit card, is it a "purchase" or "cash advance"?
Replies: 22
Views: 3396

Paying college tuition by credit card, is it a "purchase" or "cash advance"?

Dear Bogleheads, I have a credit card with 0% promotional APR on purchases for the next 12 months. I would like to pay my kid's college tuition using this credit card instead of my checking account. I wonder whether this transaction is likely to code as a purchase or cash advance by the CC company? The College will charge a 2.7% CC fee, but it will effectively be 1.7% because I will get 1% cashback from CC if they consider it a purchase. So at the cost of 1.7% fee, I will have access to this money for the next 12 months (minus monthly minimum CC payments) and will be earning at least 5%, (but likely close to 10% since I will be chasing saving account promotions using this money). So, anyone has first hand experience paying college tuition w...
by Samosa22
Mon Jul 17, 2023 4:14 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Credit card rewards vs hassle factor
Replies: 149
Views: 16106

Re: Credit card rewards vs hassle factor

I take advantage of signup bonuses and also try to maximize cash back as well. A few things that made my churning life much easier: 1. Every card that I have used to date lets you choose a payment due date. So all of our house hold card (>12) have the same payment due date. 2. All household cards are added to an account aggregator (Mint). So I don't have have to login to each account. I just open the Mint app and can see all transactions at a single place. 3. In the beginning, I felt a bit nervous so didn't link my bank accounts to Mint, but as I got more used to viewing transactions in one place, I actually realized that chances of me not catching a fraudulent activity are higher if I DON'T add all my account to an aggregator. Now, all of ...
by Samosa22
Sun Jul 02, 2023 6:32 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What’s harder to hack: 401ks or self-directed accounts?
Replies: 6
Views: 621

Re: What’s harder to hack: 401ks or self-directed accounts?

I feel like like both are harder to hack (if hacker's goal is to withdraw funds) as long as I am taking reasonable precautions such as using a password manager, unique password for each and every account, 2FA where available (hard key > app based second factor> SMS), keeping my contact information up to date, and MOST importantly securing my email account. My 401k doesn't offer 2FA but I have noticed that whenever I try to log in from a new browser or use VPN, the website requires me to input a temporary authentication code which they send to my email on file. I hope if someone hacks my 401k and successfully submits fund withdrawal request, the company would mail the check to my address on my file, or send the funds to my bank account on fi...
by Samosa22
Wed May 31, 2023 9:31 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Zakat (2.5% alms giving) and the 4% SWR
Replies: 53
Views: 4060

Re: Zakat (2.5% alms giving) and the 4% SWR

Along with the issue of illiquid assets like a house, there are also retirement accounts where you cannot withdraw while working for the employer or where there is a penalty if withdrawn before age 59.5. One can end up with an obligation that ends up being a significant fraction of yearly income and where it is more difficult/costly to withdraw from assets. That is really interesting comment. I can easily see a family of 2 maxing out their 401k, HSA, Roth for 30 years from 22-52 years old. In todays dollars that is a savings of 2* (22,500 + 3850 + 6500) = $65,700. At a 4% return over those 30 years one will have $3.8 million. A family making $250k/yr can accomplish the above over 30 years. What is interesting as the wealth grows, they will...
by Samosa22
Fri May 19, 2023 7:45 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can we retire in two years at FERS MRA?
Replies: 31
Views: 3966

Re: Can we retire in two years?

Current Income: His employment: $165k annual; Her: $50k annual Current Expenses: $60k annual Contributions New annual Contributions -$36k his 401k -$20k her 401k -$7k his Roth IRA -$7k her Roth IRA Tub84, 1) Yes, you can retire. 2) But, your current annual expense is probably a lot more than 60. 3) Your gross income is 215K 4) Your annual savings = 60K 5) Let's assume that your annual taxes = 70K (very high estimate) 6) Your annual expense = 215K - 60K - 70K = 85K. 7) A better estimate would be your annual expense is probably around 100K. 8) But, with your pension, you still can retire with 100K annual expense. KlangFool Thanks, KlangFool. Our expenses have been low for awhile now....no mortgage, no car payments, no memberships, cheap hobb...
by Samosa22
Mon May 01, 2023 10:16 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 30k for ten years
Replies: 17
Views: 3480

Re: 30k for ten years

Man, if we don't expect SP500 or VTI to be higher in 10 years than it is today, I don't know why we are here.
by Samosa22
Mon May 01, 2023 1:45 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Transferring Soon-to-be-Credit Card Debt to Some Sort of Zero Interest Deal
Replies: 8
Views: 754

Re: Transferring Soon-to-be-Credit Card Debt to Some Sort of Zero Interest Deal

Jags4186 wrote: Mon May 01, 2023 1:10 pm https://creditcards.wellsfargo.com/refl ... or_code=WF

3% transfer fee. 21 months 0% APR. Best of luck.
Any idea whether they offer a generous credit limit to folks with excellent credit score? Asking because many banks with 0% balance transfer offer are also notorious for extending a miserable credit limit (hello Bank of America).
by Samosa22
Sun Apr 30, 2023 6:11 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: best stand up comedy
Replies: 95
Views: 7363

Re: best stand up comedy

The 45th.
by Samosa22
Sun Apr 30, 2023 5:15 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: best stand up comedy
Replies: 95
Views: 7363

Re: best stand up comedy

Russell Peters
Bill Burr
by Samosa22
Fri Mar 31, 2023 9:48 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Want to manage my parents' retirement, signed up for CFP course
Replies: 77
Views: 5549

Re: Want to manage my parents' retirement, signed up for CFP course

I appreciate this feedback; I am also worried about ruining my relationship with my mother. I'm not taking this lightly, but I also don't feel like I can comfortably evaluate how my CFP is doing either. I don't really know what benchmark to compare to. I appreciate the feedback about $8k being cheap; to be more specific, they're managing about $2 million in assets. I'm surprised I guess to hear the Boglehead community advocate for CFPs since I thought John Bogle was for self management of investments ? Emphasis mine. I am not sure why you called your mom's CFP as "my CFP", I guess its a typo. Also note that if you manage your mom's portfolio, it is absolutely NOT self management. Also, someone else mentioned "I see from your...
by Samosa22
Thu Mar 30, 2023 2:50 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: I Bonds Mega Thread (I Bond Heads Rejoice!)
Replies: 6658
Views: 1240526

Re: I Bonds Mega Thread (I Bond Heads Rejoice!)

.... For what its worth, this is why I actively monitor all of my accounts - and use aggregators like Mint to do so - even though one could argue doing so violates the protections since that's arguably "sharing" and/or "authorizing" someone else. The reality is I can regularly check something like Mint and within a few seconds validate no unauthorized transactions happened across all of my monitored accounts. And if there is an issue, I'll see it within days (or hours as if it's a large amount it will set off my alerts) - which should be enough time to reach out and take action. (By contrast - there is no way I'd be able to check my accounts - especially ones like TD with the horrible virtual keyboard - "regularly&...
by Samosa22
Wed Mar 29, 2023 8:54 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Increase Equity Allocation Now?
Replies: 67
Views: 6309

Re: Increase Equity Allocation Now?

rockstar wrote: Wed Mar 29, 2023 8:20 pm The economy doesn't matter. What matters is when you need to sell. The longer you can wait to sell the more sense equities make to hold.
The economy doesn't matter. What matters is when printer will go burrrrr.
by Samosa22
Sat Mar 25, 2023 10:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: a "business" was filed using my home address, what's the scam?
Replies: 20
Views: 4615

Re: a "business" was filed using my home address, what's the scam?

snackdog wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 4:53 pm If all else fails, could you possibly move to a new address?
Lol, I would like to think this is meant to be a sarcasm.
by Samosa22
Fri Mar 24, 2023 10:44 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: The Final, Definitive Thread on Bank Bonuses
Replies: 122
Views: 17188

Re: The Final, Definitive Thread on Bank Bonuses

U.S. Bank is offering $600 bonus for a new checking account with 2 or more direct deposits totalling $10,000 over 60 days. Seems worthwhile for spending under 1 hour total time without tying up any money. You can transfer the money elsewhere right away and keep $0 balance until you get the bonus and then close the account, if you no longer need it. https://www.doctorofcredit.com/u-s-bank-600-checking-bonus-plus-35-49-portal/amp/ This deal is even sweeter considering that right now US bank is allowing initial deposit of up to $3,000 with a credit card. So a simple 2% cashback card such as citi double cash would give $60 cashback (tax free)! That's interesting. I wonder why the credit card issuer is treating this type of transaction as a pur...
by Samosa22
Fri Mar 24, 2023 10:34 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: I don't have to worry about living past 80, even if I retire at 46 with just 23X
Replies: 285
Views: 29940

Re: I don't have to worry about living past 80, even if I retire at 46 with just 23X

Patzer wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 1:41 pm
LeftCoastIV wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 1:26 pm What are your assumptions on health care expenses?

Have you considered a "downside" scenario in which you live the last 10 years of your life in a memory care facility, or other highly expensive scenario?
No, nor would I.
I don't see any value to working additional healthy years to make my care better in a scenario where I don't even remember yesterday.
I have watched someone go through 3 years of LTC facility care and die and every time anyone in the family visited they asked if they could please just go home.
If my memory is gone, I would consider worse care that shortens my life a kindness, not a punishment.
My Man! Live free, die free!
by Samosa22
Fri Mar 24, 2023 10:11 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: The Final, Definitive Thread on Bank Bonuses
Replies: 122
Views: 17188

Re: The Final, Definitive Thread on Bank Bonuses

safari wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 10:07 pm U.S. Bank is offering $600 bonus for a new checking account with 2 or more direct deposits totalling $10,000 over 60 days. Seems worthwhile for spending under 1 hour total time without tying up any money. You can transfer the money elsewhere right away and keep $0 balance until you get the bonus and then close the account, if you no longer need it.

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/u-s-bank ... ortal/amp/
This deal is even sweeter considering that right now US bank is allowing initial deposit of up to $3,000 with a credit card. So a simple 2% cashback card such as citi double cash would give $60 cashback (tax free)!
by Samosa22
Fri Mar 24, 2023 9:40 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: The Final, Definitive Thread on Bank Bonuses
Replies: 122
Views: 17188

Re: The Final, Definitive Thread on Bank Bonuses

Huntington bonus doesn't seem to be nationwide based on blog title on DOC. For folks who did this bonus; were you an out-of-state applicant by any chance? thanks
by Samosa22
Tue Mar 21, 2023 2:57 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: High-yield savings acct
Replies: 13
Views: 2150

Re: High-yield savings acct

These kind of opportunities exist and they are as safe as any FDIC/NCUA insured bank/credit union. However, usually the catch is that (1) one has to complete a bunch of extra steps to qualify for the higher APY, (2) there is a cap on the balance earning an unusually high APY, (3) one cannot earn the same high APY for years, (4) deals are geographically restricted, and so on and so forth. Case in point, Gesa credit union is currently offering 7% APY on balances upto $5k PLUS $350 signup bonus....so the total APY turns out to be 14%, but only for the first $5k and for the first year! https://www.doctorofcredit.com/id-wa-or-only-gesa-credit-union-5-apy-on-balances-up-to-5000/ So, a couple can open two separate accounts and earn 14% APY on a to...
by Samosa22
Thu Mar 02, 2023 10:01 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How do I request IRS for "First Time Abatement"
Replies: 7
Views: 1083

Re: How do I request IRS for "First Time Abatement"

A few thoughts: Late payment can cause a taxpayer to owe interest not on a penalty but on the late-paid tax itself. The IRS does not abate interest like it does certain penalties, so be sure you understand the nature of the interest that was assessed. If you have the patience, it might be the simplest to call the IRS and ask the representative if you are eligible for a first-time abatement of your 2021 penalties. They should be able to tell you and, if eligible, take care of the abatement over the phone. You cannot preserve the FTA eligibility in the way you are asking. Now that the 2021 penalty was assessed, you will need another three or more years of a clean compliance history (i.e., no penalties for 2022-2024) to qualify for another FT...
by Samosa22
Thu Mar 02, 2023 4:25 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How do I request IRS for "First Time Abatement"
Replies: 7
Views: 1083

Should I request "First Time Abatement" Or save it for future?

Dear Bogleheads, A couple of months ago I filed my 2021 return along with $2600 in taxes I owed to the IRS. Few days ago, IRS sent me a letter CP14 which (correctly) stated that I owe IRS $550 in penalties ($450 for failure to file and an additional $100 for interest on penalties). I think I am eligible for "First Time Abatement (FTA)" because I had no penalties on my 2020, 2019, and 2018 or any prior returns. I wonder whether I should pay the penalties anyways and keep the FTA option alive in case IRS later determines that I owe them a bigger amount (for example, incorrect calculations). Is it possible to “save FTA option for a rainy day”? Or if I pay the penalties now, would it automatically make me ineligible for FTA for the 20...
by Samosa22
Wed Mar 01, 2023 10:46 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How do I request IRS for "First Time Abatement"
Replies: 7
Views: 1083

How do I request IRS for "First Time Abatement"

Dear all, I failed to file my 2021 return on time and filed it in January 2023. I owed to IRS $2600 in taxes (plus $450 for failure to file and an additional $100 for interest on penalties). However, in January 2023, I paid IRS $2600 in taxes I owed, but not the penalties. The reason for not paying penalties was that I think I might be eligible for "First Time Abatement" (I had no penalties on my 2020, 2019, and 2018 or any prior returns). Approximately a week ago I received IRS letter CP14 in mail. It (correctly) states that I owe them $550 in penalties ($450 for failure to file and an additional $100 for interest on penalties). Two questions: 1. How do I request "First Time Abatement"? Is there a form I need to file, o...