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DoubleComma

My surf boat loan was 15 years on a $65k boat. Don’t recall the rate, it was paid off in 7 days as it took a little longer than I expected to move some money around. Funny thing, the boat is now 6 years old and would sell for $60 thanks to the Covid bump. Today the exact same model new is $85-100k w...

DoubleComma

Shopping for a vacation home in 2017, again in a heated up market in this particular resort area. Found a house we loved, but it went under contract with in 24 hours of listing and a couple hours before we got our offer in. Our agent encouraged us to place a back up offer, we did as we had nothing t...

DoubleComma

My parents use them and I bad mouth Fisher to them every chance I get. It doesn't matter, they want the personal touch they get with Fisher. They have a "guy" who is available to them all the time. The guy has never changed in 10+ years, and well over $200k in fees. Anytime he is in the ar...

DoubleComma

To the OP & Moderators, I’ve clearly hijacked this thread which wasn’t my intention. My only point, which I’m learning is wrong or a bit contentious, is looking at tax rate today vs predicted rate in retirement is NOT the only consideration when making Roth vs Traditional decisions.

DoubleComma

Personally I don’t think it’s as simple as tax rates today vs tax rates in retirement. In our case we are on the 35% bracket, but I don’t think I’ll ever need all the money we are projecting to have saved before retirement. We don’t count on it, but it very likely we will inherit from both DW and M...

DoubleComma

Correct. For a full analysis, it would be tax rates on contributions (or conversions) now vs. tax rates on withdrawals later. If you won't be doing all the withdrawals, then you would need (if you care) to estimate also the tax rates your heirs would pay. Maybe I’m wrong and could use some educatio...

DoubleComma

My direct experience is based on a single instance. My FIL passes leaving a small traditional IRA and Roth IRA to DW. Roth was tax free and with the traditional each distribution is taxed at our rate. So I’m not sure why I would estimate an heirs tax rate. Put yourself in your FIL's place: if he ha...

DoubleComma

Personally I don’t think it’s as simple as tax rates today vs tax rates in retirement. Correct. For a full analysis, it would be tax rates on contributions (or conversions) now vs. tax rates on withdrawals later. If you won't be doing all the withdrawals, then you would need (if you care) to estima...

DoubleComma

Personally I don’t think it’s as simple as tax rates today vs tax rates in retirement. In our case we are on the 35% bracket, but I don’t think I’ll ever need all the money we are projecting to have saved before retirement. We don’t count on it, but it very likely we will inherit from both DW and M...

DoubleComma

Personally I don’t think it’s as simple as tax rates today vs tax rates in retirement. Correct. For a full analysis, it would be tax rates on contributions (or conversions) now vs. tax rates on withdrawals later. If you won't be doing all the withdrawals, then you would need (if you care) to estima...

DoubleComma

Personally I don’t think it’s as simple as tax rates today vs tax rates in retirement. In our case we are on the 35% bracket, but I don’t think I’ll ever need all the money we are projecting to have saved before retirement. We don’t count on it, but it very likely we will inherit from both DW and My...

DoubleComma

I move between locations frequently and never say anything.

DoubleComma

We have found similarly when looking at used cars that are 1-2 years old, but not as much in the 3+ years old. Additionally I have a company car that is managed by one of the large fleet companies. My company car is rotated every 13 months, not because my company wants me to always have a new car bu...

DoubleComma

Life long CA resident. Lived and owned house is SF Bay Area, Central Valley and Central Coast. Have never purchased earthquake insurance. My personal opinion is the value isn't there. Additionally my experience has been after massive earth quakes (Loma Prieta, Northridge, Coalinga) is FEMA makes ava...

DoubleComma

Personally think its just a margin adder for the dealer and decline. Regularly washing and something between quarterly and twice annually waxing should be sufficient. If you really want a ceramic coating, all the mobile detailers do it in my area for a couple hundred bucks. As for the interior, I ha...

DoubleComma

We recently replaced our front door (double door). We looked at big box stores, didn’t love any. We ended up at a local door business that does a combination of custom and pre-fab order doors. In addition to the door I paid for their installation and very happy I did. The door frame had settled slig...

DoubleComma

Finally, I got a technician to visit my house --- when I was at home! I gave the technician my cell phone number, and had him go outside to the meter. When he was at the meter, he called me. I had everything in the home turned off... and while he was watching the meter --- I turned on my gas firepl...

DoubleComma

I had an issue with our gas company, Southern CA Edison, a couple years ago. I was super patient and polite, waited 9 months for resolution checking in every 4-6 weeks and finally had it. I did not lose it on anyone at the utility I simply went in line to California Public Utility Commission website...

DoubleComma

I have a travel trailer with about the same weight. When I got the trailer, I used to tow it with a V-8 F150. This was not enough truck for anything but freeway driving in flat areas. Throw in any back roads, any hills, any less than ideal conditions and things went south quickly. I upgraded the tr...

DoubleComma

My biggest concern has shifted to apparent unavailability of camp sites due to large increase in RV popularity throughout the country. This is worth truly investigating; its also worth thinking about your personal tendencies to plan or be spontaneous. We were a very active camping family. Started i...

DoubleComma

I'll never understand why anyone would want to buy property under the thumb of an HOA. There are plenty of zoning rules, laws, and regulations out there already, can't imagine adding an HOA with a bunch of activist busy-body tyrants to the mix. Neighborhoods without HOA seem to be capable of functi...

DoubleComma

Is it over paying if those prices are what the current market is selling for? In 20 years I can’t think of a meaningful reduction in SF Bay Area real estate. Even in the 2008 meltdown. I can remember several times where it cooled and there wasn’t multiple offers on every house, but not a significant...

DoubleComma

Wow, thanks for all the responses everyone! I've got some things to look through!! What's your budget? I was hoping to stay in the $300 ish range...but seeing some of these options...I'm wondering if that's feasible! What do you want to smoke? Long cooks like brisket? Sure! Chicken, chops, whatever...

DoubleComma

Zone 9 here. I have 8 4'x4' raised beds; but one is a dedicated strawberry bed so that rarely changes and I rotate another as unplanted each season, which is really to give my wife a bed to propagate her succulents I've had Tomato & Pepper transplants in the ground for 4 weeks. Tomatoes are look...

DoubleComma

I enjoy managing the fire and temp manually, to me that’s part of the fun and the majority of the skill. Many just want to eat the results. What do you want? If you think you will enjoy managing the fire, experimenting with different lump charcoals and maybe some hard woods then the Weber Smokey Mou...

DoubleComma

I would check with your local nursery. To many variable to offer advice. Not sure plant type, soil type, ambient temp etc.

DoubleComma

I think this is important... A close friend discovered a pinhole leak in a hot water line in the crawl space that created much of the same damage you describe. His insurance company declined the claim sighting that a burst pipe would be converted but a pin hole leak over time was a maintenance issue...

DoubleComma

OP - out of curiosity, why not adopt a hybrid joint/personal account strategy. DW and I did this for several years and it simplified a lot for us. Deposit 100% of joint earnings into a single account that pays for 100% of joint expenses. No need to establish a ratio, that created when the deposits a...

DoubleComma

In your company are there compensation grades and are each position assigned to a grade? If so, make sure you have a solid grasp of ranges in those grades to ensure you asking for the right thing. It might be that you don’t need to ask for a salary adjustment; you need to show how you role has grow...

DoubleComma

In your company are there compensation grades and are each position assigned to a grade? If so, make sure you have a solid grasp of ranges in those grades to ensure you asking for the right thing. It might be that you don’t need to ask for a salary adjustment; you need to show how you role has grown...

DoubleComma

I’m looking to buy a family car to transport 5 people including two kids in car seats. My top contenders are Kia Telluride/ Hyundai Palisade. It’s killing me that I’m not only buying a gas guzzler, but about to drop $45k on it. I really thought my next car would be an electric car, but there aren’t...

DoubleComma

Washing machine drum. I’ve made a couple of them and prefer drums from front loaders. They have a solid bottom with a heavy duty threaded axle shaft. I bolted it to two car rims and painted it black. I’ve also just laid them on fire proof paving tiles but the rims raised it up for better heat and a...

DoubleComma

I get that Bay Area real estate has become very polarizing for many people. Lots of firm don’t do it opinions, warning that the bubbles going to burst, etc etc etc. We no longer live in the Bay Area, but did for years. Our first home was bought in Almaden (purchased Dec 2001). In the time we lived i...

DoubleComma

IMO, having a parent at home through middle school and early high school is the most beneficial for the kids. I’m sure their is value at all ages, but in our family we can see clearly just how much value there is for someone to be home during the 12-15 age range. These are very challenging years for...

DoubleComma

I’ve done this twice in last couple years, one for the front and a second for the back. Both times I used local master gardners that I found through the local gardening clubs online. I paid $150/hr each time and both plans took about 3 hours to create. In the end I received a printed and digital pla...

DoubleComma

I’m looking to buy a family car to transport 5 people including two kids in car seats. My top contenders are Kia Telluride/ Hyundai Palisade. It’s killing me that I’m not only buying a gas guzzler, but about to drop $45k on it. I really thought my next car would be an electric car, but there aren’t...

DoubleComma

We have bought and sold several homes. Twice without agents but serval times with an agent. Each time using an agent I’ve structured it the same way. With all commission is split between agents... Traditional two agent sale 5% My agent represents both sides 4% I find the buyer 3% Buying/Selling isn’...

DoubleComma

Whether a Trust will meaningfully help preserve assets depends on the costs in your area, your dad’s dementia progression, your mom’s future ability as a caregiver, and the level of support your parents will need over the next 5 years and beyond. My experience with my parents (n=1) is that an irrev...

DoubleComma

I know on every property I have owned and current still own the lenders title insurance policy is a separate and unique policy from the owners policy. Lenders policy only last as long as that loan is active. Pay it off or refi and the previous policy is no longer valid. Owners policy remains in forc...

DoubleComma

I too have almost zero digital footprint. When Facebook first hit the scene I quickly surmised there was nothing there for me. I didn’t see why I wanted to see everyone’s “best” pseudo-life, nor did I want to share my daily activity with anyone else. So when Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, etc etc etc...

DoubleComma

I have a owners title insurance policy on all my property. Some I bought, some were purchased by the seller, but I’m happy to have them and hope I never have to use it.

DoubleComma

Annual Contributions/Savings: I max out my 403b and 457b for a total of $38k (low-cost Vanguard funds). I also contribute $11k/year toward a pension and $11k/year is going toward mortgage principal. We contribute a little bit toward a traditional IRA as well. The total savings are a bit over $60k/y...

DoubleComma

Annual Contributions/Savings: I max out my 403b and 457b for a total of $38k (low-cost Vanguard funds). I also contribute $11k/year toward a pension and $11k/year is going toward mortgage principal. We contribute a little bit toward a traditional IRA as well. The total savings are a bit over $60k/y...

DoubleComma

There is no "right" answer to this question. Some folks are going to tell you traveling is a huge issues and those who travel are part of the problem. Others will say go right ahead and travel, the risk of serious infections are extremely low. In our family of 5, two are fully vaccinated, ...

DoubleComma

In my current company, and previous, the dollar amount of the grant was only relevant to determine how many shares you were being granted. At vesting the value of the grant is simply current share price times the number of shares granted. Then at vesting the custodian of the plan will automatically ...

DoubleComma

Totally understand your frustration, it comes with the territory when you are trying to buy in an heated (or overheated) market. I've bought several homes, two times in a very heated markets. I've always used the same philosophy when making offers, I simply offered what the home is worth to my wife ...

DoubleComma

I don’t see how this would work. In a non-qualified deferred Comp plan there isn’t really anything invested like with a 401k or the like. Rather it’s essentially a loan back to the employer. The reason you make the loan is a reduction in taxable income, typically some incentive like a match and appr...

DoubleComma

Roofers deal with this, they know how to manage it. Request a quote for the entire roof as well as a second quote for the areas insurance is concerning. As for question #2, catastrophic home insurance doesn’t really exist, so what you do is raise your deductible to the point that you would call some...

DoubleComma

The reality is that they all put clients into high fee and inappropriate products and suck out what money they can before people wise up. I am not advocating Fisher, and can only speak from what I see of Fisher through my parents, who are clients. In my experience Fisher does NOT put clients into h...

DoubleComma

My parents are Fisher clients, couldn’t be happier. I’ve done the math on what their AUM equates over time. It doesn’t matter to them at all. I’ve been with them to a couple of the Fisher client events. Always first class and a lot of personal attention. My parents want a dedicated person to talk to...

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