Search found 2400 matches
- Wed Mar 27, 2024 6:45 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Undo withdrawal from PreTax IRA in retirement
- Replies: 4
- Views: 368
Re: Undo withdrawal from PreTax IRA in retirement
If within 60 days of the distribution, and if he hasn't rolled over any other distribution received in the last 12 months, yes he can redeposit it. On brokers sites there should be an option to specify rollover, to make sure the contribution is reported properly.
- Tue Mar 26, 2024 5:43 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Getting to Zurich Airport from Lucerne, options?
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1274
Re: Getting to Zurich Airport from Lucerne, options?
If you've never been to Zurich airport, you might not be familiar with Swiss efficiency. I got off the train and to my gate in 15 minutes for an international flight, including exit passport check. Arriving at 6:12 for a 9 flight you'll be fine. Then again, I'd have planned to stay in Zurich the night before.
- Mon Mar 25, 2024 8:26 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: [Urgent] New build | Closure in two days | Multiple issues - Suggestions
- Replies: 17
- Views: 1698
Re: [Urgent] New build | Closure in two days | Multiple issues - Suggestions
The interest of the "Buyer's" agent is not the buyer. They will want the deal to close or they don't get paid.Fortune wrote: ↑Sun Mar 24, 2024 8:45 pmWe have a buyer's agent and they are in touch with Seller's sales team but no response yetUpperNwGuy wrote: ↑Sun Mar 24, 2024 7:59 pm OP, do you have a buyer's agent? Do you have your own real estate attorney? If so, what are they advising you to do?
- Sun Mar 24, 2024 6:16 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Buy and Hold Forever
- Replies: 22
- Views: 3668
Re: Buy and Hold Forever
duplicate deleted
- Sun Mar 24, 2024 6:15 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Buy and Hold Forever
- Replies: 22
- Views: 3668
Re: Buy and Hold Forever
Adams Diversified Equity traces back to Adams Express Company in 1840. I understand the Closed-End Fund industry goes back to the early 1890's. They are much less in fashion today (though ETF's are a variation of traditional CEF's and of course they are growing in popularity), but traditional CEF's were still pretty popular in the 1970's and 1980's. ... There are plenty of CEFs still around, dwarfed in trading and size by ETFs. But new ones keep getting issued. Adams Diversified Equity was called Adams Express because they were a mail and package delivery company like FedEx, Pony Express, etc. Their business declined and they bought equities to gradually become a CEF. You can see this process happen in real time as Microstrategy, once a te...
- Fri Mar 22, 2024 9:59 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: SS benefits - apply online, BUT still must go in to office [UPDATE]
- Replies: 23
- Views: 2505
Re: SS benefits - apply online, BUT still must go in to office
I've had to show a photo ID to get medical care every time, no matter what insurance I had. There's lots of medicare fraud, but usually from providers.WillRetire wrote: ↑Sat Feb 24, 2024 9:19 amUse of her medicare card is on the honor system, I guess.livesoft wrote: ↑Sat Feb 24, 2024 9:04 amI told her they wanted to make sure she was still alive and her family wasn't going to collect her benefits.WillRetire wrote: ↑Sat Feb 24, 2024 8:47 am Yes, clearly they are trying to protect against fraud. But there is no in-person check of ID to sign up for medicare, and she was already on medicare and therefore known to the SSA/CMS systems.
- Fri Mar 22, 2024 8:20 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Tax software options
- Replies: 2
- Views: 284
Re: Tax software options
I like OLT. Free version supports all the forms. You can see/print forms as you go. Free filing and free amendments, even years later. States are $10.
The main downside I see is that you have to enter w2s and 1099s manually, there is no importing.
The main downside I see is that you have to enter w2s and 1099s manually, there is no importing.
- Tue Mar 19, 2024 7:49 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Analysis for a trade to protect downside.
- Replies: 7
- Views: 513
Re: Analysis for a trade to protect downside.
It's called a "collar", very well known. I'm sure you can find the spreadsheet and the graphs. The return on a collar starts from the risk free rate and the risk can go up from there by expanding the collar.andy2012 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 18, 2024 6:43 pmSorry about that. I fixed it. This is not ChatGPT theory. The question is to protect downside of a stock while limiting upside. Sell call and buy put strategy. I was wondering if anyone has done P&L spread sheet for this kind of complex trades?Silk McCue wrote: ↑Mon Mar 18, 2024 5:12 pm We are Bogleheads. Not BoogleHeaders.
We aren’t here to validate ChatGPT or other AI engines.
If you have a question on a subject please ask it and others will be glad to help.
Cheers
- Mon Mar 18, 2024 4:13 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Buying a Home: Am I Required to retain Escrow Services?
- Replies: 15
- Views: 1113
Re: Buying a Home: Am I Required to retain Escrow Services?
In exchange for that service, the servicer gets the use of your balance interest free, unless your state law requires the servicer to pay interest.syngameon wrote: ↑Mon Mar 18, 2024 10:33 amThanks. Multiple responses suggest that there is no fee for escrow services, which is hard to believe give that we live in a capitalist economy. Foregone interest is also a good point to consider. Our down payment is nearly 26%, so that works in our favor too.cadreamer2015 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 18, 2024 10:28 am It used to be that if your loan was above 80% of the value of the property,
- Mon Mar 18, 2024 8:41 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: IRS says I owe it money, but I don't
- Replies: 32
- Views: 4249
Re: IRS says I owe it money, but I don't
It's there: code 806 W-2 or 1099 withholding.toddthebod wrote: ↑Mon Mar 18, 2024 8:33 amI don't recall seeing withholding ever showing up on my transcript.CuriousGeorgeTx wrote: ↑Sun Mar 17, 2024 9:00 pm Do you have an account at IRS.gov? You can look and see exactly what payments they have credited to your account for which period. (By the way, when you say estimated taxes, I think you mean withheld taxes. You would make a separate quarterly estimated tax payment if you had the former. If it was withheld from the distribution, then it would be the latter.).
Good luck in resolving this problem.
- Sun Mar 17, 2024 7:53 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Medicare: Getting Part A and D only
- Replies: 89
- Views: 4987
Re: Medicare: Getting Part A and D only
Outpatient surgery is part b.gunny2 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 17, 2024 7:13 pm I'm kicking this around. I know I'm not getting any younger and may change my mind, but for most of the years of my life, I've gone to a Dr once a year, for a physical. Typical Dr office costs are in the $200-400 range (a physical would probably be somewhat more). I'd pay more per year in just a few months of Part B.
Thoughts? Too risky? Too something else I'm not thinking of?
If you're in the hospital for observation less than 3 days, part B
Infusions for cancer, part b
These will be very expensive.
You won't fund much support for your plan. Most here shrink in horror at the idea of going without a medigap plan, let alone part b.
- Sun Mar 17, 2024 3:12 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Annual limit to the number of IRA to IRA transfers?
- Replies: 10
- Views: 865
Re: Annual limit to the number of IRA to IRA transfers?
It is not odd that indirect and direct rollovers are treated differently. The rule about indirect rollovers was changed in 2015 to prohibit the unlimited loan of IRA funds by doing sequential 60 day rollovers. Before the rule change you could have gotten the benefit of the tax deferral of the IRA contribution, while not really saving at all. Before the rule change, it would have been possible, but perhaps a bit annoying, to continuously give one's self lots of these short term loans within 365 days. But if one really needed the money, the sequential transfers would indeed work That's because where the current requirement applies per Social Security #, it was previously written per IRA account . So one would need to already have a gaggle (o...
- Sun Mar 17, 2024 8:11 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Annual limit to the number of IRA to IRA transfers?
- Replies: 10
- Views: 865
Re: Annual limit to the number of IRA to IRA transfers?
It is not odd that indirect and direct rollovers are treated differently. The rule about indirect rollovers was changed in 2015 to prohibit the unlimited loan of IRA funds by doing sequential 60 day rollovers. Before the rule change you could have gotten the benefit of the tax deferral of the IRA contribution, while not really saving at all.
- Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:30 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Quit claim deed has a lot of room for fraud
- Replies: 28
- Views: 3317
Re: Quit claim deed has a lot of room for fraud
A QCD only disclaims ownership. That would only be the first step in a fraud. The only way this could be fraud is when the current owner is impersonated in the QCD. Then they have to get ownership with another fraudulent document. Then the fraudster has to take out a loan against the property to cash in. That would be fraud against the lender, but the current owner would not be affected. This would be a far-fetched scheme. The most common real estate fraud is payment diversion at closing. Home Title fraud happens more often you think. I've seen or read news stories where a homeowner comes back from vacation only to find the locks have been changed. Even worse, they can't re-enter their own home because they can't show police they have curr...
- Sat Mar 16, 2024 5:28 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Signing Listing Agreement Sunday. Any actionable steps with NAR lawsuit?
- Replies: 16
- Views: 1972
Re: Signing Listing Agreement Sunday. Any actionable steps with NAR lawsuit?
Real estate agents survived the internet and online brokers with their commissions intact. They will come out of this one just as richly compensated. If you don't want to go with a flat rate broker, pay up.
- Sat Mar 16, 2024 5:23 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Quit claim deed has a lot of room for fraud
- Replies: 28
- Views: 3317
Re: Quit claim deed has a lot of room for fraud
A QCD only disclaims ownership. That would only be the first step in a fraud. The only way this could be fraud is when the current owner is impersonated in the QCD. Then they have to get ownership with another fraudulent document. Then the fraudster has to take out a loan against the property to cash in. That would be fraud against the lender, but the current owner would not be affected.
This would be a far-fetched scheme. The most common real estate fraud is payment diversion at closing.
This would be a far-fetched scheme. The most common real estate fraud is payment diversion at closing.
- Fri Mar 15, 2024 11:09 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Great news! No more [fixed real estate] agent commission
- Replies: 238
- Views: 22606
Re: Great news! No more agent commission
I'm amazed the 5-6 % commissions survived the internet and online listings. Somehow, I think they will conquer this one too.
- Thu Mar 14, 2024 9:12 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Refund for whn Delta cancelled my flights
- Replies: 29
- Views: 2309
Re: Refund for whn Delta cancelled my flights
When I got notice of schedule changes, even by a few hours, the website gave me the option to change the flight or get a full refund. Maybe they changed the options on the web or app since that happened to me, but you are definitely entitled to a full refund back to the method of payment.
- Thu Mar 14, 2024 8:30 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Refund for whn Delta cancelled my flights
- Replies: 29
- Views: 2309
- Wed Mar 13, 2024 8:50 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: SS is insufficient, very little savings, what's the best option
- Replies: 49
- Views: 7956
Re: SS is insufficient, very little savings, what's the best option
People with less than $100,000 in liquid assets should not be putting anything in the stock market. They can’t stand the volatility. Cash equivalents are the only way to go. If they could purchase a mortgage-free condo apartment with the equity in their current home, that would probably be the single best step they could take to ease their retirement financial strain. A deep dive to list all of their expected expenses also is important. As is identifying whether her consulting business has any resale value. This. Sell the house, buy a cheaper condo for cash (less maintenance, but account for the HOA fees). Still should cut their expenses by a LOT to have no mortgage. Might even be able to live on their SS at that point. They should still k...
- Tue Mar 12, 2024 6:47 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: perfect credit rating, can’t use my credit
- Replies: 18
- Views: 2374
Re: perfect credit rating, can’t use my credit
The best way to qualify for a loan is not needing one.
A good credit rating might lower your insurance rates in some places.
A good credit rating might lower your insurance rates in some places.
- Wed Feb 28, 2024 1:14 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Chances of deep in money covered calls getting exercised
- Replies: 9
- Views: 1385
Re: Chances of deep in money covered calls getting exercised
If the owner of a stock knows that they want to sell at price X, they can sell the call with strike X. It's like getting paid for placing a limit order to sell. Selling uncovered calls is another story.Valuethinker wrote: ↑Wed Feb 28, 2024 5:57 am Broader question.
Why do investors ever write call options?
I can see the argument in favour of deferring capital gains taxes, but usually that will be only for your own employer's stock?
- Tue Feb 27, 2024 11:58 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: File Amended Return?
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1299
Re: File Amended Return?
I waited 3 years for a 2,000 refund, and had to pay IRS in the two subsequent years while they owed me. Call me desperate.WeakOldGuy wrote: ↑Tue Feb 27, 2024 10:24 amI suppose that may be true. OTOH, if someone is desperate for a refund, they may have larger problems.bberris wrote: ↑Tue Feb 27, 2024 6:27 amIt could delay your refund if you file an amended before the first return is processed.. Wait for your refund if you want to file an amended return, but this seems unnecessary.WeakOldGuy wrote: ↑Mon Feb 26, 2024 11:21 pm I have filed a couple corrected returns and I recall the process being very easy. Can't hurt to do it.
- Tue Feb 27, 2024 6:27 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: File Amended Return?
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1299
Re: File Amended Return?
It could delay your refund if you file an amended before the first return is processed.. Wait for your refund if you want to file an amended return, but this seems unnecessary.WeakOldGuy wrote: ↑Mon Feb 26, 2024 11:21 pm I have filed a couple corrected returns and I recall the process being very easy. Can't hurt to do it.
- Sun Feb 25, 2024 3:55 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Medicare MSA plans
- Replies: 21
- Views: 2131
Re: Medicare MSA plans
Just to clarify, you aren't allowed to contribute to a Medicare advantage MSA. The only money in the account comes from the provider. Anyway, it seems to be a dead issue now.telemark wrote: ↑Sun Feb 25, 2024 3:03 pm Just found this thread today, searching for much the same reasons as the O.P. The Lasso site now says
Lasso Healthcare Insurance Company has made the difficult decision to discontinue Lasso Growth MSA and Lasso Growth Plus MSA at the end of the year. Coverage of medical services will continue as usual through 12/31/2023.
I really liked my HSA-eligible Bronze ACA plan -- no copays, no fee for some very expensive medication, and the HSA contributions helped to keep my AGI where I wanted it. Guess that's not a thing to hope for after you hit Medicare.
- Sat Feb 24, 2024 5:26 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Company division is being "Carved-Out"
- Replies: 17
- Views: 2544
Re: Company division is being "Carved-Out"
If you have an investment in a stable value fund, be especially wary of a change in control, where the value could become unstable.
- Thu Feb 22, 2024 5:17 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Has anyone invested in marijuana stocks?
- Replies: 91
- Views: 12837
Re: Has anyone invested in marijuana stocks?
The big winners in this field won't be fad marijuana stocks, it's the owners of greenhouses. Look to those big flower and horticulture suppliers in northern states, like Bachmans, a private, family-owned business. Marijuana is still federally illegal, so it can't be transported across state lines.
- Tue Feb 20, 2024 7:45 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Just did my own taxes for first time - owed $5k
- Replies: 57
- Views: 8019
Re: Just did my own taxes for first time - owed $5k
I use this to keep up with my estimated payments and withholdings:
https://sites.google.com/view/incometaxspreadsheet/home
There is a draft 2024 version that will get you close enough.
https://sites.google.com/view/incometaxspreadsheet/home
There is a draft 2024 version that will get you close enough.
- Sun Feb 18, 2024 8:27 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: ACA subsidies vs. Roth IRA conversions- how to decide?
- Replies: 12
- Views: 1404
Re: ACA subsidies vs. Roth IRA conversions- how to decide?
Easiest solution is to postpone conversions until you are on Medicare (full calendar year), and before drawing social security.
- Thu Feb 15, 2024 10:40 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Turning off Margin ability on a Schwab account
- Replies: 28
- Views: 2321
Re: Turning off Margin ability on a Schwab account
A little quirk of taxable margin accounts and IRAs at TDAmeritrade:
If I sell an investment in a taxable account, and withdraw before the settlement date, I pay a few bucks margin interest.
If I sell an investment in an IRA and withdraw before the settlement date, there is no interest charged.
So the question is, does turning off margin in a taxable allow you to withdraw before the settlement date and avoid the margin interest charge, or do they just refuse to pay until settlement?
If I sell an investment in a taxable account, and withdraw before the settlement date, I pay a few bucks margin interest.
If I sell an investment in an IRA and withdraw before the settlement date, there is no interest charged.
So the question is, does turning off margin in a taxable allow you to withdraw before the settlement date and avoid the margin interest charge, or do they just refuse to pay until settlement?
- Thu Feb 15, 2024 5:47 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Parking a US mobile number while traveling
- Replies: 19
- Views: 1985
Re: Parking a US mobile number while traveling
Thanks for the post, I am leaning to sticking with Google Voice, better go with what you know (and has worked flawlessly for me over the years, including extended China trips) than venture to the (to me) untested. For what it's worth - this is what I would do as well. I've also used GV for years, and it's great to be able to send and receive calls home when travelling internationally. It also makes it easier to switch phone service providers later on, since you don't even have to port the number to the new provider - you can just keep using GV as your main number. Only issue would be to make sure that your banks will allow your GV number to be used for SMS-based 2FA, which some banks tend to choke on. We use Fidelity which handles GV just ...
- Wed Feb 14, 2024 6:46 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Parking a US mobile number while traveling
- Replies: 19
- Views: 1985
Re: Parking a US mobile number while traveling
I'm using Google Voice as my main number. Porting out to GV costs $20 one time. For data I use MobileX, $2 per month and 2$ per GB. Your cheapest options are port to GV, or you could port to MobilX for free and just pay for 0 data at $2 per month to hold your number.(no data service outside US).
- Mon Feb 12, 2024 5:35 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Can I take Capital loss
- Replies: 7
- Views: 1340
Re: Verify a Dead Investment
You can try to arrange a private sale for $1. There seem to be lots of arrangements for marks who bought now worthless NFTs.
- Sun Feb 11, 2024 12:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: What is happening with the SEC Yield for TIPS funds?
- Replies: 15
- Views: 1468
Re: What is happening with the SEC Yiled for TIPS funds?
TIPS bond funds hold TIPS - fund yield is a cumulative yield of the TIPS they hold and SEC yield is an estimate of that. If underlying TIPS have real yield of almost 2%, I would expect that SEC yield for the funds would be showing something similar. Instead it shows a negative number and I'm definitely puzzled by that. Since we still have inflation , I cannot think of any way to explain that negative number. CPI-U decreased from November to December. Hmm, this might be it. Thank you Hello OP, I would be wary about TIPS for this reason: The federal government determines the inflation indexes. They determine the TIPS return. Does their determination of inflation actually match your experienced and expected personal inflation? There is no pos...
- Sat Feb 10, 2024 7:47 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: A few questions for 2023 taxes
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1579
Re: A few questions for 2023 taxes
- Fri Feb 09, 2024 5:24 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: A few questions for 2023 taxes
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1579
Re: A few questions for 2023 taxes
If you hold ETFs or mutual funds in a taxable account from any broker, you will almost always get a revised 1099B. It's not the broker's fault, it's because the fund reclassifies dividends and income.
- Thu Feb 08, 2024 8:56 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Laundry Detergent Pods Suds
- Replies: 37
- Views: 3597
Re: Laundry Detergent Pods Suds
Suds don't clean, and don't necessarily indicate that you used the right amount of detergent.
- Mon Jan 29, 2024 5:41 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Social Security: "You Have Earnings Not Covered By Social Security"
- Replies: 39
- Views: 4809
Re: Social Security: "You Have Earnings Not Covered By Social Security"
I got the notice too, and I think it is new. The only thing I can think of is my grad school stipend, which was not only Fica tax free but Fed tax free. It won't matter because it was such a small fraction of the total.
- Sat Jan 27, 2024 9:44 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Tax Forms Not Available Until Feb
- Replies: 18
- Views: 1621
Re: Tax Forms Not Available Until Feb
I'm waiting for the corrected 1099 in March before I pay my bill. Also hoping that the IRS changes the ruling that the MN tax rebate is taxable.
- Sat Jan 27, 2024 8:47 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Is paying off a 2.99% mortgage always a bad idea?
- Replies: 332
- Views: 24979
Re: Is paying off a 2.99% mortgage always a bad idea?
I would not pay it off, but it is probably not as advantageous as it looks. If you are taking the standard deduction, you could get 3 % tax and risk free paying it off. And even if you itemize, only the amount over the standard deduction is effectively deducted. Muni bonds are under 3 % now, and you might be paying state income tax on them if they are not in your state and your state has an income tax.
- Fri Jan 26, 2024 6:48 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Rome - Florence - Venice
- Replies: 49
- Views: 3844
Re: Rome - Florence - Venice
Booking tickets with miles is essentially two one-way fares on Delta, United, and Flying Blue. Check rebooking it home to rome and venice to home.
- Tue Jan 23, 2024 8:12 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Psychological Aversion to Decumulation Phase
- Replies: 73
- Views: 7444
Re: Psychological Aversion to Decumulation Phase
You might be a candidate for an SPIA. Having a regular distribution can help overcome the psychological resistance to consumption.
- Tue Jan 23, 2024 7:26 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Pension or lump sum pay out
- Replies: 37
- Views: 4319
Re: Pension or lump sum pay out
This will certainly be worse than taking the company pension. OP can plug the numbers in to see what kind of annuity it buys.Joyful wrote: ↑Sat Jan 20, 2024 8:51 pm Have you considered taking the lump sum and buying an annuity (with all or part of the money) therefore you don’t have to worry about the company going out of business (just the insurance company)? If you choose this option select a rock solid insurance company for the annuity with rock solid financials. You could also take the lump sum, invest it and create your own payout schedule - say 4% per year or just the dividends preserving the capital. With this option you have and are in control of the money.
- Mon Jan 22, 2024 12:03 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: No-state-income-tax states are not good for retirees.
- Replies: 413
- Views: 39641
Re: No-state-income-tax states are not good for retirees.
State income tax is one cost of many. I don't see how it is causally correlated to insurance rates.
There are a few states (Iowa and Illinois) that levy an income tax on earned income but not on retirement income of any kind, except maybe cap gains. Only a few tax social security.
There are a few states (Iowa and Illinois) that levy an income tax on earned income but not on retirement income of any kind, except maybe cap gains. Only a few tax social security.
- Thu Jan 11, 2024 9:36 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Best bank for international ATM withdrawals
- Replies: 44
- Views: 4387
- Thu Jan 11, 2024 7:36 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Best bank for international ATM withdrawals
- Replies: 44
- Views: 4387
Re: Best bank for international ATM withdrawals
In my experience, the European ATMs don't charge their own fee. You must reject the currency conversion to get a decent exchange rate. The ATM will probably make it seem like you are cancelling the transaction, but you are only cancelling the DCC. Secondly, avoid the nonbank ATMs like Euronet and Travelex. The Euronet machines are all over the place. A post office ATM is ok; they are like banks.
If your bank charges a fee, just limit your ATM withdrawals by taking out the maximum.
You can use a credit card almost anywhere.
https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/ ... e-atm-tips
If your bank charges a fee, just limit your ATM withdrawals by taking out the maximum.
You can use a credit card almost anywhere.
https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/ ... e-atm-tips
- Sun Jan 07, 2024 6:45 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Fixed Index Annuity Question
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1270
Re: Fixed Index Annuity Question
Although not my primary vocation, I hold a health and life insurance license. The primary downside to products like fixed index annuities seems to be high commissions, but if I sell myself a fixed index annuity or SPIA, all of the commission comes back to me, so that ‘con’ is moot. In this instance, would an annuity make sense as part of a broader portfolio which includes VT, BND, and Social Security? I like the contractual aspect of annuities to diversify against downside financial asset risk. Welcome your thoughts. You are still paying the 3 % spread that the insurance company collects each year. As another poster said, you rely on the seller to explain the product, but as this post shows, even the sellers don't understand the product.
- Wed Jan 03, 2024 7:41 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Cheapest phone service in US. Pre-paid?
- Replies: 49
- Views: 7272
Re: Cheapest phone service in US. Pre-paid?
On X-mobile I don't pay for text or voice, but it seems to allow texting using the phone number they assigned to me. I don't use that number except by mistake. Seems to be a feature/bug. Not sure how long that will last.
Voice does not work on the bonus phone number. I text and call using Google voice and Whatsapp.
Voice does not work on the bonus phone number. I text and call using Google voice and Whatsapp.
- Tue Jan 02, 2024 7:25 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Selling $80000 of ETFs— one sale at noon, or four sales over the day?
- Replies: 17
- Views: 2838
Re: Selling $80000 of ETFs— one sale at noon, or four sales over the day?
I always use a market order on very liquid etfs. At TDA, I get executed between the bid and ask, usually right between the spread.
I had another weird experience; I had a limit order to sell and relatively thinly traded CEF at the ask price, and the order sat there. Then I switched it to a market order, and it got executed at the ask. I checked afterwards and it wasn't a market move, I just got lucky I guess and saved $10.
I had another weird experience; I had a limit order to sell and relatively thinly traded CEF at the ask price, and the order sat there. Then I switched it to a market order, and it got executed at the ask. I checked afterwards and it wasn't a market move, I just got lucky I guess and saved $10.
- Sat Dec 30, 2023 7:07 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Delaying Social Security is getting less advantageous
- Replies: 258
- Views: 224623
Re: Delaying Social Security is getting less advantageous
It's always primarily a gamble on how long you will live. Well, it's only a gamble in the sense that if you live a long time, clearly you can "win" by having the inflation-adjusted income. If you die you don't lose in the sense that you don't need the money. Your beneficiaries might lose, but you don't. You lost by not having additional income before you died. You could have lived marginally better before death You lost even more by not spending all your assets before you died. Think how much better life would have been had you known. That's based on the assumption that by taking SS early, you won't withdraw from your portfolio. But there are scenarios that the person would spend down their portfolio along with the SS income, and...