Search found 1670 matches

by windaar
Wed Mar 27, 2024 11:48 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [Suggestions] for Tag Heuer Online Store
Replies: 2
Views: 457

Re: [Suggestions] for Tag Heuer Online Store

Look at jomashop.com. I have used them several times for a watch and fine silverware. Genuine merchandise and good customer service.
by windaar
Wed Mar 27, 2024 9:42 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Take Social Security Now?
Replies: 47
Views: 2334

Re: Take Social Security Now?

Longdog wrote: Wed Mar 27, 2024 6:51 am every year you defer taking SS up to age 70 adds 8% per year to the eventual payout.
And every year you take SS before age 70 gives you a pile of money to spend, invest, or have in the bank.
by windaar
Tue Mar 26, 2024 4:41 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Seeking guidance on overcoming investment procrastination
Replies: 18
Views: 603

Re: Seeking guidance on overcoming investment procrastination

Invest now according to a diversified AA that matches your risk tolerance and stay the course for decades, rebalancing according to a pre-determined plan. It is really that simple.
by windaar
Tue Mar 26, 2024 11:48 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Advice for 29 year old daughter
Replies: 32
Views: 2805

Re: Advice for 29 year old daughter

tibbitts wrote: Tue Mar 26, 2024 11:30 am 100% equity is definitely the flavor-of-the-week on Bogleheads, but of course everybody now is coming out of the woodwork saying they've been 100% stock since forever.
There is certainly a bias at play currently, with “100% stock” posters congratulating themselves. When the next 2008 hits, those posts will dry up and we’ll start to see those awful capitulation posts instead.
by windaar
Tue Mar 26, 2024 11:10 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Advice for 29 year old daughter
Replies: 32
Views: 2805

Re: Advice for 29 year old daughter

doctormike wrote: Tue Mar 26, 2024 10:23 amI'm recommending that she put all of her new Roth IRA money in VTSAX. I'd love to hear thoughts from the forum about this.
What would be the plan to eventually add fixed, if ever? 100% stock is the craze lately here because of a nice run-up and market highs. It is not at all mainstream BH philosophy which advises to never take too much or to little risk, and to make such a decision with a realistic risk assessment.
by windaar
Mon Mar 25, 2024 8:58 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How am I doing?
Replies: 25
Views: 2453

Re: How am I doing?

You want to be “work optional” in 12 years and you are avoiding marriage because you don’t want to “risk all your your hard work.” That doesn’t sound like someone who should be at 100% equities. I think you should figure out your risk tolerance and find an appropriate asset allocation that matches it.
by windaar
Mon Mar 25, 2024 9:15 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Approaching parents about removing oneself from their estate
Replies: 35
Views: 3876

Re: Approaching parents about removing oneself from their estate

I’ve been an executor, personal rep, and trustee. And have dealt with a sibling who showed a terrible side when money became involved in our relationships. Believe me that the “cleanest” is to just have the estate split per the current will and then gift as you please after distribution. Anything else is going to create and cause all kinds of problems and complications. The gifting is easy. Invest how you wish and write a check when you wish. At most you fill out an IRS form.
by windaar
Sun Mar 24, 2024 10:27 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Off-market home purchase - best practices?
Replies: 33
Views: 1967

Re: Off-market home purchase - best practices?

Depending on city/county/state it may be nearly impossible to evict current occupants without a lot of time and money and they may completely trash the place out of spite in the mean time with absolutely nothing you can do about it. Check all tenant and squatters laws before moving forward.
by windaar
Sun Mar 24, 2024 10:24 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Off-market home purchase - best practices?
Replies: 33
Views: 1967

Re: Off-market home purchase - best practices?

Depending on city/county/state it may be nearly impossible to evict current occupants without a lot of time and money and they may completely trash the place out of spite in the mean time with absolutely nothing you can do about it. Check all tenant and squatters laws before moving forward.
by windaar
Sat Mar 23, 2024 8:16 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Talk me into/out of TIAA Traditional (and Real Estate)
Replies: 19
Views: 1505

Re: Talk me into/out of TIAA Traditional (and Real Estate)

TIAA TRAD is the true “safety” and “ballast” that bonds promise but don’t deliver. Most of my fixed has been in TRAD for a couple of decades. When stocks go up or down, TRAD goes up. When bonds go up or down, TRAD goes up. It never goes down, compounding tax-free. My equities side can do the wild gyrations.
by windaar
Fri Mar 22, 2024 12:06 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Using target age portfolio in 529s
Replies: 22
Views: 1444

Re: Using target age portfolio in 529s

Do your own AA and readjust annually, like on kids Birthday. A lot of 529 TDFs go heavy into bond funds in the late game for “safety” but we all see what happened to that.
by windaar
Thu Mar 14, 2024 7:43 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Refund for whn Delta cancelled my flights
Replies: 29
Views: 2303

Re: Refund for whn Delta cancelled my flights

Though these tickets are "non-refundable" there is probably recourse since THEY cancelled the flight, not you. When COVID air travel restrictions hit in 2020 we had 2 pending flights, one international and one domestic. Delta's first offer was credit/voucher but when we asked and then insisted we were given full refunds to our credit card. So you can always try.
by windaar
Wed Mar 13, 2024 6:12 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Calculating Time to $1MM and each $100k
Replies: 24
Views: 3880

Re: Calculating Time to $1MM and each $100k

Artful Dodger wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2024 5:09 pm You can also go from $1M to $550K very quickly. Ask me how I know.
Thaks for a good after-dinner laugh! Lately everyone thinks that the elevator only goes up.
by windaar
Tue Mar 12, 2024 8:19 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: what does the "11" mean in this video?
Replies: 8
Views: 1234

Re: what does the "11" mean in this video?

It's the Nigel Tufnel investing philosophy.
by windaar
Tue Mar 12, 2024 3:49 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Electric wiring along/through basement floor slab?
Replies: 23
Views: 1793

Re: Electric wiring along/through basement floor slab?

psteinx wrote: Mon Mar 11, 2024 10:44 amUse heavy duct tape (possibly colored to be close to the floor color) to simply tape down/over the cord.
Fire hazard; duct tape is flammable, cord can be damaged and wire exposed but damage not visible under tape. This is like the old "cord under carpet" danger that we learned about in grade school fire safety.
by windaar
Mon Mar 11, 2024 5:12 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: College degree worthwhile for marketing?
Replies: 124
Views: 8470

Re: College degree worthwhile for marketing?

Do you have any say in this? The obvious answer is to finish college and then try out the real estate gig. Then she can fall back on the earned degree for other options when the RE falls through.
by windaar
Mon Mar 11, 2024 5:08 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: SS is insufficient, very little savings, what's the best option
Replies: 49
Views: 7950

Re: SS is insufficient, very little savings, what's the best option

A family member has very little retirement savings (less than $20k), owns an above-average home, not paid off yet, spouse has a small pension that just covers health insurance. She is 70 years old, and trying to get situated for retirement. The plan is to continue working for several years (I'm guessing 5+, but haven't asked), and save all of the social security payments safely for retirement. I don't understand what you mean by saving SS for retirement. SS is retirement. I've referred her to Mike Piper's "Can I Retire" and the Bogleheads Guide to Retirement Planning, but feel she needs more direct advice, since all this investment talk is new to her. She plans to meet with a financial advisor at Edward Jones fairly soon, which I...
by windaar
Sun Mar 10, 2024 6:59 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Looking for upright piano in northern / central NJ
Replies: 17
Views: 1277

Re: Looking for upright piano in northern / central NJ

Craigslist and FB Marketplace often have pianos free but you have to move it which will cost 100s of dollars.
by windaar
Sun Mar 10, 2024 7:46 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 1 Year a Boglehead (Checkup)
Replies: 10
Views: 1352

Re: 1 Year a Boglehead (Checkup)

BuckeyeAaron wrote: Sat Mar 09, 2024 2:21 pm 2. Asset Allocation. As we near 40 I am wondering if we should start to think about adjusting the AA. I'm curious how others made the decision to make changes and when they made them.
Ideally an AA should be a kind of glidepath based on an IPS rather than just suddenly making changes. That's the beauty of the age-based AA (with a realistic risk tolerance determination), adjusted with new contributions and a pre-determined rebalancing plan.
by windaar
Sat Mar 09, 2024 8:44 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Holding 100% stocks after FI best option for longer time horizons?
Replies: 88
Views: 10527

Re: Holding 100% stocks after FI best option for longer time horizons?

02nz wrote: Sat Mar 09, 2024 7:40 pm Interesting how these "Why not 100% stocks" threads seem to always pop up when the market has just had a great several weeks/months. Not finding any such threads from March 2020, for some reason.
Sad thing is that newbies may come to this forum expecting "Boglehead" investing advice and instead read post after post egging them on to go 100% stocks at all ages.
by windaar
Sat Mar 09, 2024 2:58 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Preparing for Marriage
Replies: 47
Views: 4811

Re: Preparing for Marriage

We merged everything except retirement accounts, met with attorney right away to do will/POA etc. including all provisions for future kids. Didn't get life insurance (besides the policy the comes with job) until first kid was born. Started 529 for each kid at birth. Best wishes to you. Be prepared to give more than you take and you will be happy. And keep your vows.
by windaar
Fri Mar 08, 2024 1:25 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Parking place for college students early inheritance
Replies: 14
Views: 1353

Re: Parking place for college students early inheritance

20 is young to have that much money a click away. Have her gift it to you and you keep in a MMF or HYSA, re-gifting it to son when time is right. Add to your will that this child gets the $100K if you die.
by windaar
Tue Mar 05, 2024 4:39 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Alternative Asset Classes
Replies: 12
Views: 1322

Re: Alternative Asset Classes

The few people I know who have toyed with this kind of thing might as well have been shoveling their money into an incinerator.
by windaar
Tue Mar 05, 2024 2:56 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Non-WiFi Dishwasher Needed Software Update
Replies: 33
Views: 3007

Re: Non-WiFi Dishwasher Needed Software Update

Wow. My Mom's 1980's push-button dishwasher lasted 20+ years and cleaned everything spotless. I'm lucky to have one last 5 years and I've still got dirty dishes after a 3-hour cycle. And now they need "softward updates?" That's progress!
by windaar
Sun Mar 03, 2024 7:29 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Starting to get a little queasy with my AA
Replies: 31
Views: 4621

Re: Starting to get a little queasy with my AA

my AA is 82% stock / 14% Bonds / 4% Other (mostly cash). I've always been pretty risk tolerant, but I'm starting to get queasy about being so equity heavy. Everyone is an equities cowboy with market highs lately but I think that 82% stock is too high for a 54 year old, with a child, already thinking about a nearer retirement horizon. last market disaster in which bonds failed to be a ballast. The last few years was not close to economic "disasters" I've seen in my lifetime. I'm not sure where the safe haven is. Diversification on the fixed side. Bond funds of different durations and type, TIAA TRAD as you already have (I'd load up on as much TRAD as you can within that old account), stable value, MMFs, HYSEs, etc. If there is a b...
by windaar
Sat Mar 02, 2024 6:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cigarette Smell In Now Former Rental Property
Replies: 26
Views: 2554

Re: Cigarette Smell In Now Former Rental Property

A long time ago I worked for a landlord who painted all interiors with semi-gloss and would just wash the walls with Soilax between tenants; cheaper and easier than re-painting all the time.
by windaar
Sat Mar 02, 2024 11:45 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Portfolio Review - Help Needed
Replies: 19
Views: 2242

Re: Portfolio Review

chassis wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2024 7:57 pmTo achieve $10m from $430k over the next 21 years requires contributing $30k per year to the portfolio and the portfolio needs to return 14% on average over the 21 year period. Achieveable with a strong equity allocation. Don't do bonds, please don't do bonds. And don't do international.
Constantly losing everything you invest for 16 years also achievable with a strong equity position, see 1966-1982.
by windaar
Sat Mar 02, 2024 11:37 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Investing fear
Replies: 30
Views: 2940

Re: Investing fear

Just invest according to your AA, which based on your info seems to be 67/33. If that AA is not in line with your risk tolerance then it is the wrong AA. Where the market is now should have little to do with your decision.
by windaar
Sat Mar 02, 2024 9:12 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: A New Grad’s Factor-Based Portfolio Review
Replies: 21
Views: 1970

Re: A New Grad’s Factor-Based Portfolio Review

1. With all respect I think you're overthinking this. A bedrock principle of BH investing philosophy is to "Invest with simplicity." The more theory and fund micro-managing, the more the temptation to keep re-thinking, second-guessing, and tinkering. Hence the value of the set-and-and forget approach that JB encouraged. 2. What is your plan to add fixed as you get older? This should be dialed systematically over time in per an IPS and not just be made suddenly or "someday." Young investers here lately assume that 100% equity for life is the only way to go because of how they see the current market. Go through a couple of crashes and you see the value of diversification and having a plan for the fixed side of your investm...
by windaar
Fri Mar 01, 2024 6:46 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The recent surge: stand pat or "sell high?"
Replies: 54
Views: 6563

Re: The recent surge: stand pat or "sell high?"

I've never understood why people come to this forum of all places to ask timing questions.
by windaar
Fri Mar 01, 2024 6:43 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 529 - 2 years until High School Graduation - How Risky should I be?
Replies: 28
Views: 3637

Re: 529 - 2 years until High School Graduation - How Risky should I be?

As my kids have approached college I have done a sort of "Pascal's Wager" with my 529 AAs. What's worse?: Missing out on keeping up with inflation a bit or losing 50% on my principal on the eve of going off to college? Definitely the latter so with a fair amount saved up I'm protecting principal.
by windaar
Fri Mar 01, 2024 6:38 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Are there any special circumstances in which you'd sell or stop DCA-ing?
Replies: 25
Views: 2310

Re: Are there any special circumstances in which you'd sell or stop DCA-ing?

hiddenpower wrote: Thu Feb 29, 2024 3:27 pm tumultuous situations like WW3 on the horizon etc.
WW3 has been "on the horizon" forever. I did the "duck and cover" nuclear war drills in the 1960s. I remember WW3 protest songs under RWR in the 80s. Of course many predicted it under DJT. I'll do periodic investing per my IPS until I retire.
by windaar
Wed Feb 28, 2024 8:37 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Floating an Unusual 529 Strategy
Replies: 38
Views: 3145

Re: Floating an Unusual 529 Strategy

Therapist Investor wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2024 9:52 pmMy wife works for the state and her employer will provide our children with free tuition to any state university.
Your kids might not want to go to any of your state universities. Then what? State universities with their huge classes and inexperienced teaching assistants aren't the best fit for every kid. Some are better suited by a Liberal Arts College, Art School, etc., or an out-of-state school with a particular program or department.
by windaar
Tue Feb 27, 2024 12:39 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Might need to replace car: are used Tesla's the value play right now?
Replies: 41
Views: 5770

Re: Might need to replace car: are used Tesla's the value play right now?

hunoraut wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2024 11:41 amMost new passenger vehicles do not come equipped with spare and/or jacks, for weight, space, and cost reasons.
I guess it depends on your definition of "most." I just checked and our 2022 Honda and Toyota both have jack & spare.
by windaar
Tue Feb 27, 2024 10:57 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Might need to replace car: are used Tesla's the value play right now?
Replies: 41
Views: 5770

Re: Might need to replace car: are used Tesla's the value play right now?

windaar wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2024 10:54 am
hunoraut wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2024 10:31 am
windaar wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2024 9:27 am Read the article in today's WSJ "The Day our Tesla Deflated" about how it took a road-tripper days to get a Tesla flat-tire replaced.
And what is your takeaway from that article? What makes getting a flat-tire or a replacement something unique to Tesla?
Author said that his Tesla came without jack and spare tire and that the specific tires for Teslas are difficult to find when outside of high-population areas. Said that next time he's flying. (Tire for some reason could not be patched)
by windaar
Tue Feb 27, 2024 10:54 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Might need to replace car: are used Tesla's the value play right now?
Replies: 41
Views: 5770

Re: Might need to replace car: are used Tesla's the value play right now?

hunoraut wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2024 10:31 am
windaar wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2024 9:27 am Read the article in today's WSJ "The Day our Tesla Deflated" about how it took a road-tripper days to get a Tesla flat-tire replaced.
And what is your takeaway from that article? What makes getting a flat-tire or a replacement something unique to Tesla?
Author said that his Tesla came without jack and spare tire and that the specific tires for Teslas are difficult to find when outside of high-population areas. Said that next time he's flying.
by windaar
Tue Feb 27, 2024 9:27 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Might need to replace car: are used Tesla's the value play right now?
Replies: 41
Views: 5770

Re: Might need to replace car: are used Tesla's the value play right now?

MikeZ wrote: Thu Feb 22, 2024 11:16 am I may need to make some cross country road trips and Tesla seems to be the EV that meets that requirement.
Read the article in today's WSJ "The Day our Tesla Deflated" about how it took a road-tripper days to get a Tesla flat-tire replaced.
by windaar
Sun Feb 25, 2024 10:29 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: tipping shuttle driver ?
Replies: 34
Views: 4021

Re: tipping shuttle driver ?

I have one of the kids put a buck in their tip thing. If they help with bags in & out, a few bucks.
by windaar
Sun Feb 25, 2024 8:12 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Laundromat and Carwash
Replies: 30
Views: 3456

Re: Laundromat and Carwash

Going DIY with a hose and a bucket typically requires 150 gallons.
When I read this in the Bloomberg article it make me wonder in anything else in the piece was acccurate. When I wash my own car I'd be surprised if I use 10 gallons. Wet the car with a hose nozzle spray, soap it down with a carwash mop/brush-on-a-pole with a half-filled soap bucket, then rinse off with the nozzle. My driveway barely gets wet.
by windaar
Wed Feb 21, 2024 5:45 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How to invest $1M
Replies: 10
Views: 2230

Re: How to invest $1M

homebuyer6426 wrote: Tue Feb 20, 2024 12:07 pmthe rest of your portfolio seems to be higher risk than is typically recommended for your age.
That seems to be the default on this board lately. It'll be sad when the next 2008 happens.
by windaar
Mon Feb 19, 2024 8:46 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Portfolio checkup - age 47/43
Replies: 19
Views: 2509

Re: Portfolio checkup - age 47/43

PineNeedles wrote: Mon Feb 19, 2024 6:52 pmI've been considering keeping to an 80/20 allocation until sometime after age 50, and then slowly transitioning towards 60/40 around age 60 - this would then be the "final" allocation. Does this make sense?
Will you be "slowly transitioning" with new contributions or by selling equities to buy fixed? If the latter, will you still do this if the market is significantly down for a long period? Without an age-based or IPS AA glidepath I see this plan as a potential problem.
by windaar
Mon Feb 19, 2024 4:05 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: How would you invest like a Boglehead if index funds didn't exist yet?
Replies: 20
Views: 1617

Re: How would you invest like a Boglehead if index funds didn't exist yet?

Few ordinary people invested in the pre 401(k) old days of pensions like my grandparents had. College professors since the early 1950s would put 10% of their pay for 40 years into 50/50 CREF Equities Fund/TIAA TRAD.
by windaar
Sun Feb 18, 2024 7:49 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Turning 50. Would love your thoughts on reallocation
Replies: 22
Views: 3673

Re: Turning 50. Would love your thoughts on reallocation

100% VTI is madness for a 50 year old who admits that his "Job could go away at any time" with 2 kids at home. Everyone's a cowboy when the markets are at record highs.
by windaar
Sun Feb 18, 2024 7:35 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Late 30s seeking advice [portfolio review]
Replies: 20
Views: 2387

Re: Late 30s seeking advice

bayrider49 wrote: Sun Feb 18, 2024 1:57 amBuy an investment rental property with a max down payment of 100K (Part of cash in taxable above) and let it gain in value and do a cash out refinance when he is ready for college.
Having once worked for someone with rental properties, this is a big red flag NO.
1. Being a landlord can be very problematic and can quickly become a nightmare.
2. There is absolutely no certainty that a rental property will have a "gain in value." Quite the opposite can happen pretty quickly, in fact, for a variety of reasons, all outside your control.

I'd fund a 529 ASAP; time in those investments is one of the biggest variables there. Best wishes you you and your family.
by windaar
Fri Feb 16, 2024 5:09 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Social Security -- What’s in Your Retirement Plan?
Replies: 47
Views: 3683

Re: Social Security -- What’s in Your Retirement Plan?

GAAP wrote: Fri Feb 16, 2024 4:53 pm As a counterpoint, my uncle claimed at 62. He's now 93, and regrets not waiting.
Taking and putting those 8 first years of SS into the market for 30 years would have been a better idea than waiting until 70.
by windaar
Fri Feb 16, 2024 4:51 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Social Security -- What’s in Your Retirement Plan?
Replies: 47
Views: 3683

Re: Social Security -- What’s in Your Retirement Plan?

I've crossed the six-decade line. Not sure exactly when I'll stop working but I'll take SS the second I stop. My Dad waited and died before receiving a penny of SS.
by windaar
Thu Feb 15, 2024 7:18 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 529 investment
Replies: 3
Views: 502

Re: 529 investment

Why specifically now are you thinking of going more aggressive? Wasn't the time for that when the kids were babies?
by windaar
Thu Feb 15, 2024 5:51 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: College student considering staying in a hotel to save money.
Replies: 55
Views: 5359

Re: College student considering staying in a hotel to save money.

Why not just write: Harvard, as that is the only university in Cambridge? The other big school is an institute. OP said “attending university in Cambridge, Somerville, Boston area,” which could include not only Harvard but Boston University, Lesley University, Northeastern University, Suffolk University, Tufts University, and UMass Boston even if nomenclature rules out MIT. Lesley University, by the way, is adjacent to Harvard’s campus. Many locals take advantage of the programming and degrees of Harvard Extension School (HES) and are reluctant to say they "go to Harvard" to not be putting on airs and having to explain. HES is mostly commuter students. I spent many years in that area. I also vote for the Red Line/Commuter rail as...
by windaar
Wed Feb 14, 2024 8:34 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Fire safe that bolts into wall stud (not floor)
Replies: 7
Views: 720

Re: Fire safe that bolts into wall stud (not floor)

A 30" gooseneck crowbar will remove a safe bolted into studs in 15 seconds. A safe will attract the attention of thieves. A box in the bottom of your bag of birdseed or charcoal in the garage will not.