Search found 16102 matches

by JoMoney
Sun Dec 03, 2023 7:35 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Individual Bond (Rolling ladder) vs Bond Fund - the new Dividend/no dividend argument?
Replies: 16
Views: 2347

Re: Individual Bond (Rolling ladder) vs Bond Fund - the new Dividend/no dividend argument?

It depends entirely on your objective. If you hold bonds with maturities longer than your need for the money, there is increased risk. If you hold a "rolling bond ladder", meaning you're not spending down the money as the bond matures, and instead buying more bonds, then it's functionally equivalent to what a bond fund with the same relative duration/maturities would be. The bond fund will have additional expenses rather than holding bonds directly, so there is that disadvantage to the fund. If you're not reinvesting and planning on spending down the bond money as the bonds mature, then holding a ladder doesn't have the interest rate risk that would be there from rolling the money forward and selling before maturity which will alw...
by JoMoney
Sun Nov 26, 2023 12:42 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: SPIA Math -> Need a little Help
Replies: 27
Views: 3177

Re: SPIA Math -> Need a little Help

wingman4uz wrote: Sun Nov 26, 2023 12:13 pm All, I need a little help with annuity math. I’m trying to figure out what the interest rate is for an SPIA given the following

Knowns:

Age
Life Expectancy
Initial Investment
SPIA monthly payout

I’ve researched a bit online and see conflicting or confusing info on different sites. Hoping someone here can just tell me the equation.
If you presume "Life Expectancy" as a given set period of time, I would just use an interest rate calculator such as:
https://www.calculator.net/interest-rat ... lator.html
Fill in the "Initial Investment" as the "Loan Amount", your "Life Expectancy" as the "Loan Term", and the "Monthly Payment" as the "SPIA Payout".
by JoMoney
Sun Nov 26, 2023 9:32 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What computer should a rising college freshman get for a finance-financial planning/econ major?
Replies: 24
Views: 2611

Re: What computer should a rising college freshman get for a finance-financial planning/econ major?

Whether or not it needs to be a Windows device will depend on whether there are specific applications you have to run, and if those applications require Windows. Even then, if they offer computer labs that might provide remote access to a virtual Windows desktop that has the applications you need, then you still may not need a personal Windows computer. At my workplace they use thin-client computers to connect to a virtualized Windows desktop, and from home I can use a Chromebook to connect to it. Most applications don't require a beefy computer to run them. If you're into gaming, video editing, animation rendering, or trying to mine-crypto or crack password files... that's where you run into needing a more powerful computer. You can rent o...
by JoMoney
Sun Nov 26, 2023 8:44 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why not a variable SPIA?
Replies: 88
Views: 7553

Re: Why not a variable SPIA?

There are "Variable Annuities" and there are "Singe Premium Immediate Annuities" (SPIA), never heard of "Variable SPIA".
Most annuities are very expensive and complex products offering a relatively poor risk/return proposition to the buyer, and big commissions for the person selling it and the insurance company underwriting it.
by JoMoney
Fri Nov 24, 2023 8:13 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: "In general, bonds add little or no value to the portfolio of ordinary long-term investors"
Replies: 262
Views: 48954

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

Having money you might need in some near-term period in long-term bonds can be as risky as stocks (maybe more so, look at the standard deviation of something like EDV), and has potential returns capped/bounded by interest rates in a way stocks are not.
by JoMoney
Thu Nov 23, 2023 12:54 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Are gambling losses tax deductible?
Replies: 18
Views: 4971

Re: Are gambling losses tax deductible?

N10sive wrote: Thu Nov 23, 2023 11:37 am I assume if using a player club card you can use the win/loss statement for itemizing? Instead of tracking daily?

Are there any issues with just doing that?
https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc419
Recordkeeping
To deduct your losses, you must keep an accurate diary or similar record of your gambling winnings and losses and be able to provide receipts, tickets, statements, or other records that show the amount of both your winnings and losses. Refer to Publication 529, Miscellaneous Deductions for more information.
https://www.irs.gov/publications/p529#e ... nk10004013
by JoMoney
Wed Nov 22, 2023 8:22 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: International Bonds as an asset class
Replies: 27
Views: 3130

Re: International Bonds as an asset class

I've somewhat reluctantly added a less-than global market cap allocation to foreign stocks in my portfolio. I have no desire to add any foreign bonds, but if I did, I could make a case either way for them being hedged or unhedged. My case for being hedged is that the entire purpose for bonds in my view is a guarantee of a specific amount of money guaranteed to be paid at a specific time. Using TIPS to ensure that amount is CPI adjusted seems reasonable to me depending on ones need, but using foreign bonds denominated in a currency I have zero liabilities in does not, so I would want whatever return those bonds promised to be denominated in (or hedged to) U.S. dollars. On the other side, if I was trying to play an active game in timing thing...
by JoMoney
Mon Nov 20, 2023 6:54 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Can I ACH push to Vanguard brokerage account?
Replies: 4
Views: 1218

Re: Can I ACH push to Vanguard brokerage account?

You can setup ACH 'Direct Deposit' on Vanguard's site and they will provide you with a unique routing/account number to provide to the other payer for that purpose.
Vanguard's brokerage accounts do NOT support ACH 'Direct Debit' from the account, which might cause your attempts to link the Vanguard account at another bank to fail... maybe... When you link a financial account for ACH transfers they tend to try to establish it's bi-directional allowing for deposits and debits.
It will definitely fail trying to make bill payments via ACH 'Direct Debit' of the Vanguard account.
by JoMoney
Mon Nov 20, 2023 6:39 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Real world experiences with Fidelity Rewards Card?
Replies: 34
Views: 5275

Re: Real world experiences with Fidelity Rewards Card?

I did once attempt a charge that happened to exceed my limit, and the charge was declined (but the account was not frozen so it wasn't on suspicion of fraud). If they advertise that there is no preset limit, this is BS. I'm not sure if the Fidelity Rewards Visa says that. "No Preset Spending Limit" is more common of AMEX cards, which Fidelity used to offer, so I wonder if maybe its confusion from that old offering. Regardless, even with the AMEX cards that feature "No Preset Spending Limit" it doesn't mean there isn't a limit, it just means they're evaluating some flexible range for you, that's still possible to exceed. EDIT: I found where they do make that claim: https://www.fidelityrewards.com/credit/benefits.do ... N...
by JoMoney
Sun Nov 19, 2023 4:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Fidelity as a one stop shop
Replies: 6053
Views: 1037372

Re: Fidelity as a one stop shop

GaryA505 wrote: Sun Nov 19, 2023 1:39 pm...
Thanks. I don't have much cash in my CMA right now but might when I get into retirement. Are the choices for MM funds as good in the CMA account as in the "regular" brokerage account?
Yes, you can buy the same MM funds as the other brokerage account, the CMA is a brokerage account.
by JoMoney
Sun Nov 19, 2023 12:43 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Fidelity as a one stop shop
Replies: 6053
Views: 1037372

Re: Fidelity as a one stop shop

pizzy wrote: Sun Nov 19, 2023 12:30 pm Can you someone direct me to the comment in this thread that discusses Fidelity solo 401(k) now allowing mobile check deposits and/or electronic transfer for contributions?
FWIW, the "Search This Topic..." bar at the top of a thread (next to the Post Reply) is sometimes useful when it comes to these mega-threads
search.php?keywords=solo+401k+mobile&t= ... sf=msgonly
by JoMoney
Sun Nov 19, 2023 12:09 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Fidelity as a one stop shop
Replies: 6053
Views: 1037372

Re: Fidelity as a one stop shop

... Thanks. I already have the IRA and the CMA. What use would this other "regular" brokerage account be to me? If you wanted to trade on margin, or trade option contracts, the CMA is not eligible for those. If you regularly traded other non-money market fund securities like stocks, bonds, CDs, mutual funds, etc.. it might be good to segregate those transactions from your cash spending transactions, as the settlement of trading activity may impact your 'available to withdraw' cash. For example, if you sold $500 of ETFs in your account and received $500 of direct-deposit cash, you would have $1,000 of cash in the account all available to trade with, but only $500 is 'available to withdraw' cash until the ETF sale has settled. If y...
by JoMoney
Sat Nov 18, 2023 10:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Real world experiences with Fidelity Rewards Card?
Replies: 34
Views: 5275

Re: Real world experiences with Fidelity Rewards Card?

abner kravitz wrote: Sat Nov 18, 2023 4:03 pm... I will say that the physical card is not the best. I occasionally need to pull out another card when it doesn't work; mostly happens at Walmart but sometimes other places.
While I've never had an issue with it not working, I have to agree with poor card quality/construction. I had one that got a bit warped with a curve in it so I ordered a replacement, and the replacement card fell apart right out of the envelope, like the front and back of the card weren't glued together, requiring me to get another replacement immediately.
by JoMoney
Sat Nov 18, 2023 9:01 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How Long Can an Average Car Battery Power 30 Watts (12v DC)?
Replies: 36
Views: 4912

Re: How Long Can an Average Car Battery Power 30 Watts (12v DC)?

Unless you already had a "car battery" you don't have other use for and don't care about ruining, you might want to consider the difference between a "car battery" that's designed for short bursts of cranking power (and then gets recharged), and an "RV battery" or "Deep-cycle battery" that's designed to be deeply run-down and recharged.
by JoMoney
Sat Nov 18, 2023 4:33 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Fidelity as a one stop shop
Replies: 6053
Views: 1037372

Re: Fidelity as a one stop shop

typical.investor wrote: Sat Nov 18, 2023 4:21 pm Does the Fidelity Credit Card (charges etc) show in the Fidelity app/website. Or is it a separate site (the underlying card is administered by someone else -no)? Do you call Fidelity if there is trouble with charges? Is it easy to pay out of a CMA or other account?

Apologizes if I missed discussion earlier on this.

Thx.
Yes, the Fidelity credit card transactions and statement is available from Fidelity's website on the "Cash management" page.
Most other card features require you to click through to a affiliated provider web-site that automatically signs you in based on your Fidelity authentication.
by JoMoney
Sat Nov 18, 2023 8:13 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Real world experiences with Fidelity Rewards Card?
Replies: 34
Views: 5275

Re: Real world experiences with Fidelity Rewards Card?

I like Fidelity's Reward card, it's a good basic 2% rebate on everything card (if you have other accounts with Fidelity.) I like that I don't need any other logins or "apps" to access the card features. I would probably consolidate to using just that card if it offered some form of car rental CDW. It used to, but they dropped it, and it's something offered by other cards - many of which have category rewards that work better for my spending habits than 2% on everything. I haven't had any issues with fraud or the card being locked. The only issue I've had was the card getting slightly warped over time and called to get a replacement card, no issues with that. I'm not sure what the "no preset spending limits" is about. The...
by JoMoney
Sat Nov 18, 2023 7:59 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is VXUS investing in China too Risky?
Replies: 71
Views: 6995

Re: Is VXUS investing in China too Risky?

kaseg wrote: Fri Nov 17, 2023 9:28 am China is around 17% of world GDP, but its stock market is only 3% of the world equity market.

If they close that gap over the next few decades, buying in at market weight today is going to have huge returns. Personally, I feel like not investing in China is too risky.
A country having a large or growing GDP does not equate to businesses being profitable or relative profit margins.
Growing the countries stock market capitalization float doesn't necessarily equate to growing the returns of investors. In many situations, it can dilute existing equity.
by JoMoney
Fri Nov 17, 2023 8:23 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is VXUS investing in China too Risky?
Replies: 71
Views: 6995

Re: Is VXUS investing in China too Risky?

exodusing wrote: Fri Nov 17, 2023 7:31 am
watchnerd wrote: Fri Nov 17, 2023 6:21 am Rather than framing it as a binary question, how about:

Are you being adequately compensated for the risk?
An important question. Another important question (or variation on the first question) is whether you think the market is mispricing Chinese stocks and, if so, what do you know that the market doesn't.
Nobody knows what the future returns are going to be. You can have some idea if the risks suit you.
Risk does not automatically suggest a return or "risk premium."
by JoMoney
Fri Nov 17, 2023 8:12 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How important is a processor for a Chromebook?
Replies: 15
Views: 1721

Re: How important is a processor for a Chromebook?

For my purposes, the test is playing full-screen high resolution video. If it's capable of that, it's good enough for my needs. I haven't had a problem with even the cheapest Chromebooks in recent years being able to play the video cleanly. Perhaps you could share what you plan to do with it where you think processor speed is going to be a noticeable issue ? The most intensive thing I've done on a Chromebook was video editing, having a faster processor to convert/render/compress video would have been useful, but I was able to get the job done despite it being slow going and it's not something I do on the regular basis. If you're editing video, playing high-end games, mining bitcoin, or trying to crack password files maybe a faster processor...
by JoMoney
Thu Nov 16, 2023 8:22 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: World ex-US returns are only 4.4% - 120 years of data
Replies: 110
Views: 11383

Re: World ex-US returns are only 4.4% - 120 years of data

frugalecon wrote: Thu Nov 16, 2023 7:09 pm... I was just observing that if the U.S. continue to outperform, even if you held the global market portfolio you would be allocating a smaller and smaller share of your portfolio to the underperforming asset.
Not necessarily, it's more than possible for new share issues and IPO's with relatively poor returns to expand the "global market portfolio" market cap and simulatenously diluting the amounts allocated to better returning assets. There are several articles out there pointing out that (at least over some specific time periods) being more 'passive' with a static portfolio that started with an index constituents, that never rebalanced or other changes has beat the same index that is rebalanced.
by JoMoney
Thu Nov 16, 2023 8:22 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: World ex-US returns are only 4.4% - 120 years of data
Replies: 110
Views: 11383

Re: World ex-US returns are only 4.4% - 120 years of data

jeffyscott wrote: Thu Nov 16, 2023 8:10 am
sperry8 wrote: Thu Nov 16, 2023 6:54 am... or if Int'l is structurally worse than the US and we should just bail on the tilt.
If this were so, why would you think that the price doesn't already reflect it?
I wouldn't say the price doesn't reflect it, the price is the price. But that doesn't change the possibility of a "structurally" better/worse situation, or make a structural consideration something that can be arbitraged in a way I think you're trying to imply in your question.
For one, the "price" is a measurement specific to the currency you're using to measure it, and the weighting of supply/demand for different currencies and places to store/save/invest the specific currency-weighted value varies "structurally".
by JoMoney
Thu Nov 16, 2023 8:02 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What are the merits of market cap weighting for bond funds?
Replies: 27
Views: 3313

Re: What are the merits of market cap weighting for bond funds?

... The fact that Total Bond has fixed allocations to corporate and government bonds would suggest that it’s not... I don't believe that's true. One of John Bogle's complaints about the total bond index was the growing allocation to government bonds (at a time where government bonds had exceptionally lower yield spread relative to corporate bonds) and suggested adding additional corporate bonds to it. It’s been 65/35 - 70/30 for as long as I’ve been watching it. Was there a time when it was significantly different? I think it's varied by a wider margin than that, more like 60-70% governments, the makeup of those "government" bonds has changed over time, but regardless of that, even what you suggested in the variance is NOT a &quo...
by JoMoney
Thu Nov 16, 2023 7:35 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What are the merits of market cap weighting for bond funds?
Replies: 27
Views: 3313

Re: What are the merits of market cap weighting for bond funds?

rkhusky wrote: Thu Nov 16, 2023 7:31 am... The fact that Total Bond has fixed allocations to corporate and government bonds would suggest that it’s not...
I don't believe that's true. One of John Bogle's complaints about the total bond index was the growing allocation to government bonds (at a time where government bonds had exceptionally lower yield spread relative to corporate bonds) and suggested adding additional corporate bonds to it.
by JoMoney
Thu Nov 16, 2023 7:25 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Recommend Chrome ad-blocker
Replies: 70
Views: 8307

Re: Recommend Chrome ad-blocker

kayanco wrote: Fri Nov 09, 2018 5:23 pm Hi,

I was searching for an Ad-blocker for Chrome and found uBlock Origin to be highly recommended. I installed it (with all filters enabled) along with Privacy Badger. But CNET doesn't get all ads removed, still has some large ones remaining. I've highlighted in red boxes:
...

Do you use a Chrome ad-blocker that blocks these ads? Or preferably a filter for uBlock that can block these?

Thanks.
Weird. I use uBlock Origin (only) on my Chrome browser (on Chromebook), and I'm not seeing the ads you highlighted at those links.
by JoMoney
Thu Nov 16, 2023 7:18 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: World ex-US returns are only 4.4% - 120 years of data
Replies: 110
Views: 11383

Re: World ex-US returns are only 4.4% - 120 years of data

sperry8 wrote: Thu Nov 16, 2023 7:10 am
JoMoney wrote: Thu Nov 16, 2023 6:59 am Is that 4.4% before or after foreign taxes, and from the perspective of a citizen in or tax treaties between which countries, at which point in time?
The article doesn't say, but I assume the real returns noted are pre-tax.
...
So it could easily be 4% net of foreign withholding on distributions from the perspective of an actual individual investor, and even less considering the additional costs and currency exchange frictions for an investor going outside their home country.
by JoMoney
Thu Nov 16, 2023 7:14 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What are the merits of market cap weighting for bond funds?
Replies: 27
Views: 3313

Re: What are the merits of market cap weighting for bond funds?

FWIW, your title says "bond funds", but your question is more about a specific bond index. There are lots of bond funds, and even bond indexes that don't market cap, that don't have "investment grade" requirements, and may only focus on specific terms, credit risks. I wouldn't say a Total Bond Index is a bad choice, but it's always seemed an odd choice to me for anything but the most generic option of it being a low-cost way to own a roughly intermediate term bond fund, that's not really entirely 'intermediate'. The idea that it may not have to sell bonds as the maturity lengths grow shorter (since it's not only intermediate bonds) may have some benefit, the turnover on Total Bond fund is lower than many comparable inter...
by JoMoney
Thu Nov 16, 2023 6:59 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: World ex-US returns are only 4.4% - 120 years of data
Replies: 110
Views: 11383

Re: World ex-US returns are only 4.4% - 120 years of data

Is that 4.4% before or after foreign taxes, and from the perspective of a citizen in or tax treaties between which countries, at which point in time?
by JoMoney
Wed Nov 15, 2023 7:18 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Fidelity Cash Management Account (CMA) Question
Replies: 37
Views: 8299

Re: Fidelity Cash Management Account (CMA) Question

Lots of options, and since Fidelity accounts are free there's no additional cost if you prefer to segregate accounts for whatever reason, and having them all at Fidelity allows for instant transfer of money between accounts.
Personally, I prefer fewer accounts, with fewer statements and fewer transactions shuffling money between accounts to review (and report quickly if any discrepancy.) But as it is for my situation, almost all of my spending is done through a credit card, and for the most part, paying the credit card is (usually) the only outgoing money from the account.
by JoMoney
Wed Nov 15, 2023 7:05 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Are gambling losses tax deductible?
Replies: 18
Views: 4971

Re: Are gambling losses tax deductible?

FiveK wrote: Wed Nov 15, 2023 12:05 am... As already mentioned, if your "In" amount is higher and you itemize deductions then your taxable income won't be directly affected, but the higher AGI can affect how much of Soc. Sec. is taxable, and any federal and state credits, etc., that have AGI phaseouts.
Like Roth IRA contribution income limits... please don't ask I how I know :annoyed
by JoMoney
Wed Nov 15, 2023 6:44 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The Final, Definitive Thread on Brokerage Transfer Bonuses
Replies: 7770
Views: 1352095

Re: Tastytrade platform bonus. Is it worth it?

Whether or not it's "worth it" to you is a personal value question. To some degree, all brokerages are trying to garner a profit off their clients. But any place that highly promotes their use for day-trading suggests an ethos for the type of client and profit base that I don't want to be a part of. Your account size might be a factor as well, I feel more comfortable being at a brokerage that's part of a giant financial institution with lots of institutional assets (and oversight.) Further, I like a brokerage to have a third-party "excess SIPC coverage" insurer, and have some form of a public statement promising they will make customers whole from any unauthorized activity in their account. i.e. https://www.fidelity.com/...
by JoMoney
Tue Nov 14, 2023 6:54 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Fidelity as a one stop shop
Replies: 6053
Views: 1037372

Re: Fidelity as a one stop shop

Money Market fund disclaimer is not new. Fidelity has never promised to ensure or protect the funds $1 value (although in the past they did subsidize the expenses when interest rates feel below the funds expense ratio.) The fund disclosures have always stated you could lose money. Any security putting money into government sponsored enterprise debt is required to explicitly state it is not backed by the full faith and credit of U.S. Government (even if everyone believes there is an implicit backing, government has bailed it out, and would be the demise of those government chartered entities -and more- if government wasn't perceived as implicitly backing their debt.)
by JoMoney
Tue Nov 14, 2023 6:42 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Are gambling losses tax deductible?
Replies: 18
Views: 4971

Re: Are gambling losses tax deductible?

Gambling losses can be used as a deduction against winnings for that tax year, but no additional deduction for losses beyond any winnings or carryover to future years. Further, if you don't already itemize deductions keep in mind you'll lose the ability to claim 'standard deduction' so in some cases the losses/winnings may need to be pretty significant to even consider it. The form of record keeping required for gambling winnings and losses if needed to show/prove it, can be quite onerous if it's something done on the regular basis.
by JoMoney
Tue Nov 14, 2023 6:30 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Issues with Fidelity CMA - recommendations for an alternative?
Replies: 26
Views: 2934

Re: Issues with Fidelity CMA - recommendations for an alternative?

My recommendation is to stop using personal checks. Fidelity gives free checks, so I'm not sure why ordering another set printed the way you want is an issue, but *shrug* to each their own. The CMA is a brokerage account, it doesn't match with everyone's banking needs. My biggest issues with it is I have had occasional need for a cashiers check, and sometimes wish to deposit cash. I can work around spending cash in other ways, but since they've completely stopped the issue of cashiers checks that means I'll have to open another bank account somewhere if/when that need comes up again. The last few times I've done that, I got a couple hundred dollars as a "new account bonus" to open the account. If I didn't hold my investment accoun...
by JoMoney
Mon Nov 13, 2023 7:30 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Amica Dividend Policy - Too Good To Be True?
Replies: 32
Views: 5694

Re: Amica Dividend Policy - Too Good To Be True?

dillrob wrote: Mon Nov 13, 2023 7:02 am Is the amount paid by AMICA treated like an ordinary dividend for tax purposes?
I have the same question. So far it hasn't made a difference for me, as whenever I've got a quote for auto insurance from AMICA, it's been significantly higher than GEICO (for me), even with the idea of a dividend... but I keep periodically checking, because in principle I prefer the idea of a true "mutual" insurance company, but not at a higher premium.
by JoMoney
Mon Nov 13, 2023 7:19 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What brokerages make margin accounts the default?
Replies: 8
Views: 937

Re: What brokerages make margin accounts the default?

I know I've seen brokerage accounts that try to lead new accounts through the process of enabling margin during the sign-up process... but with many brokerages (like Robinhood) targeting young people with low balance accounts, margin probably isn't a forced default option - FINRA requires a minimum $2k dollar balance for normal margin accounts and $25k for those that get designated a "pattern day trader."
by JoMoney
Sun Nov 12, 2023 12:36 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Fidelity as a one stop shop
Replies: 6053
Views: 1037372

Re: Fidelity as a one stop shop

Can anyone confirm that If I move all of the money from Core fund into FDLXX. And assuming it's +1 day so the funds in FDLXX is all settled. From that point on, I can just use FDLXX like the Core fund, but I will get better interest rate. Is this correct? I can do a ACH transfer out of Fidelity on Friday, and Fidelity will sell FDLXX at Friday closing or Monday closing and won't charge me any margin, correct? I was once using FDLXX and FTEXX and do this and was charged margin. I think it was because the funds weren't settled before I placed a trade. If I only use FDLXX, things will be simpler. I wonder if anyone has any negative experience with this approach. It works. I have only held FDLXX in my CMA and use it like a checking account wit...
by JoMoney
Sun Nov 12, 2023 9:00 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cut resistant glove?
Replies: 4
Views: 760

Re: Cut resistant glove?

I'm curious what problems you had with the one from Amazon, was it not cut resistant? Many years ago, I worked in a restaurant and wearing one of those gloves was considered required PPE when cutting. As I recall, the problem was it made a lot of things more difficult as you lose a lot of dexterity when wearing gloves. I don't think you're going to get past that issue. As far as the gloves ability to withstand different levels of cut-resistance, there are ANSI standards with different levels, you could look for one certified to a be a higher resistance if that's what you're looking for: https://www.ansell.com/us/en/blogs/safety-briefing/na/na_what-are-the-levels-of-cut-resistant-gloves ...just be aware that the higher the resistance, the to...
by JoMoney
Sat Nov 11, 2023 10:02 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Fidelity Rewards CC WITHOUT a CMA/Brokerage?
Replies: 24
Views: 3190

Re: Fidelity Rewards CC WITHOUT a CMA/Brokerage?

Does anybody use a Fidelity CC (2% Cashback) by itself, meaning without holding any other accounts at Fidelity? Is this even possible and is it possible to automatically apply the 2% back to the card balance? Currently we have all of our accounts Schwab with no desire to move any. I'm looking for an unlimited 2% Cashback, no fee or FTF card. Presently using Alliant 2.5% but the effective cash back comes out a lot less, surprisingly, if you spend over the 10K limit routinely or somehow don't get credit for a direct deposit (its happened 3 times now). SDFCU is the card you want - not Fidelity. I believe you can automate the statement credit. https://www.sdfcu.org/premium-cash-back Is SDFCU open to anyone? What are the membership restrictions...
by JoMoney
Sat Nov 11, 2023 3:28 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Was JB anti-ETF??
Replies: 32
Views: 3573

Re: Was JB anti-ETF??

Jacotus wrote: Sat Nov 11, 2023 3:00 pm JB? Let's spell out names and other acronyms not in the common vernacular, please.
It's spelled out an the top of every page on this board.
by JoMoney
Sat Nov 11, 2023 12:27 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Was JB anti-ETF??
Replies: 32
Views: 3573

Re: Was JB anti-ETF??

If people simply bought and hold low-cost broad market index funds as an ETF, he didn't have an issue with that.
As I heard him, Mr. Bogle had a beef with the trading that ETF's encouraged. The first S&P 500 ETF (SPY) promoted itself for that purpose, as do many others, especially the leveraged ones. He also took issue with the many niche ETF's that tried to specialize in narrow sectors and the like. Mr. Bogle didn't promote the whole "slice'n'dice" portfolio, preferring simplicity of broad-market funds.... and biggest of all, keep your costs low - some ETF's have inexplicably high fees.
by JoMoney
Sat Nov 11, 2023 12:14 pm
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?

... That points to what I'm really trying to figure out: If you had to ignore your investments for the next 30 years, could you trust Vanguard more than Schwab or Fidelity not to do all the shady things a company investing your life saving in complex products could do? Vanguard is fine, and they have a solid reputation for keeping costs low. Schwab and Fidelity also have great low-cost index fund options. If you're using a low-cost broad market index fund, they're all quite capable of tracking the index. One of the features of using an "index fund" over other mutual funds, is that you can verify an index fund is tracking its third-party index, so if there's some shenanigans going on in the fund or movements you think unusual, at ...
by JoMoney
Sat Nov 11, 2023 10:32 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?

... - Ethics: I know that Schwab's great customer service and free checking rest on the back of other investors who are, relative to Vanguard, being "taken advantage of". For example, they encourage frequent trading with their active trading platform. Silly high fee active mutual funds that are marketed based on recent performance, etc. ... I think you're off-base trying to moralize it, or presuming that investors who pay for services like active mutual funds or actively trading stocks are "being taken advantage of". I'm not saying it's a good strategy for people to follow to save money, but that doesn't mean the people who use those services aren't getting some value to them out of it. Vanguard is engaged in offering t...
by JoMoney
Sat Nov 11, 2023 9:40 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Fidelity Rewards CC WITHOUT a CMA/Brokerage?
Replies: 24
Views: 3190

Re: Fidelity Rewards CC WITHOUT a CMA/Brokerage?

Both the Wells Fargo Active Cash and Citi Double Cash card have a 3% FTF. I'm not aware of any 2% cash back 'on everything' cards that don't have a foreign transaction fee and don't have some other account requirement. The Capital One Quicksilver card does 1.5% rebate (with no other account requirements.) I was about to suggest that if you're considering opening a brokerage account at Fidelity just to get the 2% with FTF credit card, that maybe you hold off for one of their periodic $100 new account bonuses that are periodically available, but I just saw they have a current $150 promotion to get the Visa card : https://www.fidelity.com/go/visa-signature-rewards-1502 One could get the Visa card now, do the required spending to get that bonus...
by JoMoney
Fri Nov 10, 2023 7:39 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 8% SWR!
Replies: 112
Views: 13293

Re: 8% SWR!

*Shrug* Dave advocates against bonds and other "debt" fixed-income too. Lots of people on this board suggest bizarrely low SWR, that are well below what one could guarantee with TIPS. Government guaranteed TIPS would support a >4.6% +inflation 30 year SWR. From what he verbalized in the video, he pretty clearly is not talking about 8% + inflation, he's including inflation in that figure. It is on the higher end of what many would suggest as a SWR, but an 8% that's minus the 3% of inflation is closer to a 5% SWR (inflation adjusted) and is riskier, but not out of line for an (also very risky) all stock portfolio under many back-tested 30 year periods ... but there are more failure scenarios than a 4% SWR. Most 65yo aren't going to ...
by JoMoney
Fri Nov 10, 2023 7:22 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Inflation Indices....??
Replies: 7
Views: 951

Re: Inflation Indices....??

No. Personal expenditures will differ from how the different inflation indices are measured. None of them are predictive of future inflation, they're measurements of what already happened. To the extent they are predictive, it's that different government figures will use the results of those measurements to adjust to. If you want to "predict" your TIPS interest, tax bracket adjustments, social security adjustments, etc... looking at the specific index those are tied to will tell you that, but it's an adjustment for the inflation that already occurred.
by JoMoney
Fri Nov 10, 2023 7:10 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Fidelity as a one stop shop
Replies: 6053
Views: 1037372

Re: Fidelity as a one stop shop

On the brokerage side, can someone give me tips on how to view straight cash deposits from an outside account? I ask because somehow a recurring external transfer into a money market dropped off (likely user error on my part) - and it took me 2 months to notice. Best I can find is Activity Orders, and filtered by deposits. Is there something easier? Or should I set up a separate brokerage account just for cash deposits? I already have a CMA for check and ATM withdrawals. The CMA transaction display seems more intuitive, but I prefer to keep larger amounts of cash in brokerage account (and locked down). As others noted, it's not entirely clear what type of transaction you're not seeing in 'Activity & Orders'. My 'Direct Deposits' show u...
by JoMoney
Fri Nov 10, 2023 6:50 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard's Financial Responsibility?
Replies: 10
Views: 2043

Re: Vanguard's Financial Responsibility?

The answer to just about everything is always "it depends". Hypothetical situations don't have clean answers, there are specific details left up in the air and different people may craft different hypothetical details to form the story of their reply. Vanguard has a written statement/promise: https://investor.vanguard.com/ts/pdf/vanguard_security_promise-fraud.pdf We’ll reimburse you the amount taken from your Vanguard account in an unauthorized online transaction on vanguard.com if you’ve followed the steps described in the Your responsibilities section below ... How the issues gets handled can depend on the specifics of how the money was taken/transferred, how quickly you report it, and to what extent you may have been negligent...
by JoMoney
Fri Nov 10, 2023 6:27 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Fidelity Cash Management Account (CMA) Question
Replies: 37
Views: 8299

Re: Fidelity Cash Management Account (CMA) Question

sperry8 wrote: Thu Nov 09, 2023 10:40 pm... I'm not sure I ever enabled check writing on my CMA acct, how would I know?
Got to the [...more] "Account Features" section, next to "Checkwriting (Including reorders)" click on 'Manage'
It should bring up a list of your accounts and the checkwriting options, if it has a link for "Add" then you don't currently have checkwriting , otherwise you have the option to 'reorder' checks or it shows as the account being ineligible for checkwriting.
by JoMoney
Thu Nov 09, 2023 8:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Fidelity Rewards CC WITHOUT a CMA/Brokerage?
Replies: 24
Views: 3190

Re: Fidelity Rewards CC WITHOUT a CMA/Brokerage?

The Fidelity Rewards Visa card can be had without a Fidelity account, but the points are only worth 1% unless you redeem it into a Fidelity account (where they're redeemed at a 2% value.)

There are other 2% on everything rewards cards out there if you don't have or want a Fidelity account.
The Wells Fargo 'Active Cash', and Citi Double Cash are options for 2% rewards without requiring other accounts (but do have a FTF.)
Capital One Quicksilver card offers 1.5% cash back on everything with no FTF.