Search found 194 matches

by gogleheads.orb
Wed Feb 28, 2024 12:42 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Floating an Unusual 529 Strategy
Replies: 38
Views: 3155

Re: Floating an Unusual 529 Strategy

lakpr wrote: Wed Feb 28, 2024 8:29 am
cshell2 wrote: Wed Feb 28, 2024 7:42 am I'm not sure how anyone knows a 2 year old is headed to grad school? :wink:
Parental expectations?
In our household, we drum it up into the kids' brains that they MUST do at least an M.S. in Engineering, their choice of discipline within Engineering. And on our side, we ARE prepared to meet the grad school expenses.

Same thing that MY parents did, for all us three siblings.
The joke is on your kids. Most people don't have to pay for an M. S. in Engineering. If you accepted to a full time program and not given funding they don't really want you.
by gogleheads.orb
Mon Feb 12, 2024 12:32 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Which Boston suburb to settle?
Replies: 198
Views: 18378

Re: Which Boston suburb to settle?

While it's not the place here to "discuss further" I feel the need to jump in and point out to the OP that this is no longer the 60's and 70's. A lot has transpired in 50 years. As someone else already pointed out - you/WarAdmiral are incorrect - your/WarAdmirial views are many decades out of date. Couldn't help but notice WarAdmiral's city is set to Rayleigh - yet makes claims of racism in current day Boston suburbs. Note the title of this thread is "Which Boston Suburb to settle" and not "If you were once a tourist in Boston would you mean to a Boston suburb" :D Thanks for the feedback but i lived in one of the suburbs mentioned in this thread for 20 years and very recently moved south. I absolutely stand by...
by gogleheads.orb
Fri Feb 09, 2024 8:52 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Which Boston suburb to settle?
Replies: 198
Views: 18378

Re: Which Boston suburb to settle?

WarAdmiral wrote: Fri Feb 09, 2024 4:14 am
Valuethinker wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 3:34 pm
Good thoughts Valuethinker.

One more strike that folks don't talk about much is subtle racism/microaggression esp, if you are mixed couple. There is quite a bit of that in the suburbs, more so the father you go from the city of Boston.
This is not true, At least not for the suburbs that have been mentioned in this thread. In towns with good schools and relatively large Asian populations, Mixed couples are very common. These towns also tend to have a lower percentage of multi-generational locals who could stereotypically be more likely to hold these retrograde views.
by gogleheads.orb
Fri Feb 02, 2024 3:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Alternative to Uber/Lyft. Anyone take car service or taxi to airport anymore?
Replies: 55
Views: 5022

Re: Alternative to Uber/Lyft. Anyone take car service or taxi to airport anymore?

I've used a car service going to the airport for an early flight when it appeared that no Uber driver would accept my scheduled ride ahead of time. It was 2X Uber's cost.
by gogleheads.orb
Fri Jan 26, 2024 8:36 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Which Boston suburb to settle?
Replies: 198
Views: 18378

Re: Which Boston suburb to settle?

Westford
by gogleheads.orb
Fri Jan 26, 2024 8:35 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Which Boston suburb to settle?
Replies: 198
Views: 18378

Re: Which Boston suburb to settle?

https://profiles.doe.mass.edu/search/se ... Id=11238 shows you the demographics of schools districts. This might be the diversity info that interests you.

In the towns with good schools that have significant White and Asian populations you can assume that most of the Multi-Race, Non-Hispanic children are Asian/White.
by gogleheads.orb
Mon Dec 04, 2023 3:42 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Paper I bonds from the IRS
Replies: 28
Views: 3014

Re: Paper I bonds from the IRS

What has people's experience been with getting paper i bonds from the IRS? Have they come in a lot of small denominations? If so I would not be interested in getting. Last year I requested $1,000 of my refund in i bonds and I got a single $1,000 bond, which I wanted. This year I might request more. I know the denomination cannot be specified. Thanks for any feedback. Why would you want a paper bond? It's an additional $5K above the 10K per EIN/SSN limit. Also they are true joint names unlike TD. Not having to deal with TD is absolutely fantastic. I've talked about the 8 hours on the phone in the past to cash 2 $50 electronic bonds my dad took out for my sons when my dad passed. I own about $460k worth of paper bonds. To cash them, 5 mile d...
by gogleheads.orb
Wed Oct 11, 2023 1:37 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Standby generator 22KW(LP)
Replies: 27
Views: 2973

Re: Standby generator 22KW(LP)

we had a whole house 16kW natural gas generator installed. It didn't require an upgrade to the natural gas service. The installation was quite a bit more than the generator. The annual service cost is also not insignificant.
by gogleheads.orb
Fri Jun 02, 2023 12:20 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Inheriting US assets from non-citizen
Replies: 15
Views: 1303

Re: Inheriting US assets from non-citizen

unclescrooge wrote: Thu Jun 01, 2023 2:40 pm A friend of mine is a naturalized US citizen. His parents bought a condo close to him so they have a place to stay when they visit. They are retired and live in Europe.

Originally they planned to visit several months a year, but lack of free health care and COVID has hampered that plan. They are green card holders.

Based on the inheritance rules regarding US based assets from non-citizens, it seems the condo would see a 40% estate tax.

Is there any way to avoid this?

I suggested he speak to an estate attorney who was familiar with the tax implications. But before he engages one, is there actually a way out of this?
Is this 40% estate tax only on real property or does it apply to bank accounts and brokerage accounts as well?
by gogleheads.orb
Fri Jan 13, 2023 7:55 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Defer pension for one year?
Replies: 34
Views: 2874

Re: Defer pension for one year?

using a Net Present Value calculator It looks like you should defer. If you assume a 5% nominal return on the missed $45k you'll need to live to 68 to be ahead after deferring. If you assume 10% nominal return you need to live to 79.
by gogleheads.orb
Fri Jan 13, 2023 3:10 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: I just added a bank account on treasurydirect.gov!
Replies: 98
Views: 18580

Re: I just added a bank account on treasurydirect.gov!

I've tried to add a second bank. I have never had it work for me. It always says "website unavailable"

I added a first bank last year and it claims that I put the data in wrong. Maybe this is why it won't let me add a second account.
by gogleheads.orb
Fri Dec 09, 2022 12:20 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: I just added a bank account on treasurydirect.gov!
Replies: 98
Views: 18580

Re: I just added a bank account on treasurydirect.gov!

The last time I tried to add/change bank info on my treasurydirect.gov account I had to go through that horrific bank-signature-on-an-actual-piece-of paper torture. Well, I happened to be logged into my account and I thought, "maybe they've finally fixed this bank account thing", and lo and behold it asked me to answer my secret question and then let me add not one but two bank accounts! Miracles do happen! It just made my day. Thank you, BB!! It appears that every TD account holder is trying to add bank accounts online. This function is absolutely NOT WORKING. I could log in just fine, but the system apologized every time after I entered a new bank account info and hit The Submit button. I got kicked out. After five tries, I thi...
by gogleheads.orb
Mon Oct 24, 2022 8:05 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What to do with large tax losses?
Replies: 16
Views: 2215

Re: What to do with large tax losses?

neatp wrote: Sun Oct 23, 2022 9:52 pm
  1. While she has virtually no capital gains to offset these losses with, I do, so when we get married I can "tax gain harvest" and use her losses to give me a much higher basis on some investments? (I don't fully understand how this is helpful though?)
what's wrong with this idea? If you have a higher tax basis, you will end up paying less, assuming you eventually sell these assets.
by gogleheads.orb
Thu Sep 08, 2022 2:01 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Colleges for STEM/CS kid - (Update - MIT in particular)
Replies: 355
Views: 32219

Re: Colleges for STEM/CS kid - (Update - MIT in particular)

I studied engineering at Notre Dame undergrad and went to MIT for grad school. They are clearly two very different experiences. MIT does provide better engineering education. The worst professors at MIT were a lot better than the worst at Notre Dame. The average undergrad at MIT is more capable. The average TA at MIT is a lot better. The curriculum is generally more modern. There are advantages that come with size. The companies that recruit at MIT are clearly much more numerous. That being said I didn't consider going to MIT undergrad and I'm not sure I would have wanted to. It is not easy. The classes are hard. I'm not sure how well I would have done as an MIT undergrad assuming that I would have gotten in. The potential is there to learn...
by gogleheads.orb
Thu Sep 08, 2022 8:33 am
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: Strategy: Rent for life and invest the difference [Belgium]
Replies: 35
Views: 3207

Re: Strategy: Rent for life and invest the difference [Belgium]

An only child living in a big house? Just keep living with your parents if you can all stand it.
by gogleheads.orb
Tue Sep 06, 2022 1:39 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Merit aid for student on H4 visa
Replies: 8
Views: 899

Re: Merit aid for student on H4 visa

I know that MIT admits 100 international undergraduates per year. They cover the expenses for these students if needed. I would imagine that some other private schools have similar programs. I can't imagine that being in the U.S. on an H4 visa would disqualify you for this.

Obviously, students admitted this way are exceptional candidates.
by gogleheads.orb
Wed Jul 20, 2022 12:40 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Held my RSUs...now what?
Replies: 13
Views: 1457

Re: Held my RSUs...now what?

tax consequences seem to be dependent on what other long-term or short-term capital gains you have this year.
by gogleheads.orb
Fri Feb 18, 2022 1:56 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: HELP: Calling all PhDs...need advice for niece
Replies: 105
Views: 8310

Re: HELP: Calling all PhDs...need advice for niece

All good advice here. She should go to the best school she can get into. I don't believe that the stipend difference is a big deal. I'm assuming she has just finished her B.S. if this is the case she should be able to live on either stipend without taking out loans. I guess it depends on where the schools are, but the life of a graduate student is similar to that of an undergrad. You split an apartment with 3 other people and you don't own a car. Your expenses are basically food and entertainment and you don't have too much time for entertainment.
by gogleheads.orb
Wed Feb 16, 2022 3:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Reluctant to give up analog Landline—VOIP suggestions wanted
Replies: 118
Views: 11319

Re: Reluctant to give up analog Landline—VOIP suggestions wanted

I use the obi200 with the obi wifi connection dongle. It seems to work ok. Unfortunately, they are no longer selling them from what I can see and they might stop working in about 2 years.
by gogleheads.orb
Thu Feb 10, 2022 8:46 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Possible to get Work VPN while Overseas?
Replies: 15
Views: 1743

Re: Possible to get Work VPN while Overseas?

I did this recently in south america. I asked IT and there was nothing else to do. It didn't work as well as being in the US because I have to log into a computer in the US to do work. There was a lag due to the distance.
by gogleheads.orb
Fri Feb 04, 2022 3:46 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: which snow blower ?
Replies: 169
Views: 18829

Re: which snow blower ?

I bought the expensive ego two stage blower with 2 7.5Ah batteries. I've used it twice on 1ft+ storms and it works fine. My driveway is not that big and I think I was close to the limit of the batteries. I would guess you can run it for 45 minutes. They have a newer version with 10Ah batteries that might be a better choice for some.
by gogleheads.orb
Wed Feb 02, 2022 1:06 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Ski Condo as Primary Residence?
Replies: 63
Views: 7442

Re: Ski Condo as Primary Residence?

I'd say rent for a year in the ski town you want to move to and then buy.
Do you really need to spend $400k? Small condos can be a lot cheaper depending on the resort.
You can ski until you're 90, so don't worry about getting too old to ski.
by gogleheads.orb
Wed Jan 05, 2022 2:45 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Yet another ESPP worthiness question
Replies: 32
Views: 3169

Re: Yet another ESPP worthiness question

I say continue to do it. There is a chance that the stock will end up performing 15% worse than the market in any given year. This is a risk. The more times you do this the lower this risk is overall. You would expect the stock long-term to match the market. The more times you do this the more likely it is that the stock's average performance over multiple 1-year intervals equals the market's performance.
by gogleheads.orb
Sun Nov 28, 2021 12:47 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Direct Indexing? Schwab's Next Big Thing
Replies: 244
Views: 34334

Re: Direct Indexing? Schwab's Next Big Thing

wineandplaya wrote: Wed Nov 10, 2021 9:50 am
gogleheads.orb wrote: Tue Nov 09, 2021 7:59 pm I did this 8 years ago. I had shares in 1000 companies. The problem was that even though I didn't sell anything in one year and all of the stocks we're covered I still had 20 transactions without cost basises. It took me a day to calculate them all. After this I started to sell the shares.
If Schwab provides a direct indexing solution for their clients, can one not expect the cost basis issue to be resolved?
Yes, I would hope so, but I also assumed that Merrill would have handled this for me at the time and they didn't.
by gogleheads.orb
Sun Nov 28, 2021 12:44 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Direct Indexing? Schwab's Next Big Thing
Replies: 244
Views: 34334

Re: Direct Indexing? Schwab's Next Big Thing

I did this 8 years ago. I had shares in 1000 companies. The problem was that even though I didn't sell anything in one year and all of the stocks we're covered I still had 20 transactions without cost basises. It took me a day to calculate them all. After this I started to sell the shares. How can you follow an index if you don't sell anything. Let's say you have and index with: stock A: $50 stock B: $50 stock A prices increases 20%, stock B stays the same. You have to sell $5 of stock A and buy $5 of stock A. I'm not sure how in-kind redemptions would solve this problem with ETFs. But it's the same with direct indexing? international001, most index funds hold proportional to market weighting so they don't need to buy or sell to rebalance....
by gogleheads.orb
Tue Nov 09, 2021 7:59 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Direct Indexing? Schwab's Next Big Thing
Replies: 244
Views: 34334

Re: Direct Indexing? Schwab's Next Big Thing

I did this 8 years ago. I had shares in 1000 companies. The problem was that even though I didn't sell anything in one year and all of the stocks we're covered I still had 20 transactions without cost basises. It took me a day to calculate them all. After this I started to sell the shares.
by gogleheads.orb
Wed Nov 03, 2021 4:23 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Laptop & Dock Recommendation
Replies: 21
Views: 1984

Re: Laptop & Dock Recommendation

I use a mokin usb c hub for my home office. I'm running three monitors off of it. It is not a seamless as the one at work, but it costs 10X less. Generally it works well enough
by gogleheads.orb
Thu Oct 21, 2021 2:19 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Buying Home - Waive Appraisal?
Replies: 22
Views: 2038

Re: Buying Home - Waive Appraisal?

there seems to be some confusion between waiving the inspection and waiving the appraisal. Waiving the appraisal seems fine to me. We did it. If you have enough assets to cover any additional down payment required I don't see a risk. You are the one deciding how much the house is worth. I don't think the opinion of the appraiser adds any value to you.
by gogleheads.orb
Fri Sep 10, 2021 8:35 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Quitting job, taking a pay cut and forfeiting large bonus
Replies: 88
Views: 12801

Re: Quitting job, taking a pay cut and forfeiting large bonus

Thanks for the update. I remembered your original post. I wondered what had happened to you.
Leave now and don't look back. You are making a lot of money either way and it seems like you'll never have an opportunity to spend it. Clearly work is a very large part of your life. You owe it to yourself to enjoy the work that you are doing.
by gogleheads.orb
Wed Aug 18, 2021 2:45 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Trying to MegaBackDoor but told about a Limit on After-Tax Contributions in 401k for our specific plan?
Replies: 41
Views: 4532

Re: Trying to MegaBackDoor but told about a Limit on After-Tax Contributions in 401k for our specific plan?

Stuckinmn wrote: Wed Aug 18, 2021 2:40 pm As others have said, plans do this all the time for various reasons. Mine only allows the after tax contribution to be 5% of each paycheck, so I never reach the IRS total limit.
my plan has the same 5% limit.
by gogleheads.orb
Thu Jul 22, 2021 12:50 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Fidelity ZERO funds complicating transfer to another brokerage / mortgage deal
Replies: 54
Views: 6647

Re: Fidelity ZERO funds complicating transfer to another brokerage / mortgage deal

sockfight wrote: Wed Jul 21, 2021 8:58 pm Thank you again for all of the continued comments. Lesson learned.

Which ETFs would one turn to for a total stock market index?
beyou wrote: Wed Jul 21, 2021 8:49 pm I find it hard to believe nobody can beat Schwab on a mortgage.
I mean, who jumps to your mind?
Lenderfi
by gogleheads.orb
Tue Jun 15, 2021 9:54 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Donation Strategy - Gifting Stock
Replies: 31
Views: 2792

Re: Donation Strategy - Gifting Stock

So I ended up doing this with two charities yesterday. It was easier than expected. Merrill Edge has an online form now. The charities received the shares yesterday evening and sold them this morning. It is also possible to bunch your donations by gifting shares. If the finances of your church are strong enough you could give two years of donations all at one time.
by gogleheads.orb
Mon Jun 14, 2021 10:15 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Donation Strategy - Gifting Stock
Replies: 31
Views: 2792

Re: Donation Strategy - Gifting Stock

I do this annually with stock/ETF. I use Merrill Edge. I have found the process to be rather manual. Other than that no problems. DW and I make monthly donations based off a percentage of our income (it’s a tithe) and are considering a new strategy for how we go about it. Currently, we write a check for basically the same amount every month. Over the course of the year, our donations are such that we still itemize instead of taking the standard deduction. Instead of writing checks monthly, we’re considering donating appreciated stock/funds/ETFs regularly (quarterly maybe) from our taxable accounts. The securities have long-term gains. We would rebuy shares in the same account with the cash we’d normally have donated. In my mind, the advanta...
by gogleheads.orb
Fri Jun 04, 2021 2:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Where do I go and experience the other America?
Replies: 52
Views: 6200

Re: Where do I go and experience the other America?

West Virginia. it is pretty. closer by small non-tourist towns in Vermont, western Ma, or new Hampshire can work.
by gogleheads.orb
Fri May 28, 2021 8:04 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Have a really hard time quitting
Replies: 157
Views: 28333

Re: Have a really hard time quitting

350K is 175k after tax? 175k is 2.5% of 7million. It's not really that much to you. Good or bad investment choices can cost you more than 2.5%/year. It's not about the money.
by gogleheads.orb
Thu May 27, 2021 12:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: starting a quiet lawn care company
Replies: 78
Views: 5775

Re: starting a quiet lawn care company

My guess is that most people have the law care people come when they are not there, so they don't care about the noise. Their neighbors care, but the neighbors are not the ones paying for the lawn care people.
by gogleheads.orb
Tue Apr 06, 2021 1:49 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Loan Depot Refinance- $10,000 gone poof!!!
Replies: 25
Views: 6946

Re: Loan Depot Refinance- $10,000 gone poof!!!

I had something vaguely similar happen with LenderFi. I was refinancing from LenderFi to Loan Depot. The escrow company that I was using on the recommendation of Loan Depot sent a check to the LenderFi servicers. LenderFi lost the check. They wouldn't admit that they lost it for 2 months. I called them. the escrow company called them and I eventually got the compliance officer from the refinance side of LenderFi to call them. None of this seemed to be having any effect. Eventually, out of the blue, they admitted they lost it and accepted a new electronic transfer from the escrow company that they backdated to the original closing date. I had been paying 2 mortgages while this was going on. LenderFi took everything I paid to them after closi...
by gogleheads.orb
Tue Apr 06, 2021 6:11 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: fire pit recommendations
Replies: 33
Views: 5042

Re: fire pit recommendations

Solo stove, very easy to light
by gogleheads.orb
Fri Mar 26, 2021 8:41 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Where to put a retiree's excess cash?
Replies: 9
Views: 1266

Re: Where to put a retiree's excess cash?

If his $16k / month pension covers the cost of long term care why invest in bonds? If He'll never need the money, put it all in stocks.
by gogleheads.orb
Thu Mar 25, 2021 6:24 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Engineering - Umich (OOS) - Uva (InState)
Replies: 74
Views: 5349

Re: Engineering - Umich (OOS) - Uva (InState)

ScaledWheel wrote: Wed Mar 24, 2021 4:17 pm
If they really wanted to go the computer science route, there _may_ be a reason to prefer UM as the top tech companies recruit quite heavily from Michigan.
This is the only difference as far as I'm concerned. Getting the summer internship at a Faang or programming for a hedge fund will be harder at Uva.
by gogleheads.orb
Thu Mar 25, 2021 6:19 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Engineering - Umich (OOS) - Uva (InState)
Replies: 74
Views: 5349

Re: Engineering - Umich (OOS) - Uva (InState)

Solair of Astora wrote: Wed Mar 24, 2021 1:59 pm
Nebraska_Drought wrote: Wed Mar 24, 2021 1:29 pm if both are accredited engineering schools, that will be the key feature.
That's the crux of it I suppose. If you go into engineering, especially mechanical engineering, the key credential you're looking for is the PE license.
PEs are very uncommon in EE and CS
by gogleheads.orb
Wed Mar 24, 2021 1:12 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Engineering - Umich (OOS) - Uva (InState)
Replies: 74
Views: 5349

Re: Engineering - Umich (OOS) - Uva (InState)

KlangFool wrote: Wed Mar 24, 2021 1:07 pm
faltuk1 wrote: Wed Mar 24, 2021 9:35 am Waitlisted for Vatech, so not an option
faltuk1,

1) Then, it does not make any sense to go to Umich. UVa then.

2) Did he applied to VCU? It could be a lot cheaper than UVa.

KlangFool
Uva and VT are roughly equivalent. VCU is not.
by gogleheads.orb
Wed Mar 24, 2021 1:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Engineering - Umich (OOS) - Uva (InState)
Replies: 74
Views: 5349

Re: Engineering - Umich (OOS) - Uva (InState)

Uva,

Uva is one of the best public schools in the country. I hear it is also one of the most beautiful.

I know 2 Uva EE grads who went on to get PhD s at MIT. You'll get a good undergrad education there.

Engineering school rankings are influenced by the quality of the grad school. They don't say a whole lot about the undergrad education. The only downside of going to a good college that is not well known for engineering is that fewer companies will interview on campus. I would assume that there's a way around this with enough effort. You might need to connect to alums.

If you go on to grad school then it doesn't matter at all.
by gogleheads.orb
Wed Feb 17, 2021 7:41 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [Generators]/ supplemental power generation
Replies: 162
Views: 11606

Re: [Generators]/ supplemental power generation

We just installed a natural gas 16kW Generac whole house generator. it cost 10k installed in the Boston area. It is expensive, but in our town pretty common. We have a lot of trees in town that overhang the powerlines. Any time it is windy you might lose power. It is a pain to lose heat, water and have all of your food rot.
by gogleheads.orb
Thu Feb 04, 2021 3:06 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Would love feedback- burned out at work
Replies: 50
Views: 7201

Re: Would love feedback- burned out at work

Your salary isn't very high relative to your net worth or to the costs of living in a VHCOL area. I wouldn't do anything rash, but if you can make a similar salary in a lower cost of living area it seems reasonable to quit and move. It is also reasonable to find another job in the same area that has a better environment and/or higher pay. Putting up with a terrible environment for 5% of you net worth per year seems kind of silly.
by gogleheads.orb
Tue Feb 02, 2021 10:47 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: My LenderFi refinance is going well
Replies: 1849
Views: 215631

Re: My LenderFi refinance is going well

I also had no problems with Amrock. I did follow up with them to make sure that the property tax was paid. Maybe this would have happened anyway. I don't know.
by gogleheads.orb
Fri Jan 22, 2021 8:55 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Wedding
Replies: 78
Views: 6137

Re: Wedding

SpaceMonkey wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 8:20 am Far and away the biggest driver of wedding costs is the number of people attending and how/what you are feeding them.
I'll second this. It is hard to do a cheap wedding if you want to invite a lot of people and feed them a full meal. It will number of people * cost per person for the meal*(1.2-2) This number gets big quickly. We had a wedding 4 years ago. 100-110 people. Outside. With the meal being at lunchtime. Still cost 40k. If you are outside you have to rent a tent with dancefloor and chairs and tables and port-o-potties. This adds to the cost of the whole deal. If you can keep the guest list small or are willing to not serve a meal it can be cheap. Otherwise, it is pretty tough to do.
by gogleheads.orb
Wed Jan 20, 2021 9:10 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Amazon Firestick vs. Roku
Replies: 72
Views: 5945

Re: Amazon Firestick vs. Roku

Peacock is not on the Firestick because of a fight between Amazon and NBC. We use the Chromecast to get peacock and the firestick for everything else.
by gogleheads.orb
Thu Dec 31, 2020 6:29 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Refinance Mega Thread
Replies: 12862
Views: 1277361

Re: Refinance Mega Thread

BarDownHockey wrote: Wed Dec 30, 2020 7:00 pm Anyone have recommendations on going with Loan Depot vs LenderFi? They've both effectively matched each other LE's so there's no $ difference for me to use one or the other. Having never used either of them, I'm not sure if one's "better" than the other or if there are other reasons to consider.
Ld is slower but more communicative. Lf is faster but tends to ignore emails. Lf seems more competent to me. I have a slight preference for them