Search found 23513 matches

by tibbitts
Mon Mar 18, 2024 9:03 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How Much to Convert to Roth?
Replies: 11
Views: 712

Re: How Much to Convert to Roth?

WildBill wrote: Mon Mar 18, 2024 7:56 pm Howdy

Really too many variables to answer effectively - for an actionable strategy, a useful rule of thumb is to convert enough to fill out the income bracket you are in each year.

Happy conversions

W B
Unfortunately you usually run into situations where the next limit for a tax bracket, NIIT, IRMAA etc. aren't all coordinated, so you can accidentally trigger more considerably more tax for essentially no benefit. So there's really no substitute for doing a more thorough analysis.
by tibbitts
Mon Mar 18, 2024 6:29 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How Much to Convert to Roth?
Replies: 11
Views: 712

Re: How Much to Convert to Roth?

Help for a relative. The couple both are age 66 and retired. They have more than enough assets to meet retirement needs and will probably have some left for their heirs (who are in high tax bracket). Here are the current assets: 1. After tax account: 2.4MM 2. Before tax (t-IRA) account: 2.9MM 3. Roth account: 0.7 MM The main issue they need help is how much Roth conversion they should do each year going forward in order to be tax efficient over the long period; i.e. not to be hit with higher tax bracket when RMD start at age 73. They have FEHB (government health insurance) and have decided not to sign up Medicare Part B (not to worry about IRMAA). There are 7 years for them before hitting RMD (age 73). They incline to take SS next year (FR...
by tibbitts
Mon Mar 18, 2024 1:56 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: I-ORP Dead or Reconstructing?
Replies: 12
Views: 1648

Re: Is IORP Gone?

rob wrote: Mon Mar 18, 2024 1:53 pm I saw it in some video from Rob Berger and wanted to try it out... but seems it's offline/gone - checked down-for-just-me and looks like it's everyone. Anyone know anything before I move on?
It doesn't really matter because it hadn't been updated for years and nobody that I'm aware of was encouraging its use any longer. It's unfortunate that it couldn't have been refined to eliminate some of the widely criticized characteristics and of course updated to current tax laws/limits.
by tibbitts
Mon Mar 18, 2024 1:39 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Considering a Career Change From Marketing to Financial Planning
Replies: 24
Views: 1083

Re: Considering a Career Change From Marketing to Financial Planning

I'm not sure that's an apt comparison since I don't consider personal finance a hobby. It's just something I enjoy and know a lot about. If something you enjoy doing and know a lot about but don't do for profit (now) isn't a hobby, what is? Well I think being interested in coding lends more to a software development career than say cooking lends to a chef career. I actually wouldn't call personal finance a hobby. It's a topic I'm interested in. I would actually say those are almost exactly similar analogies, although your thinking might reflect a Boglehead bias that coding->software-engineer would be more likely to lead to serious money than cooking->chef. I wonder if most Bogleheads consider personal finance a hobby, and if not, how they ...
by tibbitts
Mon Mar 18, 2024 1:06 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Considering a Career Change From Marketing to Financial Planning
Replies: 24
Views: 1083

Re: Considering a Career Change From Marketing to Financial Planning

I'm not a Financial Planner but it always occurs to me that Bogleheads thinking about this are mostly like people who enjoy grilling in their back yard and think that means it would be a good idea to open a restaurant. I'm not sure that's an apt comparison since I don't consider personal finance a hobby. It's just something I enjoy and know a lot about. If something you enjoy doing and know a lot about but don't do for profit (now) isn't a hobby, what is? Well I think being interested in coding lends more to a software development career than say cooking lends to a chef career. I actually wouldn't call personal finance a hobby. It's a topic I'm interested in. I would actually say those are almost exactly similar analogies, although your th...
by tibbitts
Mon Mar 18, 2024 12:45 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Considering a Career Change From Marketing to Financial Planning
Replies: 24
Views: 1083

Re: Considering a Career Change From Marketing to Financial Planning

roth evangelist wrote: Mon Mar 18, 2024 12:35 pm
tibbitts wrote: Mon Mar 18, 2024 10:57 am
I'm not a Financial Planner but it always occurs to me that Bogleheads thinking about this are mostly like people who enjoy grilling in their back yard and think that means it would be a good idea to open a restaurant.
I'm not sure that's an apt comparison since I don't consider personal finance a hobby. It's just something I enjoy and know a lot about.
If something you enjoy doing and know a lot about but don't do for profit (now) isn't a hobby, what is?
by tibbitts
Mon Mar 18, 2024 12:43 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Roth Conversions and Turbotax issue
Replies: 8
Views: 908

Re: Roth Conversions and Turbotax issue

If you have basis (part of the IRA that wasn't deducted in the past) in any of the IRAs then some of the rollover not being taxed would be correct. You'd have basis if you've been doing backdoor Roth conversions in the past that were partially taxable without rolling over the full balance of all IRAs. What do lines 1 and 2 of your Form 8606 say? In my case, the Rollover IRA is clean. All the money is pre-tax. There is no post tax money in it. I understand the term "IRA basis" refers to the after-tax amount in your traditional IRA." I am putting the basis as zero since all of money in this IRA is pre-tax. Line 1 of 8606 is blank. Line 2 of 8606 is 132171 (the balance of pre-tax money in Rollover). Thanks for your help Just fo...
by tibbitts
Mon Mar 18, 2024 12:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: navigation system for car
Replies: 51
Views: 2168

Re: navigation system for car

Hi, tuna. My humble suggestions: 1. Get a smart phone, if you don't own one. Flip phones and Nook tablets are soooo 2010. They went out with Britney Spears and Ricky Martin. When I was in my 30s, a very smart 19 y o punk rocker with purple hair taught me: "Protagonist, you gotta stay contemporary or you will start growing moss." The child is father to the man. 2. Download the free Waze app. They use real time traffic data. For years I commuted between MA and NYC frequently. One route or another seemed to always be backed up, and which one was a coin flip. I tried everything else. Waze did a MUCH better job keeping me on the best route than any of the others. There are plenty of good dashboard phone mounts out there. You need not ...
by tibbitts
Mon Mar 18, 2024 11:29 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Sending Copy of Driver License and SS Card by Email Question
Replies: 15
Views: 1508

Re: Sending Copy of Driver License and SS Card by Email Question

Gubshu wrote: Mon Mar 18, 2024 8:10 am I’m actually shocked that a bank is asking for this. I would think that it’s a compliance risk on their end. Do not send your documents via email.
I'm also surprised that a bank wouldn't have some more secure way to send any information required.
by tibbitts
Mon Mar 18, 2024 11:07 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: navigation system for car
Replies: 51
Views: 2168

Re: navigation system for car

Hi, tuna. My humble suggestions: 1. Get a smart phone, if you don't own one. Flip phones and Nook tablets are soooo 2010. They went out with Britney Spears and Ricky Martin. When I was in my 30s, a very smart 19 y o punk rocker with purple hair taught me: "Protagonist, you gotta stay contemporary or you will start growing moss." The child is father to the man. 2. Download the free Waze app. They use real time traffic data. For years I commuted between MA and NYC frequently. One route or another seemed to always be backed up, and which one was a coin flip. I tried everything else. Waze did a MUCH better job keeping me on the best route than any of the others. There are plenty of good dashboard phone mounts out there. You need not ...
by tibbitts
Mon Mar 18, 2024 11:03 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: navigation system for car
Replies: 51
Views: 2168

Re: navigation system for car

Tabulator wrote: Mon Mar 18, 2024 10:57 am For those of us who invested in a good phone, I'm not sure why we'd want to put so much wear and tear on its battery by using it for navigation. Not to mention whatever direct sun exposure it might get through the windshield. I'd rather keep the phone cool, hidden away in a protective case, and in airplane mode while an inexpensive Garmin unit does the hard work, and a better job of it.
Phones have power cords, similar to my Garmin. Or at least my phones do; maybe not new ones.

As I mentioned unless you have an ancient Garmin I believe you still need continuous data to operate a GPS properly, whether provided by a phone or some other way.
by tibbitts
Mon Mar 18, 2024 10:57 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Considering a Career Change From Marketing to Financial Planning
Replies: 24
Views: 1083

Re: Considering a Career Change From Marketing to Financial Planning

I don't know an efficient way to search for them but there have been hundreds/thousands of very similar posts and the answers are always similar.

I'm not a Financial Planner but it always occurs to me that Bogleheads thinking about this are mostly like people who enjoy grilling in their back yard and think that means it would be a good idea to open a restaurant.

You may find that a change from marketing to financial planning isn't actually a career change at all.
by tibbitts
Mon Mar 18, 2024 9:48 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Can I retire with $1.75M at age 43?
Replies: 169
Views: 10923

Re: Can I retire with $1.75M at age 43?

BigFatGator wrote: Mon Mar 18, 2024 8:55 am To those saying no, I'd point out this is similar to someone with 5MM liquid and 10K per month expenses- which everyone would say 'go ahead and retire' all day long.
I think that it's not linear in that it's likely that a larger percentage of $100k will be discretionary expenses that could be cut back less painfully vs. someone on a $25-35k budget.
by tibbitts
Mon Mar 18, 2024 12:00 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: navigation system for car
Replies: 51
Views: 2168

Re: navigation system for car

What is everyone using for a cell phone mount?
by tibbitts
Sun Mar 17, 2024 11:57 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Anyone former RV'ers happy with Tesla Camping?
Replies: 8
Views: 2421

Re: Anyone former RV'ers happy with Tesla Camping?

rockstar wrote: Sun Mar 17, 2024 11:10 pm I’ve been to campgrounds that have policies against campers sleeping in their vehicles. I wish the OP the best of luck.
How is it possible that an RV campground would have a prohibition against sleeping in a vehicle? You mean some sort of "vehicle not designed for sleeping" requirement?
by tibbitts
Sun Mar 17, 2024 11:49 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard 2024 Dividend Schedule
Replies: 41
Views: 8789

Re: Vanguard 2024 Dividend Schedule

I've never noticed before but it appears the order of distributions for funds is inconsistent from quarter to quarter. In other words, for Q[123], Fund A distributes a day or so after Fund B. Then for Q4 Fund B distributes after Fund A, so... the opposite order. That seems odd... and annoying if you have either fund send its distribution to the other fund (in taxable), since you "buy the dividend" for some quarters.
by tibbitts
Sun Mar 17, 2024 10:19 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Can I retire with $1.75M at age 43?
Replies: 169
Views: 10923

Re: Can I retire with $1.75M at age 43?

No. You can’t. You will have a lot of free time. You will be doing things that require spending money. You will end up spending more. So, you need more. $2.5M should do it. If you live off 25k or 35k a year while having a NW close to 2M I dont think that´s likely. OP will probably continue to eat oatmeal with water for breakfast, pasta with margarine for lunch and nothing for dinner. I am not sure how you can dwell, have a car and eat for that little money. It would be difficult to live a typical existence on that much money - although that's quite a large range. $25k would be extremely restrictive. Even if you own a home you have maintenance and periodic repairs/replacements. Same for a car. And both come with annual taxes and fees and in...
by tibbitts
Sun Mar 17, 2024 9:53 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: navigation system for car
Replies: 51
Views: 2168

Re: navigation system for car

As far as I know radio-sourced traffic was eliminated from Garmin devices some time ago (but still functions on ancient Garmins), so now you absolutely need data (phone or some other device) for a GPS. A GPS without traffic isn't totally useless, but has severely diminished functionality.
by tibbitts
Sun Mar 17, 2024 8:28 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Paper I Bonds received yesterday
Replies: 7
Views: 966

Re: Paper I Bonds received yesterday

Nice! Glad it worked for you. I also prepaid and requested a $5k bond with my return through Form 8888, like I've done the past two prior years. E-filed on 2/14. Received a form 5071C on 3/14 requesting info to verify my identity. Key information on my returns since 2020 have been just about the same, with I Bond requests starting in 2021. The only difference this year is I switched direct deposit banks for the small residual refund after the I Bond amount. I guess that difference triggered the 5071C. Now I get to wait 9 more weeks (so they say) to receive my refund, while my $5k earns -0- stuck in limbo. And who knows if the bond will be issued before the next fixed rate change. Who knows if I will even get a bond! Never again am I overpa...
by tibbitts
Sun Mar 17, 2024 6:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cameras, Binoculars and Jackets for Alaska Cruise
Replies: 21
Views: 1249

Re: Cameras, Binoculars and Jackets for Alaska Cruise

Do make sure you have enough storage on your phone or can figure out how to download your photos to another device. Uploading via data service or wifi might or might not be possible depending on a variety of factors.
by tibbitts
Sun Mar 17, 2024 2:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cameras, Binoculars and Jackets for Alaska Cruise
Replies: 21
Views: 1249

Re: Cameras, Binoculars and Jackets for Alaska Cruise

Weather is variable so just have some layers with provision for rain (hats, gloves, etc.) and you're fine. Generally AK isn't cold in summer (or spring or fall for that matter.) Bring water-resistant footwear.

If I didn't bring my camera I'd just get a high-level phone vs. mid-level that I have. I have what the manufacturer calls .6x, 1x, and 3x but I'd like a lens with higher magnification as well. There's zero need for a separate camera unless photography is your hobby. And a separate camera would just be annoying to deal with. However my 2022 model phone won't last the whole day on its battery (never did) so you might need some external power to take with you.

I don't know enough about binoculars to recommend anything.
by tibbitts
Sun Mar 17, 2024 1:31 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: I got my tax refund today--and it doesn't match what I filed!
Replies: 31
Views: 5202

Re: I got my tax refund today--and it doesn't match what I filed!

I hope you get it figured out/resolved. Its a reminder to me of the advantage of using a cpa. I used file my own, but I've used a cpa for past 10+ years. In that time we were pestered by the IRS 3 times and all we had to do was let the cpa deal with it....and the cost is not that much to use the cpa. Good luck! What is "not that much", and what forms (federal and state) are included for "not that much"? $350 for 34 forms , federal only. This year was a little bit more complex. Typically it is $300 and hasn't changed much. Wow that sounds like an extreme bargain. I'm guessing you might need a relatively expensive software package for all those forms. I only have 6 or 7 forms usually. I wouldn't be shocked if someone paid...
by tibbitts
Sun Mar 17, 2024 10:49 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: How to prove that I am not losing money with bond funds?
Replies: 118
Views: 14591

Re: How to prove that I am not losing money with bond funds?

jmk wrote: Sun Mar 17, 2024 10:08 am
Beensabu wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2024 10:15 pm Have you held a bond fund for its stated average maturity and lost capital yet?
Yes. That’s what made me Google this thread since it went against advice i was given when i invested in 2016.
I have been in vbtlx since 2014 and assumed since i was holding longer than average maturity and duration I’d be fine. But my cost basis shows losses, or minuscule returns, close to when i need the funds.
Cost basis isn't total return. For simple date-to-date information (with or without reinvestment) I try to compare using Portfoliovisualizer and look at the real return calculation... which also might show you've lost money, but is more relevant to me. What do you find for nominal and real return when you try that?
by tibbitts
Sun Mar 17, 2024 10:32 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Reevaluating social security
Replies: 49
Views: 4131

Re: Reevaluating social security

My experience with Opensocialsecurity has been that it shows that the difference between optimal and almost any other claiming strategy is likely to be near-zero. That's just how SS is designed. So when someone says their optimal age changes or doesn't, it's important to look at the change in lifetime payouts, which is what the tool is trying to maximize. It might not be much at all. For me I'm delaying to 70 due to wanting to realize other income in the intervening years, so even though 70 is the worst possible remaining claiming age, it's only about 5% worse than the optimal age, and provides more longevity insurance. It seems like some of this thread is more about observing that Opensocialsecurity isn't a full-featured retirement planner...
by tibbitts
Sun Mar 17, 2024 10:14 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Should I buy a $3k camera lens or get a cheaper lens instead?
Replies: 25
Views: 1554

Re: Should I buy a $3k camera lens or get a cheaper lens instead?

Hi, adding some additional info based on the questions: - My camera is an A7R5. The lens model is the Sony GM 2 70-200 II (newest model). - The Sony lens can take a teleconverter (1.4 or 2). The Tamron and Sigma cannot. While the teleconverter is an additional purchase later on down the line, it would enable the 70-200 to become a 98-280 focal length at F4. Since I have a higher megapixel camera model, I can crop in to reach something like 150-400 mm (with lower resolution but something usable for most situations). Adding a TC gives me considerable future flexibility for shooting birds or occasional wildlife, and still keep things relatively lightweight. - I am planning on trying to use this lens on a Nikon Z camera (that I already have) w...
by tibbitts
Sat Mar 16, 2024 10:09 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Should I buy a $3k camera lens or get a cheaper lens instead?
Replies: 25
Views: 1554

Re: Should I buy a $3k camera lens or get a cheaper lens instead?

madbrain wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2024 9:46 pm Why the preference for new? Lenses can last for decades, and it makes a lot of sense to buy used, IMO, if you can find the lenses you want. Not sure how much you would save on these 2 models, but on my Pentax lenses I have saved tons buying used. It is often 50% less than new, sometimes more.
I agree that I've had good experience with some used lenses, but regardless of new or used it's important to buy with easy-return terms. I've returned a high percentage of both new and used lenses, whether OEM or third-party (Tamron, Sigma.)
by tibbitts
Sat Mar 16, 2024 9:45 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Should I buy a $3k camera lens or get a cheaper lens instead?
Replies: 25
Views: 1554

Re: Should I buy a $3k camera lens or get a cheaper lens instead?

You must have read reviews of both lenses to come up with your "best" conclusion. I haven't so I don't have an opinion. I have Sigma and Tamron lenses but not in the range you're looking at. I guess you've included factors like close focusing, size/weight, AF speed, etc. so are there only "pros" on the Sony side and "cons" on the Tamron side, or is it mixed (besides price)?
by tibbitts
Sat Mar 16, 2024 9:34 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Please check my thinking about changing my Roth account from VTIAX to VTSAX
Replies: 42
Views: 3412

Re: Please check my thinking about changing my Roth account from VTIAX to VTSAX

Thanks for all your thoughtful comments so far. Just want to make clear that I am not looking to change my asset allocation or even to change the specific funds I hold. I'm only considering WHERE I hold the funds that make up my portfolio. One of the reasons I hold closer to 25% in international vs. full market weight is that there's no perfect placement (for tax reasons at least), so ex-US always seem to end up a little less efficient than US. Having said that I split my international equities between Roth and deferred. But as I work on converting deferred to Roth, eventually deferred will be entirely fixed income. A long time ago I chose to have only US equities in taxable (again, there's no perfect placement), so my international equiti...
by tibbitts
Sat Mar 16, 2024 4:48 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Good Estate/Trust/Will Tool?
Replies: 6
Views: 535

Re: Good Estate/Trust/Will Tool?

I can highly recommend reading "Plan your Estate" by Dennis Clifford, published by Nolo (purchase or library). Look into Nolo Press Willmaker. There are specific rules in each state (research your state) as to witnesses (wills have to be witnessed, Trusts notarized). In California, it's two non-beneficiary witnesses and you all have to sign at the same time. We had friends over to sign and fed them dinner. What kind of fraud are you worried about? I hear lots of stories about elderly people being scammed before death to change their will or turn over assets, but not much about fake wills. I did all my estate documents at one time so I can't remember which required what signatures, but it seems like some required both witnesses an...
by tibbitts
Sat Mar 16, 2024 3:19 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Yearly AC tune up?
Replies: 14
Views: 1932

Re: Yearly AC tune up?

I had a 10 year P&L warranty that required annual 'tune-ups'. Once it expired, changing filters are it for me. I did purchase starting capacitors that fit my units - they cost $15 each, are relatively easy to replace (screwdriver only, ~10 minutes following a Youtube video), and avoid a $300 service charge. :moneybag :moneybag :moneybag +1 I made the mistake of not having one on-hand for my cabin and ended up with a $150 bill on the hottest day of the year when I couldn't source one locally. $150 for parts and labor? That's an amazing deal! If I could get mine replaced for that - same-day on the hottest day of the year - I wouldn't even bother keeping a spare. I'd head for somewhere cool while waiting for the tech to replace the capaci...
by tibbitts
Sat Mar 16, 2024 12:28 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Moving in retirement.
Replies: 25
Views: 2766

Re: Moving in retirement.

We built our dream home many years ago. Between 10-20 acres. Retired now. Mid 50s/mid60's couple. We are well able to tend to what we have, but as we age we have a little bit of concern that we have bitten off more than we can chew. Lots of flower beds, gardening, farm needs. We have begun talking about moving, able to go anywhere, within reason. If we moved, it would be a major upheaval. We could make for a simpler retirement life, make it such that we could get up and go travel a lot more easily. Currently farm needs keep us travelling long periods at once. It is enjoyable, but it as if our hobbies and interests are our master. For those that moved after retirement, why? Was it tough to leave behind things you had built and dreamed about...
by tibbitts
Sat Mar 16, 2024 10:41 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Undoing non-deductible IRA
Replies: 17
Views: 1067

Re: Undoing non-deductible IRA

If the non-deductible portion of the IRA is small it's more of a nuisance than an actual problem. So for example when I do a $100k conversion a little over $99k is taxed. You're just stuck with the 8606 as long as you have any tIRA balance remaining, whenever you do withdrawals or conversions in a given year. It can be more of a problem if you're trying to do a backdoor Roth of course (thus always increasing the portion you've already paid tax on) although again the extent of the problem is percentage-based.
by tibbitts
Sat Mar 16, 2024 10:24 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Letter to heir - what would you include?
Replies: 90
Views: 7224

Re: Letter to heir - what would you include?

Honestly if it were not an issue where a loved one was involved I would not spend too much time on it. Impersonal and not nearly as important to optimize. Even disregarding any emotional aspects, remember this is the same person (and the same letter) that would be involved when you're still alive and needing her to make financial and any other required decisions for you, so it might be wise to make life as "optimized" as possible for her, with the hope she'll make life as "optimized" as possible for you. To me as I read this here.... "No kids, no family; the letter is for the one person designated for all the typical estate planning purposes: PoA, healthcare decisions, executor, beneficiary." It means a hired ...
by tibbitts
Sat Mar 16, 2024 9:31 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Letter to heir - what would you include?
Replies: 90
Views: 7224

Re: Letter to heir - what would you include?

Honestly if it were not an issue where a loved one was involved I would not spend too much time on it. Impersonal and not nearly as important to optimize. Even disregarding any emotional aspects, remember this is the same person (and the same letter) that would be involved when you're still alive and needing her to make financial and any other required decisions for you, so it might be wise to make life as "optimized" as possible for her, with the hope she'll make life as "optimized" as possible for you. To me as I read this here.... "No kids, no family; the letter is for the one person designated for all the typical estate planning purposes: PoA, healthcare decisions, executor, beneficiary." It means a hired ...
by tibbitts
Fri Mar 15, 2024 11:42 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Am I Only One Who Hates Having Left Over Pennies
Replies: 53
Views: 4121

Re: Am I Only One Who Hates Having Left Over Pennies

jaMichael wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 10:44 pm
tibbitts wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 8:52 pm I don't really care about pennies in online accounts, because you never actually lose the money. But I have $.04 left on a $50 Visa "virtual" card. It's different than any Visa gift card I've ever had in that no merchant I tried could seem to combine it for a purchase with any other form of payment.
In the past, I have been able to add gift cards to Venmo and then transfer the $ to my checking account. It beats trying to find something to buy for $13.53 cents or whatever. This might work for your virtual card.
Thanks, but I think I'll give up on the $.04. I've had a bunch of gift cards before but never had this problem; I was always able to just split the purchase as long as I knew the balance on the card.
by tibbitts
Fri Mar 15, 2024 8:52 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Am I Only One Who Hates Having Left Over Pennies
Replies: 53
Views: 4121

Re: Am I Only One Who Hates Having Left Over Pennies

I don't really care about pennies in online accounts, because you never actually lose the money. But I have $.04 left on a $50 Visa "virtual" card. It's different than any Visa gift card I've ever had in that no merchant I tried could seem to combine it for a purchase with any other form of payment.
by tibbitts
Fri Mar 15, 2024 7:01 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Letter to heir - what would you include?
Replies: 90
Views: 7224

Re: Letter to heir - what would you include?

smitcat wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 6:05 pm Honestly if it were not an issue where a loved one was involved I would not spend too much time on it.
Impersonal and not nearly as important to optimize.
Even disregarding any emotional aspects, remember this is the same person (and the same letter) that would be involved when you're still alive and needing her to make financial and any other required decisions for you, so it might be wise to make life as "optimized" as possible for her, with the hope she'll make life as "optimized" as possible for you.
by tibbitts
Fri Mar 15, 2024 5:52 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Ditching Wellesley to Minimize Income, Which ETFs?
Replies: 20
Views: 1672

Re: Ditching Wellesley to Minimize Income, Which ETFs?

framistat wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 5:34 pm Comments elsewhere on BH re BRK.B raise concerns that it is equivalent to a managed fund and not appropriate for a 40% allocation.
There's no way I'd commit a significant percentage to any variety of BRK or any single stock. Generations ago people were spinning the same story about GE being like an incredibly-well-managed mutual fund, and we know how that story ended.
by tibbitts
Fri Mar 15, 2024 5:42 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Letter to heir - what would you include?
Replies: 90
Views: 7224

Re: Letter to heir - what would you include?

No kids, no family; the letter is for the one person designated for all the typical estate planning purposes: PoA, healthcare decisions, executor, beneficiary. That doesn't affect the discussion/debate over the need for an instruction letter though. It would change our 'book' a bit for sure. What would change? Well, let's say vs. having one child for a better comparison. I can see there not being any mention of disposing of sentimental things since in my case there won't be any, but I'm thinking more in terms of the nuts-and-bolts aspects. Not given it much thought but if this was for a liquidator I think the list of changes would be quite - there would be no significant reason to make transitions easier for an emotional time period, no on...
by tibbitts
Fri Mar 15, 2024 3:58 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Do I need to do anymore Roth conversions?
Replies: 14
Views: 1503

Re: Do I need to do anymore Roth conversions?

retiredjg wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 2:06 pm I also see some value in keeping some money in tIRA to use for LTC/medical expenses. For example, if you decided to move into a CCRC, you could take the "buy in" money out of tIRA and never pay tax on part of it.
I believe that only a (possibly small) portion of the buy-in money would qualify for a deduction, but given the large amounts involved, it could still be significant. Each CCRC would provide an exact percentage.
by tibbitts
Fri Mar 15, 2024 1:29 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: College degree worthwhile for marketing?
Replies: 112
Views: 7095

Re: College degree worthwhile for marketing?

I vote for finishing now. But I've failed to convince someone in a similar situation with only two classes to finish a degree that it was worth it. How did that turn out? My friend's roommate dropped out during his last semester at Cornell for "personal reasons." Not really sure what those reasons were, but we all tried to convince him to stay. I just Googled him for the first time in decades and see that he completed his degree two years later and is now a successful software engineer! This person is very talented and got a good (well, not by Boglehead standards, but by rest-of-the-world standards) partly-marketing job. Now she's doing that, plus become a homeowner and a single parent, so... I guess it's turned out well so far.
by tibbitts
Fri Mar 15, 2024 1:22 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Check my work: Taking over management of my parent's portfolio
Replies: 23
Views: 3150

Re: Check my work: Taking over management of my parent's portfolio

Seems like you have a good handle on their situation and your plan. Do they have long term care insurance? If not, although almost $1million seems like a lot, at the same time if they both ended up in long term care high cost circumstances, you could find it gets burned through. So to throw an ultra-conservative counter point, rather than continuing to give half the RMD to charity, consider continuing to invest it just in case. With the idea that once you know that is not an issue, that amount would be allocated to their preferred charities rather than inherited. Probably won't make a difference, just an idea to consider. Yes they have very Cadillac long term care policies that they bought decades ago when good policies were still availabl...
by tibbitts
Fri Mar 15, 2024 11:18 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 5M, probably enough to retire to a frugal lifestyle
Replies: 180
Views: 15177

Re: 5M, probably enough to retire to a frugal lifestyle

kd2008 wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 11:14 am ... per month interest on the mortgage of our home is less than $300...
Is the per-month interest for a mortgage you could obtain today?
by tibbitts
Fri Mar 15, 2024 10:34 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How much should I leave to nieces/nephews vs. siblings vs. charity I'm passionate about?
Replies: 58
Views: 4132

Re: How much should I leave to nieces/nephews vs. siblings vs. charity I'm passionate about?

I advise against gifting if there’s a doubt (okay, a reasonable non-apocalyptic doubt) that your assets will be sufficient. Standard “put your facemask on first” warning. This would be my advice too. I think most Bogleheads are too enthusiastic about gifting in general and QCDs particularly in this regard. I can understand gifting during your lifetime to a person for a time-sensitive purpose (education or a specific "experience" for example), but charities will be there when you're gone, and unless you gift a huge amount during your lifetime, you won't personally see the direct benefit of a gift. Now of course if massive amounts are involved then I can understand there being some satisfaction in seeing your name on a building or ...
by tibbitts
Fri Mar 15, 2024 10:10 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Great news! No more [fixed real estate] agent commission
Replies: 163
Views: 15020

Re: Great news! No more agent commission

barnaclebob wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 10:02 am
RJC wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 9:59 am Got this from another article:
4. About one million real estate agents could leave the profession.
Are there even 1 million real estate agents? 1 in 300 people?
I don't know but based on the number of part-time or almost-entirely-inactive agents it might be a reasonable number.
by tibbitts
Fri Mar 15, 2024 9:52 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Letter to heir - what would you include?
Replies: 90
Views: 7224

Re: Letter to heir - what would you include?

smitcat wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 9:37 am
tibbitts wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 9:02 am No kids, no family; the letter is for the one person designated for all the typical estate planning purposes: PoA, healthcare decisions, executor, beneficiary. That doesn't affect the discussion/debate over the need for an instruction letter though.
It would change our 'book' a bit for sure.
What would change? Well, let's say vs. having one child for a better comparison. I can see there not being any mention of disposing of sentimental things since in my case there won't be any, but I'm thinking more in terms of the nuts-and-bolts aspects.
by tibbitts
Fri Mar 15, 2024 9:13 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What's your primary credit card?
Replies: 117
Views: 10238

Re: What's your primary credit card?

I use one of the 2% cards: Citi, Fidelity, or Wells. I don't try to qualify for the higher rates based on deposit balances partly because I also use category cards and that would reduce the overall benefit. I can see where the higher rates could be beneficial for paying taxes and getting the extra .5% or so for that, though.
by tibbitts
Fri Mar 15, 2024 9:02 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Letter to heir - what would you include?
Replies: 90
Views: 7224

Re: Letter to heir - what would you include?

smitcat wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 8:31 am
tibbitts wrote: Thu Mar 14, 2024 10:48 pm
1moreyr wrote: Thu Mar 14, 2024 6:55 pm if you think your heirs need that level of guidance to be told to transfer electricity bills upon your death .. so be it.. you know them better than I do..

I will just leave it there and accept we are probably just talking past each other...
Yes, we'll have to agree to completely disagree on the value of a detailed instruction letter.
I am still very confused - I thought you had said you have no children in other posts on this site?
No kids, no family; the letter is for the one person designated for all the typical estate planning purposes: PoA, healthcare decisions, executor, beneficiary. That doesn't affect the discussion/debate over the need for an instruction letter though.
by tibbitts
Thu Mar 14, 2024 10:48 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Letter to heir - what would you include?
Replies: 90
Views: 7224

Re: Letter to heir - what would you include?

1moreyr wrote: Thu Mar 14, 2024 6:55 pm if you think your heirs need that level of guidance to be told to transfer electricity bills upon your death .. so be it.. you know them better than I do..

I will just leave it there and accept we are probably just talking past each other...
Yes, we'll have to agree to completely disagree on the value of a detailed instruction letter.
by tibbitts
Thu Mar 14, 2024 8:58 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 5M, probably enough to retire to a frugal lifestyle
Replies: 180
Views: 15177

Re: 5M, probably enough to retire to a frugal lifestyle

KyleAAA wrote: Thu Mar 14, 2024 7:25 pm I wasn't referring to my family experience, or anybody in particular's experience. It's objectively true that the vast majority of humanity has lived near family, since the beginning of time. That there exist some small sub-populations who didn't recently doesn't change that and certainly isn't relevant in this particular culture.
That's an interesting observation that people live close to family, but from a quick search it appears than only about 55% live close to even extended family members, so while that's technically "most", it's definitely not the "vast majority."