Search found 471 matches
- Tue May 03, 2016 9:14 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: High Earners - What's Your Profession?
- Replies: 963
- Views: 161392
Re: High Earners - What's Your Profession?
I was an electrical engineer, but evolved from there into product planning and eventually business strategy development. I think most engineers will break the $100k mark, but the earning potential is greater if you move away from straight engineering. It's more important to do what you love though, ...
- Tue Jan 19, 2016 6:57 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Shifting AA ahead of possible recession?
- Replies: 17
- Views: 2300
Re: Shifting AA ahead of possible recession?
Doing this because you are trying to time the market is a bad idea. Shifting your AA because you have re-evaluated your tolerance for risk given your personal financial situation may make sense, but such a large change may indicate you hadn't given that enough thought previously.
- Tue Jan 19, 2016 6:55 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Amazon Prime: doing the math...is it worth it?
- Replies: 111
- Views: 19048
Re: Amazon Prime: doing the math...is it worth it?
We made 31 orders from Amazon last year that were other than electronic media, so the Prime charge for us is about $3.34 per order. Looking back at the list we bought some tools, some household cleaning supplies, some cooking equipment, a few physical books, some supplements for our dogs, and some s...
- Tue Jan 19, 2016 11:38 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: rowing boats
- Replies: 46
- Views: 7855
Re: rowing boats
As a different alternative to a shell, we are looking at rowing skiffs from http://www.littlerivermarine.com/all-boats-at-a-glance/ . They offer sliding seats, and are available in both single and tandem configurations. My wife rowed crew for a bit in college, and we both enjoy the workout we get wi...
- Fri Dec 18, 2015 5:28 pm
- Forum: US Chapters
- Topic: Roll Call for the Retirement Class of 2015!
- Replies: 256
- Views: 73407
Re: Roll Call for the Retirement Class of 2015!
Thanks cfs for the well wishes. I had my last day at work today. I had cleaned out my office slowly over the past several weeks, so today I had time to walk around and say my good byes and well wishes to many people I've worked with over the years. I had been at my employer for 17 years, but there a...
- Fri Dec 18, 2015 5:17 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Need recommendations for 4WD/AWD vehicle
- Replies: 56
- Views: 7608
Re: Need recommendations for 4WD/AWD vehicle
For snow country, an AWD or full time 4WD vehicle is preferred. A part time 4WD vehicle is not recommended for snow country. They key difference is the first two will have a center differential that allows the front and rear axles to rotate at different speeds, and a part time 4WD vehicle does not ...
- Wed Dec 16, 2015 2:14 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Need recommendations for 4WD/AWD vehicle
- Replies: 56
- Views: 7608
Re: Need recommendations for 4WD/AWD vehicle
For snow country, an AWD or full time 4WD vehicle is preferred. A part time 4WD vehicle is not recommended for snow country. They key difference is the first two will have a center differential that allows the front and rear axles to rotate at different speeds, and a part time 4WD vehicle does not h...
- Fri Dec 11, 2015 3:16 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: BMW current and past owners -- how was the reliability and would you buy another?
- Replies: 89
- Views: 21878
Re: BMW current and past owners -- how was the reliability and would you buy another?
I had a 2002 540i, which we kept until 2013 at which point we had about 120k miles on it. It was not what I consider to be a reliable car. Off the top of my head, here is a partial list of the problems we had with the car: 1. Radiator had to be replaced when the plastic part of it developed a pin-ho...
- Tue Dec 08, 2015 10:05 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Outdoor gas grill recommendation
- Replies: 58
- Views: 8774
Re: Outdoor gas grill recommendation
I have a Twin Eagles gas grill. The quality of the Twin Eagles product is outstanding, I highly recommend it.
I also have a Big Green Egg, which is great for more traditional BBQ, low and slow, smoking, etc.
I also have a Big Green Egg, which is great for more traditional BBQ, low and slow, smoking, etc.
- Thu Nov 12, 2015 2:54 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Buying a Log Home
- Replies: 25
- Views: 4015
Re: Buying a Log Home
We own a log home in north Idaho. We've only owned it for a couple years, so my experience is limited to that time frame. Expect a log home to have higher maintenace costs than a traditional stick built home South facing walls will probably need to be refinished every couple years or so It's very di...
- Fri Oct 23, 2015 12:36 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Total Wine Store
- Replies: 27
- Views: 2933
Re: Total Wine Store
We've had one in our area for several years. I'd characterize them as a higher end BevMo. They have a great selection of wine, and we've generally found the staff to be very helpful and more knowledgable than BevMo. They also have a great selection of craft beers, also sold at competitive prices. De...
- Thu Oct 22, 2015 5:14 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Consumer items that are worth the initial investment?
- Replies: 110
- Views: 18299
Re: Consumer items that are worth the initial investment?
I love my HP11C calculator! Wow, after all these years I thought I was the only one still using this but apparently I'm not :sharebeer Another 11C user here. I dread the day it fails ... To add a few items I recommend: Briggs and Riley luggage - great quality and a lifetime warranty to back it up A...
- Thu Oct 22, 2015 2:58 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Single-cup coffee maker?
- Replies: 44
- Views: 9496
Re:
Nespresso! It makes a surprisingly good espresso. You'll have to froth the milk yourself. I believe Crate & Barrel carries the machines and pods in the U.S. We also love our Nespresso. We have the Latissma model, so it will make latte's and capucinos as well. It's not the cheapest way to drink ...
- Thu Oct 22, 2015 8:38 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What are your 2 retirement numbers?
- Replies: 260
- Views: 39682
Re: What are your 2 retirement numbers?
Could someone walk through how they are arriving at their target numbers? I was previously aiming for $150k/year of retirement spending, and projecting 7.5 million to retire by 50, assuming you get a 2% real yield on a safe asset allocation. Is that way too conservative and/or extravagant on the sp...
- Wed Oct 21, 2015 4:14 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What are your 2 retirement numbers?
- Replies: 260
- Views: 39682
Re: What are your 2 retirement numbers?
Could someone walk through how they are arriving at their target numbers? I was previously aiming for $150k/year of retirement spending, and projecting 7.5 million to retire by 50, assuming you get a 2% real yield on a safe asset allocation. Is that way too conservative and/or extravagant on the sp...
- Wed Oct 21, 2015 1:59 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Kindle Paperwhite - WiFi or WiFi + 3G option?
- Replies: 18
- Views: 2063
Re: Kindle Paperwhite - WiFi or WiFi + 3G option?
I have an older Kindle with 3G and WiFi. I use the 3G frequently when traveling. It's often easier than dealing with getting onto whatever WiFi network may be available in the hotel etc. Personally, I would not buy the ad supported Kindle. I see enough advertising in my life already, and don't need ...
- Wed Oct 21, 2015 9:13 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What are your 2 retirement numbers?
- Replies: 260
- Views: 39682
Re: What are your 2 retirement numbers?
I'm retiring later this year with about 24X annual expenses. Thinking about it in these terms is more meaningful to me vs. an absolute number. My wife, who is 9 years younger than me, plans to work for another 3-4 years, so I guess we could be considered to be only semi-retired next year. I will hav...
- Fri Oct 16, 2015 1:28 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Any Boglehead [game] hunters?
- Replies: 18
- Views: 2076
Re: Any Boglehead hunters?
Not yet a hunter, but both my wife and I love to shoot. We're moving to north Idaho next year after I retire, and plan to do some hunting up there. We should be able to take whitetail and turkeys right on our property. As far as the used firearm question, I have purchased a couple lightly used firea...
- Thu Oct 08, 2015 1:57 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: To pay for [children's] college education? Or not ...
- Replies: 206
- Views: 21713
Re: To pay for college education ? Or not ...
[quote="Lafder"I agree 200k is possible to spend on pricey private colleges. But, if they went to less expensive schools, you could fund school plus a generous house down payment and give them an amazing financial start in life.[/quote] If the kids are mature enough at some point, perhaps ...
- Wed Oct 07, 2015 5:22 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Early retirement with company health insurance until medicare
- Replies: 20
- Views: 2699
Re: Early retirement with company health insurance until medicare
My megacorp (just outside the Fortune 500) offers a retiree medical care benefit. Prior to age 65 the benefit takes the form of the opportunity to buy into the normal employee medical insurance on a subsidized basis. The amount of the subsidy is a function of your years of service at retirement. The...
- Tue Oct 06, 2015 8:56 am
- Forum: US Chapters
- Topic: Roll Call for the Retirement Class of 2015!
- Replies: 256
- Views: 73407
Re: Roll Call for the Retirement Class of 2015!
You can add me to this list for Dec 18 please.
- Tue Oct 06, 2015 8:24 am
- Forum: US Chapters
- Topic: Roll Call for the Retirement Class of 2016!
- Replies: 275
- Views: 77864
Re: Roll Call for the Retirement Class of 2016!
Well, it looks like I'll be graduating early. My company recently announced a retirement incentive program motivated by a desire to trim staffing levels by about 500 people. The incentive amount is not too far off of what I would have earned by working until July 1, 2016, so I am going to take advan...
- Wed Sep 30, 2015 9:16 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Name your top favorite tv shows
- Replies: 188
- Views: 31828
Re: Name your top favorite tv shows
Person of Interest
Bones
Mountain Men
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives
Anything related to Formula 1
Bones
Mountain Men
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives
Anything related to Formula 1
- Wed Sep 30, 2015 9:10 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Is Toyota going to be the next VW?
- Replies: 29
- Views: 4873
Re: Is Toyota going to be the next VW?
Can someone succinctly explain why this is such a huge problem? I think the only issue of any significance is that people have been conditioned to expect very low oil consumption, and therefore are not in the habit of checking their oil levels very often. Perhaps the widespread adoption of self ser...
- Tue Sep 29, 2015 11:06 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: TSA pre-check enrollment, is it changing? [Yes, it has changed.]
- Replies: 114
- Views: 17246
Re: TSA pre-check enrollment, is it changing?
For some of our personal travel my wife and I fly Southwest, and even before I had my KTN they would give me Pre-Check, but not her. On our last two trips though she also was given Pre-Check. Not sure I understand how that happened. DH and I often fly on SWA--even when DH paid the BS fare and I was...
- Mon Sep 28, 2015 9:02 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Vehicle Value..Retail or Trade In?
- Replies: 16
- Views: 1695
Re: Vehicle Value..Retail or Trade In?
I develop an average based on looking at KBB and NADA retail and trade in values. While I do include the value of our vehicles in our net worth calculation, I mainly track the vehicle values because it's interesting to see how some vehicles hold their value compared to others. From this persective o...
- Mon Sep 28, 2015 8:53 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: % Net Worth Change Since New Year's 2015
- Replies: 95
- Views: 11903
Re: % Net Worth Change Since New Year's 2015
We're about flat, up just a fraction of a percent based on our savings so far this year.
- Sat Sep 26, 2015 5:33 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Deleted
- Replies: 23
- Views: 6386
Re: master bedroom off family room - thoughts
Others have mentioned sight lines - that's what I'd pay attention to. Not sure I'd like people seated in the family room to see into the master in a way that they can see the bed or much of the room itself. Think about someone in the middle of getting dressed, or still in bed, and every time the doo...
- Sat Sep 26, 2015 8:46 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: TSA pre-check enrollment, is it changing? [Yes, it has changed.]
- Replies: 114
- Views: 17246
Re: TSA pre-check enrollment, is it changing?
I am Gold or Platinum with American depending on what my travel schedule was like the prior year. I've been getting Pre-Check with them for quite a few years with only one exception. That exception led me to dig into the reason why, and as others have mentioned they do reserve the right to randomly ...
- Fri Sep 25, 2015 8:10 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: VW stock goes from 170 to almost 100 and falling, good time to buy?
- Replies: 169
- Views: 21409
Re: VW stock goes from 170 to almost 100 and falling, good time to buy?
With all due respect this may represent a new low for investment advice: purchase a diesel car which spews out toxic fumes about 40 times more than allowed to hopefully save a few bucks. Personally think dealers and used car lots should be prohibited from selling these cheating vehicles until compl...
- Wed Sep 23, 2015 5:28 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Interesting article on QLACs and RMDs
- Replies: 0
- Views: 501
Interesting article on QLACs and RMDs
Michael Kitces has an interesting article out about using QLACs as a tool to manage RMDs. His take is that QLACs are fine if you want to buy a longevity annuity inside an IRA, but not so great if your primary objective is to manage RMDs. Link to the article: https://www.kitces.com/blog/why-a-qlac-in...
- Wed Sep 23, 2015 5:04 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Innovative withdrawal strategy contest
- Replies: 41
- Views: 3760
Re: Innovative withdrawal strategy contest
Growing numbers of older Americans are spending their retirement years in poverty, according to a recent Employee Benefit Research Institute study. The proportion of older people living below the poverty line has been growing steadily since 2005, and many of those people are falling into poverty as...
- Wed Sep 23, 2015 12:36 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Home is no longer occupied. Should we tell homeowners insurance company?
- Replies: 32
- Views: 4726
Re: Home is no longer occupied. Should we tell homeowners insurance company?
As others have stated, I would tell them. The worst outome would be for you to have a loss and have the insurance company not pay the claim. We have a second home that will eventually be our retirement home. Our insurance company was OK with it being unoccupied, but did charge a higher rate for wha...
- Wed Sep 23, 2015 8:37 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Home is no longer occupied. Should we tell homeowners insurance company?
- Replies: 32
- Views: 4726
Re: Home is no longer occupied. Should we tell homeowners insurance company?
As others have stated, I would tell them. The worst outome would be for you to have a loss and have the insurance company not pay the claim. We have a second home that will eventually be our retirement home. Our insurance company was OK with it being unoccupied, but did charge a higher rate for what...
- Tue Sep 22, 2015 9:27 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: DIY Alarm System for Home
- Replies: 22
- Views: 3240
Re: DIY Alarm System for Home
I don't have personal experience, but there have been at least a couple threads here in which people recommended the SimpliSafe system. Based on those recommendations as well as our own research, we plan to put one of those systems in our next home.
- Sun Sep 20, 2015 6:42 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Recommend entertaining books about businesses
- Replies: 20
- Views: 2142
Re: Recommend entertaining books about businesses
I read America Icon: Alan Mulally and the Fight to Save Ford Motor Company by Bryce Hoffman recently. I thought it was a great book.
- Sat Sep 19, 2015 3:40 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Wade Pfau on withdrawal rates
- Replies: 76
- Views: 9233
Re: Wade Pfau on withdrawal rates
On the other hand, burying your head in the sand, and saying it just can't be so is not smart either. His graph on bond interest rates don't lie. Retirees throughout history had a much more substantial bond and dividend yield to draw from that we don't have today. And as he pointed out we have extr...
- Sat Sep 19, 2015 3:25 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Umbrella insurance - Public records
- Replies: 16
- Views: 3790
Re: Umbrella insurance - Public records
I think the answer is no, but I'll also be interested in other's answers.
I was involved in a silly lawsuit once relating to an auto accident, and the plaintiff's had to ask my permission to allow my insurance company to disclose my insurance limits. I declined to give them permission.
I was involved in a silly lawsuit once relating to an auto accident, and the plaintiff's had to ask my permission to allow my insurance company to disclose my insurance limits. I declined to give them permission.
- Fri Sep 18, 2015 4:48 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Wade Pfau on withdrawal rates
- Replies: 76
- Views: 9233
Re: Wade Pfau on withdrawal rates
I think he might assume 1% advisory fees. Very high, but that is what some people pay. I agree with you though that his assumptions are sorta worst-case. But I think a lot of people (not Bogleheads) might be in that worst-case. I think the main point is that sequence-of-returns risk is serious and ...
- Fri Sep 18, 2015 4:28 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Wade Pfau on withdrawal rates
- Replies: 76
- Views: 9233
Re: Wade Pfau on withdrawal rates
I just read the article quickly, and didn't find what Pfau assumed for fees. In other studies he's done recently on this same topic he used fee assumptions that were very high compared to the typical Boglehead investing approach. I also noted that he assumed a constant spending increase of 3% per ye...
- Fri Sep 18, 2015 1:08 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Decided to try timing the market. 100% short on 9/17/15
- Replies: 361
- Views: 70086
Re: Decided to try timing the market. 100% short on 9/17/15
Speaking as someone who is long in the market at my target allocation, I can not in good conscience wish him good luck! If you're retired or near retirement, I understand your sentiment. For all the folks still contributing, it's a win/win situation. If the market goes up, terrific, your investment...
- Fri Sep 18, 2015 9:04 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Decided to try timing the market. 100% short on 9/17/15
- Replies: 361
- Views: 70086
Re: Decided to try timing the market. 100% short on 9/17/15
Speaking as someone who is long in the market at my target allocation, I can not in good conscience wish him good luck!
- Thu Sep 17, 2015 9:59 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Does anyone like the new Toyota/Lexus grilles?
- Replies: 81
- Views: 28760
Re: Does anyone like the new Toyota/Lexus grilles?
Not a big fan of the latest Toyota design trend. I particularly don't like the 4 Runner. This is creating a bit of a dilema for me, as functionally the 4 Runner meets our requirements for our next vehicle very well. Not sure yet if I can get past the styling. Somebody commented that Subarus are all ...
- Thu Sep 17, 2015 9:00 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: New Heating System for Home - Gas versus Electric?
- Replies: 90
- Views: 12552
Re: New Heating System for Home - Gas versus Electric?
If your distribution system is not forced hot air, an electric boiler can be very efficient, approaching 100% in some cases since you aren't flushing any combustion heat up the flue. I have forced hot air and when I switched to gas bought a 98% efficient furnace. It doesn't use the chimney my old o...
- Thu Sep 17, 2015 8:24 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: New Heating System for Home - Gas versus Electric?
- Replies: 90
- Views: 12552
Re: New Heating System for Home - Gas versus Electric?
Hello, I would appreciate your help greatly in making a decision on how to update our current heat system. We have an oil furnace and underground oil tank. We would like to replace with either gas furnace (gas is available on the street but not installed to house yet), or electric furnace with heat...
- Tue Sep 15, 2015 2:04 pm
- Forum: US Chapters
- Topic: Roll Call for the Retirement Class of 2016!
- Replies: 275
- Views: 77864
Re: Roll Call for the Retirement Class of 2016!
I'm planning to retire July 1, 2016.
- Mon Aug 31, 2015 8:55 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Where can I go to get a signature guarantee or Medallion sig
- Replies: 40
- Views: 136553
Re: Where can I go to get a signature guarantee or Medallion sig
Our Chase bank branch does Medallion Signature guarantees. For those with enough on deposit to be Private Clients they are free.
- Wed Aug 19, 2015 9:15 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: New Kitchen Appliances
- Replies: 31
- Views: 4782
Re: New Kitchen Appliances
We have a Wolf oven that we put in about 4 years ago. No problems, and it has features not found on lower end products.
We also have a relatively new GE dishwasher, maybe 2 years old. No problems, and I've been amazed at how quiet it is.
We also have a relatively new GE dishwasher, maybe 2 years old. No problems, and I've been amazed at how quiet it is.
- Tue Aug 18, 2015 1:48 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: help choose home heat fuel/furnace
- Replies: 14
- Views: 1508
Re: help choose home heat fuel/furnace
Be sure to account for the difference in BTU/gallon for these two fuels. Oil has about 1.5X more BTU per gallon compared to propane. I make these cost comparisons in terms of $/MBTU to get an apples to apples comparison. I like the idea of having a heating system that can accommodate multiple fuels....
- Tue Aug 18, 2015 11:24 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: What's a Bug Out Bag and who uses them?
- Replies: 72
- Views: 12146
Re: What's a Bug Out Bag and who uses them?
Of course, with so much dried food you are going to need a ton of water to cook and prepare it, which is a scarce commodity in an emergency. Excellent point, and why we have 225 or so gallons of water stored at our house. We live in earthquake country, so that's the emergency scenario we prepare for.