Search found 615 matches

by mindboggling
Thu Jan 18, 2024 1:08 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: More Evidence Against Factor Investing
Replies: 650
Views: 46457

Re: More Evidence Against Factor Investing

The really hilarious part of all of this is the level of cognitive dissonance on display here at bogleheads. Folks who have bought into the factor idea will continue to believe.
by mindboggling
Fri Dec 15, 2023 7:30 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Do people want annuities, but can't find them?
Replies: 85
Views: 11680

Re: Do people want annuities, but can't find them?

Years ago I purchased a variable annuity at Transamerica through Vanguard. I later annuitized it. This year I added a smaller MassMutual SPIA through immediateannuities.com. I'm happy with both of them, although the lack of "traditional" customer service-type support in the insurance industry is a bit off-putting.

70, retired. Fixed pension + SS + 30/70 + the two annuities.
by mindboggling
Fri Nov 10, 2023 7:08 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: CNBC :: Why Jack Bogle’s strategy of ‘lazy’ investing is making a comeback.
Replies: 27
Views: 5294

Re: CNBC :: Why Jack Bogle’s strategy of ‘lazy’ investing is making a comeback.

WhitePuma wrote: Fri Nov 10, 2023 3:06 pm I had read on this forum that CNBC articles are just click-bait financial porn to be ignored :)
Except when we agree with them :happy .
by mindboggling
Fri Oct 20, 2023 4:42 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Duration of Your Bonds
Replies: 36
Views: 3901

Re: Duration of Your Bonds

70 y/o retired.

In taxable I use VGSH (Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF) plus Treasury Direct I-bonds.

In Traditional IRA I have BSV (Vanguard Short Term Bond ETF) and VTIP (Vanguard Short Term TIPS ETF).

Roth IRA is completely VASGX (Vanguard LifeStrategy Growth) so has about 20 percent intermediate term bonds.

Overall allocation: 30/70.
by mindboggling
Sat Oct 07, 2023 11:36 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: I bond asset allocation
Replies: 32
Views: 3455

Re: I bond asset allocation

Outer Marker wrote: Sat Oct 07, 2023 11:17 am Ibonds are a small but useful portion of my fixed income allocation. One of the few truly "safe" investments that will never lose value. Due to purchase limits, it's hard to make them a significant portion of a larger portfolio as your assets grow. I just buy my $10,000 allotment every January and stay the course. They are less than 2% of my 70/30 portfolio, but I like having them and appreciate the benefit of tax deferred efficiency in taxable.
I started buying I-bonds in 2014, bought some every year although not always the max. Currently I have 250k worth. It works out to about 16 percent of my fixed income allocation and about 11 percent of the whole portfolio. Overall asset allocation is 30/70.

70 y/o retired.
by mindboggling
Mon Sep 25, 2023 2:06 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Value Investing Forums / Websites ?
Replies: 36
Views: 4562

Re: Value Investing Forums / Websites ?

Garsh...I just can't decide which hobbyist investor's pet theory I should subscribe to :oops: .
by mindboggling
Thu Sep 21, 2023 6:56 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Who has the LOWEST Stock Allocation??
Replies: 85
Views: 10199

Re: Who has the LOWEST Stock Allocation??

doobiedoo wrote: Thu Sep 21, 2023 6:41 pm
mindboggling wrote: Thu Sep 21, 2023 4:59 pm 70M, retired. I'm at 30 percent equities, with about 25 percent of that ex-US. My comfort level.
Is that 70 yr old and male or $70M net worth?
Sadly, I'm 70 y/o. Sorry for any confusion.
by mindboggling
Thu Sep 21, 2023 4:59 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Who has the LOWEST Stock Allocation??
Replies: 85
Views: 10199

Re: Who has the LOWEST Stock Allocation??

70M, retired. I'm at 30 percent equities, with about 25 percent of that ex-US. My comfort level.

I have a fixed (non-COLA) pension plus some self-funded annuity income. And SS.
by mindboggling
Fri Sep 15, 2023 10:49 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Berkshire Hathaway and Dividends
Replies: 92
Views: 9047

Re: Berkshire Hathaway and Dividends

JoMoney wrote: Wed Sep 13, 2023 7:48 am
Wanderingwheelz wrote: Wed Sep 13, 2023 7:40 am... Bringing their website out of the dark ages may even happen, who knows? https://www.berkshirehathaway.com/
I sure hope not. Honestly, I hope a trend starts, or returns to, a style of predominately text based web pages, without the unnecessary, bandwidth wasting, animated fluff and scripts/code that make it difficult to parse out information because they put too much weight on being flashy.
If your web page isn't just as functional in a Lynx browser, it's a bad web page IMO.
A company's website is primarily a sales and marketing tool. Any benefit to the customer is purely incidental.
by mindboggling
Mon Sep 11, 2023 4:59 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Does anyone here with net worths north of $1 mil use financial advisors?
Replies: 454
Views: 87476

Re: Does anyone here with net worths north of $1 mil use financial advisors?

No financial advisor here. A simple portfolio scales easily. I used Planvision for a quick look about a year ago. Nothing earth shattering came of it.
by mindboggling
Mon Aug 21, 2023 3:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Anyone else underwhelmed by Schwab web interface?
Replies: 35
Views: 4030

Re: Anyone else underwhelmed by Schwab web interface?

I've never had an account at TDA. I moved from Vanguard to Schwab a few years ago. I'm happy at Schwab but find each page of their website cluttered with extraneous numbers that don't mean anything.

I've come to realize that the website is primarily a sales and marketing tool. I think their marketing strategy is to confuse and intimidate young, inexperienced investors and drive them toward managed products where Schwab can make some money. If all their customers invested like me Schwab would go broke. :happy
by mindboggling
Fri Aug 04, 2023 11:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Sports with the least commitments for kids?
Replies: 149
Views: 11475

Re: Sports with the least commitments for kids?

While we're at it...can I get the equity risk premium without taking the risk? :happy
by mindboggling
Tue Jul 25, 2023 9:51 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why is there no global market portfolio ETF?
Replies: 33
Views: 5213

Re: Why is there no global market portfolio ETF?

martincmartin wrote: Mon Jul 24, 2023 9:44 pm Nobody wants to be 33% stocks.
I do...I do! :D

Retired, age 70.
by mindboggling
Wed Jul 12, 2023 12:26 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Amazon Prime Day Price Observations
Replies: 49
Views: 7196

Re: Amazon Prime Day Price Observations

I think it was Will Rogers who said the easiest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.
by mindboggling
Sat Jul 08, 2023 6:11 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Income from taxable account
Replies: 26
Views: 2706

Re: Income from taxable account

Retired, 70, here. I mostly re-invest income thrown off by investments in my taxable account, but I'll spend it if I need to. Income from pension, SS, and annuity usually covers my expenses.
by mindboggling
Sat Jul 08, 2023 5:32 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Lessons I learned too late about my pension
Replies: 83
Views: 9861

Re: Lessons I learned too late about my pension

The last job I had before I retired was union-represented. We had a pension and the company 401k. The pension was closed to new hires some years before I left so I was lucky. I always maxed-out the 401k including the "catch up" amounts allowed in my 50s. The 401k had some good fund choices with reasonable expense ratios. They offered me a buy-out when I was 60 with 20 years, and I took it. I get $37k/yr fixed. Not really enough to live on but with SS and a self-funded annuity I can meet my expenses without touching my IRAs or other savings. Nowadays, about half or more of the tech staff is daily-hire with no company benefits. However, they are still union-represented and the company makes a contribution to the union's retirement t...
by mindboggling
Wed Jun 28, 2023 6:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Push and pull questions ... and pro-tips needed for paying bills online
Replies: 39
Views: 3082

Re: Push and pull questions ... and pro-tips needed for paying bills online

I try not to let any entity "pull" funds from my checking account. I do sometimes use privacy.com to generate a one-time credit card number to use when paying bills. I can then close the card so it can't be used again.
by mindboggling
Fri Jun 16, 2023 11:44 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What periodicals do you subscribe to? Cost? Print or digital? (2023)
Replies: 94
Views: 6159

Re: What periodicals do you subscribe to? Cost? Print or digital? (2023)

VIZ magazine...digital...about $31/yr.

Can only be viewed through their app. Found a program that displays smartphone screen on my laptop, so that works.
by mindboggling
Tue Jun 06, 2023 12:08 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: from owning home to renting
Replies: 32
Views: 4982

Re: from owning home to renting

About 10 months ago I sold a small house and moved to a one-bedroom apt. Yes, it's noisier and less private. It is something one just has to get used to (still working on it). All in, I pay about the same amount each month, but I have far fewer bills. House: three tax bills each year, quarterly water bills, annual garbage fee, monthly electric & cable (internet-only), oil for heat as needed, propane for stove & water heater as needed, having the driveway plowed in winter, lawn-mowing in the summer, homeowner's insurance, PO box (no mail delivery in the village), "lumpy" expenses as needed (hey, it's a house). Apartment: monthly rent, monthly electric/gas, renter's insurance. Monthly cash-flow much more regular. Downsides: ...
by mindboggling
Sat Jun 03, 2023 11:50 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Gnucash best practices/workflows/habits for a newby
Replies: 11
Views: 1948

Re: Gnucash best practices/workflows/habits for a newby

I've been using Gnucash for about six years to track income and expenses only.

I am a buy-and-hold three-funder. I don't track investments other than asset allocation and portfolio total (the only things that really matter), for which I use a very small spreadsheet.
by mindboggling
Sat May 20, 2023 4:25 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Retirement cash flow/income - could you give some examples please?
Replies: 103
Views: 11808

Re: Retirement cash flow/income - could you give some examples please?

Retired here, 70. I have three income streams each month:
- social security
- fixed pension from last job
- self-funded annuity
Together, they are more than enough to cover my expenses. Leftover $$ goes to Schwab taxable account. I haven't touched my Trad. or (small) Roth IRAs. I no longer own a home, just rent.
by mindboggling
Mon May 08, 2023 2:22 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Virtual keyboard @ Treasury Direct going away?...finally!
Replies: 48
Views: 6314

Re: Virtual keyboard @ Treasury Direct going away?...finally!

It's 15;20 EDT and the virtual keyboard is gone. However, now the One Time Passcode is required each time one logs in. You can no longer "register" your computer. And your password is now case-sensitive.
by mindboggling
Fri May 05, 2023 7:27 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Schwab - settlement account pays close to nothing heads up
Replies: 48
Views: 11179

Re: Schwab - settlement account pays close to nothing

Any extra dollars in my brokerage account at Schwab I move to SNSXX, a treasury MM fund (7-day yield is 3.8686%). And it's state tax exempt.
by mindboggling
Mon May 01, 2023 9:41 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Where do you buy your steak from these days?
Replies: 52
Views: 5770

Re: Where do you buy your steak from these days?

Sam's Club...prime--usually strip steak
by mindboggling
Tue Apr 11, 2023 7:35 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: PSA: FBI Warns Against Charging Devices in Public
Replies: 24
Views: 3807

Re: PSA: FBI Warns Against Charging Devices in Public

I thought there were adapters available that go between the public USB port and your device that disable the Tx/Rx pins and only pass the DC for charging?
by mindboggling
Fri Feb 03, 2023 1:11 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What watch do you wear on a daily basis, or are you wearing today?
Replies: 382
Views: 33463

Re: What watch do you wear on a daily basis, or are you wearing today?

Citizen Eco-drive. Uses a photocell to charge from any light. Hasn't stopped since I've had it. Cost about $70.
by mindboggling
Tue Jan 10, 2023 7:44 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Why Do People Like Linux?
Replies: 254
Views: 19148

Re: Why Do People Like Linux?

I once clicked on a seemingly innocuous ad and got the ransomware screen with keyboard and mouse lock-out. I did a hard re-boot of my Linux machine and everything was restored. I like Linux.
by mindboggling
Fri Dec 23, 2022 9:19 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Potential long-term non-mild recession: Any actionable advice?
Replies: 144
Views: 13503

Re: Potential long-term non-mild recession: Any actionable advice?

Try to increase your savings rate. Try to raise your income. I don't know what you do for a living, but if you need a BS or advanced degree, or a certificate, or a license of some sort--get it. I graduated from an elite, private university, but I got my first job because I had a government license. Tinkering with your asset allocation based on "information" is always a gamble and probably won't change your life much. If you are fearful of losses, maybe your asset allocation is too aggressive.
by mindboggling
Fri Dec 23, 2022 8:57 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Secure Act 2.0 Signed
Replies: 164
Views: 22891

Re: Secure Act 2.0 Signed

whodidntante wrote: Fri Dec 23, 2022 8:47 pm I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of plan administrators suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced.
You are the funniest guy here on this dour and pretentious forum. Thank you!
by mindboggling
Mon Dec 19, 2022 10:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Food delivered to home
Replies: 28
Views: 3354

Re: Food delivered to home

Many restaurants in my area (smallish city) use doordash. For a modest meal for one or two people the service fees, tips, etc. can almost double the price. Many restaurants have their own website and the prices are often lower than through the doordash website, but they may or may not deliver. The doordash website also offers pick-up or delivery. Also, restaurants with their own website often ask you to register with a username/password, which I don't like to do. Further, one also has to consider the distance from the restaurant to your home. Not all food travels well, especially in cold weather (upstate NY can get cold). In a true downtown urban area, if everything is a block or two away, it's not as much of a problem. I try to limit my us...
by mindboggling
Sat Dec 17, 2022 6:50 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How much do you keep in checking?
Replies: 309
Views: 30358

Re: How much do you keep in checking (2022)?

I keep a $5k floor in one checking account and about a $1k floor in another.
by mindboggling
Thu Dec 01, 2022 2:33 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: What do YOU want for Christmas this year?
Replies: 83
Views: 7955

Re: What do YOU want for Christmas this year?

Better kidneys. No need to gift-wrap them.
by mindboggling
Mon Nov 14, 2022 9:58 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What are you putting in your Roth IRA?
Replies: 138
Views: 27500

Re: What are you putting in your Roth IRA?

69 y/o, retired. Roth IRA is 100% Vanguard LifeStrategy Growth (VASGX).
by mindboggling
Sat Oct 29, 2022 4:57 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: I Bonds purchase strategy going forward
Replies: 21
Views: 3977

Re: I Bonds purchase strategy going forward

My "strategy" is I buy $10k worth every year. I've been doing it for about 15 years. I don't worry about a few basis points of interest. We don't know what the future holds regarding inflation (or anything else for that matter). I now have well over 200k worth of I-bonds.

While it sounds very sophisticated to have a "strategy", sometimes a simple plan works just as well, and plain English sounds nice, too. B-school, indeed.
by mindboggling
Mon Jun 06, 2022 12:52 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How to keep house in good condition?
Replies: 17
Views: 4255

Re: How to keep house in good condition?

Take care of problems while they are still small! Applies to many things besides home maintenance.
by mindboggling
Wed Apr 20, 2022 5:00 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Googlefinance function is broken again
Replies: 27
Views: 2143

Re: Oh Woe - Google has VTI at 31 cents after close

Yes, I noticed, too. I'm sure they'll fix it at some point.
by mindboggling
Sat Mar 19, 2022 8:06 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Choosing the right Treasury Bond fund for Taxable
Replies: 18
Views: 2261

Re: Choosing the right Treasury Bond fund for Taxable

Why shouldn’t the op just buy duration matched bonds from treasury direct? I was just wondering this today. If one has a treasury direct account set up - as most of us now do because of I bonds, why not just buy for free on treasury direct? One doesn’t need to do the opaque (to put it mildly) auction process. If you buy the security at Treasury Direct and want to sell before maturity, you have to fill out a form and mail it to treasury direct to have the security transferred to a broker or bank and then sell it. I went through this procedure some years ago. My brokerage at that time was Vanguard. They required a medallion signature guarantee. On top of that, they reported the transfer incorrectly to the IRS. For the small amount of the bon...
by mindboggling
Sun Feb 27, 2022 8:54 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How do YOU cook your steak?
Replies: 149
Views: 15768

Re: How do YOU cook your steak?

Not to derail this thread from the luscious strips and ribeyes, but does anyone have any tips or techniques for skirt steak? I just brush with olive oil, add salt & pepper, and flip it on a hot grill. As thin as it is, it is quite easy to "feel" for the doneness. I don't even use a bare hand. I gently press it with the tongs I turn it with. The "sponginess" of it is quite a good indicator of doneness. We like ours rare to medium rare, so it doesn't take long. Turns out great for us. Thanks for your reply. I was always told it had to be marinated. I use teriyaki sauce, a small amount of oil, minced garlic & onion, a dash of hot sauce or black pepper. Since I'm in upstate NY, speidie sauce is also popular for mari...
by mindboggling
Sun Feb 27, 2022 7:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How do YOU cook your steak?
Replies: 149
Views: 15768

Re: How do YOU cook your steak?

Not to derail this thread from the luscious strips and ribeyes, but does anyone have any tips or techniques for skirt steak?
by mindboggling
Sun Feb 27, 2022 6:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What are your hobbies?
Replies: 561
Views: 17393

Re: Hobbies for Boglehead Types?

Many bogleheads seem to derive immense satisfaction from making a work of art out of doing their taxes.

Me, I have a few beers, fill them out as best I can, and if I get called on something either pay it plus a small penalty or explain and provide documentation if I can find it.
by mindboggling
Thu Feb 24, 2022 11:09 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: U.S. stocks in free fall
Replies: 36221
Views: 4685317

Re: U.S. stocks in free fall

I hear France has already surrendered. :twisted:
by mindboggling
Wed Jan 05, 2022 3:00 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: [How are you Boglehead's investing your Roth IRAs?]
Replies: 56
Views: 6983

Re: [How are you Boglehead's investing your Roth IRAs?]

100% Vanguard LifeStrategy-Growth mutual fund (it's about 80% stocks). Held at Schwab.

68, retired.
by mindboggling
Tue Dec 28, 2021 4:25 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: New Vanguard Advisory Options?
Replies: 17
Views: 1696

Re: New Vanguard Advisory Options?

Bilge Plus?
Steerage Select?
by mindboggling
Sun Dec 12, 2021 6:21 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Products that last forever
Replies: 288
Views: 29979

Re: Products that last forever

jebmke wrote: Sun Dec 12, 2021 6:08 am
deserat wrote: Fri Nov 19, 2021 1:25 pm
boglefannyc wrote: Thu Aug 13, 2020 2:43 pm My early 80’s Hewlett-Packard model 11c calculator. I still use it and it’s built like a tank. The keys are still responsive and firm with no repeating. I think it’s going to outlast me.
Great call - I still have my HP 15C from 1981 (engineering undergrad - it was very expensive then) and use it daily....
I still have my 12C. Can’t beat RPN for efficiency; once you master it, there is no going back. Even my Calc app on the phone is RPN.
Love RPN...rarely use anything else if I can help it. Mostly do it on the computer nowadays. Have an HP-11C but haven't used it in many years.
by mindboggling
Fri Dec 10, 2021 8:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What are you listening to now
Replies: 5833
Views: 591128

Re: What are you listening to now

Jamie Lin Wilson's "Holidays & Wedding Rings" album. Mainstream country sound with great lyrics and songs. Album is about 6 years old. She's from Texas.

Bella White: new bluegrass music.
by mindboggling
Fri Dec 10, 2021 11:36 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why is stock investing not as popular in Europe?
Replies: 154
Views: 17591

Re: Why is stock investing not as popular in Europe?

I suspect that every point raised in this lengthy thread was known by Jack Bogle when he formulated his twenty percent ex-US "suggestion".
by mindboggling
Mon Nov 29, 2021 11:33 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Past discussion about financial advisors
Replies: 4
Views: 682

Re: Past discussion about financial advisors

I believe that planvisionmn.com was one of the advisors discussed. $189 for a single 50-minute zoom session plus a monthly fee if you want or need it.

ETA: yes, it's Mark Zoril.
by mindboggling
Mon Nov 22, 2021 5:49 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Are shiny money apps really necessary?
Replies: 112
Views: 14102

Re: Are shiny money apps really necessary?

I use Gnu-cash, an open source double-entry accounting program, to track only current year income and expenses.

I also have a short, one-page spreadsheet that calculates:
-- total portfolio size
--percent of total equities
--percent of ex-US equities within total equities.

Nothing else--no future estimates of anything, no projections, no performance numbers