Search found 7087 matches
- Fri Apr 16, 2021 5:01 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Zelle/Venmo/Cashapp?
- Replies: 43
- Views: 3490
Re: Zelle/Venmo/Cashapp?
Why not just use cash or a check? This. It's interesting here how many use Venmo. Venmo makes your activity public by default. Maybe I'm too old, but that's entirely undesirable. Given how Facebook and others in the "social" world have a habit of continually changing their security and pr...
- Fri Apr 16, 2021 1:48 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: "Mortage is a negative bond" - please help me understand
- Replies: 127
- Views: 6210
Re: "Mortage is a negative bond" - please help me understand
It justs seems to me that if someone is uncomfortable putting hundreds of thousands of dollars into a home (particularly if that would be a large chunk of one's portfolio), and is also uncomfortable with holding 100% stocks, then diversifying into a bond fund in addition seems a perfectly sensible ...
- Fri Apr 16, 2021 1:19 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: "Mortage is a negative bond" - please help me understand
- Replies: 127
- Views: 6210
Re: "Mortage is a negative bond" - please help me understand
It justs seems to me that if someone is uncomfortable putting hundreds of thousands of dollars into a home (particularly if that would be a large chunk of one's portfolio), and is also uncomfortable with holding 100% stocks, then diversifying into a bond fund in addition seems a perfectly sensible ...
- Fri Apr 16, 2021 9:38 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Medicare - just A + B?
- Replies: 30
- Views: 2040
Re: Medicare - just A + B?
I am not on Medicare yet but my big concern would be that there are no upper limits / out of pocket maximums as there are with private or ACA plans. If you have a major medical incident like cancer or a major heart issue, you are responsible for 20% of the cost, with no limit. So a $1,000,000 cance...
- Thu Apr 15, 2021 8:52 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: "Mortage is a negative bond" - please help me understand
- Replies: 127
- Views: 6210
Re: "Mortage is a negative bond" - please help me understand
Joe has a $50,000 mortgage on his house. In addition Joe has an outstanding student loan of $100,000. Does Joe have $150,000 in negative bonds? Yes. Plus car loans and credit card debt. All debt can, and should be included in one’s balance sheet and asset allocation. Mortgages tend to be big. They ...
- Thu Apr 15, 2021 8:18 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: "Mortage is a negative bond" - please help me understand
- Replies: 127
- Views: 6210
Re: "Mortage is a negative bond" - please help me understand
Imagine an investor with an investment portfolio of $1,000,000 invested 60/40. This investor has a mortgage of $200,000. This investor has three entries in their asset allocation: $600,000 in stocks, earning 6%. $400,000 in bonds, earning 1.3% $200,000 in debt, costing 3.5%. This produces a blended...
- Thu Apr 15, 2021 4:15 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Replacement battery for solar landscape lights?
- Replies: 10
- Views: 524
Re: Replacement battery for solar landscape lights?
I have had hit and miss experience with replacing batteries in solar lights. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t - it seems that sometimes there are issues besides the batteries that are the root cause. Over times, I have noticed that the solar cells and collectors become cloudy and/or sun d...
- Thu Apr 15, 2021 2:53 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: "Mortage is a negative bond" - please help me understand
- Replies: 127
- Views: 6210
Re: "Mortage is a negative bond" - please help me understand
Imagine an investor with an investment portfolio of $1,000,000 invested 60/40. This investor has a mortgage of $200,000. This investor has three entries in their asset allocation: $600,000 in stocks, earning 6%. $400,000 in bonds, earning 1.3% $200,000 in debt, costing 3.5%. This produces a blended...
- Thu Apr 15, 2021 12:14 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Why leasing a new car is always the best option even if you intend to keep it forever
- Replies: 72
- Views: 6080
Re: Why leasing a new car is always the best option even if you intend to keep it forever
I would also add that when you lease a vehicle, there is an interest cost built into the lease payment amount. You are effectively taking out a loan to lease the vehicle. The computed interest rate charged is not required to be disclosed but you can request it from the lease provider.
- Tue Apr 13, 2021 8:50 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Cicadas
- Replies: 23
- Views: 1765
Re: Cicadas
I am on the western side of Cincinnati and we’ve always gotten a massive emergence of Brood X every 17 years. If you haven’t experienced a 17 year emergence (or 13 in some locations), you would not believe the quantity of insects that emerge. They are everywhere. I’ve already purchased some netting ...
- Tue Apr 13, 2021 5:39 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Zelle/Venmo/Cashapp?
- Replies: 43
- Views: 3490
Re: Zelle/Venmo/Cashapp?
If you want to use Venmo but don’t want to link it to a bank account, you can have a trusted acquaintance send money to your Venmo account and reimburse them via check, cash, etc. A little cumbersome but it works.
- Tue Apr 13, 2021 4:32 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Mortgage application denied due to large 401k contribution?s
- Replies: 27
- Views: 2162
Re: Mortgage application denied due to large 401k contribution?s
If your AGI is $1000 per month, where will the money for the mortgage payment come from? From the 19k savings surplus I've been dumping into a 401k year after year. You won't be contributing to 401k or maybe much less and instead using that money to pay the mortgage? Does the lender know this? How ...
- Tue Apr 13, 2021 3:34 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Mortgage application denied due to large 401k contribution?s
- Replies: 27
- Views: 2162
Re: Mortgage application denied due to large 401k contribution?s
If your AGI is $1000 per month, where will the money for the mortgage payment come from?
- Tue Apr 13, 2021 11:31 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Medicare - just A + B?
- Replies: 30
- Views: 2040
Re: Medicare - just A + B?
I am not on Medicare yet but my big concern would be that there are no upper limits / out of pocket maximums as there are with private or ACA plans. If you have a major medical incident like cancer or a major heart issue, you are responsible for 20% of the cost, with no limit. So a $1,000,000 cancer...
- Tue Apr 13, 2021 10:56 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Zelle/Venmo/Cashapp?
- Replies: 43
- Views: 3490
Re: Zelle/Venmo/Cashapp?
I use Venmo to transfer money to/from people that I know. I consider it similar to handing someone cash; I am not aware of any chargeback capability with Venmo?
I use Paypal for eBay transactions or with small vendors online when I don’t want to create account and enter all the details.
I use Paypal for eBay transactions or with small vendors online when I don’t want to create account and enter all the details.
- Tue Apr 13, 2021 10:50 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How much does your employer sponsered health insurance cost you?
- Replies: 43
- Views: 2511
Re: How much does your employer sponsered health insurance cost you?
$261/mo. for family coverage HDHP ($7500 family deductible/$2500 per person deductible). That is 20% of the total cost. Employer pays the other 80% plus $1500/yr. HSA contribution. Dental is another $44/mo.
- Tue Apr 13, 2021 8:16 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Medicare Claims Processing Question
- Replies: 22
- Views: 1393
Re: Medicare Claims Processing Question
A slight detour - what about the Medicare Part B deductible? Doctor bills something less than the deductible, then Medicare records that amount goes toward the deductible, medigap insurance does the same. Is it the responsibility of the doctor to now bill the patient for the unpaid deductible amoun...
- Tue Apr 13, 2021 7:36 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Unexpected interpretation of the SECURE Act 10-year inherited IRA drawdown
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1037
- Mon Apr 12, 2021 4:03 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: The Great Swing Set Dilemma
- Replies: 56
- Views: 4565
Re: The Great Swing Set Dilemma
A little ingenuity could easy turn the area under the clubhouse into a sandbox.
- Sun Apr 11, 2021 7:08 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Thrift Savings Plan account locked - too many password reset attempts
- Replies: 7
- Views: 544
Re: Thrift Savings Plan account locked - too many password reset attempts
This happened this morning. I did not make any password reset attempts so apparently an attempted hack. The email appears legit and the number to call to unlock is the legitimate TSP service line. So what can I infer from this type of attempt? The password is complex. The username is not (me bad). ...
- Sun Apr 11, 2021 6:02 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Medicare Claims Processing Question
- Replies: 22
- Views: 1393
Re: Medicare Claims Processing Question
Call the Medicare Benefits Coordination & Recovery Center (BCRC) at 1-855-798-2627 to remove the old PPO coverage. Medicare will eventually get notified of the drop of coverage but it can take a few months. I just went through this same situation with my disabled son. I am a little unclear of wh...
- Sat Apr 10, 2021 12:10 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Anyone contemplating OLY (One Less Year)?
- Replies: 52
- Views: 4761
Re: Anyone contemplating OLY (One Less Year)?
Yes. I have targeted retirement in 2 years (@ 59) but tell people my retirement date is either Monday or five years from now, depending on the day. Reasons to retire now are that I have plenty of money according to most retirement planner software, work is tiring sometimes and I’m not getting any yo...
- Sat Apr 10, 2021 12:05 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Where to donate suits
- Replies: 6
- Views: 866
Re: Where to donate suits
All of the local charity / thrift stores around us sell men’s suits - St. Vincent de Paul, Salvation Army, Goodwill
- Sat Apr 10, 2021 11:58 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Laid off advice
- Replies: 31
- Views: 2482
Re: Laid off advice
We're in Pennsylvania. Check out the Affordable Care Act. ACA plans are total trash. The best choice was $1.5k a month in premiums with an $18,000 annual deductible. What a joke. I doubt if you are taking into account the substantial subsidies they would receive at an income level of $50k. Premiums...
- Sat Apr 10, 2021 10:35 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Laid off advice
- Replies: 31
- Views: 2482
Re: Laid off advice
ACA is probably going to be the most affordable insurance option, but you can compare to Cobra. I would definitely look into Social Security Disability at his age and current medical issues. Qualification requirements tend to be less for older working adults who have paid into the system for many ye...
- Sat Apr 10, 2021 10:24 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: In-Laws' HOA demanding $8000 lumpsum payment
- Replies: 91
- Views: 10530
Re: In-Laws' HOA demanding $8000 lumpsum payment
I am the Treasurer of a small neighborhood HOA. Whenever a property is sold in our neighborhood, the closing agent will contact me and ask me to provide a statement of account to indicate if any funds are due. This is a pre-close requirement; the closing is not in good order without this. Our HOA re...
- Sat Apr 10, 2021 10:11 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: house sale: check or wire?
- Replies: 21
- Views: 1060
Re: house sale: check or wire?
Most financial institutions have implemented anti-fraud measures that will catch and stop wire of funds where the account owner does match - for example:
https://www.giact.com/
https://www.giact.com/
- Sat Apr 10, 2021 10:04 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Inheritance - help me get my head straight
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1554
Re: Inheritance - help me get my head straight
Do my brother and I both have to choose the same option when we transfer the accounts? Not sure I saw this question answered above, but once the accounts are split, you and your brother can follow different withdraw plans as each sees fit. You will each receive 50% of the proceeds in an IRA titled ...
- Fri Apr 09, 2021 6:55 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Real Return Fakers & Quitting Investing For Good
- Replies: 51
- Views: 5260
Re: Real Return Fakers & Quitting Investing For Good
What I found was that from 1900-2021 the real return of the S&P 500 is 6.77% while from 1921-2021 it's 7.71% after inflation. In my case all investments are Roth so taxes don't come into account, only inflation. My asset allocation is going to be 90/10 for the long run. Yup, it’s been a heck of...
- Fri Apr 09, 2021 3:19 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: The Great Swing Set Dilemma
- Replies: 56
- Views: 4565
Re: The Great Swing Set Dilemma
At some point, your kid is probably going to fall off the top of that slide anyway, so I am not overly concerned with the bridge. One thing we did make a point of is to surround the entire swing set with wood “playground chips” 2-3 inches thick to cushion any falls that inevitably occur. You can als...
- Fri Apr 09, 2021 8:22 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: fan trips GFCI; can I plug into surge protector?
- Replies: 22
- Views: 1375
Re: fan trips GFCI; can I plug into surge protector?
You can buy inline surge protectors - essentially a single plug surge protector and see if that makes a difference. They are only around $10 or less. I have all my major appliances run through these. While it is possible that the fan is bad, GFCI outlets can also go bad. If there is another one else...
- Fri Apr 09, 2021 8:08 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Amending medical record...best financial decision?
- Replies: 26
- Views: 2597
Re: Amending medical record...best financial decision?
I’d spend the $2000 so you know for sure what you are or are not dealing with going forward.
- Thu Apr 08, 2021 8:34 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: How frequently should I water shrubs that were planted in late fall
- Replies: 14
- Views: 721
Re: How frequently should I water shrubs that were planted in late fall
A good measure is an inch of water a week, either provided by nature or you. Water once a week if you didn’t get sufficient rain; watering deeply but less frequently is better for plants as it encourages deeper root growth. After they get established more, it becomes less important as they can bette...
- Thu Apr 08, 2021 12:04 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Help calculating federal income tax withholding for disability benefits
- Replies: 11
- Views: 467
Re: Help calculating federal income tax withholding for disability benefits
Ignore if I am stating something that you already know, but if your disability payments are from a private policy that you paid for with after tax dollars, the payments are not taxable. If it is employer paid disability coverage, they are taxable.
- Thu Apr 08, 2021 11:50 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: USPS Informed Delivery App
- Replies: 8
- Views: 739
Re: USPS Informed Delivery App
I use the app. It shows you a week of history including current day. You can also check a box next to each mail piece to indicate if something wasn’t delivered. I can use the website for this I suppose but I like the convenience of the app personally. The same functionality exists on the website. I...
- Thu Apr 08, 2021 11:35 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: USPS Informed Delivery App
- Replies: 8
- Views: 739
Re: USPS Informed Delivery App
I use the app. It shows you a week of history including current day. You can also check a box next to each mail piece to indicate if something wasn’t delivered. I can use the website for this I suppose but I like the convenience of the app personally.
- Thu Apr 08, 2021 8:06 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Are architect estimates for construction costs usually pretty accurate?
- Replies: 21
- Views: 1469
Re: Are architect estimates for construction costs usually pretty accurate?
The cost to build can vary quite a bit depending on quality of construction. A common metric used is cost per square foot. Since you know the square footage, you (or the architect) can probably estimate a range of cost but the final cost will depend on the specifics of how the addition is built and ...
- Wed Apr 07, 2021 6:18 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Best way to determine value and sell old coins, currency
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1042
Re: Best way to determine value and sell old coins, currency
Thanks to all for such good advice. Sounds like I have a lot of work to do. My collection is from my grandmother and father. Both worked in retail for many years and would put aside coins, currency they found interesting. None of the collection is graded. Sounds like I have a project to mix in with...
- Wed Apr 07, 2021 11:58 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.
- Replies: 42
- Views: 3297
Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.
You don’t really give any criteria for what you’d consider best beyond gas mileage or reliability, but general good choices would be Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla. If you really want to splurge, move up to an Accord or Camry.
- Wed Apr 07, 2021 11:15 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Best way to determine value and sell old coins, currency
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1042
Re: Best way to determine value and sell old coins, currency
I think the above posts illustrate that there can be different types of collections. If the collection is mostly loose aka raw common date coins, either in books/albums or cardboard type 2x2 holders, prudent’s advice is good. What you’ve got to watch for is that there are not rare coins mixed in. Fo...
- Wed Apr 07, 2021 10:59 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Thoughts on HOA Board Membership?
- Replies: 31
- Views: 2697
Re: Thoughts on HOA Board Membership?
I am the Treasurer of our small HOA - 19 houses. Over the years I have been Treasurer - 15+ - nobody is screaming for the position :happy - there’s been maybe three situations that were a bit of a pain. Otherwise, it’s a pretty easy job. We are insured and have a landscaping company mow and maintain...
- Wed Apr 07, 2021 10:18 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: How much cash do you really hold?
- Replies: 91
- Views: 6279
Re: How much cash do you really hold?
I don’t do a percent. I typically have 3 months expenses in cash account which I do not include in my asset allocation. That’s grown now to over a year for various reasons - I will have to decide what to do with that at some point. I then have another 3 months or so in a tax exempt bond fund and the...
- Tue Apr 06, 2021 8:31 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Inheriting Annuity-
- Replies: 23
- Views: 1521
Re: Inheriting Annuity-
It does sound very strange that daughter / wife of seasoned insurance agent did not know how to fill out the beneficiary form unless they never talk to each other about things. I mean, you think daughter would check that with expert husband - so I understand your concern. To paint this in the worst ...
- Mon Apr 05, 2021 7:02 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Inherited IRA received in 2020 - RMD
- Replies: 4
- Views: 482
Re: Inherited IRA received in 2020 - RMD
I believe because you are disabled, you can use the single life distribution tables for taking RMDs over your remaining lifetime (i.e., the “stretch IRA” under the old rules). That said, I believe you have to start those RMDs in 2021; there is no 10 year delay if using the single life distribution m...
- Sun Apr 04, 2021 3:53 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Repair or Replace 2003 Toyota Corolla
- Replies: 67
- Views: 5626
Re: Repair or Replace 2003 Toyota Corolla
My guess is that your battery light is on because the alternator is failing. So I think you need to replace that. I think they are recommending the belt because you might as well replace it since you are removing the alternator (which runs off the belt) anyway. Even if you are going to sell it, it’s...
- Sun Apr 04, 2021 2:02 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: [Third stimulus payment - mega-thread]
- Replies: 364
- Views: 26074
Re: [Third stimulus payment - mega-thread]
EIP1 - Received payment via DD. EIP2 - Received a check in the mail. EIP3 - Haven't received yet, though it was scheduled to have gone out by mail eight days ago. Anybody else in a similar position? We scheduled your payment to be mailed on March 26, 2021 to the address we have on file for you. I g...
- Sun Apr 04, 2021 12:30 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Incredible stock market gains the past year - probably due for a major pullback
- Replies: 89
- Views: 10817
Re: Incredible stock market gains the past year - probably due for a major pullback
When you say you’ve been monitoring your balances for a long time, how long is long? I’ve experienced two 20+% drops in my investing lifetime - one in 2002 and one in 2008. There will probably be another one but nobody knows when or even for sure that this will happen. But yes, any future “gains” yo...
- Sun Apr 04, 2021 10:24 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: "V" Rated Tired vs "H" Rated Tire
- Replies: 12
- Views: 941
Re: "V" Rated Tired vs "H" Rated Tire
It’s a speed rating - your car must be rated to be capable of a top speed that exceeds the limit of the H rating. A quick Google shows that Pirelli makes the tire you want in a V rating but not for the specific size you need (the 20in. must be a newer size).
- Sat Apr 03, 2021 9:43 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Career advice for high schooler with HFA & difficulty with math
- Replies: 65
- Views: 6021
Re: Career advice for high schooler with HFA & difficulty with math
I have a son with high functioning autism. When they refer to autism as a “spectrum”, it is because it, and the impact on someone, is different for each individual. There are specific strengths and weaknesses for each person. In addition, many also will struggle with co-conditions such as anxiety or...
- Fri Apr 02, 2021 11:46 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: What Are You Doing Given Record Stock Market Highs and What Is Your Situation?
- Replies: 120
- Views: 12628
Re: What Are You Doing Given Record Stock Market Highs and What Is Your Situation?
And I think we all agree the pandemic of 2020 was more disruptive and destructive to the US economy than the sub-prime crisis. We don’t all agree. I don’t. And I’d say the market as a whole doesn’t either or we wouldn’t be having this conversation. Now you may be right and it will turn out that the...