Search found 66 matches

by stm
Mon Apr 11, 2022 2:20 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Saving for college at this stage, too late, how to catch up?
Replies: 26
Views: 3962

Re: Saving for college at this stage, too late, how to catch up?

With my very little knowledge about 529, it looks like it can be opened in any state. The contribution is after tax but the growth in the 529 plan is tax free and so is withdrawal, is this correct? I'm wondering how will the break-down look? for our HHI upto $400,000, what's the maximum we could contribute towards 529 and after exhausting annual contribution, one could simple save and possible invest in Index fund or something so it's not dead Benjamins sitting in the bank! If not stocks in 529 what would one hold? 529's can be opened from any state yes. Though as the last poster mentions, the deduction benefit of state taxes depends on your state. Growth in 529 plan and withdrawal are tax free, as long as the funds dispersed meet qualifyi...
by stm
Tue Apr 05, 2022 1:18 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Saving for college at this stage, too late, how to catch up?
Replies: 26
Views: 3962

Re: Saving for college at this stage, too late, how to catch up?

Boy... I just read the other thread and happened to open this one thinking no way... but ok :) As my oldest is at this stage now, the question you have to ask yourself is how much you expect to pay. Based on the other thread, your EFC is going to be high, so it's merit/sports or nothing. Do your kids have what it takes to get a good ride to college scholarship wise? Are they wanting to go public or private? Usually a presidential scholarship that covers tuition is going to be ACT 32+ GPA 3.5+, the higher the better. Then you've still got room and board, books, tech fee, computers, car, insurance, life, and maybe in your case, keeping up with the other kid's parents (iPhone, vacations). With the shorter time horizon, you may not have much ch...
by stm
Sat Aug 22, 2020 7:12 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Refinance Mega Thread
Replies: 12862
Views: 1276999

Re: Refinance Mega Thread

JSDNJ wrote: Sat Aug 22, 2020 10:55 amCan you post your ABCE and lender credits?

You’re telling us you’re getting 2.5 for better than no cost? I’ve not heard of that before. Who’s the lender?
It was possible for awhile, I locked the day before the FM 0.5% fee was announced at Loan Cabin, and then matched to Better. Closing is before 9/1 so not like they're getting hit with the fee. Looking at final disclosures, after ABCE of about ~$2200, I'm getting $1800 additional credit using towards escrows. And well, the $2500 back from Amex special after matching to Better.
by stm
Sat Aug 22, 2020 3:41 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Refinance Mega Thread
Replies: 12862
Views: 1276999

Re: Refinance Mega Thread

need403bhelp wrote: Fri Aug 21, 2020 11:55 pm
stm wrote: Fri Aug 21, 2020 11:34 pm
no_username wrote: Fri Aug 21, 2020 9:18 pm Where did you get your offer(2.5% -$1200)?
Can you share with us,please?
It was with Loan Cabin. I matched it to Better to also get the $2,500 credit they had been offering.
Do you have 2.375% as an option on the rate sheet you locked with better?
I can no longer see the rate sheet since a rate was locked. On my original, which was at 2.75%, I believe I could, with obviously a !#%! of points to purchase.
by stm
Fri Aug 21, 2020 11:34 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Refinance Mega Thread
Replies: 12862
Views: 1276999

Re: Refinance Mega Thread

no_username wrote: Fri Aug 21, 2020 9:18 pm Where did you get your offer(2.5% -$1200)?
Can you share with us,please?
It was with Loan Cabin. I matched it to Better to also get the $2,500 credit they had been offering.
by stm
Fri Aug 21, 2020 7:51 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Refinance Mega Thread
Replies: 12862
Views: 1276999

Re: Refinance Mega Thread

Do you all believe that rates will drop below mid 2's in the medium term? Right now I have a 2.5% on a 30 locked with about ~$1.2k back after closing costs. I could do a 2.375% (assuming a half a point) and be out about $750 in closing costs. Monthly payments would be reduced $25 a month which is about 2.5 years to break even. Will stay at this home a minimum of 8 more years (kid off to college) and it's built to be a retirement home if we do decide to stay. The main question about rate drops is if I would refinance in the next year or so. Have been playing the refinance game (4 in the last 2 years) each time getting credits and a lower rate, but wondering if we have hit the floor. Mortgage news daily has some informative pieces about how t...
by stm
Tue Jun 16, 2020 3:42 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Using credit cards for leverage (no, seriously)
Replies: 53
Views: 5052

Re: Using credit cards for leverage (no, seriously)

It's certainly possible - credit card arbitrage via sign up bonuses or regular manufactured spend. It's been my wife's career for the last 6-7 years and has served us well. Google the MS term for more info or ask away.
by stm
Sun Oct 06, 2019 3:20 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Learnings/Regrets from last two recessions
Replies: 91
Views: 14459

Re: Learnings/Regrets from last two recessions

I like the way this thread is going - it's always interesting to hear other's experiences. The BH mantra would be to remember your asset allocation and rebalance as needed. Stay the course! While I can say that now in hindsight, and while there are statistics to back that up, I found that my real-life experiences while leading to the same conclusion, come from a very different meandering path. I finished college in the mid 90's and grad school in 97, so my first real paychecks started at about that time. I did the basic investing thing, randomly picking mutual funds (HR is no help!) and also a small Roth IRA. The "investing" part came in when my wife received a mid 5 figure inheritance, right in time for the dot.com run up and imp...
by stm
Sun Sep 08, 2019 3:04 am
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: "Zoom" Bogleheads local chapter [Formerly Birmingham, Alabama]
Replies: 81
Views: 29614

Re: Birmingham, Alabama local chapter

Hi All - On a whim I happened to look on BH and saw the series of posts leading up to the Chapter formation. I'm in the Hoover area and would be interested in the future for the next meetup!
by stm
Mon Aug 26, 2019 2:51 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Selling losses to offset Gains
Replies: 18
Views: 1947

Re: Selling losses to offset Gains

Jerry55 wrote: I have a solid plan. DUMP GE. Half now, Half Next year ....End of plan.
Try not to analyze that too much. Especially if $3,000 is the limit :sharebeer
Thanks Everyone ~
I don't know that the limit should worry you as losses can be carried over and used on future year's taxes. I made an expensive mistake with 3DFX along with a lot of other dot.com stocks and deducted $3K a year till the next recession in 2008... which well at least at that point I was in index funds and not messing around :/
by stm
Tue Aug 20, 2019 11:09 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Pay down mortgage or begin investing?
Replies: 16
Views: 1247

Re: Pay down mortgage or begin investing?

Thank you Grabiner. What would be your advice for refinancing? I'm totally new to the whole idea. Do I call my mortgage lender and request a new appraisal at the time I reach $137,000? Do I pay for it on my own and then provide it to the mortgage lender? So new to this area of things :) Since you've used Zillow, try using their mortgage refi search as well using the ballpark $# they gave for valuation. You should pull up a few results from there easily for lenders. Bankrate is another good one to check during the day. Start with just understanding what goes into a regular loan. Concentrate on interest rate, closing costs, and any points or lender credits being offered. It's not a linear relationship, but the lower the interest rate the mor...
by stm
Wed Jul 24, 2019 2:34 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Can we afford $600k home?
Replies: 98
Views: 9404

Re: Can we afford $600k home?

The missing part is the down payment here I believe. You can make a lot affordable if you have the discipline to save it up. I say this as someone with the same income, built something considerably more expensive, and my family doesn't mind rice and beans :)
by stm
Sat Jul 13, 2019 4:41 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Refinance 30yr - 4.75%?
Replies: 35
Views: 3525

Re: Refinance 30yr - 4.75%?

4.75% is a fairly high rate - I'm surprised you couldn't get something lower when you closed the first time. Do you pay PMI? I assume not. From the numbers you entered, you're just a little above the 20% downpayment threshold to avoid PMI. If your refinance appraisal comes in lower, you may be told you have to pay PMI unless you can come up with a little more cash. As someone that closed on a house in Feb, I can attest to the hump in interest rates at that time frame. Before the stock market went off the rails in Dec, rates climbed steadily before dropping slightly in Feb/March. If OP had locked in a rate anytime in the previous few months, it's quite possible to be at 4.75; my quotes were around 4.375 - 4.5%. Glad that builder was late an...
by stm
Wed Jul 10, 2019 2:43 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Prime Money Market or Total Bond Market
Replies: 63
Views: 9946

Re: Prime Money Market or Total Bond Market

If one had a predetermined use and time frame for using funds (say 6 years for a college fund), what might be some considerations per the topic?
by stm
Tue Jun 04, 2019 3:02 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Do you regret taking a pay cut for quality of life?
Replies: 68
Views: 15346

Re: Do you regret taking a pay cut for quality of life?

I had a mid life crisis and quit my job to do a Ph.D. 4 years of zero income, had 2 kids and wife was a SAHM. Finished but came out in 2010 to that job market. 9 years later I think we're back to revenue neutral, but I've had the opportunity to be at everything for the kids plus summers off. I think to a point money has it's uses, but time is something we all fight a losing battle to.
by stm
Tue Oct 16, 2018 4:22 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: advice on first home
Replies: 28
Views: 2232

Re: advice on first home

At least from the numbers listed here, I don't think you should do it. People tend to look at home ownership with a romanticized view. On top of that, you're single (likely won't be a forever house if family comes into equation) and would be taking on a large financial burden. Everyone, including myself, has had that rush of good feeling associated with a first home, car, etc purchase. But in the long run, it might be a different story.

Of course I'm an idiot and should have listened to my own advice, over committed on building a "forever" home at the moment. So :oops:
by stm
Sun Aug 05, 2018 5:48 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Apple Stock
Replies: 13
Views: 2322

Re: Apple Stock

Tough call here. I've been thinking about selling a bit of what I have too. Bought in many years ago at low 20's a share and today this single stock is 30% of my portfolio. But I've been betting on emerging markets and international for the last 5 years and AAPL has been the growth part of the portfolio too :/

I guess the question is, what are you going to do with the funds if you do sell? Reinvest in what?
by stm
Sun Aug 05, 2018 1:43 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What to do with a five figure "inherited" cash sum?
Replies: 32
Views: 4027

Re: What to do with a five figure "inherited" cash sum?

I absolutely do not condone splitting up deposits as this could lead to a structuring charge. If the money was earned legitimately (and was taxed accordingly) and can be documented, just do the whole deposit and explain it for what it is. Now if it wasn't, well, then that's a different ball game :P
by stm
Wed May 30, 2018 11:18 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Best use for a $2k raise for a middle-income teacher
Replies: 35
Views: 4852

Re: Best use for a $2k raise for a middle-income teacher

I'm leaving KY in a few days precisely over pension plan issues. Got to hope there will be one in the future no doubt!
by stm
Mon May 07, 2018 12:15 am
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: Advice for new Expat in Singapore [US ex-pat]
Replies: 10
Views: 1668

Re: Advice for new Expat in Singapore [US ex-pat]

Why do you think you can't purchase that fund? BTW - I know that Singapore has no capital gains tax, but the US certainly does and while you remain a US citizen, don't forget to pay Uncle Sam! Unless you're going to be that Google co-founder....
by stm
Sun Apr 01, 2018 11:52 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Maximizing airlines miles or rewards points
Replies: 6
Views: 1489

Re: Maximizing airlines miles or rewards points

There are lots of areas you can and should stack. Use a shopping portal is one, but make sure you are stacking any coupons possible, as well as having the correct card to use at the retailer you will be shopping at. Having something with an office supply multiplier, e.g. old Chase Inks or the rarely thought of Amex Simply Cash Business can net more than portals.
by stm
Fri Feb 02, 2018 1:45 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What advice would you give yourself if you were 27 again?
Replies: 120
Views: 12300

Re: What advice would you give yourself if you were 27 again?

"I know you think you're too smart to learn from others' mistakes... be damn sure you learn from your own".
by stm
Mon Jan 22, 2018 3:16 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help Late Early Accumulators Be Comfortable Right Now with (Bogle-appropriate) Aggressive AA
Replies: 30
Views: 3099

Re: Help Late Early Accumulators Be Comfortable Right Now with (Bogle-appropriate) Aggressive AA

I did just want to push back on Bob, the worst market timer. We have done nothing but increase contributions per pay period. I've been practically hoping for some kind of correction. Buying high and low are both unavoidable and profitable. My "frustration" stems solely from the fact that 1) the market does nothing but go sky high 2) we have just recently started contributing much larger sums and 3) wondering when the sale prices, the low buys, will happen. Obviously none of this is in my control and the game is won in the long run. I think index'ing is also part of having the mindset that you're going to win some and you're going to lose some, but in the long run you'll be ok. I am about 20 years into my career at the moment. Sta...
by stm
Mon Dec 11, 2017 3:29 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Prepayment of SALT Taxes? [State and Local]
Replies: 270
Views: 34794

Re: Prepayment of SALT Taxes? [State and Local]

I've read the entire thread but as I'm not an accountant, I wanted to see if anyone could clarify. There are numerous posts about pre-paying 2018 taxes and being accountable for taxes on any 2018 refunds. But this is assuming overpaying, correct? If I were to prepay 2018 and then try and reduce withholding next year with my company, then I could still take the deduction in 2017 and not have an overpayment and worry about taxes for 2018?
by stm
Tue Sep 05, 2017 11:09 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: SUNY System 403(b) Annuity Options
Replies: 11
Views: 1786

Re: SUNY System 403(b) Annuity Options

And be really careful of which are annuities - I learned the hard way that some cannot be rolled over on separation to a new job and have to either be left in the account, or cashed out into an annuity immediately. Fine print :oops:
by stm
Mon Sep 04, 2017 2:17 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help with children's college fund (11+6), mirror Vanguard 529?
Replies: 4
Views: 1037

Re: Help with children's college fund (11+6), mirror Vanguard 529?

11 year old (~32K) 54.6% Vanguard S&P500 Index VFIAX (ER 0.05%) 28.1% Vanguard Emerging Markets VEMAX (ER (0.17%) 17.3% Vanguard European Stock Index VURX (ER 0.26%) 6 year old (~17.5K) 69.1% Vanguard S&P500 Index VFIAX (ER 0.05%) 20.5% Vanguard Emerging Markets VEIEX (ER 0.33%) 10.3% Vanguard European Stock Index VEURX (ER 0.26%) Ok so I *really* procrastinated on this. Added 2K X 2 years to VEMAX in each portfolio and they've grown very well but purely lucky no market crash. 13 year old (~46K) 50.33% Vanguard S&P500 Index VFIAX (ER 0.05%) 35.25% Vanguard Emerging Markets VEMAX (ER (0.17%) 14.4% Vanguard European Stock Index VURX (ER 0.26%) 8 year old (~27K) 55.35% Vanguard S&P500 Index VFIAX (ER 0.05%) 36.73% Vanguard Eme...
by stm
Fri Sep 01, 2017 4:28 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Newbie help!
Replies: 9
Views: 1090

Re: Newbie help!

Minimum payment on debt, I'm not sure if you'd pay it off in this lifetime with CC interest... I'll second the poster above, matching 401K then debt reduction. Get budget in order, then concentrate on debt and then Roth.
by stm
Sun Aug 27, 2017 2:16 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: suggestion on buying our first home
Replies: 31
Views: 3940

Re: suggestion on buying our first home

It's hard enough to make tenure, much less both spouses. Even if so, academia is such that large pay raises come from moving institutions, and things/departments change. You both are young and have a few moves in you. This is coming from an associate professor considering making a change. We live in a LCOL area, bought a house in 2011 at bottom of market. Lucky maybe to break even if we sell now.

Have you ever owned a home before? You don't own the house, the house owns you. If you're fresh out of school, maybe have some debt, doesn't sound like you have savings past what was gifted (?), I don't think you appreciate how much that expensive of a house is going to anchor you down.
by stm
Tue Aug 15, 2017 4:17 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: please help...am I overextended - first home
Replies: 78
Views: 10631

Re: please help...am I overextended - first home

OP - you are really overextended. You recognized above that you might be a little careless with finances, recognizing is the first step. Don't put yourself in a situation where you might do some lasting financial harm.
by stm
Tue Jul 18, 2017 1:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Window Blinds - Bali, Levolor, Hunter Douglas
Replies: 36
Views: 106224

Re: Window Blinds - Bali, Levolor, Hunter Douglas

Went through Lowe's, waited for a 20% off sale on Bali and then used a 10% mover's coupon and 12-15% discounted gift cards. Did real wood and nice valences on the first floor, and same color fake wood on 2nd floor and bathrooms. Still ended up spending $5-6K but can say the window treatments look really nice.
by stm
Thu Jul 06, 2017 4:10 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Anyone bought a Pixel?
Replies: 46
Views: 7168

Re: Anyone bought a Pixel?

Ton of comments about the hardware - but none about the service.

For world travelers, Project Fi is a really huge deal. We are in the middle of a trip to see the 7 wonders of the world with 3 other devices on the shared data plan and it's great!
by stm
Mon Feb 27, 2017 1:11 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Going to Tahiti and we're budget travelers
Replies: 41
Views: 5520

Re: Going to Tahiti and we're budget travelers

TravelGeek wrote:
NoGambleNoFuture wrote:Nice OP! Looking forward to following this thread.

Planning on a trip with overwater bungalows in Hilton Moorea for honeymoon at the end of the year. Going to be using pure points from CSR to cover entire trip.
Same here (following this thread for future travel ideas).

How are you paying for a Hilton property with Ultimate Rewards points (CSR)?
I'm going to assume cash booking through UR travel portal at the 1.5c redemption rate.
by stm
Sat Feb 18, 2017 9:39 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Pre paid credit cards
Replies: 10
Views: 1391

Re: Pre paid credit cards

It's going to depend on what type of prepaid card it is. Is it credit, or can it be run as debit? Then if it's a visa/mc, there's a good chance that as a byproduct of the Durbin ammendment it has or can utilize a pin. Amex won't work.

Then depending on the brand, you can liquidate it at Walmart or Kroger as a money order or bill pay for a small fee. We do it all the time, it's pretty straight forward.
by stm
Thu Feb 16, 2017 8:04 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Share your net worth progression
Replies: 4288
Views: 1082000

Re: Share your net worth progression

Hit a personal milestone this year one that I would have never thought possible and thought I would share the journey FWIW. I've been 100% in equities with some good choices and bad choices along the way. 22 (1997): -20K 40K Finished MBA (student loans), career start, got married. 25 (2000): 30K 60K Wife working part time, student loans paid down, struggling to get traction and dot.com implosion. Lose > 50% of everything. 27 (2002): 60K 90K Wife working full time, DINK enjoyment phase but also undeterred by dot.com and continue saving/investing. 29 (2004): 150K 65K First child, wife stays home for "3 months" which ends up being 9 years. Unexpected hit to income as result. Difficult to save a lot but continue and stock market does ...
by stm
Thu Feb 16, 2017 6:35 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: VTSAX Equivalent for 401K
Replies: 4
Views: 1500

Re: VTSAX Equivalent for 401K

I don't think you can as those are US-only company funds?
by stm
Tue Feb 14, 2017 11:14 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: ETFs that Mimic VG Wellesley's & VG Wellington's Equity Investments
Replies: 19
Views: 5514

Re: ETFs that Mimic VG Wellesley's & VG Wellington's Equity Investments

I've heard a lot of good things about these two funds. Would either be suitable for a "bond" component AA in a Roth IRA?
by stm
Sun Jan 29, 2017 4:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Carribean island most like Hawaii
Replies: 63
Views: 13317

Re: Carribean island most like Hawaii

At the sake of sounding snobbish, if you're looking for "Hawaii" in the Caribbean, you're not going to find it. This is not to say that different is bad, but it's just not the same. I agree with the posters that there are many alternatives to the nature, views, and things to do. But I don't like that you can't just up and drive anywhere you want, because there are areas that are dangerous (and not just car break-ins).

We're kind of in the same boat being on the East Coast and winter breaks being short with the kids in school. We spent 4 Christmas's in a row in Hawaii and then did Aruba this year (2016). Spent part of the time in Aruba booking Hawaii for 2017... Guess the Aloha spirit is hard to turn down.
by stm
Sun Jan 29, 2017 4:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Nissan? (Cars.)
Replies: 52
Views: 5531

Re: Nissan? (Cars.)

I've had a couple of Nissans - a '94 Maxima and a '99 Maxima. My mid life crisis car that I still have is a 2010 G37S red coupe. I've also had two Honda Accords a Toyota Camry and Toyota/Honda minivans.

No doubt though, that compared to the other brands, their fit and finish isn't as good, doesn't seem to last as long (hard plastics, leather splitting), and they depreciate a lot steeper than the others. But I find the rest really boring to drive comparatively... I've always been attracted to Nissans because I found them more fun to drive. The VQ engine has been a favorite.
by stm
Sun Jan 08, 2017 11:44 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: FL prepaid plan(4-Year Florida University Plan)
Replies: 22
Views: 6118

Re: FL prepaid plan(4-Year Florida University Plan)

I really regret not doing this for my kids. 10 years ago while I was a doc student the prepaid rate was only $11K or so :oops:

Guess that was my annual stipend though....
by stm
Sun Jan 08, 2017 11:40 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What's Your Credit Card Rewards Strategy?
Replies: 7203
Views: 1421844

Re: What's Your Credit Card Rewards Strategy?

FedGuy wrote:Thanks, Drew. I'm not interested in playing the signup bonus game--I understand the potential benefits, but for me it's not worth the hassle of unfreezing my credit, applying for a card, doing manufactured spend, making the arrangements to pay my bills, and then putting the card in a drawer--

and an annual fee (such as the $450 for the Chase Sapphire Reserve--yikes!)
To each his own. Maximizing this deal, $450 investment is over a 400% gain in a year.
by stm
Fri Jan 06, 2017 11:01 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Replies: 216
Views: 53460

Re: Chase Sapphire Reserve

Is this card considered a generally very good travel rewards card? Does anybody plan on using this card in year two or year three assuming the perks stay the same? I'm trying to limit the number of cards I get. I've used the Fido 2% cash back card for many years and am not familiar with points cards and am wondering if it's worth keeping after the first year or if I should cancel...I would say we do a moderate amount of travel. I think it depends on the type of travel you're talking about. For purchasing travel using points, the 100K to $1500 is not bad. For value via transferability, it's excellent with a strong list of transfer partners to transfer points to. For buying travel, the 3X multiplier is above average, there are better. But......
by stm
Mon Dec 12, 2016 4:16 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Academia female professional seeking your suggestion
Replies: 53
Views: 12291

Re: Academia female professional seeking your suggestion

Thanks for all the great reads all... it's gratifying to see some advice that I find a bit more applicable as a fellow academic. Seems like the majority of posts here on BH are white coat or high tech which have infinitely more earning power and a different set of problems. For the OP, I'd like to echo some of the other posts in that salary compression/inversion is a really big problem for the field. Tenure isn't some magical unicorn land like others outside the field believe (i.e. all we do is teach), but just like it releases you from some constraints (e.g. research and pedagogical experimentation) it also binds you further to the institution and the low rate of salary advancement. I've been at my current institution for 6 years, and have...
by stm
Sat Sep 10, 2016 4:18 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Should I upgrade my 6 year old plasma TV?
Replies: 81
Views: 26483

Re: Should I upgrade my 6 year old plasma TV?

Home theater stuff is one of my hobbies so I keep on the bleeding edge a bit. We have loved plasmas mainly because their overall picture has been hard to beat with LCDs, especially when it comes to motion resolution and black levels. Still have 4 in the house, Panasonic and Pioneer ones from 50-65". A lot of posts in here that keep mentioning 4K.... but you need to think about WCG and HDR. All 3 combined are what will make the next gen sets really shine. Resolution is really fools gold, the equivalent of the megapixel race when it came to cameras. Factors like contrast, light control, motion resolution, color accuracy, black levels, and your source content all need to be considered. Standard wars benefit noone. 4K standards (especially...
by stm
Sun Aug 07, 2016 1:32 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Points/Miles Schemes - Waste of time or worth it?
Replies: 76
Views: 21591

Re: Points/Miles Schemes - Waste of time or worth it?

flyingaway wrote:Considering it as a hobby is fine. Otherwise I would spend the time and efforts to get a better-paying job or to study for a better-paying degree.
I don't know... MS was better than our regular job. Very sad that it's ended :|
by stm
Fri Jul 08, 2016 8:56 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Question about adding new wife to my credit cards
Replies: 16
Views: 2413

Re: Question about adding new wife to my credit cards

Depends on the card issuer. Amex in particular reports for AUs.
by stm
Sun Jun 12, 2016 12:11 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Actionable advice in a Brexit scenario
Replies: 162
Views: 25537

Re: Actionable advice in a Brexit scenario

Ug - I've got about 25% exposure in Vanguard European Stock Index, not to mention the other international funds.... Starting to worry a bit about this and have to figure out which the Vanguard bond fund is to hold.
by stm
Wed Jun 08, 2016 9:03 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Things to Do and See on Kauai, Hawaii
Replies: 75
Views: 11182

Re: Things to Do and See on Kauai, Hawaii

I think my wife told me that meals were not included in our reservation so we will have to either do something about that or see about the upgrade you mentioned. I'm not a big breakfast eater so I'm not too concerned. I figured being that I will be roaming around by myself all day and there are so many great food suggestions listed in this post that I'll graze all day long. The GH Kauai is a wonderful property. The "Grand" name is certainly well deserved especially the spectacular vista in the lobby. It is a very large property end-to-end with an onsite Luau that is expensive, but might be worth doing. The shipwreck wing is closer to the pool area and that's to put it modestly. Pool area includes pools, a lazy river, salt water l...
by stm
Tue May 10, 2016 5:51 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Samsung Pay vs Android Pay?
Replies: 4
Views: 1063

Re: Samsung Pay vs Android Pay?

Don't forget the American Express offer currently for Samsung Pay. It's a great one $10 off $20 purchase per card.
by stm
Tue May 10, 2016 5:47 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Should I hold on to my Apple stock?
Replies: 76
Views: 11293

Re: Should I hold on to my Apple stock?

I know that I'll get castigated for this but I'm heavily overweight on Apple stock. Much came from a random, blind luck (I'll admit this) purchase years ago but it's now like 33% of my small portfolio. Never really wanted to pay the capital gains, and the dividends go towards my kids' coverdell accounts. The overdependence on the iPhone is a big problem for them. The 7 will be a defining moment or perhaps yet another cycle in the yoyo who knows? :?
by stm
Tue Apr 26, 2016 5:41 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: VUL - help me out of this mess
Replies: 20
Views: 3413

Re: VUL - help me out of this mess

Hi ole meph - I notice that you have posted quite a bit on the VUL situation and was wondering if you or anyone would be willing to help. I bit on this a really long time ago, purchasing a variable appreciable life insurance policy from Prudential. Seemed like a good idea at the time.

Since I've already felt the pain up front in terms, I am wondering if it's actually worth keeping now. I know that I get charged all kinds of fees when "investing" and it's essentially flat. But what would be the first step in trying to decide if I need to keep it? The policy may be anywhere from 15-18 years old.