Recent content by jj

Amazing. It took 16 weeks when I converted paper bonds from our tax return last year. Not that they can be sold in their first 12 months anyway, so it didn't really matter. We are also building a stash of higher fixed-rate i bonds for the long term. 1.2% fixed is our previous highest rate. If...

What jumped out for me was two mentions of mutual funds with 5.75% front-end loads.

Thank you for doing this. The Canaries is a group of islands that I'm curious about. My brother and his wife are frequent visitors.

The QCD limit goes up to $105k for 2024. The first increase since 2006 when they were created.

Well, yes! :dance: that too :laugh:

I absolutely can do that. And may do if I can't find a cheap short-term policy to cover the gap. I guess I'm champing at the bit to get away from full-price ACA. I just horrified myself when I looked up to see how much we've paid for healthcare since we retired in 2005. It's $398k, that's an...

...but what HI to choose for the first two months of 2024? I see my options as: 1 Carry on with my ACA HDHP HSA-eligible plan, sock away a few more dollars in the HSA. Cost $1700 for two months. No subsidy. 2 Go without HI for two months - I don't think that's wise. Bankruptcy insurance...

I have considered this for some of our IRAs but decided that it's too final. Donating the RMD each year with QCDs is a decision that can be made each and every year. The current plan is that a substantial amount will be QCDs but if circumstances change that can be reconsidered.

I'm not quite following here. I see what you're doing to protect your wife from the increased taxation from RMDs after your death when she's filing as single. Upon your death and inheriting your IRA, your wife could either: - keep the IRA in your name and keep taking RMDs on your schedule, and...

I flogged my way all through this video (full of ads, by the way:facepalm:) to the end. Ramit Sethi has a blog, My Rich Life, which is also a book. Plus, he has a short series on Netflix called 'How to Get Rich'. Despite the fact that I should find him obnoxious I like the guy. He's trying to...

my bold Karen, I'm not sure I'm following what you mean here. Is your partner more than 10 years younger than you? If they're not then the rule forcing them to empty out your IRA within 10 years doesn't apply to them. "Eligible Designated Beneficiaries – a group that includes surviving...

Collagen peptide powder in my coffee every morning. I stopped when I finished a big tub a few months ago and within three weeks I noticed the difference in my knee joints. I use the Orgain or the Vital brands usually, whatever Costco has on offer.

Re BRK :) Us too, I was thinking here about the fixed-income side of our assets. Harry Sit has the best, detailed explanation of using I Bonds for education tax-free. Grandparents have to jump through a few more hoops as presumably their grandchildren aren't their tax dependents. It can be...

https://www.treasurydirect.gov/research-center/history-of-savings-bond/comparing-tips-to-i/ This is the Treasury Direct (TD) comparison between TIPS and I Bonds. They are quite different animals. I'll explain our rationale for holding onto I Bonds - it seems that after being 'flavor of the...

https://opensocialsecurity.com/ This is the link to the site reference above.