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Here is a simple plan that you can compare to your annuity. Buy 10 $85k face value US Treasury Strips. I just ran this on Fidelity in 10 minutes: Date Face Discount Cost May-31 $ 85,000.00 0.73149 $ 62,176.65 May-32 $ 85,000.00 0.70188 $ 59,659.80 May-33 $ 85,000.00 0.67003 $...

I am sure with a combination of zero expense index funds and options that you could create such a collar for a much lower cost. Back in the MBA days we used to do these type of "snythetic" securities on a regular basis. Maybe it is too much work for you, but really no magic if you are willing...

If your visa grants you access to free Italian health care then I would not worry about it. That is probably more valuable than 20% of your portfolio. I would not invest in autos or banking. Maybe: Prada S.p.A. (OTC:PRDSY) - rich consumer goods since 1913 Edison S.p.A. (BIT:EDNR) - energy...

I think effective rate would be appropriate if Congress enacted significant tax changes without changing the marginal rate. For Ex: Enacting a wealth tax based on net worth would be a negative for Roth investments v. Traditional. Reducing the standard deduction or eliminating Schedule A...

The quote is wrong. You have to compare marginal to marginal or effective to effective. My effective rate is ~ 50% of my marginal rate while working and I expect it to be the same in retirement.

Personally know 3 families that have lost a son in their teens or twenties to Fentanyl. These are upper middle class families that are not economically disadvantaged. However, almost all of my kids friends have some kind of "anxiety" issues. I think social media puts a lot of pressure on young...

Seems a little light to cut the cord 100% with those numbers at your age, but you probably make it in most scenarios and if your job skills stay current you have a back up plan. After the WSJ article today I think you are "Coast" or "Barista" Fired. You have enough money that you are not...

I don't think there is any free lunch, you pay in time or money: 1. Keep on going as is and pay in time. 2. Switch to a management company and pay in fees. 3. Switch to active 1031 exchange and pay in time. 4. Switch to passive 1031 exchange and pay in fees. 5. Pay your taxes and pay in fees...

That is a date screening fee for young people. Kind of like a country club but cheaper. If you are there you must have a decent job and be reasonably healthy. Good dating material.

Planet Fitness for me - $159 per year Kombucha ~ $1.85 per day for a bottle. A little extravagant but it really helps my digestion. Fresh vs. Processed foods - I don't do organic, but try to buy more fresh vs. freezer/fast food meals. That costs more, just not sure how much more.

It is certainly a mitigating factor, maybe amplified by increasing wealth/income disparity, but probably not material. Much like attempts to measure wealth effects or "feelings" about the economy. My interest income on my emergency fund went from $300 per year to $300 per month. Certainly...

Worst I did was a family trip to Orlando when my kids were little. Got a really cheap flight at 9:30 and hustled everyone to the airport that morning. Missed one little detail that it was 9:30pm not am :facepalm: Luckily we got there early, they had seats on the early flight, and after a...

I get that is his opinion, but that does not make it so. He is trying to reconcile data from 2 different reports that measure different things. As he notes, average weekly hours worked is flat while jobs and labor participation have increased. More hours are being worked. More money is being...

From the statistics that I found: Median wage in Q4 2023 - $59,540 4% wdr on $1.46M - $58,400 for a 30 year period So that seems about right for 1/2 the working population. Social Security is designed to replace <= 40% of your income, so if the goal is to replace your income to maintain your...

You mis-reported your income. They assume that it is all taxable until you tell them otherwise. They don't provide tax advice, your CPA does that. Seems totally ethical and that everything worked as it should once you filed your amended return. Wait until people start getting 1099s for their...

Buy low/Sell high is better than the alternative :) If you need the cash, sell.

I would say don't trust your gut. We are hard wired by evolution to make incorrect financial choices. You say inflation was 18% the last 3 years, however the return on the S&P 500 is 33% the last 3 years, so you would be way ahead if you did not let your gut rule your decisions. That is not...

I have had them for over 30 years and they have paid out over $100k in claims for me, so not my experience. There claims are always fast and efficient. I think the key is working with their approved vendors.

Thats just an anomaly based on when the government receives tax receipts. No way the current deficit is $3.65 Trillion annually. It is less than half that I believe. Still historically high given the state of the economy.

:laugh: The only time I felt unsafe in Singapore was with the cab driver from the airport. I knew I would have a hard time surviving the accident he was trying to get into :( Otherwise very safe and modern. Going somewhere where the driving is fast and first come first served is probably the...

If like here, I would take advantage of a tight market with multiples and no inspections. Getting out without sinking $100k in repairs is a win for me. However, I also grew up watching "The Money Pit" and consider paying taxes to be a good thing (profit).

Maybe, or maybe the historical CAPE 10 is understated due to the fact that a large % of its data points to a time when you had to pay a broker, if you could get one, $80 per trade, could not buy odd lots, computers did not exist, no indexing, no 401k etc. Seems to me that economic productivity...

For anecdotes, using your chosen date of 1/1/2020 for me: CPI All Urban Consumers +19.6% Salary +24.2% Portfolio +66.5% Net Worth +57.8% During that time I have "downsized" to a slightly more expensive condo, paid for trade school masters program and wedding for DD1 (off the payroll), and...

Currently 59 and 2-4 years out from retirement. Spouse has had health issues and hits medicare in 2 years, started tracking expenses closely again, then I have a portfolio decision if I am short of $2M. Was 100% equity until 3 years ago and am now 80/20. Debating SORR and whether I should go...

It almost sounds like a fixed $ amount vs. a %. For example, Schwab only allowed me to do a % withholding, so the amount withheld was $30 different than what I wanted because the % amount is in whole increments and did not match the $ amount I wanted withheld from the sale. TD allowed me to...