Recent content by Delawaredave

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    FIRE and a second home

    I had an advisor years ago who said the secret to becoming wealthy is the "rule of one": One house One wife (no divorces) One kid One company One broker (he added that one jokingly). Actually not bad advice. The "one company" advice is outdated - that applied back when...
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    How wealthy do you feel?

    There's two ways to feel rich: 1. Have more 2. Want less Older I get, the less I want and the more I have.....
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    Mini stroke - TIA anyone?

    My mother had a couple mini-strokes - then within a year she had a major hemorragic stroke. Fortunately she did a 95% recovery. You are doing the right thing in taking this very seriously. Mom's was 5 years ago - so I can't remember anything about preventative possibilities after...
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    What is a good annualized return? What should I be shooting for? 11%, higher?

    I don't think you should "shoot for" any return. I would define one's risk tolerance (volatility you can sleep with, % equities, etc), and then invest to that tolerance in the lowest expense ratio / highest diversified way possible. Then, "you gets what you gets". To "define what return you...
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    Getting rich off sub-subprime foreclosures

    Great post above. I saw the Nightline clip- he does have an interesting "interim participation window" in the whole foreclosure process. He creates value for himself through: 1. Lowballing on the property initially 2. Setting up the "$500 down, $400 month" financing package He whips these...
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    What the heck is a "comingled pool"??

    Rumor has it my megacorp is looking at the same. This "comingled pool" seems to me like a pile of money they'll dole out in chunks to a number of private money managers. I don't like it and don't understand why. I think people think "fewer choices would be a good think" and only by converging...
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    International investing-- a year later

    Yes - I think so. There was an article about Apple's iPod - which contributes to the trade deficit (importing them from Asia) - but the majority of the profits are captured by Apple.
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    What's the next boom ?

    I think there's a "global liquidity glut" and all asset classes are fully valued. But if I had to speculate: I think the "US manufacturing pendulum might swing the other way". The dollar will devalue, the yuan will appreciate, shipping stuff over oceans will get more expensive - and there...
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    The closer I get the less I save.

    I'm seeing similiar. If you're at 4% SWR - then portfolio is 25x your expenses. Reducing your household costs 5% (generating more savings) - equates to 0.2% of the portfolio. Years ago, 5% budget savings equated to nearly 5% additional to the portfolio. If you're "on or above plan" - maybe...
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    Anyone really worried? I am...

    Bingo ! (except for the piglet stuff...) We've all seen these "the sky is falling" opinions for 20 years. And it may be falling soon. We don't know. But I believe it is more risky to take an extreme defensive position versus "stay the course". The amount of "diversification access" we have...
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    What to do with $50K

    If you need the money in 2 years for sure, I'd avoid stocks with risk of correction - unless you can have a "Plan B" around car acquisitions and can push purchases out additional years. $50K is a decent car fund - maybe you put some in stocks and "vary the car you buy" depending on the market...
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    Should I, or shouldn't I

    What I would do: - Change work "relationsihp" to treating your assignment as a "job" not a "career" - punch-in, do your best, punch-out, go have a pint. - $85 is a lot different than $120 - Depending on your lifestyle, $85 might not "go as far as you think" with 2 small kids Like others...
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    Redfin real estate- ready to kick the agents out?

    What is "MLS" ? I know what it stands for - but is the list owned by the National Association of Realtors ? If you use something like Redfin - does that mean it will show up in "MLS listings" ? There's a website http://www.listbyowneronmls.com that for $300 you get "on MLS listings" for 6...
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    Pollyanna perceptions of retirement saving

    I think people understand the need for savings/invetments - they just ignore it. I read this interesting article years ago (will try to post link) where the human mind under values the risk of long term events and over values the risk of short term immediate events People know they shouldn't...
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    Pay off the Mortgage at Retirement???

    The reason this can be debated so long is because it is a marginal play either way - if you are comparing "like risk" alternatives. The decision should be comparing "like risk" alternatives on an after tax basis. For me in "AMT land", there basically no deductibility of mortgage interest. So...
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