Recent content by sonomaguy

maybe something like portfoliovisualizer.com ?

I am 39, FIREed for a while now, and have been offered a lump sum payment for my pension. Would love some thoughts and advice on the following options. Option 1 - take lump sum Sept 1st of $100,514 (I think/assume I can simply roll this into an IRA and let it grow tax deferred?) Option 2 -...

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I wish it were that simple but my "knowledge" isn't anything that someone can replicate. Mainly I have been fortunate to have two successful careers at the right time, along with some success in small business entrepreneurship. I'll continue to participate on this board in my own small...

clifp - Thanks for taking the time to lend your comments, they are much appreciated. I often debate internally between tax efficiency and asset allocation. Unfortunately for me, a large part of my net worth is in traditional accounts without tax shelter, and because of tax loss harvesting...

Agreed on the illiquid investments and partly on the hedge fund. I withdrew 75k from the hedge fund last year and am doing another 75k this year. Presumably, 75k per year going forward might be where I stay, depending. As hedge funds go, this one is relatively benign on the fees side...

One year update. Some progress In my continuing interest to hold myself somewhat accountable I am posting a one year update, for comparison purposes and to solicit any comments or suggestions this wonderful community might have. now 38 and married with two children ages 11,12 and live in...

What about using the approach that best protects your low or medium end expected retirement lifestyle. On an absolute basis, being out of the market would hurt you, but protecting against downside has value because a dollar lost can be worth more than a dollar gained (marginal utility of money...

We have a kaiser permanente health plan with monthly premiums of $720 for a young family of four. The plan is grandfathered and it seems current similar plans offered by kaiser are in the 1k range. Last year and this year and likely going forward our earned income will be zero or very close to...

One point sometimes overlooked for AA is how important your future earning power is...during accumulation and through your working years, you can effectively take more risk the more your future earnings will be...as your future earnings decline or go to zero (retirement)...your risk tolerance...

I guess many will say this option carries too much risk but I would suggest considering a short term corporate bond fund. VCSH currently yielding approx 1.7%

I am considering adding a chunk of muni bonds to my bond allocation and wonder if an ETF like MUB would be the way to go since I am a california resident. Do I get full state income tax exemption from MUB even though the funds holding are approx 75% from OUTSIDE the state of CA? Would I then...

Just to throw an additional wrench in the analysis - I have not heard anyone mention the fact they choose not to rebalance because of tax considerations... realizing gains and paying taxes on those gains my cost more than you would benefit by having an ideal AA. I would tend to "drift" towards...

I have simplified my accounts within the past few years and really enjoy the benefits of interacting with less places. I cherry picked where I thought I recieved the best service (TDameritrade for me). I really like their commission free ETF program, and have had almost exclusively good...

my question back is: why does it matter? is it just semantics? is it a general label?