Recent content by Still Learning

Before we retired at 61 we turned to our CPA/Financial Planner who had prepared our taxes for the prior 10 years but never engaged for financial planning services. Vanguard and FireCalc already agreed that our plans would be 100% successful, but wanted an independent analysis. Provided budget...

5 years retired and will start RMDs in 2030. Shifted cash to new non-retirement account December 2022. Looking to shut down withdrawals from our retirement accounts until 2030 and let them grow faster. Any interest earned on non-retirement accounts need to be included as part of adjusted taxable...

11.4. Increased this tax season due to new non-retirement brokerage accounts and bank CDs. Next year CDs will double results.

Until the current tax season we have been in the 12% tax bracket. Our annual budget for all bills is $44K with no loans. SS & pension covers annual budget so with assumed 4% annual inflation and COLA adjustments that relationship should continue until RMDs start. Sufficient cash available for...

Coming up on 5 year retirement anniversary and this years discussion with our accountant/financial planner will be the pro and cons of these types of accounts. When we initially retired in 2019 we had a 50/50 portfolio of cash/investments. In November 2021 we decided to shift 80% of our cash to...

Coming up on 5 years retired and just shifted plan to adjust for unanticipated CDs that mature in 2024. Closed the retirement income flow from retirement accounts to a trickle and will use CD interest this year to fund discretionary fund to remain in lower tax bracket. Expect CD rates will...

Both have low fees with VOO at .003 and VFAIX at .004.

VFIAX is a large cap blended fund where I found a note stating it is also available as an ETF. Clicked on "ETF" and was taken to VOO where I am already invested and planning to increase my stake. Except for a very modest change in fees they appear very much to be the same. For the VOO ETF I need...

After 4 years of retirement (61) pulled our last working budget vs our current retirement budget and found we are currently spending about $3K less than back in 2018. Lots of money shifts - monthly train fare paid my health insurance, less clothing, work lunches, auto use, etc. allowed us to...

Forecast our investments, savings, expenses, RMDs, taxes, house renovations, car replacements, discretionary spending, etc. out to age 85 and our NW continues to grow so probably looking at major expense due to long term care or income reduction due to one of us passing. Spent every dollar of...

We have been happy with Federal Money Market Fund VMFXX through Vanguard and CDs through a local regional bank. Money Market funds can be converted to a new investment quickly and our CDs are short, non-callable instruments.

Shifted most investor funds to VMFXX earlier this year and kept 5 smaller mutual and ETF funds. Our VOO ETF has had decent returns but the others not so much. Used to keep about a million in local and state banks waiting for rates to rise like they did in the 1980's inflation years. Well that...

Lower Hudson Valley about 65 miles north of New York City regular is $3.47, mid-grade $.4.00 and premium is $4.60 a gallon. Thankfully our vehicles including the camper van run on regular.

Agree with both responses above. We shifted a lot into Fed MM and CDs last year and sleep well at night. Still have 6 smaller stock/bond funds that we are tracking for better times.

Older high mileage cars would have me thinking Toyota, Honda & Subaru with hopefully all wheel drive in a snow state based on my current & past vehicles. People getting rid of vehicles usually stop maintenance so air filters, oil change and possibly brakes, rotors, exhaust and tires would be in...