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At least I keep my public posts free of violations of the TOS. Bless your heart.

Seriously? If our offspring ever gave us instructions like that, we would make sure they inherit.... NOTHING.

We bought a second home seven years before I FIREd, and still own two homes today (three and four for a short time). I say second homes because they are far apart and we live in one for months at a time, then move to the other. No back and forth. For us, it was a lifestyle decision more than a...

Wife's account has transferred in kind. Just held some SPY. fractional shares sold and cash moved with the other cash in the account. Still waiting for mine, but it should work the same way.

Look into getting a MicroCell. https://www.att.com/att/microcell/ It will cost you, although you might get ATT to reimburse you. It doesn't require WiFi calling and works very well. We have had one at our summer home for years, and used it before we had phones capable of WiFi calling.

FIREd at 45, wife 48. It's been 12 years now. We have adapted just fine to spending lots of time around each other, but not necessarily together. We don't do breakfast or lunch together, and have separate interests and friends that take up time. We do talk many times a day, and spend dinner and...

Update: Fidelity called because TD Ameritrade rejected the transfer because they wanted a letter of authorization. Didn't specify from whom. Called TD Ameritrade. They were waiting for a letter of authorization from HSA Bank, which they now have. Given that all this transpired in less than two...

This is a great idea, thank you!

Ah, didn't know that. It does complicate things. Maybe ask FIDO if they can convert when transferring? Probably not, but might be worth an ask if you don't want to convert to cash and risk the market moving against you.

Shouldn't be a problem if you convert them to regular shares. That's what I did when I moved everything from Vanguard to FIDO and there was no problem.

I opened Fidelity HSA accounts for myself and my wife. It was easy. We had accounts at HSA Bank and companion accounts at TD Ameritrade to invest in ETFs. I transferred the TD Ameritrade when opening the account, and it appears to be a transfer in kind and all done online. Then I did an...

I would (actually in the process of revising our estate plan now, attorney charges $495 per hour) pay to make sure you get educated so you can make an informed decision. Otherwise, you are being penny wise and pound foolish IMHO.

We spend $24K this summer adding a hot tub to our summer house and refinishing the room that leads out to it. In the process of planning a kitchen reno in our winter condo that I estimate with cost $125K. Don't feel too stretched on this since it has appreciated $800K+ or more than 50% in the...

Some of your stories make me think I had it lucky. Seven kids. Father was a salesman (cars, insurance). Mother was SAHM, part time work later to chip in small amounts for my brother's and my college. Growing up, we always had enough to eat, but very basic food, homemade clothes. Got used toys...

Well, we outsource a lot of tasks that we have neither the knowledge or the interest to spend the time doing them well. So, I understand. FA services require a higher level of knowledge, skill, and trustworthiness, but can have value nonetheless. Like we do with all service providers, I hope...

Why are you getting account information over the phone instead of online?

I see. Someone should invent one for checked airline bags then.

Not to derail this thread, but I don't think anyone has mentioned trash compactors that are installed under the counter. We don't have one, but a condo we used to rent regularly did. We were slightly afraid of it, so never used it. I never quite understood the value of this appliance.

I/we have had weekly cleaning people since getting my first real apartment and my first real job. I don't like to clean, and I don't want my wife to have to do something I don't like. We can afford it, so it isn't a burden financially. Current cleaners in both houses are one main person with a...

Voted other. Our condo has a garbage chute where all garbage drops to a dumpster in a trash room. Recycling gets taken there. Our house has garbage cans inside a cedar cabinet on the side of the garage. The company we use empties from there, no dragging anything anywhere.

We are in kind of a similar situation, without the inadvertent discovery and before needing to help financially. My wife's parents have a history of wasteful spending (hanging onto and actually buying more real estate even though not needed, paying for storage for junk that should be trashed...

Even before I FIRE'd 12 years ago, I never kept much of a stash of cash on hand. I figured in an emergency I could borrow if needed. After FIRE, I did the same, keeping essentially no cash and borrowing on margin on the portfolio while carrying mortgages on both houses. Portfolio income more...

Based on Fidelity RIP, using Significantly Below Average market returns, we could increase our current spending until ages 85/88 (after which one might assume we couldn't possibly continue to spend like that) by 40% before the plan fails. We could definitely think of ways to blow that dough...

When I first sold my companies and FIREd, I set up a small foundation that has pretty much been depleted. As that got smaller, we started giving more directly to various charities. Last year, we put a bunch of appreciated stock in a DAF that we are starting to deplete. Larger gifts (over $1,000)...

The advice not to bother with Realtors who send those solicitations is sound. I will chime in on a variation. My wife was tasked with selling an extra condo her elderly parents did not need (they needed the money instead). It was across the hall from their other condo and in a desirable...