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Opening a Fidelity DAF transformed my giving mindset. Once I donated appreciated stock to it, the donation was “done”. From that point on, since the money in the DAF no longer belonged to me, it made me much more willing to donate later amounts and to a growing list of charities. I still...

My wife and I just moved from VA to WA, and got sticker shock when changing plans. We’ve been on a Bronze+HSA plan for several years, basically free after subsidies. But here in WA an equivalent plan is nearly $500/mo after subsidies. Reason being is a very narrow spread between Silver and...

Have you considered Salem? We are moving from Virginia to Tacoma WA this summer, but looked at the I-5 corridor from Eugene to Bellingham for our downsizing city of choice. While we chose Tacoma, we really liked Salem more than we thought. Downtown is turning around nicely, and some really...

Longtime west coaster but living in southern VA the last 13 years. We’re recent empty nesters and moving to WA. No income tax, property taxes are higher but not too much, sales tax is higher (but we’re low spenders, at least after we’ve bought all the furniture we’re leaving behind), and as far...

This is our issue. She needs a local health plan that covers more than emergency services to stay on good terms with her university. Ironically, she gets free health care from the student health center regardless of her insurance situation.

We live in VA but my youngest D is off to college in MA this fall. Since we live in VA now, we use the federal exchange. When she heads to MA, I’ll enroll her in the MA exchange and simultaneously remover her from coverage in VA. My question: do the premium tax credits flow to both exchanges...

2017, my first year of FIRE life, has been so fulfilling. This year: I learned how to blow glass, I travelled to Amsterdam, LA with my daughter, Montreal, Cape Cod for our 25th anniversary, and most notably to Rwanda to drill a water well. I took my family to see Hamilton on Broadway and I met...

We are in a very similar situation to yours. Our HS senior has a 1550 SAT, lots of extracurriculars and very rigorous coursework. She also wants to go private rather than in state. She knows the rules; we’re willing to pay costs equaling tuition at a top public in-state school, and she pays the...

Yeah, we are lucky. 2 dependents makes a difference. We FIREd in mid-February so minimal wages. We have sizable dividends from our taxable accounts, that will make up close to half of our MAGI. The $6750 HSA deduction helps. I’ll do a Roth conversion of around $20K to maximize our 0% tax...

We are Anthem customers and live in a VA county they’re pulling out of. Will switch to our only carrier for 2018, Optima. Subsidies are huge so rates will actually be going down. I will be on a Silver plan due to my health usage, my wife and younger daughter on a HSA Bronze plan for the full...

Glad to see the last post mention charity. I turn 54 and retired over 2 months ago. My wife will join me on my ER adventure on Memorial Day weekend when she leaves her job. While we're still figuring out a monthly spending and withdrawal rhythm, we're probably going to come in something around...

For my kids, 2nd year I've used myfreetaxes which is an H&R Block collaboration with United Way. For anyone with income under $64000 and unlike many of the other "free" websites, there's no limitation on forms or schedules.

Do I understand correctly that the proposed tax credits are refundable, so that they would be paid directly to the insurer and would/could be more than our total federal tax liability? For my wife and I in our 50s, the tax credit would be $3500x2, plus whatever tax credit our 2 dependents would...

Congrats, my fellow 2/10/17er! Best of luck and much happiness to us both.

I retired today, right on time. My regional mgr took me out to lunch today, we had cake and champagne, lots of kind words and a few presents and, yeah, I shed a few tears. 25 years for megacorp and 30+ years working post-college. Now the adventure begins!!

I gave my notice today. Talked to my boss and his boss. They were both happy for me and a little sad. 25 years with my company next month. Last day on schedule for February 10. Yee-HAW.

Thanks for this genuinely helpful advice. My daughter's university doesn't offer health insurance. So she will be covered under ACA. She's only an hour away from us but with different hospitals that aren't covered under the plan I've picked. So would you recommend 2 policies: one for her and...

I'll be FIREing in just over a month. We'll be living on our taxable portfolio (60% of total assets) until I take SS/RMDs in 17 years. My dividends/interest/CG has been reinvested but will be transferred to my Alliant savings account. This will cover about 40% of our spending. The other 60% will...

This question has been discussed many times but, as I am ERing in less than 2 months and starting ACA on March 1, it's a question I'd like to figure out. My wife (age 50) and I (53) with 2 daughters aged 19 and 16. Before the election, I thought I would convert enough of my 750K rollover IRA to...

You do realize that "4 Vanguard funds" contain nearly all of the world's stocks and a good representation of the world's corporate and government debt? You could not ask for a more diversified portfolio. Simplify, keep costs to a bare minimum and don't try to beat the market. I used to think I...

Oops, darn acronyms! Yes, HSA. Post fixed, thanks.

I will be ERing next February and will be going on the exchange for myself and my family (we're 53 & 50, girls 19 and 16). We are all in good health and are eyeing a bronze plan. We will be under 400% FPL but too high for a cost saving silver plan. Here's my question: all things being equal...

Hey, room for one more? We made our decision back in March when I told my wife we are basically FI. I'm 53, DW turns 50 next month. My plan: I get my annual retirement contribution from Megacorp in mid-Jan 2017. February marks my 25th anniversary with said company. I want to reach this...

A clarification, Potstickers: She took the PSAT last spring as a sophomore. She scored 1430. She'll take it again in October for ranking and scholarship purposes. Thanks for the info you provided; it's genuinely helpful. Sent from my iPad using Early Retirement Forum

Very helpful advice, thanks. She is very interested in Georgetown/GW/American. We've brought up Fordham as a solid alternative to Columbia. Sent from my iPad using Early Retirement Forum