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Minor correction. Traditional IRA is pre-tax, just like 401K traditional contributions. You'll get the tax benefit when filing for the year. HSA is also pre-tax. If you have a company sponsored HSA plan with voluntary salary deductions, the contributions are not only pre-FedTax, but also pre...

My first foray into capitalism was getting a paper route at age 12. First of every month was collection time and I usually had all kinds of dog-eared one $ bills collected. I had a habit of soaking the old bills in a bucket of hot water and then ironing them flat. As a 12yo JP Getty, I liked my...

I don't drink milk, but I make over a gallon a week of homemade yogurt from 2% milk. I let it ferment 24 hours verses the 8 hours typical for store bought products. The extra time converts virtually all of the lactose and it is very low/no carb/sugar. It's more tart than typical store bought and...

My third month on Medicare. Traditional A + B AARP/UNH G @ $146/month Wellcare D @ $3.50/month I pay medicare and supplements with autopay from checking because I'm not taking SS yet. I also have $75K in HSA and $110K credit in employer HRA that will reimburse me for Part B, D and for Plan G...

SS is unfair *by design*. It is redistributive, not proportional. A couple of ways that the redistribution is accomplished mathematically are the bend points and the spousal rules. Complaining that SS shorted you because of WEP and/or GPO is really just complaining that you are on the wrong side...

The math doesn't work like that in a system heavily skewed by bend points. The lower earners should be paying taxes on an even higher percentage than the upper earners, because their benefit is much higher per dollar contributed. Their post tax contributions are a much smaller part of their...

Just as a rule of thumb for an individual claim: FICA taxes are a good/great "investment" below the 1st bend point, a so/so "investment" between the 1st and 2nd bend point and a poor investment above the 2nd bend point. And a total loss when you have 35 years paid in at greater than your current...

This is getting a bit into the weeds, but there is nothing special about 100% equity exposure. It is not a hard endpoint. You can easily go 120% - or 200% - or 300%. And in fact, some such portfolios outperform. The Hedgefundie's Excellent Adventure portfolio was a topic here just recently that...

I'm not moving out of the USA, but part of the reason is that I can leave for 3-6 months at a time. If I was the prototypical, retired on $2000/month, without much of a nest egg, single divorced guy, I would almost certainly relocate to Panama, Columbia or Thailand. A lot of the desire for...

I went through helping my mom evaluating and moving into a CCRC 5 years ago now. I have a couple thoughts: I also consider a CCRC as a likely destination for me, but my take on when revolves around delaying until it's absolutely necessary - but I'm still able to medically qualify. The monthly...

No new case of Covid to report for me. But Covid and Flu are supposed to be up in the local area. I did remember to go online yesterday to order more "Free" covid test kits. I've used up my allotment from a few previous orders, both proving I had Covid (back in June) and not-Covid on a bout of...

You have made the most common mistake in modelling the early & investing verses defer SS question. You have attributed stock market returns to the early & invest side. The reason why this is wrong for almost all real world situations is that nearly everyone who has a portfolio allowing the...

I'm now signed up for Medicare. I'm another who elected to go traditional Medicare plus G&D. JMO, but you get what you pay for. I have access to an previous employer's Advantage plan that is better than available on the open market. I still think it's worth it in my situation to pay...

I've had individual access to Right Capital for 3-4 years now. You have to go through a Financial Planner that subscribes in order to have an account set up. I paid a one time fee of $100 and that was my only business with that planner. He no longer offers just software access alone but my...

Minor correction. The delayed credits are not compounded. It is calculated as a simple increase on the PIA for the total duration delayed. The calculation is 2/3 of one percent per month (8% per year) for each month after normal retirement age, up age 70.

When you are SIRE rather than FIRE, investment allocation can be pretty much whatever you want. Where is the remaining money going eventually ? You can set the investment horizon based on the recipient. If it's intended for your under 10 year old grandchildren, you might realistically invest...

An additional wrinkle is that HSA payroll deductions - but not direct contributions - are FICA exempt. It never mattered to me as the years I did payroll HSA deductions were all above the FICA cap by more than my HSA contribution, but it could for some situations. Payroll deductions will save...

I have one and I fully participated for about 12 years. But I've never drawn a penny out yet. I've been banking qualified medical bill receipts and have the balance about 1/2 covered now. JMO but its just another tax advantaged savings account. People tie it mentally closer to ongoing medical...

That's the right answer, but there's one additional wiggle. If you choose to wait to start until the year after you turn 73, you have to take two rmds that first year and the first one has to happen on/before April 1.

I've had verified, multiple positive test cases of Covid twice: May 2022 June 2023 I was vaccinated (Moderna) in early 2021 and boosted once (Moderna) in Nov 2021. So both my bouts were after being somewhat but not perfectly up to date vaccinated. I had little/no issues with both bouts, just a...

All that's interesting - although maybe off topic for the thread. I haven't done any detailed research, but find it interesting that private company Retiree medical programs exist and there isn't much standardization. Seems like the terms are pretty varied.

The rules are a bit more convoluted than that. Your DW will get a spousal benefit that will be 1/2 your FRA benefit if she starts at her FRA (67) and you have already started your benefit. If she starts sooner, her spousal will be reduced. The reduction is around 6.67% per year started early...

She qualifies for Medicare based on your record as long as you have qualified yourself. Her SS payment on her record would only be a net profit for any years she could file before you file for yours. When you file, she'll be eligible for spousal on your record, which presumably is a lot more...

Off topic, but I'm curious. Is your premium subsidy open ended ? Or is there a cap on medical reimbursements ? I have what my former employer calls a RRA = Retiree Reimbursement Account. It has a nominal value based on years of service, money that I can apply to qualified medical expenses...

I'm not in the poll either. Retired just over 3 years. My nominal NW has declined ~6% in 3 years but there's mitigating factors. I've been "investing" in deferred SS and pension. Anyone know how to put a PV on SS or pension?:horse: ? I also have done $160K in Roth conversions with the taxes...