6. Adjusting to Federal jobs: I have been a disciplined guy who takes ownership(more than required) and acts fast my whole professional career. I am bit concerned if I can adjust to the bureaucratic ways - though I am prepared knowing that this is last phase of my career. The problem is that to keep the health insurance, you have to work until you are 62. That's 10 years in the federal government. The adjustment could be difficult. Statistics: Posted by MikeWillRetire — Thu Apr 25, 2024 8:57 pm ..read more

I'm trying to find somewhere online that might have the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100™ Index historical returns before the Schwab etf SCHD 2011 inception date, especially to see how it performed as a large cap value fund in the 2000s and during the 08 crash, does anyone have an idea where I could find this if it exists ? Statistics: Posted by camper95 — Thu Apr 25, 2024 8:56 pm ..read more

... The red line is in the wrong place on that graph. The current red line is at about 2.8-2.9% The hash marks appear to be increments of 0.40 So it should be just above the 1st hash mark above 2.0% for 2.5%. Good catch, I edited the chart in my post. Statistics: Posted by McQ — Thu Apr 25, 2024 8:55 pm ..read more

I need to sell my 2005 Tacoma sooner rather than later. We camp 50 nights a year, often in very remote areas and put in about 5000 miles a year towing our small camper doing so. Plus another 5K miles a year with regular non-towing use. We have a trip coming up in August that entails 3K miles of towing in very remote and mountainous areas of Idaho, Utah and Wyoming. On the 05 Tacoma my annual emission test results continue pass but are worsening and it may not pass 12 months from now. Which would likely require both catalytic converters to be replaced in order to sell it within the state. Desp ..read more

Yes, there is a real diversification benefit. Statistics: Posted by whodidntante — Thu Apr 25, 2024 8:54 pm ..read more

1) Very likely the best job you can get at 55. 2) What's the state retiree health benefit? (e.g., for me in Texas it basically eliminates all costs except prescription co-pays as secondary to Medicare). 3) Working until 67 unless you REALLY HAVE TO does not sound appealing to me. 4) I'm not clear on the WEP situation--do you NOT pay FICA at this new job? Statistics: Posted by blueeyes_austin — Thu Apr 25, 2024 8:53 pm ..read more

Some gold, if you could get it, may have been prudent prior to the launch of TIPS. Depending on an investor's broader exposure to real assets, there were some "inside the system" risks that could be tough to hedge. Productive real assets were still probably better. Now, it only makes sense for hedging "bring down the system" risks (along with flour, a water source, ammo, friends, etc). As these risks are extremely low probability, and it's highly debatable whether gold would even help you in such a scenario, I round my gold allocation down to zero. I have a little bit in physical form but ..read more

Yes and No. Yes, if you delay the first required year of RMDs until April of the next year, you have to take two full years of RMDs in that second year. No, if you are turning 72 in 2024, you do not need to take any RMDs this year. Secure 2.0 updated the age of first RMDs. Effective January 1, 2023, if you were born between 1/1/1951 and 12/31/1959, you do not need to take your first RMD until age 73. Statistics: Posted by stlrick — Thu Apr 25, 2024 8:53 pm ..read more

The Wiki is also not very clear on eligible designated beneficiary (EDB) rules. Under the Secure Act, an EDB can still use the stretch provision using their own life expectancy factor. A common situation would be where one is not 10 years younger than the deceased account holder. My sister passed away recently, had not started RMDs, and I am 6 years younger than her, so I will qualify as an EDB and be able to take stretch distributions over my lifetime. Other common categories that qualify are disabled or chronically ill beneficiaries as well as minor children. An EDB can take a lump sum dis ..read more

Congratulations to your son for his scholarships and getting into college! You're right that if he has more than $14,600 in earned income for 2024, he will have a filing requirement, which means he will have to file a tax return. For purposes of the filing requirement, you're also right that taxable scholarships are considered earned income (they're considered unearned income in other contexts, which can be confusing). And you're also right that if you claim him as your dependent and he has a filing requirement, you'll be required to add his ACA MAGI to your tax return, and that will impact ..read more