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My name is Gene and I'm a retired IT manager with 34 years experience in IT. After college I did a stint in the USMC in the mid-70's, conductor on the railroad, and then during an economic recession went back to school and got a 2nd bachelors degree in computer science. I then did half my IT career in corporate America and half as a civil servant. I grew up in the southwest and after military service returned to the southwest to raise my family (1 girl & 2 boys). I went through an unwanted and unexpected divorce at 49, but remarried 11 years later to a wonderful companion who's truly my soulmate. We both retired in 2018 and we're having a great time in retirement. We're currently in good health and live in a 55+ community. We love our home but we plan to ultimately move into a CCRC at some point to remove that uncertainty and risk.
Comments
An excellent post Dennis; thanks. Plus the reminder on avoiding unnecessary risk taking is particularly appropriate before I start an 800 mile drive home in a few days.
Post: Retirement Begins Long Before You Retire
Link to comment from September 15, 2025
My monthly premium is similar to S S above: $46 a month ($92 total) for myself and spouse. Of course there are "fee maximums" and they're expressed as the percentage covered for in-network services (whose fees have been negotiated and in-network providers aren't allowed to charge more than the negotiated amount). For example, my charge for a (in-network) crown is 50%. But the main point of my comment to S S was that an analysis of the value of dental insurance is specific to the plans available to a specific person. It really comes down to understanding the cost versus benefit of the plans available to a specific person. But even if a plan only covers the cost of the preventative services and very limited additional work, writing this I wonder if it might not still have value by affording the insuree access to a network of providers with a negotiated fee structure for major services that can't be exceeded. This might still provide some cost predictability (ie. peace of mind) regarding unplanned dental expenses.
Post: Healthcare spending and premiums during a post age-65 retirement- facts and ideas.
Link to comment from September 8, 2025
I also bought retiree dental insurance. For me it came down to 2 things: is the max annual benefit large enough to provide a meaningful contribution to any large unplanned services and getting the "in network negotiated price" for services. Basicly, that allows me to have some idea of my max liability in any given year for the kind of services I expect as I get older. At this point 8 years into retirement, I've received more benefits than my insurance costs so it's been a good deal for me so far. But I'm fortunate to have access to a retiree dental policy with a large max annual benefit, so the "potential benefit" in a worst case scenario (ie. a year with major dental work) is significant.
Post: Healthcare spending and premiums during a post age-65 retirement- facts and ideas.
Link to comment from September 8, 2025
Chris -- It's good you're aware of this issue and looking out for your Mom. I'm not an expert on the Medicare rules, but there a LOT of MA plans that are being cancelled nationwide at the end of this year. If your Mom's MA plan notifies her that they're cancelling her plan, they've done all they can and will do. I could be wrong, but as I understand it the burden is on the individual to sign up for either another MA plan before the end of the year, or a supplement plan and a part D plan. If the individual fails to take action before the end of the year, the default is they revert to original Medicare with NO supplement and NO plan D prescription plan. Then even if they sign up for something after the first of the year, they have a gap in coverage. Then after a short period (I think 63 days) into the new year, they lose their right for guaranteed coverage without underwriting due to the MA cancellation and will be a late entrant for plan D if they sign up later. I'd suggest you or she follow up and find out if her plan is being cancelled and, if so, sign up for a replacement plan (and drug coverage if not included) before the end of this year. Best wishes. Gene
Post: Healthcare spending and premiums during a post age-65 retirement- facts and ideas.
Link to comment from September 6, 2025
I agree. As I understand it in 1983 Congress didn't act until just a few months before benefits would have been cut (probably since they the then serving members knew they'd be blamed). I hope Congress does better this time, but I'm skeptical. Gene
Post: Dealing with a reduction in Social Security benefits. Is there a backup plan?
Link to comment from August 27, 2025
I do believe that generally in a bull market growth will outperform blue chip dividend paying stocks. The value of (blue chip) dividend paying stocks for providing (steady) income shines during the (repeating) long term periods where the S&P500 (or DJI) languish before reaching a permanent new high. This occurred from 1929-1954, 1968-1980, and 2000-2012. During those periods the income from blue chip dividend producers provided steady income without selling off shares. The Dividend Aristocrats is a list of S&P500 stocks that have increased their dividend every year for at least the last 25 years (which covers the 2000-2012 downturn). The article you referenced didn't evaluate dividend paying stocks from that perspective. Hence I found its conclusions of limited value to me since it didn't address my goal of steady income in retirement regardless of the price movements of the stock market (the basis for my investing in blue chip dividend paying stocks). No "magical thinking" involved. Hence a portion of my portfolio is in dividend aristocrat stocks for steady income. All that said, I do believe people should invest their money how they feel most comfortable since they'll be ones living with the consequences.
Post: Dividends Part II – At least
Link to comment from August 24, 2025
I couldn't agree more. Yeah, there's certainly some things public funds get spent on that I don't agree with. But I don't always agree with some of the things I spend my own money on :-) But big picture, national defense, social security, medicare, national parks, roads, public health services, NASA, etc are things I'd hate to live without.
Post: The Tax Man Cometh, and I Think It’s Okay.
Link to comment from August 20, 2025
I agree with the value of the peace of mind that comes from owning our home mortgage free. One other (albeit minor) supporting fact is that I happen to live in a state with a $1M limit on IRA protections from creditors (which is less than our current account totals). But the state has a $600K of equity protection exemption on homesteads from creditors. So in addition to the general good feeling from living mortgage free, when we paid off our mortgage (since our home is under $600K in value and we homesteaded it) it substantially increased the percentage of our assets that are protected from a lawsuit/creditors. Not a big deal since the likelihood of a lawsuit isn't high and we do have an umbrella policy, but nevertheless an added bonus to living mortgage free. Those same funds (especially in a non-retirement account) would enjoy no such protection. I freely admit being subject to a lawsuit is unlikely, but not impossible. But in a worst case scenario we still have our home to live in and substantially more assets than we would otherwise retain.
Post: A Contrarian View of a Mortgage
Link to comment from August 19, 2025
Ed -- you have a very thoughtful and reasoned approach to your retirement financial plan. I have every confidence you and your wife will do very well managing and adjusting your financial plan, especially since you both have a long track record of success doing so. There's an old saying in education that goes something like "the best predictor of future performance is past performance". Do exceptions exist; sure. But generally I think it's a fairly true statement. Please continue to update us on your journey into retirement. Gene
Post: Keeping Calm
Link to comment from August 15, 2025
Dan, I'm not an expert on crypto either but I think you have the right idea. For a USA citizen, living in the USA, and conducting business in the USA, I don't think a stablecoin based on the USA dollar is needed at all. Any bank or brokerage account allows us to save USA dollars. Since a USA dollar based stablecoin is tied to the dollar, there's really no capital appreciation aspect. But if you're a citizen of a foreign country and you want to save money in USA dollars, then that stablecoin might allow you to do so in a much safer manner than trying to acquire and hold USA paper currency. And if you're country is experiencing high inflation like Eqypt or Argentina, then you'd really like a stable place to store your money. Bitcoin is another matter entirely and is a speculative investment since it's value is constantly changing. Although Bitcoin can be used to buy something so there is some overlap, I mostly see stablecoins and bitcoin serving 2 very different needs. I could be wrong, but that's how I see it. Gene
Post: Stablecoins: Not My Kind of “Stable”
Link to comment from August 14, 2025