Adam Grossman's 2022 HD article "Shades of Green" offered several additional perspectives, as did the comments.
https://humbledollar.com/2022/09/shades-of-green/
Good question. It sounds like you're guessing how likely you'll need phone (or in-person) service. You're discerning perceived better service at Schwab vs. perceived lower costs at Vanguard. Your decision will involve how important these factors are to you. I, too, managed my own investments. For me what was important was not phone help. Yes, Vanguard helped tremendously by phone when I moved everything from TIAA to them when I retired in 2021. Still, while I'd heard good things about Schwab's service, I chose Vanguard simply because of its true mutual fund structure and low cost. Since then I've found their website easy to use and haven't needed to call them. I would not have factored in the CFP availability at Schwab. (TIAA offered free access to a wealth management advisor; I remember asking a simple question and getting a complicated, useless answer.) If I ever want advice about my investments, I'll look for and pay an independent, hourly flat-fee fiduciary professional. Sending you best wishes for your decision!
#1 is especially risky if there is any history of substance abuse. A nephew (son of my no-contact and by-then-deceased sibling) inherited lump sum cash from my father's estate. Within months he died of a drug overdose. (My father had died two decades earlier, and his estate passed to us only when my stepmother recently died, so my dad would have had no reason to think this would happen.)
TI-59 with the little magnetic card strips to store programs? Yep, I had one for myself back in the late '70s. Also an HP with its infamous RPN (Reverse Polish Notation). But for teaching the school went with TI, so TI-81, 82, 83, finally 84 in various iterations (84 Plus CE my favorite, the one I still have). We tried the TI-Nspire but most of us felt it was more trouble (steeper learning curve) than it was worth; also, the College Board disallowed use of the Nspire CAS models on the SAT, so that was a deal-breaker.
If the 5.5 billion per month decline stayed steady, then the SS trust fund would be depleted in about 40 years. As you explained, though, the decline is accelerating, so it will happen sooner — much sooner, 2032, say the experts. I'd like to see the trust fund balances starting before the Boomer retirement surge so I can see for myself whether the predicted depletion date 2032 seems on target. To do that, with an accelerating decline an exponential or other nonlinear regression could be appropriate for predicting the depletion date. This is just me liking numbers and details...
Well, I'm a retired math teacher Boomer, so if someone can get me the numbers, I'm happy to fire up the ol' TI-84 calculator, or some online app such as Wolfram Alpha, or even Excel (but don't tell RDQ 🙂).
Maybe nonlinear: good point! Maybe someone can find and post a set of trust fund balances starting before the Boomer retirement surge, so we can do an exponential regression?
Social Security: The trust currently holds about $2.7 trillion which is declining by roughly $5.5 billion per month. 2.7 trillion / 5.5 billion per month = 490 months = about 40 years. But I thought the trust fund was estimated to be depleted around 2034 (or more recent estimate, 2032). That's way sooner. What am I overlooking? Thanks.
Comments
One of the funniest HD comments ever!
Post: Are you an investor?
Link to comment from January 19, 2026
Does this mean they give away a million dollars every two weeks!?Just wondering how a local radio station can afford to give away so much money. 🤔
Post: Irrational Financial Choices
Link to comment from January 19, 2026
Adam Grossman's 2022 HD article "Shades of Green" offered several additional perspectives, as did the comments. https://humbledollar.com/2022/09/shades-of-green/
Post: Owning My Sin Premium
Link to comment from January 17, 2026
Good question. It sounds like you're guessing how likely you'll need phone (or in-person) service. You're discerning perceived better service at Schwab vs. perceived lower costs at Vanguard. Your decision will involve how important these factors are to you. I, too, managed my own investments. For me what was important was not phone help. Yes, Vanguard helped tremendously by phone when I moved everything from TIAA to them when I retired in 2021. Still, while I'd heard good things about Schwab's service, I chose Vanguard simply because of its true mutual fund structure and low cost. Since then I've found their website easy to use and haven't needed to call them. I would not have factored in the CFP availability at Schwab. (TIAA offered free access to a wealth management advisor; I remember asking a simple question and getting a complicated, useless answer.) If I ever want advice about my investments, I'll look for and pay an independent, hourly flat-fee fiduciary professional. Sending you best wishes for your decision!
Post: Schwab or Vanguard?
Link to comment from January 12, 2026
#1 is especially risky if there is any history of substance abuse. A nephew (son of my no-contact and by-then-deceased sibling) inherited lump sum cash from my father's estate. Within months he died of a drug overdose. (My father had died two decades earlier, and his estate passed to us only when my stepmother recently died, so my dad would have had no reason to think this would happen.)
Post: Warm Heart Cool Head and Cold Cash
Link to comment from January 10, 2026
TI-59 with the little magnetic card strips to store programs? Yep, I had one for myself back in the late '70s. Also an HP with its infamous RPN (Reverse Polish Notation). But for teaching the school went with TI, so TI-81, 82, 83, finally 84 in various iterations (84 Plus CE my favorite, the one I still have). We tried the TI-Nspire but most of us felt it was more trouble (steeper learning curve) than it was worth; also, the College Board disallowed use of the Nspire CAS models on the SAT, so that was a deal-breaker.
Post: All you need to know about health insurance, social security and utility bills – sort of
Link to comment from January 8, 2026
If the 5.5 billion per month decline stayed steady, then the SS trust fund would be depleted in about 40 years. As you explained, though, the decline is accelerating, so it will happen sooner — much sooner, 2032, say the experts. I'd like to see the trust fund balances starting before the Boomer retirement surge so I can see for myself whether the predicted depletion date 2032 seems on target. To do that, with an accelerating decline an exponential or other nonlinear regression could be appropriate for predicting the depletion date. This is just me liking numbers and details...
Post: All you need to know about health insurance, social security and utility bills – sort of
Link to comment from January 8, 2026
Well, I'm a retired math teacher Boomer, so if someone can get me the numbers, I'm happy to fire up the ol' TI-84 calculator, or some online app such as Wolfram Alpha, or even Excel (but don't tell RDQ 🙂).
Post: All you need to know about health insurance, social security and utility bills – sort of
Link to comment from January 8, 2026
Maybe nonlinear: good point! Maybe someone can find and post a set of trust fund balances starting before the Boomer retirement surge, so we can do an exponential regression?
Post: All you need to know about health insurance, social security and utility bills – sort of
Link to comment from January 8, 2026
Social Security: The trust currently holds about $2.7 trillion which is declining by roughly $5.5 billion per month. 2.7 trillion / 5.5 billion per month = 490 months = about 40 years. But I thought the trust fund was estimated to be depleted around 2034 (or more recent estimate, 2032). That's way sooner. What am I overlooking? Thanks.
Post: All you need to know about health insurance, social security and utility bills – sort of
Link to comment from January 8, 2026