Besides ChexSystems as mentioned below, this article has also made we wonder, along with GW, why we even have checks. When we became nomadic almost four years ago, I slipped a checkbook into my backpack. This article makes me wonder if we should shred it. In all that time we have needed to use checks twice (and had to mail them from overseas). Could we have found a way around not having paper checks on those occasions? Probably, with some hassle. Most of the time we’re outside the U.S., so if someone got hold of my backpack, they would face some difficulty in exploiting our checks, and we’d have time to lock down the account, which doesn’t have much in it anyway. Another thing to think about. My guess is we hold onto the checkbook.
“You decide how this affects our society, our politics, and our inner well-being.” If I may paraphrase, we decide how this affects our own inner well-being.” It’s seems easy to blame social media. The problem isn’t simply being on social media, it’s in large part how we choose to relate to it, or to the analog influencers in our lives. I suspect that for someone with Jones-parity issues, it was probably harder to ignore the Joneses who were in your workplace or your neighborhood. Every. Single. Day. Instagram is showing you what it has determined you want to look at. Don’t like what you see? Change your algorithm. Don’t like who you’re seeing on Facebook? Stop looking at them. I’m not hugely into social media, but I am on it some, and I find my feed useful. My wife follows different stuff and her feed is entertaining. Neither of us want to be who we’re following. If social media is toxic to you, by all means stay away from it. For us, we don’t need to throw the baby out with the bathwater because there’s some stuff on there we don’t care for. We apply a nontechnical solution - we ignore it and move on to something we do. Thanks W.D. for the thought provoking piece.
Passkeys aren’t the problem you suggest they are. If you have my phone or laptop, you still have to know my password to log into it, and then you still need either my face or my fingerprint to use the passkey. If I lose my device, I can still use my passkeys on another device by logging into the account that has my password manager (Google, Apple, etc.).
I seem to recall there’s a way to block opening of new accounts in one’s name. Maybe it was specific to bank accounts and wouldn’t have worked for a 529, but probably still worth doing. Edit: found it, it’s a freeze with ChexSystems. https://www.chexsystems.com/security-freeze/information
Our spouses must be related. We’ve been downsizing our household (or storage unit and luggage) since we combined households. Ironically, it’s her parents whose home and belongings will be a bear. At least it’s very organized, it’s just a lot.
Ah. Thanks for that. So, in the example, or in any other where the individual or couple is on the edge of an ordinary income tax bracket as well as the edge of the 15%, then a large enough conversion would push one over both, and the marginal rate would be additive, 27%. Maybe also useful to note for other readers considering conversions, it seems this would only apply to that specific kind of case. If already over the 15% (or 20%) threshold for dividends/capital gains with or without conversion, then the marginal tax rate on conversion would be whatever the ordinary income tax rate bracket is.
Randy I think you’re mistaken about the 27%. Even if the conversion is large enough that capital gains are pushed into 15%, the marginal rate on the conversion is what it is - 12%, 22%, etc, as the conversion is taxed as ordinary income. The tax on CG/dividends and ordinary income are applied separately, they’re not added together.
Comments
Besides ChexSystems as mentioned below, this article has also made we wonder, along with GW, why we even have checks. When we became nomadic almost four years ago, I slipped a checkbook into my backpack. This article makes me wonder if we should shred it. In all that time we have needed to use checks twice (and had to mail them from overseas). Could we have found a way around not having paper checks on those occasions? Probably, with some hassle. Most of the time we’re outside the U.S., so if someone got hold of my backpack, they would face some difficulty in exploiting our checks, and we’d have time to lock down the account, which doesn’t have much in it anyway. Another thing to think about. My guess is we hold onto the checkbook.
Post: Financial Fraud
Link to comment from September 8, 2026
“You decide how this affects our society, our politics, and our inner well-being.” If I may paraphrase, we decide how this affects our own inner well-being.” It’s seems easy to blame social media. The problem isn’t simply being on social media, it’s in large part how we choose to relate to it, or to the analog influencers in our lives. I suspect that for someone with Jones-parity issues, it was probably harder to ignore the Joneses who were in your workplace or your neighborhood. Every. Single. Day. Instagram is showing you what it has determined you want to look at. Don’t like what you see? Change your algorithm. Don’t like who you’re seeing on Facebook? Stop looking at them. I’m not hugely into social media, but I am on it some, and I find my feed useful. My wife follows different stuff and her feed is entertaining. Neither of us want to be who we’re following. If social media is toxic to you, by all means stay away from it. For us, we don’t need to throw the baby out with the bathwater because there’s some stuff on there we don’t care for. We apply a nontechnical solution - we ignore it and move on to something we do. Thanks W.D. for the thought provoking piece.
Post: The Economy of Expectations
Link to comment from September 7, 2026
You could do a lot worse. Alas no more retirement visas in the UK.
Post: The best state to retire? Take a close look.
Link to comment from September 6, 2026
Right, our files with the major credit reporting agencies are frozen. I’m thinking of something specific to opening new accounts.
Post: Financial Fraud
Link to comment from September 5, 2026
Passkeys aren’t the problem you suggest they are. If you have my phone or laptop, you still have to know my password to log into it, and then you still need either my face or my fingerprint to use the passkey. If I lose my device, I can still use my passkeys on another device by logging into the account that has my password manager (Google, Apple, etc.).
Post: Financial Fraud
Link to comment from September 5, 2026
I seem to recall there’s a way to block opening of new accounts in one’s name. Maybe it was specific to bank accounts and wouldn’t have worked for a 529, but probably still worth doing. Edit: found it, it’s a freeze with ChexSystems. https://www.chexsystems.com/security-freeze/information
Post: Financial Fraud
Link to comment from September 5, 2026
Yep. That makes sense. Thanks
Post: Traditional or Roth
Link to comment from September 2, 2026
Our spouses must be related. We’ve been downsizing our household (or storage unit and luggage) since we combined households. Ironically, it’s her parents whose home and belongings will be a bear. At least it’s very organized, it’s just a lot.
Post: Make the Attic Great Again
Link to comment from September 1, 2026
Ah. Thanks for that. So, in the example, or in any other where the individual or couple is on the edge of an ordinary income tax bracket as well as the edge of the 15%, then a large enough conversion would push one over both, and the marginal rate would be additive, 27%. Maybe also useful to note for other readers considering conversions, it seems this would only apply to that specific kind of case. If already over the 15% (or 20%) threshold for dividends/capital gains with or without conversion, then the marginal tax rate on conversion would be whatever the ordinary income tax rate bracket is.
Post: Traditional or Roth
Link to comment from September 1, 2026
Randy I think you’re mistaken about the 27%. Even if the conversion is large enough that capital gains are pushed into 15%, the marginal rate on the conversion is what it is - 12%, 22%, etc, as the conversion is taxed as ordinary income. The tax on CG/dividends and ordinary income are applied separately, they’re not added together.
Post: Traditional or Roth
Link to comment from September 1, 2026