It's pretty, and in small quantities, physical gold is a security blanket against 'zombie apocalypse" type situations. I've never considered selling any that I've bought, instead looking on the coins as welcome bonuses for the survivors when I check out. One question I have not investigated is whether bullion coins or common-date US Saints and Liberties are a better value over time. The current moment is a good example: In the past 2-3 years, have the common date numismatics risen in proportion to the bullion? I suspect the answer is "no," but I'm not investigating because I don't plan on doing anything about it either way.
From day one I have regarded all these "coins" as a sucker's bet and invitation to lose whatever you pay for them. If you want to invest in coins, make them gold ones.
All but one of my regular monthly bills go to my primary credit card account. The one exception is the monthly bill for that credit card, which I received via USPS. The card's account statement in hard copy lists all those other transactions on paper, which is very handy and useful.
My situation is very similar since I started collecting SS at 70 a short time ago, except I already owned a nice paid-for ranch-style home in a million-dollar setting in a LCOL region. This man-who-has-everything he wants actually should spend more, because for what other reason did I build that nice nest egg? Travel? I did a ton of it over the decades, and now regard air travel as the place people go for eternity if they've been bad. :-( The young 'uns will be happy some day (already are on Christmas. :-) )
My moderate risk intolerance came from younger years heavy with uncertainty. Once in the right career, 60/40 was fine with me. With Social Security checks coming through starting at age 70, I've got enough in fixed income to cover any non-bizarre expenses. Those last are unlikely since I'm "happily meandering through each day" in a low COL rural/small town region, enjoying a comfortable ranch house with a million-dollar view featuring wildlife galore. My motto now is, the 40% equities in my current portfolio are for the survivors, and the 60% fixed income (half in a 5 year TIPS) is for me. In reality, the survivors will probably get a big chunk of the fixed as well. They'll all be happy because it's unlikely they're expecting much; and while the amount won't be life-changing for most, it will make all of them smile. If the equities return zero I won't care. I get a lot of enjoyment from giving them larger-than-expected Christmas presents, color green. One also gets surprise checks from time to time. I'm grateful for the satisfying career I finally landed half-way through my working life, but before then and in other areas faced thorny challenges that weren't so fun. I've seen the world already, and regard modern air travel as the eternity people are sent to if they've been bad. So travel is not on the agenda. When I can't take care of myself I'm hopeful of finding one or two younger folks nearby who can help and could use the money, which I can easily afford in this low COL area. I don't think I'll want to keep living if it means being institutionalized.
"The childfree need wealth to support themselves in old age." Good insight - I hadn't thought of that explicitly, but have long behaved in that direction anyway.
My situation and allocations are darn near identical to yours. :-) See my post on Tariffs and our retirement assets - HumbleDollar Having a wussy asset allocation is one similarity; I'm even more chicken than you guys at 60/40 bonds/stock. My motto at this stage of life is, the fixed-income is for me, the equities for my survivors (but they'll probably get a lot of the bonds too).
"...what you are doing regarding your investments?" Relaxing, just a few weeks after getting my first SS check at 70. <grin> Those checks will cover all my expenses while I kick-back in this paid-for house in a scenic Low-COLA region. Did the market have a bad week or something? Just kidding; it's still interesting to me, but I did enough right in the accumulation years to not have to care what it does now. I'm 40/60 stocks/bonds, more conservative than necessary - call me chicken, or paranoid, or whatever, given that I really don't have touch any of it to get by. My motto is, the bonds are for me and the stocks for my survivors - but they're likely to get a good chunk of the fixed income also in the end. And very nice Christmas presents until then. :-) Life is good, even if ever shorter.
I too have never owned a bond, until one year ago when I put half my fixed income holdings into a 5-year TIPS at the auction via Vanguard.
That timing was smart (er, lucky); needless to say I'm pretty much a happy camper. Pretty much zero risk, absent TEOTWAWKI. ETA: I'm of an age at which I now keep enough in fixed income to (along with SS) cover all expenses until The End. It's a "Bonds are for me, equities for my survivors" strategy.
Comments
It's pretty, and in small quantities, physical gold is a security blanket against 'zombie apocalypse" type situations. I've never considered selling any that I've bought, instead looking on the coins as welcome bonuses for the survivors when I check out. One question I have not investigated is whether bullion coins or common-date US Saints and Liberties are a better value over time. The current moment is a good example: In the past 2-3 years, have the common date numismatics risen in proportion to the bullion? I suspect the answer is "no," but I'm not investigating because I don't plan on doing anything about it either way.
Post: What About Gold?
Link to comment from June 8, 2025
From day one I have regarded all these "coins" as a sucker's bet and invitation to lose whatever you pay for them. If you want to invest in coins, make them gold ones.
Post: Up Because It’s Up
Link to comment from May 31, 2025
All but one of my regular monthly bills go to my primary credit card account. The one exception is the monthly bill for that credit card, which I received via USPS. The card's account statement in hard copy lists all those other transactions on paper, which is very handy and useful.
Post: It’s 2025. Do you send checks by mail?
Link to comment from May 3, 2025
My situation is very similar since I started collecting SS at 70 a short time ago, except I already owned a nice paid-for ranch-style home in a million-dollar setting in a LCOL region. This man-who-has-everything he wants actually should spend more, because for what other reason did I build that nice nest egg? Travel? I did a ton of it over the decades, and now regard air travel as the place people go for eternity if they've been bad. :-( The young 'uns will be happy some day (already are on Christmas. :-) )
Post: Insomnia and the Back of an Envelope
Link to comment from April 26, 2025
My moderate risk intolerance came from younger years heavy with uncertainty. Once in the right career, 60/40 was fine with me. With Social Security checks coming through starting at age 70, I've got enough in fixed income to cover any non-bizarre expenses. Those last are unlikely since I'm "happily meandering through each day" in a low COL rural/small town region, enjoying a comfortable ranch house with a million-dollar view featuring wildlife galore. My motto now is, the 40% equities in my current portfolio are for the survivors, and the 60% fixed income (half in a 5 year TIPS) is for me. In reality, the survivors will probably get a big chunk of the fixed as well. They'll all be happy because it's unlikely they're expecting much; and while the amount won't be life-changing for most, it will make all of them smile. If the equities return zero I won't care. I get a lot of enjoyment from giving them larger-than-expected Christmas presents, color green. One also gets surprise checks from time to time. I'm grateful for the satisfying career I finally landed half-way through my working life, but before then and in other areas faced thorny challenges that weren't so fun. I've seen the world already, and regard modern air travel as the eternity people are sent to if they've been bad. So travel is not on the agenda. When I can't take care of myself I'm hopeful of finding one or two younger folks nearby who can help and could use the money, which I can easily afford in this low COL area. I don't think I'll want to keep living if it means being institutionalized.
Post: Ask Me a Tough One by Jonathan Clements
Link to comment from April 20, 2025
I'm not withdrawing (yet), but am absolutely doing taxable Roth conversions from my rollover IRA. More conversion-bang for the taxable buck.
Post: 4% every year? even this one?
Link to comment from April 19, 2025
"The childfree need wealth to support themselves in old age." Good insight - I hadn't thought of that explicitly, but have long behaved in that direction anyway.
Post: I don’t feel comfortable being “wealthy”
Link to comment from April 5, 2025
My situation and allocations are darn near identical to yours. :-) See my post on Tariffs and our retirement assets - HumbleDollar Having a wussy asset allocation is one similarity; I'm even more chicken than you guys at 60/40 bonds/stock. My motto at this stage of life is, the fixed-income is for me, the equities for my survivors (but they'll probably get a lot of the bonds too).
Post: Finding Your Balance by Dennis Friedman
Link to comment from April 5, 2025
"...what you are doing regarding your investments?" Relaxing, just a few weeks after getting my first SS check at 70. <grin> Those checks will cover all my expenses while I kick-back in this paid-for house in a scenic Low-COLA region. Did the market have a bad week or something? Just kidding; it's still interesting to me, but I did enough right in the accumulation years to not have to care what it does now. I'm 40/60 stocks/bonds, more conservative than necessary - call me chicken, or paranoid, or whatever, given that I really don't have touch any of it to get by. My motto is, the bonds are for me and the stocks for my survivors - but they're likely to get a good chunk of the fixed income also in the end. And very nice Christmas presents until then. :-) Life is good, even if ever shorter.
Post: Tariffs and our retirement assets
Link to comment from April 5, 2025
I too have never owned a bond, until one year ago when I put half my fixed income holdings into a 5-year TIPS at the auction via Vanguard. That timing was smart (er, lucky); needless to say I'm pretty much a happy camper. Pretty much zero risk, absent TEOTWAWKI. ETA: I'm of an age at which I now keep enough in fixed income to (along with SS) cover all expenses until The End. It's a "Bonds are for me, equities for my survivors" strategy.
Post: Seeking Certainty
Link to comment from April 2, 2025