Mark Royer

Comments:

• Interesting. We gave State Farm our okay to enroll us in their Drive Safe and Save program as it cut my rates significantly. If they are spying on me, I pity them. They would be bored stiff. I drive to church, the gym, my volunteer jobs at a hospital and a school, and to babysit our twin granddaughters. And to the grocery store once a week. And I drive the speed limit. My wife has similar habits. Boring!

  Post: We Drive, They Spy

  Link to comment from June 26, 2024

• A very good strategy. We converted all of my wife's Rollover IRA to her Roth, and now are working on mine, which is larger and will be reduced but not eliminated by YE 2025, as I am avoiding triggering quarterly IRS payments and IRMAA surcharges. Once I hit 70.5 I plan on pulling Qualified Charitable Contributions out of my Rollover IRA for contributions to our church and other charities to help reduce the balance further. They will still get some RMDs from me but not as much as they might prefer. Anyone concerned about Congress deciding to tax Roth withdrawals? I can already hear them justifying it by saying the nation is in a financial crisis and they need our money more than we do. I sure hope this never happens.

  Post: Paying to Avoid Pain

  Link to comment from May 11, 2024

• We had a great experience on vacation in Italy. I got a kick out of restaurants charging a fee to "rent" the table, even at a gelato place. I doubt the waiters got a piece of that fee, but I do recall the food was of very good quality at a good price. And we still tipped wait staff.

  Post: Making Everyone Happy

  Link to comment from April 20, 2024

• I missed out on volunteering while working a long hours job, except for some church gigs, but jumped in after I retired. I read with two boys at our local elementary school once a week each, volunteer at a local hospital every Wednesday afternoon, and we watch our three-year-old twin granddaughters every Monday. We also play Nine Square on Friday mornings at the Senior Center and I hit the gym three times a week. And I kept the church gig. Then I receive a questionnaire from Medicare asking if I am depressed! Seriously? This is the best time of my life! Stay busy.

  Post: Donating Time

  Link to comment from March 9, 2024

• I am happy with VEA, the Vanguard Developed Markets Index. China is only 0.17% of their portfolio, with 1.56% Hong Kong and 0.02% Taiwan. If you want more Emerging Markets, XCEM is an index fund that has zero for China and Hong Kong, but watch out for 25.89% in Taiwan. You pick your exposure.

  Post: Dropping China?

  Link to comment from January 24, 2024

• All good points. WRT #8 seems to throw off a lot of politicians, right up to and including at the top. Inflation is not as bad as it was, but prices are even higher than they were, and people are feeling it.

  Post: Money Misconceptions

  Link to comment from January 13, 2024

• I would not characterize the Scandinavian countries as socialist, but as capitalist with generous social welfare benefits. They are in many cases more free market than the United States, starting with school choice. They also have, until recently, a largely homogeneous population which increases efficiency and strong community bonds.

  Post: Retirement Do-Over

  Link to comment from October 14, 2023

• When I began with my employer in 1984, they gave out the lapel pins with a tiny ruby for 5 years service and a diamond chip (probably a CZ) for ten. Back then we had to wear blazers or suits to work so it made sense. If you reached 25 years you could get a 10K gold ring with the company logo, two diamond chips and a ruby, which I did. They transitioned to silly stuff you could buy, so at 30 years I got an exercise bike. At 30 years I also took my ring to a local jeweler and had him replace the ruby with a diamond chip. Looks good. At 33 years, shortly before I planned to retire, they radically downsized my department and eliminated my section. So no retirement gift. But thanks to following the advice in this column, I cried all the way to the bank. Actually to Vanguard and my wife and I enjoy doing volunteer work and babysitting our granddaughters.

  Post: Pin Money

  Link to comment from August 26, 2023

• Interesting. A local BBQ joint charged me extra for using a Visa credit card, after I had tipped them 15% for a cafeteria style line to pick up food. I may not go back. I have started to pay cash for purchases like coffee shops where all they do is get you a coffee and then flip that charge card screen that has a minimum tip on it of 15% or even 20%. Now I pay cash and give a dollar tip in the jar or whatever is appropriate. Next will they be asking for tips at Walmart?

  Post: Cash Is Back

  Link to comment from August 12, 2023

• Some good points, William. I stayed away from the Bond King for the same reasons. However, I found that Dodge & Cox Income (DODIX) beats both VBTLX and DLTNX over 1, 3, 5 and 10 year periods. And sister fund DODLX has been beating DODIX, so I am happy with both. Fees could be lower (41 and 45 cents, respectively) but they are much cheaper than DLTNX. Most of my equity portfolio is in Vanguard index funds, which are cheap and do well.

  Post: Cheapskates Win

  Link to comment from June 3, 2023