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Michael Swartley

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    • Interesting observation regarding the midcap stocks that are included in VB. This prompted me to double check that there's no overlap in holdings between Vanguards VO midcap ETF and VB. There does not appear to be based on the respective index each tracks.

      Post: Vanguard Small-Cap: What’s in a Name? by Steve Abramowitz

      Link to comment from July 21, 2024

    • Great article. I wonder if the annual net income would have increased, particularly when the mortgage was fully paid.

      Post: Sleepless in Seattle by Steve Abramowitz

      Link to comment from July 3, 2024

    • Part of our retirement plans (many years down the road) include rental properties. We look at rents collected each month as a sort of paycheck. Unlike an annuity, the initial capital investment is still under your control in the sense that the asset can be sold and moved to something else if you choose to. While many pensions do not have a cost of living adjustment, the market rate for rents will increase over time, and this serves as an inflation hedge. Certainly there are other challenges, and rental properties are not hands off even if a management company is used, however, it can be a nice option for regular cash flow in retirement.

      Post: Missing That Paycheck

      Link to comment from April 27, 2024

    • A high yield savings account.

      Post: What’s the best place to stash money you’ll spend in the next few years?

      Link to comment from January 27, 2024

    • Thanks for the article Steve! I appreciate your writings about rental property. I think I'll stick with a no pets policy. An additional advantage of private real estate ownership is some level of control. Examples include choices about how you'll handle the application process for potential tenants, timing of certain improvements, and potential "sweat equity". I periodically enlist my kids to help with landscaping at our rental properties. It's a decent way for them to earn a little spending cash, provides an opportunity to talk to them about investments and specifically how rentals work, and avoid the cost of a landscaping company as well.

      Post: Don’t Get Catty

      Link to comment from August 22, 2023

    • Interest on a car loan.

      Post: What costs are you most loath to pay?

      Link to comment from April 15, 2023

    • Great topic, thanks for the post. I don't mind paying for healthcare, but would like more bang for my buck. The fact that the US spends more per capita on healthcare than any other country (with mediocre results by most measures) leads me to believe healthcare is costing me more than it should. I recall at a previous company being surprised that colleagues from other countries, who had the same insurance plan as myself, consistently scheduled routine doctor, dentist, eye doctor and other appointments for when they traveled back home every few years. Clearly they felt the value was better elsewhere.

      Post: Bill Him Not Me

      Link to comment from October 25, 2021

    • Yes as long as the math works from a cash flow standpoint and you take a buy and hold approach, owning rental properties can be an excellent investment and a nice way to diversify retirement assets and income. In addition to monthly income, there are significant tax benefits as well as the potential for growth in the value of the property itself. Additionally, I view increasing rents over time (in line with the market) as somewhat of a hedge against inflation, at least at a local level. Treating the management of rental properties as a side gig works for me currently, however, I make sure to have enough cash flow that if it becomes too much of a hassle, it would be financially feasible to hire a property management company.

      Post: Is rental real estate a good investment?

      Link to comment from October 10, 2021

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