We paid it off early as a result of multiple refinancings in a declining interest rate environment. Whenever we refinanced, we just continued to make the old payment instead of the new lower payment that also came with a new and unwanted 30 year amortization. At one point the balance got too low to attract lenders for another refi so we put it on our HELOC which was variable but with a ridiculously low floor (under 3%). The end result was our 30 year mortgage wrapped up in 22 years. Never did any kind of analysis on interest savings vs potential gains sacrificed. It was always about having options at a relatively early age and one of the best ways to do that is to limit debt and fixed expenses. No regrets.
Just some related material. Read an an article recently titled something to the effect of "Why you can't exercise your way to weight loss". Cited 3 things. One, exercise is an appetite stimulant, ie., you'll want to eat more. Second, people overestimate the calories burned during their exercise routines. Third, people underestimate the calories in the "rewards" they give themselves for having exercised. They think they just burned 1000 calories walking or running and reward themselves with three cookies that they estimate at 300 calories when actually the inverse is true. The article went on to say that they absolutely do not recommend this approach due to the many other benefits of exercise such as cardiovascular, mood, sleep, etc. but that if weight loss was one's sole motivation, they'd prob have more success foregoing exercise and concentrating 100% on diet. Other authors have noted that your outward appearance is probably 80% diet and 20% exercise. I'm no expert but based on my unscientific analysis of friends and family, I'd say this is accurate. It's overwhelmingly about the quantity and quality of input into one's pie hole and not gym time. That's why all these "successful" exercise programs that are sold to consumers always have the caveat "when combined with a sensible diet". It's the diet that predominantly drives the results not the exercise.
Thanks. It's prob something we'll re-visit at some point. Just hasn't graduated from mildly annoying to full blown "This is BS!" yet. We'll eventually get there. :)
Generally agree. Unfortunately it’s a specialty and hard to find top notch practitioners so we’re gonna eat it for now since it’s generally only twice a year. We’ve talked to some friends in the medical field about the Medicare refusal and their response has been “good luck finding someone” who is as good as your current doc.
Same here. We're about $1100/mo w two Medicare premiums and a BC/BS supplemental. No IRMAA yet but that's coming when RMDs start but that's down the road a bit. On the bright side, there is very little out of pocket exposure after the two plans cover their portions. We are running into some issues w Medicare w docs that won't participate (sorry, you're a "cash only" patient now) and some procedures where Medicare dictates they must be performed in a hospital vs an outpatient surgery center. Not sure I understand why since I'm sure a hospital is much more expensive and complicated. Maybe one of many reasons that healthcare is $$$$.
One thing that is often overlooked and needs to be considered is it is possible that beneficiaries may be treated differently in an employer sponsored plan (401k) vs an IRA.
For example, in the Fed Govt TSP, there are no obvious issues when a beneficiary inherits an account from the original owner. Assuming it's the spouse, they can continue along w age based RMDs as the new owner of the account. However, behind the curtains at the TSP, the account has been changed from a "participant" account to a "beneficiary" account. I believe the beneficiary may then establish their own beneficiary(ies). Here's the problem. When the original beneficiary dies, the downstream secondary beneficiaries get a lump sum distribution of the account balance. There is no option to assume the account. There is no option to roll the account over to a private IRA. A fully taxable (assuming not a Roth) distribution is made. Case closed.
This is potentially a huge tax problem and the main reason I transferred 90% of my TSP to a rollover IRA.
My understanding is Congress did not want employer plans to be tasked w managing legacy accounts for employees that died ages ago whereas private custodians like VG, FIDO, etc., are happy to do so. Maybe Mr. Q has more insight here.
Anyway, may be a non-issue for some depending on the plan, account balance and/or family status but definitely worth looking into.
Comments
Or maybe the VG Treasury Money Market Fund - VUSXX. Current 7 day yield at 3.64%. Not subject to state income tax.
Post: High Interest Savings Accounts vs Bond funds
Link to comment from February 9, 2026
Does anyone know if there is a lender that consistently offers low cost/ no cost HELOCs? Haven’t had a chance to research yet.
Post: Advice I give to anyone who’ll listen!
Link to comment from January 24, 2026
Yes sir. But fortunately the deduction is gradually lost if you exceed the MAGI thresholds and not a cliff like IRMAA.
Post: Are Roth conversions now more complicated?
Link to comment from January 23, 2026
We paid it off early as a result of multiple refinancings in a declining interest rate environment. Whenever we refinanced, we just continued to make the old payment instead of the new lower payment that also came with a new and unwanted 30 year amortization. At one point the balance got too low to attract lenders for another refi so we put it on our HELOC which was variable but with a ridiculously low floor (under 3%). The end result was our 30 year mortgage wrapped up in 22 years. Never did any kind of analysis on interest savings vs potential gains sacrificed. It was always about having options at a relatively early age and one of the best ways to do that is to limit debt and fixed expenses. No regrets.
Post: The $8,000 Cost of Peace of Mind
Link to comment from January 21, 2026
Just some related material. Read an an article recently titled something to the effect of "Why you can't exercise your way to weight loss". Cited 3 things. One, exercise is an appetite stimulant, ie., you'll want to eat more. Second, people overestimate the calories burned during their exercise routines. Third, people underestimate the calories in the "rewards" they give themselves for having exercised. They think they just burned 1000 calories walking or running and reward themselves with three cookies that they estimate at 300 calories when actually the inverse is true. The article went on to say that they absolutely do not recommend this approach due to the many other benefits of exercise such as cardiovascular, mood, sleep, etc. but that if weight loss was one's sole motivation, they'd prob have more success foregoing exercise and concentrating 100% on diet. Other authors have noted that your outward appearance is probably 80% diet and 20% exercise. I'm no expert but based on my unscientific analysis of friends and family, I'd say this is accurate. It's overwhelmingly about the quantity and quality of input into one's pie hole and not gym time. That's why all these "successful" exercise programs that are sold to consumers always have the caveat "when combined with a sensible diet". It's the diet that predominantly drives the results not the exercise.
Post: DIET, Did I Eat That
Link to comment from January 18, 2026
Thanks. It's prob something we'll re-visit at some point. Just hasn't graduated from mildly annoying to full blown "This is BS!" yet. We'll eventually get there. :)
Post: How important is planning for Medicare premiums in retirement? VERY!
Link to comment from January 14, 2026
Generally agree. Unfortunately it’s a specialty and hard to find top notch practitioners so we’re gonna eat it for now since it’s generally only twice a year. We’ve talked to some friends in the medical field about the Medicare refusal and their response has been “good luck finding someone” who is as good as your current doc.
Post: How important is planning for Medicare premiums in retirement? VERY!
Link to comment from January 14, 2026
Same here. We're about $1100/mo w two Medicare premiums and a BC/BS supplemental. No IRMAA yet but that's coming when RMDs start but that's down the road a bit. On the bright side, there is very little out of pocket exposure after the two plans cover their portions. We are running into some issues w Medicare w docs that won't participate (sorry, you're a "cash only" patient now) and some procedures where Medicare dictates they must be performed in a hospital vs an outpatient surgery center. Not sure I understand why since I'm sure a hospital is much more expensive and complicated. Maybe one of many reasons that healthcare is $$$$.
Post: How important is planning for Medicare premiums in retirement? VERY!
Link to comment from January 14, 2026
One thing that is often overlooked and needs to be considered is it is possible that beneficiaries may be treated differently in an employer sponsored plan (401k) vs an IRA. For example, in the Fed Govt TSP, there are no obvious issues when a beneficiary inherits an account from the original owner. Assuming it's the spouse, they can continue along w age based RMDs as the new owner of the account. However, behind the curtains at the TSP, the account has been changed from a "participant" account to a "beneficiary" account. I believe the beneficiary may then establish their own beneficiary(ies). Here's the problem. When the original beneficiary dies, the downstream secondary beneficiaries get a lump sum distribution of the account balance. There is no option to assume the account. There is no option to roll the account over to a private IRA. A fully taxable (assuming not a Roth) distribution is made. Case closed. This is potentially a huge tax problem and the main reason I transferred 90% of my TSP to a rollover IRA. My understanding is Congress did not want employer plans to be tasked w managing legacy accounts for employees that died ages ago whereas private custodians like VG, FIDO, etc., are happy to do so. Maybe Mr. Q has more insight here. Anyway, may be a non-issue for some depending on the plan, account balance and/or family status but definitely worth looking into.
Post: Consolidating 401(k)s in retirement
Link to comment from January 12, 2026
63/37 US v International. I basically mirror the cap weighting on a global basis.
Post: International allocation
Link to comment from January 12, 2026