5Flavors

Comments:

• If not for you, be kind to your heirs and consolidate. My father-in-law passed last year at 103. He had one of everything: stock certificates from companies that now have different names or had split/gone bankrupt, small annuities, multiple brokerage accounts with various load mutual funds etc. It's not that he was wealthy, just very very diversified. When he passed, fidelity was able to aggregate everything and split it into 3 equal accounts for his surviving sons. It would have been a monumental task to get that done on our own. They even did the many many medallion signatures. I've been a lifelong Fidelity customer and eliminated my Vanguard accounts 2 years ago so I was very familiar with their services and had a contact who worked with my husband's family to get it done. Can't say enough good about them, hope they do not degrade, many years ago I loved Vanguard. Doesn't sound like their new management is moving them back to a more client/partner focused model.

  Post: All in One Place

  Link to comment from July 3, 2024

• No, honestly, I'd prefer to have a little more money than time and enjoy the spending but after years of thrift and fear, it's a challenging transition. If someone left you a few million dollars, would you know how to spend it?

  Post: Killing Time

  Link to comment from March 27, 2024

• My father-in-law was with Verizon for many years and belonged to the union. After being retired for many years they switched his retiree healthcare to a MA through United Healthcare. Honestly, it was the best. He was a union member, and they took good care of their people. Individuals are not able to get plans like his. My retiree healthcare, which I am so grateful for, just provides a small supplement to spend as I wish as long as I get insurance through their marketplace. So far, so good.

  Post: What Advantage?

  Link to comment from March 27, 2024

• And then there is goodRX that costs less than the insurance price. Totally insane.

  Post: What Advantage?

  Link to comment from March 27, 2024

• My husband and I are on traditional MC, me G, him N. So far (KOW), so good, including 15 nights in the hospital this January for open heart surgery. The hospital was absolutely fantastic. Surprisingly, we just got letters telling us our hospital was part of ACO. Maybe this is not something to be scared about, If Medicare costs are not controlled, none of us will have it. The devil is in the details but KFF has some interesting research on the subject and some change is going to happen. ACA was change and that turned out to be pretty good.

  Post: What Advantage?

  Link to comment from March 27, 2024

• Loved your article. I retired early, 54, from a high stress job in IT. I had the financial part all set- but worried about the rest. A wise friend who worked in HR told me not to worry. She was right. 12 years later, I am so happy doing/exploring whatever I want. And there were so many things I wanted to do that there was never time for because I worked all the time. Believe I am also a lot healthier. Yes, life is full of tradeoffs.

  Post: Retiring on My Terms

  Link to comment from March 6, 2024

• Based on elimination of SALT deduction, creation of IRMMA, and budget realities I felt waiting until FRA or 70 was a risk. I will not maximize SSA but sometimes the enemy of the good is the better. Plus the lower payment over a longer period will be an advantage when RMA's start to come due.

  Post: Farewell to Forever

  Link to comment from March 6, 2024

• The need for that balance may be the case for annuities though I have not pursued.

  Post: Farewell to Forever

  Link to comment from March 6, 2024

• Good for you, me too.

  Post: Fire Meets Ice

  Link to comment from February 10, 2024

• Are you the Veggi Vet from Pa who works with Whippets?? Small world? I agree about retirement plus it has enabled me to have the pets I never could when I was working full time and traveling.

  Post: Fire Meets Ice

  Link to comment from February 10, 2024