I recommend Sarah Wynn-Williams’ book Careless People about peri-IPO Facebook, now Meta, as a ripping yarn about the work and values of our current #2 billionaire. Particularly sickening are the huge sums the company made in China by crafting their products to be information-gathering tools of the Chinese government. Not all lucrative work is honorable.
We agree with this despite having never used the public education system. We benefit from having an educated work force and community, and everything our property tax dollars support.
How about let people who stay in the workforce over age 65 put money into Roth IRAs without income restrictions, maybe let them gift double the annual federal gift limit?
Just to emphasize a step you have already taken: match your living situation to where you see your physical needs down the road. If you have bad knees in your 50s, one-level living should be your goal, switch out toilets for taller ones, replace carpets with walker-friendly flooring. Also, don’t leave a mess for your heirs. Get a handle on your possessions and make your estate plan comprehensive, accessible and shared with those who need to know.
SCao, a very thoughtful and gracious forum entry. Like you we have some investing (and spending) mistakes, but we are trying to take our knowledge now to help younger family members by, for example, funding Roths for working teens and 20-somethings to at least give them a head start on retirement. We use the occasion to talk about financial planning and compound interest, hopefully something they will appreciate down the road though it’s pretty abstruse this early for the teens.
There are reasons I would not now recommend the TIAA guaranteed annuity route, but we started those in the 80s, and both of us came from backgrounds with much family financial turbulence, so it made sense at the time. Now, with other saving and investment we could fully fund LTC coverage so we won’t take out policies, but I think your idea is a good one to hedge maybe half the cost per day of LTC.
Reading through comments, many have simplied finances through retirement—that seems to be what Jonathan has done in a hurry post-diagnosis, closing/merging accounts and retitling. Also educating beneficiaries, though he has not had many details on this aspect.
Some of this resonates, but I always keep in mind that in science, computing, engineering and many other fields there is just a lot more information to cram in the same number of years of education.
Comments
I recommend Sarah Wynn-Williams’ book Careless People about peri-IPO Facebook, now Meta, as a ripping yarn about the work and values of our current #2 billionaire. Particularly sickening are the huge sums the company made in China by crafting their products to be information-gathering tools of the Chinese government. Not all lucrative work is honorable.
Post: Care to join me on my yacht cruising the Mediterranean? Do you envy the super wealthy? RDQ
Link to comment from March 22, 2025
We agree with this despite having never used the public education system. We benefit from having an educated work force and community, and everything our property tax dollars support.
Post: Like it or not, we all need to pay taxes. Seniors are no exception
Link to comment from March 16, 2025
How about let people who stay in the workforce over age 65 put money into Roth IRAs without income restrictions, maybe let them gift double the annual federal gift limit?
Post: Solve This Problem
Link to comment from February 28, 2025
Just to emphasize a step you have already taken: match your living situation to where you see your physical needs down the road. If you have bad knees in your 50s, one-level living should be your goal, switch out toilets for taller ones, replace carpets with walker-friendly flooring. Also, don’t leave a mess for your heirs. Get a handle on your possessions and make your estate plan comprehensive, accessible and shared with those who need to know.
Post: What wisdom can you share?
Link to comment from February 10, 2025
SCao, a very thoughtful and gracious forum entry. Like you we have some investing (and spending) mistakes, but we are trying to take our knowledge now to help younger family members by, for example, funding Roths for working teens and 20-somethings to at least give them a head start on retirement. We use the occasion to talk about financial planning and compound interest, hopefully something they will appreciate down the road though it’s pretty abstruse this early for the teens.
Post: Kindly Compounding
Link to comment from February 6, 2025
There are reasons I would not now recommend the TIAA guaranteed annuity route, but we started those in the 80s, and both of us came from backgrounds with much family financial turbulence, so it made sense at the time. Now, with other saving and investment we could fully fund LTC coverage so we won’t take out policies, but I think your idea is a good one to hedge maybe half the cost per day of LTC.
Post: How Are You Planning to Pay for Potential Long Term Care Expenses?
Link to comment from February 6, 2025
Thank you, Marjorie, that pen name was automatically assigned by the Wordpress gods.
Post: A Balanced Retirement
Link to comment from February 1, 2025
Social Security tax on AI agents and robots.
Post: Should Social Security benefits be income tax free?
Link to comment from February 1, 2025
Reading through comments, many have simplied finances through retirement—that seems to be what Jonathan has done in a hurry post-diagnosis, closing/merging accounts and retitling. Also educating beneficiaries, though he has not had many details on this aspect.
Post: I’ve stolen the words Willful Ignorance and Disengagement from a prior forum post.
Link to comment from January 30, 2025
Some of this resonates, but I always keep in mind that in science, computing, engineering and many other fields there is just a lot more information to cram in the same number of years of education.
Post: Making money – out of touch with the good old days. Maybe just a little rant
Link to comment from January 30, 2025