rgscl

Comments

• I have started a gradual to move from a VTI + VXUS + BND (Vanguard total market, total international & total bond) combination to Fidelity target 2035 & 2040 in my IRA. I still have value ETF's (both small & large cap value). And move to iShares Balanced Allocation (AOR) in my taxable.

  Post: Ch-Ch-Changes?

  Link to comment from May 6, 2025

• On a related note, here is another news item I came across Big Changes Are Coming for Social Security Online Users "The Social Security Administration is moving into the 21st century with new advances in technology. In the near future, your Social Security access is going digital (although your physical card is still perfectly fine to use)." https://clark.com/personal-finance-credit/investing-retirement/digital-access-social-security-cards/?_bhlid=5de39c2a90746537977f4397f9695a23dae9a865

  Post: Very disturbing proposal about the future of Social – radical thinking for sure.

  Link to comment from May 4, 2025

• Steve - here is an excellent (but short and concise) write up on this very topic (Life Strategy vs. iShares allocation ETF's) from Mike Piper, and looked to me like he has answered virtually all the questions from this discussion. https://obliviousinvestor.com/ishares-core-allocation-etfs-vs-vanguards-lifestrategy-funds/

  Post: A Simple 60/40 for the Newly Widowed: A Dedicated ETF

  Link to comment from February 24, 2025

• Thank you Randy, I was just going to point that out to Tom. @Tom - These iBond offerings from Blackrock are not the same as the inflation protection bonds (I-bonds) from the treasury. The nomenclature from Blackrock is slightly confusing. What these iBond ETF's are, are a laddered bond ETF with a target maturity date. So IBTF - iShares® iBonds® Dec 2025 Term Treasury ETF has US treasury bonds/notes/bills that will mature by Dec 2025.

  Post: iSHARES iBONDS ETF line up Vs. individual bond ladders Vs. Bond ETF Funds

  Link to comment from February 23, 2025

• 100% agree but as Steve noted earlier having an ETF gives one more flexibility. Vanguard funds are the gold standard and no one can argue otherwise. I would also have considered the Life Strategy funds if I was still with Vanguard (moved about 4 years back).

  Post: A Simple 60/40 for the Newly Widowed: A Dedicated ETF

  Link to comment from February 21, 2025

• Since it is an ETF, it won't be "forced" to sell (as it does in a mutual fund) and declare CG. That said, if the said fund(s) are in a tax deferred or tax accounts, then cap gains are a non-issue,

  Post: A Simple 60/40 for the Newly Widowed: A Dedicated ETF

  Link to comment from February 21, 2025

• Nothing wrong with it, having it as a mutual fund imposes transferring (to other companies) constraints.

  Post: A Simple 60/40 for the Newly Widowed: A Dedicated ETF

  Link to comment from February 21, 2025

• You're right, iShares has 4x of these ETF's (as well their ESG equivalents)

  1. iShares Core 60/40 Balanced Allocation ETF - AOR
  2. iShares Core 40/60 Moderate Allocation ETF - AOM
  3. iShares Core 30/70 Conservative Allocation ETF - AOK
  4. iShares Core 80/20 Aggressive Allocation ETF - AOA
  I do like the AOR, I have it for my HSA and I agree with Steve that it does check all of the requirements (ETF - yes, lower fees - yes)

  Post: A Simple 60/40 for the Newly Widowed: A Dedicated ETF

  Link to comment from February 21, 2025

• Ah good to know re Word, I assumed that if excel didn't work word wouldn't either. Variation between companies as well as difference between state vs. national level is surprising and I can't explain it.

  Post: Medigap pricing question

  Link to comment from February 8, 2025

• Here it goes, unfortunately I haven't quite figured (in HD) out how to copy/paste from excel and keep the tabular format - so apologies for the presentation (I did a transpose to make it easier to read) Company=Ace P&C Insurance #Years in Market=2 Age Average hike%=0.7% AVG Inflation hike=2.0% Lives National=51307 Lives SC=1953 LMR Nat%=70.05 LMR SC%=64.81 PRM National=$37,797,106 PRM SC=$1,536,931

  Post: Medigap pricing question

  Link to comment from February 8, 2025