How did you “manage” your share of the wedding extravaganza? Loosely, tightly, or something in between? I’d prefer a fixed $$ but maybe that’s not feasible.
Lucky for you that StF provides good service. After they challenged a simple $275 auto glass claim on a rental car, I wholly disagree. For anyone living in CA, they will not write any new home, renters, or umbrella policies. Note that StF has significantly changed their sales rep compensation model, favoring those reps who grow their biz and punishing reps who do not. Expect a shaking out period by longtime reps.
Sam’s technology puts Costco to shame. I self scan my items (to avoid the checkout line), pay via CC and Sam’s already knows that I scanned each item. Nobody checks my receipt. Call it big brother, but other retailers are following their lead.
For anyone who is self employed and dealing with the ACA cliff, there are a number of actions that can appreciably lower your AGI: business deductions including 1/2 of self employment tax, medical premiums, and solo 401k’s which allow more generous contributions than traditional IRAs. Hate having to put more $ into tax deferred accounts, but that’s the new game.
Vanguard advisors are totally unbiased because they are on salary? Interesting thought, but highly unlikely. I’ll bet that their compensation includes a sizable bonus structured off AUM or similar metrics. And given that they work for Vanguard, what’s the likelihood that they consider a non-Vanguard fund or ETF? (Hint - not likely)
Comments
How did you “manage” your share of the wedding extravaganza? Loosely, tightly, or something in between? I’d prefer a fixed $$ but maybe that’s not feasible.
Post: Behind The Finery
Link to comment from September 7, 2026
Good point re: the Umbrella policy. Would you kindly share who you’re with? Ty
Post: State Farm Dividend
Link to comment from September 7, 2026
Lucky for you that StF provides good service. After they challenged a simple $275 auto glass claim on a rental car, I wholly disagree. For anyone living in CA, they will not write any new home, renters, or umbrella policies. Note that StF has significantly changed their sales rep compensation model, favoring those reps who grow their biz and punishing reps who do not. Expect a shaking out period by longtime reps.
Post: State Farm Dividend
Link to comment from September 5, 2026
Sam’s technology puts Costco to shame. I self scan my items (to avoid the checkout line), pay via CC and Sam’s already knows that I scanned each item. Nobody checks my receipt. Call it big brother, but other retailers are following their lead.
Post: Frittering away Frugality
Link to comment from July 11, 2026
Deductions are “below the (AGI) line”
Post: A $30,000 Mistake
Link to comment from July 4, 2026
For anyone who is self employed and dealing with the ACA cliff, there are a number of actions that can appreciably lower your AGI: business deductions including 1/2 of self employment tax, medical premiums, and solo 401k’s which allow more generous contributions than traditional IRAs. Hate having to put more $ into tax deferred accounts, but that’s the new game.
Post: A $30,000 Mistake
Link to comment from July 4, 2026
SS is my annuity. Despite the doomsayers, it’s not going away. Maybe it will be means tested at some point.
Post: What’s in your portfolio ?
Link to comment from June 20, 2026
Great point. I wonder what the projections would show if the cap was eliminated.
Post: Just the facts about Social Security
Link to comment from June 13, 2026
Vanguard advisors are totally unbiased because they are on salary? Interesting thought, but highly unlikely. I’ll bet that their compensation includes a sizable bonus structured off AUM or similar metrics. And given that they work for Vanguard, what’s the likelihood that they consider a non-Vanguard fund or ETF? (Hint - not likely)
Post: The Quiet Failure of Good Advice
Link to comment from June 6, 2026
Good for you. You should then be willing to invest a sizable chunk, say $100k to $1m, in SpaceX.
Post: SpaceX IPO: Is Margin Optional?
Link to comment from June 6, 2026