Hi Rachna, I'm late to the discussion and you may have already made your decision. However, I looked up California (p.80) and Nevada (p.128) in the White Coat Investor's Guide to Asset Protection. The book is a few years old, so the laws may have changed. With that caveat, California's IRA protection is "To the extent necessary for support, no protection for Roth IRA". Nevada's IRA protection is "$500,000".
Thank you for the article; I enjoyed reading it. I've tax loss harvested a handful of times over the last decade. I always have to remind myself of the rules, so I don't trip up!
I fear talking about money to other people. This year, my extended family is doing a white elephant gift exchange. I've tried to pick what I hope will be fun reads for someone who isn't very interested in personal finance and investing. I settled on Nick Maggiulli's The Wealth Ladder and Andrew Tobias's The Only Investment Guide You'll Ever Need. I hope these gifts don't bomb!
Maximizing retirement contributions (#1) and maximizing HSA (#7) this year. For a few wonderful years, we had access to a plan that allowed the Mega Backdoor Roth (#2).
Thank you for thinking of Humble Dollar and updating us. I wish that all will be most well for you and your family. Thank you for all the wise nuggets of advice sprinkled throughout your columns.
We are fortunate to have a grandson who just turned a year old. He's both a joy and a lot of work. I find myself doing small splurges (new toys and clothes) because I can. Sometimes, I wonder if I'm buying too much for him. Still trying to sort it all out!
Is there anything that Elaine, Hannah or Henry want to know? There's a lot I wish I had asked my parents about. Now, I wonder what their answers would be. Sometimes, they told me a story, but I didn't write it down; years later, I'm not sure I'm remembering it correctly. Finally, perhaps you might want to write each of your grandchildren a letter they can read when they're older. Jonathan, thank you for all you've given me. You've been a true friend.
Comments
Thanks for the last point--a good reminder!
Post: Financial Happiness
Link to comment from January 26, 2026
Gosh, this seems a little unfair. FIrst, the IRMAA surcharges and then a reduction in a person's net Social Security benefit each year.
Post: Social Security is not going bankrupt, but that is not the full story
Link to comment from January 26, 2026
Hi Rachna, I'm late to the discussion and you may have already made your decision. However, I looked up California (p.80) and Nevada (p.128) in the White Coat Investor's Guide to Asset Protection. The book is a few years old, so the laws may have changed. With that caveat, California's IRA protection is "To the extent necessary for support, no protection for Roth IRA". Nevada's IRA protection is "$500,000".
Post: Schwab or Vanguard?
Link to comment from January 25, 2026
Thank you for the article; I enjoyed reading it. I've tax loss harvested a handful of times over the last decade. I always have to remind myself of the rules, so I don't trip up!
Post: Tax Loss Harvesting
Link to comment from December 30, 2025
I fear talking about money to other people. This year, my extended family is doing a white elephant gift exchange. I've tried to pick what I hope will be fun reads for someone who isn't very interested in personal finance and investing. I settled on Nick Maggiulli's The Wealth Ladder and Andrew Tobias's The Only Investment Guide You'll Ever Need. I hope these gifts don't bomb!
Post: The Festive Sweater and the Dilemma
Link to comment from December 22, 2025
Thank you for the heads up. My husband still brings in some income, so it's hard for me to appreciate the effect inflation has on a retiree's budget.
Post: 27 Months
Link to comment from December 15, 2025
Maximizing retirement contributions (#1) and maximizing HSA (#7) this year. For a few wonderful years, we had access to a plan that allowed the Mega Backdoor Roth (#2).
Post: Year-End Tax Planning Moves
Link to comment from November 24, 2025
Thank you for thinking of Humble Dollar and updating us. I wish that all will be most well for you and your family. Thank you for all the wise nuggets of advice sprinkled throughout your columns.
Post: Health Update
Link to comment from September 6, 2025
We are fortunate to have a grandson who just turned a year old. He's both a joy and a lot of work. I find myself doing small splurges (new toys and clothes) because I can. Sometimes, I wonder if I'm buying too much for him. Still trying to sort it all out!
Post: What They Don’t Tell You About Retirement: Part 2 – Grandchildren Are Expensive
Link to comment from September 6, 2025
Is there anything that Elaine, Hannah or Henry want to know? There's a lot I wish I had asked my parents about. Now, I wonder what their answers would be. Sometimes, they told me a story, but I didn't write it down; years later, I'm not sure I'm remembering it correctly. Finally, perhaps you might want to write each of your grandchildren a letter they can read when they're older. Jonathan, thank you for all you've given me. You've been a true friend.
Post: Extra Innings
Link to comment from July 13, 2025