Mark Caspary

Comments:

• That’s interesting about actively managed bond funds. I would ask two questions before investing though. 1) what is the expense ration? 2) what is the turnover rate?

  Post: Question of Interest

  Link to comment from August 10, 2024

• You could do worse than holding cash. Crypto comes to mind! Fear of missing out is a strong motivation but if you have already won the war you don’t need to start another one. Take your time and things will iron themselves out and you will know what’s best to do. Markets will do better and inflation will come down, take a deep breath and relax, like a kidney stone this too will pass.

  Post: Too Much Cash?

  Link to comment from November 17, 2022

• Warren Buffett also famously said when investors are fearful I get greedy and when investors get greedy I get fearful. He must be on a big buying spree right now! Adding to all his positions, Apple, Chevron, Coke. It’s always paid off for him!

  Post: My Third Hanging

  Link to comment from September 30, 2022

• At one time I would have said Vanguard was the best place for you investments. Sadly I can’t recommend them anymore, I still have an account with them but I am most likely going to move my investments to Fidelity where I already have an HSA account. John Bogle’s Vanguard has changed and not for the better in my opinion. They use to offer a cash mangement account that was taken away, they use to give you free Turbo Tax filing that was taken away, they use to give you a dedicated advisor if you reached a certain account balance that was also taken away. But you can pay for one if you desire otherwise it’s an average hold time of 1 hour to speak to a representative. They have lost their way maybe they are a victim of there own low cost philosophy Schwab and Fidelity have cut their cost on funds and ETFs in some cases lower than Vanguard but the customer service is much better than Vanguard. So my solution is to keep my Vanguard ETFs but let another company hold my accounts. This I feel I am forced to do regrettable after 30 years as a Vanguard client. On the bright side though if you need a great bank or should I say credit union look no further than Alliant.

  Post: Which banks, brokerage firms and other financial companies would you recommend to friends?

  Link to comment from September 6, 2022

• I have been going through the same thing. Being retired I have too much time to dwell on all the negatives. I’m not one for sticking my head in the sand, but a little sabbatical from the 24/7 news cycle is definitely in order. Lately my wife and I have been decluttering, this has helped focus my attention on other things, and give me a feeling that I actually control some things. It has been a rough couple of years, but like a kidney stone things will pass! Hopefully!

  Post: Got Me Down

  Link to comment from June 28, 2022

• Boy is this timely thanks for this post! My Gut has been beating me up lately as I watch both stocks and bonds hit the skids. Stay the course is a real test in times like these. Another thing Mr. Bogle use to say that could help now is “Don’t Peek” easy to say hard to do! Thanks again for your post!

  Post: Ignore That Gut

  Link to comment from April 28, 2022

• That was lucky! Aggravating but lucky! Glad it worked out for you.

  Post: Helping Ourselves

  Link to comment from March 24, 2022

• I can sympathize, but $40 for unlimited talk, text and data is too much look at a company called Visible has unlimited talk text and data for $25/ month and you can get the first month for $5 no contract quit any time. I too am a frugal retiree. Thanks for posting. Tim

  Post: Only an Eight

  Link to comment from March 11, 2022