Dick, could you please comment on Mark Cuban's effort to lower drug prices with his Cost Plus Drug Company? I see with Part D coverage selecting a pharmacy such as CVS is often less helpful in getting a prescription filled (very expensive that is!) but one can fill it with MCCPDC at a VERY reasonable cost outside the Part D coverage. He talks about pharmacy benefit managers and their control of the system. Perhaps you would complain for once?
I see a lot of value in "essential" activities. For my wife and I it is two YMCA branches, a community center and a senior center (twice) every week in search of boot camps, yoga classes, cardios, pilates and zumba (even though we don't share all of them) and weight training. Each morning is as busy as it used to be as when I was working. Prior to this I try to do six mile bike and a three mile walk each morning before the day gets started. I used to visit a hematologist /professor at one time who recently passed away. After looking at what I do he said, "you know, when I came to work at Baylor my supervisor used to tell me to be careful, as we are blessed with only so many heartbeats." In my experience what is essential is purely subjective and purely personal.
Julie,
Lots of good suggestions in this thread. As you said, you are not interested in leasing. I have never leased one myself. Things to keep in mind are the opportunity costs vs. the time horizon, number of miles you put in a year and upcoming cyber taxis.
Mark, thanks for the post! I have not worked with Claude for Excel so far, but use spreadsheets all the time. Used to use macros, but now my needs are fewer and straightforward, and I don't build reports either. My needs are simple. It is typical for me to have my earphones on and Claude or Grok on my phone as I walk or bike and have a fairly productive conversation on medical topics. I can drill down as much as I want. As you indicate AI will open up a related topic (rather than a suggestion) that I had not thought of, and I can pursue the conversation in that direction. It is a great learning and research tool.
I recommend HELOC or bridge loan for financing. My preference is to keep Roth in fairly aggressive investment matching your risk tolerance, as that is the last one that I would cash.
Comments
Dick, could you please comment on Mark Cuban's effort to lower drug prices with his Cost Plus Drug Company? I see with Part D coverage selecting a pharmacy such as CVS is often less helpful in getting a prescription filled (very expensive that is!) but one can fill it with MCCPDC at a VERY reasonable cost outside the Part D coverage. He talks about pharmacy benefit managers and their control of the system. Perhaps you would complain for once?
Post: A discussion on health insurance, premiums, profits and such- a 50 year perspective most people don’t want to accept
Link to comment from July 23, 2026
Of course! And he delivered that with a mischievous smile...
Post: One Person’s Luxury, Another’s Necessity
Link to comment from July 22, 2026
I see a lot of value in "essential" activities. For my wife and I it is two YMCA branches, a community center and a senior center (twice) every week in search of boot camps, yoga classes, cardios, pilates and zumba (even though we don't share all of them) and weight training. Each morning is as busy as it used to be as when I was working. Prior to this I try to do six mile bike and a three mile walk each morning before the day gets started. I used to visit a hematologist /professor at one time who recently passed away. After looking at what I do he said, "you know, when I came to work at Baylor my supervisor used to tell me to be careful, as we are blessed with only so many heartbeats." In my experience what is essential is purely subjective and purely personal.
Post: One Person’s Luxury, Another’s Necessity
Link to comment from July 21, 2026
Thanks for the reference. Very nice perspective by Sean. Don't lose the forest for the trees!
Post: Will Your Death Double Your Spouse’s Tax Bill?
Link to comment from July 19, 2026
Julie, Lots of good suggestions in this thread. As you said, you are not interested in leasing. I have never leased one myself. Things to keep in mind are the opportunity costs vs. the time horizon, number of miles you put in a year and upcoming cyber taxis.
Post: Buying a car in retirement
Link to comment from July 14, 2026
They call it prompt engineering in ai, but Jerry I like your mention of what the wise person said.
Post: Better Questions
Link to comment from July 13, 2026
Mark, thanks for the post! I have not worked with Claude for Excel so far, but use spreadsheets all the time. Used to use macros, but now my needs are fewer and straightforward, and I don't build reports either. My needs are simple. It is typical for me to have my earphones on and Claude or Grok on my phone as I walk or bike and have a fairly productive conversation on medical topics. I can drill down as much as I want. As you indicate AI will open up a related topic (rather than a suggestion) that I had not thought of, and I can pursue the conversation in that direction. It is a great learning and research tool.
Post: Better Questions
Link to comment from July 12, 2026
And why Mark, I have always suspected I am woefully unprepared for the hurricanes in my neck of the woods. And I retired six years ago. 😊
Post: So Maybe That’s What It’s All About
Link to comment from July 11, 2026
Mark, what do you carry in your backpack?
Post: So Maybe That’s What It’s All About
Link to comment from July 11, 2026
I recommend HELOC or bridge loan for financing. My preference is to keep Roth in fairly aggressive investment matching your risk tolerance, as that is the last one that I would cash.
Post: Thinking of a possible reason to tap Roth earlier then planned
Link to comment from July 8, 2026