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I am a retired Physical Therapist and Certified Athletic Trainer. I obtained my BS in Physical Therapy at the University of Vermont, and Masters in Physical Education with a specialization in Athletic Training. I retired in 2019, and my wife retired in 2020, and we have spent the majority of our lives living in New Hampshire. I have managed my own portfolio for the past twenty years and have utilized a fee only Certified Financial Advisor on occasion to provide input to my financial plan on a few occasions, especially deciding if my assets were sufficient to retire. My financial guidance has come from years of following the principles of John Bogle and being an avid fan of Vanguard. My other resources for decision making are Christine Benz/Morningstar, and of course Jonathan Clements!
My Favorite Jack Bogle Quotes
5 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 1/12/2026
FIRST: Mark Crothers on 1/12 | RECENT: David Lancaster on 1/28
A Great Article on the Role of Elder Law Attorneys
8 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 1/20/2026
FIRST: baldscreen on 1/20 | RECENT: Ormode on 1/22
What Would You Do?
22 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 1/7/2026
FIRST: quan nguyen on 1/7 | RECENT: achnk53 on 1/12
Actuarial Services' Estimates of Proposals to Change the Social Security Program or the SSI Program
5 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 1/5/2026
FIRST: Dan Smith on 1/5 | RECENT: David Lancaster on 1/5
Calculating the Maximum Income While Staying in the 12% Tax Bracket
28 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 12/7/2025
FIRST: Humble Reader on 12/7/2025 | RECENT: Randy Dobkin on 12/15/2025
How Has Living in a CCRC Affected Your Monthly Bills?
39 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 11/12/2025
FIRST: Bill C on 11/12/2025 | RECENT: smr1082 on 12/9/2025
Another Data Breach
11 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 12/5/2025
FIRST: stelea99 on 12/5/2025 | RECENT: parkslope on 12/7/2025
IRS Adds New Reporting Code for Charitable IRA Gifts
8 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 11/13/2025
FIRST: baldscreen on 11/14/2025 | RECENT: DrLefty on 11/15/2025
Information on Jonathan’s Memorial Service
35 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 10/2/2025
FIRST: David Powell on 10/2/2025 | RECENT: David Lancaster on 11/4/2025
Medicare Open Enrollment Information
3 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 11/2/2025
FIRST: R Quinn on 11/3/2025 | RECENT: David Lancaster on 11/3/2025
Wait Until We’e 70
48 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 10/22/2025
FIRST: Mark Crothers on 10/22/2025 | RECENT: Brian White on 10/26/2025
Are You an Entirely Dividend Investor in Retirement?
9 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 10/15/2025
FIRST: OldITGuy on 10/15/2025 | RECENT: Ormode on 10/15/2025
Are You Invested in International Markets?
17 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 10/9/2025
FIRST: Mark Crothers on 10/9/2025 | RECENT: youthbudget on 10/13/2025
Are You a Dividend Investor? If so Read This!
6 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 10/9/2025
FIRST: Jack Hannam on 10/9/2025 | RECENT: quan nguyen on 10/9/2025
Are You a Trader or an Investor?
32 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 10/6/2025
FIRST: David Powell on 10/6/2025 | RECENT: normr60189 on 10/8/2025
USA Senior Care Network
3 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 9/9/2025
FIRST: William Perry on 9/10/2025 | RECENT: William Perry on 9/10/2025
How Are You Planning to Pay for Potential Long Term Care Expenses?
84 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 2/4/2025
FIRST: R Quinn on 2/4/2025 | RECENT: stelea99 on 9/6/2025
Sequence of Return Risk
48 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 9/27/2024
FIRST: Dave Melick on 9/27/2024 | RECENT: Ormode on 8/28/2025
An Excellent Morningstar Article on CCRCs
3 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 8/7/2025
FIRST: mytimetotravel on 8/7/2025 | RECENT: parkslope on 8/8/2025
Bond Conundrum
24 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 7/7/2025
FIRST: Jim Burrows on 7/7/2025 | RECENT: S on 7/26/2025
How Was I to Know?
12 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 7/23/2025
FIRST: Mark Crothers on 7/23/2025 | RECENT: S on 7/26/2025
Selling Your House and Reaping Tax Free Capital Gains May be in Jeopardy
7 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 7/24/2025
FIRST: bbbobbins on 7/24/2025 | RECENT: stelea99 on 7/25/2025
Are You Going to Get the Social Security Benefits You First Started Paying For?
8 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 7/18/2025
FIRST: R Quinn on 7/18/2025 | RECENT: DAN SMITH on 7/18/2025
Morningstar’s Historical Review of the Benefits of the 60/40 Portfolios During Market Downturns
1 reply
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 7/14/2025
FIRST: normr60189 on 7/14/2025 | RECENT: normr60189 on 7/14/2025
Securing Lower Taxes
13 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 7/10/2025
FIRST: stelea99 on 7/10/2025 | RECENT: Nick Politakis on 7/11/2025
Increased Deduction for Seniors
43 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 7/4/2025
FIRST: eludom on 7/5/2025 | RECENT: Randy Dobkin on 7/7/2025
Does a Happy Country lead to Happy Individuals?
31 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 6/20/2025
FIRST: bbbobbins on 6/20/2025 | RECENT: R Quinn on 6/24/2025
Interesting White Coat Investor on Lessons Learned Dealing with a LTC Company
6 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 6/17/2025
FIRST: 1PF on 6/17/2025 | RECENT: smr1082 on 6/20/2025
Let’s Stir Up the Bee’s Nest Again- Another Way of Calculating Net Worth
76 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 6/13/2025
FIRST: David Mulligan on 6/14/2025 | RECENT: bbbobbins on 6/19/2025
Medicare Advantage with No Premiums vs Traditional Medicare with Plan G Deductible
32 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 6/14/2025
FIRST: R Quinn on 6/14/2025 | RECENT: DrLefty on 6/15/2025
“Most Revealing Question in Personal Finance”
22 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 6/4/2025
FIRST: Jo Bo on 6/4/2025 | RECENT: normr60189 on 6/8/2025
Jonathan Is Everywhere on the Internet
1 reply
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 6/4/2025
FIRST: Andrew Forsythe on 6/6/2025 | RECENT: Andrew Forsythe on 6/6/2025
Lesson Four From Taking Care of a 102 yo in Her Last Year of Life- The Final Hours of Life Can be Beautiful
13 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 4/12/2025
FIRST: Edmund Marsh on 4/13/2025 | RECENT: David Lancaster on 5/29/2025
Another Great Post by Mike Piper
7 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 5/6/2025
FIRST: luvtoride44afe9eb1e on 5/6/2025 | RECENT: Rick Connor on 5/7/2025
Lesson Five From Taking Care of a 102 yo in Her Last Year of Life- Politics and the News Has the Potential to Ruin Relationships
14 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 4/19/2025
FIRST: DAN SMITH on 4/19/2025 | RECENT: David Lancaster on 4/20/2025
What to do as the Bear Approaches
15 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 4/8/2025
FIRST: DAN SMITH on 4/8/2025 | RECENT: Michael1 on 4/13/2025
Lesson Three From Taking Care of a 102 yo in Her Last Year of Life- The Role of Faith in Dying
8 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 4/6/2025
FIRST: Jonathan Clements on 4/6/2025 | RECENT: David Lancaster on 4/7/2025
Lesson Two From Taking Care of a 102 yo in Her Last Year of Life- Preparing Oneself for Death
2 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 4/4/2025
FIRST: mytimetotravel on 4/4/2025 | RECENT: DAN SMITH on 4/4/2025
Lesson One From Taking Care of a 102 yo in Her Last Year of Life- Be Grateful
6 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 3/30/2025
FIRST: Edmund Marsh on 3/30/2025 | RECENT: David Lancaster on 4/3/2025
Lessons Learned from Taking Care of a 102 Year Old in Her Final Year
10 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 3/28/2025
FIRST: Rick Connor on 3/28/2025 | RECENT: Dan Wick on 3/30/2025
How Do Allocate the Bond Portion of Your Portfolio?
20 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 3/20/2025
FIRST: R Quinn on 3/20/2025 | RECENT: Casey Campbell on 3/23/2025
Great Ideas from Ed Slott for Estate Planning Using Roth Savings
12 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 3/20/2025
FIRST: William Housley on 3/20/2025 | RECENT: William Perry on 3/22/2025
The Status of Inherited IRAs in 2025
13 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 3/17/2025
FIRST: William Perry on 3/18/2025 | RECENT: David Lancaster on 3/20/2025
A Simple Way to avoid Phone Scams
11 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 3/17/2025
FIRST: DAN SMITH on 3/17/2025 | RECENT: mytimetotravel on 3/18/2025
Morningstar’s Report on Comparing 10 Year Returns on Active vs Passive Funds
8 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 3/12/2025
FIRST: Jonathan Clements on 3/12/2025 | RECENT: Edmund Marsh on 3/12/2025
Acorns
9 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 2/23/2025
FIRST: David Powell on 2/23/2025 | RECENT: bbbobbins on 2/25/2025
Is There a Change Coming in the Direction of the Markets’ Winds?
20 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 1/14/2025
FIRST: normr60189 on 1/14/2025 | RECENT: normr60189 on 1/18/2025
Costs Matter
28 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 11/30/2024
FIRST: Rick Connor on 11/30/2024 | RECENT: Jack Hannam on 12/31/2024
How Often Do You Calculate Your Net Worth And Why
57 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 11/29/2024
FIRST: Patrick Murphy on 11/29/2024 | RECENT: Will Schenk on 12/5/2024
What is The 10 Year Return on Your Portfolio?
22 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 11/26/2024
FIRST: stelea99 on 11/26/2024 | RECENT: Steve Spinella on 12/2/2024
What Was in Your Portfolio?
4 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 11/23/2024
FIRST: R Quinn on 11/23/2024 | RECENT: evan rayers on 11/24/2024
HELP, I Want My Money Back!
10 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 11/16/2024
FIRST: DAN SMITH on 11/16/2024 | RECENT: David Lancaster on 11/18/2024
Who’s Comments Do You Look Forward to Most?
30 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 11/14/2024
FIRST: Randy Dobkin on 11/14/2024 | RECENT: mytimetotravel on 11/15/2024
Two to Follow
6 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 11/14/2024
FIRST: R Quinn on 11/14/2024 | RECENT: Ken Shelley on 11/15/2024
T Rowe Frequent Trading Policy
11 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 11/11/2024
FIRST: 1PF on 11/11/2024 | RECENT: David Lancaster on 11/12/2024
Who is on Your Personal Investing Mount Rushmore, and Why?
11 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 11/8/2024
FIRST: luvtoride44afe9eb1e on 11/8/2024 | RECENT: Steven Duncan on 11/10/2024
IRAs in a Trust
3 replies
AUTHOR: David Lancaster on 8/29/2024
FIRST: William Perry on 8/29/2024 | RECENT: David Lancaster on 8/29/2024
Comments
Apparently the investing tortoise looses by a hare!
Post: Well That’s A Bummer!
Link to comment from March 16, 2026
Hey Ed, As one PT to another great post. Question though- just wondering if there was any impetus for the timing of it?
Post: Frugal Fitness
Link to comment from March 14, 2026
Man tough love, I love it. You go girl. I feel some of the problems with young men is they prioritize the video world over the real one. In retrospect boy do I sound like an old geezer!
Post: Is there any point when a child needs financial help that you feel comfortable saying “not my problem?”
Link to comment from March 14, 2026
“Finally, don’t ignore your new flame’s family. Are they the ‘tail wagging the dog’ kind of in-laws? If yes, your relationship might be doomed.” We were very lucky that both sets of parents were loved dearly by the other half of the marriage and didn’t interfere, but were adjuncts to our core family. I think this is obvious by the example that we had my mother in law move from independent senior living to our house at 102 years old and stayed until she passed away approximately one year later.
Post: Questions Matter
Link to comment from March 14, 2026
When my daughter (the oldest child) was looking at colleges we told both of our children we would pay X amount per year x4 and the rest was up to them. Around then we had refinanced our house during the Russian debt crisis to a really low 15 year mortgage and put the college funds in CDs. With our daughter she graduated then she started her own life with help purchasing her first used car an off to Connecticut she moved to be near her boyfriends’ family. Our son started in college while living at home, and then left, against our advice, one semester shy of an associates degree. He was told he could continue to stay at home if he obtained a full time job locally and take night courses. Four years after he graduated from high school he was told it was time to move out and see what life is like earning minimum wage. He moved in with an Army buddy who had been discharged and was renting a house while going to college. There he met his future wife, moved to Delaware and enrolled full time in college and obtained his bachelor’s degree, making the Dean’s list each semester, while working. When he left college we used the balance of his funds to redo our kitchen so that money was no longer available so we paid for his books each semester as at that point our financial focus was maximize in our last decade or so of saving for retirement. Different paths for different children, but it worked out for both.
Post: Is there any point when a child needs financial help that you feel comfortable saying “not my problem?”
Link to comment from March 14, 2026
If you have broad index funds such as us, only Vanguard Total World (VT) in our Roths. Our traditionals contain Vanguard Total (US) Stock Market (VTI) and Vanguard Total International (VXUS) for equity investing. With these funds you are not buying the “in-vogue” other than what the market values. We have these two equity funds in our traditional accounts along with bond funds to allow for rebalancing to our allocations.
Post: The Anatomy of a Threshold Rebalance: April 2025
Link to comment from March 14, 2026
Obviously everyone has to have a plan that allows them to sleep at night. BTW this was a thought that I had at the time and obviously had never executed before. My thought was a little at a time (what turned out to be quite frequent tradings) because I would not know when the bottom would be reached and that way I didn’t have to guess ie truly market time.
Post: The Anatomy of a Threshold Rebalance: April 2025
Link to comment from March 14, 2026
I have at least 10 years worth of bonds and cash to cover “normal” spending so wouldn’t have to touch equity position unless the downturn lasted longer than that. Even at that point we could cutout our significant spending for travel and home upgrades. Per AI: Based on historical data, zero US stock bear markets (defined by a 20%+ drop) have lasted longer than 10 years; the average bear market lasts less than one year, with even the most severe, like the 1929–1932 Great Depression, lasting less than four years. While "lost decades" (2000–2013) exist, they are not classified as continuous bear markets.
Post: The Anatomy of a Threshold Rebalance: April 2025
Link to comment from March 13, 2026
Excellent post. The saddest part of our system is the only people that would have to pay the ridiculous inflated list price is those who can least afford it, the uninsured. The insurance reimbursement is a close reflection of the actual cost of the procedure.
Post: No, it is not a scam
Link to comment from March 13, 2026
Michael1 I know our Medigap policy covers up to 50K lifetime for foreign medical expenses. Not sure of the details of the coverage though, and hope I don’t have to. It is well known that medical care is significantly less expensive than in the US so that money would go further abroad (pun intended).
Post: No, it is not a scam
Link to comment from March 13, 2026