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31
Share Your Badassity / Re: Upgrade Schmupgrade
« Last post by By the River on Today at 12:06:19 PM »
A more mainstream answer that hasn't been brought up in this thread yet is cell phones.
I have had the same iPhone for over 4 years now. I think it's too good sometimes. If it were slower and had a worse looking screen then I might use it less.

This is exactly why I downgraded. I use a mini smartphone from Unihertz. Very functional, *just* annoying enough to use that it's not addictive at all.

I am delaying upgrading it (to their newest model) despite my 3x cracked screen.

I've had my iPhone 8 for probably 6 years.  My protective case is becoming brittle and tearing in one corner.  I've gone to a dollar general and dollar tree stores to buy a new one.  The oldest models that they have cases for is iPhone 12.  I guess that my MPP is having a phone too old for the DG shoppers.
32
Investor Alley / Re: Put money in a taxable account?
« Last post by Rob_bob on Today at 11:55:47 AM »
Personally I think it is a good idea to have money in a taxable account, especially if you can pay any taxes on dividends or realized gains without having to pull money out of the account.

Taxes on LTCG and qualified dividends are at a lower rate.  You have liquidity, no penalties for withdrawals before age 59.5 and no RMD in the future.

401k and tIRA etc. are a way to convert LTCG into ordinary income taxed at a higher rate plus forced RMD.
33
Investor Alley / Re: Put money in a taxable account?
« Last post by secondcor521 on Today at 11:53:34 AM »
There are seven other things listed on the Investment Order ahead of a taxable account:

https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/investor-alley/investment-order/

although you've already ruled a few of them out.

"House downpayment" isn't listed, so what you do might depend on whether or not you plan to buy another house, how much it might cost, and when you plan to do that.
34
Off Topic / Re: Ukraine
« Last post by zolotiyeruki on Today at 11:52:06 AM »
If these numbers are anywhere near correct, Russian munitions are greatly lessened.  I note only one tank has been taken out.  This source says that 7,000 have been taken out.
That "+1" is the daily increase.  Yesterday, 7241 total tanks had been destroyed, today the total is 7242.

It's difficult to get a good view into what Russia still has left to throw at Ukraine.  A year ago, analysts were saying that Russia had lost 50% of its pre-war military capability.  They've incurred 460k casualties, out of the initial 150-200k they sent into Ukraine.  They've only (?) lost about 10% of their air force, but that's because their aircraft usually lob cruise and ballistic missiles from hundreds of miles within their own borders.

How many tanks does Russia have left?  That's a hard question to answer.  The original headline was that Russia had 10,000 tanks, with lots and lots more in various depots that could be refurbished.  They've lost 3/4 of the original number, and satellite photos are showing the depots being stripped pretty quickly.  Sure, Russia continues to produce new tanks and, but at nowhere near replenishment levels.

The question at this point is:  what will halt the current grinding offensive?  Well, from what I've learned, it has to be artillery.  Russia has adapted their tactics, and now often 1) hit with lots of artillery and/or aerial bombardment, 2) deliver a few dozen troops with APCs as fast as possible to the front line, and 3) then pull back the APCs before they all get destroyed.  Ukraine has to interdict those advancing APCs before the troops get to a defensible position, and between the lack of artillery shells, electronic warfare systems, terrain, and lack of air support, they simply haven't been able to do so.  Given sufficient artillery ammunition, Ukraine can be a whole lot more effective not just at stopping those advancements, but also at counterbattery fire.

Russia, without artillery support, simply can't advance.  And if Ukraine has enough shells and HIMARS rockets, they can take out that critical artillery.

The passage of the aid bills has stirred up excited discussions about destroying the Kerch Strait bridge once again, but the immediate need is for stuff right at the front line.
35
Investor Alley / Re: Is Tesla a good investment?
« Last post by mistymoney on Today at 11:49:42 AM »
Looks like the post earnings call bumb held into the regular trading day.

Guess we will see how it all pans out next quarter.



36
Investor Alley / Re: Closing company, can I convert 401k?
« Last post by seattlecyclone on Today at 11:47:30 AM »
The pro-rata rule on traditional->Roth IRA conversions makes the backdoor Roth only a real option for those who have no existing pre-tax balance in traditional IRAs. Rolling that money into a 401(k) is a workaround to this problem.
37
Welcome and General Discussion / Re: No Quality EVs Under $60k
« Last post by dividendman on Today at 11:47:16 AM »

Recent study showed that Tesla has the highest loyalty at 87% and I can see why. Lexus is a distant 2nd at 64%.

I had to check this, and yes you are right! Tesla is highest for "loyalty". And then I also found that they score near the bottom, or at best just below average, for various rankings of reliability, problems etc. A very weird dynamic. Definitely doesn't help dispel my sense that Tesla is a cult, lol!

This really spells it out:
"Consumer Reports Still Ranks Tesla Reliability 27th Out Of 28...
This in spite of the fact that Tesla dominates in CR’s satisfaction ratings."
https://insideevs.com/news/549130/consumerreports-tesla-reliability-poor-2021/

CR ranking
https://www.consumerreports.org/media-room/press-releases/2021/11/consumer-reports-new-annual-auto-reliability-data-reveals-safest-bets-and-riskiest-choices-among-new-vehicles/
"Jeep, Tesla, and Lincoln took the three bottom ranks."

In the 2024 rankings Tesla is #18.Hey at least it's not as bad as rivian at #30!
https://www.consumerreports.org/media-room/press-releases/2024/02/consumer-reports-2024-annual-10-top-picks-cars-list-includes-bevy-of-partially-and-fully-electrified-vehicles/

Loyalty is not a virtue.
38
Off Topic / Re: OP Is the Only One Who Doesn't See It
« Last post by Sibley on Today at 11:46:33 AM »
Sigh. Thus why that law is necessary. Because it's not just the OP, it's a bunch of the commenters as well.
39
Investor Alley / Re: Closing company, can I convert 401k?
« Last post by mistymoney on Today at 11:42:04 AM »
I'm surprised by the enthusiasm for rolling into a new employers 401k. I've always been thrilled to get my money under my complete control and into lower cost investments.

Maybe you all have had better luck in your 401ks. but OP should check what is in theirs before rolling into it.

I may be scarred by that horrible plan I had that had 4-5% expenses. It was so bad, I am still mad at that employer, lol! It was a very small mom/pop consulting biz (couple/owners and 5 employees) - I think that there must have been financial perks for the owners on it, because it was so terrible why would anyone take that?

Small business owners often don't know any better than to go with 401(k) providers offering these high-cost plans, just like many individuals get sucked into the financial advisors who peddle similar funds.

Very large companies often have 401(k) plans offering institutional-class index funds with expense ratios marginally less than what you or I could get in a Vanguard IRA. If you work at one of these companies, rolling money into a new 401(k) can be a fine thing to do. It leaves the backdoor Roth maneuver open, and you'll save a bit on expenses.

Can you explain why the backdoor roth is available to a current 401k plan but not a rollover? I did not know that!! I don't understand how it is different. My rollover accouts are only from employer 401k plans, I did not realize they were losing something in the translation.
40
Investor Alley / Re: Closing company, can I convert 401k?
« Last post by seattlecyclone on Today at 11:39:16 AM »
I'm surprised by the enthusiasm for rolling into a new employers 401k. I've always been thrilled to get my money under my complete control and into lower cost investments.

Maybe you all have had better luck in your 401ks. but OP should check what is in theirs before rolling into it.

I may be scarred by that horrible plan I had that had 4-5% expenses. It was so bad, I am still mad at that employer, lol! It was a very small mom/pop consulting biz (couple/owners and 5 employees) - I think that there must have been financial perks for the owners on it, because it was so terrible why would anyone take that?

Small business owners often don't know any better than to go with 401(k) providers offering these high-cost plans, just like many individuals get sucked into the financial advisors who peddle similar funds.

Very large companies often have 401(k) plans offering institutional-class index funds with expense ratios marginally less than what you or I could get in a Vanguard IRA. If you work at one of these companies, rolling money into a new 401(k) can be a fine thing to do. It leaves the backdoor Roth maneuver open, and you'll save a bit on expenses.
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