Search found 882 matches

by TripleB
Sun Jan 25, 2015 12:18 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Planning For Future Roth Tax Changes
Replies: 23
Views: 12588

Re: Planning For Future Roth Tax Changes

Whatever happens with Roths, they can only tax earnings as they're withdrawn, not contributions.  That would be double jeopardy since the contributions were already taxed. ;D Keep on thinking the government can't do something because it wouldn't be fair.  ;) You don't think the government could spi...
by TripleB
Sat Jan 24, 2015 2:47 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Planning For Future Roth Tax Changes
Replies: 23
Views: 12588

Planning For Future Roth Tax Changes

With the proposed 529 changes, it's another confirmation that many people's suspicions, including my own for several years, are a little more likely to happen, and tax treatment on Roth IRAs may change. I'm starting this thread to discuss what forms this may take, what the signals/signs/precursors m...
by TripleB
Sat Jan 24, 2015 2:04 am
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: The pp is back!
Replies: 8
Views: 5789

Re: The pp is back!

If the HBPP keeps up this pace, we better increase the bandwidth to this forum because we'll have a lot of new people coming by excited for this great new portfolio! :)
by TripleB
Thu Jan 22, 2015 8:16 pm
Forum: Gold
Topic: GTU Is The Ideal PP ETF
Replies: 31
Views: 17326

Re: GTU Is The Ideal PP ETF

Based on some of the replies and thinking more about it, I've decided against GTU as a core holding. Primarily because there's no guarantee I'll only be buying it when the discount is 10% and only be selling it when the premium is 2%. Here's a scenario. Suppose my HBPP looked like this on a hypothet...
by TripleB
Thu Jan 22, 2015 8:05 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: My Argument To Never Pay Down Home Mortgage
Replies: 70
Views: 33432

My Argument To Never Pay Down Home Mortgage

I "grew up" my investing mindset from the Bogleheads forum and my parents who are both very debt averse. Compared to the Fatwallet Finance crowd who likes to maximize leverage to generate greater wealth-creating opportunities. On Bogleheads, people tell you to max out your tax sheltered accounts and...
by TripleB
Sun Jan 18, 2015 11:11 am
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: More stocks for the rich
Replies: 19
Views: 10071

Re: More stocks for the rich

You assume the max decline of stock in the future is 50%. What if it declines 90%? What if it declines 50% in one year. Then 50% again in the next year and 50% again in year 3? Now you're down to 12.5% of the original. A smarter strategy would be to have enough money in a HBPP to survive comfortably...
by TripleB
Sun Jan 18, 2015 9:46 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: What's China's Long-Game?
Replies: 9
Views: 6361

Re: What's China's Long-Game?

One thought I had after writing the post last night, was that if we did his the scenario outlined, then as a protection measure, the US Government would likely create huge export tariffs to incentivize keeping US manufactured (and US grown agriculture) within our border, instead of exporting to Chin...
by TripleB
Sun Jan 18, 2015 9:42 am
Forum: Gold
Topic: GTU Is The Ideal PP ETF
Replies: 31
Views: 17326

Re: GTU Is The Ideal PP ETF

Where is SGOL commission-free?
by TripleB
Sun Jan 18, 2015 2:03 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: What's China's Long-Game?
Replies: 9
Views: 6361

What's China's Long-Game?

I've been avoiding temptation to get back into the VP game (which I've been out of for around 2 years), but I have a strong interest towards China and their currency. Here's why: 1) China, unlike the US and Europe, doesn't give a shit what it's people think. The leaders are doing some 100+ year plan...
by TripleB
Sun Jan 18, 2015 1:44 am
Forum: Gold
Topic: GTU Is The Ideal PP ETF
Replies: 31
Views: 17326

GTU Is The Ideal PP ETF

GTU, in my current opinion, is the ideal PP ETF. I hadn't thought too much about it until I read the thread in this sub forum about it's NAV. Being a closed-end fund, GTU can trade at either a premium or a discount to it's underlying holdings. The extent of this NAV differential is based on market f...
by TripleB
Sun Jan 18, 2015 1:10 am
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Six Years of Studying the HBPP And...
Replies: 16
Views: 11111

Six Years of Studying the HBPP And...

I learned about the HBPP in 2008 from Bogleheads forum. It led me to listen to HB's radio show archives for investments and eventually his political ones. I was skeptical at first but I did always like gold and long term treasury bonds. My asset allocation prior to learning of and investing in the H...
by TripleB
Sun Jan 18, 2015 12:24 am
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Is The PP Good For Investing?
Replies: 59
Views: 32204

Re: Is The PP Good For Investing?

I don't know about this whole permanent portfolio thing either. I mean, who is this "Harry Browne" guy anyway? If he's so smart, why is he dead? Why did he have a "radio show" instead of a podcast? All of the really smart people have podcasts. And WHERE exactly is his YouTube and Instagram? The only...
by TripleB
Sun Oct 19, 2014 2:38 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: NY Times: Obamacare is completely useless
Replies: 22
Views: 8084

Re: NY Times: Obamacare is completely useless

But I had also been denied health insurance in the past based on the fact that I have asthma. Or, more accurately, I was able to by a policy but NOT one that covered that condition. So basically, "We'll sell it to you sir, but you can't use it when you actually need it." This is the one reason why ...
by TripleB
Mon Oct 13, 2014 11:35 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: A tragic boating accident
Replies: 3
Views: 2675

Re: A tragic boating accident

This is an amazing story! Of course, I'm referring to the fact that this fisherman took possession of a high capacity death ghost gun and wasn't immediately arrested by the sheriff in California when he turned it in.
by TripleB
Sun Oct 12, 2014 10:49 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: How Is The President's ISIS Policy Working?
Replies: 11
Views: 4495

Re: How Is The President's ISIS Policy Working?

Jan Van wrote:
Reub wrote:... I am starting to lose confidence in him. ...
Really Reub, starting to lose confidence;D

Serious question. When was the last time the USA was unequivocally successful when intervening militarily?
1812?
by TripleB
Sun Oct 12, 2014 9:26 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Who Owns the Future?
Replies: 5
Views: 3328

Re: Who Owns the Future?

I don't find this compelling at all. It could have been written 600 years ago describing how people who handwrite copies of books will be put out of business. Or a few hundred years ago describing how people who pick cotton would be put out of business. Or 100 years ago describing how people who sel...
by TripleB
Sat Oct 11, 2014 5:29 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Looming Gridlock
Replies: 9
Views: 4306

Re: Looming Gridlock

I sincerely hope we get a Republican controlled Congress and keep a Democrat president. Our best possibility is when government removes government. Since that will never happen regardless of who is in charge, the second best situation is when government does nothing. Gridlock in government is good. ...
by TripleB
Thu Oct 09, 2014 11:21 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Strategies for Compulsive Portfolio Checkers
Replies: 30
Views: 17042

Re: Strategies for Compulsive Portfolio Checkers

I've been checking my portfolio every day. I'm inching towards early retirement and I like seeing the total amount get bigger. Of course, as HB said, my portfolio is getting bigger because of my job and contributing new money. My portfolio goes up around 4% per month lately, from new contributions. ...
by TripleB
Wed Oct 01, 2014 10:26 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Sacrificing Property Rights on the Altar of Gun Rights
Replies: 69
Views: 21038

Re: Sacrificing Property Rights on the Altar of Gun Rights

Umm how does one doctor asking a question equate to every doctor being REQUIRED to ask a question? Totally garbage comparison. It's a perfect comparison. Every year, additional reporting requirements increase for medical professionals. If you go to the emergency room for a broken leg, they will ask...
by TripleB
Tue Sep 30, 2014 8:21 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Sacrificing Property Rights on the Altar of Gun Rights
Replies: 69
Views: 21038

Re: Sacrificing Property Rights on the Altar of Gun Rights

What if the doctor asks whether you own guns, and you refuse to answer, and the doctor documents "patient refuses to answer." Given the government already has or soon will have access to all electronic medical records, how hard would it be to run a query that says "show me a list of ALL patients WHE...
by TripleB
Sun Sep 28, 2014 12:39 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Uncomfortable truths
Replies: 20
Views: 7485

Re: Uncomfortable truths

moda0306 wrote: Anyone who is not an anarchist is advocating that the government hold a gun to people's heads to force their will onto them.

Anarcho-capitalists aren't real anarchists.

;)
That's not true at all.
by TripleB
Sat Sep 27, 2014 1:08 am
Forum: Gold
Topic: Silver?
Replies: 11
Views: 6321

Re: Silver?

I wanted to get into sovereigns because of the cool factor, and because of the 1/4 ounce is smaller and easier to rebalance factor, but the spread seemed to be a lot higher. Offhand I think it was around 6% to 8% spread versus a 3% spread on regular 1 ounce coins of modern mintage.
by TripleB
Thu Sep 25, 2014 11:06 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: The California Dream: A second bedroom
Replies: 11
Views: 4948

Re: The California Dream: A second bedroom

SF's problem isn't really rent control anymore. It's the tech bubble boom causing a zillion young six-figure-salary engineers to move to SF, pushing up rents with their vastly higher purchasing power compared to most of the prior locals. What a terrible "problem"! Here's some similar "problems": My...
by TripleB
Thu Sep 25, 2014 10:50 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Fantasy Low Crime City = High Taxes / Few Social Services?
Replies: 21
Views: 10304

Re: Fantasy Low Crime City = High Taxes / Few Social Services?

Also, one practical problem I see is the assumption that the high tax levels will eliminate the class you intend.  As pointed out in another thread, the rapidly rising real estate prices in California aren't chasing out the poor.  They're wiping out the middle class.  In my experience, that makes f...
by TripleB
Thu Sep 25, 2014 12:00 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Fantasy Low Crime City = High Taxes / Few Social Services?
Replies: 21
Views: 10304

Fantasy Low Crime City = High Taxes / Few Social Services?

Here's an idea for a fantasy city with low crime. You have extremely high property taxes. 10% of home value. You provide no services for those taxes. The money is either burned or used for something like local conservationalism. No welfare. No low income housing. Terribly funded public schools to th...