Search found 83 matches

by Jeffreyalan
Thu Mar 15, 2018 10:52 am
Forum: Cash
Topic: Treasury Direct for large sums
Replies: 11
Views: 9915

Treasury Direct for large sums

Hello all, I have an inheritance coming and I would like to keep it as safe as possible. So I am thinking of buying Treasury bills with it. Perhaps rolling 1-2 year ones. Does everyone here feel comfortable placing a decent amount of funds in Treasury Direct? I have no reason to not feel safe with t...
by Jeffreyalan
Sat Feb 24, 2018 10:01 am
Forum: Stocks
Topic: Small Caps
Replies: 6
Views: 9233

Small Caps

I apologize if this has been answered in a thread before, but since the PP is supposed to sort of be domestically oriented and most large cap companies are global in nature, would it make more sense for the stock portion to be geared towards mid and small cap stocks? Thanks in advance for any opinio...
by Jeffreyalan
Fri Feb 16, 2018 6:02 pm
Forum: Bonds
Topic: ZROZ Etf
Replies: 3
Views: 4025

ZROZ Etf

Does anyone here use ZROZ for the bond portion or a part of the bond portion of the PP? A backtest shows that it juices the returns and volatility just a bit. Any downsides?
by Jeffreyalan
Mon Feb 12, 2018 10:13 pm
Forum: Bonds
Topic: Vanguard changes 3 government bond index funds and ETFs to pure Treasury indexes
Replies: 18
Views: 13982

Re: Vanguard changes 3 government bond index funds and ETFs to pure Treasury indexes

Right now yes. But since the fund description/prospectus says only that the fund invests in 10+ year bonds, I wonder if we can always count on them being as long as TLT?
by Jeffreyalan
Mon Feb 12, 2018 8:54 pm
Forum: Bonds
Topic: Vanguard changes 3 government bond index funds and ETFs to pure Treasury indexes
Replies: 18
Views: 13982

Re: Vanguard changes 3 government bond index funds and ETFs to pure Treasury indexes

How about VGLT maturity and duration vs TLT? I know right now they look similar. But TLT descrption is 20+ year treasuries. VGLT is only 10+.
by Jeffreyalan
Sun Feb 11, 2018 7:43 pm
Forum: Bonds
Topic: Treasury Direct Question
Replies: 2
Views: 3193

Re: Treasury Direct Question

it sounds like an insignificant thing, but I like to be able to login to any account I have and see the current value. Having to search for it or even calculate it myself sounds crazy! Thanks for your assistance!
by Jeffreyalan
Fri Feb 09, 2018 4:09 pm
Forum: Bonds
Topic: Treasury Direct Question
Replies: 2
Views: 3193

Treasury Direct Question

Does anyone here use Treasury Direct enough to be able to answer a question for me? I have a $100 savings bond there which I have had for maybe 5 months or so. It has earned a tiny bit of interest. But what is frustrating (and perhaps I do not understand the website correctly) is that whenever I log...
by Jeffreyalan
Tue Feb 06, 2018 8:05 am
Forum: Stocks
Topic: Dividend Growth Investing
Replies: 42
Views: 50617

Re: Dividend Growth Investing

The main reason to own stocks that pay dividends is management accountability since the commitment to paying a dividend forces efficient capital deployment decision making. Also, Shareholders like optionality and the payment of a dividend gives the shareholder the option to increase or decrease thei...
by Jeffreyalan
Mon Feb 05, 2018 1:34 pm
Forum: Stocks
Topic: Dividend Growth Investing
Replies: 42
Views: 50617

Dividend Growth Investing

What would be everyone’s opinion here on dividend growth investing? For example, buying 20-25 stocks like MMM and Johnson & Johnson and just holding them forever. Live off of the rising dividend stream and leave the shares for my children. I know it will have more ups and downs than a Balanced portf...
by Jeffreyalan
Tue Oct 17, 2017 1:17 pm
Forum: Bonds
Topic: TLO symbol changed to SPTLO
Replies: 9
Views: 8683

Re: TLO symbol changed to SPTLO

Do you think this moves TLO to the top of the list for LT Bond ETFs? Traditional TLT was the #1 choice and TLO only used in cases where it was commission free, such as at Schwab.
by Jeffreyalan
Tue Oct 17, 2017 8:38 am
Forum: Bonds
Topic: TLO symbol changed to SPTLO
Replies: 9
Views: 8683

Re: TLO symbol changed to SPTLO

Looks like the slashed fees on it. The current fee now shows as .06%.
by Jeffreyalan
Thu Sep 21, 2017 12:27 pm
Forum: Cash
Topic: Treasury Direct Safety
Replies: 11
Views: 12334

Re: Treasury Direct Safety

Apparently others are even more paranoid about this:

https://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=225415
by Jeffreyalan
Tue Sep 19, 2017 12:54 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Schiff and other Doom Porn
Replies: 13
Views: 8651

Re: Schiff and other Doom Porn

I read the article linked to above, which is cited for the argument that trillions in new debt per year IS sustainable. I'm afraid I'm too economically illiterate to understand much of it at all. Is there anyone who could explain, in a nutshell, how the government would get out from under its debt ...
by Jeffreyalan
Mon Sep 18, 2017 6:34 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Schiff and other Doom Porn
Replies: 13
Views: 8651

Schiff and other Doom Porn

Reading through all threats here I've seen several disparaging comments on so called "doom porners" like Peter Schiff and Harry Dent. Aside from the sensationalism they sometimes peddle when they have a new book (ie a crash will happen in the first quarter of 2018), what are people's main issue with...
by Jeffreyalan
Mon Sep 11, 2017 8:14 am
Forum: Variable Portfolio Discussion
Topic: 20% annual returns over 40 years...interested?
Replies: 571
Views: 329487

Re: 20% annual returns over 40 years...interested?

I have had some "real money" in the 3x portfolio (with 5% XIV) for a few months and I am quite happy so far! Any thoughts as to how this compares to the Permanent Portfolio in a strong stock market downturn?

Jeffrey
by Jeffreyalan
Tue Aug 22, 2017 12:16 pm
Forum: Cash
Topic: Treasury Direct Safety
Replies: 11
Views: 12334

Treasury Direct Safety

I know a lot of the members here use Treasury Direct for their cash and/or bonds. I would like to get some opinions here on the safety of it. By safety I do not necessarily mean someone stealing my password, logging in as me and transferring my money to themselves. I mean safety in the terms of some...
by Jeffreyalan
Sun Aug 13, 2017 2:16 pm
Forum: Variable Portfolio Discussion
Topic: 20% annual returns over 40 years...interested?
Replies: 571
Views: 329487

Re: 20% annual returns over 40 years...interested?

Are there any compelling reasons to add a MidCap or Small Cap 3x ETF to this portfolio? Or does an S&P 500 3x suffice for the stock portion?
by Jeffreyalan
Fri Aug 04, 2017 7:53 am
Forum: Cash
Topic: SHV ETF
Replies: 3
Views: 5301

Re: SHV ETF

https://www.ishares.com/us/products/239466/ishares-short-treasury-bond-etf The ishares website reports .34% as the YTD gain, as does morningstar. Powershares has a new ETF CLTL that is similar to SHV but at only half the expense ratio. I have been leaning towards the ETFs for the simplicity. I under...
by Jeffreyalan
Thu Aug 03, 2017 8:03 pm
Forum: Cash
Topic: SHV ETF
Replies: 3
Views: 5301

SHV ETF

Does anyone use SHV (ishares short term treasury) ETF for their cash component? I always wonder why its return is so low. Right now tbills from 3 months to a year will get you over 1% on Treasury Direct. But yet SHV has only returned .33% so far this year. Even taking into account the .15% expense r...
by Jeffreyalan
Sat Jul 29, 2017 4:09 pm
Forum: Cash
Topic: All America Bank 1.5%
Replies: 57
Views: 59437

Re: All America Bank 1.5%

-Inflation-protection for 30 years/ rate resets 60 times (no CD has that) Why the assumption that a rate reset is always in your favor? Inflation has only ticked up .47% in the last 3 months. If that continues the the ibond rate reset coming up may be half of my cd rate. And if deflation hits you co...
by Jeffreyalan
Thu Jul 27, 2017 8:19 am
Forum: Cash
Topic: All America Bank 1.5%
Replies: 57
Views: 59437

Re: All America Bank 1.5%

when comparing cds vs treasury bills, should we put any emphasis on cds giving you the ability for compounding interest? When opening a cd I can just let the interest stay in the cd and compound whereas with a treasury bill I buy it at a discount and then have leftover interest that I have to then f...
by Jeffreyalan
Mon Jul 24, 2017 7:58 pm
Forum: Cash
Topic: All America Bank 1.5%
Replies: 57
Views: 59437

Re: All America Bank 1.5%

While we are on the topic of I Bonds, I have a general question. It seems most posters here are of the opinion that the Treasury will never outright default on their bonds, but will instead opt to pseudo-default by inflation. If one believes that then part of that scheme would have to be the under r...
by Jeffreyalan
Sun Jul 23, 2017 2:27 pm
Forum: Cash
Topic: All America Bank 1.5%
Replies: 57
Views: 59437

Re: All America Bank 1.5%

I use a small mutual savings bank in Mass. It gives me the illusion of safety!
by Jeffreyalan
Sun Jul 16, 2017 9:55 pm
Forum: Cash
Topic: Question on Treasury Ladder
Replies: 4
Views: 5887

Question on Treasury Ladder

I am going to set up a bond ladder at Treasury Direct and was wondering what everyone's opinions are about the length of the ladder. 1 year, 3 year or 5 year or more? This is not for the PP cash specifically. Just for some medium to deep cash.

Thanks!

Jeffrey
by Jeffreyalan
Mon Jun 05, 2017 9:03 pm
Forum: Cash
Topic: T-Bill Yield Question
Replies: 12
Views: 11321

Re: T-Bill Yield Question

Thanks! I have recently come into some cash and I have decided to set up a Treasury Direct account and keep it in treasury bills. So any ideas on that subject are very helpful.