Miscellaneous
Latest Discussions
The Shut Down And Interest Rates: Any Nexus?
With things going along well for the American economy, and with interest rates picking up seemingly everywhere (see Ken's blog), I got to wondering who is unhappy with such a situa... read more
Shut Down (Now Over): Andrews Fed CU Offering 0% Loans Up To $5,000 For Shutdown
In the face of the federal shutdown -- which Congress is now lifting as I write -- Andrews Federal Credit Union just sent an e-mail offering "furlough relief loans" of up to $5,000... read more
IRA Direct Transfers
Watch out for the process and the timing.
We all know that doing a direct trustee-to-trustee can be a pain, and takes a lot of time.
BUT, beware also that it is UP TO YOU to mana... read more
Rmds; Be Careful Out There
As we enter into another RMD calculation season, folks will need to tote up their 2017 year-end IRA balances to calculate the 2018 RMD amounts. Some folks might be in for a shock. ... read more
Ally Online & Mobile Access Will Be Down For Part Of Saturday, January 20
"Online and mobile access to your Ally Bank and Invest accounts will be unavailable on Saturday, January 20th starting at 1:15 am ET, while we work on improving your online experie... read more
FDIC Accounts Insurance Calculators And FAQ's
I found this on the FDIC website when researching the deposits insurance coverage limits.
Hopefully it can answer the questions you may have about the insurance limitations.
Welco... read more
No, Mr. Gross, The Sky Is Not Falling
Bond gurus (such as Bill Gross) see major "doom and gloom" in rising bond rates, which signal decreasing bond values (NAVs of bonds and bond funds move inversely to yields). Two po... read more
Waiting For 3%
It's easy for me to think this way today. Right this instant I am not confronting investable funds in large dollar amounts. That happens later this year. So for now I'm yawning at ... read more
FDIC & NCUA Insurance With A Single Ownership Account.
I just spoke to NCUA and was told that having beneficiaries in a credit union make it a POD account. You do not have to put POD/ITF in the account title for additional insurance.
... read more
Lake Michigan Credit Union That Has The 3% On $15,000 Reward Checking Is Now Paying
1% on their savings account.... read more
The RMD Is Sneaky
For those over 70 1/2, with IRAs, keep a close watch on those RMDs. Last year was a banner year for stocks. As a result, retirement funds with allocations tilted toward equities wi... read more
Edeposits Not Supported
Found out that my regular bank, BANK OF AMERICA, does offer edeposits but ONLY from a smart phone APP. NOT available from the desktop.
TOO cold to run out just to make a single de... read more
Just A Few Hours Remain
For those itemizing in 2017 but won't in 2018, there's still time for charitable gifts.
For folks who tithe, or gift periodically, think about "front-loading" today, December 31,... read more
The Day Before New Years
'Twas the day before New Years,
And all through the land,
Folks were rushing to donate
Used clothing (off-brand).
Trump's tax bill, they fear,
Will bring little cheer.
Non-cash co... read more
Underpay Your 2017 Tax?
Check out IRS Form 2210.
With the advent of the "gig" economy, more folks are unknowingly underpaying Uncle Sam. Uncle Sam is not amused, and tends to charge interest for underpa... read more
You Might Need To Tweak Those 2018 Tax Calculators
The tax calculators for the recently-enacted Tax Bill are all the rage. Some caveats apply.
I've reviewed more than a dozen such calculators, and each has similar flaws. (1) Each ... read more
Mastercard Free Service To Counter ID Theft
You must be a Mastercard cardholder to use this free service. I signed up. It seems like a good service. Certainly the price is right:
https://www.mastercard.us/en-us/consumers/pa... read more
Is Your Withholding Adequate?
As we enter into the new, and somewhat uncharted, territory of the new tax bill, one logical question for the average taxpayer is whether his or her withholding will be adequate.
... read more
Hang Onto Your Hat. Train Comin' Down The Track . . . Fast!
Guys this new tax law deal appears to me actually to have legs. I think it is gonna happen . . and soon. Ho, boy, look out! This thing will free up huge sums of money at corporatio... read more
Trust-Fund Babies Escape Unscathed
Aside from the Estate Tax, one little-known provision in the Tax Code escaped scrutiny. The step-up in basis. For those unfamiliar with the step-up in basis, it basically eliminate... read more