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OT: Crypto, Stocks, Bonds, Real Estate, Investments, IRAs & Finances, etc.

Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 1:37 pm
by Stannis
Toranaga on HSAs, how to use them, and why they are the most overpowered investment account available, page 4.
Spoiler:
Stannis wrote:
Toranaga wrote:I can talk about HSAs for hours so let me know if you want to know my strategy on how I use one, which in my opinion is the best way.

I definitely wouldn't mind that if you have the time. No rush as I won't be getting it until next month.

So I treat it strictly as an investment account and invest the entire balance.

If I have medical expenses throughout the year, I pay it out of my own pocket and scan the receipts to Google drive or whatever and keep a very simple spreadsheet of my medical expenses through the years to stay organized. The reason i do that is that there is NO time restriction on when I can reimburse myself for those medical expenses from the HSA and the reimbursement will be tax free.

So let's say I go to the doctor and get a $5k bill tomorrow. If I pay it out of pocket, I can reimburse myself 25 years from now if I want the $5k from the HSA and that withdrawal will be tax free.

So... 1) I contribute to the HSA tax free 2) It grows invested tax free and 3) I can withdraw the balance tax free if I have medical expenses covering the amount that I withdraw. I will pay zero taxes on that money and the investment gains, which is crazy and doesn't happen in this country. The reason you keep the receipts is in case the IRS comes knocking about your HSA withdrawals and all you need to do is provide the receipts covering the withdrawal.

And let's say I still have money left in the HSA when I'm 65, it just turns into another traditional IRA account and I'll be able to withdraw the funds for non medical expenses.

I'll always be on a HDHP for as long as I can strictly for the HSA advantages. I'm generally healthy too so that helps.




Aq_ua on mortgages, tax deductions, renting vs owning, Page 5.
Spoiler:
CharlesOakley wrote:How many of you "investors" are also carrying a high amount of debt? If you aren't debt-free (excluding your mortgage), you shouldn't be investing yet.

Picking up on this, I think it's probably worth clarifying when/why a mortgage can be excluded. Most people used to get tax deductions for the interest on their mortgage, but only if they file itemized deductions on their tax returns. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act changed some of that math for people, where it makes more sense to take the standard deduction than itemized deductions. For those people, there is no longer any tax deduction available for mortgage interest. In a lot of ways, that probably changed a lot of math around the overall benefit of home ownership period.

My general advice is to always consider renting before buying. Investing the money you would have to put down on a home purchase will more likely generate a higher return than the potential rise in home prices from here on out. Plus, given how low rental yields are now, the same equivalent in rent for the costs associated in home ownership probably gets you a nicer place to live today.




Original Thread Starter Post:
Spoiler:
Which online brokers do you all recommend for stocks?

Has anybody used tastyworks or thinkorswim in particular?

Re: OT: Best Online Brokers?

Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 2:02 pm
by DOLPHIN2020
I use Interactive Brokers. low fees and good execution.

Re: OT: Best Online Brokers?

Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 5:11 pm
by Kampuchea
Think about banking relationship as well. I use Merrill because 1) I get free trades due to my BOA account 2) The interfaces connect to each other so I see my investment balance in the BOA app.

If no advantage exists from your bank, interactive brokers is a cost efficient one.

Re: OT: Best Online Brokers?

Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 5:32 pm
by Stannis
Kampuchea wrote:Think about banking relationship as well. I use Merrill because 1) I get free trades due to my BOA account 2) The interfaces connect to each other so I see my investment balance in the BOA app.

If no advantage exists from your bank, interactive brokers is a cost efficient one.


Cool. I have BoA. A little embarrassed I didn't already look into that tbh.

Do you know if there is a minimum amount I need to have in order to get the free trades? If so, can it be in any of my BoA accounts or does it have to be in my investing account?

Re: OT: Best Online Brokers?

Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 5:47 pm
by Kampuchea
Make sure you get free trades, it would be based on your status I think (I.e. silver/gold) . I just opened a small IRA, no minimum.

Re: OT: Best Online Brokers?

Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2019 10:36 am
by br7knicks
Stannis wrote:Which online brokers do you all recommend for stocks?

Has anybody used tastyworks or thinkorswim in particular?


you retired?

dammit...you're a good one

Re: OT: Best Online Brokers?

Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2019 11:06 am
by aq_ua
tuna108 wrote:I use Interactive Brokers. low fees and good execution.

They also are very good with FX and help you to loan out shares to cover short positions and earn a little bit of side income.

Re: OT: Best Online Brokers?

Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2019 1:37 pm
by Stannis
br7knicks wrote:
Stannis wrote:Which online brokers do you all recommend for stocks?

Has anybody used tastyworks or thinkorswim in particular?


you retired?

dammit...you're a good one

I was never a mod here, I was just a mod on a pretty low pop board lol, but thanks!!

PS,I think they are all good!

Re: OT: Best Online Brokers?

Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2019 6:40 pm
by Im Coming Home
Is there stock brokers that will do the market stuff for you?

I've always wanted to try to get into stocks but with my limited knowledge it would seem like I'm just throwing away money... I would love to learn how to make passive income on the side of my regular job.

Re: OT: Best Online Brokers?

Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2019 7:45 pm
by Stannis
Im Coming Home wrote:Is there stock brokers that will do the market stuff for you?

I've always wanted to try to get into stocks but with my limited knowledge it would seem like I'm just throwing away money... I would love to learn how to make passive income on the side of my regular job.

You have advisors but they take a bigger fee. I think Merrill wanted an extra $30 per trade if I talked to an advisor to execute a trade.

All it takes is some reading on some websites like Motley Fool.

You wouldn't be throwing away money at all. To get the hang of the process and stuff, just buy into low risk stuff (e.g. like Johnson & Johnson or Coca-Cola). Better than keeping everything in a bank and losing to inflation. As you learn more you can take more risk when you feel more comfortable.

As long as you don't try to get rich quick, you definitely won't be throwing away money.

Re: OT: Best Online Brokers?

Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2019 10:39 pm
by br7knicks
Stannis wrote:
br7knicks wrote:
Stannis wrote:Which online brokers do you all recommend for stocks?

Has anybody used tastyworks or thinkorswim in particular?


you retired?

dammit...you're a good one

I was never a mod here, I was just a mod on a pretty low pop board lol, but thanks!!

PS,I think they are all good!


theyre definitely all good, but i like some more than others, even if i dont agree with them on things!

Re: OT: Best Online Brokers?

Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2019 10:49 pm
by Kampuchea
I only dislike mods that ban me. I think thuggery banned me when I was intoxicated and shamgod was enjoying the spectacle.

Also I think Clyde banned me but he was higher than a mother.

Stannis never banned me so I was willing to share the relevant info for the OP

Re: OT: Best Online Brokers?

Posted: Fri Sep 27, 2019 12:23 am
by Im Coming Home
Stannis wrote:
Im Coming Home wrote:Is there stock brokers that will do the market stuff for you?

I've always wanted to try to get into stocks but with my limited knowledge it would seem like I'm just throwing away money... I would love to learn how to make passive income on the side of my regular job.

You have advisors but they take a bigger fee. I think Merrill wanted an extra $30 per trade if I talked to an advisor to execute a trade.

All it takes is some reading on some websites like Motley Fool.

You wouldn't be throwing away money at all. To get the hang of the process and stuff, just buy into low risk stuff (e.g. like Johnson & Johnson or Coca-Cola). Better than keeping everything in a bank and losing to inflation. As you learn more you can take more risk when you feel more comfortable.

As long as you don't try to get rich quick, you definitely won't be throwing away money.

How long does it take to see it 'work' then?

I'm good with sitting on stocks if thats what you mean, cause I've been doing that with cryptocurrency for a few years now since that crashed, so I been hoping and waiting for it to come up again in a few years..

I do want to learn for sure though.

Re: OT: Best Online Brokers?

Posted: Fri Sep 27, 2019 1:52 am
by Stannis
Im Coming Home wrote:
Stannis wrote:
Im Coming Home wrote:Is there stock brokers that will do the market stuff for you?

I've always wanted to try to get into stocks but with my limited knowledge it would seem like I'm just throwing away money... I would love to learn how to make passive income on the side of my regular job.

You have advisors but they take a bigger fee. I think Merrill wanted an extra $30 per trade if I talked to an advisor to execute a trade.

All it takes is some reading on some websites like Motley Fool.

You wouldn't be throwing away money at all. To get the hang of the process and stuff, just buy into low risk stuff (e.g. like Johnson & Johnson or Coca-Cola). Better than keeping everything in a bank and losing to inflation. As you learn more you can take more risk when you feel more comfortable.

As long as you don't try to get rich quick, you definitely won't be throwing away money.

How long does it take to see it 'work' then?

I'm good with sitting on stocks if thats what you mean, cause I've been doing that with cryptocurrency for a few years now since that crashed, so I been hoping and waiting for it to come up again in a few years..

I do want to learn for sure though.


I'm no expert. But I read Warren Buffet said to be prepared to sit on stock for 10+ years

That's cool that you got into crypto. I never learned and felt I missed out

Re: OT: Best Online Brokers?

Posted: Fri Sep 27, 2019 3:06 am
by aq_ua
If we're making this a broader investment thread...

Has anyone looked into depth on factor investing?

The evidence seems to be compelling to about getting value and size factors in addition to straight market beta, but I'm also getting mixed signals about the ability of ETFs to actually provide exposure to those factors without introducing significant noise from sector concentration or just high expenses.

I'm not looking at alpha, which has kept me away from smart beta, but even that strategy seems to be prone to introducing unwanted and uncompensated risk.

Re: OT: Best Online Brokers?

Posted: Fri Sep 27, 2019 5:15 am
by Garbagelo
Robinhood if you make small trades

Interactive brokers for big ones

Re: OT: Best Online Brokers?

Posted: Thu Oct 3, 2019 12:35 am
by Stannis
aq_ua wrote:If we're making this a broader investment thread...

Has anyone looked into depth on factor investing?

The evidence seems to be compelling to about getting value and size factors in addition to straight market beta, but I'm also getting mixed signals about the ability of ETFs to actually provide exposure to those factors without introducing significant noise from sector concentration or just high expenses.

I'm not looking at alpha, which has kept me away from smart beta, but even that strategy seems to be prone to introducing unwanted and uncompensated risk.

I decided to make this a general investment thread so maybe somebody can help.

I got more questions myself.

Re: OT: Investment Thread (Stocks, Crypto, Bonds, IRAs, etc.)

Posted: Thu Oct 3, 2019 1:59 am
by ZKnicks
Buy some Bitcoin
Lock it up in cold storage
Don’t touch it for 7-10 years
.
.
.
Retire

Re: OT: Investment Thread (Stocks, Crypto, Bonds, IRAs, etc.)

Posted: Thu Oct 3, 2019 2:15 am
by Dave DaButcher
Race to the bottom in on-line commissions following Schwab’s announcement this week of no commission trading on stocks, ETFs and options. Others now are following suit. There may be account minimums and other requirements to qualify.

Otherwise, personally, I am getting increasingly nervous about the market. Recession risks are rising and there’s a crazy person in the White House. Plus, the market is not cheap following a long in the tooth bull market that’s now in its 11th year.

It’s best attribute may be that there’s seemingly no attractive alternative to stocks these days except perhaps just cold hard cash.

Re: OT: Investment Thread (Stocks, Crypto, Bonds, IRAs, etc.)

Posted: Thu Oct 3, 2019 2:17 am
by robillionaire
invest in clean water food that won’t perish and guns