Search found 655 matches

by Dieter
Wed Jun 12, 2013 9:48 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Wealth Distribution in America
Replies: 53
Views: 18650

Re: Wealth Distribution in America

Benko wrote: Why is this of more concern than the unemployment rate/current economic worries in this country and policies responsible for them?
Many people think they are related
by Dieter
Mon Jun 10, 2013 11:09 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Former "Plunge Protection Team" Member on Gold, Wealth Confiscation, Gov debt
Replies: 86
Views: 32467

Re: Former "Plunge Protection Team" Member on Gold, Wealth Confiscation, Gov debt

Meanwhile, we have no examples of an Austrian model that works in the modern world.  Does Estonia qualify? http://news.heartland.org/newspaper-article/2006/07/01/estonia-creates-economic-miracle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4f9SZiZ-azU While it sounds like they have done a lot of good, do rememb...
by Dieter
Sat Jun 08, 2013 12:19 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Assumptions you didn't know you've made
Replies: 41
Views: 17324

Re: Assumptions you didn't know you've made

Probably the best one I've heard was, "I'm very open-minded, but if you ask me, those intolerant Republicans should all be loaded onto a spaceship and shot into the sun." Intolerant of the intolerant when they act on their intolerance.... The point is, intolerance of intolerance is a tautology. It'...
by Dieter
Sat Jun 08, 2013 11:36 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Ridiculous Euphemisms
Replies: 27
Views: 16853

Re: Ridiculous Euphemisms

Improvised explosive device

The yearly use of "Emergency Supplemental" funding for Iraq / Afganistan

I've often use "many opportunities" vs "all mucked up"! :)
by Dieter
Fri Jun 07, 2013 11:50 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Assumptions you didn't know you've made
Replies: 41
Views: 17324

Re: Assumptions you didn't know you've made

Pointedstick wrote: Probably the best one I've heard was, "I'm very open-minded, but if you ask me, those intolerant Republicans should all be loaded onto a spaceship and shot into the sun."
Intolerant of the intolerant when they act on their intolerance....
by Dieter
Thu May 30, 2013 9:55 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: California Debates How to Blow Tax Windfall
Replies: 35
Views: 12487

Re: California Debates How to Blow Tax Windfall

People think CA is a liberal bastion, but that's only true in highly visible pockets like L.A. and San Francisco.  Overall it's a red-leaning state.  After all, Prop 8 never would have even gotten on the ballot in a blue-dominant state, let alone get passed. Yeah, I've tried to make that point here...
by Dieter
Wed May 29, 2013 11:37 pm
Forum: Variable Portfolio Discussion
Topic: VP in a 401K
Replies: 10
Views: 4539

Re: VP in a 401K

I had the VG Mid-Cap index for a while, and it treated me while. Probably wouldn't make a big difference, but a low cost option to add some equities not dominated by Large Cap growth.
by Dieter
Tue May 28, 2013 12:14 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: California Debates How to Blow Tax Windfall
Replies: 35
Views: 12487

Re: California Debates How to Blow Tax Windfall

If government carries any debt, there is no way they have a "surplus" of funds. This is just political spin. Clinton said the same thing during his budget with trillions of long term debt on the books and trillions more in unfunded liabilities still in existence. Running such a "surplus", esp in "p...
by Dieter
Thu May 23, 2013 10:42 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: "Generation X: An Inconvenient Era"
Replies: 8
Views: 3272

Re: "Generation X: An Inconvenient Era"

As an early-ish Xer, I can relate...
by Dieter
Tue May 14, 2013 12:20 am
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Oh how it hurts to see no gains
Replies: 412
Views: 158672

Re: Oh how it hurts to see no gains

Kriegsspiel wrote: Total World skips out on those taxes when it "balances" itself?
When Samsung goes up and Apple down, no need to sell anything to maintain intl vs US weighting....
by Dieter
Mon May 13, 2013 6:11 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Oh how it hurts to see no gains
Replies: 412
Views: 158672

Re: Oh how it hurts to see no gains

Vanguard Total World stock index expense ratio is 0.19%. Total US is 0.05%, and Total Int'l is 0.16%. Is there some advantage to the Total World fund that I'm not seeing? VT Disadvantages: cost, a lot fewer stocks VT Advantages: single fund (fire & forget, no rebalancing between US & international)...
by Dieter
Fri May 03, 2013 6:20 pm
Forum: Gold
Topic: Should You Incorporate Gold / Precious Metals in to Your Asset Allocation?
Replies: 5
Views: 2927

Re: Should You Incorporate Gold / Precious Metals in to Your Asset Allocation?

Parts I liked, parts were, hmm.... * Where did 3% come from vs 5% for a limited allocation? And nothing about the change in volatility, just absolute performance * While they is a point about tracking error and timing, moving from 70/30 to 65/25/5 would cause one to bail when the 5% is doing badly? ...
by Dieter
Fri May 03, 2013 9:22 am
Forum: Variable Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Is It Time To Walk Away In May?
Replies: 6
Views: 2656

Re: Is It Time To Walk Away In May?

Sorry for an on topic post, but http://m.seekingalpha.com/article/1396581

Seems like a few reasonable strategies without going overboard - rebalance in May / Oct, ...

Probably minor in the long term, but for folks who do annual rebalancing, why not on May Day vs New Year's Day?
by Dieter
Wed Apr 10, 2013 3:33 pm
Forum: Variable Portfolio Discussion
Topic: VP Input Request
Replies: 48
Views: 17512

Re: VP Input Request

Technically, 50% of 80% gives you the 40% total in stock, so that's a match.

20% gold is high vs 15ish%, although I'd assume still within the rebalance band.... (40% of allocation?, so rebalance at 9% and 21% for a 15% allocation?)

Definitely something I've been tinkering with....
by Dieter
Sun Mar 17, 2013 1:19 am
Forum: Variable Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Conservative portfolio for the masses
Replies: 7
Views: 5888

Re: Conservative portfolio for the masses

VTINX (Vanguard Retirement Income - 30% US/Intl Stock, 20% TIPS, 45% Total Bond)
5-10% Gold

Maybe add VWINX if want value tilt and more corp bond....
by Dieter
Thu Mar 07, 2013 6:49 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Funds
Topic: Heavy in PRPFX
Replies: 35
Views: 25305

Re: Heavy in PRPFX

"  It is really bothering me that PPRFX is showing so little movement now  " While there are some general concerns with PRPFX (inflation tilt, cost, active stock picking, Swiss Franks, ....), is the current tracking error specific to its PP implementation? For a pure PP: Cash flat (25% of portfolio)...
by Dieter
Sun Feb 10, 2013 10:16 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Critique My PP Allocations
Replies: 6
Views: 4272

Re: Critique My PP Allocations

Stunt: I'm thinking both LTT and Gold to 16%, not from Gold to LTT.... Although being a home "owner", I think I have more inflation protection than deflation protection overall (I also think REIT helps a bit with inflation.) Rymenocerous - do you max the company match in 401(k) and then contribute t...
by Dieter
Sun Feb 10, 2013 12:24 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Critique My PP Allocations
Replies: 6
Views: 4272

Re: Critique My PP Allocations

I think most would consider this more PP inspired than true PP..... Of course, I'd call mine PP inspired as well....  (All percentages rough; in IRA; All Vanguard except for metals; I couldn't give up the slice and dice; I'm less then 6 months in anything PPish....) Stocks (40% ; ~30% intl, Value, &...
by Dieter
Thu Feb 07, 2013 12:12 am
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: The "Permanent Boglehead Portfolio"
Replies: 8
Views: 6584

Re: The "Permanent Boglehead Portfolio"

Two fund portfolio: VG Lifestrategy Conservative growth (60/28/12 TBM/TSM/TISM - soon to have 20% of TBM go TIBM) Gold (IAU, GLD, ETC) 16% Gold (give or take - 10% some boggleheads might do...) A little light on gold / over alocated to stock vs traditional, and some some non treasury bonds in the 50...
by Dieter
Sun Jan 27, 2013 1:56 am
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Funds
Topic: PERM vs. PRPFX - which is best?
Replies: 71
Views: 60264

Re: PERM vs. PRPFX - which is best?

I have PERM in a small Roth IRA. Does what I expect.
by Dieter
Mon Jan 21, 2013 4:16 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: GOP plan to change Electoral College
Replies: 3
Views: 2903

Re: GOP plan to change Electoral College

IMO, all states or none....

And something similar for Congressional districts to reduce impact of Gerymandandering?

And more use of ranked choice voting...
by Dieter
Fri Nov 09, 2012 1:11 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Why Obama won
Replies: 112
Views: 40051

Re: Why Obama won

When Pilgrims arrived there were no welfare of Medicare or Social Security and they had to rely on themselves. For decades after that people came to America in search of freedom and ability to build better life for themselves and their children. But nowadays there is a growing group of population t...
by Dieter
Wed Nov 07, 2012 8:44 am
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: IMPORTANT: Forum Software Upgraded
Replies: 34
Views: 15354

Re: IMPORTANT: Forum Software Upgraded

1NV35T0R (Greg) wrote: I like the new format. The only thing I don't was I lost my stars and now I have a boring polygon. I liked having 5 stars, it made me feel like Eisenhower (i.e. last 5-star U.S. general)
I thought Bradly was the last 5-star (too lazy to look up right now)
by Dieter
Sat Oct 27, 2012 2:01 pm
Forum: Stocks
Topic: Merriman's style for equity part of PP
Replies: 9
Views: 6543

Re: Merriman's style for equity part of PP

I now forget who suggested it, but there is an old thread on boggle heads about getting similar return with fewer funds, splitting value plays accross geography, such as:   US Large Balanced (S&P 500)   Intl Large Value   US Small Cap Value   Intl Small Cap Balanced If you do REIT and the above, can...
by Dieter
Sat Oct 20, 2012 11:09 am
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Funds
Topic: Short to medium long term PP investment
Replies: 17
Views: 13362

Re: Short to medium long term PP investment

I Bonds could also be an option (10k per year per SSN) Haven't done myself yet, but thinking of putting some of my emergency fund in there over time (can't withdraw within first year, loose three months interest if withdraw in first 5 years. I have some PERM in my Roth, which is deep emergency fund ...