Investing megathread extravaganza

[DaFace]

A place to talk about investing stuff.

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by DaFace

I've used Schwab for about a decade, though my needs are pretty basic. Any specific questions?

I'm a beginner so I've got about a thousand, but I figure I'll just wade in there and learn for myself.

Just curious if anyone had any rave reviews or horrible experiences to share.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

I'm a beginner so I've got about a thousand, but I figure I'll just wade in there and learn for myself.

Just curious if anyone had any rave reviews or horrible experiences to share.

I started with them just because our work Simple IRAs go there, but I've since opened up a couple Roths for my wife and I as well. I also use their checking account, which is nice because they refund ATM fees anywhere in the world. (Not great if you frequently need to deposit cash, though.)

If you're just getting started, I'm a fan of their target date index funds. Nice, diverse portfolio that shifts over time, has minimal fees, and takes very little effort. Obviously you can do a lot more than that if you want. Rain Man could tell you about their stock trading stuff - he does a lot more of that than I do.

I haven't really needed much from them, but any time I've needed it their customer service reps (primarily via chat for me) have been knowledgeable and helpful.

[aloyouis]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

I'm a beginner so I've got about a thousand, but I figure I'll just wade in there and learn for myself.

Just curious if anyone had any rave reviews or horrible experiences to share.

I’ve been using Fidelity for over a decade. They have every service under the sun and their online presence is fantastic.

Recent changes in the market for brokerage houses have leveled the playing field with regard to fees. I use both Vanguard and Fidelity target date funds as well as several ETFs which are free for trades on Fidelity.

Their in person abilities over the phone are very good. I’ve managed to re-characterize several years of IRA changes (backdoor Roth) with simply a phone call.

On the other side of the coin, I’ve heard nothing but horrible stories about Janus Henderson.

[lewdog]

Been making some short term swing trades with TLT.

Liquidated my JNJ position. I try not to mix ethics in making money but they are just scummy.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by lewdog

Been making some short term swing trades with TLT.

Liquidated my JNJ position. I try not to mix ethics in making money but they are just scummy.

What did Johnson and Johnson do?

[scho63]

Charles Schwab to buy TD Ameritrade

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/21/char...urce-says.html

Time for a new startup for trading that mimics Scottrade.

[ChiliConCarnage]

Wow, I thought Etrade would be the first to go.

So they were likely haggling price when Schwab announced the 0 fee commissions a few weeks ago. It looks like that caused a 30% drop in TDAs stock over a couple of days. How's our offer look now!?! Savage!

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by scho63

Charles Schwab to buy TD Ameritrade

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/21/char...urce-says.html

Time for a new startup for trading that mimics Scottrade.

IM with TD. This seems fine to me. Am I wrong?

[synthesis2]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

What did Johnson and Johnson do?

As someone who has worked for them for 20 years plus its simply a money grab with lawsuits as we are a very profitable company.

Baby powder traces of asbestos from the early 1980's they claim but don't sue anyone else that produces baby powder mined from the same area. Why? because they don't have deep pockets.

The opioid crisis? we account for 1% of painkillers yet get called the "opioid kingpin" of the industry? What??? just a money grab that's all.

I have a very strong position in them and know that long term they are about as safe as you can get, plus the dividends are excellent.

[kepp]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

Anyone use Bloom or similar for their 401k?

Just curious on overall experience with it.

I have and they were bad. I fired them, took back control, and doubled my returns. I'm a very basic user, but even I could see that the way they redistributed my 401k was bad.

DISCLAIMER: that was a couple years ago though...maybe they've improved?

[displacedinMN]

Holy cow--we are all rich...

What does it mean to be rich? You may be closer to it than you think
When you look at the actual numbers, if you make $34,000 a year, the average wage here in Minnesota, worldwide you're in the top 1%.

Author: Gordon Severson
Published: 6:51 PM CDT October 8, 2019
Updated: 10:26 PM CDT October 8, 2019
GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — Here's a question for you, are you rich?

Very few people “think” they are, but some new numbers may challenge your perception of wealth.

When you hear the words rich or wealthy, what comes to mind?

Million-dollar yachts? Private jets? Your own island?

It's easy to see what mega-rich looks like, the billionaires of the world, but what about the "regular" rich people?

The ones who can afford a nice car, a million dollar house, stuff like that... how much do they make?

Turns out it's a lot less than you'd think.

GoBanking Rates, a personal finance website, surveyed 5,000 Americans, asking them how much do you need make to be rich?

The average Minnesotan said it would take a million dollars a year, but what does “rich” actually mean?

It’s a word that’s difficult to define.

If you define rich as being in the top 5% of income earners, here in Minnesota your household income needs to be over $218,000 a year.

Top 20-percent? $118,000.

That may be the real rich, not the million dollars-a-year many Minnesotans expected, but why don't we see it that way?

"If you said to these people, ‘you're rich.’ They’d go no I'm not, I'm middle class," Augsburg economics professor Jeanne Boeh says.

We as Americans often talk about the class system, we measure ourselves by being in the lower, middle or upper class.

But the guidelines for each class are fuzzy at best.

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"People overestimate how much money other people actually have. They overestimate what the income distribution is, they overestimate how much savings they have, they overestimate all of that," Boeh says.

Boeh says it's basic human nature that when it comes to money, there's never enough. We always need more.

A lot of that has to do with the rich and famous, celebrities, athletes and actors, who make millions and distort our view of what it means to be rich, Boeh says.

And TV families that show a "normal" American family isn't exactly normal.

"Starting with the Brady Bunch, and the Cosby family, all those TV families. Those people were really, really, wealthy and they were portrayed as like the family next door. That's not the family next door,” Boeh says.

It all makes us think we're doing worse financially than we actually are.

It's why people worry about money, get depressed about money, and why families fight.

But when you look at the actual numbers, if you make $34,000 a year, the average wage here in Minnesota, worldwide you're in the top 1%, according to the Global Rich List.

That's right, 99% of the world makes less than you do.

"We tend to forget really just how wealthy we are as a country. Just in terms of happiness, if you thought about how much you had versus how much you had versus how little you had, you would be happier," Boeh says.

Of course, the cost of living does factor into all of this and it's hard to make ends meet in Minnesota on $34,000 a year.

This story doesn't aim to discount that, but only aims to get people thinking.

[Demonpenz]

It's all about the pussy though. 34 thousand a year ain't going to get it done if you want to bread with a non heffer. Unless you are just a swaggy mother ****er or got other shit going for you

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by Demonpenz

It's all about the pussy though. 34 thousand a year ain't going to get it done if you want to bread with a non heffer. Unless you are just a swaggy mother ****er or got other shit going for you

CP has me believing that $34k and a Jeep Liberty can get ANY lady.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by Camaro

I’ve never learned much about retirement accounts but I know I’m long overdue to start one and I’ve been told to do a roth. Where is good place to start one?

Start with what you employer offers. Do you know what they offer? Many offer a Roth IRA.

[Demonpenz]

Originally Posted by lewdog

CP has me believing that $34k and a Jeep Liberty can get ANY lady.

lol in sunny arizona no less.