Stoplight's Account Talk

[konakathy]

Stoplight and Weatherweenie! You are in for a trip of a lifetime !! I have so many fond memories of my adventure in Peru, it was one of the most magical, awe inspiring, educational, and just an invigorating soulful experience. You will love Peru and its people!

I can't wait to read Sonja's blog and get her take on her experiences. She will be even more entrenched with the people and will have many more personal experiences with the culture and history. God bless her and keep her safe on her journey.

I am going to go through my pictures and post some of the highlights for me, and points of interest you guys should check out. There are so many, it may take me a while to put together. Dang! I wish I could go back and be your tour guide! I would go back in a NY second.

Oh, and WW just fair warning .... the people in the Andes are Seahawk fans, so don't go flashing any Packers colors. :nuts: Just joking. lol! They don't even know what a Seahawk or Packer is probably... They are VERY passionate about their futball team and would happily discuss their team with you over some Pisco.....they are also very political and will discuss politics, day and night.

Gosh...I'm getting so antsy to go on another adventure !!! Hmmmm....

 

[maui21ice]

Stoplight and Weatherweenie! You are in for a trip of a lifetime !! I have so many fond memories of my adventure in Peru, it was one of the most magical, awe inspiring, educational, and just an invigorating soulful experience. You will love Peru and its people!

My wife is Peruvian and has her real dad living down there. I've never been there but she's been down about 3 times. We're hoping to get down there in about 3 years. I can't wait.

 

[Stoplight]

Stoplight and Weatherweenie! You are in for a trip of a lifetime !! I have so many fond memories of my adventure in Peru, it was one of the most magical, awe inspiring, educational, and just an invigorating soulful experience. You will love Peru and its people!

I can't wait to read Sonja's blog and get her take on her experiences. She will be even more entrenched with the people and will have many more personal experiences with the culture and history. God bless her and keep her safe on her journey.

I am going to go through my pictures and post some of the highlights for me, and points of interest you guys should check out. There are so many, it may take me a while to put together. Dang! I wish I could go back and be your tour guide! I would go back in a NY second.

Oh, and WW just fair warning .... the people in the Andes are Seahawk fans, so don't go flashing any Packers colors. :nuts: Just joking. lol! They don't even know what a Seahawk or Packer is probably... They are VERY passionate about their futball team and would happily discuss their team with you over some Pisco.....they are also very political and will discuss politics, day and night.

Gosh...I'm getting so antsy to go on another adventure !!! Hmmmm....

LOL !!! Kona, you're a trip !!! Guess I can wear my Ravens colors without fear...

We got our renewed/updated passports the other day, so we're good to go for a trip !

The Grand-Niece has been staying with us for a week...having a BLAST with her !!! Spoiling her with pedicures, steaks, BBQ, and burgers before she leaves...but she leaves for Peru Wednesday...enjoyed getting to know her Beau a little better, too, but it's gonna be tough on us to say "Good Bye" to the "Kid" Wednesday...

I guess this is what all y'all feel, when your "Kids" leave the nest, and spread their wings ! :laugh:


Stoplight...

 

[Stoplight]

Ugh...it's tax time....

Trying to decide which of my "buy-and-hold" stinkers to sell (if any !), and what to hang on to...re balancing for 2015 !!!

...made and lost a few bucks with some short duration trades in UVXY and UPRO...but I'm keeping ahead of my 4% retirement withdrawal rate...that's a good thing !!!

Since all my trades are in my self-directed USAA IRA brokerage account, I'm not too concerned about the tax consequences of "wash sales", etc...I get screwed when I start withdrawing those funds...taxed at my current income rate !

Stoplight...

 

[Stoplight]

Hmmm...been a while since I posted here in my own "home" !!!

Soooo....Grand-Niece in Peru is "hitting the wall"...frustrated with the language difference, missing Family and Friends...BUT...her faith is keeping her going !!! Sent a "Care Package" (remember those ?)...hopefully getting something she can touch and feel, rather than digital stuff, will cheer her up !!!

Taxes done...owed more than I thought...messed up because of payments the Wife received for her beading classes she taught...time to get serious about doing an LLC, so we can deduct "business expenses" ???

Checking my "Buy-And-Hold" stocks, and dividends...pondering some adjustments !

"Earnings season" sending me all over the board !!!

- FIS pays a dividend below my 4% threshold, but it's had a big run-up since my purchase in 2/13...time to take profits ???

- Small lot of BGS paying a decent dividend against my buy-in price ; BIG run-up when they beat earnings !!! Gonna hold this one...

- Du Pont (DD) been in the news lately...big proxy fight !!! Dividend not so hot, but big run-up in stock price since the fight started ! I actually added to this position, and will ride it until I see what happens...

Hope your investment decisions work out well !!!


Stoplight...

 

[burrocrat]

i can't 'like' until i get to a real computer tomorrow as i am strictly mobile device at home for some time now, but thanks for the updates on both you and yours.

for those who haven't bookmarked it already: Grace Reaching | Without Borders

 

[Stoplight]

i can't 'like' until i get to a real computer tomorrow as i am strictly mobile device at home for some time now, but thanks for the updates on both you and yours.

for those who haven't bookmarked it already: Grace Reaching | Without Borders

Thanks, Burro ! I wasn't going to re-post the Kid's web site again, because this is, after all, (mostly) an investment site, but I'm glad you did ! Reading her latest blog post, "Things Nobody Told Me", you can get a sense of why I said she's hitting the wall...OTOH, she pulls the whole tone up later, with comments on all the "positives" so far...an interesting read !


Stoplight...

 

[Skorcher]

Hmmm...been a while since I posted here in my own "home" !!!

Taxes done...owed more than I thought...messed up because of payments the Wife received for her beading classes she taught...time to get serious about doing an LLC, so we can deduct "business expenses" ???

Hope your investment decisions work out well !!!


Stoplight...

No need to setup an LLC to deduct business expenses. Report the income (I assume she got a form 1099 and not a W-2) and the expenses on Schedule C.

 

[Stoplight]

No need to setup an LLC to deduct business expenses. Report the income (I assume she got a form 1099 and not a W-2) and the expenses on Schedule C.

Thanks, Skorch....just goes to show you how LITTLE I know about it ! Yes, she got a 1099 with "Nonemployee Compensation". I use TaxAct On-line, so it came back with the Schedule C, etc. I had NO records kept for "business expenses", so I just let it do it's thing...calculated the "self-employee tax" and the deduction for said tax

When all was said and done, I owed ~$200 more than I'd calculated on my draft...next year, I'll be better prepared, but I have no idea how to separate her "hobby" costs (beading jewelry, etc) for her personal use, from her "business" costs...she teaches classes at a Shop, and sells some stuff, every now and then. I ASSUME now we gotta get a license, collect state sales tax on sales, etc etc etc. I'd rather get her to give up beading, but THAT will never happen !


Stoplight...

 

[Stoplight]

...Checking my "Buy-And-Hold" stocks, and dividends...pondering some adjustments !

"Earnings season" sending me all over the board !!!

- FIS pays a dividend below my 4% threshold, but it's had a big run-up since my purchase in 2/13...time to take profits ???...

...Hope your investment decisions work out well !!!

Trying to sell the FIS, but it keeps dropping in this market ! Geez...may dump it tomorrow, regardless of what it does...I'm still in the black on it...

Zeroed in on my second target, 3M (MMM). Planned to dump it and pick up some more WM. Hit my limit price at 3:59 PM and sold, but didn't have time to buy the WM...USAA doesn't "do" after hours trading. Maybe it'll be cheaper tomorrow anyway !!! Bought a little over a year ago @ 131.41 ; sold today at 156.47, for ~ +19% NOT complaining !!!


Stoplight...

 

[Stoplight]

Sold the FIS today...bought 2/13 @ 36.80...sold today at 63.09... ~ +71% Sweet !!! :smile:

Geez...my USAA sweep cash account/"brokerage cash" is getting pretty big...better decide where to put these extra funds !!!

Anybody got any suggestions ??? :smile:


Stoplight...

 

[Birchtree]

I would suggest you look at IEV which is an I shares Europe ETF. It contains 350 European stocks and I'm buying some already for myself. USO is another place to look - it's United States Oil fund ETF. Just to mention a couple choices.

 

[Stoplight]

I would suggest you look at IEV which is an I shares Europe ETF. It contains 350 European stocks and I'm buying some already for myself. USO is another place to look - it's United States Oil fund ETF. Just to mention a couple choices.

Thanks, Birch ! Also looking at the "diversity thing", and I have NOTHING overseas...unless you count a small position in CMRE, or a few Canadian stocks.. :smile:


Stoplight...

 

[Birchtree]

I should tell you that I'm still holding my FIS position with a gain of +120% and plan to keep holding until who knows when.

 

[Stoplight]

So....I have 1 full month of TSP withdrawal, and then a partial one in July...that'll draw my TSP balance down to zero, and I can say good-bye to the TSP. I must admit...kinda sad to say that, after messing with the TSP for all these years !

OTOH...now my attention shifts to the Wife and my USAA self-directed IRA's in earnest ! Since we'll probably start drawing from those accounts later this year, I needed to see where we stand, and what's in cash, so we don't have to "sell low" to meet a needed withdrawal.

Decided to take profits in a portion of my little "chip-maker that could"...already took some profits before ! Bought TriQuint 2/21/13 @ 4.87/share...after splits, mergers, and a huge run-up, sold half of my remaining Qorvo @ 86.25/share. Wish all my trades worked out that well...still holding a small lot, just to see where it goes from here !

Qorvo has not paid a dividend, though, and as we move deeper into retirement, I'm becoming more interested in those dividend-paying stocks, and less interested in these risky ones...

Still haven't decided what to do with the cash laying around, though...:nuts:

Stoplight...

 

[Stoplight]

Stoplight and Weatherweenie! You are in for a trip of a lifetime !! I have so many fond memories of my adventure in Peru, it was one of the most magical, awe inspiring, educational, and just an invigorating soulful experience. You will love Peru and its people!

I can't wait to read Sonja's blog and get her take on her experiences. She will be even more entrenched with the people and will have many more personal experiences with the culture and history. God bless her and keep her safe on her journey.

I am going to go through my pictures and post some of the highlights for me, and points of interest you guys should check out. There are so many, it may take me a while to put together. Dang! I wish I could go back and be your tour guide! I would go back in a NY second.

Oh, and WW just fair warning .... the people in the Andes are Seahawk fans, so don't go flashing any Packers colors. :nuts: Just joking. lol! They don't even know what a Seahawk or Packer is probably... They are VERY passionate about their futball team and would happily discuss their team with you over some Pisco.....they are also very political and will discuss politics, day and night.

Gosh...I'm getting so antsy to go on another adventure !!! Hmmmm....

KK,

Soooo....to pick back up on a previous discussion !

The Wife and I have drafted an itinerary and some dates to visit the Grand-Niece in Lima...just waiting for a confirmation back from her that the dates are cool with her...she sent us dates when NOT to come (kids have exams ; school breaks, other people visiting, etc)...looks like we'll go in October. We want to nail it down so we can still pick up the cheaper "advance purchase" air fares...She says we can stay with her and her "roomie" in their apartment in Lima...we'll see if that works out !

Anyway...looking forward to your suggestions, tips, ideas, and pix of what to see ! As you noted, hopefully WeatherWeenie and others contemplating a trip to Peru will benefit, as well !!!

BTW...for those following Sonja's website/blog (http://gracereaching.org/)...she hasn't posted a new blog entry in over a month ! HOWEVER, know she's just fine...she's been up to her eyeballs in work ! Her classes are doing well ; she has 7 adults she's tutoring in English ; she's writing procedures for the entire school ; and she's "Team Leader" for a large group of students from Pensacola Christian College, who just arrived, who came down during their school break, to help out at the school, and other facilities out in the city and country. The Kid is a workaholic ! I remember Sensui's advice that she should do this while she's young, single, and has energy !

Oh...and she FINALLY got her "Care Package", too ! The good ole USPS tracked it to Lima, arriving on 29 April...(Thanks, KK, for the work you guys do !!!) then it sat !!! SERPost says they left her a note to come pick it up, but who knows...here's an email we received from Sonja :

"Well. This package saga can come to a happy end. It didn't take me long at all, kinda.

So after much time spent on the phone, using my struggling espanol, I gave up and had someone call for me. I managed to gain an address and a confirmation number that my box was at Serpost in downtown Limá. Found a few extra hours this afternoon and went over there (ending up being about 35 mins away). The overseas package pickup was in the basement (super sketchy), and there was nobody there. But I waited for awhile and wandered and found a room filled with packages from the USA just on the floor. Figuring I was in the right place, I hung out and convinced this guy that my package was in there somewhere. After a copy of my passport, fingerprints, and signature in 4 places.....they brought me my package!

Besides all that, THANK YOU! I love opening that box, it was so much fun. I just wish it wasn't Friday so I could go use this stuff with my kiddos. I love it all and I know my kiddos will too! I appreciate it so much."

I suspect the local postal workers/Customs people were surprised to see her show up at their basement office, and were charmed by her...Probably not used to talking to a determined, strong-headed American woman !!!

She added in another email that the college students had brought her some stuff from her Mom. She said : "The missions team arrived late last night and brought me things from my mother, so it's been like Christmas this weekend! Never thought I'd be so glad to get shampoo and gum. Lol."

Anyway...glad I live in the U.S. of A. !!!

Stoplight...

 

[weatherweenie]

We head out to Lima in September. Can't wait!

KK,

Soooo....to pick back up on a previous discussion !

The Wife and I have drafted an itinerary and some dates to visit the Grand-Niece in Lima...just waiting for a confirmation back from her that the dates are cool with her...she sent us dates when NOT to come (kids have exams ; school breaks, other people visiting, etc)...looks like we'll go in October. We want to nail it down so we can still pick up the cheaper "advance purchase" air fares...She says we can stay with her and her "roomie" in their apartment in Lima...we'll see if that works out !

Anyway...looking forward to your suggestions, tips, ideas, and pix of what to see ! As you noted, hopefully WeatherWeenie and others contemplating a trip to Peru will benefit, as well !!!

BTW...for those following Sonja's website/blog (http://gracereaching.org/)...she hasn't posted a new blog entry in over a month ! HOWEVER, know she's just fine...she's been up to her eyeballs in work ! Her classes are doing well ; she has 7 adults she's tutoring in English ; she's writing procedures for the entire school ; and she's "Team Leader" for a large group of students from Pensacola Christian College, who just arrived, who came down during their school break, to help out at the school, and other facilities out in the city and country. The Kid is a workaholic ! I remember Sensui's advice that she should do this while she's young, single, and has energy !

Oh...and she FINALLY got her "Care Package", too ! The good ole USPS tracked it to Lima, arriving on 29 April...(Thanks, KK, for the work you guys do !!!) then it sat !!! SERPost says they left her a note to come pick it up, but who knows...here's an email we received from Sonja :

"Well. This package saga can come to a happy end.  It didn't take me long at all, kinda.

So after much time spent on the phone, using my struggling espanol, I gave up and had someone call for me.  I managed to gain an address and a confirmation number that my box was at Serpost in downtown Limá. Found a few extra hours this afternoon and went over there (ending up being about 35 mins away). The overseas package pickup was in the basement (super sketchy), and there was nobody there. But I waited for awhile and wandered and found a room filled with packages from the USA just on the floor. Figuring I was in the right place, I hung out and convinced this guy that my package was in there somewhere. After a copy of my passport, fingerprints, and signature in 4 places.....they brought me my package!

Besides all that, THANK YOU! I love opening that box, it was so much fun. I just wish it wasn't Friday so I could go use this stuff with my kiddos. I love it all and I know my kiddos will too! I appreciate it so much."

I suspect the local postal workers/Customs people were surprised to see her show up at their basement office, and were charmed by her...Probably not used to talking to a determined, strong-headed American woman !!!

She added in another email that the college students had brought her some stuff from her Mom. She said : "The missions team arrived late last night and brought me things from my mother, so it's been like Christmas this weekend! Never thought I'd be so glad to get shampoo and gum. Lol."

Anyway...glad I live in the U.S. of A. !!!

Stoplight...

 

[ravensfan]

So....I have 1 full month of TSP withdrawal, and then a partial one in July...that'll draw my TSP balance down to zero, and I can say good-bye to the TSP. I must admit...kinda sad to say that, after messing with the TSP for all these years !

OTOH...now my attention shifts to the Wife and my USAA self-directed IRA's in earnest ! Since we'll probably start drawing from those accounts later this year, I needed to see where we stand, and what's in cash, so we don't have to "sell low" to meet a needed withdrawal.

Decided to take profits in a portion of my little "chip-maker that could"...already took some profits before ! Bought TriQuint 2/21/13 @ 4.87/share...after splits, mergers, and a huge run-up, sold half of my remaining Qorvo @ 86.25/share. Wish all my trades worked out that well...still holding a small lot, just to see where it goes from here !

Qorvo has not paid a dividend, though, and as we move deeper into retirement, I'm becoming more interested in those dividend-paying stocks, and less interested in these risky ones...

Still haven't decided what to do with the cash laying around, though...:nuts:

Stoplight...

Stoplight,

Just wanted to say I will be sad to see you go. I would like to thank you for your guidance and friendship over the past year, especially your advice on premium service. I'll PM you my address and phone number so we can stay in touch after you have left TSP.

Just as an FYI, I turn 59 1/2 in late July and will be eligible to start withdrawing from my TSP. However, my wife will not be retiring from her job until next June. With that said, I'll still be driving my school bus for another year and then hang it up when she does.

All the best to you!
ravensfan

 

[Stoplight]

Stoplight,

Just wanted to say I will be sad to see you go. I would like to thank you for your guidance and friendship over the past year, especially your advice on premium service. I'll PM you my address and phone number so we can stay in touch after you have left TSP.

Just as an FYI, I turn 59 1/2 in late July and will be eligible to start withdrawing from my TSP. However, my wife will not be retiring from her job until next June. With that said, I'll still be driving my school bus for another year and then hang it up when she does.

All the best to you!
ravensfan

DUDE !!! I didn't say I was signing out of TSPTalk !!! Just my "official" TSP balance will soon be going to zero !

WAY too much valuable info around here to help me with my brokerage accounts...I'd be crazy to walk away from all this good info !!!

THANKS for the kind words, though...I look forward to reading your insights and your experiences, when you and the Wife decide to hang it up !

We may be up your way in Sept, and would love to hook up and talk face-to-face...great old Maryland Friend's Son is getting married...will let you know if that pans out !!!


Stoplight...

 

[ravensfan]

DUDE !!! I didn't say I was signing out of TSPTalk !!! Just my "official" TSP balance will soon be going to zero !

WAY too much valuable info around here to help me with my brokerage accounts...I'd be crazy to walk away from all this good info !!!

THANKS for the kind words, though...I look forward to reading your insights and your experiences, when you and the Wife decide to hang it up !

We may be up your way in Sept, and would love to hook up and talk face-to-face...great old Maryland Friend's Son is getting married...will let you know if that pans out !!!


Stoplight...

Roger that...My bad.:embarrest:

Looking forward to hooking up if it pans out.