Stoplight's Post Retirement, Post TSP Thread

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Stoplight,

So sorry to hear of the passing of your niece Jenn. I will keep you and your family in my prayers. Condolences.
 
My condolences on the loss of your neice (yes, way to soon).

Have enjoyed reading your post-retirement, post-tsp thread. You could teach a class to those of us that are mathematically challenged when it come to recording their investments on a spreadsheet. I, too, received some unexpected money with the passing of both my parents in the last 4 years. I was blessed to have had them so long, but sorely miss them every day.

I keep a watchful eye on my financial manager and how my finances are being handled. Pretty much told him he would not be getting his hands on my TSP money. You have done well. Would love to see what your spreadsheet looks like. Just the basics not the numbers!

2moryrs-NOT!
 
I remember you talking about your niece before your trip to Australia. So sorry to hear of her death. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time.
 
All,

Sorry....it's been a while since I checked in here, in my own little thread !!! :eek:

For ALL of you that posted your thoughts, prayers, and condolences about Niece Jenn's passing....all I can say is "Thank You" !!! She was truly a special person, and I miss her....


Stoplight...
 
OK....enough depressing talk.... Let's get caught up on my recent investment moves today (like anybody but me cares !!!) :smile:

Soooo....yesterday, I unloaded one of my core "buy and hold" stocks. I sold ALL my Southern Company stock (SO). This is a utility play that I've held since 2013. It KILLED me to do it, because it was paying +5% dividend, and my Quicken ROI was in the 35% range.

BUT !!! Bad press recently....they have a failed gasification project (whatever THAT is !!!), and now a failing nuke plant construction project, wrapped up in the Toshiba/Westinghouse turmoil....just made me antsy, as does the rest of the market these days. What I'm reading is.....LOT'S of expenses ahead...:eek: Bailed to cash for now...guess I'm part of a class action lawsuit, too, as a shareholder of record...

Today, I unloaded 1/4 of my holdings in another core holding, Brooks Automation (BRKS)...this is another one of my old-timers ! Again....paying a dividend of >5% against my buy-in price, but it's had such a run, I HAD to take some profits off the table ! :D

Come 1 September, I'll look at my portfolio again, and decide where to go with the cash. I KNOW I want a utility replacement, for the diversity, but not sure I want to replace the Brooks with something else in Tech....just happy to be sitting in cash right now, on those 2 moves...

Good investing to you all !!!


Stoplight...
 
Merrill "Edge"

So I'm thinking...due to an unexpected income of ~ $7K from some screwy life insurance ( ? ) policies the Wife bought, long before she met me,
I'm looking for a place to park some cash. My liquid "emergency funds" have grown past the point of tolerating a 0.1% APY ! :eek: Still want it liquid, though...

I'm also looking to start transitioning to a managed fund account, or at least some advice for my "buy and hold" investments. I don't see myself staying on top of each and every investment in my portfolio, although I'll still play with "mad money" with the premiums.

To date, we have our rollover TSP and 403(b) in a USAA self-directed Traditional IRA brokerage account...will keep those open....but they get pretty dismal reviews about their funds, and their investment advice !

Came across a Nerdwallet review of Merrill Edge...cheaper trade cost than USAA :

https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/investing/merrill-edge-review/

I have a dormant Bank of America account that I've kept open, even though we don't use it for anything any more, because it's our oldest bank account, dating from probably 1985 !!! ~ $4K balance...

Planning to drop the $7K in there, and then open an Edge account....pick up something that pays better than USAA or B of A's cash account interest, but I can sell quickly, if needed !!! I will keep my USAA accounts, but perhaps transfer withdrawals that I don't particularly need at this time to this....thinking RMD down the road ??? Cap gains or loss tax advantages ???

Anybody out there use "Edge" ? Opinions, either pro or con ??? Set up a CD ladder somewhere ??? I'd appreciate any and all feedback, including alternative accounts, brokers, or "plans" !!!


Stoplight...
 
nasa1974 said:
Do a little research and buy some stock
Click to expand...

Nasa,

Thanks for the response !!!

Ummmm....I'm already doing that, with the existing USAA accounts !!! I'm comfortable with my own portfolio management in those accounts, for now !!!

I looked at the Interactive Brokers accounts, but it seems like they are geared for people much smarter, and much higher volume, than me !!! And I'm not sure I want to choose a broker from their list...guess I've watched too many episodes of "American Greed" !!! :D

I'm just looking for feedback from folks that may be using Merrill Edge for their investments....are they good or bad ? Do they give valuable, accurate advice ? Good customer service ? Low fees ??? :smile:

Didn't know it until now, but my brother-in-law tells me he's been using a Merrill Lynch advisor for years !!! ...and he's VERY happy ! :D

Anybody else have comments or advice ???


Stoplight...
 
At the risk of sounding redundant (I have said this before!).....I like Vanguard. Index funds are cheap....along the line of TSP. Especially if you have a tidy sum of money (I think 100K).
Index trades are restricted to certain number of times per month (most allow only monthly purchase once you sell), similar to TSP.
But they also have directed funds, and the variety is extremely good no matter what you are interested in. I have IRA (both Traditional and Roth) with them for a long time. Their online info is very detailed. And they have brokers to talk to (if you really think anyone else can manage your $$ better than you) if you want advice. Check out their website. No charge to go look! :D
 
I have just been reading your older posts, and I am sorry you got out of the TSP. Since my retirement in 2009, my TSP has gone from $81K to $124K with NO ADDITIONS FROM OTHER SOURCES.
I do not have to tap my TSP until I am 70 1/2 so I am very thankful for the chance to grow it with very low fees. My Vanguard adviser would really like to get their hands on those funds! But no, I am keeping it for my long-term care fund, possibly.
My Dad started me with Vanguard back in the 90's with a check for $1,000 and instructed me to keep adding to it. Vanguard has been good to me and my family over the years. When my Dad passed in 2015, I became the successor trustee of the Trust and divided up their assets between my brother and myself. Mom died in 2013 so everything had gone to my Dad.
I watch almost all of the webinars produced by the good folks of NARFE and have learned loads about handling the TSP. My advice to those thinking about getting out of the TSP is to leave a small portion to keep it open, so you can always come back to it if you choose to. Once you close it, it is gone from you forever.
 
2moryrs said:
I have just been reading your older posts, and I am sorry you got out of the TSP. Since my retirement in 2009, my TSP has gone from $81K to $124K with NO ADDITIONS FROM OTHER SOURCES.
I do not have to tap my TSP until I am 70 1/2 so I am very thankful for the chance to grow it with very low fees. My Vanguard adviser would really like to get their hands on those funds! But no, I am keeping it for my long-term care fund, possibly.
My Dad started me with Vanguard back in the 90's with a check for $1,000 and instructed me to keep adding to it. Vanguard has been good to me and my family over the years. When my Dad passed in 2015, I became the successor trustee of the Trust and divided up their assets between my brother and myself. Mom died in 2013 so everything had gone to my Dad.
I watch almost all of the webinars produced by the good folks of NARFE and have learned loads about handling the TSP. My advice to those thinking about getting out of the TSP is to leave a small portion to keep it open, so you can always come back to it if you choose to. Once you close it, it is gone from you forever.
Click to expand...

2Mo,

SO SORRY I didn't see your post sooner !!! I rarely check this thread, and if a post scrolls off the "Recent Posts" on the main forum page, I probably don't see it...:rolleyes:

To date, I have NO REGRETS about closing out my TSP account...It served me well while working, and for the short time I withdrew from it, before I hit 59.5, but I like being the "Master of My Own Destiny", without the limited IFTs and options available in the TSP. :D I recognize that there are different approaches for all...that's why the TSP still manages to sell annuities !!! :eek:

Since my baseline $ amount (in my and the Wife's TSP and 403(b) in 2012), rolled over to the self-directed IRAs, I've withdrawn $111,000...but my current balance is only $13,900 less that the amount rolled over in 2012...yes, maybe I could have done better, staying in the TSP, but I'm happy ! :smile:

See next post !!! :smile:

Best investing to you !!!


Stoplight...
 
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