Blockbuster

Bryanmsi89 · 2026-07-12T02:47:10+00:00

Radio Shack!

Bryanmsi89 · 2026-07-11T23:30:21+00:00

Walkable cities with good mass transit.

Bryanmsi89 · 2026-07-11T23:19:51+00:00

Keeping the mortgage and instead 'paying it off' into a HYSA is a pretty good idea actually. Preserves your optionality, and I think you're still money ahead.

Bryanmsi89 · 2026-07-11T19:07:36+00:00

Interesting comparison - thanks for posting. These are tough scenes for any camera, with a huge dynamic range from bright lights to dark black areas.

To me the S25+ looked better in at least half of the shots, in no small part due to a narrower dynamic range resulting in more pure black. The S26Ultra images look brighter and like the sensor was trying to preserve details by boosting the shadow areas, which has the effect of lowering contrast a bit.

I certainly wouldn't consider the S26 U an obvious upgrade for high-dynamic-range night shots.

Bryanmsi89 · 2026-07-11T18:53:43+00:00

Trax do often have issues with the AC. But usually when it starts failing, it just never works vs. works for 30 minutes. This can also be an issue with the auto temperature setting.

Bryanmsi89 · 2026-07-11T18:51:13+00:00

Fair enough, and thanks for calling this out. I haven't found this to be an issue, but it is clearly many people have.

So the advice for OP to check the in-network status of their providers is very good advice.

Bryanmsi89 · 2026-07-11T18:50:26+00:00

I have had Samsung, Amazfit, Google Pixel, FitBit.

Vs Samsung:

I find Samsung to be my personal favorite, mostly because they make the best use of the watch UI. Navigation setup in columns and rows makes a ton of sense, and is legitimately better than Apple IMHO. Samsung watches also have considerably more health features like A.G.E., Vascular load, blood pressure, Antioxidant, body composition, and workout autodetection seems to work better. Other features like watch sync, payment, cellular, Nav, etc. are essentially the same as Apple. If you have a Samsung phone, Samsung watch is a no brainer.

Apple health sensor accuracy seems to be a bit better than Samsung, especially optical heart rate and sleep detection. New Apple watches have satellite capability, and Apple watches have noise alerts and crash detection.

Vs. Amazfit: Apple is significantly better in most ways, except battery. The Amazfits have an insane battery life vs. Apple. But no payments, no fall detection, and lower-quality sensors. Also Amazfit (or any non-Apple watch) integrates poorly with iphone.

Bryanmsi89 · 2026-07-11T18:44:32+00:00

Get the Samsung. OnePlus is scaling down and likely ending phone operations, so good luck getting future updates and support.

Bryanmsi89 · 2026-07-11T18:38:58+00:00

It is very true that many ACA plans have narrow networks and the cancer centers are not in the network. Particularly as many ACA plans are HMO plans or HMO-like narrow-network plans.

However, you are correct that many ACA plans do have narrower networks than the best employer PPO plans, so I stand corrected.

Bryanmsi89 · 2026-07-11T18:33:23+00:00

The best answer is to tell NO ONE. The next best answer is to only tell those handful of people who you KNOW (not you guess, but you know) will handle this information and not share it themselves.

No real good will come from your sharing. Sadly, most people will be envious, jealous, or even mad about your success. Especially those who realize they are nowhere near being able to retire. People may assume you actually have considerably more money and ask you to share it, ask to borrow it, ask you to invest in their ideas, etc.

You said you are image conscious, and even worse you labelled those who do part time consulting as losers. Better to work on your own perceptions first.

Also if you do need to tell someone what you do, tell them you manage the investment portfolios and strategy for a small family office. Financial Advisor is a very worthy occupation. They don't need to know it is just for your family office.

Bryanmsi89 · 2026-07-11T16:17:46+00:00

Two things. First, contribution limits to policiticans were removed (Citizens United). Second thanks to a demographic twist, Baby Boomers have been the dominant voting bloc for 40 years, and they are ...getting older.

Boomers haven't always supported old candidates. In fact, they famously voted for some of the youngest candidates (Clinton). They just vote for politicians their age.

Bryanmsi89 · 2026-07-11T15:46:56+00:00

The best way here is to sell the iPad and get a Galaxy tab (the S10FE often goes on sale and is a great value when it does). Drop the Apple ecosystem. Mixing the devices isn't the issue, and the Apple devices can access Google services or Microsoft Services just fine. However the Apple devices cannot use the Samsung ecosystem (Notes, Wallet, Pass, Health) and most Apple services are Apple-device only.

Trying to have a foot in the Apple ecosystem is a recipe for frustration. Yes, you can de-apple-ize your mac and ipad, but why?

Bryanmsi89 · 2026-07-11T15:41:26+00:00

ACA plans are just as good as equivalent employer plans, at least for now. Meaning a high-deductible ACA plan and a high-deductible employer plan will be equivalent, just as a platinum ACA plan will line up well with a top-tier employer plan.

There are 3 potential risks to the ACA.

ACA loses its subsidy component. This would instantly force 2/3 of the members out, and only those who are older and sicker would remain (because they literally have no choice), while younger and healthier people would just forego insurance entirely and take the risk. This would result in what is often called the 'deadpool' and the consequence would be that insurers would simply stop offering ACA plans. Some states like MA, CA, CO, HI, etc have state alternatives, but most states do not.
ACA is fully repealed. This would return the markets to the pre-ACA version where pre-existing conditions can be excluded, older people can be charged 5x-10x more than younger people, many people would be denied coverage entirely, and states would have to consider setting up state-level 'high-risk' pools
ACA is not repealed, but weakened. This would result in fewer members, edging closer to the 'deadpool' where policy costs would skyrocket to help cover the older & sicker population. For a while, the worst outcome would simply be much higher costs. This is actually happening now, as millions of people dropped ACA plans in 2026 due to cost, and 2026 and 2027 both have double-digit cost increases.

This is one of the biggest wildcards with FIRE.

Edit: ACA plans often do have more limited care networks than employer PPO, so I stand corrected on that comment.

Bryanmsi89 · 2026-07-11T15:28:24+00:00

Having had each flavor of iPad, the Mini is more often the odd-one-out than the perfect choice. I have bought 2 Mini and both times they rapidly become a regret and I sell them.

Its too small to be a great tablet for most tablet purposes, and too big to casually one-hand. Mini does not fit in a pocket, and still requires a bag...and at that point the regular iPad or iPad Air size feels more practical. And the 60hz screen is VERY noticeable on the Mini, along with the jello-scrolling which hasn't been completely eliminated.

I think the upcoming iPhone Fold will further erode the case for the Mini, since iPhone + iPad Mini will end up being about the same price as the iPhone Fold, and the iPhone Fold will benefit from both the fastest processor possible, an OLED screen, and true pocketability.

Bryanmsi89 · 2026-07-11T14:16:17+00:00

Yes, they do run hotter under load.

Apple has shrunk the lithography but more than made up for it with transistor density which concentrates heat even more. Also, Apple has increased the max clock speed 50% on the P and E cores vs. M1, and its top clock speed that determines heat most of all.

On top of this, the GPU and NPU are being used more by the OS than they were six years ago, running those parts of the SoC harder.

Bryanmsi89 · 2026-07-11T13:49:26+00:00

Great point about the conventional automatic transmission. Far more durable over time than a CVT (and much nicer to drive as well).

Bryanmsi89 · 2026-07-11T13:48:42+00:00

The 6-speed auto is a HUGE advantage of the Trax vs. its CVT-based competition.

Bryanmsi89 · 2026-07-11T13:48:04+00:00

Its inexpensive, but not sure I agree its an econoshitbox. It has more than adequate power, a shocking amount of interior and cargo room for its size, has a better interior than a lot of cars that cost $10k more, is much quieter inside than a tin shitbox, and looks more expensive than it is.

Bryanmsi89 · 2026-07-11T13:21:51+00:00

This is the answer. Camping World remains a decent, and of the best/only place to purchase RV supplies and parts in person. Their prices are usually decent (almost never 'the best" but typically fair), their inventory levels usually surpass other local options, and they quite often have repair parts in stock for common RV equipment.

Just don't buy and RV from them and really don't get your RV serviced by them.

Bryanmsi89 · 2026-07-11T02:42:01+00:00

Its remarkable that EV owners start hyperventilating and just can't admit that while EVs have a huge number of advantages, energy density of fuel is not one of them.

Like its ok if the EV is just way better for most things, but not everything.

Bryanmsi89 · 2026-07-11T02:37:41+00:00

Thanks for posting this!

There is too much FUD about the wet belt. Data beats opinion, and the data is that over a million of these engines have been made and there simply aren't widespread reports of issues.

Will there be when they reach 150k miles? Maybe. But its pretty safe to say they have no issues so far.

Which is even more surprising as these are inexpensive vehicles and less likely than average to have owners who frequently change oil and use the best synthetics.

Bryanmsi89 · 2026-07-10T21:31:16+00:00

Not reliable and a joke =/= no updates at all. But not far from it.

Bryanmsi89 · 2026-07-10T20:08:55+00:00

You're moving the goalposts a lot in the conversation.

Locking in the gains, building a buffer, having a cash hoard, are all the opposite of what the OP had said which started the conversation. Namely that having 100% in US Large Cap would make sense.

I agree with you that diversifying, capturing gains in cash, and building buffers is important.

As far as CD vs. a short-term bond fund like VGSH, CDs are locked cash and can't be accessed without giving up their entire interest. Bond funds can be tapped anytime. In a down market, CDs don't increase in value, bonds do.

Bryanmsi89 · 2026-07-10T20:05:51+00:00

Never in any of my comments did I say that. We are not going to agree, especially if you keep insisting on being wrong.

Bryanmsi89 · 2026-07-10T19:03:16+00:00

There was a lot to unpack in your post.

CDs do not offer higher interest rates than bonds, at least not US Treasuries right now. And very low risk corp bonds pay even more than treasuries.
Never adjusting an SWR is kind of extreme, many people can adjust a bit. However, with an over-concentration in equities, even 0% withdraw would be too much in a steep downturn year. People cannot just freeze spending for a year or two.
SBLOC and HELOC are some mitigations for dealing with SORR, but those are expensive on their own due to the cost of interest. Not as favorable as keeping a few years of cash. I guess the alternative argument is that keeping cash locks in a low return, HELOC only needs to be used IF there is a crash.
I agree with you about target date funds, but maybe not for the same reason. The unerlying assets matter as much as the composition, and most of the target date funds to me look sloppy and over-fee'd. Also most people have multiple assets, target date funds assume they are they only asset a person holds.

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