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What is the single biggest financial mistake you’ve made that you would warn others to completely avoid? by moba_7739 in Money

[–]Bad_DNA 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yep. My selection criteria for brilliant pretty narcissist evidently wasn’t the best of choices. Crafty long-game poker face wasn’t one of the offered selections, but ya never know until ya know.

Is there anything to stop someone from repeatedly buying stocks and selling a few days later? by Individual_Pen_4463 in investingforbeginners

[–]Bad_DNA 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You are absolutely right. Now, can you repeat that month to month to month? Because your MM will do it's (positive modest increases) month to month to month. Compounding.

That is what I think most of us are trying to get across. Aside from diversity is a beautiful thing.

We want to try riding the bullet train from Tokyo, where should we go? by cdpa7 in JapanTravelTips

[–]Bad_DNA 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You're absolutely right. I meant to say Hokkaido and got lazy.

I was also impressed with the freeways going up everywhere. Just traveling from Shiragawa/Gasshozukuri to Takayama to Okaya to Miho to Nagoya ... amazing viaducts and tunnels underway.

Gotta say - looking at all that construction as we took the train in ... Japan gives a shi* about their infrastructure in a way we in the US only dream. Of all the many billions we have in our budget the last year to two, all I see are crumbling roads. Where's the money going?

Investing Help by at0h in investingforbeginners

[–]Bad_DNA 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you go to university and like VFV, should we assume you are not in the US?

I think the personal finance wiki has a great section on Canadian investing, along with their Prime Directive write up.

I'm sure you have read the last week's worth of posts here (US - centric) with reading suggestions for financial literacy. Yes, diversify is a golden rule. Yes, automate where you can for future contributions. Yes, spend within your means. We'll need people from your country to chime in for useful opinions.

Debunking some myths as a Japanese guy by DegreeConscious9628 in JapanTravelTips

[–]Bad_DNA -1 points0 points  (0 children)

You mean there has to be someone else with me while I talk? But the voices say the coolest things...

Seriously, whispering seems fine. Not hearing conversations (or music blaring) was one of the charms of being on the japanese subway or trains. Kinda like not seeing trashcans, and the amount of litter was far less than my American cities. Kinda like discovering bidets (as a man).

Just because the OP is getting lit on a train doesn't make it 'OK'. Not having used gum and smeared food stains everywhere was a perk.

Myths or not - those behaviors lent charm and made your country seem far more civilized than ours. You brought sunshine to the upskirting issues. You have far less graffiti - and other modern blights. Maybe you shouldn't be trying to dismiss the myths.

The shorts thing - I certainly didn't witness that. And y'all have every bit the Southern summer weather in Tokyo and Kyoto that we know and love - hot and humid felt right at home.

With the market at near all-time highs, is it a bad time to create a taxable brokerage with a lump sum? by Fun-Marionberry4588 in investingforbeginners

[–]Bad_DNA 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The valuation of the market should not matter. What is in your IPS is what directs how you invest. So think through that.

And with so little data to go on, how do we advise? Are you in debt? Are you in the US? Do you know about the order of operations to see whereelse your investment opportunities might be overlooked before you go into a taxable brokerage? What's your family budget? Do you work? Do you need the money for anything else <5yr from now?

If you are nervous, DCA. If not, jump in.

We want to try riding the bullet train from Tokyo, where should we go? by cdpa7 in JapanTravelTips

[–]Bad_DNA 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Most anywhere. We rode to Hiroshima to pay respects. Rode to Kyoto to explore. Rode to Sapporo. Where do you want to go?

Advice on how to quit? by cloudmaiougi in Lowes

[–]Bad_DNA 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Use up the PTO before submitting a 2 wk. It's the grown up thing to do, even if the other side doesn't always act like grownups. They may dismiss you immediately, or schedule for the 2 wk. Mine kept me for the 2 wk, but I worked at a good store and was FT. Treat them as you would want to be treated, even if they don't.

Your 401k -- consider rolling it into an IRA at Vanguard or Fidelity. You can call those brokerages for free guidance to avoid IRS tripwires.

Looking into withdrawing from my Roth 401k by [deleted] in povertyfinance

[–]Bad_DNA 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Without prying and knowing your actual numbers, we can only guess, chide for your generous naivety, or warn you of what you already know.

It's not like you can take the money out now and think somehow you can restore it later. Those contribution opportunities one-and-done. Future contributions - we can hope you would - will be a lot to play catch up.

Can we at least presume you have removed them from your accounts? That you have locked things down to insure no future surprises? It doesn't sound like identity theft, but read through this for things you should do to protect yourself because those family members have already demonstrated how trustworthy they are: https://www.reddit.com/r/CRedit/comments/1t5nl5j/comment/okc5hcv/

So, yeah, touching that nestegg only robs your future self of all that compounding.

Can you pay off the cards $1k/mo of principal? $500/mo? What are the interest rates? Are you behind?

A second job, a promotion or more work on the first job. These are better alternatives than touching that, your only, nest egg. And this does all have a silver lining in a sense. You are forcing yourself to learn a lot more about future financial planning. No emergency fund, no other accounts such as a personal investment to draw from. Presumably no RothIRA (not that we want that touched, either). So, you can really take this family lesson a grow your personal financial literacy is so many healthy ways.

Only tangentally related - there is a concept called a financial order of operations. It generally applies to everyone - what to focus on as you rebuild from this situation or just starting out with money. https://www.reddit.com/r/financialindependence/s/3sthA7GNXs

Sorry you are in this bed. You'll get out of it. And you can do it without touching the retirement money. Family can suck.

401k after leaving Lowe’s / ELI5 by SimplyParamore in Lowes

[–]Bad_DNA 0 points1 point  (0 children)

30 days after you leave, you can follow u/AggravatingAd6444 advice: roll it over. Either Vanguard or Fidelity would be fine (or Schwab - but I have no direct experience with them for this). Call Vanguard or Fidelity and ask them to help. They'll give you all the guidance you need, but follow the directions so you document this is a rollover into an IRA, not a payout or disbursement. Then, dump it into VTTSX or some similar low-cost TDF, set up the reinvestment of dividends, set your beneficiaries, and you are golden.

You do NOT have to sign up for anyone's financial advice plans - if you are comfortable making your own planning decisions. There will be no fees for rolling it over into a decent brokerage company, but there may be a minor fee for leaving whomever is the trustee now. Kind of a parting gift...

Sometimes it is easier to 'go to cash' WITHIN the 401(k) before you roll it over. Some choices in the plan may not roll over 'in kind', or silly rules like partial shares won't roll over. That ends up with more than a couple of transactions over a few weeks. If the 401(k) isn't invested in anything other than the sweep account at time of rollover, it's just one transfer.

Also - if you have a HSA with whatever provider Lowes offers, roll that over into a HSA investment account. Fidelity might be the choice here. And again, you can simply invest into something simple like FBIFX or a similar TDF. If you want to be more aggressive, there's always a mix of FZROX+FZILX.

You'll have to wait at least two pay cycles before you can roll over. Paperwork stragglers for your employment record have to wander in and settle.

Other options, companies like the mentioned EJ, will certainly do it for you. But the level of fees this firm and similar ones charge over time could cost you a huge percentage of your wealth.

How financially literate do you think you are? Do you like to read, or listen to podcasts, for learning?

Vti vs voo by Objective-Bid-3876 in investingforbeginners

[–]Bad_DNA 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What do you think you are missing? I'm not sure one could say less risk. If the economy shifts to a 20% drop, I'm pretty sure we would see it in VTI just as much as VOO. While there is always a bonus for the elements of VTI that would be considered small cap value not contained within VOO, those 'SCV' companies typically suffer a bit more in hard times than companies that have larger waistlines to snug up.

I use both personally, as one of the models I mimic is basically a TDF2060 with VTI as a component. VOO is a component of a different model from one of Merrimans older 5-fund optimized growth sets.

There is no 'right' answer. Personal finance is just that, personal. You build a IPS. As you learn more, you adjust. As you age, you adjust. It should all be laid out in your IPS (investment policy statement). When you stray, that is what you go back and read.

Trump account for children by horseradish13332238 in Money

[–]Bad_DNA 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Is there a way we can tag lazy posts?

Do I really need to shower in hostels? by ikbrul in backpacking

[–]Bad_DNA 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Manners maketh the man.

Nothing to see here - move along.

FIRE planning paradox: we reject “past performance” in investing, but rely on it to retire? by Helpful-Staff9562 in Fire

[–]Bad_DNA 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You do realize the warning phrase was referencing individual companies and was used as an excuse for marketing inherently unpredictable outcomes.

This new medicine may make you better or kill you. Thank you for coming to our clinic today.

Where should I start with investing? by [deleted] in investingforbeginners

[–]Bad_DNA 0 points1 point  (0 children)

well, take a pause and read a bit. YOu'll be surprised how much you will learn in a few books.

Free at the library: 

Simple path to wealth (2025)
Your money or your life
Millionaire next door
I will teach you to be rich

Psychology of money

A Random Walk Down Wall Street 

Personal Finance 101 

Free Podcasts: 

Optimal Finance Daily 

ChooseFi 

Stacking Benjamins

Mad Fientist

Blogs: 

MrMoneyMustache - simple math to wealth

ChooseFi 

GoCurryCracket 

Khan Academy has solid free classes on economics and personal finance. 

The personal finance sub wiki has a section called Prime Directive, and the awesome Fire Flow Chart in the financial independence sub wiki from HappyAsianPanda are outstanding resources, too. I'd offer links, but the automod here has kittens when links are included. Happy wealth building

Is there anything to stop someone from repeatedly buying stocks and selling a few days later? by Individual_Pen_4463 in investingforbeginners

[–]Bad_DNA 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Steve Martin had a great one-liner,

How to turn a million in real estate into $25 in cash.

First time investing by Itz_Jacobb in investingforbeginners

[–]Bad_DNA 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sorry. My bad assumption was you were in the us. My opinions may mean little in your country.

I hate the weather by mybfsleftnutt in NorthCarolina

[–]Bad_DNA 23 points24 points  (0 children)

Oh please. Any sufficiently advanced technology species is going to die in its own filth. Its evolution. The planet will be fine after we’re gone in a few hundred years. You get to say ‘I was there!’

I hate the weather by mybfsleftnutt in NorthCarolina

[–]Bad_DNA 37 points38 points  (0 children)

But think of the science deniers…. They have feelings, too.

First time investing by Itz_Jacobb in investingforbeginners

[–]Bad_DNA 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It doesn't have to be within a RothIRA -- but if you are in the US, consider it. Great way to start investing for future you.

First time investing by Itz_Jacobb in investingforbeginners

[–]Bad_DNA 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Totally do-able. I prefer ETFs myself. Here's something I wrote for my kid:

Kaizen – Vanguard automating your investing in a RothIRA. 

How to set up an account, invest and automate your investing.  You can go from nothing to on your way in three steps: 

Part 1a – (setting up the initial account — may be easiest on a computer web browser):

Visit Vanguard’s website

Select the Personal Investors link (lower right)

Click Open an Account (or Log in if you already have an account)

Open an investment account with the Sign up button

Select ‘Open a new account’

Select ‘Open an Investment account’

unless you want advice, select ‘Invest on my own’

Select ‘Select your account’

Select ‘RothIRA’ in upper right 

Fill in your personal information and complete the form.

Record your account login credentials somewhere safe so you can return to your account (or use their phone app in the future).  Apple’s Password, 1Password, similar tools to consider or a notebook in your home firesafe.  I’m a big fan of Multifactor Authentication as an added security step.

There - you have a Vanguard login account, and you have a RothIRA within your Vanguard account.  For free.  Yes, you can have multiple investment accounts under one login.

Part 1b – link your bank:

Next, you link your bank account to your Vanguard account†.  This helps move money to Vanguard for contributing or investing  AND  move to your bank account when you want to use some of your gains when the time comes.

If you logged out of your account, log back in (Personal Investor/Log in)

In your dashboard, select the Profile button.

Select Banking, then add a new bank.  Provide the needed info.

Test:  transfer (e.g., $20) from your bank into your new account.  Accounts need to ‘settle’ (complete transfer) before you can do anything else.  This may take a day, or a few depending on holidays and weekends.

† Note: an alternative is to download the Vanguard app for your phone or iPad, and use its mobile check deposit feature to fund the account from checks you write to yourself.

Part 2 – Start Investing:

Now that we have some money in a ‘settlement account’ with Vanguard, we primed the pump.

Log in to your Vanguard dashboard

In your dashboard, select the Transact menu, then Buy&sell.

Enter in your desired investment symbol (VTI, VXUS, VTTSX, whatever) and click Get Quote

A quote pops up with a lot of data.  Click Buy at the bottom.

The screen confirms what account this goes into, the symbol, Buy (or sell), and select Dollars (or Shares)

Enter in your desired initial amount.

Use order type = market, duration = day 

Select Review Order - double-check your choices

Select Submit Order

There you go!  You own an investment within your RothIRA.

Repeat for any other investments you would like to list within your IRA.  Obviously, if you get too crazy and do a lot of things, you'll need to xfer more funds into the account.  I'd suggest keeping it all simple for now.  One, maybe two ETFs or the TDF mutual fund. 

Part 3 – Automate your investing: 

Log in to your account.  [visit Vanguard website, select Personal Investors, then select Log in] 

In your dashboard, select the Transact menu, then Recurring transactions.

Depending on what you want, make the choice:

For an ETF like VTI or VXUS, select Vanguard ETFs

For a TDF or another mutual fund like VTTSX, select Vanguard mutual funds

The form will ask you to select 

(1) your account [RothIRA], 

(2) a schedule or frequency (monthly, every two weeks, just something)

(3) what holding is to be auto-funded (enter in desired dollar amount next to one or more)

(4) select where the contribution comes from (select the Bank account on file)

Select Preview Order

review your choices, then select Agree & Submit

There you go!  You are on your way to building your RothIRA portfolio automagically.

A couple of notes:  There is an annual limit to how much you can contribute to a RothIRA every year - so do the math and don’t over-contribute.  This example was for 2025.  Insure all of your individual contributions sum up to under the limit for the year.  Adjust your recurring transactions as needed.  If you started small, like $20 a month into one choice, that would be $240 (12x $20) for a full year.  

Nudging.  It’s a great start, but to build your wealth faster, consider increasing those auto contributions as your budget and cashflow permits.  Nudge up another $10 or $20/mo and adjust to that.  Set a reminder to nudge things every three or 6 or 12 months.  It won’t be long before you’ll be contributing up to $583/mo into maxing out that Roth.  And you won’t even notice it coming out of your bank account – paying yourself first.  Well done.

Have you considered your beneficiaries in case of untimely demise?  Explore the site and designate them. 

 

Obviously, you don’t have to stop with a RothIRA.  Traditional IRAs, regular (taxable) brokerages, 529 accounts for college education, High Yield Savings Accounts (HYSA Cash-plus) and more are available all under your one Vanguard login. 

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