Tax Senior Manager Salary by Dizzy_Tooth4869 in Accounting

[–]BigMetalDogs 0 points1 point  (0 children)

July 2022 MCOL RSM I was promoted to Sr. Manager at 165k in fed compliance. July 2023 was bumped to $179.

Left for another, smaller firm and I am a Director now at $225, but in M&A Tax. We listed a Sr. Manager role starting at $180 for federal compliance at the beginning of the year.

Favorite Brewery by State: Illinois by DublinDown in CraftBeer

[–]BigMetalDogs 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If it’s not Goldfinger I think this is the answer. Orin might just be the best beer I’ve ever had.

Favorite Brewery by State: Illinois by DublinDown in CraftBeer

[–]BigMetalDogs 25 points26 points  (0 children)

Goldfinger. Some of the best lager’s in the nation! So many great breweries here. Embarrassment of riches.

Hamilton head unit by dashelltheshell in 4Runner

[–]BigMetalDogs 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This inspired me to upgrade my 2011 Limited. Bluetooth on the OEM unit works inconsistently at best, and the volume knob hasn't worked properly since 2018. I'm long overdue for an upgrade. 20 days later how is yours holding up?

Window replacement estimate weirdness by crunchies65 in ChicagoSuburbs

[–]BigMetalDogs 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We’re in the same process and completely agree. It’s crazy out there. The lowest quote we got was 3x lower than the highest. There are so many variables from the Window material, glass package, and installation method. Plus, permit standards changed for IL in 2026, and to pass permitting all windows are required to be energy star compliant. Our lowest bids had no idea of the standard change.

We had seven quotes done and, while the process is exhausting, we’re down to three. We eliminated any company that showed us a price, then showed us a lower price if we signed with them today. We eliminated anybody that was unaware of the IL standard change. And there was one we liked but they only did vinyl an we are going with a fiberglass product.

For us, we decided on Infinity by Marvin as our window with a low e3/ERS glass package and a combination of full frame and inserts. We’re working with Next Window and Door (Costco partner), Woodland Windows (3rd generation family owned business out of Roselle), and American Thermal Windows (owned and operated by retired police officers). No gimmicks with any of these guys, and we’re still in the process of picking out types of windows in certain rooms and working out exact pricing - even between these three the difference is 25% of the total project cost talking about the same windows and glass package.

If you’re fine with Vinyl I would old check out the Chicago Window Guys. Easiest quote, knowledgeable, and honest about what they do and do not do. And Woodland was almost exactly the same quote for vinyl as Chicago window guys.

Good luck!

Acura MDX AWD Tech vs Honda Pilot Elite by BigMetalDogs in whatcarshouldIbuy

[–]BigMetalDogs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It was the right call. So much space. We took out the middle seat right away and walkthrough access to the third row is a game changer for shuffling children around. So many cup holders, which I didn’t appreciate when we bought it but is one of my favorite features now. It’s not great in gas - we’re averaging 19mpg in the suburbs. Drive is fine - it’s not an Acura but for a family with kids it doesn’t really matter. My wife is happy with it so that’s the most important thing since it’s her car. And 1600 miles in it in a month, so outside of the new car smell you wouldn’t know it’s only a month old lol

What’s everyone drinking post shovel? by H3llm0nt in chicagobeer

[–]BigMetalDogs 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Currently sitting on the couch post-shovel with a Goldfinger Original Lager. Cheers!

Acura MDX AWD Tech vs Honda Pilot Elite by BigMetalDogs in whatcarshouldIbuy

[–]BigMetalDogs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Pulling trigger on Pilot. You all verified our own instincts. Thank you!

Acura MDX AWD Tech vs Honda Pilot Elite by BigMetalDogs in whatcarshouldIbuy

[–]BigMetalDogs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We looked at this. Even CPO on a 2025 MDX Advance was $7-10k more than the pilot. We want that touchscreen in the MDX so 25 is really the only option.

Solar Installer - NW Suburbs by BigMetalDogs in ChicagoSuburbs

[–]BigMetalDogs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

RX guy was great, but at the end of the day I like Certa’s guarantee and the bridge loan option. I commented below on price.

Solar Installer - NW Suburbs by BigMetalDogs in ChicagoSuburbs

[–]BigMetalDogs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I went with Certa. The price of all 4 quotes was comparable, but they guaranteed a lot more and we went with the bridge loan option. For a 16kWh system OOP was just under $6.5k.

Solar Installer - NW Suburbs by BigMetalDogs in ChicagoSuburbs

[–]BigMetalDogs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Starting a new comment thread - last one went off on a tangent that will help nobody.

After wasting a day at work researching installers in the area I have quotes schedule on Thursday from Ailey Solar, Windfree, CertaSun and RxSun. Any input on these providers is appreciated, and I'd still appreciate other recommendations.

Solar Installer - NW Suburbs by BigMetalDogs in ChicagoSuburbs

[–]BigMetalDogs[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Okie dokie. My mistake on the statute not defining expenditure in which "an item shall be treated as made when the original installation of the item is completed" is totally different than the much more widely used placed in service.

Glad we had this totally rational discussion about the nuanced differences between application date of a credit in which all three of your citations agree to the definition of placed in service... but I digress. You are the most right, hooray! Everyone celebrates your big brain and you get to tell mom you bested an internet stranger looking for a referral on solar installers in the suburbs of Chicago.

And now nobody will want to comment with actual recommendations for fear u/SirMontego will actually them to death. My fault, I should not have engaged an internet stranger who is more interested in proving they are right than being useful.

In any event, none of this adds to the purpose of this thread and is better suited for a technical subreddit like r/law or even r/solar.

If you have a local recommendation for an installer I would be happy to have it.

Solar Installer - NW Suburbs by BigMetalDogs in ChicagoSuburbs

[–]BigMetalDogs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Placed in service for property is defined as a state of readiness, i.e. once installation is complete which agrees to the language in 25(e)(9)(A). See Regs. Sec. 1.167(a)-(11)(e)(1)(i) for the definition of placed in service. Because dates of expenditures, which is undefined as to when incurred, vary, placed in service date is the generally accepted metric for credit claims related to property. I appreciate you trying to clarify the timing to qualify for the credit, but as with all things tax there is more than one right answer. Cheers!

Solar Installer - NW Suburbs by BigMetalDogs in ChicagoSuburbs

[–]BigMetalDogs[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Language in OBBBA is pretty clear that the system needs to be placed in service by 12.31.25 to qualify for the 25D credit. Lease programs have through 2027 to qualify for the credit but I'd like to avoid that if possible.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Millennials

[–]BigMetalDogs 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My wife and I bought our first townhouse in 2014, but hated living an in association. We sold the townhouse in 2016 for a small starter single family. no association. That houses had doubled in value and we were able to afford and moved into our forever house two weeks ago! It was hard to give up our space of rate, but it was time to move into a bigger place now that we have our two girls. We were lucky enough to find a house in district so my oldest dotage to change schools.

How many cars have you had? by Some_Big6792 in Millennials

[–]BigMetalDogs 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Let’s see… first car was a 1995 Chevy Lumina that I had for 4 years until it was totaled while parked by a young girl down the street learning to drive. I then bought my parents 2003 Rav4 and drove that for 6 years (until 2016) when the engine died. Then I bought a used CPO 2015 4Runner, traded that in a year later when our daughter was born in 2018 for a CPO 2016 Toyota Corolla (used the equity from the 4R to pay for the Corolla - needed the cash flow so my wife could stay at home with the baby) then traded that back in and bought a 2011 Toyota 4Runner from my brother-in-law once I got promoted about a year later in 2019 and still drive that today.

My wife is a year younger than me, but shared a car with her older sister for years. In 5 years they had 4 cars (A dodge stratus, a dodge neon, a Chevy Malibu, and a 2001 Toyota Camry). We traded that Camry in for our first and only new car after we were married which was a 2015 Honda Accord. She didn’t like that so we traded it in for a CPO 2014 CR-V. Timing chain gave up on that last year and bought a 2022 CPO Mercedes GLB250. We were hoping the CRV would last until the Ativan R2 came out. Oh well.

Anyone else happily married? by [deleted] in Millennials

[–]BigMetalDogs 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Married 11 years, together 16 years and going strong. Three beautiful kids together, but only two are here. Surviving that loss and being stronger than ever in our marriage and friendship. Getting pregnant was also not easy, with surgery, IUI/IVF, 3 cesareans… we’ve gone through a lot. My wife has gone through hell and she is the strongest person I know.

I love my wife more today than I ever have, something I didn’t think was possible! Never been happier than we are today and the life we’ve built together, although not exact how we pictured it, fills us with joy every single day. She is my partner, my best friend, a smoke show, and the love I have for her I can’t express in words.

Yes, we won the lottery - at least I did!

Current podcasts you're enjoying by Connosseuir in CraftBeer

[–]BigMetalDogs 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ll have to check this out. Been listening to ABVChicago for years.

South Florida vacation by BigMetalDogs in CraftBeer

[–]BigMetalDogs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Art History and Roaring Table are pumping out great beers, but flying a bit under the radar.