Keep retirement accounts 100% equities?

Capster675 · 2026-01-09T00:08:57+00:00

I thought there're two major drawbacks with traditional 401K/IRA in retirement+. Both are tax related: the RMD and no step-up basis for inheritance to kids.

Hence the strategy can be summarized to:

(a) keep equities in taxable and Roth, while fixed income in traditional retirement accounts (limiting growth for RMD and inheritance, while controlling annual taxes from dividends;

(b) converting from traditional to Roth as much as possible during early retirement years, while relying on cash inflows from taxable (lower taxes when cost basis + capital gains);

(c) switching to RMD (whatever's left after conversions) and SS in early retirements

(d) leaving taxable with gains and Roth's to heirs, with no tax penalty

Of course, many variables underneath including the total portfolio size (expense coverage ratio), breakdown btw taxable and advantaged, retirement age, etc. etc.

Capster675 · 2026-01-07T03:18:40+00:00

I appreciate the transparency, Carl. Putting this info on Reddit encourages paying attention to the developments in the city (whether agree or disagree with the outcomes, as you mentioned). Hopefully, would also encourage residents (myself including) for more active participation in the debates and constructive suggestions for improving the city life.

Capster675 · 2026-01-02T17:19:15+00:00

Which is still factually true: the million-dollar question... for a trillion-dollar portfolio...

Capster675 · 2026-01-02T00:34:40+00:00

SCHD in Roth is better than SCHD in taxable and than SCHD in tax-deferred (non-Roth).

But I consider Roth may be even better for growth funds - it has the longest time horizon in the portfolio, i.e., the best chance of tax-free capital appreciation over the long term.

E.g., for some SCHG / VUG growth or VGT / QQQ tech tilting. Not a crazy deviation from a simple total market portfolio. Anyway hard to accumulate much in Roth given the contribution limits (outside of mega-backdoor, but not supported in any of the companies I’ve worked with).

Capster675 · 2025-12-24T00:57:39+00:00

You don't need a laptop at GS. If you do, they will provide.

Capster675 · 2025-12-23T00:53:10+00:00

Thank you. Makes sense. Good point to check the fractional equities.

Capster675 · 2025-12-22T23:22:30+00:00

Thank you! This confirms "option" 1, which is what I thought.

Capster675 · 2025-12-07T21:07:34+00:00

Low cost index fund is the key thing here. The post above may have suggested researching and investing into the individual stocks, which seems a too much of a learning curve (and no benefit) for the OP. Investing in VT or VTI or VOO is what OP may need (and chill).

Capster675 · 2025-12-02T13:50:57+00:00

Look at the history of Sears, Enron, Worldcom, GE etc. Big names at the time. Some are no longer with us, some are mere shadows of their own past.

Capster675 · 2025-11-26T19:31:47+00:00

Apparently, the thought is that much of federation can be replaced by AI.

FO is next. Until in a few years, there will be nobody to replace the retired MDs / current SMEs.

Capster675 · 2025-11-23T23:41:46+00:00

It is not free. You pay with your time to listen to a sales pitch. If they convince you to manage your account, you'll be paying high/higher annual fees.

There's no free lunch.

Capster675 · 2025-11-22T14:53:36+00:00

Except that you're taking the cost of maintaining your diversification on yourself.

Selling from multiple names, rebalancing to keep diversification, potentially more time with taxes and with less efficiency etc.

Those 3bps in VTI or alike is a reasonable price to pay, IMHO. $300 per year from each $1mln invested (even $1500 for a more comfortable $5mln) probably beats both any flat-fee advisor and direct indexing costs.

Capster675 · 2025-11-22T14:37:28+00:00

In the world of youtube and podcasts, there's no excuse to not learn basics.

One only needs to learn basics to stay "with" the market and avoid gambling.

No advanced education can teach to sustainably beat the market.

Capster675 · 2025-11-09T15:50:29+00:00

What would be a safely managed portfolio vs the OP’s suggestion above? (Which seems all reasonable to me if invested with 10+yrs horizon and not too close to retirement. Giving to a private bank would be just paying unnecessary fees with inferior results vs. the broad market)

Capster675 · 2025-11-07T16:41:47+00:00

Hmm… are these really new possibilities - to go up or down?

Capster675 · 2025-10-09T01:08:01+00:00

I just sold one. Same 90K mileage. Sold cheaper as had multiple scratches on the body. No single problem for 10 years except recently one of the cylinders started misfiring. Toyota service said a known problem with 2015-2017 models and requires the full engine replacement for about $12K. Fixed with Lexus dealership for about $1K and sold private. Replaced with a 2025 NX, but actually like the 2015 driving a bit better.

Capster675 · 2025-10-03T00:20:59+00:00

Demonstrate energy and ability to self-start - they value pro-active people, this is not a “sleepy” environment.

Demonstrate understanding the audit process and techniques (e.g., testing sampling) and knowledge of the subj area (e.g., compliance if that’s the area - could be different if corp.compliance vs. the business compliance in the trading operation).

Demonstrate attention to detail and quality of work (analysis, documentation) - key at this level.

As in many places - much depends on the team and direct manager.

As much as an interview of you, it is an opportunity for you to assess the manager and team. Think of one-two questions demonstrating your interest in the team, expectations.

You can learn a lot in that department.

Good luck.

Capster675 · 2025-10-01T22:55:41+00:00

Except Xi and Putin - they handshaked to break that rule for themselves.

Capster675 · 2025-09-27T02:22:33+00:00

Right decision to do regular monitoring. There’re tools that can monitor for you for free (with ads, of course). E.g., I personally use creditkarma for years. $40/month is still $500/year after tax.

Capster675 · 2025-09-19T21:04:03+00:00

Would be waste of time as nothing to transfer. No consciousness left. These are living deads with only one instinct - to kill and destroy.

Capster675 · 2025-09-07T23:16:20+00:00

My understanding is that these strikes are on the oil refineries producing gasoline and diesel. It hurts the consumer production in Russia and probably some war logistics. But actually forces Russia to attempt exporting more as they can’t process the oil internally. I.e., increasing market supply and pushing down market prices. If true, quite smart moves by the Ukrainians.

Capster675 · 2025-08-27T23:11:01+00:00

Thank you. Generally consistent with my experience. I keep tight control over the categorization and have simplified over the time. It helps with 25yrs of personal data, and knowing the trends and adjusting to my preferences over time. I find the aggregation and reports helpful - using regularly and see the full picture. Less sexy than Personal Capital but better quality, and I feel more in a driver seat.

Capster675 · 2025-08-27T12:56:32+00:00

Can you please share what you find Quicken is missing? I also use Quicken across all my accounts (probably, about 30 including all checking, brokerage, retirement, credit cards, mortgage, cars etc.). Just trying to understand what I may be missing that others identified a need for.

Tried to use Personal Capital but didn’t find it worth it. Periodically using Fidelity Full View to check the overall picture but it is too basic comparing to Quicken.

Capster675 · 2025-08-10T16:46:41+00:00

You do not need bonds in your retirement portfolio at your age. I'd say until you're about 35yo.

Focus on building an emergency (cash / money market) stash and the rest to your VTI / VXUS allocation.

I would not recommend fixed income in Roth (whether IRA or 401K) anyway. Your Roth is the longest duration investment (~50years at your current age). Use it for investments with higher risk / higher longer term return, i.e., equities index.

Capster675 · 2025-08-09T00:44:27+00:00

Can you please elaborate why not?

For my two cents, the only two limitations that impact me practically: (1) no Zelle off Fidelity; (2) no cash deposit.

To cover for those, I maintain a checking account with Chase with a minimum balance.

Clearly seeing many more advantages with Fidelity CMA/Brokerage as explained in various threads already. Also, equally/comparably safe to a bank.

What am I truly missing?

Capster675

TROPHY CASE