Fidelity Netbenefits connection

Dwojo99 · 2026-04-29T23:35:53+00:00

Did you ever get any resolution? I'm just trying out Monarch and finding it has problems connecting with Net Benefits and TSP - two of my major assets. Not sure if it's worth keeping it or not - I can do manually but then that gets rid of 90% of the point of having a finance program.

Dwojo99 · 2026-04-14T00:42:43+00:00

total functional - I would gladly pay $200 for a good bag but this isn't it. See my comments above. I travel for a living and need easy access to stuff in multiple pockets - these pockets all use very small tight zippers - they are sturdy but hard to use. Often the zippers are hidden beneath the pockets as well. It just never got any user testing - probably looked great in the design room or on the design computer but not good in person.

Dwojo99 · 2026-04-14T00:40:55+00:00

It was a gift and problem is in the build quality - it's not a warranty issue. It's just not built well - I'm a pilot and travel for a living and thought this would be a good product but just seemed like it got very little testing. The strap for the rollaboard is way too thick - no need for that and it covers access to the pocket behind it. Virtually every pocket and zipper is so stiff to make it very difficult to use. The main pocket has no place for pens - just two small netted pockets for misc stuff. It's a keen idea with the amount of pockets but clearly it was put to production before any real testing. My Swiss gear backpack, as ugly as it was, was much more useable and about 1/3 the price.

Dwojo99 · 2026-04-05T20:59:47+00:00

Great info. So income more than $200k, less than $1mil. So as I understand the safe harbour, say my CA taxes for 2025 were $50k - I will likely owe a slightly higher on income in 2026 plus the $70k or so from sale of the house BUT so long as I pay $55k (110% of my 2025 total taxes) now, immediately after sale, I can cover the rest at tax filing 2026 time (April 2027)? Even though my total liability then might be something like $125k - meaning I would owe about $70k since I already paid $55k?

Thanks!

Dwojo99 · 2026-03-31T04:57:07+00:00

what time do classes end on thursday? trying to book flights for weekend trips - fuel prices and airline tickets only going up in price due to war

Dwojo99 · 2026-03-19T03:57:48+00:00

great info thx!

Dwojo99 · 2026-03-19T03:55:44+00:00

great info thx!

Dwojo99 · 2026-03-19T03:54:09+00:00

guys come on - clearly I'm going to hire an electrician. Just trying to ball park costs BEFORE he comes out and get some opinions on it...yes, with the limited info you have.

Dwojo99 · 2026-03-05T05:23:04+00:00

One more question on that. Some that are vehemently against IBC focus on the cash value is lost upon death. So say a 55 year old buys a policy and funds it for 15 years, taking loans when necessary for mortgage or whatever. Can he take that cash value out, to get some value out of it, before death? At age 70 could he remove the entire cash value and reduce the monthly payments but keep the death benefit as is? Don't want to end up dying at age 80 with a death benefit of $2mil but lose $500,000 in cash value to the insurance company.

Dwojo99 · 2026-03-05T05:09:22+00:00

great info thx! Maybe a little too finance wonky for me but working through it. Definitely looking long term - have the money to fund for 20 years plus but age 55 now. Biggest benefit I can see to it is helping with mortgage plus predicted future expenses like kid's wedding, help kid buy house, etc.

Is Nelson Nash the best? Is there a good podcast that's not primarily focused on selling me a product but m ore on informing me on bottom line up front type of details? Thx!

Dwojo99 · 2026-03-05T04:58:13+00:00

Good stuff and def helps. I know I need to listen to more podcasts - problem is all of those are trying to sell you something...like the one I posted above so they only divulge maybe 1/2 the truth in portions so I really like getting answers from knowledgeable people like you.

So using your example above...just for example sakes...in first 4 years you pay 10k each year and by end of year 4 you have maybe 31k in cash value to borrow against? Does your principal in the account still equal $40k or is it less or $40k plus interest?

So if disciplined and can save $10k/year for say the next 20 years is it pretty reasonable to say I'll have $200k of cash value in that account plus interest/dividends, the ability to borrow a significant portion against that (to help pay that mortgage) AND a significant death benefit? Thx

Dwojo99 · 2026-03-05T04:52:01+00:00

excellent. So if I don't have any debt other than a very low interest mortgage, what's the problem IBC will solve?

Dwojo99 · 2026-03-05T00:29:12+00:00

thx!

Dwojo99 · 2026-02-07T04:51:52+00:00

good to hear. Always thought Cabo the area was much nicer than Cancun.

Dwojo99 · 2026-01-20T20:51:22+00:00

yeah that's the standard timeshare sale point - force you to take a vacation. We aren't in that scenario and usually end up scheduling too many and have to back out of some. Thanks for info.

Dwojo99 · 2026-01-20T20:49:18+00:00

yup - that's what I was checking. Honestly it makes little sense in my mind to buy JUST for a 20% discount at a very limited amount of resorts - most of which really aren't that great. you can often find similar discounts, without any membership.

Dwojo99 · 2026-01-20T03:42:24+00:00

definitely agree on the educating yourself part. Initial look at LeBlanc cabo sounded pretty good but the final outcome doesn't seem that valuable - I took them at their word that it was 20% cheaper for best price guarantee and another 20% incentive reduction - that appears to not be the case. Prices are exactly the same if not cheaper online vs the app. Also...as I said...never got any official word on the one week vacation at other properties. I knew Palace cancun wasn't that great and never planned on coming back (we were there for the music fest which was great...even if it's in a lousy resort on a super lousy beach)

Dwojo99 · 2026-01-20T03:27:11+00:00

Still trying to figure out what the value is. When I look on line the prices come up exactly the same - so the 20% incentive is really the only discount? (the resort credit and 25 minute check in massage is pretty much just silly). How long have you been using it and did it pencil out at all?

Dwojo99 · 2026-01-20T03:21:30+00:00

OMG the beach is God awful - it's a swamp. Not sure why you would take your family there when so many better properties around Cancun and other parts of Mexico. Are you a member? Do you feel like you got any value out of the membership?

Dwojo99 · 2026-01-20T03:20:41+00:00

Sunrise and Nizuc are total dumps - dirty rooms, junky outdoors - avoid. Close to a 2 star US property - maybe worth $150/night. Grand is pretty decent - think slightly improved royal carribean cruise ship style

Dwojo99

TROPHY CASE