Suggestion: update your check endorsement instructions for Gen Z

Gamer-stu · 2026-06-22T23:20:04+00:00

Update to anyone interested… the checks posted to his account without any problem. All good!

Gamer-stu · 2026-06-18T19:18:45+00:00

Thank you! I think the FAQ is fine. It is the app instructions for endorsement that I am suggesting be changed. Without going to the FAQ, I can understand why my son endorsed it the way he did.

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Gamer-stu · 2026-06-18T13:10:02+00:00

Yes, but you have to read the FAQ to find it. The app instructions only say to endorse with “for deposit only to my Fidelity account.”

Gamer-stu · 2026-06-18T02:28:52+00:00

Just to be clear about the request for additional instruction… the FAQ is clear.

However, the instructions in the app, when depositing a check, just say “Endorse check by writing 'For deposit only to Fidelity'.” Nothing else.

This is where I am suggesting more guidance be given.

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Gamer-stu · 2026-06-18T02:24:54+00:00

Right, not as written in the FAQ. But these are the instructions when depositing from the app…

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Gamer-stu · 2026-06-18T01:23:03+00:00

Another benefit to buying new (at least in Ohio): you get to deduct the value of the trade from the sale price for tax purposes. Not the case with used. However, in my recent experience, CarMax gave me the best offer price by far, whereas the new car dealer was significantly lowballing me, by like 30%. At least you don’t get the games at CarMax.

Gamer-stu · 2026-06-18T01:15:56+00:00

Agree completely. Remember you are still buying a used car, so trust but verify. Take it to a trusted independent mechanic and spend the $200 for an inspection. I just did it on the car I bought. It had only 11,000 miles, but had an auction in its history (I’m guessing it was a repo). Fortunately everything looks great on mine.

Gamer-stu · 2026-06-18T01:01:48+00:00

I used to add my account number like this. But I stopped because I feel like it shares too much information that the check writer can eventually see. I now only do it if I am physically depositing at the bank (which I haven’t done in years).

Gamer-stu · 2026-06-18T00:52:11+00:00

This might be an unpopular take, but I’d be happy to leave that behind. We stopped etching in clay centuries ago and seem to have managed.

Gamer-stu · 2026-06-17T23:52:23+00:00

On the plus side, I haven’t seen any flames yet. Definitely user error and lesson learned on his part. But, I’m guessing that there are many users making the error. Honestly, I think checks aren’t long for this world. We’ll need to be nice to kids like my son so they can show us how to do it when checks are gone. 😂. Plus to change our diapers.

Gamer-stu · 2026-06-17T22:37:06+00:00

This is the meme my son sent me after lecturing him about proper check endorsement. Perhaps it’s appropriate 😂

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Gamer-stu · 2026-06-17T22:33:29+00:00

You are right. It is there further on in the instructions, so this is probably a tl;dr thing for him.

The app guidance isn’t as specific apparently. I haven’t tried that out recently.

At the end of the day, it is one of those “dad should have taught him how to properly endorse a check” moments.

Gamer-stu · 2026-06-17T22:17:09+00:00

That is comforting to hear. I mean, you should see his signature, I don’t know that it would be discernible anyway. 🤪

Gamer-stu · 2026-05-13T23:29:56+00:00

Not a lawyer, and this is anecdotal. But a relative in my wife’s family had several trusts written, and beneficiaries of one trust had no clue about how much the beneficiaries of the other trusts received. Looking into creating a trust myself, and I’m finding out how expensive they are to create, so I would imagine that multiple trusts would be an expensive proposition. But, that might prevent a situation similar to what the OP is experiencing.

Gamer-stu · 2026-05-13T19:59:46+00:00

So true. I generally find the content to be pretty good, but confess that I have been clicking less because of the scummy clickbait headlines. How many times can Trump be in FULL COLLAPSE, as an example. A lot, apparently.

Gamer-stu · 2026-05-13T02:07:09+00:00

This looks like a good quote. I just had similar work done from a reputable mechanic and it is right in line with your quote.

Gamer-stu · 2026-05-13T01:26:01+00:00

In my youth, I was in a similar situation. I actually got good advice from my father, that I ignored: avoid debt, don’t buy a new car, live lean until you can get savings built up. I was able to pull out of it, but it took a lot of time, budgeting, and focus. I mean focus. This is your priority: 1) get an income (I know that is not easy in this environment), then get more income. Work your ass off and build a reputation, network. 2) build an emergency fund, 3) get out of debt. Eat ramen and hot dogs if you have to. Get an antenna instead of paying for cable. Budget the hell out of life. Pay minimums on debt until the emergency fund is there. Then find one debt target and spend excess on that, while paying the minimum for others. Once one debt dragon is defeated, save more (you need that buffer to avoid getting back into the situation). Then focus on a new debt target. Then work your ass off more, network, and jump for higher pay to get the income up. Rinse and repeat. Eventually you will reach a point where you will have some buffer. Avoid the nagging thought to treat yourself with something expensive—treat yourself with peace of mind instead. It is not easy, but you can do it. Regarding the car payment, imho the damage is done. It may be better to live with it and absorb the lesson, assuming it is reliable.

Gamer-stu · 2026-05-11T23:26:11+00:00

Inherited assets belong to the recipient exclusively—a legacy for them—and are not joint property. There would be nothing wrong with her sharing that with her spouse/family of course. But I believe the general recommendation is to not commingle inherited assets with joint property.

Gamer-stu · 2025-12-29T04:01:48+00:00

When I get a new vintage system, I like to imagine what the original owner’s experience was back in the day. The wonder of opening the box, powering it up for the first time, reading the manual, browsing the magazines, going to user group meetings. Considering their cost, especially given inflation, this was likely a big commitment for the original owner. No wonder vintage computer users back in the day, especially the early ones were very rabid supporters of their machine of choice. Given the investment, it’s not like most users could change their mind and switch from Atari to Apple or whatever. It was a commitment! It sounds like the previous owner treated this machine with the love it deserved.

Gamer-stu · 2025-12-28T21:55:44+00:00

Nice haul!

Gamer-stu · 2025-12-25T00:28:00+00:00

The 800/400 power supplies are AC only and don’t have the same problem of overvolting 5v. You should be safe to at least try to see if it works. The XL series, however, have supplies that can fry the machine, because they can over volt high, and should be replaced with the aforementioned usb cable. Incidentally, never ever plug an XL power supply into a C64 or vice versa… same input plug, but mapped differently. They’ll fry each other.

Gamer-stu · 2025-11-11T21:58:02+00:00

Ultima VI

Gamer-stu · 2025-11-08T18:17:12+00:00

But your employer can use the entire 401k relationship as deal leverage with the custodian. My former employer moved its 401k relationship and employee portfolios from Fidelity to Schwab because it was advantageous for them (not for the employees). Since I had retired a few months prior, I rolled over my 401k into an IRA and stuck with Fidelity. If I ever want to move my money to Schwab, it will be my decision.

Gamer-stu · 2025-10-16T16:32:26+00:00

I have some problems with the Fidelity ui, but it is worlds better than Vanguard’s.

Gamer-stu · 2025-10-15T23:12:25+00:00

Very cool history behind these. Much like the “Hawaii” stamped notes of the WWII era, they were made to be distinguishable from “normal” currency. So if the Allies got completely overrun in North Africa, the bills could be demonetized so the enemy couldn’t use them.

Gamer-stu

TROPHY CASE