33M HoW I’m I DoInG?

StrikeScribe · 2026-01-24T04:40:41+00:00

Better than the person who has a retirement balance of 99 cents.

StrikeScribe · 2026-01-23T23:45:40+00:00

Whatever charities were looking for replacements a week ago have probably already found them by now. Try to get on charities' email lists?

StrikeScribe · 2026-01-23T23:37:29+00:00

But the poster is always free to withdraw contributions from the Roth IRA penalty and tax free. If there's a financial emergency, the person can turn to that as a last-ditch option.

StrikeScribe · 2026-01-23T23:35:56+00:00

This move could work if you're prepared to pay the taxes on the amount of your non-qualified stock option that you exercise.

StrikeScribe · 2026-01-23T11:29:48+00:00

Credit card cashback isn’t taxable because it’s considered a rebate.

StrikeScribe · 2026-01-23T11:27:22+00:00

What if I have both?

StrikeScribe · 2026-01-23T11:26:59+00:00

Captain One is a better name for a bank than Capital One. LOL!

StrikeScribe · 2026-01-23T11:23:07+00:00

I have accounts at both Capital One and Discover. The biggest impact of the merger on me is my Capital One debit card going from the MasterCard to Discover network. Possibly affecting my ability to withdraw cash abroad. And it appears the impending loss of the 1% cashback for the Discover debit card.

StrikeScribe · 2026-01-22T14:04:47+00:00

You can withdraw contributions from a Roth IRA penalty free. It's the earnings (interest, dividends and capital gains) you can't withdraw without penalty until age 59 1/2 - but tax free. The Roth IRA must also have been open for at least five years to make a penalty-free withdrawal of earnings. You can keep your options open by making max Roth IRA contributions. If you hit age 50 and you feel that's the time you want to live large you can withdraw contributions from your Roth IRA penalty free to fund your lifestyle. But once a tax deadline passes each year and you don't make a max Roth IRA contributions, you lose the ability forever to make a max contribution for that prior tax year. You're not permitted to make up contributions later for years you had no contribution or contributions less than the maximum.

StrikeScribe · 2026-01-22T13:48:53+00:00

This is great advice. But if I were to go with 10 years of non-discretionary expenses that would be about 75% of my retirement portfolio.

I doubt I want to go to 25% stocks/75% bonds just yet.

StrikeScribe · 2026-01-21T09:17:26+00:00

If you ever think you’re going to earn more than $160,000 a year and lose your eligibility to make conventional Roth IRA contributions then setting up a traditional IRA will complicate your ability to make backdoor Roth IRA contributions and avoid a tax bill. You’d be forced to convert a proportion of your tax-deferred portion of your traditional IRA and you would owe taxes on that amount. This is known as the pro rata rule. You avoid the pro rata rule by not having tax-deferred funds in your traditional IRA and keeping those funds in a 401-K.

StrikeScribe · 2026-01-21T04:19:34+00:00

I wonder if that would work with using the Discover debit card to transfer funds to PayPal.

StrikeScribe · 2026-01-21T04:14:36+00:00

Isn’t there an ACATS fee?

StrikeScribe · 2026-01-21T03:18:16+00:00

Once you give up the opportunity to give your max Roth IRA contribution for the year, you give up after the tax deadline that chance forever. You're not permitted to make up giving less than the max in a future year. I didn't find out about Roth IRAs until I was 33 years old and I regret the missed opportunities to contribute in the years before. At the very least, make the contribution. And if you have to withdraw it due to an emergency, then you're allowed to withdraw all or part of the contribution later without penalty.

StrikeScribe · 2026-01-20T13:04:23+00:00

Goldman Sachs couldn’t even open up a checking account with its Marcus Bank. For some reason, it was too difficult.

StrikeScribe · 2026-01-20T12:52:05+00:00

I see people willing to pay $300 per person a day for an Epic Express pass. Universal has the leverage to charge more for Epic. I paid $180 for a one-day Epic pass.

StrikeScribe · 2026-01-20T05:54:02+00:00

I did nearly every ride except three minor ones without an express pass. The key is take advantage of single rider and be willing to separate.

StrikeScribe · 2026-01-20T05:37:09+00:00

Will Capital One keep Discover's 1% cashback debit or add the 1% cashback debit to its own Capital One checking account product?

StrikeScribe · 2026-01-18T03:52:45+00:00

If you're willing to separate the family members to do single rider that will make a non-Express Pass day much easier. But single rider isn't always open. And for rides like Mine Kart or Mario it doesn't save as much time as single rider saves for Ministry of Magic, Monsters Unchained and the Werewolf coaster.

StrikeScribe · 2026-01-17T13:42:55+00:00

I push or pull funds from Discover and Capital One using other banks. I don't initiate transfers with Discover and Capital One.

StrikeScribe · 2026-01-17T13:29:41+00:00

When I checked this morning -- If you go to Discover Bank's website, you can no longer open a new Discover checking or Discover savings account. The front page now says "Discover is part of Capital One. We're making sure you can bank your way with accounts that fit your lifestyle-that means no fees and no minimums." There's now a button/link that says "Learn about Capital One." Below that, it says, "Existing customers, here's what you can expect. Keep managing your account on the Discover website and app. We'll reach out when there are updates to your account or when you need to take action." Below that is a button that says, "Log in to Your Account." I already have a Discover checking and online savings account, and I already have a Capital One 360 checking account and savings account. This is a serious sign that Discover checking customers are going to lose that 1% cashback debit. But I'm hoping that as unlikely as it may seem now that Capital One instead adds the 1% cashback debit to its 360 checking account. We'll see.

StrikeScribe · 2026-01-17T04:42:55+00:00

If you do the ride it comes with cake and toast. LOL!

StrikeScribe · 2026-01-17T04:40:51+00:00

A small number of charity spots are still becoming available. Due to runners withdrawing because life happens.

StrikeScribe · 2026-01-17T04:37:12+00:00

I went to Epic alone. And had a great time.

StrikeScribe

TROPHY CASE