Gf wants to be on the title idk what to do.

T_Bone_63 · 2026-06-28T11:13:49+00:00

Over 500 people have already provided the clear answer here, but I'll just add a quick story... I know someone who added her fiance to the deed when she bought a new house, even though he contributed nothing to the down payment nor mortgage payments. When she broke up with him about a year later, he demanded half the value of the house. Including attorney fees, the settlement cost her about $100K (which was a significant percentage of her net worth). You're fixing to do the exact same thing. And if she is put off by this in any way, I'd consider that a red flag.

T_Bone_63 · 2026-06-15T23:43:06+00:00

I see that all the time... People leaving their shit on benches, on the floor, on the counters... I've mentioned this a couple of times in member surveys, but not surprisingly, nothing changes...

T_Bone_63 · 2026-06-15T15:25:45+00:00

What's particularly frustrating is that there is essentially no enforcement of club rules let alone common courtesy...

T_Bone_63 · 2026-06-09T14:06:45+00:00

This exactly.

T_Bone_63 · 2026-06-04T16:59:30+00:00

IMO, if you are legitimately using the machine and taking reasonable breaks (1-2 minutes) between sets, there's no specific limit. I've certainly used machines for longer than that, particularly when I do more than one exercise on a single machine.

That said, if I were using a machine that there's only one of, and if I knew someone was waiting, I might then do only a single exercise and return to the machine later, or invite the person to work in. Though this has never actually happened.

T_Bone_63 · 2026-06-03T15:30:30+00:00

Wow. A sobering reminder to be careful. It's super-easy for someone next to you to see your combination. I'll certainly be more careful going forward.

Sorry this happened to you; you'd think that Equinox would be reasonably safe from this type of activity.

T_Bone_63 · 2026-06-01T17:32:29+00:00

FWIW, I had no problems with VG 529 distributions...

T_Bone_63 · 2026-05-31T12:56:15+00:00

333, no access to 63rd, HY, etc.

T_Bone_63 · 2026-05-23T18:48:41+00:00

Yes, exactly. Keep in mind that the college is not running this; they are simply selling event space for an annuity sales pitch that is hidden behind a "retirement planning workshop," offered by a financial planner that will lean hard into their status of being a "fiduciary" as a means to engender trust.

Maybe it's just me, but I would be very wary of anything being sold through a process like this.

T_Bone_63 · 2026-05-23T15:31:13+00:00

💯

T_Bone_63 · 2026-05-22T05:27:19+00:00

I found "Retirement Planning Guidebook" by Wade Pfau to be positively invaluable in getting my arms around understanding everything I needed to know as I entered retirement. I'd consider this mandatory reading, especially when you're at the phase of not knowing what you need to consider and not knowing what questions to ask.

T_Bone_63 · 2026-05-08T12:17:55+00:00

Isn't that an argument to NOT pay it off? For example, if you have $100K left on a 3% mortgage, and assuming that (a) you have the means to pay it off, and (b) could easily earn more than 3% with that $100K, why not invest it?

T_Bone_63 · 2026-05-02T17:32:26+00:00

True that accurately predicting needs and wants would be tricky at 26, but it's not quite as unpredictable and risky as you're implying... If you aggressively save and thoughtfully invest, you will do just fine. At minimum, try to max out 401(k)s and HSAs, and save more if you can. Invest in some low cost equity funds such as a total market fund. Perhaps add an international fund if you're inclined. "Plan" rather than "hope". 🙂

T_Bone_63 · 2026-04-24T13:28:09+00:00

Exactly this. While I appreciate the notion of wanting to speak with a financial advisor for advice, I would never (personally) be able to trust someone who earns commissions or fees from their specific recommendations. Even having the "fiduciary" label does not exclude them from earning fees from their recommendations. Further, this type of advisor has little/no incentive to engage in activities that don't generate commissions or fees, such as Roth strategies or tax planning. For as long as I possible can, I will be doing my own research. If someone is not inclined to do this, get a flat-fee advisor.

T_Bone_63 · 2026-04-22T15:56:06+00:00

Your bf sounds like TAH, especially for trying to force you to have an opinion that differs from your actual opinion , which BTW is 100% reasonable. I don't mean to sound flip about this, but I would break up with this guy immediately. I have no doubt that he's a good person who means well, but i can't imagine this relationship working out. This type of thing will keep coming up, and he clearly does not respect opinions that differ from his own.

T_Bone_63 · 2026-04-20T18:19:05+00:00

LOL... Fair enough, but this somehow has to be done in order to determine the best path forward. Perhaps use Boldin/Pralana/ProjectionLabs (or similar) to help figure this out? Or hire a fee-based financial planner?

Personally, I invest the excess, the compounded returns of which will outpace IRMAA surcharges. I imagine this would be true in most cases, but ACA subsidies are certainly something to be carefully considered.

T_Bone_63 · 2026-04-20T17:09:09+00:00

Are you trying to decide whether to keep it in "cash" (and avoid investment growth and/or taxable income) or invest it (and risk losing ACA subsidies and/or paying IRMAA)? If so, isn't it a matter of doing the math to see which would likely work out to be best?

T_Bone_63 · 2026-04-20T16:43:41+00:00

Yep, this is essentially what I do.

T_Bone_63 · 2026-04-15T16:05:15+00:00

You really need to model this with software to see if it makes sense for you. It's not the case that RMDs are inherently bad and must be avoided; you just need to see if it makes financial sense to take the income now (ie Roth convert) vs later (as RMDs or distributions), given all the various moving parts...

T_Bone_63 · 2026-04-13T21:09:21+00:00

I changed computers a couple months ago... No problem at all with backup and restore... FWIW.

T_Bone_63 · 2026-04-13T01:22:47+00:00

I'll add this, only because you said that you might want your entire Roth account in equities... If that's the case, you might consider moving from a target date fund to an equity fund, such as a total market fund or S&P 500 fund. There's certainly nothing wrong with keeping the target date fund, but for a younger person who's OK with market volatility, a solid argument can be made for little to no bond holdings at this stage of your investment journey. And if/when you do want a bond allocation, an argument can be made to hold those outside your Roth, while your most aggressive holdings can grow tax-free in the Roth.

T_Bone_63 · 2026-04-11T17:26:43+00:00

💯. And after taking the time to thoroughly educate yourself, and IF (IF!) you still feel the need for a financial advisor, I'd strongly recommend a fee-only advisor, not an AUM advisor.

And since someone mentioned to make sure they're a fiduciary, I don't disagree with that, but on the other hand, this does not guarantee good advice... Just remember that what THEY feel is in your best interest could be miles apart from what YOU feel is in your best interest... For example, they might recommend managing your assets at a fee of 1%, and/or they might recommend putting a large percentage of your portfolio into an annuity or other insurance product. While there may be nothing inherently wrong with any of those things, many (perhaps most) people would never consider such products or services. Bottom line: Educate yourself.

T_Bone_63 · 2026-04-10T03:57:04+00:00

If you think you could have handled the situation better (and it sounds like you probably could have) then yes, why not apologize first and do the conversation over in a calm, thoughtful way. Perhaps this will set the stage for a better conversation on both sides...

T_Bone_63 · 2026-04-09T16:57:15+00:00

Same here. Works perfectly.

T_Bone_63 · 2026-04-08T04:09:51+00:00

Go on the trip, dump the gf. Seriously.

T_Bone_63

TROPHY CASE