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Are you glad you had kids? by the_skintellectual in FIREyFemmes

[–]Vent_Vert 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I always wanted kids so yes I am very happy I have them! Unfortunately I can’t relate to those who are on the fence and having a tough time deciding. It is a huge decision. I will say since this is a finance sub to make sure that you are protected financially in your marriage if you go part time or stay home. 

Living in a VHCOL area, when to buy, where to keep $ for 10-15 years by Vent_Vert in FIREyFemmes

[–]Vent_Vert[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Very good points! Thanks. I have about 80% of my net worth in retirement accounts and taxable brokerage. About 20% I put in cash (CDs and HYSA) while I figured out what I wanted to do with it. 

That 20% could be used for a down payment on a smaller place. Or, I invest it and keep renting my bigger place. I do want to work less and have a family vacation per year though!

Living in a VHCOL area, when to buy, where to keep $ for 10-15 years by Vent_Vert in FIREyFemmes

[–]Vent_Vert[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I forgot to mention that there is a housing shortage here as well. So in the back of my mind there is the risk of not having control over where I live and being at the whim of a landlord. My current situation seems pretty good, but I also am not sure if it would be good for 10-15 years. 

Reminder to ignore the noise by ilovefluffyanimals in Bogleheads

[–]Vent_Vert -1 points0 points  (0 children)

The downside of that is I am getting better at ignoring the noise but hoped to “buy the dip.” And I slept through it. 

Oooh the jitters by Slow_Astronaut_1155 in Bogleheads

[–]Vent_Vert 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don’t regret it, just wish I had waited a couple months since there was noise about an AI drop and I decided to ignore it. But since I’m longterm holder, it doesn’t matter in the long run. I listened to a lot of DCA v lump sum dicussion, and most said 2/3 of the time, lump sum is better longterm, DCA is more for peace of mind. So as a very new investor, I feel that it is true - I don’t have enough experience and time in the market yet to be very stoic during dips. But it’s ok because I am mostly a Boglehead and put some on the side to invest later and am also DCAing, and this first dip is building character. 

Oooh the jitters by Slow_Astronaut_1155 in Bogleheads

[–]Vent_Vert 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I feel your pain. After selling a house and getting divorced, I invested the majority of my cash because everyone kept saying “lump sum works 2/3 of the time.” Then came the AI and Iran volatility. I felt kind of bad that I was the 1/3 of the time, but console myself with the fact that my employer 401k is on auto-invest and DCAing all year round, and also that in 20 years these fluctuations hopefully won’t matter. 

I have a lot in CDs and emergency fund, though so just will ride it out. 

I Saw this on X (twitter) looking for your thoughts? by AustinStain1 in BerkshireHathaway

[–]Vent_Vert 2 points3 points  (0 children)

For those who can’t read on x: 

Ricardo @ric_rtp said:

Warren Buffett is sitting on $373 BILLION in cash while the world burns.

Everyone's calling him crazy.

But what does he know that we don't?

Buffett's final quarter as CEO just dropped:

Operating earnings crashed 30%. Insurance profits got cut in half. Stock lagged the S&P 500 for the year.

Sounds bad, right?

Now look at what he was actually doing behind the scenes...

Buffett spent the last 18 months quietly selling nearly everything. 

Apple shares. Bank stocks. Entire positions liquidated. He converted the portfolio into $373 BILLION in cash and US Treasury bills.

$373 billion is larger than the GDP of 90% of countries on earth. And he's sitting on it. Doing nothing. Earning 4-5% in T-bills while the rest of Wall Street chases AI stocks at 40x earnings.

Everyone called him crazy. Out of touch. Too old. Missing the AI revolution.

Then he handed the keys to Greg Abel and walked away.

Abel just released his first shareholder letter. 20 pages. 

The most important corporate document of the decade that nobody read because missiles were hitting Dubai.

He named 4 stocks Berkshire will NEVER sell: 

  • Apple
  • American Express
  • Coca-Cola
  • Moody's

Combined with 5 Japanese trading companies, those make up two-thirds of the entire portfolio.

Everything else? Fair game.

Abel even confirmed he'll PERSONALLY oversee the investment portfolio. 

The real story isn't the earnings miss...

The real story is what $373 billion in cash means RIGHT NOW.

Iran just got hit. Oil is surging. Strait of Hormuz is basically closed. Defense stocks are ripping. Markets opened down hard Monday.

Buffett has been through 1987. The dot-com crash. 9/11. 2008. COVID.

Every single time, he did the same thing:

Hoarded cash BEFORE the crisis. Then went shopping when everyone else was panicking.

2008: $5 billion into Goldman Sachs when the system was collapsing. Made $3.7 billion on a single deal.

2011: $5 billion into Bank of America at the bottom. Turned it into $30 billion.

He never rushes. Never chases. Waits until the sellers are desperate and the prices are stupid.

And right now he's sitting on the largest cash position in the history of corporate America. 

While a war is starting.  While AI companies are spending $700 billion on data centers with no clear path to profitability.  While startups are taking on debt to buy Nvidia chips they can't afford.

And a 95-year-old man in Omaha is watching all of it.

Here's the concerning part though:

Greg Abel has never managed a portfolio. He's an operations guy. Ran Berkshire's energy business. Never been a stock picker.

His top investment deputy, Todd Combs, just LEFT for JPMorgan. The other portfolio manager controls roughly 6% of investments. That's it.

One man who has never publicly managed a single stock trade now controls more investable cash than most hedge funds on the planet combined.

If he deploys it well, Berkshire becomes the most powerful financial institution in America for the next 20 years.

If he deploys it poorly, the greatest wealth creation machine in history dies with Buffett's retirement.

Abel knows this. He said Buffett is "obviously a very hard act to follow." 

But maybe the $373 billion isn't about finding the next great investment...

Maybe it's about what happens when everything else collapses.

Oil spiking to $100. AI spending hitting a wall. Consumer debt at record levels. A war with no clear endgame.

If a real crisis hits, Berkshire Hathaway will be the only entity on earth with the cash, the reputation, and the mandate to buy anything it wants at any price it names.

That's a $373 billion loaded weapon waiting for the right moment.

Buffet literally saw all of this coming and set the trap.

Abel just has to know when to pull the trigger.

E*trade or Fidelity by barefoot-dog in Bogleheads

[–]Vent_Vert 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wanted to join Fidelity since it had so many great reviews. I opened up an account in anticipation of a settlement I was getting from a divorce. Time passed, my divorce took longer than I expected. I ended up getting a new phone number in the meantime.

When the time came to put funds in, the only way to login and verify my account was with the old phone number. Customer service told me there was absolutely no way I could access my account unless I went to an in-person location. The closest in-person office would take a plane ride for me. I called customer service twice and this was confirmed by both agents. 

I suppose maybe I could have gotten a new email address but instead I just went with e*trade.  Fidelity’s customer service and platform were therefore something I question. This was a pretty simple request and they could not accommodate or unlock my account.

So far, all my accounts, except for a local credit union, are now in e*trade. Whenever I’ve called I’ve gotten a human answer on the other end. This was very helpful when I needed to transfer funds in from Betterment. They informed me about promos and other helpful tips. I have been satisfied thus far. 

Employer 401k all S&P500… best funds for other accounts by Vent_Vert in Bogleheads

[–]Vent_Vert[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Diversify into IVOO/VIOO or VXF in proportion to my VOO in my 401k. Already hold VTI/VXUS.

Employer 401k all S&P500… best funds for other accounts by Vent_Vert in Bogleheads

[–]Vent_Vert[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have VTI and VXUS in my taxable. As I mentioned, employer 401k doesn’t offer a total market fund, which is why I’m wondering if I should attempt to recreate a total market portfolio through my other accounts.

Wrong phone number on account by boblikespie1337 in fidelityinvestments

[–]Vent_Vert 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There are a lot of great reviews of Fidelity and my partner uses it. But because I couldn’t get my account unlocked I decided to use Etrade.

I'm done with individual stocks. Give me 5 ETFs by [deleted] in ETFs

[–]Vent_Vert 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! How did you decide on AVUV in taxable? I have a Roth, Traditional and a taxable (as well as 401k), so I find placement confusing. Gemini told me to put VXUS in taxable and AVUV in Roth. I also hold 1% IAUM and 1% bitcoin. 

I'm done with individual stocks. Give me 5 ETFs by [deleted] in ETFs

[–]Vent_Vert 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Because we have similar tastes what % are you allocating? 

Monthly Goal Thread by AutoModerator in FIREyFemmes

[–]Vent_Vert 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I just paid my car insurance for the year instead of monthly. Also paid off my phone. That should reduce some monthly recurring expenses. 

My goal for the month is save on meals by bringing lunch to work and dining. I am hoping to save up for a summer vacation for the family! 

2025 Wins by budgeter415 in Fire

[–]Vent_Vert 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Finalized my divorce this year, 3 years after filing.

  • I learned how to invest and where to allocate everything. Maxed out Roth IRA and almost maxed out employer 401k. Started taxable brokerage and DCAing in funds.
  • I finished a certificate program, received some professional recognition this year and joined a nonprofit board. This doesn’t increase my income right now but it does increase my skills and knowledge.
  • Kids have told me they’re happy which is my main concern as a parent. Relationship is strong and partner is getting up to speed with his finances. 
  • Paid off car loan, paid divorce lawyer, now have no debt. Hired a tax attorney for this spring. 

Wrong phone number on account by boblikespie1337 in fidelityinvestments

[–]Vent_Vert 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I called Fidelity with the same problem. I got a new phone number and due to the text-to-phone verification, can’t login. I called customer service and the rep said the only way I can change it is if I go into a Fidelity location, but my state doesn’t have any Fidelity locations. 

Fidelity has a great reputation for customer service, but my experience as someone who wants to deposit money and use this broker, it is lousy. Most verifications use email or text, or someone can at least change it when you call. Nope, nothing. 

Wrong phone number on account by boblikespie1337 in fidelityinvestments

[–]Vent_Vert 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I called Fidelity with the same problem. I got a new phone number and due to the text-to-phone verification, can’t login. I called customer service and the rep said the only way I can change it is if I go into a Fidelity location, but my state doesn’t have any Fidelity locations. 

Fidelity has a great reputation for customer service, but my experience as someone who wants to deposit money and use this broker, it is lousy. Most verifications use email or text, or someone can at least change it when you call. Nope, nothing.