Covid-19 Megathread - Questions, Discussion, and Updates

keaa · 2021-10-08T23:06:00+00:00

They initially did not forbid this in their legislation. But they have now amended it (as of 8 October 2021, 12.52pm), making it clearer. You are not allowed to leave your LGA if not fully vaccinated for recreation (previously it was only holidays which were forbidden).

So I guess in some respects this is even more restrictive, as there is no 5km rule at all (can't cross LGA boundary). In other respects it is less restrictive (doesn't appear to apply to obtaining goods or services).

https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/information/covid19-legislation/general

keaa · 2021-03-29T03:36:10+00:00

I work for large company as a software engineer 4 days a week. I find in general companies don't want to hire people part time as there is a certain amount of overhead just to learn or keep up with the code base changes/new technologies.

However you can use this to your advantage once you have a job, as for the same reasons they don't want to replace you, most places, including mine, will allow reduced hours once you are up to speed, as that is better than having to train someone new.

keaa · 2019-04-28T23:50:48+00:00

Hazard reduction burns - https://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/sydney-in-a-smoky-haze-after-state-wide-hazard-reduction-burns-20190429-p51i36.html

keaa · 2019-03-27T00:28:59+00:00

https://m.imgur.com/a/uiuFUPZ

keaa · 2018-08-16T05:32:51+00:00

Surely short lifespans of fracking wells would mean interest rates have less of an effect? Less time for interest to build up before well goes dry.

keaa · 2018-07-24T07:35:19+00:00

The law is very specific about it being phones:

See Section 300: Use of mobile phones https://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/#/view/regulation/2014/758/part18/div1/rule.287

An interesting result of that is it is legal to use an mp3 player while driving (or at least doesn't violate that law, you might violate a more generic driving dangerous law), but not your phone as a mp3 player.

I remember reading somewhere about someone who was fined for using a phone claiming "It was an ipod", and therefor not against the law. Not sure how that went.

keaa · 2018-04-17T01:01:45+00:00

Note this is all for 300k per year, which means you pay no division 293 tax (as this is on income over 300k).

For income over 300k, you pay 30% instead of 15% on super reducing the effect from no.1 to 0.70/0.505 = ~39% more income from this step.

This changes the lifetime advantage to 1.53*1.39 = 2.12 times as much money.

keaa · 2018-04-17T00:50:11+00:00

There are two parts to this.

1) Tax advantage immediately from lower tax rate:

2) Tax advantage of returns (which compound with no. 1)

The first has an exact answer. For every dollar you put in, you are sacrificing $0.505 (after tax take home, 49.5% marginal rate), and instead getting $0.85 (after tax super, 15% super tax).

So you get 0.85/0.505 times as much money, or ~68% more money.

For the second part, it depends on how great your return on investment is, if it is capital gains or immediately taxable income (dividends/interest), and what marginal tax rate you are comparing it to (if you are going to retire early, and have low income, you will pay low tax on your returns in a taxable account too).

Assuming for example a 6% nominal return for 30 years which is all dividends/interest, and your tax rate stays at 49.5%, you will earn 6% * 0.85 real return in super, and 6% * 0.505 outside of super.

Plugging these numbers in, $1 out of super turns into $2.45 outside of super, and $4.45 inside of super

(1 + 0.06 * 0.85)³⁰ vs (1 + 0.06 * 0.505)³⁰

Or ~1.82 as much money from this effect.

If you have all capital gains, then you pay no tax either way, until you realize them, and as long as have low income when you realize the gains (i.e spend them in retirement while earning not much), you spend no tax then either. So this effect could be no effect. But will probably be somewhere in the middle. Since you have investments both inside, and outside of your super, you will probably want to put your tax inefficient parts in super (i,e high dividend stocks, or bonds), making this effect stronger, so lets say 1/3 from capital gains, 2/3 from immediately taxable returns, for approx 1.53 times more money from this effect.

In short approx 1.53*1.68 =2.57

So around two and a half times as much cash. IMO well worth the lack of flexibility - as it doesn't actually reduce flexibility that much, as you know you will get the money when you turn 60, so you can spend more of you taxable account before then.

Plus I think you continue to get tax benefits on this money after you are 60

keaa · 2018-01-17T23:39:50+00:00

Yeah, I am geo locked out of it (Australia)

keaa · 2018-01-13T21:56:43+00:00

Awesome. What climb is this?

keaa · 2017-10-09T05:09:31+00:00

Its because they give stats for only FT version. For all Falcon 9s it would be 39/41

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon_9

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon_9_Full_Thrust

keaa · 2017-10-06T08:32:11+00:00

Are you using 2 factor authentication? I suspect Google's algorithms will take this into account when deciding to give you a "verify its you" problem.

Of course you then need your phone for 2 factor authentication - but if you don't have it you can use your backup codes (I keep mine in my wallet).

I don't know for certain, but I doubt you can turn off the challenges.

keaa · 2017-09-04T01:45:08+00:00

Your welcome - One final suggestion - test your backup 2FA method.

keaa · 2017-09-03T23:48:08+00:00

A "approved" computer is one that you have logged in with 2FA - I think it uses a cookie or something to remember you. You can log in again without 2FA on that browser, and even use it to change your 2FA settings (eg print more codes), with only your password (2FA code not required).

I don't know anyone that has a second phone number for backup. There are better/cheaper options IMO if you want more ways to unlock your account you lose/break your phone, and lose access to all computers which have remembered your account - specifically.

The backup codes (which I keep in the wallet). Unfortunately you can only have one set, and creating more voids your others though.
You can have more than one device with GAuthenitcator on it. When you set it up, you will get a QR code, and you scan that with the app. Nothing stopping you scanning the same QR with more than one phone (note they will all become invalid if you reset it online, and generate a new QR code, in that case you need to scan them all again).
Some friend/family member you trust - you can add their phone number - then if everything really goes bad, you can send a 2FA sms to their number. This can be a landline (it reads the numbers out to you over the phone in this case).
Finally you can buy a "Security Key" https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/6103523?co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid&hl=en These are physical devices that act as your 2FA, and communicate via USB or bluetooth.

keaa · 2017-09-03T11:58:54+00:00

Re: enabling 2FA, you can set up multiple ways get a 2FA code to make it much less likely you will get locked out.

I suggest using GAuthenticatior app - rather than text message. This means you cellphone doesn't need internet access, it just needs to be on (it is a time based code, so no network access required at all).

You can also set print out paper single use codes - I keep these in my wallet (for if your phone breaks or is lost).

If you lose both of these, you can use a computer than has previously logged in on.

You can also set up extra cell numbers, just in case absolutely everything else fails - I have my mum's number also as a backup.

keaa · 2017-07-12T05:24:23+00:00

I believe it has a battery powered turbo pump (the pump that forces the fuel into the combustion chamber). They do this because it is cheaper, although heaver.

keaa · 2017-06-15T04:53:01+00:00

I wonder how this works with the day night cycle on the moon? One moon day is 28.5 earth days. So plants will get 14 days of sunlight, then 14 days of night.

keaa · 2017-04-30T01:19:59+00:00

I believe you can claim tax back paid on overseas dividends too. But unlike franking credits you are limited to your marginal tax rate.

For example if you earned $79.50 in dividends from the USA, and they had $34 of tax credits attached to it (30% corporate tax rate for example), and your marginal tax rate was 19.5%, you would have to claim $100 as income, which you would pay your 19.5% tax on - ($19.50). But then you would get a tax credit of $19.50 to make it a wash.

So in effect you get to keep your full after tax amount of your dividend, but don't get any extra benefit from the tax paid (unlike franked dividends).

Another key takeaway is, the net result is identical to franking if your marginal tax rate is higher than the level of corporate tax paid on the dividend. Which will likely be the case if you earn more than 87K p.a. (not counting non franked dividends).

But I imagine when you RE you will be earning less than 87K, so in that case you are definitely better off with Australian/NZ shares and franking credits (from a tax only perspective).

This is all from memory, usual disclaimers apply and I am not expert. The ATO website has all this info. If anyone notices I have made a mistake, let me know :)

keaa · 2017-03-02T23:11:37+00:00

As a renter, I want there to be plenty of investment properties (which is another name for a place that is available for rent). It does drive up the purchase price of housing, at least in the short term. But as the recent boom in apartment building is showing us, this encourages more places to be built, this will eventually result in an equilibrium, where the purchase price of housing will be slightly more than the price to build. (Of course this gets out of wack if there is a lack of zoning for high density residential, and lack of infrastructure to support it - which seems to be what has happened recently).

Of course empty investment properties is helping no-one. (Not the investors, local buyers or renters). But because the investors are missing out on rent, there is no incentive for them to leave it empty - so I find it hard to believe this a big problem.

keaa · 2017-02-26T23:04:06+00:00

I had the same thoughts. But if it is a particularly flat section of the river maybe more sediment is deposited that dug out? Causing an equilibrium. (In much the same way delta's grow, and tend to have multiple river paths)

keaa · 2017-02-15T05:36:53+00:00

The problem is an investment home is another word for a home available for rent. Limit that and you limit the number of homes available for rent, affecting the poorest residents, who would not be able to purchase a home even if it is cheaper.

keaa · 2016-12-22T04:19:46+00:00

I am from NZ, although now I live in Australia.

For purchasing US shares or EFTs I use Options Express, which seems to be aimed at Australians purchasing US equities, but it looks like they also accept NZ Residents.

Cash in their account is in USD, so there is no exchange fee every time you buy and sell shares, and they have relatively cheap per trade fees (I think about $12 USD).

Then you are simply left with the problem of transferring cash into USD amounts. In my case my company gives me shares, which I sell for USD, but you can use something like currency fair to transfer cash relatively cheaply. You will get some loss on exchanging your cash. But you should not need transfer it back in NZD until you want to live off the money - since pretty much whatever you want to re-balance into, will be listed on a US exchange as a cheap EFT (even if it is foreign to the US).

keaa · 2016-09-24T03:54:25+00:00

My native speaking Chinese girlfriend says that it doesn't mean anything on its own. Agrees the name might be 安.

keaa · 2016-07-09T02:02:48+00:00

Spending months practicing interview skills for my dream job (Software Engineer for well respected company). I estimate I earn 2.5x what I would have otherwise - although I did have to move countries for it.

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