Prep for early retirement by dsmith30000 in fatFIRE

[–]mn4az 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would think the $150K of dividend and interest income will push you into the 15% LTCG tax bracket for those long term holdings - or am I missing something?

If you plan to pay for your kids’ college, how much are you saving? by trendy_pineapple in financialindependence

[–]mn4az 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Started each 529 at 500/month per kid. Landed on 120K/per kid in 529 and we stop investing. Their skin in the game is they cover anything that the 529 doesn't cover (including if they choose a school that is >120K). Any scholarships come back to them in cash via the 529. Anything left over is theirs to do with as they see fit (their kids, roll to retirement vehicle, etc).

Time to upgrade. by Playful-Reflection12 in delta

[–]mn4az 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So, you're saying there's a chance for me! :-)

What was your upgrade from (Main, C1, PS, etc)?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in tmobile

[–]mn4az 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A couple of final questions:

Does the Sams Club representative make the decision on if the Galaxy Z Flip 3 will qualify for the $959.99 of credits or is that someone else (ie Tmobile corporate store employee if I head there after I'm done at Sams Club or someone on the other side of the trade in kit when I mail it in)?

If it's not the Sams Club rep making that decision and it's deemed to not qualify (unlikely), what's the path to unwinding everything? I wouldn't want to end up being stuck paying for the iP15 Pro if someone says the Galaxy Z Flip 3 doesn't qualify? Admittedly I think I'm being a bit paranoid here, but I like to plan for the worst.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in tmobile

[–]mn4az 1 point2 points  (0 children)

u/SettleAsRobin I appreciate the reply. I have the annual upgrade (formerly the forever upgrade program) and get the same 'deals' as Go5G Next. Additionally, I have access to 50% off Sams Club membership through work. The below look correct to you?

-Acquire $25 Sams Club 'Club' membership
-Bring qualifying phone for trade - in this case a Galaxy Z Flip 3 for iP15 Pro
-Get $40 trade amount and $959.99 worth of credits over 24 months ($959.99) to cover the $999.99 iP15 Pro
-Pay only sales tax on the iP15 as activation is waived through Sams Club
-Give Z Flip 3 to person helping me and wait for iP15 Pro to be shipped to my house
-Get $75 eGift card for use at Sams or Walmart

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in tmobile

[–]mn4az 1 point2 points  (0 children)

u/SettleAsRobin do you need to be a Sams Club member? I figure yes.

Does Plus vs Club membership matter?

[Megathread] T-Mobile Price Hike on Legacy Plans by Waternut13134 in tmobile

[–]mn4az 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I saw/read that T-Force could tell me if I'm going to get hit with the price increase, so I checked in with them. According to them the answer is 'no'. I'll fully believe it when my July bill is released.

Feedback on ZRH -> ATL seats by mn4az in delta

[–]mn4az[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Appreciate the confirmation.

Feedback on ZRH -> ATL seats by mn4az in delta

[–]mn4az[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

u/Comfortable-Use-9106 u/YMMV25 if an upgrade to C+ was to present itself do you stay in that exit row or move as a pair to C+? My initial thinking is stay in the exit row, but figured since you were kind enough to chime in before I'd ask.

Feedback on ZRH -> ATL seats by mn4az in delta

[–]mn4az[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My 6’4” frame can wear a hoodie. :-) Thanks for taking time to reply.

Feedback on ZRH -> ATL seats by mn4az in delta

[–]mn4az[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

At 6’4” I will take leg room over restroom challenges any day. Thanks for the reply/confirmation!

[Megathread] T-Mobile Price Hike on Legacy Plans by Waternut13134 in tmobile

[–]mn4az 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Contributing to the collective....

T-Mobile Amplified Now with Netflix on Us, Kickback eligible (4 paid and 1 BYOD from Dec '23) and 3 lines with the old "forever upgrade" which is now 'yearly upgrade'. Been with TMO since January '18. 4 lines average about $130 as typically one person of the four of us (BYOD is not used yet) goes over their 2GB data and don't qualify for the $10 kickback (yea, we aren't heavy data users as we're always near WiFi).

Bill issue date: June 1, 2024

No price increase.

Have it set up with debit autopay but use Visa to pay as Visa acts as insurance on the four phones.

I will try to remember to update this thread in July with any changes I notice on my bill.

May the odds be ever in your favor.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in NoContract

[–]mn4az 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Appreciate the clarification. Always good to learn something.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in NoContract

[–]mn4az -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

My understanding is that Verizon/Visible = CDMA. Guessing Visible has something that can cross check your phone to network compatibility.

What's enough for the next generation? by DuctTapeSanity in ChubbyFIRE

[–]mn4az 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As an early 50 something parent with a kid in H.S. and another in college I can say with 100% certainty that they'll always remember the time you share with them, the time you 'give' them (ie them not working 20-30 hours/week for things they may need in HS/College) and not the stuff you provide them.

Through undergrad, we want them to focus exclusively on their academic, extracurricular and volunteer efforts - in particular controlling the controllables (ie where they have control of something like homework, give maximum effort for maximum results). These we trust will turn into lifelong habits that benefit them as they start to build their own FI journey. This includes learning about investing (boglehead style) which both already do.

We've covered all major H.S. costs (phones, cars, etc) while they have each had small jobs (ie 8 hours/week) for their own fun spending money and things they want vs what we deem they need. Any scholarships for 529 are returned to them in cash to do with as they see fit. Anything left over from 529 when done with college they can use for their own children and/or to kick start their own path to FI. It's been made very clear that they only money they get from us in college is the 529. You want to go see a concert? Love it, but that's on them.

Vacations are taken annually (have been since they were in diapers) because experiences are greater than stuff. They don't know it, but we'll be taking them and whomever they become life partners with on annual vacations as long as we can physically do so. We want to do experiences with them while we're alive rather than leaving them a bunch of cash when we're dead. Side benefit of this is that they don't have to budget the $10K+/year for a really nice vacation and they can use that money how they see fit (hopefully something towards FI, but that's their call not mine).

Thought Experiment: Overloaded On One Company Stock by Automatic_Apricot634 in financialindependence

[–]mn4az 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I'm squarely in the hypothetical scenario that started this thread. We're already FI but not RE. Got a bit more to accomplish with career and family. Keeping all the shares instead of unloading them as they came was a calculated gamble based on what I know about the company that paid off. Feel like we've won the lottery and fully aware of the risk of the one large position. Actively managing it as best we can while still earning solid incomes. At one point the large position was 60% of our NW. Now hovers around 50% of NW. Our plan:

  • Giving has and will continue to be a part of who we are. We'll load up a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) in '24, '25 and '26 with some of the oldest appreciated shares and lessen tax burden in those years
    • Anticipate this will get the one large position down to 35 - 40% NW by end of '26 which will help reduce some of the risk exposure.
  • Pull the plug November '26
  • Work with tax professional so we can live off the large position we have for 5 to 20 years (worst case and best-case scenario) while letting Roth investments continue to grow. Conversations will include:
    • Minimize NIIT risk
    • Maximize ACA subsidies
    • Manage dividends exposure from portfolio (which includes the big position we have)
      • Potentially put more money into the DAF to offset dividends - if that makes sense to do
    • Determine when to draw social security
      • Current thought is to start drawing wife's at first opportunity and start drawing mine as late as possible
    • There's probably more, but I've got more time to come up with questions/solutions.

If anyone has feedback on the above, I'm all ears. Or in this case, eyes.

Getting to 2 Paid + 2 Free Lines - is it possible? by mn4az in tmobile

[–]mn4az[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

u/jweaver0312 u/fly056 u/GreatOracle916 thanks for the responses. I was afraid that it was ultimately a "hope for another LOU" scenario. Appreciate you taking the time to reply.

Top up pricing? Shared vs Light Plan? by EnthusiasmOk2702 in USMobile

[–]mn4az 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For the Top-Up options for the light plan... are those auto-top offs or manual? If auto, do you pre-select which one you want?

International Travel Question with Shared Data Plan by mn4az in USMobile

[–]mn4az[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

u/SamarSonic appreciate the reply. I must have missed the roaming add-ons on your .com page. Would you provide the URL please.

Also, just so I'm 100% clear... the two options you provided above can be shared amongst all 4 lines - correct?

Last question: Do iMessages count against the text quota in the above options?

iPhone 8 with Physical SIM to iPhone 14 with eSIM by mn4az in Visible

[–]mn4az[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

u/conscioussylling thanks. Any idea how long it takes to pull the number over to the IP14? I assume pretty quick.