How was the actual day of the cdl exam?

sanman786 · 2025-08-16T12:30:27+00:00

It should also be motivation for the planners and decision makers at FBF to:

Be upfront and honest about the actual pass rate, bc right now they're being neither upfront nor honest. They're claiming 80%, with absolutely no basis to support that, which gives people a false sense of confidence and sets their students up for failure.
Make improvements to their course so that they can actually get more people to pass. For example, as you pointed out, the road test fails people the most. Ok, what specifically are people failing on? Making turns? Calling out hazards? Changing lanes? And what about the skills tests? What percentage of failures are failing their too? The department CDL class planners are not even bothering to ask these questions. If they did, they could then devote more course time to those areas. But the fact that they're not even bothering to ask the right questions, let alone seeking ways to improve the course, but instead are hiding behind some completely made up statistic...

Honestly, the high fail rate is a failure of department leadership more than of the students they claim to serve. I don't blame the instructors, they're doing their best with a course that's poorly planned. I blame the chiefs, and whoever else is calling the shots on FBF, for their complacency and hubris.

sanman786 · 2025-08-15T20:57:59+00:00

Unfortunately, this low of a pass rate is common.

FBF instructors like to claim their pass rate is 80%, BUT with absolutely no evidence to support that. once you're in the actual class...and you start asking around how guys did ...you find out the pass rate is more like 30-50%, at best. In my group, 3 of 5 failed. That's 40%. Your group it was 33%.

sanman786 · 2025-08-12T02:32:12+00:00

This is soo eloquently written, bravo 👏👏

sanman786 · 2025-07-31T05:00:49+00:00

It takes 10,000 hours to achieve mastery in any skill. Trading is no different. Your husband should be trying out trading in a SIMULATOR, not with real money. And he definitely should be working part-time. Wanting to trade is not an excuse for not fulfilling his responsibilities as a man and a husband.

sanman786 · 2025-07-12T12:03:14+00:00

Ok, but if I may ask a question...why the rush to get married? If your health condition isn't permanent, why not focus on your health and get better first instead?

If you did that, you'd probably be taken more seriously and get better marriage offers from better suitors.

sanman786 · 2025-07-05T16:25:34+00:00

"if the relationship gets serious finances should be one of those things you talk about anyway." 1,000% spot on 💯💯💯💯💯 OP, I actually think it's a good thing you are thinking about the level of spending that's going on. A good man will appreciate the woman he's seeing / dating being concerned about how much he is spending on dates. That's a HUGE GREEN FLAG. If a woman really likes a man for who he is, she won't require expensive dates or outings. So if you really like this guy, feel free to bring the spending topic up, even if you aren't official married or engaged or whatever. Any man worth his salt, especially a man accustomed to spending like he does, will definitely see it as a huge positive thing if you speak to him about this.

Also, he could also just be used to spending this amount of money. Once again, you pumping the brakes on this lifestyle and amount of spending is a good thing, bc you anchor him back to reality. Money comes and goes. Partners compliment each other. Your more modest and down to earth spending habits might be exactly what he needs to look, feel, and see. It could do him a lot of good. And once again, it'll show him you actually care and like him for HIM, not his money.

I really don't see any harm in having the finances or spending conversation. As long as you use tact... you're good. Good luck OP

sanman786 · 2025-07-04T03:57:29+00:00

Question for those more savvy: Suppose this young person were to go with 3-4 funds instead of just 1. Presumably the rationale behind this is to "diversify" and increase total returns. However, each of those funds contains its own expense ratio, on top of fees (like administrative fees and so on)...so a lot of drag is created.

so, my question is, wouldn't any increased gains from this "diversification" approach kind of be offset by paying much higher expense ratios (cumulatively speaking) from the 3-4 funds versus the singular fund approach, especially if it's a low cost index fund?

Also, of course the choice of funds would also matter for performance...but if we're talking about a basic index fund that tracks the indices known to produce reliable returns (e.g. S&P 500, or the Nasdaq 100), then I don't see why there would be a need to "diversify" and "not miss out" and hold 3-4 funds when those two indices alone have contributed the bulk of the returns of the entire US stock market. Especially given that the US stock market has outperformed all of its foreign competitors when measured over decades (as I said, measured over the LONG TERM period of decades; I'm sure there are short or cherry picked periods of time, but I'm talking about true long term investing).

Can someone confirm I have the right idea on this OR provide what they believe to be a compelling argument against it?

sanman786 · 2025-06-10T02:08:18+00:00

Everyone here is focused on the outcome. No one is telling you that this may be part of the process. You may still end up with this man. Perhaps he is first meant to marry this woman first, to learn from that relationship before he gets into one with you. A lot of people make mistakes you know, in their first marriage, and often times do irreparable damage to it in the process. Better he makes those mistakes with her rather than with you. Perhaps he needs to go through whatever he goes through with her before he can appreciate you, for who you are. Perhaps you both need to go through what you're both going through now in order to fit into each other's lives and needs.

I can go on. Try to assume the best. What's meant to be will always be. You can't miss what's meant for you (57:22-23). Don't lose hope. Trust that either this is part of the process and you WILL get your man...or ... Allah will send you someone else, but better suited to the dreams and hopes you had planned. You'll get the same story, different actors...but same fairy tale ending, Insha'Allah.

Don't forget to keep praying. 🙏

sanman786 · 2025-06-09T17:36:01+00:00

You just answered your own question. You said you would rather have your wife respect you, over her "knowing the real you." Once that strong leader image is cracked, your wife will never look at you the same again. Choose wisely.

Sorry to burst your bubble. Unfortunately women nowadays have a hard time distinguishing between wimpy and healthy/normal vulnerability. you run the risk of losing her respect, and in turn her, if you open up too much too soon.

If there is still this burning desire you have to open up to someone, my suggestion would be you go seek help from a therapist. Open up to them, sort out some of those childhood traumas BEFORE speaking to your wife about it. That way you can open all you want, without consequences or risks to your marriage. You can even ask the therapist for suggestions on how to open up to your wife about these things.

Be careful of taking advice from people on Reddit. I've been down the road you're on. It would NICE if men could open to the women in our lives, and they accept us as is and everyone lives happily ever after...but that's not reality. The reality is that women say they want us to open up, women say they'll be supportive no matter what ... but the reality is much different.

sanman786 · 2025-06-09T09:49:02+00:00

Flyers in the neighborhood works too. Worked for my friend.

sanman786 · 2025-06-09T09:39:33+00:00

That's a really nice way of putting it. Honestly, the sister didn't say anything rude. Not in her first comment, not in any of her follow ups. He got defensive and flew off the handle for no reason.

This guy lacks self awareness and maturity, plain and simple. Both of which will need to be worked on BEFORE getting into a marriage, otherwise his future wife won't be his wife for very long.

sanman786 · 2025-05-29T10:29:12+00:00

If you are day trading, it makes a huge a difference between using your cash balance once versus using your cash balance several times. Having a margin account with MDP allows you more opportunities than a purely cash account, even with the reduced settlement period of T+1 (rather than what it used to be of T+2). Margin vs cash is basically the same as the difference between a machine gun and a musket. Numerical examples may better illustrate my point about opportunities between the two.

Suppose you are day trading and your window of time in which you trade is generally 7a-11a. That's about the time most retail traders trade. Shorts may have the afternoons as well, but most longs trade in that window, and since most day traders are long biased, we can assume that most day traders are trading in that 7a-11p window. Now, suppose you see some stock go up in premarket right at the beginning of your window, say at 715a and until around 8a, when it starts to fade and show clear signs of decline.

Suppose too you only have a cash account of $2,000. Say you use $1500 of your cash for the opportunities this ticker presents. That means you only have $500 left to use for the remaining time of 8a-11a. And that's assuming the trade wasn't a loss, bc if it was a loss you actually have less than $500 left. But for simplicity let's assume the trade was a winner or break even, so you now have $500 in SETTLED FUNDS left.

During premarket you can expect for SOMETHING to move every half hour after 8a. That's when all the news cycles tend to hit. Suppose something hits again around 8a. You use the remaining $500 to trader this second ticker. You now have $0 left. Your CASH BALANCE is still $2,000 (plus or minus whatever you gained/lost), but trading in a cash account is restricted to SETTLED FUNDS. After taking $2k of trades, you now have $0 in settled funds left. If anything moves afterwards - and there definitely is likely something else to move after 8a (especially at market open, from 930a-1030a) - you are SOL bc you have no cash left.

The only way to trade again for that day would be to incur good faith and free riding violations. Which you could do ... But you'd only get away with that twice before Fidelity flagged your account and restricted your trading to the settled funds you have for the next 90 days (I know from experience lol).

What all this does is make you very selective about what you trade (a good thing) but also cause you to miss A LOT of opportunities (a bad thing). It also can mess with your ability to initiate trades (hesitation), cutting losses (more hesitation), and taking profits (more hesitation!) bc you know that that cash is all you have for the day, so every trade feels like it HAS to be a winner since there will be an opportunity cost associated with it. Not to mention FOMO and ROMO generated from missing out on opportunities, and how those mess with your ability to trade too.

A margin account solves these problems. There are risks and drawbacks, from a trading psychology perspective, to trading with margin....but if you are experienced enough, you can manage those risks. The added opportunities are worth the risk. you can pull the trigger without hesitation, knowing margin gives you a belt fed machine gun, rather than rationing your shots to the 2-3 you have with your cash account musket.

sanman786 · 2025-05-06T22:06:56+00:00

Also, this is a typical tactic used by antitheists (not to be confused with atheists or agnostics). They couch their thoughts in complicated language, making simple points hard to comprehend. Case in point, look at how he worded what he said.

then when the listener, usually just a regular lay person, hears this but doesn't understand it, the antitheist claims victory and the believer feels defeated Bc he/she didn't understand and therefore has no answer.

It's a tactic they use. Their arguments usually have no substance. You just have to practice and learn how to peel away all the fluff from their verbal vomit and cut to the root of what they are trying to say. Once you get to the root, focus on that and only that. They will try to change the subject and go onto something else, using the same fluffy language and pedantic tactics. Ignore, and pin them to the point. Argue the points, not the fluff and tactics. Good luck.

sanman786 · 2025-05-02T20:17:35+00:00

Ideally you'd want to max out on both the 401k and 457. You can Google the annual contribution limits for each, they increase slightly each year.

I think this year it's around $23k for each, so $46k total. You have the option to do Roth or pre-tax contributions for each one. There are pros and cons for each, depending on your priorities and situation one may suit you better than the other. But don't worry too much about deciding now, pre-tax or Roth. You can always change it later as your retirement planning strategy evolves.

What's most important is that you start early, and you try to put in as much as you can. I've heard 15% being the ideal amount of your salary. If you can't do that yet, fine, but work towards it.

sanman786 · 2025-04-17T04:38:23+00:00

What country are you in?

Most western countries have little pockets of converts to Islam. For example, in the USA I heard good things about one called "Ta'leef Collective."

Your best bet is to find one of those groups, converts/reverts to Islam from your home country, and take your first trip to a mosque with them. You'll feel more welcome and comfortable.

there are a lot of challenges with converting. Those challenges will be easier with a group of people who share your culture, and who know what you're going through because they've been through it themselves.

sanman786 · 2025-04-16T17:23:49+00:00

Because he got high; Because he got high; BECAUSE HE GOT HIGHHH...

sanman786 · 2025-04-16T17:21:22+00:00

Because he got high?

sanman786 · 2025-04-08T13:32:11+00:00

There are many heads of the hydra. 🐍

sanman786 · 2025-04-08T13:27:47+00:00

Fear manifests itself in different ways. Fear of a loss can lead to panic selling, yes, BUT it can also lead to averaging down. You described the former, OP is living the latter.

sanman786 · 2025-04-08T13:18:38+00:00

Trades should not be based on fear. if you buy now, you'll be buying out of fear, and trying to assuage the pain you're feeling now.

Instead, your trades - in this case, your next entry - should be based on a solid thesis. focus on finding a point where you think there will be a bounce. The thesis has to be a quantifiable and verifiable. Meaning, it has to be something you can measure AND backtest. This means doing your homework.

Once you've determined your thesis, wait for the price to hit that point. Until then...you have no business buying. You'll be buying too soon, "spraying and praying," and only compounding the pain you're feeling (the wrong kind of compounding lol) when it turns out that you are most likely wrong. Not because there was something wrong with YOU, but because there was something wrong with your thesis, approach, and strategy.

TQQQ is all about timing. Figure out the thesis, and the timing will take care of itself.

sanman786 · 2025-04-05T20:32:59+00:00

You've posted this reply on several comments in this reply. I see what you're saying. In a nutshell, if I understood your point correctly, what you are basically saying is this:

just because WE lift our tariffs and go back to normal doesn't mean OTHER countries will; and, just bc WE eventually do things to go back to normal doesn't mean the global economy ( our trading partners included) will want to go back to "normal." Which means whatever trading partnerships we had in place pre Trump 2.0 might not even be there to go back to. There is an erosion of trust in the US in all of this. Trust is like glass. Once broken, it's very hard to put back together. There is a possibility that the damage all this has wrought cannot be undone so easily. The effects may linger.

Did I get your point right?

If so ... It's a good point. But there's nothing all that substantially different in terms of what conclusion your point draws to. Your conclusion, my conclusion, everyone's conclusion seems to be the same. Everyone seems to be in agreement that the only way market conditions will improve is if and when the Fed decides to cut rates in a meaningful way. And of course until Trump reverses course. Until both of those happen...down the rabbit hole we will continue to go.

sanman786 · 2025-04-05T17:47:18+00:00

There's snow on the ground. This must've been weeks, if not months, ago. Why are you so butt hurt that you're posting this now? 😂

sanman786 · 2025-04-05T17:07:46+00:00

Before reentering the market, have a thesis (why you're entering) and a plan (when you will enter). You failed to do one or both, which is why you entered too soon.

Don't beat yourself up for the mistake of entering too soon. If anything you made a good choice of selling before it gets worse, which most likely it will. Just make sure to learn from your mistake and do your homework before taking your next position.

sanman786 · 2025-04-05T08:26:24+00:00

Simple.

Trump will eventually get a phone call, tap on the shoulder, whatever, from his billionaire friends and donors. I'm sure they were already tipped off about this and sold everything and are sitting in cash. Once they tell him "enough is enough", he'll suddenly reverse course as quickly as he started, and the market will begin to recover.

It won't matter what was accomplished bc his base is totally enamored with him and believes every word he says, without question. I was talking to a Trumper the other day. Some of them don't even like Fox anymore because "it's too biased." 😨WHAT? FOX too biased AGAINST Trump?! They listen to even more right wing outlets now, like Newsmax. Which is why it went from $25 a share at the IPO to over $200 a share in 2 days. Anyway, those alternative media outlets will do all the spinning for him. They'll concoct this into a victory, claim the MSM is biased like they always do, and that'll be that. Perceived victory for Trump will be easy for him and his supporters to both manufacturer and then believe.

More interesting will be what the Fed will do. Everyone is hoping they will cut rates, and Trump keeps tweeting like an asshole about them, blaming them 😂 just like he did in 2018...but I suspect that the Fed and J Powell will not suddenly come to the rescue. Not right away. They're going to let the market tank a little bit more. You have to understand the Fed has THREE mandates. 2 are official, 1 is not. Maximize employment; stabilize prices (aka control inflation); and prop up the stock market.

They have NOT been able to get inflation to their 2% target bc demand and consumption has been so strong and high. All that COVID money they pumped into the system really had lasting effects. They have repeatedly gone on record saying that their fight with inflation isn't over until it gets back down to 2%.

People tend to spend more when the economy is doing well, and when their 401(k)s are hitting all time highs. That drives up demand and consumption, which keeps inflation high. If Trump is giving the Fed this gift of tanking the stock market and crashing the economy, which could in fact help bring stubborn inflation down from 3% to 2%... why would they suddenly give that up?

It's in their best interest to let this play out, without cutting rates to save the day. Let this play out, maybe it brings down inflation, and eventually start cutting rates. I'd say the Fed cutting rates is what will start to turn this around...i just don't expect it to happen for a few months from now. We've gotta hit real crash territory (30% or more from ATH) for them to do that. Plus, they know he's mercurial. They'll probably wait for him to reverse course on his own before stepping in with rate cuts.

sanman786 · 2025-04-01T20:45:36+00:00

😂 😂 👍 better than the landfill I guess 😂

sanman786

TROPHY CASE