Messages

391

General Discussion / Re: Which investments to sell when you need money

« on: March 04, 2018, 01:48:31 AM »

I wrote a bit about how we manage our cash flow here:
https://www.gocurrycracker.com/cash-flow-management-early-retirement/

I generally try to do capital gain harvesting, portfolio rebalancing, and cash buffer top ups in December. Since I have to sell (and buy) some funds to rebalance, I just plan the cash withdrawals as part of that.

In effect, that means the cash is coming from whatever fund has grown in value the most that year.

392

Travel hacking / Re: Travel Hacking From Abroad

« on: February 28, 2018, 08:26:15 AM »

2.5% is pretty good, but you can do substantially better.

One example is our flights last year to Europe, where we got 10c/pt and 20c/pt valuations. With 3 points/$ spend that is a 30-60% return
https://www.gocurrycracker.com/to-europe-and-back-again/

We prefer the monthly rentals as well, but it doesn't always work out. I used the free IHG night in SF this year before we got on a cruise, which saved us $350 w/ free breakfast, afair

I typically pick a destination and work backwards. That way I don't have points I can't use, e.g. your example of hilton/ihg

But if you decide a 2.5% card is what you like best, then go for it. No one right way to do things.

393

Taxes / Re: Managing the blog as a business

« on: February 28, 2018, 08:12:37 AM »

Curious, for affiliate income, do you have a separate bank account to make tracking easier for tax filing time

It's best to have a separate business account - I have a business checking and savings at a credit union that is used for all direct deposits, and separate business credit cards for the core purchases.

394

General Discussion / Re: Welcome

« on: February 26, 2018, 06:05:31 PM »

Hey Kendall! Hope you are well! Maybe see you out on the road again one day

395

Travel hacking / Re: Travel Hacking From Abroad

« on: February 26, 2018, 06:01:56 PM »

Actually you can send them a request (via online chat) to have the back of your card scanned. I did this recently as I had a large-ish purchase coming up and wanted to use it on a new card that was sent to my TravelingMailbox, however it would not have come to my physical address in time to make the transaction. Not sure if this was a one time courtesy, but they turned around this request in less than 12 hours! Great company to deal with.

Sweet! For some reason I recall being denied a similar request, but my memory is fuzzy. I'll ask again next time, thank you

396

Taxes / Re: I heard TW has no cap-gain taxes on stocks

« on: February 26, 2018, 04:37:13 AM »

even better, they don't tax non-Taiwan sourced income

397

Early Retirement / Re: US Investment accounts while overseas

« on: February 18, 2018, 12:48:29 AM »

Presumably this is Vanguard?

For some reason they have a policy of not working with non US residents.
People avoid this by working with any other brokerage company, and/or not informing Vanguard that they are overseas.

398

General Discussion / Re: Betterment affiliate link?

« on: February 16, 2018, 10:03:58 PM »

We aren't their target customer. I outlined at the end of that post who might be a good fit for their service.

Maybe after reading my thoughts a few people would conclude that they prefer to outsource their portfolio. From the comments you can see a few of these.

399

Taxes / Re: FreeTax USA

« on: February 16, 2018, 09:59:34 PM »

I've not used it.

I have tried a few options, but usually come back to TurboTax since it imports everything directly from my Fidelity account which saves me a couple hours.

400

Expat life / Re: Living abroad and estate plannin

« on: February 16, 2018, 09:58:39 PM »

GCC: Do you have 2 wills then: for the USA and another for Taiwan? Can I ask you how you have organized your estate or are you one of the 'non-planning estate' people because you find it unnecessary?

I find it unnecessary

401

Taxes / Re: General tax resource for those covered by the FEIE

« on: February 05, 2018, 08:32:57 PM »

I'm going to review this in April +/-. I haven't found a great resource and have instead pieced it together bit by bit.

Even thought the foreign earned income is excluded from taxes, you pay tax on all US income as if the FEIE didn't exist. You can work through how much to convert or harvest by doing your tax analysis without the FEIE.

402

Taxes / Re: Converting tIRA to Roth IRA - must you be eligible to contribute to a Roth?

« on: February 05, 2018, 07:01:11 PM »

No, not necessary

There are no income limits for a Roth conversion. This is what makes the "backdoor Roth" possible

403

Digital Nomad Life / Re: Do you have a home base?

« on: February 04, 2018, 11:31:57 PM »

* Reno, Nevada

States w/ no income tax:
Alaska (actually pay you to live there)
Florida
Nevada
South Dakota
Texas
Washington
Wyoming

404

Digital Nomad Life / Re: Do you have a home base?

« on: January 30, 2018, 08:48:59 AM »

We are about 5 1/2 years into semi-nomadic living. We've never had a home base.

If we like a place, we stay. If we feel restless, we move on. Nothing is permanent, even a decision to have a home base. You can try with and without and see which feels right.

405

Digital Nomad Life / Re: Digital Nomad Life

« on: January 30, 2018, 08:46:29 AM »

I don't think there is a right/wrong way to do it, there is more a spectrum of possibilities.

Some people need a 2% withdrawal rate to feel "safe" - others would be OK with 4% or even higher.

It's the same with entrepreneurship. Not everybody is a great fit for a Fortune 500 career, and following that path could also be a disaster (emotionally and financially.)