Search found 231 matches

by ben
Sun Jan 30, 2005 6:25 pm
Forum: FIRE Board
Topic: How I spend my post-FIRE time
Replies: 70
Views: 72927

Interesting input Karma. Thanks. I am sure I, like you, will have a long list (I already have) of things I want to do more in FIRE. My own finances, financial advisor, see family/friends more,languages, travel, dive instructor, flying certificate, fitness/work outs and so forth. Some of the things m...
by ben
Fri Jan 28, 2005 11:30 am
Forum: SWR Research Group
Topic: High dividend stock MRK goes on sale!
Replies: 8
Views: 16278

High dividend stock MRK goes on sale!

Hammered due to some patent issues - down about 10% today - dividends around 5%. might be time to pick up some more eh JWR?
by ben
Tue Jan 25, 2005 12:35 pm
Forum: SWR Research Group
Topic: Any FIRE calcs with International market historical data ?
Replies: 14
Views: 15526

Hi Dave! you got your up day today :D . Hope more coming! I am a BIG fan of international diversification. One thing not mentioned is the automatic currency diversification one gets in such a portfolio - to me (international life) that has a high value - to others it might be an unwanted risk. Cheers!
by ben
Sat Jan 22, 2005 6:36 pm
Forum: SWR Research Group
Topic: Bond Ladders?
Replies: 11
Views: 10577

I believe the Vanguard tot market bond fund have existed since about 1986. That gives close to 20 years of history to compare which ever method/mix further back one decides to create. The fund has a split of different bonds both gov/mortgage/tips Etc. Average Eff Duration 4.45 Yrs Average Eff Maturi...
by ben
Thu Jan 20, 2005 12:38 pm
Forum: SWR Research Group
Topic: The year 2000 retiree status
Replies: 24
Views: 21053

All his books(almost) can be downloaded as pdf and sells for 9.75$ via the link I gave. He does not have much faith in government - who can blame him!? :lol:
by ben
Thu Jan 20, 2005 11:13 am
Forum: SWR Research Group
Topic: The year 2000 retiree status
Replies: 24
Views: 21053

He has written quite a few books actually: http://www.harrybrowne.org/about.htm
by ben
Thu Jan 20, 2005 10:00 am
Forum: SWR Research Group
Topic: A Hand Calculation for 2000 to 2005.
Replies: 15
Views: 12541

You may have guessed this already: there is no single, standard procedure. Yes you can say that again! :lol: for a real life retiree 31st Dec 1999 the situation is however that he would need to pull some money out for spending - he can certainly not wait untill end 2000.... With VBINX doing so well...
by ben
Thu Jan 20, 2005 9:14 am
Forum: SWR Research Group
Topic: A Hand Calculation for 2000 to 2005.
Replies: 15
Views: 12541

Ah reading it again you use the word interim for same as my END year. He ENDED 2004 with $893k(in todays USD) and about 20k less if he had adjusted the w/d for inflation. Phew...we agree! :D Looking at 2005 he would then have pulled $40k out but they are STILL in his ING Orange account(most of them)...
by ben
Thu Jan 20, 2005 9:03 am
Forum: SWR Research Group
Topic: A Hand Calculation for 2000 to 2005.
Replies: 15
Views: 12541

But what IS interim balance? MINE is the END year balance of 2004. Yours is obviously not?
by ben
Thu Jan 20, 2005 8:44 am
Forum: SWR Research Group
Topic: The year 2000 retiree status
Replies: 24
Views: 21053

the browne concept has been studied widely at business schools (I spend some time at INSEAD where it was a popular concept) and there is a great fund: PRPFX using the principles(e/r a bit high). i agree with Hocus that my personal portfolio uses some of those principles. That said mr. lazy-bugger co...
by ben
Thu Jan 20, 2005 8:23 am
Forum: SWR Research Group
Topic: A Hand Calculation for 2000 to 2005.
Replies: 15
Views: 12541

Hocus is ofcourse right - my own portfolio is different from the Mr. lazy-buggar-couch-potato-2000-retiree (LBCP) I am describing. :D I am however using LBCP an example to compare with as buying VBINX is as simple as it gets - and makes much more sense than buying only PARTS of the US equity and bon...
by ben
Wed Jan 19, 2005 5:25 pm
Forum: SWR Research Group
Topic: A Hand Calculation for 2000 to 2005.
Replies: 15
Views: 12541

My lazy buggar couch potato unclemick stylke buys the VBINX consisting of total US stock market 60% and total US bond market 40 % and takes the first 40k out already on 1st Jan 2000(how the heck can he pull END year!? :lol: cat food for a year!?). He had much more left at the end of 2004 according t...
by ben
Wed Jan 19, 2005 5:15 pm
Forum: SWR Research Group
Topic: The year 2000 retiree status
Replies: 24
Views: 21053

JWR one difference is that VBINX is TOTAL US market and TOTAL bond market - no need that the 2000 retiree stick to SP500 and gov bonds only when a fund like that is available. Only reason we keep looking at SP500 and gov bonds further back is that we do not HAVE the total market data. But for the 20...
by ben
Wed Jan 19, 2005 12:13 pm
Forum: SWR Research Group
Topic: The year 2000 retiree status
Replies: 24
Views: 21053

4.1% real TIP return would cetainly be nice - and a very prudent move indeed. I will continue to keep track of this VBINX 2000 lazy-bugger retiree for years to come and we will see if he makes it or not. If he makes it through 11 years without too big losses pr with gains JWR research seems to indic...
by ben
Wed Jan 19, 2005 10:21 am
Forum: SWR Research Group
Topic: The year 2000 retiree status
Replies: 24
Views: 21053

The year 2000 retiree status

On this board the year 2000 retiree is often refered to as being doomed at the conventional 4% w/r. I looked at the unclemick style balanced Vanguard index fund VBINX (60/40) for retiree w. $1M pulling 40k first year and adjust for inflation yearly. He would have ended 2004 with $883k in the fund (i...
by ben
Sun Jan 16, 2005 4:13 pm
Forum: SWR Research Group
Topic: War games - 2% vs 4% today
Replies: 54
Views: 39904

Hi mick; no I have not found an DVY equivalent abroad but I guess a JWR style selection of 5-10 int. high/stable dividend growers could do the job too. Personally I would prefer both as one would be very dependent on the value of diversification (the one stock crashing/cutting dividends/going bankru...
by ben
Sun Jan 16, 2005 8:22 am
Forum: SWR Research Group
Topic: War games - 2% vs 4% today
Replies: 54
Views: 39904

Or maybe a simpler solution: 25% DVY, 25% REITs and then 50% TIPs? At todays yelds the DVY/REITs should be close to the 4%(real if increase with inflation as I believe would be a fair guess?) and the TIPS is about 2%(real) for a total 3%(real) per year. DVY is a bit heavy in financials so maybe a ut...
by ben
Fri Jan 14, 2005 1:39 pm
Forum: SWR Research Group
Topic: Intercst Article on 2% SWR
Replies: 64
Views: 53756

What actually happened to the soapbox idea? Why did it close down? Seems like a brilliant idea to me but maybe some legal aspects involved?

(Ps. and hocus; what is your screen name at fool.com? ;))
by ben
Fri Jan 14, 2005 1:17 pm
Forum: SWR Research Group
Topic: War games - 2% vs 4% today
Replies: 54
Views: 39904

Good points here! :D first of all I agree that TIPs main function is to preserve the money - I also think they are a great bench mark to compare other SWR calculations against for the same reason. I am actually open for part time work should I retire from my current job. Like Hocus it would have to ...
by ben
Thu Jan 13, 2005 7:45 pm
Forum: SWR Research Group
Topic: War games - 2% vs 4% today
Replies: 54
Views: 39904

Mike - I agree but in low cost parts of USA you would live quite OK I hear, and in Thailand you would live like a king! (Ok, a prince at least!). It all depends... Cheers, Ben