Personal Finance and Money Stack Exchange
Personal Finance and Money Stack Exchange

Most Popular

more tags
1500 questions
27
votes
4 answers

Unexpected goods delivery - is this a scam, and what kind of scam?

My wife received a small package, containing a pair of Ray Ban sunglasses (whether original or fake I don't know) in a nice leather-looking case. It is addressed to her, correct name, street, postcode, and her mobile phone number printed on it.…
gnasher729
  • 23,016
  • 9
  • 42
  • 71
27
votes
4 answers

How does one find a good financial advisor?

I've talked to a few FA's and they all seem more intent on selling me products than giving me advice. Case in point - one of them was pushing me to invest my cash savings in her bank's funds when I had about $10k in credit card debt that should…
Giablo
  • 1,410
  • 2
  • 14
  • 20
27
votes
11 answers

Should I ask the seller of a house for a price reduction given a recession is almost certain?

I've gone sale agreed (note: "sale agreed" means the sale has been agreed in principle - no contracts have been signed, no non-refundable deposits have been made etc.) on a house. The market I'm currently in was extremely competitive, houses were…
TomSelleck
  • 327
  • 1
  • 4
  • 9
27
votes
13 answers

Best way to invest $300,000 inheritance for a couple intending to retire in 10 years

My wife and I are getting older and have a target to retire in 10 years. We just inherited $300,000 from a family inheritance (from liquidated property). So this money will come shortly and I'd like to know the best way to invest it (especially as…
CoolDocMan
  • 383
  • 1
  • 3
  • 6
27
votes
7 answers

Why do American dual-high-income couples get legally married?

If each member of a couple makes a high income, they pay much more U.S. income tax if married. So it makes sense for them to avoid legal marriage. They can still do a religious ceremony or a commitment ceremony without notifying City Hall. They…
Joshua Fox
  • 522
  • 1
  • 4
  • 10
27
votes
5 answers

Buy house with down payment, no loan, sell instantly

I just read Rich Dad Poor Dad, and I have no idea about mortgages, loans or real estate. The author of the book describes a scenario in which a property is found for a cheap price (auction in this case), then acquired via a down payment and…
Opcode
  • 387
  • 1
  • 3
  • 5
27
votes
7 answers

How much of a discount should I seek when prepaying a whole year's rent?

I'm currently looking for a new apartment. I am prepared to pay a whole year's rent up front in exchange for a discount. How much of a discount should I seek? It adds risk for me and I lose some opportunity cost; meanwhile, the landlord's risk is…
dcacat
  • 409
  • 1
  • 4
  • 7
27
votes
11 answers

How to pay less tax on a high salary?

I'm working as a software engineer in the Bay Area. I file my taxes as "Single" and because of the high salary, I fall into the 32% bracket. Some of my salary goes into a 401(k). What are some ways I can pay less tax?
Unknown Artist
  • 389
  • 1
  • 3
  • 7
27
votes
4 answers

Is it possible to get reverse life insurance?

So if you die the provider gets x amount from your estate but the provider pays you while you live? For arguments sake say I had a 1% chance to die in a given year I get £100 that year from a reverse insurance provider but if die in that year the…
red squirrel
  • 511
  • 1
  • 4
  • 8
27
votes
8 answers

50% portfolio in single stock, JPM - appropriate for 80 year old?

I've recently taken a look at my 80-year old mother's finances, run by a money manager at Morgan-Stanley. Half of her $3.5M portfolio is in a single stock, namely JPM = J.P. Morgan. This seems to me irregular both in terms of risk, lack of…
Concerned
  • 361
  • 3
  • 5
27
votes
6 answers

What is the business model of discounted gift cards?

Context: I have an account on a third-party website that sells discounted (first hand) gift cards — because my employer is part of the scheme. For example, you pay ¤95 for a ¤100 gift-card, in the case of a mainstream supermarkets. There is also…
ebosi
  • 1,083
  • 1
  • 11
  • 18
27
votes
5 answers

Why do baby boomers have to sell 5% of their retirement accounts by the end of the year?

This article on Marketwatch quotes Raoul Pal of Goldman Sachs claiming that baby boomers have to sell 5% of their retirement accounts by the end of the year. Here is the specific passage: Pal says the third biggest issue facing stocks involves the…
Time4Tea
  • 695
  • 1
  • 5
  • 15
27
votes
9 answers

In Germany, how can I maximize the impact of my charitable donations?

I have recently reached a point in my life where I want to start making regular donations to worthwhile charities, but I have no idea which charity is most "deserving" of my money. I understand that this is very subjective and what seems very…
Matt M.
  • 391
  • 3
  • 7
27
votes
1 answer

How does retroactive COBRA coverage work?

I'm voluntarily leaving my job at the end of this month for a new position in a couple of weeks. At my new job, I have health care coverage effective my first day of work. My current coverage terminates on my last day of employment. This leaves a…
Jason R
  • 1,911
  • 1
  • 17
  • 19
27
votes
7 answers

Why would a rational buyer offer to buy with no conditions precedent?

Assume that the Canadian Reddit commenter beneath is rational. I corrected typos. As an investor, I have a tactic where I only buy houses via the listing realtor, and do not use my own. Why? If I go in with a clean offer 5k below a competing…
user102055
1 2 3
…
99 100