Disqus - Latest Comments for neuerik

Re: How To Quickly (And Tax-Efficiently) Draw Down HSA Assets

Erik Neu — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 13:23:38 -0000

So I think the conventional wisdom on sequence of withdrawals should be amended/clarified. Most advice I see puts HSAs after Roth's. I think the main reason is HSAs don't require an RMD. That's good, but relevant only for people who don't need their full RMD--I suspect that is a minority. If you need your full RMD plus $20K, instead of taking the 20K from your Roth, you might as well take it from your HSA--it is break-even if you live, and favorable to heirs, if you die before draining the HSA.

Re: How To Quickly (And Tax-Efficiently) Draw Down HSA Assets

Erik Neu — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 13:15:53 -0000

I have been a super-funder for years now. What I do after the end of every calendar year is download and store my insurance statement, that shows all my out-of-pocket costs. Those are, by definition, qualified medical expenses. I don't bother with nickel-and-dime receipts. The medical expenses alone would likely be enough to drain my HSA (unless stock market returns exceed all expectations), and if they aren't, medicare premiums and OOP will do it easily.

Re: The Importance Of Finding Your Tax Equilibrium Rate For Retirement Liquidations

Erik Neu — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 12:19:06 -0000

(I’m very late to the party, I know.)

This is a great point, one I rarely see made. I created the same analysis myself. The break-even point varies based on tax rates (don’t forget state taxes if applicable), and what you think your annual ROI is.

Another variation that I think is important is—does accelerating IRA distributions get you a lower bracket now and in the future? Or just now? E.g., I could use accelerated IRA distributions to fill up the 12% bracket. But think I will unavoidably be in the 22% bracket in the future, with little risk of hitting 24%. So I only get “half” the reduced-bracket benefit of accelerated distributions.

In my case, assuming a 7% rate of return, and 18.8% and 29.6% brackets (adding MN tax which is pretty high), it was break even in 20 years if I got the lower bracket now and later, 10 years if only lower bracket now.

(If the bracket is 0%--the standard deduction amount, the lowest capital gains tier—then it is always going to pay off to accelerate enough income to till that up.)

Re: The Best Smart Garage-Door Controller

Erik Neu — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 11:34:57 -0000

I think the requirement for a separate fob it is an Apple-imposed limitation that is never going to change. ☺️

Re: The Best Smart Garage-Door Controller

Erik Neu — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 09:53:36 -0000

Batteries are about $1 per on Amazon. The sensors are surprisingly over-engineered, 3?screws to replace the battery, but I wouldn’t call it hard. Note sensors are only needed for geofencing, and then only for iPhone users.

Re: The Best Security Cameras for Your Home

Erik Neu — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 11:28:50 -0000

Hi. I just got a Wyze Cam 3. I have it mounted outdoors, but I am thinking the window mount may be the ideal option for me. Have you tried the Wyze-specific window mount ($5 on Wyze website, $10 on Amazon). Thanks.

Re: The Best Wireless Earbuds

Erik Neu — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 15:37:13 -0000

Totally agree. For my #1 and #2 use cases, conference calls and podcasts, this is a big enough plus that I am considering airpods instead (thought I otherwise prefere Jabra, and was a happy 65t owner till I lost them.)

Re: As much as I appreciate Away luggage supporting... | Coyote Tracks

Erik Neu — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 23:51:01 -0000

I agree, all airports I have been in last few years have done a pretty good job making power available. I donatill travel with an external power pack, just in case, but see no need for it to integrate with my luggage.

Re: Introduction to Apache Parquet on waitingforcode.com - articles about Apache Parquet

Erik Neu — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 17:35:50 -0000

Just read this entire series, it was very educational. Thank you very much for taking the time to lay it out.

Re: The Best Wireless Earbuds

Erik Neu — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 22:28:52 -0000

I returned 3 sets in 11 months because one of the earbuds (always right in my case, but that may be chance) developed a major sound balance problem. 1/4 as loud as the left. Today my FOURTH set developed the problem. I stumbled across this thread, which totally solved the problem (for me and apparently many others). https://bit.ly/2MxB6qW

Re: Scripting News: 10/30/07

Erik Neu — Mon, 25 Feb 2019 00:47:06 -0000

Longtime reader, I would like to listen to your podcasts, but like most podcast listeners (I think), I am subscription-oriented. It seems like you just post them on an ad-hoc-ish basis? Have you thought about creating an umbrella DaveNet-style podcast people could subscribe to?

Forgive me if I am missing something obvious.

Re: The Best Wireless Mouse

Erik Neu — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 16:01:36 -0000

I had a similar issue, though in my case it was that the button would disconnect in the midst of a drag. But guess what? I just discovered it has a 3-year warranty, and I am 10 days shy of that, so I just submitted a claim.

Re: Why It’s So Hard to Get Rid of Used Mattresses

Erik Neu — Tue, 29 May 2018 22:37:06 -0000

I know there are concerns with bedbugs, etc, and psychologically used mattress seems "eck", but it seems like the simple solution to this problem is a "mattress condom". Hardly high tech.

Re: Google to Make its Dialer App More Useful with Notification Actions

Erik Neu — Thu, 14 Dec 2017 14:32:09 -0000

OMG yes, I have wanted this since the dawn of Android. Even better would be an optional floating mute button. I live on conference calls.

Re: Little Pork Chop coming back

Erik Neu — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 21:37:39 -0000

I'm an appreciative user and fan. Thanks, Dave! https://twitter.com/ErikNeu

Re: Further upcoming T-Mobile Family Plan changes: Up to 10 lines allowed, plus 5 Mobile Internet lines

Erik Neu — Sat, 09 Aug 2014 17:47:51 -0000

I'm not generally a fan of limited time promotions, but this one is pretty generous. 18 months vs 3-6 months, makes a big difference. Also, as noted, when it reverts, the minimum is likely to be higher. The icing on the cake: unlike almost any other company, when the promo does end, they will drop your data rather than assuming you want to keep it at the market price. I was happy before at 1 Gb, All in all, a very good and fair deal.

Re: If you say racist things..

Erik Neu — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 00:29:13 -0000

Love the PS

Re: The easiest way to tweet a storm!

Erik Neu — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 10:51:38 -0000

Wonderful, brilliant, stunningly simple. Minor feature idea: would be a cool nice-to-have to have URL-shortening built in. But then I guess that brings complications...what if people don't want their URL shortened (which, after all, is much more viable now that we are outside the 140-character jail :) )? The answer to that of course is presumably an option in Settings, but that is the first step down the path of complexity.

Maybe a feature for Big Pork Chop? :)

Re: Fargo Q&A

Erik Neu — Sun, 13 Apr 2014 12:42:01 -0000

I am looking for a "Show Levels _" feature. As in "Show Levels (3)" means showing Levels 1-3 in the hierarchy, and hiding any levels below that. Not seeing, checked docs. So assuming I am not missing something, it's a feature idea/request. Thanks.

Re: Tech products of the year

Erik Neu — Sun, 29 Dec 2013 22:39:34 -0000

Wireless is so comfortable, freeing and convenient. They also make great bluetooth headsets for conference calls in noisy environments. I shake my head at the continuing default popularity of dangling wires.

Re: NPR Discussion of Military Retirement Benefits and Health Care

Erik Neu — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 14:04:18 -0000

There is a different dimension to military retirement that I would like to see discussed. To wit, it is the 20-year, all-or-nothing nature of the pension. 17 years and you get nothing. 20 years, you get this extremely rich benefit. Stay in 40 years, and you really lose out, because you could have started collecting half-pay 20 years ago, and taken up a second, probably higher-paying civilian career.

The 20-year rule creates an all-or-nothing cliff. In general, financial cliffs are bad, in that they create large distortions. The problems I see here are:
1. If you aren't staying 20 years, you are underpaid. Motivation is to get out as early as possible.
2. If you cross the "point of no return"--probably 10 years--you stay in even if you don't want to and aren't that effective.
3. Once you hit 20 years, you have a powerful financial incentive to bail.

Re: The Web Play Store's Review Filters Have Returned, Users Can Sort By Rating, Device, Version, And More

Erik Neu — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 11:05:46 -0000

Oh, and searching reviews is an obvious must-have. I use *all the time* over on Amazon.

Re: The Web Play Store's Review Filters Have Returned, Users Can Sort By Rating, Device, Version, And More

Erik Neu — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 11:05:12 -0000

Okay, you can sort by rating but that really isn't very helpful. It's often the 2- and 3-star ratings that are most helpful--they give you guidance as to whether a generally 5-star product may not be so good for a particular user or use case. If you match those--avoid. If you don't match--be happy and install/buy.

Re: The Web Play Store's Review Filters Have Returned, Users Can Sort By Rating, Device, Version, And More

Erik Neu — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 11:01:59 -0000

It does seem a bit like that...taking offline away from Maps was a shocker.

Re: Sunk Costs, Fuhgeddaboutit!

Erik Neu — Mon, 26 Aug 2013 17:35:37 -0000

I would love to see mental phenomena--logical fallacies, psychological biases--incorporated in school curricula. http://mondegreen2.blogspot...