General Discussion

Augiedog

(2,702 posts) Tue Dec 25, 2018, 10:38 PM Dec 2018

I was at a small dinner party the other night. Towards the end of the evening a conversation [View all]

veered into trump land, as is many conversations these days. He is about 80 years old and married to a very smart and perceptive woman. I was not familiar with the political leanings of the guy who was speaking although I suspect he is primarily in the middle of the road so to speak. Perfect for getting run over. But I digress.

He was getting a bit red in the face as he explained his dissatisfaction with trump and his “expletive deleted” tariff policies. He went on to say that he had lost his entire years 401k profits due to trump. He and his wife are not wealthy, but they are frugal and have spent their lives in service to the community and had saved for their retirement years.

I’m sure there are many stories like this out there, in this case it just seemed a bit striking that a well composed guy like this who grew up in the shadow of world war 11 all of a sudden would show such fury at trumpism. It made me feel like there is more hope out there than I had previously felt. 80 years old and ready to kick Republican ass!

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I was at a small dinner party the other night. Towards the end of the evening a conversation [View all] Augiedog Dec 2018 OP

Not to take away from his feelings and comments, but.. pangaia Dec 2018 #1

That is true. N/t TexasBushwhacker Dec 2018 #2

Even if he was entirely invested in bonds he would be at a loss for the year progree Dec 2018 #4

Same here I am almost 71. I have the recomended 40% of my IRA in stocks and doc03 Dec 2018 #9

Ideally the stocks and bonds are highly rated, and pay dividends and interest to help stretch things still_one Dec 2018 #28

For what it is worth, I am in all 1-3 year Treasuries and bank CDs, about as safe as it can get. pangaia Dec 2018 #14

You won't, unless the government literally falls, and then it really doesn't matter because everyone still_one Dec 2018 #29

I'm in a 3% pre-tax savings account, so, I have no risk at all. I might have made a little money lindysalsagal Dec 2018 #33

Yep, my dad is 90 and wants to kick repug butt every day. FM123 Dec 2018 #3

I'm 88 and smack the TV whenever he appears. katmondoo Dec 2018 #5

Wow! Cha Dec 2018 #24

If he's 80 years old, he's lost money several times before. marybourg Dec 2018 #6

Trump diserves the blame for this, just as the bush administration deserved the blame for the still_one Dec 2018 #30

And this is the fundamental problem with 401ks and how the public was sold on them. llmart Dec 2018 #7

I have one minor correction to make rufus dog Dec 2018 #26

You may be correct or maybe different pundits said different amounts. llmart Dec 2018 #32

they sold everyone that "put $20 a week in and you'll be a millionaire" not accounting Demovictory9 Dec 2018 #27

I'm in that age bracket, well diversified financially, and am down 10% of portfolio YTD. No Vested Interest Dec 2018 #8

Your RMD this year is based on your 12/31/2017 value progree Dec 2018 #10

I worded that clumsily. I should have said my RMD for 2019 will be lower because of No Vested Interest Dec 2018 #12

Yup, I made the same error on my first try (2018 v. 2019). I too am done with my 2018 IRA RMD progree Dec 2018 #16

I don't think your MRD going down is a good thing doc03 Dec 2018 #11

Believe it or not, I've had more than I need the last 2 or 3 yrs. No Vested Interest Dec 2018 #13

Of course it is bad to have a lower RMD because the account value has gone down progree Dec 2018 #15

It sounds as though you're plenty familiar with the ins and outs of retirement finance. No Vested Interest Dec 2018 #17

No income cap on Roth conversions in 2018 or 2019, if my Googling got the right hits progree Dec 2018 #19

That's interesting, re removal of the income cap. My advisors have not told me of that, No Vested Interest Dec 2018 #21

I've been converting a little at a time since 1998 ... based on my tax person's advice progree Dec 2018 #22

A backdoor contribution to a Roth IRA could make sense at any age??? progree Dec 2018 #23

I do not have earned income, so cannot contribute to IRAs. nt No Vested Interest Dec 2018 #25

Myself I have been converting some of my IRA over to a Roth each year. In addition to my doc03 Dec 2018 #18

Sounds smart to me. Good luck! nm progree Dec 2018 #20

That is the way to go. I have been slowly doing that myself. It is a smart strategy, as long as still_one Dec 2018 #31

We are retiring next year. phylny Dec 2018 #34

The sad thing is that they will continue to vote for these assholes. Initech Dec 2018 #35