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Termy

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Posts posted by Termy

    VA Loans

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Question for the group:  I am retiring in one year so it's still a little far out to do all of the medical stuff.  I am certain I will have some VA disability as all these years of the Viper have me walking like I am 95.  Has anyone accelerated this process or done anything so they have documentation that can be used to get the zero funding fee on a VA loan due to disability?  I am not trying to game the system but certainly would like to utilize that benefit if it is indeed legitimate.

     

     

    Changing/Switching airframes

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    To you all that don't like the later in the career timing of switching to fighters, are you therefore advocating that FAIP's shouldn't get to fly fighters?

    Somewhat related to this discussion, can someone shed some light on this:  we are supposedly all about the "total force" now.  If that is the case, why isn't every single 11F staff job open to AFRC/ANG 11F personnel?  You see a couple pop up on VRS but I don't understand why every single job isn't listed.

     

    Real Land Mortgage Questions

    in Squadron Bar

    Posted

    As far as the first part of your question (the terms on the note) it works like this:  payments will be on an a normal 15-20 year amortization but when year five ends, you have to settle that loan either by paying it off or finding alternate financing means.  (Usually people have built by this time and roll the land note into their construction loan into a traditional mortgage upon completion.)

     It is also worth asking whoever is selling you the land if they are willing to carry.

    USAA

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I have probably complained about USAA's savings rate on here before, but I try to never miss an opportunity to do so.  There is no reason whatsoever their banking, CD, and money market rates shouldn't be competitive.  They aren't even competitive with brick and mortar banks/credit unions let alone internet.  It is a massive disservice to its members and I let them know every single time I talk to them.  Even with interest rates at nearly all time lows, if you have some cash to park, make sure you shop around. 

    Good experiences with online masters programs?

    in Squadron Bar

    Posted

    Don't rule out actually doing a real Masters somewhere.  I did the executive MBA from a top 15 business school-every other Friday and Saturday, two weeks a summer, and volunteer exchanges for a week each in Canada, Israel, and China.  Ton of work but totally worth it.  There were 5 of us in the class that were military-one guy deployed and just deferred his studies for a year. I PCS'd halfway through and just commuted for the last year. 

     

    Investment showdown -- beyond the Roth, SDP, & TSP

    in Squadron Bar

    Posted

    I have about 20% of my portfolio in individual stocks BUT they are all blue chip/conservative dividend payers.  Once you own more than roughly 7 stocks (assuming they have betas of near one) your diversity/risk is about the same as the market.  So why do I buy some individual stocks?  No, I don't think I am going to beat the market-that's a fools errand.  I do it because I get a lot more satisfaction and education and enjoy the dividends more.  When a major US aircraft manufacturer has news, I read it with great interested.  I follow the battle between the two major cell phone carriers closely.  When one of my holdings announces they are raising their dividend (something that has been very common the last five years!) I recalculate what the yield is on my original investment and smile.

    I don't recommend this to anyone unless they have already maxed their TSP/IRA with broad funds.

     

    • Upvote 1

    Investment showdown -- beyond the Roth, SDP, & TSP

    in Squadron Bar

    Posted

    If you are going to transfer a substantial amount of money to a brokerage account ($100k or more), Fidelity will give you 50,000 airline points to DAL, UA, or AA.  And you can do it every year.  I realize many aren't able to transfer that much, but that is an awesome deal.  And their brokerage services are great-I trade regularly with them.  (On that note, if you are going to trade a lot, they also have deals with the first 500 trades for free.)

    FYI: I am not affiliated with Fidelity or anything. I have money with them, USAA, Janus, and Wells Fargo.

     

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