Everything posted by nunya
- Investment showdown -- beyond the Roth, SDP, & TSP
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Gun Talk
0% if they're filed off as they often are once they enter the underworld. I looked for a stat about how many guns used in crime have altered/removed SNs, but I couldn't find anything. A decent number of guns are already untraceable because they have altered SNs. https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/report/nfcta-volume-ii-part-iii-crime-guns-recovered-and-traced-us/download Between 2017-2021, 48,601 guns couldn't be traced to a buyer because their SN was altered. 25,904 crime-linked guns traced back to a .gov owner! Opposition to un-serialized firearms is not about crime prevention - it's simply about placing obstacles and red tape between citizens and legal firearms and creating the groundwork for a future confiscation database.
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Investment showdown -- beyond the Roth, SDP, & TSP
Vanguard was outstanding, as long as I didn't need anything from a human. I was happy with them for many years, until... My specific experience was needing to move 6 figures out of my brokerage account. It was too much to move online so I had to call. I waited on hold for cumulative hours over several days. I was completely unable to move the money before a deadline. Luckily another party covered for me while I moved the money out in several installments, staying under the online maximums. I talked to others with similar experiences. I already had a good chunk at Fidelity and had never waited more than a couple minutes for a rep, so I bailed on Vanguard. I was probably hasty, but I don't regret it one bit.
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Investment showdown -- beyond the Roth, SDP, & TSP
Back on the personal finance front... Fidelity will allow SPAXX as your sweep account in Cash Management Accounts (CMA) starting around June 15. IMO this makes CMAs a no brainer. No need to mess with separate online savings accounts to get higher rates on your cash. I know this took me a while to wrap my head around and I wish somebody had broken it down for me earlier, so for those that don't habla CMA, here's the skinny... CMAs are brokerage accounts that operate "like" checking accounts. Debit cards, ATMs, fee reimbursement, checks, online bill pay, direct deposit, etc. Your cash balances by default are kept at various banks around the country. You can see which banks, but there's no reason to care. You get FDIC protection, ~2.7%* interest, and manage your cash centrally via Fidelity. If you elect to keep your cash in SPAXX, you give up FDIC coverage, but you can get ~5%* on your cash balances. Vanguard just started "Cash Plus" accounts to compete. I'm sure they'll be great accounts, but I moved from Vanguard because (IMO) their service starting slipping around 2020 and became untenable. Bottom line, especially for the young dudes: Look beyond USAA for your banking needs. With some work, you'll be very wealthy one day - learn to manage it well now. *all rates are as of 4/15/24
- WTF? (**NSFW**)
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The new airline thread
Satellite wifi on the way. No shit.
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Life as an AGR?
Did they say "full time" or "AGR?" Technician/temp tech and AGR are very different pay scales and cultures.
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USERRA Protections
If your rep guy says leave it alone, I'd leave it alone. Not worth the gray hairs. And I'd quit posting mloa on my off days. Unless you're removing yourself from something or blocking something, the company doesn't need to know when you do mil.
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VRRAD is Back!!
I had to google to see if you were kidding or not. Not, I see. Wow. Who knew changing the letterhead was so damn powerful! Imagine what they could accomplish if they changed the font, too! Also, this was a perfect chance to make it Airpeople!
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ANG to AFRC IMA (Place Holder)
Oh I've had plenty of UTAPS points not post to PCARS. They had an entire newsletter about it. Hopefully it's fixed and doesn't reappear but definitely don't trust them! https://www.hqrio.afrc.af.mil/RIO-Buzz/Vol-34/
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737 MAX
- Russian Ukraine shenanigans
In a better world, the viewer would analyze the speaker and the message and judge accordingly. You think most of what's broadcast domestically is not propaganda and misinformation? You think most of what Trump or Pelosi or Biden or the squad chicks say is truth? I think it's a perfect opportunity to sit down with your kids (or great-grandkids, CH & Huggy) and talk about critical thinking.- The new airline thread
I don't think an honest comparison is possible. If someone does try to study it, I think you'll just find deductive reasoning supporting a preconceived conclusion. There are way too many variables with Part 91/135 vs 121 operational risk, maintenance schedules, rest, recency, multi-model qualifications, single pilot vs crew, etc.- Investment showdown -- beyond the Roth, SDP, & TSP
You're really taking this leveraged thing seriously. The dude's not taking out a second mortgage for a million and risking his house. It's a piddly $25k. It's an excellent way to start a nest egg towards the elusive first $100k. Yes, it's leveraged, but it's going to be $450 a month, FFS. A couple maxed out IRAs and a bunch in FZROX at 22 for $450 a month? Yes, please.- Investment showdown -- beyond the Roth, SDP, & TSP
Gents, before this gets derailed too far, @Lord Ratner's point is not invalid. He's assuming you will pay the loan payments with the loan capital. Everyone else is assuming you pay the loan back with fresh paycheck money. I'm in the latter camp because I think even as an Lt, you should be able to scrape together $450 from your paycheck and let the loan money sit for the long term untouched. You shouldn't NEED that loan capital to pay the loan payments. It should be locked away somewhere (i.e. 2x maxed Roths + the rest in a brokerage account, although I'm more of a VTSAX man, myself). If you will NEED the loan capital to make the loan payments, then yes, put it in HY savings and make a few dollars on the difference.- Investment showdown -- beyond the Roth, SDP, & TSP
- The new airline thread
I thought this was interesting. I never bothered to look at doors that closely.- WTF? (**NSFW**)
- WTF? (**NSFW**)
- C-130H Deployment Augmentee
- The new airline thread
I'm doing it next month so thanks for bringing it up.- College Football
~14 point spread makes it an interesting bet. https://www.vegasinsider.com/college-football/odds/las-vegas/- The new airline thread
If it's the same online thing as a decade ago, definitely get some coaching like BFM said before taking the assessment. I took it with my "A code" PIC mentality and in hindsight got about everything wrong. (i.e. You generally don't divert for a medical unless the doctor on the ground, maybe sitting in South Africa, says you divert.)- Gun Talk
To be clear, you'd be buying a pistol. A rifle cannot be made into a pistol. A pistol can be made into a rifle.- The Next President is...
- Russian Ukraine shenanigans
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