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Post by Pixie on Mar 1, 2020 21:38:36 GMT -5
oh
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Post by Mister Atkins on Mar 2, 2020 6:41:19 GMT -5
Yes. You should be using it for inoculation purposes.
one day, I will share the TRUE story of the lime that people put in Corona Beer...
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Post by arkstfan on Mar 2, 2020 12:39:25 GMT -5
No, no, double no!  Wherever you are, just stay there for now. The G fund sometimes keeps up with inflation, sometimes not. That's where the ALJ and the attorneys I know moved their money when they got scared in 2007. They never recouped their losses and should never have been in the C fund to begin with. There were a bunch more just like them back in 07-08. There is no way to build wealth by putting money in the G fund. Even close to retirement, you don't want to be in the G fund (IMO). There are better money management strategies. Now remember that I am a growth advocate and have nerves of steel. Nothing has bothered me in over 30 years of personal investing. And nothing has bothered me in the past 90 years of the history of the market except the meltdown of 1929 and WWII Both of those events would have been concerning to me had I been around to experience them. If approaching retirement, and if the income will be needed shortly after retiring, get a more conservative mix of equites and bonds. The equities will give the potential for additional growth in retirement, and the bonds give more stability. When it comes time for a withdrawal, take money from the equities if the market is up. If the market is down, draw from the more stable bonds. That way you won't be selling your equities while they are low, and taking a loss. And that is exactly how you need to look at it: a withdrawal in retirement from the equites fund is a sale. Remember the advice to buy low and sell high? Don't sell the equities if they are down. Sell the bonds as they are more stable. There is a more to it, such as periodically rebalancing the portfolio, and other subtleties, but that is the basics of it. But don't do anything right now. Just maintain the status quo until things even out. Me? I am watching the market carefully and ready to buy as much as I can when the time is right. Pixie, (your aggressive investment counselor) I went about 30% G a few months ago just for security because I felt market was a bit over-heated, expect to dump it into C once things calm. |
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Post by hopefalj on Mar 2, 2020 15:21:55 GMT -5
We have already implemented some good common sense measures in our house. We have thrown out all of the Corona beer, and we are no longer eating Chinese. Our reusable chopsticks have been boiled and put away in airtight bags. As to the stock market thing, that's based on the fear that some businesses will be hit harder than others and will cease to exist. While that may be true in a few industries, a good mix of mutual funds should weather that storm for the investor. The market has been up for the last three years, and I haven't been comfortable buying the equities. I've been buying the intermediate mutual bond fund when I get extra cash. And I'm not talking here about the TSP, I'm talking independent investment funds. I contribute the maximum to the TSP C fund. The amateur investors are now seeing blood in the streets and are going into full panic sell mode. Good. After the market stabilizes a bit at what I perceive to be its new low, I will sell the bond funds and buy into the equities at greatly reduced prices. This is assuming the bond funds are still relatively stable. I remember back in 2007 and 2008, when the market dropped about 40%, one ALJ I know and a couple of attorneys sold their equities (C fund) in the TSP and bought into the government bond fund. They were afraid of losing everything. Well, if they had ridden it out, it would have come back, and would have continued to grow. As it was, they locked in a loss of 40% of their life savings. Don't let this happen to you. If you are in the equities, you need to have nerves of steel or you will make bad investment decisions. Pixie, your Coronavirus prognosticator. Pix, Corona beer stops the spread of the virus. Silly Pixie. I don't know. Seems like we all would have heard by now if mere water could prevent the spread of the disease. |
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Post by ba on Mar 2, 2020 15:40:14 GMT -5
Pix, Corona beer stops the spread of the virus. Silly Pixie. I don't know. Seems like we all would have heard by now if mere water could prevent the spread of the disease. With a lime... don’t underestimate the power of lime. |
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Post by Pixie on Mar 2, 2020 16:17:25 GMT -5
I went about 30% G a few months ago just for security because I felt market was a bit over-heated, expect to dump it into C once things calm. Good. You sold high; now you will buy it back low once it stabilizes. I use consistent index averaging in the TSP, and use Vanguard to move things around. I bought into one of their intermediate bond funds about a year ago, and that particular holding has risen a little over 11% in the last year. I couldn't believe that return for a bond fund. The TSP has the F fund which is a diversified bond index fund. Don't know what it has returned over the years, though. In my opinion the TSP is one of the best 401k funds available. It is well managed and is inexpensive. Two of the most important factors in a 401k, IMO. Now if we can all live through this latest scare and enjoy the fruits of our investment strategies in retirement. Pixie |
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Post by maquereau on Mar 2, 2020 17:37:30 GMT -5
From associated press today regarding Coronavirus:
"The worldwide death toll topped 3,000 and the number of those infected rose to about 89,000 in 70 countries on every continent but Antarctica." You can do the math.
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Post by nylawyer on Mar 2, 2020 18:34:29 GMT -5
In what is likely just an example of observer bias- I received an unusually large number of requests to cover other office's hearings this week via video. Was there some sort of training that was only recently scheduled or multiple firings? Or maybe it's a result of multiple ALJs retiring in early January after their March hearings were already scheduled?
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Post by kylearan on Mar 3, 2020 13:11:29 GMT -5
All I know is that I am NOT postponing my trip to Italy in April. Leave has been approved and I’m going! I don’t care if I’m the only one there and they have to open up the entire Vatican just for me! I have my ticket, and I’d better see a Pope on the porch or I’ll be—if you’ll pardon the expression—raising hell. 😆
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Post by Pixie on Mar 3, 2020 13:31:31 GMT -5
All I know is that I am NOT postponing my trip to Italy in April. Leave has been approved and I’m going! I don’t care if I’m the only one there and they have to open up the entire Vatican just for me! I have my ticket, and I’d better see a Pope on the porch or I’ll be—if you’ll pardon the expression—raising hell. 😆 Been nice having you on the board, mostly. Pixie |
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Post by christina on Mar 3, 2020 14:32:48 GMT -5
All I know is that I am NOT postponing my trip to Italy in April. Leave has been approved and I’m going! I don’t care if I’m the only one there and they have to open up the entire Vatican just for me! I have my ticket, and I’d better see a Pope on the porch or I’ll be—if you’ll pardon the expression—raising hell. 😆 Not the best place to be raising hell! |
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Post by arkstfan on Mar 3, 2020 16:36:46 GMT -5
All I know is that I am NOT postponing my trip to Italy in April. Leave has been approved and I’m going! I don’t care if I’m the only one there and they have to open up the entire Vatican just for me! I have my ticket, and I’d better see a Pope on the porch or I’ll be—if you’ll pardon the expression—raising hell. 😆 Not the best place to be raising hell! Actually they have numerous professionals there to deal with it. |
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Post by hamster on Mar 3, 2020 16:59:01 GMT -5
While you’re quarantined there, at least the food will be exceptional. (I lived in Italy for three years.)
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Post by phoenixrisingALJ on Mar 3, 2020 18:43:46 GMT -5
While you’re quarantined there, at least the food will be exceptional. (I lived in Italy for three years.) And the wine !!!! |
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Post by kylearan on Mar 3, 2020 21:37:05 GMT -5
While you’re quarantined there, at least the food will be exceptional. (I lived in Italy for three years.) Ooh! You’ll have to tell me all the non-Milan, non-Venice places to go! My base will be in Rome but I have a day trip to Florence and Pisa (including climbing the leaning tower and having Rosary and Mass at the Duomo in Florence) and a day trip to Capri. |
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Post by nylawyer on Mar 4, 2020 21:29:37 GMT -5
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Post by christina on Mar 5, 2020 16:23:19 GMT -5
Well we got our first agency policy. Wash ur hands, use sanitizer, and stay home and recover. And we will get faqs and presumably answers soon!!!
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Post by acttwo on Mar 5, 2020 17:47:05 GMT -5
Possibly of interest. The author agrees with me, though, so I have to wonder if I am being unbiased. slate.com/technology/2020/03/coronavirus-mortality-rate-lower-than-we-think.htmlIn short, we have little idea of the fatality rate from the virus b/c we have no idea how many are out there that have been infected, but show no symptoms. Also, no idea how many of those who died "of" this had other, lethal conditions. If/when this blows over, as it will in some manner [let's hope in a good way, burning out and not a bad way--end of humanity], maybe they will go back and look for how many people show antibodies to the virus and then calculate from that. In the meantime, my hands are so rough from washing...I recommend buying stock in Vaseline/Nivea/Curel/CeraVe. et al. Smile [and make sure to cough into your elbow, please]! |
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Post by roymcavoy on Mar 5, 2020 18:07:27 GMT -5
Possibly of interest. The author agrees with me, though, so I have to wonder if I am being unbiased. slate.com/technology/2020/03/coronavirus-mortality-rate-lower-than-we-think.htmlIn short, we have little idea of the fatality rate from the virus b/c we have no idea how many are out there that have been infected, but show no symptoms. Also, no idea how many of those who died "of" this had other, lethal conditions. If/when this blows over, as it will in some manner [let's hope in a good way, burning out and not a bad way--end of humanity], maybe they will go back and look for how many people show antibodies to the virus and then calculate from that. In the meantime, my hands are so rough from washing...I recommend buying stock in Vaseline/Nivea/Curel/CeraVe. et al. Smile [and make sure to cough into your elbow, please]! because testing here has been so sparse (but better in other countries), I think the mortality rate of 3.4% probably acts as a better indication of the number of actual cases in US right now. Meaning this... As of this afternoon, the US had 156 confirmed cases. We have had 12 deaths—which would be a mortality rate of 7.7%, if accurate. We know that number is inaccurate, however, as testing has been more inadequate here than elsewhere. Worldwide, deaths have been 3.4% of confirmed cases. Working backward, what 12 deaths means is that it is more likely that there are 353 or so *confirmable* cases in US at this time. Edit to note that I just saw a report that there are 213 confirmed cases in US right now. |
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Post by hamster on Mar 5, 2020 21:37:20 GMT -5
Glad somebody is getting off their as*. Even if SSA doesn’t mind jeopardizing the lives of its employees, representatives, and claimants. Respectfully, Hamster
FCC ANNOUNCES PREVENTIVE MEASURES RELATED TO CORONAVIRUS
Given the ongoing increase in COVID-19 cases, both internationally and in the United States, the FCC has put in place new measures to protect the health of its staff. To begin with, visitors who, during the most recent 14 days, have been in any country that is the subject of a OVID-19-related CDC Level 3 Travel Warning are not being allowed to enter FCC facilities, including its Washington, DC Headquarters. At the current time, these countries are China, Iran, Italy, and South Korea. Similarly, employees and contractors who, during the most recent 14 days, have been in any of these countries are being asked not to enter FCC facilities.
Moreover, the FCC is suspending until further notice non-critical FCC domestic and international travel. In addition, the Commission is suspending until further notice any FCC involvement in non-critical large gatherings that involve participants from across the country and/or around the world.
The Chairman’s Office, in consultation with the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, the Office of Managing Director, and Office of General Counsel, will continue to monitor developments and will implement additional precautions (or relax current precautions) should circumstances warrant.
For further information, please contact Mark Stephens of the Office of the Managing Director, at (202) 418-0817 or Mark.Stephens@fcc.gov
-FCC-
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Wherever you are, just stay there for now. The G fund sometimes keeps up with inflation, sometimes not. That's where the ALJ and the attorneys I know moved their money when they got scared in 2007. They never recouped their losses and should never have been in the C fund to begin with. There were a bunch more just like them back in 07-08. 
