JoeTaxpayer

@user1621 done

As far at the rest of us - it's still important to have a standard deduction. A couple making $40,000, below minimum wage in most states, shouldn't have to pay a dime. So, I'd propose the flat tax starts after that, or some other agreed number.

If Bezos stock had a basis of $10B, now worth $200B, each year, the basis had to be raised $20B, i.e. in year one he is taxed on $20B, but the basis is now $30B. At the top rate, that might cost $5-$6B, tiny to the total worth in comparison.

The issue of Warren Buffett paying less (as a rate) than his secretary is far more complex than a flat tax would fix. The outrage we read regarding Bezos and Musk won't be fixed by a flat tax. The issue has to do with wealth accumulation but untaxed for decades. I'm not looking for a change that would make these men poor, but some small change. Say, their stock holdings had to be taxed each year to bring up their cost basis some nominal %.

I'm told that if my property tax is that high, I deserve to pay more. Really? My tax goes to the school system, and we have better education that most states. A friend has an equal value home, but pays less than half the property tax as his town has more businesses paying tax.

In theory, a flat tax should be fair. I've often said I've be happy to pay a higher tax in exchange for a simple, fair tax structure. One problem is the transition. The last change in the code, the one that capped SALT (state and local taxes, deductible on one's federal return) and eliminated exemptions, in exchange for a higher standard deduction, cost me nearly $8,000. 3 people, plus a near $20,000 property tax.

Excellent. That's my goal. To share what i know.

The kids each got 50% benefit. so 2X benefit total, nearly $130K to the family on my advice. Wife thinks I'm a genius. Died early this year.

He had 2 young kids, and (YES) cancer with a 3 year remaining life.

Take social security. I advised a neighbor to take the reduced benefit at 63. Why? (...)

And I say PF is just that, personal. Rules of thumb can have exceptions.

I try.

$25K/yr adds up fast.

Nope. Roth 401(k). transferred at retirement to Roth IRA.

Which is why I'm so bracket oriented for analyzing this.

Yes! and the big 12% bracket.... right!

At retirement, if somehow one invested 100% Roth, they miss the opportunity to fill the lower brackets and std deduction. The zero rate (std deduction) as well as the lower 12% bracket. Ideally, they were pretax while in the higher brackets to fill the lower while retired. You tell me the income at retirement, I'll tell you the ideal mix. Tough to articulate otherwise. Yes, I know MMM, I've met him. Extreme FIRE is for a tiny fraction of people.

Right. That's the problem. (stand by).

Funny, the Extreme FIRE probably can't save more than a small % in any tax advantaged acct anyway. 401(k) + IRA add to under $25K. A $150K couple can save 1/3, all else is external to ret accts.

We look at things very differently. The calculator ignores tax rates 100%. No mention at all.

MFJ - A couple has a standard deduction of $25K. That alone allows the 4% withdrawal on $625 come out tax free. The 12% bracket ends at $80K, so they can have another $2M pretax and still be at a marginal 12% top bracket. Anytime along the way, saving pretax at (then 15%) or 25% or anything over 12% would be beneficial. You are going from average to extreme FIRE. If that's your target audience, no problem.

@jserv - Hi. Interesting. I did not know that was a thing. But, likely site wide for newer members?

@BenMiller-RememberMonica - Now, that's an interesting thought.

"I finally got my Roth-Conversion badge" (My wife:) Does that make you an eagle scout now?

@thelawnet - I struggle whether such questions should at least be edited to remove the hyperbole. Keep in mind, questions come quickly enough that it will fade off the first page in 1-2 days anyway. The required edit puts it up top again. Either way, the headline got my attention, and the details were 'meh'. I'll approve if you'd like to edit it to a reasonable question.

@Flux - as you might have guessed by now, this is not a particularly active room. Latex has a cost. I've been here a while and recall a conversation when it first came up. I don't recall all the details, only that we couldn't make a strong case for it here. Part of the issue was that a typical member wouldn't be familiar with it. But cost was the top issue.

I unfroze it. @TheAmplitwist - thanks, I see I am in wrong room here.

@MikePierce - always was, sort of. Just a matter of degree.

I am having a brain cramp moment. What is the name of this type of equation? Used for types of growth that reach a limit. Two horizontal asymptotes. $\frac{15}{\left(3+2e^{-.5x}\right)}$ << - Really? I tested this by editing a post to confirm I got the latex right. It doesn't render in comments? I will add an image.

@JoelReyesNoche What? Nearly 8 years of visiting here, all the discussion of "when do we graduate beyond beta?" and it happens with no celebrating, no opening a bottle of champagne? Well, happy "no more Beta", Joel. I hope you are well.

I walk out of his office and a retired teacher is standing there, having just put a box of books on the table next to her. Math related books she'd like to get rid of. 20 books in the box. The title on top - "The Unexpected Hanging" by Martin Gardner.

I would like to share a remarkable math-related coincidence. I am very aware that in reality, there may actually be nothing remarkable about this. It was my anniversary, and dept chair asks me if I got my wife something. I told him I gave her flowers the day before. He asked why I did this a day early, and I cited the Unexpected hanging paradox. i.e. I wanted it to be a surprise, and the day of an event can't be a true surprise.

@Grade'Eh'Bacon - yes, I still don't know if he had more issue with your facts, or the small portion of your answer that was opinion. Your facts were accurate.

Again, in my opinion, a question based on a false premise seems a bad question, especially since most answers won't research the errors. It's great to have such passionate members, but for my own sanity, I try hard to just post my answer and move on. In your case, you can edit your answer to directly show why you disagree with other posted answers.

The most recent being - (Questions on a 60/40 portfolio outperforming stocks over the last 20 years)[money.stackexchange.com/questions/146649/… - But, once the error is pointed out, there's no real question. Yet, as a mod, I'm not supposed to delete such questions, only offer my own answer.

@TCooper "Why can I not edit out factual inaccuracies and add additional information that makes this a better answer?" - FWIW - this is a flaw in SE TOS, in my opinion. More than once, I've seen a question which quotes and links to an external web page, and I quickly realize the premise is wrong.

I acknowledge this, here. One more (final) comment from each.

@BMitch - Already bought. $2000. Just spent some time pulling it out and ripping out the moulding on both sides to be sure the new one will fit. There are times it's better to drop $2K than to fix it, only to have it fail again in s few months. So far no food lost here, and new one coming tomorrow.

The fridge died. 25 years old, it seems the thermostat went, and my wife was "let's just get a new one. Fair enough. The width is 35-5/8. Depth/height, no problem. The volume is 25 cu ft. Perfect. Just sharing the actual space i have. That's moulding, not wall. One side will be coming out. 1/16 of an inch.... just sharing.

It would be embarrassing and a bit awkward for all of us if the "A" did not reflect your actual understanding of this material." And yes, I realize that we need to have more actual written work and one on one conversation to make this concern a bit less stressful. Curious really, how others are handing this type of issue.

One student, a poor performer in the past, got 100 on the quiz. I went to see his practice, and he hadn't done any. And the pages of classkick with the notes we gave in class, were blank. Is there any point in delivering this type of message to the class - "We know that with remote learning, it's not easy to detect cheating. We're not accusing anyone of doing that. Just a reminder, that if you leave this class with an "A", your teacher next year expects that we sent them an "A" student.

I got the chegg email, and deleted without a second thought. But now I know the definition of racketeering. How did I not know this? HS level - We've been using a combination of DeltaMath for practice and quizzing, along with ClassKick, which lets us easily see the student writing, solving a problem step by step. I thought the process was working until the last quiz.

@Mitch - Ex-SE members started it. Monica's New Home.

@CaptainBohemian - it's this matsol.memberclicks.net/re-600 - offered remote only this term.

@CaptainBohemian - I am taking an SEI (Sheltered English Immersion) course. This is a required certification so teachers are prepared for their English learning students.

@CowperKettle - that word credit, I don't know. But I'd say it meant Checks, which have a low level of security when you look into it. Or actual money. The paper money we use in the US has a security strip embedded in the paper and other features tough to forge.

cnn.com/2020/11/10/politics/fact-check-pfizer-warp-speed-pence/… an objective article with the truth somewhere in the middle