GCC Asset Allocation 2024

We have been living off our portfolio since late 2012 (~12 years.)

In that time the market has gone up and down (mostly up.) Our spending has also gone up and down (mostly up.)

Throughout it all the portfolio has remained much the same… heavy on equities, heavy on US based assets, and heavy on simplicity.

Here are some charts that explain it all.

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How I Track Expenses (RIP Mint.com)

Since I was dissatisfied with our 2023 profligate spending I am going to spend a few minutes each week reviewing our total outlay.

Many people asked what process or tools I used to track expenses.

For many years I used Mint.com, but if you aren’t aware… Mint.com will cease operation on March 23, 2024. Intuit, who bought the website in 2009 and ran it into the ground, recommends moving your data to Credit Karma with reduced functionality – which seems to be all the stuff I hated about mint with none of the stuff I liked. (Screen shots and shade included in post.)

So I am going a different route – This is How I Track Expenses.

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Reflections of 2023 – Life in the Burbs

Big Tree on Big Island (That’s me under the tree!)

2023 was our 11th full year of wild and free livin’ domesticated living.

Life in the burbs is interesting… life largely revolves around kids and their activities. Every once in awhile when we are feeling a little wild, we might bake a pie or mow the lawn. And as the school calendar allows we mix in a bit of travel (Spring break in Vegas, early summer on the Big Island, Thanksgiving in Tahoe, and Christmas in Taiwan.)

It took some getting used to but we have now become fully acclimated to this relaxed, family-friendly, predictable environment. The only real surprise was the total cost.

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Why Early Social Security Provides the Greatest Spousal Benefit

Social Security includes a spousal benefit, in which the lower earner is able to take the greater of their own SS income or up to 50% of their spouses’.

Upon death of the higher earner, the lower earner assumes the higher earner’s benefit (replacing their own.) A survivor benefit.

Because of these spousal and survivor benefits many choose to delay collecting Social Security until age 70 in order to secure the largest monthly income, which will help to provide their younger / greater longevity spouse financial security throughout their twilight years.

I will do the opposite, and my wife will be better off for it.

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