Early Retirement Extreme Forums

Took gains in PG (+19% since Sep) and T (+17% since Jan). Per my usual practice, gains plus 2 yrs dividends are kept in shares. Now to figure out where to park that cash...

Intermediate term tax-exempt munis?

workathome wrote:Intermediate term tax-exempt munis?

If I were worried about having too much income tax, yes. Retirement puts me on the other end of the spectrum, where I need to create enough income to qualify for Obamacare subsidies. I've been using PGX (short term preferred stock) for that purpose, but with a wad of cash available, it's time to first see if there are any bargains to be found.

Bargain hunting results: CMI & CAT are still near the top of my rankings, so I won't be taking any profits there unless the trailing stop loss is hit.

Probably what was more interesting is what is at the bottom of my rankings: MSFT, MMM, MCD, PEP, JNJ, KMB, COP, & CLX. Many of these are perpetually near the bottom, so one is buying them whenever they rise to the middle, however it may be time to trim my MMM and/or MCD.

Tax-exempt munis are counted back in to MAGI for ACA, but yeah if you're only at 15% probably don't need the tax exempt bonus.

Day after day, day after day,
We stuck, nor breath nor motion;
As idle as a painted ship
Upon a painted ocean.

Water, water, every where,
And all the boards did shrink;
Water, water, every where,
Nor any drop to drink.

The very deep did rot - Oh Christ!
That ever this should be.
Yea, slimy things did crawl with legs,
Upon the slimy sea.

LOL, though I suppose that's better than ...

"Forward, the Light Brigade!"
Was there a man dismay'd?
Not tho' the soldier knew someone had blunder'd:
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die:
Into the Valley of Death rode the six hundred.

Yea, verily

Made some small buys of SE and GS today.

Sold some small lots of TLT and WY.

By small, I mean about 2-3% of portfolio value.

Fed watch ... as expected, the rate of rate hikes is expected to proceed slower than previously announced. There are so many conditions to facilitate a hike that it will take a long time before it happens. Yield keeps getting ever more expensive.

If I wanted to add to my muni bond holdings, I should do it before a rate hike, right? Not after? (sorry for the dumb question)

I plan on buying LAND, FPL, PPG, and more TDY on any significant dips. I missed the dip on ENV--waiting for another (but won't wait too long).

I bought some MMP and VWO yesterday. Sold some covered calls on WY @ 31.

My VGPMX (part of a rebalance) and VGENX buys at the beginning of the year are keeping me afloat. Otherwise, just buying bonds and a dab of REITs going forward and standing pat w/my equity.

CMI sure popped today.

My first ever limit order tripped today. Yay. I set COP to sell at the point to erase the gains I made from HP, almost to the penny.

took my profit on BHP today. went short INTU and AA. When the market opens, will be going short on VRSN, GDDY, maybe AMZN.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/ ... since-1973

Cyclicals are up. Non-cyclicals are down. Overall is down. Good news is bad news. Bad news is good news.

AAPL misses top line and bottom line and adjusts downward. Blames drop in smartphone sales. Down 8% in after close trading. Peak iSheep?

Well, that's a big "ow" if you have it. And its hard to imagine that situation getting any better anytime soon.

Sold some WY today. Bought some GS and MMP.

Bought more MMP and VWO yesterday. Those covered calls on WY I sold last month are about to expire right around the strike price.