Hi Bogleheads,
I found this site nearly a decade ago, and it has been a tremendous blessing for me, my family, and our financial health - I am very thankful for you. My request is for a general checkup / extra pair of eyes on things, to make sure I am keeping on the path. I appreciate your time and contributions.
Emergency funds: 1 year of expenses in VCTXX (Vanguard California Municipal Money Market Fund)
Debt: Primary Mortgage (730k, 2.50%)
Investment Property (210k, 3.125%)
Combined Equity ~1.75 MM
Tax Filing Status: Married Filing Jointly
Tax Rate: 35% Federal, 11.3% State, 3.9% NIIT
State of Residence: CA
Age: Him 40, Her 43, 3 kids (11, 9, 6)
Desired Asset allocation: 85% stocks / 15% bonds
Desired International allocation: 20% of stocks
Portfolio size: 3 MM
Current retirement assets
Taxable
0% cash (emergency fund not included)
34% Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTSAX) (0.04%)
8% Vanguard California Intermediate-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares (VCADX) (0.09%)
His 401k
3% Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFIAX) (0.04%)
1% Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTIAX) (0.11%)
1% Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBTLX) (0.05%)
His Roth IRA
3% Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTSAX) (0.04%)
1% Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTIAX) (0.11%)
Her 401k
28% Fidelity Total Market Index Fund (FSKAX) (0.015%)
8% Fidelity Total International Index Fund (FTIHX) (0.06%)
2% Fidelity U.S. Bond Index Fund (FXNAX) (0.025%)
Her Mega Backdoor Roth
5% Fidelity Total Market Index Fund (FSKAX) (0.015%)
1% Fidelity Total International Index Fund (FTIHX) (0.06%)
Her Roth IRA
2% Schwab Total Stock Market Index Fund (SWTSX) (0.03%)
Treasury Direct
3% I-Bonds
Funds available in his 401(k)
All other funds available in his 401(k) are either high expense (>0.50%) or specialty (small cap index, mid cap index, RE), and I prefer to stick to a three fund portfolio.
Funds available in her 401(k)
Fidelity Brokeragelink - all funds available - still prefer to stick to a three fund portfolio.
Other Accounts (Percents not included with retirement assets above, rather they are included for scale).
HSA
1.5% Cash
529
2.5% Passive Age Based Portfolios (0.04%)
Contributions
New annual Contributions
$0 his 401k
$23,500 her 401k
$15,750 her 401k match
$30,000 her Mega Backdoor Roth
$7,000 his IRA -> backdoor Roth IRA
$7,000 her IRA -> backdoor Roth IRA
$135k taxable (for retirement, not short term use)
$20,000 Treasury Direct I-Bonds
$12,000 529
Available funds
Funds available in his 401(k)
All other funds available in his 401(k) are either high expense (>0.50%) or specialty (small cap index, mid cap index, RE), and I prefer to stick to a three fund portfolio.
Funds available in her 401(k)
Fidelity Brokeragelink - all funds available - still prefer to stick to a three fund portfolio.
Questions:
1. I am tremendously grateful for all the help I have received so far. One giant contribution was members teaching me about backdoor and mega-backdoor opportunities - I had no clue these existed before. If anyone has suggestions to save more efficiently, I greatly appreciate it.
2. I am unclear on wash sales, and wonder if someone can explain it like I'm 5, or point me in the right direction.
Instead of rebalancing by selling, I have been trying to rebalance by directing new contributions.
This has led to a few deviations from 3 fund portfolio, ex: VCADX in taxable.
I chose not to sell US and buy bonds in a 401(k) because I was concerned that buying the next tranch (automatically from paycheck every two weeks) would trigger a wash sale.
Thank you!
I found this site nearly a decade ago, and it has been a tremendous blessing for me, my family, and our financial health - I am very thankful for you. My request is for a general checkup / extra pair of eyes on things, to make sure I am keeping on the path. I appreciate your time and contributions.
Emergency funds: 1 year of expenses in VCTXX (Vanguard California Municipal Money Market Fund)
Debt: Primary Mortgage (730k, 2.50%)
Investment Property (210k, 3.125%)
Combined Equity ~1.75 MM
Tax Filing Status: Married Filing Jointly
Tax Rate: 35% Federal, 11.3% State, 3.9% NIIT
State of Residence: CA
Age: Him 40, Her 43, 3 kids (11, 9, 6)
Desired Asset allocation: 85% stocks / 15% bonds
Desired International allocation: 20% of stocks
Portfolio size: 3 MM
Current retirement assets
Taxable
0% cash (emergency fund not included)
34% Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTSAX) (0.04%)
8% Vanguard California Intermediate-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares (VCADX) (0.09%)
His 401k
3% Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFIAX) (0.04%)
1% Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTIAX) (0.11%)
1% Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBTLX) (0.05%)
His Roth IRA
3% Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTSAX) (0.04%)
1% Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTIAX) (0.11%)
Her 401k
28% Fidelity Total Market Index Fund (FSKAX) (0.015%)
8% Fidelity Total International Index Fund (FTIHX) (0.06%)
2% Fidelity U.S. Bond Index Fund (FXNAX) (0.025%)
Her Mega Backdoor Roth
5% Fidelity Total Market Index Fund (FSKAX) (0.015%)
1% Fidelity Total International Index Fund (FTIHX) (0.06%)
Her Roth IRA
2% Schwab Total Stock Market Index Fund (SWTSX) (0.03%)
Treasury Direct
3% I-Bonds
Funds available in his 401(k)
All other funds available in his 401(k) are either high expense (>0.50%) or specialty (small cap index, mid cap index, RE), and I prefer to stick to a three fund portfolio.
Funds available in her 401(k)
Fidelity Brokeragelink - all funds available - still prefer to stick to a three fund portfolio.
Other Accounts (Percents not included with retirement assets above, rather they are included for scale).
HSA
1.5% Cash
529
2.5% Passive Age Based Portfolios (0.04%)
Contributions
New annual Contributions
$0 his 401k
$23,500 her 401k
$15,750 her 401k match
$30,000 her Mega Backdoor Roth
$7,000 his IRA -> backdoor Roth IRA
$7,000 her IRA -> backdoor Roth IRA
$135k taxable (for retirement, not short term use)
$20,000 Treasury Direct I-Bonds
$12,000 529
Available funds
Funds available in his 401(k)
All other funds available in his 401(k) are either high expense (>0.50%) or specialty (small cap index, mid cap index, RE), and I prefer to stick to a three fund portfolio.
Funds available in her 401(k)
Fidelity Brokeragelink - all funds available - still prefer to stick to a three fund portfolio.
Questions:
1. I am tremendously grateful for all the help I have received so far. One giant contribution was members teaching me about backdoor and mega-backdoor opportunities - I had no clue these existed before. If anyone has suggestions to save more efficiently, I greatly appreciate it.
2. I am unclear on wash sales, and wonder if someone can explain it like I'm 5, or point me in the right direction.
Instead of rebalancing by selling, I have been trying to rebalance by directing new contributions.
This has led to a few deviations from 3 fund portfolio, ex: VCADX in taxable.
I chose not to sell US and buy bonds in a 401(k) because I was concerned that buying the next tranch (automatically from paycheck every two weeks) would trigger a wash sale.
Thank you!
Statistics: Posted by anewboglehead — Mon Sep 29, 2025 4:05 pm — Replies 0 — Views 19