Financial Update – Jan 2025

Another month, another update. A few random comments. Good Reads/Listens/Watches I found this YouTube documentary on Malaysian Flight 370 (the Boeing 777 that seemingly disappeared without a trace in 2014) to be fascinating/horrifying (link). Vanguard lowers expense ratios on 87 funds (link). Bogleheads discussion (link). WSJ article (link). Tesla is offering a 10% insurance discount … Read more

2024 Review — State of the Blog & Life

Another lap around the sun.   First, a 40,000 ft overview of 2024: I lost my mom (64) after an excruciatingly long and difficult sickness spanning almost a decade. I rediscovered running after a 25-year hiatus. I dragged the family to Seattle/Whistler where we hiked, kayaked, and four of us competed in a triathlon (Me, … Read more

Repurposing BoA’s Obsolete Premium Rewards Card with a No-FTF Customized Cash Rewards Card

I’ve been a member of the BoA cult for the better part of a decade now, happily earning 5.25% on “category” purchases with the Customized Cash Rewards card and 2.625% on “non-category” purchases with my BoA Premium Rewards card. However, I recently jumped on the US Bank 4% Smartly card bandwagon for my “non-category” spend, … Read more

Financial Update – Dec 2024

Another month, another update. A few random comments. Good Reads/Listens/Watches Ben Rector dropped three new songs, which made my month (link). I particularly like the song The Richest Man in the World.   Life I took a climbing trip to Vegas where a friend and did a ~1,500 ft classic climb called “Solar Slab.” When … Read more