All Things Personal Finance

[Witness1970]

On 12/22/2025 at 8:39 AM, Mike047 said:

One of the problems of keeping a mortgage, is the varying rates being charged. In these days of uncertainty, I would choose to repay if  could.

I would only have a fixed rate mortgage.  The adjustable-rate mortgages can get you in trouble in later years if the rate increases.  With a low fixed-rate mortgage, it would be better to invest the money in an index fund and let it grow.  Eventually you would have a paid off house and a large amount of money invested.  If you are barely able to pay your mortgage, there would not be much left to invest.

[Mike047]

Assuming you could get such a mortgage that would be affordable currently

 

[Witness1970]

1 hour ago, Mike047 said:

Assuming you could get such a mortgage that would be affordable currently

 

I was thinking of someone who already had a mortgage from years ago which was a fixed rate mortgage.  Currently the mortgage rates very high with no hope of them going any lower in the near future.

[Mike047]

And that is the problem for those looking for starter homes. People want to buy in the UK if they can, but as this weeks Watchtower points out, distractions can lake away from spiritual life, and fewer things take more time that the house-buying process.

[BLEmom]

So what to do with 401K money when you get laid off?  I’m 53. So can’t take it to put in HYSA. Do you leave it?  Convert to an IRÁ?  
Just getting thoughts from different people. 

One financial guy we are talking to about my husbands 401k (who is 61) is saying move to an account with Athene. But I know he is saying that because he gets a commission and I don’t know that I like the look of the reviews for Athene. 

 

We have 2 different ones with different circumstances so trying to get thoughts on how to handle. Neither one is that big. We lived most of our life on one income paycheck to paycheck. We’ve had a few good years and now we are back to the races of how to survive financially. At least I have some savings now!  😬
I also have a very small amount in Pepsi shares. 👎🏻

 

No worries that I will take what you say as gospel.  It’s just nice to get different perspectives. 

[Tortuga]

I did a direct rollover into a traditional IRA with Fidelity. It worked well for me.

[BLEmom]

1 hour ago, Tortuga said:

I did a direct rollover into a traditional IRA with Fidelity. It worked well for me.

Have you left it there?  Did you ever take it out or move to something else at some point?  If so, what prompted it?

[Tortuga]

1 hour ago, BLEmom said:

Have you left it there?  Did you ever take it out or move to something else at some point?  If so, what prompted it?

Its still at Fidelity and it is part of my retirement income.