Re: persfin-digest V5 #11

From: Harry Matthews <matthews@panix.com>
Subject: Re: persfin-digest V5 #11
Date: Mon, 11 May 1998 00:11:36 -0400
Next Article (by Subject): RE: persfin-digest V5 #11 "Knight, Philip"
Previous Article (by Subject): Re: persfin-digest V5 #11 Steve0465
Next in Thread: RE: persfin-digest V5 #11 "Knight, Philip"
Articles sorted by: [Date] [Author] [Subject]
> Date: Thu, 07 May 1998 08:50:27 -0700 (MST)
> From: Phillip Jennings <pjennings@pharm.utah.edu>
> Subject: Relocating questions
>
> Hello all,
>
> I will be moving from Salt Lake City to Cincinnati this summer.  This
> will be the first time I have ever relocated since buying a house,
> having a career, etc.  As such I feel quite stressed over all the
> details.  I have found a couple of books about relocation that answer
> some of my questions but not others.  Maybe some of you could offer
> help.

I'll defer to others on matters of finance and insurance, but I lived in Cincinnati for many years and can
offer a fre suggestions.  First off, check out real estate ads online.  (You can do this with almost any city,
by the way.)  The two, jointly-operated Queen City papers run a joint Web site with real estate ads:

http://www.homefinder.gocinci.com

You should spend some time learning which suburbs are most attracftive to you, depending on both your budget
and the number of children you have.  Cincinnati home prices are generally more manageable than those of other
cities.  The highest prices you'll encounter are in places like Glendale -- a gorgeous Victorian suburb with
huge homes on acre-plus lots and world-class public schools.  Prime houses (with four bedrooms or more, plus
swimming pools and other amenities) here are in the $350,000 to $450,000 range.  You'll find similar prices in
Indian Hill, where lots are larger, history is less present, but schools are equally good.  Mariemont and
Terrace Park have many attractive houses at somewhat lower prices, since the local school system has been
driven into the ground by decades of penny-pinching; this is a good place to look if you do not have
school-age children, or can afford to send your kids to private schools.  Ditto Hyde Park, a very convenient
and quite beautiful community within the city limits.

For more details, check out the Web site I referenced above.  If you see an attractive listing, feel free to
call the broker long distance.  I'm sure the sales rep will do everything that he or she can to ease your
move.

> Date: Thu, 07 May 1998 11:08:48 -0500
> From: "Robert R. Kalt" <rrk@aps.anl.gov>
> Subject: Selling mutual fund shares
>
> When I sell mutual fund shares I realize it is best to sell the
> shares I paid the highest price for in order to show the smallest
> profit and incur the least taxes.  I do have records of what I paid
> for all shares I bought but what happens to shares the fund
> itself bought for me and reinvested?

The price of the shares bought for re-investment is always listed on the statement that records the
transaction.  You should check with a tax professional, however, since there are several different methods of
calculating gains that the IRS will accept -- some of which will cost you more than others.

> Date: Thu, 7 May 1998 10:02:01 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Jamester <jamester@alumni.EECS.Berkeley.EDU>
> Subject: Payroll Tax question
>
> Persfinners:
>
> I changed job about a couple of weeks ago and have just received my unused
> vacation check from the old company. I looked at it and compared it with the
> old regular paycheck. What I found was they actually took straight 28% out of
> my vacation check for fed and 6% for State (Calif). While on the regular check
> they used Method B of payroll deduction (from IRS Publication 15) which
> came out to be less taxes. They did take out Social Sec, Medicare, CA SDI and
> the percentages are correct. The fed & state figures are questionable.
>
> As an example, a check for $900 shouldn't really have $250 taken out for
> Federal tax, while a check for $1000 (arbitrary regular paycheck amt) only
> have about $160 taken out, should it?? Am I getting ripped off here? Is it
> normal for companies to use diferent formula to deduct taxes out of a vacation
> check? Is it supposed to be 28%?

Last year, I got a large severance check from my former employer.  Like bonus checks and other "special
distributions," it was subjected to deductions along the lines you describe.  I presume this is standard
practice.  Unless you have moved to an enormously high-paying job, this balance can be useful in sparing you
tax expenses next April.  If you are grossly overwithhheld, of course, you'll get a big check next year.  If
you have estimated taxes due, you can use that extra wad to avoid those payments.

In short, it's annoying, but useful.

> Date: Fri, 08 May 1998 15:41:13 -0400
> From: eric <eric_marcus@compuserve.com>
> Subject: Calling card calls
>
> I have just been told that the FCC  allows an extra 30 cent charge applie=
> d =
>
> to  800 # calls made from  certain privately owned public phone booths.
> Right or wrong (again!)?
>

The charge applies to all toll-free (800, 888, 877) calls made from any coin phone.  The theory is that LD
companies don't receive enough for coin phone-originated vis-a-vis private calls (for which a monthly line
charge is imposed).  Yet another example of the hazards of dividing the indivisible costs of providing phone
service.


- -
Go to Jeff Salisbury LWGate Home Page.