IRA
I learned about the different types of IRA's and rules from fool.com. Very good site for people like me. I'll definitely come back there for more investment advice and stuff.

I started talking to people and looking online and amassed a list of companies to investigate for the 401K rollover into an IRA. I don't think I'll qualify for Roth in the long run, plus Roth has some other restrictions I don't like. So I figured out that I need exactly the traditional IRA. By the way, you can pull money out of your IRA without a penalty to buy your first home or pay for a variety of things, such as a master's degree. You can't with a regular 401K. So you can build with a 401K especially if there's matching, then roll to an IRA, and take the money scott-free! Sweet! Not that you shouldn't save it for retirement, but...

The following excel spreadsheet is what I came up with. Invaluable were these two lists: JD Power for ratings - will definitely come back here for other information for the other financial projects I have, the site rocks, and takes you right to the info you need, and it's free, with no forms to fill out. Better then just asking a handful of your friends, this is what the country thinks. The other was a rather small list on Fool, but it exposes all the different hidden fees with the IRAs. Once the list was compiled, I called and called and called. The result is a full list of rules, fees, and services for a traditional or a rollover (like traditional, but named different and with fewer fees in most cases, but no other differences) IRA. Enjoy.

IRA in a nutshell: you can hopefully get away without paying any fees. You can buy no-load mutual funds or stocks and then it doesn't cost you anything to trade. Else if you want to buy other stuff, you should hopefully not pay much, and ideally it's a transaction, not a per stock fee. Ta-da! Fool.com has all the rules and ins and outs. Use it.

Must look into Legg Mason and Raymond James as well for full service investment. See how they fare to online companies. And only 2 hours to go before I have to work on opening an account and faxing a form.

Long Term Investment.
Topic: Investment 101

Talked to Legg Mason. They are fabulous. Rated #1 on JD Edwards. Will have to wait to get 10K I can risk to use them, hopefully by next year. Low cost, to no cost, and really nice. Clearly the personal attention of a small firm and yet they got the expertise. If they're still #1 on JD Edwards when I'm ready, I'm there. Of course, will have to look at others as well, but that's later.

http://www.jdpower.com/cc/finance/jdpa_ratings/OnlineInvesting.jsp
http://www.fool.com/dbc/tables/compare.htm?ref=aaira

debates
Topic: America the Beautiful
Jen KO came over and we watched the debate, debate #1, while drinking guinness+kahlua, and eating cold pizza. Beforehand, I printed out Gore vs. Bush 2000 debate 3 and some other helpful info. Here it is:


Debates Transcripts

Dirt on both candidates

Where each candidate stands at a glance

Unlike the Bush/Gore debate, Bush/Kerry was boring. Completely uninspiring, barely ammusing. But it may get more interesting. Some places to go watch the next debates can be found on debate.org too.

more pain
Topic: On the way to Triathlon
ok i was at it again. i rode about 20 miles on the bike, but scaresly had more energy then Tuesday. Must give self more days off then just one, apparently. ouch me hurt. i rode pretty hard though i'm still under 20 miles/hour.

Investment 101
Topic: Investment 101
I guess it's time to open up a new category in my life, and on the blog as well. Investment. I'm going to buy a house soon, that is if I get a job soon. So I better learn. Also, I have to roll over my 401K immediately, causing me to start learning about this stuff now. I've been meaning to learn about this kind of stuff for a while. I have a personal finance book and a book on real estate for dummies. All good places to start. And a wealth of online resources. What are some of my immediate investment needs/goals/to-do's:

1. Open an IRA by end of the day today. I've procrastinated too long and need to roll over my 401K ASAP
2. Learn about stocks, bonds, cd's and mutual funds more. I don't know enough. I'm going to play some sort of an online stimulation game before investing.
3. Invest my IRA funds into something - next week
4. Get my credit report and make sure it's clean - after getting the job
5. Find Homeowners Insurance - end of 2004
6. Find a Mortgage company - end of 2004
7. Create an investment portfolio - 2005-2006

ouch me stupid
Mood:  d'oh
ok, so I try to repeat my success yesterday and go on the same bike ride. boy did that hurt. I didn't get very far. That's why in triathlon training they don't have you do the same sport two days in a row and you are suppose to take a break after the brick. I just can't believe how strong I rode yesterday and how today there's nothing left. I'm also going to try that protein thing today, glutamine. I checked it out on webmd and talked to people about it, it appears safe. Here's a good summary about it from webmd, ""During long distance, high- to moderate-intensity exercise, BCAA [are burned] and provide almost 18% of the total energy needed," Costa Rosa says. This, in turn, causes the glutamine depletion observed in the placebo group. By taking [supplemental] BCAA, you supply your skeletal muscle with BCAA and save some for glutamine synthesis." This benefits the immune system, increases available energy, and reduces protein consumption that is often the result of this sort of intense exercise. ""While there has been no scientific proof that taking too much amino acid can do harm, if it's not needed, the excess protein will be excreted -- resulting in very expensive urine, say both Williams and Roubenoff. There has also been a suggestion that the kidneys could be stressed by the excess protein."

but I did run afterwards. Can't find my heart rate monitor, So I'll guess my heart rate was averaging about 155 again and I did about 30 minutes on the bike and about 2 miles running. Not too bad, but need to step up the run. Really should go run this afternoon. Run first, then bike, if energy remains.

Congratulations Mystery Girl
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: National Anthem
Topic: Friends
She got her citizenship today, congrats Mystery Girl!

Lenny Kravitz
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: Lenny Kravitz
Topic: Friends
Thanks to Liz, who selected me as the lucky one to go with her, I got to see Lenny Kravitz in a private studio performance in the back room at Shubas (Where we had lunch, which was just so so but the waiter was kind of cute, I thought, I don't think Liz agreed tho). Wow was that cool. He did about 5 or 6 songs and he's like a really nice, down to earth, and attractive guy. Yeah. The music is very good too, and it was interesting to learn about what inspires him and how he creates the music. XRT defintely did a great job with the questions they asked. Then Liz and I chased the bus. Sorry Liz. I have to document dilligently some things so I can remember them to tell about to your kids. LOL. Anyway, Liz didn't want to leave after the show. She and many others wanted to see if Lenny'd come out of the tour bus outside. Anyway, a job person called me and I got distracted from watching Liz watching the bus and at that moment he came out. Then the bus pulled away. Liz wasn't done with him. He had a 5 minute head start on us and Liz wanted to follow the bus. I should really be an FBI agent in Chicago, because we were able to find and catch up with the bus. Am I good or what? It turned into a needle in a haystack, but I guessed where they'd be going, followed them blindly for 15 minutes before we spotted them. Once again, I impressed myself. Sorry I have something wrong with my head today so ignore all my posts tone and boastful attitude. Just keep in mind, this is my blog I can do whatever I want. I got nothing else to be proud of right now, ok? ....

another bike ride
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: On the way to Triathlon
Biked for 1.5 hours. Ave heart rate 155, in zone most of the time. Doing better on the bike, went real far.

Happy B-Day La
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: 50 Cent
Topic: Friends
That song is perfect for this. Anyway, I couldn't get the man to go out on his B-day. I tried and tried. Mad at him. Everyone should go out on their b-day. I should add (get laid)to that too, but heck, when's the last time that happened to anyone, right?