403(b) retirement plan
Aug 21st 2018, 9:07 pm
#31
Just Joined
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 27
Re: 403(b) retirement plan
I understand that but plenty of organisations advertise volunteer roles which are specialised, and I happen to work in an industry (arts/culture) which attracts a few of these types of roles. It makes the distinction hard to figure out, if the position is being advertised as volunteering doesn’t it make it fair game?. And leaves a black hole of months where I can’t volunteer and can’t apply for anything so I have to sit and wait for an unknown amount of time for the EAD.
Aug 21st 2018, 10:02 pm
#32
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2007
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 251
Re: 403(b) retirement plan
I understand that but plenty of organisations advertise volunteer roles which are specialised, and I happen to work in an industry (arts/culture) which attracts a few of these types of roles. It makes the distinction hard to figure out, if the position is being advertised as volunteering doesn’t it make it fair game?. And leaves a black hole of months where I can’t volunteer and can’t apply for anything so I have to sit and wait for an unknown amount of time for the EAD.
Aug 21st 2018, 10:17 pm
#33
Deep in the woods of CT
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 7,002
Re: 403(b) retirement plan
I understand that but plenty of organisations advertise volunteer roles which are specialised, and I happen to work in an industry (arts/culture) which attracts a few of these types of roles. It makes the distinction hard to figure out, if the position is being advertised as volunteering doesn’t it make it fair game?. And leaves a black hole of months where I can’t volunteer and can’t apply for anything so I have to sit and wait for an unknown amount of time for the EAD.
Aug 22nd 2018, 12:16 pm
#34
Just Joined
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 27
Re: 403(b) retirement plan
You can do volunteer work for which no one is paid — such as walking dogs at the pound, serving at a soup kitchen, or greeting guests at an event and directing them to the coat closet. You just can’t do something like volunteering to write the PR for the event at no charge.
Aug 22nd 2018, 1:40 pm
#35
Deep in the woods of CT
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 7,002
Re: 403(b) retirement plan
A particular organization may not be willing to pay for communications work, but the majority of organizations would. And I don't think they would anticipate that their "volunteer" would not be legally permitted to work in the US. For someone without an EAD it has to be true grass roots volunteer work, not pro bono work, to fall within the appropriate parameters.
Aug 27th 2018, 4:36 am
#36
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: Portlandia Metro
Posts: 7,425
Re: 403(b) retirement plan
Max out company match, Max out HSA and invest in low cost index funds, Max out Roth then Max out 403b. Reason being you can control the costs of all except the 403b. My employees recently started charging fixed annual fees on my 403b and moved into funds with higher fees and there is nothing that can be done. Also it's more about whether taxes will be higher in 40 years and less to do with your tax bracket. Taxes are at historic lows and national debt keeps growing. Use your own judgement to decide if taxes are likely to go up.
Aug 27th 2018, 9:43 pm
#37
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,865
Re: 403(b) retirement plan
It is both, namely will your likely tax rate with your projected income when you are retired be higher or lower than your marginal tax rate today? "Logic" dictates that "taxes are likely to go up", but otoh I've been hearing that argument ever since the Reagan years and the reverse has happened.
Aug 28th 2018, 5:01 pm
#38
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2015
Location: Near Lynchburg Tennessee, home of Jack Daniels
Posts: 1,381
Re: 403(b) retirement plan
Any funds you have control over I would put in mutual funds with a low cost company like Vanguard.
