Mike Lister

It's stunning that any government doesn't understand this very basic premise, it doesn't bode well for the future.

I have to use the HL platform so I don't have access to Total Bond Market and many other funds that I might otherwise consider. That sais, I've looked at the bogglehead approach and it doesn't do anything for me so I'm travelling a different road.

Sorry about the misspelling, that would justify a flogging in many quarters. 🙂 You're a braver man by far than I (Gunga Din), I never developed the interest to get involved in crypto which my unofficial mentors describe as voodoo science....power to you that you did and made a profit. Rates: The Fed says to expect one maybe two cuts this year, or even to expect nothing. With the US economy firing on most cylinders, 79% of companies reporting in the current earning season reported an increase in profit, if they can do that when rates are over 5%, how will they perform when they are back down at 2% again! I don't know how anyone can have a reasonable view on interest rates in the current environment, it's nigh on impossible to fathom, trying to take a view over 24 months is just not possible. US election outcome, global warming, global unrest and conflict, US debt levels....any one of them could cause massive upset.

That is the role of the Moderator, that's why they exist, it's their primary function, why are you so surprised.

If a moderator sends a PM to the member, the member then invariably responds and begins to debate issues or raise other things. Those PM's require a response and before you know it, there have been four or five PM's flying back and forth, just because a post was removed. Multiply that by X members and it all becomes very labour intensive. That is very very common and is the main reason why moderators are loathe to do it. Members who are overly argumentative rarely understand that they are being so, mostly because they are so absorbed by the subject of their debate......can't see wood for trees springs to mind.

Amongst members, there are loads more rats than non-rats, maybe the non-rats are out of step! Put another way, there are far more members who want calm rational and sensible discussions, without abuse, trolling, flames, vulgarity and all the other nonsense we see on a daily basis and they are prepared to report those who don't.

Thanks. That's pretty much what I had in my mind also but I put the issue back on the list some time ag as a result of discussions that didn't conclude. Let's see if there any challenges that arise, if not, I'll be inclined to go with that.

Below are the three outstanding issues on my list, some of which have flip flopped a number of times....just to keep them visible: - How are remitted funds from commingled fund accounts viewed by the TRD. - When CG are remitted, how is their composition assessed. - Is overseas income that is earned whilst tax resident but remitted whilst not, free of Thai tax. k) - how does the TRD distinguish between principal (funds from legacy investments, inheritance, original investment principal) versus earnings (interest, dividends, remuneration) from commingled funds, determination of applicable foreign currency exchange rates for tax assessment, etc. O) - when capital gains are remitted from overseas, how does the TRD regard the composition of partial remittances, as gain first, capital second or each as pro-rata? P) - Returned to the list: The issue of whether income earned in a year when tax resident but remitted to Thailand in a year when not tax resident………….is it taxable? Many contradictory reports on this, even from within TRD and tax consultants themselves.

What happens to a thread is down to member behaviour, almost exclusively. I don't think any moderator wants to remove posts but often there is no choice. More often than not, removal involves more than one moderator, that reduces the degree of subjectivity (or whim) to an absolute minimum.

I have seen several threads where large numbers of posts have been removed, all for valid reasons that involve rule violations. If a removal notice was posted for every offensive post, there would at times be more removal notices than member posts. On the one hand, we want the threads to remain open for debate but on the other, the sight of so many removal notices is off putting and deterrent to member participation. Of course, this problem wouldn't exist, if everyone followed the rules but that frequently doesn't happen. So, if you want a notice that your post has been removed, why not just follow the rules and that way, it wont need to be removed and there'll be no need for a notice.

Probably somebody on overstay.

Possibly your best post ever, certainly your funniest.

With your track record I'd stay away from emoji if I were you

Actually it was a laughing emoticon which is probably even worse.

Nope! The same rules apply to everyone equally.

You probably deserved it too. Indeed you did, I just looked it up and it wasn't a smiley, it was a sad emoticon on a formal notice.....tsk tsk, against the rules my lad.

I'm guessing you probably deserved it 🙂

Stop trolling me EK!

I'm not sure I know what you're talking about, again, I'm not aware of anyone being suspended for posting a smiley face. I know a couple of people have been PM'd or cautioned for posting sad emoji's on moderation messages, is that what you're referring to?

I have updated the Introduction to Tax document in the OP, with a new version.

I'm really struggling with bonds, I've lost my way, maybe somebody more knowledgeable can assist? I hold up to 25% of my investment portfolio in bonds as a diversifier and for some protected income. I hold Vanguards Global Bond Index which comprises investment grade, longer (7 yr) dated government (65%) and corporates. The yield is poor at around 3% but when US rates begin to fall their value will increase. These bonds are mostly negatively correlated to equites. I also hold a strategic bond fund that yields around 7% and contains very little junk, the average rating is BBB and duration is 6....this is positively corelated but provides income. My question is, what else should I be holding? Government bonds are safer than corporates but the yield is lower plus corporates are positively corelated to equities. Short dated bond funds yield more than long dated bonds because the yield curve is inverted. US rates are likely to start to reduce before the end of the year and UK rates before then. A short dated (1-3 yrs) government bond index looks interesting but is subject to interest rate risk at some point. This provides reasonable yield and negative correlation. A global government bond index appeals, possibly a global corporates bond index also for income but that risks correlation. Argh! Advice needed, please.

There are some members whose posts are frequently removed by moderators, they seem unable or unwilling to write posts that comply with forum rules. On the other hand, there are some members who never have a single post removed from one year to the next. Those things are not a function of moderation, they are a function of the poster.

Whoosh!

Some posters have their posts hidden all the time, others, never at all. That's nothing to do with the moderator, it's all to do with the poster.

Those things are very true. The other factor of course is that foreigners here have gone from believing that Thailand was a no tax country, as far as they are concerned, hence they didn't need to understand anything about Thai tax, to, full on needing to know everything and finally realising the tax laws apply to them too.