Dear Liz: I have been reading the questions about converting an IRA to a Roth and want to know how it might apply to my situation. I have been getting my required minimum distributions for a while, and I have been paying the surcharges on Medicare because of my higher income. Would it still be worth […]
Recent Blog Posts
Q&A: Roth IRA conversions can benefit your heirs—but at a cost
Q&A: Why marriage can reduce taxes on a home sale
Dear Liz: We are a heterosexual couple who are registered domestic partners in California. We have owned our primary residence for decades. Obviously, its value has increased and is well past the $500,000 home sales exemption limit for couples. When one of us passes away, how is the basis and the appreciation of the residence calculated […]
Q&A: Can I open a Roth IRA for my minor grandchildren?
Dear Liz: Where can I open a Roth IRA for my minor grandchildren? Answer: Fidelity, Charles Schwab and Vanguard are among the large brokerages that offer custodial IRAs with no account minimums or fees. Getting your grandkids started with saving for retirement is a great idea, but they’ll need to be earning their own money before you […]
Q&A: Social Security disability benefit doesn’t increase at retirement age
Dear Liz: If someone is currently receiving Social Security disability payments, does the monthly dollar benefit change when they reach age 62 or at full retirement age? Answer: Social Security disability payments convert to a retirement benefit when the recipient reaches their full retirement age, which is currently 67. The dollar amount doesn’t change, although recipients continue […]
Q&A: Can insurers require you to buy a membership?
Dear Liz: I have my homeowners and auto insurance with the auto club. For the past few years, I have called them about their $59 yearly membership fee. I advised them that I did not need any of their services, as my last three new cars have their own roadside service. I was shocked to find […]
Q&A: How can I withdraw money from an IRA without paying taxes?
Dear Liz: I’ve been retired for 17 years due to illness. My wife has passed away. I know nothing about finances. She did it all. I have an IRA with my wife. I want to withdraw from it but not be penalized on taxes. I know there is a way, but I don’t know the proper […]
Books
Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission.
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Your Credit Score: How to Improve the 3-Digit Number that Shapes Your Financial Future (5th edition)
Improve your credit score, for real, with the #1 best-selling guide you can trust! Today, a good credit score is essential for getting credit, getting a job, even getting car insurance or a cellphone. Now, best selling journalist Liz Pulliam Weston has thoroughly updated her top-selling guide to credit scores, with crucial new information for protecting (or rebuilding) yours.
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Deal with Your Debt: Free Yourself from What You Owe
Struggling with debt? Get realistic help that's actually useful.
In this extensively updated guide, you can discover how to control and manage debt effectively. You'll learn which debts can actually help build wealth over time, and which are simply toxic. You'll find up-to-date, real-world strategies for assessing and paying off debt, money-saving insights on which debts to tackle first, and crucial information about everything from debt consolidation loans to credit scores and credit counseling. Weston offers practical guidelines for assessing how much debt is safe -- and compassionate, realistic guidance if you've gone beyond the safety zone. If you've ever worried about debt, you'll find the new edition of Deal with Your Debt absolutely indispensable.
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There Are No Dumb Questions About Money: Answers and Advice to Help You Make the Most of Your Finances
There’s a myth in our society that some people are just naturally “good” with money. So naturally, everybody else must be “bad”--or at least, dumb--if they’re not sure what to do.
The reality is, no one is born a money expert. Those who are “good” with money had to learn: by reading, asking questions, and consulting people who know more than they do. No one knows everything, and the only dumb questions are the ones you don’t ask.
This collection of money questions and answers can help you solve your most pressing concerns about your finances. You can buy this ebook on iTunes or on Amazon.
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The 10 Commandments of Money: Survive and Thrive in the New Economy
From the #1 personal finance columnist on the Internet (Nielsen/NetRatings)-a clear prescription for financial health in the 2010s and beyond.
For previous generations, living within your means was a simple formula. Now, with the staggering rise in education, health care, and housing costs, millions of people find themselves skating from paycheck to paycheck with no idea how to move forward.
As the most-read personal finance columnist on the Internet, Liz Weston has heard the questions and has the answers. Her 10 Commandments of Money will help readers avoid critical mistakes, survive the bad times, and thrive in the good ones.
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Easy Money: How to Simplify Your Finances and Get What You Want Out of Life
Common sense. Easy solutions. Plain English.
Best selling author, Liz Weston, takes on the problem everyone has, and nobody talks about: the sheer hassle of managing your money! Weston offers practical guidance and easy checklists for every decision: investments, credit cards, insurance, mortgages, retirement, college savings, and more! Discover how to consolidate, delegate, and automate your finances…save time and money…and live a more rewarding, secure life!