Why reverse mortgages are a harder sell now

The millions of Americans who haven’t saved enough money for retirement still have a potential safety net: their home equity. But recent changes to reverse mortgages mean seniors and their families may have tougher decisions to make.

In my latest for the Associated Press, the changes to reverse mortgages that are causing people to think twice.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: Straightforward answers to your Roth IRA questions. Also in the news: Disney vacation pros share budgeting tips for trips, how to jumpstart your financial plan by ditching this phrase, and what to ask yourself before dipping into your emergency fund.

7 Straightforward Answers to Your Roth IRA Questions
Everything you need to know.

Disney Vacation Pros Dish Up Budgeting Tips for Trips
More money for mouse ears.

Ditch This Phrase and Jump-Start Your Financial Plan
No more dwelling on the past.

What to Ask Yourself Before Dipping Into Your Emergency Fund
Is it really an emergency?

Monday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: 6 tricks to kick credit card debt quicker. Also in the news: Why Millennials are good at saving but not investing, how to make Fed rate hikes work for you, and what Toys R Us closing means for shoppers.

6 Tricks to Kick Credit Card Debt Quicker
It doesn’t have to feel like torture.

Millennials Are Good at Saving. But Investing? Not So Much
What’s keeping Millennials away from the market.

How to Make Fed Rate Hikes Work for You
Give your savings account a boost.

What Toys ‘R’ Us closing means for shoppers
Use those gift cards ASAP.

Friday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: How to maximize your Priority Pass Select. Also in the news: Tap your credit cards for spring break savings, how to avoid a spring break money hangover, and why the death of the fiduciary rule is bad news for your retirement.

How to Maximize Your Priority Pass Select Membership
Getting the most from your membership.

Tap Your Credit Cards for Spring Break Savings
Save on foreign transaction fees and more.

Ask Brianna: How to Avoid a Spring Break Money Hangover
Not the souvenir you want to bring home.

The Death of the Fiduciary Rule Is Bad News for Your Retirement
Less protection means more scams.

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: Don’t let your friends derail your finances. Also in the news: Protecting your EIF investments, how to fly with your baby, and why retailers are tracking your returns.

Don’t Let Friends Derail Your Finances
How to stay on track and still have fun.

Are Your ETF Investments at Risk in a Market Sell-Off?
Potecting your investments.

How to Fly With Your Baby
Keeping your sanity in the skies.

Retailers Are Tracking Your Returns
Assigining a “risk score.”

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: 7 places to get a slice of savings on Pi Day. Also in the news: Choosing between a Roth 401(k) and a Roth IRA, guarding your cash from debit card fraud, and credit bureaus may get a boost from Congress.

7 Places to Get a Slice of Savings on Pi Day
Happy 3.14!

Roth 401(k) vs. Roth IRA: Which Is Better for You?
Making the right choice.

Debit Card Fraud Still Rising; Here’s How to Guard Your Cash
Protecting your money.

Despite Equifax breach, Congress may boost credit bureaus
Rewarding bad behavior.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: The most and least affordable places to buy a home. Also in the news: 3 investments that aren’t actually investments, why credit card rewards may lose their sparkle, and how to ask for a raise.

The Most and Least Affordable Places to Buy a Home
Some of these may surprise you.

3 Investments That Aren’t Actually Investments
The true definition of investment.

Credit Card Rewards May Lose Sparkle, but Not Value
Rewards could get a lot more personal.

Use This Formula to Ask for a Raise
Getting what you’re worth.

How to Find ‘Advice-Only’ Financial Advisers

If you want money advice you can trust, your best bet is to hire a fee-only financial planner. The trick is finding a planner who’s willing to be hired for a reasonable fee.

Fee-only planners don’t accept commissions or kickbacks and are paid solely by client fees. Most use an “assets under management” model where they manage their clients’ investments and charge an annual fee of about 1 percent. To make the math work, these financial planners usually require people to have hundreds of thousands of dollars to invest. Otherwise the advisers would reap too little from their fees to justify the hours spent creating financial plans.

This is obviously a problem for people who don’t have enough assets. In my latest for the Associated Press, how to find financial advice that isn’t based on the size of your portfolio.

Monday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: How to save green on St. Patrick’s Day. Also in the news: The bull market’s 9-year anniversary in 9 numbers, how to save on your destination wedding in Hawaii, and the financial and personal toll of family caregiving.

Save Green on St. Patrick’s Day — No Luck Required
Find your pot of gold.

The Bull Market’s 9-Year Anniversary in 9 Numbers
It’s been quite a run.

How to Save on Your Destination Wedding in Hawaii
Aloha!

The Financial and Personal Toll of Family Caregiving
$190,000,000 is spent yearly on out-of-pocket caregiving expenses.

Friday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: 5 reasons to lease – not buy – your electric car. Also in the news: CD early withdrawal penalties can cost you, how to read between the lines of Airbnb listings, and nearly 100,000 members of Generation Z already own a home.

5 Reasons to Lease — Not Buy — Your Electric Car
Keeping up with the evolution.

CD Early Withdrawal Penalties Can Cost You
How to avoid getting hurt.

How to Read Between the Lines of Airbnb Listings
Spotting the red flags.

Nearly 100,000 members of Generation Z own a home (they’re 23 and younger)
Their average mortgage balance is $140,000.