This week’s money news

This week’s top story: Smart Money podcast on crypto crash, and growing money fast. In other news: Timeline, fallout and what investors should know about FTX crash, the new reality of a $700 monthly car payment, and 5 key numbers to know about CDs.

Smart Money Podcast: Crypto Crash, and Growing Money Fast
This week’s episode starts with an explainer on the collapse of the FTX crypto exchange.

FTX Crash: Timeline, Fallout and What Investors Should Know
Crypto exchange FTX crashed this week, tanking major tokens in its wake. Here’s what it means for U.S. investors.

The New Reality: A $700 Monthly Car Payment
Monthly car payments continue to climb, thanks to rising interest rates and record-high car prices.

Want 4% on Your Savings? 5 Key Numbers to Know About CDs
The best CD rates are stellar right now. But consider CD terms, penalties and minimums too.

Monday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: 4 tax triggers new investors need to know about. Also in the news: A new episode of the SmartMoney podcast on identity theft and financial stability, how to compare Medicare Advantage plans, and how to save your finances by avoiding these common mistakes.

4 Tax Triggers New Investors Need to Know About
Advice from the tax pros.

Smart Money Podcast: Financial Stability and Identity Theft
Creating financial stability in an unstable world.

Medicare Advantage Plans: How to Compare
Medicare Advantage Plans are an alternative to Original Medicare, offered by private insurers. Here’s how to shop.

Save Your Finances by Avoiding These Common Mistakes
Some errors are more costly than others.

Monday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: If doing less means saving more, try these 5 money moves. Also in the news: A new episode of the SmartMoney podcast on 401(k)s and struggling renters, how to diversify investing, and refinance your mortgage now to avoid a new fee.

If Doing Less Means Saving More, Try These 5 Money Moves
If the economic effects of the pandemic have cut your spending, you may have extra savings. Here’s what to do with them.

Smart Money Podcast: Renters Are Struggling, and What to Do With an Old 401(k)
Renters are

How to Diversify Investing in Stocks, Bonds and a Bit Beyond
Looking at alternative investments.

Refinance Your Mortgage Now to Avoid a New Fee
The new fee begins Dec. 1st.

Friday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: How to increase your chances of credit card approval. Also in the news: How to transition from work-at-home novice to pro, why the weak dollar is good for your investments, and why champagne sales have gone flat.

How to Increase Your Chances of Credit Card Approval
Boost your odds by focusing on your credit scores.

Transition From Work-at-Home Novice to Pro
A check-in can help you get productivity, health and balance dialed in for the long run.

Why the Weak Dollar Is Good for Your Investments
The pandemic and low interest rates have weakened the dollar.

Champagne sales flattened by social distancing amid global pandemic
Not much to celebrate.

Friday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: Financial lessons we’ve learned while staying at home. Also in the news: 6 ways your investments can fund racial justice, how to organize important documents simply and safely, and see if you qualify for public service loan forgiveness with this tool.

Financial Lessons We’ve Learned While Staying at Home
Emergency funds are critical.

6 Ways Your Investments Can Fund Racial Justice
Putting your portfolio to work.

How to organize important documents simply and safely
What to keep and for how long.

See if You Qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness With This Tool
The criteria is strict.

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: Some taxpayers face a desperate wait for refunds. Also in the news: Are variable rate student loans worth the risk, 6 ways your investments can fund racial justice, and why your federal student loan servicer may be changing.

Some taxpayers face a desperate wait for refunds
IRS delays are hurting struggling families.

Even Near 1%, Are Variable Rate Student Loans Worth the Risk?
Your rate could change dramatically in the future.

6 Ways Your Investments Can Fund Racial Justice
Money makes change sustainable.

Your Federal Student Loan Servicer May Be Changing
Say goodbye to NelNet.

Monday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: 6 do’s and don’ts when saving money during a crisis. Also in the news: Cash accounts and apps to buddy up with your investments, a new episode of the SmartMoney podcast on preparing your money for a recession, and the relief period on your federally backed mortgage was just extended.

6 Do’s and Don’ts When Saving Money During a Crisis
Saving may be harder, but it’s worth it.

Cash Accounts and Apps to Buddy Up With Your Investments
Investing at your fingertips.

SmartMoney Podcast: Prepping Your Money for a Recession, What to Do with a $10,000 Inheritance
Preparing your money for the tough times ahead.

The Relief Period on Your Federally Backed Mortgage Just Got Extended
You now have until August 31st.

Q&A: Strategies for overcoming a spouse’s bad investment decisions

Dear Liz: I tell people we lost a huge chunk of money in the Great Recession, but it wasn’t the downturn that did us in. My husband made some incredibly poor choices. I’m embarrassed to admit that he absolutely refused to listen to me and stop the financial self-destruction until I grew a backbone. I told him I’d divorce him unless he stopped. He has mended his ways and we’re still together (which is really for the best; we’ve been married almost 47 years).

He’s now being very transparent and prudent about investing, but we’re still looking at an underfunded retirement and I’d like to maximize what we have. We’re both 71 and still working (we’re self employed). Our home is worth about $800,000 and we owe $160,000. We have a rental nearby with about $100,000 in equity that pays for itself, but there’s no extra income from it. We have $210,000 in investments and $25,000 in savings with no debt.

I think more real estate would be a good investment vehicle for us, but we’d have to cash out some of our limited portfolio in order to purchase more. So instead, I make an extra principal payment equal to half the regular mortgage payment on each of the properties each month. I’m not sure if that’s the wisest thing to do, but I figure it’s still investing in real estate and will help us when we finally retire, sell and downsize.

Answer: Right now, the vast majority of your wealth is tied up in two properties in the same geographic area. A financial planner would want you to diversify, not double down by putting even more money into real estate.

And a fee-only financial planner is what you need to help you map out your future while easing the investment reins out of your husband’s hands. As we get older, we’re more vulnerable to fraud, exploitation and just plain bad choices. Your husband may have been scared straight for now, but he easily could make future decisions that could again imperil your finances. That’s especially true if his prior behavior was related to a gambling addiction. Not all problem gamblers choose casinos or horse tracks; some are day traders.

Given all that, you may want to consider purchasing a single premium immediate annuity when you retire. These annuities offer a guaranteed stream of income for life, in exchange for a lump sum. This would be income that can’t be lost to stock market downturns, real estate recessions, bad investments or fraud.

That’s something to discuss with your planner, along with ways you can use your businesses to maximize your retirement savings. (The self employed have many options, including a basic Simplified Employee Pension or SEP, solo 401(k) plans and traditional defined benefit pension plans.)

You can get referrals to fee-only planners at the National Assn. of Personal Financial Advisors, the XY Planning Network, the Alliance of Comprehensive Planners and the Garrett Planning Network.

Q&A: Can this marriage’s finances be saved?

Dear Liz: I am 64 and my husband is 63. I retired five years ago after a 30-year professional career. My husband is an executive and plans to work until 70. We own two homes and one is a rental property. Both our boys are successfully launched. Currently, 67% of our retirement money is in stocks and stock index funds. The rest is cash and IRAs or 401(k)s. I am working on re-allocating that 67% to safer investments, but our two investment advisors don’t even agree on what that would look like. And my husband does not want to leave potential stock market gains. Help! I think it is time to switch to more conservative investments. What do you think?

Answer: Many financial planners would say you should only take as much risk as required to in order to reach your goals. Exactly what that looks like depends on how much you’ve saved, how much you spend and how much guaranteed income you expect to receive from Social Security, pensions and annuities, among other factors.

Most people need a hefty exposure to stocks in retirement to get the returns they’ll need to beat inflation, but whether that proportion is 30% or 60% depends on their individual circumstances. Your current allocation could be fine if your basic expenses are entirely covered by guaranteed sources (Social Security, pensions, annuities) and you want to leave a substantial legacy for your sons. Or you could be way overexposed to stocks and vulnerable to a downturn if you’ll need that money for living expenses soon.

Your IRAs and 401(k)s are not investments, by the way. They’re tax-deferred buckets to hold investments. How that money is allocated among stocks, bonds and cash matters as much as how your other investments are allocated and should be included when calculating how much of your portfolio should be in stocks.

If neither of your investment advisors is a certified financial planner, consider seeking one out to create a comprehensive financial plan for you and your husband. The plan should consider all aspects of your finances and give you a road map for investing and tapping your retirement savings. You can find fee-only financial advisors through the National Assn. of Personal Financial Advisors, the XY Planning Network, the Alliance of Comprehensive Planners and the Garrett Planning Network.

Friday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: Make renting work for your financial goals. Also in the news: Why this investment account is becoming more popular, what millennials get wrong about Social Security, and the common money regimen that can backfire and leave you worse off.

Make Renting Work for Your Financial Goals
Rent reporting can boost your credit score.

Why This Investment Account Is Becoming More Popular
Revisiting the brokerage account.

What Millennials Get Wrong About Social Security
Costly myths.

The common money regimen that can actually backfire and leave you worse off
When dieting doesn’t work.