Thursday’s need-to-know money news

scamToday’s top story: Last-minute tax filers need to watch out for an Obamacare scam. Also in the news: Paying to check your credit, how to delay taking Social Security, and retirement planning tips for women.

Last-Minute Tax Filers: Beware of This Obamacare Scam
Scammers are taking advantage of Obamacare tax penalties.

Should I Pay To Check My Credit Score?
The pros and cons of free credit reports.

3 Ways to Delay Taking Social Security
A delay could be financially advantageous.

Key Retirement Concerns And 7 Planning Tips For Women
What women need to know to prepare.

Monday’s need-to-know money news

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: How to make saving for retirement less miserable. Also in the news: The best type of financial plan, refinancing your student loans, and four ways to cut the cost of life insurance.

How to Take the Misery Out of Saving for Retirement
It doesn’t have to be painful.

The Best Financial Plan is the One That Motivates You to Take Action
Motivation could be the key to success.

How to Decide If You Should Refinance Your Student Loans
Navigating the murky waters of refinancing.

4 Ways to Cut the Cost of Life Insurance
Don’t pay more than you have to.

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: Big changes are coming to your FICO score. Also in the news: Lessons learned from selling a house, building a financial dashboard, and how much you should really set aside for retirement.

New FICO Score Factors in Utilities & How Often You Move
Changes are coming to your credit score.

Lessons Learned from Selling My First House
How to get through the selling process unscathed.

How to Build a Financial Dashboard
Putting all of your financial goals in one place.

How Much Should You Really Set Aside for Retirement?
Finding your magic number.

Monday’s need-to-know money news

bankruptcy_formToday’s top story: How to decide between debt consolidation or bankruptcy. Also in the news: Apps that can help you save money right now, how to create an income plan from your retirement savings, and how to protect yourself against unemployment.

Debt Consolidation Vs. Bankruptcy: Which Should You Choose?
How to make a crucial decision.

These 7 apps can help you save money right away
It’s like having a bank right in your pocket.

Creating an income plan from your savings
Determining what you need to live on.

10 Steps to Protect Yourself Against an Unexpected Job Loss
Preparing for the unexpected.

Q&A: Saving for retirement

Dear Liz: After many years of unemployment, I finally got a full-time position. It is a state job with a pension. How much do I need to save for retirement? Can I focus on paying off debt and saving for college, and trust I will be OK in retirement?

Answer: Your long stint of unemployment should have taught you that no job, and no plan for your life, is guaranteed.

You may have to work for the state for years to become “vested” in the plan, or eligible for a retirement check. In order to actually retire, you typically have to stay employed by the state for a decade or more. Even then, your check in retirement may not replace a big chunk of your salary. Traditional defined benefit pensions tend to offer the highest benefits to those who work for the system for decades.

A lot can happen while you’re waiting for your pension to build. You could get fired or laid off or suffer a disability that limits your ability to work. The pension plan itself could change.

If your employer doesn’t pay into the Social Security system, that adds another layer of uncertainty to your future. You could wind up without a pension, or only a small pension, and less Social Security than you might have had with a job that did pay Social Security taxes.

That’s why it’s essential to save for retirement even with the prospect of a good pension. You may be offered a tax-deferred workplace plan, or you can save on your own through IRAs or taxable accounts.

Monday’s need-to-know money news

1403399192000-retire-workToday’s top story: Tips on cutting your tax bill. Also in the news: How to get a retirement match from the IRS, money-management tips for the self-employed, and what you need to consider before making a risky investment.

7 Ways to Cut Your Tax Bill
Keep more of your hard-earned money.

Get a $1,000 Retirement Match From the IRS
Introducing the Saver’s Credit.

9 money-managing steps every self-employed person should take
Tips for the 1099ers.

The Factors to Consider Before Making a Risky Investment
Look before you leap.

Q&A: Rolling traditional IRA to a 403(b)

Dear Liz: My husband and I both have employer-sponsored 403(b) retirement plans. We each also have a Roth IRA, and I have a traditional IRA that I started in the 1980s before I started work with my current employer. I do not actively contribute to this traditional IRA as I am contributing the maximum amount allowed into both my Roth IRA and my 403(b) plan. My husband is also maxing out on his Roth and 403(b). We are both in our 50s. Should I contribute anything into my traditional IRA? Should I see if I can roll it into my 403(b)? Or roll it into my Roth? Our adjusted gross income is high enough where I would not be able to take the deduction if I did start contributing. Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Answer: If you can’t get a tax deduction for your contributions, then putting the money in a Roth IRA is usually the better option — assuming, of course, that your income is under the Roth limits (which it sounds like it is). Nondeductible contributions reduce the income taxes owed on any withdrawals from a traditional IRA, but withdrawals from a Roth can be entirely tax-free.

If you have a good, low-cost 403(b), rolling your traditional IRA into it could be a good choice. It would be one less account for you to have to monitor and coordinate with your other savings.

You won’t be able to roll your traditional IRA into a Roth without triggering a (possibly hefty) tax bill. The older you are, the harder it is to make a good argumen

Q&A: Social Security solvency

Dear Liz: Can you tell us what the status is of the Social Security system? Will the money that I and my employers have paid into the system be there for me when I need it in 15 or 20 years?

Answer: The money you pay into the system provides benefits for current retirees. When you’re retired, other workers will provide the money for your benefits. It isn’t a retirement plan where you contribute money that you later withdraw. It’s an insurance fund to protect you against poverty in old age.

The Social Security system isn’t about to disappear. The depletion of its trust funds is expected in 2033, but that doesn’t mean Social Security will go out of business. The system will continue to receive enough in payroll taxes from current workers to pay 77% of promised benefits. So even if Congress doesn’t get its act together to make necessary and sensible reforms, you’ll still get a check. If Congress does get its act together, the reforms probably will affect younger workers more than those close to retirement.

For more on how Social Security works and its benefits, read “Get What’s Yours: The Secrets to Maxing Out Your Social Security” by Laurence Kotlikoff, Philip Moeller and Paul Solman.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

o-CREDIT-REPORT-facebookToday’s top story: Changes to the credit report dispute process are on the way. Also in the news: What to do with your tax refund, things you should consider as you approach retirement, and the biggest tax law changes you need to know about.

Your Biggest Credit Report Complaint May Be Getting Fixed
Changes in the dispute process are on the way.

What to Do With Your Tax Refund
Suggestions other than an Apple Watch.

7 Items for Your To-Do List in the Year You Retire
Things to consider as you approach the finish line.

The Biggest Tax Law Changes You Need to Know About This Year
April 15th is just around the corner.

Q&A: Balancing savings vehicles and tax benefits

Dear Liz: I’m 26 and make $45,000 per year. I currently have about $60,000 saved with no debt. Roughly half of my assets are in retirement accounts, and the other half are in non-retirement accounts. I strive to save 30% of my income (about 15% in pre-tax retirement accounts and 15% in taxable accounts). I hope that my savings habits will provide me the option to retire early. But I am concerned that I am locking up too much of my money in retirement accounts and that a couple decades down the road, I will not be able to access my money when I would like to. How should I balance various savings vehicles and tax benefits, so that I have most options down the road?

Answer: Your savings habits are admirable, but you shouldn’t worry too much about “locking up” your money. There are a number of ways to tap retirement funds if you really need the cash. Ideally, you’d leave the money alone to grow tax-deferred until you’re ready to retire, but you’re not required to do so.

One way to save for retirement with plenty of flexibility is to fund a Roth IRA each year. You don’t get a tax deduction upfront, but you can withdraw your contributions at any time without penalty. If you don’t tap the money until you’re 59 1/2 or older, your contributions and your earnings are tax free if you’ve had the account at least five years. Another advantage of a Roth is that you’re not required to start distributions after age 70 1/2, as you are with other retirement accounts.