Ask Liz Weston

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Liz Weston

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: Family travel insurance might save your 2022 trip budget. Also in the news: The case for flying on low-demand days, how an attorney in Seattle got their student loans forgiven, and a look at the antiquated dower rights.

Family Travel Insurance Might Save Your 2022 Trip Budget
Some travel insurance covers children and other travel companions.

The Case for Flying on Low-Demand Days
The rise of remote work hasn’t had much of an impact on when people fly, it turns out.

How I Got My Student Loans Forgiven: Attorney in Seattle
A fraught program gets temporary improvements.

‘Dower Rights’ Still Exist?
This antiquated law is a reminder to triple-check how marriage affects your property ownership.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money new

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Today’s top story: Should you use a reverse mortgage to pay for long-term care? Also in the news: A new episode of the Smart Money podcast on giving family and friends money, a look at the Metro affordability report for first-time buyers, and the easiest ways to make your cell phone bill cheaper.

Should You Use a Reverse Mortgage to Pay for Long-Term Care?
A reverse mortgage can provide a crucial stream of income to pay for long-term care costs, but there are some limitations.

Smart Money Podcast: Giving Family Money, and What’s Happening With Inflation
This week’s episode starts with a discussion about when and how to give your family and friends money.

First-Time Home Buyer Metro Affordability Report – Q1 2022
Two years into the pandemic-era housing market, affordability falls again, making a bleak first quarter for first-time home buyers in 2022.

The Easiest Ways to Make Your Cell Phone Bill Cheaper
Your attention span is already prisoner to your phone; your wallet doesn’t have to be, too.

Monday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: How to make sure you’re insured for summer activities. Also in the news: Alternatives to business loans, making a home inventory for insurance claims, and the best credit cards for people with bad credit.

How to Make Sure You’re Insured for Summer Activities
Having the right insurance coverage can help you enjoy summer fun with peace of mind.

Can’t Get a Business Loan? Consider These Alternatives
Consider online lenders, business grants or raising equity if you can’t get a business loan from a traditional lender.

How to Make a Home Inventory for Insurance Claims
Doing an inventory while your home is safe and sound makes it easier to file insurance claims later.

These Are the Best Credit Cards for People With Bad Credit
If you have bad credit (or no credit history), here are the best options for you.

Q&A: How to start an IRA for your new Gen Z college graduate

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Dear Liz: My son is about to graduate from college and, as a present, I want to use $10,000 to start an IRA for him. But which is better? A Roth or a standard IRA?

Answer: Congratulations to both of you! Starting a retirement account is a great idea, but you should be aware of the numerous rules that limit who can contribute and how much.

Let’s start with the annual contribution limit, which for 2022 is $6,000 for people under 50. (People 50 and older can make an additional $1,000 “catch up” contribution.) Also, your son needs to have earned income — such as wages, salary or self-employment income — that is at least equal to the size of the contribution you want to make. In other words, he needs to earn $6,000 for you to contribute $6,000. If he’s about to start a full-time job, that probably won’t be an issue, but if he’s not working, or working only part time before starting graduate school, that might further limit how much you can contribute.

For all of those reasons, a Roth IRA contribution may be best. He won’t get an upfront tax deduction but withdrawals in retirement will be tax free. He can withdraw Roth contributions at any time without taxes or penalties, so the Roth can serve as a de facto emergency fund. Obviously, it’s better to leave the money alone to grow, but having access to the cash could be helpful while he builds a regular emergency fund.

Q&A: How to get tax return copies

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Dear Liz: Isn’t it the duty of an accountant to send their client the final tax forms that they filed with the IRS and the state? My accountant keeps “forgetting” to do so, and I’ve called him twice to do this. I’m not sure if his constant “forgetfulness” is due to laziness or a health issue such as dementia. I suspect it might be the latter, as he never used to be this way in past years.

Is there another way to get a copy of my returns? I will obviously be looking for a new accountant.

Answer: Yes, you can request copies or transcripts of your returns from the IRS and your state tax agency.

Transcripts are free, and are available for the previous three years. Personally identifiable information such as your name, address and Social Security number will be hidden, but you’ll be able to see all the financial entries, such as your adjusted gross income, taxes paid and so on. You can request transcripts online at irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript, by phone at (800) 908-9946 or by mail using either Form 4506-T or Form 4506-T-EZ and using the IRS address listed on the form.

Copies of your actual tax returns will cost you $43 each. You can request those by filling out and mailing Form 4506.

Your state will have similar procedures, which you can find by searching for your state’s name and the phrase “How do I get a copy of my state tax return?”

Q&A: Why credit scores drop suddenly

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Dear Liz: The same thing happened to me as to the person in your column whose credit score dropped more than 100 points after large purchases. We bought plane tickets for international travel and our credit score took a significant but temporary hit. This also happened when we made a charitable gift by credit card. After an appeal, I was able to get the credit limit on the credit card we use the most increased, and I’m waiting to see if that prevents the credit score from dropping going forward. I did check our credit reports and there were no missed payments or other problems.

Answer: Credit scores can drop when you use a lot of your available credit, but a 100-plus-point drop is unusual and should be investigated. You’re smart to look for ways to mitigate the damage from high usage. Asking to have credit limits increased is one way; another is making a payment before the statement closing date. The balance on that closing date is what’s generally reported to the credit bureaus, and thus what’s factored into your scores. Just remember to pay off any remaining balance before the due date.