Thursday’s need-to-know money news

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: Why applying for a credit card can hurt your credit score. Also in the news: Things on your credit report that might scare off lenders, why couples don’t talk enough about retirement planning, and when is the right time to consider annuities.

Here’s Why Applying for a Credit Card Hurts Your Credit Score
You may want to think twice before applying.

5 Things on Your Credit Report That Might Scare a Lender
Things to watch out for.

Study: Couples Don’t Talk Enough About Retirement Plans
Huge mistake.

When to Consider Annuities If You Want to Safeguard Your Retirement
Making the right decision.

Your financial advisor: just a car salesman?

Retro Car Salesman C

Is this your financial advisor?

Wall Street is trying to prevent new rules that would require financial advisors to put your interests ahead of their own. Big brokerage firms have said they simply won’t serve the middle class if they can’t offer conflicted advice to them. Even more telling, MetLife Inc. CEO Steven Kandarin recently used a car salesman analogy that compares financial advisors to Ford and Chevy dealerships. Car salesman aren’t required to point out the better deal across the street, Kandarin asked, so why should financial advisors?

If you think the people advising you about your life savings should only be held to the standards of car salesmen, then do nothing. If you think they should be held to a higher standard, contact your Congressional representatives now:

http://www.usa.gov/Contact/US-Congress.shtml

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: Protecting yourself from identity theft. Also in the news: Unforeseen circumstances that could crush your retirement, what not to do when you pay off your mortgage, and the importance of an emergency fund.

Are You a Prime Target for Identity Theft?
How to protect yourself.

3 retirement-crushing unforeseen circumstancesWhen your retirement does go as planned.

Don’t Make This Mistake When You Pay Off Your Mortgage
It could end up costing you a lot of money.

1 in 3 Americans Does Not Have an Emergency Fund
Are you one of them?

Take Advantage of the “Direct Debit” Student Loan Discount
Every penny counts.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

downloadToday’s top story: How to cut the cord to your TV and save money. Also in the news: Apps to teach kids about personal finance, how to handle your credit card debt while you’re unemployed, and what happens to your debt if you get divorced.

How to watch TV for next to nothing
Cutting the cord can save you big bucks.

7 Apps to Teach Your Kids Personal Finance Skills
Trick them into learning!

How to Handle Credit Card Debt While You’re Unemployed
You cannot ignore it.

What Happens to My Debt If I Get a Divorce?
What does and doesn’t stay with you.

Calculate the Opportunity Cost of Your Spending Habit Over Time
Just how much is that daily muffin costing you?

Q&A: Retirement savings for freelancers

Dear Liz: I am a freelancer. I don’t consider myself a small-business owner, just someone who gets the work done on time and gets paid. I max out my IRA every year, but would like to save more in a tax-advantaged account.

I checked out SEP and SIMPLE IRAs, but they don’t have a Roth option. Am I eligible to start an Individual 401(k)? What administrative duties would be involved? I pay self-employment tax and my clients send me 1099s, not W2s.

Answer: You may not consider yourself a small-business owner, but that’s essentially what you are. And small-business owners should have tax pros to help them answer questions like this, since you have so many options.

As a sole proprietor, you should be able to set up a solo or individual 401(k) account. That would allow you to make either pre- or after-tax “employee” contributions of up to $18,000 in 2015 — plus an additional $6,000 if you’re 50 or older.

As your own employer, you can contribute an additional 25% of your net earnings (a contribution that would be deductible as a business expense). Your total contribution, employee plus employer, can’t exceed $53,000 in 2015.

Individual 401(k)s are somewhat more complicated to set up and administer than Simplified Employee Pensions (SEPs) or Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLEs). But many discount brokerages are eager to help you with the paperwork and have low or no set-up costs.

You have many other ways as a self-employed person to reduce your taxes, but the rules can be complicated. A certified public accountant or an enrolled agent can help advise you of your options. You can get referrals to tax professionals from the American Assn. of CPAs at http://www.aicpa.org and the National Assn. of Enrolled Agents at http://www.naea.org.

Q&A: Creating a will

Dear Liz: I’m a 58-year-old man. I want to make a will just in case something happens to me. I have about $500,000 in stock and cash. I have a life partner and her son. I would like to split my assets between her and my sister. Any suggestions on how to go about this?

Answer: Just in case you turn out not to be immortal, having a will is a very good idea. Otherwise, your assets would be distributed according to state law, which means your lady friend probably would get nothing.

You also may want to consider probate, the court process that typically follows death. While probate is fairly simple in most states, in others — including California — it can be expensive and slow, making a living trust a worthwhile option.

You can prepare a will or living trust using do-it-yourself online legal sites and software such as Quicken WillMaker. If your relatives are likely to contest your will or your situation is otherwise complicated, you should consult with an estate planning attorney for help.

You could provide additional protections and advantages to your partner by getting married. As your wife, she could receive spousal and survivor benefits from Social Security based on your work record. You both would have visitation rights if the other were hospitalized and be empowered to make financial and health decisions if the other were incapacitated.

Marriage can have many other legal, financial and tax benefits as well. If you opt to remain unmarried, please talk to an attorney about available ways you can protect each other’s rights.

Q&A: Social Security

Dear Liz: My husband decided we should take Social Security before age 65. I worked intermittently until 67. I do not get half of his Social Security as do many women who never worked. Can you explain why?

Answer: The reason is probably because your own benefit is greater than what you would get as a spouse.

When you apply for Social Security early and have a qualifying work record of your own, you are “deemed” to be applying for both your benefit and any spousal benefit to which you might be entitled. You’re essentially given the larger of the two.

Both potential benefits are reduced by the fact that you applied early, and you lost the option of receiving just a spousal benefit for a few years before switching to your own benefit.

This “claim now, claim more later” strategy could have substantially boosted your checks and the lifetime amounts you received from Social Security.

The decision to apply early can be a costly one and shouldn’t be made without fully understanding the consequences.

A recently published book, “Get What’s Yours: The Secrets to Maxing Out Your Social Security,” does a good job of explaining the options. Consulting a fee-only financial planner who is up to date on claiming strategies is a smart idea as well.

Monday’s need-to-know money news

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: Tax credits that can save you a lot of cash. Also in the news: How to make your kids smarter about money, why we overspend with our credit cards, and how to get through the most awkward money conversations.

5 Tax Credits That Can Save You a Boatload of Cash
Don’t miss out.

9 ways to make your kids smarter about money
It’s never too early to start.

How credit cards get us to overspend
Mind games.

The 9 most awkward money conversations and how to get through them
The conversations you can’t avoid.

Friday’s need-to-know money news

College SavingsToday’s top story: What new grads wish their parents had told them about money. Also in the news: How to maximize your savings, what to know before starting a small business, and how free trials can end up costing you big bucks.

5 Things New Grads Wish Their Parents Had Taught Them About Money
It’s not too late!

6 personal finance hacks to maximize your savings
Getting the most from your budget.

5 Things To Know Before Starting A Small Business
Research is key.

The Hidden Costs of Free Trials
Why companies are banking on your bad memory.

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

fraud, scam, theftToday’s top story: Habits that can help build your credit. Also in the news: Protecting your data from cyber crooks, the important steps of financial planning, and who’s digging through your credit report?

3 Smart Habits That Can Help Build Your Credit
Habits you should pick up.

Protect Your Data From Cyber Crooks
Tips on keeping your data safe.

The 7 Most Important Steps of Financial Planning
One at a time.

Who Can See My Credit Score or Credit Report?
Who’s digging through your stuff?

Most Americans Can’t Pass This Basic Social Security Quiz
Can you?