Ask Liz Weston

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Liz Weston

Q&A: Don’t make handwritten will changes

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Dear Liz: I have a question about wills. Since circumstances change over time, is it permissible to make “pen and ink” changes to a will? For example, can I cross out a beneficiary that no longer applies and date and initial the cross out?

Answer: Think about how easy it would be for someone else to alter your will with a pen and a reasonable facsimile of your initials. Then you’ll understand why states typically require people to be a little more deliberate about changing their estate documents. Even when handwritten changes are allowed, they’re usually not advisable. Any money you save by not seeing an attorney could be spent many times over in legal fees, since handwritten changes would be susceptible to challenges in court. Is that what you really want for your heirs?

Small alterations to estate plans can be handled with properly drafted and witnessed documents known as codicils. But you’re often better off creating a new document and revoking the old one, especially when changing beneficiaries.

This week’s money news

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This week’s top story: Mortgage rates will not fall in March. In other news: Rental housing prices 2024, why some millennials don’t want kids, and managing credit cards when you grew up in a cash-only household.

When Will Mortgage Rates Fall? Probably Not in March
Mortgage rates are expected to go down sometime in 2024, but the decline probably won’t start in March.

Will Rental Housing Prices Drop in 2024?
Rental inflation is slowing down, but prices are expected to stay elevated in 2024.

Why Don’t Some Millennials Want Kids? They Say It’s Too Expensive
A new NerdWallet survey finds that just 25% of millennials who don’t have kids plan to have them. A major reason why? The high cost of raising children.

Managing Credit Cards When You Grew Up in a Cash-Only Household
Debt-averse relatives may not understand your choices, but it’s OK to forge your own financial path.

Q&A: Is it possible to have too many credit cards?

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Dear Liz: I have accumulated too many credit cards, sometimes to get bonus frequent flier miles. The frequent flier miles cards all have annual fees. I always pay cards in full each month.

My credit score is 800-plus every month. I have heard that your credit score is dinged when you close credit accounts. Is that true and by how much? How do you recommend reducing the number of credit cards?

Answer: Yes, closing cards can hurt your credit scores. The “how much” question is impossible to predict and will depend on your credit situation as well as how you go about reducing your card portfolio.

Keep in mind that there is no such thing as “too many credit cards” as far as credit scoring formulas are concerned. As long as you pay your bills on time and use only a small portion of your available credit limits, you can have lots of cards and great scores.

However, monitoring a bunch of different cards can be overwhelming. You also don’t want to keep paying annual fees for cards that aren’t delivering sufficient benefits.

If the fees are your primary concern, identify the cards you want to close and ask the issuers if you can get a “product change” to a no-fee card. This typically won’t affect your scores because the account is simply being transferred rather than being closed and reopened.

If you need to thin the herd, be aware that credit scoring formulas are sensitive to credit utilization, or the amount of your available credit you’re using on each card and overall.

If you have multiple cards from the same issuer, ask if the credit limit from the card you’re closing can be added to one of your remaining cards. Another option is to close only your lowest-limit cards.

You won’t want to close any cards if you’ll be looking for a major loan, such as auto financing or a mortgage, in the next few months. Hold off until after you’ve got the loan.

Also try to use up or transfer any points or miles you’ve earned on the cards you plan to close because those rewards may disappear at closure.

Q&A: Determining a house’s value

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Dear Liz: I understand that as a widow, if I sell my house I get the stepped-up value from the year my husband died. Should I have gotten an appraisal at that time (26 years ago)? How do I find out what my home was worth then? We bought it in 1973 and he died in 1998.

Answer: In most states, half of a couple’s jointly owned property gets a new, favorable step-up in tax basis at a spouse’s death. In community property states such as California, both halves of the property may get that step-up.

A professional appraisal 26 years ago could have been helpful, although a good appraiser can do a retroactive assessment, said Jennifer Sawday, an estate planning attorney in Long Beach.

Before you hire an appraiser, though, hire a tax pro, Sawday said. The CPA or tax preparer will use the data to file your return, report your home sale and compute any capital gains taxes owed, so find out how they recommend obtaining it.

Q&A: Alternatives to paper checks

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Dear Liz: Because I am concerned about check fraud, I pay most of my bills online. However, I still need checks for paying my housekeeper, gardener, etc. I use a gel ink pen to deter fraud but was wondering if there is something else I should consider doing.

Answer: Checks you hand to people you know are probably less risky than those you send through the mail, but there may be better options.

Most Americans have accounts with at least one peer-to-peer payment app such as Venmo, Zelle or PayPal. These can be a secure and convenient way to pay people you know.

Be sure to create a strong, unique password for your account and to keep the apps updated. Whatever payment method you use — checks, online payments or peer-to-peer apps — continue to monitor your linked bank or credit card accounts so you can spot and quickly report any suspicious transactions.

This week’s money news

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This week’s top story: How to manage a retirement spending. In other news: The best time for high CD rates might be right now, the Credit Card Competition Act and credit unions, and what you can expect next if you got a SAVE student loan forgiveness email.

Retirement Spending Is a U-Shaped Curve. Here’s How to Maximize It
From defining your retirement goals to finessing your budget, here’s how you can manage a retirement where spending typically fluctuates over time.

The Best Time for High CD Rates Might Be Right Now
CD rates remain high but have started to dip. Consider if CDs fit your short-term savings goals.

Could the Credit Card Competition Act Impact Credit Unions?
The Credit Card Competition Act won’t directly impact most credit unions, but concerns over ripple effects exist.

Got a SAVE Student Loan Forgiveness Email? Here’s What Comes Next
If you’re among the 153,000 borrowers enrolled in SAVE who got debt cancellation emails, here’s what you can expect next.