Ask Liz Weston

Get smart with your money

Liz Weston

Friday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: 3 keys to budgeting as a freelancer. Also in the news: What you can learn about saving from a former big spender, why small business owners should offer pension plans, and what you need to know about credit cards when you travel abroad.

3 Keys to Budgeting as a Freelancer
Keeping a steady budget without steady income.

What You Can Learn About Saving From a Former Big Spender
Tips on what NOT to do.

Why Small-Business Owners Should Offer Pension Plans
Battling the retirement savings crisis.

What you need to know about credit cards when you travel abroad
Watch out for fees.

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: The 4 perks of Solo 401(k) for business owners and freelancers. Also in the news: How to monitor your credit in exactly 250 words, how to eat healthy on a budget, and the best places to retire in 2017.

4 Perks of Solo 401(k) for Business Owners and Freelancers
Retirement savings for sole employees.

How to Monitor Credit in (Exactly) 250 Words
Short and sweet.

How to Eat Healthy on a Budget
You don’t have to live on ramen.

The Best Places To Retire In 2017
Where would you like to go?

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: 3 questions to answer before taking out student loans. Also in the news: Debt collection goes high-tech, 7 alternative ways to pay your taxes, and credit card rental insurance doesn’t cover as much as you think.

3 Questions to Answer Before Taking Out Student Loans
Important things to consider.

From Stone Age to Drone Age: Debt Collection Goes High-Tech
Send in the drones!

7 Alternative Ways to Pay Your Taxes
Thinking outside the box.

Credit Card Car Rental Insurance Doesn’t Cover as Much as You Think
Reading the fine print.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: Finding your tax refund. Also in the news: How long you should keep your tax records, when to pay for ‘free’ shipping, and 7 steps towards financial literacy for your kids.

Where’s My Tax Refund?
Tracking down your refund.

How Long Should You Keep Your Tax Records?
What to keep and what to toss.

When to Pay for ‘Free’ Shipping
When “free” is worth the cost.

7 Steps Toward Financial Literacy For Your Children
It’s never too early for them to learn.

Investment fees could leave you old and broke

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You want to save as much as possible for retirement. The financial services industry wants to make as much money off you as it can.

That thorny conflict is at the heart of the battle over what is known as the “fiduciary rule.” If implemented, it would require financial advisers to put clients’ best interests first when counseling them about retirement savings. In practice, it typically would prevent financial pros from steering you into a high-cost investment if similar low-cost choices are available.

The differences in fees — often fractions of a percent — may sound minuscule.

Over time, though, higher fees can dramatically reduce the amount of money that investors accumulate for retirement, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission and other investor watchdogs, and significantly increase the chances that savers will run out of money late in life.

In my latest for the Associated Press, how to save money for retirement without making the financial services industry even richer.