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Get smart with your money

Liz Weston

Monday’s need-to-know money news

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Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: The most common reasons people visit financial planners. Also in the news: Money lessons to learn by age 50, when you should use a credit card, and how to get your credit score above 800.

4 Common Reasons People Go to Financial Planners
Help with life’s major events.

3 Essential Money Lessons You Need to Know by Age 50
Never stop learning.

When to use a credit card and when to leave it in your wallet
The pros and cons of paying with credit.

5 Ways to Get Your Credit Score Above 800
Reaching the magic number.

Friday’s need-to-know money news

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Medical expenses and bankruptcyToday’s top story: Should you pay your medical bills with a credit card? Also in the news: How to avoid grad school debt, getting your bank account back in black, and should colleges be held partly responsible for student loan defaults?

Should You Ever Pay Your Medical Bills With a Credit Card?
Putting co-pays on credit cards.

Grad-School Debt Is Growing. Here’s How To Avoid It
Will your graduate degree pay off in the long run?

Is Your Bank Account in the Red? Here’s What to Do Now
How to get back in black.

Should Colleges Pay for Student Loan Defaults?
Are they partly responsible?

5 Ways to Turn Inertia Into Financial Momentum
Time to get moving.

Four 529 college savings traps to avoid

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imagesPutting money into a 529 college savings plan is relatively easy. Getting it out can be tricky.

This may come as a surprise to the families who have piled money into accounts, hoping to reap tax and financial aid benefits.

“People get tripped up and don’t realize it until it’s too late,” said consultant Deborah Fox of Fox College Funding in San Diego.

Assets in the plans topped $224 billion at the end of 2014, according to research firm Strategic Insight, up from about $13 billion in 2001.

In my column for Reuters, I list the four 529 traps to avoid in order to get the most from your account.

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

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Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: The Ashley Madison hack has exposed the information of over 30 million people. Also in the news: Why young people need estate planning, how being lazy costs you money, and how that generous gift from your grandparents could affect your financial aid.

Life After Ashley Madison: How to Operate in a World Without Secrets
If you’ve ever used the site, your identity is now at risk.

Young People Need Estate Planning Too
You know what they say about death and taxes.

How being lazy costs you money
Snap out of it!

Know How College Savings Gifts Can Affect Your Financial Aid Eligibility
It’s all about the FAFSA.

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

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Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: Seven times you’ll wish you had a better credit score. Also in the news: Money habits to master before your 30’s, a back-to-school financial checklist, and why the economic instability in China could have an effect on your 401(k).

7 Times You’ll Wish You Had a Better Credit Score
From renting an apartment to setting up utilities.

9 Money Habits to Master Before Your 30’s
Learning to live within your means.

Your Back-to-School Financial Checklist
Getting ready for the new school year.

Why China Matters To Your 401(k) Profits
How China-centric is your portfolio?

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

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Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: What life is like when you default on your student loans. Also in the news: How to get the most from selling your old cell phone, five financial questions everyone needs to know the answers to, and how having no credit score can make life difficult.

3 Grads Reveal What It’s Really Like To Default On Student Loans
It’s not a pretty picture.

Selling Your Old Cellphone? Read This First
How to get the most out of your phone.

Here’s a Financial Literacy Test You Need to Pass
Can you answer these five questions?

5 Ways Having No Credit Score Can Hurt You
Not having a credit score can hurt as much as having a bad one.