Liz Weston

Friday’s need-to-know money news

May 1, 2015 By Liz Weston

Today’s top story: Balance transfer mistakes to avoid. Also in the news: What to do with an unexpected windfall, the savings cell phone carriers don’t want you to know about, and the eight loans to use for paying college tuition.

4 Balance Transfer Credit Card Mistakes
Making sure your transfers go smoothly.

Got a load of unexpected cash? Here’s what to do
What a great problem to have!

Savings Big Cell Carriers Don’t Want You to Know About
Contracts are becoming a thing of the past.

Use These 8 Loans To Pay For College in 2015-2016
Not all at once, of course.

Avoid “Keeping Up With the Frugals” to Improve Your Finances
It’s not a race to see who’s the cheapest.

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

April 29, 2015 By Liz Weston

Today’s top story: Time for some financial spring cleaning. Also in the news: Apps that can make your summer vacation less expensive, how to appeal a college financial aid offer, and how banks and credit unions protect your information.

Financial Spring Cleaning; 5 Steps To Get Your House In Order
Getting rid of the winter dust.

9 Helpful Apps, Sites That Make Summer Vacation Cheaper
More money for souvenirs!

How to Appeal College Financial Aid Offers
Making your case.

How Banks and Credit Unions Protect Your Personal Information
Protecting you from identity theft.

How to Make Sense of Your Paycheck
Deciphering your pay stub.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

April 28, 2015 By Liz Weston

Today’s top story: How to trick yourself into saving more money. Also in the news: States with the highest rate of identity theft complaints, the new face of consumer banking, and mistakes that could ruin your retirement.

4 Ways to Trick Yourself Into Saving More Money
You won’t even know you’re not spending it!

States with the most identity theft complaints
Do you live in one of them?

The Changing Face of Consumer Banking
Moving beyond the local branch.

5 Mistakes That Could Mess Up Your Retirement
And how to avoid them.

Monday’s need-to-know money news

April 27, 2015 By Liz Weston

Today’s top story: What you need to ask before hiring a financial adviser. Also in the news: How often you should check your credit report, the benefits of tracking all of your expenses, and retirement savings mythbusting.

20 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Financial Adviser
Making sure you hire the right one.

How Often Should I Check My Credit?
Finding the happy medium between ignoring it and obsessing over it.

Do You Track All of Your Expenses?
How tracking all of your expenses could help you stick to a budget.

10 Retirement Savings Myths That Won’t Go Away
Time for some mythbusting!

Q&A: Max contributions to 401(k)s

April 27, 2015 By Liz Weston

Dear Liz: I understand that anybody with a 401(k) can contribute up to $18,000. Does the amount you can contribute depend on your salary? Say you make $45,000. Therefore I would assume you could put in the full $18,000, or 40% of your salary. Am I wrong?

Answer: The maximum the IRS allows someone under 50 to contribute to a 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans and the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan is $18,000 in 2015. The additional “catch up” contribution limit for people 50 and older is $6,000.

The plans themselves, though, may impose lower limits. Even if the plan doesn’t cap contributions, your contributions may be limited if you’re considered a “highly compensated employee.” Last year, highly compensated employees were those who earned more than $115,000 or owned more than 5% of the business. If lower-earning employees don’t contribute enough to the plan, higher earners may not be able to put in as much as they’d like.