This week’s top story: Smart Money podcast on Black Friday, and how to get holiday travel deals. In other news: 4 ways investors can make the most of inflation, if closing a bank account affect your credit or not, and 3 inflation-savvy moves to make now. Smart Money Podcast: Black Friday Is Canceled, and How to […]
Recent Blog Posts
Q&A: A spouse’s debt, your credit score
Dear Liz: My spouse and I have added each other as authorized users on our credit cards. My spouse has more debt than I do. Does this impact my credit scores? Answer: Possibly. Credit scoring formulas look at how much available credit is being used on each account. If your spouse has higher balances than you but also higher […]
Q&A: Sorting out IRA taxes
Dear Liz: My traditional IRA contains both pre-tax and after-tax contributions. (Some years I was ineligible to deduct contributions because I was participating in an employer’s retirement program.) Now I am retired and am considering making Roth conversions from the traditional account. I admit I was a little careless about keeping track of the total after-tax […]
Q&A: Here’s a tip to take advantage of rising interest rates
Dear Liz: Now that interest rates on savings accounts have started to rise, I have a quick tip for you to share: Check the rate you’re getting on your accounts! I discovered my online bank changed its account structure a few years back, and legacy high-yield savings accountholders aren’t getting the recent increases. I was earning […]
How to spot a great 401(k)
Any 401(k) can help you save for retirement. A great 401(k) allows you to save a whole lot more. The difference between a mediocre plan and a great one could translate into tens of thousands of dollars in future retirement money. Plus, a 401(k)’s quality can show how serious a company is about attracting and […]
This week’s money news
This week’s top story: Smart Money podcast on buy now, pay later loans and credit reports. In other news: What to do if your homebuying plan got scrapped this year, when the car market will return to normal, and 3 steps to lower the cost of your debt. Smart Money Podcast: Money Hot Takes, and Too […]