Dear Liz: I’m way behind on retirement funds. I did get pension funds from my employer after 25 years of service but used a large portion to pay debt that was crushing me. I’m widowed, age 62 and work full time as a nurse. I rent my place. How do I catch up? I have $200,000 […]
Recent Blog Posts
Q&A: The fine print on deducting medical expenses
Dear Liz: I take $5,000 per month out of my brokerage account (and the $1,400 in taxes when I withdraw the money) for my husband’s Alzheimer care facility where he now lives 24/7. Can I only claim that on my taxes under medical expenses if I itemize my deductions on my taxes? I don’t have any […]
Q&A: More on payable-on-death accounts
Dear Liz: You recently wrote about payable-on-death accounts. You wrote that one of the disadvantages to these accounts is that an estate’s executor might have to try to get money back from beneficiaries or pay expenses out of their own pocket if there wasn’t enough money left in the estate to pay the bills. I thought […]
This week’s money news
This week’s top story: What Trump and Harris have in store for your taxes. In other news: Credit card-bonus-friendly season is here, October mortgage outlook, and drawbacks to consider before getting metal credit card. What Trump and Harris Have in Store for Your Taxes Most, if not all, of the candidates’ tax proposals would need […]
Q&A: Beware of penalties that can come with delaying Medicare enrollment
Dear Liz: I have a high-deductible insurance plan from my employer and I contribute to a Health Savings Account. I understand people on Medicare can’t contribute to an HSA. If I’m still working at full retirement age, can I start my Social Security benefit but avoid enrolling in Medicare? Answer: No. Once you start Social Security, […]
Q&A: In a divorce, are Social Security benefits on the table?
Dear Liz: Twenty years ago, after 14 years of marriage, a friend divorced her husband. She says that as part of her divorce settlement, she signed a document agreeing not to collect divorced spousal benefits from Social Security. Is that even legal? She’s in her 60s and fears she can never retire because her own Social […]