You probably need life insurance if your death would cause financial hardship to someone else. If the only coverage you have is through your job, though, you may not have enough. In my latest for the Associated Press, find out why the pandemic has made buying life insurance somewhat easier and why it may be […]
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Tuesday’s need-to-know money news
Today’s top story: Calibrate your emergency fund to a crisis-prone world. Also in the news: How to give stock as a gift, what you need to know about Joe Biden’s student loan plan, and the pros and cons of Buy Now, Pay Later retail loans. Calibrate Your Emergency Fund to a Crisis-Prone World Financial advisors […]
Monday’s need-to-know money news
Today’s top story: How the pandemic disrupts holiday travel. Also in the news: A new episode of the Smart Money podcast on charitable giving and using your savings to pay student loans, how to insure an expensive present, and how to plan for the end of student loan forbearance. Change of Plans: How the Pandemic […]
Q&A: Tax consequences of giving versus bequeathing
Dear Liz: Someone who expects to be an executor recently wrote to you about a plan to distribute individual pieces of art to family members. Your response addressed the executor’s responsibility to determine the art’s worth before doing so. You also suggested having the parent designate what was to go to whom. What would the […]
Q&A: Windfall creates Medicare headache
Dear Liz: A couple of years ago, I was forced to receive a windfall by the sale of a company in which I held stock. Besides taking a huge tax hit, I just got my Social Security estimate for 2021 in which my Medicare bill went up by 47%. This year my income will go […]
Q&A: How to help your adult kids build their own credit
Dear Liz: My first house is paid for, and my oldest daughter and her husband are living there now. I added her name to my credit card, which is paid in full every month, but otherwise she hasn’t established any credit. I have been paying the utilities up until now, but they are going to […]