Get smart with your money
Today’s top story: Why couples need their own slush fund. Also in the news: 5 signs it’s time to break up with your financial advisor, easy home touch-ups to bring in more buyers, and the dark reason so many millennials are miserable and broke. Why Couples Need Their Own Slush Funds Separate doesn’t have to […]
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Estate planning mistakes can be expensive to fix — that is, when they can be fixed at all. That’s the thought that haunts New York attorney Mari Galvin whether she’s creating an estate plan for a client or confronting the aftermath when people didn’t properly plan. “People think, ‘Oh, I have a simple life,’ but […]
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Today’s top story: More credit cards pile on rewards for mobile wallet spending. Also in the news: Dog-friendly designs attract home buyers and remodelers, new rules to help protect old Americans from financial fraud, and the reckless financial habit that will ruin your chances of ever finding love. More Credit Cards Pile on Rewards for […]
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Dear Liz: Two years ago I got out of prison after being there for nine years. I lost everything that I had. When I got out, my credit rating was 565. I recently bought a car and have made four payments so far. Can you tell me when I might have good credit again? Answer: […]
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Dear Liz: I am 79, in fairly good health and fortunately have almost $600,000 in my IRA account. My minimum required distribution is currently about $30,000 a year, which means my IRA funds will last until I am well over 100! I realize that I can pay a penalty and draw down some of the […]
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Dear Liz: You often mention that a financial planner should be “willing to sign a fiduciary oath to put your interests first.” Is there a form or formatted letter available to financial planners who are willing to sign said oath? Answer: There is. The Committee for the Fiduciary Standard, a group that promotes the idea […]
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Today’s top story: What you can learn from the tax hike on Super Bowl players. Also in the news: 3 tactics to tame your credit card debt worries, could Bitcoin be the next legendary investment bubble, and six mistakes people make when hiring a financial advisor. Super Bowl Players’ Tax Hike May Have a Lesson […]
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Today’s top story: What to do if the new tax law changes your paycheck. Also in the news: The smartest way to use gift cards, giving up your brick-and-mortar bank, and smart money moves for Black Americans in financial distress. What to Do If the New Tax Law Changes Your Paycheck What to look out […]
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Today’s top story: What a travel agent can do for you that a search engine can’t. Also in the news: How one couple paid off over $200,000 in debt, 6 ways to weed out shady schools, and why your credit score may not be as good as you think it is. What a Travel Agent […]
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Here’s an idea: Hand your teenagers hundreds of dollars in one lump sum and leave it up to them to manage the money for the next, say, six to 12 months. Anyone who’s ever had or been a teenager may quail at the thought, but experts say this approach actually can work much better than […]
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