Dear Liz: My wife and I are withdrawing an unusually large amount from our IRAs in order to make a 20% down payment on the construction of a new retirement home. This withdrawal will, unfortunately, bring our modified adjusted gross income above the limits that will cause increases in our Medicare premiums in 2026. Is there […]
Recent Blog Posts
Q&A: An ex-husband is delaying his Social Security benefits. Must she wait, too?
Dear Liz: I read your column about divorced spousal benefits for Social Security. I was divorced as of Jan. 1. My ex-husband will be 65 next year and wants to delay benefits until he’s 67. Must I wait to get spousal benefits until then because of his decision? I also will be 65 next year. We […]
This week’s money news
This week’s top story: The busiest travel days around Thanksgiving. In other news: 4 social media money trends worth knowing about, what happens when the Fed finally cuts rates, and weekly mortgage rates drop. The Busiest Travel Days Around Thanksgiving If you can avoid traveling the Sunday after Thanksgiving, you’ll avoid the worst of the Thanksgiving […]
Q&A: Calculating Social Security benefits when a lengthy marriage ends
Dear Liz: I was married for 18 years before filing for a divorce. I am 71 and my husband is 76 and still working full time. He waited until he was 70 to collect his Social Security. Social Security told me to wait to file until he did to collect the maximum amount. I did, […]
Q&A: Health savings accounts offer big tax benefits. The trick is knowing when to use the funds
Dear Liz: My retirement account covers all my expenses, including medical. I also have $60,000 in a health savings account that is invested in a mutual fund. I’m struggling with how to use that. I could use it for all current medical costs, or just for unexpected big ones. Or I could keep the HSA as […]
This week’s money news
This week’s top story: 3 side gigs for full-time working moms. In other news: Two key student debt relief programs expire Sept. 30, weekly mortgage rates, how to score a low personal loan rate in 2024. 3 Side Gigs for Full-Time Working Moms Four moms share side gigs that are flexible and provide solid sources of […]