Dear Liz: My mother died last year. I discovered she had two old life insurance policies written by companies that no longer exist. How can I determine which modern insurance company is responsible for policies written by these old companies? How can I submit a claim? My mother was born in 1932. The first policy began […]
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This week’s money news
This week’s top story: 6 milestones and how they might change your life insurance needs. In other news: First EV road trip, weekly mortgage rates, and how to land the financial helicopter to support grown kids. 6 Milestones and How They Might Change Your Life Insurance Needs Getting married, welcoming kids and starting a business are […]
Are two savings accounts safer than one?
Dear Liz: My wife and I will be receiving a sizable amount of money. We want to put the money into a high-yield joint savings account. We don’t want to exceed the FDIC protection. Can we each open joint accounts at the same bank and have each account covered up to the $250,000 limit? Answer: That’s not […]
Is your ex alive? It matters when calculating these Social Security benefits
Dear Liz: You say that people can receive divorced survivor benefits while remarried but only if they married at 60 or later. I am 75 and getting married soon. I hoped to continue to receive my deceased ex-husband’s benefits. We were married for 30 years. When I finally connected with an actual live person in the […]
An aging father chafes at a daughter’s request for financial safeguards
Dear Liz: I am 88. My wife who is 81 has Alzheimer’s but not so bad that we cannot do most things together as before. My younger daughter, an attorney, wants me to sign an agreement that will make it a little more problematic for me to access my substantial financial accounts. She thinks somehow I […]
This week’s money news
This week’s top story: Things are getting better for home buyers. In other news: Full FAFSA launch by Dec. 1, all the fuss about tips and taxes, and weekly mortgage rates cool. Buying a House in 2024: What’s Changed? Things are (finally) getting better for home buyers. Here’s your playbook to navigate the remainder of an unpredictable […]