Dear Liz: I just read your column on HSA accounts. I was with you right up until “deathbed drawdown.” I sincerely hope that I am not thinking about my HSA when I am nearing death. I’d just rather pay the tax. Answer: That’s certainly your prerogative, but financial planners note that good record keeping can allow those with […]
Recent Blog Posts
Q&A: Spreading the wealth in health savings accounts
Dear Liz: I have a family health savings account with a qualifying high-deductible health insurance plan. The HSA will become my individual account when my youngest turns 26 and no longer qualifies for our insurance plan. My husband can’t contribute to an HSA because he’s on Medicare. I have read that if I die before him, […]
Q&A: A retirement catch-22 and health savings accounts
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 […]
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, […]