Today’s top story: What to do if you can’t pay for insurance due to Coronavirus. Also in the news: 3 effective ways to get airlines and hotels to bend their rules, a new episode of the SmartMoney podcast on spring cleaning your finances, and what the CARES Act means for public service student loan forgiveness. […]
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Tuesday’s need-to-know money news
Today’s top story: What to know before accepting COVID-19 credit card relief. Also in the news: You can now get free weekly credit reports, how to get money to family and friends in a crisis, and what your small business should do with its Paycheck Protection Program loan. What to Know Before Accepting COVID-19 Credit […]
Is your financial adviser really helping you?
Stock market crashes don’t just test investors’ mettle. Abrupt downturns also can reveal what kind of financial adviser you have. Some people will discover, to their horror, that they’ve been dealing with outright crooks. Ponzi schemes are among the cons that fall apart when markets do, as investors try to pull their money out and […]
Monday’s need-to-know money news
Today’s top story: Cancel your travel credit card due to Coronavirus? Ask for a retention offer first. Also in the news: What to do when a family member or friend needs money, and before opening a new credit line, check for this restriction. Cancel Your Travel Credit Card Due to Coronavirus? Ask for a Retention […]
Q&A: Where’s my stimulus check?
Dear Liz: My wife and I are retired and don’t have enough income to file tax returns. How can we get our stimulus checks? Answer: If you get Social Security checks, your stimulus checks will be sent to you automatically, either via direct deposit if that’s how you get your benefits or paper check. If […]
Q&A: Here’s why taking money from retirement accounts to pay bills is dumb
Dear Liz: I do not qualify for a coronavirus hardship withdrawal, but I have debt on several credit cards with interest rates above 23%. In 2019, I paid nearly $2,500 in interest charges. I would like to remove $10,000 from my IRA and use it to pay off the debt. I would then put the […]