Amtrak’s “buy one, get one” spring sale got me started. My teenage daughter and I had used a similar two-for-one deal last year to take an overnight train trip from Los Angeles to Portland, Oregon. This year, she wanted to use her spring break to check out colleges in Chicago as well as the Pacific […]
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Tuesday’s need-to-know money news
Today’s top story: 9 money resolutions and tips for 2020 from our experts. Also in the news: How one woman paid off nearly $125,000 of debt in nine years, how to pay off Parent PLUS loans faster, and why the IRS wants you to do your taxes early. 9 Money Resolutions (and Tips) for 2020 […]
Monday’s need-to-know money news
Today’s top story: Is chasing the highest savings rate worth it? In other news: A new tax form that may help simplify things for seniors, a new episode of the SmartMoney podcast, and 5 things you’ll wish you knew before you retired. Is Chasing the Highest Savings Rate Worth It? Breaking down the pros and […]
Q&A: Required distributions and charity
Dear Liz: In a recent column, you mentioned that after age 70½, one can donate up to $100,000 to a charity directly from an IRA. Can one still take that as a charitable donation on income tax forms? If I have a required minimum distribution of $10,000, but make a $10,000 donation to a charity, […]
Q&A: Retirement plans by the numbers
Dear Liz: At the moment I contribute to a 403(b) retirement plan at work. I have another 403(b) with a former employer, but haven’t contributed to it since I changed jobs several years ago. Should I contribute to both rather than just one? Also, my current employer offers a deferred compensation plan, but they don’t […]
Q&A: Something to leave out of your disaster kit: Original documents
Dear Liz: My wife and I are having a disagreement regarding documentation for our disaster recovery kit. She wants to put in hard copies of drivers’ licenses, credit cards, financial records, including bank and equity accounts. I think that all we need are account numbers, because the financial institutions will hold actual documentation in safer […]