Dear Liz: I retired in 2015 but have not started Social Security. My wife and I are living on a pension and savings. I read an article saying that taking early IRA withdrawals and holding off on Social Security can help minimize the so-called tax torpedo, which is a sharp rise and fall in marginal […]
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Q&A: This innocent oversight can torpedo your credit scores
Dear Liz: My wife just had a credit card closed due to late payments, and we need some advice. It was a mileage card that she stopped using, but in November she made a charge for $120. She forgot about the charge, and in December they added the annual $60 fee. We weren’t monitoring the […]
Friday’s need-to-know money news
Today’s top story: How to protect your finances and credit in tough times. Also in the news: Squash these 4 common tax-season stresses, how to weather a market downturn during or approaching retirement, and how to handle – and head off – a tax bill. How to Protect Your Finances and Credit in Tough Times […]
Thursday’s need-to-know money news
Today’s top story: Your kids don’t want your stuff. Also in the news: Don’t become a victim of Coronavirus shopping frenzy, what to do if the Coronavirus is affecting your finances, and why you shouldn’t get too excited about cheap gas. Your Kids Don’t Want Your Stuff But don’t take it personally. Don’t Become a […]
Wednesday’s need-to-know money news
Today’s top story: How mortgage refinancing could save you money even if your loan is new. Also in the news: Where to stash your savings when cash management account rates take a dive, how to stock up wisely, emergency or not, and what the “history” part of your credit score really measures. Mortgage Refinance Could […]
Your kids don’t want your stuff
Estate appraiser Julie Hall advises downsizing clients not to take it personally when their adult kids don’t want their furniture and other possessions. But when Hall asked her 23-year-old daughter what she might want from the four-bedroom family home, the younger woman mentioned just three items. “And I said, ‘Out of this whole house? Honey, […]