Dear Liz: My son just married. He and his wife are keeping totally separate finances, though he makes much more than she does. She is spending way more than she should on household items and services. Is this the new norm for relationships? What kind of professional do we contact that could help them with […]
Recent Blog Posts
Q&A: IRMAA is not your friend
Dear Liz: My wife and I retired in 2019 and ran into IRMAA — Medicare’s income-related monthly adjustment amount, which increased our monthly premiums. I thought I’d done such a good job budgeting for retirement but missed this. A lot of couples have their best income years at the end of their career and then […]
Q&A: Tax tips for hybrid owners
Dear Liz: Not a question, but a tip for your readers. I bought a plug-in hybrid in 2018. I couldn’t take advantage of the $7,500 federal tax credit because my income was too low to pay much in federal taxes. So I converted $30,000 of my IRA to a Roth IRA, which added that money […]
Friday’s need-to-know money news
Today’s top story: Haven’t filed a tax return lately? You can still get a refund. Also in the news: The ultimate travel tip for couples, a new tax form that may help simplify filing for seniors, and what Trump’s budget plan would mean for you student loan debt. Haven’t Filed a Tax Return Lately? You […]
Thursday’s need-to-know money news
Today’s top story: How to navigate your most dangerous decade. Also in the news: 5 questions to ask before you share a credit card, how to use your tax refund to polish your credit, and how to save on your cell phone bill without a family plan. How to Navigate Your Most Dangerous Decade Your […]
How to navigate your most dangerous decade
Losing a job is almost always traumatic. In your 50s, job loss can be devastating — and devastatingly common. More than half the workers who entered their 50s with stable, full-time jobs were laid off or pushed out at least once by age 65, according to an analysis of employment data from 1990 to 2016 […]