Get smart with your money
Holiday gatherings may present an opportunity to talk to your parents about important money issues, such as estate planning or long-term care. The need to discuss this stuff may feel particularly acute if you don’t see your folks often or these are the first holidays you’ll be together since the pandemic started. Tread carefully, though, because […]
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Today’s top story: The surprising change in airfares since last year. Also in the news: Smart Money Podcast on holiday shopping report and retirement plan options for self-employed people, and Fitbit Black Friday 2021 deals. The Surprising Change in Airfares Since Last Year Airfares dropped 4.6% in terms of unadjusted percent change between October 2020 […]
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Dear Liz: I just read your answer regarding the windfall elimination provision question. I receive a pension after having retired from law enforcement. I was fortunate to be able to retire at 46. Then I landed a great job with excellent pay. I expect to pay into Social Security for a total of 17 years and I’ve been […]
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Dear Liz: My brother passed away three years ago leaving no will. All of his bills have been paid. I am unable to transfer his stocks and retirement account to my name. I have repeatedly checked the unclaimed properties list to no avail. No probate was required because the estate was too small. Will you please […]
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Dear Liz: I need advice on choosing between a lump sum retirement benefit and a monthly payout till death (with a cost of living adjustment). The monthly payout option also includes health insurance benefits but the lump sum option does not. Answer: It’s hard to imagine a better option than a guaranteed, inflation-adjusted stream of income for […]
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Today’s top story: What you need to know about Medigap Plan C. Also in the news: 5 steps to weed out Instagram ad scams, and cell phone Black Friday 2021 deals. What Is Medigap Plan C? What You Need to Know Medigap Plan C is no longer available for new enrollees. But there are other […]
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Today’s top story: 3 Signs you’re ready to retire. Also in the news: 2022 Tax bracket, and buying budget tech. Reluctant to Retire? 3 Signs You’re Ready Some people do have a choice about when they retire, and yet they can’t quite bring themselves to quit working. Your Tax Bracket Just Changed for 2022 Federal tax […]
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Today’s top story: Prices are skyrocketing, and how to lessen the impact. Also in the news: How to talk to your parents about estate planning, air fryer Black Friday 2021 deals, and why travel insurance is a great holiday gift to yourself. Prices Are Skyrocketing: Here’s How to Lessen the Impact Inflation reached a 30-year high […]
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Today’s top story: Care about your credit score? Get strategic with card limits. Also in the news: Buy now, pay later traps, and what to know about bitcoin as it approaches $70,000. Care About Your Credit Score? Get Strategic With Card Limits Actively managing how much of your credit limits you are using can make […]
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Many people don’t have much choice about when they retire. Illness, job loss or caretaking responsibilities push them out of the labor force, ready or not. But some people have the opposite problem: They do have a choice, and yet they can’t quite bring themselves to quit working. In my latest for the Associated Press, […]
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