Get smart with your money
Benefits make up more than 30% of the typical job’s compensation, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics . But figuring out what your benefits are worth isn’t always easy. You may need to do a little digging to find how much your employer contributes toward health insurance, retirement plans and other perks. Some […]
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This week’s top story: Smart Money podcast on financial fears, and if you need life insurance or not. In other news: What makes a good store credit card, and how to avoid bad ones, tackling financial insecurity, and why stocks and bonds are both falling. Smart Money Podcast: Financial Fears, and Do You Need Life Insurance? […]
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Dear Liz: I have been keeping a credit card that I no longer use because I’m afraid that canceling it may reduce my credit score. I have had the card since 1983, and it shows on my credit report as my longest credit relationship. I have other credit cards that I use regularly. I no longer […]
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This week’s top story: Smart Money podcast on Black Friday, and how to get holiday travel deals. In other news: 4 ways investors can make the most of inflation, if closing a bank account affect your credit or not, and 3 inflation-savvy moves to make now. Smart Money Podcast: Black Friday Is Canceled, and How to […]
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Dear Liz: My spouse and I have added each other as authorized users on our credit cards. My spouse has more debt than I do. Does this impact my credit scores? Answer: Possibly. Credit scoring formulas look at how much available credit is being used on each account. If your spouse has higher balances than you but also higher […]
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Dear Liz: My traditional IRA contains both pre-tax and after-tax contributions. (Some years I was ineligible to deduct contributions because I was participating in an employer’s retirement program.) Now I am retired and am considering making Roth conversions from the traditional account. I admit I was a little careless about keeping track of the total after-tax […]
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Dear Liz: Now that interest rates on savings accounts have started to rise, I have a quick tip for you to share: Check the rate you’re getting on your accounts! I discovered my online bank changed its account structure a few years back, and legacy high-yield savings accountholders aren’t getting the recent increases. I was earning […]
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Any 401(k) can help you save for retirement. A great 401(k) allows you to save a whole lot more. The difference between a mediocre plan and a great one could translate into tens of thousands of dollars in future retirement money. Plus, a 401(k)’s quality can show how serious a company is about attracting and […]
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This week’s top story: Smart Money podcast on buy now, pay later loans and credit reports. In other news: What to do if your homebuying plan got scrapped this year, when the car market will return to normal, and 3 steps to lower the cost of your debt. Smart Money Podcast: Money Hot Takes, and Too […]
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