You know you should have a will, but you keep stalling. No one likes to think about dying or about someone else raising their children. But if you get no further than scribbling notes or thinking about which lawyer to hire, you risk dying “intestate” — without a will that could guide your loved ones, […]
Recent Blog Posts
Monday’s need-to-know money news
Today’s top story: How to rack up points and miles with everyday spending. Also in the news: What to buy and skip in October, how to catch up on your savings, and why consumer instant gratification can prove risky. How to Rack Up Points and Miles With Everyday Spending Piling up miles wherever you go. […]
Q&A: Should you pay off student loans or save for retirement? Both, and here’s why
Dear Liz: What are your recommendations for a recent dental school graduate, now practicing in California, who has about $250,000 of dental school loans to pay off but who also knows the importance of starting to save for retirement? Answer: If you’re the graduate, congratulations. Your debt load is obviously significant, but so is your […]
Q&A: Medicare has a prerequisite
Dear Liz: In a recent column, you mentioned that Medicare Part A is free, but that requires 40 quarters (or 10 years) of U.S. employment to qualify. There are, unfortunately, many of us with offshore employment who have found this out too late. Even if one has worked in a country with a tax treaty […]
Q&A: Benefits’ disappearance is no accident
Dear Liz: You recently indicated that restricted applications for Social Security spousal benefits are no longer available to people born on or after Jan. 2, 1954. Who is responsible for this change, and when was that enacted? Is there any way it can be reversed? Answer: Congress is unlikely to revive what was widely seen […]
Friday’s need-to-know money news
Today’s top story: How to get the most out of the Walmart Rewards Mastercard. Also in the news: A new checking account that searches for the best interest rate, the pros and cons of automatic bill payments, and how to protect yourself from Doordash’s latest data breach. How to Get the Most Out of the […]