Dear Liz: I am 85 and have been living (unmarried) with a man since about 1977. We have always filed our tax returns separately and now we both collect Social Security. I have been told that when one of us passes, the other cannot collect the deceased one’s benefits. We have been thinking about getting […]
Recent Blog Posts
This week’s money news
This week’s top story: April mortgage rates will be stuck in neutral as inflation idles. In other news: Certain borrowers should consolidate their federal student loans by April 30 to get forgiveness, defaulting on a car loan, and what a Kroger-Albertsons merger could mean for grocery shoppers. April Mortgage Rates Will Be Stuck in Neutral as […]
Q&A: Great credit, but rejected for a credit card. What gives?
Dear Liz: I recently applied online for a credit card and was rejected, as my credit reports were frozen. I thawed them and applied again, only to be declined again. I received a letter stating that the rejection was because I have no installment credit history. I have no debt, credit scores in the mid-800s and […]
Q&A: The ins and outs of what counts for probate
Dear Liz: The value of our car, furniture and personal items is well below the $185,000 that currently triggers probate in California. We no longer own real estate. Am I correct that investment and bank accounts that have designated beneficiaries do not count toward the probate limit? Answer: Yes. (Your car doesn’t count either, by the way.) […]
Q&A: When should a second earner start taking social security?
Dear Liz: I am 64 and still working and earning decent pay. My wife is 61 and retired. I have been a high earner for most of my life while she was working and raising our family. I don’t plan to retire anytime soon. Is it a good idea for her to start taking Social Security […]
5 ways to calm financial stress
Financial stress is so common that certified financial planner Katie Lindquist says almost every client she has tells her they are feeling it. “They don’t know what they should be doing with their money, and they feel like they should know. They feel shame around their money habits, which is a huge driving force of […]