Get smart with your money
Dear Liz: I was trying to get my free credit report as you suggested in a recent column. I was asked to pay $1, which made me very uneasy. Why do they do this? Answer: The fact that you were asked to pay for your free credit report — even a nominal amount such as […]
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Dear Liz: I am a single woman 10 to 15 years away from retirement. My town home will be paid off next month. Does it make better financial sense to sell my town home to avoid significant monthly homeowners association fees and invest in a single-family home? Answer: It depends. Many single-family homes, particularly in […]
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Today’s top story: How to invest your 401(k). Also in the news: What you will really spend in retirement, how you’re unintentionally hurting your kids financially, and what to do if your home is damaged while in escrow. How to Invest Your 401(k) Choosing the right investments. How Much Will You Really Spend In Retirement? […]
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Millennial parents are far more likely than their predecessors to save for their children’s educations and far more of them want to pay the whole tab for college, according to a survey. Whether they will be able to do so is questionable, though, given the relatively small amounts most have saved so far. Seventy-four percent […]
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Today’s top story: How to avoid an identity theft double whammy. Also in the news: How much you need to save for retirement, signs you need help managing your money, and how to tell that your financial plan is working. How to Keep Scammers From Pulling an ID Theft Double Whammy Look out for phony […]
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We know Americans aren’t great at math, so there may be people taken in by a column headlined, “If you have savings in your 20s, you’re doing something wrong.” The post went viral, leading to counter-posts by virtually everyone in the known universe who understands how money works. Bottom line: You can’t ignore the power […]
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Today’s top story: Apps to help you manage your household finances. Also in the news: Why not saving enough for retirement in your 20’s could spell doom, what college students need to know about money, and the pros and cons of using balance transfers to pay down credit card debt. The Best Tools for Managing […]
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Today’s top story: How to take the fear out of budgeting. Also in the news: Finding everyday opportunities to teach kids money smarts, how to retire comfortably, and how to break your income addiction before you retire. 10 Ways to Take the Fear Out of Budgeting The payoff is worth the effort. Using Everyday Opportunities […]
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Today’s top story: How to shave years off of your mortgage. Also in the news: When refinancing your student loans is a bad idea, how to reach your financial goals by using the car pedal system, and why it’s time to prepare for the robo 401(k). How to Shave Years Off a 30-Year Mortgage How […]
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Dear Liz: We have 90 employees, many of them millennials, and only about 30% take advantage of our retirement plan. What resources and advice can I use to get our employees to take control of their retirement future? Answer: The youngest generation of adults and near-adults vividly remembers the stock market crash and financial turmoil […]
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