Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: The pros and cons of paying your taxes with a credit card. Also in the news: Discharging private student loans, financial rules for 40 year-olds, and what FICO’s new credit score means for you. Should You Pay Your Taxes With a Credit Card? The pros and cons. Can You Discharge Private Student […]

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Monday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: How to make saving for retirement less miserable. Also in the news: The best type of financial plan, refinancing your student loans, and four ways to cut the cost of life insurance. How to Take the Misery Out of Saving for Retirement It doesn’t have to be painful. The Best Financial Plan […]

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Q&A: Social Security and Divorce

Dear Liz: Can my 63-year-old ex-husband, who was a slacker who never worked, collect on my Social Security? I am 59 and happily remarried. He hasn’t remarried. We were married for 25 years before I left him. Answer: Since you were married for more than 10 years, your former husband can apply for spousal benefits […]

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Q&A: Credit card interest rates

Dear Liz: I have had a certain credit card for over five years. I just received a letter stating that my interest rate was going to be raised from 10.24% to 12.24%. My FICO score is 819 and I have never had late payments on any of my cards. I called the issuer to complain […]

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Q&A: Early withdrawal penalties on CDs

Dear Liz: You told a reader to be suspicious of a bank’s offer to waive early withdrawal penalties on a certificate of deposit. But several credit unions allow early withdrawals from five-year CDs after the account holder turns 59 1/2. These credit unions will even allow you to get higher-interest CDs at other credit unions […]

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Friday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: How to protect your Social Security number from identity thieves. Also in the news: How to conquer your student debt, the benefits of the Earned Income Tax Credit, and tax tips from the experts. 3 Ways to Protect Your Social Security Number From ID Theft Think of your Social Security number as […]

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Thursday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: Big changes are coming to your FICO score. Also in the news: Lessons learned from selling a house, building a financial dashboard, and how much you should really set aside for retirement. New FICO Score Factors in Utilities & How Often You Move Changes are coming to your credit score. Lessons Learned […]

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Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: What you need to know about IRA conversions and college financial aid. Also in the news: Avoiding costly tax mistakes, tips for buying a home when you’re in debt, and five things you didn’t know about a 529 plan. Roth IRA Conversions And College Aid: Timing Is Everything How a conversion could […]

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Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: How to wreck someone else’s credit. Also in the news: How much you need to save in case of an emergency, five tax resolutions for next April 15th, and ten steps to a smarter spending plan. 4 Ways You Can Wreck Somebody Else’s Credit Not that you should, of course. In Case […]

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