Get smart with your money
Dear Liz: My daughter is getting married in September. She recently confided that she and her fiance have never discussed their respective debts (if any), credit scores or financial goals. She is hesitant to bring this up with him but realizes it’s a discussion that needs to happen before they marry. I suggested they consider […]
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Dear Liz: In a recent column, I believe you got one aspect of Social Security’s Windfall Elimination Provision wrong. If you’re affected by WEP, in no case can you get more than 90% of your Social Security benefit. It is a sliding scale. With 20 years of earnings under Social Security, you get 40%. It […]
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Today’s top story: A stress-free guide to holiday tipping. Also in the news: How to ease the financial strain of caregiving, financial resolutions to keep in 2015, and credit card strategies for travelers. A Last-Minute Guide to Holiday Tipping One less thing to stress over. 5 Ways to Ease the Financial Strain of Caregiving Hiring […]
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Today’s top story: Tips for writing your will. Also in the news: The most important thing to ask your financial advisor, how to spend the rest of your FSA money, and how to calculate your tax refund by checking out your pay stubs. 5 Tips for Writing Your Will An unpleasant but absolutely necessary task. […]
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Today’s top story: What the experts think you should do with you money in 2015. Also in the news: Saving money on winter driving, tax strategies to use before the end of the year, and how to survive living paycheck to paycheck. Here’s What the Experts Are Saying You Should Do With Your Money in […]
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Today’s top story: How your procrastination is costing you money. Also in the news: Holiday shipping mistakes to avoid, which report you need to read before buying a house, and the digital piggy bank that could finally convince you to start saving. 5 Ways Procrastination Costs You Money Time equals money. Don’t make these costly […]
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Today’s top story: The credit card perk that can save you time and money. Also in the news: The dumb things people do to be frugal, why a big tax refund isn’t always a good thing, and the investment fees you didn’t know you were paying. The Credit Card Perk That Can Save You Big […]
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Dear Liz: I am working on paying my bad debt from the past to rebuild my scores. I have one credit card that I pay in full every month, but no installment loan. I recently was given the opportunity to take a car loan with monthly payments I could easily afford. Here is my confusion: […]
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Dear Liz: I co-signed a student loan for my son. He was unemployed for a year and has now returned to work. The lender is not being cooperative with accepting a lesser monthly payment or any payment until he gives them a lump sum he does not have. They have been calling me about this […]
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I‘ve written a lot recently about digital advisors (including the piece I wrote for AARP, “Do-it-yourself made easy“). Wealthfront, one of the leaders in this space, now has $1.7 billion under management. That seemed pretty impressive, until I saw a recent piece in InvestmentNews about Vanguard’s Personal Advisor Services. Although still basically a pilot program, […]
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