Figuring out how to manage money together might be an important part of a happy relationship, but it’s a skill that doesn’t always come naturally. “When there’s conflict or discord, it’s usually not about the money itself, but related to the meaning each person is attaching to money. There’s always something deeper,” says Cohen Taylor, […]
Recent Blog Posts
Q&A: Here’s something you might not know about how colleges hand out financial aid
Dear Liz: After the pandemic started, we received money from the federal government and decided to put it in a custodial account for our son, starting when he was 14. We invested the money in a Standard & Poor’s index fund. I now think I made a mistake and should have simply added the money to […]
Q&A: Naming beneficiaries turns tricky
Dear Liz: I have spent the majority of the last three decades abroad. Relationships fade away if there is little contact. Such is life. Most of the financial accounts that I have allow me to provide an organization as a beneficiary. But some institutions, like TreasuryDirect, require an actual person to be listed as a […]
Q&A: Junk fees for online payments
Dear Liz: You recently answered a question about fees for paying bills online. I agree that the $12 fee mentioned is too high but I also know that any platform costs money to maintain. I work for a nonprofit that takes donations and our donors can choose to pay the fee. I doubt regular customers would agree […]
This week’s money news
This week’s top story: The Capital One-Discover Deal and what cardholders can expect. In other news: What the Capital One-Discover deal could mean for bank accounts, The Capital One-Discover deal and Discover student loans, and prepare calling your student loan servicer. If Capital One Buys Discover, What Can Cardholders Expect? Even if the deal is approved, […]
Q&A: College expenses and 529 plans
Dear Liz: You’ve been writing about what to do with leftover money in 529 college savings plans. Our grandchild went to a great state university with low tuition. To manage this ahead of time, we have carefully withdrawn some “excess” funds every year. This must be payable to the beneficiary student. The tax on non-qualified distributions applies only […]