Dear Liz: I inherited my mother’s Roth IRA when she died in 2015 and have been taking yearly required minimum distributions based on my age. My spouse is my primary beneficiary on this inherited Roth IRA. What happens if I pass away before she does? Can she just roll it over into her existing Roth […]
Recent Blog Posts
Q&A: Maxing out retirement contributions? Beware of future tax issues
Dear Liz: I work for a local government and am trying to decide when to retire. I will receive a pension and have put away as much money as I could afford in my 457 deferred compensation plan. I invested it in a Standard & Poor’s 500 index fund that has performed well and is […]
Q&A: Choosing the right health care agent
Dear Liz: There is a lot of dysfunction and drama in my family so in my will, I’ve named a friend to be my executor. But I don’t think she’s the best person for my advance healthcare directive. She’s too nice and I think she would cave under pressure from my family. Can I choose […]
Q&A: Survivor benefits from spouse’s higher Social Security check
Dear Liz: My Social Security is much higher than my husband’s. He started taking his at 62 and I started at my full retirement age of 67. If I die before him, can he start taking my Social Security at some reduced rate? My current payment before any Medicare premiums is about $3,700 and his […]
Q&A: Should I borrow to boost my credit scores?
Dear Liz: I’m one of the beneficiaries named in my late relative’s will, and plan to use the money to buy a new car. Should I pay cash up front and avoid the interest charges on a loan, or set up monthly payments to help enhance my credit score (currently just under 800)? Answer: A […]
Q&A: Time to move, but what about the capital gains?
Dear Liz: My husband and I built a home on a hillside over 30 years ago in a desirable neighborhood with a beautiful view. We thought it would be our retirement home, but life had different plans. Now seniors, dealing with age, stairs and progressive health issues, we have been advised that selling and moving […]