Dear Liz: We need help knowing what to do regarding leaving our home and money to my unmarried daughter. She has had a boyfriend for over 15 years. How can we protect her inheritance so he can’t claim half? Answer: Inheritances are considered separate property. So her inheritance could be considered hers alone even if your […]
Recent Blog Posts
Retiring wasn’t easy — even after years of writing about it
A couple of years ago, I wrote a column about how to have a retirement worth saving for. It ended with a quote from personal finance educator Barbara O’Neill, who reflected on how the pandemic disrupted many retirees’ plans. “It wasn’t just two years lost, it was two good years,” O’Neill said then. “You don’t […]
This week’s money news
This week’s top story: Congress delays shutdown again, extends funding to March. In other news: What to do about debt in retirement, 4 strategies for using side hustles to fund retirement savings, and ‘enormous’ savings for Americans by limiting overdraft fees. Congress Delays Shutdown Again, Extends Funding to March On Jan. 18, Congress approved yet another […]
Q&A: With tax day coming, here’s what to know about the difference between an enrolled agent and a CPA
Dear Liz: What is the difference between using an enrolled agent and a certified public accountant to file income taxes? I have used a CPA in the past to file my federal and state income taxes but I need to find a new person for this job. My financial situation is fairly simple: single, no dependents […]
Q&A: How to pay taxes electronically
Dear Liz: You recently wrote about check theft and the fraud possibilities when paying with checks through the mail. The largest checks that I send are to the IRS and California’s Franchise Tax Board. Is there a way to send in tax payments electronically rather than by check? Answer: Absolutely, and tax authorities typically encourage you to use these […]
Q&A: More reasons to ditch paper checks
Dear Liz: Personal checks are not stolen while in transit; they’re stolen from mailboxes which are, for the most part, unprotected and not covered by security cameras. So, if you want your check to go through the mail, walk it into the post office. More than once I’ve found that previous mailers had just slipped their […]