Dear Liz: You recently wrote that it’s easier to have one bank than many, but I worry about FDIC insurance limits because I have more than $250,000 in savings. Answer: You may be able to get more coverage at one bank than you think. FDIC insurance is per depositor, per ownership category, per bank. Ownership […]
Recent Blog Posts
Q&A: Why living trusts are a good option, most of the time
Dear Liz: My goal is to avoid probate and allow simplified access for my heir, who is also my executor. I have no family. I have chosen payable-on-death and transfer-on-death accounts instead of putting all financial assets in my trust, against the wishes of the attorney who drew up the trust for my condo. I […]
Q&A: Widow may be eligible for home sale tax relief
Dear Liz: My late husband and I bought my present home in 1969. I am now 80. From what I understand, my widowed status does not make any difference in regard to the home sale exemption. His death means that when I want or need to sell the house, I lose out on half the […]
Q&A: The pros and cons of rewards cards with high interest rates
Dear Liz: I expect to travel to Europe in the next few months. I applied for a new credit card to take advantage of its “no foreign transaction fees” policy. With a credit score of 740, I figured I would get a decent rate. Today I learned that I’m approved with a rate of 29%, […]
Q&A: When is the right time to start simplifying your finances?
Dear Liz: You recently answered a question about closing credit cards and mentioned the “mental load” of managing too many cards. That got me thinking about when is the right time to start simplifying my finances. I have lots of rewards credit cards and have opened several bank accounts to get bonuses, but I wonder […]
Q&A: Widower can file for survivor benefits now and his own later
Dear Liz: My sister and brother-in-law were both 68 when she passed away last December. She had been on Social Security disability since her mid 50s until it was converted to retirement in her 60s. He is the higher wage earner and still working. Can he file for survivor benefits now, and then file for […]