Today’s top story: Understanding your credit card’s free FICO score. Also in the news: The difference between a soft inquiry and a hard inquiry, surviving Social Security with a minor cost of living adjustment, and how apps can both help and hurt your finances. To Understand Your Credit Card’s Free FICO Score, Get Your Credit […]
Recent Blog Posts
Q&A: Tips for divvying up your retirement investments
Dear Liz: With all the investment options offered in 401(k) plans, how as a contributor do I know where to place my money? Answer: Too many investment options can confuse contributors and lower participation rates, according to a study by social psychologist Sheena Iyengar of Columbia University in cooperation with the Vanguard Center for Retirement […]
Q&A: No wedding, no Social Security benefits
Dear Liz: I’m a female who has been with her male partner for 20 years. We are not married. In the event one of us dies, is the other entitled to the partner’s Social Security benefits? Or do we have to be legally married to qualify for benefits? Answer: Your genders don’t matter. Your marital […]
Q&A: Fiduciaries can help with estate trusts
Dear Liz: I enjoyed your recent column about spendthrift trusts. You’re right that when parents assign the job of trustee to one sibling for the benefit of another sibling, it creates a hazardous situation that often results in a court battle. The appointed professional trustee should be a neutral party. You recommended a bank or […]
Friday’s need-to-know money news
Today’s top story: Why Americans should care about Brexit. Also in the news: Other insurance benefits you can count on, why millions of Americans prefer their credit card statements on paper, and simple budgeting strategies that can bring real results. 3 Reasons Why Americans Should Care About ‘Brexit’ It’s not just Europe’s problem. The Other […]
Thursday’s need-to-know money news
Today’s top story: The worst airports in the U.S. for summer travel. Also in the news: 3 smart money moves to make buying a home easier, creating a money map to make sense of your financial plan, and five signs it’s time to shop for a new credit card. The 10 Worst Airports in the […]