Today’s top story: What to do with your tax refund. Also in the news: Financial aid myths, how much you should contribute to your 401(k), and easy steps to get started with investing. How to Put Your Tax Refund to Good Use Alternatives to spending it on new stuff. 5 Myths About College Financial Aid […]
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Monday’s need-to-know money news
Today’s top story: The most important personal finance rules. Also in the news: How to hack away at your student loan debt, what couples need to know about their finances before moving in together, and how to prevent a tax audit. The Most Important Personal Finance Rules Never Change The rules that matter most are […]
Q&A: Mistaken address leads to debt collection
Dear Liz: A debt collector says I owe a small debt from a store credit card I opened about six months ago. The wrong address was on file, so I hadn’t received any documentation at all. After opening the account I had called the store customer service line to arrange a payment, but the representative […]
Q&A: Spousal benefits and Social Security
Dear Liz: I am divorced. If I apply for Social Security spousal benefits at age 62, based on my former spouse’s work record, can I continue to collect it if I get remarried? I understand that I cannot switch from spousal to my own benefit if I start early. But if I remarry, do I […]
Q&A: IRA’s and 401(k)’s
Dear Liz: You answered a reader who asked whether to contribute to her IRA, her Roth IRA or her regular or Roth 401(k) account. I thought that if you have access to a 401(k) at work, you couldn’t make a contribution to an IRA or Roth IRA. Answer: That’s a common misconception. You can contribute […]
Want to protect yourself from tax return theft? You can’t.
A surge of bogus tax return filings has highlighted a grim truth: We can’t protect ourselves from this rising threat. An underfunded, understaffed IRS manages to thwart many attempts, but still sent more than $5 billion in refunds to identity thieves in the 2013 tax year. Most state tax agencies aren’t nearly as sophisticated in […]