Ask Liz Weston

Q&A: Paying taxes electronically

Dear Liz: I’m a CPA and your answer about paying taxes electronically was spot-on. But there’s a pro tip you might share: I advise all my clients to establish accounts with the IRS and their state tax authority. That allows my clients to schedule payments more easily with a single log-on (rather than having to validate each time […]

Filed Under: Q&A, Taxes

Q&A: How to roll over your 401(k) into an IRA

Dear Liz: My question relates to 401(k) rollovers. Are there different tax implications when it comes to rolling the money into a traditional IRA versus a traditional IRA brokerage fund? I’ve always associated the word “brokerage” with after-tax dollars. Answer: Financial terms can get confusing, so let’s start with the basics. Both 401(k)s and IRAs are tax-advantaged […]

Q&A: About those annoying online payment fees

Dear Liz: In a recent column you wrote about the importance of paying online and the dangers of writing checks. Why does paying online come with a fee? Is it really justified to pay a “technology fee” of $12 to pay my insurance bill online? It seems to me that it should be faster and easier for the […]

This week’s money news

This week’s top story: Tackle overdue taxes this year. In other news: Businesses can still claim worker tax credit from the pandemic, 10 cities that have the highest minimum wage in the U.S., and 10 rising vacation spots. Tackle Overdue Taxes This Year The sooner you can deal with unfiled and unpaid taxes, the better. Businesses […]

Romance scammers: They call you honey, but don’t send them money

Valentine’s Day might put you in the mood to look for love online. Unfortunately, criminals are also on the hunt, but for victims, not romance. “Meeting people online has opened the door to romance fraud,” says Kim Casci-Palangio, program director of the peer support program at the nonprofit Cybercrime Support Network in Ann Arbor, Michigan. […]

Q&A: There’s a new option for leftover funds from a 529 college savings plan — your kid’s retirement

Dear Liz: We put four kids through college using 529 college savings. All four are out of college with good jobs and we have about $50,000 left over. Would you suggest just letting it build for the grandkids’ college in 20 to 30 years? The amount should grow considerably in that time and may pay for all the […]

Q&A: Protecting a daughter’s inheritance

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 […]

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 […]

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