Today’s top story: Choosing the best credit card. Also in the news: Financial predictions for 2014, financial resolutions for Millennials, and how to manage ballooning credit card debt. Which credit card is the best? Don’t get sucked in by perks you’ll never use. 3 Financial Predictions For 2014 That Will Be Good For Your Wallet […]
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Tuesday’s need-to-know money news
Today’s top story: Five things that won’t hurt your credit score. Also in the news: The Golden Rules of personal finance, which banking costs to avoid while shopping for the holidays, and why the holiday season might be the best time to purchase a new home. 5 Things That Won’t Hurt Your Credit Score You […]
Book giveaway! Enter to win today
Remember those money books I recommended last week? I’m giving away one of them this week: Mary Hunt’s “The Smart Woman’s Guide to Planning for Retirement.” This is a terrific book filled with practical suggestions and plenty of encouragement for people who aren’t sure how to make their retirement dreams come true. To enter to […]
Your payout from Social Security and Medicare
A reader recently wondered what the average person could expect from Social Security, compared to the taxes we pay into the system. Urban Institute has done the math, and recently released “Social Security and Medicare Taxes and Benefits Over a Lifetime: 2013 Update.” The institute figured out net present values of money paid in and […]
Use inheritance to pay credit cards, not mortgage
Dear Liz: I will be inheriting around $300,000 over the next year. My instincts are to pay down debt with this money. I have two homes and for practical reasons need to keep them. One home has a $260,000 mortgage balance at 5%. The other has a $130,000 mortgage at 4%. We have $35,000 in […]
Beware the hidden risks of self-directed IRAs
Dear Liz: My 401(k) plan has grown exceptionally well this year. I think we all know that it can’t last. I just recently heard about self-directed IRAs. I was intrigued at the possibility of opening one by rolling over a portion of my 401(k) money directly. The problem is, my company’s 401(k) provider will not […]