Dear Liz: If I plan to stay invested for more than 15 years and I can tolerate the ups and downs of the market, why would I want to put any of my 401(k) money into bonds instead of putting it all in various stock funds? The bond funds in my 401(k) have a five-year […]
Recent Blog Posts
Will credit scores be helped by faster loan paydown?
Dear Liz: I had a 730 credit score and went shopping for a car. The inquiries on my credit report took my score down to 704. Now that I have the auto loan, does it help my score to make larger payments and reduce the principal faster? The payment is currently $375 but I could […]
Tax bills for inherited IRAs
Dear Liz: I am 64. My grown children, ages 23 and 25, are the beneficiaries of my retirement accounts. I have a Roth IRA, a SIMPLE IRA and a Rollover IRA. When I die, what will be the tax consequences for them? Will they have to pay any tax upon inheriting the accounts, and will […]
Monday’s need-to-know money news
How to manage student loans while you’re unemployed, saving on legal fees while getting divorced, and how to convince your boss that you really deserve that promotion. Help! I’m Unemployed & Drowning in Student Loan Debt What to do when you’re out of both a job and student loan deferments. Why a Collaborative Divorce Makes […]
Parents, get your kids to college–but don’t give them a free ride
USA Today reported that more families are considering cost when choosing a college: The survey by Discover Student Loans, to be released Thursday, found that nearly half of adults are limiting their child’s college choices based on price. And with rising student loan debt and a job market that continues to greet college grads with […]
Friday’s need-to-know money news
The best way to invest your first $1000, the pros and cons of living on cash, and what’s covered by identity theft insurance. How to Invest Your First $1,000 The road to investment success has to begin somewhere. 4 Tips Before Buying Your Teenager a Car Laying down the rules of the road before they […]