Dear Liz: I am approaching being able to retire in three years at 56, but I’m really concerned with the current market conditions. I have around $320,000 in 401(k) and 457 accounts now, all of it invested in stocks. Should I scale this back to more moderate allocations? My pension will pay me around $5,200 […]
Recent Blog Posts
Avoid tax refund ripoffs, and think twice about getting married
My recent MSN Money columns, in case you missed them: How to avoid tax-return rip-offs Beware of promises to get your refund faster. Refund anticipation loans are gone, and what’s replaced them isn’t worth the cost. Gay marriage can muddle finances Gay and in love? You might want to wait to marry. ‘Boomerang’ kids: Moving […]
Graduating without student loans is tough
A few months ago I gave a verbal spanking to a woman who equated college loans with handouts. She wondered why people didn’t just delay college for a year and earn enough money to pay for their entire education, as she did back in the day. I pointed out that there weren’t many jobs available […]
Protect those who look after your kids
A woman who works as a nanny and housekeeper wrote into the Wall Street Journal recently. Her employers had paid her under the table for years. As a result, at she’s facing retirement with only a miniscule Social Security benefit. This drives me nuts. If you can afford to hire a nanny or a housekeeper, […]
So is it pointless to try to fix credit report errors?
Dear Liz: I watched 60 Minutes last night regarding the 3 credit bureaus and was amazed at what I learned. I was hoping to spend time trying to repair our credit score, but according to the report last evening, it sounds like a total waste of time as the three credit bureaus basically are not […]
Ex-wife is still on his credit cards
Dear Liz: My boyfriend is deployed. I have his power of attorney, and during his deployment I have paid off all of his credit card debt. The accounts now need to be closed because they are ones that were acquired with his former wife. I know you say that it will hurt his credit to […]