If inflation has eaten away at your budget the way waves erode a beach, then your tax refund might just provide a much-needed protective barrier. As of March, prices are up 6% over the past 12 months, according to the most recent consumer price index. At the same time, just over half of filers (55%) […]
Recent Blog Posts
This week’s money news
This week’s top story: Smart Money podcast on banking stability, and traditional vs. online banks. In other news: how bank failures show us what not to do with our own finances, how doing the bare minimum with debt is costing you, and if being a landlord worth or not. Smart Money Podcast: Is Banking Stable, and […]
Q&A: Grandma needs tax help
Dear Liz: My grandma is 78, divorced, and has not filed taxes in the last decade. I was wondering what she should do because she is head of the household and taking care of three adopted kids and needs help. Answer: Please help connect your grandmother with AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, which provides free virtual and in-person tax help. You […]
Q&A: Tax pitfalls of a house gift
Dear Liz: I have a friend whose mom gave him and his sibling her house a few months before she died. They sold it right away. He got a 1099-S tax form and is confused about what the capital gains are. Technically there were none because they sold it right after she died. Answer: Ouch. If your […]
Q&A: Bank failures spotlight brokerages’ SIPC insurance: How it works
Dear Liz: In light of the recent bank failures, I am wondering about the safety of investments with a brokerage firm. If the brokerage firm that I am using fails, do I stand to lose money even though I am invested in specific stocks or bonds? Does it make a difference if I have money in […]
Should you rent in retirement?
Some people rent in retirement because they don’t have much choice; they can’t afford to own homes. But financial planners say renting can make more sense than owning in some circumstances, even for retirees who can afford the costs of homeownership. Renting offers flexibility as well as freedom from all the chores and expenses of […]