Dear Liz: You recently advised the heir to a triplex that they’d have to pay capital gains tax if they sell the property, but if they keep it and bequeath to their children, there would be no capital gains for the children. How does that work? Answer: The original letter writer inherited the property from a parent in […]
Recent Blog Posts
Q&A: Tax consequences of a CD bequest
Dear Liz: I currently have a certificate of deposit with what I consider a reasonably high balance. I’ve named a beneficiary in the event something were to happen to me. Would there be tax consequences for the beneficiary upon receipt? Answer: There’s no federal inheritance tax, but six states — Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey and […]
Q&A: Why delaying Social Security might be the ultimate gift for your spouse
Dear Liz: My husband is 75 and started Social Security at 62. I am 68 and started Social Security at my full retirement age of 66. My Social Security benefit is the higher of the two. My financial planner says the rules on survivorship have changed. She believes that if I die first, while my husband […]
This week’s money news
This week’s top story: Smart Money podcast on when to merge finances — or Not. In other news: How fresh tax credits, rebates can launch your eco home update, having a championship savings account, and age of AI: ChatGPT, Bard and how money advice might evolve. Smart Money Podcast: When to Merge Finances — or Not […]
Q&A: Opening an IRA for a retired spouse
Dear Liz: Are spousal IRAs a good idea for a couple when one spouse is retired but the other is working? I’m 63 and work full time. My husband is 76 and retired. I have a Roth IRA; he does not. I contribute the maximum amount to my IRA. If we create a spousal IRA for […]
Family budgeting tips that actually work
When Tom Snyder coaches people in his church about how to budget, he starts by encouraging them to track their spending. “If we don’t track, we don’t know when to stop spending,” he says. The retired engineer and financial coach in Grand Rapids, Michigan, adds that it’s easy to be bumped off track by irregular […]