Dear Liz: I am a divorced man receiving Social Security survivors benefits based on the earnings record of my ex, who has died. I am 63. Can I get married and continue to receive benefits? Answer: Yes. People receiving survivors benefits can remarry at age 60 or later without losing their benefits. Survivors benefits are based on […]
Recent Blog Posts
Q&A: Old uncashed insurance policies
Dear Liz: What advice can you provide to people when they stumble on old life insurance policies that may never have been cashed in? Answer: My siblings and I have personal experience with this after coming across two policies in our late father’s papers. We learned one policy had indeed been cashed in, but the second — […]
Q&A: How a Roth IRA rollover can cause unforeseen problems
Dear Liz: I have been contributing to my young adult children’s Roth IRA accounts for the past few years to get them started on retirement savings. My oldest just left her first job to go back to graduate school. Since her income will be low this year, I advised her to roll her defined contribution plan […]
This week’s money news
This week’s top story: Big questions on student debt still loom. In other news: Financial actions speak louder than resolutions, 5 ways to build your credit score in 2023, and how families can get seats together on a plane. 2023 Is Here — And Big Questions on Student Debt Still Loom As 2023 unfolds, big questions […]
How to prepare for your next emergency
When a power outage knocked out electricity to a multistate region in 2003, Gabriella Barthlow , a financial coach in the Detroit area, was prepared. She had enough money on hand to buy food for herself and her two young children, plus put gas in her car in case they needed to leave home. “I […]
Q&A: How to give away your house
Dear Liz: I want to make sure a close friend of mine gets my house after I pass away. Which is better tax-wise for this friend, adding her to my deed or leaving the house to her in my will? My fear of leaving it to her in my will is that a family member may […]