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Friday’s need-to-know money news

July 17, 2020 By Liz Weston

Today’s top story: Is it okay to never have a credit card? Also in the news: How to organize important documents simply and safely, can a credit card company lower your credit limit, and how to try and prevent your eviction.

Is It OK to Never Have a Credit Card?
Using credit cards responsibly is one way to build your credit history — but it’s not the only way.

How to Organize Important Documents Simply and Safely
What you should keep and for how long.

Can a Credit Card Company Lower My Credit Limit?
Cardholders are seeing an increase in reductions.

How to Try and Prevent Your Eviction
23 million renting families could lose their homes by September 30.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: building credit, Credit Cards, credit limits, Credit Score, documents, eviction, financial documents

Friday’s need-to-know money news

July 10, 2020 By Liz Weston

Today’s top story: Financial lessons we’ve learned while staying at home. Also in the news: 6 ways your investments can fund racial justice, how to organize important documents simply and safely, and see if you qualify for public service loan forgiveness with this tool.

Financial Lessons We’ve Learned While Staying at Home
Emergency funds are critical.

6 Ways Your Investments Can Fund Racial Justice
Putting your portfolio to work.

How to organize important documents simply and safely
What to keep and for how long.

See if You Qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness With This Tool
The criteria is strict.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: documents, financial lessons, important documents, Investments, pandemic, pubilc service loan forgiveness, racial justice

Q&A: Something to leave out of your disaster kit: Original documents

February 3, 2020 By Liz Weston

Dear Liz: My wife and I are having a disagreement regarding documentation for our disaster recovery kit. She wants to put in hard copies of drivers’ licenses, credit cards, financial records, including bank and equity accounts. I think that all we need are account numbers, because the financial institutions will hold actual documentation in safer places, away from any disaster that may hit our community. I’m worried that someone may find these documents and use them nefariously, especially if we’re away from home during a catastrophic event. How much disaster planning is too much?

Answer: Security expert Avivah Litan said you have a point.

“The risks are higher than the benefits when it comes to storing hard copies of sensitive documents,” said Litan, vice president and distinguished analyst at research firm Gartner Inc.

Litan recommends storing the account numbers in a disaster recovery kit and keeping an original document that proves your identity (such as your driver’s license or passport) with you at all times in case of disaster. She suggested storing electronic copies of vital documents in a secure online storage account from a reputable provider. That way you’ll have access to what you need regardless of where you are.

Also consider allowing others to get access to the account if something happens to you. Some services allow you to appoint a trusted person who could be granted access in case you’re dead or incapacitated, or you could share your password in advance with that person.

Filed Under: Q&A Tagged With: disaster kits, documents, q&a

Q&A: Here’s a primer on all those estate planning documents

September 23, 2019 By Liz Weston

Dear Liz: Our dad’s kidneys are failing. Our mother passed away awhile ago, so it’s just me and my sister. He has a will, and my sister is on his bank account, but how do we handle the house transfer? Do we need a living will? We don’t want it to go into probate. We are splitting everything equally.

Answer: Losing a parent is stressful, so it’s good that you have your father’s estate-planning document to guide you. If it was properly drawn, it will name an executor who will handle the details of settling his bills, paying his creditors and transferring his remaining assets to his heirs.

If the executor happens to be you or your sister, you’ll be able to hire an attorney to help you and pay for it out of the estate’s assets. Having an attorney can help make the process much smoother and help avoid potentially costly mistakes.

You asked about a living will, but that’s a document designed to communicate someone’s wishes regarding end-of-life medical care. Living trusts are the documents that can avoid probate, the court process that otherwise follows death.

In many states, including California, probate also can be avoided with a “transfer on death” deed. If your father is still able to make decisions, you might want to hire the attorney now to advise you about which document makes the most sense.

Filed Under: Estate planning, Q&A Tagged With: documents, Estate Planning, q&a

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

October 4, 2018 By Liz Weston

Today’s top story: How not to inherit Mom’s timeshare. Also in the news: Why bundling insurance doesn’t automatically mean savings, why your financial advisor has a financial advisor, and 12 documents to prepare now for your heirs.

How Not to Inherit Mom’s Timeshare
Limiting liability.

Will You Save Money Bundling Insurance? Not Always
When bundling isn’t saving.

Why Your Financial Advisor Has a Financial Advisor
Even experts need experts.

12 Documents to Prepare Now for Your Heirs
Making a difficult time easier.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: bundling insurance, documents, Estate Planning, financial advisors, timeshares

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

January 9, 2018 By Liz Weston

Today’s top story: 5 surprising factors that can inflate your car insurance rate. Also in the news: The best banks and credit unions for 2018, 3 housing trends to pay attention to, and documents you need if your kid is 18.

5 Surprising Factors That Inflate Your Car Insurance Rate
Not just accidents.

The Best Banks and Credit Unions for 2018
Where to do your banking.

3 Months, 3 Housing Trends: Buyer Prep, Loan Rates, Taxes
Planning to buy or sell? You’ll want to pay attention to these trends.

If Your Kid Is 18, You Need These Documents
Crucial papers to have handy.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: adult children, banking, car insurance, credit unions, documents, real estate, real estate trends

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