Ask Liz Weston

Get smart with your money

financial aid

Monday’s need-to-know money news

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common-retirement-mistakesToday’s top story: College counselors spill financial aid secrets. Also in the news: How to tell if you’re on track for retirement, why new grads have a huge retirement savings advantage, and the 401(k) mistakes that could cost you a bundle.

College Counselors Spill 6 Financial Aid Secrets
Get the inside scoop.

Do the Math to Tell If You’re on Track for Retirement
Checking your progress.

New grads have a huge retirement savings advantage
How much will you have in 40 years?

The 401(k) Mistakes That Could Cost You a Bundle
Pay close attention.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

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scamToday’s top story: The red flags of a toxic online loan. Also in the news: What to do when you can’t get enough financial aid, why 43% of Millennials have bad credit, and 10 questions to help start getting your financial life in order.

5 Red Flags of a Toxic Online Loan
Who are you really borrowing from?

Can’t Get Enough Financial Aid? Here’s What to Do
Take a deep breath.

43% of Millennials Have Bad Credit, TransUnion Says
Subprime scores.

Get Your Financial Life In Order By Answering These 10 Questions
Taking the first steps.

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

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budgetToday’s top story: How to earn more interest on your money. Also in the news: When and how to appeal a financial aid award, what you need to know about estate planning, and how keeping your finances simple can ensure you staying on top of them.

4 Ways to Earn More Interest on Your Money
Making your money work for you.

When and How to Appeal a Financial Aid Award
Asking for more.

Do I need a will? What to know about estate planning
YES.

Keep Your Finances Simple to Ensure You Stay On Top of Them
Don’t overcomplicate things.

Friday’s need-to-know money news

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Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: Buying credit and identity theft monitoring. Also in the news: Financial aid appeal tactics, why we’re still swiping our credit cards, and how to look at living on a budget as an opportunity.

Should You Buy Credit and Identity Theft Monitoring?
What to look for.

7 Financial Aid Appeal Tactics To Improve Your Child’s College Aid Award
Making the case for more aid.

Why Are We Still Swiping Our Credit Cards?
Where are all the chips?

Why You Should Think of Frugality as an Opportunity, Not a Sacrifice
A different way of looking at living on a budget.

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

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money-down-the-drainToday’s top story: Home improvements that don’t pay off in the long run. Also in the news: How to build a budget, easy ways to vet financial aid offers, and how to lay the financial groundwork for a career change.

4 Home Improvements That Don’t Pay (and 4 Better Options)
How to avoid turning your home into a money pit.

How to Build a Budget
Step by step.

Three Easy Ways to Vet Financial Aid Offers
What to ask when deciding on offers.

How to Survive a Career Change
Laying the financial groundwork in advance.

Q&A: Saving and investing for a child

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Dear Liz: I recently got a court judgment for my daughter’s father to pay me child support. She is 1 year old, and it will be about $1,500 a month. I would like this money to be a gift for her when she is older. I’m told not to put it in her name now, as it may hurt her chance for financial aid for college later. How do you recommend I save and invest it for her? I’d like her to have it when she is a young adult.

Answer: This could be quite a gift for a young woman. If the money earned a 5% average annual return over time, you could be presenting her with a check for half a million dollars.

Consider putting at least some of the money in a 529 college savings plan. Withdrawals from these plans are tax-free when used to pay qualified college expenses. College savings plans receive favorable treatment in financial aid formulas because they’re considered an asset of the contributor (typically the parent), rather than the child.