Friday’s need-to-know money news

155403-425x282-Mortgage-LateToday’s top story: What a missed mortgage payment can do to your credit. Also in the news: How to turn your retirement savings into income, tools that will simplify your life and save you money, and what we can learn about money from the movies.

How Much Will My Credit Score Drop If I Miss a Mortgage Payment?
A single missed payment can have a major impact.

What the Oscar Movies Can Teach Us About Money
Show me the money!

How To Turn Your Retirement Savings Into Retirement Income
What to do with your nest egg.

5 Tools That Will Help You Simplify – and Save
Removing temptation from your inbox.

Top 5 Tax Scams of 2015 to Avoid
Don’t fall into a trap.

Monday’s need-to-know money news

fraud, scam, theftToday’s top story: How to make 2015 your best financial year. Also in the news: Avoiding tax scams, why this tax season could be a nightmare, and how to make sure your retirement funds last as long as you do.

5 Tips for Making 2015 Your Best Financial Year
Resolutions for your wallet.

3 Common Tax Scams and How to Avoid Them
Tax season is officially under way.

‘Miserable’ tax season could be worst in years
And it could be an ugly one.

6 ways to make your retirement funds live longer
How not to outlive your retirement savings.

4 tips for catching up on retirement savings
These tips will help you do that.

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: Planning for you child’s college costs. Also in the news: How to destroy your debt in 2015, the crucial steps in setting up your first 401(k), and what you should do with your year-end bonus.

How to Plan for Your Child’s College Costs
The sooner you get started, the better.

5 Sure-Fire Ways to Start Killing Your Debt Next Year
Your debt won’t know what hit it.

3 Crucial Steps to Setting Up Your First 401(k)
Starting off on the right foot.

What to do with your year-end bonus
Don’t spend it all in one place.

Make Sure Your Retirement Savings Last With the “Bucket” Method
Filling the buckets for peace of mind.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

retirement-savings3Today’s top story: Seven financial moves to make before New Year’s Eve. Also in the news: When you should use your credit card instead of your debit card, what to do when you’re 40 and have nothing saved for retirement, and busting four common myths about taxes.

7 Financial Moves to Make Before New Year’s Eve
Preparing yourself for 2015.

6 Times You Should Use a Credit Card Instead of a Debit Card
Credit cards can provide more protection.

What to Do When You’re 40 and Have Nothing Saved for Retirement
Don’t panic.

5 Ways to Combat an Online Shopping Addiction
Tips to combat a growing problem.

4 Common Myths About Taxes
Time for some tax mythbusting.

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

321562-data-breachesToday’s top story: How often you need to change your passwords. Also in the news: The truth about life insurance, annuities, and financial aid, how to catch up on your retirement savings after 50, and the four necessities for a successful retirement.

How Often Should You Change Your Passwords?
More often than you think.

Consumers Beware: The Truth About Life Insurance, Annuities And College Financial Aid
How they all tie together.

Over Age 50? How to Catch Up on Retirement Savings
There’s still time.

4 Necessities for a Successful Retirement
It takes more than just money.

A Prescription for Financial Wellness
Getting yourself financially healthy.

5 hacks to boost your retirement savings

seniorslaptopMany people have trouble saving anything for retirement. But I hear from a fair number of people who are looking beyond 401(k)s and IRAs for more tax-advantaged ways to save.

Many have maxed out their 401(k)s at work, or had their contributions limited because they’re considered “highly compensated employees.” Some don’t have a workplace plan at all, while others want to save more than IRAs allow. Even catch-up provisions–which allow people 50 and over to contribute an extra $5,500 to 401(k)s and an extra $1,000 to IRAs–aren’t enough for some of these super savers.

So here are options for those who have maxed out and caught up:

Opt for an HSA. Health savings accounts, which are coupled with high-deductible health insurance plans, offer a rare triple tax advantage: contributions are tax deductible, gains grow tax-deferred (and can be rolled over from year to year), and withdrawals are tax free if used for medical expenses. Withdrawals are also tax free in retirement, which makes HSAs a potentially better vehicle for saving than the much-loved Roth IRA. (Some say yes, others no.) Speaking of which:

Consider a back-door Roth contribution. If you make too much money, you can’t contribute directly to a Roth. There is a workaround, according to IRA guru Ed Slott, that takes advantage of the fact that anyone regardless of income can convert a traditional IRA to a Roth. You can read more about the strategy here and the potential drawbacks here.

Start a side business. Small business owners are spoiled for choice when it comes to tax advantaged plans. The options range from SEP IRAs to solo 401(k)s to full-on traditional pensions (and baby, you can save a ton of money in those—as in hundreds of thousands of dollars annually). Talk to a CPA about which plan makes the most sense for you.

Use a 457 plan. These deferred compensation plans are often available to state and local public employees as well as people who work for some nonprofits. Like a 401(k), you’re allowed to contribute pre-tax money. Unlike a 401(k), you don’t get slapped with early withdrawal penalties if you take the money out before age 59 (although you will owe income taxes).

Contribute to a regular brokerage account. There’s no upfront deduction, but investments held at least a year can qualify you for favorable capital gains tax rates. This, by the way, is typically a much better option than variable annuities, which tend to have high costs and limited tax advantages for most people.

Friday’s need-to-know money news

Energy_vampireToday’s top story: How to reduce your energy bill by killing off “energy vampires.” Also in the news: Tips on lowering your teen’s car insurance, hazards every student loan borrower should know, and what 2015’s retirement fund contribution limits will be.

This Tool Calculates How much You Pay for “Energy Vampires”
Driving a stake through your energy bill.

6 Tips to Lower the Cost of Your Teen’s Car Insurance
Unfortunately, they won’t lower your blood pressure.

6 Hazards Every Student Loan Borrower Should Beware Of
Don’t set yourself up for failure.

IRS Announces 2015 Retirement Plan Contribution Limits For 401(k)s And More
Find out what changes are in store.

The Best Day to Buy Airline Tickets
Start strategizing for holiday travel.

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

siblingsToday’s top story: The fear of outliving your retirement savings. Also in the news: Credit scores reach new highs, fun ways to teach your kids about money, and steps to protect yourself against credit fraud.

Big retirement fear: Outliving your savings
What you can do to prevent it.

Credit Scores Hit New Highs – But You Should Aim Higher
The higher the better.

4 Fun Ways to Teach Your Kids About Money
How to make teaching your kids about money fun.

9 Steps to protect against credit card fraud
Lessons from the Home Depot and Target breaches.

Help! 2 Debt Collectors Are Calling About the Same Debt
Twice the annoyances with none of the fun.

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: How to build your retirement nest egg on a small salary. Also in the news: Why Millennials are rejecting credit cards, tips on how to decide between saving money and paying off debt, and eight faster ways to pay off your student loans.

How to Plan for Retirement When You Don’t Make Much Money
Increasing the size of your tiny nest egg.

Why Millennials Are Rejecting Credit Cards
The massive amount of student debt is playing a big role.

5 Questions to Help You Decide Whether to Save or Pay Off Debt
What to do with your extra cash.

8 Ways to Pay Off Your Student Loans Faster
The quicker the better.

How to Balance a Fun Life With Your Financial Goals
You know what they say about all work and no play.

Friday’s need-to-know money news

retirement-savings3Today’s top story: The easy solution to our retirement savings crisis. Also in the news: How to supercharge your retirement savings, how long credit flaws will stay on your report, and why it’s time to start saving for the holidays.

Our Retirement Savings Crisis—and the Easy Solution
A slight bump in savings rates could be a game changer.

6 Tools to Supercharge Retirement Savings
Where to find the aforementioned bump.

How Long Different Credit Flaws Stay on Your Report
Find out how long that late payment will linger.

You Need to Start Saving for Your Holiday Budget Now
The holidays are right around the corner.

Three Money Disruptors Making Your Financial Nightmares Less Scary
Tech disruptors are making our financial lives a bit easier.