Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: Protecting yourself from identity theft. Also in the news: Unforeseen circumstances that could crush your retirement, what not to do when you pay off your mortgage, and the importance of an emergency fund.

Are You a Prime Target for Identity Theft?
How to protect yourself.

3 retirement-crushing unforeseen circumstancesWhen your retirement does go as planned.

Don’t Make This Mistake When You Pay Off Your Mortgage
It could end up costing you a lot of money.

1 in 3 Americans Does Not Have an Emergency Fund
Are you one of them?

Take Advantage of the “Direct Debit” Student Loan Discount
Every penny counts.

Q&A: Retirement savings for freelancers

Dear Liz: I am a freelancer. I don’t consider myself a small-business owner, just someone who gets the work done on time and gets paid. I max out my IRA every year, but would like to save more in a tax-advantaged account.

I checked out SEP and SIMPLE IRAs, but they don’t have a Roth option. Am I eligible to start an Individual 401(k)? What administrative duties would be involved? I pay self-employment tax and my clients send me 1099s, not W2s.

Answer: You may not consider yourself a small-business owner, but that’s essentially what you are. And small-business owners should have tax pros to help them answer questions like this, since you have so many options.

As a sole proprietor, you should be able to set up a solo or individual 401(k) account. That would allow you to make either pre- or after-tax “employee” contributions of up to $18,000 in 2015 — plus an additional $6,000 if you’re 50 or older.

As your own employer, you can contribute an additional 25% of your net earnings (a contribution that would be deductible as a business expense). Your total contribution, employee plus employer, can’t exceed $53,000 in 2015.

Individual 401(k)s are somewhat more complicated to set up and administer than Simplified Employee Pensions (SEPs) or Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLEs). But many discount brokerages are eager to help you with the paperwork and have low or no set-up costs.

You have many other ways as a self-employed person to reduce your taxes, but the rules can be complicated. A certified public accountant or an enrolled agent can help advise you of your options. You can get referrals to tax professionals from the American Assn. of CPAs at http://www.aicpa.org and the National Assn. of Enrolled Agents at http://www.naea.org.

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: Money moves that could kill your retirement. Also in the news: How to stress test your budget, how to build long-term wealth while renting, and how to prepare your parents for financing their long-term care.

9 Money Moves That Could Kill Your Retirement
Avoid these at all costs.

Stress-Test Your Budget with a “Financial Fire Drill”
Putting your emergency plan to the test.

How Renters Can Build Long-Term Wealth, Too
Investment alternatives can help.

Steps to Prepare Your Parents for Financing Long-Term Care
How to have a difficult conversation.

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

401K Nest EggToday’s top story: Auditing your 401(k) plan. Also in the news: When you should buy both whole and term life insurance, the tax documents you should always keep, and how a balance transfer could help your credit score.

How Good Is Your 401(k) Plan?
This basic audit will tell you.

When to Consider Both Whole and Term Life Insurance
Why purchasing both may be best.

Tax Documents You Should Always Keep
What to keep and what to shred.

A Balance Transfer Can Help Your Credit Score
Understanding your credit utilization ratio.

6 Mistakes You Make When You Check Your Credit
Of course, not checking your credit would be the biggest mistake of all.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: The best credit cards for new homeowners. Also in the news: Determining the right time to retire, what items you should buy in large quantities to save money, and finding a bank that offers the best protection for its customers.

5 Credit Cards for New Homeowners
How to save money on one of the biggest purchases you’ll ever make.

How to Know When Retirement is Right for You and Your Family
Timing is everything.

10 Items to Always Buy in Large Quantities
Buying in bulk can help you stick to a budget.

Top 10 Banks That Offer The Best Customer Protection
Protecting your personal information and your assets.

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: What to do when your car loan outlasts your car. Also in the news: What to buy during this weekend’s Memorial Day sales, how to plan for semi-retirement, and how to trick yourself into spending less by using direct deposit.

What to Do If Your Car Loan Outlasts Your Car
Your options are limited, but they exist.

Best Things to Buy at Memorial Day Weekend Sales
Get the most bang for your buck.

How to Plan for Semi-Retirement
Choosing to work instead of having to work.

Direct Deposit Into Your Savings To Trick Yourself Into Spending Less
You won’t even miss it.

Friday’s need-to-know money news

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: How to increase you credit card limit. Also in the news: The money mistakes empty nesters make, the terms every homebuyer should know, and the biggest threats to your retirement.

5 Ways to Get a Higher Credit Card Limit
What to do when you need more spending power.

3 Money Mistakes Empty Nesters Make
All that change can shake things up.

10 Terms Every Homebuyer Should Know
Brush up on your real estate vocabulary.

The 7 Biggest Threats to Your Retirement
What you need to avoid.

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: The right way to close a credit card. Also in the news: Financial tools you no longer need, determining how much college tuition you can afford, and how baby boomers can survive retirement.

What’s the Right Way to Close a Credit Card?
How you say goodbye matters.

5 Financial Tools You No Longer Need
Some of these may surprise you.

How Much Tuition Can You Really Afford?
Time for a reality check.

How Boomers Can Avoid Going Bust in Retirement
There’s still time to get your act together.

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

BabyBoomersRetirementSavings_largeToday’s top story: What to do when you’ve reached retirement age and don’t have anything saved. Also in the news: Social Security taxes, learning from your tax filing mistakes, and how to get cash from transferring your retirement account.

You’re Retirement Age With Nothing Saved For Retirement. Now What?
Don’t panic.

For some Social Security taxes can really pile up
A refresher course in Social Security tax basics.

Learn From Your Tax Filing Mistakes
Get in better shape for 2016.

Get Paid Cash to Transfer Your Retirement Accounts
Look for accounts that offer cash bonuses.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: How to trick yourself into saving more money. Also in the news: States with the highest rate of identity theft complaints, the new face of consumer banking, and mistakes that could ruin your retirement.

4 Ways to Trick Yourself Into Saving More Money
You won’t even know you’re not spending it!

States with the most identity theft complaints
Do you live in one of them?

The Changing Face of Consumer Banking
Moving beyond the local branch.

5 Mistakes That Could Mess Up Your Retirement
And how to avoid them.