Thursday’s need-to-know money news

file_161555_0_tax refundToday’s top story: Year-end tricks to boost your tax refund. Also in the news: Unstacking the deck for student loan borrowers, the most important mortgage documents you’ll sign, and why you shouldn’t raid your retirement savings to pay for the holidays.

5 Year-End Tricks to Boost Your Tax Refund
Now’s the time to reduce your tax liability.

Unstacking the Deck for Student Loan Borrowers
There’s a lot of money at stake.

The 4 Most Important Mortgage Documents You’ll Sign
What you’ll be signing if you purchase a home in the near future.

5 Safety Features That Can Save You Money on Car Insurance
Every penny counts.

Don’t Raid Your Retirement Account to Pay for the Holidays
The high costs of splurging.

Monday’s need-to-know money news

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: How to protect your credit cards online. Also in the news: Tips to avoid investing scams, moves to make before the Fed raises interest rates, and how to handle investments if you divorce.

4 Ways to Protect Your Credit Cards Online
With holiday shopping just around the corner, you can’t be too careful.

Simple steps retirees (and others) can take to avoid investing scams
If it sounds too good to be true…

5 moves to make before the Fed raises rates
It’s only a matter of time.

How to Handle Investments When You Divorce
Making sure your assets are fairly divided.

Finally Start Saving for Retirement With the Help of Your Tax Refund
Saving instead of splurging.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

FICO-score-calculation-300x281Today’s top story: Unraveling the mysteries of the FICO score. Also in the news: What you shouldn’t buy with your tax refund, teaching your kids good money habits, and 11 common money mistakes to avoid.

How Many FICO Scores Are There?
More than you’d think.

5 things not to buy with your tax refund
Put down that solid gold Apple watch.

How to Use Allowances to Teach Kids About Money
Instilling good money habits early.

Don’t Make These 11 Common Money Mistakes
Avoid getting caught in a spending trap.

5 Vital Questions To Ask Before Retirement
Remember, this isn’t a permanent vacation.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

o-CREDIT-REPORT-facebookToday’s top story: Changes to the credit report dispute process are on the way. Also in the news: What to do with your tax refund, things you should consider as you approach retirement, and the biggest tax law changes you need to know about.

Your Biggest Credit Report Complaint May Be Getting Fixed
Changes in the dispute process are on the way.

What to Do With Your Tax Refund
Suggestions other than an Apple Watch.

7 Items for Your To-Do List in the Year You Retire
Things to consider as you approach the finish line.

The Biggest Tax Law Changes You Need to Know About This Year
April 15th is just around the corner.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: How best to protect yourself when shopping online. Also in the news: Retirement resolutions for the new year, how to stay disciplined with your money, and how your credit card could boost your retirement savings.

Which is Safer? Paypal Or A Credit Card
With cyber attacks on the rise, which payment method is safer?

5 Retirement Resolutions For 2015
How to keep your retirement plans on track.

4 Ways to Stay Disciplined With Your Money
Tips to help you stay the course.

How to Build Your Retirement Savings Using a Credit Card
Your credit card rewards could help fund your retirement.

How to Reduce Your 2014 Tax Bill By Over $1,000
Contributing to your IRA could boost your refund.

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

Wills-in-TexasToday’s top story: Tips for writing your will. Also in the news: The most important thing to ask your financial advisor, how to spend the rest of your FSA money, and how to calculate your tax refund by checking out your pay stubs.

5 Tips for Writing Your Will
An unpleasant but absolutely necessary task.

The Most Important Question To Ask Your Financial Advisor
No, it’s not “can you make me rich?”

3 Tips to Use Remaining Health Flexible Spending Account Money
Don’t let your FSA money go to waste.

3 Ways to Calculate Your Tax Refund Using Your Pay Stub
Get a preview of next year’s bounty.

How to Stop Making Excuses and Finally Get Your Finances in Order
Excuses are for wimps.

Q&A: What to do with a big tax refund?

Dear Liz: I got a big tax refund this year and am trying to figure out what to do with the money. Right now I have school loans with a 4% interest rate that I do not need to make a payment on until 2024 with my current payment plan, but the amount I owe is pretty hefty and I know it’s going to compound more over time. I also have a very low-interest car loan (1.9%) that will be paid off in 31/2 years. I also could put that money in the market in hopes that it will grow. I should add I am 27 years old. Any advice?

Answer: Yes: Please review the terms of your student loans, because it’s likely you’ve misunderstood your obligation.

Federal education loans typically don’t allow you to go 10 years without payment, said financial expert Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of Edvisors Network.

“With federal education loans, the economic hardship deferment has a three-year limit and most forbearances have a three-year limit, with one or two having a five-year limit,” Kantrowitz said.

“One could potentially consolidate the loans after getting a deferment and forbearances to reset the clock and thereby get a new set of deferments and forbearances on a new loan. But most of the forbearances aren’t mandatory, so one can’t count on stacking deferments and forbearances to get a 10-year suspension of the repayment obligation.”

Another possibility is that you’ve signed up for an income-based repayment plan that has reduced your payment to zero, but your eligibility is determined year by year. “2024 is a very specific date, so it seems unlikely that this is [income-based repayment],” Kantrowitz said.

“The most likely scenario is this borrower is misunderstanding the terms of his loan,” Kantrowitz said. “The next most likely scenario is that this borrower is not referring to a qualified education loan, but to a particular personal loan that he was able to obtain that few other borrowers would be able to obtain.”

Whatever the case may be, one of the best uses for a windfall is to boost your retirement savings. Even if you don’t have a workplace plan, you could set up an IRA or a Roth IRA as long as you have earned income.

Once you’re on track for retirement, your next goal would be to build your emergency fund, since you don’t have any high-rate debt. Once those goals are met, you can start paying down lower-rate debt (such as your student loans).

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: Turning this year’s tax refund into next year’s savings. Also in the news: Growing your 401(k) at any age, four financial potholes you should swerve around, and what cyberscams you need to worry about in 2014.

How to Turn This Year’s Tax Refund Into Bigger Tax Savings Next Year
Making your tax refund work for the future.

How to grow your 401(k) at any age
Tips that work for both Boomers and Generation X.

The Four Financial Potholes that can deflate your dreams
You’ll need to swerve around them.

The CyberScams You Need to Worry About in 2014
It’s not just your home computer.

Savings Clubs: Not Just for Christmas Anymore
Clubs exist for virtually anything that requires savings.

Watch out for tax refund theft

Dear Liz: My cousin had his house broken into a little over a year ago. A lot of things were taken, but insurance replaced most of what he thought was missing. This year after he filed his return he was contacted by the IRS, which told him that a return using his information had already been filed and the refund check cashed. The IRS is investigating the situation now, but I really worry about what is going to happen to his Social Security in the future if someone else is using his numbers or those of his children. Do you have any information on what steps he should take?

Answer: Theft of tax refunds is a growing problem. In fact, tax identity theft is the No. 1 fraud on the IRS’ list of Dirty Dozen Tax Scams of 2012.

The fraud is often perpetrated by organized criminal gangs that con, steal or buy people’s personal information to create bogus returns. Some people fall right into the bad guys’ hands by responding to emails that purport to be from the IRS. (The IRS doesn’t email people to request personal or financial information.)

If the problem isn’t resolved within a few months, your cousin should contact the agency’s Identity Protection Specialized Unit at (800) 908-4490.

Since the criminals already have his Social Security number and other important financial information, he also should put security freezes on his credit reports at all three bureaus. Links to the bureaus and other information for identity theft victims can be found on the IRS’ site at http://www.irs.gov.