The bear market has been especially painful for parents of college students or children about to attend college. Their “529” tax-advantaged, education-savings plans—which families can...
Personal Finances
All Personal Finances Articles
Dealing with Post-Pandemic Financial Upheaval
The pandemic’s daunting psychological challenges are largely behind us. Now it’s time to deal with the financial challenges. These are uncertain, upsetting, unprecedented economic times....
401(k) Prediction
Too rattled to look at your 401(k) statements in recent months? At the very least, peek at a new feature mandated by the US Department...
Beware: 6 Common Health Coverage Misconceptions
How well do you understand your health coverage? In the world of health insurance and, to a lesser extent, Medicare, a single misstep can trigger...
Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap
Should you sign up for a Medigap plan, a Medicare Advantage plan or neither when you become eligible at age 65? Consider these factors… ...
Analysts Worth Listening To
Wall Street analysts wield enormous influence on investors even though most have only mediocre track records—in fact, more than half of their buy ratings generate...
Problem With Gift Cards
Who doesn’t love a gift card? Certainly I do. In fact, for one of my favorite retailers, I have accumulated three over the last year...
Stop Paying Annoying Bank Fees
Banking fees are frustrating…and often unfair. Here’s how to determine your financial institution’s potential charges…and avoid paying them. Request disclosure. Banks are required by the...
Strategies to Simplify Your Money… and Your Life
When we look to improve or alter our financial lives, we instinctively add stuff. The result? An unwieldy mess of too many credit cards, accounts,...
What to Do If Your Pension Plan “De-Risks”
If you have a defined-benefit pension from your employer, you could face a common scenario—your company may decide to offload the hassles of maintaining this...
RMDs in Today’s Bear Market
The bear market is a double dose of bad news for many retirees. Not only has the value of their portfolios plunged, but once they...
Is the 60-40 Portfolio Dead?
For decades, an allocation of 60% stocks and 40% bonds was a winning strategy that provided strong annual returns with ample protection in volatile markets....
