When to go with your gut with investing
There are four ways to invest in stocks. You can buy a low-cost index fund, with holdings that reflect an entire market or a broad swath of one. You can buy a managed fund, hiring an expert to do the stock picking. You can conscientiously study data from individual companies and invest in their shares. Or you can buy stock in companies that appeal to you subjectively — that is, invest... READ MORE
What to do with yourself after retirement
I recently read an interesting article about retirees who become depressed and bored — even ones on sound financial footing — because they haven’t found enough activities to keep them busy. I have been retired now for over 20 years, and I am fortunate to have found enough activities to keep me very busy and not bored at all. No doubt, the things I do won’t interest a lot of... READ MORE
How to find the right online bank for you
Q: I want to open an online high-yield savings or money market account. But because these are new to me, I’m trying to perform due diligence somehow. Is there anything I need to know or beware of before signing up? online pharmacy buy zovirax online no prescription A: Start your search at Bankrate.com or Depositaccounts.com. Online banks don’t have branches you can walk into to ask ... READ MORE
Paying for schooling with savings bonds
Q: Can I use my series EE or I bonds to pay for a grandchild’s college — and save on taxes? A: Yes, you can redeem savings bonds to help cover the cost of college — and in some cases the interest the bonds earn won’t be subject to federal income tax. But as a grandparent, you’ll likely have to jump through some hoops and meet income limits to avoid the tax. Under the... READ MORE
Costs add up with subscription services
Sure, it’s nice to have your groceries delivered now and then. Ditto dinner. Want to stream your favorite movies? Why not? Curated clothes and books sent to your home? Yes, please. Subscription services are attractive because they’re easy to sign up for and come with a minimal monthly financial commitment. But the small costs can add up, and prices can increase over... READ MORE
More work past age 65 in D.C. metro area
Workers in major metropolitan areas, especially in the Northeast and around Washington, D.C., are more likely to continue working past age 65 than are those in other areas of the country, according to an analysis of Census data by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. “Those are the areas where all of the jobs are, really,” said Anqi Chen, assistant director... READ MORE
Taking Social Security too early is costly
It’s tough to decide when to start taking Social Security benefits, and it appears many people are shorting themselves with their choice. A new study finds that only 4% of retirees start claiming their Social Security benefits at the most financially optimal time. Current retirees collectively will lose $3.4 trillion in potential income to fund their retirement because they started... READ MORE
Don’t let your kids wreck retirement plans
Are your kids putting your retirement at risk? Parents of adult children give their kids about $500 billion annually — double the amount they contribute to their own retirement accounts, according to recent research by Merrill Lynch and Age Wave. And roughly half of parents in a recent Bankrate survey said that paying their adult children’s bills was jeopardizing their own... READ MORE
With interest rates down, time for a refi?
Interest rates for mortgages are low — really low. As of the first week of June, long-term mortgage rates were down for the sixth consecutive week. The 30-year fixed rate average was below 4%, its lowest point since September 2017. If you’re a homeowner, you may be wondering if now’s the time to refinance. Here’s what to consider: Reason It’s important to know why you want ... READ MORE
How to make your retirement money last
Many people worry about running out of money in retirement. That’s understandable, since we don’t know how long we’ll live, what our future costs might be, and what kind of returns we can expect on our savings. There are several ways, however, to boost the odds that your money will last as long as you need it. Among them: Reduce ‘must have’ expenses Lowering your fixed... READ MORE
