Four steps to protect against elder financial abuse
Chances are, you may have been swindled at some point in your life, or you know someone who has. Nearly half of consumers surveyed recently by Stanford University's Center on Longevity and the Finra Investor Education Foundation reported being a victim of financial fraud in the previous year — a far higher tally than earlier surveys indicated. No socioeconomic or demographic group is... READ MORE
How to stop getting annoying robo calls
Your phone rings, and a perky voice announces that she is "Heather from card services," and she has important news for you. You know Heather is a recording and that the low interest rate she's promoting is a scam. You hang up. Robo calls that use sales pitches or scare tactics to siphon your money are on the rise. Unwanted calls have topped the Federal Communications Commission's list of ... READ MORE
Don’t panic dealing with credit card fraud
When at work one day, Amanda Abella’s wallet was stolen from her purse. Before she realized it was missing, she began receiving texts from her bank about unusual account activity. It was the first time she had experienced fraud on her debit and credit cards. Resolving fraudulent transactions on her debit card proved difficult and time-consuming. But reversing the unauthorized credit... READ MORE
How do you know when it’s time to retire?
My college roommate, Molly, recently invited me to a mini reunion to mark the 50th anniversary of our high school graduation. Inevitably, the conversation turned to retirement: who was thinking about it, who had done it, how it was working out. One classmate, Marie, had retired as a school psychologist. Another, Karen, had repurposed her skills to start a new part-time career after being ... READ MORE
Are you obligated to support your parents?
Question: My retired parents are having a hard time paying for their modest living expenses in Florida, and they might be facing home healthcare or nursing home costs soon. I think my siblings and I should all chip in, but my brother is balking. He says we have no moral obligation to help our parents, and that’s what government assistance is for. What do you think? Answer: I’m... READ MORE
Some of the best things you can get for free
Only one thing beats getting a good price on something, and that’s getting it for free. Our list of freebies is packed with something-for-nothing deals. We don’t allow any useless junk on our list — only quality goods and services that you would happily pay good money for (perhaps you’re already doing so). Go ahead. Put away your wallet. We insist! Free podcasts Whether you... READ MORE
After writing a will, create an estate plan
Most people have a will. But a simple will often doesn’t cover some complex issues facing your heirs, which is why I recommend an estate plan. I work with doctors, accountants and other professionals, small-business owners, and people getting ready to retire. They may have a will and a trust for their children, but an estate plan answers three fundamental questions: What you want... READ MORE
The challenges of aging in the workplace
Teresa Ghilarducci is an economics professor at the New School for Social Research in New York and the director of its Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis. She has written extensively on money and retirement, including her newest book, Rescuing Retirement (Columbia University Press, $25) with Tony James, president of the Blackstone Group. In this lightly edited conversation with ... READ MORE
How to make the most of rising CD rates
As the Federal Reserve hikes interest rates, banks have been more generous in boosting yields on short-term certificates of deposit than on other types of deposit accounts. Even brick-and-mortar institutions — which lag Internet banks when it comes to pushing up rates on deposit accounts — are loosening the CD purse strings. Recently, with a $5,000 minimum deposit you could earn as... READ MORE
Ways to maximize returns on your cash
Savers with high cash balances face a conundrum: How can they earn competitive yields without sacrificing federal deposit insurance coverage? As the Federal Reserve raises interest rates, the question takes on greater urgency. Some banks are now offering yields north of 2 percent, which is the Fed’s inflation target, “so for the first time in more than a decade, savers are in a... READ MORE
