Personal Finances

Problem With Gift Cards
Money Savers

Problem With Gift Cards

Kelli McCourt | October 2, 2022

Who doesn’t love a gift card? Certainly  I do. In fact, for one of my favorite retailers, I have accumulated…

Stop Paying Annoying Bank Fees
Banking

Stop Paying Annoying Bank Fees

Ken Tumin | September 21, 2022

Banking fees are frustrating…and often unfair. Here’s how to determine your financial institution’s potential charges…and avoid paying them. Request disclosure.…

Strategies to Simplify Your Money… and Your Life
Personal Finances

Strategies to Simplify Your Money… and Your Life

Rob Bertman, CFA, CFP | September 15, 2022

When we look to improve or alter our financial lives, we instinctively add stuff. The result? An unwieldy mess of…

What to Do If Your Pension Plan “De-Risks”
Personal Finances

What to Do If Your Pension Plan “De-Risks”

Dana Anspach, CFP | August 21, 2022

If you have a defined-benefit pension from your employer, you could face a common scenario—your company may decide to offload…

RMDs in Today’s Bear Market
Personal Finances

RMDs in Today’s Bear Market

Ed Slott, CPA | August 6, 2022

The bear market is a double dose of bad news for many retirees. Not only has the value of their…

Is the 60-40 Portfolio Dead?
Personal Finances

Is the 60-40 Portfolio Dead?

Scott Ladner | August 3, 2022

For decades, an allocation of 60% stocks and 40% bonds was a winning strategy that provided strong annual returns with…

Medical Malpractice: How to Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones
Money Savers

Medical Malpractice: How to Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones

Stephan Landsman, JD | August 1, 2022

Injury or infection caused by medical treatment is one of the leading causes of death in the US. In fact,…

Take Steps to Lower Your Cell-Phone Bill Now
Personal Finances

Take Steps to Lower Your Cell-Phone Bill Now

Barry Gross | July 15, 2022

Even if you don’t keep a close eye on your cell-phone bill, you’ve still probably gotten the sinking feeling that…

The Bond-Fund Meltdown
Banking

The Bond-Fund Meltdown

Robert M. Brinker, CFS | June 21, 2022

Bonds are supposed to be steady, reliable, even boring investments—but they’ve created plenty of drama this year. The Bloomberg US…

Gas Cards: Not The Best Way To Save
Money Savers

Gas Cards: Not The Best Way To Save

Ted Rossman | June 5, 2022

With gas prices hitting record highs, Americans are looking for ways to save at the pump. One possibility: A gas…

Best Credit Cards for 2022
Credit & Debt

Best Credit Cards for 2022

Sara ­Rathner | June 4, 2022

Prices and interest rates are rising fast, and consumers are facing a range of changes in 2022—does that mean they…

Car-Rental Insurance Traps
Money Savers

Car-Rental Insurance Traps

Christopher Elliott | May 21, 2022

Car-rental companies just love to sell you insurance—even though most customers are already protected by their personal policies and/or credit…

Home-Stretch Money Troubles
Personal Finances

Home-Stretch Money Troubles

Mitch Reiner, CFP | May 18, 2022

There is no good time to endure a major financial setback, but in or near retirement is an especially bad…

The Financial Risk of Early Decision
Personal Finances

The Financial Risk of Early Decision

Mark Kantrowitz | May 8, 2022

Students who apply to a college for “early decision” and who are accepted commit to enrolling in that school. Problem:…

15 Fuel-Saving Driving Strategies
Money Savers

15 Fuel-Saving Driving Strategies

Wayne Gerdes | May 4, 2022

The recent run-up in fuel prices is straining budgets and making some drivers wonder why they bought gas-guzzling SUVs and…