Personal Finance
Keep Cash Safe or Invest in 401(k)
Should you keep your cash safe or invest your money in your 401(k) or Roth IRA. Where should you invest your money given recent events? Q: With interest rates as they are and investments frequently losing money, does it make …
Bankruptcy Cancels Debt Not Mortgage
Bankruptcy may cancel your debts and obligations, but secured lenders keep their debts alive in their mortgages and foreclosures may continue. Q: Due to my cancer diagnosis, and subsequent expenses, my wife and I filed bankruptcy in 2010. Just a …
Reporting Fraud and Bankruptcy
If you suspect fraudulent transfers in a bankruptcy case, you may have to report the fraud and hope the trustee in the case comes to help you. Q: How do I report a fraudulent bankruptcy after suing our seller? The …
Paying Off Mortgage Early With Lump Sum Cash Payment
Paying off mortgage early with lump sum cash payment may be a good solution for some, but loss of that cash for emergencies may limit options. Q: I have a certificate of deposit (CD) worth over $70,000. I wonder if …
Bankruptcy Discharge Of Mortgage Does Not Release Lien
Bankruptcy discharge of mortgage debt does not release lien on property and payments on mortgage loan may not benefit credit history. Q: We successfully signed a loan modification with our lender two years ago. It took forever to get the …
Update Your Will For Proper Estate Planning
Good estate planning requires you to update your will to make sure your wishes are met and your heirs aren’t left wondering whether your wishes were satisfied. Q: Our mother passed away quite suddenly. She had her old will out …
Should I Prepay My Mortgage
You’ll often hear people ask whether they should prepay their mortgages, and for many it makes sense to prepay. Q: I hear and see so many financial advisors and experts recommending that people pay off their mortgages by making an …
Condominium Insurance Requirement Set By The Board
If you live in a condominium building, you should have insurance coverage for your personal property and for the interior of your condominium. Requirements are usually set by the board of your condominium association. Q: We live in Virginia and …
Problem Lending Money To Family Member With Divorce
Lending money to family and friends can lead to problems, particularly if they get divorced. Recovering the money may be even harder. Q: My wife and I are in our late 60′s and two years ago we loaned my son …
Roth 401k vs 401k Contributions
Should you make your contributions into a Roth 401k (post tax money) or make contributions to a non-Roth 401k (pre tax money). Q: My husband and I are trying to determine whether he should continue to make retirement contributions into …
