We cover the basics and more about personal finance, answering frequently asked questions about credit and debt, identity theft, saving for college, retirement, estate planning, insurance, taxes, job hunting, and raising money-savvy kids. Check out the articles, columns, blog posts, radio shows and videos for tons of personal finance advice.
How to Insure a House in a Living Trust
How to insure a house in a living trust. This reader wants to know how insurance coverage works if policies are titled in the name of a living trust. Q: My insurance agent said the insurance company wants my policies (fire, wind and umbrella) titled in the name of my living trust. While doing some [...]
Coronavirus Stimulus Checks 2020: Will It Be Enough?
Coronavirus stimulus checks 2020: will it be enough? How to check your eligibility and how Americans plan to spend their stimulus checks from the CARES Act. The first round of Economic Impact Payments, the coronavirus relief stimulus checks included in the CARES Act, were deposited last week. That’s good news if you got yours and [...]
Is It Smart to Prepay Your Mortgage?
Is it smart to prepay your mortgage? These are the three different approaches to paying your mortgage that work for homeowners and investors. Q: I'm 83, have no mortgage, pay my credit cards in full each month and have no car payment. When I first started out in 1961, I bought a 52 chevy for [...]
Coronavirus 2020: 5 Things to Do During Quarantine
Coronavirus 2020: 5 things to do during quarantine. Fun and productive things to do when you’re bored at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. I don’t know about you, but we are almost a full 30 days into self-quarantining and it’s getting more difficult each day to stave off how stir-crazy my family is getting. It’s [...]
Coronavirus Relief: CARES Act 2020
Coronavirus relief: CARES Act 2020. How the $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill will help both families and businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of Coronavirus/COVID-19 cases in the U.S. continues to spike as more tests become available and states improve reporting procedures. In our coverage of the Coronavirus, we’ve watched the cases skyrocket from [...]
Families First Coronavirus Response Act: What You Need to Know
Families First Coronavirus Response Act: what you need to know. The new bill provides paid sick leave, free coronavirus testing and more for Americans. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) was signed into law on Wednesday, March 18th. It provides paid sick leave, free coronavirus testing, expands food assistance and unemployment benefits for Americans, [...]
4 Ways to Prepare for a Recession
4 ways to prepare for a recession. The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic points to signs of a global recession and now is the best time to prepare your finances. The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has caused financial stress to go through the roof, with all signs pointing to the start of a deep, prolonged global recession. The [...]
Credit 101: Are All Credit Scores the Same?
One of the most common credit misconceptions is that every individual has a single, unique credit score. However, if you’ve been following past articles in our Credit 101 series, you already know that isn’t the case. What’s the purpose of multiple, different credit scores? And why do credit scores often vary from one source to [...]
VIDEO: How Are Credit Scores Calculated?
In a 5-part series, Credit 101, Ilyce Glink, an award-winning personal finance columnist and CEO of the financial wellness platform Best Money Moves, details important information you need to know about your credit reports and scores. Create a myEquifax account (at www.myEquifax.com) to receive six free Equifax credit reports every 12 months. Watch [...]
Building Your Retirement Home
Building your retirement home. How to go about selling your current home and renting while your retirement home is built. Q: We live in Alaska. We have property in Washington that has a large shop on it and we also want to put a house next to it. We are selling our Alaska home and [...]