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 You Can Save $1 Million
Planning to save your first $1 million could go a long way toward securing your retirement lifestyle. “It’s definitely a reasonable goal in today’s world,” says Paul Cordero, a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) in California. “In fact, saving $1 million is just a starting point if you think about how long you may live.” Saving [...]
Six Tips to Prepare for a Hurricane
Hurricane season is in full swing, and if you’re in a coastal area, your property could be at risk. In the face of a storm, it’s important to prepare as best you can. Taking precautions beforehand may save you time and money after the storm makes a mess of your property. Consider these six tips [...]
4 Tips for Buying an Investment Home Near Campus
Would you buy a place to live for your kids in college? Would you make the purchase while your kids were in middle school? Apparently some overeager parents are buying their college-bound kids apartments near some top ivy schools, long before they’re even accepted. Real estate agent Ed Feijo of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in [...]
The Tax Implications of Renting Out Your Home
On a recent weekend, I visited the Malibu, Calif. area for brunch and a play. The restaurant had a rack of freebie publications, including a glossy homes-for-sale magazine. Wow! The homes and estates stunning—and so are the prices. The advertised monthly rental prices for Malibu homes and estates ranged from $20,000 to $100,000 per month. [...]
Older Americans Facing Increased Mortgage Debt
For many older homeowners, increasing mortgage debt is dulling the sheen on their golden years. Approximately 33 million Americans over the age of 65 own their homes, making them the age group with the highest homeownership rate. But according to a study by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released in May 2014, that asset [...]
Four Tax Tips for Newlyweds
The wedding is over, and you’re finally married. Congratulations! Now, let’s see if I can help you stay together. One of the biggest problems newlyweds face is dealing with money—especially today, when couples are getting married later in life and each person has established his or her own habits and relationship with money. It’s hard [...]
What Factors Influence My Homeowner’s Insurance Rates?
I remember buying my first home. It was a Victorian cottage on Long Island that I painted creamy yellow and carnation pink. I didn’t think about the cost of insurance when I bought it. I was young and naive; I only saw the beauty of that house. I didn’t even consider the insurance costs. As [...]
How Long Should I Keep My Tax Paperwork?
“How long should I keep my tax paperwork?” This is a tax question people ask me regularly, often while they are pleading to be released from the towering burden of mounds and mounds of tax records. It’s probably not practical to store the paperwork forever, but you know my “rule of records”: the minute you [...]
What You Need to Know About Inheritance Taxes
Getting an inheritance can be such a bittersweet experience. You might receive lots of money or special mementos from the deceased, but the person with whom you’d like to share the experience is gone. During this trying time, it’s likely that the last thing on your mind is taxes. But taxes are an important consideration [...]
How Much Does It Really Cost to Have a Baby?
When my husband and I were preparing for the birth of our son nearly 12 years ago, we were daunted by everything we were told we were supposed to have. It looked as though having a baby would bankrupt us. Today, costs are higher, and the list of things you should supposedly have for baby [...]