Carrie Schwab Pomerantz

Carrie Schwab Pomerantz

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New Marriage, New Family Finances: What's Fair

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Dec 28, 2011)

Dear Carrie: I'm about to get married for the second time. I have two kids, 8 and 10, and my fiancee has two teenagers. Everyone gets along well, but my husband-to-be... more

Helping Your Kid Buy a Home -- Before You Write the Check

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Dec 21, 2011)

Dear Carrie: What is the best way for me to help my 30-year-old son buy a house? I'm 64 and about to retire in the next year or so. I have enough in my retirement fund to... more

What Can You Do When an Inheritance Threatens Family Harmony?

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Dec 14, 2011)

Dear Carrie: My elderly mother is very ill, and we don't expect her to live much longer. My four siblings and I have expected to inherit a reasonable sum, but I just saw a... more

Can You Avoid Paying Income Taxes on a Charitable Gift From Your IRA?

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Dec 07, 2011)

Dear Carrie: Can you make a gift to charity from your Individual Retirement Account in 2011 and not have to pay a tax? --A ReaderDear Reader: I'm glad you're asking this... more

Is Preferred Stock Preferable?

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Nov 30, 2011)

Dear Carrie: Are preferred stocks safer and less volatile than regular stocks? --A Reader Dear Reader: I'm rarely asked about preferred stock, so I'm happy to shed some... more

Will Uncle Sam Take a Bite Out of Your Gift?

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Nov 23, 2011)

Dear Carrie: If I gift my entire $1,300,000 to my grandson, does he have to pay income taxes on the gift? --A ReaderDear Reader: Questions regarding the tax treatment for... more

Borrowing from Your IRA

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Nov 17, 2011)

Dear Carrie: I know you can borrow from a 401(k), but can you also borrow from an IRA? And if so, could I take $3,000 out of my Roth and return it within 60 days without... more

Can You Use Your SEP-IRA to Pay for College?

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Nov 09, 2011)

Dear Carrie: How do I withdraw money from my SEP to reimburse myself for my daughter's education? --A ReaderDear Reader: To give you a specific answer to your question, I'd... more

For Older Workers: How Long Can You Contribute to Your 401(k)?

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Nov 02, 2011)

Dear Carrie: I am over 73 years old. Can I still contribute to my 401(k) and, if so, how much per year? --A ReaderDear Reader: You can indeed! As long as you're working and... more

What's the Best Way to Start Saving?

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Oct 26, 2011)

Dear Carrie: I'm 28 years old and not quite sure how I can save -- for either buying a home or something personal. Where do I begin? Do I still have a chance? --A ReaderDear... more

What's The Best Way to Invest for Your Grandchildren's College Education?

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Oct 20, 2011)

Dear Carrie: I have $85,000 to invest for my grandchildren's education. Where would you suggest I invest it? -- A ReaderDear Reader: I applaud your idea wholeheartedly, with... more

Does a Surviving Spouse Always Collect 100 Percent of Social Security Benefits?

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Oct 12, 2011)

Dear Carrie: Does my wife collect 100 percent of my Social Security benefits at my death? Thank you. -- BertDear Bert: I wish I could provide you with a quick answer to such... more

Giving Stock or Cash: What's Better?

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Oct 06, 2011)

Dear Carrie: Is it better to gift stock or cash to a charity or university? -- A ReaderDear Reader: Especially in tough economic times, like these when people in general have... more

Wise to Consider Long-Term Care Insurance

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Sep 28, 2011)

Dear Carrie: I'm 55 years old and trying to be smart about planning for my retirement years. What I'm struggling with is whether buying long-term care insurance makes sense.... more

Dear Carrie: Is it Time to Get Out of the Market?

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Sep 24, 2011)

Dear Carrie: Should I get out of the market until it settles down? --A ReaderDear Reader: If only there were a simple yes or no answer to this question, we'd all feel a... more

Does It Make Sense to Prepay College Tuition?

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Sep 15, 2011)

Dear Carrie: We just sent our daughter off for her first year of college -- and wrote a big, fat check for her private university's tuition, room and board. We don't qualify... more

You're Ready to Invest -- or are You?

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Sep 07, 2011)

Dear Carrie: I'm 27 and finally in a situation where I can save some money. Last year, I was even able to put $5,000 in a Roth IRA. But now what? Everyone tells me to start... more

Reverse Mortgages

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Aug 31, 2011)

Dear Carrie: I'm 68 and my husband is 73. Like many retired people, the value of our savings has gone down in the last few years. It's coming back, but we'd feel better if we... more

Baby On the Way

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Aug 10, 2011)

Dear Carrie: We're expecting our first child soon and there's so much to think about! Everyone tells us to start saving for college right away, but that's so far in the... more

The Plan for Cash

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Aug 03, 2011)

Dear Carrie: In today's market, if investors decide to sit on the sidelines for a while, it seems like there's nowhere to park our funds and get a decent return until we're... more

Spend That Savings

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Jul 27, 2011)

Dear Carrie: My husband and I are both in our early 60s and plan to retire in a couple of years. We count ourselves among the lucky who have been able to save a reasonable... more

Better than a Credit Card

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Jul 20, 2011)

Dear Carrie: I've recently incurred some $4000 in credit card debt for an unexpected pet illness. Would it be a good idea to take out a personal loan to pay off the... more

Aggressive Investments for Short-Term

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Jul 14, 2011)

Dear Carrie: I have $34,000 dollars in an IRA that I want to diversify in aggressive stocks. I retire in five years. How should I do this? -- Michael   Dear... more

Social Security and Spousal Benefits

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Jul 06, 2011)

Dear Carrie: I read your article on filing at 66 and suspending benefits until age 70, so my spouse could start her benefits. Can we do this when she is 62, or does she have... more

Retirement Without Work

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Jun 29, 2011)

Dear Carrie: Can you put money in an IRA or a Roth IRA if you don't have wage income? -- A Reader Dear Reader: Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) were... more

Times Like This Call for Big Picture Thinking

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Jun 22, 2011)

Dear Carrie: What's a good way to see if I'm making good investment choices? With several retirement accounts plus a brokerage account, it's hard to keep track of my... more

Don't Raid the 401k

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Jun 15, 2011)

Dear Carrie: If you're younger than 59 1/2, is it possible to withdraw money from your 401(k) without having to pay it back? -- A ReaderDear Reader: In difficult times, a... more

Working Teens for College

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Jun 14, 2011)

Dear Carrie: My daughter is 15. I'd really like her to work this summer and save to help pay for college. I have a college savings account for her, but I think it's important... more

Living Within Smaller Means

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Jun 08, 2011)

Dear Carrie: I just graduated with a business degree and was lucky to find a job in Los Angeles. I'm excited, but a bit worried, too, because the job doesn't pay... more

529 Plans: A Great Idea But Know The Rules

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (May 25, 2011)

Dear Carrie: I have several questions about 529 plans. I live in New York and my grandchildren live in California. Does it matter what state I open the account in? Does my... more

Number 4? Invest More Agressively

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (May 19, 2011)

Dear Carrie: I was out of work for 14 months and had to dip into my retirement savings to make it. I am working again and want to "catch-up." What strategies would you... more

Retirement without the Match

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (May 11, 2011)

Dear Carrie: My company for has not made any contributions to our 401(k) for over two years. Does it still make sense to stay in this retirement plan? -- AnnDear Ann: I'm a... more

Give Away Tax-Free

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (May 04, 2011)

Dear Carrie: For gift tax purposes, do you have until April 15 to make a gift for the previous calendar year, similar to an IRA? Also, what happened to the one-time gift of... more

Paying Off Student Loans

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Apr 29, 2011)

Dear Carrie: I just graduated from nursing school and am carrying several student loans -- both federal and private. I don't have to start repaying them for a few months, but... more

Paying for College: Can I Borrow From my IRA?

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Apr 13, 2011)

Dear Carrie: Can I borrow from an IRA account to pay for my daughter's college education? What are the parameters and pitfalls? -- A Reader Dear Reader: Your question... more

The Earned Income Tax Credit: Is it Worth the Effort?

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Mar 24, 2011)

Dear Carrie: My daughter is a single mother who doesn't make a lot of money. I'm helping her file her tax return. I've heard something about an Earned Income Tax Credit, but... more

Who Qualifies for the Zero Percent Capital Gains Tax Rate?

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Mar 09, 2011)

Dear Carrie: If a family makes less than $68,000 a year, aren't they exempt from the capital gains tax? -- A ReaderDear Reader: With all the political discussion surrounding... more

Jean Chatzky Speaks to Parents of Teens: Yes, Your Kids Want to Learn About Money!

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Mar 02, 2011)

This week, Carrie interviews Jean Chatzky, financial expert, journalist and author of several books, including "Not Your Parents' Money Book: Making, Spending, and Saving... more

A Short Course in Student Loan Management

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Feb 23, 2011)

Dear Carrie: I'm in college, and next semester my student loan goes directly to me for the first time. Since it must last the whole school year, I'm worried it won't make... more

Turn Your Temporary Tax Break into Permanent Savings

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Feb 16, 2011)

Dear Carrie: I understand that I'm going to get a tax break this year. Something to do with the Social Security tax. What does this mean for me? -- A ReaderDear Reader:... more

Can Finance and Romance Go Hand in Hand?

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Feb 09, 2011)

Dear Carrie: My fiance and I are tying the knot in April. We're in our late 30s and are really looking forward to our new life together. My big concern is that we haven't... more

Your Child's Assets and Financial Aid: What Counts and What Doesn't

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Feb 02, 2011)

Dear Carrie: If my child has a custodial Roth IRA, is that considered the child's asset for financial aid purposes? -- A ReaderDear Reader: I can answer your specific... more

Is it Time to Switch From Individual Stocks to Mutual Funds?

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Jan 26, 2011)

Dear Carrie: I've been able to closely follow the markets in the past, but I am busy now. I've pared down speculative stocks, but I continue to carry some blue chips.Is it... more

Need to Redirect Your Spending? Let Your Goals be Your Guide

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Jan 19, 2011)

Dear Carrie: My husband and I have been together for five years and are now in our mid-20s. We've never bothered to save before, so our debt is rising a little more each... more

Managing a Windfall: Don't Be Terrified Instead Be Proactive

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Jan 12, 2011)

Dear Carrie: On my 25th birthday, I gained control of a trust of $100,000 left to me by a family member. This is a lot of money for me, and I'm terrified of touching it. I've... more

First Steps for Your Baby's Financial Future

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz (Jan 05, 2011)

Dear Carrie: I've just had a baby! Things are pretty crazy in my house right now, but I want to be sure that I give my daughter every possible opportunity. I have a little... more