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As chief strategist/consumer education for Charles Schwab & Co. Inc., Schwab Pomerantz is a leading advocate for individual investors. She speaks and writes extensively about personal finance issues and is a driving force in the movement to improve financial literacy in America. As president of the Charles Schwab Foundation, she also oversees the company's philanthropic strategy and resources.
With her father, company founder, chairman and CEO Charles R. Schwab, Schwab Pomerantz co-authored "It Pays to Talk: How to Have the Essential Conversations With Your Family About Money and Investing," which Publishers Weekly called "a well-rounded primer that provides one-stop shopping for the many phases of financial understanding and planning."
Schwab Pomerantz is a sought-after speaker whose public appearances have included appearances on "The Today Show," CNBC and NPR. In 2001, Working Woman magazine recognized her as one of four “Market Movers” in America who are “rewriting the rules of finance,” and she was also recognized as one of the “25 power Elite” in the financial services industry by Investment News. For four consecutive years, The San Francisco Business Times has named her one of the San Francisco Bay Area’s 100 Most Influential Women in Business.
A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Schwab Pomerantz later earned a master’s degree in business administration from George Washington University. She holds NASD Series 7, 63 and 8 registrations.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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