Terry Savage’s Archives
Below you will find the columns terry has written by date.
Below you will find the columns terry has written by date.
Estate Planning for Pets
Have you made plans for your pets in case you die before they do? Sadly, there are too many dogs and cats in shelters because their owners died and made no provisions for their care. This is not just a topic for the elderly to think about. Young singles with pets could face the same..
FAFSA Time, Again
October 1st is the first day you can file your Free Application for Federal Student Aid for the school year 2018-2019 – to access more than $120 billion of Federal student aid, including work/study programs, grants, and scholarships. Don't procrastinate! Read It Here
Check Your Life Insurance — Before it Runs Out!
If you have a life policy that is intended to build cash value over time, and you haven’t had an insurance checkup in the past few years, it’s time to find out whether your policy will last as long as your life. Read It Here
Equifax Data Breach — What to Do!
Equifax knows you – even if you don’t know them. They are one of the three large credit bureaus that collect information on all your financial transactions. And now they've suffered a data breach that could affect nearly every adult American. What should you know; what should you do? Read It Here
Harvey Will Hurt
There’s no way to measure the pain and anguish Hurricane Harvey inflicted on Houston area residents, many of whom were uninsured, and many of whom lost a lifetime of memories that can’t be replaced by the insurance they have. But Harvey will also make a big dent in economic growth for the entire country and..
Retirement and the Single Woman
More women spend more time living alone. And that’s having a big impact on retirement planning. Read It Here
Hidden Risk in Target Date Funds
Target date funds slowly reduce equity (stock) exposure as a worker reaches retirement age. It’s called a “glide path.” Still, most target date funds leave people highly invested in stocks — and exposed to stock market risk — in the years approaching retirement. But now some experts argue that stock exposure should be reduced far..
New Apps Make Money Easier
The world of financial apps and platforms has grown more creative and clever as a generation that lives without paper gravitates toward digital financial control. Here are three worth reviewing. Read It Here
Mind Over Money — Don’t Let Emotions Rule
All the rational financial discussions in the world won’t get you to your goals if you don’t understand the role your emotions play when it comes to money. Read It Here
When Will the Market “Correct”?
The current correction-less period of 17.2 months is by far the longest in this market cycle, which has actually seen 14 declines of greater than 5 percent since this bull market started in 2009 Read It Here
Avoid Student Loan Debt Repayment Scams
Americans owe more than $1.34 trillion on student loans — more than credit card debt or car loan debt. Yet it seems that many student loan borrowers are woefully uneducated about how to repay that debt. In fact, far too many fall victim to student loan debt repayment scams. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has..
Lazy Money Days of Summer
The lazy days of summer are not conducive to taking on money projects. But here are five things you could do this summer to improve your financial future. Read It Here
What’s Up (or Down) With Gold?
Gold once made headlines as a safe haven in uncertain times. Now it is considered mostly a trading commodity, a portfolio diversification or a refuge for doomsayers. In fact, gold is so out of fashion that it might be time to take another look at the gold market. Read It Here
“Private” 529 Prepaid Tuition Plan
What if you could eliminate the middleman — the state promise — and go directly to the best institutions to get a guaranteed prepayment of tuition at any of them, knowing that no matter how high tuition costs rise, you have purchased future tuition at today’s prices? That’s the premise of the Private College 529..
How Long to Keep Financial Records
How long should you keep financial papers and records? If you’re overwhelmed with stuff, it’s important to be organized and thoughtful, so you don’t throw out important papers that might one day help you prove you don’t owe taxes. Read It Here
Fiduciary Fees – Part 2: Getting Good Advice
Many investors want to have a personal relationship with a financial adviser, a personal touch. But what IS good advice -- and how much should you pay for it? Read It Here
Fiduciary Fee Fight (Part 1)
The Department of Labor’s fiduciary rule is going into effect despite the efforts of financial firms to block it. In fact, Wall Street has found a way to profit from the new rules big time at the expense of vulnerable American investors. Read It Here
Reverse Mortgages: A Personal Story
I have long been a fan of reverse mortgages — if they are done in the right circumstances and for the right reasons. Regular readers of this column know I always put my money where my mouth is. And in the case of reverse mortgages, I want to give you a very personal example. Read..
Time to Rebalance Stock Exposure
As the market reaches all-time highs again and again, the value of your stocks might have started to overwhelm your appropriate asset allocation — especially if you’re nearing retirement and soon will need to start making required annual withdrawals. Read It Here
5 Essential Steps to Estate Planning
Planning your estate does not require you to have a lot of assets. But protecting your family’s future — your home equity and your family’s ability to maintain their lifestyle in your absence — requires you to take some simple steps now to avoid the long and costly court procedure called probate. Read It Here
