Ask Terry Archives

Hi Terry, My daughter is a Senior in high school in New Jersey on H4 visa. My husband, her father holds the H1 B visa and he has a valid SSN. We have neen in Nj for the past 10 yrs and taxed have been failed on time. We just got to know that she…

Is there an $$ amount limit on savings bonds that can be in a living trust?

My daughter just put a freeze on her credit through Equifax, because we read on their website her information may have been compromised in the recent breach. She will be applying with FASFA for her second year of dental school on October 1, 2017. Will the freeze prevent her from receiving federal loans?

I am now hearing commercials for "Home Title Lock" protection at about $10/month. Is that really necessary? What if you've already signed up for ID protection with someone like Lifelock and put a "credit freeze" in place with Trans Union and others. Can someone really transfer the title on your home without you being aware?…

I read there is a fourth credit reporting agency, Innovis (https://www.innovis.com/personal/securityFreeze), should a Credit Freeze be placed at this agency? Have already done the big three.

I saw you on WTTW and put out a fraud alert like you advised and each agency got back to me stating that it will be on for 90 days. Equifax is suggesting that I should enroll in Trusted ID Premier. It is their company which will guard my credit report a no charge. Is…

While two of the three credit reporting companies quickly and easily processed my request for a credit freeze, Experian processed my wife's request but denied mine. I have no idea why and it is impossible to find a human to clarify. Submit your info by the internet -NOTHING, try to call the number you have…

Having trouble on line to contact Equifax regarding the freeze Thank you Gail

What are the easiest scholarships available to apply for

Is it a good idea to take out a loan to pay off credit cards and students loans so that I would only have one payment per month? Thank you for your help.

Hi Terry, I'm in my 50's and I have some cash in my 401 but nearly not enough to retire on. How can I give it a boost as far as my allocations go and other things I may possibly save too? I don't feel like I'm being as aggressive as I could be. Any…

Could the Equifax breach harm my checking and saving accounts? How can I protect them?

Hi Terry, loved you for years! I left an employer that I worked for seven years and I left my pension there (401k I moved). What is your advice? Leave it, move it? Where to? It's worth about $40,000. Thanks so much!

what is the site or howto do a checkup on whole life policies policies?

I am in the process of purchasing a new car. I will need to finance a portion of the total cost. What happens if I put a freeze on my credit? I want to be protected from identity theft, but will a credit freeze affect me when applying for an auto loan?

Hi Terry I met with a financial advisor today She's from Wintrust. She recommends that i roll over my employer 403k into a ira and invest in bonds. i am retiring end of october 2017 I will be 65 in november 2017. I can't handle my job any longer. What can you tell me about…

Should I consider using LifeLock? If so should I hit my credit freeze before or after signing up for LifeLock? Thank you very much

I'm 58 and retired. I have money to invest but don't want risk exposure to a roller coaster market. I cannot open a Roth IRA because of no earned income. What is a good place to invest to minimize my exposure to taxes?

Once a person reaches 70 1/2 years of age and must start withdrawing from his/her IRA, the urgent question is: What investments can I use in my taxable account to minimize the federal income tax? (Florida has no state/city income taxes.) Do ETF's offer any tax advantages over Mutual Funds? Thank you in advance for…

Can the Equifax breach reveal any information that could be used to effect deposit accounts such as Bank CDs, 401s, IRAs, or Brokerage accounts? I don't know if any of these have a credit aspect. I have no credit open with them.