Ask Terry Archives

I signed up for what I thought was a rewards card, but it ended up being a credit card. It has not been activated yet. How do I go about cancelling this without it affecting my credit score? Thanks

at my "late retirement" I want to get out of stocks to limit risk. My objective is secure preservation first, profit/income next. What should I do with a 500k portfolio?

You mentioned a website to help with scholarship searching last week. What website was that?

vI am going to convert some of my IRA to a ROTH this year. I have the money outside of my IRA to pay the taxes. Do you know if I need to pay estimated taxes on the conversation or just pay the cost when I file my 2017 taxes. I am thinking I will…

I have a 457 that I will be able to draw down due to my age I need your help on how to invest it or were to invest it

I quick claim my property to someone six years ago to prevent losing it and am now requesting her name be taken off my deed and the mortgage she has never contributed to paying one penny towards the mortgage I think she now want get my home after my death please help me yes I've…

I am a 57 year old small business owner. We built a home 11 years ago and have refinanced from 30 to 20 to 15 years as rates dropped and business was strong. We now have 15 year mortgage at 2.65%. I am currently paying biweekly to pay off our home more quickly as it…

My daughter in law has 2 private Chase student loans totaling $67,000 at 8% interest!(Dumb, I know!) She says she cannot consolidate them because they are not Direct loans they are private. I think she is wrong. Can you point me in the right direction? Thanks-Lynn

My husband and I are retired and living comfortably. We owe 87,000.00 on our home. My husband wants to pay off our house but I think we need the tax deduction. What do you suggest?

Hi Terry Your articles on this topic are really insightful -have gone thru all of them. I had a quick question. I have 2 IL prepaid plans (bought in 2012) for my 2 kids (currently aged 9 and 4). I have a 10 year equal payment plan - have paid 5 years as of now.…

I'm 62 and have approximately 10,000 in credit card debt from my daughter's wedding. I have a traditional IRA and a 401k that I can't touch while still employed. Should I withdraw 5,000 from IRA to pay down some of this debt? We live on a tight budget because I have 20% of my salary…

Hello Terry, I will graduate from college next year with a BS in Chemistry but I already have a job that pays more than minimum wage. In the course of 4 years I have invested $9,000 hoping for long term gains for my future. I still live with my parents, as they don't mind my…

I have $10K to pay off about half of my credit card debt (thanks to my father). Is the smartest thing to pay off the ones with the highest interest, largest balance, or largest minimum payment?

I recall reading your column on starting investing with a small monthly amount, I believe it was with penny stocks. Can you please advise me. Thanks.

We are first time grandparents and would like to start putting money aside for our grandchilds college education. Which programs are best?

I have, in the past, added the taxes I have paid to my original cost basis. I have a self directed Merrill Edge account which automatically reinvests my dividends. Do I still add the taxes paid to the currant value associated with the cost basis?

Do you really need one and if so can you tell me good ones to choose from and what to stay away from. I don't want to get scammed . I will be 65 in August and all this is haunting me.

I have read your response to a reader that said paying 2 percent on a managed account is way too much. My question is, is 1 percent also too much? We currently have funds in managed accounts. When I have asked our broker about the monthly fees, he has reported that even with the fees,…

I see questions about whether or not to work with a "financial adviser" being asked all the time. My "learned the hard way" advise: DON'T! If you absolutely want to spend your money on "advise" go FEE ONLY. Most of the "financial advisers" working for/with Financial Firms are merely Sales Agents! Do some homework. Stay…

How can the athomeillinois program be helpful to a first time home buyer having trouble coming up with a down payment?