Ask Terry Archives

a friend is asking me to invest in bitcoins with him. Is this safe and legal ? Or is it a pyramid type investment?

When doing a revocable living trust what is included or necessary within the trust? Seems when you talk to attorneys they attempt to sale you all these additional services that add up and before you know it you are several thousand dollars into the process. What would be the most economic way to have one…

I have 2 stocks that are losers Green Hunter Energy and Bretburn Energy. Can I sell them and get a write off on my taxes? Should I sell just one or both to get the tax write off? Should I do it now before the possible new tax laws?

My first question was the other day what was the name of the website for people that can invest with no minimums. Well I found out that it's stockpile.com I've called different locations regarding the stockpile gift card most people are dumb phone and have no idea what it is. Is that what we're supposed…

Hello, and thank you for your time. I have 2 small businesses and was looking at offering insurance. I saw your article on the small business special enrollment period. When I go to the site you reference, I do not see "find insurance for your business" I see find plans, then small business and then…

How to get your free financial organizer

My husband is 72. He has been paying approximately $1000 a year for Whole Life insurance. He had to purchase it when we purchased the house - to cover the loan. The house is now paid for. Is it still practical to continue the Whole Life? OR - change to a different insurance policy? I…

Hello Terry. I am new to your site but not new to listening to you. Are commercial mortgage bridge loans a good thing? Thanks. Jennifer

I retired early at age 62 and need to choose new health coverage. I can get my employer's retiree plan for 3 years with a very high premium, or COBRA at a lower premium but only for 18 months. That would then push me towards ACA. With so much uncertainty about the future of ACA,…

Good day Terry, My wife (age 47) owns her own business selling agricultural land in southern CA and is currently is getting health care through the ACA paying full premium and no discounts. She has no employees. Are there any better financial options. We appreciated your Small businesses get a break on insurance article this…

I have an older 403B plan from a previous employer. The balance is less than $50,000. I am retired and currently in the 15% tax bracket for the next few years as I am not yet drawing my pension. Since I am in the lower tax bracket for now, I was thinking of converting my…

My wife is currently covered under my job's insurance. August 2018 she will be 65-even though she will still be under my job insurance do she still need to enroll in Medicare? My retirement plan is another 6 years away. I work for a small firm with 20 employees. Thank You

I've been retired from USPS now going I to my 3rd year. I have 243,816.00 in my TSP. I withdraw $860 each month from my TSP and I have them take $200 for federal taxes. I receive $825 from my postal RETIREMENT based on my 26 yrs,10 months and 5 days. My Social Security is$1448…

My daughter is looking at investments and retirement. She is 30 years old and has a municipal position with a vested pension plan. She is looking at doing some of her own additional investments. She is being told to do Deferred Compensation instead of a 401k, Vanguard or Roth. What is your recommendation for her…

Hi, Terry. I have a Roth IRA with Vanguard worth around 19k, a rollover IRA with TR Price - $89k. I'm 68, retired with a CPS pension and I want to safeguard my funds and am thinking of moving some or all to possible CDs. Can I do that and keep them in an IRA?…

I've had a $28k universal life policy for 30 years. For the past couple years I've had to pay up to $500/year to continue coverage. There's no cash value and policy matures in 2051. I'm 66, retired, no debt, with pension, stock portfolio and 457 plan. My wife is still working and I'm hoping to…

I plan to retire in the next 3-4 years and do not have as much in my 401K plan as I liked. I would like to have an annual income of about 75-80K per year. I plan to draw about 5500/month from my pension before taxes, Any advice ?

No doubt anyone over 65 will recognize Pogo, and needs to be concerned about the cost of prescription medications. My doctor points out, prior to the inception of Obamacare the drug industry lobbyists spent in excess of $200,000 per congressman to encourage the development of a needlessly complex and inefficient system. For all they can’t…

I read your article in the Tribune today. I own a company and am on Medicare. My only employee is my wife and I have been told that we cannot get a corporate health insurance plan because she is my wife and that we need another employee in order to obtain coverage. Is that correct…

A contact was made to a plan at www.eHealthInsurance.com as noted in your 11/13/17 article in Chicago Tribune regarding special small business plan enrollment 11/15 to 12/15. The response was that the plan was not available unless you have 2 employees, not just 1 as your article states.