Ask Terry Archives

What are both the positives and the negatives of putting a portion of a 401 K into an annuity after reaching the age of 70? Terry Says:   Please read the column I just posted on that subject.  Your question, and others like it, inspired me to write about it at greater length than I do…

A 80yr old needs very much to retire, but she has co sign for a vehicle for a family member and now that person has now no income,can the 80yr.old take vechicles back....Don t know what to do??? Terry Says:  No 80 year old "has|" to co-sign for any one, even a close family member! …

I just signed up for your newsletter. I don't see any link for the financial organizer form.

I recently transfered my some monies to an existing IRA that I've had for many years. I was wondering if it is wise to put this money into an ETF fund that is managed and automatically rebalanced according to your personal goals. I am not investment savvy and need help making investment decisions. I am…

I contacted "commercial real estate income funds" because I heard about it on WGN, the minimum investment is $25,000 with 8% in monthly pay outs. My IRA is not doing anything for me and is stagnant. Is this a reliable company?

where is the link for the Personal Financial Organizer? thank you, barbara

Like many I am paying (1.3%) a fund management fee, in this case for my IRA/Roth retirement money.Universal advise is to invest through Index Funds. Please help me learn how to move my money to index funds without tax liabilities. Sincerely Don Pritchett

-Does cost of buying an annuity and amount of return f lactate with interest? -can I buy delayed annuity be start payng 5 yrs or so after purchase? Website gives only 13 months delay. -are there any plan available which will provide inflation protection? thanks in advance.

Hi Terry, I hope you're well and happy. I am a 71 year old widow and will sell my house in the next year or two. Since I have done okay this far, my main goal is to not make any big money mistakes. Another goal is to minimize any possible burden on my daughters.…

Dear Terry, I am in desperate need of help. Our credit card bills amount to 40,000.00. Yep you read that right. It has become increasingly hard to keep afloat. So here is my question. My husband has about 600,000.00 in his 401k. He is about 5 years from retiring. My house is worth about 300,000…

I understand the data on average superiority of index mutual funds to managed funds while building retirement funds. How do these data apply to post retirement management of retirement funds when one is constantly withdrawing funds from the principal amount in retirement accounts rather than adding to retirement accounts? Also, in your recent column you…

my 92 yr old dad needs options for his universal life policy taken out in 1987. The insurance company is asking for over $5000 to keep the policy or he gets NOTHING.

Mom is 95, legally blind, been paying premiums for years. Is it possible she will be taken off the denied status?

Your article in the Times about index funds suggests that index funds beat most managed funds over a 20 year period. Are index funds the best way to invest if your time horizon is only 10 years? Thank you.

We are meeting with a Geiger Wealth manager. I want to know if they sell only annuities and who would you recommend. My husband is 5 years from retirement and we have most of our savings with Fidelity Thank you Cheryl

Terry - I'm retiring in 2017 and I'm frightened by what I hear about another stock market adjustment like what happened in 2008. I've also heard rumors about the bottom dropping out of the housing market again. Do you have any thoughts on these two issues. Should I not retire?

I heard last part of your discussion on 8/4 with Steve Bertrand re: annuities and was in the car so I couldn't write down website of your "friend" Can you please provide? Thank you

Hi Terry, My fiance and I were planning on getting married but she is afraid it will ruin her credit score. Will us getting married affect her credit score at all? Thanks for your time. Sincerely, James Chicago IL

Terry, I am new to investing. What is the best way to learn about stock & bond markets, Vanguards? I want to try and understand how things work and terminology. Books, websites, etc? Terry Says:  First, you need to understand how the market works.  I recommend a great little book (for which I wrote the…

I have 5 corporate bonds (laddered) and I wonder how safe these will be in the future. They are all good solid companies with the lowest rating as BBB+. The all pay very good dividends which go into cash fund. They are all held in an traditional IRA account. I am getting concerned with the…