Ask Terry Archives

What web site or association can I go to to find a new low interest credit card. Terry Says:  Go to www.Bankrate.com and you can search for cards based on interest rates, annual fees, balance transfer offers, etc.  Here's a link to that page.

My dad owns savings bonds naming my uncle as the beneficiary. My uncle recently passed away. How can he change the beneficiary to me? Terry Says: Yes, your Dad can change the beneficiary without any problem.  BUT, if the savings bonds are paper bonds, they must first be converted to electronic form.  Then the named beneficiary…

Calculated Value of Your Savings Bonds (treasurydirect.gov/.SBC/Price) does not list the interest rate for Series I bonds anymore. Why? Thanks. Terry Says:  Here's a link to the page on Treasurydirect.gov that shows the interest rate for Series I bonds.

HI, I want to consolidate my 6-figure student loans into a single fixed interest rate loan. I know of six banks / student loan refinance companies (SoFi, Earnest, etc.). My concerns are: 1. Are these companies reputable; 2.Are their any internet information sources that I can address to recommend specific ones; 3. As I'm not…

Hello Terry, I recently lost my job and my husband and I decided that the best thing to do is to refinance our home which we purchased three years ago. Apparently, our home has increased its value around $80,000. We received a letter from a Mortgage company and gave them a call and information requested…

Hello, I read a question someone asked you about College Saving Plans and I read your answer about Bright Start. Basically, they didn't get rid of a management company that was responsible for losing a lot of money. My question to you is! I have a Bright Start account for my daughter that is now…

Would have a recommendation that I could check with. Ed jones recommended Pacific Life- do you have others you like? Ref your atricle in the Orlando Sentinel on 2-28-16 ph E6 Thanks Terry Says:  First, here's a link to an article I wrote recently about Longevity Annuities.  It's especially important to chose a sound company…

I was reading your column in the newspaper and had a question about what was said about social security deferral: "Deferring a starting date until age 70 (and specifying in writing that you do not want to take benefits even a day before you reach your 70th birthday) can provide an increase of 8 percent…

what is your current opinions on the two: continuing care facility or continue with long term insurance Terry Says:  Long term care insurance is designed to pay the money for a continuing care facility, or a nursing home, or for home health care.  The concept of most continuing care facilities is that you move in…

Can you understand why the Quicken folks would publish a budget program that WILL NOT allow a user to create a 12 month budget?? You can only budget one month ahead. This seems ludicrous and I only found out after I bought it. Never thought that a 12 month budgeting capacity would not be part…

Hi Terry, my husband and I are recently retired. We have a 403b, and Ira accounts. We know that we will have to start taking Rmds in a few years. Most of our accounts are with Charles Scwab. Should we start taking some money out now to avoid large taxes when we are 70 1/2…

I am a 60 year old widower just sold my house and have 150000.00 to invest. Im on social security and receive a small amount monthly from the VA. not presently working. need a safe investment. Thank you Terry Says:  Then just put the money in the bank, earning almost no interest in a FDIC-insured money…

What is an appropriate percentage of total portfolio to invest in both GEUR and GYEN ETF's? I already own ISHARES GOLD ETF which accounts for 5.5% of after tax portfolio and no current holdings for Gold in SEP IRA. Terry Says:  In general, the idea of owning gold is a "bet against the currency."  And…

how do I find out if the bond was cashed. Terry Says:  These bonds were tax-free general obligation bonds of the State of Illinois. At the time they were first issued, they paid an attractive rate -- tax-free -- and "promised" a small bonus if the bonds were cashed in and used to pay for…

terry, i purchased 100 shares of baxter in 1985. over the years i reinvested the dividends and bought more shares. a company called computershare is the transfer agent and held the account. in 2010 all shares were sold and turned over to the state they said i had abandoned the account. i was not aware…

I heard you discussing negative interest rates and saving in a down economy and how gold can be a safe place, or at least should be a part of a well diversified portfolio. What is the best way to go about buying gold? Where should one go to buy gold? There's a lot of commercials…

Do you know where I might sell my dad's old stamp collection? I don't know anything about stamps, so I have to hope they are honest. Thank you. Barb Terry Says:  This is really a tough question.  I know coin dealers I trust, but I don't have a personal recommendation on a stamp dealer, or…

Your column is generally quite helpful but how can you recommend Lifelock in your column when Lifelock agreed on 12/17/15 to pay a fine of $100 Million!!! to the FTC for, among other things, Misleading consumers with deceptive Advertising? Plus, they already paid a fine to the FTC of $12 Million back on 3/9/2010. Regards,…

Hi Terry I read your column just about every week and my question to you is about capital gains. My brother and I purchased a commercial property in 1979 and ran a business for over thirty one years. We paid seventy-five thousand for it and sold it for four hundred thousand in 2015. We owned…

I am working with a financial planner who wants me to roll my 401k into an annuity that he says will get me a 7percent return on my money. He said the fees are about 2 percent but would be worth it. Are annuitys a good way to invest or should I stay away. Terry…