Carrie Schwab Pomerantz's Townhall.com Column

First Job. First Financial Responsibility. Now What?

2012-05-10T00:01:00-04:00

Carrie Schwab Pomerantz Column
I'm about to graduate from college and have landed my first job. It doesn't pay a lot, but it's in my field. From a financial perspective, what are my first moves?

Can You Protect a Senior From Internet Scams?

2012-05-02T00:01:00-04:00

Carrie Schwab Pomerantz Column
There's no doubt that Internet usage by seniors is growing dramatically. A recent Pew Internet Survey showed 30 percent of people 75 and older use the Internet.

Does a Roth IRA Conversion Make Sense at Age 80?

2012-04-25T00:01:00-04:00

Carrie Schwab Pomerantz Column
At age 80, I've never put any money into my IRA since retirement. Can I roll my traditional IRA into a Roth IRA without penalty?

Which Retirement Account Is Best for You?

2012-04-11T00:01:00-04:00

Carrie Schwab Pomerantz Column
I'm trying to be smart about investing for retirement, but all the different accounts out there confuse me. Help!

Should You Ever Use Retirement Savings To Pay Off Debt?

2012-04-04T00:01:00-04:00

Carrie Schwab Pomerantz Column
When I turn 59 and a half, I think it would be a good idea to withdraw $40,000 from my 401(k) to pay off high-interest rate credit cards (24 percent APR).

Does a 529 Account Still Make Sense?

2012-03-28T00:01:00-04:00

Carrie Schwab Pomerantz Column
I opened a 529 account for my daughter two years ago. She's now 14, so we have four years before she starts college. The returns have been dismal, and I'm considering stopping my contributions.

A Look at Your Financial Life: An Annual (At Least!) Ritual

2012-03-21T00:01:00-04:00

Carrie Schwab Pomerantz Column
I built a retirement portfolio using ETFs and index funds. One of my 2012 resolutions is to re-examine my financial picture, but what am I looking for? What should I be thinking of?

Can You Make IRA Contributions After You Retire?

2012-03-14T00:01:00-04:00

Carrie Schwab Pomerantz Column
There are distinct differences between IRAs and regular brokerage accounts.

Are You Managing Your Withholding Wisely?

2012-03-07T00:01:00-05:00

Carrie Schwab Pomerantz Column
Before we get into how to prioritize where to put your money, I think you need to look at your tax situation and determine if you're managing your withholding properly.

Should You Apply for Medicare Even Though You're Still Working?

2012-02-29T00:01:00-05:00

Carrie Schwab Pomerantz Column
Data from the University of Michigan's Health and Retirement Study, conducted from 2006-2010 and sponsored by the National Institute on Aging, shows some eye-popping trends.

New Baby, New House, New Job -- Is There a Way to Stay in Financial Control?

2012-02-23T00:01:00-05:00

Carrie Schwab Pomerantz Column
Even positive changes such as a new house and a new baby are known to cause anxiety.

Can You Collect Both a Public Pension and Social Security?

2012-02-16T00:01:00-05:00

Carrie Schwab Pomerantz Column
While no one likes to think about their Social Security benefits being reduced, in a case like yours, where you've worked in both the private and public sectors, that's a very likely scenario.

Love and Money: Can You Overcome Your Financial Differences?

2012-02-08T00:01:00-05:00

Carrie Schwab Pomerantz Column
The differences alone aren't necessarily a problem, but how you deal with those differences is important to make sure they don't become one.

Retiring Early: What's the Best Plan for a Too-Small Nest Egg?

2012-02-02T00:01:00-05:00

Carrie Schwab Pomerantz Column
For lots of investors in lots of situations, aggressive investing is not the right strategy.

Do You Need More Financial Advice as You Get Older?

2012-01-23T00:01:00-05:00

Carrie Schwab Pomerantz Column
Financial literacy scores declined by about 2 percent a year after age 60. Considering that the most recent Survey of Consumer Finances estimates that over 50 percent of the national wealth is controlled by people over 60 -- now about 12 percent of the population -- there are probably a lot of folks who could use some financial management assistance.

Paying Off Student Debt: Can You Find a Financial Balance?

2012-01-11T00:01:00-05:00

Carrie Schwab Pomerantz Column
Student debt can be daunting, and you're right to make it an important economic focus. But student loans are generally low interest and don't appear as a black mark on your credit rating as long as you never miss a payment.

Cutting Your Credit Card Debt: How to Get Started

2012-01-04T00:01:00-05:00

Carrie Schwab Pomerantz Column
At the risk of sounding obvious: Stop using your cards, and use cash or checks instead.

New Marriage, New Family Finances: What's Fair

2011-12-28T00:01:00-05:00

Carrie Schwab Pomerantz Column
Dear Carrie: I'm about to get married for the second time. I have two kids, 8 and 10, and my fiancee has two teenagers. Everyone gets along well, but my husband-to-be is a lot wealthier than I, and his kids have been raised with very different financial expectations.

Helping Your Kid Buy a Home -- Before You Write the Check

2011-12-21T00:01:00-05:00

Carrie Schwab Pomerantz Column
I'm 64 and about to retire in the next year or so. I have enough in my retirement fund to pay for all my essentials and some extras, but I'm not wealthy.

What Can You Do When an Inheritance Threatens Family Harmony?

2011-12-14T00:01:00-05:00

Carrie Schwab Pomerantz Column
You're right that this is an awkward situation but your instinct to talk out what you saw is spot on. And I don't think you necessarily have to be afraid to bring this up with your sister. First, don't assume there's anything terribly wrong.