MONEY TALK
MONEY TALK: Diversify your investments for best returns 
Q: What would you suggest that someone do with $20,000 if the someone is closer to 40 than 30, single, with $100,000 of student loan debt and a $250,000 mortgage? My salary is around $100,000 a year. I have an emergency fund equal to six months of expenses and I make an annual IRA contribution since my employer doesn’t offer a 401(k) plan.
By By Liz Weston , April 14, 2013
Money Talk: Getting mom’s things may be tricky
Q: My mother died two years ago, and I am trying to figure out how to get any of her things that are family heirlooms. Her husband refuses to part with anything, including her clothing, saying he isn’t ready yet and that only when he is ready will he give us anything.
March 04, 2012
Money Talk: Few ways to reclaim funds from grandpa
I am furious at my grandmother, and now believe both accounts were cashed out and given to my cousin. Without knowing anything about the accounts, except that one was intended for me, is there any way to find out what actually happened to the money?
By Liz Weston , February 26, 2012
Money Talk: Reconsider contributing to workplace 401(k)
Q: I am a 20-year-old college student with a stable, part-time job. I haven’t contributed to a 401(k) with this company because I don’t plan to be working for it for two years, which is how long I’d have to wait for my contributions and earnings to be 100 percent mine.
By Liz Weston , February 19, 2012
Money Talk: Consider reverse mortgage for mom
Q: My healthy and active 82-year-old mother is faced with having to sell her home this year because she’s running out of money.
By Liz Weston , February 12, 2012
Money Talk: 50/30/20 more difficult to achieve in high-cost area
Q: You’ve written about the 50/30/20 budget structure that people should strive to achieve. As you said, it’s a difficult feat. But here’s my question: How does one even come close when you live in a major metropolitan area?
By Liz Weston , February 05, 2012
Money Talk: Nephew could sue his mother over college fund
Q: What recourse would my 21-year-old nephew have if his mother embezzled his college fund? The fund was set up by his parents when he was a child.
By Liz Weston , January 29, 2012
Weston: Have talk with daughter about paying for school
Q: I have an 18-year-old daughter who wants to attend a private, out-of-state school. I don’t have any money saved for her education and do not make enough to cover the cost of this college. What are my options? She’s an A student and is planning to go to medical school.
By Liz Weston , January 22, 2012
Weston: Changes to HARP may help homeowner
Q: I have an adjustable-rate mortgage that is currently at 3.125 percent. I’d like to fix the rate, but no one will even discuss it with me because my house has been appraised at less than $100,000 and the balance of the mortgage is $144,319. I have never been late, and my credit scores are above 800. What can I do? I don’t want a mortgage modification. I just want a fixed rate.
By Liz Weston , January 15, 2012
Money Talk: Past troubles hurt today’s job seekers
Q: How do you recover from bankruptcy? My daughter lost a very good job and got upside down with her house, so she had to file for bankruptcy.
By Liz Weston , January 08, 2012
Money Talk: Borrowing to invest is not best advice
Q: We are getting coaching from a finance adviser. He suggests using a home equity line of credit as investment capital. Your opinion on this?
By Liz Weston , January 01, 2012
Money Talk: Consider filing for bankruptcy if sued
Q: Several years ago, we were talked into getting what I believe was a predatory loan – a negatively amortizing mortgage for 100 percent of the purchase price of our home.
By Liz Weston , December 18, 2011
Money Talk: Don’t be so anxious about student loans
Q: I graduated from college last summer and was lucky enough to get full-time employment. However, I have a great deal of college debt, including private and federal loans.
By Liz Weston , December 11, 2011
Weston: Don’t get new Social Security numbers
Q: A large safe containing our passports, Social Security cards, birth certificates, checks and credit cards was stolen from our home several days ago. We notified our bank and credit card companies. Is there an advantage to requesting new Social Security numbers? If we do this, would it affect our credit in any way?
By Liz Weston , December 04, 2011
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