Looking ahead to less-robust 2019
By Jill SchlesingerTribune Content Agency
Thanksgiving week provided investors with a healthy reminder: When the bear reveals his teeth, the results can be nasty.
Financial Focus
By Jill SchlesingerJill on Money: Lessons from this year’s tax preparation
By Jill Schlesinger
Tribune Content Agency
Your 2017 taxes are done. Congratulations! But you're not done yet.
Buyer Beware: Tips for Safe Online Shopping
Presented by Sara Frank-Hepfer, CFP®, AAMS®
Looking for power tools? A vintage Chanel purse? A living-room sofa? Millions of shoppers are bypassing brick-and-mortar stores, as well as their respective websites, in favor of purchasing such items from individual online sellers. For many people, sites like Craigslist and eBay offer a chance to save on everyday items and luxury products, both new and used—all from the comfort of their own homes.
Jill on Money: Use open enrollment period as a time to make better choices
By Jill SchlesingerTribune Content Agency
It’s open enrollment season for health and retirement plans, and if you are like most people, you will probably default to the choices you made last year. That’s a shame, because spending some time investigating your options can help you save money.
Jill on Money: How to pay for college
By Jill Schlesinger
Tribune Content Agency
As the college acceptance letters arrive, students are thrilled. However, while parents and grandparents are proud, they may also feel a little anxious about footing the bill for what they know is an important credential in today's labor force. Before you sign on a dotted line, or heaven-forbid, raid your retirement account or borrow against your house, it's time for a financial reality check.
Jill on Money: Questions and answers ripped from the headlines
By Jill Schlesinger
Tribune Content Agency
The news cycle has prompted many of you to write in ask a number of questions about terms that you read and hear about. These answers are intended to help you understand what you need to know about various policy initiatives that could be coming.
Jill on Money: Buffett: Enrich yourself, not your broker, with passive investing
By Jill Schlesinger
Tribune Content Agency
No investment guru's wisdom is more sought than that of Warren Buffett, the chairman of Berkshire Hathaway and so-called Oracle of Omaha.
Jill on Money: Why you should consider a Roth IRA
By Jill SchlesingerTribune Content Agency
The Roth IRA turns 20 years old this year. The retirement vehicle was part of the Tax Relief Act of 1997, and it was seen as such a boon to savers that many believed that it would not survive. Two decades later, it is alive and well. As many Americans consider funding retirement plans this tax season, it's a good opportunity to review the Roth.
Jill on Money: As tax prep season opens, so does tax scam season
By Jill SchlesingerTribune Content Agency
Tax preparation season opened on Jan. 23, and this year, once again, procrastinators will have an extra three days to dawdle. The tax filing deadline is April 18 rather than April 15, due to a Washington, D.C. holiday.
Jill on Money: Fiduciary rule under fire under Republican administration
By Jill Schlesinger
Tribune Content Agency
I thought of the word “shame” when news emerged that Republicans in Congress were launching an effort to delay and perhaps kill portions of the Department of Labor's fiduciary rule, which is scheduled to begin implementation on April 10. (It's unclear where President Trump, who has ordered a freeze on regulations, stands on the fiduciary rule.) The potential about-face is a slap in the face to anyone who cares about investor protections.