Liz Weston: Will I really lose my Social Security benefits if I relocate and work in another country?
Dear Liz: I’ve been struggling to find a decent job in my field lately. There are actually some openings abroad that really match my skills and interests. If you manage to get a job in another country, there’s a chance you could end up paying taxes in both the U.S. and that country. Plus, not […]
Liz Weston: Selling off too much of your savings may leave you without enough for retirement
Dear Liz: We intended to keep saving for retirement until our mid to late 80s. Now, unexpected home repairs are coming up that could cost us tens of thousands. I’m wondering if I should take money out of my retirement savings and deal with the 22% tax hit, or maybe consider a home equity loan, […]
Liz Weston: Approaching retirement? It’s important to establish some safeguards to protect yourself and your finances.
Dear Liz: When I retired, I had a 401(k) with roughly $12,000. Instead of moving that into an IRA, I opted for a distribution and paid taxes on it. I didn’t need the money immediately, so I later opened a new IRA account and deposited the remaining funds. Looking back, I feel like putting that […]
Liz Weston: Poor customer service leads to the decision to cancel a credit card that’s been held for 44 years
Dear Liz: I came across your column discussing cardholders’ fears about canceling their cards. I thought I’d share my own experience. So, I ordered something online using my credit card, which I’ve had since 1981. Unfortunately, the purchase was fraudulent, and I spent hours trying to resolve it. When I finally managed to reach a […]
Liz Weston: Looking to prevent taxes on small withdrawals from retirement accounts? Here are several options.
Dear Liz: I’m a bit puzzled about the required minimum distributions from my retirement account. I want to avoid taxes on these withdrawals, but it seems impossible. Can you help clarify this? Answer: If you took a deduction when you contributed to your retirement account, then you’ll have to pay taxes on those distributions. As […]
Liz Weston: We’re feeling pressured by the credit company that keeps lowering our credit limit
Credit Card Concerns Dear Liz: My wife and I both maintain good credit scores, and we always pay off our credit cards in full and on time. We don’t have any outstanding loans or debts, and our credit utilization is quite low—probably around 3-4%. We have about $125,000 in total credit spread across six cards. […]
Lamb Weston Stock Rises After Strong Q1 Results
Lamb Weston Reports First Quarter 2026 Earnings Lamb Weston (LW) saw its shares increase on Tuesday after the company released its first quarter 2026 revenue report. The report highlighted adjusted earnings per share of 74 cents, surpassing Wall Street’s estimate of 54 cents, although this marks a 5% decline from the same period last year. […]
Liz Weston: It has been 30 years since the rules for taxes and capital gains were updated. Some individuals are still unclear.
Understanding Tax Rules on Home Sales Dear Liz: I thought I had a grasp on the tax implications of selling a home, but now I’m feeling a bit lost. Previously, there were rules allowing profits from home sales to be rolled into the purchase of another home, with a one-time exemption for up to $500,000. […]
Liz Weston: Homeowners lose step-up tax basis if they are not married
Dear Liz: I co-own a house with my long-term boyfriend. If one of us passes away, how does the capital gains step-up impact the surviving partner? Answer: The deceased partner’s share of the home gets a new tax basis, while the survivor’s Portion remains unchanged. A tax basis is crucial for figuring out how much […]
Liz Weston: Seniors on Medicare seek strategies to deduct medical costs
Dear Liz: My wife and I are in our early 90s and are lucky to have health insurance. Yet, we face significant out-of-pocket costs. As you might guess, we will be retiring soon and will rely on Social Security, pensions, and investments for income. Are we able to use a flexible spending account funded with […]