1. My father died recently and left several credit cards with balances. Some are in his name only, and some are in his businesses' name. How should I let the credit card companies know there is no money to pay for the debts? Published: May 26, 2009
2. With respect to keeping monthly utility bills and statements, could you advise me on how to set up a spreadsheet to record the monthly cost and usage of each type of utility? Published: May 26, 2009
3. Due to circumstances beyond my control, my Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) was not withdrawn until early January. What is the procedure I need to follow in such a case? Published: May 26, 2009
4. How would an elderly relative find out if they have E or EE Bonds? Published: May 26, 2009
5. Does a durable power of attorney need to be notarized or witnessed? Published: May 19, 2009
6. What is the difference between a tax credit and a tax deduction? Published: March 30, 2009
7. I am interested in working from home. I see advertisements for work-from-home opportunities, but some seem too good to be true. How can I determine what is a legitimate opportunity? Published: March 30, 2009
8. Do I need to own stocks to apply for a credit card? Published: March 30, 2009
9. I have an opportunity through an investment club to be part of a very large mortgage-backed CMO investment. What is a CMO? Published: March 30, 2009
10. I can't pay the self-employment Social Security taxes owed on my income tax return. Can I get an extension to either make payments or pay at a later date? Published: March 30, 2009
11. When someone dies, what happens to their debts if there is no money in the estate to pay them and no heirs? Published: March 30, 2009
12. How do I go about replacing an adoption decree? I just turned 18 and need to apply for citizenship, and apparently my adoption decree is missing. Published: March 30, 2009
13. What are some very specific ways to save money? Published: March 30, 2009
14. If an investor's retirement account drops in value by 24% due to a stock market downturn, should they rebalance their portfolio or stay the course? Published: March 30, 2009
15. What should people know if they're scared about the stock market and afraid to start a retirement savings plan? Published: March 30, 2009
16. What are some research-based facts that can calm my nerves about investing in stock during severe market declines? Published: March 30, 2009
17. If someone's employer drops their 401(k) match, permanently or during bad economic times, should they stop contributing to the 401(k) and save money in a Roth IRA instead? Published: March 30, 2009
18. I'm trying to reduce the number of credit cards that I own. Is there any downside to closing old accounts? Published: March 30, 2009
19. Are there some free and easy tools available to use for budgeting? Published: March 30, 2009
20. In a bad economy, should someone cut back on retirement savings plan contributions, save more, or stay the same? Published: March 30, 2009
21. Is it bad to stop spending and save money when the economy goes into a recession? My job is pretty secure, but I'm still nervous about spending money. Published: March 30, 2009
22. What is the best way to get a credit card company to lower or freeze my interest rate so I can pay them off? If they offer me a settlement, will this hurt my credit score? Published: March 30, 2009
23. I’m about to pay off my credit cards. I want to cancel the cards, except for one or two. Can this affect my credit? Published: March 30, 2009
24. I have a balance of $7,000 on a credit card with a 19% interest rate. My other credit card has no balance with an interest rate of 9%. If I transfer the balance to the 9% card, would this transfer cause a hit on my credit report? Published: March 30, 2009
25. If your spouse has bad credit and you do not, will your credit be impacted? If you are in the process of divorce, are you legally responsible for his spending sprees and medical bills, and can you check his credit report? Published: March 30, 2009
26. I currently have $10,000 in credit card debt. Is consolidating my credit card balances a good idea? Published: March 30, 2009
27. How many years do you recommend keeping checking and savings account statements? Published: March 30, 2009
28. I lost my spouse in 2008. How is my income tax status affected? Published: March 30, 2009
29. I am 71 and work a part-time job to make ends meet. I've drawn Social Security since I was 62. Do you ever reach a time when you no longer have to pay FICA tax? Published: March 30, 2009
30. I am a co-signer on my son's house. I'm a widow and getting older. If I become seriously ill or die, will the state go after his house, although he's the one who pays for it and I just co-signed? Published: March 30, 2009

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