Football star Terrell Owens said these are some of ‘the most idiotic’ purchases we can make. Pros say avoiding those kinds of expense traps could save you big bucks

During his NFL career, Terrell Owens says he “got sucked into wanting to be like everybody else, the guys with the Mercedes and all the flashy cars and jewelry.” Getty Images for PBABowleroCorp Former...

I plan to retire at 62. I get $1,500 a month in rental income and have $200,000 in savings. Should I get a financial adviser to help me?

I’m not sure what to do with my savings. How might a financial adviser help me? Getty Images/iStockphoto Question: I am planning to retire at 62. I have $200,000 in savings, and I have a paid off rent...

‘She made about $15K last year off my money.’ My financial adviser is making money off the $1 million I invested with her — even though I’m losing money. What’s my move?

We started with $1 million dollars, and I expected to see it grow quite a bit, but instead I’ve been losing money over the past few years. Getty Images/iStockphoto Question: I am a single mom with thr...

Recently, I’ve been ‘over-employed,’ working two jobs to rake in $300K a year. Now I have enough saved to buy a business, but I need trustworthy advice. Where do I turn?

Having two full-time jobs doubled my annual income to $300,000 and allowed me to accumulate enough savings to purchase a few online businesses. Getty Images/iStockphoto Question: I’ve been a member of...

Fed says interest rates poised to go ‘higher than previously anticipated.’ Here’s a simple way to profit from that

Fed Chair Jerome Powell testified before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee on Tuesday. mandel ngan/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images As part of the continued effort to reduce inf...

We are in our 50s, living in California, and have $2 million in retirement savings. We want someone to tell us whether we can feasibly retire — what’s our best bet there? 

Getty Images Question: We are a single income couple in Southern California, ages 56 and 54. We are looking for a fee-only financial adviser to assess our financial situation and provide a one-time co...

68% of Americans couldn’t cover their living expenses for even a month if they lost their job, survey finds. The good news? Now is the best time in years to fix that.

The median amount of cash saved by Americans under the age of 35, not including retirement funds, was just $3,240 last year, according to government data. istock Recession — and layoff — fears loom la...

‘I’m losing over $1,100 each quarter due to fees.’ I’m in safe investments during this downturn, yet I’m still losing a lot of money from adviser fees. What should I do?

Question: I’m in a money market fund that I thought would protect my investment during these downturn times, but I’m losing over $1,100 each quarter due to fees to manage my money. What should I do? A...

I’m 57 and will soon have more than $3 million from a business sale. My rich boss trusts his financial adviser, but he inherited his millions. Still, should I try his adviser?

Have a question about your financial adviser or looking for a new one? Email [email protected]. Getty Images/iStockphoto Question: I am 57 years old, have $450,000 saved for retirement and will so...

I’m retired with about $1 million invested. Paying my adviser 1% would cost me $10K a year — no thanks. I’d rather pay someone hourly for help a couple times a year. Is this reasonable?

Getty Images Question: I hold roughly a million dollars in stocks and ETFs, not counting a small IRA and a small 401(k). My holdings are all in a brokerage account at one of the major brokerage houses...

We are in our early 60s and have a $750K portfolio that is ‘sinking fast.’ But we want to pay for our daughter’s medical school. Who can help us figure this out?

Have an issue with your financial adviser or looking for a new one? Email [email protected]. Getty Images Question: We are in our early 60s and have a roughly $750,000 portfolio that is sinking fa...

‘I really need help.’ I have $580K in retirement savings, but can’t find a financial adviser because the ones I spoke to want clients to be richer than me. What should I do? 

Have a question about your financial adviser or looking for a new one? Email [email protected]. Getty Images/iStockphoto Question: I’m in Maryland and could use a financial planner for my Roth IRA...

Here’s exactly when the majority of families start saving for college — but experts say that’s simply not good enough

Indeed, should you pull a Swift one and start thinking about your kids’ college — or even saving for it — before your kids are born? Valerie Macon/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images Taylor Swift, with ...

We’re retired and recently lost $100K from our portfolio. Our adviser said ‘we could lose another $100K in 2023.’ Is that crazy? 

Should you decide to switch advisers, be clear about your expectations and get a good understanding of the new adviser’s investment philosophy. Getty Images/iStockphoto Question: I retired in October ...

I’m 72, have a cushy amount invested and was withdrawing 4% a year. But once I pay my financial adviser’s fees and California taxes that won’t be enough. What’s my move?

How to figure out if your adviser is worth what they’re charging you. Getty Images/iStockphoto Question: I have a comfortable balance in my investment account but have a question about only taking out...

‘I’m stretched thin.’ I’m 23 and make $75K a year living in the Northeast. But between rent and other bills I have ‘very little’ in the bank each month. Should I hire a pro to help?

Question: I’m 23 and living in a high-cost area in Rhode Island. I make a $75,000 salary, plus monthly bonuses that will hopefully get me near six figures by the end of the year. I’ve worked full time...

‘It feels like way too much to lose.’ We had $550K invested and told our adviser we wanted a ‘conservative approach.’ Since then we’ve lost $88K. I know the market is bad, but should we fire him? 

Question: Two years ago my husband took an early retirement when offered by his company.  At that time we had a 401(k) with about $550,000 that we gave to a big financial services firm rep to handle. ...

‘My adviser insists this is a good, low-risk investment.’ I’m semi-retired at 63 with $2 million saved. My financial adviser wants me to sink half my money in an annuity. Should I do it?

I’ve never been a big fan of annuities, but my advisor insists this is a good low risk investment vehicle. Is a variable annuity a good option for me? Getty Images Question: I am 63 and semi-retired. ...

I am 60 and plan to retire in March. I have $113K in my 401(k) and no other savings, but  I will get an early retirement package of 9 months salary. Should I get a pro to help me? 

Question: I am accepting an early retirement offer from my long-term employer of 24 years. In March of 2023, I will retire and receive nine months of salary as well as my benefits. During this time I ...

I want to retire in 4 years on $3,100 a month. Is this enough, and do I need a pro to help? 

Getty Images/iStockphoto Question: I’m retiring in four years at $3,100 a month income, per my calculations. How can I stretch this amount as far as possible, and should I hire a professional planner ...

My wife and I live ‘an average life’ in the Bay Area making $320K. Last year, we bought a house for $200K over asking — now we don’t want to live in it. Should we get professional help?

Getty Images/iStockphoto Question: I was a victim of FOMO during the housing market craziness and bought a house for $200,000 over the asking price. Now house prices are coming back to reality, and I ...

7 financial advisers on what they are doing in 2023 to prepare for a recession

Getty Images/iStockphoto A number of high-profile financial firms are saying a recession is likely in 2023. Vanguard expects a “global recession,” Goldman Sachs economists give it a 35% chance, J.P. M...

Amid inflation and recession fears, 10 money moves you should make in 2023

Getty Images/iStockphoto While inflation is cooling, projections still point to elevated consumer prices next year. What’s more, recession threats remain high, unemployment may rise and investors are ...

I just retired at 64. My husband is 73 and beginning to have health issues. We need a financial plan and to figure out what to do with Social Security. What’s our move?  

Getty Images/iStockphoto Question: I’m in need of a fiduciary financial planner. I recently retired at 64 years old. My husband is 73 and beginning to have health issues, and I have no idea what to do...

Just 1 in 3 Americans understands this crucial component of planning smartly for retirement — and that lack of knowledge could prove very costly

Are you sure you’re ready to retire? No, really … are you sure? Although some 73% of American workers say they’re on track for a comfortable lifestyle in retirement, a recent report from Transamerica ...

I have $600K invested, but my financial adviser has only made one trade this year, and left $7,500 in cash in my Roth IRA. Is it time to get rid of him?

Question: My financial advisor has made one trade this entire year and has left $7,500 in cash in my Roth IRA since January. I had $600,000 in assets at the start of the year. Some minimal reallocatio...

I’m 53, just got laid off, and wondering what to do now. I have $425K saved for retirement, $10K in an HSA, and a property I could sell for an extra $200K in cash. Is getting professional help wise? 

Getty Images/iStockphoto Question: I was laid off from my job of 12 years. I have a few questions about how to rearrange my future financial plan. I am 53 years old and I plan to go back to work once ...

This is the No. 1 source of income for millions of older Americans — and that may pose a problem

Just one in four retirees say they have not experienced any kind of shock event in retirement, according to a study from the Society of Actuaries. Getty Images/iStockphoto Where is the 65 and older cr...

I’m 56 and plan to retire at 62. I’ll have both a state retirement plan and Social Security — but I also have a child starting college, which I want to pay for. Do I need professional help?

Getty Images/iStockphoto Question: I’m 56 years old and working for a state university, so I will have a state retirement plan. I previously worked full time and contributed to Social Security for 20 ...

This is the No. 1 expense, by far, for retirement-age Americans — and pros say it shouldn’t be

Americans 65 and older spent nearly $1,000 more per month last year than they did just five years prior, according to government data. Getty Images/iStockphoto Average monthly expenditures for those 6...