Smart About Money: Credit Score Boosts - a great idea or not-so-much?
Right now, Experian and FICO are offering what they call “credit score boosting” programs, Experian Boost and UltraFICO. Both are free and…
Smart About Money: When the victim of Identity Theft is ... you!
There are many ways that you can first become aware that you have become a victim of Identity Theft. No matter how it happens, you’re…
Smart About Money: Alert! You Can't Believe What You See On Your Caller ID
It’s called phone spoofing. It’s rampant. It’s all too easy to fall for. And basically it means that to protect yourself, you cannot…
Smart About Money: Should a parent co-sign on child's car loan?
While it is generally not a good idea to co-sign a loan for an adult friend or family member who may have well-known problems managing…
Smart About Money: Quit something today!
There’s something you’re paying for that you’re not getting your money’s worth on. You know exactly what it is because it’s the first thing…
Smart About Money: Should I co-sign a loan?
“Should I co-sign a loan for a family member or friend?” is a question bankers hear all the time. It’s a common request and you may choose…
Smart About Money: A Case For Honest And Clear Lending Costs
Have you booked a ticket for an airline flight lately? The pricing options for seating, boarding priority and luggage allowed have…
Smart About Money: No one's ever sorry to have "saved too much" for retirement
A gentleman in his early 80s came to speak with me. There are valuable lessons in his story for everyone who has a pension, who expects to…
Smart About Money: Military service pays dividends now and later
Earlier this year, there was a report in The Washington Post about a teacher in Southern California who called U.S. service members “the…
Smart About Money: "Something's not right here ..."
Maybe you’ve heard about the new twist on the Microsoft scam. It used to be that an individual would get a call from someone pretending to…
Smart About Money: The Art of Making Complicated Decisions Perfectly
The first thing to realize when it comes to making complicated decisions perfectly is that there is no “perfectly.” Complicated decisions…
Smart About Money: College students should avoid credit cards ... here's why
A few weeks ago, a customer emailed to ask if I would consider writing a column about the pitfalls of credit cards for young people,…