My inbox has piled up, which means that it’s time for a column devoted to your questions. If you have one — or a comment about a recent article — just send an email to: [email protected].
Q: I manage my own investments but have also hired a fee only CFP to help with my overall planning and also to keep me on track. She is advising that I need to lower my risk profile and look to reduce taxes. She is suggesting that I invest some cash on hand in municipal bond funds. She says that funds are less complicated than researching individual bonds. What is your opinion?
A: It is definitely easier to buy a municipal (“muni”) bond fund than researching individual bonds on your own. For people like you, who live in a high tax state, yields on munis can provide a higher amount of income, especially if you are in a high tax bracket.
Q: Next year, I need to start taking my required minimum distribution (RMD) from my retirement account. Should I do so in a lump sum, or have it sent to me each month?
A: This is really a matter of personal preference. Most people choose a lump sum because they want to control their money as quickly as possible. But there are some who prefer a monthly payment, almost as if they were paying themselves. In the latter case, these folks see the RMD like their own personal pensions. My advice is to determine what you think you would prefer, but don’t stress too much — you can always change your mind in subsequent years.
Q: I’m a 47-year-old single truck driver and I’m wondering if I can max out my employer’s Roth 401(k), max out a traditional 401(k), and then also max out my Roth IRA?
A: For 2024, you can contribute a total of $23,000 into a workplace retirement account. You can split that amount in any way you want between a Roth and a traditional 401(k), but the total between the two cannot exceed the $23,000 limit. As for the Roth IRA, as long as you earn less than $146,000, you can also max out a Roth IRA at $7,000.
Q: I have two adult grandsons, ages 34 and 38, who are not earning a lot of money, and as a result, have not saved anything for retirement. I want to establish some kind of account for each of them that they cannot access until they’ve reached retirement age. What is the best path for me to take? I plan on putting in about $25,000 each, over a period of time.
A: Based on your criteria, I think the best vehicle for you to consider is a Roth IRA. Because they both have earned income, you can fund each account for the next few years and be done with it.
Q: I received a notice from my fraud protection service that my Social Security number was found on the Dark Web as part of a national public data breach. My credit bureau records are already frozen. Is there anything else I should be doing? Is this just a matter of monitoring or do I have reason for real concern?
A: I received a lot of questions about this, so you are certainly not alone. The best step is the one that you have already taken: freezing your credit with the three main agencies, Equifax, Transunion, and Experian. Doing so means that nobody (including you) can open any new accounts or credit cards in your name. In addition to freezing your credit, you should monitor all of your banking and investment accounts and review AnnualCreditReport.com annually.
Jill Schlesinger, CFP, is a CBS News business analyst. A former options trader and CIO of an investment advisory firm, she welcomes comments and questions at [email protected]. Check her website at www.jillonmoney.com.
