ArcaMax

Dear Carrie: When I did my taxes this year, I wound up owing a lot to the IRS. A friend at work mentioned they got a huge tax refund. How can I get a refund next year? -- A Reader

Dear Reader: The end of tax season always brings a host of questions from readers. Mostly they boil down to "How can I pay less in taxes?" or "How can I get a bigger ...Read more

Dear Readers: If I asked you to rate your financial know-how on a scale of 1-7 (with 7 being the highest), where would you place yourself? If you're like the Americans who participated in the 2018 FINRA National Financial Capability Study (NFCS), you'd probably give yourself a pretty high score. In that study, 76% of respondents placed ...Read more

Dear Carrie: I turn 70 this year and am working part time. I don't necessarily need the income, but I like my work, and it gives me money to spend on a few "extras." I have a few dollars left over each month and recently read that I can still contribute to an IRA. I'm wondering if this is a good idea. -- A Reader

Dear Reader: According to a ...Read more

Dear Carrie: I have money sitting in a low-interest savings account that I've been planning to invest, but I keep procrastinating. Should I take the plunge now or wait to see if the market falls more? I understand the concept of buying low, but it makes me nervous to invest so much now if the market will go down more. -- A Reader

Dear Reader: ...Read more

Dear Carrie: I'm a single parent with two middle school-aged kids and was just laid off because COVID-19 regulations forced my employer to shut down. I'm worried I may be out of work for a while. I received a small severance and have a 401(k), but that's about it. What's the best way to get through the next few months? Can I draw money from my ...Read more

Dear Carrie: My partner and I recently had our first child and are trying to get our finances in order. We met with an attorney to put together a will, and she mentioned that we might need life insurance. I do have a policy through work, but now that I'm a new dad, I don't know if it's enough. Can you advise me on how much I need and the best ...Read more

Dear Readers: I'm hearing from lots of students and recent grads about how uneasy they are about entering the labor force in this difficult economic climate. With unemployment numbers at a record high, it's no surprise that the estimated 4 million new college graduates will have a particularly challenging time this year. But all is not lost, ...Read more

Dear Readers: Recently, I did my first ever Reddit Ask Me Anything (AMA). I was really excited about it, and not just because my kids are Redditors who constantly seek and give advice on the channel. I wanted to have a real-time discussion with people about something that's weighing heavily on everyone's minds: how to manage your personal ...Read more

Dear Readers: Even in the best of times, money concerns can cause a lot of stress. But according to a recent survey by the National Foundation for Financial Education, nearly 9 in 10 Americans say that COVID-19 is making money a primary cause of anxiety. Add to that the need to juggle working from home, child care, home schooling and health ...Read more

Dear Carrie: I'm 26 and in the Navy. I enlisted last year and am currently stationed in South Korea. With some extra cash I'm expecting from my next deployment, I should finally have all my credit card debt paid off and a decent cash cushion. I'm ready to start seriously saving for retirement. Is a TSP a good move? I'm not sure if I'll stay in...Read more

Dear readers: The recent market plunge has a lot of people feeling more anxious than usual. Not surprising. Feeling out of control of your finances -- and your future -- takes both a financial and emotional toll. And it's not only during times like these that money causes stress. Everyday money management -- or lack of it -- can cause problems ...Read more

Dear Readers: With so many families around the country facing financial challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, I'd like to devote this column to discussing ways that we as parents can best help our kids through these challenging times.

One of the most insidious parts of this pandemic is that it has undermined our sense of personal ...Read more