Scott Burns
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It may be wise to divide your financial servicesOct 22, 2007 11:00 pm - Today, ask this question about the financial services you receive: How much is that in dollars? The answer can be unnerving. A percentage charge like 1 percent or 2 perc...
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Retirees don't need to replace all incomeOct 17, 2007 11:00 pm - Q. I am nearly 51. I plan to retire somewhere between 55 and 60. A realistic age for me to retire would likely be age 58 or 59. I have $263,000 in my 401(k). My wife has...
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Medicare, not Social Security, is the elephant in the roomOct 15, 2007 11:00 pm - If the fate of Social Security were a children's fairy tale, it would be called "The Monster That Ate Social Security." According to economist Alicia Munnell, retiree ou...
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Confusion abounds over 'safe' withdrawalsOct 10, 2007 11:00 pm - Q. You confused me recently in a column about safe rates of withdrawal. I am 68 years old and 80 percent invested in CDs. My CDs are paying between 5 percent and 5.5 per...
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Housing bubble looks destined for troubleOct 08, 2007 11:00 pm - Lately I've been getting that deja vu feeling. If you lived in Texas through the S&L debacle of the late '80s, you probably have too. If you didn't, listen up. What happ...
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Retirement savings give you margin for errorSep 26, 2007 11:00 pm - Q. My husband and I would like your opinion on our current financial picture. We both turned 50 this year. We have a 17-year-old son who will graduate high school in May...
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Are degrees worth more from expensive colleges?Sep 24, 2007 11:00 pm - Does it pay to go to college? That's a rude question, of course. It's a question parents don't want to ask if they've just written the big checks. Nor do students want t...
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Take steps to ensure a secure retirementSep 19, 2007 11:00 pm - Q. I am 51 years old. I have some money in my 401(k) and IRAs (about $300,000) plus another $100,000 in savings. My question is where do I start? What should I be doing ...
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Spending on clothes can shrink your cashSep 17, 2007 11:00 pm - Do you suffer from "Closet Guilt?" If you're a man, the likely answer is no. If you're a woman, you'd rather not talk about it. I first heard the phrase while talking wi...
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Money markets often beat bondsSep 12, 2007 11:00 pm - Q. In a recent column you recommended a list of ETFs. I generally agree with the list, and most certainly agree with your criteria. But iShares Lehman TIP, the Treasury ...