Latest from Chris Farrell

• Apr 2, 2012

  A Roth and student loans

  I am graduating from medical school. I have debt of about $170,000 at 6.8 percent non-compounding interest and $12,000 at 4 percent. I also have a Roth IRA with about $4,000 in it. Should I invest in my Roth IRA while making payments next year? I make $45,000 next year then $52,000 the year after, then $60,000 the third year. Do I put everything I can into paying off debt, or do I try to put a little in the Roth while making my income-based repayments on the loan? (Expected payoff is in 10 years.) John, Wauwatosa, WI

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• Apr 2, 2012

  Investment fees matter — a lot

  High fees eat away at returns.

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• Apr 2, 2012

  A subdued reading on rates

  The survey consensus was for no increase to slight increase in interest rates for 2012. Nothing dramatic. Very muted. There's no sense that the economy will turn gangbusters. At best, the economy will show modest gains in 2012.

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• Mar 30, 2012

  The benefits of downsizing a home

  Three years ago — fresh out of grad school, with new jobs and lots of optimism — my husband and I bought a beautiful house that we love. Trouble is, we spent too much money. Now, our mortgage consumes nearly all of our monthly income, leaving us very little to save for retirement, our kids' college funds or do the things we love such as traveling. The question, then, is: Should we cut our losses, try to sell and buy something cheaper? Julia, St. Paul, MN

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• Mar 29, 2012

  To annuitize or not to annuitize — with apologies to Shakespeare

  I am ready to convert my 401(k) into an IRA. I am 61 years old and want to start taking annual distributions. The current balance in the 401(k) is $562,000 and I would like to withdraw 4 percent annually. Fidelity Investments is recommending a Guaranteed Annuity of $400,000 and the remaining in a managed portfolio fund (balanced). The annual fee for annuity is 1.90 percent of the balance and the managed portfolio 1 percent. These are the only fees. There is a 2 percent penalty if withdrawn within the first 5 years. Is this a good option, or should I keep the money in moderate conservative index funds? Emma, Las Cruces, NM

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• Mar 28, 2012

  Taxes and a home equity loan

  Hello. I'm 50 and single. I have a 15-year mortgage at 3.5 percent. My income is more than $80,000. I have a Roth and I am maximizing my company's 403(b) account. I have no credit card debt — no debt in general except the mortgage, so I don't have a lot of write-offs. Does it make sense to get an equity loan and finish my basement so I can get a bigger write-off on taxes while investing in my home, or should I continue to just sock money away because it is better to not have debt? Thanks. Lisa, Salt Lake City, UT

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• Mar 28, 2012

  Retirement and working longer

  "A steadily growing portion of the workforce will continue to work at least part-time well beyond the 'normal' retirement age of 65," says a senior research fellow at the New America Foundation.

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• Mar 27, 2012

  Finding ongoing debt management advice

  Is it possible to find free/sliding scale ongoing debt counseling? A friend in Louisiana is in her 60s and facing the consequences of years of terrible financial decisions. I think she's beyond the point where one session of debt counseling could help her. I've seen patterns in her that I've seen in others who grew up poor: When they were young, they learned there was no way to ever catch up financially and be in control. So she has no sense that it is possible to be in control of her money. Thank you, Robin, Boston, MA

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• Mar 26, 2012

  Emergency savings: Expenses or aftertax salary?

  I'm a 36-year-old single professional in the DFW metroplex that tries to think long-term in my financial planning. I put 12 percent of my around $100,000 salary into my 401(k) with company match. Currently, the retirement fund is valued at about $100,000. I owe about $12,000 on my student loans (4.25 percent fixed interest, originally $80,000) and I have about 27 percent equity in my $180,000 town home. I recently refinanced my home at 4.125 percent for 15 years. My credit card debt is maybe $1,000. After surviving a layoff well (due to a generous severance in the Great Recession), I was scared straight once I started working again. I now have about $15,000 in an emergency fund and next year's bonus will go to this, too. So I have three questions: 1) Do I need 6 months of bills or 6 months of salary after tax? 2) Should I park this in savings? Or is there a better financial instrument? 3) Is the emergency fund a higher priority than nuking the graduate school debt? I appreciate your guidance. Keith, Plano, TX

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• Mar 26, 2012

  The Supremes and the health overhaul

  However the Supreme Court decides its ruling will push health-care reform to the top of the campaign debate. Health reform won't go away. The costs of the system are too high. The fiscal, economic and household pressures remain too great. Back to the future won't work.

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