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Alisa Wolfson

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Alisa Wolfson is a freelance writer for MarketWatch Picks.

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‘I see him being a little too free with it.’ My fiancé got a $300,000 inheritance, and he needs a financial adviser, but I worry he’ll be taken advantage of. What’s my move?

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‘If you’re trying to grab the best yields, there’s no better time than the present.’ 3 pros on where CD rates are headed in 2024

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My financial adviser charges advisory, manager and platform fees — and the total fee is 1.15%. Is this even normal?

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I’m 60, retired and have $550K in cash and $1.5M invested in a mix of balanced and conservative funds. I’m drawing down 3% a year, but wondering: Am I doing OK or do I need a pro to help?

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‘I can’t afford to keep losing.’ I’m a 60-year-old Alabama widow. My $118,000 IRA has lost 7% since September. Do I need a pro to help?

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With plenty of CDs paying 5% or higher, it can be tempting to access earnings early. Here’s when you can, without penalty.

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‘I see him being a little too free with it.’ My fiancé got a $300,000 inheritance, and he needs a financial adviser, but I worry he’ll be taken advantage of. What’s my move?

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This family just bumped Walmart’s Waltons as the richest in the world

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‘I didn’t see how this could happen to my family — until now’: My brother drained $200,000 from my mother’s savings. How can I stop him?

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Confused about how much to tip? Here is a detailed guide

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My late brother’s three children say they should receive the same annual monetary gifts their grandmother gives to her other children. Are they entitled?

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I want to buy a Tesla and get my $7,500 tax credit, but I’m expecting an $18,000 tax credit from solar panels. Should I wait to buy the car?

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We’re retired with $1.4 million in investments and 2 mortgages worth $200,000. Do we pay them off and risk raising our Medicare premium?

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At 65, I thought I could eat whatever I wanted — until I woke up in the ICU

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Here is what could make or break the luxury sector going forward

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My wife and I are separating. I provided the down payment, and paid the mortgage on our home. Will I be allowed to keep it if we divorce?

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I was ‘financially set’ after my husband died. But my current adviser lost $500,000 over the last few years, and then a new adviser said my portfolio was ‘a mess’ and wants 1.25% to fix it. What’s my move?

Dec. 2, 2023 at 8:07 a.m. ET by Alisa Wolfson

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I was earning 14% on a real estate investment, but all the financial advisers I interviewed wanted me to sell and invest in stocks instead. What gives?

Nov. 25, 2023 at 4:05 p.m. ET by Alisa Wolfson

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I’m 47, will get a $5,000-per-month pension, only owe $180,000 on my home and have $419,000 in a savings account. Should I get a pro to help me?

Nov. 25, 2023 at 2:32 p.m. ET by Alisa Wolfson

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I’m 54 and can retire in 2 years with a $6,000-a-month pension and $800,000 in my 401(k). I want to move to Florida. Who can help?

Nov. 25, 2023 at 9:31 a.m. ET by Alisa Wolfson

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‘Every month I express my concerns to my adviser, but he says not to worry.’ My 401(k) has lost over 20% and I can’t afford to lose that kind of money. Is it time to find a new adviser?

Nov. 22, 2023 at 10:31 a.m. ET by Alisa Wolfson

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I have $930,000 in a fund, but it’s losing money. I want to get a new financial adviser, but that may cost me 1.6%. Is that too high?

Nov. 20, 2023 at 1:03 p.m. ET by Alisa Wolfson

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7 of the best early Black Friday TV deals you can get right now — one ‘incredible offer’ is an 85” LG UHD TV for $899

Nov. 20, 2023 at 10:16 a.m. ET by Alisa Wolfson

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I have an IRA with $800,000 in it. Is a 1% fee to my financial adviser ‘reasonable’ to pay?

Nov. 16, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. ET by Alisa Wolfson

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I fired my financial adviser after he ‘stonewalled’ me for over a year. But now I’m sitting on annuities and 2 jumbo CDs. What’s my move?

Nov. 14, 2023 at 10:35 a.m. ET by Alisa Wolfson

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‘An unusual downturn.’ The share of equity-rich homes in America saw its largest quarterly decline in 4 years: report. Should you tap into your home equity now?

Nov. 12, 2023 at 11:39 a.m. ET by Alisa Wolfson

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I live in Minnesota and will soon have $1 million — in cash. I need a financial adviser, but the locals I spoke to left me feeling they couldn’t handle me. What’s my move?

Nov. 11, 2023 at 3:10 p.m. ET by Alisa Wolfson

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94% of economists think the Fed could begin cutting rates in 2024: survey. With some CDs paying 5% or more, is it time to get one?

Nov. 8, 2023 at 1:01 p.m. ET by Alisa Wolfson

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Our financial adviser sunk our $300,000 into a REIT 10 years ago — and we think he got a $25,000 fee. Now we don’t know if we’ll ever recoup our money. Does this seem ethical?

Nov. 8, 2023 at 1:01 p.m. ET by Alisa Wolfson

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My cousin is about to retire at 55. Meanwhile, my last financial adviser told me to pay off my mortgage, which was ‘not good advice.’ How can I get on track?

Nov. 4, 2023 at 12:46 p.m. ET by Alisa Wolfson

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Forget FIRE, Gen Z is ‘soft saving.’ And financial advisers have (ahem) a lot of thoughts …

Nov. 2, 2023 at 6:00 a.m. ET by Alisa Wolfson

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I’m 65 with no 401(k) and just $6,000 in savings. At this point, can a financial adviser even help me?

Nov. 1, 2023 at 11:08 a.m. ET by Alisa Wolfson

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I only get a yearly call from my adviser, and recently, after I requested $35K to purchase a Jaguar, he ‘just wasn’t as cordial anymore.’ What should I do?

Oct. 30, 2023 at 6:00 a.m. ET by Alisa Wolfson

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I’m a 61-year-old flight attendant who wants to retire at 70. I’ll have a $900 per month pension and will get Social Security, but only have $150K in my 401(k). Should I get professional help?

Oct. 28, 2023 at 7:01 p.m. ET by Alisa Wolfson

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‘I’m not a high maintenance person.’ I’m 70 and living well on $24K a year in Social Security. But I’ll have to take IRA distributions soon and might want to live abroad. Should I hire a pro to help?

Oct. 28, 2023 at 12:21 p.m. ET by Alisa Wolfson

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He was Michelin’s 2022 California ‘Sommelier of the Year’ — and these are the 7 wines under $25 you must try, he tells us

Oct. 27, 2023 at 1:20 p.m. ET by Alisa Wolfson