Kimberly Lankford
As the "Ask Kim" columnist for Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Lankford receives hundreds of personal finance questions from readers every month. She is the author of Rescue Your Financial Life (McGraw-Hill, 2003), The Insurance Maze: How You Can Save Money on Insurance -- and Still Get the Coverage You Need (Kaplan, 2006), Kiplinger's Ask Kim for Money Smart Solutions (Kaplan, 2007) and The Kiplinger/BBB Personal Finance Guide for Military Families. She is frequently featured as a financial expert on television and radio, including NBC's Today Show, CNN, CNBC and National Public Radio.
Latest articles by Kimberly Lankford
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10 Things to Know About Hurricane Insurance Claims
Becoming a Homeowner Hurricane damage? Know what’s covered, what isn’t, and how to make the most of your policy if you need to file a claim.
By Kimberly Lankford • Published
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Calculating Taxes on Social Security Benefits
social security Uncle Sam can tax up to 85% of your Social Security benefits if you have other sources of income, such as earnings from work or withdrawals from tax-deferred retirement accounts.
By Rocky Mengle • Published
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How to File Tornado Insurance Claims
insurance The five-state storms caused billions in damages. If you were affected, make sure you document your losses and contact your insurer immediately.
By Elaine Silvestrini • Published
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What’s the Best Medigap Plan?
Medicare The 10 medigap plans offer different levels of benefits that pay for expenses not covered by original Medicare.
By Jackie Stewart • Published
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How to Disaster-Proof Your Home
real estate Natural disasters are going to happen. Take steps to prepare—and see if you can get help with the costs.
By Kimberly Lankford • Last updated
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How Long Should You Keep Tax Records?
taxes Keep your tax documents at least until the time limit for an audit runs out—and even longer for some records.
By Rocky Mengle • Published
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How to Estimate Your Social Security Benefits
social security There are a few tools you can use to calculate your Social Security benefits, including signing up for a my Social Security account.
By Jackie Stewart • Last updated
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How to Fund a Memorial Scholarship to Honor a Veteran
Paying for College With the help of a college or community foundation, you can establish a scholarship in the name of a loved one to help students in perpetuity.
By Kimberly Lankford • Last updated
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10 Smart Steps to Minimize Taxes and Penalties on Your RMDs
taxes After you turn age 70½, you need to start taking required minimum distributions from your IRAs and 401(k)s every year.
By Kimberly Lankford • Last updated