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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How to Shop for an Immediate Annuity
retirement These annuities guarantee steady retirement income for life, but just how much you collect depends on your age when you invest.
By Kimberly Lankford • Published
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The Advantages of Filing the FAFSA Form Early
Paying for College You can submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid for the next year of college starting October 1. And the earlier you file, the better your chances of receiving aid from schools themselves.
By Kimberly Lankford • Published
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You Can Now Freeze -- and Unfreeze -- Your Credit Report for Free
credit & debt As of September 21, credit bureaus can no longer charge you to freeze your credit reports or to lift a freeze. Here’s what you need to know to get your free freeze.
By Kimberly Lankford • Published
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How Preexisting Conditions Can Affect Medigap Insurance
insurance In many cases, insurers can take preexisting conditions into account when deciding whether to sell you a medigap policy and what to charge you.
By Kimberly Lankford • Published
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Key Documents You Need to Take With You in an Emergency
real estate As you prepare for Florence or the next big hurricane, make sure you gather financial documents that you'll need if you must evacuate or your home is damaged.
By Kimberly Lankford • Published
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How to Prepare for Hurricane Florence
insurance As the Carolinas and Mid-Atlantic states brace for a severe hurricane, residents in its path still have time to protect their homes and finances.
By Kimberly Lankford • Last updated
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How to Protect Your Home from Hurricanes
real estate Hurricane season begins June 1, and scientists at Colorado State University expect 2018 to be another big year, forecasting seven hurricanes—three of them major.
By Kimberly Lankford • Last updated
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How a Grandparent's Help With College Tuition Affects Financial Aid
529 Plans Before cutting a check for a grandchild's college tuition, make sure you review the impact it can have on the student's financial aid.
By Kimberly Lankford • Published
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Two Key Estate-Planning Documents You Need
retirement Don't confuse a health care proxy with a living will. Each serves a different purpose, but you'll need both to make sure your medical wishes are honored.
By Kimberly Lankford • Published
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Paying IRA Investment Management Fees
management New tax law brings big changes. But there are workarounds.
By Kimberly Lankford • Published
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Tax Strategies for Charitable Giving
taxes Donors may need to bunch their donations into a single year to itemize deductions.
By Kimberly Lankford • Published
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How to Help Pay a Grandchild's Tuition
Paying for College Learn what you can pay for and what will get taxed.
By Kimberly Lankford • Published
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Save Money on Medicare
insurance During open enrollment, take a hard look at Part D and Medicare Advantage plans.
By Kimberly Lankford • Published
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How to Find the Best Medicare Drug Plan for You for 2019
Medicare Use these search tips to navigate the Medicare Plan Finder tool.
By Kimberly Lankford • Published
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Cost of Employer Health Coverage to Rise 5% in 2019
insurance It's the sixth year in a row that costs have jumped at least that much.
By Kimberly Lankford • Published
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Two Medigap Plans to Be Phased Out
Medicare Insurers will no longer be able to sell Plan F and Plan C medigap policies to people who sign up for coverage in 2020 and later, but current enrollees won't have to switch.
By Kimberly Lankford • Last updated
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Volunteer Abroad in the Peace Corps in Retirement
retirement There is no age limit in some volunteer organizations, including the Peace Corps.
By Kimberly Lankford • Published
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Legal Documents for College Students
college You lose some of your parental rights once your offspring turn 18, but they can obtain legal documents that will allow you to intercede on their behalf, particularly when they go away to college.
By Kimberly Lankford • Published
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The New Banking Law Has Perks for You
credit & debt Provisions to the Dodd-Frank reform act gives small banks more discretion to make loans and mandates free credit freezes.
By Kimberly Lankford • Published
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Tapping a Roth IRA for a House
real estate You can withdraw contributions from a Roth IRA to help purchase your first home.
By Kimberly Lankford • Published
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How to Buy Stocks for Kids
stocks Start investing on behalf of your kids by opening an account on Stockpile.
By Kimberly Lankford • Published
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Smart Life Insurance Strategies for Young Buyers
insurance Buy the right life insurance plan now to avoid scrambling to find coverage later.
By Kimberly Lankford • Published
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What to Do When Your Term Life Insurance Is Expiring
insurance Many families are discovering that a 20-year term for a life insurance policy isn’t enough.
By Kimberly Lankford • Published
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How to Use a 529 Plan When Your Child Wins a Scholarship
529 Plans Even if your child wins a full scholarship, you can use money from a 529 college-savings plan for things other than tuition without triggering taxes or a penalty.
By Kimberly Lankford • Published