Maurie Backman
Maurie Backman is a freelance contributor to Kiplinger. She has over a decade of experience writing about financial topics, including retirement, investing, Social Security, and real estate. She has written for USA Today, U.S. News & World Report, and Bankrate. She studied creative writing and finance at Binghamton University and merged the two disciplines to help empower consumers to make smart financial planning decisions.
Latest articles by Maurie Backman
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Wealth Wise: Should We Bankroll Our Son's Law School Tuition?In our retirement advice column, Wealth Wise, we help a couple weigh whether to lend their son $180K for his tuition or protect their savings.
By Maurie Backman
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The Short-Term Rental Crackdown: Should You Sell?We consider the case of a retired couple relying on summer rental income from a $1.1 million beach house. Local zoning changes are forcing a hard choice between lifestyle and portfolio stability.
By Maurie Backman
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Wealth Wise: Should We Sell Our Rental or Keep the Income?An out-of-state property is a great inflation hedge, but the hidden tax hits and landlord headaches might not be worth it. Our retirement advice column answers your questions.
By Maurie Backman
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A Retirement Lesson From 'The Pitt'If "The Pitt’s" chief attending has you rethinking the daily grind, it might be time to plan a strategic career pause — before you call it quits for good.
By Maurie Backman
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Is $3.2 Million Enough to Retire in an Expensive College Town?College towns are booming retirement hubs, but experts warn that retirees often underestimate the hidden costs. We break down the options for a couple with $3.2 million.
By Maurie Backman
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Wealth Wise: Downsize or Drain Our 401(k) to Pay Off Our Home?In our retirement advice column, Wealth Wise, we help a reader navigate a heart-wrenching choice: Tap a 401(k) to save the lake home they love, or sell it to protect their financial future.
By Maurie Backman
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When Spouses Clash on Retirement Age: Longevity Risk vs FOMOHow can a couple get retirement timing "right" when one spouse comes from a long-lived family and the other doesn't?
By Maurie Backman
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Wealth Wise: Should We Borrow Money From Our Elderly Father?In our retirement advice column, Wealth Wise, we answer a reader's question about whether you should take a loan from an elderly parent without them knowing.
By Maurie Backman
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Is the HSA Triple Tax Benefit Worth the Paperwork Hassle?Should we sign up for a Health Savings Account (HSA) and embrace even more healthcare paperwork? We'd rather plan vacations than track receipts.
By Maurie Backman
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My Husband's Dementia Puts Our Retirement Savings at RiskMy husband's new diagnosis has me reeling; how do I protect our $1.6 million savings?
By Maurie Backman
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I Want to Pay Off Our Grandson's $45K Student Loan DebtWe're 73, with $2.1 million and $4k a month in Social Security. My husband says we can't afford to help our grandson. Who's right?
By Maurie Backman
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What's the Best Way to Fund my Grandchild's 529 Plan for College?Is it better to make a lump-sum contribution up front or spread funds out through the years? We asked a college savings professional and a financial planner for their advice.
By Maurie Backman
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We Want to Give Our Daughter More Than Our Sons: Can It Be Fair?We paid for our daughter's $75K wedding. Now she is earning less than our sons and needs more help to buy a house. Are we being unfair, or even sexist?
By Maurie Backman
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We’re Planning to Retire in the South. Will We Regret It?We’re New Yorkers with $3.8M. We plan to retire in South Carolina. My wife worries we'll miss our family and old friends. Is she right?
By Maurie Backman
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Can We Help Just One of Two Adult Children Financially?We want all our grandkids to have a great childhood. How do we help their mother, our needier child, without creating resentment?
By Maurie Backman
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I'm 50 and My Home is Worth $5 Million. Can I Retire Now?It may be oh-so tempting to cash out your upscale home and leave work for good. But should you? We ask the experts.
By Maurie Backman
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Time to Stop Driving? When Older Drivers Need to Hang up the Car KeysDoes your older parent or spouse need to stop driving? It's one of the hardest transitions in aging, and there's no simple fix.
By Maurie Backman
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We Are 57 and Want to Take Two Years Off to TravelWe have saved $7 million, and our round-the-world trip will cost $800K. We both had parents who died in their 60s, so we want to travel while we are "young."
By Maurie Backman
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We're Retired and Wealthy. I Want to Splurge but My Wife Says 'No.'We're 67 with $5.8 million after years of scrimping. I want to spend $300K on much-needed home renovations and a new car. How can I get my wife to loosen up on spending?
By Maurie Backman
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My Husband Wants Me to Stop Giving Each of Our 'Kids' $1K/monthWe are 68 and retired with $6.8 million. I just want to help our adult kids pay for daycare and camp for our grandchildren. Should I stop?
By Maurie Backman
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Our Grandchild Wants Help Paying for a $90k-Per-Year College.We're 75 with $3.2 million. Our son is pressuring us to help pay for our granddaughter's college so she can avoid student loans. What should we do?
By Maurie Backman
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We're 59 With $5.3 Million. Can We Frontload Our Spending?We are retired and want to spend $250,000 a year, but once Medicare and Social Security start, we'll need less. Are we nuts?
By Maurie Backman
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We Will Inherit $3 Million: Can We Retire Now?We're 60 with $550K saved. We know we'll inherit when my elderly father passes away. Can we retire now, even though we can't technically afford it?
By Maurie Backman
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My Husband Wants Half Our Retirement Portfolio in StocksWe just retired at 67 with $4.1 million. My husband wants to keep 50% of our investments in stocks. I say it's not worth the risk. Who's right?
By Maurie Backman
