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
-
How to File Tornado Insurance Claims
insurance Tornados have caused billions in damages over the decades. If you were affected, make sure you document your losses and contact your insurer immediately.
By Elaine Silvestrini Last updated
insurance -
Say No to Co-Signing
credit & debt Helping someone get a loan or lease by being a co-signer can affect your credit score and your ability to borrow money.
By Kimberly Lankford Last updated
credit & debt -
Boost Your Social Security Benefit Every Month You Delay
social security You don't need to wait an entire year beyond your full retirement age to earn delayed retirement credits.
By Kimberly Lankford Last updated
social security -
10 Things You Need 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 Last updated
Becoming a Homeowner -
How To Convert a Traditional IRA to a Roth after 60
retirement You can convert an IRA to a Roth no matter how old you are. But if the conversion boosts your income, it could have taxing consequences.
By Kimberly Lankford Last updated
retirement -
7 Ways to Reduce Your Income to Qualify for Roth IRA Contributions
401(k)s If you're just above the income cutoff to qualify for Roth IRA contributions, these strategies will help you meet it.
By Kimberly Lankford Last updated
401(k)s -
HSAs Can Reimburse You for Medicare Premiums Paid
Medicare Even if your Medicare premiums are automatically deducted from your Social Security check, you can take tax-free withdrawals from an HSA to reimburse yourself.
By Kimberly Lankford Last updated
Medicare -
10 Myths About Health Savings Accounts
savings When you’re choosing a health plan for the year, one option may be a high-deductible plan that makes you eligible to contribute to a health savings account.
By Kimberly Lankford Last updated
savings -
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 Last updated
Medicare -
Smart Strategies For Open Enrollment 2023
Open enrollment will soon be underway, and many employers are shielding workers from hefty increases in health insurance premiums. But it pays to review your options carefully.
By Kimberly Lankford Published
-
How Much Life Insurance Do You Need?
insurance Instead of relying on rules of thumb, you’re better off taking a systematic approach to figuring your life-insurance needs.
By Kimberly Lankford Published
insurance -
12 Ways to Lower Your Auto-Insurance Premiums
insurance Here's how to save on car insurance as rates remain elevated.
By Kimberly Lankford Last updated
insurance -
The Basics of Buying Homeowners Insurance
insurance If you're purchasing your first home, here's what you need to know about getting the right coverage to protect it.
By Kimberly Lankford Last updated
insurance -
10 Best Benefits for Military Members and Their Families
savings Service members face a range of threats – from the lethal to the financial. An array of military benefits and programs are meant to offset some of the risk for them, their spouses and their families.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
savings -
Flood Insurance May Cost You More
Becoming a Homeowner New national rating procedures will raise premiums for more than 3.8 million policyholders.
By Kimberly Lankford Published
Becoming a Homeowner -
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 Published
social security -
Avoid the Obstacles of Long-Term-Care Claims
Long-Term Care Insurance Filing a claim can be an ordeal, but these preventive measures will streamline the process.
By Kimberly Lankford Published
Long-Term Care Insurance -
Surviving Surprise Medical Bills
insurance Unexpected charges are on the rise as insurers shrink their provider networks.
By Kimberly Lankford Published
insurance -
New Law Could Change Rules for IRA Withdrawals
IRAs Under the proposed legislation, you would have more time to take IRA distributions.
By Kimberly Lankford Published
IRAs -
Credit Report Error? They All Matter
credit & debt Don't dismiss a minor error. It could be the sign of something more serious.
By Kimberly Lankford Published
credit & debt -
Insurance for a Learning Driver
insurance Adding a teen driver to your plan will raise premiums, but there are things you can do to help reduce them.
By Kimberly Lankford Published
insurance -
Getting Out of an RMD Penalty
retirement When your brokerage firm miscalculates your required minimum distributions, you have recourse.
By Kimberly Lankford Published
retirement -
529 Plans Aren’t Just for Kids
529 Plans You don’t have to be college-age to use the money tax-free, but there are stipulations.
By Kimberly Lankford Published
529 Plans -
11 Reasons You Need Umbrella Insurance Right Now
insurance An umbrella insurance policy can protect your assets and future earnings from expensive lawsuits.
By Patricia Mertz Esswein Published
insurance