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Contributing Editor Kiplinger's Personal Finance
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.
Set amid the Appalachians, Johnson City offers low taxes on retirees and quality health care from the Ballad Health Network.
See More From: Saving for Retirement
You can use money in a traditional IRA to buy a deferred-income annuity — a move that can delay taxes and guarantee lifetime income.
See More From: Ask Kim
You can donate money directly from a traditional IRA to a charity without triggering taxes – but only if you meet a strict age requirement.
A handful of hurricane-prone states have sales tax holidays for storm-preparation and emergency supplies—as well as back-to-school shopping.
New college graduates can stay on their parent's health insurance plans, but they should check out a few other options before they do so.
Retirees can still contribute to a Roth IRA when they receive any income after retirement.
A tracking device on your car reveals how you drive. Good drivers are rewarded with policy discounts.
But some states are stepping up to help vulnerable homeowners.
See More From: Tax Breaks
Families can avoid taxes and a penalty on a 529 college-savings plan when a child develops a disability and likely won’t be using the money for college.
Most homeowners with flood insurance still get it from the federal government. But private insurers are starting to offer policies with higher coverage – and sometimes even lower premiums.
Spouses can choose a long-term-care policy with “shared” coverage, giving them a pool of benefits that they can split.
Paying for college will be a little easier if you qualify for one of these two tax credits.
Your investment firm will send you a form to verify any contribution you make to an IRA. This can come in handy later if you’re trying to figure taxes on withdrawals.
Now is also a good time to check withholding for 2018 taxes.
See More From: Tax Tips
More states are offering tax-friendly accounts that give people with disabilities the tools to build a financial future.
See More From: Financial Planning
Credit scores typically fluctuate a little from month to month, often because of changes in credit card balances. Here’s what to do when fluctuations in your scores are more dramatic.
Young adults can stay on the family health policy until age 26. But if they go away to college and are outside the insurer's network of doctors, families need to reconsider their insurance options.