Karin Price Mueller is the founder of NJMoneyHelp.com, a personal finance web site that offers smart and objective advice on everything money. She also writes the Bamboozled consumer affairs column for The Star-Ledger, and a monthly money column for Inside Jersey magazine, and she's been the recipient of many national and local journalism awards. Mueller lives in Monmouth County with her husband — Star-Ledger reporter Mark Mueller — and their three kids and two English Mastiffs. Whatever they don't eat goes into her retirement savings accounts.
Karin Price Mueller
Donating a 401(k) distribution to charity
Q. Can a Required Minimum Distribution from a 401(k) plan be paid directly to charity?
When a loved one influences financial decisions
Q. I think my mother is being influenced by her boyfriend to change her will and beneficiaries on her accounts. She already sold her house to move into his, and she gave him most of the money I think to cover her expenses, but she doesn’t have her name on his house. I can’t imagine she means for me and my brother to get nothing when she dies. What can I do?
Can a surviving spouse keep the health plan?
Q. As a New Jersey retiree, I have NJDirect Horizon supplemental insurance. Because I am the subscriber, will my spouse be eligible for coverage if I should predecease him?
How to handle a sudden death with no will
Q. The husband of my neighbor suddenly passed away at 68 without leaving any will, trust or even informing her about the finances. She is also in her 60s and is completely perplexed at what to do. They are well off financially. She has no idea where what is and is asking for help. What is the best way to help her?
The election and how it will affect your portfolio
Q. My father, 90, says he will take all his money out of the stock market if it looks like Clinton will win. Does it really matter who wins the election?
Is the health care industry a good investment right now?
Q. With the election and the mess Obamacare seems to be in, is this a good time to buy health companies?
How to estimate taxes for freelancers
Q. I started working as a freelancer this year, and someone just said I should be paying estimated taxes. Is that true?
When disability turns into retirement
Q. I had a question about your recent story about Social Security survivor benefits. My husband passed in September of 2015 at 66 I was told by that since I started getting disability in that same year and it was more than his benefits, I couldn’t get any of his...
Uncertainty in the stock market during election season
Q. What will happen to the stock market if Clinton wins? Or if Trump wins? I’m thinking of sitting on the sidelines till things settle down.
Strategies for leftover 529 plan money
Q. My son graduated from college last year and we had money left in his 529 plan. We expect our daughter to get a full scholarship, so we’re not sure she will need the money, plus, she has her own 529 plan. What can we do?