Ask Roesie

Retirement is supposed to bring more freedom, not more financial stress.

One thing that can make retirement harder than it needs to be?

Carrying high-interest debt into it.

When you're working, there may be opportunities to increase income or work extra hours. In retirement, your income is often more fixed, but interest charges keep growing the same way they always have.

That doesn't mean you need to be debt-free before retiring. It does mean it's worth having a plan.

The more high-interest debt you can reduce before retirement, the more flexibility you'll have to enjoy the years you've worked so hard for.

Life changes can shake up a lot of things… including your credit.
 
After a divorce or the loss of a partner, it’s common for finances to shift. Joint accounts may need to be separated, bills may get missed during stressful moments, and things can feel a little uncertain.
 
The best first step is simple: get clarity.
 
Pull your credit report, see what accounts are open, and understand where you stand today. Once you know the full picture, you can start rebuilding and moving forward with confidence.
 

Helping a family member by co-signing a loan can feel like the right thing to do.

But it is important to understand what co-signing actually means.

When you co-sign, you are not just supporting the application. You are agreeing to be fully responsible for the debt.
If the person misses a payment, your credit is affected. If they cannot pay the loan, you are legally responsible for making those payments.

Co-signing can help someone get approved, but it also carries real financial risk.

Before saying yes, make sure everyone understands the commitment and has a clear plan for repayment.