Social Security Wrongly Marks Up to 12,000 Dead

Each year, 7,000 to 12,000 living Americans are mistakenly listed as dead in Social Security records. Why? A single mistyped digit can do it. The agency says it is 99.7% accurate, but a wrong entry can halt Medicare (government health insurance for people 65 and older), freeze bank accounts and block prescriptions. Rare, but a very bad day at the pharmacy counter.

Bank Fees Can Quietly Cost $100 a Year

Many banks charge monthly account fees of $5 to $10. Over a year, that can add up to $100 or more. Some also charge if your balance dips too low or when you move money between accounts. With prices up 3.7% in a year, cutting fees is one way to keep more of each paycheck.

$2 Million Saved Puts You Near Top 10%

Having $2 million saved puts you around the top 10% of Americans by net worth (what you own minus what you owe). But being ahead of most people doesn't mean you're ready to retire. For many 65-year-olds it could be plenty. What counts is whether it covers your own plans.

A $20,000 Roth Move Could Cost $4,400

A Roth conversion means moving money from a pretax retirement account, like a traditional IRA, into a Roth IRA. You pay the tax at the time you move it. Convert $20,000 while in the 22% tax bracket (the rate on the top slice of your income) and the tax bill could be about $4,400. Timing matters because the amount counts as income that year.

30-Year Mortgage Rate Dips to 7.24%

The average 30-year mortgage rate fell to 7.24% from 7.32% last week, the lowest in over a month, Freddie Mac says. Why? Rates follow inflation, the Fed's interest-rate choices (the Fed is the US central bank) and the economy's outlook. With prices up 3.7% in a year, rates are still well above last year's 6.17%. A small dip, a big hill.