Are zero-interest credit cards a good deal?

It sounds like a great deal. Pay no interest on balances transferred from other credit cards, and make interest-free purchases throughout the promotional period. Why wouldn't you take advantage of such an offer?

Although a 0% credit card may be a wise choice for some people, the devil is in the details — and in your individual propensities as a consumer. Consider the following questions:

• Is the balance transfer really free? Yes, you may not be required to pay interest on a balance moved from one credit card account to another. But your new account may charge a fee for making the transfer. Such fees typically run from 3% to 5%. If your balance, for example, is $3,000 and you pay a transfer fee of 3%, you'll be charged $90 just to make the switch. And in some cases, the lender doesn't set a cap on this fee; it's a flat percentage. So the higher the balance that's transferred, the higher the transfer fee.

• What happens after the promotional period? You may be offered a 0% credit card now, but the offer may expire in six months. After that, the rate will likely adjust upward, sometimes substantially. So if you can't pay off the balance before the promotional period ends, you may want to deposit the offer in the nearest trash can.

• What happens if you're late on a payment? Some companies have strict terms on new credit cards that mandate substantial penalties if even one scheduled payment doesn't arrive on time. The card may be cancelled; the full balance may be immediately due; the 0% rate may vanish like the morning fog. So reading the details of the credit card agreement before you make the switch may save headaches and dollars later on.

• Are there minimum use requirements? To keep the promotional rate, you may be required to use the card at least once a month. If you don't, look out. The rate may jump or penalties may be assessed. Again, reading the fine print is crucial to making a prudent decision.

• Will you pay off the balance — really? Know your propensities. If it's likely that six months from now the balance on your new credit card will remain unpaid, perhaps it's time to redouble your efforts and concentrate on your existing account.

© MC 2013

contact: aconner@atconnercpa.com

Should you pay off your home mortgage before retirement?

As Shakespeare put it, "Borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry." In other words, subsidizing a lifestyle with credit tends to make us financially lazy. When headed into retirement with the prospect of a fixed income, liquidating all your debts — including your mortgage — seems to make a lot of sense. Nevertheless, paying off a mortgage, unlike reducing credit card or installment debt to zero, may not be the wisest choice for everyone. Here are four factors to consider.

• How's your emergency fund doing? If you don't have enough money set aside to cover the unexpected hazards of life, you may end up charging credit cards or raiding retirement accounts to cover those costs. How much should you set aside? Most experts recommend enough to cover three to six months of living expenses. Funding an emergency fund first will keep you from being house-rich and cash-poor.

• How much can you earn elsewhere? If you've refinanced your mortgage and locked in a historically low interest rate, you may want to invest extra money in funds that earn higher returns. Of course, the stock market is notoriously volatile. So if you can't handle the volatility of the market or can't sleep at night when your investments take a downturn, paying off the mortgage may be the more prudent choice for you. In other words, know yourself and plan accordingly.

• Is consumer debt draining your cash flow? If you're only making the minimum payments on your car loan or credit card balance, attack those debts first. Consumer interest isn't deductible on your taxes, and the interest rates are probably higher than you're paying on a mortgage. If you're heading into retirement with only a few years left on a fixed-rate mortgage, most of your payment is already being applied toward the principal balance.

• Are you fully funding retirement accounts? As full-time employment winds to a close, be sure to contribute as much as possible to IRAs and 401(k) accounts. Most folks will use those funds to supplement social security payments, pensions, or other savings. Again, having a house that's paid off may provide little consolation if you run out of cash partway through retirement. True, you might be able to sell the house and use the cash to cover a shortfall. But selling your primary residence should fit into a carefully considered plan. A fire sale doesn't qualify.

For help in analyzing whether paying off your home mortgage makes sense in your circumstances, give us a call.

aconner@atconnercpa.com