By Quentin Fottrell
‘I bring in $7,200 a month from my pension and disability benefits‘
“After all the bills for the month, we have $3,500 a month left for living, food etc.” (Photo subjects are models.)
Dear Moneyist,
I am 41 years old and have just retired from the service. I have $1.2 million in four different accounts, three of which are IRAs. I bring in $7,200 a month from my pension and disability benefits. that is the only source of income currently for a family of five. We have $46,000 in credit-card debt and we are struggling to find a way forward.
It’s expensive feeding and housing a family of seven, especially with increases in the cost of living. After all the bills for the month, we have $3,500 a month left for living, food etc. How do you recommend we get rid of the credit-card debt until I can find new employment? Raiding my IRAs? Looking into a SEPP plan? Taking out a personal loan?
Lost and Confused
Related: I’m selling my condo and have $130K to invest. Is this a bad time to invest in the S&P 500?
You can email The Moneyist with any financial and ethical questions at qfottrell@marketwatch.com. The Moneyist regrets he cannot reply to questions individually.
To pay off your card, you’d have to take almost $67,500 from your retirement account.
Dear Lost,
You need to pay this credit-card bill off as fast as possible.before we get to the numbers, I want to, first, thank you for your service and, second, acknowledge that you’re not the first person to get snowed under with credit-card debt, and you won’t be the last.Guilt,recrimination and blame won’t help now,and it can be counterproductive. It’s way to easy to shame people for taking on too much debt.
That said, things need to change.With the average U.S. credit-card debt at 22.8%, assuming you’re paying that rate, and the average historic return on the S&P 500 SPX at 7% after inflation, accounting for peaks and valleys along the way, it would cost you a lot of money – arguably, way too much money – to take money from your IRA.
You would be robbing Peter (your pension fund by paying a 10% early withdrawal penalty and 22% income tax) to pay Paul (the roughly 22.8% rate on your credit card). Here’s the first sock in the jaw: To pay off your card, you’d have to take almost $67,500 from your retirement account. You would also lose $65,500 in ret
Dow Jones & Company Update – November 29, 2025
Table of Contents
Dow Jones & Company, Inc. continues to navigate a dynamic financial landscape. This update, dated November 29, 2025, reflects the company’s ongoing operations and copyright facts as of that date. Recent performance and future outlook are detailed below.
Recent Performance and Key Developments
as of november 29,2025,Dow Jones & Company,Inc. remains a leading provider of financial news and business intelligence. The company’s core brands, including The Wall street Journal, Dow Jones Newswires, Factiva, and Barron’s, continue to serve a global audience of finance professionals and individual investors.
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) maintains its position as a premier source of in-depth reporting and analysis on business, finance, politics, and culture. Digital subscriptions continue to drive growth, with a focus on personalized content delivery and enhanced user experience. The Wall Street Journal reported a steady increase in digital subscribers in Q4 2025.
Dow Jones newswires
Dow Jones Newswires provides real-time, multilingual news and data to financial professionals. The service is critical for traders, analysts, and portfolio managers seeking timely information to inform their investment decisions. Dow Jones Newswires has expanded its coverage of emerging markets, particularly in Asia and Latin America.
Factiva
Factiva, a extensive research platform, delivers access to a vast collection of news, business information, and data. It is used by corporations, governments, and academic institutions for competitive intelligence, risk management, and due diligence. Factiva has integrated new AI-powered search capabilities to improve the efficiency of information retrieval.
Barron’s
Barron’s provides financial news, data, and analysis for investors. It covers stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and other investment vehicles. Barron’s continues to be a trusted resource for investors seeking to make informed decisions.
Copyright Information
As stated in the original source, copyright for all content remains with Dow Jones & Company, Inc. (Copyright (c) 2025 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.). All rights reserved.unauthorized reproduction or distribution of Dow Jones content is prohibited.
Looking Ahead
Dow Jones & Company, Inc. is focused on continued innovation and growth in the digital space. The company is investing in new technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, to enhance its products and services. It is indeed also expanding its global reach to serve a wider audience.The company anticipates continued growth in digital subscriptions and revenue in the coming year.
Key Takeaways
- dow Jones & Company, Inc. remains a leading provider of financial news and business intelligence.
- Digital subscriptions are driving growth across its core brands.
- The company is investing in new technologies to enhance its products and services.
- Copyright remains with Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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