U.S. stocks remain best haven for investment

DEAR BRUCE >> My husband and I are on a fixed annual income of $75,000. Our CD is coming to maturity soon. We do not want to roll it over since the interest has dropped so low. Can you suggest a better investment? We can’t afford to lose this money. -- S.W. DEAR S.W. >> Let’s start with the given. You’re not going to get the same income as you’ve enjoyed since CDs are going very close to negative territory, which is a crime, but nonetheless, that’s the way it is.

As to a better way to invest, at the risk of repeating myself, it seems to me that conservative purchases in the stock market is the only way to fly -- with wellestablished U.S. companies that are also paying reasonable dividends. There is no reason to believe you can’t expect a return of 5 percent or better. It may take a little time to investigate which companies to choose, but it’s certainly worth the effort. DEAR BRUCE >> When my wife and I divorced, we continued to pay the mortgage as a couple from our joint accounts. Both of our names were on the mortgage. At some point, she took my name off the mortgage without my knowledge.

She plans to sell the house. I say I get half of the sale price of our home. What would you do? -- Reader DEAR READER >> It’s clear that your wife had absolutely no right to remove your name from

the mortgage. Unless, of course, you paid it off, and that still would require your signature.

There’s no reason at this point why you wouldn’t receive

half of the sale price. Unless there was some prior agreement made during the divorce, but I don’t see how she could have proceeded with your name removal without your permission.