Credit card users can save over $400 a year by switching issuers: CFPB

Credit card users can save over 0 a year by switching issuers: CFPB

Olga Rolenko | Moment | Getty Images The nation’s largest credit card companies typically charge higher interest rates than small banks and credit unions — and switching may save the average cardholder hundreds of dollars a year, according to an analysis issued Friday by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. However, some consumers, depending on their … Read more

He got his student debt forgiven. And then a $56,801 refund

He got his student debt forgiven. And then a ,801 refund

Marlon and his dog, George. Courtesy: Since 1988, Marlon Fox has been paying down his federal student debt. He didn’t see an end in sight. Then, on Aug. 25, 2023, an email popped up in his inbox with the subject line: “Your student loans have been forgiven!” His $119,500 balance was reset to zero. “I … Read more

Where people are moving to escape poor air quality

Where people are moving to escape poor air quality

Eduardo Munoz Alvarez | Getty Images While both renters and homeowners are beginning to take climate hazards into consideration, affordability continues to drive moving trends. Between 2021 and 2022, about 1.2 million more homeowners and renters moved out of than moved into U.S. cities with high risk of poor air quality, according to a new … Read more

IRS weighs ‘audit selection algorithm’ changes for low-income tax credit

IRS weighs ‘audit selection algorithm’ changes for low-income tax credit

IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel speaks at a Senate Finance Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., on April 19, 2023. Al Drago | Bloomberg | Getty Images After vowing in September to “substantially” reduce audits on a low-income tax credit, the IRS confirmed it’s taking steps to address the inequity. “We’ve announced a significant and dramatic reduction … Read more

Imposter scams are top fraud of 2023, FTC says. How to protect yourself

Imposter scams are top fraud of 2023, FTC says. How to protect yourself

Vasily Pindyurin | fStop | Getty Images Consumers lost a record $10 billion to fraud in 2023, and imposter scams were the most prevalent swindle, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Nearly 854,000 people filed complaints to the FTC about imposter scams in 2023. This represents 33% of the total consumer fraud reports filed to … Read more

Biden administration reveals who may qualify for student loan relief

Biden administration reveals who may qualify for student loan relief

President Joe Biden speaks about his economic plan at the Flex LTD manufacturing plant on July 6, 2023 in West Columbia, South Carolina. Sean Rayford | Getty Images The Biden administration has released its proposal for which struggling borrowers should qualify for its new student loan forgiveness plan. The Supreme Court’s conservative majority blocked President … Read more

How to know when to claim benefits

How to know when to claim benefits

Majamitrovic | E+ | Getty Images How to find your Social Security full retirement age If you were born between 1943 and 1954, your full retirement age is 66. If you were born in 1960 or later, your full retirement age is 67. The full Social Security retirement age gradually increases from 66 to 67 … Read more

Why Kununurra Coles in WA has temporarily stopped offering customers cash

Why Kununurra Coles in WA has temporarily stopped offering customers cash

The regional banking crisis is having unexpected consequences, with a Coles in Western Australia now having to pause cash-out in its store due to excessive demand. The Coles in Kununurra has experienced an increase in demand for in-store cash-out services following the closure of some bank branches in town. Coles says this is a temporary … Read more

House lawmakers weigh relief for SALT ‘marriage penalty’

House lawmakers weigh relief for SALT ‘marriage penalty’

Violetastoimenova | E+ | Getty Images House lawmakers are weighing relief for a “marriage penalty” that impacts the federal deduction limit on state and local taxes, known as SALT. While the bill doesn’t have broad support, it could help shape future tax policy discussions, experts say. Enacted via the Republicans’ 2017 tax overhaul, there’s currently … Read more

investing: Rate cuts coming? Park your money in longer duration debt funds: Arnav Pandya

investing: Rate cuts coming? Park your money in longer duration debt funds: Arnav Pandya

Arnav Pandya, Founder, Moneyeduschool, says for a longer term, one can slowly start investing into longer duration debt funds because what will happen is that when rates actually come down, these are the ones which will see the highest gains coming into that. So, the question now is when the rates will start getting cut … Read more