Howard Dvorkin receiving the Horatio Alger Award on stage, holding the bronze bust and medal while congratulating fellow honorees during the formal ceremony.

In the News

When major media outlets need the perspective of a personal finance expert, they call Howard.

How to Prepare for Retirement: A 5 Step Guide

By: Aimee Bohn | Source: Investment U

The CPA and chairman of Debt.com, Howard Dvorkin, warned of carrying credit card debt into retirement… Right now, [credit card] interest rates are hovering around 20%. That means you’re paying a dollar for every five you borrowed.

Buy now, pay later apps can lead to vicious debt cycles — here’s what you need to know

By: Art Raymond | Source: DeseretNews

“People are buying ‘wants’ not ‘needs,’” Howard Dvorkin, CPA and chairperson of Debt.com, told CNBC.

Credit Utilization: Understand How It Impacts Your Credit Score

By: Casey Bond | Source: U.S. News & World Report

“Credit utilization makes up such a significant part of your score because if you’re maxing out credit cards, lenders may assume that you are living beyond your means, ultimately deeming you as a credit risk,” says Howard Dvorkin, a CPA, author, columnist and chairman of personal finance site Debt.com.

5 Things to Do Now to Protect Your Money During High Inflation

By: Jared Lindzon | Source: Time

Having a budget is always the best way to keep costs under control, and in recent years inflation has caused many Americans to take up the practice. According to a survey by debt.com, 80% budgeted their expenses in 2021, compared with only 68% in 2019.

Housing market already shows signs of slowing down, experts say

By: Mark Huffman | Source: Consumer Affairs

For would-be buyers, it may also turn out to be an opportunity if the market softens. Howard Dvorkin, a CPA and chairman of Florida-based Debt.com, says this is no time for buyers to take on a debt that may prove to be unmanageable. “If you find yourself saying out loud, ‘I think I can stretch my budget to buy this home,’ don’t do it,” Dvorkin told ConsumerAffairs. “Your budget will be stretched after you buy a home. Don’t forget all the background expenses that go into a just-bought home – from taxes to furnishings, from repairs to maintenance.”

Looking for Scholarships to Pay Student Loans? Check Out Grants Instead

By: Dan Clarendon | Source: Market Realist

Howard Dvorkin, CPA and chairman of Debt.com, says in a Q&A on that website that most scholarships don’t check how recipients use the money. However, he adds that scholarships usually don’t help pay off student loans, since you have to be enrolled in college to get a scholarship.

3 Budgeting Tips For An Uncertain Future

By: E. Napoletano, Korrena Bailie | Source: Forbes

“These sound like boring answers to the heavy question of financial security during scary times,” says Howard Dvorkin, CPA and chairman of Debt.com, “but too many people overreact and take big risks instead of checking first to see if they’ve done all the basics.”

Red flags of peer-to-peer lending

By: Emma Woodward | Source: Bankrate

“If you’re fed up with bank fees, you’ll really hate P2P loans,” says Howard Dvorkin, CPA and Chairman of Debt.com. “On top of the interest rate you’ll pay, there’s the origination fee, which can be as low as 1 percent but as high as 8 percent. That’s much more than a bank or credit union will charge you for a personal loan.”

Business Travel Is Back: How to Maximize Your Miles

By: Beth Braverman | Source: Success Magazine

“People have gotten used to Zoom meetings, but that’s still no substitute for shaking hands and seeing someone in a social setting,” says Howard Dvorkin, a New Jersey-based certified public accountant and chairman of Debt.com. “That being said, they’re still going to evaluate whether travel is necessary.”

When buy now, pay later comes back to bite you

By: Jessica Dickler | Source: CNBC

“People are buying ‘wants’ not ‘needs,’” said Howard Dvorkin, CPA and chairperson of Debt.com.

How to help your child build credit

By: Jacqueline DeMarco | Source: creditcards.com

Howard Dvorkin, CPA and chairman of Debt.com and author of “Power Up: Taking Charge of Your Financial Destiny,” compared building credit with voting. “You need to be 18, but you can start preparing years before,” Dvorkin noted. “You can learn how things work so you can make informed decisions when the time comes. Since the minimum age for a credit card is 18, parents should use the years before that to teach their children how to be financially responsible adults.”

Last-Minute Ways To Reduce Your Taxes for 2022

By: Nicole Spector | Source: Yahoo! Finance

“Call your Human Resources Department,” said Howard Dvorkin, CPA and chairman of Debt.com. “You might have work benefits that offer tax breaks. These are pretty specific.