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.

5 things to do if you can’t pay your credit card bill

By: John Schmoll | Source: Cardratings

“If your debt is manageable, your income steady, and your credit score is solid, you can probably DIY your debt, says Howard Dvorkin, CPA and chairman of Debt.com. “You can get a personal loan with an interest rate under 10%, then use that money to pay off your credit cards, which average over 20% nationally.”

Should You Open a Credit Card Post-Holiday Season? 5 Reasons You Should and 3 You Shouldn’t

By: G. Brian Davis | Source: GOBankingRates

“If you’ve emerged from this holiday season with huge credit card balances, the last thing you want to do is apply for another card,” he said. “That’s like trying to lose your holiday pounds by eating more turkey and ham. Your better option is to get professional help paying down those balances, which will free up your finances to be more flexible in 2025.”

New to Financial Advising? Nine Key Ways to Build Trust With Your Clients

By: Kiplinger Advisor Collective | Source: Kiplinger

“If you want to build trust, don’t try so hard. Your best clients have wealth to invest because they didn’t fall for smooth talk and easy smiles. They want accurate projections, measurable results and personal responsibility. In other words, consider yourself one of their trusted senior managers. You’ve got the job as long as you deliver. Stop lobbying for it and just excel at it.”

Seven Ways Retirees Can Crush Holiday Debt in the New Year

By: Donna Fuscaldo | Source: Kiplinger Personal Finance

“Best of all, there’s no obligation. You can hang up and walk away with that debt analysis, which can help you figure out your next steps,” “I’ve been a debt counselor for three decades now, and retirement debt is one of the saddest situations I see. There’s simply no time for any other solution except hiring a professional to help.”

Debt consolidation loan vs. debt consolidation program: Which will be better in 2025?

By: Jamie Johnson | Source: CBS News MoneyWatch

“A debt consolidation loan is ideal for someone whose debts are annoying but not scary,” says Howard Dvorkin, a personal finance expert and chairman of Debt.com. “For instance, if you earn a good income but run up your credit cards during the holidays, a debt consolidation loan can save you a lot on interest. Instead of paying 20% on several credit cards, you take out a personal loan at 10%.”

12 Steps to Take Now for More Financial Success in 2025

By: Kiplinger Advisor Collective | Source: Kiplinger

“Creating a monthly household budget sounds so obvious as to be ridiculous, but I know many seven-figure earners who get into serious financial trouble because they’ve budgeted carefully for their business but not themselves. With secure online tools that do the math for you, there’s simply no excuse for going into the new year without a personal budget.”

Is It Even Worth Paying Medical Debt Under $500 if It Doesn’t Hurt Your Credit Anymore?

By: Pete Grieve | Source: Money

“Can they get the money out of you? Not really. Is it annoying? Yes,” Dvorkin says.

Should you wait until after the holidays to tackle your debt? Experts decide

By: Aly Yale | Source: CBS News MoneyWatch

Waiting it out could also allow you to better “focus on your debts without distraction” in the new year, says Howard Dvorkin, chairman of Debt.com. “It’s hard to deal with debt during the holidays,” Dvorkin says. “That’s like saying you’ll start your diet on Thanksgiving day. Most Americans deal with their weight and their debt in January. That’s when they step on the scale and get their credit card statements. In both cases, they’re horrified by how big the number is. That’s when they get serious.”

13 Practical Strategies for Making Homeownership a Reality

By: Kiplinger Advisor Collective | Source: Kiplinger

“You shouldn’t buy a home until you pay off all, or at least most, of your credit cards. It simply makes no sense to search for the best mortgage rates of 6% to 9% when you’re paying 25% or more on your credit cards. Buying a home is expensive but so is maintaining one. If you can’t pay off those cards, then you can’t, say, fix a leaky sink without adding even more to your balances.”

What Expert Recommends Buying on Black Friday Before Proposed Trump Tariffs

By: Jesus Mesa | Source: Newsweek

“I do not believe we will see any immediate changes in the pricing of goods. However, I do anticipate that prices for some imported products from the mentioned countries may rise to some extent after the inauguration,” he said.

Many shoppers are heading into Black Friday with holiday debt left over from last year

By: Daniel de Visé | Source: USA Today

“Americans are feeling squeezed in the holiday season, and it’s not just inflation,” said Howard Dvorkin, chairman of Debt.com. Dvorkin said his company has surveyed consumers on debt in past years, and the share who plan to take on holiday debt “used to be under 50%.”

How to protect your wallet this holiday season

By: Alina Machado | Source: NBC6

“Essentially, you’re buying stuff that you can’t afford,” said Howard Dvorkin, chairman of Debt.com. “The problem is if you default or don’t pay one of those months, all of a sudden … they’re charging you 30% or more interest on this, so that deal you thought was a great idea, it’s not such a great idea.”