When major media outlets need the perspective of a personal finance expert, they call Howard.
By: Donna Fuscaldo | Source: AARP
“The reason Sam’s Club is the least expensive of the three is because of Walmart’s buying power,” says Howard Dvorkin, chairman of Debt.com. “That said, they don’t have the premium brands Costco typically has.”
By: Alisa Wolfson | Source: Market Watch
It also may be — depending on the details of your situation — that you want to declare bankruptcy, says certified public accountant (CPA), Howard Dvorkin, chairman of Debt.com. “Bankruptcy was created just for these situations, when good people are stuck in a bad place. In this instance, it doesn’t matter how diligent you are and how hard you’re willing to work to get out of debt. The blunt truth is that your physical body and your financial situation cannot be overcome by sheer force of will. You need to speak with a bankruptcy attorney,” says Dvorkin.
By: Emma Woodward | Source: yahoo! finance
“Repossession is bad for both the borrower and the co-signer because both credit scores will take a hit. Late payments, loan defaults, loans sent to collections and court judgments can all be noted on the primary borrower reports and the co-signer’s reports,” says Howard Dvorkin, CPA and personal finance expert at Debt.com.
By: Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy | Source: yahoo!finance
The only way a small business can truly protect itself from these rate hikes is to go into “turtle mode,” said Howard Dvorkin, CPA and chairman of Debt.com. “Shelve plans to expand your business unless you’re damned sure you can outrun these rate hikes. Focus on efficiency instead of growth. Lock down your current client base so your numbers become predictable enough to weather the storm — and hope like hell the storm passes quickly.”
By: Zoe Han | Source: MorningStar
But before signing up for an Amazon credit card, think carefully about how often you’ll actually use it, and whether you’ll be able to pay off the entire balance every month, said Howard Dvorkin, a financial advisor and chairman of Debt.com. “On paper, getting an Amazon credit card for Prime Day makes dollars and sense. In practice, it’s dangerous unless you’re super-disciplined,” he told MarketWatch in an email. “You need to be honest with yourself before making this decision,” he added.
By: Geoff Williams | Source: U.S. News & World Report
But if you feel like it’s professional financial help you need for your money stress rather than a therapist, there are free places to go for that as well, says Howard Dvorkin, a certified public accountant and chairman of the debt education website, Debt.com. “There’s no shortage of free assistance,” Dvorkin says. “Your bank or credit union probably offer free online budgeting tools that can help you squeeze every last dime from your income. Nonprofit credit counseling agencies … offer you a free, in-depth debt analysis over the phone.”
By: Donna Fuscaldo | Source: AARP
Bank of America found in a recent report that U.S. credit and debit card spending was at its weakest pace in two years. “This is most likely a response to prices being higher overall and Americans tightening their belts to lessen the blow of inflation,” says Howard Dvorkin, CPA, who is the chairman of Debt.com.
By: Nicole Spector | Source: GOBankingRates
“As long as the financial institution is insured, consumers are safe; and, if they are not insured, then they face possible risk,” said Howard Dvorkin, CPA and chairman of Debt.com. “People need to verify that their bank is FDIC insured and that they understand what happens with different types of accounts like joint accounts and retirement accounts.
By: Donna Fuscaldo | Source: AARP
“Between labor and ingredient shortages, coupled with the unpredictability of transportation, it has led to rising consumer costs,” says Howard Dvorkin, chairman of Debt.com. “Food manufacturers are experiencing delays waiting for ingredients and in the end they are paying higher prices, so they are charging higher prices. It’s hard to tell if food costs will go down,” he notes. “More times than not, when costs rise they stay that way.”
By: Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy | Source: GOBankingRates
“I like to tell people that they should save enough money so that once they retire they don’t have to cut back their lifestyle,” said Howard Dvorkin, CPA and chairman of Debt.com. “Today, many people retire with debt that eats up their retirement income.”
By: Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy | Source: Yahoo! Finance
“People hear the phrase ‘death and taxes’ and think neither can change. While death doesn’t change, taxes certainly do. Or rather, the rules governing them change all the time,” said Howard Dvorkin, CPA and chairman of Debt.com. “The most important fact to know is that deductions come in two flavors: standard and itemized. Each reduces your taxable income. Sadly, you can’t use both at the same time. You must choose.”
By: Jessica Dickler | Source: CNBC
“There’s a great deal of economic risk right now, and if you’re borrowing from your future or someone else to cover expenses, an economic slowdown could be worse for you than it has to be,” said Howard Dvorkin, CPA and chairman of Debt.com.