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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.”
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Recent Columns
Ally And Matt Owen Are Setting The World On FIRE
By: Howard Dvorkin
Ally and Matt Owen travel around the world teaching people how the used the financial independence retire early method to live out their dreams.
Happy Holidays! You’ve Been Hacked!
By: Howard Dvorkin
Identity theft is a problem year-round. But the holidays make the problem even more severe. Holiday identity theft is a real fear among Americans.
How Technology Can Get You Out Of Debt — Or Bury You Under It
By: Howard Dvorkin
Using technology to help manage your finances can either help or hinder your plans. Automating savings and debt repayment is great.
Why Does Checking Your Credit Score Lower It?
By: Howard Dvorkin
Why does checking your credit score lower it? Here’s the answer: Checking your credit score will never lower your credit. Many people won’t believe me.
Overspending On The Holidays: Even The Experts Fall Victim
By: Howard Dvorkin
Financial experts are great to give advice — especially when speaking from personal experience. Here holiday spending tips from financial experts’ mistakes.
How Tracie Fobes Paid Off $37,000 In Debt
By: Howard Dvorkin
Who’s Tracie Fobes? She’s the founder of website PennyPinchin’ Mom. Check out her advice on how she got out of $37,000 worth of debt.
Debt.com Scholarship Winner Wants To Save Money And Lives
By: Howard Dvorkin
This month’s Debt.com scholarship winner wants to use her earnings to help her work toward a degree in medicine to help people in her home country of Haiti.
“Overbiffing” Isn’t A Typo. It’s A New Crime.
By: Howard Dvorkin
Overbiffing is basically unscrupulous debt collectors tricking people into paying more than they really owe — by lying about the numbers.
There’s Still A Healthcare Crisis, And It’s Still Driving People Into Debt
By: Howard Dvorkin
It’s been over a year since the healthcare crisis made big headlines. It was last September when Congress failed to overturn Obamacare.
Personal Finance Experts Share Their Money Mistakes
By: Howard Dvorkin
Debt.com spoke to other financial experts at FinCon and asked them to recount their worst money mistakes. Here are my five favorites.
Is a Balance Transfer a Good Idea? Depends on Your Personality
By: Howard Dvorkin
Debt.com asked personal finance experts, “Is a balance transfer a good idea?” Well, it depends. There are a few other questions you should ask yourself too.
What Is UltraFICO And Should You Care? Short Answer: Hell Yes
By: Howard Dvorkin
UltraFICO isn’t a superhero in the Marvel Universe, but it might as well be. Superheroes save the world, but UltraFICO will save you money.