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Retirees: Is Your Local Bank Closing? Four Ways to Cope
By: Donna Fuscaldo | Source: Kiplinger
“If your bank is closing a local branch, don’t panic — but don’t delay, either,” says Howard Dvorkin, CPA and Chairman of Debt.com. “Be proactive. Get support. And know that managing money in today’s world means staying flexible. With the right help, even big changes like this can become manageable.”
Debt Snowball Method: A Step-by-Step Guide to Paying Off Debt
By: Angela Mae | Source: Credible
“Use whatever you save to pay down the next debt,” says Howard Dvorkin, CPA, debt counselor and chairman at Debt.com. “Whatever you do, don’t spend that savings on anything that isn’t crucial to your life. Otherwise, the whole exercise becomes meaningless.”
How does inflation impact credit card debt? Experts weigh in
By: Matt Richardson | Source: Money Watch
“Inflation doesn’t just raise prices; it hikes interest rates, too,” says Howard Dvorkin, chairman of Debt.com. “That credit card that once charged 18% interest might now be up to 22%. That’s because inflation eats into the profits of credit card issuers just like it eats into your household budget.”
What Is Debt Settlement and How Does It Work?
By: Amy Boyington | Source: Credible
“Choosing a debt settlement company is a lot like buying a new car,” says Howard Dvorkin, a CPA, debt solutions author, and the founder and chairman of Debt.com. “You research price, reliability, and safety.”
Americans Have a Credit Card Debt Problem
By: Alice Gibbs | Source: Newsweek
“It’s so easy,” he said. “There’s almost zero friction to overspending with a credit card. Being a credit card issuer is one of the few businesses where you profit if your customers are going broke.” “Since we don’t teach personal finance in most high schools and almost no colleges, credit card debt has become a rampant social problem,” he said. “And because everyone is doing it, many people think it’s just the way things are.”
Prepare Your Family for the Financial and Legal Aftermath of Your Death
By: Kiplinger Advisor Collective | Source: Kiplinger Advisor Collective
“Yes, you need a will, but what about your remains? With a funeral costing around $8,000 in the U.S., you can save your loved ones stress and money if you’re clear about what you want and set aside enough money to cover the expense. You don’t want your heirs trying to decipher your wishes based on previous conversations, and you definitely don’t want them paying for your funeral after you’re gone.”
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.”
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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.








 
                             
                             
                             
                             
                             
                             
                             
                             
                             
                             
                             
                             
                             
                             
                             
                             
                             
                            