Tarra Jackson

 Lending money to a loved one feels kind — until it backfires. Protect yourself and your relationships with these ground rules. 

It starts with good intentions. A friend hits a rough patch and asks for help. You offer a loan, assuming it won’t change anything between you. But when the repayment lags — or never comes — it can strain even the strongest bond. Money has a way of testing relationships. That’s why financial boundaries aren’t cold or selfish — they’re essential. According to a 2022 LendingTree survey, 31%

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 Need to update your Social Security direct deposit information? In some states, that means a two-hour drive. 

The Social Security Administration’s new anti-fraud policy could require nearly 2 million Americans to visit field offices each year to update their direct deposit information. This applies to anyone who cannot complete the agency’s online identity verification process. Phone-based updates are no longer accepted unless the caller has first verified their identity online.

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 As America moves closer to a cashless society and coin production becomes more expensive, could the quarter’s future be at risk? 

The humble penny might not be alone in its struggle for relevance. As inflation erodes purchasing power and digital payments dominate everyday transactions, could the quarter, that stalwart of vending machines and parking meters, be at risk? Consider the arguments for and against keeping the quarter. Rising production costs make the quarter harder to justify. While the penny has long been…

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 Consumer complaints about relentless robocalls prompt regulators to review how banks pursue debt collection. 

Wells Fargo cannot seem to stay out of trouble. The bank that created headlines over fake accounts and unauthorized insurance policies is again under fire, alongside several major financial institutions. Federal regulators and consumer advocates are increasing scrutiny of what many consider one of the industry’s most intrusive practices: harassing consumers with persistent robocalls about debts…

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 Rising federal debt drives up loan rates, which may force buyers to pay significantly more over time. 

Rep. Thomas Massie was one of only two House Republicans to oppose the party’s tax bill, warning it was a “debt bomb ticking.” As he put it, Congress may use “fantasy math,” but bond investors won’t. According to analysis highlighted by CNBC, the bill could add between $3.1 trillion and $3.8 trillion to the national debt over the next decade, based on estimates from the Committee for a…

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 A credit crunch could be brewing as bond market stress threatens small business lending, job stability, and economic growth. 

The bond market might be on the verge of delivering a crushing blow to small businesses across America — and JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon wants the public to brace for impact. In comments spotlighted by TheStreet, Dimon warned that if global investors begin to lose faith in U.S. debt, credit spreads could “gap out” — a Wall Street term for a sharp widening that could make borrowing…

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