How Americans’ Finances Are Better — and Worse — Under Trump
Major media outlets focused on one stat: how little people have saved for an emergency. That’s old news. The interesting stuff was on education.
Brandon Ballenger
Having more than $10,000 in student loan debt has a way of piquing your interest in personal finance. And because my degree was in English and public communication, I get to share that interest with you. My wide-ranging stories on money and business have run on Business Insider, the Christian Science Monitor, Reader’s Digest, the front pages of MSN.com and Yahoo! Finance, Money Talks News, and the South Florida Business Journal. In my free time, I like to jump off skyscrapers and play video games.
The CFPB Is Shutting Down Its Student Loan Office
Where will consumers go with their complaints about loan servicers now? Certainly not the Education Department.
Does Debt Cause Mental Illness?
Experts say there’s a definite relationship between debt and depression. But we don’t like talking about either one.
The States With the Most And Least Credit Card Debt
The worst way to get out of debt is to pay the bare minimum. Find out how much that would hurt where you live.
Does Trump Care More About Fair Prices or Creating Jobs?
T-Mobile and Sprint say their merger would be a jobmaker, but consumers could lose out.
CFPB Fights Bad Auto Loans While Congress Defends Them
At this point, it’s hard to say which arm of the federal government is more confused — or what it means for consumers.
A Trump Feud That Might Save Us Money In the Long Run
Trump is auditing the U.S. Postal Service over his hatred of Amazon. Good!
So Far, Trump’s Tax Cuts Are Failing
It looks like we blew a huge hole in the deficit for almost no consumer benefit.
Debt Collection Is the New CFPB Focus
The agency wants to ease up on payday and student loans, but seems weirdly committed to handling debt collector complaints.
6 Months Late, Congress Passed a Budget
Nobody has read it all yet, but there is some good news for consumers.
The Education Department Is Fighting to Do Nothing
Betsy DeVos is asserting her right to be useless and fighting back against states that want to help student loan borrowers, insisting they have to be just as useless as her.
How Congress Plans to Reward Equifax for the Worst Data Breach Ever
Republicans want to protect a lousy company from veterans — and give it power in the mortgage market.
Companies Aren’t Investing in Employees. They’re Investing in Themselves
Trump’s tax plan was supposed to spur economic growth and provide consumer prosperity. When’s that coming, exactly?
Trump’s Ignorance On Trade Will Cost His Fans — And Everybody Else
Untargeted tariffs on steel and aluminum will raise prices on beer, cars, and possibly a whole lot more.
Republicans Are Ready to Cut Banking Regulations
They want to let big banks take big risks and go for broke — regardless of the consequences.
Let’s Debate: Immigration, Taxes, and Education
Debt.com’s political columnists go head-to-head on what the latest news in Washington means for consumer finance.
The CFPB Is Giving Up on Regulation. But the Fed Isn’t
Forget “too big to fail.” Now we’re in “too failing to grow.”
The Big Number Missing From the State of the Union
Trump hit on unemployment, GDP, taxes, and deregulation. He needs to talk more about wages, infrastructure, and education.
Some Things Are Worth Shutting Down the Government For
If we have to resign ourselves to never passing a budget, we might as well get something good out of the next few shutdowns. Let’s fix student loans.
Now Trump Wants to Raise Your Taxes?
Ready to pay more for gas? Business leaders and Democrats agree it’s a good idea.
It’s Time for Data Breaches to Have Consequences
A new bill in Congress would fine credit reporting agencies bigly for not protecting our information. It’s four years overdue.
What’s Already Changed at the CFPB
Trump wasted no time wrecking the consumer agency, with bad moves on mortgages and prepaid cards.
This Is the Financial Word of the Year
I promise it’s not as dumb as Oxford’s “youthquake.”
The Most Damaging Thing Trump Did to Our Money in 2017
Neutering the CFPB will have a long-lasting impact on the way we borrow and spend.
The Best Thing Trump Did for Consumers in 2017
He didn’t accomplish a lot, but I’ll give him credit for this.
4 Groups Hurt By the Republican Tax Bill
Whichever version of this passes is going to suck, unless there’s a radical change of heart. And brain.
Making Jerome Powell Fed Chair Was a Mistake
It’s easy to elevate someone already on the board. Now he has to nominate someone new.
Why Is the Education Department Shrinking?
Betsy DeVos already manages the smallest Cabinet agency, but she wants to cut her way to more savings. It won’t work, and it’s awful for struggling students.
The CFPB: Nice While It Lasted
The department’s leader is leaving. He may be the only one it ever had.
Don’t Destroy Your Coffee Maker Over Politics
It makes no sense to punish your wallet for someone else’s political transgressions.
Are You Happier Now?
It’s been a year since America elected Trump. What have we got to show for it?
Donald Trump Won’t Let You Sue Banks
He signed a law undoing consumer protections for class-action lawsuits against financial abuse.
More Student Loan Ideas for a Hopeless Congress
They’ve got — and are ignoring — a bill on bankrupting student loans. But what about these ideas states are considering?
If Trump Wants Lower Taxes, He Could Move to Mexico
Trump’s tax plan benefits him more than anybody else. But he doesn’t have to fight to change policy here… he could just leave.
Facing Our Worst Financial Fears
We’re most scared of dealing with emergencies, losing our jobs, and outliving our savings.
How Donald Trump Has Worsened Our Greatest Financial Fears
Whether it’s retirement, health care, or identity theft, Trump has done some frightening things — that’s no trick.
Are You Living in Credit Hell?
This spooky map looks at how long it takes to pay off the typical credit card debt in every state.
Now You Can Start Judging Justice Neil Gorsuch
His first real Supreme Court term starts this week, and his opinions will start affecting our financial lives.
More Than 40 Percent of Americans Can’t Pay Their Bills
If Donald Trump wants an easy win, promote financial literacy. It really does make a difference, according to the CFPB.
We Can Finally Talk Seriously About Healthcare Again
After years of mushy Obamacare repeal, Bernie Sanders gives us something concrete to debate.
CFPB Recovers $14 Million for Ripped-Off Consumers
The federal agency continues to aggressively battle companies that confuse and shortchange consumers.
After Equifax, Where Is Trump’s Cybersecurity Plan?
A major credit bureau handed out 143 million Social Security numbers out of laziness and incompetence. Is Trump going to do anything?
Now the Education Department Is Mad
The CFPB tried to pick up the department’s slack. Now the Education Department is pushing back.
Help After Hurricane Harvey: What You Can and Should Do
Whether you were a victim or want to donate money, here’s our advice to protect yourself after the storm
We’re Paying Off Student Loans More Slowly Than Ever
And we’re not getting any relief from Donald Trump.
How Is Trump Doing on Jobs?
He promised 2.5 million jobs a year. Here’s what we have after six months.
Trump Supporters Say These Financial Traits Make Him Great
Ethics and concern for the poor are not among them.
I Agree With Trump’s Top Banking Regulators
The biggest risk to the economy is this $1.3 trillion consumer debt — which Trump is doing nothing about
18 States Say Betsy DeVos Is a Failure
The education secretary is being sued for siding with for-profit schools over students. But at least she’s learning from her mistakes.
3 Financial Ideas Democrats Hope Will Win Back Congress
Democrats want to offer “A Better Deal,” but they’ll have to win a lot of seats first.