The Latest Breaking News from The Free Financial Advisor

You Can Put $500 a Month Toward Your Future: Where Should It Go First?

An extra $500 a month gives you a useful financial decision to make: where can that money do the most work? That choice looks different if a credit card balance is growing, an emergency fund barely exists, or an employer offers a retirement match.

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 19

Should You Stop Investing Temporarily to Pay Off Credit Card Debt?

Stopping investment contributions to attack credit card debt can make sense, but pressing pause on every retirement contribution can create a different problem. The decision hinges on what the debt costs, what the investment account provides, and whether an employer match sits in the middle of the equation.

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 19

Another Fed Rate Hike Would Hit Some Borrowers Almost Immediately — Others Might Barely Notice

The Federal Reserve just raised its target range for the federal funds rate to 3.75% to 4%, and its September projections point to a median year-end rate of 4.1%. That leaves open the possibility of another increase before 2026 ends, but the effect would not land equally across household budgets.

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 18

You Got a $10,000 Bonus: Debt, Emergency Fund or Roth IRA?

A $10,000 bonus can solve a money problem, but it can also expose one. Put it toward a credit card and interest charges may shrink, stash it in savings and the next surprise bill becomes less scary, or move some into a Roth IRA and give retirement savings a serious…

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 18

Your Student Loan AutoPay Discount Just Got Bigger — But There’s a September 30 Deadline

A small checkbox on a student loan account can now make a much bigger difference. Starting July 1, 2026, eligible federal student loan borrowers enrolled in Auto Pay can receive a 1% interest-rate reduction, up from the previous 0.25% reduction. But borrowers who are not already enrolled need to act…

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 18

Social Security Corrects Error in New Cardiovascular Disability Rules — What Claimants Should Know

The Social Security Administration has issued a technical correction to its recently revised rules for evaluating cardiovascular disorders in disability claims, but people applying for benefits shouldn’t interpret the update as another change in eligibility requirements.

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 17

A 4% Savings Account Sounds Great. What Does It Actually Pay on $5K, $10K and $25K?

A 4% savings account sounds pretty attractive, but the percentage becomes much more useful when it gets translated into actual dollars. Put $5,000 in an account paying a 4% APY and leave it there for a full year, and the account would earn about $200 in interest, assuming the rate…

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 17

What Happens to an Unused Credit Card If You Never Close It?

An unused credit card does not simply sit in a drawer forever, quietly waiting for retirement. If you leave the account open, the issuer may continue reporting it, and that available credit can affect your credit profile even when you never swipe the card.

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 17

What Happens If a Company Deposits Money Into Your Account by Mistake?

A surprise deposit can make a bank balance look much healthier, but money that a company deposits into your account by mistake does not automatically become yours. A payroll department might enter the wrong account number, a business might send a payment twice, or a company could simply make a…

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 17

You Have $20,000: Pay Off Student Loans or Put It Toward a House?

A $20,000 pile of cash can create a surprisingly awkward financial question: should it wipe out student debt or become part of a future down payment? Both choices can move a household closer to a major goal, but they solve very different problems. Paying off a loan can eliminate a…

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 17