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The Latest Breaking News from The Free Financial Advisor

IRS Finalizes New Car Loan Interest Deduction — Who Can Claim Up to $10,000

Americans financing certain new vehicles can deduct up to $10,000 a year in car loan interest under a temporary federal tax break, and the IRS has now finalized regulations explaining who qualifies. The deduction was created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law July 4, 2025, and…

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 8

SEC Approves FINRA Change to Streamline How Investment Advisers Allocate Bulk Trades

Investment advisers sometimes place a single large securities order for multiple clients and then allocate portions of that trade among the individual accounts they manage. A newly approved FINRA rule change is intended to make that behind-the-scenes process more efficient without eliminating safeguards designed to prevent advisers from deciding who…

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 8

USDA Is Moving SNAP and Nutrition Program Offices Out of Washington — What Benefit Recipients Should Know

USDA is moving much of the federal operation overseeing SNAP, WIC, school meals and other nutrition programs away from the Washington area as part of a major reorganization now underway.

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 8

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The SEC Says Fake Investment Firms Used Government Filings to Look Legitimate—Here’s the Trick Investors Need to Know

A government website can make almost anything look more official than it really is, and scammers have figured that out. The Securities and Exchange Commission recently warned that dozens of entities used SEC filings to create the appearance of legitimate investment firms, giving potential victims something that looked reassuringly official…

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 8

7 Bank-Safety Red Flags Emerging After FDIC Banks Posted $90.1B in Quarterly Profits

The nation’s FDIC-insured banks just posted $90.1 billion in net income for the second quarter of 2026, a 12% jump from the previous quarter. That sounds like excellent news for the banking industry, and it is, but a healthy industry does not automatically mean every bank customer has a perfectly…

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 8

Your Credit App Says 740. The Lender Says 705. Which Score Is Right?

A credit app flashes a cheerful 740, then a lender pulls a 705, and suddenly the numbers look like they came from two completely different financial universes. The good news: neither number necessarily means something went wrong, and the lower score does not automatically mean the lender made a mistake.…

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 8

How Much Money Should You Actually Keep in Your Checking Account?

A checking account should make everyday life easier, not turn into a mysterious pile of money that grows without a purpose. For many households, the right balance covers upcoming bills, routine spending, and a little breathing room without leaving a giant chunk of cash sitting idle.

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 7

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You Have $100,000 in Home Equity and $25,000 in Credit Card Debt. Should You Tap the House?

Having $100,000 in home equity and $25,000 in credit card debt creates a tempting mathematical shortcut: Borrow against the house, wipe out the cards, and move on. On paper, the idea can look almost suspiciously tidy, especially when a home equity loan or HELOC offers a lower interest rate than…

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 7

Your Credit Score Dropped. How Long Will It Take to Get Those Points Back?

A credit score can fall surprisingly fast, sometimes after a single change that seemed harmless at the time. The good news: a lower score does not automatically mean months or years of financial misery, because the recovery clock depends on what caused the drop.

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 7

Retirement Limits That Changed in 2026 That Savers Still Have Time to Use

Retirement contribution limits changed in 2026, and some savers could still have room to take advantage of those higher limits before the year disappears into the rearview mirror. Workers can put more into many workplace retirement plans, IRA savers get a larger annual limit, and older workers have more room…

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 6

Paid IRS Penalties During the Pandemic? You May Be Able to Get Some Money Back

The pandemic created a spectacular mess of ordinary life, and taxes did not exactly escape the chaos. If you paid certain IRS penalties tied to your 2020 or 2021 taxes, you may qualify to get that money back through automatic penalty relief the IRS announced after the worst of the…

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 6

Why It’s Getting Harder To Receive A Mortgage In Some States

Getting a mortgage can feel like trying to get through an increasingly narrow doorway, and the experience can vary depending on where a buyer lives. New Consumer Financial Protection Bureau data shows that mortgage origination activity has changed differently from state to state, with some areas seeing declines in the…

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 6

Millions of SAVE Borrowers Are Getting 90-Day Notices: Here’s What Happens If You Ignore Yours

Millions of borrowers who once relied on the SAVE Plan are now getting an unwelcome piece of mail: a 90-day notice telling them to choose a new federal student loan repayment plan. The SAVE Plan ended after a federal court order in March 2026, and the U.S. Department of Education…

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 5

States Where Credit Card Borrowing Is Growing, And Why

Credit card borrowing is picking up in several states, but the story looks very different depending on where people live. Arkansas, Colorado, Nevada, Hawaii, and Connecticut all posted notable increases in average credit card balances between the first quarters of 2025 and 2026, according to LendingTree data.

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 5

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The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 5

Tax Deadlines Extension Filers Should Put on Their Calendar Now

An October tax deadline can look deceptively far away on a calendar. For taxpayers who requested an extension for their 2025 federal return, however, Oct. 15, 2026, now sits close enough to deserve a bright red circle, because the extra time only extends the deadline to file, not the deadline…

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 4

8 Credit Score Levels Lenders Are Flagging as Higher-Risk for Mortgage Approval

A credit score is a tiny number with an enormous amount of power, especially when a mortgage application lands on a lender’s desk. A score does not tell the whole story, but it can quickly signal how much credit risk a borrower might represent. The lower the score, the more…

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 4

Reasons Your Social Security Increase and Your Actual Check Increase Aren’t Always the Same

A Social Security cost-of-living adjustment can increase your benefit without producing the same increase in the amount that lands in your bank account. This is important because the COLA applies to the benefit calculation, while deductions and other adjustments can change the final payment.

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 4

8 Credit Card Trends That Reveal Who Banks Are Lending to Right Now

Credit card lending offers a fascinating glimpse into how banks view borrowers right now, and the latest Consumer Financial Protection Bureau data provides plenty to chew on. The numbers show a credit card market that keeps moving, but not every borrower stands in the same line for new credit.

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The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 3

HHS Plans Up to $1 Million Award to Expand Free Training for Foster, Adoptive and Kinship Families

The federal government plans to award up to $1 million to continue expanding a free national training program designed to help foster, adoptive and kinship caregivers prepare for the challenges of caring for children who have experienced trauma, separation and loss. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through…

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 3

What Happens When You Pay Your Credit Card Bill Every Week Instead of Once a Month

Paying a credit card bill once a month feels like the default setting because, well, that is how the statement arrives. But sending a payment every week can change the way money moves through the account, especially for someone who tends to spend throughout the month and then gets a…

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 3

A Personal Loan Could Make Credit Card Debt Cheaper, But Only If the Math Works

Credit card debt can be like a financial treadmill: plenty of effort, plenty of payments, and somehow the finish line keeps moving. A personal loan could change that equation by replacing revolving credit card balances with one fixed installment loan, potentially at a lower cost.

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 3

SEC Proposes Opening U.S. Futures Trading to European Union Debt

The Securities and Exchange Commission is proposing a regulatory change that could make it easier for U.S. market participants to trade futures contracts tied to debt issued by the European Union.

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 3

10 States Where Homeowners Are Falling Furthest Behind on Their Mortgages

Mortgage trouble rarely starts with one dramatic financial disaster. More often, it creeps into a household budget through higher everyday expenses, an unexpected repair, a job change, or a few bills that suddenly seem determined to arrive at the same time. Recent Consumer Financial Protection Bureau mortgage performance data show…

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 2

You Paid the Credit Card Minimum on Time. So Why Is Your Balance Barely Moving?

Paying the minimum on your credit card by the due date feels like checking an important box. It is, because making at least the minimum payment on time helps you avoid the consequences of a late payment, but it doesn’t necessarily make much progress against the balance. In fact, a…

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 2

10 States Where New Credit Card Borrowing Is Changing Fastest

Credit card borrowing looks different depending on where you live, and the latest state-by-state numbers reveal some surprising movement. While some states carry enormous balances, other states have seen their average credit card debt climb much faster over the past year.

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