The Latest Breaking News from Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Your Sibling Has Power of Attorney Over Mom’s Money — Who Is Watching the Money?

Your sibling has power of attorney over Mom’s money, and suddenly, questions about her finances seem to have no easy answers. Who pays her bills? Where does her retirement income go? And if something looks wrong, can another family member demand an explanation?

The Free Financial Advisor · 20h ago

Lender Adds $150 To Her Monthly Car Payment. It Almost Costs Her $3,000: ‘They Never Told Me’

"I’ve always had insurance on this car."

Motor1 · Oct 10

Three surprising things you can do with your credit report

A credit repair expert recommended one thing before diving into additional features

The Independent UK · Oct 6

Is It Getting Easier to Get a Mortgage Where You Live? What the CFPB Data Could Teach You

Mortgage shopping can feel like entering a contest where nobody will tell you the rules until after you hand over a mountain of paperwork. Yet the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data can offer a surprisingly useful peek behind the curtain, showing how mortgage applications play out…

Everybody Loves Your Money · 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.

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 4

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 3

Your Bank Can Close Your Account and Legally Refuse to Tell You Why

The first sign of trouble is rarely a letter. It’s the embarrassment of a declined debit card at the grocery store, then a notice on your banking app that the account is closed. No accusation. No phone call. Often no reason you can use.

Clever Dude · Sep 1

How to know if you are 401(k) rich or poor

Making 401(k) withdrawals is allowed by the IRS but dipping into retirement savings for emergencies is a bad sign

The Independent UK · Aug 26

The Mortgage Is $2,000 — So Why Does This House Really Cost $3,200 a Month?

A house with a $2,000 mortgage payment can somehow cost $3,200 a month, and no, the math has not gone rogue. The $2,000 figure often represents only principal and interest, while the actual monthly cost of owning the home can include property taxes, homeowners insurance, mortgage insurance, HOA dues, and…

Everybody Loves Your Money · Aug 22

7 Expenses That Can Make a “Cheap” Used Car Surprisingly Expensive

A cheap used car can look like a financial victory until the first repair bill arrives. That $6,000 bargain may need tires, brakes, insurance, registration, maintenance, and a few other wallet-unfriendly surprises before it feels like a bargain at all.

Clever Dude · Aug 21