The Latest Breaking News from The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Your Parent Can’t Manage Money Anymore — What Can an Adult Child Legally Do?

The first sign may be a stack of unopened bills, an electricity shutoff notice, or a parent suddenly sending hundreds of dollars to someone they’ve...

Saving Advice · Sep 20

Retired Couples Budget for the Funeral — But the Bigger Financial Shock Can Come Afterward

Many retired couples have at least discussed how they would pay for a funeral, whether through savings, life insurance, prepaid arrangements, or money set aside...

Saving Advice · Sep 18

Your Car Is Worth $18,000 but You Owe $26,000. What Happens If It Gets Totaled Tomorrow?

Picture the paperwork after a serious crash: the car sits in a repair shop, the insurance adjuster starts crunching numbers, and the auto lender still expects the remaining loan balance. The vehicle is worth $18,000, but the loan balance sits at $26,000, creating an $8,000 gap that does not magically…

Clever Dude · Sep 9

Retired With a Mortgage? Ask These 7 Questions Before Using Savings to Pay It Off

Entering retirement with a mortgage can feel uncomfortable, especially for someone who spent decades believing the house should be paid off before the final paycheck...

Saving Advice · Aug 19

7 Purchases Women Should Think Twice About Putting on a Joint Credit Card

Sharing a credit card can simplify groceries, utilities, vacations, and other household spending, but there is an important detail couples sometimes overlook: if it’s a true joint credit-card account, each account holder can be responsible for the entire balance—not simply the purchases they personally made. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau…

Budget and the Bees · Aug 19

7 Car-Buying Fees That Deserve a Second Look Before You Sign

Buying a car involves more than picking a model, choosing a color, and taking a victory lap around the block. The paperwork stage can introduce a long list of fees, and some deserve a closer look before a signature lands on the dotted line. A careful shopper can spot confusing…

Clever Dude · Aug 6

5 Insurance Photos Every Homeowner Should Update Before Storm Season Peaks

Storm season can turn a peaceful afternoon into a scramble for flashlights, supplies, and phone chargers. Before dark clouds gather, homeowners can take one simple step that helps organize important home records: updating insurance photos that show the current condition of their property.

Everybody Loves Your Money · Aug 6

Home-Equity Loan Fine Print: What Borrowers Commonly Miss

A home-equity loan can look like a straightforward way to borrow money, but the fine print often hides the details that matter most. Interest rates, repayment terms, fees, and loan conditions can turn a simple financial decision into a much bigger commitment.

Everybody Loves Your Money · Aug 5

A Practical Guide to Banking Habits That Make It Harder to Trace a Home-Repair Scam

A leaky roof, broken furnace, or cracked driveway can turn any homeowner into a person searching for quick answers. Unfortunately, scammers know that urgency creates opportunities, and they often use fake repair offers, rushed payment demands, or misleading promises to take money from people who simply need help.

Everybody Loves Your Money · Aug 4

What to Know About Payment-App Records to Save Before Disputing a Transfer

A payment-app transfer can feel almost too easy. A few taps, a confirmation screen, and money moves from one account to another, but that convenience can create a headache when something goes wrong. Saving the right records before disputing a transfer can help people organize the details and explain what…

The Free Financial Advisor · Aug 3