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Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: How medical bill advocates can slash your costs. Also in the news: How two-factor authentication protects your online info, how investing apps can foil financial planning, and four credit card trends for 2017.

How Medical Bill Advocates Can Slash Your Costs
An advocate will go to bat to reduce your medical costs.

How Two-Factor Authentication Protects Your Online Info
Taking the important steps to protect your online information.

Investing apps can foil financial planning
Trusting your intuitions.

4 credit card trends for 2017 and what they mean for you
The good news and the bad news.

Monday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: How to find a good tax preparer. Also in the news: Excuses for delaying retirement savings, what the TCF bank suit means for you, and why used cars usually have higher interests rates.

How to Find a Good Tax Preparer (and Write Off the Bad Ones)
Finding good help during tax season.

Excuses, Excuses When Delaying Retirement Savings
No more excuses.

What TCF Bank Suit Means for You: Defend Against Overdraft Fees
What opting in really means.

Why Used Cars Usually Have Higher Interest Rates
Guarding against risk.

Friday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: How to prep (or not) for President Trump’s proposed tax changes. Also in the news: You could be owed money in the Western Union fraud case, why inauguration rental hosts could get a tax break, and 4 ways your expenses can skyrocket when having kids.

How to Prep (or Not) for Trump’s Proposed Tax Changes
How these changes could affect you.

Western Union Fraud Case: Are You Owed Money
A new website has been set up for victims.

Inauguration Rental Hosts May Get Tax Break
A federal tax code could save hosts money.

Thinking of Having Kids? 4 Ways Your Expenses Can Skyrocket

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: 5 financial goals to set in 2017. Also in the news: What you should do with rising home equity credit rates, simple tasks to prepare you for tax season, and 7 ways to prepare for an unpaid maternity leave.

5 Financial Goals to Set in 2017
Short-term and long-term.

Home Equity Line of Credit Rates to Rise; What Should You Do?
Assessing your options.

These Simple Tasks Prepare You for Tax Season
Getting your documents in order.

7 Ways to Prepare for an Unpaid Maternity Leave
Creating a less stressful maternity leave.

Navient student loan lawsuit

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Federal regulators just smacked the student loan servicer formerly known as Sallie Mae with a lawsuit accusing it of all kinds of bad behavior. This is a big deal, since the company, now called Navient, handles billions of dollars of loan payments for about one out of four borrowers. The New York Times said the accusations were “eerily similar” to the systematic failures during the foreclosure process.

Read on to find out more about the lawsuit and what to do if you’re struggling with education debt:

https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/loans/student-loans/navient-student-loan-lawsuit/

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: What happens when you can’t repay a payday loan. Also in the news: How to upgrade your old car with new-car tech, why women may face retirement shortfalls despite the closing pay gap, and the biggest complaints about 401(k)s.

When You Can’t Repay a Payday Loan
Preparing for the consequences.

5 Ways to Upgrade Your Old Car With New-Car Tech
You don’t need a new car in order to have the bells and whistles.

Pay Gap Closing but Women May Face Retirement Shortfall
Good news and bad news.

The Biggest Complaints About 401(k)s
Know what you’re dealing with.