If you have a collection account on your credit reports, chances are pretty good it’s from a medical bill. And chances are also good that the collection is having an outsized impact on your credit scores. Today the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau released a study saying credit scores unfairly penalized people with medical collections. Those […]
Recent Blog Posts
Give a money-smart graduation gift
Cash is by far the most popular graduation gift. Among those who gave a grad gift, 56.7% gave cash and 32.1% offered gift cards, according to last year’s National Retail Federation survey. But what if you want to give something a little more creative, a little more personal, and something that will help your grad […]
Tuesday’s need-to-know money news
Today’s top story: Why your digital assets should be part of your estate planning. Also in the news: Three reasons to consolidate your 401(k) into an IRA, what the proposed AT&T/DirecTV deal means for you, and twelve things you should always try to negotiate. Estate Planning 101: Don’t Forget About Your Digital Assets Your social […]
Monday’s need-to-know money news
Today’s top story: Four things prospective homebuyers should never say. Also in the the news: Why cable a la cart could end up costing you more, five ways to save on gas this summer, and financially savvy gifts to get the grad in your life off to a good start. Will unbundling cable save you […]
Q&A: Paying off home loan with a windfall
Dear Liz: I’m 65 and my wife is 62. We recently sold a business for over $900,000 and will net somewhere between $550,000 and $600,000. Should we use the proceeds to pay off our mortgage? Our home is worth about $1.5 million with a mortgage of $390,000 at 3.586%. We contribute an extra $200 per […]
Q&A: How long do unpaid accounts and judgments remain on credit reports?
Dear Liz: My credit reports don’t show any of my old unpaid collection accounts. I also have one judgment that is not showing from 2005. My wife (who has perfect credit) and I are looking to apply for a mortgage. What will the lender find? I recently applied for a credit card to start rebuilding […]