The Latest Debt & Finance Blog

How Does the Federal Reserve Influence Interest Rates?

By Bill Fay | April 22, 2026

Usually, what happens in the nation’s capital seems remote and meant for someone else. But when the Federal Reserve — best known as “The Fed” — acts, it’s your personal…

IRS Job Cuts: Do You Still Have to Pay Your Taxes?

By Sarah Brady | March 19, 2025

It’s tax season, but you wouldn’t know that by the tone of recent headlines about the IRS. So far this year, more than 12,000 IRS employees have been laid off…

Legislative Efforts to Cap Credit Card Interest Rates

By Bents Dulcio | March 13, 2025

In a notable display of bipartisan collaboration, Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) have introduced legislation aimed at capping credit card interest rates at 10% for five years.…

DOGE Now Has Access to Student Loan Data: How to Stay Protected

By Max Fay | March 12, 2025

If you’re one of over 40 million Americans who’s ever had a federal student loan or student aid, you may be at risk of identity theft or other security threats…

The CFPB’s Work Is on Pause – What Does It Mean for Your Money?

By Sarah Brady | March 7, 2025

February 2025 brought major changes to the agency that some call the nation’s consumer watchdog: the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). In just a matter of days, the CFPB had…

Medical Debt To Be Removed From Credit Reports in 2025: What You Need To Know

By Bill Fay | January 8, 2025

Medical debt and the problems they cause credit reports, have long gone hand-in-hand. Consumers behind on payments to healthcare providers, especially those whose bills have been sold to collection agencies,…

When Do Student Loan Payments Resume Again?

By Bents Dulcio | June 22, 2023

The Biden and Trump administrations issued eight extensions on a forbearance program, but Congress passed a bill ensuring there will be no more pauses on student loan repayment, so borrowers…

Why Is My Tax Return So Low?

By George Morris | February 24, 2023

Many financial advisers question the wisdom of getting big income tax refunds. But that’s a discussion for another day. If you’ve been getting federal refunds year after year, you’re probably…

Update on Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Plan

By Bents Dulcio | October 25, 2022

The Supreme Court ruled June 29 that President Joe Biden did not have the authority to erase hundreds of billions of dollars in student loan debt, effectively ending the Biden…

How the Fed Raising Interest Rates Affects You

By Phil Sheridan | July 29, 2022

As the Federal Reserve plays Whac-A-Mole with the American economy – ‘WE’RE IN A RECESSION! NO, WAIT, WE’RE NOT IN A RECESSION!’ – there is always the chance the mallet…

Sources:

  1. Newman, L.M. and Mueller, P. (2025, September 25) How Does the Federal Reserve Set Interest Rates? Retrieved from https://aier.org/article/how-does-the-federal-reserve-set-interest-rates/
  2. N.A. (ND) The Federal Reserve Explained: How We Conduct Monetary Policy. Retrieved from https://www.federalreserve.gov/aboutthefed/fedexplained/monetary-policy.htm
  3. N.A. (2025, December 15) How does the Federal Reserve interest rate affect me? Retrieved from https://www.discover.com/online-banking/banking-topics/how-does-the-federal-reserve-interest-rate-affect-me/
  4. N.A. (ND) S&P 500 vs. Fed Funds Rate. Retrieved from https://www.macrotrends.net/2638/sp500-fed-funds-rate-compared