Staff Writer
Bents Dulcio
Bents Dulcio writes with a humble, field-level view on personal finance. He learned how to cut financial corners while acquiring a B.S. degree in Political Science at Florida State University. Bents has experience with student loans, affordable housing, budgeting to include an auto loan and other personal finance matters that greet all Millennials when they graduate. He has a prodigious appetite for reading, which he helps feed with writing from Scottish philosopher Adam Smith, the “Father of Capitalism.” Bents writing also has been published by JPMorgan Chase, TheSimpleDollar and Interest.com.
Most adults (82% in 2023) have at least one credit card. We use them to shop for groceries, make online purchases, and build our credit profiles. Some of us may…
Payday loans are short-term, high-cost loans that borrowers can use to cover expenses that arise when funds are low, and payday is not far away. Payday loans usually are considerably…
Rocket Loans has built its reputation on fast loans (that’s where Rocket comes in), while being a pioneer in online loan applications and funding. Rocket Loans, a subsidiary of Rocket…
When high-interest credit card debt throws a wrench in your cash flow, a debt consolidation loans can help smooth things out. Credit unions can be a good solution for some…
Upgrade was started in 2016 by Lending Club founder Renaud Laplanche, and it uses the marketplace model that Lending Club used when it began. This means it’s not a bank.…
Best Egg promotes its model as a way to secure your nest egg with quick and efficient online financing. It offers debt consolidation loans between $2,000-$50,000 with terms of 36-60…
Early bankruptcy laws focused on punishing the debtor and repaying the creditor. Eventually, the process evolved into a method of financial rehabilitation, a “second chance” to get your finances right.…
The Payoff Loan is the debt consolidation loan product of financial wellness company Happy Money, which changed its name from Payoff. The company “is on a mission to develop and…
A balance transfer is a way of moving the balance from one credit card to another to pay down debt. The new card typically comes with a promotional, low or…
Scamming people over the phone has become a low-risk, inexpensive and lucrative past-time for crooks and con-artists. Consumers reported losses of more than $285 million in November of 2019, according…
When you graduate from college with a costly, new diploma, instinct tells you to latch on to the first decent job offer an employer throws your way, and then whittle…
Borrowers who are in over their heads with high-interest credit cards and spiraling finances looking to consolidate debt often turn to startup online lenders and fintech companies for a solution.…
Upstart is an online loan marketplace that uses artificial intelligence to assess a creditor’s risk, a big departure from the traditional credit score model. The company says AI makes affordable…
In 2005, Prosper was the first company to bring lending to the peer-to-peer (P2P) marketplace. P2P marketplaces (i.e. Airbnb, Uber) offer individuals a place to exchange goods and services. Think…
Choose Your Debt Amount Get Help From National Debt Relief The deeper you sink into debt the harder it is to reclaim a sense of financial stability. If you’re drowning…
Goldman Sachs, the financial services company, has been around since 1869. Marcus by Goldman Sachs is a relatively new player in the online debt consolidation loan game, but may not…
LightsStream’s selling point is that it offers loans “that reward good credit.” Be warned that if you have bad credit or a low credit score, you should look somewhere else…
Choose Your Debt Amount Get Help From Freedom Debt Relief Is Freedom Debt Relief legit and can you get away with paying only a percentage of your debts just like…
Discover launched with a single credit card product in early 1986, issued by Dean Whitter Financial Services Inc., a subsidiary of Sears, Roebuck Co. At the time, it was one…
You could say Avant’s debt consolidation loans are targeted toward credit-building consumers. A FICO score of 580 is all you need to get your foot in the door. If your…
The constant drop in interest rates has allowed student loans to join mortgage and automobile loans in the marketplace for refinancing. The Fed’s moves threw open the door for student…
When you graduate college, your priorities shift from football games and final exams to landing your first job, locking down an affordable apartment and repaying student loans. Here’s one more…
They sound like different ways of saying the same thing, but credit counseling and credit repair are two completely different strategies for lifting yourself out of debt. Credit counseling is…
Repaying student loans can get complicated quickly. Which repayment program do you sign up for? Could you be eligible for forgiveness? Is there a penalty for repaying loans early? No,…
A lot of us dream of owning a starter home, either to shelter our growing families or as an early investment in our futures. A home, however, is the most…
If you own a home and need money, one of the first thoughts that might shoot into your head is: Can I use the equity in my house as collateral…
We are never too old to learn a thing or two about how to manage our finances. In fact, the older we get, the more important it is that we…
Debt.org compiled information on six of the top debt consolidation companies in the United States and reviewed them based on services, fees, reviews from the Better Business Bureau, and complaint…
Lenders don’t hand out loans to just anybody. The more desperate you are for one, the harder it may be to find a bank, credit union, online lender or even…
Severe debt and bad credit are a recipe for nightmares. If you have bad credit, it’s hard to climb out of debt. If you have severe debt, it’s hard to…
Have you ever wondered how on earth you ended up with so many credit cards? Probably, it was the intro deals that reeled you in. Who could pass on 0%…
When you need a loan, sources like banks, credit unions, online lenders and finance companies immediately spring to mind. But, for American workers who have a 401(k) plan, there’s another…
Before we begin to navigate you through the process of paying for a funeral service, we would like to offer our sincerest condolences for your loss. Losing a loved one…
Events that have created woes for seniors in the last few years — inflation, soaring healthcare costs and a pandemic that won’t go away — are proof of the old…
If you’ve fallen behind on your car payments, chances are other bills are stacking up as well. Taking the time to explore your options for eliminating debt now will save…
Credit card debt is quietly – too quietly! – inching its way back into the financial news headlines and if you haven’t noticed, well, take a look at your bill!…
What Is a Debt Consolidation Loan? A debt consolidation loan is a financial strategy to pay off multiple high-interest debts with one, low-interest loan. It simplifies bill paying – and…
If you need extra cash, HELOCs are hot. Those letters stand for Home Equity Line of Credit, which is a secured loan backed by your home. Instead of taking out…
Owning a home is a major financial commitment, and with relatively higher interest rates, paying off a mortgage early can feel out of reach. But doing so can save thousands…
There are a lot of tips and tricks on improving your credit score – and we’ll get to those in a moment – but nothing will raise your credit score…
Debt consolidation lets borrowers combine multiple credit card debts into a new loan, a new credit card, or a debt management program. A loan calculator can help you determine if…
A 2016 study by Experian, one of the three largest credit bureaus in the U.S., determined that most Americans – 73% to be exact – are going to die in…
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.…
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…
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…
If you are unemployed and your job prospects are grim, March 11th was probably one of the better days you’ve had during the pandemic. That was the day federal unemployment…
COVID-19 has put a plug in the nation’s cash flow, forcing graduates to dig deeper into their pockets if they want to avoid drowning in student loan debt. The US…
Typically, a decrease in the federal funds rate means your credit card APR should fall as well, but that’s not what is happening lately in the U.S. economy. Banks have…
For most Americans, going carless is unthinkable. You need one to buy groceries, take kids to school, visit a doctor’s office and see friends and family from time to time.…
Lawmakers, economists and activist all have made headlines debating solutions to the $1.6 trillion student debt crisis burdening the lives of 44 million Americans. Some plans go as far as…