The Latest Debt & Finance Blog

Economic indicators like housing and spending are confusing.

Despite Positive Economic Indicators, Consumer Confidence Continues to Decline

By Bill Fay | April 17, 2013

American consumers are a step slow in accepting the news that the U.S. economy really is on the mend. Consumer confidence and retail spending dipped in March, while the rest…

IRS tax code is thousands of pages long

Does the U.S. Tax Code Encourage ‘Tax Avoidance’?

By Bill Fay | April 16, 2013

April 15 has passed and you know what that means:  Somewhere around 140 million taxpayers are hoping they don’t get audited. Not because they cheated, but because they have no…

Sixty percent of graduates have student loans and may need help as they pay them off.

Paying Your Student Loan Debt Is Critical to Sound Financial Future

By Bill Fay | April 15, 2013

College seniors typically pay a visit to their academic advisers in the final weeks before graduation to make sure they have enough credits to get out. They might be better…

Tax evaders and avoiders mean more taxes for the rest of us.

Tax Day is Here – and So are the Tax Evaders and Avoiders

By Bill Fay | April 12, 2013

Tax Day is upon us once again. This year, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) expects to receive 250 million tax returns and $2 trillion in revenue. And regardless of all…

There is debt in major league baseball

Money Flows to MLB, but There is Debt in Baseball

By Bill Fay | April 11, 2013

There’s no debt in baseball. The season just started and no matter where you look, the sport is gushing money like a BP oil well. Consider these figures: $14.2 billion:…

One man sued the debt collectors and won thousands.

Harassed by Debt Collectors, One Man Sues and Wins $1,700

By Bill Fay | April 10, 2013

Andrew Katzman recognizes that his story – debt collector ends up paying a bill – is one of life’s ultimate ironies. “It is incredible irony, almost a paradox, isn’t it?”…

Airline ratings are up, but so are complaints and fares.

Airline Ratings Are Up — So Are Complaints and Fares

By Bill Fay | April 10, 2013

The U.S. airline industry is coming off its second-best year ever in terms of customer service, but it comes with a price: Complaints were up, and so was the average…

Sequestration has not slowed the economy. Obama prepares to submit budget to Congress.

As Budget Talks Continue, Sequestration Has Yet to Stall Economy

By Bill Fay | April 4, 2013

A month after sequestration kicked in, the alarms sounded by President Obama – “It will cost us jobs and slow down our economy,” he said Feb. 5 – have not…

Some job applicants are rejected because of poor credit scores.

Some Employers Believe a Poor Credit Score Indicates Poor Work Habits

By Bill Fay | April 3, 2013

Looking for a job isn’t fun, even in the best of times. It’s a lot worse in the worst of times — times like these. While the national unemployment rate…

gay marriage would be economic stimulus

Could Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage Boost the Economy?

By Bill Fay | April 1, 2013

The hot topic in America is the issue of gay marriage, as the Supreme Court has been asked to rule on the Defense of Marriage Act and on California’s marriage…

Sources:

  1. Mullaney, T. (2013, April 12). Profits u sharply for JPMorgan, Wells Fargo. USA Today. Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/04/12/bank-earnings/2075491/
  2. Craig, S. (2013, April 16).Goldman Posts $2.2 Billion Quarterly Profit, Beating Estimates. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/04/16/goldman-sachss-first-quarter-profit-beats-estimates/
  3. Woellert, L. (2013, April 16). Consumer Prices in U.S. Fell in March on Cheaper Gasoline. Bloomberg News. Retrieved from http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-04-16/consumer-prices-in-u-s-declined-in-march-on-cheaper-gasoline.html