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☆ Wells Fargo gives up gains despite earnings beat. We see a buying opportunity
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Wells Fargo (WFC) reported better-than-expected first-quarter results on Friday, demonstrating its underlying fundamentals are strong. Shares of Wells Fargo initially climbed more than 2% following the earnings release, before giving up most of those gains. Wells Fargo stock was trading down around 0.2% Friday afternoon, at $39.58 a share. Wells Fargo management also noted that, like many other regional banks, it has a much broader business model and more diversified sources of funding than a bank like SVB. Within consumer lending, home lending was down 42% from last year, while credit card revenue increased 3% annually.

☆ Car Breakdowns Are Making More People Fall Behind on Their Loans
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-08 | by ( Ben Eisen | Gina Heeb | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Cars are staying on the road longer, reaching an age where they need substantial repairs or break down. It is a key reason more people are falling behind on their auto loans. The trend, noted by lenders, consumer attorneys and others, is another example of the long-lasting effects of the pandemic, which transformed the auto industry by making new and lightly used vehicles hard to come by.

☆ Just get your tax refund? 7 smart ways to use it
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Holly Johnson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

If you’re looking for a way to use your tax refund for maximum impact, here are some of the best options to consider in 2023 and beyond. Pay down high-interest debtPutting your tax refund toward paying down credit card debt could save you thousands of dollars in interest charges. If you can’t pay down all of your credit card debt at once, you can use your tax refund to cover a portion of it. Bulk up your emergency fundConsider putting your tax refund toward your emergency fund to prepare for surprise expenses. Invest in yourselfInvest in yourself by using your tax refund to improve your health or further your education.

Pros Check mark icon A check mark. Pros Check mark icon A check mark. Geoff Cudd, Owner of FindTheBestCarPrice.comKareem Saleh, founder and CEO of FairPlay AIRyan Wangman, loans reporter at Personal Finance InsiderHow to Choose the Best Auto Loan for Bad CreditTo pick the best auto loan, take stock of the factors that are most important to you. See our full ratings methodology for auto loans »Auto Loans for Bad Credit Frequently Asked QuestionsCan I get auto financing with a 500 credit score? Our Experts' Advice for Choosing the Best Auto Loan for Bad CreditCan you get an auto loan with bad credit?

☆ Crisis jolts Wall Street bankers already resigned to tough job market
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Tatiana Bautzer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street bankers face an increasingly gloomy job market after last month’s banking crisis worsened an already bleak outlook for pay and staffing. One likely consequence of the turmoil is that banks tighten their lending standards, which could further hinder dealmaking - making the prospects for jobs and compensation on Wall Street more gloomy. Now, financial industry workers are fretting not only about pay, but job security. The Wall Street giant typically cuts about 5% of its lowest-performing staff as part of the process. While there are plenty of reasons to be glum, Wall Street workers are enjoying one silver lining after the pandemic: greater flexibility in structuring their workday.

☆ Try this 30-day money challenge to get smarter and be more successful with your money
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-01 | by ( Emmie Martin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +14 min

Day 2: Find an accountability buddyYour financial goals don't mean much if you don't stick to them. This ratio represents how much of your available credit you're using at any given time. Take a look at your credit card statements for the past 12 months. There are a number of ways to check your score for $0, starting with your credit card issuer or bank, many of which offer free services to their clients. Day 16: Update your income with your credit card companyIf you've received a raise or promotion since opening your credit card, consider reporting your increased income to your lender.

☆ Tax refunds are lower this year, but these stocks could be winners as a result, Stephens found
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Tax refunds are smaller this year, which is bad news for consumers – but positive news for some lenders, according to Stephens. Tax Day looms, with federal income tax returns due on April 18. Smaller tax refunds – and reduced consumer bank balances – could bode well for a handful of unsecured lenders. "If we were to pick one, lower tax refunds are more positive for FirstCash," he said. OneMain Financial is another stock that Caintic highlighted as a potential beneficiary of lower tax refunds.

Our experts answer readers' personal loan questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess personal loans). Our Experts for the Best Personal Loans With No Origination FeesWe consulted personal loan and financial experts to give their insights into finding the best personal loans with no origination fees. See our full ratings methodology for personal loans »Best personal loans without origination fees LightStream Personal LoanSoFi Personal LoanDiscover Personal LoanWells Fargo Personal LoanPenFed Credit Union Personal LoanUSAA Personal Loan Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Personal Loan With No Origination Fees Frequently Asked QuestionsCan you get a personal loan without an origination fee? How to Choose the Best Personal Loan With No Origination FeesTo select the best personal loan for you, look at the factors that are most important to you.

☆ The Fed sees a looming credit crunch. What's that?
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

March 24 (Reuters) - It's an old saw: A credit crunch is when your bank won't lend to you. In other words: a credit crunch is coming. But the credit growth rate has recently fallen below its historic average to a level that has often been associated with a recession. That was indicative of the lasting restraint that episode had on the recovery in credit and economic growth overall. That was the case 8-10 years ago when low oil prices triggered a credit crunch among U.S. oil fracking companies, weighing heavily for a period on overall commercial loan growth while consumer loan growth kept improving.

☆ Four ways for car buyers to survive the interest-rate crunch
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Chris Taylor | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

New car buyers with a monthly payment over $1,000 rose to an all-time high of 16.8% in February, auto information site Edmunds' data showed. While car prices have been leveling off as the supply chain normalizes, interest rates are squeezing buyers' wallets. A monthly car payment of more than $1,000 is starting to show its painful effects. Punishing interest rates are forcing car buyers to make tough decisions. "If you're already tied up with a large car payment, then I suggest you sell it and get a car you can actually afford," Fetters said.

☆ Gen Z is chalking up credit card debt and falling behind on their payments faster than any other generation, new report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Gen Z is chalking up credit card debt faster than any other generation, a Credit Karma report says. Those in Generation Z — born between 1997 and 2012 — are racking up credit card debt faster than any other generation, according to a March 16 report from Credit Karma, a California-based personal finance company. Millennials, meanwhile, had average credit card debt of $5,898 in the last quarter of 2022. This includes credit card, mortgage, student loans, medical loans, auto lease, or auto loan accounts that are overdue by more than 30 days, per Credit Karma. Credit Karma's report comes as the luxury market looks to tap Gen Z spenders as more in the cohort gain spending power amid high inflation.

☆ Fed hikes rates by a quarter percentage point, indicates increases are near an end
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

watch nowWASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve on Wednesday enacted a quarter percentage point interest rate increase, expressing caution about the recent banking crisis and indicating that hikes are nearing an end. That wording is a departure from previous statements which indicated "ongoing increases" would be appropriate to bring down inflation. Still, the median of the estimates points to a 0.8 percentage point reduction in rates in 2024 and 1.2 percentage points worth of cuts in 2025. Estimates released Wednesday of where Federal Open Market Committee members see rates, inflation, unemployment and gross domestic product underscored the uncertainty for the policy path. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up some 2% over the past week, though the 10-year Treasury yield has risen about 20 basis points, or 0.2 percentage points, during the same period.

☆ What to do with your money now that the Fed just raised rates for the ninth time
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“But the average credit card rate is now at a record high above 20%, auto loan rates are at a 12-year high and mortgage rates are still north of 6.5%. But online high-yield savings accounts now offer rates as high as 5%, well above the 0.23% national savings account average, according to Bankrate. Another high-yield savings optionGiven today’s still-high rates of inflation, Series I savings bonds may be attractive because they’re designed to preserve the buying power of your money. Your credit card debt: Minimize the biteIf you’re carrying credit card debt, expect to see a hike in the rate you pay within a few statements. “Credit card rates are at record highs and still rising.

☆ Why Goldman Sachs alumni are being hoovered up by elite hedge funds like Citadel and Millennium
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Alex Morrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

In November, one of the world's most consequential hedge funds announced a shake-up at the top of its power structure. In an internal memo, the founder of Millennium Management, Izzy Englander, said that Bobby Jain would be vacating the co-CIO role. "You can't readily find that managerial experience at other hedge funds and Goldman is a perfect place to look for those people." 8 former Goldman Sachs leaders are now Millennium execsEnglander isn't alone — firms rarely are in the copycat world of multistrats. In a statement to Insider, Abbey Collins, a spokesperson for Goldman Sachs, said, "Goldman Sachs has always been and remains a talent magnet.

☆ The Federal Reserve is still expected to go through with a rate hike. What that means for you
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The federal funds rate, which is set by the central bank, is the interest rate at which banks borrow and lend to one another overnight. As the federal funds rate rises, the prime rate does, too, and credit card rates follow suit. After a prolonged period of rate hikes, the average credit card rate is now over 20%, on average — an all-time high — up from 16.34% one year ago. As the federal funds rate rises, the prime rate does, as well, and these rates follow suit. Federal student loans are already at 4.99%Federal student loan rates are also fixed, so most borrowers aren't immediately affected by rate hikes.

☆ What happens during a ‘credit crunch’ — and how you can prepare for one
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

But what is a credit crunch and how might you prepare? Loans would be tougher to getDuring a credit crunch, banks significantly tighten their lending standards. Banks may prioritize a healthier balance sheetA credit crunch seems likely given banking woes that have unfurled over the past two weeks. A severe credit crunch isn't a foregone conclusion, though. How to prepare for a credit crunchThere are some steps consumers can take now to prepare for a possible credit crunch.

☆ Here's when taking out a 401(k) loan actually 'makes sense,' says advisor
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

"I've always been very anti-401(k) loan," duQuesnay said. DuQuesnay, an investment advisor at Ritholtz Wealth Management and member of CNBC's Advisor Council, used a 401(k) loan as a short-term pot of cash for a down payment. watch nowBorrowing against retirement savings served as a bridge loan that duQuesnay plans to pay back after selling her old house. This may be a good strategy for those whose budget can absorb the monthly mortgage and 401(k) loan payments, she said. People should generally try to avoid borrowing from retirement savings if they can avoid it, though, duQuesnay cautioned.

☆ 'Big Short' investor Danny Moses says the SVB crisis is speeding up the US economic slowdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Zahra Tayeb | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Danny Moses sees trouble ahead for the US economy following the shocking collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. "It just accelerated that slowdown because banks have to really to pull back in their activities," the "Big Short" investor said. Moses also called out regulators for bailing out SVB, saying that should make people "nervous." Higher rates encourage saving over spending, which typically pulls down asset prices, saps demand, and increases the risk of an economic slowdown. But according to Moses, regulators don't have a clue of what's in front of them.

REUTERS/Brendan McDermidORLANDO, Florida, March 14 (Reuters) - When the U.S. yield curve inverts bad things tend to happen. chartCARRY THAT WEIGHTWhile SVB's failure may not be a direct casualty of the inverted yield curve, an inverted curve is a sign that wider financial conditions are not so easy, presenting banks with a far more challenging economic and financial environment. The two-year Treasury yield has been higher than the 10-year yield since last July as the Fed has embarked on its most aggressive rate-raising campaign in decades. Banks make money when the yield curve slopes positively, borrowing cheaply via customer deposits, central bank windows or the short end of the curve, and lending longer term at higher rates - a classic 'carry trade'. A downward-sloping curve stymies this 'carry' and curbs lending, and the consequences are clear when that lasts for as long as eight months.

☆ 'Big Short' trader Danny Moses warns Silicon Valley Bank collapse will expose more trouble
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Stephanie Landsman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

"Big Short" investor Danny Moses said the Silicon Valley Bank collapse is exacerbating the economic slowdown despite the government's actions to mitigate the impact. "You can't assume that the regulators have any idea what they're actually dealing with now considering that they were completely caught off guard... by what just happened at Silicon Valley Bank," the Moses Ventures founder told CNBC's " Fast Money " on Tuesday. Moses, who is known for successfully betting against the housing market before its 2008 implosion, speculates failures are just starting. "We still have underestimated in this market in general what is happening when you raise rates," Moses said, referring to the central bank's move to hike interest rates by 450 basis points since March 2022. The Federal Open Market Committee holds its two-day policy meeting on interest rates next Tuesday and Wednesday.

☆ Stocks may crash 30% in 60 days as Americans run short of cash and investors jump ship, a markets guru says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Theron Mohamed | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

US stocks could plummet as much as 30% over the next two months, Larry McDonald said. "The Bear Trap Report" founder sees higher interest rates choking demand and hammering the economy. McDonald also predicts investors will swap stocks for bonds to earn higher yields. McDonald estimated that every 1% increase in rates translates into a $50 billion rise in costs for middle-class Americans. He noted that interest rates on US auto loans are approaching 14%, and nearly 20% of those loans cost over $1,000 each month.

☆ Millennials in their 30s are sitting in an economic quagmire that could stick with them through retirement
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Jason Lalljee | Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

In the long run, this generation may also be hit by cuts in Social Security benefits. In the longer run, millennials' retirement may also be affected if Social Security benefits are cut. Millennials in their 30s are accruing debt faster than their peersWhile Experian and Credit Karma research show Gen X has the highest average debt, millennials still hold a lot of debt too — and are accumulating it faster than anyone else. Millennials face looming retirement insecurityIf all of that wasn't enough, millennials' retirement situation in the future could be different from Gen X and baby boomers. Additionally, millennials' retirement safety nets are likely to be affected if they can't get full Social Security benefits.

☆ Consumers keep spending. That might not be good news for them or the Fed
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Alicia Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

And by November and December, those predictions appeared to be materializing, when data showed consumers had pulled back during the holiday shopping season. During a month chock full of suprisingly strong economic data, the Commerce Department’s retail sales and consumer spending reports far surpassed expectations. “It’s not sustainable to keep spending above their means.”Eyes on the FedHearty consumer spending at a time like this is a double-edged sword, said Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst for Bankrate and CreditCards.com. “The resilience of consumer spending is probably the biggest thing that’s pushed this recession timetable out,” Rossman said. The Home Depot (HD) warned of flat sales for 2023 as consumers continue shift spending from goods to services.

☆ CFPB: What it does and why its future is in question
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The CFPB’s missionThe agency was created after the 2008 financial meltdown, as part of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The broad purpose of the CFPB is to protect consumers from financial abuses and to serve as the central agency for consumer financial protection authorities. It is charged with implementing and enforcing consumer protection laws, making rules and issuing guidance for consumer financial institutions. And it is the place consumers can go to lodge complaints about financial products and services. “It has completely changed the consumer financial marketplace.

The average cost of a financed used car has risen significantly since the pandemic began. Even if the price of a used car comes back down, you might still get hit by high interest rates. Americans' cars are worth $313 billion more than 2020Many of the used vehicles on America's roads are worth considerably more now than they were last year. That means that while many used cars likely haven't appreciated in value, newer cars have risen in value significantly. All the used cars that were financed last year are worth a collective $1.5 trillion — $313 billion more than they were worth in 2020.

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